Essential and non-essential elements in natural vegetation in southern Norway: contribution from different sources

A critical review of the occurrence of scandium and yttrium in mushrooms

Scandium (Sc) and Yttrium (Y) along with the other rare earth elements (REE) are being increasingly extracted to meet the escalating demand for their use in modern high technology applications. Concern has been voiced that releases from this escalating usage may pollute environments, including the habitats of wild species of mushrooms, many of which are foraged and prized as foods. This review collates the scarce information on occurrence of these elements in wild mushrooms and also reviews soil substrate levels, including forested habitats. Sc and Y occurred at lower levels in mushrooms (<1.0-1000 µg kg-1 dw for Sc and<1.8-1500 µg kg-1 dw for Y) compared to the corresponding range for the sum of the lanthanides in the same species (16-8400 µg kg-1 dw). The reported species showed considerably more variation in Y contents than Sc which show a narrow median distribution range (20-40 µg kg-1 dw). Data allowing temporal examination was very limited but showed no increasing trend between the 1970s to 2019, nor were any geographical influences apparent. The study of the essentiality, toxicity or other effects of REE including Sc and Y at levels of current dietary intake are as yet undefined. High intake scenarios using the highest median concentrations of Sc and Y, resulted in daily intakes of 1.2 and 3.3 μg respectively from 300 g portions of mushroom meals. These could be considered as low unless future toxicological insights make these intake levels relevant.

Evaluation of trace elements in forages and their effect on gastrointestinal parasite burden in grazing sheep

This study was designed to evaluate the trace elements (minerals) in forages fed to sheep and their effect on gastrointestinal parasite burdens. The ultimate objective was to determine the correlation between the burden of gastrointestinal (GI) parasites and the level of trace minerals in sheep serum as a result of the forages they grazed on. A total of 384 faecal samples were collected from sheep in each of the districts (Sialkot and Multan) and examined quantitatively using the McMaster technique. Serum collected from them and plants were pre-treated, and spectrophotometry was used to determine the concentration of trace minerals (Mn, Co, Cu, and Zn). The level of these trace elements differed significantly (P < 0.05) in forages from both districts. In the district of Sialkot, the highest concentrations (mg/Kg) of Zn (38.53 ± 0.16) were found in Cichorium intybus, Cu (41.57 ± 0.07) in Cynodon dactylon, Mn (39.61 ± 0.05) in Parthenium hysterophorus, and Co (1.42 ± 0.03) in Coronopus didymus. In the district of Multan, the highest concentrations (mg/Kg) of Zn (39.43 ± 0.46) were found in Cichorium intybus, Cu (25.76 ± 0.36) in Cynodon dactylon, Mn (34.29 ± 0.53) in Launaea nudicaulis, and Co (1.74 ± 0.08) in Brachiaria raptens. The prevalence of GI parasites in sheep populations in district Sialkot was 34%, while in district Multan, it was 32%. In tehsil Sialkot of district Sialkot, Zn and Cu were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with eggs per gram (EPG) of faeces, while in tehsil Multan City of district Multan, only Cu was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with EPG. The potential mechanism behind the role of trace minerals in lowering the burdens of GI parasites requires more investigation. It is recommended that plants with high content of trace minerals should be utilized as part of comprehensive preventive and control strategies against GI parasitism in ruminant animals like sheep.

Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) field cultivation in a phytoattenuation strategy and valorization potential of the fibers for textile production

This paper evaluates the valorization potential of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) fibers produced on HM-contaminated soil as a safe feedstock for the textile industry. The chosen strategy was phytoattenuation, which combines the progressive soil quality improvement of contaminated land using phytoremediation techniques with the production of safe non-food biomass. A field experiment was set up with two hemp cultivars on a site contaminated with Cd, Pb, and Zn and on a nearby site containing clean soil as a control. Stem height and diameter were analyzed, as well as stem and fiber yield and the HM concentrations in the fibers, which were compared to legal safety standards and toxicity thresholds used in the textile industry. The hemp cultivar Carmagnola Selected (CS) had a significantly higher stem and bigger stem diameter compared to cultivar USO 31 on both sites. Stem yields showed a decrease of 30% and 50%, respectively, for both hemp cultivars grown on the contaminated site. However, the stem yield of CS growing on the contaminated site was similar to the stem yield of USO 31 growing on the control site, indicating that hemp cultivation on contaminated soil can be economically viable. Total and extractable Cd, Pb, and Zn fiber concentrations were far below the toxicity standards for textile production purposes. These results are promising in terms of the potential valorization of contaminated land with hemp cultivation and the development of a non-food value chain within a phytoattenuation strategy.

An Updated Systematic Review of Vaccinium myrtillus Leaves: Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Bilberry leaves are used in many countries in traditional medicine for treating a wide variety of diseases. Due to the high therapeutic potential of Vaccinium myrtillus (VM) leaves, this review aims to present the latest knowledge on the phytochemical profile, as well as the therapeutic effects of this herbal drug. The review was conducted according to the Prisma guidelines, and the scientific databases were searched using combinations of the following keywords: "Vaccinium myrtillus", "leaves", "bilberry". Recent research was focused on the influence of abiotic factors on the phytochemical composition, and it seems that there are significant differences between the herbal drugs collected from different countries. The phytochemical composition is correlated with the broad spectrum of pharmacological effects. The paper outlines the potent antimicrobial activity of VM extracts against multidrug-resistant bacterial strains, and also the pathways that are modulated by the unique "cocktail" of phytoconstituents in different metabolic alterations. Reviewing the research articles published in the last 10 years, it seems that bilberry leaves have been slightly forgotten, although their phytochemical and pharmacological characteristics are unique.

Accumulation of scandium, cerium, europium, hafnium, and tantalum in oats and barley grown in soils that differ in their characteristics and level of contamination

Up to now, information about biogeochemistry of many trace elements is scarce. Meanwhile, all the elements are always present in soil and plants. It may be suggested that the trace elements also play certain role in the biogeochemical processes. The aim of the research was to study bioaccumulation of poorly investigated trace elements (scandium, cerium, europium, hafnium, and tantalum) and well-known elements (chromium, iron, cobalt, zinc, and arsenic) in two crops, oats and barley, and examine how these elements interact with each other as they absorbed by plants. The plants were grown in the soils that differed in their parameters and in level of contamination. Although oats and barley are botanically similar and were grown under the same conditions, the plants differed in the ability to accumulate many elements. The uptake of the elements by the plants also depended on type of soil. For example, concentrations of Cr, Fe, Co, As, Sc, Ce, Eu, Hf, and Ta in roots of the oats grown in slightly contaminated soil were much higher as compared to the concentrations of the elements in roots of the barley grown in the same soil. In leaves of the oats grown in moderately contaminated soil, the concentrations of Cr, As, Ce, Eu, and Ta were statistically significantly higher than those in leaves of the barley grown in the soil. In soils and in plants, relationships between elements were both similar and different. A statistically significant correlation was found between the poorly investigated trace elements and well-studied elements.

Analysis of 238U, 226Ra, and 210Pb transfer factors from soil to the leaves of broadleaf tree species

This analysis of 238U, 226Ra and 210Pb transfer factors from the soil to the leaves of different native broadleaf trees at sites previously modified by uranium presence and at the site of background radioactivity levels, was conducted using data from a few available studies from the literature. The broadleaf tree species Quercus ilex, Quercus suber, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Quercus pyrenaica, Quercus ilex rotundifolia, Populus sp. and Eucalyptus botryoides Sm. at the affected sites and Tilia spp. and Aesculus hippocastanum L. at the back ground site were in cluded in the study regardless of the deciduous or evergreen origins of the leaves. In the papers cited here, data about basic soil parameters: pH, total Ca [gkg-1], sand [%], and silt + clay [%] fractions were also available. All the collected data of activity concentration [Bqkg-1] dry weight in the soil (n=14) which was in the range: 22-6606 for 238U, 38-7700 for 226Ra, and 37-7500 for 210Pb, and the tree leaves in the range: 2.7-137.6 for 238U (n=10), 2.6-134.2 for 226Ra (n=14), and 27-77.2 for 210Pb (n=14), indicated that it was normally distributed after log-transformation. The present study was conducted under the hypothesis that biological differences between the examined broadleaf tree species have a lesser influence on the transfer factors of the investigated radionuclides from soil to tree leaves compared to the impact of the soil parameters and radionuclides activity concentrations in the soil. Consequently, it was examined whether 238U, 226Ra, and 210Pb soil-to-leaves transfer factor values for average broadleaf species could be predicted statistically in the first approximation based on their activity concentration in the soil and at least one basic soil parameter using multiple linear regression.

Fate of arsenic in living systems: Implications for sustainable and safe food chains

Arsenic, a group 1 carcinogen for humans, is abundant as compared to other trace elements in the environment and is present mainly in the Earth's crust and soil. The arsenic distributions in different geographical regions are dependent on their geological histories. Anthropogenic activities also contribute significantly to arsenic release into the environment. Arsenic presents several complications to humans, animals, and plants. The physiology of plants and their growth and development are affected by arsenic. Arsenic is known to cause cancer and several types of organ toxicity, such as cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and hepatotoxicity. In the environment, arsenic exists in variable forms both as inorganic and organic species. From arsenic containing compartments, plants can absorb and accumulate arsenic. Crops grown on these contaminated soils pose several-fold higher toxicity to humans compared with drinking water if arsenic enters the food chain. Information regarding arsenic transfer at different trophic levels in food chains has not been summarized until now. The present review focuses on the food chain perspective of arsenic, which affects all components of the food chain during its course. The circumstances that facilitate arsenic accumulation in flora and fauna, as components of the food chain, are outlined in this review.

Analysis of the soil to food crops transfer factor and risk assessment of multi-elements at the suburban area of Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA)

The contamination of heavy metals in agricultural ecosystem is one of the most important problems in developing countries as Vietnam. In this study, we investigated the multi-element concentrations in soil, vegetables, soil-to-plant transfer factors and target hazard quotient (THQ) due to the consumption of heavy metals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In general, the element concentrations in soil and plants were similar to different studies in the world and in the range of allowable values provided by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam. The transfer factors indicated the influence of element characteristics and plant genotypes on the accumulation and translocation of elements from soil to plants. It is found that I. batatas, B. alba, A, tricolor, O. basilicum, and B. juncea could be potential candidates for phytoremediation in soil contaminated of heavy metals. The results of individual and total THQ were below unity for Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, and Sb. The total THQ is in the range from 0.11 for R. sativus to 0.84 for B. alba with the average value of 0.43, in which Mn and As are the major contributions to the total THQ with the average values of 75% and 18%, respectively. The safety assessment based on national regulations and THQ indicated that the consumption of investigated vegetables poses no risk to the consumers.

Elevated natural radioactivity in undisturbed forest and mountain areas of arctic Norway - local geology, soil characteristics, and transfer to biota

This study deals with the geology in areas close to a large unexploited uranium deposit and the impact of bedrock characteristics on levels of radionuclides and other elements in soil and biota. Factors influencing soil inventory and ecosystem transfer are discussed, focussing on ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb. Field work was carried out in Salangen Valley in Northern Norway. Sampling stations for soil and biota covered different habitats - grassland, birch forest and low alpine heathland. The geological survey confirmed uranium-bearing minerals in granitic gneiss and pegmatites. There was large variation in the local occurrence of uranium, reflecting the irregular nature of the pegmatite. Activity concentrations of ²³⁸U, ²²⁶Ra, and ²¹⁰Pb in surface soil were elevated at sites close to U-enhanced bedrock, compared to sites with other types of bedrock. Particularly high soil levels were found for ²²⁶Ra and ²¹⁰Pb, whereas activity concentrations of ²³⁸U were more variable, depending of local soil characteristics. Levels of other natural radionuclides (⁴⁰K, ²³²Th) merely increased with soil mineral content, and concentrations of heavy metals were generally low at all sites. External dose rate (1 m above ground surface) was closely correlated with ²²⁶Ra levels in soil. Plant levels of ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra varied by several orders of magnitude depending on soil level and plant species, whereas plant levels of ²¹⁰Pb and ²¹⁰Po were largely affected by aerial fallout. Berries generally contained lower levels of ²³⁸U and ²²⁶Ra than green plant parts. As was the case for plants, the levels of ²³⁸U in earthworms were strongly correlated with the respective concentrations in the soil. Soil-to-plant transfer was markedly higher for ²²⁶Ra than for ²³⁸U. For both radionuclides, a positive correlation was found between concentration ratios of V. myrtillus (heath) and soil organic matter content. The ²³⁸U concentration ratios for earthworms were generally two orders of magnitude higher than for plants.

The impact of long-term biosolids application (>100 years) on soil metal dynamics

Biosolids application to arable land is a common, and cost-effective, practice but the impact of prolonged disposal remains uncertain. We evaluated the dynamics of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) at a long-established 'dedicated' sewage treatment farm. Soil metal concentrations exceeded regulations governing application of biosolids to non-dedicated arable land. However, measurement of isotopic exchangeability of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb demonstrated support for the 'protection hypothesis' in which biosolids constituents help immobilise potential toxic metals (PTMs). Metal concentrations in a maize crop were strongly, and almost equally, correlated with all 'capacity-based' and 'intensity-based' estimates of soil metal bioavailability. This was attributable to high correlations between soil factors controlling bioavailability (organic matter, phosphate etc.) on a site receiving a single source of PTMs. Isotopic analysis of the maize crop suggested contributions to foliar Pb from soil dust originating from neighbouring fields. There was also clear evidence of metal-specific effects of biosolids on soil metal lability. With increasing metal concentrations there was both decreasing lability of Cd and Pb, due to interaction with increasing phosphate concentrations, and increasing lability of Ni, Cu and Zn due to weaker soil binding. Such different responses to prolonged biosolids disposal to arable soil should be considered when setting regulatory limits.

Occurrence of Trace Metals in Food Crops Grown on the Mbale Dumpsite, Uganda, and Human Health Risks

Food crops can be used as biomonitors to assess potential public health food safety hazards from contaminated agricultural environments. Globally, more than 800 million people grow fruits, vegetables, and grains on urban garden soils with unknown health risks. This worldwide practice has exposed consumers to pathogenic and carcinogenic risks from locally grown and imported contaminated foodstuffs such as Amaranthus cruentus and Zea mays, traditional and widely consumed crops across the globe. This study used Z. mays and A. cruentus crops to investigate the occurrence and spatial variations of aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) concentrations across the Mbale dumpsite, Uganda. Mean concentrations for Fe, Al, Zn, Mn, and Cu were high in both crops, whereas Pb, Cr, Co, Cd, As, Hg, Se, and Ni occurred in trace amounts. Using the 2 crops as biomonitors, significant variations for Al, Zn, Fe, Cr, and Co concentrations in individual crops were identified across the dump center, hill slope, and riverbank. The variations in Al, Zn, Fe, Cr, and Co concentrations were specific for crop types, crop parts, and location. The highest overall accumulation of metals was at the dump center and in crop leaves. Except Pb concentrations in Z. mays seeds, Cr, Pb, Zn, and Al concentrations in other crop parts were above World Health Organization/Food and Agricultural Organization consumer food safety limits. Therefore, Z. mays and A. cruentus consumption could pose health risks to consumers. Further health assessments and potential regulations are recommended to reduce potential health risks from metals in crops for human consumption. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:362-377. © 2019 SETAC.

Refinement of dietary exposure assessment using origin-related scenarios

Global sourcing of food may lead to variability in concentrations of contaminants or pesticide residues. It would be important to incorporate origin influences in dietary exposure assessment. To characterise uncertainties, substance concentrations from GFM (German Food Monitoring), chosen based on the highest CV (coefficient of variation), and food consumption from NVS II (German National Nutrition Survey II) were combined in standard scenarios. Averages or higher percentiles of non-grouped concentrations were used. Additional origin-related scenarios used concentrations grouped by origin. For bromide in tomatoes the most conservative origin-related scenario for Italian tomatoes resulted in the highest exposure of 0.015 mg/d/kg BW. The impact of origin was not covered by the conservative standard scenario (0.006 mg/d/kg BW). For ethephon in pineapples and aluminium in kiwifruits, the highest intake estimates were obtained with the conservative standard scenario resulting in 0.895 μg/d/kg BW and 0.023 mg/week/kg BW, respectively. In these two cases, standard scenarios cover origin influences but the conservative origin-related scenario based on origins with higher concentrations identifies lower exposures of 0.835 μg/d/kg BW for ethephon from African pineapples and 0.014 mg/week/kg BW for aluminium from non-EU kiwifruits. Hence, the inclusion of origin information can refine exposure assessment.

Ionomic responses of rice plants to the stresses of different arsenic species in hydroponics

Different ionomic profiles of plants are associated with different external stresses to which they are exposed. Investigation of ionomic variation is necessary for understanding the migration and detoxification of toxic elements in plants. In the current study, rice plants were treated with arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid and dimethylarsinic acid in hydroponics. The ionomic responses of the rice plants to different arsenic (As) species stresses were measured and analyzed. The multielement approach is more sensitive at detecting significant variations from external environmental stresses than the consideration of several individual elements. The pairs of significant correlations between elements varied based on the rice tissues and As species used in treatment, resulting in specific correlation networks. However, some pairs of correlations existed regardless of As species treatment used in this study. Positive correlations between P and Fe were observed in rice roots treated with any of the As species, implying that P and Fe share similar biological processes. The heatmap from hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) agreed with the principal component analysis (PCA) results in ionomic differentiation between roots and shoots. Furthermore, ionomic differences between rice plants treated with different As species were identified through PCA. This study revealed that the ionomic profiles in rice plants are sufficient to detect responses to environmental perturbations. Association studies between ionomics and genomics are necessary to further understand the potential mechanisms that promote uptake or exclusion of elements in plants.

Dietary exposure assessment of aluminium and cadmium from cocoa in relation to cocoa origin

Cocoa contains aluminium and cadmium as environmental contaminants while concentrations are supposed to be country of origin-related. Integrating origin in dietary exposure assessment could refine calculations. Averages or higher percentiles of concentrations in cocoa powder from German Food Monitoring (GFM) and cocoa consumption from the German National Nutrition Survey II (NVS II) were combined in standard scenarios. Additional origin-related scenarios used concentration data grouped into origin A (lower concentrations) and origin B (higher concentrations) as plausible origin information was rare. The most conservative standard scenario resulted in the highest intake estimates for aluminium and cadmium with 0.152 mg/week/kg BW and 0.363 μg/week/kg BW and covered the origin influence calculated in origin-related scenarios. Having plausible origin information would help to refine exposure assessment as it is exemplarily shown here that origin-related lower intake estimates are possible. Using the Eurostat database and the Mintel Global New Product Database (GNPD) generated more origin information for products available on the German market. For Germany, cocoa beans, cocoa powder and cocoa mass were mainly sourced in Côte d'Ivoire, while the Netherlands was the main distributor. Packages of cocoa powders were sourced from different origins.

Anthropogenic and geogenic mass input of trace elements to moss and natural surface soil in Norway

Data sets for concentrations of up to 22 elements including Pb, Cd, Ag, As, and Hg and several rare earth elements (REEs) in moss and surface soil from all over mainland Norway are analyzed by positive matrix factorization (PMF) and principal component analysis (PCA) with centered log-ratio transformation. Moss and soil samples collected in 2010 and 2005, respectively, show both a distinct long-range atmospheric transport PMF factor including a dominant Pb loading along with smaller loadings of Mo, Cd, Sb, and As, and a geogenic factor dominated by Ce, La, and Y. Other PMF factors for moss and soil are mainly anthropogenic except for two soil factors, a Cr, Co, Ce dominated factor, and an Eu factor. The source area of Eu is mainly inland consistent with its divalent oxidation state. A significant advantage of PMF factors is that their loadings are scaled according to their relative factor contributions. The PMF air pollution factor F3 in moss with average contribution of 7.11μg/g produces an air pollution input of 5.0μg/g which compares well with literature values for the total Pb concentration in moss for 2005 in southern Norway. PCA has the advantage that it can separate factors with very low element concentrations. To support sources of elements identified by PCA it is recommended to include calculation of factor scores to identify significant source areas.

Mineral Composition of Wild and Cultivated Blueberries

The concentrations of 13 elements (Al, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined in several samples of native (wild) naturally growing and cultivated blueberry fruits. The total metal contents after mineralization were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Reliability of the procedure was checked by the analysis of the certified reference materials Mixed Polish Herbs (INGT-MPH-2) and Leaves of Poplar (NCS DC 73350). In the fruits collected in the forest (wild blueberries), higher contents of Ca, Na, and Mg as well as Mn and Zn were observed. Similar levels of Cu, Cr, Fe, and Ni were detected in both wild-growing and cultivated plants. The significantly higher content of Fe and Cd in cultivated blueberries was connected with the content of these metals in soil samples collected from the same places. The metal extraction efficiency by hot water varied widely for the different blueberries (wild or cultivated) as well as their form (fresh or dried).

Rare earth elements and select actinoids in the Canadian House Dust Study

Nationally representative baseline data are presented for rare earth elements (REE), thorium (Th) and uranium (U) in house dust sampled from 1025 urban homes, in units of concentrations (μg g^-1 ), loadings (μg m^-2 ), and loading rates (ng m^-2  d^-1 ). Spearman rank correlations indicate that, in addition to outdoor sources, consumer products and building materials can influence indoor dust concentrations of REE, Th, and U. Correlations (P<.01) with numbers of occupants, dogs, and cats suggest soil track-in. Correlations (P<.01) with hardwood floors suggest release of REE additives used in pigments and coatings during daily wear and tear. Concentrations of light REE are elevated in smokers' homes compared to non-smokers' homes (P<.001), suggesting that a key source is "mischmetal," the REE alloy used in cigarette-lighter flints. Indoor sources include geological impurities in raw materials used in consumer products, such as U and Th impurities in bentonite clay used in cat litter, and REE impurities in phosphates used for a variety of applications including dog food and building materials. Median gastric bioaccessibility (pH 1.5) of most REE in dust ranges from about 20% to 29%. Household vacuum samples correlate with fresh dust samples from the same homes (P<.001 for all investigated elements).

Inhaled Cadmium Oxide Nanoparticles: Their in Vivo Fate and Effect on Target Organs

The increasing amount of heavy metals used in manufacturing equivalently increases hazards of environmental pollution by industrial products such as cadmium oxide (CdO) nanoparticles. Here, we aimed to unravel the CdO nanoparticle destiny upon their entry into lungs by inhalations, with the main focus on the ultrastructural changes that the nanoparticles may cause to tissues of the primary and secondary target organs. We indeed found the CdO nanoparticles to be transported from the lungs into secondary target organs by blood. In lungs, inhaled CdO nanoparticles caused significant alterations in parenchyma tissue including hyperemia, enlarged pulmonary septa, congested capillaries, alveolar emphysema and small areas of atelectasis. Nanoparticles were observed in the cytoplasm of cells lining bronchioles, in the alveolar spaces as well as inside the membranous pneumocytes and in phagosomes of lung macrophages. Nanoparticles even penetrated through the membrane into some organelles including mitochondria and they also accumulated in the cytoplasmic vesicles. In livers, inhalation caused periportal inflammation and local hepatic necrosis. Only minor changes such as diffusely thickened filtration membrane with intramembranous electron dense deposits were observed in kidney. Taken together, inhaled CdO nanoparticles not only accumulated in lungs but they were also transported to other organs causing serious damage at tissue as well as cellular level.