Search

This paper describes commonly used processes to produce aviation fuel and alternative routes with potential production yields for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) like HEFA and ATJ. It also presents the possible sources (crude oil, refinery processes), causes (filter clogging, engine failure), and forms of contamination in both conventional and alternatively produced aviation fuels. Special attention is focused on the threats of fuel contamination with solid particles/trace elements, water, microorganisms, and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). This review also presents the standard and novel advanced methods (ICP-MS, MALDI, ViPA) for identifying contaminations in aviation fuel. It also identifies possible ways to control and eliminate the risk of contamination, such as the fallowing coherent JIG system to ensure the quality of aviation fuel. Another approach that is very interesting and worth considering for future development is the idea of predictive maintenance and machine learning in monitoring and detecting contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of one metalloid (As) and eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in tissues (muscle, liver, and kidney) of eight snake species (Bothrops neuwiedi, Crotalus durissus, Dipsas mikanii, Epicrates crassus, Helicops modestus, Micrurus carvalhoi, Oxyrhopus guibei, and Oxyrhopus trigeminus) from Lagoa Santa Karst. Except for Cu and Zn, all other analyzed elements were detected in concentrations within the ranges previously reported for snakes inhabiting polluted areas, emphasizing Hg (specific Hg mean concentrations varied from 0.87 to 9.76 μg g−1 d.w). The highest mean concentrations of all elements except Zn were found in muscle samples of the false corals O. guibei (means ranged from 2.01 [Pb] to 9.76 [Hg]). The highest Zn mean concentration (13.77 μg g−1 d.w) was detected in the kidney of the water snake H. modestus. No significant correlation was found between element concentrations and body size for all species. Significant interorgan differences were observed for As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the three tissues in H. modestus. Significant interspecific differences were found in at least one organ for all elements. Significant pairwise differences were found between diet specialist species and between these species and broader diet species, while no significant difference was found between the broader diet species. The bioaccumulation of As and metals in snakes from Lagoa Santa Karst could be associated with natural rock dissolution and erosion processes but also with the wide-scale mining in the region and the increased agriculture and urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toxic element concentrations including As, Hg, Pb, Zn, Cr, Co, Cu, Cd, and Mn were assessed in lignite mining areas of the Kutch district of Gujarat. It was assessed mainly in land uses like reclaimed mine soil, core zone soil, roadside soil, and reference agricultural soil along the soil layer of different depths. Roadside soil has the highest concentration of mercury (5.36 mg/kg), arsenic (18.2 mg/kg), lead (34.5 mg/kg), and manganese (464 mg/kg). In comparison, the core zone soil has the highest concentration of zinc (93.4 mg/kg), chromium (52.3 mg/kg), cobalt (19.2 mg/kg), and cadmium (5.65 mg/kg), respectively. Numerous soil indices including contamination factor, geo-accumulation index, ecological risk factor (ERF), and ecological risk index (ERI) showed that the study area lies within the moderate contamination to very high contamination zone and moderately polluted to the unpolluted range. The (Eif) (Hg) for roadside soil and core zone soil indicated high potential ecological risk category, while reclaimed mine site indicated considerable potential ecological risk. The Eif (Cd) in all sites in the mining area (121–327) can be put under high potential ecological risk, and the rest of the metals (As, Pb, Zn, Co, Cu, Cr, and Mn) can be put under low ecological risk category. In the three sites (i.e., reclaimed mine site, roadside soil, and core zone soil), core zone soil of (10–20 cm) showed the highest ERI value of 660.48 (10–20 cm), indicating high ecological risk. Cd and Hg contribute to 48% and 38% of ERI value. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) suggested that the Cu and Mn were closely linked with each other and derived from similar origin and geo-chemical composition. The results of this study interpreted that the soil near the lignite mining area was contaminated with toxic elements. It is, therefore, recommended that the routine toxic element monitoring in the soil sample of the examined area should be done, and remediation action should be advised to prevent the accumulation of toxic elements in the soil and further into the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal contamination of the environment poses a significant threat to human health and can cause significant damage to aquatic ecosystems. Danio rerio was exposed to Sorocaba River water for 96 h from two different sites in summer (S) and winter (W). Concentrations of Al, Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn were determined in the exposure water and in sediment. At the end of the exposure, the concentrations of Al, Cu and Mn at the Ibiúna point (P1) and Mn at the Itupararanga point (P2) decreased compared to the initial concentrations in the water. In summer and winter, the highest concentrations of Cu and Mn were found in the sediment. Exposure to the Sorocaba River water caused various responses both in summer and winter. For example, GPx decreased in winter, Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) increased in summer, and Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) decreased in both seasons in the viscera. In winter, SOD Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) increased, while GPx and GST (winter) decreased in muscle; regarding viscera carbonyl proteins, there was an increase in the summer at P2. Acetylcholinesterase activity decreased in the brain in winter at P2 and NOS decreased in the summer-exposed groups and increased in the winter P2-exposed group. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) decreased in viscera (S, P1) and increased in muscle (S, P1 and P2). The glucose and triglycerides increased in muscle, both in summer and winter. Correlation analysis revealed associations between biomarkers from different organs. These alterations suggest that the fish experienced oxidative stress in response to exposure to the Sorocaba River, contaminated with metals, highlighting their vulnerability to environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic environments, such as fluvial environments, play an important role in the transport of material from throughout the basin, and this material partially sediments along the way. The objective of this study was to analyze, from an ecotoxicological point of view, the concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in sediment and the muscle of native fish, to correlate their interaction and to evaluate the potential risk to public health using carcinogenic risk indices in four rivers of the Peruvian Amazon. There were 27 sampling sites where sediment and fish (except for five points) samples were collected. A sampling pool was created with fish muscles from all species collected at each sampling site. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg were analyzed in both sediment and fish muscle, in duplicate. The results indicate the presence of concentrations higher than those recommended by international guidelines for sediment and food. Mercury (Hg) concentrations in the Tigre, Morona, and Pastaza rivers are up to six times higher than the recommended value for daily consumption. The carcinogenic risk due to the regular consumption of native species in the indigenous communities living on the banks of the four studied rivers is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 2021 (n = 15) and 2022 (n = 13) summers, we measured the total and dissolved (<0.45 μm) concentration of 25 elements in Utah Lake using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) with detection limits in the order of a few parts-per-billion (ppb). This resulted in 1400 measurements, which is a unique dataset in terms of sensitivity and temporal resolution. Regulated elements are not commonly measured at the ppb-level; thus, these data provide insight into both the behavior and existence of these elements in an aquatic environment and have implications for both the management and regulation of the lake. Utah regulates twelve of these elements. While ICP-OES has ppb-level sensitivity, it is not the approved regulatory analysis method for these elements. All regulations are for dissolved concentrations, except aluminum (Al) and phosphorus (P), which are for total recovery. We found total Al above the allowable concentration, but dissolved concentrations were well below allowable concentrations. We attribute high total concentrations to suspended clays. This suggests that regulatory methods should be reviewed for lakes with a high suspended-solid content. Dissolved copper (Cu) concentrations were below regulatory levels in 2021, but some samples were above regulatory levels in 2022. This could be related to the use of Cu-based algaecide treatments, or from other sources. Lead (Pb) data were inconclusive; dissolved Pb concentrations were well below the acute (1 h average) limit, but the chronic concentration limit (4 h average) was below the ICP-OES minimal detection limit. Arsenic (As) concentrations exhibited a seasonal trend that we attribute to groundwater inflows—they were below regulatory levels for aquatic environments but around the levels for drinking water. This ppb-level study with high temporal resolution provides insight into regulated elements in Utah Lake previously not available due to the high sensitivity of the method and measurements of both total and dissolved concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Source water quality is a key determinant of drinking water quality. The recast European Union 2020/2184 Drinking Water Directive (DWD) introduced the obligation for comprehensive risk assessment in drinking water supplies, including hazard assessment of the water source. The DWD also requires further elements of natural origin to be monitored, including U, Ca, Mg and K. The current study is the first comprehensive assessment of 15 natural elements (B, Ba, Be, Ca, Co, K, Li, Mg, Mo, Na, Se, Sr, Ti, U and V) in 1155 (82%) Hungarian drinking water sources, including surface water, bank filtered and groundwater sources. Parameters posing a risk to health (Se, V and U) were typically below the limit of quantification (LOQ), but higher concentrations (max. 7.0, 17 and 41 µg/L, respectively) may occur in confined locations. U exceeded the DWD parametric value in one water supply. Mg and Ca in the majority of the water supplies and Li in a small geographic area reached the concentration range assumed to be protective to health. Water sources were grouped in six clusters based on their elemental distribution, some of them also showing clear geographical patterns. Surface and groundwater sources were not differentiated by composition, with the exception of karstic waters (dominated by Ca and Mg). None of the investigated parameters are expected to be a source of public health concern on a national level, but local occurrences of U and Se should be investigated and managed on a case-by-case basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of the appropriate biomonitor species is a crucial criterion for biomonitoring on a broad spatial scale. Mosses Hypnum cupressiforme and Brachythecium spp. and lichen Evernia prunastri were sampled at 22 remote sites over Serbia aiming interspecies comparison of their bioconcentration capacities. The concentration of 16 potentially toxic elements (PTEs), Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sr, V, and Zn, was measured in the samples. Between the co-located mosses, linear regression analysis (type II) showed significant determination coefficients only for a couple of the elements (Cd and S), while for H. cupressiforme vs. lichen, significant regression lines were obtained for a broader set of elements (Ba, Cd, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Sr). The ratio of the PTEs in the mosses discovered higher concentrations in H. cupressiforme than in another moss at some sites and vice versa at other sites. According to the PTE ratios, H. cupressiforme accumulated much more element content than the lichen, but followed a similar spatial pattern. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) pointed out a different grouping of the PTEs depending on the species tested. The poor correlation of the moss-moss data is perhaps because several species of the genus Brachythecium were sampled, which possibly influenced the average genus accumulation capacity. In addition, morphological features of the mosses (concave vs. flat leaflets, creeping vs. cushiony life form) presumably delegate differences in PTE accumulation. To conclude, it should be careful with using more biomonitor species, even of the same genus, within the same study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of thermal spring waters (TSWs) in the treatment of dermatological disease has been described by several authors, as have their benefits in treating certain skin conditions, among which atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, seborrhea, seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, and sensitive skin can be cited. It has been postulated that the mechanisms involved include chemical, thermal, mechanical, and immunological effects, and the chemical composition of thermal water is crucial in its skin effects. Thus, in this review, the effects of the different anions, cations, trace elements, and other compounds present in TSW were investigated, showing that the benefits of TSW can be mainly linked to its content of chloride, sulfate, and bicarbonate anions; calcium, sodium, and magnesium cations; and, among its trace elements, boron, selenium, strontium, manganese, and zinc, which are those with greater influence. Other compounds such as SiO2, sulfur anions, and CO2 can also exert specific effects. As a whole, the specific effects can be summarized as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, wound healing improvement, skin hydration, and skin barrier recovery activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a comparison of the concentrations of eight heavy metals (including Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, As, Cd, and Hg) was conducted between wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus. Significant differences in the concentrations of Zn, Cd, As, and Hg were observed between wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus. The results showed that the mean Zn concentration was significantly higher in cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus (3.051 ± 0.738 mg/kg) when compared to its wild counterpart (2.512 ± 0.407 mg/kg). In contrast, the mean Cd concentration was found to be lower in the cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus (0.001 ± 0.0007 mg/kg) than in the wild ones (0.003 ± 0.003 mg/kg). Likewise, the wild samples demonstrated a higher mean As concentration (1.494 ± 0.659 mg/kg) than the cultured samples (0.594 ± 0.215 mg/kg). Lastly, it was noted that the mean Hg concentration was considerably higher in the cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus (0.042 ± 0.016 mg/kg) than in the wild specimens (0.014 ± 0.011 mg/kg). Pollution levels and health risks were evaluated using the single-factor pollution index (SFI), metal pollution index (MPI), and health risk assessment methods. The results showed that, for Cu, Zn, Cr, and Cd, both wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus had SFI values below 1 compared to the marine organism quality standards. The MPI values for wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus were 0.188 ± 0.051 and 0.172 ± 0.054, respectively, both far below the safety limit of 2 for pollution-free aquatic products. The Hazard Index (HI) for wild and cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus were below 1, indicating no health risks from long-term consumption. A discriminant analysis, based on Zn, Cd, As, and Hg concentrations, distinguished wild from cultured Oplegnathus fasciatus with a 96.0% accuracy, remaining stable at over 94.9% upon cross-validation. These findings accurately evaluate that there is no risk to human health from consuming Oplegnathus fasciatus, which is significant in safeguarding public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the northern regions, seasonal temperature fluctuations cause cyclic thawing and freezing of soils and rocks, which is accompanied by dangerous natural phenomena, including landslides. Special conditions arise on the mountain slopes of many reservoirs due to the fluctuations of water levels and the interaction of humified waters with rocks. The paper presents the results of an experimental study of the biotransformation of sodium humate (SH) and changes in the microstructure of the surface of silicate rock that is a part of the Bureya landslide body under various conditions of cyclic freezing–thawing (CFT). Freezing of samples was carried out at a temperature of –18°C, and thawing at different temperature ranges (+4 and +23°C). The role of biogenic factor was played by four strains of microorganisms isolated from the surface and bottom waters in the Bureya Reservoir above and below the landslide body. The nature of the SH biotransformation during CFT was studied by spectral methods at different wavelengths (254, 275, and 465 nm). Analysis of the composition of water-soluble forms of chemical elements in an aqueous environment during rock destruction was carried out by ICP-MS, and changes in the surface microstructure was studied using scanning electron microscopy. It was found that the aromatic component of SH was subjected to the most intense transformation. After CFT, the strain Actinomyces sp. 45VD isolated from bottom waters showed maximum activity at a thawing temperature of +4°C relative to SH and leaching of elements from rock (Al, Ca, Mg, Mn). Its activity was comparable to the intensity of element leaching by a natural microbial consortium of non-sterile rock. Rocks subjected to CFT in deionized water were used for comparison; in this case, the content of water-soluble forms of many chemical elements (Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Ag, Cd, Tl, Bi, As) was below the detection limits (<0.001). The high biogeochemical activity of Actinomyces sp. 45VD is confirmed by the analysis of SEM-images of the microstructure of the silicate rock surface and the formation of a wide variety of isomorphic biominerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical heterogeneity of large river ecosystems generates a mosaic of habitats that support diverse fish communities. Understanding the connectivity between habitats and exploited fish populations is necessary for the sustainable management of fisheries. This study evaluates the spatial concordance between elemental fingerprints of fish otoliths and surface waters in the St. Lawrence River (Canada) and its tributaries. We sampled 16 tributaries and various freshwater habitats of the St. Lawrence River and collected 136 water samples and 930 fish, representing 21 species. We observed a high spatial variability of trace element composition in the water and fish otolith samples. Reclassification using Sr and Ba concentrations of the collected water and otoliths was sufficiently accurate to correctly assign most fish to their capture region. We also observed significant variation in the elemental deposition relationships for Sr and Ba among fish families. The development of this elemental fingerprint reference database is fundamental for understanding the structure of exploited fish populations, validating the connectivity among habitats, and reconstructing habitat use by invasive fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, concentrations of Fe, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Cu in blood and muscle samples and maternal transfer of these elements to eggs and hatchlings were investigated for hawksbill turtles on Ommolgorm, Nakhiloo, and Kharko Islands from the Persian Gulf. The results indicate a significant difference (p≤0.05) between the accumulations of the elements between the rookeries. On three islands, the highest and lowest concentrations of Fe were observed in the yolk and albumin, respectively. The highest concentrations of Zn were found in yolk and maternal muscle from Ommolgorm and Nakhiloo islands, and the lowest concentration of Zn was found in hatchling and abnormal albumin at Kharko Island. The highest amount of As was present in maternal blood, and the lowest was in an abnormal egg on three islands. The highest amount of Hg was in maternal blood and muscle, and the lowest was in normal and abnormal eggs. The highest Pb concentration was in yolk and the lowest was in maternal muscle and blood in Ommolgorm and Nakhiloo Island; however, at Kharko Island, the highest and lowest concentrations were in yolk and normal albumin, respectively. Cd and Cu were ND in the most tissues. Fe, As, Hg, and Pb were higher than Cd and Cu in the maternal blood. The accumulation of heavy metals in the yolk, blood, and hatchling was higher than in other tissues. The accumulation of some elements in samples from Kharko Island was higher than on the other two islands. Based on the results, a significant relationship was found among the concentrations of elements in the maternal blood, yolk, and hatchling tissue. Our results showed a positive correlation between the concentrations in the maternal blood and yolk and hatchling tissue, which confirms maternal transfer of the elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the bioaccumulation of metals in raw, heat treated -and sterilized Rapa whelk, and evaluated the consumer risks for human consumption. All of the metals, with the exception of Mn, were found to be lower than the permissible FAO standards. A remarkable amount of metal was released into the boiling water (Al, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn) after heat treatment and hypochlorite solution (Al, As, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se, Zn). After sterilization, the levels for As, Mo, Cd, Sb, Cr, Zn, Se, Cu, and Hg in Rapa whelk were reduced by 47.4%, 40.1%, 24.9%, 20.3%, 17.5%, 4.5%, 3.6%, 0.93%, and 0.68%, respectively. The metals in Rapa whelk exposed to hypochlorite immersion were found to be below permissible upper limits. The target hazard quotients for the noncarcinogenic risks of consuming sterilized Rapa whelk were below "1" (THQ<1), showing "no potential health risks" for adult men, women and children when consuming sterilized Rapa whelk. Indeed, Rapa whelk could be a good source of Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, and Zn to meet the daily recommended quantities in food, when consumed regularly. However, the cancer risks of As, Cd, Ni, and Pb proved to be over "acceptable levels"; hence, the safe consumption limits determined in this study are advisable when consuming Rapa whelk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the levels of As, Ag, Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Pb, Se, and Zn in muscle samples of six fish species (Pygocentrus nattereri, Serrasalmus marginatus, Mylossoma duriventre, Leporinus friderici, Pimelodus argenteus, and P. pantaneiro) highly consumed by local riverine and non-resident people in middle Miranda River, southern Brazilian Pantanal. Significant differences were detected for Ba, Fe, Mn, and Zn levels among the analyzed species. Pairwise comparison detected significant differences in element levels between species with similar diets, which implies that other factors, instead of species' feeding habits, could be involved in distinct levels of element bioaccumulation. Significant correlations between body size and concentrations were found for Ba in P. nattereri (moderate positive correlation), and for Mn in M. duriventre (weak positive correlation) and P. argenteus (moderate negative correlation). Levels exceeding tolerable daily intake (TDI) were found for Pb maximum concentrations in P. nattereri, M. duriventre, L. friderici, P. argenteus, and P. pantaneiro, and for Cd maximum concentration in P. argenteus. Health risk assessment indicated considerable risk only for the worst-case scenario (calculated from maximum concentrations) for all species. Adopting a Pb monitoring program in biotic and abiotic compartments in Miranda River is strongly recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the migration, transformation, and clustering characteristics of trace elements in the abandoned mining areas before and after the rain, using rainfall as a basis. The precipitation-driven factors and the potential migration direction of metals in a highly complex soil-surface water-groundwater system were studied. The local spatial auto-correlation analysis used the Moran index to implement LISA clustering, and to clarify the effect of rainfall on the accumulation and dispersion of metals in different environmental mediums of mining areas. The results show that the spatial clustering of Cd, Pb, Cr, Hg, and As is observed in the topsoil, with mean concentrations of 0.23, 30.07, 236.38, 1.32 and 5.60 mg·kg−1, respectively. Rainfall significantly increased the concentrations of trace elements in the shallow groundwater, and therefore drove water circulation in the watershed. Moreover, trace element ions are migrated with the watershed water. The rainfall led to the migration of at least 13.37% Pb, 10.44% Cr, 29.55% Hg, and 15.71% As from the topsoil, with some exhibiting spatial clustering or appearing as outliers in surface water and groundwater. Pb tends to migrate laterally into the soil in the study area, whereas Cr and As exhibit the characteristics of vertical migration. Hg shows a propensity for both lateral and vertical migration simultaneously. Consequently, trace elements in the soil and water exhibit strong spatial influences in mining areas, resulting in high spatial heterogeneity. Furthermore, trace elements showed greater susceptibility to vertical migration in gold mining areas, and lateral migration with water recharge in iron mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The adsorption mechanism of superabsorbent polymer (SAP) can provide theoretical guidance for their practical applications in different environments. However, there has been limited research on the mechanism of attapulgite–sodium polyacrylate. This research aimed to compare the Cd(II) adsorption characteristics and water retention properties of organic–inorganic composite SAP (attapulgite–sodium polyacrylate, OSAP) and organic SAP (polyacrylamide, JSAP). Batch experiments were used to investigate the kinetics of Cd(II) adsorption, as well as the thermodynamic properties and factors influencing these properties. The results show that the Cd(II) adsorption capacity was directly proportional to the pH value. The maximum adsorption capacities of OSAP and JSAP were of 770 and 345 mg·g−1. The Cd(II) adsorption for OSAP and JSAP conformed to the Langmuir and the quasi-second-order kinetic model. This indicates that chemical adsorption is the primary mechanism. The adsorption process was endothermic (ΔH0 > 0) and spontaneous (ΔG0 < 0). The water adsorption ratios of OSAP and SAP were 474.8 and 152.6 in pure water. The ratio decreases with the increase in Cd(II) concentration. OSAP and JSAP retained 67.23% and 38.37% of the initial water adsorption after six iterations of water adsorption. Hence, OSAP is more suitable than JSAP for agricultural and environmental ecological restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional (2D) materials are attracting much attention as emerging photocatalytic water splitting candidates in green and clean energy applications. In this work, we designed four 2D materials, ZnPS 3 , ZnPSe 3 , CdPS 3 and CdPSe 3 , which possess high stability, moderate band-gaps (2.24–3.29 eV), and anisotropic carrier mobilities of 192.26 ─ 676.04 cm2/Vs. Besides, they also have suitable band edges of REDOX at PH = 0, which can simultaneously drive photocatalytic water splitting to produce H 2 and O 2 , and show acceptable free energy for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of 0.89–1.20 eV. Moreover, monolayer ZnPSe 3 and CdPSe 3 can deliver strong absorption coefficients (∼105 cm−1) from visible to ultraviolet light. As a result, they have excellent solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 18.39% and 19.70%, suggesting they are promising photocatalytic candidates for overall water splitting. • 2D ZnPS 3 , ZnPSe 3 , CdPS 3 and CdZnSe 3 have high stability, as well as low cleavage energies of 0.21–0.25 J/m2. • They are indirect semiconductors with band-gaps of 2.24–3.29 eV, and show mobilities of 192.26–676.04 cm2/Vs at 300 K. • They also have suitable REDOX band-edges, which can drive photocatalytic water splitting to produce H 2 and O 2. • Monolayer ZnPSe 3 and CdPSe 3 have excellent solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 18.39% and 19.70%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA novel method has been developed for accurately quantifying arsenic species, including As(III), As(V), and total inorganic arsenic, in drinking water. The technique combines ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry with cloud point extraction (UV/CPE), ensuring high sensitivity and selectivity. The methodology relies on complex formation between As(III) and Pyronin B in the presence of tartaric acid. The resulting complex is efficiently extracted into the surfactant-rich phase consisting of 5.0% (v/v) Triton X-114. Under optimized conditions, a linear calibration relationship from 3 to 500 µg/L is obtained. The method offers low detection and quantification limits of 1.04 and 3.48 µg/L, respectively, with a corresponding relative standard deviation below 5% for 11 replicates. Furthermore, spiked samples demonstrated excellent recovery values from 95.1% to 102.3%. The accuracy was verified by the analysis of the standard reference material SRM 1643e (trace elements in water), revealing no significant differences at the 95% confidence level. The approach was successfully utilized for the quantification of As(III), As(V), and total inorganic arsenic in commercial and domestic drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the last part of the Hercynian cycle in the Yangtze region, the Dongwu Movement included the eruption of the Emeishan large igneous province (ELIP) and was an essential event between the Guadalupian and Lopingian, which had significant implications for the paleo-oceanic environment and paleoclimate of the area. To study the changes in the sedimentary environment in the Guadalupian and Lopingian, the Zhenba section was selected, and its trace elements and rare earth elements (REEs) were analyzed. From analysis of the trace elements and REEs in the Guadalupian, the limestone samples had prominent typical shallow-water seawater deposition characteristics and were less affected by terrigenous detritus, which was in an arid oxidation environment; Sr/Cu ranged from 4 to 1381, the Rb/Sr value was low, δCe < 1, Ceanom < −0.1, Er/Nd ranged from 0.1 to 0.27, and Y/Ho ranged from 44 to 72. However, in the Lopingian, the limestone samples were more affected by terrigenous detritus, which was in a humid climate with a weak oxidation‒reduction environment; the Sr/Cu ranged from 1 to 656, the Rb/Sr value was high, δCe ≅ 1, Ceanom ≥ −0.1, Er/Nd < 0.1, and Y/Ho ranged from 26 to 44. The geochemical diagrams of TiO2‒Al2O3, Al2O3‒REE, La‒Th‒Sc, Th‒Co‒Zr/10, Th‒Sc‒Zr/10 and 87Sr/86Sr of a sample indicated that the terrigenous detritus of the sample mainly came from the South Qinling active continental margin, rather than the weathering of Emeishan basalt. Acid bentonite came from the Paleo-Tethys island arc or the island arc formed by the subduction of the South China Plate beneath the North China Plate, rather than the ELIP. This evidence supported the view that the North China Plate potentially collided with the South China Plate in middle to late Wujiaping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A porous, low-cost, organic, amorphous and carbon-nitride functionalized polymer was synthesized using melamine and 5-bromo-2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde. One-pot polycondensation method was opted, to yield hyper-crosslinked polyaminal network which was used for the detection of NaOCl and Hg2+. Reaction proceeds in single step without addition of any catalyst and gives promising yield. The authenticity of the synthesized polymer MB was established using X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). However, the morphology and thermal stability of MB was studied using X-Ray diffraction (XRD) & Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) & Differential thermal analysis (DTA) respectively. BET studies were carried out to analyze the porous structure of MB. The pore diameter is centred at 6.2851 nm with specific surface area of 24.348 m2 g–1 and pore volume of 0.038258 cm3 g–1. The TGA curve showed that it has a good thermal stability (250°C). The synthesized compound was checked for its sensing behaviour with different analytes (metal ions: Cu2+, Cr2+, Mg2+, Cd2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Hg2+; acids: HCl, H2SO4, HNO3 and ROS: t-BuOOH, KO2, NaOCl) in deionized water and was found to show significant change in intensity with NaOCl and Hg2+. The change in absorption spectra was observed at varied concentrations of NaOCl and Hg2+ solutions in deionized water using UV-Vis. Spectrophotometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dust is a mineral aerosol of the atmosphere that often contains trace elements such as As, Cd, and Pb. Lhù'ààn Mân' (Kluane Lake), located in southwestern Yukon, is a region of frequent dust activity. In 2016, the lake level fell due to a dramatic decrease in inflow from glacier meltwater, and the delta of the lake became an important source of dust to surrounding ecosystems. To determine the impacts of dust deposition on vegetation and soil trace element concentrations and characteristics, we sampled the lichen Peltigera canina and soil layers at 57 sites along a deposition gradient located 1.4–33.6 km downwind from the principal dust source. Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb in lichens were negatively correlated with the distance away from the dust source, with the highest correlations in Ni and Pb (r2 = 0.50 and 0.48, respectively). Lichen and tree abundances were negatively impacted by dust deposition, suggesting that dust can affect ecosystem vegetation composition. Starting 8 km away from the dust source, the concentrations of As, Ni, and Pb decreased by more than 50% per km, while Cd and Cu concentrations decreased by more than 40% per km. Overall, within the sampled ecosystems, soil pH is 1.4 times higher in the first 8 km from the dust source while carbon content and nutrients are lower, which implies changes in nutrient availability and cycling in dust‐affected ecosystems. Plain Language Summary: The delta of Lhù'ààn Mân' (Kluane Lake), located in southwest Yukon and on the traditional lands of Kluane First Nation, Champagne‐Aishihik First Nation, and White River First Nation, is an area where dust often settles and climate change has accelerated the melting of glaciers since the last ice age. Due to reduced glacier water flowing into the lake, the sediments in the delta are more exposed to wind, creating dust storms. To understand the impacts of dust deposition within the surrounding ecosystems, we assessed the levels of trace metals in lichens and soils across a gradient from the delta to the lake. We found that distance from the dust source affected trace metal concentrations in lichens, surface soils, and vegetation. It is essential to understand how these metals spread as they can be potentially toxic and harmful to ecosystems and humans. Key Points: Dust deposition, indicated by high trace element concentrations, is higher closest to the delta of the Ä'ą̈y Chù' into Lhù'ààn Mân'Evidence for dust deposition at Lhù'ààn Mân' can be found in trace elements of the 0–2 cm soil layer and lichens influenced by distanceVegetation characteristics are impacted by dust deposition more than soil characteristics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, five potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Hg, Pb, As, Zn, and Cu) and five physicochemical factors (pH, dissolved oxygen, salinity, chlorophyll a, and chemical oxygen demand) relating to surface seawater were measured along the coast of Guangdong Province (GD), China, during three seasons in 2019. Comprehensive analyses were conducted to explore the distribution characteristics, pollution degrees, and influencing factors of PTE. The results showed that the concentrations of PTE varied spatially and seasonally due to these elements' complex sources and behaviors. Pb was the most abundant toxic element, reaching considerable contamination levels. Overall, the average pollution degrees of Cu, As, and Zn were higher around the east coast of GD, while Hg and Pb levels were higher in the west coast region of GD. The correlation analysis showed that the variation of different physicochemical parameters had different degrees of influence on PTE transport and transformation. This study can help environmental managers gain deeper insight into the influence of complex factors on PTE and improve the efficiency of pollution control in this significant subtropical coastal area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was conducted to determine the residues of Zn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Hg, Pb, and As in the edible tissues of Sander lucioperca. Total of 20 fish individuals collected from Lake Balık, Samsun were analysed by using ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer). All metal values in the muscle of S. lucioperca were quite low. Fe is the highest concentration (4.07 mg/kg), whereas Cd had the lowest Cd (0.007 mg/kg). Therefore, it can be said that the bioaccumulation of metals in pike‐perch did not go over the acceptable limits established for these metals by national and international organisations. The hazard quotients (HQs) for individual elements and the hazard index (HI) were all <1 in S. lucioperca, showing no danger by these chemicals when consumed by infants, children, and adults. The RIs for Pb were between 1.45 × 10−7 and 4.30 × 10−7, indicating their insignificant carcinogenic risks, whereas for As these values were between 2.78 × 10−5 and 1.06 × 10−4, indicating their tolerable or acceptable carcinogenic risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leachate from municipal waste contains volatile organic compounds and potentially toxic metals. The leaching of which into water sources also jeopardizes access to clean water. Therefore, reducing the concentration of pollutants in leachate is important to reduce health risks and environmental pollution. In this study, the efficacy of granulated organic leonardite added to leachate from municipal waste in reducing the toxic concentrations of the leachate for different time points (30, 60, 90, and 120 min) at a shaking speed of 200 rpm was investigated. Results demonstrated that leonardite significantly removed various contaminants, including organic acids (71.16%), alcohols (74.31%), aldehydes (68.01%), esters (78.28%), ethers (81.03%), ketones (68.52%), hydrocarbons (84.25%), N compounds (78.56%), S compounds (80.67%), organic N (86.01%), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (93.26%), NH4‐N (84.83%), NO3‐N (89.30%), SO4 (76.62%), PO4 (73.85%), organic C (50.07%), Hg (96.80%), Pb (95.99%), Cu (82.68%), Al (65.56%), total Cr (98.11%), Cd (99.28%), Li (96.31%), Ni (97.27%), and As (67.79%). The leonardite granules used in this study showed high adsorption and removal performance for organic/inorganic and volatile compounds in landfill leachate. These results indicate that leonardite can be a suitable adsorption material for leachate pretreatment. However, it is necessary to perform a durability test to use the material in the long term as a covering on landfills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of arsenic (As) in rice grain was reported in many regions of the world, including the United States, which has been a threat to human health. This field research investigated the grain As accumulation and its relationship with the uptake of selenium (Se), molybdenum (Mo), and cadmium (Cd) in soils with and without monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) amended, as effects of selected rice cultivars and water management. Results indicated that MSMA increased the accumulation of As and Se but decreased Mo for all six cultivars under four irrigation management. MSMA also increased grain-Cd in some cultivars. In no MSMA-amended soil (Native soil), intermittent flooding decreased grain-As by 66%, grain-Se by 21%, and grain-Mo by 63%, but increased grain-Cd by 64% in Zhe 733, a straighthead resistant cultivar, while in MSMA-amended soil, intermittent flooding decreased grain-As by 63% and grain-Mo by 44% but increased grain-Se by 68% and grain-Cd by three times. For all other five cultivars, intermittent flooding generally decreased grain-As and grain-Mo but increased grain-Se and grain-Cd. Zhe 733 cultivar resulted in the lowest grain concentrations of all trace elements in all water treatments. A negative grain As-Se correlation and a positive grain As-Mo correlation were significant but not the As-Cd correlation. This research showed that the uptake of As, Se, Mo, and Cd by rice grain occurred as a complex function of multiple variables, including cultivar type and soil chemistry. As a result, accumulation of As and other trace elements in rice grain may be controlled by selecting appropriate cultivars and adopting appropriate water management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Routine analysis of inorganic analytes in whole water samples from rivers (unfiltered river water) is rarely reported in scientific publications. However, this sample type is valuable and often used in long-term monitoring, regulation, and catchment element budgets, as it includes the dissolved, colloidal, and particulate fraction in one sample type. Preservation measures are not needed and solid–liquid partitioning can be disregarded, which simplifies automated sampling and storage procedures. In this study, we provide several digestion protocols for whole water samples from rivers and the subsequent multi-element analysis of 67 major, minor, and trace elements: Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th, U. In the absence of whole water reference materials for inorganic analytes, we introduce simulated whole water samples by suspending sediment reference materials as quality control measures. The applicability for improved routine water quality monitoring was successfully tested on samples from different rivers revealing variations of the element fingerprints over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric absorptive micro-sampling (VAMS) has emerged as a simple and safe tool for collecting and storing blood samples in clinical and bioanalytical fields. This study presents a novel method for determining essential and non-essential trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mg, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Tl, V, U) in VAMS-collected blood samples using microwave-assisted digestion with diluted acid as sample preparation method and an inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ) as determination technique. While certain elements posed challenges due to VAMS tip background issues (Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Sn, Mo, Ba), the method demonstrated high precision and accuracy for the targeted analytes. It was demonstrated that 4.5 mol L−1 HNO3 plus 100 µL H2O2 30% (w/w) was suitable for an efficiency of digestion for further elemental determination using micro-analysis (spending less than 300 µL analytical solution) by ICP-QQQ, given that the residual carbon content (RCC) after the digestion procedure was lower than 5%. All the results higher than limit of quantification (LOQ) were in agreement with reference values for all analytes. Accuracy was assessed through reference material analysis and recovery tests using spiked samples. Moreover, suitable agreements (p > 0.05) between this method (VAMS-M) and the comparative method (liquid sampling method) were obtained for all analytes >LOQ. Furthermore, all results >LOQ showed good precision according to precision requirements (Horwitz equation). In this way, with the use of dilute acid, low dilution factor (30-fold), and excellent digestion efficiency (>95%), the proposed method was able to achieve an excellent detection limit, precision, and accuracy for 15 elements: As, Be, Cd, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mg, P, Pb, S, Sb, Se, Tl, V, and U using ICP-MS/MS, without the need for matrix-matched calibration curves. This research showcases an innovative analytical approach using VAMS for blood samples, offering biosafety, practicality, sensitivity, versatility, and robustness. This method contributes to the advancement of trace element analysis in biomedical research and clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, waste tires (WTs) were carbonized under an N2 atmosphere. Subsequently, KOH/WTs‐char with KOH‐assisted CO2 activation was used to prepare activated carbon (AC) as a highly porous carbon material for the removal of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) from water. Various techniques such as elemental analysis, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and N2 adsorption/desorption were employed to investigate the physical and chemical characteristics of the prepared carbons. The WTs‐char activated with KOH under CO2 exhibited a microstructure with a high BET surface area and pore volume of 1841 m2/g and 0.869 cm3/g, respectively, demonstrating excellent adsorbent performance. The maximum removal efficiencies of 99.91 % for Cd(II) and 99.81 % for Cr(VI) were achieved using AC2 carbon under the following conditions: pH 2 for Cr(VI) and pH 5 for Cd(II), contact time of 120 min, adsorbent dose of 0.4 g/100 mL, and temperature of 298 K. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo‐second‐order equation, and the equilibrium data fit well with the Redlich–Peterson isotherm equation. The positive values of ▵G indicated that the uptake process for both ions was nonspontaneous and nonfeasible over the temperature studied. Both ions showed negative values of ΔH and ΔS on carbon, suggesting exothermic adsorption and a decrease in disorder. Regeneration studies showed that NaOH was a better desorbing agent than HCl. Cr(VI) desorption resulted in over 90 % removal recovery by AC2 using 1.0 M NaOH even after the fifth cycle. However, the low activation energy indicated that the adsorption was favorable kinetically. Overall, this study demonstrated the effective preparation of highly porous carbon and its successful performance in removing Cr(VI) and Cd(II) ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Forest soil has numerous ecological functions, some of which are regulated by biogeochemical processes involving trace elements (TEs). However, the accumulation and transport of TEs in remote pure forest ecosystems have been poorly understood to date. Methods: We investigated the concentrations and pools of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cr, Hg, and As in the soil horizons of Qinghai spruce and Qilian juniper forests at various elevations in the central Qilian Mountains, northwest China. The Enrichment Factor and Biogeochemical Index were used to evaluate the ecological security of TEs in forest soils. Results: The results indicate that the distribution of TEs concentrations in soil horizons of the two forest stands had spatial heterogeneity and element specificity. The TEs pools in the soil horizons of these stands increased with increasing soil depth. Among the elements studied, the total pools of Zn and Cr in the soil of the two stands were the largest, while the Hg and Cd pools were the smallest. Results further demonstrated that the forest ecosystem in the Tianlaochi catchment had large TEs storage, which was higher in Qinghai spruce forest than in Qilian juniper forest. Conclusions: Forest soils with lower TEs concentrations have higher enrichment degrees and potential ecological risk. Our findings highlight the importance of TEs accumulation in forest soils and warrant more research on their cycling in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In early 2020, China experienced a mass outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). With an aim to evaluate the impact of emission variations on toxic element species in PM2.5 and the health risks associated with inhalation exposure during COVID-19, we collected PM2.5 filter samples in Beijing from January 1 to February 28, 2020. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) and a health risk (HR) assessment model were used to assess the health risks of the toxic elements and critical risk sources. The total concentration of eight toxic elements (Se, Cd, Pb, Zn, As, Cu, Ni, and Cr) in Beijing showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing: full lockdown (322.9 ng m−3) > pre-lockdown (264.2 ng m−3) > partial lockdown (245.3 ng m−3). During the lockdown period, stringent control measures resulted in significant reductions (6−20%) in Zn, Pb, Cd, and Ni levels, while concentrations of Se, As, Cu, and Cr were unexpectedly elevated (14−348%). A total of five sources was identified: traffic emission, coal combustion, dust emission, industrial emission and mixed source of biomass burning and firework combustion. Total carcinogenic risk (TCR) of the selected toxic elements exceeded the US EPA limits for children and adults. As and Cr (IV) were the main contributors to non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively. For source-resolved risks, coal combustion was the main contributor to HI (43%), while industrial emissions were the main cause of TCR (45%). Additionally, increased contributions from coal combustion, biomass burning, and firework combustion during the full lockdown elevated the HI and TCR values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach employing activated nanodiamond combined with MIL-125 in micro solid-phase extraction has been successfully developed for the efficient extraction of cadmium and lead from food and water samples. Analytical parameters such as solution pH, adsorbent amount, sample volume, eluent concentration and volume, vortex time, and matrix effect to obtain the best recovery rates could be reached. The method's limits of detection were found to be 0.84 and 1.97 μg L−1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II). Its limits of quantification (LOQ) were found to be 2.81 and 6.57 μg L−1 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. Other performances that were found included preconcentration factors (PF) of 100 and 20 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), enhancement factors (EF) of 96 and 28 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), and relative standard deviation (RSD%) of 5.0 and 1.3 for Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively. The method's validation was carried out using certified reference materials (SPS-WW2 wastewater and HR-1 Humber River sediment) ensuring its accuracy and reliability. The developed technique was successfully applied to determine the Cd(II) and Pb(II) contents in water and food samples. The optimized parameters and analytical characteristics demonstrate the method's efficiency in achieving low detection limits, high preconcentration factors, and reliable quantification. As a versatile tool for environmental and food safety analysis, this method contributes to the advancement of analytical techniques, ensuring accurate determination of trace metal concentrations in diverse sample matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, tattooing has become a form of social and artistic expression. To apply a tattoo, the skin is marked by the internal injection of ink in the skin. Hence, it includes human health exposure to metals since the tattoo ink composition includes such elements. The present paper reports the determination and quantification of 8 elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb) in twenty tattoo ink colors available in the Greek market imported from the USA and China. The elemental content was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry after microwave-assisted digestion. A comparison was carried out between the results of the present study and the maximum permitted concentrations as proposed in the ResAP and EPA guidelines, while the level of dermal exposure due to pigment application through ink injection was also estimated. All inks contained Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb, while the content of As, Cd, and Co was below the detection limit in certain samples. Mercury was determined in three samples. Chromium, Cu, and Ni were present in the highest concentrations, while Cd and Hg contents were in general low. Most elements presented their maximum levels in the brown ink originating from USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employed L-methionine (L-M) as the functionalized reagent of AuNPs for the colorimetric and UV–vis dual-mode detection of As3+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ ions with excellent selectivity and anti-interference. After adding the target ions, the functionalized AuNPs can be cross-linked together due to the As3+/Cd2+/Hg2+ ions reacting with amino N, carbonyl or hydroxyl O of L-methionine to form the coordination bonds, resulting in the aggregation of functionalized AuNPs and cause the different red-shifts of the SPR absorption peak and color changes of functionalized AuNPs solutions. The LODs of the colorimetric sensor are 10 ppb/13 ppb/4 ppb by naked eyes and 2.35 ppb/1.68 ppb/0.32 ppb by UV–vis spectroscopy with good linear relationships between the absorbance ratios (A633nm/A519nm, A645nm/A519nm and A665nm/A519nm) and As3+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ concentrations, which can be successfully applied to sense and detect As3+/Cd2+/Hg2+ pollutants in tap water, pond water, well water, and other domestic water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of heavy metals in environmental water is important in addressing water pollution. In this study, a simple and effective strategy was proposed that utilized femtosecond laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (fs-LIBS) to investigate the effect of titration number in dry droplet pretreatment on an Al substrate for detecting trace elements in aqueous solutions. This method aimed to enhance signals for highly sensitive detection of trace metal elements in liquid samples. Cr, Pb, and Cu were detected in water solutions with 1, 2, and 4 titration numbers. The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated for Cr, Pb, and Cu at 1, 2, and 4 titrations, respectively. The LODs for Cr, Pb, and Cu obtained by 4 titration numbers were 0.19, 1.40, and 0.24 ng mL−1, respectively. The calculated R2 for Cr, Cu was > 0.99 and for Pb > 0.98, which were satisfactory results and demonstrated the feasibility of using increased titration times in dry droplet pretreatment for analyzing liquid samples. Applying increased titration numbers in high-performance signal enhancement undoubtedly elevates the sensitivity of fs-LIBS analysis methods to a new level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to analyze the multi-elemental composition of the extracts of J. nigra husk, with an assessment of the possible influence of their microelements on biochemical, toxicological and radioprotective effects of in rats exposed to radiation from 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals. The elements in extract were quantified: microelements (Zn>Al>Se>Cu>Sr>Cr>Ni>Mn>Ba>I>V) and toxic-elements (Pb>Hg>Cd>As). The use of extract in rats showed no clinical evidence of toxicity in terms of biochemical parameters. The results showed significant alteration in the organs accumulation of 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals. The results showed that extract of J. nigra husk may act as a potential radioprotector of organ system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been related to numerous adverse health effects in humans. Nowadays, it is believed that one of the possible mechanisms of toxicity could be the oxidative stress, which involves the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Different assays have been proposed to characterize oxidative stress, such as dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA) acellular assays (OPDTT and OPAA), as a metric more relevant than PM mass measurement for PM toxicity. This study evaluates the OP of the bioaccessible fraction of 65 PM10 samples collected at an Atlantic Coastal European urban site using DTT and AA assays. A physiologically based extraction (PBET) using Gamble's solution (GS) as a simulated lung fluid (SLF) was used for the assessment of the bioaccessible fraction of PM10. The use of the bioaccessible fraction, instead of the fraction assessed using conventional phosphate buffer and ultrasounds assisted extraction (UAE), was compared for OP assessment. Correlations between OPDTT and OPAA, as well as total and bioaccessible concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metal(oid)s, were investigated to explore the association between those compounds and OP. A correlation was found between both OP (OPDTT and OPAA) and total and bioaccessible concentrations of PAHs and several metal(oid)s such as As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Ni, and V. Additionally, OPDTT was found to be related to the level of K+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined levels of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), and arsenic (As) in blood, hair, and nails of 18 brick kiln workers from three brick kiln units located around a metropolitan city, Lahore, Pakistan. All the trace elements except Hg and As were detected in the studied matrices of Brick kiln workers. In general, brick kiln workers reflect the highest concentration of Pb, followed by Cd, Cr, and Cu. Of the pollutants analyzed, Pb has the highest mean (min–max) concentrations at 0.35 (0.09–0.65) in blood (μg/mL), 0.34 (0.14–0.71) in hairs (μg/g), and 0.44 (0.32–0.59) in nails (μg/g) of brick kiln workers. Following Pb, the trend was Cd 0.17 (0.10–0.24), Cu 0.11(0.03–0.27), and Cr 0.07 (0.04–0.08) in blood (μg/mL), followed by Cr 0.11(0.05–0.20), Cd 0.09 (0.03–0.13), and Cu 0.08 (0.04–0.16) in hairs (μg/g) and Cu 0.16 (0.05–0.36), Cd 0.13 (0.11–0.17), and Cr 0.10 (0.05–0.14) in nails (μg/g) respectively. Relatively higher concentrations of metals and other trace elements in blood depicts recent dietary exposure. The difference of trace elements except Pb was non-significant (P > 0.05) among studied matrices of workers as well as between Zigzag and traditional exhaust-based brick kilns. The concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cr in blood of brick kilns workers are higher than the values reported to cause health problems in human populations. It is concluded that chronic exposure to metals and other trace elements may pose some serious health risks to brick kiln workers which needs to be addressed immediately to avoid future worst-case scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we employed L-methionine (L-M) as the functionalized reagent of AuNPs for the colorimetric and UV–vis dual-mode detection of As3+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ ions with excellent selectivity and anti-interference. After adding the target ions, the functionalized AuNPs can be cross-linked together due to the As3+/Cd2+/Hg2+ ions reacting with amino N, carbonyl or hydroxyl O of L-methionine to form the coordination bonds, resulting in the aggregation of functionalized AuNPs and cause the different red-shifts of the SPR absorption peak and color changes of functionalized AuNPs solutions. The LODs of the colorimetric sensor are 10 ppb/13 ppb/4 ppb by naked eyes and 2.35 ppb/1.68 ppb/0.32 ppb by UV–vis spectroscopy with good linear relationships between the absorbance ratios (A633nm/A519nm, A645nm/A519nm and A665nm/A519nm) and As3+, Cd2+ and Hg2+ concentrations, which can be successfully applied to sense and detect As3+/Cd2+/Hg2+ pollutants in tap water, pond water, well water, and other domestic water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Basin water pollution is a global problem, especially in the densely populated areas. The Huai River Basin (abbreviated as HRB), including the Huai River system and the Yishu River system, is the sixth-largest and most densely populated watershed in China. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies of river and well water throughout the Huai River basin, including hydrochemistry characterization and assessment of health risks. This study investigated water quality and pollution sources of river and well water in the HRB based on the hydrochemistry analysis and different water quality indices. The water body in the HRB showed weak alkalinity (pH = 8.4 ± 0.7) and had high TDS values (TDS = 339 ± 186 mg/L) with water types of HCO3-Ca-Mg and SO4-Cl-Ca-Mg in the Huai River system, and SO4-Cl-Ca-Mg in the Yishu River system. Atmospheric input and evaporation had less impact on hydrochemistry. Evaporite dissolution and carbonate weathering had a greater impact on hydrochemistry. Carbonate precipitation and cation exchange also influenced the dissolved solutes, especially Ca2+ and Na+. Samples had low to medium salinity hazards and sodium absorption ratios and were suitable for irrigation. For drinking purposes, samples were fresh water and have good or excellent according to the Water Quality Index (WQI). Land use types influenced water quality with the worst river water quality from cropland. Combining different assessment indices, the water quality of the Yishu River system performed better than the Huai River system. Absolute principal component analysis-multiple linear regression and the positive matrix factorization models identified the main pollutants as As, Ba, Cr, Ni, and Mn, with natural sources of As, Ba, and Ni and anthropogenic inputs of Cr, and Mn. Although the water quality of the HRB has improved in recent years, high potential risk from As, Cr, Mn, Ba, and Ni should be noted. This study provided vital information for basin hydrochemistry analysis and water quality assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrazinamide, an antituberculosis but documented toxic drug, is subjected to computational investigation along with the metal complexes via a DFT approach to predict the structure-activity and structure-toxicity relationship. 6-31G(d,p) basis set was used for Zn, Ni, Mn, Fe, and Co, while the SDD basis set was applied to Cu, Cr, Cd, and Hg. Several reactivity parameters and charge distribution were calculated and the reactivity profile was estimated. The complexes were found to be soft and polarizable which could be responsible for their binding with bacterial targets to inhibit their growth. In contrast, pyrazinamide which is found to be hard among all is susceptible to being toxic. Moreover, the electronegative nature of the complexes can endow them with a better antibacterial effect. Since metal complexes have been found to be less toxic and more biologically interactive by computational methods, they can be employed as potent drugs for the cure of tuberculosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytotoxicity of trace elements (commonly misunderstood as 'heavy metals') includes impairment of functional groups of enzymes, photo-assembly, redox homeostasis, and nutrient status in higher plants. Silicon nanoparticles (SiNPs) can ameliorate trace element toxicity. We discuss SiNPs response against several essential (such as Cu, Ni, Mn, Mo, and Zn) and non-essential (including Cd, Pb, Hg, Al, Cr, Sb, Se, and As) trace elements. SiNPs hinder root uptake and transport of trace elements as the first line of defence. SiNPs charge plant antioxidant defence against trace elements-induced oxidative stress. The enrolment of SiNPs in gene expressions was also noticed on many occasions. These genes are associated with several anatomical and physiological phenomena, such as cell wall composition, photosynthesis, and metal uptake and transport. On this note, we dedicate the later sections of this review to support an enhanced understanding of SiNPs influence on the metabolomic, proteomic, and genomic profile of plants under trace elements toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cement plants are the major anthropogenic sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), which are generated from the processing of raw materials and combustion of fossil fuels. This study determined the PTE concentration and assessed the geochemical, ecological, and health risks associated with the activities in the Ashaka cement plant, Bajoga, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected between 2019 and 2020, and analyzed by ICP-OES for 20 PTEs. The data obtained were statistically evaluated for descriptive and inferential statistics. The mean concentrations of PTEs were in the declined order of Al > Fe > Mn > Zn > Ti > Ba > Sr > Pb > Cu > V > Cr > Ni > As > Sc > Mo > Hg > Cd > Se > Sb > Co. Multivariate analysis revealed that the main sources of PTEs might be related to anthropogenic activities from the cement plant. The geochemical load index (GLI) values obtained range from unpolluted to moderate. The ecological risk ranged from 4.74 × 10–3 to 8.00 × 100, and the overall risk index indicated low contamination for the investigated elements. The hazard index (HI) was < 1, suggesting non-probable non-carcinogenic effects. However, children were more susceptible to risk than adults, and the cancer risk (CR) values of Cd for children and adults were higher than the threshold level of 1.0 × 10–4, which suggests probable development of cancer risk for residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the metal content, fatty acid composition, lipid quality, and potential health risks of Pontastacus leptodactylus crayfish inhabiting Atikhisar Dam Lake. The research covers a 12-month period and includes both male and female individuals. The study investigated the metal content of crayfish specimens. In female individuals, the metal concentrations were ranked as Fe > Zn > Al > Cu > Mn > Se > As > Hg > Cd > Pb, while in male individuals, the ranking was Fe > Al > Zn > Cu > Mn > Se > As > Hg > Pb > Cd. The results demonstrate that Atherogenicity Index (AI) values for both genders range between 0.21 and 0.31, and Thrombogenicity Index (TI) values fall within 0.14 and 0.20. This indicates that crayfish meat is composed of healthy and high-quality fatty acids. In male individuals, omega-3 values range from 25.28 ± 0.380% to 28.34 ± 0.430%, and in female individuals, they vary from 22.98 ± 0.195% to 28.73 ± 0.871%. These findings underscore the absence of significant health risks associated with mercury levels in crayfish meat. Monthly meal calculations reveal that consuming female crayfish at an average of 4.35 servings per month for adults and 2.24 servings per month for children presents no health hazards. Similarly, the consumption of crayfish meat at an average of 5.29 servings per month for adult males and 2.72 servings per month for male children is deemed safe for health. Based on these results, the lipid quality of both male and female individuals from this species is found to be beneficial, as confirmed by risk–benefit assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt marshes are capable of mitigating metal pollution in coastal environments, yet the efficacy of this remediation is contingent upon various environmental factors and the plant species involved. This study investigates the influence of different anthropogenic activities, including industrial, urban, recreational (in an insular area), and dredging operations, on the bioaccumulation of eight metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) within Spartina alterniflora Loisel. in the Patos Lagoon estuary, Brazil. The research aims to assess the pattern of metal bioaccumulation and distribution within the plant's leaves, stems, and roots while also examining metal presence in the sediment. Our main findings reveal that S. alterniflora exhibited elevated metal levels in its plant structure directly related with the metal concentrations in the surrounding sediment, which, in turn, is related to the different anthropogenic activities. The industrial area presented the highest metal levels in sediment and plant sections, followed by dredging, insular, and urban areas. This same pattern was mirrored for the bioconcetration factors (BCF), with the BCFs consistently indicating active metal bioaccumulation across all areas and for most of the metals. This provides evidence of the metal bioaccumulation pattern in S. alterniflora, with elevated BCFs in areas affected by activities with a higher degree of impact. Translocation factors (TF) showed varying metal mobility patterns within the plant's below-ground and above-ground sections across the different areas, with only Hg exhibiting consistent translocation across all study areas. Zn was the primary metal contributor in all plant sections, followed by Pb and Cu. It is worth noting that Pb is a non-essential metal for this plant, highlighting the relationship between elevated Pb contributions in the plant sections and the bioaccumulation of this metal within the plant's structure. Overall, this study emphasizes the bioaccumulation capacity of S. alterniflora and elucidate the intrinsic connection between different anthropogenic activities and their impact on the resultant availability and bioaccumulation of metals by this salt marsh plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Trapiche-like" texture is distinct from "trapiche" texture as typically observed in emeralds, amethysts, and aquamarines. It is also occasionally encountered in sapphires from Changle, eastern North China Craton. The advent of the trapiche-like texture has enhanced the ornamental value of sapphire, although its origin is still unclear. In this study, techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), have been applied to test the spectroscopic data of the cores, arms, and blue sectors of trapiche-like sapphires from Changle and explore the mineralogical characteristics of different domains. The main component of the core, arms, and blue sectors of trapiche-like sapphire is corundum (Al2O3), with trace elements including Fe, Ti, Mg, Cr, V, Ga, etc. From arms to cores to sectors, trace elements show a trend of increasing and then decreasing. Nb and Ta elements are more enriched in the arms than in the sectors, indicating the existence of rutile. With changes in physicochemical conditions during magma evolution, rutile melted, and related voids were filled with glassy inclusions, which formed the arms of trapiche-like sapphires. Field observations of primary deposits, as well as petrological and geochemical analyses, reveal that the trapiche-like sapphire of Changle belongs to magmatic sapphire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring the safety of wine as worldwide major beverage commodity is of paramount importance for many control institutions and research groups. This study delves into the elemental composition of Czech wines, with a particular focus on wines from organic production, to comprehensively assess their safety in terms of elemental contaminants. The investigation aims to shed light on potential risks associated with trace elements and heavy metals in wines and to compare these risks between conventionally produced and organically produced wines. The work further focuses on major nutritionally important elements in wine. The aim of this article was screening of elemental composition (Mg, Ca, Cr, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Al, P) of Czech white wines (Moravia region) of different varieties and vintages. Total of 45 samples of different vintage and varieties were analyzed. 35 samples were conventionally produced, 10 samples were produced in the organic production regime. Elemental composition comparison of organic and conventional wines was evaluated. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for the analysis of wine. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used for the data evaluation. Results of this study extended the knowledge about the elemental composition of Czech wines and presents the comparison with wines from different important wine regions. Results showed that Czech wines are not deviating fundamentally from wines from Europe, Australia, and South America in terms of concentration of Mg, Ca, K, P, Zn, Pb, Cd, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni and Al. Important fact, connected to food safety, is that all tested wines complied with national and European legislation and with OIV limits. Statistically significant differences were found in case of Zn, Ni, Mn, Al, Cd and Mg on significancy level 0.05. Except magnesium, higher concentrations of these metals were found in samples of conventional wines. A more in-depth analysis has attributed these differences to application of synthetic pesticides, for example dithiocarbamate mancozeb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Red pepper paste is a common ingredient used in food in Korea. The discrimination of the geographical origin of agricultural products is important to protect the agricultural industry and customers from the misinformation regarding the product origin. Several studies have attempted to identify the geographical origin of red pepper based on its characteristic features using diverse methods, such as inorganic elemental analysis. However, similar studies on red pepper pastes have not been conducted thus far. Results: In, this study, we established methods based on inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determining inorganic elements in red pepper pastes. The limit of detection (LOD) of ICP-AES was in the range of 0.006–0.531 mg∙kg−1 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.017–1.593 mg∙kg−1. In addition, LOD and LOQ ranges for ICP-MS were 0.001–1.553, and 0.002–5.176 μg∙kg−1, respectively. The concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, As, Sr, Zr, Mo, Pd, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ce, Pt, Pb, and U were high in the Korean red pepper paste. All the employed discrimination models could clearly distinguish between Korean and Chinese red pepper pastes. In particular, among the four different models, CDA showed the most accurate ability to discriminate the geological origin of Korean and Chinese red pepper paste compared to that achieved using the other models with 100% accuracy. Conclusions: Based on, the findings of this study, the use of ICP-AES and ICP-MS analyses for discriminating the inorganic elements in food products in combination with the aforementioned statistical analysis models could help the mitigation of issues associated with the misinformation of the geographical origin of agricultural products, aiding customer protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium mining driven by the growing demand for lithium-ion batteries, has environmental consequences linked to soil and water pollution. Nevertheless, research on the environmental impacts of lithium extraction still needs to be improved, highlighting the imperative for additional research. The article addresses the potential impact of the C57 lithiniferous feldspar mine on water quality, specifically focusing on surface, groundwater and spring water samples collected at the mining site and surrounding area in Gonçalo (Guarda, Portugal). The objective is to evaluate the environmental consequences of mining activities, with particular emphasis on mineral leaching. This study aims to evaluate the water quality around the C57 mine and the potential environmental impacts of mining operations. Water samples were collected from different sources, such as surface, underground, and spring waters, and chemical analyses were carried out to determine concentrations of different parameters, which were later compared with national and international reference guidelines. In addition to analysing the water samples, weathering tests were carried out using the Soxhlet extractor method to simulate the leaching of minerals over a shorter period (about 125 days). The concentrations of the analysed elements by atomic absorption spectroscopy (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the weathering solutions were generally low and decreased throughout the testing period, with significant concentrations of aluminium and chromium exceed Canadian environmental quality guidelines for surface waters. The detected lithium concentrations are quite different, ranging from 8.7 to 19.8 μg/L in surface waters, from 6.9 to 74.1 μg/L in groundwater, and from 25.6 to 35.4 μg/L in spring waters, but are all below the US EPA (2021) recommendations threshold of 0.7 mg/L. Based on the findings, the article concludes that there is currently no clear evidence to indicate the environmental impact of mining activities on water quality in the analysed samples. However, weathering tests suggest potential long-term implications regarding the leaching of specific chemical elements, particularly aluminium and chromium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]