Search Results (610)

This literature review provides an overview of the food safety and toxicological characteristics of various heavy metals and metalloids and the public health significance of their occurrence in food. Metals also occur as natural components of the environment, but they can enter food of animal origin and the human body primarily due to anthropogenic (industrial, agricultural, transport-related) activities. The persistent heavy metals (e.g., Hg, Pb, Cd) found in the environment are not biodegradable, can accumulate, and can enter the bodies of higher animals and subsequently, humans, where they are metabolized into various compounds with differing toxicity. Thus, due to their environmental contamination, they can accumulate in living organisms and their presence in the food chain is of great concern for human health. Regulations of the European Community in force lay down maximum levels for a limited number of metals, and the types of regulated foodstuffs of animal origin are also narrower than in the past, e.g., wild game animals and eggs are not included. The regulation of game meat (including offal) deserves consideration, given that it is in close interaction with the environmental condition of a given area and serves as indicator of it. Full article

The soils of river basins are often exposed to contaminants resulting from anthropogenic activities. This research identified 11 potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and assessed pollution indices, ecological risk assessments, and human health risks in the topsoil of the Upper Ohře River Basin (Czech Republic and Germany). Among the PTEs, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn exhibited considerable variability across the area, with contents exceeding the legislative limits of the Czech Republic, particularly at three locations near coal mining activities. Various indices indicated significant contamination in the river basin (pollution load index > 1, except at one location); however, the level of pollution varied across locations and in relation to the used indices. The ecological risk factor identified As and Cd as the primary pollutants. The potential ecological risk index indicated a strong risk, with two locations showing a highly strong ecological risk. The findings revealed no serious non-carcinogenic or carcinogenic risks to adults, while risks were confirmed for children, with As being the main contributor. This research provides basic information for managing pollution from PTEs and protecting the soils and residents of the Upper Ohře River Basin. In this region, particular attention should be paid towards As and Cd. Full article

The gastrointestinal tract mediates the absorption of nutrients from the diet, which is increasingly contaminated with toxic metal(loid) species (TMs) and thus threatens food safety. Evidence in support of the influx of TMs into the bloodstream of the general and vulnerable populations (babies, children, pregnant women, and industrial workers) has been obtained by accurately quantifying their blood concentrations. The interpretation of these TM blood concentrations, however, is problematic, as we cannot distinguish between those that are tolerable from those that may cause the onset of environmental diseases. Since TMs that have invaded the bloodstream may perturb biochemical processes therein that will eventually cause organ damage it is crucial to better understand their bioinorganic chemistry as these processes collectively determine their organ availability. Thus, bioinorganic processes of TMs in the bloodstream represent selectivity filters which protect organs from their influx and ultimately determine the corresponding exposure-response relationships. The need to better understand selectivity filters prompted us to mechanistically disentangle them into the major bioinorganic chemistry processes. It is argued that the detoxification of TMs in the bloodstream and the biomolecular mechanisms, which mediate their uptake into target organs, represent critical knowledge gaps to revise regulatory frameworks to reduce the disease burden. Full article

Industrial effluents pose a significant concern because they contain a variety of metals and metalloids that have detrimental effects on the environment. Conventional techniques are widely used in effluent treatment plants (ETPs) to remove metallic pollutants; however, they are less effective, are costly, and generate secondary toxic waste. Mycosorbent would be a sustainable and economical alternative to conventional techniques, as it offers numerous advantages. In this study, we shed light on the development of mycosorbent, which could be potentially applicable in the treatment of industrial effluent. In a competitive (i.e., multimetal system) optimisation study, mycosorbent AD2 exhibited a maximum biosorption capacity of 3.7 to 6.20 mg/g at pH 6.0, with an initial metal ion concentration of 25 mg/L, a contact time of 2 h, at 50 ± 2 °C, and a pH_PZC of 5.3. The metal-removal capacity increased up to 1.23-fold after optimisation. The thermodynamic parameters confirmed that the AD2 mycosorbent facilitated an endothermic, feasible, and spontaneous biosorption process. The FT-IR and SEM characterisation analysis confirmed the adsorption of metals on the surface of the mycosorbent from the aqueous system. This study demonstrated that mycosorbent could be an effective tool for combating metallic pollutants in various industrial effluents. Full article

Heavy metal contamination in paddy fields poses serious risks to food safety and crop productivity. This study evaluated the potential of native soil fungi as bioinoculants to reduce metal uptake in rice cultivated under contaminated conditions. Eight fungal strains—four indigenous and four allochthonous—were selected based on their plant growth-promoting traits, including siderophore production and phosphate solubilization. Additional metabolic analysis confirmed the production of bioactive secondary metabolites. In a greenhouse experiment, three rice cultivars were grown under permanent flooding (PF) and alternate wetting and drying (AWD) in soil enriched with arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and copper. Inoculation with indigenous fungi under AWD significantly reduced the arsenic accumulation in rice shoots by up to 75%. While AWD increased cadmium uptake across all cultivars, fungal inoculation led to a moderate reduction in cadmium accumulation—ranging from 15% to 25%—in some varieties. These effects were not observed under PF conditions. The results demonstrate the potential of native fungi as a nature-based solution to mitigate heavy metal stress in rice cultivation, supporting both environmental remediation and sustainable agriculture. Full article

Rapid growth in the alumina industry generates vast amounts of highly alkaline red mud (RM), posing significant environmental risks. However, RM shows great promise as a resource for environmental remediation, particularly through its conversion into effective adsorbents. This research reviews recent advancements in developing RM-based adsorbents for sustainable wastewater treatment, especially targeting heavy metal(loid)s (HMs). We examine key modification mechanisms to enhance RM’s properties, summarize synthesis methods for various RM- based adsorbents, and evaluate their performance in removing HMs from water, guiding the design of subsequent new materials. Crucially, this review highlights studies on adsorbent reusability, HM leaching, and economic feasibility to address economic and safety concerns. Finally, we discuss adsorption mechanisms and prospects for these materials. Full article

Revegetation is considered a sustainable option for mine area remediation. However, the sustainability and risk evolution of revegetation for large antimony mine slag remain incompletely understood. In this study, we focused on the revegetation project of the waste slag heap of XKS, the world’s largest antimony mine. Systematically analyzed the physicochemical properties, total metal(loid) content, and BCR sequential extraction and applied the modified comprehensive pollution risk assessment (MCR) method to evaluate ecological risk evolution. The results showed that revegetation can effectively increase the nutrient content, and the total content of nitrogen and phosphorus maximally increased by 5.15 and 1.89 times, respectively, after 10 years of remediation. Long-term revegetation could mitigate the metal(loid) contamination, and the average contents of As and Sb decreased by 88.72–93.18% and 93.47–89.87%, respectively. BCR analysis showed that the percentage of residual As and residual Sb increased from 64.75% and 85.88% to 78.38% and 91.58%, respectively. The MCR assessment method showed that revegetation could effectively reduce the ecological risk level. This study provides important multidimensional evidence for the ecological restoration of antimony mining areas, which can provide practical guidance for subsequent slag management and risk control. Full article

Climate change, mining activities, pollution and other human impacts on the natural environment cause significant changes in the concentrations and mixtures of metallic elements found in different ecosystems. Metals such as cadmium, copper, lead and mercury affect multiple aspects of host–pathogen interactions, influencing the risk of infectious diseases caused by various classes of pathogens. Notably, exposure to metals in doses and combinations toxic to the immune system can favor the dissemination of pathogens in natural environments, threatening the reproduction, well-being and survival of varied animal species. However, these problems remain neglected, since the influences of metals on infectious diseases are studied with a primary focus on human medicine. Therefore, this article aims to review the influence of metals/metalloids (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, mercury, nickel, zinc) on infectious and parasitic diseases in animals living in natural environments. The potential impact of metals on the risk of zoonotic spillover events is also discussed. Metal pollution tends to increase as the demand for elements used in the manufacture of industrial products, batteries, and electronic devices increases globally. This problem can aggravate the biodiversity crisis and facilitate the emergence of infectious diseases. Considering the interconnections between pollution and immunity, measures to limit metal pollution are necessary to protect human health and biodiversity from the risks posed by pathogens. This review helps fill the gap in the literature regarding the connections between metal pollution and various aspects of infectious diseases. Full article

Utilizing a multi-biomarker approach, we assessed the potential adverse effects of pollutants on subcellular responses in the digestive gland of the freshwater mussel Unio crassus from a historically contaminated lowland section (KIZ) of the river Mrežnica compared to its less impacted upstream karstic section (REF) and their seasonality (spring vs. autumn). This approach accounted for the diverse modes of action of pollutants by including biomarkers of metal exposure (metallothioneins, MT), general stress (total cytosolic proteins, TP), antioxidative capacity (catalase, CAT; glutathione, GSH; glutathione-S-transferase, GST), oxidative damage (malondialdehyde, MDA), and neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase, AChE). Only in spring, MT concentrations were 15% higher at the REF site (4.38 ± 1.06 µg mg proteins⁻¹) compared to the KIZ site (3.69 ± 0.63 µg mg proteins⁻¹), likely related to elevated Cd bioaccumulation due to the karstic substrate. Regardless of the season, mussels from KIZ showed consistently lower TP and GSH, with significantly higher CAT, GST, and MDA levels, indicating elevated stress, activation of antioxidant defenses, and oxidative damage from chronic exposure to pro-oxidant pollutants, including metal(loid)s and organic contaminants (e.g., ibuprofen, nicotine). Compared to the REF site, AChE activity at the KIZ site was higher in late spring and lower in early autumn, indicating seasonal variability in AChE activity at the contamination-impacted location driven by fluctuating exposure to neurotoxicants, such as drugs and insecticides. Overall, biomarker responses indicated that mild historical pollution, reinforced by current low-capacity sources, has an observable impact on mussel health, posing long-term risks to sediment-dwelling aquatic organisms. Full article

The metalloid arsenic (As) and the metals lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg), which together we call the “Toxic Triad”, are among the pollutants of greatest global concern, harming the health of millions of people and contributing to biodiversity loss. The widespread distribution of As, Pb and Hg facilitates the exposure of humans and other species to these elements simultaneously, potentially amplifying their individual toxic effects. While As, Pb and Hg are well established as toxic elements, the mechanisms by which they interact with genetic material and impact the health of various species remain incompletely understood. This is particularly true regarding the combined effects of these three elements. In this context, the objective of this work was to perform a toxicogenomic analysis of As, Pb and Hg to highlight multiple aspects of element-gene interactions, in addition to revisiting information on the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of the Toxic Triad. By using The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, it was possible to identify that As interacts with 7666 genes across various species, while Pb influences 3525 genes, and Hg affects 692 genes. Removing duplicate gene names, the three elements interact with 9763 genes across multiple species. Considering the top-20 As/Pb/Hg-interacting genes, catalase (CAT), NFE2 like bZIP transcription factor 2 (NFE2L2), caspase 3 (CASP3), heme oxygenase (HMOX1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) and interleukin 6 (IL6) were the most frequently observed. In total, 172 genes have the potential to interact with the three elements. Gene ontology analysis based on those genes evidenced that the Toxic Triad affects several cellular compartments and molecular functions, highlighting its effect on stimulation of toxic stress mechanisms. These 172 genes are also associated with various diseases, especially those of the urogenital tract, as well as being related to biological pathways involved in infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. Arsenic was the element with the best-substantiated genotoxic and carcinogenic activity. This article details, through a toxicogenomic approach, the genetic bases that underlie the toxic effects of As, Pb and Hg. Full article

The occurrence of toxic metal(loid)s in surface freshwater is a global concern due to its impacts on human and ecosystem health. Conceptual and quantitative metal(loid) models are needed to assess the impact of metal(loid)s in watersheds affected by acid rock drainage. Few case studies have focused on arid and semiarid headwaters, with scarce hydrological and hydrochemical information. This work reports the use of WASP8 (US EPA) to model Al, Fe, As, Cu, and SO₄²⁻ concentrations in the Upper Elqui River watershed in north–central Chile. Calibrated model performance for total concentrations was “good” (25.9, RRMSE; 0.7, R²-d) to “very good” (0.8–0.9, R²-d). The dissolved concentrations ranged between “acceptable” (56.3, RRMSE), “good” (28.6, RRMSE; 0.7 d), and “very good” (0.9, R²-d). While the model validation achieved mainly “very good” (0.8–0.9, R²-d) predictions for total concentrations, the predicted dissolved concentrations were less accurate for all indicators. Sensitivity analysis showed that the partition coefficient is a sensitive constant for estimating dissolved concentrations, and that integrating sorption and sediment interaction reduces the model error. This work highlights the need for detailed and site-specific information on the reactive and hydrodynamic properties of suspended solids, which directly impact the partition coefficient, sedimentation, and resuspension velocity calibration. Full article

Toxic elements are considered a significant threat to public health in oil-producing countries. Western Kazakhstan is experiencing serious environmental problems due to the development of the oil and gas industry. This study aimed to assess the concentrations of toxic trace elements—aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)—in the hair of children residing in Kazakhstan’s oil and gas-producing region, and to evaluate the relationship between the concentration of toxic elements and the remoteness of their residence from oil and gas fields. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted involving 1595 school-aged children. Element levels in hair samples were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The association between trace element concentrations and residential distance from oil and gas fields was examined across three distance-based groups and further analyzed through multiple linear regression. The highest concentration of Al = 4.824 μg/g and Hg = 0.096 μg/g was found in the hair of children living close to oil and gas fields (0–16 km). A decrease in levels of Al (−0.072 (CI: −0.109; −0.036)) and Hg (−0.293 (CI: −0.343; −0.243)) is associated with increasing distance from oil and gas fields. As, Cd, and Pb had the lowest median concentrations in the hair of children living near oil and gas fields (0.030, 0.010, and 0.122 µg/g, respectively). There is a tendency for levels of As, Cd, and Pb to increase with distance from the fields (0.064 (CI: 0.039; 0.089), 0.093 (CI: 0.045; 0.141), and 0.244 (CI: 0.202; 0.287), respectively). Our findings indicate the need for biomonitoring of toxic elements to determine long-term temporal trends in the influence of toxic trace elements on the health of the child population of Western Kazakhstan. Full article

The aim of this study is to determine the characteristics of the chemical and mineral composition of sediment layers in a technogenic settling pond. This pond is located on urban land in Berezniki (Perm Krai, Russia), outside the territory of operating industrial facilities, and contains alkaline saline industrial wastes. The origin of this waste was related to sludge from the Solvay soda production process, which had been deposited in this pond over a long period of time. However, along with the soda waste, the pond also received wastewater from other industries. As a result, the accumulated sediment is characterized by variation in morphological properties both in depth and laterally. Five undisturbed columns were taken to study the composition of the accumulated sediment. The obtained samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), synchronous thermal analysis (STA), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The results showed that the mineral composition of bottom sediments in each layer of all studied columns is characterized by the predominance of calcite precipitated from wastewater. Along with calcite, due to the presence of magnesium and sodium in the solution, other carbonates precipitated—dolomite and soda (natron), as well as complex transitional carbonate phases (northupite and trona). Together with carbonate minerals, the chloride salts halite and sylvin, sulfate minerals gypsum and bassanite, and pyrite and nugget sulfur were established. The group of terrigenous mineral components is represented by quartz, feldspars, and aluminosilicates. The chemical composition of sediments in the upper part of the section generally corresponds to the mineral composition. In the lower sediment layers, the role of amorphous phase and non-mineral compounds increased, which was determined by the results of thermal analysis. The content of heavy metals and metalloids also increases in the middle and lower sediment layers. When categorized according to the Igeo value, an excessive degree of contamination (class 6) was observed in all investigated columns for copper content (Igeo 5.2–6.1). Chromium content corresponds to class 5 (Igeo 4.1–4.6), antimony to class 4 (Igeo 3.0–4.0), and lead, arsenic, and vanadium to classes 2 and 3 (moderately polluted and highly polluted). The data obtained on variations in the mineral and chemical composition of sediments represent the initial information for the selection of methods of accumulated waste management. Full article

In 2019, an unusual mortality event (UME) affected bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the Mississippi Sound (MSS) following an extended dual opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway (BCS), which prevents flooding in New Orleans. This resulted in low salinity, skin lesions, and electrolyte imbalances in dolphins. Additionally, the influx likely altered the MSS’s environmental chemical composition, including levels of heavy metals and metalloids; thus, we quantified heavy metals, metalloids, and essential elements in the tissues of dolphins that stranded in the MSS before and after the 2019 UME. We hypothesized that levels of heavy metals and metalloids (such as mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd)) would not show significant changes post-UME. Indeed, we found no major changes associated with the UME in most metals; sodium (Na) and magnesium (Mg) levels were lower in several tissues after 2019, which correlated with the average yearly salinity measured from the MSS. Toxic metals and metalloids were detectable with some changes over time; however, the selenium (Se):Hg molar ratio increased in some tissues post-2019. Additionally, we confirmed that Hg can bioaccumulate, with positive correlations between Hg levels and dolphin size as assessed by straight length. Overall, our findings indicate that freshwater incursions into the MSS can alter dolphin exposure to essential and toxic elements. Full article

Active and abandoned mining sites are significant sources of heavy metals and metalloid pollution, leading to serious environmental issues. This study assessed the environmental risks posed by potentially toxic elements (PTEs), specifically arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb), in the Technosols (mining residues) of the former Pejão coal mine complex in Northern Portugal, a site impacted by forest wildfires in October 2017 that triggered underground combustion within the waste heaps. Our methodology involved determining the “pseudo-total” concentrations of As and Sb in the collected heap samples using microwave digestion with aqua regia (ISO 12914), followed by analysis using hydride generation-atomic absorption spectroscopy (HG-AAS). The concentrations of As an Sb ranging from 31.0 to 68.6 mg kg⁻¹ and 4.8 to 8.3 mg kg⁻¹, respectively, were found to be above the European background values reported in project FOREGS (11.6 mg kg⁻¹ for As and 1.04 mg kg⁻¹ for Sb) and Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) reference values for agricultural soils (11 mg kg⁻¹ for As and 7.5 mg kg⁻¹ for Sb), indicating significant enrichment of these PTEs. Based on average I_geo values, As contamination overall was classified as “unpolluted to moderately polluted” while Sb contamination was classified as “moderately polluted” in the waste pile samples and “unpolluted to moderately polluted” in the downhill soil samples. However, total PTE content alone is insufficient for a comprehensive environmental risk assessment. Therefore, further studies on As and Sb fractionation and speciation were conducted using the Shiowatana sequential extraction procedure (SEP). The results showed that As and Sb levels in the more mobile fractions were not significant. This suggests that the enrichment in the burned (BCW) and unburned (UCW) coal waste areas of the mine is likely due to the stockpiling of lithic fragments, primarily coals hosting arsenian pyrites and stibnite which largely traps these elements within its crystalline structure. The observed enrichment in downhill soils (DS) is attributed to mechanical weathering, rock fragment erosion, and transport processes. Given the strong association of these elements with solid phases, the risk of leaching into surface waters and aquifers is considered low. This work underscores the importance of a holistic approach to environmental risk assessment at former mining sites, contributing to the development of sustainable remediation strategies for long-term environmental protection. Full article