Search

An overview of current Mexican legislation regarding soil restoration and updating needs is made through the analysis of three case studies located in the southeastern México: a) soil affected by spillage of congenital waters (Zone 1), b) soil contaminated by hydrocarbons (Zone 2) and, c) a site adjacent to urban infrastructure (Zone 3). It was performed a comparative analysis of the soils conditions in the short and long term after the anthropogenic impact and restoration process that were carried out in each studied location. It was found that important properties of the soils do not recover after the weathering process, for instance in Zone 1, DR and DA as well as %Po did not reach equivalent values to the control sample and the soil texture is different even after a long recovery period. For Zone 2, it was detected important variations in the concentration of Ca, Na and K in both the impacted and recovered soils which affect the growth of plantations. In Zone 3, there were found signif icative differences in DA, %Po; %L, %R, %MO and CEC parameters. The current normative considers general aspects, but does not contemplate the actual site situation, there is an information gap due to this, although it was observed achievement of physical and chemical properties for the recovery soil use in each site, it was also noticed that the evaluations do not consider if these properties can change over time due to weather conditions, therefore, they could influence the success of each restoration process in the long term. The information generated can be used to make decisions about government rescue programs for the primary sector or as a starting point in the implementation of Environmental Bases Lines (LBA) for the hydrocarbon sector.

Pri niskim koncentracijama teški metali neophodni su za čovjekovo preživljavanje. Manjak esencijalnih elemenata može dovesti do poremećaja i bolesti u organizmu, dok pri visokim koncentracijama mogu postati toksični za ljudski organizam. Ovim eksperimentalnim radom određivane su koncentracije teških metala u pet različitih uzoraka dodataka prehrani Moringe i Mace. Mjerenje je izvršeno atomskom apsorpcijskom spektrometrijom sa elektrotoplinskom atomizacijom. Opisana su temeljna načela spektrofotometrije, te važne značajke atomske apsorpcijske spekrtometrije. Prikazani su način pripreme uzoraka i standardnih otopina, te mjerenjem dobiveni rezultati. Teški metali čija je koncentracija mjerena su: bakar, kadmij, kobalt, krom, nikal i željezo. Temeljem dobivenih rezultata može se zaključiti da u testiranim dodacima prehrani koncentracije teških metala uglavnom ne prelaze granicu toksičnosti. Povećane vrijednosti koncentracije željeza povezane su sa primjenom ovih dodataka prehrani u liječenju hematoloških poremećaja, dok ostali ispitivani metali prema dobivenim vrijednostima ne pokazuju negativan utjecaj na ljudsko zdravlje., At low concentrations, heavy metals are essential for human survival. Lack of essential elements can lead to disorders and diseases in the human body, while at high concentrations they can become toxic. In this experiment, heavy metal concentrations were determined in five different samples of Moringa and Maca dietary supplements. The measurement was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. The basic principles of spectrophotometry and the essential features of atomic absorption spectrometry were described in this work. We also presented the method of preparation of samples and standard solutions, and we presented the obtained results. Heavy metals whose concentration we measured were: copper, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, nickel and iron. The results led us to a conclusion that in the tested dietary supplements the concentrations of heavy metals generally do not exceed the toxicity limit. Increased values of iron concentrations are associated with the use of these dietary supplements in the treatment of hematological disorders, while other tested metals according to the obtained values do not show a negative impact on human health.

Pri niskim koncentracijama teški metali neophodni su za čovjekovo preživljavanje. Manjak esencijalnih elemenata može dovesti do poremećaja i bolesti u organizmu, dok pri visokim koncentracijama mogu postati toksični za ljudski organizam. Ovim eksperimentalnim radom određivane su koncentracije teških metala u pet različitih uzoraka dodataka prehrani Moringe i Mace. Mjerenje je izvršeno atomskom apsorpcijskom spektrometrijom sa elektrotoplinskom atomizacijom. Opisana su temeljna načela spektrofotometrije, te važne značajke atomske apsorpcijske spekrtometrije. Prikazani su način pripreme uzoraka i standardnih otopina, te mjerenjem dobiveni rezultati. Teški metali čija je koncentracija mjerena su: bakar, kadmij, kobalt, krom, nikal i željezo. Temeljem dobivenih rezultata može se zaključiti da u testiranim dodacima prehrani koncentracije teških metala uglavnom ne prelaze granicu toksičnosti. Povećane vrijednosti koncentracije željeza povezane su sa primjenom ovih dodataka prehrani u liječenju hematoloških poremećaja, dok ostali ispitivani metali prema dobivenim vrijednostima ne pokazuju negativan utjecaj na ljudsko zdravlje. At low concentrations, heavy metals are essential for human survival. Lack of essential elements can lead to disorders and diseases in the human body, while at high concentrations they can become toxic. In this experiment, heavy metal concentrations were determined in five different samples of Moringa and Maca dietary supplements. The measurement was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. The basic principles of spectrophotometry and the essential features of atomic absorption spectrometry were described in this work. We also presented the method of preparation of samples and standard solutions, and we presented the obtained results. Heavy metals whose concentration we measured were: copper, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, nickel and iron. The results led us to a conclusion that in the tested dietary supplements the concentrations of heavy metals generally do not exceed the toxicity limit. Increased values of iron concentrations are associated with the use of these dietary supplements in the treatment of hematological disorders, while other tested metals according to the obtained values do not show a negative impact on human health.

Background Despite increasing concern regarding health problems as a result of environmental pollutants, no association of toxic heavy metals with sarcopenia has been demonstrated in the general population. We investigated the association of heavy metals, including lead, mercury and cadmium, with sarcopenia in the Korean population. Methods Participants included 344 males and 360 females older than 65 years based on data from the fourth and fifth Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys. Measurements of blood lead, mercury and cadmium levels were performed. To evaluate the cumulative effect of the three heavy metals, subjects were categorized into quartiles. Sarcopenia was defined according to the criteria for the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) (SMI

RESUMEN El plomo (Pb) es un metal pesado cuyas características físico-químicas lo convierten en un contaminante ambiental persistente, bioacumulable y de alta toxicidad. La biorremediación surge como una alternativa con múltiples ventajas en comparación con los tratamientos convencionales para remover contaminantes como metales pesados de aguas residuales, basándose en las capacidades de tolerancia y mecanismos de resistencia de los microorganismos. Con el fin de conocer la tolerancia de Pseudomonas spp. al plomo presente en aguas contaminadas, se obtuvieron cuatro aislados nativos, procedentes de aguas residuales colectadas en el río del Valle de Aburrá (zona norte), los cuales se caracterizaron bioquímicamente. Se realizaron bioensayos de tolerancia en diferentes concentraciones de plomo por difusión en agar, como prueba tamiz, y determinación de la concentración mínima inhibitoria, determinando la viabilidad del microorganismo en cada exposición. No se presentó diferencia significativa para la tolerancia al plomo entre los aislados, identificados bioquímicamente como Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ni entre las diferentes concentraciones de plomo a las cuales fueron expuestos los aislados. A partir de estos resultados, se discute a cerca de los mecanismos reportados por diferentes autores, mediante los cuales Pseudomonas spp. puede actuar en presencia de Plomo. De esta manera, se concluye que los aislados de Pseudomonas spp. presentan mecanismos de tolerancia y/o resistencia hasta concentraciones de 2500 mg/L en presencia de nitrato de plomo, como potenciales agentes que pueden integrarse en procesos que impulsan nuevas tecnologías de biorremediación. ABSTRACT Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal whose physicochemical characteristics make it a persistent environmental pollutant, bioaccumulable and highly toxic. Bioremediation emerges as an alternative with multiple advantages compared to conventional treatments to remove contaminants such as heavy metals from wastewater, based on the tolerance capacities and/or resistance mechanisms of microorganisms. In order to know the tolerance of Pseudomonas spp. to the lead present in contaminated waters, four native isolates were obtained, coming from wastewater collected in the north from Aburrá Valley River, which were characterized biochemically. Tolerance bioassay was carried out in different concentrations of lead by agar diffusion, as a screening test, and determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration, determining the viability of the microorganism in each exposure. There was no significant difference for lead tolerance between the isolates, identified biochemically as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, nor between the different concentrations of lead to which the isolates were exposed. From these results, we discuss about the mechanisms reported by different authors, by means of which Pseudomonas spp. can act in the presence of lead. In this way, it is concluded that the isolates of Pseudomonas spp. they present tolerance and/or resistance mechanisms up to 2500 mg/L in the presence of lead nitrate, as potential agents that can be integrated into processes that promote new bioremediation technologies.

Background: Soil serves as a major reservoir for contaminants as it can bind to various chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of some metals (Cd, Cu, Fe and V) in soil samples collected from different stations of Ahvaz Industrial Complex II to determine the natural and anthropogenic contribution of metal in the soil. Methods: This was an experimental study that carried out in 2013. Soil samples were obtained from 9 stations and were subjected to bulk digestion and chemical partitioning. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe and V in soil were determined by ICP-OES. Contaminant factor (CF) and geo-accumulation index (I-geo) were used to evaluate the soil pollution in the samples. ANOVA, Duncan Multiple Range and Pearson correlation coefficient matrix tests was used to analyze the data. Results: According to I-geo results, the soil samples of the Ahvaz Industrial Complex II could be classified as strongly to very strongly pollute for Cd and it was unpolluted to moderately pollute for Cu, Fe and V. The amount of anthropogenic pollution was more than that of natural sources and the anthropogenic order of metals pollution was Fe (88%)> Cu (83%)> Cd (75%)> V (61%). Conclusion: Metals concentrations are the highest at a distance of 300m from the pollution source. V, Cu and Cd pollutants are probably originated from oil industries.

Introduction & Objective: Iran is located in the dry and semi dry regions, thus almost 90% of the required fresh water is exploited from groundwater resources. Due to the increasing pol-lution of water resources, the purpose of this study was evaluation of Pb, Cd, Cu and Mg concentrations in groundwater resources of Razan Plain and preparing the zoning map using GIS. Materials & Methods: Groundwater samples were collected from 20 selected stations during two seasons in 2012. The samples were filtered (0.45 ?m) and maintained cool in polyethyl-ene bottles. The samples were taken for the analysis of cations, the former was acidified with HNO3 to pH lower than 2. Minor elements were determined using ICP-OES. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS statistical package. Also, Kriging Method was used to prepare spatial distribution maps of elements in groundwater samples. Results: The results showed that the mean concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Mg in the groundwater samples during the spring were 5.60±0.66, 0.21±0.04, 32.10±2.21 and 6990.0±302.10 ppb, respectively, and the mean concentrations of these elements in the groundwater samples in the summer were 4.86±0.46, 0.30±0.08, 25.55±3.63 and 3654.05±215.65 ppb, respectively. Comparing the mean concentrations of the evaluated metals with WHO permissible limits showed a significant difference (p

OBJECTIVES: to estimate the amount of cadmium in human colostrum of mothers from Taubaté. METHODS: it was a cross-sectional study with mothers who delivered in University Hospital of Taubaté, in year 2003. The colostrum was collected in special tubes, one day after the delivery and frozen at -200 C. The independent variables were maternal age, birthweight, gestational age, parity, dietary habits, smoking report and maternal occupation. Cadmium was quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. It was used Mann-Whitney non-parametric approach to compare mean values; Pearson correlation was also used to verify associations. The level of significance was alpha = 5%. RESULTS: the mean value of cadmium was 54.5 mg/L (sd=381.0 mg/L). Cadmium was detected in 18 out of 58 samples (31.0%). There was neither correlation nor differences between the cadmium values and the independent variables maternal age, birthweight, gestational age, parify and smoking report. CONCLUSIONS: these values are above those the amounts described in other papers and it is important to identify the possible sources of this heavy metal in maternal environment.OBJETIVOS: estimar a quantidade de cádmio em colostro de mães de Taubaté. MÉTODOS: foi realizado um estudo do tipo transversal envolvendo mães que deram à luz no Hospital Universitário de Taubaté, no ano de 2003. O colostro foi coletado até um dia após o parto, em tubos de polipropileno previamente tratados e refrigerado a -20° C. As variáveis independentes foram idade materna, peso do recém-nascido, idade gestacional, paridade, hábitos alimentares, relato de fumo e ocupação materna. Cádmio foi quantificado através da técnica da espectroscopia de absorção atômica. Foram utilizados a técnica não-paramétrica de Mann-Whitney para comparação das médias e a correlação de Pearson para verificar associações. O nível de significância adotado foi alfa = 5%. RESULTADOS: o valor médio de cádmio encontrado foi 54,5 mg/L (dp = 381,0 mg/L), sendo quantificado em 18 de 58 amostras (31,0%). Não foram observadas correlações nem diferenças entre o conteúdo de cádmio e as variáveis estudadas. CONCLUSÕES: os valores encontrados neste estudo estão acima dos encontrados por outros autores e é importante identificar as possíveis fontes deste contaminante no ambiente materno.