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PubMed2003

Heavy metals in aerosols over the seas of the Russian Arctic.

A review of the data on heavy metals in aerosols over the seas of the Russian Arctic is presented. Results of heavy metal studies in aerosols obtained during 11 research expeditions in summer/autumn period from 1991 to 2000, and at Severnaya Zemlya and Wrangel Island in spring, in 1985-1989 are discussed. Concentrations of most heavy metals in the atmosphere in the marine boundary layer in the Russian Arctic are nearly of the same order as literature data from other Arctic areas. The content of heavy metals in the aerosols over the seas of the Russian Arctic shows an annual variation with maximal concentrations during the winter/spring season. In the summer/autumn period increased concentrations of heavy metals could be explained, in most cases, by natural processes (generation of sea salt aerosols, etc.). In some cases, aerosols from Norilsk and Kola Peninsula were detected. Particular attention was paid to estimation of horizontal and vertical fluxes of atmospheric heavy metals. We estimated annual variations in long-range transport of heavy metals into the Russian Arctic in 1986-1995. In winter and spring, up to 50% of the average air pollutant concentrations in the Russian Arctic are due to the Arctic atmospheric pollution itself. Moreover, the monthly and annual averaged fluxes of six anthropogenic chemical elements (arsenic, nickel, lead, vanadium, zinc and cadmium) onto the surface in the Arctic were estimated, and the values obtained were in reasonable agreement with the literature data available.

Aerosols↗

PubMed2005

Biosensors for heavy metals.

A biosensor is an analytical device that consists of an immobilized biocomponent in conjunction with a transducer, and represents a synergistic combination of biotechnology and microelectronics. This review summarizes the use of biosensors for detecting and quantifying heavy metal ions. Heavy metal contamination is of serious concern to human health since these substances are non-biodegradable and retained by the ecological system. Conventional analytical techniques for heavy metals (such as cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) are precise but suffer from the disadvantages of high cost, the need for trained personnel and the fact that they are mostly laboratory bound. Biosensors have the advantages of specificity, low cost, ease of use, portability and the ability to furnish continuous real time signals. The analysis of heavy metal ions can be carried out with biosensors by using both protein (enzyme, metal-binding protein and antibody)-based and whole-cell (natural and genetically engineered microorganism)-based approaches.

Biosensing Techniques↗

PubMed1985

Comparisons of nine heavy metals in salt gland and liver of greater scaup (Aythya marila), black duck (Anas rubripes) and mallard (A. platyrhynchos).

Levels of nine heavy metals were measured in the livers and salt glands of greater scaup (Aythya marila), black duck (Anas rubripes) and mallard (A. platyrhynchos) from Raritan Bay, New Jersey to determine if the functioning avian salt gland concentrates heavy metals. Heavy metals examined were cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, manganese, nickel and zinc. Heavy metal levels varied significantly by species and tissue for chromium, copper, lead, and manganese, and by tissue for cobalt, mercury, nickel and zinc. In comparing tissues cobalt was higher in the salt glands than in livers of all three species; chromium and nickel were higher in the salt gland than liver for mallard and black duck; and lead, manganese and zinc were higher in the liver than the salt gland in greater scaup. Generally metal levels were higher in the salt gland for mallard and black duck, and in the liver for greater scaup.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Review of heavy metals in the African aquatic environment.

Data were compiled from selected heavy metal studies in both freshwater and marine ecosystems from the major African subregions, Northern, West and Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa. The concentrations of heavy metals were compared between different environmental compartments (water, sediments, fauna, and flora), between the different African subregions and with data from other areas in the world. Despite the scarcity of the existing information on Africa, some conclusions could be drawn: Metal concentrations in organisms were generally below WHO limits except for some localized sites, mostly with increased lead levels. There were no significant differences between inland water and coastal animals, but shellfish had higher concentrations of most metals than finfish. For aquatic plants the heavy metal levels were higher in inland waters. Compared to more industrialized regions and with the exception of some hot-spot sites, the concentrations of heavy metals in African aquatic systems were low and close to natural background levels. Nevertheless, in view of the expected increase in urbanization and socio-economic activities in Africa, sources and quantities of heavy metal discharges to aquatic environments have to be identified. Also, pollution control measures should be formulated in each country.

Africa↗

PubMed1996

[Evaluation of pulmonary toxicity of heavy metal compounds].

The present report describes toxicological approaches to evaluate inflammatory potency of heavy metal compounds deposited in the lung. Although inhalation exposure is a well-accepted method to study effects of pulmonary toxicants, it requires expensive facilities and many man-hours to complete experiments. Intratracheal (i.t.) instillation, an alternative and simple method to expose animals to toxicants via airways, has been proved to be useful to investigate the pulmonary clearance of heavy metals. However, acute inhalation exposure caused more severe inflammatory lung injury than i. t. instillation when the same amount of nickel sulfate was administered in the rat. Among several biochemical inflammatory indices such as some enzyme activities and the protein concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, only lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity increased linearly with a wide range of doses of heavy metals. The increase in polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in BAL fluid, a cytological index of inflammatory responses of the lung, is believed to reflect pulmonary toxicity of heavy metals. However, more extensive study is required to elucidate the mechanism of transpulmonary PMN infiltration upon heavy metal insult. In addition to the linearity between LDH activity in BAL fluid and doses of heavy metals, the increase in this cytosolic enzyme activity is associated with cell lysis in the bronchoalveolar milieu and appears to be the best index to evaluate pulmonary inflammatory potency of heavy metals.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Contents and distribution characteristics of heavy metals in water and sediment of intertidalite].

ICP-MS analytical technology was used to analyze the concentration of 13 heavy metals in surface water, pore water in sediment, suspended particulate matter, and sediment of intertidalite of Tianjin. Results show that both total amount and single concentration of heavy metals vary greatly in different media, the biggest and smallest values differ by 4 or 7 magnitudes. While the variation coefficients of the contents of total metals or single metal in the same medium are less than 0.3 and 0.5 respectively except for the pore water. The average concentration of total dissolved heavy metals is 41.2 microg x L(-1), while total contents of heavy metals in original water, pore water, sediment and suspended particles are 62.7 microg x L(-1), 112.7 microg x L(-1), 262.3 mg x L(-1) and 345.0 mg x L(-1) respectively, they are similar to inland natural river but higher then those of ocean. The composition of heavy metals in different media varied greatly, metals prone to dissolve such as Mo account for more than 20% in water, but metals uneasy to dissolve mainly exist in sediment and suspended particles and absorbed by particles. Typical heavy metals, such as Zn, Cu, Pb and Cr, account for 40% - 50% in water and 50% - 80% in other media. The similarity in distribution mode of heavy metals in intertidalite and terrestrial soil suggest that they are originated from terrestrial soil that is contiguity to the sea. Notable correlativity can be seen between concentrations of all heavy metals except for Mo in sediment, which can explain the similarity of their environmental behavior, but only wake correlation between the content of organic carbon and concentrations of heavy metals in suspended particulates and sediment.

China↗

PubMed2004

Heavy metal speciation in solid-phase materials from a bacterial sulfate reducing bioreactor using sequential extraction procedure combined with acid volatile sulfide analysis.

Heavy metal mobility, bioavailability and toxicity depends largely on the chemical form of metals and ultimately determines potential for environmental pollution. For this reason, determining the chemical form of heavy metals and metalloids, immobilized in sludges by biological mediated sulfate reduction, is important to evaluate their mobility and bioavailability. A modified Tessier sequential extraction procedure (SEP), complemented with acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneous extracted metals (SEM) measurements, were applied to determine the partitioning of five heavy metals (defined as Fe, Ni, Zn and Cu, and the metalloid As) in anoxic solid-phase material (ASM) from an anaerobic, sulfate reducing bioreactor into six operationally defined fractions. These fractions were water soluble, exchangeable, bound to carbonates (acid soluble), bound to Fe-Mn oxides (reducible), bound to organic matter and sulfides (oxidizable) and residual. It was found that the distribution of Fe, Ni, Zn, Cu and As in ASM was strongly influenced by its association with the above solid fractions. The fraction corresponding to organic matter and sulfides appeared to be the most important scavenging phases of As, Fe, Ni, Zn and Cu in ASM (59.8-86.7%). This result was supported by AVS and SEM (Sigma Zn, Ni and Cu) measurements, which indicated that the heavy metals existed overwhelmingly as sulfides in the organic matter and sulfide fraction. A substantial amount of Fe and Ni at 16.4 and 20.1%, respectively, were also present in the carbonate fraction, while an appreciable portion of As (18.3%) and Zn (19.4%) was bound to Fe-Mn oxides. A significant amount of heavy metals was also associated with the residual fraction, ranging from 2.1% for Zn to 18.8% for As. Based on the average total extractable heavy metal (TEHM) values, the concentration of heavy metals in the ASM was in the order of Cu > Ni > Zn > Fe > As. If the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals are assumed to be related to their solubility and chemical forms, and that they decrease with each successive extraction step, then the apparent mobility and bioavailability of these five heavy metals in ASM increase in the order of Cu < As < Ni < Fe < Zn. The SEM/AVS ratio was less than one in eight replicate ASM samples, indicating that the ASM was non-toxic with regards to having a low probability of bioavailable metals in the pore water.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed2005

Heavy metal release from different ashes during serial batch tests using water and acid.

Most ashes contain a significant amount of heavy metals and when released from disposed or used ash materials, they can form a major environmental concern for underground waters. The use of water extracts to assess the easily mobilisable content of heavy metals may not provide an appropriate measure. This study describes the patterns of heavy metal release from ash materials in context with results from the German standard extraction method DIN-S4 (DIN 38 414 S4). Samples of four different ashes (municipal solid waste incineration ash, wood ash, brown coal ash and hard coal ash) were subjected to a number of serial batch tests with liquid renewal, some of which involved the addition of acid to neutralize carbonates and oxides. Release of heavy metals showed different patterns depending on the element, the type of material, the method of extraction and the type of the extractant used. Only a small fraction of the total heavy metal contents occurred as water soluble salts; of special significance was the amount of Cr released from the wood ash. The reaction time (1, 24 or 72 h between each extraction step with water) had only a small effect on the release of heavy metals. However, the release of most of the heavy metals was governed by the dissolution processes following proton inputs, indicating that pH-dependent tests such as CEN TC 292 or others are required to estimate long-term effects of heavy metal releases from ashes. Based on the chemical characteristics of ash materials in terms of their form and solubility of heavy metals, recommendations were made on the disposal or use of the four ash materials.

Carbon↗

PubMed2001

Biosorption of heavy metals from landfill leachate onto activated sludge.

The removal of various heavy metals was studied when activated sludge was exposed to heavy metals in landfill leachate. Batch uptake tests were conducted for this purpose. Adsorption was the main mechanism of removal when biomass was contacted with heavy metals. Activated sludge had a high biosorption capacity and equilibrium was reached in a short time with respect to copper, iron, manganese, zinc and chromium. Adsorption isotherms were generated for those heavy metals and the Freundlich constants were calculated. Among the metals studied, manganese became very concentrated on activated sludge with time.

Absorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of a genetically engineered Pseudomonas species (Shk1) as a bioluminescent reporter for heavy metal toxicity screening in wastewater treatment plant influent.

Heavy metals are known to be inhibitory and toxic to the activated-sludge microbial community in biological wastewater treatment plants. Toxicity screening of aqueous mixtures of these heavy metal ions in plant influent could use both chemical and biological methods. As a biological method, luminescent bacterial bioreporters offer the advantages of a simple test procedure and rapid response. Current biologically based methods for screening aqueous streams for toxicity are labor-intensive, inaccurate, or difficult to use in continuous monitoring applications. In the present study, a system was developed that is simple and easily automated. This system is based on the bacterium Shk1, a genetically engineered bioluminescent Pseudomonad whose parent strain was originally isolated from activated sludge. Compared with other bioluminescence-based systems (specifically, the Microtox assay), the system of the present study more accurately reflects the effects of the toxicity of common metal ions on activated-sludge respirometry without being overly sensitive to typical constituents of wastewater. The use of Shk1 as a bioluminescent reporter for heavy metal toxicity testing for the application of wastewater treatment influent toxicity screening is presented in this study.

Biological Assay↗

PubMed2004

Changes in the levels of phytochelatins and related metal-binding peptides in chickpea seedlings exposed to arsenic and different heavy metal ions.

Phytochelatin-related peptides were analyzed in chickpea plants exposed to six different heavy-metal ions. Cadmium and arsenic stimulated phytochelatin and homophytochelatin synthesis in roots but other metals did not. These metals, however, caused an overall increase in the precursors, glutathione, homoglutathione and cysteine. These changes may be different biochemical indexes for heavy-metal contamination.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2005

Concentration and distribution of heavy metals in urban airborne particulate matter in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in airborne dust collected at three sites with different traffic densities from August 2001 to July 2002 in the Frankfurt am Main area. Bulk samples of particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of <22 microm were collected on cellulose nitrate filters using air filtration devices. Fractionated samples of PM with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of <10 microm were collected using an eight-stage Andersen impactor. Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, V, As, Sb, Cu, Cr, Co, and Ce were determined by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry, Pt and Rh were determined by adsorptive voltammetry, and Pd was determined by total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. The results show that the highest airborne heavy metal concentrations occurred at the main street with a large volume of traffic. With the exception of Co, V, Ce, and Mn, the heavy metals had an elevated enrichment factor compared to their concentrations in the continental crust. The main street site was especially contaminated with Sb, Zn, Cu, V, and Ni. Motor vehicles are the likely source of emissions. With the exception of Cr, Cu, and Zn, most of the airborne heavy metal concentrations determined for impactor samples deviate slightly from the results for total airborne dust. Heavy metal particle size distributions can be divided into three groups. For metals such as As, Cd, Pb, and V, the main fraction can be found in fine particles with a diameter of <2.1 microm, whereas Ce, Cr, Co, and Ni occur mainly in coarse particles with a diameter of >2.1 microm. Cu, Mn, Sb, Zn, Pt, Pd, and Rh occur in high concentrations in the medium range of the impactor stages (particle diameters of 1.1-4.7 microm). Metal concentrations in fine dust particles are needed to assess the human health risks of their inhalation.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2003

TRASH: a novel metal-binding domain predicted to be involved in heavy-metal sensing, trafficking and resistance.

We describe a previously undetected domain - TRASH - containing a well-conserved cysteine motif that we anticipate to be involved in metal coordination. TRASH is encoded by multiple prokaryotic genomes and is present in transcriptional regulators, cation-transporting ATPases and hydrogenases, and is also present as a stand-alone module. The observed domain associations and conserved genome context of TRASH-encoding genes in prokaryotic genomes suggest that TRASH constitutes a novel component in metal trafficking and heavy-metal resistance. The role of the multiple copies of TRASH that are present in vertebrate proteins remains to be elucidated.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed2003

Accumulation and fate of selected heavy metals in a biological wastewater treatment system.

The aim of this research was to study the accumulation and removal of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) by a biological wastewater treatment system. Heavy metal contents in the influent and effluent wastewater were compared. Also, the heavy metal contents in the sludge before and after anaerobic digestion were compared. The results showed: (1) more pronounced variations in the contents of Cu and Zn than that of Cd and Pb, which showed that at 0.02 for Cd and 0.05 mg/l for Pb, the reduction in their contents was insignificant; (2) that removal of heavy metals was directly proportional to their initial contents in the influent wastewater. Corresponding to the influent contents, in increasing order, the reduction in heavy metal contents was: Cd<Pb<Cu<Zn; and (3) that anaerobic stabilization of sludge caused an increase in heavy metal contents on dry weight basis. The order of increase in heavy metal contents in digested sludge (Zn<Pb<Cu<Cd) was opposite to that of their contents removal from influent wastewater.

Bacteria, Anaerobic↗

PubMed1995

Histochemical demonstration of heavy metals in mouse skin.

The localization of heavy metals in normal mouse skin was investigated light microscopically using the Neo-Timm staining method. Positive staining was found in the horny layer of epidermis, connective tissue of dermis and in hair roots. Chelation of heavy metals by pretreatment with diethyldithiocarbamate prevented this staining. The study demonstrates that heavy metals, mainly zinc, are localized in the mouse skin and that the Neo-Timm staining method is useful for the investigation of the role of zinc in this organ.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Speciation and fractionation of heavy metals in soil experimentally contaminated with Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn together and effects on soil negative surface charge.

Speciation and fractionation of heavy metals in soil subsamples experimentally loaded with Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in orthogonal design was investigated by sequential extraction, and operationally defined as water-soluble and exchangeable(SE), weakly specific adsorbed(WSA), Fe and Mn oxides-bound(OX) and organic-bound(ORG). The results showed that fractions of heavy metals in the soil subsamples depended on their speciation. About 90% of Cd and 75% of Zn existed in soil subsamples in the SE fraction. Lead and Cu existed in soil subsamples as SE, WSA and OX fractions simultaneously, although SE was still the major fraction. Organic-bound heavy metals were not clearly apparent in all the soil subsamples. The concentration of some heavy metal fractions in soil subsamples showed the good correlation with ionic impulsion of soil, especially for the SE fraction. Continuous saturation of soil subsamples with 0.20 mol/L NH4Cl, which is the first step for determination of the negative surface charge of soil by the ion retention method, resulted in desorption of certain heavy metals from the soil. It was found that the percentage desorption of heavy metals from soil subsamples depended greatly on pH, the composition and original heavy metal content of the soil subsamples. However, most of the heavy metals in the soil subsamples were still be retained after multiple saturation. Compared with the parent soil, the negative surface charge of soil subsamples loaded with heavy metals did not show difference significantly from that of the parent one by statistical analysis. Heavy metals existed in the soil subsamples mainly as exchangeable and precipitated simultaneously.

Ammonium Chloride↗

PubMed1999

High concentrations of heavy metals in neighborhoods near ore smelters in northern Mexico.

In developing countries, rapid industrialization without environmental controls has resulted in heavy metal contamination of communities. We hypothesized that residential neighborhoods located near ore industries in three northern Mexican cities would be heavily polluted with multiple contaminants (arsenic, cadmium, and lead) and that these sites would be point sources for the heavy metals. To evaluate these hypotheses, we obtained samples of roadside surface dust from residential neighborhoods within 2 m of metal smelters [Torreón (n = 19)] and Chihuahua (n = 19)] and a metal refinery [Monterrey (n = 23)]. Heavy metal concentrations in dust were mapped with respect to distance from the industrial sites. Correlation between dust metal concentration and distance was estimated with least-squares regression using log-transformed data. Median dust arsenic, cadmium, and lead concentrations were 32, 10, and 277 microg/g, respectively, in Chihuahua; 42, 2, and 467 microg/g, respectively, in Monterrey, and 113, 112, and 2,448 microg/g, respectively, in Torreón. Dust concentrations of all heavy metals were significantly higher around the active smelter in Torreón, where more than 90% of samples exceeded Superfund cleanup goals. At all sites, dust concentrations were inversely related to distance from the industrial source, implicating these industries as the likely source of the contamination. We concluded that residential neighborhoods around metal smelting and refining sites in these three cities are contaminated by heavy metals at concentrations likely to pose a health threat to people living nearby. Evaluations of human exposure near these sites should be conducted. Because multiple heavy metal pollutants may exist near smelter sites, researchers should avoid attributing toxicity to one heavy metal unless others have been measured and shown not to coexist.

Arsenic↗

PubMed2006

Removal of heavy metals from kaolin using an upward electrokinetic soil remedial (UESR) technology.

An upward electrokinetic soil remedial (UESR) technology was proposed to remove heavy metals from contaminated kaolin. Unlike conventional electrokinetic treatment that uses boreholes or trenches for horizontal migration of heavy metals, the UESR technology, applying vertical non-uniform electric fields, caused upward transportation of heavy metals to the top surface of the treated soil. The effects of current density, treatment duration, cell diameter, and different cathode chamber influent (distilled water or 0.01 M nitric acid) were studied. The removal efficiencies of heavy metals positively correlated to current density and treatment duration. Higher heavy metals removal efficiency was observed for the reactor cell with smaller diameter. A substantial amount of heavy metals was accumulated in the nearest to cathode 2 cm layer of kaolin when distilled water was continuously supplied to the cathode chamber. Heavy metals accumulated in this layer of kaolin can be easily excavated and disposed off. The main part of the removed heavy metals was dissolved in cathode chamber influent and moved away with cathode chamber effluent when 0.01 M nitric acid was used, instead of distilled water. Energy saving treatment by UESR technology with highest metal removal efficiencies was provided by two regimes: (1) by application of 0.01 M nitric acid as cathode chamber influent, cell diameter of 100 mm, duration of 18 days, and constant voltage of 3.5 V (19.7 k Wh/m(3) of kaolin) and (2) by application of 0.01 M nitric acid as cathode chamber influent, cell diameter of 100 cm, duration of 6 days, and constant current density of 0.191 mA/cm(2) (19.1 k Wh/m(3) of kaolin).

Algorithms↗