Large-scale survey of lithium concentrations in marine organisms

Seasonal and multi-decadal zinc isotope variations in blue mussels from two sites with contrasting zinc contamination levels

Zinc (Zn) isotope compositions in soft mussel tissues help identify internal biological processes and track coastal Zn sources in coastal environments, thus aiding in managing marine metal pollution. This study investigated the seasonal and multi-decadal Zn isotope compositions of blue mussels (genus Mytilus) from two French coastal sites with contrasting Zn environmental contamination. Concurrently, we characterized the isotope ratios of sediments and plankton samples at each site to understand the associations between organisms and abiotic compartments. Our primary objective was to determine whether these isotope compositions trace long-term anthropogenic emission patterns or if they reflect short-term biological processes. The multi-decadal isotope profiles of mussels in the Loire Estuary and Toulon Bay showed no isotope variations, implying the enduring stability of the relative contributions of natural and anthropogenic Zn sources over time. At seasonal scales, Zn isotope ratios were also constant; hence, isotope effects related to spawning and body growth were not discernible. The multi-compartmental analysis between the sites revealed that Toulon Bay exhibits a remarkably lower Zn isotope ratio across all studied matrices, suggesting the upward transfer of anthropogenic Zn in the food web. In contrast, the Zn isotope variability observed for sediments and organisms from the Loire Estuary fell within the natural baseline of this element. In both sites, adsorptive geogenic material carrying significant amounts of Zn masks the biological isotope signature of plankton, making it difficult to determine whether the Zn isotope ratio in mussels solely reflects the planktonic diet or if it is further modified by biological homeostasis. In summary, Zn isotope ratios in mussels offer promising avenues for delineating source-specific isotope signatures, contingent upon a comprehensive understanding of the isotope fractionation processes associated with the trophic transfer of this element through the plankton.

Bioaccumulation of Potentially Toxic Elements in Commercially Important Food Fish Species from Lower Gangetic Stretch: Food Security and Human Health Risk Assessment

Ganga river is the inhabitant of more than 190 fish species and important river system of India. Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Gangetic riverine ecosystem are a hot environmental issue. A detailed evaluation of PTEs bioaccumulation in Gangetic fishes is required to safeguard human health. The present study investigated the bioaccumulation of PTEs (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Ni, Pb, Se, Zn, and Mn) within 12 economic fish species (n = 72) collected from the lower Gangetic stretch. The mean concentrations of PTEs followed the order Zn > Cu > Mn > Ni > Se > Cr > Pb > Co ~ Li > Cd. Li and Se bioaccumulation were studied first time from Gangetic fishes. Results demonstrated that all the selected PTEs were below the maximum permissible limit recommended by reference standards except for Zn in L. catla and L. rohita. For all PTEs, the metal pollution index (MPI), hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) were < 1, indicating that these PTEs do not pose a health risk to the public through the dietary intake of fish in this study area. All studied fish were acceptable in terms of carcinogenic risk (CR) from exposure to Cd, Cr, and Pb. Multivariate statistical analysis suggests that inter-correlated metals have similar dispersion properties and bioaccumulation homology within the body. This study provides a scientific basis for food safety assessment and continuous monitoring of PTEs in Gangetic fishes is suggested in the future to safeguard human health.

The influence of temperature on the effects of lead and lithium in Mytilus galloprovincialis through biochemical, cell and tissue levels: Comparison between mono and multi-element exposures

Lead (Pb) and lithium (Li) are metals which have been detected in the environment and, at high concentrations, can induce toxic effects that disturb the growth, metabolism or reproduction of organisms along the entire trophic chain. The impacts of these metals have scarcely been investigated using marine bivalves, especially when acting as a mixture. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of temperature on the ecotoxicological effects caused by Pb and Li, acting alone and as a mixture, on the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis after 28 days of exposure. The impacts were evaluated under actual (17 °C) and projected (+4 °C) warming conditions, to understand the influence of temperature rise on the effects of the metals (both acting alone or as a mixture). The results obtained showed that the increased temperature did not influence the accumulation of metals. However, the biomarkers evaluated showed greater responses in mussels that are exposed to metals under increased temperature (21 °C). The IBR index showed that there is a comparable toxic effect of Li and Pb separately, while exposure to a mixture of both pollutants causes a significantly higher stress response. Overall, the results obtained revealed that temperature may cause extra stress on the mussels and exposure to the metal mixture caused the greatest impacts compared to each metal acting alone.

Reimagining safe lithium applications in the living environment and its impacts on human, animal, and plant system

Lithium's (Li) ubiquitous distribution in the environment is a rising concern due to its rapid proliferation in the modern electronic industry. Li enigmatic entry into the terrestrial food chain raises many questions and uncertainties that may pose a grave threat to living biota. We examined the leverage existing published articles regarding advances in global Li resources, interplay with plants, and possible involvement with living organisms, especially humans and animals. Globally, Li concentration (<10-300 mg kg^-1) is detected in agricultural soil, and their pollutant levels vary with space and time. High mobility of Li results in higher accumulation in plants, but the clear mechanisms and specific functions remain unknown. Our assessment reveals the causal relationship between Li level and biota health. For example, lower Li intake (<0.6 mM in serum) leads to mental disorders, while higher intake (>1.5 mM in serum) induces thyroid, stomach, kidney, and reproductive system dysfunctions in humans and animals. However, there is a serious knowledge gap regarding Li regulatory standards in environmental compartments, and mechanistic approaches to unveil its consequences are needed. Furthermore, aggressive efforts are required to define optimum levels of Li for the normal functioning of animals, plants, and humans. This review is designed to revitalize the current status of Li research and identify the key knowledge gaps to fight back against the mountainous challenges of Li during the recent digital revolution. Additionally, we propose pathways to overcome Li problems and develop a strategy for effective, safe, and acceptable applications.

New insight into the toxic effects of lithium in the ragworm Perinereis cultrifera as revealed by lipidomic biomarkers, redox status, and histopathological features

Lithium (Li) is a toxic monovalent alkaline metal used in household items common to industrial applications. The present work was aimed at investigating the potential toxic effects of LiCl on the redox status, fatty acid composition, and histological aspects of the marine ragworm Perinereis cultrifera. Sea worms were exposed to LiCl graded doses (20, 40, and 80 mg/L) for 48 h. Compared with the control group, the saturated fatty acids (SFA) decreased while monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) increased upon exposure to LiCl. The increase in PUFA n-3 and PUFA n-6 was concomitant to an increase in docosahexaenoic (DHA: C22:6n-3), eicosapentaenoic (EPA: C20:5n-3), and docosapentaenoic acid (C22:5n-6) fatty acids. Results showed that LiCl-treated specimens accumulate lithium with increasing exposure gradient. Indeed, the exposure to LiCl doses promoted oxidative stress with an increase of the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP), and protein carbonyl (PCO) as well as the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (non-protein thiols (NPSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and metallothionein (MT)) levels in all treated groups. Our biochemical findings have been affirmed by the histopathological observations showing hyperplasia and loss of the intestine structure in treated specimens. Overall, our findings give new insights on the toxic effect of LiCl on the redox status of P. cultrifera body tissue and highlighted the usefulness of the FA composition as an early sensitive bioindicators to better understand LiCl mechanism of toxicity in marine polychaetes.

Insights on metal pollution of a Patagonia watershed: A case study in the lower course of the Negro river, Argentina

This study evaluated the occurrence and distribution of largely known pollutants (Ag, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Pd, and Zn), as well as emerging ones (Li, and V) in the water dissolved fraction, suspended particulate matter, and surface sediments from the lower course of the Negro River, Argentina. There are scarce preceding data on inorganic pollution in the entire watershed and, in the case of the emerging pollutants, there are almost no studies performed worldwide. Sampling was conducted in 2019 at six sampling sites, three of them mostly river dominated and the rest under marine domain. The samples were subjected to an acid digestion in a microwave digester, and analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer. Results: revealed that Cu, Li, V, and Zn were always on the top four of the highest average metal concentrations in water and sediment fractions. The pollution assessment indicated that the watershed might be exposed to anthropogenic pollution, as over 60% of Cu and Zn, and over 85% of Hg in water dissolved samples from the marine dominated sites were above the maximum recommended values from guidelines. The multivariate analyses characterized the watershed into two clusters, with metals in the sediment fraction mainly contributing to the uppermost sites. Indeed, sedimentary Cu and Zn background enrichment indices pointed out a moderate pollution of the river dominated sites. This study highlights the relevance of an integrative approach in metal pollution evaluation, as the results denoted a progressive deterioration of the watershed, affecting the water quality of the lower course of the Negro River and its adjacent coastal zone. Overall, these results contribute to a more complete evaluation of the potential to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals, with implications for future treatment strategies to enhance the environmental quality of the area.

Lithium: A review on concentrations and impacts in marine and coastal systems

The Lithium (Li) industry has been expanding worldwide, over the last decades, and projections expect an increasing demand for its production in the coming years. It has been identified as an emerging pollutant and it occurs widely in aquatic environments, raising concern about its effects on ecosystems. Besides the increasing research on this topic, there is still limited understanding and discussion on the marine and coastal implications of Li occurrence. The present review aims to fill these knowledge gaps by analysing the literature concerning Li occurrence and its effects on marine and coastal ecosystems, including transition areas. Since 1960, the number of publications has increased, especially over the last decade, and available information has reported Li in water and sediments of these areas, while few studies investigated Li in tissues of biota. Among all the studied ecosystems, Chile reported one of the highest Li concentrations. Regarding the adverse effects of Li in aquatic organisms, Bacillariophyceae, Scyphozoa, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Polychaeta, Malacostraca, Echinoidea and Actinopteri were the studied taxonomic classes, and development inhibition, malformations, cellular and metabolic alterations, and behaviour changes were some of the observed impacts. This review might be particularly important in the mitigation of Li pollution as well as in the implementation of new directives and thresholds, as it highlights the impacts of Li and the urgent need to address new solutions and alternatives, meeting the Agenda 2030 for sustainable development.

How will different scenarios of rising seawater temperature alter the response of marine species to lithium?

Marine ecosystems are suffering from the gradual rise in temperature due to climate change. Warming scenarios and the intensification of extreme climate events, such as marine heatwaves (MHWs), have been negatively affecting marine organisms. In addition, they are also threatened by anthropogenic pollution. Lithium (Li) is an emerging pollutant that has become a major concern due to its increasing use in a variety of applications. Understanding its influence on marine environments in combination with warming scenarios is crucial, as very little is known about its impact on marine organisms, especially when also considering the increasingly concerning impacts of climate change. With this in mind, this research aimed to assess how different scenarios of increasing temperature may affect the response of Mytilus galloprovincialis to Li. Mussels bioaccumulation levels, as well as physiological and biochemical biomarkers were analyzed after 28 days of exposure to Li under different temperature scenarios (control - 17 °C; warming - 21 °C and marine heatwave - MHW). The results indicate that mussels accumulated Li, independently of the temperature scenario. The respiration rate was higher in contaminated mussels than in the non-contaminated ones, with no differences among temperature scenarios. Furthermore, the metabolic rate decreased in non-contaminated mussels exposed to 21 °C and MHW, while mussels exposed to the combination of Li and MHW presented the highest metabolic rate. The mussels exposed to MHW and Li evidenced the highest cellular damage but Li was not neurotoxic in M. galloprovincialis. This study highlighted that MHW + Li was the most stressful condition, inducing clear negative effects in this species that can impair the growth and reproduction of an entire population. In general, the presented results highlight the importance of future studies in which it is necessary to combine the effects of pollutants and climate change scenarios, namely extreme weather events such as MHWs.

Warmer water, high light intensity, lithium and microplastics: Dangerous environmental combinations to zooplankton and Global Health?

Nowadays there is a high concern about the combined effects of global warming and emerging environmental contaminants with significant increasing trends of use, such as lithium (Li) and microplastics (MPs), both on wildlife and human health. Therefore, the effects of high light intensity (26,000 lx) or warmer water temperature (25 °C) on the long-term toxicity of Li and mixtures of Li and MPs (Li-MPs mixtures) were investigated using model populations of the freshwater zooplankton species Daphnia magna. Three 21-day bioassays were done in the laboratory at the following water temperatures and light intensities: (i) 20 °C/10830 lx; (ii) 20 °C/26000 lx (high light intensity); (iii) 25 °C/10830 lx (warmer temperature). Based on the 21-day EC50s on reproduction, high light intensity increased the reproductive toxicity of Li and Li-MPs mixtures by ~1.3 fold; warmer temperature increased the toxicity of Li by ~1.2 fold, and the toxicity of Li-MPs mixtures by ~1.4 fold based on the concentration of Li, and by ~2 fold based on the concentrations of MPs. At high light intensity, Li (0.04 mg/L) and Li-MPs mixtures (0.04 Li + 0.09 MPs mg/L) reduced the population fitness by 32 % and 41 %, respectively. Warmer temperature, Li (0.05 mg/L) and Li-MPs mixtures (0.05 Li + 0.09 MPs mg/L) reduced it by 63 % and 71 %, respectively. At warmer temperature or high light intensity, higher concentrations of Li and Li-MPs mixtures lead to population extinction. Based on the population growth rate and using data of bioassays with MPs alone done simultaneously, Li and MPs interactions were antagonistic or synergistic depending on the scenario. High light intensity and chemical stress generally acted synergistically. Warmer temperature and chemical stress always acted synergistically. These findings highlight the threats of long-term exposure to Li and Li-MPs mixtures to freshwater zooplankton and Global Health in a warmer world.

Toxicopathic effects of lithium in mussels

The rising use of lithium (Li) in industrial processes, modern technology and medicine has generated concerns in the scientific community, in particular its potential impact on the environment. Unfortunately, there is only scarce information concerning the toxicity of lithium in marine organisms. The objective of this study is to determine the toxicity of Li using Mytilus galloprovincialis as model organism, based on acute and sublethal toxicity tests. In the first experiment, mussels were exposed for 9 days to a range of acute concentrations of Li (0, 2, 5, 13, 34, 89, 233 and 610 mg/L Li) in order to find the median lethal concentration. In the sublethal experiment, mussels were exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of Li (0, 0.1, 1, 10 mg/L Li) for 21 days. Digestive gland and gonad samples were taken at day 0, 1, 7 and 21 for histopathological analysis. Samples of the whole mussels were taken for chemical analysis at day 0 and after 21 days. Results showed that M. galloprovincialis had a LC50 value of 153 mg/L Li after 9 days of exposure. Lower concentrations (environmentally relevant), led to Li bioaccumulation in a dose-dependent manner and histopathological effects in a time-dependent manner. Atrophy of the digestive alveoli epithelium and degeneration of the digestive gland were observed after 21 days of exposure. These findings open new perspectives for the understanding of the toxic effects of Li on marine organisms and evidence the need for further long-term research at different levels of biological organizations.

Toxicological impacts of excessive lithium on largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides): Body weight, hepatic lipid accumulation, antioxidant defense and inflammation response

The unreasonably anthropogenic activities make lithium a widespread pollutant in aquatic environment, and this metallic element can enter the food chain to influence humans. Therefore, the study was designed to explore the influence of dietary lithium supplementation on body weight, lipid deposition, antioxidant capacity and inflammation response of largemouth bass. Multivariate statistical analysis confirmed the toxicological impacts of excessive lithium on largemouth bass. Specifically, excessive dietary lithium (≥87.08 mg/kg) significantly elevated weight gain and feed intake of largemouth bass. Meanwhile, overload lithium inclusion aggravated the accumulation of hepatic lipid and serum lithium. Gene expression results showed that lithium inclusion, especially overload lithium, promoted the transcription of lipogenesis related genes, PPARγ, ACC and FAS, inhibited the expression of fatty acid oxidation related genes, PPARα and ACO, and lipolysis related genes, HSL and MGL. Meanwhile, high lithium inclusion caused the oxidative stress, which was partly through the inhibition of Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. Moreover, dietary lithium inclusion significantly depressed the activity of hepatic lysozyme, and promoted the transcription of proinflammation factors, TNF-α, 5-LOX, IL-1β and IL-8, which was suggested to be regulated by the p38 MAPK pathway. Our findings suggested that overload lithium resulted in increased body weight, hepatic lipid deposition, oxidative stress and inflammation response. The results obtained here provided novel insights on the toxicological impacts of excessive lithium on aquatic animals.

Long-term effects of lithium and lithium-microplastic mixtures on the model species Daphnia magna: Toxicological interactions and implications to 'One Health'

Environmental contamination with lithium (Li) and microplastics (MP) has been steadily increasing and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Many freshwater ecosystems, which are crucial to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, are particularly vulnerable to Li and MP contamination, and other pressures. The long-term effects of Li, either alone or combined with MP (Li-MP mixtures), were investigated using the freshwater zooplankton micro-crustacean Daphnia magna as model species. In the laboratory, D. magna females were exposed for 21 days to water concentrations of Li (0.02, 0.04, 0.08 mg/L) or Li-MP mixtures (0.02 Li + 0.04 MP, 0.04 Li + 0.09 MP mg/L, 0.08 Li + 0.19 MP mg/L). In the range of concentrations tested, Li and Li-MP mixtures caused parental mortality, and decreased the somatic growth (up to 20% and 40% reduction, respectively) and the reproductive success (up to 93% and 90% reduction, respectively). The 21-day EC₅₀s of Li and Li-MP mixtures on D. magna reproduction were 0.039 mg/L and 0.039 Li + 0.086 MP mg/L, respectively. Under exposure to the highest concentration of Li (0.08 mg/L) and Li-MP mixtures (0.08 Li + 0.19 MP mg/L), the mean of D. magna population growth rate was reduced by 67% and 58%, respectively. Based on the population growth rate and using data from a bioassay testing the same concentrations of MP alone and carried simultaneously, the toxicological interaction between Li and MP was antagonism under exposure to the lowest and the highest concentrations of Li-MP mixtures, and synergism under exposure to the medium concentration of Li-MP mixtures. These findings highlight the need of further investigating the combined effects of contaminants, and the threat of long-term environmental contamination with Li and MP to freshwater zooplankton, biodiversity, ecosystem services and 'One Health'.

Proactive approach to minimize lithium pollution

With the advancements in lithium-ion battery technology, lithium has been extensively used in many electronic products. Lithium usage is expected to increase in the coming decades. Elevated levels of lithium in the environments, including source water and biota, have been recently reported. Lithium can cause soil dispersion and aggerate swelling and can be readily taken up by plants and filter-feeders, potentially causing toxicity to plants, organisms, and human. As learnt from the reactive approach of the Clean Water Act, many emerging pollutants have not been recognized until they have been widespread and reached dangerous levels in the environments. Aftermath cleanup costs are huge, and many of these damages are irreversible. To avoid lithium being the next global contaminant of emerging concern, environmental agencies shall implement proactive regulation and education soon.

Bioaccumulation of selected trace elements in some aquatic organisms from the proximity of Qeshm Island ecosystems: Human health perspective

In this study selected marine species from north Persian Gulf ecosystems were collected to investigate the concentration of 15 trace elements (Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, V, Zn and Hg) in muscle and liver tissues for the purpose of evaluating potential health risks for human consumers. The results indicated that Fe, Zn, Sr, Cu and As are the most abundant TEs in the tissues of the species. The concentration of Cu in P. semisulcatus and As in most investigated species pose the highest risk of exposure. The carcinogenic risk values indicate that As and Ni concentrations in the species are above the acceptable lifetime risk for adults and children in most of the species. The margin of exposure risk approach indicated that the risk of detrimental effects due to dietary Pb intake for age groups is low, except for consumers of T. tonggol.

Gene Expression Analysis of the Stress Response to Lithium, Nickel, and Zinc in Paracentrotus lividus Embryos

Many anthropogenic pollutants such as metals are discharged into the marine environment through modern sources. Among these, lithium (Li), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) can interfere with biological processes in many organisms when their concentration rises. These metals are toxic to sea urchin embryos, affecting their development. Indeed, animal/vegetal and dorso/ventral embryonic axes are differently perturbed: Li is a vegetalizing agent, Ni can disrupt dorso-ventral axis, Zn can be animalizing. To address the molecular response adopted by embryos to cope with these metals or involved in the gene networks regulating embryogenesis, and to detect new biomarkers for evaluating hazards in polluted environments in a well-known in vivo model, we applied a high-throughput screening approach to sea urchin embryos. After fertilization, Paracentrotus lividus embryos were exposed to Li, Ni, and Zn for 24/48 h. At both endpoints, RNAs were analyzed by NanoString nCounter technology. By in silico analyses, we selected a panel of 127 transcripts encoding for regulatory and structural proteins, ranked in categories: Apoptosis, Defense, Immune, Nervous, Development, and Biomineralization. The data analysis highlighted the dysregulation of many genes in a metal-dependent manner. A functional annotation analysis was performed by the KEEG Orthology database. This study provides a platform for research on metals biomarkers in sea urchins.

Trophodynamics of trace elements in marine organisms from cold and remote regions of southern hemisphere

Trace metals bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms and some of them biomagnify through food webs, posing a threat to the organisms or their human consumers. Although the trophodynamics of many trace metals is well known in the northern hemisphere, much less is known about metals in aquatic food webs from cold and remote coastal zones of the southern hemisphere. To fill this gap, we investigated the trophodynamics of Al, Co, Cr, Li, Mo, Ni, Sr, and V, which were measured in marine macroinvertebrates and fishes from inshore and offshore locations in each of the Chilean Patagonia and the Antarctic Peninsula area. In Patagonia, there was biodilution of these metals across the whole food web, while biomagnification of Li and Ni was significantly found across the lower food web at the offshore site. In Antarctica, significant biodilution of Al, Li, Ni, Mo, Sr and V occurred through the whole food web for the inshore site, but no tendency (biodilution or biomagnification) was found (p > 0.05) across the organisms at lower trophic levels for the offshore site. Our data suggest that the geographic location and species influences the trophodynamics of these trace elements and expand our understanding of metal fate in remote locations of the southern hemisphere.

Nutritional and Other Trace Elements and Their Associations in Raw King Bolete Mushrooms, Boletus edulis

The occurrence and associations of Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Cs, Hg, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Sr, Tl, U, V, W, and Zn, including data that have not been previously reported on Be, Hf, In, Li, Mo, Nb, Sn, Ta, Th, Ti and Zr, and the sum of (14) rare earth elements (ƩREE), were studied in a spatially diverse collection of the B. edulis caps, stipes, and whole fruiting bodies using a validated procedure with measurement by quadrupole ICP-MS. Toxic Cd and Pb were in B. edulis at concentrations below limits set by the European Union in regulations for raw cultivated mushrooms, while Ag, As, Hg, Sb, Tl, and U, which are not regulated, were at relatively low or typical levels as is usually found in mushrooms from an unpolluted area. The elements Be, Bi, Ga, Ge, Hf, In, Nb, Ta, Th, and W, and also ƩREEs, were found at relatively low concentrations in B. edulis, i.e., with levels from below 0.1 to below 0.01 mg kg-1 dw, and for Ʃ14 REEs, the median was 0.31 mg kg-1 dw. The composite samples of caps showed Ag, Cd, Cu, Cs, Ga, Ge, Hg, Mo, Ni, Rb, Sb, Ti, and Zn at higher concentrations than stipes, while Ba, Co, Hf, Sr, Tl, and Zr were found at higher concentrations in stipes than caps (p < 0.05). Mushrooms were characterized by a low coefficient of variation (CV) of below 20%, between sites for concentrations of As, Cu, Ge, Hg, Ni, V, and Zn, while substantial differences (CV > 100%) were found for Ba, Bi, Co, Hf, Zr, and ƩREEs, and an intermediate variation was found for Sr, W, and U. Principal component analysis performed on mushrooms allowed differentiation with respect to 13 collection sites and separation of a consignment that was specifically contaminated, possibly due to a legacy pollution, with significantly higher levels of Ba, Co, Ga, Li, Nb, Ni, Sr, Th, Ti, Y, Zr, and ƩREEs, and another due to possible recent pollution (Pb-gasoline and also Ni); two due to geological contamination because of the Bi, In, Sc, Sb, Sn, Ta, V and W; and one more, the Sudety Mts. site, which was considered as "geogenic/anthropogenic" due to Ag, As, Be, Cd, Cs, Ni, Pb, Rb, Tl, and U.

From mine to mind and mobiles - Lithium contamination and its risk management

With the ever-increasing demand for lithium (Li) for portable energy storage devices, there is a global concern associated with environmental contamination of Li, via the production, use, and disposal of Li-containing products, including mobile phones and mood-stabilizing drugs. While geogenic Li is sparingly soluble, Li added to soil is one of the most mobile cations in soil, which can leach to groundwater and reach surface water through runoff. Lithium is readily taken up by plants and has relatively high plant accumulation coefficient, albeit the underlying mechanisms have not been well described. Therefore, soil contamination with Li could reach the food chain due to its mobility in surface- and ground-waters and uptake into plants. High environmental Li levels adversely affect the health of humans, animals, and plants. Lithium toxicity can be considerably managed through various remediation approaches such as immobilization using clay-like amendments and/or chelate-enhanced phytoremediation. This review integrates fundamental aspects of Li distribution and behaviour in terrestrial and aquatic environments in an effort to efficiently remediate Li-contaminated ecosystems. As research to date has not provided a clear picture of how the increased production and disposal of Li-based products adversely impact human and ecosystem health, there is an urgent need for further studies on this field.

Mission impossible: Reach the carrion in a lithium pollution and marine warming scenario

In this study we investigated the independent and synergistic effects of lithium (Li, 0.08 mM) contamination and the rising seawater temperature (21 °C; control- 15 °C) on survival and trophic interactions (foraging behaviour, success, search time, carrion preference, feeding time, and tissue consumption-the dry weight basis) of the opportunistic intertidal scavenger Tritia neritea. Trophic interactions were assessed in a two-choice test using a Y-maze design using the same amount of two carrion species (Solen marginatus and Mytilus galloprovincialis) given to all snails simultaneously. Lithium pollution and synergestic warming have the effect of reducing the survival rate of T. neritea, triggering potential global change scenarios. The foraging behaviour of T. neritea under Li-contaminated conditions was characterised by a decrease in the snail's effectiveness in finding a carrion. Lithium changes the feeding behaviour as well as increasing the time it takes for snails to reach their food. T. neritea did not show preference for any of the carrion species offered in controls, but a shift in feeding behaviour towards more energetic carrion under Li contamination which may indicate a strategy to compensate for the greater energy expenditure necessary to survive. There were no differences in feeding time at the different treatments and regardless of the treatment tested T. neritea consumed more mussels tissue probably due to its greater palatability. Results showing foraging modifications in an intertidal scavenger mollusc in global change scenarios indicate potential changes in complex trophic interactions of marine food webs.

The use of Li2O fortified growing compost to enhance lithiation in white Agaricus bisporus mushrooms: Li uptake and co-accumulation of other trace elements

In an attempt to enrich the fruiting bodies with Lithium (Li), this study cultivated mushrooms using growing sets that were fortified with Li2O at 1.0, 5.0, 10, 50, 100 and 500 mg·kg−1 dw. Compost fortification up to 100 mg·kg−1 dw induced a dose-dependent increase in Li accumulation with resulting median mushroom concentrations of 2.0, 8.6, 16, 29 and 38 mg·kg−1 dw, respectively, relative to the unfortified control at 0.087 mg·kg−1 dw. The dose dependency appears to level off as Li2O addition approaches 100 mg·kg−1, suggesting that there is a limit to the ability of the species to accumulate/tolerate Li. Mushrooms did not grow at the 500 mg·kg−1 dw fortification level. At the highest viable level of fortification (100 mg·kg−1 dw), the fruiting bodies were around 440-fold richer in Li content than the control mushrooms. Additionally, the fortification at all levels up to 100 mg·kg−1 dw showed very low, if any, effect on the co-accumulation of the other, studied trace mineral constituents, with concentrations occurring at the lower range of those reported for commercial A. bisporus mushrooms.