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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2026

From ecological threats to environmental solutions: a critical review of invasive plant species for heavy metal phytoremediation.

Heavy metal contamination represents a persistent environmental challenge threatening ecosystem stability, agricultural productivity, and human health. Therefore, the development of sustainable and cost-effective remediation strategies is essential. Phytoremediation, an environmentally compatible approach that utilizes plants and their associated biological processes to reduce contaminant mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity, has gained increasing attention as an alternative to conventional remediation techniques. Among potential phytoremediation candidates, invasive plant species (IPS) have attracted interest due to their rapid growth, high biomass production, extensive root systems, physiological plasticity, and tolerance to stressful environments, including heavy metal contamination. Species such as Alternanthera philoxeroides, Arundo donax, Eichhornia crassipes, and Pistia stratiotes have demonstrated potential for metal uptake, accumulation, immobilization, or tolerance in contaminated ecosystems. This review critically examines the role of invasive plants in heavy metal phytoremediation by evaluating the physiological, biochemical, and ecological traits that influence remediation outcomes. Key mechanisms, including phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizosphere-mediated processes, and plant-microbe interactions, are discussed using evidence from contaminated soil and aquatic environments. The potential advantages of invasive plants, particularly their high biomass production and environmental adaptability, are evaluated alongside ecological concerns associated with their utilization. Importantly, invasion success does not necessarily translate into remediation success, and the effectiveness of invasive plants depends on contaminant characteristics, ecosystem conditions, and management practices. Major challenges, including uncontrolled spread, ecosystem disruption, contaminated biomass management, and limited field-scale validation, are critically assessed. Overall, invasive plants represent context-dependent remediation resources rather than universal solutions. Their application requires integrated risk assessment, containment strategies, long-term monitoring, and evidence-based management frameworks to maximize remediation benefits while minimizing ecological risks.

Contamination↗
PubMed2026

Fungi to the rescue: recent advances, mechanistic insights and omics-based perspectives in heavy metal mycoremediation.

Heavy metal (HM) contamination arising from rapid industrialization poses critical threats to global ecosystem integrity and public health. Conventional physicochemical approaches are limited by high costs, incomplete removal, and toxic waste generation, necessitating sustainable alternatives. Mycoremediation, which harnesses the remarkable, diverse capacities of fungi to tolerate and mitigate HM stress through sophisticated biological mechanisms, has emerged as a promising and sustainable approach to address HM pollution. This review examines the sources and ecotoxicological impacts of HM pollution, alongside the intracellular and extracellular mechanisms underlying fungal tolerance and removal, including biosorption, precipitation, membrane transport, antioxidant defense, chelation, bioaccumulation, and biotransformation. It further synthesizes fungal-based bioremediation strategies, while examining how metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic approaches are advancing understanding of fungal community structure and active detoxification pathways. This work uniquely integrates community- and isolate-level multi-omics data, explicitly bridges mechanistic understanding with omics-driven insights, and extends this into translational roadmap for applied bioremediation.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗
PubMed1975

Epidemiology of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in bacteria: resistance patterns in staphylococci isolated from populations in Iraq exposed and not exposed to heavy metals or antibiotics.

Staphylococci were isolated from rural and urban populations in Iraq, which were not known to be exposed to either heavy metals or antibiotics. The antibiotic and heavy metal resistance patterns of these strains were analyzed in both mannitol-fermenting and nonfermenting strains. Over 90% of the strains were resistant to at least one of the following antibiotics: penicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, tetracycline, cephalothin, lincomycin, or methicillin. In general, mannitol-fermenting strains were resistant to penicillin and cupric ions. Mannitol-negative strains were more frequently associated with mercuric ion and tetracycline resistance. Although resistance to penicillin and tetracycline can coexist, the combination of penicillin resistance and tetracycline resistance usually occurred in mannitol-negative strains. The possibility of selection of heavy metal-resistant strains due to exposure to toxic levels of methylmercury was examined. No significant increase in mercuric ion-resistant strains of staphylococci or Escherichia coli were detected in exposed populations as compared to control groups. The possible reasons for this result are discussed.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1975

Epidemiology of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance in bacteria: resistance patterns in staphylococci isolated from populations not known to be exposed to heavy metals.

Staphylococci were isolated from clinical specimens obtained from patients not known to be exposed to abnormal levels of heavy metals. The antibiotic and heavy metal resistance patterns of these strains were determined by using a disk diffusion test and computer sorting. Though not absolute, an association of resistance to mercury and tetracycline in coagulase-negative strains was found, in contrast to resistance to copper and penicillin in coagulase-producing strains. A high degree of correlation was observed between the resistance to phenyl mercury and inorganic mercury, but no correlation was obtained between resistance to methylmercury and other metals. In general, strains resistant to many agents were usually coagulase negative. A possible mechanism and implications of these associations are considered.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1976

Lake sediments as indicators of heavy-metal pollution.

Heavy metals are one of the most toxic forms of environmental pollutants, constituting a threat both to aquatic life and the quality of drinking water. By analyzing lake sediments, it is possible to determine the provenance, distribution, extent, and also the possible hazards of metal contamination. Sedimentary cores, in particular, provide the means for evaluating the different influences from natural and civilizational sources; they represent a historical record of the metal accumulations which have taken place during the past decades as a result of population growth and industrial development.

Arsenic↗
PubMed1975

Heavy metals in normal Japanese tissues. Amounts of 15 heavy metals in 30 subjects.

To obtain the usual values of arsenic, beryllium, bismuth, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, methyl mercury, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, lead, antimony, vanadium, and zinc in the normal human body, the amounts of 15 metals were determined in 15 male and 15 female Japanese cadavers (average weight, 55 kg [121 lb]). The content of metals found ranged as follows: Zn, 1,800 mg; Cu, 65 mg; Cd, 35 mg; Pb, 25 mg; Mn, 8 mg; Ni, 6 mg; Cr, 4 mg; Hg, 3 mg; Sb, 0.7 mg; MeHg, 0.4 mg. Cadmium and mercury were higher in Japanese blood than in blood of other people. Cadmium and mercury were absorbed by the metabolic tissues; Cr, Ni, and Pb showed higher concentration in tissue exposed to the environment. Concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Hg tended to be higher in females, and Cr Cu, MeHg, and Mn concentrations tended to be higher in males.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Factors involved in heavy metal poisoning.

The heavy metals include at least 40 elements but cadmium, lead, and mercury have been most extensively studied. The biological properties of heavy metals are discussed in terms of three important characteristics: the ability to form, irreversibly, complexes and chelates with organic ligands; the properties to form organic-metallic bonds; and the potential to undergo oxidation-reduction reactions. The formation of complexes and chelates within the body is shown to influence greatly the dynamics of transport, distribution, and excretion of several important metal cations. The excretion of uranium is influenced by acid-base balance in the body because uranium forms complexes with bicarbonate anions that are filtered by the kidneys. The biliary excretion of methylmercury depends on the formation of small molecular weight complexes with sulfur-containing amiono acids and the peptides in the liver. The degree of enterohepatic recirculation of a variety of heavy metals appears to depend on the chemical nature of the bilary complexes. The oxidation of elemental to divalent ionic mercury is the crurial step in the retention and tissue deposition of inhaled mercury vapor. That the oxidation process is, at least in part, catalyzed by the enzyme, catalase, explains the effects of ethanol, aminotriazole and the state of acatalasemia on the metabolism of inhaled vapor in man and animals. The formation of covalent bonds between metal cations and the carbon atom usually greatly modifies the biological properties of the metal. Methylarsenic and methylmercury compounds both differ from the inorganic forms in accumulation in animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Studies of nutritional safety of some heavy metals in mice.

Heavy metals have been proposed as nutrient markers to allow the accurate determination of the time of passage, nutrient intake, or apparent utilization of multiple nutrients. In order to evaluate possible toxic effects of scandium, chromium, lanthanum, samarium, europium, dysprosium, terbium, thulium, and ytterbium oxides, and barium sulfate upon growth, general development, reproduction, and lactation, mice were fed different levels of these compounds for three generations. The amount of elements fed were 0,110, 100, and 1000 times the use amount. The use amounts were (in ppm2.) : Sc, 0.12; Cr, 0.02; La.0.40;; Sm. 0.80; Eu, 0.036:TB, 1.20; Dy, 1.20; Tm. 0.08; Tb, 0.12; and Ba, 0.008. The use amount was one-fifth of the concentration required for activation analysis. Mortality and morbidity were negligible. No consistent growth rate changes were observed; however, different groups showed different growth rates during different generations. The number of mice born showed no significant differences amoung treatment groups. Survival, growth rate, hematology, morphological development, maturation, reproduction, and lactational performance were comparable in mice fed the different levels of 10 heavy metal oxides to those mice fed the basal diet.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

The occurrence and localisation of heavy metals and glycogen in the earthworms Lumbricus rubellus and Dendrobaena rubida from a heavy metal site.

The lead content of whole earthworms, highest in contaminated site specimens, was significantly higher in Dendrobaena rubida than Lubricus rubellus and a species difference in zinc was also recorded. Selective feeding and differential absorption are discounted and a species difference in maximum tolerance to body lead is suggested. Copper was low in all specimens. Chloragocytes and intestinal tissue showed significantly higher lead levels in contaminated earthworms than in control material. Ultrastructurally, chloragocytes from contaminated earthworms showed electron dense flecks associated with the chroragosome peripheries and within the debis vesicles. Very fine flecks occurred in the nuclei, but mitochondria and Golgi were indistingushable from control material. Preliminary X-ray microanalysis of contaminated chloragocytes revealed lead and phosphorus. The deposits within the chloragocytes might represent unbound lead precipitated by phosphate buffer; flecks being absent from contaminated, citrate buffered material and from control material. The chloragosomes are proposed as possible sites for sequestered lead. Chloragocyte and intestinal glycogen levels were significantly higher in control material where the chloragocyte cytoplasm was rich in alpha-glycogen rosettes, these being absent from lead contaminated cells. The glycogen-lead correlation suggests that the metabolism of contaminated chloragocytes is directed towards lead sequestration, though differing nutritional states cannot be ignored.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Heavy metal nephropathy of rodents.

Heavy metal nephropathy is a pathologic entity of the renal tubular epithelium of rats, evoked by lead, gold, and other heavy metals. It is characterized acutely by coagulative necrosis, subacutely by cortical fibrosis, and chronically by cytomegaly and karyomegaly. Finally, adenomas develop, some of which become malignant.

Adenoma↗
PubMed1977

Nutritional factors in relation to heavy metal toxicants.

An increased environmental exposure to various toxic heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, or mercury seems to be a fact of 20th-century life. But relatively little attention has been paid to the possible implications of sucy exposure for the nutritional status of humans and animals. This review summarizes the information available concerning the effect of various nutritional factors in resistance to metal toxicants and the effect of heavy metal toxicity on nutritional status. In particular, the following questions are considered: 1) Are there any examples of heavy metal toxicity that are potentiated by a nutritional deficiency? 2) Is there any evidence that nutritional deficiency can be caused by heavy metal toxicity? 3) Is there any proof that heavy metal toxicity can be decreased by an excess intake of nutrients: 4) Is there any proof that heavy metal toxicity can be increased by an excess intake of nutrients? The discussion is focused primarily on studies with animal models but, wherever possible, implications for human health are pointed out.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Antarctic Peninsula soil carbon stock and efflux: A complex interplay of soil properties and heavy metals.

This study establishes a quantitative framework for understanding surface soil carbon dynamics and ecosystem connectivity in Fildes Peninsula and Ardley Island, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula. The mean soil organic carbon (SOC) stock across all study sites was 1.10 ± 1.93 kg C/m². Restricting net carbon balance analysis to Fildes Peninsula, where soil respiration (Rs) data were available, yielded a site-specific SOC stock of 0.45 ± 0.45 kg C/m². Scaling Rs to a realistic 120-day active season and assuming stable SOC stocks resulted in estimated annual carbon loss of 15 g C/(m2·yr), equivalent to 3.3 % of standing SOC. Comprehensive sensitivity analyses spanning plausible winter respiration (0 %-20 % of summer rates) and annual change in SOC stocks (-1 %-2 %) consistently supported a net carbon sink, with turnover rates constrained to 3.3 %/yr-4.7 %/yr. Principal component analysis showed that ornithogenic processes as the dominant control on SOC, total nitrogen (TN), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and cadmium (Cd) provide a clear multivariate signature of marine-derived nutrient, while Pb was decoupled from this gradient and associated instead with fine-particle size controls. These results reveal dual but independent drivers of soil metal enrichment in this region. Despite their limited spatial extent, ornithogenic soils store disproportionately large carbon pools. Overall, this integrated analysis reveals how marine-terrestrial subsidies regulate Antarctic carbon cycling and provides a quantitative and reproducible framework for assessing carbon dynamics under ongoing climate change.

Antarctic Regions↗
PubMed2026

Leveraging environmental applications and risks of coal gangue: A critical review on authigenic inorganic heavy metals, organic contaminants, and the removal of exogenetic contaminants.

Coal gangue (CG) as bulk solid waste has seriously threatened the ecosystem. Therefore, identifying the key risk drivers and exploring feasible disposal methods for CG are essential for developing a sustainable strategy. However, there is currently a lack of comprehensive information that balances the contamination risks with the valuable constituents present in CG, which hinders its full potential for sustainable use without negative environmental impacts. Given the complex composition and associated risks, we propose that addressing the critical properties related to contamination is crucial for the efficient utilization of CG. On this premise, we summarized several practical resource pathways (ecological multifunctional materials, extraction of rare elements, and soil additives) that are more favorable for sustainable development relative to conventional disposals. Meanwhile, we also propose that coupling disposals could intensely reduce CG's environmental footprints and capital costs. Consequently, regardless of the number of challenges to be solved, we believe the CG has broad application prospects, and we hope this review will promote the conversion of CG into an asset with lower ecological and social impacts.

Metals, Heavy↗
PubMed1979

Studies on urea hydrolysis. Part 2. Effects of some heavy metals on urease activity.

The effect of some heavy metals on the urease activity was studied in a pure system using jack bean urease (JBU). While Mn showed no effect, copper reduced the enzyme activity more than did Zn or Fe at high concentrations (100 ppm). At a low concentration, iron reduced the enzyme activity more than at a high concentration. Inhibition of the urease activity was induced by less than 0.1 ppm Fe, 0.5 ppm Cu, and 10.0 ppm Zn. In the soil, these heavy metals inhibited the JBU in this order: Fe++ greater than Cu++ greater than Zn++. The possibility is discussed of using heavy metals to delay urea hydrolysis in soils.

Copper↗
PubMed1977

Sulfide silver architectonics of rat, cat, and guinea pig spinal cord. A light microscopic study with Timm's method for demonstration of heavy metals.

The distribution of heavy metals in the spinal cord of the cat, rat, and guinea pig has been studied histochemically with Timm's sulfide silver method. There was considerable variation in the degree of staining of the neuropil. The dorsal horn showed a laminar staining pattern corresponding to the cytoarchitectonic lamination. Lamina I in the cat and guinea pig was light. Lamina II in all three species was heavily stained. In the rat and guinea pig it could be subdivided in a ventral and a dorsal layer, and moreover in the rat a darkly staining borderzone abutting on lamina III was present. Lamina III, characterized by heterogeneous staining, also appeared dark, although less obvious in the guinea pig. In the ventral horn the coarser stained particles in lamina IX contrasted with the surrounding lamina. Cell staining varied between different cell groups, and within single cell populations. In the cat thoracic cord the cells in nucleus intermedio-lateralis (IL) and nucleus intercalatus (IC) stained very weakly. In Clarke's column and in the motoneuron area cells, uniform in Nissl preparations, could be seen different after Timm staining. The results are discussed in relation to other histochemical patterns, cytoarchitectonics, and terminal fields of afferents. Considerable correlation of the Timm pattern to these data was found.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Influence of the acute intoxication with salts of some heavy metals on hexobarbital sleep and hexobarbital metabolism.

The effect of acute intoxication with salts of ten heavy metals on hexobarbital sleep and the dependence of this effect on the time of application and the dose of the heavy metal are studied in experiments on male albino rats. Two hours after subcutaneous injection of toxic doses, only cobalt nitrate significantly prolongs hexobarbital sleep. Significant prolongation of the sleep is observed at the 24th hour in intoxication with CuSO4, CdSO4, Co(NO3)2, Pb(CH3COO)2, ZnSO4, NiSO4, while As2O3, HgCl2, Bi(NO3)2 and SnCl2 do not change it. All heavy metals (with the exception of NiSO4) prolong significantly hexobarbital sleep 96 hours after the intoxication. At the 24th hour after intoxication with salts of heavy metals, the hexobarbital level in the blood serum at the 30th min after its administration is significantly higher for Co(NO3)2, CdSO4, NiSO4, and it tends to be higher for CuSO4 and Pb(CH3COO)2. This, together with the significant inhibition of the hexobarbital-oxidizing enzyme system in the case of Cu, Co, Cd and Pb, suggests that in the case of these heavy metals potentiation of the hexobarbital sleep is largely due to inhibition of the hexobarbital metabolism. No significant prolongation of hexobarbital sleep or changes in hexobarbital metabolism are found in intoxication with Hg, As, Bi and Sn salts. The definitely lower hexobarbital level in the blood serum and brain at the waking moment, as well as the lower threshold hypnotic doses, suggest the interference of pharmacodynamic mechanisms at the level of the central nervous system in the prolongation of hexobarbital sleep after acute intoxication with CuSO4, CdSO4 and NiSO4.

Acute Disease↗