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PubMed1994

Retrieval of heavy metal ions from solution via ferritisation.

The paper summarises the results of the studies on retrieval of heavy metal ions in solution by ferritisation and its potential application in waste-water treatment. The optimum procedure for ferritisation of heavy metal ions in solution has been evolved with respect to pH, concentration of Fe2+, rate and time of aeration and temperature. The recommended procedure consists of controlled aeration of the solution containing heavy metal ions and ferrous ions at pH 9.5-10.5 at about 50 degrees C, until the black, granular, magnetic ferrite separates out. The metal ferrites can also be formed, even without heating or forced aeration, by ageing the mixed metal hydroxide precipitate at pH 10 to 11. The metal ferrites formed have been characterised by X-ray diffractometry. The laboratory-scope experiments conducted with synthetic heavy metal solutions as well as actual wastewater from a tanning industry showed that heavy metal ions can be effectively removed from solution to sub-ppm levels. The metal ferrites thus recovered may find commercial application as microwave absorbers, catalysts, metal scavengers, etc. This technique seems to have potential application in simultaneous, one step removal of different heavy metal ions from industrial wastewaters.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Diversity and structure of Chironomidae (Diptera) communities along a gradient of heavy metal contamination in a subarctic watercourse.

Community structure of chironomid larvae was investigated along a gradient of heavy metal pollution in the subarctic lakes of the Pasvik watercourse, bordering Northern Norway and Russia. Sixty taxa were present in the four investigated lakes. Species richness was lower in Lake Kuetsjarvi, nearest the main source of pollution, relative to the more distant lakes, and Simpson's diversity index was similarly highest in the less polluted site with higher maximum depth. The number of orthoclad chironomid species was considerably higher at the least contaminated sites, whereas the relative abundance of Orthocladiinae was highest at the most polluted site. Chironomid density increased with increasing distance from the main source of heavy metal pollution, especially in the subfamilies Tanypodinae and Chironominae, and total chironomid biomass was significantly higher at the least polluted site. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed spatial patterns consistent with species-specific tolerance to the heavy metal concentrations. Protanypus morio, Monodiamesa bathyphila, Chironomus spp., Polypedilum scalaenum gr. and Sergentia coracina seemed to be tolerant to heavy metal contamination, occurring most commonly at the most polluted sites. In contrast, Heterotrissocladius subpilosus, Psectrocladius semicirculatus/sp., Chironomus anthracinus, Pagastiella orophila, Cladotanytarsus iucundus, and Tanytarsus spp. appeared to be more sensitive taxa, being common at the least polluted sites, but rare or absent at the two sites close to the pollution sources. Densities of Procladius (Holotanypus) spp., Tanytarsus spp. and Chironomus anthracinus were negatively correlated with heavy metal concentrations and these taxa appeared to be the best indicators of heavy metal contamination.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Excretion of three heavy metals in the shed skin of exposed corn snakes (Elaphe guttata).

Three heavy metals of regional environmental concern-lead, cadmium, and mercury-are frequently evaluated as part of wildlife bioaccumulation and health monitoring studies. Shed skins of snakes may represent a useful, nonlethal biomarker tissue for such determinations. In the present study, these three heavy metals were injected into thawed mice that were fed to corn snakes (Elaphe guttata) such that snakes received 2mg/kg of each metal/month. Shed skins were collected over a period of 34 weeks, and levels of the heavy metals were determined in skins by atomic absorption methods. Each heavy metal was readily detected in the shed skins, with mean levels as follows: lead 234 ppb, cadmium 806 ppb, and mercury 403 ppb. Control snakes that were fed nonmetal-injected mice produced shed skins that contained mean levels of 6, 12, and 20 ppb lead, cadmium, and mercury, respectively. These detection levels corresponded closely to expected trace metal contents of mouse chow and tap water. These results demonstrate that dietary metal exposure can be readily detected in shed snake skins, including at trace levels of exposure that may be consistent with, or below, environmental exposures.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Assessment of seasonal enrichment of heavy metals in respirable suspended particulate matter of a sub-urban Indian city.

Heavy metals in respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) were analyzed for different seasons, from July 2002 to December 2002, at different locations in Hisar (Haryana, India). The samples were analyzed for Pb, As, Ni, Cu, Mn, Fe and Mg on atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) in air-acetylene flame. The concentration of heavy metals was more in the studied residential area followed by industrial area and commercial area. The concentrations of Fe, As, Ni and Mn were found to be more compared to other metals. Further, the concentrations of all the heavy metals were higher in pre-monsoon (extended summer) and monsoon followed by post-monsoon, autumn and winter. Meteorology played an important role in concentration of heavy metals in RSPM. Turbulent conditions resulted in higher concentration owing to re-suspension and external input whereas, low wind speed, low temperature and high relative humidity favoured low concentration of the pollutants. The evaluation of enrichment factor revealed that Pb, As, Ni, Cu, and Mn are emitted, chiefly from anthropogenic sources and Fe and Mg are associated with natural sources.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2005

The use of volcanic soil as mineral landfill liner--III. Heavy metals retention capacity.

The volcanic soil of Southern Chile was tested for its heavy metal retention capacity. The maximum uptakes for CrO4(2-) (CrVI), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and Pb(2+) were determined to be 2.74, 5.32, 5.86 and 7.44 mg g(-1), respectively. At a slightly alkaline pH value (7.5), it seems that a precipitation-adsorption process was responsible for the Cu(2+) and Zn(2+) uptake onto volcanic soil. All the determined values are of the same order of magnitude as natural zeolites heavy metals adsorption capacities. In addition, the heavy metals diffusion model through a 1 m volcanic soil mineral liner shows breakthrough times of 21.6, 10.2 and 8.9 years, for Pb(2+), Zn(2+) and Cu(2+), respectively, confirming the trend obtained in the adsorption isotherms. The natural volcanic soil of Southern Chile is an interesting material for possible use as landfill mineral basal sealing. It has an appropriate sealing potential (average Kf value of 5.85 x 10(-9) m s(-1)) and a heavy metals retention capacity comparable with natural zeolites. About two-thirds of the agricultural land in Chile (approximately 0.4 million km2) is derived from volcanic ash, suggesting an important soil volume for future landfill projects, that could be obtained in sufficient quantities from urban building activities.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2005

Determination of solid waste sorption capacity for selected heavy metals in landfills.

The adsorption process is largely a surface-action phenomenon. In this study, sorption capacities for heavy metals on a solid waste matrix were investigated. Five heavy metals (iron, copper, zinc, nickel and cadmium) were chosen because of their availability in any landfill site. The conditions during all the experimental runs were pH 7.0, temperature 32 degrees C and suppressed microbial degradation. For adsorption isotherm (Freundlich and Langmuir) calculations, fixed quantities of heavy metal ions were mixed with variable quantities of solid waste. The ratio of mass of adsorbate per unit mass of adsorbent was changed five times, by changing only the adsorbent amount. The results showed that the time required to reach equilibrium varied from metal to metal but all reached equilibrium within the first 32 h. The relative potential of sorption of the individual metals and mixed metals on the solid waste matrix is Fe > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cd. The sorption capacity of domestic solid waste matrix for heavy metals is quite significant and this property might prove helpful for the in situ removal of heavy metals in landfill operation.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Heavy metal leaching from aerobic and anaerobic landfill bioreactors of co-disposed municipal solid waste incineration bottom ash and shredded low-organic residues.

In this study, heavy metal leaching from aerobic and anaerobic landfill bioreactor test cells for co-disposed municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) bottom ash and shredded low-organic residues has been investigated. Test cells were operated for 1 year. Heavy metals which were comparatively higher in leachate of aerobic cell were copper (Cu), lead (Pb), boron (B), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), and those apparently lower were aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), molybdenum (Mo), and vanadium (V). However, no significant release of heavy metals under aerobic conditions was observed compared to anaerobic and control cells. Furthermore, there was no meaningful correlation between oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and heavy metal concentrations in the leachates although some researchers speculate that aeration may result in excessive heavy metal leaching. No meaningful correlation between dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and leaching of Cu and Pb was another interesting observation. The only heavy metal that exceeded the state discharge limits (10mg/l, to be enforced after April 2005) in the aerobic cell leachate samples was boron and there was no correlation between boron leaching and ORP. Higher B levels in aerobic cell should be due to comparatively lower pH values in this cell. However, it is anticipated that this slightly increased concentrations of B (maximum 25mg/l) will not create a risk for bioreactor operation; rather it should be beneficial for long-term stability of the landfill through faster washout. It was concluded that aerobization of landfills of heavy metal rich MSWI bottom ash and shredded residues is possible with no dramatic increase in heavy metals in the leachate.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed2006

Assessment of the impact of heavy metal pollution from a ferro-nickel smelting plant using biomarkers.

A set of biomarkers was used to assess the impact of heavy metal pollution by a ferro-nickel smelting plant in Larymna bay (North Evoikos Gulf, Greece). These included a biomarker reflecting health status of an organism (scope for growth, SFG), a cellular biomarker of heavy metal exposure (composition of metal-containing granules), and two biochemical biomarkers reflecting oxidative stress (glutathione peroxidase, GPX) and neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase, AChE) measured in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) both native and transplanted for 1 and 6 months at the coastal area of Larymna. All biomarkers in mussels at Larymna revealed differences from mussels at a reference site, signaling effects of the increased heavy metal levels on the biota. While effects on SFG and GPX in Larymna mussels were obvious on short-term exposure and persistent during chronic exposure, only chronic exposure induced a possibly cumulative effect on AChE. To validate the causal relationship between heavy metal exposure and effects observed in Larymna, SFG, GPX, and ACHE were examined in mussels exposed to a mixture of heavy metals (Ni, Cr, and Fe) under controlled laboratory conditions. The laboratory experiment verified the causal relationship between SFG and GPX responses and heavy metals but this was not demonstrated for AChE. Results from field-collected and laboratory-exposed mussels indicated a potential of GPX as predictive biomarker of population-level effects of heavy metal exposure.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

PubMed2006

Influence of heavy metals and 4-nonylphenol on reproductive function in fish.

Many industrial and agricultural chemicals (including heavy metals and alkylphenols) present in the environment have adverse effects on the reproductive function in fish. Three studies were conducted to assess toxicity of these chemicals towards reproduction of freshwater fish. It was shown that heavy metals added to the diets accumulate in brain tissue of carp, and this accumulation results in inhibition of the secretion of noradrenaline and stimulation of the secretion of dopamine in the hypothalamus. These processes results in a disturbance of hormonal equilibrium of the hypothalamo-pituitary system, which can unfavorably influence the efficiency of artificial spawning in fish. Quality of salmonid and sturgeon sperm was impaired after in vitro exposure to heavy metals. The degree of this toxic effect was species-specific. It was demonstrated that sperm motility parameters appeared to be good indicators of adverse effects of heavy metals fish sperm. The protection role of seminal plasma against toxic effects of heavy metals was suggested for salmonid fish. Oral application of 4-nonylphenol (NP) disrupted reproduction in pikeperch. In juvenile fish a decrease in the percentage of males and an increase of intersex fish was observed in relation to dose of NP and time of exposure to this alkylphenol. Exposure of adult males to the NP led to the reduction in fecundity, milt quality and fertility.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Extraction of heavy metals from a contaminated soil using citrate-enhancing extraction by pH control and ultrasound application.

A novel extraction method has been developed for remediation of a heavy-metal contaminated soil. Citrate was used as environmentally-friendly extractant to remove Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu. Heavy metals were extracted effectively at two different pH regions around 2 and 4-5. Kinetic study showed that heavy metal extraction by washing at pH around 2 reached equilibrium within 4h, while extraction by washing at pH 4-5 increased gradually by the end of 24 h washing. Washing extraction at pH 2 for 6 h which was followed by washing at pH 5 for 16 h increased the percentage extraction of Pb and Cu from 67.6 to 85.9% and from 77.5 to 83.4%, respectively. Ultrasound application has been also investigated to enhance extraction of heavy metals by using citrate. Only 30 min ultrasound application at 19.5 KHz attained higher extraction of heavy metals than those by washing for 24h, showing the enhancement of heavy-metal removal. Thus, the performance of citrate for removing heavy metals was improved.

Chelating Agents↗

PubMed2004

[Effect of heavy metal ions on function of vascular endothelium in patients with ischemic heart disease].

UNLABELLED: Endothelium dysfunction is one of the first signs of atherosclerotic process. There are many factors known, which provoke such a dysfunction; many are still to be revealed. One of them may be a heavy metal ion. The aim of the study was to establish the link between heavy metal ions concentrations in blood and the endothelium dysfunction measured with the nitric oxide blood concentration in a population of patients with ischemic heart disease, not exposed occupationally to high concentrations of heavy metal ions. The study included 42 patients (24 men and 18 women, age 63.7 +/- 9.9 years) with angiography confirmed coronary artery disease. The study group was subdivided according to coronary artery atherosclerosis extent. Control included 18 patients (10 men and 8 women, age 58.7 +/- 9.4 years), where coronarography revealed no significant lesions in coronary arteries. In all persons blood for nitric oxide and heavy metal ions was collected. Heavy metal ions studied included: lead, copper, manganese, zinc, selenium, and cadmium. Heavy metal ions concentrations in studied and control group was within normal range for not exposed population and did not differ significantly with each other. No significant difference was observed between groups for nitric oxide concentration. Nitric oxide concentration correlated positively with zinc concentration in control group (p<0.001, Pearson r=0.70). Such a correlations was not present in studied group. After regression analysis there was still strong correlation between zinc and nitric oxide in control group (beta=0.43, p<0.01), the phenomenon not present in studied group. CONCLUSIONS: 1. In the group of patients with angiography confirmed ischemic heart disease heavy metal ions concentrations are within normal range for not exposed population and is not connected with coronary atherosclerosis extent. 2. From all heavy metal ions studied only zinc seams to have protective influence on endothelial function measured by nitric oxide production 3. No such a protective effect is observed in the group of patients with ischemic heart disease, which may be due to the relative zinc deficiency.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Environmental contamination of heavy metals from zinc smelting areas in Hezhang County, western Guizhou, China.

Total heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) concentrations were evaluated in smelting waste, soil, crop and moss samples collected from the Hezhang artisanal zinc smelting areas, Guizhou, China. Soil samples from the cornfield near the smelting sites contained extremely high Cd (5.8-74 mg kg(-1)), Pb (60-14,000 mg kg(-1)) and Zn (260-16,000 mg kg(-1)) concentrations. Elevated heavy metal concentrations were also found in corn plants and total Pb (0.80-1.5 mg kg(-1)) and Cd (0.05-0.76 mg kg(-1)) concentrations in corn grain have totally or partially exceeded the national guidance limits for foodstuff. Thus, the soil-to-crop transfer of heavy metals might pose a potential health risk to the local residents. Similar to the high heavy metal levels in soil and corn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in moss samples collected from the smelting sites ranged from 10 to 110, 10 to 55, 26 to 51, 400 to 1200 and 330 to 1100 mg kg(-1), respectively, exhibiting a local spatial pattern of metals deposition from the atmosphere. Based on examination of Zn/Cd and Pb/Cd ratios of the analyzed samples, we have distinguished between the flue gas dust derived and smelting waste derived metals in different environmental compartments.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Heavy metals in maternal and cord blood.

Heavy metal concentrations have been determined in maternal and cord blood samples collected from mothers in the age group 20-25 years with full-term neonates (37-40 weeks). The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn were found to be low in cord blood as compared to mother's blood and the ratio between cord blood and maternal blood for the respective elements was found to be approximately 0.80, 0.86, 0.47 and 0.40. On the other hand, the concentrations of Fe and Mg in the mother's blood were found to be lower than those in the cord blood. Prenatal exposure to lead in Mumbai, though low (5.1 microg/dl), is approximately 2-3 times higher than that observed in Canada or Italy. A strong correlation (r = 0.79) between the maternal and cord blood lead levels has been observed during the present study.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Heavy metals in rivers of Latvia.

Total heavy metal concentrations in waters and sediments (HNO3 digestible Pb, Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, Zn) and their speciation forms in sediments (exchangeable, carbonate bound, iron-manganese oxide bound, organic matter bound and residual) in major and common small watercourses (31 sampling stations) along their flow in Latvia were determined. The metal loads entering the Baltic Sea from Latvia were calculated. Increased metal concentrations were found only in lower reaches of the largest rivers and locally around known industrial pollution sources. Differences in metal concentrations and loads in rivers from different regions of Latvia were related to natural geochemical processes. Metal speciation analysis showed that the dominant metal species are residual metals and those bound to organic matter. Residual and carbonate-bound metal dominated only in rhitral regions of rivers. The concentrations of exchangeable metals increased below pollution sources.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Petiolar felt-sheath of palm: a new biosorbent for the removal of heavy metals from contaminated water.

Biosorption of heavy metals such as Pb2+, Ni2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+ by petiolar felt-sheath of palm (PFP) from contaminated water was examined. PFP was found to efficiently remove all the toxic metal ions with selectivity order of Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Ni2+ > Cr3+. The uptake was rapid, with more than 70% completed within 15 min. The bound metal ions were successfully desorbed and the PFP fibrous-biomass remained effective after several adsorption-desorption cycles.

Adsorption↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Yeasts--biosorbents of heavy metals].

The sharp increase of the level of environment pollution by heavy metals caused the increase of interest to the problem of live organisms (including microorganisms) resistance to these metals. Biosorption is one of the mechanisms of microorganisms resistance to heavy metals. Yeasts as biosorbents are of special interest. An analysis of the data from literature have shown that the yeast biomass may be used successfully as biosorption material for such metals as Ag, Au, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, U, Th, Zn. Yeasts of genera Saccharomyces, Candida, Pichia are efficient biosorbents of metals. The sorptional system estimation is based on the classic sorption isotherm obtained in the course of equilibrium experiments and depends on pH, properties of metal ions, biomass concentration, preliminary physical or chemical treatment of the biomass, presence of various organic and inorganic ions and on temperature. The yeast biomass may be obtained using numerous industrial processes, that decreases considerably the biosorbent cost. Most yeasts can sorb a wide range of metals or be strictly specific in respect of only one metal. Special attention would be paid to the cell wall which structure determines sorption proceeding mechanisms. Problems of mechanisms of heavy metal biosorption by microorganisms at molecular level are discussed. The review also deals with the newest developments on improving the biosorption processes in microorganisms, yeast in particular.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2004

Heavy metal adsorption properties of a submerged aquatic plant (Ceratophyllum demersum).

Heavy metals can be adsorbed by living or non-living biomass. Submerged aquatic plants can be used for the removal of heavy metals. In this paper, lead, zinc, and copper adsorption properties of Ceratophyllum demersum (Coontail or hornwort) were investigated and results were compared with other aquatic submerged plants. Data obtained from the initial adsorption studies indicated that C. demersum was capable of removing lead, zinc, and copper from solution. The metal biosorption was fast and equilibrium was attained within 20 min. Data obtained from further batch studies conformed well to the Langmuir Model. Maximum adsorption capacities (q(max)) onto C. demersum were 6.17 mg/g for Cu(II), 13.98 mg/g for Zn(II) and 44.8 mg/g for Pb(II). Kinetics of adsorption of zinc, lead and copper were analysed and rate constants were derived for each metal. It was found that the overall adsorption process was best described by pseudo second-order kinetics. The results showed that this submerged aquatic plant C. demersum can be successfully used for heavy metal removal under dilute metal concentration.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Removal of heavy metal ions from water by complexation-assisted ultrafiltration.

Toxic heavy metals in air, soil and water are global problems that are growing threat to the environment. Therefore, the removal and separation of toxic and environmentally relevant heavy metal ions are a technological challenge with respect to industrial and environmental application. A promising process for the removal of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions involves bonding the metals to a bonding agent (such as macromolecular species), and then separating the loaded agents from wastewater by separation processes such as membrane filtration. The choice of water-soluble macroligands remains important for developing this technology. The effects of type of complexing agent, pH value and applied pressure on retention coefficients of Zn(II) and Cd(II) complexes were investigated. At best operating conditions (pH=9.0, p=300kPa) using diethylaminoethyl cellulose, the removal of Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) was more than 95% and 99%, respectively.

Hydrogen-Ion Concentration↗