Search

Background: Industrial growth and population expansion have led to increasing contamination of soils and plants by metals and metalloids. Toxic elements such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic persist in the environment, presenting significant risks to both ecosystems and human health. This editorial introduces the Virtual Special Issue, which compiles recent studies on the infiltration of these contaminants into soils and their bioaccumulation in plants. Objectives: This special issue aims to explore the interaction between human activities and metal/metalloid contamination, highlight key bioaccumulation mechanisms, transfer dynamics, and assess the risks posed to human health by contaminated soils and plants. Methods: The contributions to this issue include a variety of methodologies, both in laboratory and field settings, such as soil contamination assessments, bioaccumulation studies in plant species, and risk estimations for human exposure. Results: The compiled studies demonstrate significant contamination levels in soils and plants, especially in regions of Africa and Asia, where cadmium, mercury, zinc, and arsenic frequently exceed safety guidelines. These findings emphasize the urgent need for stricter contamination controls and further investigation in underrepresented regions. Conclusion: This issue provides crucial insights into metal and metalloid contamination in agricultural systems, offering evidence that can inform environmental policies and support the development of sustainable agricultural practices to mitigate contamination risks.

Background: Dietary selenium (Se) has been shown to influence immunity in both humans and rats. It exerts its health effects via incorporation into selenoproteins involved in both innate and adaptive immunity. It is also involved in the synthesis and activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase. This study sought to investigate the effect of Se biofortified scent leaves (Ocimum gratissimum L.) on selected immunomodulatory and inflammatory markers in wistar rats. Methodology: Scent leaf plant was cultivated on Se fortified (0–0.1 %) soil. Upon maturity, the leaves were harvested and the Se and phenolic contents, as well as in vitro antioxidant properties were determined. Subsequently, dietary inclusions of the Se biofortified scent leaves were fed to rats. The experimental rats consist of control group fed basal diet, rats fed 2.5 % and 5.0 % dietary inclusions of unfortified scent leaves and rats fed 2.5 % and 5.0 % dietary inclusions of 0.05 % Se-fortified scent leaves. This was carried out for 30 days, after which selected immunomodulatory and inflammatory markers, as well as glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx) were quantified in the serum. Results: The vegetables bioaccumulated Se in the leaves up to 0.93 ± 0.05 mg/100 g d.w. The Se biofortified scent leaves exhibited significantly higher in vitro antioxidant properties, total phenol and flavonoid contents quantitatively and qualitatively. In experimental rats, it was observed that the 0.05 % Se biofortified scent leaves based-diets significantly increased the levels of the anti- inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Furthermore, there were significant increase in serum Immunoglobulins G and M in rats fed dietary inclusions of the Se biofortified leaves. Conclusion: The study suggests that Se biofortification at optimum level of 0.05 % increased phenolic content in scent leaf and improved rat´s anti-inflammatory and antibodies, hence making the vegetables candidate functional food with potential anti-inflammatory and immune boosting properties.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are synthetic chemicals widely used to reduce the flammability of consumer products, including electronics, textiles, and furniture. Despite their effectiveness in fire prevention, BFRs pose significant environmental and health risks due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential toxicity. This review provides a comprehensive examination of BFRs, focusing on recent advancements in analytical methods for their detection and quantification in environmental and biological samples. The study explored the physicochemical properties that influence BFR distribution and transport in various matrices, including soil, water, air, sediments, and biota. The review also summarizes current knowledge on the occurrence and environmental fate of BFRs, highlighting their mobility and long-range transport. Furthermore, the study discusses the health risks associated with BFR exposure, emphasizing their endocrine-disrupting effects and impact on reproductive and neurological functions. By integrating findings from recent studies, this review aims to enhance the understanding of BFR behavior and inform regulatory strategies to mitigate their adverse effects on human health and the environment.

The distribution of tritium in the soil-vegetation complex was studied on a series of combined samples taken in the area of the radioactive waste storage facility (RWSF). It is shown that bioaccumulation of tritium by vegetation is determined mainly by the position of each specific object (testing point) in relation to the predominant direction of atmospheric transport of the nuclide. In locally selected samples of herbaceous and arboreal vegetation, the content of the nuclide changes according with a high degree of correlation, and its distribution in fractions of freely migrating (transpirational) tritiated water (TW) and in the form of organically bound tritium (OBT) also changes according with a high degree of correlation. In the zones of intense and persistent atmospheric migration tritium forms radiogeochemical anomalies in the soil and vegetation. Under the conditions of stationary atmospheric migration flows, pseudoequilibrium ratios of nuclide concentration in the components of the soil-vegetation system are established, while under the conditions of the functioning of short-term soil flows, the concentration equilibrium of the nuclide in the components of the soil-vegetation system is not observed. Higher concentrations of tritium are observed in more tightly bound forms in both soil and vegetation, which obviously reflects a large dynamic dependence of the mobile form on weather and climate conditions. The ratios of activity concentration of tritium in different forms of presence determined for different types of vegetation as concentration ratio (CR) indicate that tritium accumulates more effectively in arboreal plants - bushes, trees than in herbaceous ones (grass), it is equal to 1.10 and 1.20, respectively. Freely migrating (transpirational) tritiated water possibly due to greater mobility and greater dependence on changes in the activity concentration of tritium in the atmospheric plume and moisture saturation of the air, has a lower activity concentration of tritium than the organically fixed form (OBT), respectively 1.14 and 1.29, which does not have such temporal dependence. During the emission of tritium from RWSF there was a significant accumulation of the heavy isotope of hydrogen in an organically bound form, that is more than half of the tritium absorbed by vegetation is retained during the existence of organic matter and is temporally excluded from the biological cycle in the case of arboreal vegetation. In conditions of the forest landscape of the sanitary protection zone (SPZ) of the RWSF, root absorption of tritium by grass from the humus layer is from 20 to 31% of its total amount accumulated in the soil. The degree of absorption of tritium from the soil is almost the same in herbaceous and arboreal vegetation. This indicates that during the long-term existence of the atmospheric-radio-geochemical anomaly caused by the constant emission of tritium from the storage of RW in organic matter, an equilibrium balance of the content of transpirational HTO and OBT has been formed. In turn, the establishment of such a balance in plant matter can be used as an indicator of a prolonged regime of tritium emission from RWSF. Herbaceous and arboreal vegetation make it possible to determine the spatial position of atmogeomigratory paths of tritium distribution. Plant indicators indirectly reflect the impact of this migration flow on the direct absorption of tritium by organic matter from the air, or its absorption from the root layer of the soil, where the heavy isotope of hydrogen enters with atmospheric precipitation.

Background: Mercury is one of the metals responsible for environmental contamination and the intoxication of human beings, mainly due to the increasing use of mercury in the formation of amalgam, a metallic alloy formed by the reaction between mercury and metallic gold, which is often drained into the aquatic environment. Aim: Therefore, this study evaluated 20 species of fish and seafood, commercialized in the metropolitan region of Belém (Pará, Brazil). Materials and methods: Mercury was quantified using DMA. The limits of detection and quantification obtained were 0.027 and 0.091 μg g-1, respectively. The fresh fish muscle samples (n = 3) were weighed in a nickel boat and placed in the autosampler of the DMA for the quantification of total Hg (THg). Method accuracy was realized and confirmed using fish protein-certified reference material for trace metals (DORM-4). Results: The mercury concentration (THg) of fish samples ranged from 0.003 to 0.209 μg g-1, pratiqueira, and codfish, respectively. Assessment of health risks associated with the ingestion of mercury present in fish was carried out from the Estimated weekly intakes (EWI), Target hazard quotient (THQ), and Maximum Safe Consuming Quantity (MSCQ). Consumption of fish and seafood may pose a non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk. Conclusion: The value of THg concentrations in all species was within the regulatory limits for fish, except Corvina fish sample that was below the limit of detection. The RiskHg was less than 1, showing a low risk of mercury exposure. The PTWI ranged from 0.005 to 0.323 for a consumption of 173 g of fish. The THQ values found were lower than 1, showing that the samples studied do not have a carcinogenic effect when consumed. The MSCQ values obtained were considered high, since the index is related to the mass of 25 g of fish consumed daily. This study showed the importance of monitoring and assessing the health risk of mercury in fish and seafood consumed by the population.

Cadmium (Cd) has been widely used in industry applications, leading to water and soil contamination. This study investigated the potential ability of Pseudomonas nitroreducens (11830) to perform the biosorption of cadmium from aqueous solution and soil. The biosorption characteristics were described using equilibrium isotherm and kinetic studies. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm indicated a better fit with the experimental data (R2 = 0.980), with a maximum capacity of 160.51 mg/g at 30 °C in an initial aqueous solution of 300 mg/L Cd2+. The experiments followed a pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R2 > 0.99), especially at a low initial concentration. The biosorption mechanisms involved were determined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and protein analysis. The SEM and TEM figures showed that the morphology of cells changed before and after the adsorption of Cd, and the EDS confirmed that Cd was absorbed on the surface of the cell. The analysis of proteins indicated that the protein species increased after the stimulation of Cd, which further confirmed the biosorption mechanism. A pot experiment confirmed that 11830 could passivate the cadmium in soil and reduce its uptake and utilization by Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata). This work demonstrates the potential application of microorganisms in inhibiting the accumulation of Cd in crops.

Tannery effluent can cause serious environmental pollution due to its high levels of chromium, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and other pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, dyes, sulphur etc. The problem of chromium in tannery effluent is that it is highly toxic and can be hazardous to aquatic life, wildlife, and human health. High levels of chromium can disrupt the ecological balance of a water body, leading to problems such as reduced aquatic life diversity. Additionally, chromium can enter the food chain from water sources and can potentially have negative effects on humans. Therefore, comprehensive waste management plans are highly required to reduce the environmental impact of tannery effluent. The conventional physicochemical methods for removing Cr from wastewater may generate a vast amount of sludge leading to sludge disposal issues. Besides, these techniques require huge capital investments, and the applied chemicals may cause secondary pollution. On the other hand, the biological removal of Cr from wastewater is sustainable, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective. Biological means of Cr remediation involve plant-based and microorganism-based approaches, including bacteria, fungi, and microalgae. This review emphasizes the adverse effects of chromium on human health and its remediation processes based on microalgae. Microalgal biomass can remove heavy metals, including Cr, in either a living (bioaccumulation) or non-living (biosorption) state. There are a number of microalgae species that can remove chromium from wastewater. Among them several algae species, including Chlorella vulgaris, Scenedesmus sp., Consortium of Phormidium sp. and Chlorella sp., Chlorella sorokiniana, and Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina), have found successful in removing Cr in the range of 100–73.5% from tannery wastewater. Additionally, it can mitigate CO2, can remove phosphorus, nitrogen, COD and BOD from tannery effluent, improving its quality to be discharged into the environment. Thereby, the use of microalgae is thought to be a viable substitute for traditional techniques to mitigate the problem of environmental pollution caused by tannery effluent. However, treatment efficiency can be depending on several factors such as nature and amount of effluent to be treated, environmental conditions, contact time, and amount of optimal algal biomass.

Around the world, hen meat and eggs are very widely consumed in dishes like curries, processed cuisine, and fast food. The ingestion of contaminated eggs poses a biochemical risk from the perspective of food safety due to the presence of heavy metal and trace element residues in hen eggs. The purpose of this study was to examine the concentrations of heavy metals in eggs from commercial chicken farms from capital city and hens from local area in order to identify the most significant heavy metal concentration in hen eggs. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Fe, Zn, Co and As in samples of hen eggs collected from different locations were measured in the present study and concentrations of these selective metals were found to be between

Activities of artisanal mining pose ecological as well as health challenges through the release of heavy metals into the environment. This study assessed the potential risk of heavy metals in some selected vegetables at an artisanal gold mining site at Moseaso in the Wassa-Amenfi West District of Ghana. A total of 40 soil samples were collected from the study area at depth of 20 cm using a soil auger. At each site two each of the selected vegetables (tomatoes, spring onion, and lettuce) were sampled from the farms. Also, 9 water samples were also taken at sections of the stream (upstream, midstream, and downstream) for the analysis of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results of the study revealed that the mean concentration of As (22.92 mg/kg), Cd (5.41 mg/kg), Pb (98.01 mg/kg), and Hg (0.81 mg/kg) in soils from the artisanal gold mining sites were all above the stipulated limits. The mean values of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg in the stream water were beyond the stipulated limit of 0.01, 0.03, 0.01, and 0.03 mg/l, respectively. Also, all the examined heavy metals in the selected food crops were above the reference limit. The bioaccumulation factor in the food crops was less than 1 except for cadmium which had a BF>1 in tomatoes, spring onion, and lettuce. The cancer risk assessment also revealed that, with the exception of Pb, all the heavy metals considered were above the USEPA-safe prescriptions of 1.0 × 10−6 to 1.0 × 10−4 for both adults and children. Based on the results, it can be recommended that the dietary intake of vegetables grown from the study site is not safe and poses severe health and environmental threats.

The bioaccumulation of selenium (Se) and heavy metals (HMs) in plants is important because it can affect plant health and human nutrition. Recognizing the factors affecting Se accumulation in plants may have important implications for agricultural practices and human health in selenium-rich regions. The study primarily focused on the interactions between Se and HMs in the soil–plant system of the Lower Dniester Valley. Total concentrations of HMs (Cu, Mn, Zn) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, while Se concentrations were determined by a sensitive single-test-tube fluorometric method in solutions and extracts. Water-soluble Se (0.09 ± 0.03 mg·kg−1) in soils was 32.1% of the total Se (0.33 ± 0.13 mg·kg−1) and increased with the total rising Se content (r = 0.845). The results indicated that plants had a greater Zn accumulation capacity than that of the other HMs, suggesting its importance as a trace element for plant requirements. Se also had a high bioaccumulation rate. Se and Zn accumulation varied in different soil types, reflecting differences in bioavailability. In contrast, Mn and Cu showed low bioaccumulation, which varied with soil conditions and anthropogenic Cu pollution. Despite the Cu contamination of the soils in the investigated region, it can be inferred that the hydrogeochemical province with high Se content in groundwater has favorable conditions for Se mobilization in soils. The absence of antagonistic interactions with HMs in the soil–plant system contributes to the enhanced Se accumulation in plants in the Lower Dniester Valley. These results emphasize the complexity of the interactions between Se and HMs in the soil–plant system and their potential impact on agricultural practices.

Background: Upland forest streams of the Central Amazon are unique aquatic systems.These small streams have short, unpredictable and multimodal flood-pulses that are influenced by local rainfall. The biogeochemical cycles in these systems are almost unknown. This study investigated the role of soil type on the export and bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in upland forest streams of the Central Amazon during a complete annual cycle. Basic Procedures: Limnological measurements and water samples for MeHg analyses were collected monthly from October 2012 to October 2013 in two headwater streams drained by different soil types, spodzol (Campina Stream) and oxisol (Barro Branco Stream), in natural forest reserves. Shrimp and fish were collected for total mercury (THg) in April 2013 in both streams. Main findings: MeHg in water varied from 0.04 to 0.50 ng/L in the Campina Stream and between

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are photosynthetic bacteria that can colonize different habitats, including extreme ones. They are of great interest to the scientific community, especially because of their ability to produce cyanotoxins: toxic secondary metabolites potentially harmful to organisms especially when released to surface waters.

The biodesalination performance of the cyanophycean Phormidium keutzingianum concentrated using two methods (centrifugation and immobilization) was evaluated for the first time at NaCl concentrations of 10, 30, 50, and 70 g/L. In addition, the osmoregulation ability of P. keutzingianum was assessed at high salinities (50, 70, 85, and 100 g/L) over a relatively short time period. The pH, electrical conductivity, and chloride, nitrate, and phycocyanin concentrations were measured during all experiments. The immobilization method of concentration resulted in a chloride removal rate of up to 44 % during the osmoregulation experiment at a salinity of 100 g/L. For the centrifugation method, the chloride removal rate was 26 % on the 20th day of observation for 10 g/L. Thus, the immobilization method resulted in faster chloride ion removal than the centrifugation method. The findings demonstrate that biodesalination efficiency can be enhanced by the use of different P. keutzingianum preparation methods.

Antimony tin oxide (Sb2O5/SnO2) is effective in the absorption of infrared radiation for applications, such as skylights. As a nanoparticle (NP), it can be incorporated into films or sheets providing infrared radiation attenuation while allowing for a transparent final product. The acute toxicity exerted by commercial Sb2O5/SnO2 (ATO) NPs was studied in adults and embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Our results suggest that these NPs do not induce an acute toxicity in zebrafish, either adults or embryos. However, some sub-lethal parameters were altered: heart rate and spontaneous movements. Finally, the possible bioaccumulation of these NPs in the aquacultured marine mussel Mytilus sp. was studied. A quantitative analysis was performed using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (sp-ICP-MS). The results indicated that, despite being scarce (2.31 × 106 ± 9.05 × 105 NPs/g), there is some accumulation of the ATO NPs in the mussel. In conclusion, commercial ATO NPs seem to be quite innocuous to aquatic organisms; however, the fact that some of the developmental parameters in zebrafish embryos are altered should be considered for further investigation. More in-depth analysis of these NPs transformations in the digestive tract of humans is needed to assess whether their accumulation in mussels presents an actual risk to humans.

The research of bioaccumulation Plutonium of Babylonia spirata from Jakarta Bay using 242Pu radiotracer has been conducted. The aquaria experiments were applied by two oxidation states of Pu speciation with three replications. The experiment was carried out by 2 steps, such as uptake and depuration. The bioavailability of 242Pu in the (III) and (IV) oxidation states from sea has been studied for Babylonia spirata. Biokinetics parameters, such as concentration factors (CFss), uptake rate constants (ku), elimination rate constants (ke), bioconcentration factors (BCF), and biological half-life (tb1/2), were investigated. The dissection is carried out to separate the parts of the gastropod's body so that the target organs for Plutonium contamination can be identified. Each part of the gastropod's body was prepared radiochemically and analyzed using an alpha spectrometer. The research shows that Pu4+ is potentially accumulated in greater value than Pu3+ by B. spirata, in which Pu is more rapidly distributed and retained longer in proboscis and gastrointestinal tract.

The determination of persistence (P), bioaccumulation (B) and toxicity (T) plays a central role in the environmental assessment of chemicals. Persistence is typically evaluated via standard microbial biodegradation tests. Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of chemicals in organisms and is usually assessed in fish exposed to the test chemical. Toxicity is determined at three trophic levels, with fish toxicity as the highest trophic level assessed. Thus, animal tests are classically needed for both B and T assessment. In vitro systems based on fish liver cells or liver S9 fractions ('RT-S9 assay') have been recently adopted by OECD to measure the biotransformation rates for the chemicals for B assessment. Biotransformation drives clearance from the body and reduces bioaccumulation. For T assessment, an assay based on in vitro toxicity on fish gill cells has been established ('RTgill-W1 assay'). Here we summarize our findings indicating that these tests are highly predictive for fragrance ingredients, and show with two case studies of our latest new registered substances how we apply these tests in particular during development and also for chemical registration. This platform of tests (PeBiToSens™) could fully replace animal tests in ecotoxicological assessment and is key in the Givaudan Safe by Design™ approach to develop safer and environmentally compatible novel fragrance ingredients.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant capable of bioaccumulates/biomagnifies along the trophic chain and posing concerns for organisms and humans. The historical mining in Idrija (NW Slovenia) and the more recent activity of a chlor-alkali plant (CAP) sited in Torviscosa (NE Italy) causes diffuse Hg contamination in the Marano and Grado Lagoon (MGL, northern Adriatic Sea, Italy). Despite the importance of fishing and aquaculture for local inhabitants, knowledge of the Hg content of MGL fish is still scarce and fragmentary. This paper reports the results obtained from the collection of sediments, water, and biota during the implementation of the WFD/2000/60/CE. The solid phase is characterised by high Hg concentrations (up to 7.4 mg kg−1) with a net positive gradient moving eastward, but chemical speciation suggests the prevalence of cinnabar (not mobile) species. The scarce mobility of Hg is attested to by the low concentrations found in surface waters. Hg in fish often exceeds the limit set for commercialization (0.5 mg kg−1 ww), especially in the Grado basin, but its content is variable depending on the size and habits of species. Although there was a significant linear relationship between THg content in sediment and tissues of Chelon auratus, the values of the biota sediment accumulation factor (BSAF), which were always less than one, suggest that the Hg bioavailable for transfer from sediment to biota is low. Additionally, the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) calculated on C. auratus’s daily consumption showed that adverse effects on human health are out of the question at least for the Marano basin.

Studies have described the occurrence of nanoparticles (NPs) in aquatic ecosystems, with particular attention to the widely commercialized carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Their presence in the environment raises concerns, especially regarding their toxicity when co-occurring with other pollutants such as metals. In the present study, changes to the metabolic capacity, oxidative, and neurologic status were evaluated in the presence of carboxylated multi-walled CNTs and chromium (Cr(III)) using two of the most ecologically and economically relevant filter feeder organisms: the clam species Ruditapes decussatus and R. philippinarum. Results indicated that although Cr, either alone or in combination with CNTs, was found in a similar concentration level in both species, a species-specific Cr accumulation was observed, with higher values in R. decussatus in comparison with R. philippinarum. Inhibition of antioxidant defenses and neurotoxic effects were detected only in R. philippinarum. The interaction between contaminants seems to have no effect in terms of antioxidant enzyme activities and neuro status. Nevertheless, synergistic activation of responses to both contaminants may have altered the metabolic capacity of bivalves, particularly evident in R. decussatus. While both clams are tolerant to both contaminants (alone and together), they showed a relevant accumulation capacity, which may represent a possible contaminant transfer to humans.

The paper aims a review of the water quality monitoring and evaluation studies conducted at National R&D Institute for Industrial Ecology over the last ten years, at the level of aquatic ecosystem complexes in the Danube Delta. The paper will include a broad compendium of data including: a data bank of abiotic variables which control the structure and composition of biotic communities; studies of ecological status assessment; methodology development for assessing the bioaccumulation of chemical pollutants (metals) in the biota; ecotoxicological study of surface water and sediment on aquatic organisms (algae, crustaceans, rotifers); studies on the benthic invertebrate species as biological vectors for pathogens; technical / scientific support for 5 national / international project proposals; 19 papers published in international / national journals; 22 papers presented at international / national scientific conferences.

Therefore the carried out study aimed at determination of the effect of high-calcium brown coal ash and compost being produced from municipal sewage sludge on the content and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in potato tubers, wheat grains and rapeseeds during a three-year period. Rapeseeds contained most Cd whereas wheat rains less. Potato tubers, wheat grains and rapeseeds contained more Mn, Ni and Zn in the fertilization objects with municipal sewage sludge with or without coal ash and compared to those where calcium carbonate or coal ash had been introduced into the soil at a dose corresponding to 1.5 Mg CaO · ha–1 at the beginning of this study. Differences in the Mn, Ni and Zn contents in test plants between the fertilization objects with sewage sludge of with and without addition of ash were not significant.

Abstract Potential use of living and non-living kefir grains (small, gelatinous white/yellow irregularly shaped masses consist of live bacteria and yeasts) on removal of reactive dye Remazol Navy RGB from aqueous solutions were investigated. Experiments were carried out under different process conditions in order to optimize and model the bioremoval processes. At all conditions the living kefir grains exhibited higher dye removal efficiencies than the non-living grains. In 180 min, 96.3% and 79.4% dye removal was obtained with living and non-leaving kefir grains respectively, at pH 2, 25 °C for 100 mg/L initial dye concentration by using 2.4 g/L kefir grain. Maximum adsorption capacities by living and inactivated kefir grains were obtained at 400 mg/L initial dye concentration as 134.59 and 56.92 mg/g respectively. Consecutive batch studies show that the living kefir grains could be reused over at least 5 cycles with high dye removal efficiency without any nutrition supplement. The biosorption kinetics both for living and non-living kefir grains were best described with pseudo-first-order kinetic model. On the other hand the biosorption equilibrium for living and non-living kefir grains were better defined by Temkin and Langmuir isotherm models respectively. Results suggest that the kefir grains could be used efficiently, eco-friendly and economically for removal of dyes from aqueous solutions.

Plastic litter is increasingly becoming pervasive in aquatic environments, characterized by circulatory patterns between different compartments and continual loading with new debris. Microplastic pollution can cause a variety of effects on aquatic organisms. This review presents the current knowledge of microplastics distribution and sorption capacity, reflecting on possible bioaccumulation and health effects in aquatic organisms. A model case study reveals the fate and toxic effects of glyphosate, focusing on the simultaneous exposure of aquacultured shrimp to polyethylene and glyphosate and their contact route and on the potential effects on their health and the risk for transmission of the contaminants. The toxicity and bioaccumulation of glyphosate-sorbed polyethylene microplastics in shrimp are not well understood, although individual effects have been studied extensively in various organisms. We aim to delineate this knowledge gap by compiling current information regarding the co-exposure to polyethylene microplastic adsorbed with glyphosate to assist in the assessment of the possible health risks to aquacultured shrimp and their consumers.

The widespread use of copper-based nanoparticles expands the possibility that they enter the soil combined with heavy metals, having a toxic effect and posing a threat to the safety of vegetables. In this study, single and combined treatments of 2 mg/L Cd, 20 mg/L Cu NPs and 20 mg/L CuO NPs were added into Hoagland nutrient solution by hydroponics experiments. The experimental results show that copper-based Nanoparticles (NPs) can increase the photosynthetic rate of plants and increase the biomass of Brassica. Cu NPs treatment increased the Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities of Brassica, and both NPs inhibited ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity. We observed that Cd + Cu NPs exhibited antagonistic effects on Cd accumulation, inhibiting it by 12.6% in leaf and 38.6% in root, while Cd + CuO NPs increased Cd uptake by 73.1% in leaves and 22.5% in roots of Brassica. The Cu content in the shoots was significantly negatively correlated with Cd uptake. The Cd content of each component in plant subcellular is soluble component > cytoplasm > cell wall. Cu NPs + Cd inhibited the uptake of Zn, Ca, Fe, Mg, K and Mn elements, while CuO NPs + Cd promoted the uptake of Mn and Na elements. The results show that copper-based nanoparticles can increase the oxidative damage of plants under cadmium stress and reduce the nutritional value of plants.

Arsenic (As) uptake by plants is mainly carried out as arsenate (As(V)), whose chemical analogy with phosphate is largely responsible for its elevated toxicity. Arsenate is known to stimulate reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in plants that provoke oxidative stress. This manuscript reports the results of a hydroponics study using rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedlings as a test plant, where the effects of increasing arsenate concentrations (0–10 mg L−1) on both lipid and protein oxidation, as well as As accumulation and speciation in plant roots and shoots were examined. Plant yield was negatively affected by increasing As concentration. Accumulation in plant roots was higher than in shoots at low arsenate doses (0.5–2.5 mg L−1), while root to shoot transport was drastically enhanced at the highest doses (5 and 10 mg L−1). Moreover, As(V) was the dominating species in the shoots and As(III) in the roots. Rice leaves in the 10 mg As L−1 treatment showed the highest lipid peroxidation damage (malondialdehyde concentration), whilst protein oxidation was not remarkably influenced by As dose. Lipid peroxidation seems to be therefore conditioned by As accumulation in rice plants, particularly by the presence of high As(V) concentrations in the aerial part of the plants as a consequence of unregulated translocation from roots to shoots above a threshold concentration (1.25–2.5 mg L−1) in the growing media. These results provide relevant information regarding As(V) toxic concentrations for rice plants, highlight the importance of major As species analysis in plant tissues regarding As toxicity and contribute to better understand plants response to elevated As concentrations in the growing media.

The paper presents concentrations and correlations between Zn, Cd and Pb in the aboveground parts of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea L.) in forest soils heavily contaminated with heavy metals around a zinc and lead ore tailing landfill at Mining & Metallurgy Enterprise “Bolesław” SA in Bukowno. Field observations have indicated that purple moor-grass, which occurs as one of the few vascular plants in locations with tailing mud, is probably a species with high adaptability to conditions in contaminated environments. The research was carried out in a network of 20 regular monitoring sites. At these sites, a detailed inventory of purple moor-grass was carried out and samples of the aboveground parts of the plants were collected from the leaves and ears and from the soil at a depth of 0-20 cm. It was found that there was no significant correlation between the concentration of heavy metals in the soils and aboveground parts of the plants in the most heavily contaminated zones. This may indicate the existence of mechanisms limiting uptake of heavy metals by this species, and therefore the need for further research in the context of its suitability for biological regeneration of tailing landfills and phytosanitary protection of adjoining areas.

Heavy metals concentration in fishes are important indicator geomorphological or environmental integrity in aquatic habitats. Aiming to evaluate metal concentration in fish muscles in Apa River, upper Paraguay basin, we analyzed 124 individuals of eight fish species at Cachoeira do Apa district (Porto Murtinho) from 2013 to 2014 belonging to Brycon hilarii, Leporinus friderici, Megaleporinus macrocephalus, Megaleporinus obtusidens, Piaractus mesopotamicus, Prochilodus lineatus, Pterodoras granulosus and Salminus brasiliensis. The samples were frozen and in the laboratory the musculature was removed, the samples were digested using the triacid method, and later the concentration of heavy metals was quantified in a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. There is a significant difference in the concentration of metals in fish (F=27.79, pf studied species, we observed that P. lineatus have a more different pattern of metal concentration, with P. granulosus also presenting a different pattern of others species. None species presented the concentration of metals above the limit defined by Brazilian legislation, however, species differed in their metal concentrations according to the position in the water column and feeding, suggesting that the integrated assessment of the concentration of metals may be an indicator of ecological differences in the obtaining of resources by species in aquatic communities. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v10i1.1040

The present study pertains to assessing the heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn) contents of untreated and treated effluents of two textile industries and agricultural soil samples in the vicinity of these industries located in Ludhiana, Punjab (India). The genotoxicity of the effluents samples was estimated using Allium cepa root chromosomal aberration assay. The exposure of Allium cepa roots to untreated effluents from both industries resulted in the reduction of mitotic index (MI) and increase in chromosomal aberrations in the root tip meristematic cells when compared to those that were exposed to the treated effluents indicating the significant genotoxic potential of untreated effluents. Risk characterization of soil sample was carried out by calculating the potential ecological and human health risks of heavy metals. The hazard index was observed to be less than 1, indicating there was no potential health risk of heavy metals in soil samples. Furthermore, bioaccumulation potential studies on plant species grown in the vicinity of these industries have shown that bioaccumulation factor (BAF) varied as Ricinus communis L. > Chenopodium album L. > Cannabis sativa L. with Co and Pb having maximum and minimum values, respectively.

Aquaculture offers great potential for fish production in Lake Chapala, but reports of heavy metal contamination in fish have identified a main concern for this activity. In the present study, cultures of the species Cyprinus carpio and Ictalurus punctatus were grown in a net cage in Lake Chapala. The patterns of heavy metal accumulation (Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg, Pb, As) in muscle and liver were monitored in order to evaluate the level of metal incorporation in the fish. Estimates of weekly metal intake (EWI) were made based on the results of the concentrations in edible parts of fish of commercial size. The patterns of metal bioaccumulation between tissues and species showed that liver had a higher concentrating capacity for Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb. In contrast, similar concentrations of Hg and As were found in the liver and muscle tissue. According to the EWI estimates, the heavy metals in these cultured fish do not represent a risk for human consumption.

The present study involved the estimation of the concentration of four trace elements (cadmium ,copper, lead and zinic) in muscles of two species of fishes Barbus luteus and Liza aba collected from the Euphrates river near Suq-Al-Shouyokh city center south of Iraq, during the period winter and summer 2014 , as an indicator for Bioaccumulation of some trace element into tropic level in the aquatic system :water

Boletus edulis (King bolete) is one of the most consumed wild mushrooms on a global scale, but this is particularly the case in Poland. Several studies have reported that mushrooms accumulate many potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as Hg, Pb, and Cd, which may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, in this preliminary study, an assessment of the potential of a microbial assay for risk assessment (MARA) for ecotoxicological testing of both dried samples of fruiting bodies of King bolete collected from several sites of Poland and water extracts of mushrooms being tested were analyzed. An evaluation of MARA response in Boletus edulis extracts was performed to identify their toxicity and then, using the same samples, instrumental determination of 10 elements (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) was performed. In general, the MARA responses indicated that the samples were only slightly toxic or nontoxic. Similarly, most of the PTEs were not detected in all dried samples of the fruiting bodies of King bolete. However, the analysis of digested samples (total content) proved that the elements’ content in water extracts was markedly lower than in dried fruit bodies. It implies that the MARA test corresponded better to the elements that are well extracted in water. Therefore, the MARA system can be applied for toxic identification if the targeted toxin is highly extracted in water. Further and more detailed research is still needed to develop reliable approach in order to evaluate the ecotoxicity in food-related bio-based raw materials using the MARA assay.

This study assessed the distribution of heavy metals in the gills, kidney, and liver, correlated with the severity of histopathological changes, of three fish species with different feeding habitats (Barbus barbus, Squalius cephalus, and Chondrostoma nasus) from the Crișul Negru river, Romania. The levels of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in fish tissues were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Histopathology and the expressions of TNF-α and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Our data suggest a significant correlation between the bioconcentration level of metals and structural changes. The carnivorous species was the most affected compared to the omnivorous and herbivorous ones, and the most affected organ was the kidney. Moreover, the correlation of tissue damage with the PCNA and TNF-α expression levels revealed that the herbivorous species presented less extended lesions, likely due to higher activated repair mechanisms and lower levels of inflammation. In conclusion, our data and the subsequent statistical analysis suggest that feeding behavior could be correlated with the histopathological alterations and might be used for a more profound evaluation of aquatic environment safety and analysis of aquatic ecosystems.

Estuaries worldwide have been severely degraded and become reservoirs for many types of pollutants, such as heavy metals. This study investigated the levels of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in water and whole fish. We sampled 40 juvenile silversides Odontesthes regia and 41 juvenile puye Galaxias maculatus from the Valdivia River estuary, adjacent to the urban area in southern South America (Chile). Samples were analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. In water samples, metals except Zn were mostly below the detection limits and all metals were below the maximum levels established by local guidelines in this estuary. In whole fish samples, concentrations of Cu, Zn, Pb, Mn, and Cd were significantly higher in puyes than in silversides. Additionally, Zn, Pb, and Mn were correlated to body length and weight in puyes, whereas Cd was correlated to body length in silversides. The mean concentration of heavy metals in silverside and puyes were higher than those reported in the literature. In silversides, all heavy metal levels were below the limits permitted by current legislation (FAO), whereas in puyes Pb and Cd levels were above the recommended maximum level established by international guidelines, therefore putting the human population at risk.

The bioaccumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) by benthic invertebrates in estuarine sediments is poorly understood. We sampled and analysed PTEs in sediments and benthic invertebrates from five sites in the Skeena Estuary (British Columbia, Canada), including sites adjacent to an abandoned cannery and a decommissioned papermill. Our aim was to elucidate baseline levels of PTE concentrations at sites that may be recovering from disturbance associated with prior industrial development and identify organisms that could be used to biomonitor the impact of future industrial developments. There was no indication that sediments of the salmon cannery were polluted, but acidic sediments adjacent to the papermill contained elevated concentrations of Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb. Benthic invertebrate community assemblages confirm that sediments have mostly recovered from prior industrial development associated with discharge of papermill sludge. Overall, we did not observe any relationship between PTE concentrations in the sediment and PTE concentrations in invertebrate tissues. However, we did observe a negative relationship between sediment pH and the Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) of most PTEs for Oregon pill bugs (Gnorimosphaeroma oregonensis). G. oregonensis, observed at all sites, feeds on the fibers associated with the papermill discharge. Thus, G. oregonensis is a useful biomonitors for quantifying the impact of the decommissioned papermill, and are candidate biomonitors for assessing the impact of similar industrial development projects on intertidal ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verticillium insectorum J3 was isolated from a local lead-zinc deposit tailing, and its biosorption characteristics and reaction to the toxicities of different Pb(II) and Zn(II) concentrations were investigated. SEM, FTIR, a pH test and a desorption experiment were carried out to identify a possible mechanism. The biosorption of J3 presented an inhibition trend at low concentrations (25–75 mg L-1) and promotion at high concentrations (100–300 mg L-1). J3 absorbed Pb(II) prior to Zn(II) and produced alkaline substances, while mycelial and pellet morphology modifications were important for the removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) under different stressful conditions (SEM results). Both intracellular accumulation and extracellular absorption may contribute to the removal of Pb(II) at lower concentrations (25–50 mg L-1), although mainly extracellular biosorption occurred at higher concentrations (75–300 mg L-1). However, Zn(II) bioaccumulation occurred at all concentrations assayed. Verticillium insectorum J3 may have evolved active defenses to alleviate the toxicity of heavy metals and proved to be a highly efficient biosorbent, especially for Pb(II) at high concentrations. This study is a useful reference for the development of biotreatment technologies to mitigate heavy metal waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas are known to receive significant anthropogenic inputs, mainly deriving from metropolitan areas, industries, and activities related to tourism. Among these inputs, some trace elements are listed as priority pollutants in the European Water Framework Directive, due to their ability to bioaccumulate in organisms. Many studies have been conducted on heavy metals (HMs) accumulation and on their possible effects on different edible marine species. While the most studied sessile organisms are bivalves, in the current review, we focus our attention on other sessile taxa (sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, polychaetes, cirripeds, and tunicates), proposed as bioindicators in coastal shallow waters. Although their potential as bioindicator tools has been repeatedly highlighted in the literature, these organisms are still poorly investigated and considered for monitoring. In this context, we analyze the available literature about this topic, in order to summarize the current knowledge and identify possible applications of these organisms in a bioremediation scenario.

Selective uptake of PBDEs by oligochaete allows the assessment of the bioaccumulation of individual congeners in commercial mixtures. 21 congeners from three BDE commercial mixtures (TBDE-71, TBDE-79 and TBDE-83R) and as individual congeners (BDE-77, BDE-126, BDE-198 and BDE-204) were tested on Tubifex tubifex according to the OECD TG 315 “Bioaccumulation in Sediment-dwelling Benthic Oligochaetes”. All congeners that were spiked on the sediment were detected at the end of the uptake phase and at the end of the experiment. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF), kinetic bioaccumulation factor (BAFK) and biota-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) were calculated, indicating a high bioaccumulation potential for tri-to hexa-BDEs and lower hepta- to deca- BDEs. Penta-homologues BDE-99 and BDE-100 showed the highest BSAF of 4.84 and 5.85, while the nona- and deca- BDEs exhibit the bioaccumulation in up to one order lower concentrations. The change in the bioaccumulation potential between group of tri- to hexa-BDEs and hepta- to deca-BDEs correlated with generally accepted molecular mass threshold for the molecular transition through biological membranes (700 g/mol).

Fish are among the organisms most damaged by aquatic contamination by pesticides, being ecologically relevant for their bioaccumulation and biomagnification skills of contaminants, which may present health risks to fish consumers. Several sublethal damages are known in fish due pesticide exposure, however, the mechanisms acting on their bioaccumulation, toxicity and elimination process are not yet fully understood. This paper reviewed basic concepts of bioaccumulation of pesticides in fish, including chemical behavior that drives their bioaccumulation, and major metabolic transformation processes in fish (absorption and elimination pathways, primary organs, enzymatic groups, phases and chemical reactions involved in biotransformations). We exemplified metabolites generated from reactions of detoxification and bioactivation (when the metabolite is more toxic than the parent compound) of organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids, commonly used as pesticides worldwide. Understanding the metabolic transformations of pesticides in organisms beyond the target species for which it was developed, is critical to elucidate the effects of toxicity on an ecosystem, grounding risk prevention actions to keep environmental quality, that includes health hazards of aquatic organisms and human. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v8i4.856

Bioaccumulation of Ag, Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn was determined in the gills and liver of Cyprinus carpio and related to concentrations in the sediment and water of the Alagados Reservoir, Ponta Grossa/Paraná. Cd and Fe exceeded the legal limit for water. Fe was the most abundant metal in the reservoir's water and sediment. The metals in the sediment were below the level of probable adverse effects on biota. There were no significant differences between sampling sites for water and sediment. Liver and gills had higher concentrations of Al, Fe and Zn, with a significant increase in Al (P > 0.05) compared to the increase in weight and size of the specimens. Statistically, gills showed higher concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Mn and Zn and liver higher concentrations of Cu and Fe. Co, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn showed significant differences (P < 0.01) between the organs. The bioaccumulation factors (BAF) showed that the interaction of water with gills promotes greater accumulation of metals in this organ. Despite the low concentrations in the reservoir, bioaccumulation of metals in gills and liver of C. carpio occurs by its interaction with contaminated water and sediment, respectively.

The large-scale production of plastic and the resulting release of waste is leading to a huge accumulation of micro-sized particles in the environment that could have an impact on not only aquatic organisms but also on humans. Despite the extensive literature on the subject, there is still an insufficient harmonization of methodologies for the collection and analysis of microplastics (MPs) in complex matrices; especially for high density polymers; such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which tend to sink and accumulate in sediments, becoming available to benthonic organisms. In this article, mussels have been chosen as model for microplastic accumulation due to their extensive filtering activity and their wide distribution in both fresh and salt water basins. To facilitate the identification and quantification of microplastics taken up by mussels, novel fluorescent and metal-doped PVC microplastics (PVC-Platinum octaethylporphyrin (PtOEP) MPs in the size range of 100 µm) have been synthesized and characterized. For the analysis of the mussels following exposure, an enzymatic protocol using amylase, lipase, papain, and SDS for organic material digestion and a sucrose-ZnCl2 density gradient for the selective separation of ingested microplastics has been developed. The final identification of MPs was performed by fluorescence microscopy. This work can greatly benefit the scientific community by providing a means to study the behavior of PVC MPs, which represent an example of a very relevant yet poorly studied high density polymeric contaminant commonly found in complex environmental matrices.

Increasing arsenic environmental concentrations are raising worldwide concern for its impacts on human health and ecosystem functionality. In order to cope with arsenic contamination, bioremediation using fungi can represent an efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective technological solution. Fungi can mitigate arsenic contamination through different mechanisms including bioaccumulation. In this work, four soil saprotrophic fungi Absidia spinosa, Purpureocillium lilacinum, Metarhizium marquandii, and Cephalotrichum nanum, isolated from soils with naturally high arsenic concentrations, were tested for their ability to tolerate different sodium arsenite concentrations and accumulate As in different cultural conditions. pH medium after fungal growth was measured to study pH variation and metabolic responses. Arsenic bioaccumulation and its influence on the uptake of other elements were investigated through multi-elemental analysis using hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Considering the increasing interest in siderophore application for metal bioremediation, the production of siderophores and their affinity for both Fe and As were also evaluated. All species were able to tolerate and accumulate As in their biomass in all of the tested conditions and produced siderophores with different affinities for Fe and As. The results suggest that the tested fungi are attractive potential candidates for the bioremediation of As contaminated soil and worthy of further investigation.