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Extraction and mineral processing, as well as the waste generated by old abandoned mining sites, are the main sources of contamination of water bodies and lands by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 1758) has been reported to be a good ecological indicator of environmental pollution in water bodies. Hence, we evaluated the concentration of eleven PTEs (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in different tissues of common carp in two reservoirs of the province of Jaén, southern Spain: El Tranco de Beas (S1) and La Fernandina (S2). We also assessed the concentration of PTEs in water and sediment samples. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for all the collected samples. We found high concentrations of As and Fe in water in the S2 reservoir, above the maximum limits allowed by the sanitary criteria in Spain; however, the analysis of sediments indicated low ecological risk in S1 and moderate ecological risk for As in S2. The concentration of PTEs in common carp was higher in the S2 reservoir, exceeding the permissible limits in the case of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. As and Cd showed higher concentrations in the kidney; Cu, Fe, and Zn showed higher concentrations in the liver; and Pb and Mn presented higher concentrations in the gill and gill bone. There was a good correlation between the concentrations found in water/sediment samples and those in common carp, corroborating its usefulness as a good ecological indicator, allowing the detection of environmental pollution and inferring previous or current anthropogenic activities such as mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: This field-base study evaluates the long-term effectiveness of in-situ remediation measures applied to soils residually polluted by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in an area affected by a mining spill in SW Spain. Methods: To evaluate the remediation treatments success, their influence on key soil properties and on the development of spontaneous vegetation in the treated soils was investigated. The treatments were based on human derived by-products valorization, and consisted of: biopiles, marble sludge and gypsum mining spoil addition, and their combination with an organic amendment (vermicompost). Results: Amendments application improved the soil properties and reduced PTEs availability. As a result, an enhancement in spontaneous development of vegetation cover and diversity of plant species in the treated soils was followed. Spergularia rubra and Lamarckia aurea, two primary plant species growing in the studied area and that exhibit strong association to soils with the highest levels of pollution, showed high Pb and As accumulation in shoots ande in roots. Exceptionally, accumulation of these pollutants occurred in L. aurea roots, which can explain its high presence in soils with more limited vegetation development and in which no additional plant species can thrive. Conclusions: The occurrence of S. rubra and L. aurea in the amended soils may be indicative of improved soil conditions and reduced toxicity induced by the remediation measures implemented. They may also be considered key species in the area since their presence can promote the recolonization of the degraded soils by species less tolerant to their residual pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An evaluation of the pollution, distribution, and mobility of arsenic and heavy metals in spoil heaps and soils surrounding the abandoned Carmina lead–zinc mine (Asturias, northern Spain) was carried out. Fractionation of arsenic was performed by an arsenic-specific sequential extraction method; while, heavy metal fractionations was carried out using the protocol of the Bureau Community of Reference (BCR) (now renamed Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme). Arsenic appeared predominantly associated with amorphous iron oxyhydroxides. Among the heavy metals, lead and zinc showed high availability since significant amounts were extracted in the nonresidual fractions; whereas, chromium, copper and nickel showed very low availability, indicating their lithogenic origins. The results showed that the extractability of heavy metals in soils is influenced mainly by the presence of iron and manganese oxides as well as by pH and Eh. Multiple pollution indices, including the enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk index (Er) and potential ecological risk index (PERI), were used to assess the degree of soil pollution in the mine area. All results showed that lead was the key factor causing the pollution and ecological risk in the studied area, and copper, zinc and arsenic also had significant contributions. Notably, the sites at higher risk coincided with those with high availability of arsenic and heavy metals. This study provides an integrative approach that serves as a powerful tool to evaluate the metal pollution status and potential threats to the local environment of abandoned mining areas, and the results are useful for making management decisions in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination present in an organism varies depending on biological and oceanographic conditions, so monitoring the same species is of great importance to understand the state of the ecosystem. Fifteen specimens in Sardina pilchardus between 12 and 15 cm in total length were collected during the second half of January of each of the study years (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022). Samples were analyzed with Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) to measure metals (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Li, Ni, Pb and Zn) in mg/Kg. There was a progressive decrease in Pb content over the period, with the highest concentration being obtained in 2014 (0.086 ± 0.065 mg/kg). Locally important oceanic-atmospheric events may occur in the study period that strongly impact the tissue composition of marine organisms. In this case, discontinuous trends were evident in some of the metal concentrations analyzed in the muscle of European sardine in the Canary Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that can cause adverse effects for the health of ecosystems. The Caudal River is one of the main rivers in the Asturias region (NW Spain), whose basin is highly anthropized, hosting several Hg mines, closed in the last century. Arsenic (As) is also found in the mineral paragenesis of the Hg deposits, posing a greater environmental risk. In the mining sites, remaining old facilities and tailings continue to release these elements into the environment. In this work, samples of fluvial sediments and water were taken, both in areas affected by anthropic activity and in pristine areas, in order to establish the background levels for the critical elements. The mineralogical study of the sediments, combined with EDS microanalysis, is useful to identify mineralogical traps such as Fe oxides or clays to retain the As. The As content in all sampled sediments is above the threshold effect levels (TEL), the possible effect range within which adverse effects occasionally occur, according to the Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life. This fact is related to a naturally high geochemical background in the basin, due to the existing mineral deposits. The PEL threshold (the probable effect range within which adverse effects frequently occur) is exceeded by more than an order of magnitude in the sediments downstream of the Hg mines. In these points, the As content in the water, exceeding 700 μg L−1 As, is also above the quality standard established in Spanish legislation. As a result, the Caudal River tributaries in the lower part of the basin do not reach a good ecological state, according to the Hydrological Planning Office, and in some cases their state is deficient, showing low richness and high dominance of macroinvertebrates. Although the concentrations decrease with distance from the source, these findings justify the low ecological quality of the affected watercourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining activity is one of the main sources to pollute soil, water and plants. An analysis of soil and plant samples around the Atrevida mining area in Catalonia (NE Spain) was preformed to determine potentially harmful elements (PHEs). Soil and plant samples were taken at eight locations around the mining area. The topsoil (0–15 cm) samples were analysed for physico-chemical properties by standard methods, by ICP-MS for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn, and were microwave-digested. Plant, root and shoot samples were digested separately, and heavy metals were analysed by AAS. Translocation factor (TF), biological concentration factor (BCF) and biological accumulation factor (BAF) were determined to assess the tolerance strategies developed by native species and to evaluate their potential for phytoremediation purposes. Soil pH was generally acid (5.48–6.72), with high soil organic matter (SOM) content and a sandy loamy or loamy texture. According to the agricultural soil values in southern Europe, our PHEs concentrations exceeded the toxicity thresholds. The highest root content of the most studied PHEs appeared in Thymus vulgaris L. and Festuca ovina L., while Biscutella laevigata L. accumulated more PHEs in shoots. The TF values were > 1 in B. laevigata L., but BAF obtained < 1, except Pb. B. laevigata L., and can be considered potentially useful for phytoremediation for having the capacity to restrict the accumulation of large PHEs amounts in roots and Pb translocation to shoots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfidic mine wastes have the potential to generate acid mine drainage (AMD) and release acid leachates containing high levels of iron, sulfate and potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Soils receiving AMD discharges are generally devoid of vegetation. Only a few metal-tolerant plant species can survive under such adverse soil conditions. This work investigates two plant species, Nicotiana glauca and Euphorbia segetalis, that have successfully colonized an AMD-impacted wetland area in south-western Spain. The uptake of PTEs from the soil by roots and their transfer and accumulation in the above-ground biomass were quantified. Results showed that these pioneer plants grew in patches of neutral soil within the wasteland despite the high concentrations of PTEs in the rhizosphere soil (up to: 613 mg kg−1 As, 18.7 mg kg−1 Cd, 6370 mg kg−1 Cu, 2210 mg kg−1 Pb and 5250 mg kg−1 Zn). The target organs of As, Cu and Pb accumulation were: root > leaf > stem in N. glauca, and root > stem > leaf in E. segetalis. Zinc and Cd showed a significant decrease in roots relative to aerial parts of N. glauca, and Co was preferentially partitioned in stems of N. glauca and leaves of E. segetalis. The soil–plant transfer coefficient values of PTEs in all parts of both plants were well below unity with the only exception of Cd in leaves of N. glauca (1.254), suggesting that roots acted as a barrier limiting the uptake of PTEs by plants. Interestingly, under the same soil conditions, N. glauca absorbed Cd in considerable proportions from soil and accumulated it in its leaves, while E. segetalis was not effective in transferring PTEs from roots shoots except for Co. In conclusion, soil pH and plant-related factors greatly influence the stabilization of PTE in the rhizospheric soil and produce inconsistencies in PTE phytoavailability. The findings of this study provide criteria to assist in natural remediation in other legacy contaminated sites worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncontrolled release of acid mine drainage (AMD) results in the ongoing deterioration of groundwater and surface water, along with harmful impacts on aquatic ecosystems and surrounding habitats. This study employed a bibliometric analysis to examine research activities and trends related to AMD from 1991 to 2021. The analysis demonstrated a consistent growth in AMD research over the years, with a notable surge in the number of publications starting from 2014. Applied Geochemistry and Science of the Total Environment emerged as the top two extensively published journals in the field of AMD research. The USA held a prominent position, achieving the highest h-index (96) and central value (0.36) among 111 countries/territories, with China and Spain following closely behind. The author keyword analysis provides an overview of the main focuses in AMD research. Furthermore, the co-citation reference analysis reveals four primary domains of AMD research. Moreover, the prevention and remediation of AMD, including source prevention and migration control, as well as the hazards posed by heavy metals/metalloids and the mechanisms and techniques employed for their removal, are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorrect labeling, as well as the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in seafood, represent a recurring problem worldwide, not only for natural resources but also for the consumers' health. Heavy metals can be accumulated through the food chain and transferred to the final human consumer. Despite its toxicology, arsenic does not have a concentration limit on food, unlike other heavy metals like cadmium, mercury, and lead. Tuna species, with a worldwide distribution and high per capita consumption, represent a well-known toxicological issue caused by heavy metals. In this context, 80 samples of canned tuna were analyzed to check if the information contained in the label was correct and complete. Genetic identification was made by sequencing a fragment of 16S rDNA from 80 samples. For the heavy metal quantification, only those samples with the complete FAO fishing area information on the label were analyzed. Only 29 out of 80 samples presented enough information on the labels for the analysis. Some of the canned tuna commercialized in Spanish markets surpassed the safety standard levels established by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Activities (JECFA) under the consumption rates of 300 g and 482 g per week. However, the carcinogenic risk (CRlim) for arsenic in all cans and all scenarios was higher than the safety levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities in urban, agrarian, or industrial areas are the main cause of heavy metals in sediments worldwide. Since the 1960s, there have been submarine discharges through outfalls of poorly treated or untreated wastewater on the south coast of Mallorca island (Mediterranean Sea). In this study, the pollution of marine sediments is analyzed at a great number of points on the south of the seacoast. Heavy metal concentrations of As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, V, and Zn, total inorganic carbon (TIC), sulfur, mineralogy, and grain size were analyzed. The objective is to evaluate the concentrations of toxic substances and their spatial distribution and ranges that can negatively affect marine ecosystems and human health. In addition, the results obtained have been compared with standardized indices for marine sediments, and a regional index has been developed with the background values of heavy metals obtained in the sediments of the study area. To obtain consistent conclusions, concentrations of heavy metals were classified with the Igeo Index. The concentrations of heavy metals obtained show that a great number of samples exceeded the limits considered for uncontaminated sediments according to the index applied. Elements such as Hg, Ba, Pb, and Cu showed high concentrations close to the outfalls and lower concentrations in zones far from these points. To support the assessment, chemical processes such as dissolution or chemical precipitation have been studied. The results also show that marine sediments can be a good trap for chemical elements and a good proxy to analyze the impact of anthropogenic activities in areas heavily pressured by humans, and the risk to the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushroom consumption has increased in recent years due to their beneficial properties to the proper functioning of the body. Within this framework, the high potential of mushrooms as a source of essential elements has been reported. Therefore, the present study aims to determine the mineral content of seven essential metals, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, K, Ca, and Na, in twenty samples of mushrooms of the genus Lactarius collected from various locations in southern Spain and northern Morocco, by FAAS, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and ICP-OES after acid digestion. Statistics showed that K was the macronutrient found at the highest levels in all mushrooms studied. ANOVA showed that there were statistically significant differences among the species for K, P, and Na. The multivariate study suggested that there were differences between the accumulation of the elements according to the geographic location and species. Furthermore, the intake of 300 g of fresh mushrooms of each sample covers a high percentage of the RDI, but does not meet the recommended daily intake (RDI) for any of the metals studied, except for Fe. Even considering these benefits, the consumption of mushrooms should be moderated due to the presence of toxic metals, which may pose health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticide residues and heavy metal concentrations were determined in two depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) of Chromic Cambisol in 69 vineyards in the Slovenian winegrowing region of the Karst. Similarly, pesticide residues and heavy metal concentrations were also determined in two depths of Calcaric Cambisol in 11 vineyards in the other Slovenian and Croatian winegrowing regions of Istria. The topsoil (0–20 cm) was analysed for the presence of 176 different pesticidal active substances using two multiresidue analytical methods: (a) gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and (b) liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). Seven active substances (five fungicides and two insecticides) were detected in the soil samples. Their concentrations were compared with the maximum concentrations observed in the vineyards of the winegrowing regions of France, Italy, and Spain. In addition to pesticides, the soil samples were analysed for the presence of nine heavy metals commonly detected in vineyard soils. The concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, molybdenum, nickel, lead, and zinc were below the critical thresholds set by Slovenian legislation, with the exception of one soil sample in which the Cu concentration exceeded the critical threshold. Compared with the maximum concentrations measured in other vineyard soils in Spain, Italy, and France, the heavy metal concentrations in the vineyard soils of Karst and Istria were lower. Both the heavy metal concentrations and the residual concentrations of pesticidal active substances in the vineyard soils of the Karst and Istria regions were significantly lower than the concentrations that are occasionally discussed in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The city of Avilés is one of the most industrialized cities in the north of Spain and, accordingly, its estuary and coastal area have been subjected to great anthropic impacts in the last 100 years. This research attempts to establish a preliminary scenario of the geochemical and environmental status of both coastal and estuarine sediments in this area. For this study, a total of 96 sediment samples were collected, processed and analyzed to quantify the granulometric distribution of the sediments, as well as their concentrations of organic carbon and main metal(oids) that may cause an environmental risk. The results show that the estuarine sediments present important concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn that allow them to be clearly differentiated from the coastal sediments; this information, along with the sedimentology, implies that the estuary acts as a sink of pollution and not as source to the coastal area. Inside the estuary, the high levels of contamination produce a significant potential ecological risk due to contaminant transfers to other environmental compartments and to the biota. Although direct discharges of industrial effluents have been gradually eliminated, the current state of the sediment requires the implementation of measures that are more consistent than natural regeneration in order to ensure low risk levels for the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) plays a vital role in protecting consumer health by enabling immediate action to be taken to eliminate hazardous products. This study analysed RASFF notifications from 2000 to 2022 to identify the most frequently reported fish products, their origin countries and associated hazards, as well as the resulting notification classification and actions. Of the 6808 notifications for fish and fish products, Spain was the most notified origin country (14.66%), followed by Vietnam (7.70%), Morocco (5.35%), China (4.48%), and Indonesia (4.02%). Out of a total of 3344 notifications, the most frequently notified fish products were tuna (16.66%), followed by swordfish (15.98%), salmon (8.23%), mackerel (4.48%), and sharks (3.77%). The top hazard categories for fish were heavy metals (26.34%), pathogenic microorganisms (15.42%), poor or insufficient controls (11.46%), parasitic infestation (10.87%), biological contaminants (10.43%), veterinary drug residues (5.17%), and composition (3.44%). The study also revealed that 27% of the fish notifications were classified as serious, whereas alerts and border rejections represented 28.7% and 25.6%, respectively. For tuna, swordfish, salmon, and mackerel, about 37.57%, 85.75%, 75.54%, and 50.49% of all notifications were related to histamine, mercury, Listeria monocytogenes , and Anisakis , respectively. The study's findings can be used to identify the most problematic hazards in each product to safeguard consumer health. • RASFF notifications on fish and fish products were examined for the last 23 years. • Spain was the most-notified origin country (14.66%), followed by Vietnam (7.7%). • Tuna was the most-notified fish product (16.66%), followed by swordfish (15.98%). • Mercury, histamine, and L. monocytogenes account for 44.37% of all fish notifications. • These findings will make analysts' tasks easier and safeguard consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are few well-established risk factors for childhood leukemias. While the frequency of childhood leukemias might be partially attributable to some diseases (accounting for a small fraction of cases) or ionizing radiation, the role of heavy metals has not been assessed. The objective of our study was to assess the potential association between levels of cadmium (Cd) and lead (PB) in soil and childhood leukemias incidence. We conducted a population-based case–control study of childhood leukaemia in Spain, covering 2897 incident cases gathered from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Tumours and including 14 Spanish Regions with a total population of 5,307,433 children (period 1996–2015). Cd and Pb bioavailable levels at every children's home address were estimated using data from the Geochemical Atlas of Spain. We used logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs); we included as covariates: sex, rurality, employment rate and socioeconomic status. Metal levels were analysed according to two definitions: as continuous variable assuming linearity and as categorical variables to explore a potentially nonlinear association (quantiles). Increases in both Cd and Pb topsoil levels were associated with increased probability of childhood leukemias incidence. The results for the models with the continuous variables showed that a unit increase on the topsoil level was associated with an OR of 1.11 for Cd (95%CI 1.00–1.24) and an OR of 1.10 for Pb (95%CI 0.99–1.21). Our study may point towards a possible link between residential Cd and Pb topsoil levels and the probability of childhood leukemias incidence. Residing in a location with the highest concentrations of these heavy metals compared to those locations with the lowest could increase the risk around a 20%, for both Cd and Pb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se), and arsenic (As) were measured in liver, kidney, and feathers of adult, juvenile, and chick seagulls (Larus michahellis) collected from the northwest of Spain. Age, sex, and the geographical location of samples were considered variables that can influence metal bioaccumulation, for which concentrations were determined by means of ICP-MS. The mean concentrations (dry weight) found in seagulls were 7.01 ± 0.37 mg Hg/kg, 22.82 ± 2.83 mg Cd/kg, 7.36 ± 1.36 mg Pb/kg, 18.64 ± 0.63 mg Se/kg, and 10.64 ± 0.59 mg As/kg. Regarding the different factors analyzed, Hg was the only metal showing sex-related differences, being significantly higher (p < 0.05) the concentrations found in feathers of males (1.26 ± 0.12 mg/kg) than those in females (0.99 ± 0.11 mg/kg). A highly significant (p < 0.01) increase in levels of some metals was found in liver related to the increase of age: Hg (adults (A) 3.33 ± 0.22 mg/kg vs chicks (C) 1.76 ± 0.28 mg/kg), Cd (A 4.74 ± 0.62 mg/kg vs C 1.79 ± 0.2), Pb (A 0.65 ± 0.12 mg/kg vs juveniles 0.4 ± 0.11 mg/kg), and Se (A 7.56 ± 0.43 mg/kg vs C 5.24 ± 0.53 mg/kg). Positive correlations between Cd-Hg and Se–Hg were found in liver (p < 0.001), kidney (p < 0.001), and feathers (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). The associations found may reflect antagonistic interactions between Se and Cd on Hg toxicity. The results suggest that L. michahellis can reveal local contamination around the foraging and breeding sites and can be a very useful monitoring instrument for assessing heavy metal contamination and sentinel species of environmental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is concerned with the adsorption and desorption of Cu and As(V) on/from different soils and by-products. Both contaminants may reach soils by the spreading of manure/slurries, wastewater, sewage sludge, or pesticides, and also due to pollution caused by mining and industrial activities. Different crop soils were sampled in A Limia (AL) and Sarria (S) (Galicia, NW Spain). Three low-cost by-products were selected to evaluate their bio-adsorbent potential: pine bark, oak ash, and mussel shell. The adsorption/desorption studies were carried out by means of batch-type experiments, adding increasing and individual concentrations of Cu and As(V). The fit of the adsorption data to the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models was assessed, with good results in some cases, but with high estimation errors in others. Cu retention was higher in soils with high organic matter and/or pH, reaching almost 100%, while the desorption was less than 15%. The As(V) adsorption percentage clearly decreased for higher As doses, especially in S soils, from 60–100% to 10–40%. The As(V) desorption was closely related to soil acidity, being higher for soils with higher pH values (S soils), in which up to 66% of the As(V) previously adsorbed can be desorbed. The three by-products showed high Cu adsorption, especially oak ash, which adsorbed all the Cu added in a rather irreversible manner. Oak ash also adsorbed a high amount of As(V) (>80%) in a rather non-reversible way, while mussel shell adsorbed between 7 and 33% of the added As(V), and pine bark adsorbed less than 12%, with both by-products reaching 35% desorption. Based on the adsorption and desorption data, oak ash performed as an excellent adsorbent for both Cu and As(V), a fact favored by its high pH and the presence of non-crystalline minerals and different oxides and carbonates. Overall, the results of this research can be relevant when designing strategies to prevent Cu and As(V) pollution affecting soils, waterbodies, and plants, and therefore have repercussions on public health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aquatic ecosystems often act as sinks for agricultural, industrial, and urban wastes. Among potential pollutants, heavy metals can modify major biogeochemical cycles by affecting microorganisms and other biota. This study assessed the distribution and concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in Pétrola Lake, a heavily impacted area in central Spain where the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus breeds. This study was designed to determine the concentration and identify the potential sources of heavy metals in Pétrola Lake protected area, including sediments, agricultural soils, and tissues of the greater flamingo. A six-step sequential extraction was performed to fractionate Cu, Pb, and Zn from lake sediments and agricultural soil samples to gain insight into different levels of their bioavailability. Our results showed that Pb and Cd accumulated in lake sediments and agricultural soils, respectively, most likely derived from anthropogenic sources. Multivariate analysis revealed differences between these (Pb and Cd) and the remaining studied elements (Cu, Hg, and Zn), whose concentrations were all below the pollution threshold. Lead pollution in sediments was apparently dominated by organic matter binding, with fractions up to 34.6% in lake sediments. Cadmium slightly accumulated in agricultural soils, possibly associated with the use of fertilizers, but still below the pollution thresholds. In the flamingo samples, low bioaccumulation was observed for all the studied elements. Our study suggests that human activities have an impact on heavy metal accumulation in sediments and soils, despite being below the pollution levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study was to assess the human health risk of heavy metals in the urban-peri-urban soils from Huelva Township. The soils present high concentrations of potentially toxic elements well beyond the regional screening soil concentration. A site-specific health risk assessment of exposure (oral ingestion, oral inhalation and dermal contact) was conducted according to the regulatory normative. To reduce the uncertainty derived from soil characteristics, bioaccessibility and predicted bioavailability data were included in the assessment. Thereby, in order to evaluate the oral bioaccessibility, a simulation of the gastric condition (pH and T) was applied dissolving the samples in a solution of HCl and 0.4 M glycine. Soils located in industrial areas present higher bioaccessibility than those associated with urban or other uses. The adjusted-relative bioaccessibility total carcinogenic risk for As exceeded the regulatory level in all samples (except samples 7 and 184) indicating that children are more vulnerable, while no detrimental health effects are expected for Pb (except in sample 76, a "greenway" recreational area). The adjusted hazard index for non-carcinogenic effects also overpassed the threshold values in practically all possible scenarios for an adult resident working in Huelva, as well as for a child living and playing in the urban/recreational areas. The main pollutant contributions were related to As and Pb. For this reason, the reported soils exceeding the regulatory levels should be classified as polluted and, therefore, this study should be helpful to initiate necessary soil management interventions to avoid the human health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminant monitoring in tissues of wild species can help in the knowledge not only of their health, but also of the environmental health conditions in the zones where they live. In this study, concentrations of toxic metals (As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) and an essential metal (Zn) were measured in the hair of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) inhabiting in protected areas of South-Western Spain. Zn (69.02 ± 1.03 mg kg−1, 70.31 ± 2.22 mg kg−1), Pb (0.61 ± 0.05 mg kg−1, 0.68 ± 0.08 mg kg−1), and As (0.33 ± 0.03 mg kg−1, 0.53 ± 0.08 mg kg−1) were detected in the hair of red deer and wild boar, respectively. The other metals (Cd and Hg) were under the quantification limit (0.1 mg kg−1). No differences in the level of elements between both species were found. The levels of the detected elements in the hair showed low concentrations and similar to those observed in animals of the same species from unpolluted zones, reflecting a lack of contamination by these elements in the studied areas. Based on critical values of these elements established for organs of mammals, red deer and wild boar from the studied territories did not suffer toxicosis by the studied elements. Age-related differences in the content of As in the hair of red deer and age- and gender-related differences in the content of As in the hair of wild boar were detected, which should be considered for biomonitoring purposes. Finally, positive (Pb-As in both species) and negative (Zn-Pb in wild boar) interrelationships between elements were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many enclaves in the Mediterranean basin with soils contaminated with heavy metal(loid)s, most of these in natural areas of great beauty that have suffered the consequences of industrial and mining activity for years. These soils pose a risk to human and animal health due to the transfer of metal(loid)s condemning these areas to isolation. The rehabilitation by means of phytoremediation is one of the most used techniques, but phytoremediation must be part of a comprehensive strategy of steps that guide owners and administrations in the recovery of ecosystem services. An easily replicable decision-making methodology is defined, considering the initial conditions, the preferences of the decision makers or typologies from among six possibilities and the different models of use, typified in 13 categories. As a result, a landscape is obtained that integrates phytostabilization and areas with recreational and/or educational uses. Two case studies from the southeast of Spain are presented as validation, a deposit of mining sludge residues and the channel of a river contaminated by industrial discharges. Both enclaves are included in the tourist and cultural offer of their area, thus achieving an environmental and socioeconomic benefit and have been visited by more than 1000 people in a two-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary patterns provide a comprehensive assessment of food consumption, including essential nutrients and potential exposure to environmental contaminants. While pro-vegetarian (PVG) dietary patterns have shown health benefits in adults, their effects on children are less well studied. This study aims to explore the association between children's adherence to the most common PVG dietary patterns and their exposure to metals, assessed through urine concentration. In our study, we included a population of 723 children aged 4-5-years from the INfancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) cohort in Spain. We calculated three predefined PVG dietary patterns, namely general (gPVG), healthful (hPVG), and unhealthful (uPVG), using dietary information collected through a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Urinary concentrations of various essential and heavy metals (Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Mo, Pb, and Cd) were measured using mass spectrometry. Additionally, urinary arsenic speciation, including arsenobetaine (AsB), dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), monomethylarsonic acid (MMA), and inorganic arsenic (iAs), was measured. The sum of urinary MMA and iAs was used to assess iAs exposure. We estimated primary (PMI) and secondary iAs methylation (SMI) indices. To explore the association between PVG dietary patterns in quintiles and metal exposure, we utilized multiple-adjusted linear regression models and the quantile g-computation approach. Compared with the lowest quintile, participants in the highest quintile of gPVG showed a 22.7% lower urinary Co (95% confidence interval (CI): −38.7; −1.98) and a 12.6% lower Se (95%CI: −22.9; −1.00) concentrations. Second quintile of adherence to hPVG was associated with a 51.7% lower urinary iAs + MMA concentrations (95%CI: −74.3; −8.61). Second quintile of adherence to an uPVG was associated with a 13.6% lower Se levels (95%CI: −22.9; −2.95) while the third quintile to this pattern was associated with 17.5% lower Mo concentrations (95%CI: −29.5; −2.95). The fourth quintile of adherence to gPVG was associated with a 68.5% higher PMI and a 53.7% lower SMI. Our study showed that adherence to a gPVG dietary pattern in childhood may modestly reduce the intakes of some essential metals such as Co and Se. Further investigations are warranted to explore any potential health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mining-impacted Rio Tinto, Spain, Fe-cycling microorganisms influence the transport of heavy metals (HMs) into the Atlantic Ocean. However, it remains largely unknown how spatial and temporal hydrogeochemical gradients along the Rio Tinto shape the composition of Fe-cycling microbial communities and how this in turn affects HM mobility. Using a combination of DNA- and RNA-based 16S rRNA (gene) amplicon sequencing and hydrogeochemical analyses, we explored the impact of pH, Fe(III), Fe(II), and Cl2 on Fecycling microorganisms. We showed that the water column at the acidic (pH 2.2) middle course of the river was colonized by Fe(II) oxidizers affiliated with Acidithiobacillus and Leptospirillum. At the upper estuary, daily fluctuations of pH (2.7 to 3.7) and Cl2 (6.9 to 16.6 g/L) contributed to the establishment of a unique microbial community, including Fe(II) oxidizers belonging to Acidihalobacter, Marinobacter, and Mariprofundus, identified at this site. Furthermore, DNA- and RNA-based profiles of the benthic community suggested that acidophilic and neutrophilic Fe(II) oxidizers (e.g., Acidihalobacter, Marinobacter, and Mariprofundus), Fe(III) reducers (e.g., Thermoanaerobaculum), and sulfate-reducing bacteria drive the Fe cycle in the estuarine sediments. RNA-based relative abundances of Leptospirillum at the middle course as well as abundances of Acidihalobacter and Mariprofundus at the upper estuary were higher than DNA-based results, suggesting a potentially higher level of activity of these taxa. Based on our findings, we propose a model of how tidal water affects the composition and activity of the Fe-cycling taxa, playing an important role in the transport of HMs (e.g., As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) along the Rio Tinto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic in fighting severe infections caused by multidrug resistant Gram negative pathogens in hospitals. Zoonotic bacteria acquire colistin resistance in animal reservoirs and mediate its spread along the food chain. This is the case of non-typhoid serovars of Salmonella enterica. Colistin-resistant S. enterica in foods represents a threat to human health. Here, we assessed the prevalence of colistin-resistance in food-borne isolates of S. enterica (2014–2019; Asturias, Spain), and established the genetic basis and transferability of this resistance. Five out of 231 isolates tested (2.2%) were resistant to colistin. Four of them, belonging to the European monophasic ST34 clone of S. Typhimurium, were characterized in the present study. They were collected from pork or pork and beef meat-derived products, either in 2015 (three isolates) or 2019 (one isolate). Molecular typing with XbaI-PFGE and plasmid profiling revealed distinct patterns for each isolate, even though two of the 2015 isolates derived from the same sample. The MICs of colistin ranged from 8 to 16 mg/L. All isolates carried the mcr-1.1 gene located on conjugative plasmids of the incompatibility groups IncX4 (2015 isolates) or IncHI2 (2019 isolate). Apart from colistin resistance, the four isolates carried chromosomal genes conferring resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulfonamides and tetracycline [ bla TEM–1, strA-strB , sul2 , and tet (B)] and heavy metals, including copper and silver (silESRCFBAGP and pcoGE1ABCDRSE2), arsenic (arsRSD2A2BCA1D1) ± mercury (merEDACPTR), which are characteristically associated with the European ST34 monophasic clone. The 2019 isolate was also resistant to other antibiotics, comprising third generation cephalosporins and cephamycins. The latter phenotype was conferred by the bla CMY–2 gene located on an IncI1-I(α)-ST2 plasmid. Results in the present study identified meat-derived products as a reservoir of a highly successful clone harboring transferable plasmids which confer resistance to colistin and other clinically important antibiotics. An important reduction in the number of food-borne S. enterica detected during the period of the study, together with the low frequency of colistin resistance, underlines the success of One Health initiatives, such as those implemented at the UE, to control zoonotic bacteria along the food chain and to halt the spread of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past waste disposal practices have left large volumes of sulphidic material stockpiled in a Ramsar wetland site on the Atlantic coast of southwestern Spain, leading to severe land degradation. With the aim of addressing this legacy issue, soil core samples were collected along two transects extending from the abandoned stockpiles to the adjacent marshland and subjected to XRD, SEM-EDS, ICP-OES and ICP-MS analyses. Sulphide oxidation has been shown to be a major driver of acid generation and metal leaching into the environment. The marsh soil receiving acid discharges from the sulphide wastes contains elevated levels (in mg kg−1) of Pb (up to 9838), As (up to 1538), Zn (up to 1486), Cu (up to 705), Sb (up to 225) and Tl (up to 13), which are retained both in relatively insoluble secondary minerals (mainly metal sulphates and oxides) and in easily soluble hydrated salts that serve as a transitory pool of acidity and available metals. By using a number of enrichment calculation methods that relate the metal concentrations in soil and their baseline concentrations and regulatory thresholds, there is enough evidence to conclude that these pollutants may pose an unacceptable risk to human and ecological receptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals and heavy metals are contaminants present in groundwaters, which are the main source of drinking water in most parts of the world. In the northwest region of Spain, Galicia, groundwater harvesting is a common practice for drinking water supply, crop irrigation, cattle watering, as well as recreational use such as filling pools. In order to assess the quality of Galician groundwaters, the presence of 21 pharmaceuticals and 10 heavy metals was analysed by UPLC-MS/MS and ICP/MS methods, respectively, in a total of 118 groundwater samples from private wells. Seventeen of the 21 compounds studied were detected in 28% of the samples, with the highest presence of pharmaceuticals belonging to the antimicrobial group (52%), specifically the sulphonamides group in a range of concentration between 21 and 14.9 ng/L. In addition, 30% of the samples contained at least one heavy metal (Mn, As and Fe) above the legally permitted levels. Evaluation of the risk associated with the consumption of the analysed groundwater indicated no human risk for any of the detected pharmaceuticals but high cancer risk for children due to Cd, Cr and As concentrations was observe [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-based beverages have been positioned as an alternative to cow's milk. Some of the most commonly consumed plant-based beverages are those made from soybeans. Soybean beverages can be an important source of essential elements. However, soybean plants can be exposed to high concentrations of contaminants, such as toxic metals, from the soil and the environment. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; Fe, Cu, Cr, Co, Mn, Mo, Zn, B, Ba, Ni, Li, Sr, V, Al, Cd, and Pb) to evaluate the human exposure and toxic risk from the consumption of these soybean beverages. Forty samples of various brands of soybean beverages were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy. The most abundant PTE was Al (3.93 mg/L), followed by Fe (1.91 mg/L) and Ba (0.69 mg/L). Based on a mean consumption of two servings of soybean beverage per day (250 mL per serving), this consumption results in a daily intake of Al and Pb that is significant but still below of the maximum recommended amount. However, higher consumption could exceed the maximum recommended Al and Pb values, with consequent risks to the human health. Concentrations of PTEs in soybean beverages were determined. Al (3.93 mg/L) was the most notable PTE found in soybean beverages. Estimated consumption of two servings per day resulted in significant Al, Mo, and Ni intake. Higher soybean beverage consumption could pose a risk for consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals in ecosystems affect human health through the web chain. Castellon Province is home to the largest ceramic production hub in Spain, with 94% of the country's total production. Agricultural soils in the vicinity of the ceramic hub were reported to contain potentially toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd) in 2008 and have since been subject to repeated amendment with biosolids (sewage sludge). The sample sites were revisited in 2019, and the chemical distribution of these metals reassessed. The distribution of heavy chemical forms was analysed using a sequential extraction protocol that fractionates these four heavy metals into five phases. The incorporation of biosolids for the past 10 years has changed the chemistry of the soil, leading to increased levels of some hazardous elements. The carbonate‐sorbed, residual and reducible phases were dominant. From the point of view of compliance with regulations, levels of Cd remained elevated and have increased over the 10‐year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista de Toxicología is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Toxicologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Metals and metalloids pollution is an important worldwide problem due to the social and ecological effects and therefore has been the subject of many disciplines and the adverse impacts have been documented. In this study, content analysis and trends of studies focused on heavy metal accumulation in birds were presented. For this purpose, a bibliometric network analysis of the studies that use the concepts of "pollution," "heavy metal," and "birds" together in the abstract, keywords, and titles of the papers was carried out. The purpose of choosing this research method was summarizing the relation between birds and environmental pollution in an understandable manner to determine metals(loids) pollution, which become an important environmental problem. Bibliometric data consisting of approximately 971 papers were evaluated with VOSviewer program using the network analysis method to answer the research questions. The results revealed that birds act as bioindicators in the determination of environmental pollution and that the contaminant metals deposited in the various tissues of birds provide preliminary information about environmental pollution. The most of bird studies emphasized that the metal accumulation was mostly in the liver, kidneys, and feathers and the accumulation caused serious problems in most of the vital activities of the birds. The USA is in the leading country in birds-heavy metal studies followed by Spain, Canada, and China. In addition, the mercury (Hg) was the most extensively studied heavy metal in these studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytostabilization is a green, cost-effective technique for mine rehabilitation and ecological restoration. In this study, the phytostabilization capacity of Erica australis L. and Nerium oleander L. was assessed in the climatic and geochemical context of the Riotinto mining district, southwestern Spain, where both plant species colonize harsh substrates of mine wastes and contaminated river banks. In addition to tolerating extreme acidic conditions (up to pH 3.36 for E. australis), both species were found to grow on substrates very poor in bioavailable nutrients (e.g., N and P) and highly enriched with potentially phytotoxic elements (e.g., Cu, Cd, Pb, S). The selective root absorption of essential elements and the sequestration of potentially toxic elements in the root cortex are the main adaptations that allow the studied species to cope in very limiting edaphic environments. Being capable of a tight elemental homeostatic control and tolerating extreme acidic conditions, E. australis is the best candidate for use in phytostabilization programs, ideally to promote early stages of colonization, improve physical and chemical conditions of substrates and favor the establishing of less tolerant species, such as N. oleander. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nectar of honeybee colonies has been used in order to identify heavy metals and establish the benefit of this type of studies as a tool for environmental management. For these goals, samples of nectar were obtained from Apis mellifera hives placed in the city of Córdoba (Spain) and its surroundings. Five stations (each with two hives) were selected and samples were collected from May to July of 2007, 2009 and 2010. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd in nectar were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Substantial spatial and temporal differences were detected and compared with the values found in bee bodies in a previously published study based on samples obtained simultaneously with those presented in this work. Upper reference thresholds established for this investigation were surpassed frequently by the measures obtained, being Cr (21.43% of samples), stations S3 (22.22%) and S4 (11.12%) year 2009 (22.22%) and the month of July (23.68%) the metal, the locations and the periods that exceeded more times these references. Regarding the Cd, which was studied only in 2010, 33.33% of the nectar samples exceeded the upper reference thresholds. Comparing the biomonitoring of bee bodies and nectar, some coincidences were found, although they showed different results for highest worrisome values of metal, station and year. This suggests that both methods can give complementary information in the surveillance systems of atmospheric pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The association of low-level exposure to metals and metal mixtures with cardiovascular incidence in the general population has rarely been studied. We flexibly evaluated the association of urinary metals and metal mixtures concentrations with cardiovascular diseases in a representative sample of a general population from Spain.Methods: Urine antimony (Sb), barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn) were measured in 1171 adults without clinical cardiovascular diseases, who participated in the Hortega Study. Cox proportional hazard models were used for evaluating the association between single metals and cardiovascular incidence. We used a Probit extension of Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR-P) to handle metal mixtures in a survival setting.Results: In single-metal models, the hazard ratios [confidence intervals (CIs)] of cardiovascular incidence, comparing the 80th to the 20th percentiles of metal distributions, were 1.35 (1.06, 1.72) for Cu, 1.43 (1.07, 1.90) for Zn, 1.51 (1.13, 2.03) for Sb, 1.46 (1.13, 1.88) for Cd, 1.64 (1.05, 2.58) for Cr and 1.31 (1.01, 1.71) for V. BKMR-P analysis was confirmatory of these findings, supporting that Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd, Cr and V are related to cardiovascular incidence in the presence of the other metals. Cd and Sb showed the highest posterior inclusion probabilities.Conclusions: Urine Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd, Cr and V were independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk at levels relevant for the general population of Spain. Urine metals in the mixture were also jointly associated with cardiovascular incidence, with Cd and Sb being the most important components of the mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Royal Artillery Factory of Seville in Spain originated from pre‐existing private bronze foundries dating from the 16th century. The paper analyses the stratigraphy of wall cladding in the areas traditionally known as the 'Old Foundry' and the 'New Foundry', through its characterization by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectrometry (SEM‐EDX), micro‐X‐ray fluorescence (μ‐XRF) and micro‐X‐ray diffraction (μ‐XRD), in order to analyse the metal deposits that have accumulated since the 17th century. The data obtained allowed the verification of the available historiographical information and the location of the original bronze smelting furnaces. The analysis of patinas deposited on the overlapping layers of lime also confirmed that neither the raw materials nor the composition of the alloys used presented any substantial changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU E-PRTR Regulation can be followed for the evaluation of the level of pollutants of emerging concern in treated wastewater. This regulation is of regional responsibility in the UE, and establishes for the Andalusian region of Spain the following pollution parameters as mandatory to be controlled periodically in treated wastewater in Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTPs) with more than 100.000 equivalent inhabitants of treatment capacity: COD, Kjeldahl N, total P, Cl-, F- (conventional pollution); As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn and Pb, as heavy metals; PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), adsorbed organic halides (AOXs), benzene and chloroform, as organic compounds. This paper shows results obtained in the application of the E-PRTR Regulation to the wastewater of Cordoba during 2009-2018. As shown, average of COD, Kjeldahl N an total P values, respectively, in urban and treated wastewater were 604 and 89 mg/L, 54.1 and 33.4 mg/L and 3.4 and 1.4 mg/L. With respect to heavy metals, the mean content in treated wastewater was 0.135 mg/L, starting from 0.226 mg/L in raw wastewater. The majority of these are Cu and Zn (0.043 mg/L and 0.107 mg/L, respectively, in raw wastewater). For pollutants of emerging concern, the mean content of PAHs was 13 ng/L in treated water vs 31 ng/L in raw wastewater. Moreover, concentration of AOXs in raw wastewater was of 20 ng/L while in treated wastewater decreased up to 16 ng/L. Also, benzene content in raw wastewater and treated wastewater decreased from 40 ng/L to 11 ng/L. Finally, the major organic compound was chloroform, with a level in raw wastewater of 5.6 μg/L that was reduced along the treatment up to 3.2 μg/L. The provided data indicated a low concentration of the compounds of emerging concern in the wastewater of Cordoba and its minimal impact on the receiving aquatic environment (the Guadalquivir river). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work utilizes a combined biological-electrochemical technique for the in-situ removal of metals from polluted mine tailings. As the main novelty point it is proposed to use electrokinetics (EK) for the in-situ activation of a bioleaching mechanism into the tailings, in order to promote biological dissolution of metal sulphides (Step 1), and for the subsequent removal of leached metals by EK transport out of the tailings (Step 2). Mine tailings were collected from an abandoned Pb/Zn mine located in central-southern Spain. EK-bioleaching experiments were performed under batch mode using a lab scale EK cell. A mixed microbial culture of autochthonous acidophilic bacteria grown from the tailings was used. Direct current with polarity reversal vs alternate current was evaluated in Step 1. In turn, different biological strategies were used: biostimulation, bioaugmentation and the abiotic reference test (EK alone). It was observed that bioleaching activation was very low during Step 1, because it was difficult to maintain acidic pH in the whole soil, but then it worked correctly during Step 2. It was confirmed that microorganisms successfully contributed to the in-situ solubilization of the metal sulphides as final metal removal rates were improved compared to the conventional abiotic EK (best increases of around 40% for Cu, 162% for Pb, 18% for Zn, 13% for Mn, 40% for Ni and 15% for Cr). Alternate current seemed to be the best option. The tailings concentrations of Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb after treatment comply with regulations, but Pb, Cd and Zn concentrations exceed the maximum values. From the data obtained in this work it has been observed that EK-bioleaching could be feasible, but some upgrades and future work must be done in order to optimize experimental conditions, especially the control of soil pH in acidic values. [Display omitted] • Electrokinetics helps the in-situ biodissolution of metal sulphides in mine tailings • Keeping acidic pH in tailings was detected as the critical parameter to control • Alternate current seems to work better than direct current under polarity reversal • Bioaugmentation option does not improve the biostimulation approach [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mar Menor lagoon combined high biological production and environmental quality, making it an important economic engine. However, the pressure of human activities put its ecological integrity at risk, the oldest environmental impact being mining activity recorded since Roman times, about 3500 years ago, reaching its maximum intensity in the 20th century, contributing heavy metals to the lagoon sediments for almost 30 centuries. This work reviews the spatiotemporal evolution of the main heavy metals in this coastal lagoon using data from 272 surface sediment samples obtained during the last 40 years and two deep cores covering the total history of the lagoon (c. 6500 yrs BP), so as their incidence in the lagoon trophic web. The observed patterns in sedimentation, sediment characteristics and heavy metal content respond to the complex interaction, sometimes synergistic and sometimes opposing, between climatic conditions, biological production and human activities, with mining being mainly responsible for Pb, Zn and Cd inputs and port activities for Cu. High Fe/Al, Ti/Al and Zr/Al ratios identify periods of mining activity, while periods of arid climatic conditions and deforestation that increase erosion processes in the drainage basin and silt concentration in the lagoon sediments are determined by high Zr/Rb and, to a lesser extent, Zr/Al and Si/Al ratios. After the cessation of direct discharges into the lagoon in the 1950s, the recent evolution of heavy metals concentration and its spatial redistribution would be determined by hydrographic and biogeochemical processes, solubility of different elements, and coastal works in harbours and on beaches. The bioconcentration factor decreases along the trophic levels of the food web, suggesting that the lagoon ecosystem provides an important service by retaining heavy metals in the sediment, largely preventing their bioavailability, but actions involving resuspension or changes in sediment conditions would pose a risk to organisms., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A comparative study of the leachate composition between different types of landfills in Spain and Europe from the point of view of one of the factors that most influence in the leachate composition, such as the landfill age, among others, was carried out. For this purpose, 13 leachate samples from different Spanish landfills were analysed to determine concentrations of organic compounds, for instance COD and BOD5, inorganic compounds, as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, ammonia, chlorides, sulphates, etc., heavy metals and other physical parameters including pH and conductivity. The leachate composition varied widely because it is affected by many factors such as age and quality of waste, climatic conditions, among others. The results show that there are significant differences between the leachate samples. As the landfill age is higher, the concentration of the leachate constituents decreases due to the processes of stabilization of the waste that occurs within the landfill. On the other hand, comparing the results obtained between the samples of young leachates from different Spanish landfills and young leachates from different European landfills, large variations are observed due to not only the seasonal variations, but also the type of waste that is mostly treated in landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pregnant women exposed to metals revealed adverse effects. • The main maternal factor of detectable placenta Cd levels was smoking during pregnancy. • Other maternal factors that affect placenta metal levels are gestational age/medication. • A strong positive correlation was observed between Ba/Al and Ba/Pb concentrations. • Levels of Al, Ba, Pb in placenta are influenced by the pesticide residues in plants. Environmental exposure to metals among women, revealed their adverse effects on pregnancy. The fetus is exposed to these toxic elements only via the placenta which are able to accumulate there or cross it, compromising the protective functions of this organ. Numerous studies have shown associations between the prenatal exposition to some metals and an impact on cognitive, motor and intellectual development of the child. Sixty two placental samples were taken at delivery to determine the mineral content (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn) by ICP-OES. Among these metals, essential ones (B, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Zn) can have health beneficial effects at low levels however, in high concentration are potentially toxic. On the other hand, elements such as Al, Cd, Pb, are classified as toxic metals, no matter what its concentration is. The aim of this study is to find the potential relationships between these metals levels, newborn's parameters, pregnancy details and the epidemiologic information obtained using a questionnaire data from the participant pregnant women from Seville (Spain). The main maternal determinant of detectable placenta Cd levels was smoking during pregnancy. Other maternal factors that may affect placenta metal levels were gestational age (Al, B, Ba, and Pb) or dietary supplement (Fe). It has to be stressed that our results have to be interpreted with caution, because of the small study group and the low exposure levels, along with the lack of information on potential sources of exposure to these metals. The use of placenta samples obtained at delivery can be considered strength of this study since the concentration of some metals in placenta can indicate the extent of maternal exposure during gestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The mining activities performed in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (south of Spain) have generated since long-time acid mining drainage (AMD) inputs to the Odiel River and its tributaries. These inputs are continuing nowadays, with origin mostly in the abandoned mines that cover the area, provoking a steady-state situation where the river waters present very low pH and very high concentrations of different heavy metals. In this work, the behavior of several natural radionuclides (210Po, Th- and U-isotopes) in water and sediment samples collected in the Odiel River and its tributaries have been analyzed and their levels determined looking for assessing the radiological environmental impact of the AMD. Highlights • Radioactive NORM impact associated to acid mining drainage (AMD) have been analyzed. • Enhanced U and Th concentrations are present in waters affected by AMD. • Very high 234U/238U activity ratios have been also observed in the affected waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Río Tinto mining area provides ideal conditions for studying the role of colloidal particles in concentrating. All the elements are present in higher concentrations respect to their content in common natural waters. 234U/238U activity ratio ranges between 2.286 ± 0.149 and 2.531 ± 0.151. Concentration of Fe and Al are in the order of 104–103 mg/L; Co, Zn and Cu values are three times lower than Fe and Al, but still much greater than in natural waters; U reaches values up to 40.73 μg/L. To evaluate the partitioning of these elements into the colloidal fraction, ultrafiltration (UF) experiments were made. A permeation model describing the relationship between concentration of the elements or isotopes in the permeate solution and the concentration factor (CF) was calculated. Experiments were carried out using CF from 1.5 to 25.0. The behaviour of investigated heavy metals and U can be predicted by a permeation model that provides similar permeation coefficient (P c) for all of them (P c = 0.95–0.97 for 50 kDa, P c = 0.86–0.88 for 10 kDa, and P c = 0.80–0.86 for 3 kDa). Retention for all the investigated elements occurs, resulting in up to 23% of the element associated to the 3 kDa colloidal fraction. The increase in U and heavy metals concentrations in the retentate fraction with the increasing CF is due to the retention of the colloidal fraction. The colloidal abundance of related metals increased with decreasing membrane MWCO even though the difference is small between 3 and 10 kDa fraction for some metals Characterization of colloidal material is needed to better understand the state of play in this context. Highlights • Partitioning of U and selected heavy metals in dissolved and colloidal fractions in AMD conditions were examined. • UF with distinct MWCO was used and a permeation model to quantify the behaviour of U and selected metals was applied. • Metal concentrations much higher than those in natural waters were found and high 234U/238U in the water samples were observed. • Little colloidal metals in the size fraction 3–10 kDa are present, likely due to the strong acidic conditions. • Low concentrations of colloidal U in the study area were measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 120 sediments from 12 cores of Portman Bay (SE Spain) were studied to assess the degree of contamination and ecological risk related to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) by combining a geochemical and mineralogical characterization with the assessment of the bioavailable forms of trace metals (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn). With this purpose, sediment contamination was assessed by total and water-soluble content, and potential bioavailability by the simultaneously extracted metals and acid-volatile sulphides (SEM-AVS) approach, and by an oral bioaccessibility extraction procedure. The sediments are essentially sandy (>80%). The most important minerals are: iron phases such as siderite, iron oxides and hydroxides and pyrite; clay minerals such as clinochlore, greenalite and biotite; and quartz. Occasionally, jarosite and carbonates (calcite and dolomite) appear. The total PTEs content is high whereas the sediments generally have a very low soluble PTE content. The SEM/AVS ratio is less than unity in most samples, indicating that there is enough sulphur so that if there was a release of metals, they could precipitate as sulphides. After the bioaccessibility extraction, the results showed that zinc and cadmium are more bioaccessible in the intestinal environment (alkaline) while the rest of the elements have greater availability in the stomach (acid). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Biogeochemical processes occurring in lake sediments are crucial for element cycling. In acidic pit lakes, they play a major role in acidity neutralization and toxic metal immobilization. However, the relationship between bacterial activity (e.g., iron and sulfate reduction), mineral neoformation, and metal mobility is often difficult to establish and has been rarely reported. The aim of this study was to identify mineral products formed by bacterial activity and their influence on trace metal dynamics during early diagenesis.Materials and methods: The study focuses on several acidic pit lakes in SW Spain. We combined chemical analyses of intact sediment cores taken from shallow and deep zones with experimental sediment core incubations aimed at visualizing geochemical and mineralogical transformations occurring in the sediments during early diagenesis. The sediment incubations commenced with a total resuspension and homogenization and lasted for periods of several months. During this time, pore water and overlying water was extracted and analyzed to record geochemical changes. The sediments were also sectioned and chemically analyzed after the experiments to investigate carbon, nutrient, sulfur, iron, and trace metal mobility. Intact sediment cores were analyzed by sequential extraction and differential X-ray diffraction to examine metal speciation and the presence of secondary minerals not detectable by conventional techniques.Results and discussion: Shallow sediments are more biogeochemically reactive due to their higher organic carbon content. In columns prepared with these littoral sediments, a sharp pH gradient appeared in the upper 4 cm soon after the beginning of the incubations, suggesting alkalinity generation and concentration of microbial metabolisms (iron and sulfate reduction). This pH gradient provokes the precipitation of Al and leads to the formation of a milky, gelatinous layer in the water/sediment interface. This layer quickly dehydrates and recrystallizes to more stable phases. At the same time, bacterially produced H2S reacts with different metals (Cu, Zn) which are thus immobilized in the sediments as secondary sulfides. However, these two metals are also removed from solution by purely abiotic mechanisms like sorption or coprecipitation.Conclusions: Carbon seems to be the major factor limiting bacterially mediated metal and acidity attenuation in sediments of these acidic pit lakes. Metal immobilization is not a simple process and takes place through a combination of direct precipitation (Al oxyhydroxysulfates, Cu and Zn sulfides) and indirect mechanisms (sorption, coprecipitation, cation exchange). The precipitation of Al is of prime importance for pH buffering and immobilization of other metals (Cu, Zn). This process is not evident in routine chemical analyses of sediment cores, but it can be inferred by a combination of experimental and laboratory techniques such as the ones used here. P and N fertilization of these pit lakes would greatly increase the natural rates of acidity neutralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An incubation experiment of juvenile crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) following a three- level treatment design approach was performed to assess the effect of different heavy metal concentrations on their life history traits (lifespan, growth, moult and feeding activity). The aims were to: (1) address the response of the life traits; (2) check for the correlation between heavy metal concentrations in crayfish whole bodies with the ones of the experimental solutions; (3) analyse the variation of crayfish carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes signatures grown under these treatments. Treatments were: control or absence of pollutants (C); low level contamination (L) similar to those found in the water of the Guadiamar River (SW, Spain) one year after the Aznalcóllar mine accident, and high level contamination (H) maximum concentrations of metals measured in the water of the river after the spill. The study concludes that the H treatment produced lethal effects on juveniles of crayfish, whereas those undergoing the L treatment showed less marked effects. Crayfish's juveniles grown in L treatment seemed able to regulate and manage this range of pollution while maintaining their biological traits. Juvenile's capacity to bioaccumulate toxic substances also changes with the nature of the particular metals. The reduction in lifespan was mainly influenced by Cu, Zn and As. 13C of C and juveniles from L treatment had similar values but different from those individuals of H treatment, reflecting the isotopic signature of the food source used (liver), and were also influenced by the concentration of Cu and As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Among the threats to air, soil, and water posed by urbanization, heavy metals appear particularly hazardous. Playgrounds and sport facilities are unique urban places, widely used by children and youth. The aim of this research was to evaluate heavy metal pollution in urban soils, identify relationships among topsoil metal distributions, and assess related health risks in two Polish cities – Warsaw and Bydgoszcz. According to the Regulation of the Polish Minister of the Environment guidelines for total content of Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd and Co our study sites were classified as uncontaminated. Applied Geoaccumulation Index (I geo ; Müller, 1969) largely confirmed this classification, with only two of the investigated Warsaw areas "moderately polluted" with Pb. Generally, only Pb and Zn concentrations exceeded reference background levels for Polish soils. The highest concentrations of Pb and Zn were found in the city centers, the oldest areas where pollution risk is potentially the highest. Metal mobility and solubility were mainly correlated with total content, indicating potential risk from lead and zinc. At some sites in Warsaw, where mean Pb concentration was 87.25 mg kg−1 and Zn 207.25 mg kg−1, health risks from ingestion and inhalation seemed significant, particularly for children. In Bydgoszcz use of the studied playgrounds and sport facility areas did not pose a risk to human health. Finally, the study (especially in Warsaw) indicates the need for continued monitoring and suggests lowering permissible limits of these metals in soils, especially in recreational areas, may decrease childrens' exposure risk to these pollutants. Highlights • Urban soils of playgrounds and sport facilities are special places in the cities. • The main source of metals was atmospheric deposition. • Concentrations of Pb and Zn indicates potential human health risk. • Metal solubility and mobility were correlated with the total content. • The study indicated the need for lowering the permissible limits of metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]