In this study,the sources of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)from atmospheric deposition in the waters of Guizhou’s Caohai Lake were investigated in addition to the potential risks to human health.Moss bags were used...In this study,the sources of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)from atmospheric deposition in the waters of Guizhou’s Caohai Lake were investigated in addition to the potential risks to human health.Moss bags were used to enrich PTEs from atmospheric deposition,and eight monitoring sites that best represented geographic variation were established around Caohai Lake.Moss bags were collected and examined at every 3 months to identify spatiotemporal patterns of dry and wet atmospheric deposition of PTEs.Zn was the most abundant metal identified from deposition in Caohai(72.07%–95.94%),followed by Pb and Cd,while Hg was the least abundant(0.008%–0.354%).The contributions of wet deposition of PTEs were greater than those of dry deposition,and deposition during the heating season from December to April was greater than that between April to July.Hg was mainly derived from atmospheric dry deposition(65.38%–84.44%).Spatial distribution analysis indicated that atmospheric deposition was associated with the intensity of human activities and heating emissions.Exposure via hand-to-mouth contact accounted for over 99%of the total exposure risk although overall exposure was lower than threshold acceptable levels for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals,indicating an overall lack of risk towards human health.Nevertheless,the health risk from atmospheric deposition of PTEs in Caohai Lake may be reduced by focusing on Zn,Pb,and Cd deposition in rainfall and minimizing the hazards associated with hand-to-mouth exposure to PTEs.展开更多
A survey was carried out with the aim of assessing the level of the total phenolic compounds （TPC）, essential （Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn） and toxic （Cd and Pb） elements in 10 Latvian whole grain rye and/or wheat flo...A survey was carried out with the aim of assessing the level of the total phenolic compounds （TPC）, essential （Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn） and toxic （Cd and Pb） elements in 10 Latvian whole grain rye and/or wheat flour bread samples, obtained from the local market. The quantities of the TPC were determined by spectrophotometry. Mineral content was determined by flame photometry, flame atom absorption spectrometry （FAAS） and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry （ETAA） after wet digestion in concentrated HNO3. The values were comparable to the literature data. The average content in all the samples was （on a basis of weight of the product） 547 ± 28 mg/100 g for Na; 280 ±20 mg/100 g for K; 32 ± 2 mg/100 g for Ca; 88 ±5 mg/100 g for Mg; 0.49 ± 0.09 mg/100 g for Cu; 1.6 ±0.2 mg/100 g for Zn. Both Pb and Cd were determined below the limit of detection （LOD 5 0.10 mg/100 g）. The LOD values were determined for each element. The TPC content in defatted samples was slightly lower than the non-defatted ones, showing the dependence on the sample preparation. The calculated average levels of the elements were compared with the maximum levels recommended or regulated by the national legislation.展开更多
This study investigated the feasibility of using some natural clay minerals available in Egypt like kaolinite, bentonite, also using of iron oxide, rock phosphate and mixture of these types to minimize the rate of Ni,...This study investigated the feasibility of using some natural clay minerals available in Egypt like kaolinite, bentonite, also using of iron oxide, rock phosphate and mixture of these types to minimize the rate of Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn desorption from sewage soils and to evaluate the effect of these mixtures on Zn equivalent constant values before and after remediation. The obtained results indicated that all mixtures used were minimizing the rate of potential toxic elements （PTE＇s） release from sewage soils compared to control treatment. According to the decreasing order of different treatments, data indicated that application of the mixture treatment of bentonite, kaolinite and rock phosphate （RP） in sewage soils becomes the best treatment compared to other treatments used. However, the lowest and save Zn equivalent constant value which represents the hazard indicator in the study was observed in sewage soil treated with the mixture of bentonite and RP. The kinetic constants of Elovich, modified Freundlich and Hoerl equations, the best fitted models, were significantly decreased compared to control treatments with different percent of minimization according to type of pollutants and remediation material used. To understand the mechanisms of PTE＇s retained in treated sewage soil, distribution study was applied which showed that different pollutants studied were removed to hardly available form different mechanisms of PTE＇s undergo in treated sewage soils were discussed in the study.展开更多
The Ker-Ya River flows through the high-tech industrial park and urban residential areas of Hsin-Chu in northern Taiwan. Major and trace element concentrations of waste effluents, river water, and sediment samples col...The Ker-Ya River flows through the high-tech industrial park and urban residential areas of Hsin-Chu in northern Taiwan. Major and trace element concentrations of waste effluents, river water, and sediment samples collected during 2017 along the Ker-Ya River were analyzed to elucidate the distribution pattern of potential pollutants. Principal component analyses were applied, and four major contaminant associations were recognized: 1) Ce, Co, Fe, La, V, and Cr;2) Cu and Ni associated with Hg, Ni, P, Ga, W, In, and Ti;3) B, Li, Ba, Ca, and Ag;and 4) Sn with Zn, In, and Cd. All associations are considered to be mainly anthropogenic. Although the element associations recognized from the water samples are not exactly the same as those from the sediment samples but nevertheless, they are similar, suggesting that the short-term and long-term distribution patterns are consistent. The A association accounts for the most variance in the data and exhibits the widest distribution, suggesting the existence of contaminant sources in the upper and lower reaches, respectively. The sediments near the outlet of the city sewage plant also contain association A elements, signaling incomplete processing of the diverged waters sent to the plant at the river mouth. The B association (mainly Cu and Ni) appeared mainly in the upper and middle reaches, indicative of sources from industries in the upper reaches and the tributary Nan-Men Creek. The C association (B, Ba, Ca, and Li) was limited to the center part of the river, probably attributable to a nearby paper mill. The D association (primarily Sn, In, and Zn) was present in the top point of the middle reaches, suggesting the presence of other contaminant sources in the upper reaches. Although a total of four concomitant associations were recognized, none of the elements exceeded the drinking water standard, suggesting that there was no severe pollution present.展开更多
The contamination of fish type products such as silver pomfret fish fillets by potentially toxic elements(PTEs)has raised global health concerns.Related studies regarding the concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver...The contamination of fish type products such as silver pomfret fish fillets by potentially toxic elements(PTEs)has raised global health concerns.Related studies regarding the concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish were retrieved among some international databases such as Scopus,Pub Med and Embase between 1 January 1983 and 10 March 2020.The pooled(mean)concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was meta-analyzed with the aid of a random-effect model(REM).Also,the non-carcinogenic risk was estimated via calculating the 95 th percentile of the total target hazard quotient(TTHQ).The meta-analysis of 21 articles(containing 25 studies or data reports)indicated that the ranking of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was Fe(11,414.81μg/kg wet weight,ww)>Zn(6055.72μg/kg ww)>Cr(1825.79μg/kg ww)>Pb(1486.44μg/kg ww)>Se(1053.47μg/kg ww)>Cd(992.50μg/kg ww)>Ni(745.23μg/kg ww)>Cu(669.71μg/kg ww)>total As(408.24μg/kg ww)>Co(87.03μg/kg ww)>methyl Hg(46.58μg/kg ww).The rank order of health risk assessment by country based on the TTHQ for adult consumers was Malaysia(2.500)>Bangladesh(0.886)>Iran(0.144)>China(0.045)>Pakistan(0.020)>India(0.015),while the corresponding values for child consumers was Malaysia(11.790)>Bangladesh(4.146)>Iran(0.675)>China(0.206)>Pakistan(0.096)>India(0.077).The adult consumers in Malaysia and children in Malaysia and Bangladesh were at considerable non-carcinogenic risk.Therefore,following the recommended control plans in order to reduce the health risk associated with the ingestion of PTEs via consumption of silver pomfret fish fillets is crucial.展开更多
Toxic elements in the atmosphere can enter and accumulate in the human body, seriously impacting human health. In this study, we analyzed a 14-year （1995-2008） measurement of three toxic elements （As, Cd and Cr） i...Toxic elements in the atmosphere can enter and accumulate in the human body, seriously impacting human health. In this study, we analyzed a 14-year （1995-2008） measurement of three toxic elements （As, Cd and Cr） in PMlo in Hong Kong, China. The pollution of these toxic elements in Hong Kong was not serious. The trend analysis showed that As and Cr in PM10 increased at a statistically significant level （p〈0.05） during the 14-year period, while the Cd in PM10 did not change significantly. Typical seasonal variations were observed for all three toxic elements, largely in relation to the Asian monsoon. Hourly 10-day backward trajectories were computed and cate- gorised into four groups. The continental air masses showed much higher concentrations of the three toxic elements than the marine air masses. The abundances of As and Cd in the PM10 were much higher in the continental air masses than those in the marine air masses, while the abundances of Cr showed an opposite pattern. The trends of the three toxic elements in East China＇s air mass were consistent with those in the overall data set ofHong Kong. Examination of the toxic element data recorded at urban sites and a roadside site also indicated a large contribution of external air masses to particulate As and Cd in Hong Kong. These results suggest that the long-range transport from the mainland of China is the dominant contributor to particulate As and Cd, while both local and long-distance sources determine the particulate Cr in Hong Kong.展开更多
Phosphogypsum(PG),a hard-to-dissipate by-product of the phosphorus fertilizer production industry,places strain on the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions of storage sites.This pervasive problem is already w...Phosphogypsum(PG),a hard-to-dissipate by-product of the phosphorus fertilizer production industry,places strain on the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions of storage sites.This pervasive problem is already widespread worldwide and requires careful stewardship.In this study,we review the presence of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)in PG and describe their associations with soil properties,anthropogenic activities,and surrounding organisms.Then,we review different ex-/in-situ solutions for promoting the sustainable management of PG,with an emphasis on in-situ cemented paste backfill,which offers a cost-effective and highly scalable opportunity to advance the value-added recovery of PG.However,concerns related to the PTEs'retention capacity and long-term effectiveness limit the implementation of this strategy.Furthermore,given that the large-scale demand for ordinary Portland cement from this conventional option has resulted in significant CO_(2) emissions,the technology has recently undergone additional scrutiny to meet the climate mitigation ambition of the Paris Agreement and China's Carbon Neutrality Economy.Therefore,we discuss the ways by which we can integrate innovative strategies,including supplementary cementitious materials,alternative binder solutions,CO_(2) mineralization,CO_(2) curing,and optimization of the supply chain for the profitability and sustainability of PG remediation.However,to maximize the co-benefits in environmental,social,and economic,future research must bridge the gap between the feasibility of expanding these advanced pathways and the multidisciplinary needs.展开更多
A general prediction model for seven heavy metals was established using the heavy metal contents of 207soil samples measured by a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF)and six environmental factors as model cor...A general prediction model for seven heavy metals was established using the heavy metal contents of 207soil samples measured by a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF)and six environmental factors as model correction coefficients.The eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)model was used to fit the relationship between the content of heavy metals and environment characteristics to evaluate the soil ecological risk of the smelting site.The results demonstrated that the generalized prediction model developed for Pb,Cd,and As was highly accurate with fitted coefficients(R^(2))values of 0.911,0.950,and 0.835,respectively.Topsoil presented the highest ecological risk,and there existed high potential ecological risk at some positions with different depths due to high mobility of Cd.Generally,the application of machine learning significantly increased the accuracy of pXRF measurements,and identified key environmental factors.The adapted potential ecological risk assessment emphasized the need to focus on Pb,Cd,and As in future site remediation efforts.展开更多
This research study explored the efficacy of leaf litter compost as a sustainable soil amendment with the objective of promoting soil health and mitigating the accumulation of potentially toxic elements. The investiga...This research study explored the efficacy of leaf litter compost as a sustainable soil amendment with the objective of promoting soil health and mitigating the accumulation of potentially toxic elements. The investigation encompassed the impact of various organic compost amendments, including leaf compost, cow dung manure, kitchen waste compost, municipal organic waste compost, and vermicompost. The study employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate soil nutrient levels and concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, and lithium. The fertilization and bioremediation potential of these compost amendments are quantified using an indexing method. Results indicated a substantial increase in overall nutrient levels (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur) in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic composts. Fertility indices (FI) are notably higher in compost-amended soils (ranging from 2.667 to 3.938) compared to those amended with chemical fertilizers (ranging from 2.250 to 2.813) across all soil samples. Furthermore, the mean concentrations of PTEs were significantly lower in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic compost amendments compared to those treated with chemical fertilizers amendments. The assessment through the indexing method revealed a high clean index (CI) for leaf compost amendment (ranging from 3.407 to 3.58), whereas the chemical fertilizer amendment exhibits a relatively lower CI (ranging from 2.78 to 3.20). Consequently, leaf compost and other organic composts exhibit the potential to enhance sustainable productivity, promoting soil health and environmental safety by improving nutrient levels and remediating potentially toxic elements in the soil.展开更多
Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)such as arsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),mercury(Hg),and lead(Pb)in fruit samples collected from Markazi Province,Iran.A proba...Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)such as arsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),mercury(Hg),and lead(Pb)in fruit samples collected from Markazi Province,Iran.A probabilistic health risk assessment due to ingestion of PTEs through the consumption of these fruits was also conducted.Methods The concentration of PTEs in 90 samples of five types of fruits(n=3)collected from six geographic regions in Markazi Province was measured.The potential health risk was evaluated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.Results A significant difference was observed in the concentration of PTEs between fruits as well as soil and water samples collected from different regions in Markazi Province.The order of PTE concentration in the soil and water samples was as follows:Pb>As>Hg>Cd.Furthermore,the highest level of transfer factor for Cd and Hg correlated with the grape.The estimated daily intake for adults and children was lower than the recommended tolerable daily intake.Conclusion The population in Markazi Province,Iran,is not at considerable noncarcinogenic or carcinogenic risk due to the ingestion of PTEs through the consumption of the examined fruits.展开更多
To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and correspo...To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and corresponding subsoil samples)were collected from the five representative land-use patterns.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),Atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS),and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)were used to determine the content of PTEs(As,Cd,Hg,Cu,Cr,Ni,Pb,Zn,Co,Mo,Sb,and V).Correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to determine the source of PTEs.Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)),hazard quotient(HQ),and total carcinogenic risk index(TR)were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts.Results showed that the average values of 12 PTEs in topsoil were higher than the Hainan soil geochemical baseline,showing different degrees of PTEs accumulation effect.The concentration of PTEs in the topsoil was lower than those in the subsoil except for Cd and Hg.The I_(geo)revealed that the major accumulated element in soils was As followed by Mo.Source apportionment suggested that parent materials and agricultural practices were the dominant factors for PTEs accumulation in the topsoil.Noncarcinogenic risks of soil samples from five land-use patterns presented a trend of paddy field>dry field>woodland>orchard>garden plot.However,the HQ values of 12 PTEs were less than the recommended limit of HQ=1,representing that there are no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area.The TR values are within 6.95×10^(-6)-1.38×10^(-5),which corresponds to the low level.Therefore the PTEs in the agricultural soil of the study area show little influence on the health status of the local population.展开更多
To investigate the presence of metal elements and assess their health risk for the populace in the Nandong Underground River Basin(NURB),we conducted an analysis of eleven common heavy metals in the water body.A Healt...To investigate the presence of metal elements and assess their health risk for the populace in the Nandong Underground River Basin(NURB),we conducted an analysis of eleven common heavy metals in the water body.A Health risk assessment(HRA)model was employed to analyze 84 water samples from the NURB.The detection results revealed the following order of heavy metals concentrations:Fe>Al>Mn>Zn>As>Cd>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cu>Hg.Correlation analysis indicated a certain similarity in material source and migration transformation among these eleven metal elements.Our study identified that the health risks for local residents exposed to metal elements in the water of NURB primarily stem from carcinogenic risk(10^(−6)–10^(−4)a^(−1))through the drinking water pathway.Moreover,the health risk of heavy metal exposure for children through drinking water was notably higher than for adults.The maximum health risks of Cr in both underground and surface water exceeded the recommendation standard(5.0×10^(−5)a^(−1))from ICRP,surpassing the values recommended by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,the Dutch Ministry of Construction and Environment and the British Royal Society(5.0×10^(−6)a^(−1)).The results of the health risk assessment indicate that Cr in the water of NURB is the primary source of carcinogenic risk for local residents,followed by Cd and As.Consequently,it is imperative to control these three carcinogenic metals when the water was used as drinking water resource.展开更多
The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relation between maternal blood levels of selected toxic and potentially toxic elements （manganese （Mn）, copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn）, arsenic （As）, selenium ...The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relation between maternal blood levels of selected toxic and potentially toxic elements （manganese （Mn）, copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn）, arsenic （As）, selenium （Se）, cadmium （Cd）, lead （Pb） and mercury （Hg）） and birth weight of their new-borns in a Slovenian population, taking into account maternal socio-demographic characteristics and dietary habits. 535 women from 12 regions of Slovenia were recruited at delivery. Maternal blood was collected at 1.5 months after birth. Associations between birth weight and a） predictors obtained through the questionnaires and b） levels of selected elements were tested using bivariate tests and multiple linear regression. Multiple regression models revealed maternal age as an additional predictor for birth weight and confirmed pre-pregnancy body mass, estimated gestational age and gender of the baby as the main predictors for birth weight. Mn in maternal blood was significantly and positively associated with birth weight. The positive association observed between birth weight and Mn in maternal blood could be explained by the essentiality of Mn in foetal development as an important cofactor in enzymereactions in bone formation and in metabolic regulation for amino acid, lipid, protein and carbohydrate levels.展开更多
The essential and toxic element concentrations in buckwheat were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer（ICP-OES）. The concentration data were subjected to common chemometrics analyses, ...The essential and toxic element concentrations in buckwheat were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer（ICP-OES）. The concentration data were subjected to common chemometrics analyses, including correlation analysis（CA）, principal component analysis（PCA） and hierarchical cluster analysis（HCA）, to gain better understanding of the differences among the tested samples. Our results indicated that the essential and toxic element concentrations were not different between Fagopyrum tataricum（L.） Gaertn and F. esculentum Moench. The element concentrations varied among buckwheat samples from different sources. Commercial tartary buckwheat tea contained several essential elements, thus, could be used as the source of essential elements. The detection of toxic heavy metals in commercial tartary buckwheat tea suggested that safety issue of such buckwheat products should be seriously concerned. Our results also revealed that the place of origin and the processing protocol of tartary buckwheat affected the element concentrations of the commercial form. The implications to the quality control and safety evaluation of buckwheat were extensively discussed.展开更多
B and N mixed anions co-doped titania with various crystal phases such as anatase,brookite,and rutile were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal synthesis followed by heat treatment in an ammonia gas atmosphere a...B and N mixed anions co-doped titania with various crystal phases such as anatase,brookite,and rutile were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal synthesis followed by heat treatment in an ammonia gas atmosphere at 550-650℃(denoted as BN-Ana_x,BN-Bro_x,and BN-Rut_x,x is the treatment temperature).The colors of as-prepared BN-Ana,BN-Bro,and BN-Rut are red,yellow-green,and cyangreen,respectively.The color changing mechanism of titania was related to their various band gap structure and the existence of B-N bonding.The nitridation temperature exhibits effective color changing compared to that of nitridation time.The different phases of the mixed anion codoped titania possess different photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity.The BN-Ana and BN-Rut show poor photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity,while the BN-Bro shows excellent photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity,better than that of standard titania photocatalyst Degussa P25.The colorful titania with low-photocatalytic activity is heavy metal elements free,indicating their possible applications as nontoxic color pigments or novel cosmetic raw materials.展开更多
The contamination and environmental risk assessment of the toxic elements in sediments from the middle-downstream (Zhuzhou-Changsha section) of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan Province of China were studied. The results...The contamination and environmental risk assessment of the toxic elements in sediments from the middle-downstream (Zhuzhou-Changsha section) of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan Province of China were studied. The results show that As, Cd, Pb and Zn are major contaminants in sediments, and average concentrations of these elements significantly exceed both the Control Standards for Pollutants in Sludge of China (GB4284-84) for agricultural use in acidic soils and the effect range median (ERM) values. The average concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the river water slightly exceed the limit of Surface Water Environment Quality Standard (GB3838-2002). The concentrations of As and Cr in depth profiles extensively change, but slight changes are observed in Pb and Zn. Cd and Zn in most sediment samples can easily enter the food-chain and bring possible ecotoxicological risk to organisms living in sediments according to the risk assessment code.展开更多
Background: Groundwater is an important source of water. Since the control and removal of pollution are expensive, it is essential to identify the possible sources of contamination and to correctly classify groundwate...Background: Groundwater is an important source of water. Since the control and removal of pollution are expensive, it is essential to identify the possible sources of contamination and to correctly classify groundwater on the basis of its intrinsic and integrated vulnerability. Objectives: To group ground water chemical ions and heavy metals parameters into similar groups. Method: The investigation made use of standard analytical procedures. All sampling, conservation, transportation and analysis followed standard procedures described in APHA (2012). To prevent degradation of the organic substances, all obtained samples were transferred to the laboratory, while kept in an icebox. Results: Sampling records from the same area are generally assigned to the same cluster during hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The cluster diagram shows the grouping of the heavy metal in the study area during wet and dry seasons. It reveals that 5 distinct clusters were identified for wet season and 4 clusters were identified during dry season. Also, it reveals that 5 distinct clusters were identified for wet season and for dry season, 4 distinct clusters were identified. Conclusion: The findings of this study are significant for policymakers and agencies in terms of dealing with the issues identified to enhance sustainable livelihood practices in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Therefore, decision-makers should take proper initiatives to get local people aware of the endangered zones before use, as drinking water is key to good health. Similarly, multinational oil companies will find it useful in their quest for viable social corporate responsibility and remediation plans in their respective host communities. The method proved to be a useful and objective tool for environmental planning.展开更多
The use of the term"heavy metal"is regularly questioned by the scientific community.Here,we followed the evolution(1970–2020)in the number of published papers including this term in their title.Thus,we can ...The use of the term"heavy metal"is regularly questioned by the scientific community.Here,we followed the evolution(1970–2020)in the number of published papers including this term in their title.Thus,we can evidence a continuous,albeit sometimes stabilizing,increase especially in environmental journals.After several other warning opinions,we propose that it should be replaced in the scientific literature by terms like"metal","metalloid","trace metal elements"or"potentially toxic element".展开更多
Workers of the Lakhra coal mining Sindh Pakistan were affected by a multi-factorial exposure of heavy metals. The prevalence of lead (Pb) exposures in work-related symptoms among workers of indoor and outdoor mining o...Workers of the Lakhra coal mining Sindh Pakistan were affected by a multi-factorial exposure of heavy metals. The prevalence of lead (Pb) exposures in work-related symptoms among workers of indoor and outdoor mining of Lakhra coal mining was evaluated in detail. The biological samples (scalp hair and blood) of 270 workers of Lakhra coal mining {official and control subjects} (indoor and outdoor) 18 to 55 years age group and 70 referent subjects of same age-groups were examined. The biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of workers of Lakhra coal mining and referent subjects were analyzed for calcium (Ca) and lead (Pb). Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was applied for the determination of the Ca in digested samples of studied subjects by the microwave oven whereas, the Pb contents were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity of the methodology was checked by using the certified human hair material (BCR 397) and lyophilized human blood (Clincheck). The results indicated the higher contents of Pb in biological samples of indoor and outdoor mining workers than referents. However, the levels of Ca were found to be lower in indoor and outdoor mining workers than those of referents. It can be concluded that immediate action should be taken by recommended authorities to improve the ventilation and hygiene practices inside the industries, mines, and other workplaces.展开更多
Instrumental neutron activation analysis （INAA） has turned out to be particularly useful in the analysis of suspended particles. This work describes the INAA characterization of air particulate matter collected in R...Instrumental neutron activation analysis （INAA） has turned out to be particularly useful in the analysis of suspended particles. This work describes the INAA characterization of air particulate matter collected in Rasht city, Iran. The particulate matter was collected in two sampling sites for elemental analysis in the period of winter-summer 2009. Samples have been transferred to the environmental laboratory of radiation applications research school. Neutron exposures were performed in Tehran Research Reactor, and measurements were carried out using HPGe detectors coupled to gamma ray spectrometer. In these filter samples, the elements, AI, As, Ba, Br, Ca, CI, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Ti, V and Zn were determined using different irradiation and counting protocols. Results show that mean concentration of most air-pollutants in Rasht are lower than those measured in other cities in Iran （Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan）. Collected data were also compared with reported results for other cities in the world.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(21767006)The Science and Technology of Guizhou Province,China([2018]2349)。
文摘In this study,the sources of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)from atmospheric deposition in the waters of Guizhou’s Caohai Lake were investigated in addition to the potential risks to human health.Moss bags were used to enrich PTEs from atmospheric deposition,and eight monitoring sites that best represented geographic variation were established around Caohai Lake.Moss bags were collected and examined at every 3 months to identify spatiotemporal patterns of dry and wet atmospheric deposition of PTEs.Zn was the most abundant metal identified from deposition in Caohai(72.07%–95.94%),followed by Pb and Cd,while Hg was the least abundant(0.008%–0.354%).The contributions of wet deposition of PTEs were greater than those of dry deposition,and deposition during the heating season from December to April was greater than that between April to July.Hg was mainly derived from atmospheric dry deposition(65.38%–84.44%).Spatial distribution analysis indicated that atmospheric deposition was associated with the intensity of human activities and heating emissions.Exposure via hand-to-mouth contact accounted for over 99%of the total exposure risk although overall exposure was lower than threshold acceptable levels for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals,indicating an overall lack of risk towards human health.Nevertheless,the health risk from atmospheric deposition of PTEs in Caohai Lake may be reduced by focusing on Zn,Pb,and Cd deposition in rainfall and minimizing the hazards associated with hand-to-mouth exposure to PTEs.
文摘A survey was carried out with the aim of assessing the level of the total phenolic compounds （TPC）, essential （Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn） and toxic （Cd and Pb） elements in 10 Latvian whole grain rye and/or wheat flour bread samples, obtained from the local market. The quantities of the TPC were determined by spectrophotometry. Mineral content was determined by flame photometry, flame atom absorption spectrometry （FAAS） and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry （ETAA） after wet digestion in concentrated HNO3. The values were comparable to the literature data. The average content in all the samples was （on a basis of weight of the product） 547 ± 28 mg/100 g for Na; 280 ±20 mg/100 g for K; 32 ± 2 mg/100 g for Ca; 88 ±5 mg/100 g for Mg; 0.49 ± 0.09 mg/100 g for Cu; 1.6 ±0.2 mg/100 g for Zn. Both Pb and Cd were determined below the limit of detection （LOD 5 0.10 mg/100 g）. The LOD values were determined for each element. The TPC content in defatted samples was slightly lower than the non-defatted ones, showing the dependence on the sample preparation. The calculated average levels of the elements were compared with the maximum levels recommended or regulated by the national legislation.
文摘This study investigated the feasibility of using some natural clay minerals available in Egypt like kaolinite, bentonite, also using of iron oxide, rock phosphate and mixture of these types to minimize the rate of Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn desorption from sewage soils and to evaluate the effect of these mixtures on Zn equivalent constant values before and after remediation. The obtained results indicated that all mixtures used were minimizing the rate of potential toxic elements （PTE＇s） release from sewage soils compared to control treatment. According to the decreasing order of different treatments, data indicated that application of the mixture treatment of bentonite, kaolinite and rock phosphate （RP） in sewage soils becomes the best treatment compared to other treatments used. However, the lowest and save Zn equivalent constant value which represents the hazard indicator in the study was observed in sewage soil treated with the mixture of bentonite and RP. The kinetic constants of Elovich, modified Freundlich and Hoerl equations, the best fitted models, were significantly decreased compared to control treatments with different percent of minimization according to type of pollutants and remediation material used. To understand the mechanisms of PTE＇s retained in treated sewage soil, distribution study was applied which showed that different pollutants studied were removed to hardly available form different mechanisms of PTE＇s undergo in treated sewage soils were discussed in the study.
文摘The Ker-Ya River flows through the high-tech industrial park and urban residential areas of Hsin-Chu in northern Taiwan. Major and trace element concentrations of waste effluents, river water, and sediment samples collected during 2017 along the Ker-Ya River were analyzed to elucidate the distribution pattern of potential pollutants. Principal component analyses were applied, and four major contaminant associations were recognized: 1) Ce, Co, Fe, La, V, and Cr;2) Cu and Ni associated with Hg, Ni, P, Ga, W, In, and Ti;3) B, Li, Ba, Ca, and Ag;and 4) Sn with Zn, In, and Cd. All associations are considered to be mainly anthropogenic. Although the element associations recognized from the water samples are not exactly the same as those from the sediment samples but nevertheless, they are similar, suggesting that the short-term and long-term distribution patterns are consistent. The A association accounts for the most variance in the data and exhibits the widest distribution, suggesting the existence of contaminant sources in the upper and lower reaches, respectively. The sediments near the outlet of the city sewage plant also contain association A elements, signaling incomplete processing of the diverged waters sent to the plant at the river mouth. The B association (mainly Cu and Ni) appeared mainly in the upper and middle reaches, indicative of sources from industries in the upper reaches and the tributary Nan-Men Creek. The C association (B, Ba, Ca, and Li) was limited to the center part of the river, probably attributable to a nearby paper mill. The D association (primarily Sn, In, and Zn) was present in the top point of the middle reaches, suggesting the presence of other contaminant sources in the upper reaches. Although a total of four concomitant associations were recognized, none of the elements exceeded the drinking water standard, suggesting that there was no severe pollution present.
基金the student research committee at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences for the financial grants supporting this study(1398/9920)。
文摘The contamination of fish type products such as silver pomfret fish fillets by potentially toxic elements(PTEs)has raised global health concerns.Related studies regarding the concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish were retrieved among some international databases such as Scopus,Pub Med and Embase between 1 January 1983 and 10 March 2020.The pooled(mean)concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was meta-analyzed with the aid of a random-effect model(REM).Also,the non-carcinogenic risk was estimated via calculating the 95 th percentile of the total target hazard quotient(TTHQ).The meta-analysis of 21 articles(containing 25 studies or data reports)indicated that the ranking of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was Fe(11,414.81μg/kg wet weight,ww)>Zn(6055.72μg/kg ww)>Cr(1825.79μg/kg ww)>Pb(1486.44μg/kg ww)>Se(1053.47μg/kg ww)>Cd(992.50μg/kg ww)>Ni(745.23μg/kg ww)>Cu(669.71μg/kg ww)>total As(408.24μg/kg ww)>Co(87.03μg/kg ww)>methyl Hg(46.58μg/kg ww).The rank order of health risk assessment by country based on the TTHQ for adult consumers was Malaysia(2.500)>Bangladesh(0.886)>Iran(0.144)>China(0.045)>Pakistan(0.020)>India(0.015),while the corresponding values for child consumers was Malaysia(11.790)>Bangladesh(4.146)>Iran(0.675)>China(0.206)>Pakistan(0.096)>India(0.077).The adult consumers in Malaysia and children in Malaysia and Bangladesh were at considerable non-carcinogenic risk.Therefore,following the recommended control plans in order to reduce the health risk associated with the ingestion of PTEs via consumption of silver pomfret fish fillets is crucial.
文摘Toxic elements in the atmosphere can enter and accumulate in the human body, seriously impacting human health. In this study, we analyzed a 14-year （1995-2008） measurement of three toxic elements （As, Cd and Cr） in PMlo in Hong Kong, China. The pollution of these toxic elements in Hong Kong was not serious. The trend analysis showed that As and Cr in PM10 increased at a statistically significant level （p〈0.05） during the 14-year period, while the Cd in PM10 did not change significantly. Typical seasonal variations were observed for all three toxic elements, largely in relation to the Asian monsoon. Hourly 10-day backward trajectories were computed and cate- gorised into four groups. The continental air masses showed much higher concentrations of the three toxic elements than the marine air masses. The abundances of As and Cd in the PM10 were much higher in the continental air masses than those in the marine air masses, while the abundances of Cr showed an opposite pattern. The trends of the three toxic elements in East China＇s air mass were consistent with those in the overall data set ofHong Kong. Examination of the toxic element data recorded at urban sites and a roadside site also indicated a large contribution of external air masses to particulate As and Cd in Hong Kong. These results suggest that the long-range transport from the mainland of China is the dominant contributor to particulate As and Cd, while both local and long-distance sources determine the particulate Cr in Hong Kong.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.552104156,52074351,and 52004330)the National Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province,China(No.2022JJ30714)the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province,China(No.2021RC3125)。
文摘Phosphogypsum(PG),a hard-to-dissipate by-product of the phosphorus fertilizer production industry,places strain on the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions of storage sites.This pervasive problem is already widespread worldwide and requires careful stewardship.In this study,we review the presence of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)in PG and describe their associations with soil properties,anthropogenic activities,and surrounding organisms.Then,we review different ex-/in-situ solutions for promoting the sustainable management of PG,with an emphasis on in-situ cemented paste backfill,which offers a cost-effective and highly scalable opportunity to advance the value-added recovery of PG.However,concerns related to the PTEs'retention capacity and long-term effectiveness limit the implementation of this strategy.Furthermore,given that the large-scale demand for ordinary Portland cement from this conventional option has resulted in significant CO_(2) emissions,the technology has recently undergone additional scrutiny to meet the climate mitigation ambition of the Paris Agreement and China's Carbon Neutrality Economy.Therefore,we discuss the ways by which we can integrate innovative strategies,including supplementary cementitious materials,alternative binder solutions,CO_(2) mineralization,CO_(2) curing,and optimization of the supply chain for the profitability and sustainability of PG remediation.However,to maximize the co-benefits in environmental,social,and economic,future research must bridge the gap between the feasibility of expanding these advanced pathways and the multidisciplinary needs.
基金financially supported from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2019YFC1803601)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University,China(No.2023ZZTS0801)+1 种基金the Postgraduate Innovative Project of Central South University,China(No.2023XQLH068)the Postgraduate Scientific Research Innovation Project of Hunan Province,China(No.QL20230054)。
文摘A general prediction model for seven heavy metals was established using the heavy metal contents of 207soil samples measured by a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF)and six environmental factors as model correction coefficients.The eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)model was used to fit the relationship between the content of heavy metals and environment characteristics to evaluate the soil ecological risk of the smelting site.The results demonstrated that the generalized prediction model developed for Pb,Cd,and As was highly accurate with fitted coefficients(R^(2))values of 0.911,0.950,and 0.835,respectively.Topsoil presented the highest ecological risk,and there existed high potential ecological risk at some positions with different depths due to high mobility of Cd.Generally,the application of machine learning significantly increased the accuracy of pXRF measurements,and identified key environmental factors.The adapted potential ecological risk assessment emphasized the need to focus on Pb,Cd,and As in future site remediation efforts.
文摘This research study explored the efficacy of leaf litter compost as a sustainable soil amendment with the objective of promoting soil health and mitigating the accumulation of potentially toxic elements. The investigation encompassed the impact of various organic compost amendments, including leaf compost, cow dung manure, kitchen waste compost, municipal organic waste compost, and vermicompost. The study employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate soil nutrient levels and concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, and lithium. The fertilization and bioremediation potential of these compost amendments are quantified using an indexing method. Results indicated a substantial increase in overall nutrient levels (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur) in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic composts. Fertility indices (FI) are notably higher in compost-amended soils (ranging from 2.667 to 3.938) compared to those amended with chemical fertilizers (ranging from 2.250 to 2.813) across all soil samples. Furthermore, the mean concentrations of PTEs were significantly lower in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic compost amendments compared to those treated with chemical fertilizers amendments. The assessment through the indexing method revealed a high clean index (CI) for leaf compost amendment (ranging from 3.407 to 3.58), whereas the chemical fertilizer amendment exhibits a relatively lower CI (ranging from 2.78 to 3.20). Consequently, leaf compost and other organic composts exhibit the potential to enhance sustainable productivity, promoting soil health and environmental safety by improving nutrient levels and remediating potentially toxic elements in the soil.
基金supported by the Payame Noor University (PNU), Tehran, Iran
文摘Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)such as arsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),mercury(Hg),and lead(Pb)in fruit samples collected from Markazi Province,Iran.A probabilistic health risk assessment due to ingestion of PTEs through the consumption of these fruits was also conducted.Methods The concentration of PTEs in 90 samples of five types of fruits(n=3)collected from six geographic regions in Markazi Province was measured.The potential health risk was evaluated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.Results A significant difference was observed in the concentration of PTEs between fruits as well as soil and water samples collected from different regions in Markazi Province.The order of PTE concentration in the soil and water samples was as follows:Pb>As>Hg>Cd.Furthermore,the highest level of transfer factor for Cd and Hg correlated with the grape.The estimated daily intake for adults and children was lower than the recommended tolerable daily intake.Conclusion The population in Markazi Province,Iran,is not at considerable noncarcinogenic or carcinogenic risk due to the ingestion of PTEs through the consumption of the examined fruits.
基金supported by Open Foundation of the Key Laboratory of Coupling Process and Effect of Natural Resources Elements(No.2023KFKTB001)the Science&Technology Fundamental Resources Investigation Program(2022FY101800)+2 种基金the National Nonprofit Institute Research Grant of IGGE(AS2023D01)the projects of the China Geological Survey(DD20230309 and DD20190305)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(42002105)。
文摘To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and corresponding subsoil samples)were collected from the five representative land-use patterns.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),Atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS),and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)were used to determine the content of PTEs(As,Cd,Hg,Cu,Cr,Ni,Pb,Zn,Co,Mo,Sb,and V).Correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to determine the source of PTEs.Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)),hazard quotient(HQ),and total carcinogenic risk index(TR)were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts.Results showed that the average values of 12 PTEs in topsoil were higher than the Hainan soil geochemical baseline,showing different degrees of PTEs accumulation effect.The concentration of PTEs in the topsoil was lower than those in the subsoil except for Cd and Hg.The I_(geo)revealed that the major accumulated element in soils was As followed by Mo.Source apportionment suggested that parent materials and agricultural practices were the dominant factors for PTEs accumulation in the topsoil.Noncarcinogenic risks of soil samples from five land-use patterns presented a trend of paddy field>dry field>woodland>orchard>garden plot.However,the HQ values of 12 PTEs were less than the recommended limit of HQ=1,representing that there are no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area.The TR values are within 6.95×10^(-6)-1.38×10^(-5),which corresponds to the low level.Therefore the PTEs in the agricultural soil of the study area show little influence on the health status of the local population.
基金supported from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2022YFF1302901)the Key Laboratory Construction Project of Guangxi(No.19-185-7)the Foundation for Hebei Education Department(No.2022QNJS05).
文摘To investigate the presence of metal elements and assess their health risk for the populace in the Nandong Underground River Basin(NURB),we conducted an analysis of eleven common heavy metals in the water body.A Health risk assessment(HRA)model was employed to analyze 84 water samples from the NURB.The detection results revealed the following order of heavy metals concentrations:Fe>Al>Mn>Zn>As>Cd>Pb>Cr>Ni>Cu>Hg.Correlation analysis indicated a certain similarity in material source and migration transformation among these eleven metal elements.Our study identified that the health risks for local residents exposed to metal elements in the water of NURB primarily stem from carcinogenic risk(10^(−6)–10^(−4)a^(−1))through the drinking water pathway.Moreover,the health risk of heavy metal exposure for children through drinking water was notably higher than for adults.The maximum health risks of Cr in both underground and surface water exceeded the recommendation standard(5.0×10^(−5)a^(−1))from ICRP,surpassing the values recommended by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency,the Dutch Ministry of Construction and Environment and the British Royal Society(5.0×10^(−6)a^(−1)).The results of the health risk assessment indicate that Cr in the water of NURB is the primary source of carcinogenic risk for local residents,followed by Cd and As.Consequently,it is imperative to control these three carcinogenic metals when the water was used as drinking water resource.
文摘The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relation between maternal blood levels of selected toxic and potentially toxic elements （manganese （Mn）, copper （Cu）, zinc （Zn）, arsenic （As）, selenium （Se）, cadmium （Cd）, lead （Pb） and mercury （Hg）） and birth weight of their new-borns in a Slovenian population, taking into account maternal socio-demographic characteristics and dietary habits. 535 women from 12 regions of Slovenia were recruited at delivery. Maternal blood was collected at 1.5 months after birth. Associations between birth weight and a） predictors obtained through the questionnaires and b） levels of selected elements were tested using bivariate tests and multiple linear regression. Multiple regression models revealed maternal age as an additional predictor for birth weight and confirmed pre-pregnancy body mass, estimated gestational age and gender of the baby as the main predictors for birth weight. Mn in maternal blood was significantly and positively associated with birth weight. The positive association observed between birth weight and Mn in maternal blood could be explained by the essentiality of Mn in foetal development as an important cofactor in enzymereactions in bone formation and in metabolic regulation for amino acid, lipid, protein and carbohydrate levels.
基金the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 12th Five-Year Plan period(2012BAI27B07)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81173653)+2 种基金the Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Sichuan Province, China (2010-78)the Research Funds of Southwest University for Nationalities, China (13NLY01)the Earmarked Fund for China Agriculture Research System (CARS-08-D-3)
文摘The essential and toxic element concentrations in buckwheat were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer（ICP-OES）. The concentration data were subjected to common chemometrics analyses, including correlation analysis（CA）, principal component analysis（PCA） and hierarchical cluster analysis（HCA）, to gain better understanding of the differences among the tested samples. Our results indicated that the essential and toxic element concentrations were not different between Fagopyrum tataricum（L.） Gaertn and F. esculentum Moench. The element concentrations varied among buckwheat samples from different sources. Commercial tartary buckwheat tea contained several essential elements, thus, could be used as the source of essential elements. The detection of toxic heavy metals in commercial tartary buckwheat tea suggested that safety issue of such buckwheat products should be seriously concerned. Our results also revealed that the place of origin and the processing protocol of tartary buckwheat affected the element concentrations of the commercial form. The implications to the quality control and safety evaluation of buckwheat were extensively discussed.
基金supported by the KOSéCosmetology Research Foundationthe Japan Society funded the present work for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos.16H06439 and 20H00297)。
文摘B and N mixed anions co-doped titania with various crystal phases such as anatase,brookite,and rutile were successfully synthesized by a hydrothermal synthesis followed by heat treatment in an ammonia gas atmosphere at 550-650℃(denoted as BN-Ana_x,BN-Bro_x,and BN-Rut_x,x is the treatment temperature).The colors of as-prepared BN-Ana,BN-Bro,and BN-Rut are red,yellow-green,and cyangreen,respectively.The color changing mechanism of titania was related to their various band gap structure and the existence of B-N bonding.The nitridation temperature exhibits effective color changing compared to that of nitridation time.The different phases of the mixed anion codoped titania possess different photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity.The BN-Ana and BN-Rut show poor photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity,while the BN-Bro shows excellent photocatalytic deNO_(x) activity,better than that of standard titania photocatalyst Degussa P25.The colorful titania with low-photocatalytic activity is heavy metal elements free,indicating their possible applications as nontoxic color pigments or novel cosmetic raw materials.
基金Project (20507022) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaProject (EREH050303) supported by the Foundation of Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health
文摘The contamination and environmental risk assessment of the toxic elements in sediments from the middle-downstream (Zhuzhou-Changsha section) of the Xiangjiang River in Hunan Province of China were studied. The results show that As, Cd, Pb and Zn are major contaminants in sediments, and average concentrations of these elements significantly exceed both the Control Standards for Pollutants in Sludge of China (GB4284-84) for agricultural use in acidic soils and the effect range median (ERM) values. The average concentrations of As, Cd and Pb in the river water slightly exceed the limit of Surface Water Environment Quality Standard (GB3838-2002). The concentrations of As and Cr in depth profiles extensively change, but slight changes are observed in Pb and Zn. Cd and Zn in most sediment samples can easily enter the food-chain and bring possible ecotoxicological risk to organisms living in sediments according to the risk assessment code.
文摘Background: Groundwater is an important source of water. Since the control and removal of pollution are expensive, it is essential to identify the possible sources of contamination and to correctly classify groundwater on the basis of its intrinsic and integrated vulnerability. Objectives: To group ground water chemical ions and heavy metals parameters into similar groups. Method: The investigation made use of standard analytical procedures. All sampling, conservation, transportation and analysis followed standard procedures described in APHA (2012). To prevent degradation of the organic substances, all obtained samples were transferred to the laboratory, while kept in an icebox. Results: Sampling records from the same area are generally assigned to the same cluster during hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). The cluster diagram shows the grouping of the heavy metal in the study area during wet and dry seasons. It reveals that 5 distinct clusters were identified for wet season and 4 clusters were identified during dry season. Also, it reveals that 5 distinct clusters were identified for wet season and for dry season, 4 distinct clusters were identified. Conclusion: The findings of this study are significant for policymakers and agencies in terms of dealing with the issues identified to enhance sustainable livelihood practices in the oil rich Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Therefore, decision-makers should take proper initiatives to get local people aware of the endangered zones before use, as drinking water is key to good health. Similarly, multinational oil companies will find it useful in their quest for viable social corporate responsibility and remediation plans in their respective host communities. The method proved to be a useful and objective tool for environmental planning.
文摘The use of the term"heavy metal"is regularly questioned by the scientific community.Here,we followed the evolution(1970–2020)in the number of published papers including this term in their title.Thus,we can evidence a continuous,albeit sometimes stabilizing,increase especially in environmental journals.After several other warning opinions,we propose that it should be replaced in the scientific literature by terms like"metal","metalloid","trace metal elements"or"potentially toxic element".
文摘Workers of the Lakhra coal mining Sindh Pakistan were affected by a multi-factorial exposure of heavy metals. The prevalence of lead (Pb) exposures in work-related symptoms among workers of indoor and outdoor mining of Lakhra coal mining was evaluated in detail. The biological samples (scalp hair and blood) of 270 workers of Lakhra coal mining {official and control subjects} (indoor and outdoor) 18 to 55 years age group and 70 referent subjects of same age-groups were examined. The biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of workers of Lakhra coal mining and referent subjects were analyzed for calcium (Ca) and lead (Pb). Flame atomic absorption spectrometry was applied for the determination of the Ca in digested samples of studied subjects by the microwave oven whereas, the Pb contents were measured by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The validity of the methodology was checked by using the certified human hair material (BCR 397) and lyophilized human blood (Clincheck). The results indicated the higher contents of Pb in biological samples of indoor and outdoor mining workers than referents. However, the levels of Ca were found to be lower in indoor and outdoor mining workers than those of referents. It can be concluded that immediate action should be taken by recommended authorities to improve the ventilation and hygiene practices inside the industries, mines, and other workplaces.
文摘Instrumental neutron activation analysis （INAA） has turned out to be particularly useful in the analysis of suspended particles. This work describes the INAA characterization of air particulate matter collected in Rasht city, Iran. The particulate matter was collected in two sampling sites for elemental analysis in the period of winter-summer 2009. Samples have been transferred to the environmental laboratory of radiation applications research school. Neutron exposures were performed in Tehran Research Reactor, and measurements were carried out using HPGe detectors coupled to gamma ray spectrometer. In these filter samples, the elements, AI, As, Ba, Br, Ca, CI, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Ti, V and Zn were determined using different irradiation and counting protocols. Results show that mean concentration of most air-pollutants in Rasht are lower than those measured in other cities in Iran （Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan）. Collected data were also compared with reported results for other cities in the world.
