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PubMed2001

Monitoring of environmental heavy metals in fish from Nasser Lake.

Lake ecosystems are, in particular, vulnerable to heavy metal pollution. Tilapia nilotica is one of the aquatic organisms affected by heavy metals. Therefore, heavy metals Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn were determined in different tissues of T. nilotica (ages 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 years), which include the muscle, gill, stomach, intestine, liver, vertebral column and scales, to assess the fish pollution with heavy metals. In addition, the study was extended to determine these elements in the aquatic plant (Najas armeta), sediment and water of Khor E1-Ramel in Nasser Lake (Egypt). The study showed that of all the fish parts, fish liver accumulated the highest levels of Cu and Zn. Manganese presented in the intestine and stomach in the highest concentration. Scales exhibited the highest levels of Co, Cr, Ni and Sr, while the gill and vertebral column contains the lowest level of the studied elements. Heavy metals in different parts of T. nilotica differ with the fish growth and extraction rate of these elements from sediment, aquatic plant and lake water. Heavy metals under study in the edible parts of the investigated fish were in the safety permissible levels for human uses.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Assessment of heavy metal removal technologies for biowaste by physico-chemical fractionation.

In the Netherlands, the heavy metal content of biowaste-compost frequently exceeds the legal standards for heavy metals. In order to assess heavy metal removal technologies a physico-chemical fractionation scheme was developed to gain insight into the distribution of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) over the physical entities of biowaste and to determine the binding strength of heavy metals to these physical entities. The scheme was based on a particle fractionation on size and density followed by sequential chemical extraction of the fractions. The organic fraction >1 mm contributed to 40% of the mass of biowaste and this fraction met the legal standards for compost after composting. About 28% of biowaste was composed of sand, which can be reused in road and building construction as the heavy metal content is very low. The heavy metals were concentrated in the organic particles from 0.05-1 mm and the organo-mineral fraction <0.05 mm. The heavy metal content has to be reduced to reach the legal standards for compost. The extractability from the inorganic organic and organo-mineral fractions showed the order Cd>>Zn>Pb>Cu. The order of extractability for Pb and that for Zn were sometimes reversed most probably because the extraction is not only determined by the adsorption strength but also by the accessibility of adsorbed metals. The results of sequential chemical extraction showed that the amount of heavy medals available for extraction was sufficient. Citric acid turned out to be the best option for the removal of heavy metals from solid organic waste streams.

Agriculture↗

PubMed2001

An improved method for determination of heavy metal bioavailability in contaminated soil.

Bioavailability of heavy metal in contaminated soil is investigated. A general diffusion model for determining the heavy metal bioavailability in soil has been developed The bioavailability predictions based on the present model were more accurate than those based on a previous model. Experimental results obtained using cadmium-, copper-, zinc- and lead-contaminated soils were employed for model verification. The effects of soil pH, initial heavy metal concentration, temperature and soil type on the effective diffusion coefficient or bioavailability index were also examined experimentally. The theoretical model and experimental procedure proposed in the present study provide a convenient means for the determination of heavy metal or inorganic ion bioavailability in contaminated soil.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed2005

[Advances in research on in situ chemo-immobilization of heavy metals in contaminated soils].

In situ immobilization of heavy metals is a main method for decreasing the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metal ions through their immobilization by adding various amendments. Due to its easy operation and rapid efficiency, this method is becoming non-replaceable, especially for the remediation of non-point polluted arable soils. Natural materials and industrial by-products with high capacity of entrapping and fastening heavy metals, e. g., phosphorite, peat, lime, and organic fertilizers, can be obtained and employed, and the immobilization efficiency of these amendments as well as the environmental risk of the ionic leaching, releasing, and biological toxicity of heavy metals could be evaluated in laboratory and field. In this paper, the resources and types of the amendments were classified, and the possible immobilization mechanisms for the remediation of heavy metals- contaminated soils were discussed. The assessment methods of this remediation in laboratory and field were formulized, its limitation was analyzed, and further development directions were put forward.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2004

[Background concentrations of soil heavy metals in Beijing].

Soil background concentrations of heavy metals are important criterion for the assessment of soil environmental quality. The background concentrations of soil heavy metals, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, were investigated based on an extensive investigation conducted in the whole area of Beijing. About 120 soil samples taken from the area without pollution of heavy metals were selected from the total 803 soil samples. After analyzing the samples with strict quality assure and quality control (QA/QC) procedures, the heavy metal concentrations in the soils were calculated using statistical method. The revised background concentrations of the soils in Beijing are proposed to be 7.09 mg/kg for As, 0.119 mg/kg for Cd, 29.8 mg/kg for Cr, 18.7 mg/kg for Cu, 26.8 mg/kg for Ni, 24.6 mg/kg for Pb, 57.5 mg/kg for Zn, respectively. Compared with the concentrations suggested by China National Environmental Monitoring Center (CNEMC) in 1990, the Cd background concentration suggested in present study is about 125% higher than that of CNEMC, and the As, Cr, Cu, Zn concentrations are 19%-55% lower than those of CNEMC, while the concentrations of Pb and Ni are not obviously different from those of CNEMC.

China↗

PubMed1999

Abundance and diversity of Archaea in heavy-metal-contaminated soils.

The impact of heavy-metal contamination on archaean communities was studied in soils amended with sewage sludge contaminated with heavy metals to varying extents. Fluorescent in situ hybridization showed a decrease in the percentage of Archaea from 1.3% +/- 0.3% of 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained cells in untreated soil to below the detection limit in soils amended with heavy metals. A comparison of the archaean communities of the different plots by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed differences in the structure of the archaean communities in soils with increasing heavy-metal contamination. Analysis of cloned 16S ribosomal DNA showed close similarities to a unique and globally distributed lineage of the kingdom Crenarchaeota that is phylogenetically distinct from currently characterized crenarchaeotal species.

Archaea↗

PubMed2004

Use of hair analysis in the diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning: report of three cases.

We report three paediatric cases of suspected heavy metal poisoning that presented with non-specific symptoms. Hair samples of the three patients were sent overseas for analysis; results showed abnormal levels of many elements, including some heavy metals. A diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning was made and chelation therapy was offered to each patient. Blood levels for some heavy metals were subsequently checked and all were within the normal range. The original diagnosis of heavy metal poisoning was therefore not substantiated. The patients did not have a history of exposure to heavy metals or specific clinical features of heavy metal poisoning. The non-invasive nature of hair analysis is tempting, but the validity of such testing in diagnosing heavy metal poisoning is questionable.

Chelation Therapy↗

PubMed2005

Risk assessment of heavy metal contaminated soil in the vicinity of a lead/zinc mine.

Heavy metal contamination of soils through anthropogenic activities is a widespread and serious problem confronting scientists and regulators throughout the world. In this study we investigated the distribution, chemical species and availability of lead, zinc, cadmium and copper in nine surface (0 to 20 cm) soils from near an abandoned lead/zinc mine tailings located in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China. Total heavy metal contents ranged from 5271 to 16369 mg/kg for Pb, 387 to 1221 mg/kg for Zn, 3.0 to 9.3 mg/kg for Cd and 65 to 206 mg/kg for Cu. In general, all heavy metals exceeded China National Standards for Soil Environmental Quality of Heavy Metals by a factor of 3-65 times. Comparison of the heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Zn, Cd and Cu) with clay content revealed a strongly significant relationship while significant relationship (P < 0.001) was also obtained between Cd + Zn and Pb + Cu. Solid phase speciation of the soils using Tessier procedure showed that the heavy metals were distributed in the order: residual > organically complexed-Fe-Mn oxides occluded > carbonate bound > exchangeable > water soluble. In the organic matter fraction, the ratio of Pb (29.1%) to its total concentration in the soils was higher than those of Zn (4.70%), Cd (3.16%) and Cu (9.50%). The percentages of the water soluble and the exchangeable fractions of Pb (1.80%) and Cd (2.74%) were markedly greater than those of Zn (0.10%) and Cu (0.15%), suggesting that Pb and Cd are relatively more mobile and hence more toxic in the contaminated soils. Strongly significant relationships between H2O-Pb, H2O-Zn and H2O-Cu, strong positive correlations between H2O-Pb, H2O-Zn, H2O-Cu and organic matter in soil were found. The content of H2O-Pb, H2O-Zn, H2O-Cu was negatively correlated with pH values. The similar negative relationships between pH values and exchangeable heavy metals were also recorded. It is suggested that increasing soil pH or liming the soil could decrease bioavailability of heavy metals in the soil.

Aluminum Silicates↗

PubMed2003

Effects of past sewage sludge additions on heavy metal availability in light textured soils: implications for crop yields and metal uptakes.

The effect of heavy metal additions in past sewage sludge applications on soil metal availability and the growth and yield of crops was evaluated at two sites in the UK. At Gleadthorpe, sewage sludges enriched with salts of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) had been applied to a loamy sand in 1982 and additionally naturally contaminated Zn and Cu sludge cakes in 1986. At Rosemaund, sewage sludges naturally contaminated with Zn, Cu, Ni and chromium (Cr) had been applied in 1968-1971 to a sandy loam. From 1994 to 1997, the yields of both cereals and legumes at Gleadthorpe were up to 3 t/ha lower than the no-sludge control where total topsoil Zn and Cu concentrations exceeded 200 and 120 mg/kg, respectively, but only when topsoil ammonium nitrate extractable metal levels also exceeded 40 mg/kg Zn and 0.9 mg/kg Cu. At Rosemaund, yields were only decreased where total topsoil Cu concentrations exceeded 220 mg/kg or 0.7 mg/kg ammonium nitrate extractable Cu. These results demonstrate the importance of measuring extractable as well as total heavy metal concentrations in topsoils when assessing likely effects on plant yields and metal uptakes, and setting soil quality criteria.

Biological Availability↗

PubMed2004

Biosorption of heavy metals by a marine bacterium.

Heavy metal chelation property of exopolysaccharide produced by Enterobacter cloaceae, a marine bacterium, isolated from the West Coast of India, is reported in this paper. The exopolysaccharide demonstrated excellent chelating properties with respect to cadmium (65%) followed by copper (20%) and cobalt (8%) at 100 mg/l heavy metal concentration. However, it could not chelate mercury. A comparative study of the percentage biosorption of the above mentioned metals is presented here.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2003

Heavy metal pollution in China: origin, pattern and control.

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Heavy metal is among one of the pollutants, which cause severe threats to humans and the environment in China. The aim of the present review is to make information on the source of heavy metal pollution, distribution of heavy metals in the environment, and measures of pollution control accessible internationally, which are mostly published in Chinese. METHODS: Information from scientific journals, university journals and governmental releases are compiled focusing mainly on Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Partly Al, As, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn and Ni a included also in part as well. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: In soil, the average contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.097, 22.6, 26.0 and 74.2 mg/kg, respectively. In the water of the Yangtze River Basin, the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn are 0.080, 7.91, 15.7 and 18.7 microg/L, respectively. In reference to human activities, the heavy metal pollution comes from three sources: industrial emission, wastewater and solid waste. The environment such as soil, water and air were polluted by heavy metals in some cases. The contents of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn even reach 3.16, 99.3, 84.1 and 147 mg/kg, respectively, in the soils of a wastewater irrigation zone. These contaminants pollute drinking water and food, and threaten human health. Some diseases resulting from pollution of geological and environmental origin, were observed with long-term and non-reversible effects. CONCLUSIONS: In China, the geological background level of heavy metal is low, but with the activity of humans, soil, water, air, and plants are polluted by heavy metals in some cases and even affect human health through the food chain. RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUTLOOK: To remediate and improve environmental quality is a long strategy for the polluted area to keep humans and animals healthy. Phytoremediation would be an effective technique to remediate the heavy metal pollutions.

China↗

PubMed1996

Heavy metal detoxification in higher plants--a review.

A set of heavy-metal-complexing peptides was isolated from plants and plant suspension cultures. The structure of these peptides was established as (gamma-glutamic acid-cysteine)n-glycine (n = 2-11) [(gamma-Glu-Cys)n-Gly]. These peptides appear upon induction of plants with metals of the transition and main groups (Ib-Va, Z = 29-83) of the periodic table of elements. These peptides, called phytochelatins (PC), are induced in all autotrophic plants so far analyzed, as well as in select fungi. Some species of the order Fabales and the family Poaceae synthesize aberrant PC that contain, at their C-terminal end, either beta-alanine, serine or glutamic acid. For this group of peptides the name iso-PC is proposed. The biosynthesis of PC proceeds by metal activation of a constitutive enzyme that uses glutathione (GSH) as a substrate; this enzyme is a gamma-glutamylcysteine dipeptidyl transpeptidase which was given the trivial name PC synthase. It catalyzes the following reaction: gamma-Glu-Cys-Gly + (gamma-Glu-Cys)n-Gly-->(gamma-Glu-Cys)n+1-Gly + Gly. The plant vacuole is the transient storage compartment for these peptides. They probably dissociate, and the metal-free peptide is subsequently degraded. Sequestration of heavy metals by PC confers protection for heavy-metal-sensitive enzymes. The isolation of a Cd(2+)-sensitive cadl mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana, that is deficient in PC synthase, demonstrates conclusively the importance of PC for heavy metal tolerance. In spite of the fact that nucleic acid sequences and proteins are found in higher plants that have distant homology to animal metallothioneins, there is absolutely no experimental evidence that these "plant metallothioneins' are involved in the detoxification of heavy metals. PC synthase will be an interesting target for biotechnological modification of heavy metal tolerance in higher plants.

Aminoacyltransferases↗

PubMed1996

Retention and distribution of heavy metals in mangrove soils receiving wastewater.

The distribution and chemical fractionation of heavy metals retained in mangrove soils receiving wastewater were examined by soil column leaching experiments. The columns, filled with mangrove soils collected from two swamps in Hong Kong and the People's Republic of China, were irrigated three times a week for 150 days with synthetic wastewater containing 4 mg l(-1) Cu, 20 mg l(-1) Zn, 20 mg l(-1) Mn and 0.4 mg l(-1) Cd. Soil columns leached with artificial seawater (without any heavy metals) were used as the control. At the end of the leaching experiments, soil samples from each column were divided into five layers according to its depth viz. 0-1, 1-3, 3-5, 5-10 and > 10 cm, and analyzed for total and extractable heavy metal content. The fractionation of heavy metals in the surface soil samples (0-1 cm) was investigated by the sequential extraction technique. In both types of mangrove soils, the surface layer (0-1 cm) of the columns receiving wastewater had significantly higher concentrations of total Cu, Cd, Mn and Zn than the control. Concentrations declined significantly with soil depth. The proportion of exchangeable heavy metals in soils receiving wastewater was significantly higher than that found in the control, about 30% of the total heavy metals accumulated in the soil masses of the treated columns were extracted by ammonium acetate at pH 4. The sequential extraction results show that in native mangrove soils (the soils without any treatment), the major portion of Cu, Zn, Mn and Cd was associated with the residual and precipitated fractions with very low concentrations in more labile phases. However, in mangrove soils receiving wastewater, a significantly higher percentage of Mn, Zn and Cd was found in the water-soluble and exchangeable fractions. Copper appeared to be more strongly adsorbed in mangrove soils than the other heavy metals. In general, heavy metal accumulation in the surface mangrove soils collected in Hong Kong was higher than those in the PRC, although the metals in the latter soil type were more strongly bound. These findings suggest that whether the heavy metal retained in managrove soils becomes a secondary source or a permanent sink would depend on the kinds of heavy metals and also the types of mangrove soils.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Procion Green H-4G immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate/chitosan) composite membranes for heavy metal removal.

The effective removal of toxic heavy metals from environmental samples still remains a major topic of present research. Metal-chelating membranes are very promising materials as adsorbents when compared with conventional beads because they are not compressible, and they eliminate internal diffusion limitations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of a novel adsorbent, Procion Green H-4G immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA)/chitosan) composite membranes, for the removal of three toxic heavy metal ions, namely, Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) from aquatic systems. The Procion Green H-4G immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate/chitosan) composite membranes were characterized by elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The immobilized amount of the Procion Green H-4G was calculated as 0.018+/-0.003 micromol/cm(2) from the nitrogen and sulphur stoichiometry. The adsorption capacity of Procion Green H-4G immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate/chitosan) composite membranes for selected heavy metal ions from aqueous media containing different amounts of these ions (30-400mg/l) and at different pH values (2.0-6.0) was investigated. The amount of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) adsorbed onto the membranes measured at equilibrium, increased with time during the first 45 min and then remained unchanged toward the equilibrium adsorption. The maximum amounts of heavy metal ions adsorbed were 43.60+/-1.74, 68.81+/-2.75 and 48.22+/-1.92 mg/g for Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II), respectively. The heavy metal ion adsorption on the pHEMA/chitosan membranes (carrying no dye) were relatively low, 6.31+/-0.13 mg/g for Cd(II), 18.73+/-0.37 mg/g for Pb(II) and 18.82+/-0.38 mg/g for Hg(II). Competitive adsorption of the metal ions was also studied. When the metal ions competed with each other, the adsorbed amounts were 12.74+/-0.38 mg Cd(II)/g, 28.80+/-0.86 mg Pb(II)/g and 18.41+/-0.54 mg Hg(II)/g. Procion Green H-4G immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate/chitosan) membranes can be regenerated by washing with a solution of nitric acid (0.01 M). The percent desorption achieved was as high as 95%. These novel membranes are suitable for repeated use for more than five adsorption/desorption cycles without any considerable loss in adsorption capacity. Adsorption equilibria were well described by Langmuir equation. It can be concluded that Procion Green H-4G immobilized poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylate/chitosan) membranes may effectively be used for the removal of Cd(II), Pb(II) and Hg(II) ions from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2006

Contribution of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis to heavy metal phytoremediation.

High concentrations of heavy metals (HM) in the soil have detrimental effects on ecosystems and are a risk to human health as they can enter the food chain via agricultural products or contaminated drinking water. Phytoremediation, a sustainable and inexpensive technology based on the removal of pollutants from the environment by plants, is becoming an increasingly important objective in plant research. However, as phytoremediation is a slow process, improvement of efficiency and thus increased stabilization or removal of HMs from soils is an important goal. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi provide an attractive system to advance plant-based environmental clean-up. During symbiotic interaction the hyphal network functionally extends the root system of their hosts. Thus, plants in symbiosis with AM fungi have the potential to take up HM from an enlarged soil volume. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about the contribution of the AM symbiosis to phytoremediation of heavy metals.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Resistance of certain strains of Pseudomonas bacteria to toxic effect of heavy metal ions].

The effect of heavy metal cations (cobalt, nickel, and copper) and the anion detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) on the barrier properties of the plasma membrane (PM) of the Co-sensitive stain Pseudomonas putida BS394 and the Co-resistant strains Pseudomonas sp. BS501 (wild-type strain) and Pseudomonas putida BS394 (pBS501) (transformed strain) was studied by high-frequency electro-orientational spectroscopy. The cations were found to rank, in order of decreasing damage inflicted on the PM, as copper > cobalt > nickel. The strains studied were found to rank, in order of increasing resistance of the PM to damage inflicted by copper and cobalt cations, as P. putida BS394 < P. putida BS394 (pBS501) < Pseudomonas sp. BS501. In order of increasing resistance to SDS, the strains ranked inversely. The strains did not differ in sensitivity to nickel cations. Investigation of the surface of intact and trypsin-treated cells by microelectrophoresis showed that the surface layers of the cell wall of wild-type and transformed cells contained increased amounts of proteins. The surface proteins of Co-resistant cells had molecular masses of 49, 40, and 32 kDa. Exposure of Co-resistant cells to trypsin considerably reduced their resistance to cobalt cations. It is assumed that the resistance of the PM of the wild-type and transformed pseudomonads to heavy metal cations is determined by plasmid pBS501 and is related to the synthesis of protective surface proteins of the cell wall.

Drug Resistance, Microbial↗

PubMed1997

Estimation of heavy metal transformations in municipal solid waste.

The behaviour of heavy metals bound to municipal solid waste (MSW) and exposed to 2 decades of anaerobic waste stabilization processes have been estimated. Heavy metal solid forms in a waste degradation residue have been compared with a reconstructed waste similar to that initially disposed of in 1973. The initial waste was composed of a mixture of shredded MSW (95% dry wt.) and anaerobic sewage sludge (5% dry wt.). A sequential chemical extraction method has been used to fractionate the heavy metals into five categories of available and reactive solid forms. The results imply that these forms can be ascribed to approximately 30% of the total content of the heavy metals in the degraded waste and the portion of heavy metals bound to oxidizable solid forms seems to be higher in the degraded than the fresh MSW. The bulk of the remaining heavy metals are assumed to be less available and bound into resistant lattice structures, such as metal and polymer items. A comparison between fractionation patterns of the waste in this study and of a few sediments collected from different environments imply similarities between the fresh MSW and an oxic sediment from one site and the sewage sludge and anoxic sediments from another site. Fractionation patterns of the degraded waste are found to be quite similar to those of the anoxic sediments, except for Pb, Ni and Cd which are more similar to fresh MSW.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2006

Field effects of pollutants in dynamic environments. A case study on earthworm populations in river floodplains contaminated with heavy metals.

In industrialized countries river floodplains can be strongly polluted with heavy metals. Published studies on effects of heavy metal pollution on soil invertebrates in floodplains, however, are inconclusive. This is unexpected since studies in other less dynamic environments reported clear effects at even lower levels of pollution. Flooding induces extra variation in invertebrate biomass and abundance which may reduce the probability to detect heavy metal effects. In this paper we combine reported data from studies on river floodplains in The Netherlands and Belgium and statistically analyze the effect of heavy metals on species composition, biomass, density and individual weight of earthworms. Interaction effects of heavy metal stress and flooding are also considered. The results suggest clear effects of zinc and copper on all variables and interaction of heavy metals and flooding for individual weight.

Animals↗