Abstract  The metal content of industrial areas of Kasur, the Lahore Kasur Road and the Lahore Shiekhupura Road were surveyed and sampled for vegetables, fruits and grain crops. The quality of soil was also analyzed and compared with that of the control soil in and around the Botanical Garden, University of the Punjab, Lahore. The metal content of soil in Kasur in the vicinity of KTWMA was the highest. However, the industrial zones along the Lahore Kasur and Lahore Sheikhupura Roads were also moderately polluted. The metal content of edible parts of vegetables, fruits and grain crops were above the permissible limit in case of Cr and Cd. Lead was absent at all sampling sites while Ni was also occasionally absent. Many of the pot herbs like cabbage, coriander, mustard and white goosefoot were observed to be most severely contaminated with heavy metals. Other vegetables like brinjal, bitter gourd and ladyfinger also indicated high contamination levels revealed by PCA charts. Among the fruits, fig, blackberry and guava were the most highly contaminated at all places. In grain crops oats indicated higher metal levels.

Abstract  Marine birds are important vectors of nutrient and contaminant transfer from sea to land. In eastern Nova Scotia, Canada, colonial marine birds nest on specific nearshore islands within archipelagoes, and we predicted that soils on islands with bird colonies would have higher concentrations of selected trace elements (notably K, Ca, As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, Hg, and Zn) than soils on islands without colonies. In this study, common eider (Somateria mollissima), Leach's storm petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa), black guillemot (Cepphus grylle), double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), great black-backed gull (Larus marinus), and herring gull (Larus argentatus) were considered to be the principal avian vectors for contaminant transfer. Results indicate that soils from islands with bird colonies had unique chemical compositions and commonly displayed elevated concentrations of K, Ca, Cu, Se, and Zn when compared to islands without colonies. Thus, marine birds feeding in the nearby marine zone move pollutants and nutrients from the ocean to nesting islands, potentially influencing habitat quality for coastal terrestrial species.

Abstract  Lead accumulates in adult bones for many decades; previous studies have shown lead's detrimental effects on osteoblast and osteoclast activity in association with bone remodeling. Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones resulting in low bone mass that induces fragile bones and hence susceptibility of fracture. We estimated the association between urinary lead (U-Pb) levels and bone health in adults participating in the third Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT) from 2005 to 2008. A total of 398 participants were divided into normal (T-score>-1), osteopenic (T-score between -1 and -2.5), or osteoporotic (T-score<-2.5) groups according to the results of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. Heavy metals were measured in urine specimens using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (OR=1.08; 95% CI=1.05-1.10), former smokers (OR=2.95; 95% CI=1.22-7.11) and higher U-Pb levels than upper tertile (OR=2.30; 95% CI=1.19-4.48) were associated with osteopenia/osteoporosis. Furthermore, age (OR=1.06; 95% CI=1.02-1.10) and higher U-Pb levels (OR=2.81; 95% CI=1.13-6.97) were significantly associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis in women. These results suggest that adults, particularly in women, with higher U-Pb levels may have increased odds of osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Abstract  Mercury, cadmium, arsenic and lead are among priority metals for toxicological studies due to the frequent human exposure and to the significant burden of disease following acute and chronic intoxication. Among their common characteristics is chemical affinity to proteins and non-protein thiols and their ability to generate cellular oxidative stress by the best-known Fenton mechanism. Their health effects are however diverse: kidney and liver damage, cancer at specific sites, irreversible neurological damages with metal-specific features. Mechanisms for the induction of oxidative stress by interaction with the cell thiolome will be presented, based on literature evidence and of experimental findings.

Abstract  To evaluate how prenatal exposure to antioxidant vitamins and heavy metals affects subsequent development. Maternal serum and cord serum levels of antioxidant vitamins (A, E, and C) were determined. Full-state, performance, and verbal intelligence quotients (FSIQ, PIQ, and VIQ, respectively) of 97 children were assessed at 5 years of age. The placental transport ratio (PTR: cord level relative to maternal serum level) of vitamin A (VA) was associated positively with FSIQ score (p=0.041), vitamin E (VE)-PTR was associated positively with PIQ (p=0.002) and FSIQ (p=0.025) scores, and cord serum cadmium (Cd) level was correlated negatively with VIQ score (p=0.025) at 5 years of age. High VE-PTR protected against low PIQ (OR=0.025; p=0.021) and FSIQ (OR<0.001; p=0.004). High maternal age was a protective factor against low VIQ (OR=0.661; 95% CI, 0.500- 0.875; p=0.004) and FSIQ (OR=0.700; 95% CI, 0.512-0.957; p=0.025). A higher maternal education (OR=0.038; 95% CI, 0.003-0.458; p=0.010) and economic level (OR=0.047; 95% CI, 0.004-0.579; p=0.017) were protective against a low FSIQ score. VA-PTR predicted physical growth. VA-PTR and VE-PTR predicted intelligence test performance at 5 years old. High Cd in cord blood may negatively affect subsequent intelligence.

Abstract  Metal sulfides serve as the sinks of toxic heavy metals in anoxic sediments. Once exposed to fluctuations in environmental conditions, dissolution of metal sulfides can occur and release toxic heavy metal ions into water column. In this study, we investigated the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, salinity and humic acid (HA) on the dissolution of CuS. PbS and ZnS using batch experiments with continuous aeration to simulate the re-suspension of these metal sulfides during a storm event. Experimental results indicated that oxidative dissolution of CuS, PbS and ZnS occurred in the presence of DO. The rate was the fastest for PbS, followed by CuS and ZnS. Soluble metal concentrations also increased with decreasing pH under oxic conditions. Compared to metal sulfides dissolution rates in freshwater without HA, the presence of saline conditions and HA generally accelerated the dissolution of CuS but inhibited the dissolution of PbS and ZnS. A higher saline or HA concentration, however, did not always lead to a stronger enhanced or inhibited dissolution rate, which could be a collective effect resulting from ligand-enhanced dissolution, complexation, and decreased oxygen and proton attacks due to HA adsorption on the metal sulfide surfaces.

Abstract  INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Research focused on the monitoring of selected heavy metals in ewes' blood. Concentrations of selected toxic elements, lead, cadmium and zinc, in ewes living near an environmentally-loaded area, concerned 15 ewes (aged 3-4 years) in good physical condition, during the spring of 2014 and 2015 in the eastern part of Slovakia. The aim of the research was to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals and state the correlations of selected heavy metals in ewes' blood.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within the period of 2 years, 15 ewe were evaluated. Ewes' blood samples were collected twice during the spring season from a farm located in area Spiš, eastern Slovakia, and then analysed for heavy metal contents. In the area under investigation, contamination with heavy metals was assumed as a result of intensive agricultural development and former mining activities. The level of selected heavy metals in the experimental group of animal blood was determined using an optical spectrophotometry.

RESULTS: Statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistica programme. The significant differences between means were calculated by the statistical method of the non-parametric Mann-Whitney´s U test. The statistical test experimental group of ewes in 2014 and 2015 confirmed the presence of selected heavy metals in ewes. The measured values of Cd (P=0.0003), Pb (P=0.0200) and Zn (P=0.0018) showed significant differences when comparing the years 2014 and 2015.

CONCLUSIONS: The obtained and analysed blood samples confirmed the presence of selected heavy metals in ewes from area of Spiš in eastern Slovakia, which belongs the sub-region or is among the localities environmentally burdened. The conclusions are centred on the population's interest and concern for the environment, as well as on the preoccupation with factors that affect the satisfaction of basic needs, the local agricultural development and former mining activities.

Abstract  BACKGROUND: A number of studies have found associations between heavy metals and uterine fibroids, but the results are inconsistent. Here, we conducted this research to demonstrate the relationships between blood heavy metal concentrations and uterine fibroid volume as well as the rate of uterine fibroid presence. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, we collected data from 308 premenopausal women aged 30-49years in Seoul; uterine fibroids are ascertained by past history of myomectomy and pelvic ultrasonography. In the analytic phase, we first analyzed the presence of the fibroids and the concentrations of heavy metals via logistic regression. In subgroup analysis, we used simple and multiple linear regression analyses to examine the associations between heavy metals and uterine fibroid volume. RESULTS: There was no connection between the heavy metal concentrations and the presence of uterine fibroids, but the odds of women having fibroids were higher with three particular metals. In subgroup analysis, the association between blood cadmium concentrations and uterine fibroid volume was statistically significant (adjusted beta coefficient=2.22, 95% confidential interval: 0.06-4.37). In contrast, blood mercury and lead concentrations were not significantly associated with uterine fibroid volume. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings are the first that we know to report the association of blood cadmium concentrations with the volume of uterine fibroids. We expect that our findings will be used as evidence for supporting policies to improve premenopausal Korean women's health.

Abstract  This study was designed to investigate the combined effects of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk calculated using the Framingham risk score. The heavy metal data set of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V (2008-2010) was analyzed. The 10-year CHD risk was significantly associated with the log-transformed blood Cd and Pb levels in Korean men. For the highest quartile of Cd and Pb, the odds ratio (OR) of the intermediate risk and beyond for CHD (10-year risk ≥10%) compared to the lowest quartile was 6.870 (Cd, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.58-10.30) and 3.127 (Pb, 95% CI: 2.09-4.69) after adjusting for confounders, respectively. The adjusted OR of the intermediate risk and beyond for CHD (10-year risk ≥10%) in the fourth quartile of both Cd and Pb was 12.2 (95% CI: 8.0-18.5) compared to the reference group (first and second quartiles of Cd and Pb). However, the association between log-transformed blood Cd and Pb and the 10-year CHD risk was not significant in Korean women.

Abstract  BACKGROUND: Experimental studies have demonstrated that lead and cadmium have direct toxic effects on the myocardium, but the few human studies are limited by design, assessment of exposure, and use of heart failure as a late-stage endpoint.

METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective population study, we studied the association of left ventricular (LV) function with blood lead (BPb) and 24-hour urinary cadmium (UCd). In 179 participants randomly recruited from a Flemish population (50.3% women; mean age 39.1 years), geometric mean BPb and UCd at enrollment (1985-2000) were 0.20 μmol/L and 6.1 nmol, respectively. We assessed systolic and diastolic LV function 11.9 years (median) later (2005-2010) by using Doppler imaging of the transmitral blood flow and the mitral annular movement and speckle tracking. In multivariable-adjusted linear regression, LV systolic function decreased with BPb. For a doubling of exposure, estimates were -0.392% for global longitudinal strain (P=0.034), -0.618% and -0.113 s-1 for regional longitudinal strain (P=0.028) and strain rate (P=0.008), and -0.056 s-1 for regional radial strain rate (P=0.050). Regional longitudinal strain rate (-0.066 s-1, P=0.009) and regional radial strain (-2.848%, P=0.015) also decreased with UCd. Models including both exposure indexes did not allow differentiating whether LV dysfunction was predominately related to BPb or UCd. Diastolic LV function was not associated with BPb or UCd (P≥0.159).

CONCLUSIONS: Although effect sizes were small, our results suggest that environmental exposure to lead, cadmium, or both might be a risk factor for systolic LV dysfunction, a condition often proceeding to heart failure.

Abstract  Predicting the accumulation and toxicity of mixtures of metals to aquatic organisms is a key challenge in ecotoxicological studies. In this study, the accumulation and toxicity of mixed essential (Cu) and nonessential (Cd and Pb) metals in zebrafish larvae exposed to a binary mixture of these elements at environmentally relevant concentrations were predicted using a refined toxicokinetic (TK)-toxicodynamic (TD) model aided with biotic ligand model (BLM) and toxic equivalent factor (TEF) approach. Competitive inhibition and non-competitive interaction/inhibition were observed in bio-uptake. Both Pb and Cd behaved as competitive inhibitors of Cu uptake at high Cu concentrations (>0.1 μM). By contrast, Cu uptake was independent of Cd or Pb when the Cu concentrations were below 10(-7) M. Furthermore, low concentrations of Cu had an adiaphorous effect on Cd or Pb uptake. Cd uptake was inhibited by Pb, and the Pb uptake rates consistently decreased in the presence of Cd. The accumulation processes of Cd-Pb, Cu-Cd, and Cu-Pb were accurately predicted by the BLM-aided TK models. The traditional TD model could successfully predict the toxicity of Cd-Pb mixtures, but not those of Cu-Cd or Cu-Pb mixtures. The revised TD model, which considered the possible different killing rates (Kk) above or below the threshold, offered better prediction for the toxicity of Cu-Cd or Cu-Pb mixtures. The overall findings may be of key significance in understanding and predicting metal uptake, accumulation, and toxicity in binary or multiple metal exposure scenarios.

Abstract  Diplotaxis tenuifolia is a medicinally important perennial plant species, distributed widely alongside the roads in Turkey. The samples were collected from 54 sites, including highways, sideways, industrial areas, urban centres and rural environs. Both the plant and soil samples were analysed to determine the concentrations of different metals using AAS. The results showed that in the soil samples copper and lead were highest near highway 45.533 and 2.865 mg/kg, respectively; but lowest values of copper were determined around industrial areas (3.514 mg/kg), latter however showed higher concentrations of cadmium (0.726 mg/kg) and iron (82.766 mg/kg). The lead as well as iron were the lowest around sideways 1.917 mg/kg and 54.073 mg/kg, respectively, whereas chromium concentrations in the soils were highest near sideways (18.397 mg/kg) and lowest around industrial areas (0.182 mg/kg). The sideways showed very low nickel concentrations (0.271 mg/kg), as compared to the rural areas which had higher nickel concentrations (0.726 mg/kg). No cadmium was detected in the urban soil samples. In the plants copper and chromium were higher in the urban areas 50.130 and 0.238 mg/kg, respectively. The former was lowest around sideways (32.377 mg/kg) and latter around highways (0.114 mg/kg). Both nickel and cadmium were higher in the samples from industrial areas 0.238 and 0.016 mg/kg, respectively. Their values around the highways were lowest 0.182 and 0.005 mg/kg. The samples from urban sites revealed highest values of lead (3.474 mg/kg) and iron (61.304 mg/kg), but the values of lead were lowest around sideways (2.420 mg/kg) and those of iron in the vicinity of industrial areas (20.600 mg/kg). All these findings depict that there is some aerial deposition of these metals on the leaves. A significant correlation is seen between the plants and the soils.

Abstract  Use of wastewater for irrigating agricultural crops is on the rise, particularly in the developing countries. The present study was undertaken to assess the long-term effect of irrigation with zinc smelter effluent on important soil properties including heavy metal status. Metal concentration in the edible parts of the crops grown on smelter effluent-irrigated soils was also measured. For this purpose, the agricultural lands which have been receiving the zinc smelter effluent irrigation for about five decades at Debari, Udaipur, India were selected. The adjacent tubewell water-irrigated fields were selected as reference. Long-term irrigation with smelter effluent resulted into significant buildup of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid extractable Zn (57.7 fold), Cu (4.51 fold), Fe (3.35 fold), Mn (1.77 fold), Ni (1.20 fold), Pb (45.1 fold), and Cd (79.2 fold) in soils over tubewell water-irrigated fields. Total Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Cd content in effluent-irrigated soils was also increased by 27.0, 1.60, 1.40, 1.30, 26.2, and 167 fold, respectively. Risk assessment indicated a very high to moderate potential ecological risk due to Cd, Pb, and Zn in soils close to the immediate vicinity of the smelter plant. Cadmium and Pb concentrations in edible parts of almost all the crops grown on effluent-irrigated soils were above the safe limit of CODEX commission. On an average, soil pH dropped by 0.31 units due to smelter effluent irrigation. Smelter effluent irrigation resulted into significant increase in soil organic carbon, electrical conductivity, and CaCO3 content. On an average, there was decrease in available N (21.0%) and P (20.8%) content in effluent-irrigated soils over the tubewell water-irrigated ones. An increase in available K (102%) and S (26.0 fold) was recorded in effluent-irrigated soils. Long-term irrigation with zinc smelter effluent resulted into reduced microbial activities in soil as evidenced from the level of microbial biomass carbon and dehydrogenase activity. In view of the buildup of heavy metals and subsequent imbalance in essential plant nutrients in smelter effluent-irrigated soils, appropriate remediation-cum-fertilization strategy needs to be adopted for better soil health and plant nutrition.

Abstract  Metal tolerance capacity of Salvinia natans, a metal hyperaccumulator, was evaluated. Plants were exposed to 10, 30 and 50 mg L⁻¹ of Zn, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Cu, Pb, and Ni. Plant biomass, photosynthetic efficiency, quantum yield, photochemical quenching, electron transport rate and elemental (%C, H and N) constitution remained unaffected in Salvinia exposed to 30 mg L⁻¹ of heavy metals, except for Cu and Zn exposed plants, where significant reductions were noted in some of the measured parameters. However, a significant decline was noted in most of the measured parameters in plants exposed to 50 mg L⁻¹ of metal concentration. Results suggest that Salvinia has fairly high levels of tolerance to all the metals tested, but the level of tolerance varied from metal to metal.

Abstract  The characterization of the concentration and chemical speciation of heavy metals in surface and vertical profile soils is a necessary for pollution monitoring and the potential risk assessment of the heavy metals (HMs) to animal and human health. Surface soil samples (n = 14) and vertical profile soil samples (n = 36) from selected sites (n = 6) were collected from coal-mine brownfield in the Qingshui River Basin, in which the concentrations and chemical speciation of HMs (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in surface soils and HM concentrations in vertical profile soils were determined by ICP-OES and analyzed using methods of geo-accumulation index (Igeo), Tucker 3 model and health risk assessment. The chemical fractions of HMs were extracted by BCR-sequential extraction procedure. Results show that HMs in surface soils accumulate in descending order of Cd > Pb > Cu > Ni > Mn > Zn > Cr. All HMs are associated with residue fraction to different degrees. Manganese and Ni are closely related to extractable BCR fractions and turn to be the severer pollutants in some sites. The Igeo values of HMs in vertical profile soils indicate 'uncontaminated'. Whereas coal mining activities with long history increase HM concentrations in subsurface soils at the coal mine former site. The non-carcinogenic risk posed by HM extractable fractions to children and adults fall below the safe level of 1. Lead extractable fraction exhibits the highest risk value in the case of children. The levels of carcinogenic risk posed by Cr and Ni extractable fractions are above that of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) acceptable level (1x10(-6)). Nickel extractable fraction exhibits the highest carcinogenic risk values for children with exceeding that of the maximum USEPA acceptable level (1 x10(-4)).

Abstract  Human beings come across metal exposure not only through contaminated water and food, but through their metal body burden which increases by working in the environment that is contaminated and not safe. These hazardous metals present in the workplace increases the risk of both illness and injury. Illness tends to develop over time following repeated exposure to a hazard, whereas injury usually occurs instantly. Human biomonitoring is a popular method to cogitate the metal exposure of the work place. The present investigation was carried out to access the metal body burden of males belonging to different profession by using hairs analysis, which is one of inexpensive and useful biomonitors of occupational exposure of hazardous metals. Among the three groups under study (such as traffic constables, cloth dyers and office workers), lead and zinc concentrations were detected to be higher among traffic constables, while hairs analysis of cloth dyers show that copper, chromium, cadmium and manganese were present in greater amount as compared to other groups. Intra correlation of these metals among all categories was also carried out. Lead showed antagonistic relation with zinc, chromium, cadmium and manganese and synergistic relation with copper in the case of traffic constables. The present study reveals that metal toxicity in hair samples of office workers, dyers and traffic personnel, vary with their occupation. So there is instantaneous need for public awareness about the hazards of different occupations in order to enable these personnel take necessary precautionary measures.

Abstract  SEQUENTIAL EXTRACTION OF LEAD AND ZINC FROM SOILS OF HEAVY METAL MINING AND PROCESSING AREA

Sequential extraction allows more detailed information about the origin of heavy metals in natural environments, their mode of occurrence, biological and physico-chemical availability, mobilization and transport. To study the Pb and Zn forms, eight soil profiles were selected at different sites within a Pb mining and metallurgy area in the city of Adrianopolis, state of Parana, in the Rio Ribeira valley. Samples were collected from the layers 00-10, 10-20 and 20-40 cm. The total Pb and Zn contents and their speciation in the forms: soluble, exchangeable, carbonate-bound, bound to organic matter, bound to Fe and Al oxides of low crystallinity; linked to crystalline Al oxides and phyllosilicates 1:1 and 2:1; and residual. Based on the percentage values of each fraction in the total contents, similar samples were grouped by principal component analysis (PCA). There were basically two contamination forms of soil profiles; the first was the result of particles from the chimneys and the second due to the accumulation of solid waste on the soil surface. The first was more environmentally damaging due to the higher total and soluble forms in the soil (in the exchangeable and in the solution forms). Overall, there was a greater association of Pb with carbonates, and residual fractions followed by Fe and Al oxides of low crystallinity. Zinc was found in more insoluble forms, increasing the participation in total contents of the residual fraction. The PCA is sensitive to different Pb forms in the soils, underlying the grouping of samples, mainly based on the participation of exchangeable forms, bound to Fe and Al oxides and to carbonates, in relation to the total content.

Abstract  The adverse effects of lead exposure on children are well known. Low blood lead levels (BLL) produce neurodevelopmental delay and cognitive disorders. However, since BLL thresholds for adverse effects on children's health are not known, the children population at risk of excessive lead exposure still has to be identified. This study was aimed at evaluating BLL in a children population of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain). Up to our knowledge, this is the first study to report on BLL in this population. Lead was identified and quantified in blood samples of 120 children, by means of Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Lead was undetected in 80% of samples; BLL was 1 to 5 μg/dl in 15% of samples, and higher than 5 μg/dl in more than 4% of samples. BLL values in the evaluated children were low and similar to those described for other populations in Western countries. However, samples with the highest contamination (those in percentile 95) reached BLLs as high as 5.2 μg/dl. Positive associations were found between BLL and recent immigration (children adopted from non-western countries), and between BLL and parental smoking in children with low weight at birth. Since lead exposure in childhood may be a causative factor in adverse health trends - especially those involving the neurological system - and since threshold values for adverse lead effects are unknown, our finding that around 20% of the studied children had BLL higher than 1 μg/dl are of concern. Enhancing preventive measures for reducing lead exposure in children from the Canary Islands deserves further study.

Abstract  The objectives of this study were to determine levels of heavy metal in the feathers and blood of Black-tailed gulls (Larus crassirostris), to evaluate metallothionein (MT) mRNA level in Black-tailed gulls on three independent islets, and to examine the correlation between heavy metal concentrations and MT mRNA expression. Eleven heavy metals (Al, Cd, Mn, Pb, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Hg, and As) were investigated in blood and feathers of 65 chicks from breeding colonies (Seomando, Hongdo, and Dokdo islet) of South Korea in 2010. Heavy metals were assayed by PerkinElmer NexION 300 inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The mean concentrations of non-essential heavy metals were found to blood containing Cd (0.002 ~ 0.02 ppm), Pb (0.06 ~ 0.18) ppm, Hg (0.03 ~ 0.05) ppm, and As (0.26 ~ 0.48 ppm), and feather containing Cd (0.05 ~ 0.30 ppm), Pb (2.47 ~ 10.80 ppm), Hg (1.18 ~ 1.57 ppm), and As (0.15 ~ 0.44 ppm). Chicks on Seomando islet showed the highest levels of metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, Cr, Cu, and Se in blood; Al, As, Mn, Cr, Fe, Cu, and Se in feathers) among the colonies. Concentrations of Pb and Hg in feathers were the highest on Hongdo, and the levels of Cd and Zn in feathers were the highest on Dokdo islet. MT mRNA in the blood of Black-tailed gulls was relatively higher in gulls from Seomando than in gulls from Hongdo and Dokdo islet. MT mRNA level is thus positively correlated to heavy metal concentrations in Black-tailed gulls.

Abstract  Road deposited sediments (RDS) swept from highways in South Korea were characterized to quantitatively evaluate the reduction in non-point source pollutants by sweeping. The swept RDS consisted primarily of sand (63 μm to 2 mm) particles (80.34 ± 8.33% of total weight) highly contaminated by organics, nutrients and heavy metals. The average concentrations of total organic carbon (TOC), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), volatile solids (VS), total nitrogen (T-N), and total phosphorus (T-P) were 20.17 ± 9.13, 1.04 ± 0.62, 39.92 ± 16.55, 1.99 ± 0.96, and 0.54 ± 0.19 g kg(-1) (±one standard deviation), respectively, for 63 μm to 2 mm RDS. The concentrations of the pollutants were high for RDS smaller than 63 μm, but most of the mass was associated with the 63 μm to 2 mm RDS. The results suggest that the pollutants associated with RDS swept from highways originated mainly from engine wear, exhaust emissions, and tire wear. These results were different from the RDS on roads in residential and commercial areas, where natural particles and brake wear contribute significantly to RDS. In addition, the reductions in TOC, BOD, VS, T-N, T-P, Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe, and As based on the swept RDS measurements were calculated to be 3,355.3, 175.1, 6,621.4, 323.0, 88.3, 30.3, 13.7, 1.0, 303.4, 11,198.7, and 0.4 g km(-1), respectively.

Abstract  Soils of the Summer Garden-the first regular (French-style) garden in Russia-are characterized on the basis of the materials of field study performed during reconstruction of the garden in 2005-2011. Most of these soils are filled soils-urbostratozems-underlain by the loamy sands deposited in the Littorina Sea or by the buried gray-humus gleyic and gleyed soils. Urbostratozems are characterized by the slightly acid reaction in the topsoil horizons and slightly alkaline reaction in the middle-profile and lower horizons. The humus content in them varies from 0.2 to 6.8%; in the buried gray-humus soils, it is within 1.3-2.6%. The soils of the garden are characterized by the high and extremely high content of available phosphorus and the predominantly low content of available potassium as determined by Machigin's method. The bulk content of Pb in the surface soil horizons during the period of our study exceeded the maximum permissible concentration by 3-20 times; the bulk contents of Cu and Zn exceeded the tentative permissible concentrations for coarse-textured soils by 2-6 and 4-20 times, respectively. The main sources of the soil contamination by the heavy metals are the nearby highways. Local contaminated area was also found near the household yard.

Abstract  Farming of suspended mussels is important for generating high protein food and animal feed or for removing nutrients in eutrophic systems. However, the harvested mussels must not be severely contaminated by pollutants posing a potential health risk for the consumers. The present study estimated the bioaccumulation of cadmium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc in suspended blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L) in the Limfjorden, Denmark, based on observations and modelling. Modelling was used to assess the suitability of suspended blue mussels as animal feed and food products at sea water metal concentrations corresponding to Good Ecological Status (GES) in the European Union Water Framework Directive (WFD) and in future climate change scenarios (higher metal concentrations and higher temperatures). For this purpose, GES is interpreted as good chemical status for the metals using the Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) defined in the WFD priority substance daughter directives. Observations showed that suspended mussels were healthy with respect to metal pollution and generally less polluted than benthic mussels due to the smaller contact with the contaminated sediment. The model results showed that the WFD targets for Cd, Ni and Pb are not protective with respect to marine mussel production and probably should be reduced for marine waters. Climate changes may increase the metal contamination of mussels, but not to any critical level at the relatively unpolluted study sites. In conclusion, WFD targets should be revised to assure that the corresponding body burdens of metals in mussels are below the safety limits according to the EU Directives and the Norwegian classification for animal feed and food production.

Abstract  Heavy metals have been implicated for their ability to increase antibiotic resistance in bacteria collected from polluted waters, independent of antibiotic exposure. Specific-pathogen-free Leghorn chickens were therefore given Pb acetate in the drinking water to expose the enteric bacteria to Pb and to determine if antibiotic resistance changed in these bacteria. Concentrations of Pb used were 0.0, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 mM; birds given the highest 2 concentrations showed signs of moribundity and dehydration and were removed from the study. Vent culture samples were collected for bacterial cultures on d 0 before Pb exposure, d 7 and 14, and then birds were euthanized by CO2 gas for necropsy on d 14, at which time intestinal contents were also collected for bacterial cultures. Fecal swabs but not intestinal samples from Pb-exposed birds contained isolates that had significantly elevated antibiotic resistance. Some of the isolates contained bacteria that were resistant to up to 20 antibiotics. These results suggest the need for repeated studies in chickens infected with zoonotic pathogens.