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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 5852

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Dr. Astrid Barkleit

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Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Resource Ecology, 01328 Dresden, Germany
Interests: heavy metal speciation in biosystems; lanthanides and actinides; spectroscopy; radiochemistry; radioecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The use of heavy metals in industry, research, and medicine has increased rapidly over recent decades. However, from mining and industrial manufacturing to waste disposal, there is a potential risk of heavy metals being released into the environment. Contamination of the environment and finally incorporation of heavy metals into living organisms poses a potential health risk. The toxicity of heavy metals is influenced by various factors, e.g., binding form or oxidation state (generally, speciation). For a better understanding of the toxicity of heavy metals and for effective decontamination or decorporation strategies, knowledge of the speciation and reactions of heavy metals at the molecular and cellular level is essential.

In this Special Issue, reviews, original research articles, and communications covering chemical and analytical as well as biochemical and biological studies of the reactions of heavy metals or heavy metal compounds with biosystems (e.g., cells, organs, biofluids, or single bio-related molecules) are highly welcome. Contributions on related topics would also be much appreciated.

Dr. Astrid Barkleit
Guest Editor

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Keywords

heavy metal
coordination
complexation
binding form
speciation
biomolecules
(cyto-) toxicity
cell death mechanism
spectroscopy
microscopy

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1842 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Interaction Effect of Heavy Metal Cadmium in Soil–Plant System Controlled by Biochar and Nano-Zero-Valent Iron

by Jiarui Wang, Rangzhuoma Cai, Zhaozhao Hu, Liqun Cai and Jun Wu

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(9), 4373; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26094373 - 4 May 2025

Viewed by 322

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) in farmland soil in edible parts of crops seriously threatens plant growth, human health, and even the global ecological environment. Finding stabilization remediation technology is an important means to treat Cd-contaminated soil. This study comprehensively evaluated the synergistic effects of independent or combined application of biochar (BC) (10, 30 g kg⁻¹) and nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) (0.1% w/w) on soil properties and morphological and physiological traits of pakchoi (Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis) under Cd (1, 3 mg kg⁻¹) stress by pot experiments. It was shown that Cd toxicity negatively affected soil properties, reduced pakchoi biomass and total chlorophyll content, and increased oxidative stress levels. On the contrary, the combined application of BC (30 g kg⁻¹) and nZVI (0.1%, w/w) reduced the Cd accumulation in the shoot parts of pakchoi from 0.78 mg·kg⁻¹ to 0.11 mg·kg⁻¹, which was lower than the Cd limit standard of leafy vegetables (0.20 mg kg⁻¹) in GB 2762-2017 “National Food Safety Standard”. Compared with the control, the treatment group achieved a 61.66% increase in biomass and a 105.56% increase in total chlorophyll content. At the same time, the activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased by 34.86% and 44.57%, respectively, and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased by 71.27%. In addition, the application of BC alone (30 g·kg⁻¹) increased the soil pH value by 0.43 units and the organic carbon (SOC) content by 37.82%. Overall, the synergistic effect of BC (30 g kg⁻¹) and nZVI (0.1% w/w) helped to restore soil homeostasis and inhibit the biotoxicity of Cd, which provided a new option for soil heavy metal remediation and crop toxicity mitigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Heavy Metal Compounds)

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15 pages, 1588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Metallomic Approach to Mercury and Selenium in the Liver Tissue of Psectrogaster amazonica and Raphiodon vulpinus from the Brazilian Amazon

by Izabela Bataglioli, José Vieira, Joyce da Siva, Luane Andrade, Victor Faria, Rebeca Corcoba, Ronaldo de Almeida, Luiz Zara, Marília Buzalaf, Jiri Adamec and Pedro Padilha

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(22), 11946; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms252211946 - 7 Nov 2024

Viewed by 955

Abstract

This paper reports the results of a mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) metallomic study in the liver tissues of Psectrogaster amazonica and Raphiodon vulpinus from the Brazilian Amazon. Two-dimensional electrophoresis, graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry were performed. Hg and Se determinations allowed the calculation of Hg:Se and Se:Hg molar ratio and Se values for health benefits (Se HBVs). The Se:Hg values were >1 for both fish species, whereas the Se HBVs were >5 for P. amazonica and >10 for R. vulpinus, indicating that both possess Se reserves to control Hg toxicity. The metallomic data allowed the identification of 11 Hg/Se-associated protein spots in the two fish species, with concentrations in the range of 9.70 ± 0.14 and 28.44 ± 0.31 mg kg⁻¹ of Hg and 16.15 ± 0.21 and 43.12 ± 0.51 mg kg⁻¹ of Se. Five metal binding proteins (MBP) in the Hg/Se-associated protein spots in the liver proteome of P. amazonica and eight in R. vulpinus were identified, indicating the possible formation of Hg/Se complexes on the MBP structures. The activities analysis of catalase, superoxide dismutase, GPx enzymes, and lipoperoxide concentrations demonstrated that Hg-induced oxidative stress did not occur, possibly because both fish species possess Se reserves necessary to inhibit the Hg’s deleterious effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Heavy Metal Compounds)

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20 pages, 1962 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Teratogenicity Effects of Metals on Avian Embryos

by Rita Szabó, Péter Budai, Éva Juhász, László Major and József Lehel

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(19), 10662; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms251910662 - 3 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1167

Abstract

Agricultural areas can provide sources of food and hiding and nesting places for wild birds. Thus, the chemical load of potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cu, Pb) due to industrial and agricultural activities can affect not only the adult birds but also the embryos developing in the egg. The toxic effects of heavy metals applied alone were investigated on chicken embryos in the early and late stages of embryonic development using injection and immersion treatment methods. On day 3 of incubation, permanent preparations were made from the embryos to study the early development stage. There were no significant differences observed in embryo deaths and developmental abnormalities in this stage. On day 19 of incubation, the number of embryonic deaths, the body weight of the embryos, and the type of developmental abnormalities were examined. The embryonic mortality was statistically higher in the groups treated with cadmium and lead in the case of the injection treatment. A significant increase in developmental disorders was observed in the copper-treated group using the immersion application. The body weight significantly decreased in the cadmium- and lead-treated group using both treatment methods. However, a significant change in the body weight in the copper-treated group was only realized due to the injection method. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Heavy Metal Compounds)

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11 pages, 2748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphographic Changes in the Electrocardiogram of Colossoma macropomum Caused by Exposure to Manganese

by Lorena Meirelis do Nascimento, Murilo Farias dos Santos, Clarissa Araújo da Paz, Daniella Bastos de Araújo, Rayllan da Cunha Ferreira, Yris da Silva Deiga, Luana Vasconcelos de Souza, Tays Mata Câmara, Rodrigo Gonçalves dos Santos, Anara de Sousa Barbosa, Maria Klara Otake Hamoy, Anthony Lucas Gurgel do Amaral, Luciana Eiró-Quirino, Tárcio dos Santos Cabral, Maria Adrina Paixão de Souza da Silva, Nilton Akio Muto and Moisés Hamoy

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8910; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168910 - 16 Aug 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 913

Abstract

Manganese (Mn²⁺) is an abundant chemical element in the earth’s crust and is present in soil, water, and industrial environments, including mining, welding, and battery manufacturing. Manganese (Mn) is an essential metal needed as a cofactor for many enzymes to maintain proper biological functions. Excessive exposure to Mn in high doses can result in a condition known as manganism, which results in disorders of the neurological, cardiac, and pulmonary systems. The aim of this study was to assess cardiac susceptibility to manganese intoxication in Colossoma macropomum subjected to a fixed concentration of 4 mg/mL for a period of up to 96 h. This study used 45 Tambaquis (30.38 ± 3.5 g) divided into five groups of 9 animals/treatment. The treated groups were exposed to the manganese concentration for a period of 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, after which the animals’ ECGs were recorded, showing heart rate, R-R interval, P-Q interval, QRS complex duration and S-T interval. The results showed that cardiac activity decreased as the contact time increased, with an increase in the P-Q and S-T intervals. This indicates that the breakdown of circulatory homeostasis in these animals was caused by contact time with manganese. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Heavy Metal Compounds)

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18 pages, 3868 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Integrating Transcriptomics and Proteomics to Characterize the Intestinal Responses to Cadmium Exposure Using a Piglet Model

by Yikun Li, Yiling Pan, Yulong Yin and Ruilin Huang

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(12), 6474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25126474 - 12 Jun 2024

Viewed by 986

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal element with a wide range of hazards and severe biotoxicity. Since Cd can be easily accumulated in the edible parts of plants, the exposure of humans to Cd is mainly through the intake of Cd-contaminated food. However, the intestinal responses to Cd exposure are not completely characterized. Herein, we simulated laboratory and environmental Cd exposure by feeding the piglets with CdCl₂-added rice and Cd-contaminated rice (Cdcr) contained diet, as piglets show anatomical and physiological similarities to humans. Subsequent analysis of the metal element concentrations showed that exposure to the two types of Cd significantly increased Cd levels in piglets. After verifying the expression of major Cd transporters by Western blots, multi-omics further expanded the possible transporters of Cd and found Cd exposure causes wide alterations in the metabolism of piglets. Of significance, CdCl₂ and Cdcr exhibited different body distribution and metabolic rewiring, and Cdcr had stronger carcinogenic and diabetes-inducing potential. Together, our results indicate that CdCl₂ had a significant difference compared with Cdcr, which has important implications for a more intense study of Cd toxicity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Toxicity of Heavy Metal Compounds)

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