Correlation of cadmium and aluminum in blood samples of kidney disorder patients with drinking water and tobacco smoking: related health risk

Evaluate the Work-Related Exposure of Vanadium on Scalp Hair Samples of Outdoor and Administrative Workers of Oil Drilling Field: Related Health Risks

Petrochemical facilities, including oil well drilling, are discharging resources of extensive noxious waste into the environment. The workers in different sections might be exposed to vanadium (V) through different routes (groundwater and soil), which is linked with extensive physiological disorders, hypertension, respiratory disorders, anemia, skin, and gastrointestinal disorders. This study determined the contents of V in a biological sample (scalp hair) of workers of different categories (outdoor and office workers) in an oil drilling field in Sindh, Pakistan. The environmental samples, groundwater, bottled mineral water, and soil samples were also analyzed for V. For comparative purposes, the scalp hair of age-matched male subjects residing in domestic areas of Hyderabad city, Pakistan, was also analyzed. Generally, the concentrations of V in groundwater near the oil drilling field and drilled soil illustrated significant variations. The results show that the vanadium concentration in the scalp hair of non-exposed referents (controls) and office workers (exposed referents) was 62% and 45% lower than those observed for outdoor drilling and cleaning mud workers. It was observed that high exposure to V in outdoor workers might be linked with different physiological disorders such as anemia, eye problems, and bronchial disorders.

Environmental impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals in biological samples of petrochemical industry workers with perspective management

Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) or heavy metals are synthetic compounds that can lead to negative effect on health, including immune and endocrine system disruption, respiratory problems, metabolic issues, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular problems, growth impairment, neurological and learning disabilities, and cancer. Petrochemical industry drilling wastes, which contain varying levels of EDCs, are known to pose a significant risk to human health. This study aimed to investigate the levels of toxic elements in biological samples of individuals working in the petrochemical drilling sites. Biological samples, including scalp hair and whole blood, were collected from petrochemical drilling workers, individuals residing in the same residential area, and control age-matched persons from nonindustrial areas. The samples were oxidized by an acid mixture before analysis using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The accuracy and validity of the methodology were verified through certified reference materials from scalp hair and whole blood. The results showed that the concentrations of toxic elements, such as cadmium and lead, were higher in biological samples of petrochemical drilling employees, while lower essential element levels (iron and zinc) were detected in their samples. This study highlights the significance of adopting better practices to reduce exposure to harmful substances and protect the health of petrochemical drilling workers and the environment. It also suggests that perspective management including policymakers and industry leaders should take measures to minimize exposure to EDCs and heavy metals to promote worker safety and public health. These measures could include the implementation of strict regulations and better occupational health practices to reduce toxic exposure and promote a safer work environment.

Levels, origins and probabilistic health risk appraisal for trace elements in drinking water from Lhasa, Tibet

Due to the lack of monitoring systems and water purification facilities, residents in western China may face the risk of drinking water pollution. Therefore, 673 samples were collected from Lhasa's agricultural and pastoral areas to reveal the status quo of drinking water. We used inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to determine trace elements concentrations for water quality appraisal, source apportionment, and health risk assessment. The results indicate that concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ba, and Pb are below the guidelines, while As concentrations in a few samples exceed the standard. All samples were classified into "excellent water" for drinking purpose based on Entropy-weighted water quality index. Thereafter by principal component analysis, three potential sources of trace elements were extracted, including natural, anthropogenic, and mining activities. It is worth noting that geotherm and mining exploitation does not threaten drinking water safety. Finally, health risks were assessed using Monte Carlo technique. We found that the 95th percentiles of hazard index are 1.80, 0.80, and 0.79 for children, teenagers, and adults, indicating a non-carcinogenic risk for children, but no risks for the latter two age groups. In contrast, the probabilities of unacceptable cautionary risk are 7.15, 2.95 and 0.69% through exposure to Cr, Ni, As, and Cd for adults, children, and teenagers. Sensitivity analyses reveal As concentration and ingestion rate are most influential factors to health risk. Hence, local governments should pay more attention to monitoring and removal of As in the drinking water.

Comparison of the rate of certain trace metals accumulation in indoor plants for smoking and non-smoking areas

Tobacco smoke causes to release severe toxic metals into the environment. It is recognized as the most significant issue in indoor air quality. Pollution and toxic substances in smoke quickly spread and penetrate the indoor environment. Environmental tobacco smoke is responsible for lowering indoor air quality. There is much evidence that poor air quality occurs with inadequate ventilation conditions in indoor environments. The plants have been observed to absorb the smoke in the environment into their own body like a sponge. The plant species in this study can be used easily in almost every office, home, or other indoor areas. Using indoor plants is very beneficial in biomonitoring and absorbing these trace metals. Some indoor plants have shown successful performance as biomonitors for health-damaging pollutants. The study aims to determine the concentration of three trace metals (Cu, Co, and Ni) using five indoor ornamentals frequently used in smoking areas, namely D. amoena, D. marginata, F. elastica, S. wallisii, and Y. massengena. The Ni uptake and its accumulation in S. wallisii, and Y. massengena increased in correlation with smoke areas. However, the rate of accumulation of Co and Cu was found to be independent due to consideration of the environmental emissions. Consequently, our results suggest that F. elastica is more resistant to smoking, whereas S. wallisii would be a better choice as a biomonitoring plant of tobacco smoke.

Substantial Copper (Cu2+) Uptake by Metakaolin-Based Geopolymer and Its Resistance to Acid Leaching and Ion Exchange

Geopolymers are inorganic, chemically resistant aluminosilicate-based binding agents, which remove hazardous metal ions from exposed aqueous media. However, the removal efficiency of a given metal ion and the potential ion remobilization have to be assessed for individual geopolymers. Therefore, copper ions (Cu²⁺) were removed by a granulated, metakaolin-based geopolymer (GP) in water matrices. Subsequent ion exchange and leaching tests were used to determine the mineralogical and chemical properties as well as the resistance of the Cu²⁺-bearing GPs to corrosive aquatic environments. Experimental results indicate the pH of the reacted solutions to have a significant impact on the Cu²⁺ uptake systematics: the removal efficiency ranged from 34-91% at pH 4.1-5.7 up to ~100% at pH 11.1-12.4. This is equivalent to Cu²⁺ uptake capacities of up to 193 mg/g and 560 mg/g in acidic versus alkaline media. The uptake mechanism was governed by Cu²⁺-substitution for alkalis in exchangeable GP sites and by co-precipitation of gerhardtite (Cu₂(NO₃)(OH)₃) or tenorite (CuO) and spertiniite (Cu(OH)₂). All Cu-GPs showed excellent resistance to ion exchange (Cu²⁺ release: 0-2.4%) and acid leaching (Cu²⁺ release: 0.2-0.7%), suggesting that tailored GPs have a high potential to immobilize Cu²⁺ ions from aquatic media.

Impacts of Smoking and Stomach Disorders on Essential Elements in Biological Samples of Cement and Glass Industrial Workers

The infection caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) disrupts the metabolism and absorption of essential trace elements. Stomach disorders are related to changes in essential trace element metabolism caused by increased toxic metal exposure and H. pylori infection. The aim of the work is to link the development of stomach-related illnesses to an imbalance of essential trace and toxic metals. We have investigated the variations in essential trace elements such zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and copper and toxic metals like lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in biological (scalp hair, blood) samples of glass and cement workers. The study participants are further divided into smokers and nonsmokers, as well as diseased (gastric ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic ulcer) and exposed referents (non-diseased industrial workers). Biological samples of age-matched (40-60 years) male subjects living in non-industrial areas were gathered for comparative purposes. After a pre-concentration method, the drinking water of industrial and domestic areas was analysed for both toxic metals. Microwave-aided acid digestion was used to oxidise the matrices of biological samples before atomic absorption spectrometer analysis of selected metals. Toxic metal levels in both industries' drinking water were much higher than those found in domestically treated water (p < 0.01). Industrial workers suffering different types of stomach disorders have two to three times higher Pb and Cd concentrations than age-matched referents. Toxic metals are found in higher concentrations in smoker referents and diseased patients' biological samples than in nonsmoker subjects. The findings of this study suggested that Pb and Cd toxicity's immunological effects may be associated to an increased vulnerability to chronic infections.

The influence of the degassing phase of the Tagoro submarine volcano (Canary Islands) on the metal content of three species of cephalopods

Underwater volcanic eruptions are a type of natural contamination that affect all marine organisms at a local level. These eruptions usually begin and end a degassing stage of the volcano that, although they do not affect the magnitude of magma emanation, affect organisms to a lesser degree locally, such as cephalopods that due to their metabolism and trophic level, are good bioindicators of contamination. A total of 180 samples of three species of cephalopods were collected for the study: sixty Sepia officinalis, sixty Octopus vulgaris and sixty Loligo vulgaris in the area of the submarine volcano in El Hierro, Tenerife and Lanzarote in the Canary Islands (twenty samples per species in each location), and the metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Ni, Pb and Zn) in each of the samples were analyzed. All species showed significant differences for all metals in El Hierro compared to Tenerife and Lanzarote. All the analyzed species from El Hierro had higher concentrations of the nine studied metals, this is due to the fact that they were caught near the Tagoro submarine volcano, which at the time was in a state of degassing and discharged many metal-rich compounds.

A comprehensive study on aquatic chemistry, health risk and remediation techniques of cadmium in groundwater

Cadmium (Cd), a non-essential trace element, it's intrusion in groundwater has ubiquitous implications on the environment and human health. This review is an approach to comprehensively emphasize on i) chemistry and occurrence of Cd in groundwater and its concomitant response on human health ii) sustainable Cd remediation techniques, iii) and associated costs. Current study is depending on meta-analysis of Cd contaminations in groundwater and discusses its distributions around the globe. Literature review primarily comprises from the last three decades online electronic published database, which mainly includes i) research literatures, ii) government reports. On the basis of meta-data, it was concluded that Cd mobility depends on multiple factors: such as pH, redox state, and ionic strength, dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic carbon (DIC). A substantially high Cd concentration has been reported in Lagos, Nigeria (0.130 mg/L). In India, groundwater is continuing to be contaminated by Cd in the proximity of industrial, agricultural areas, high concentrations (>8.20 mg/L) were reported in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Depending on chemical behavior and ionic radius cadmium disseminate into the food chain and ultimately cause health hazard that can be measured by various index-based assessment tools. Instead of chemical adsorbents, nanoparticles, phytoextraction, and bioremediation techniques can be very useful in the remediation and management of Cd polluted groundwater at a low-cost. For Cd pollution, the development of a comprehensive framework that links the hydro-geological, bio-geochemical processes to public health is important and need to be further studied.

Two coordination polymers as multi-responsive luminescent sensors for the detection of UO22+, Cr(vi), and the NFT antibiotic

Two CPs have been synthesized using solvothermal method and can act as multi-responsive luminescent probe to detect UO22+ cation, Cr2O72−/CrO42− anions, and nitrofuran antibiotic in aqueous media with high sensitivity and selectivity.

A State-of-the-Art Review on Innovative Geopolymer Composites Designed for Water and Wastewater Treatment

There is nothing more fundamental than clean potable water for living beings next to air. On the other hand, wastewater management is cropping up as a challenging task day-by-day due to lots of new additions of novel pollutants as well as the development of infrastructures and regulations that could not maintain its pace with the burgeoning escalation of populace and urbanizations. Therefore, momentous approaches must be sought-after to reclaim fresh water from wastewaters in order to address this great societal challenge. One of the routes is to clean wastewater through treatment processes using diverse adsorbents. However, most of them are unsustainable and quite costly e.g. activated carbon adsorbents, etc. Quite recently, innovative, sustainable, durable, affordable, user and eco-benevolent Geopolymer composites have been brought into play to serve the purpose as a pretty novel subject matter since they can be manufactured by a simple process of Geopolymerization at low temperature, lower energy with mitigated carbon footprints and marvellously, exhibit outstanding properties of physical and chemical stability, ion-exchange, dielectric characteristics, etc., with a porous structure and of course lucrative too because of the incorporation of wastes with them, which is in harmony with the goal to transit from linear to circular economy, i.e., "one's waste is the treasure for another". For these reasons, nowadays, this ground-breaking inorganic class of amorphous alumina-silicate materials are drawing the attention of the world researchers for designing them as adsorbents for water and wastewater treatment where the chemical nature and structure of the materials have a great impact on their adsorption competence. The aim of the current most recent state-of-the-art and scientometric review is to comprehend and assess thoroughly the advancements in geo-synthesis, properties and applications of geopolymer composites designed for the elimination of hazardous contaminants viz., heavy metal ions, dyes, etc. The adsorption mechanisms and effects of various environmental conditions on adsorption efficiency are also taken into account for review of the importance of Geopolymers as most recent adsorbents to get rid of the death-defying and toxic pollutants from wastewater with a view to obtaining reclaimed potable and sparkling water for reuse offering to trim down the massive crisis of scarcity of water promoting sustainable water and wastewater treatment for greener environments. The appraisal is made on the performance estimation of Geopolymers for water and wastewater treatment along with the three-dimensional printed components are characterized for mechanical, physical and chemical attributes, permeability and Ammonium (NH4+) ion removal competence of Geopolymer composites as alternative adsorbents for sequestration of an assortment of contaminants during wastewater treatment.

[Research progress of solid phase extraction materials in the application of metal ion pretreatment]

Monitoring of trace heavy metal pollutants released during industrial and agricultural processes is essential because of their widespread distribution in the environment and health hazards. Several techniques, including inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), electrothermal atomic absorption (ETAAS), and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), have been proposed for the determination of heavy metals in serum, plasma, whole blood, and food. All these techniques have earned robust recognition in the field of trace heavy metals and have many advantages such as multi-elemental analysis capability, large dynamic linear range, low detection limits, and high productivity. Nevertheless, most of the recommended techniques require digestion of the sample and extraction with an organic solvent for isolation of the metal ion from the sample solution prior to analysis. Despite improvements in the performance of modern analytical instruments, the direct determination of heavy metal ions in real samples is difficult because of their low concentration levels and matrix interference. Thus, extraction and clean-up steps are required for pre-concentration of the analyte, so that detection and elimination of the interfering matrix component are possible. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is one of the popular metal ion pretreatment methods. The advantages of SPE include easy cartridge/column regeneration, high analytical frequency, and high preconcentration factors for sorbents with high adsorption capacities. On the other hand, when the analytes are extracted from a complex matrix such as serum and meat samples, large amounts of proteins from the samples can be retained on the sorbent surface, obstructing the binding sites on the sorbent and leading to poor precision and accuracy. The key to metal ion detection is the development of new SPE materials with high efficiency and enrichment factors as well as an effective pretreatment technology. Nanomaterials such as restricted-access carbon nanotubes, nanoadsorbents, nanoparticle carriers, and magnetic nanoparticles have shown great promise in advancing biomedical and environmental analysis because of the unique properties originating from their ultrafine dimensions. Nanomaterials can provide large specific surface areas and tunable functional groups to facilitate metal ion absorption. They could also possess superior optical properties and allow for high sensitivity in simple fluorescent or colorimetric detection methods. Owing to their excellent mechanical and chemical stability, polymer materials have been of great interest as adsorbents for the SPE of metal ions from solution. Moreover, a designed polymeric material can show triple functionality such as physical adsorption, chelate formation, and ion exchange for the target metal ions. A dual-functional nanomaterial-DNAzyme platform can simultaneously allow for the sensitive detection and effective removal of heavy metal ions in water. Thus, this platform can serve as a simple, cost-effective tool for rapid and accurate metal quantification in the determination of human metal exposure and inspection of environmental contamination. Furthermore, the new photocaged chelator can uncage and release the combined metal ions into an aqueous solution that is free of the other components of the matrix. In this manner, we can develop diagnostic tests for metal ions that are often difficult to detect using other methods. In this paper, the characteristics of new SPE materials, including nanomaterials, polymer materials, and functional materials as well as advances in their applications to the preparation of complex samples are summarized, and the direction for future development is proposed.

Evaluate the adverse impact of metal oxide on workers of different age groups that engage with gas metal arc welding process: health risk assessment

Immense epidemiological studies have been indicated about adverse effects of the welding fumes on the health of the welders, especially respiratory problems and other physiological disorders. The different types of welding mechanisms produce aerosols/fumes that contain different metals including chromium (Cr) and manganese (Mn). In the present study, the welders of two age groups (adolescents and adults) were selected; simultaneously the age-matched adolescents and adults belong to nonindustrial area as referents/control subjects. Biological samples (scalp hair) were collected from welders and referents, along with analyzed for Cr and Mn by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometer, prior to acid digestion. To evaluate the occupational exposure on the health of the workers, the clinical features and biochemical parameters of selected population (exposed and non-exposed age-matched groups) were also carried out. The resulted data indicated that the concentrations of Mn and Cr were significantly higher in scalp hair samples of welders as compared to referent subjects (p < 0.01), verifying the absorption/exposure of both metals produced in welding fumes. The high prevalence of anemia and stomach disorder was observed in adolescent than adult welding workers. The incidence of asthma and related symptoms was elevated in adult welders than in younger boys. The neurological problems were particularly observed in aged welders > 50 years, might be due to long time exposure of welding fumes contains different toxicant especially Mn in ill ventilation system of workshops.

Adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics of Advanced Green Environmental Media (AGEM) for nutrient removal and recovery in agricultural discharge and stormwater runoff

Recycled materials were used in three types of green sorption media for nutrient removal and possible recovery in high nutrient-laden agricultural discharge and stormwater runoff. The three types of green sorption media included in this comparative study were two new aluminum-based green environmental media (AGEM) and one existing iron-filings based green environmental media (IFGEM). The corresponding adsorption isotherm, thermodynamics, and kinetics models were simulated based on isotherm studies to determine their removal efficiency and potential for recovery of nitrate, phosphate, and ammonia when used as a soil amendment in crop fields or in a filter for water treatment. AGEM-2 exhibited the shortest contact time required to achieve nutrient removal above 80% with an average of 7 h, followed by AGEM-1 and IFGEM with 10.6 and 28 h, respectively. Natural soil was included as a control and exhibited minimal nutrient removal. Ammonia, which may be recovered as fertilizer for drop fields in a soil-water-waste nexus, was generated by all three green sorption media mixes, therefore indicating their potential for use as soil amendments in agricultural and forested land after engineering filter applications. The kinetics analysis indicated that nitrate adsorption follows pseudo-first-order kinetics, while phosphate adsorption follows pseudo-second-order kinetics. The Gibbs free energy indicated that most of the adsorption reactions proceeded as exothermic. Lastly, a few equilibrium models, including the Langmuir, Freundlich, First Modified Langmuir, Temkin, Jovanovic, and Elovich models, were ranked and three were selected for use with IFGEM, AGEM-1, and AGEM-2, respectively, as below: (1) Langmuir, (2) Freundlich, and (3) First Modified Langmuir, according to three indices.

Synthesis and Characterization of Magnetic Nanomaterials with Adsorptive Properties of Arsenic Ions

A new synthesis method of hybrid Fe₃O₄/C/TiO₂ structures was developed using microwave-assisted coprecipitation. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of the addition of glucose and titanium dioxide on adsorptive properties enabling removal of arsenic ions from the solution. The study involved the synthesis of pure magnetite, magnetite modified with glucose and magnetite modified with glucose and titanium dioxide in magnetite: glucose: titanium dioxide molar ratio 1:0.2:3. Materials were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, and BET methods. Magnetite and titanium dioxide nanoparticles were below 20 nm in size in obtained structures. The specific surface area of pure magnetite was approximately 79 m²/g while that of magnetite modified with titanium dioxide was above 190 m²/g. Obtained materials were examined as adsorbents used for removal As(V) ions from aqueous solutions. Adsorption of arsenic ions by pure magnetite and magnetite modified with titanium dioxide was very high, above 90% (initial concentration 10 mg/L), pH in the range from 2 to 7. The preparation of magnetic adsorbents with a high adsorption capacity of As(V) ions was developed (in the range from 19.34 to 11.83 mg/g). Magnetic properties enable the easy separation of an adsorbent from a solution, following adsorption.

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of toxic metals and trace elements in the tissues of renal cell carcinoma compared with the adjacent non-cancerous and control kidney tissues

Toxic metals and trace elements (TMTE) are linked to the development of several human cancers. Many reports have documented the association between some TMTE and renal cell carcinoma. In this work, we assessed the presence (qualitative) and evaluated the concentration (quantitative) of 22 TMTE in three groups of kidney tissue samples: renal cell carcinoma (RCC), adjacent non-cancerous, and control kidney tissues from cadavers. A total of 75 paired specimens of RCC and adjacent non-cancerous tissues were harvested immediately after radical nephrectomy and preserved in 10% diluted formalin solution. Twelve specimens, age- and sex-matched from the normal kidney tissue of the cadavers, who died from non-cancerous reasons, were collected and served as control. All tissue specimens were subjected to evaluation of TMTE concentration (22 elements in each specimen) by using the inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) technique. The tumor, histopathology, stage, and grade were correlated with the concentration and types of TMTE. The results showed that the histological types of RCC were as follows: clear cell type in 35 (21.5%), chromophobe 22 (13.5%), papillary 7 (4.5%), oncocytoma 5 (3.1%), and unclassified 6 (3.7%). ICP-OES revealed that tumorous (RCC) tissues had a higher concentration of 9 TMTE (Ca, Cd, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, S, and Sr) compared with both the adjacent non-cancerous and control tissue. The adjacent non-cancerous kidney tissues showed the highest concentration of Fe, K, and Na. The control of kidney tissues from cadavers had the highest level of Cu, Zn, Mo, and B compared with the cancerous and adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Female patients had higher concentrations of Zn and Cu in the non-cancerous tissues of their kidneys. Younger patients had a higher concentration of B in the adjacent non-cancerous, and higher Cu in the cancerous tissues. Cadmium concentration was highest in the chromophobe cell type of RCC compared with other subtypes. There was no correlation between the TMTE concentration and the pathological stage of RCC.

Occupational exposure of lead and cadmium on adolescent and adult workers of battery recycling and welding workshops: Adverse impact on health

The occupational exposure of toxic metals is an important concern, because of its potential accumulation in living organisms, leading to long term toxic effects. The occupational and environmental contacts of toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) have been evaluated by determination of them in biological samples (blood and scalp hair) of adolescent and adults, workers of battery recycling and welding workshops. The age matched adolescent and adult residing in nonindustrial areas were also selected, termed as referent/control subjects. The blood and scalp hair samples of workers and controls were analyzed for Cd and Pb using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry previously decomposed the matrices using acid mixture. The biochemical parameters of workers of both age groups were also evaluated. The average concentrations of Cd and Pb in blood and scalp hair samples of adolescent workers were three fold higher as compared with control subjects. The drinking water in containers of both workshops contained Pb and Cd in two to four and five to thirteen folds, respectively, higher than recommended permissible limits of WHO. The significant correlations between the blood lead levels and hemoglobin (%) in adolescent (r = -0.78). The positive correlation was observed among incidence of blood pressure with Pb and Cd concentrations in biological samples of workers (adults) (r = 0.65 to 0.83). These findings suggest that occupational exposure of toxic metals might be created adverse impacts on workers due to ill management of workshops.

The regulatory mechanism of Chryseobacterium sp. resistance mediated by montmorillonite upon cadmium stress

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal and its uptake by living organisms causes adverse effect, further resulting in cycle pollution of the biosphere. The specific regulatory mechanism between clays and microbes under Cd stress remains unclear. In this study, interface interactions among clays, microbes and Cd were confirmed. Comparative transcriptome was conducted to investigate how it regulated gene expression patterns of microbes (Chryseobacterium sp. WAL2), which exposed to a series of gradient concentrations of Cd (16, 32, 64 and 128 μg mL^-1) for 12 d in the presence and absence of clay montmorillonite (Mt) (16 g L^-1). Cd was highly enriched by the unique interface interactions between Mt and bacteria (67.6-82.1%), leading to a more hostile environment for bacterial cells. However, Mt ultimately enhanced bacterial resistance to Cd stress by stimulating the mechanism of bacterial resistance; namely: (i) Mt increased genes expression connected with ion transport, enhancing the uptake of Cd; (ii) Mt stimulated genes expression related to efflux pump and positively regulated cellular oxidative stress (e.g., glutathione) and Cd accumulation (e.g., cysteine) processes. Further, genes expression related to intracellular metabolic processes was enforced, which supplied a driving force and accelerated electron transfer; (iii) Mt improved genes expression involved in DNA replication and other biological processes (e.g., terpenoid backbone biosynthesis) to maintain bacterial vitality. Therefore, the study not only optimized a unique Cd resistance mechanism of Mt on Chryseobacterium sp., but also provided a novel insight for environmental mitigation of heavy metals from the perspective of molecular biology.

A luminescent terbium coordination polymer as a multifunctional water-stable sensor for detection of Pb2+ ions, PO43− ions, Cr2O72− ions, and some amino acids

It is the first Ln-CP fluorescence probe for synchronous determination of Tyr and Trp in the presence of other amino acids.

Toxic Metals Depuration Profiles from a Population Adjacent to a Military Target Range (Vieques) and Main Island Puerto Rico

Background: The island of Vieques (a municipality of Puerto Rico) was used as a military practice range by the US Navy for more than 60 years. Many studies have reported the presence of toxic metals in soil samples taken from Vieques. The bombing range is only 18 km upwind from the Vieques residential area and inhalable resuspended particles resulting from bombing are known to reach the populated area. The current study reports for the first time, the presence of toxic metals' depuration profiles obtained from Vieques and Main Island Puerto Rico human subjects. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the distribution of toxic metals in a random population exposed to contaminants originating from military activities and comparing it to a non-exposed random population from Main Island Puerto Rico. Methods: A total of 83 subjects studied; 32 were from Vieques and 51 were from Main Island Puerto Rico. A physician administrated chelation therapy to all subjects and collected urine samples during a 24-h period. A total of 20 trace elements associated with military activities were measured in urine by induced coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results were compared between both population samples. Results: Significant differences in the levels of eight trace elements associated with military practices were found between Vieques and Main Island Puerto Rico. Lead (Pb), aluminum (Al), uranium (U) (p < 0.001), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) (p = 0.02), and gadolinium (Gd) (p = 0.03) were significantly higher in Vieques while niobium (Nb) and platinum (Pt) levels (p < 0.006) were lower in the Vieques samples. Discussion: Higher concentrations of Pb, Al, As, Cd, Gd, and U were found in Vieques residents' urine samples compared to Main Island. Nonetheless, Pt and Ga were present in Main Island at higher concentrations than in Vieques. Although limited by its sample size, this report should set a basis for the importance of health assessment in these subjects exposed to military activities remnants throughout the years and further evaluation of their effects on the overall health of the population.

A Comprehensive Review of Microfluidic Water Quality Monitoring Sensors

Water crisis is a global issue due to water contamination and extremely restricted sources of fresh water. Water contamination induces severe diseases which put human lives at risk. Hence, water quality monitoring has become a prime activity worldwide. The available monitoring procedures are inadequate as most of them require expensive instrumentation, longer processing time, tedious processes, and skilled lab technicians. Therefore, a portable, sensitive, and selective sensor with in situ and continuous water quality monitoring is the current necessity. In this context, microfluidics is the promising technology to fulfill this need due to its advantages such as faster reaction times, better process control, reduced waste generation, system compactness and parallelization, reduced cost, and disposability. This paper presents a review on the latest enhancements of microfluidic-based electrochemical and optical sensors for water quality monitoring and discusses the relative merits and shortcomings of the methods.

Presence of Toxic Heavy Metals in Platelet-Rich Fibrin: a Pilot Study

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) is widely used blood-derived biomaterial which is directly applied to the surgical wounds. Depending on its autologous origin, PRF is thought as a safe material. However, it is not known to what extent the blood-derived toxins can be found in the PRF by considering the systemic exposure rates of the individuals to the toxins. The aim of this pilot study was to test the hypothesis whether PRF contains any blood-origin heavy metals (HMs) and smoking increases their concentrations as an environmental HM source. PRF samples were obtained from systemically healthy 30 non-smoker and 30 smoker volunteers. All liquid and dry fibrin parts of the PRF samples were analyzed in terms of 15 toxic elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. All analyzed HMs were detected in all investigated PRF samples within various concentrations in both groups. In addition, significantly high levels of cadmium, arsenic, lead, manganese, nickel, chromium, and vanadium were detected in dry fibrin matrices of PRF samples of smokers comparing with non-smokers (p < 0.05). Only cadmium was at significantly high levels in the liquid part of PRF samples of smokers (p < 0.05). This is the first study evaluating toxic ingredients of PRF. The results revealed that PRF contains various toxic HMs. Additionally, systemic exposure to environmental HM sources such as smoking may significantly increase HM concentrations in PRF. Further studies are required to investigate the transmission potentials of HMs to the applied tissues and biological importance of PRF-origin HMs.

Structural alteration within fly ash-based geopolymers governing the adsorption of Cu2+ from aqueous environment: Effect of alkali activation

Fly-ash based geopolymers have been considered as a low-cost yet effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal cations, including Cu²⁺, from the aqueous environment. In the synthesis of geopolymers, the fly-ash needs to be alkali activated using several systems rich in either Na⁺ or K⁺. Herein, we investigate the effect of alkali activation on the structural alteration and its consequence on the adsorption capacity. Based on the series of detailed characterizations, the geopolymers formed in Na⁺-based alkali system is found to have more organized structure compared to that formed in K⁺-based alkali system. Moreover, the incorporation of additional silicate creates ancillary structure which positively contributes to the organization of the overall structure. All the samples, fly-ash and geopolymers, exhibits Cu²⁺ adsorption based on Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second order kinetic. The geopolymers with more organized structure display higher Cu²⁺ adsorption capacity, which reaches 40 mg g^-1 higher in comparison to 7 mg g^-1 for fly ash sample. The structural alteration induces the formation of open-framework structure with more accessible sites which can accommodate more Cu²⁺. Our study provides a fundamental understanding for the design and fabrication of geopolymers as an effective adsorbent for the removal of heavy metal cations.

Removal of Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+ from Wastewater using Fly Ash Based Geopolymer as an Adsorbent

This work aims to evaluate the effectiveness of fly ash based geopolymer powder as an adsorbent for heavy metals in aqueous solution. The structure of synthesized geopolymer was found to be highly amorphous due to the dissolution of fly ash phase. Moreover, the fly ash geopolymer powder has higher surface area compares to original fly ash with specific surface area of 85.01 m²/g and 0.83 m2/g, respectively. For this reason, the geopolymer powder has much higher removal efficiency compared to the original fly ash powder. The removal efficiency was affected by contact time, geopolymer amount, heavy metal initial concentration, pH, and temperature. The four heavy metals were chosen (Pb2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Cd2+) for adsorption test. The highest heavy metal removal capacity was obtained at pH 5. The geopolymer powder adsorbed metal cations in the order of Pb2+>Cu2+>Cd2+>Ni2+. In addition, Langmuir model is more suitable for fly ash geopolymer powder adsorption of heavy metal ions in aqueous solution than Freundlich model. The results showed that the fly ash geopolymer powder has high efficiency for removal metal which could be employed excellent alternative for wastewater treatment.

Dual role of coal fly ash in copper ion adsorption followed by thermal stabilization in a spinel solid solution

Coal fly ash is usually used as a cost-effective adsorbent for heavy metal removal, accumulating large amounts of spent coal fly ash that requires further disposal. In this study, fly ash that adsorbs copper with a maximum copper adsorption capacity of 48.8 mg g⁻¹ was further sintered at 900–1050 °C, and it was found that the copper is thermally incorporated in a spinel structure in aluminum- and iron-containing ceramic matrices provided by the fly ash. To further explore the immobilization mechanisms of copper in both aluminum- and iron-containing ceramic matrices like those in fly ash, two systems were prepared from CuO + Fe₂O₃ + kaolinite and CuO + Fe₂O₃ + Al₂O₃. A CuAl_xFe_2−xO₄ spinel solid solution was formed, the peak intensity of which was found to increase upon an increase in the sintering temperature until a maximum amount was reached at 1150 °C. In the CuO + Fe₂O₃ + Al₂O₃ system, the 2θ value of the CuAl_xFe_2−xO₄ peaks was found to increase due to the continuous engagement of aluminum in the spinel structure. However, iron was found to be more likely to react with the copper in CuO + Fe₂O₃ + kaolinite during the formation of CuAl_xFe_2−xO₄. Through effective adsorption of copper on coal fly ash and the subsequent copper stabilization in the spinel, this study found a dual role for fly ash in copper immobilization and further confirmed the potential to recycle waste coal fly ash as a marketable ceramic material.

Coal fly ash is usually used as a cost-effective adsorbent for heavy metal removal, accumulating large amounts of spent coal fly ash that requires further disposal.

Screen-Printed Electrode Modified by Bismuth /Fe₃O₄ Nanoparticle/Ionic Liquid Composite Using Internal Standard Normalization for Accurate Determination of Cd(II) in Soil

The quality and safety of agricultural products are threatened by heavy metal ions in soil, which can be absorbed by the crops, and then accumulated in the human body through the food chain. In this paper, we report a low-cost and easy-to-use screen-printed electrode (SPE) for cadmium ion (Cd(II)) detection based on differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), which decorated with ionic liquid (IL), magnetite nanoparticle (Fe₃O₄), and deposited a bismuth film (Bi). The characteristics of Bi/Fe₃O₄/ILSPE were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, impedance spectroscopy, and linear sweep voltammetry. We found that the sensitivity of SPE was improved dramatically after functionalized with Bi/Fe₃O₄/IL. Under optimized conditions, the concentrations of Cd(II) are linear with current responses in a range from 0.5 to 40 µg/L with the lowest detection limit of 0.05 µg/L (S/N = 3). Additionally, the internal standard normalization (ISN) was used to process the response signals of Bi/Fe₃O₄/ILSPE and established a new linear equation. For detecting three different Cd(II) concentrations, the root-mean-square error using ISN (0.25) is lower than linear method (0.36). Finally, the proposed electrode was applied to trace Cd(II) in soil samples with the recovery in the range from 91.77 to 107.83%.

Toxic Metal Pollution in Pakistan and Its Possible Risks to Public Health

Environmental pollution has increased many folds in recent years and in some places has reached levels that are toxic to living things. Among pollutant types, toxic heavy metals and metalloids are among the chemicals that pose the highest threat to biological systems (Jjemba 2004). Unlike organic pollutants, which are biodegradable, heavy metals are not degraded into less hazardous end products (Gupta et al. 2001). Low concentrations of some heavy metals are essential for life, but some of them like Hg, As, Pb and Cd are biologically non-essential and very toxic to living organisms. Even the essential metals may become toxic if they are present at a concentration above the permissible level (Puttaiah and Kiran 2008). For example, exposure to Zn and Fe oxides produce gastric disorder and vomiting, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes. Intake of Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd and Cu causes heart problems, leukemia and cancer, while Co and Mg can cause anemia and hypertension (Drasch et al. 2006). Similarly, various studies indicated that overexposure to heavy metals in air can cause cardiovascular disorders (Miller et al. 2007; Schwartz 2001), asthma (Wiwatanadate and Liwsrisakun 2011), bronchitis/emphysema (Pope 2000), and other respiratory diseases (Dominici et al. 2006).

A new supramolecular based liquid solid microextraction method for preconcentration and determination of trace bismuth in human blood serum and hair samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A simple and reliable supramolecule-aggregated liquid solid microextraction method is described for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of bismuth in water as well as human blood serum and hair samples. Catanionic microstructures of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) surfactants, dissolved in deionized water/propanol, are used as a green solvent to extract bismuth (III)-diethyldithiocarbamate complexes by dispersive microextraction methodology. The extracted solid phase is easily removed and dissolved in 50 μL propanol for subsequent measurement by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ET-AAS). The procedure benefits the merits of supramolecule aggregates' properties and dispersive microextraction technique using water as the main component of disperser solvent, leading to direct interaction with analyte. Phase separation behavior of extraction solvent and different parameters influencing the extraction efficiency of bismuth ion such as salt concentration, pH, centrifugation time, amount of chelating agent, SDS:CTAB mole ratio, and solvent amounts were thoroughly optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the calibration curve was linear in the range of 0.3-6 μg L^-1 Bi (III) with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.16 μg L^-1 (S/N = 3). The relative standard deviations (RSD) of determination were obtained to be 5.1 and 6.2 % for 1 and 3 μg L^-1 of Bi (III), respectively. The developed method was successfully applied as a sensitive and accurate technique for determination of bismuth ion in human blood serum, hair samples, and a certified reference material.

Screening of Blood Levels of Mercury, Cadmium, and Copper in Pregnant Women in Dakahlia, Egypt: New Attention to an Old Problem

Heavy metals toxicity is a prevalent health problem particularly in developing countries. Mercury and cadmium are toxic elements that have no physiologic functions in human body. They should not be present in the human body by any concentration. Copper, on the other hand, is one of the elements that are essential for normal cell functions and a deficiency as well as an excess of which can cause adverse health effects. To test blood levels of mercury, cadmium, and copper in pregnant women in Dakahlia, Egypt. Using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, blood levels of cadmium, mercury, and copper were measured in 150 pregnant women attending to the antenatal care in Mansoura University Hospital in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt. The mean ± SD of blood mercury, cadmium, and copper levels were found to be far from their levels in the population surveys carried in developed countries like United States of America (USA) and Canada. Heavy metal intoxication and accumulation is a major health hazard. Developing countries, including Egypt, still lack many of the regulatory policies and legislations to control sources of pollution exposure. This should be dealt with in order to solve this problem and limit its health consequences.

Efficient removal of free and nitrilotriacetic acid complexed Cd(II) from water by poly(1-vinylimidazole)-grafted Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles

Poly(1-vinylimidazole)-grafted Fe3O4@SiO2 magnetic nanoparticles (FSPV) were developed to remove both free Cd(II) and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) complexed Cd(II) from water. The adsorption capacity of NTA-complexed Cd(II) (42.1 mg/g) was larger than that of free Cd(II) (24.8 mg/g). Free Cd(II) and NTA-complexed Cd(II) could be reduced from 50 μg/L to below 5 μg/L within 10 and 20 min, respectively. FSPV could effectively remove trace free and NTA-complexed Cd(II) over broad pH ranges of 5-10 and 5-11, respectively. Moreover, the presence of seven coexisting ions (up to 100 mM) including four cations (Na(+), K(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+)) and three anions (Cl(-), NO3(-), and SO4(2-)) all slightly promoted the removal of both free and NTA-complexed Cd(II) onto FSPV. The removal of free Cd(II) or NTA-complexed Cd(II) was not obviously affected by the presence of Ni(II) and Co(II) (50 μg/L), humic acid (up to 3 mg/L as TOC) or alginate (up to 8 mg/L as TOC). In addition, FSPV could be regenerated with 10 mM HCl in 10 min, and the removal of both types of Cd(II) maintained above 95% in five consecutive adsorption/regeneration cycles. Therefore, FSPV could be utilized as promising adsorbent for both free and NTA-complexed Cd(II).

Evaluation of the fate of arsenic-contaminated groundwater at different aquifers of Thar coalfield Pakistan

In present study, the ground water at different aquifers was evaluated for physicochemical parameters, iron, total arsenic, total inorganic arsenic and arsenic species (arsenite and arsenate). The samples of groundwater were collected at different depths, first aquifer (AQ1) 50-60 m, second aquifer (AQ2) 100-120 m, and third aquifer (AQ3) 200-250 m of Thar coalfield, Pakistan. Total inorganic arsenic was determined by solid phase extraction using titanium dioxide as an adsorbent. The arsenite was determined by cloud point extraction using ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate as a chelating reagent, and resulted complex was extracted by Triton X-114. The resulted data of groundwater were reported in terms of basic statistical parameters, principal component, and cluster analysis. The resulted data indicated that physicochemical parameters of groundwater of different aquifers were exceeded the World Health Organization provisional guideline for drinking water except pH and SO4(2-). The positive correlation was observed between arsenic species and physicochemical parameters of groundwater except F(-) and K(+), which might be caused by geochemical minerals. Results of cluster analysis indicated that groundwater samples of AQ1 was highly contaminated with arsenic species as compared to AQ2 and AQ3 (p > 0.05).

Assessment of the Cadmium Exposure in the Blood, Diet, and Water of the Pumi People in Yunnan, China

Cadmium (Cd) is considered as one of the most toxic and carcinogenic heavy metals. Accumulation of Cd in the human body can cause multiorgan dysfunction. Long-term irrational mining activities have led to serious Cd pollution in soil, water, and even agricultural products. Therefore, evaluating the Cd exposure levels of people living in mining areas is of great importance. In the current study, we chose the Pumi people who lived in Jinding and Tongdian towns of Lanping county in Yunnan province, China, to do the on-site nutritional epidemiology investigation and laboratory detection. We analyzed the content of the Cd in peripheral blood and mixed dietary, as well as water samples in the Pumi residents of the two towns. Results showed that the blood Cd levels of people in Jinding town, which is nearer the mining district, were statistically significantly higher than those in Tongdian town. The P 50 of blood Cd level of the two towns was 0.64 ng/mL. In addition, the P 50 of the mixed diet of the two towns was 8.32 μg/kg. There was a weak correlation between blood Cd levels and Cd exposure in the mixed diet, PTDI, and PTWI of the Pumi people. In addition, higher concentrations of Cd were observed in the water of Jinding town, indicating people in Jinding town risking more Cd exposure. These results indicated that diet and water are critical factors of Cd exposure for the residents and the nearer people living to mining district risking the more Cd exposure.