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Zacchini M. Bismuth interaction with plants: Uptake and transport, toxic effects, tolerance mechanisms - A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 360:142414. [PMID: 38789054 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Bismuth (Bi) is a minor metal whose abundance on Earth is estimated at 0.025 ppm. Known since ancient times for its medical properties, its use in many industrial applications has increased significantly in recent years due to its physical and chemical properties. Considered less toxic than other metals, Bi has been defined as a "green metal" and has been suggested as a replacement for lead in many industrial processes. Although the occurrence of Bi in the environment is predicted to increase, there is still a lack of information on its interaction with biota. Even though it is absorbed by many organisms, Bi has not been directly implicated in the regulation of fundamental metabolic processes. This review summarises the fragmentary knowledge on the interaction between Bi and plants. Toxic effects at the growth, physiological and biochemical levels have been described in Bi-treated plants, with varying degrees and consequences for plant vitality, mostly depending on the chemical formulation of Bi, the concentration of Bi, the growth medium, the time of exposure, and the experimental conditions (laboratory or outdoor conditions). Bismuth has been shown to be readily absorbed and translocated in plants, interfering with plant growth and development, photosynthetic processes, nutrient uptake and accumulation, and metal (especially iron) homeostasis. Like other metals, Bi can induce an oxidative stress state in plant cells, and genotoxic effects have been reported in Bi-treated plants. Tolerance responses to the excess presence of Bi have been poorly described and are mostly referred to as the activation of antioxidant defences involving enzymatic and non-enzymatic molecules. The goal of this review is to offer an overview of the present knowledge on the interaction of Bi and plants, highlighting the gaps to be filled to better understand the role of Bi in affecting key physiological processes in plants. This will help to assess the potential harm of this metal in the environment, where its occurrence is predicted to increase due to the growing demand for medicinal and industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Zacchini
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET), National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Via Salaria Km 29.300, 00015, Monterotondo Scalo Roma, Italy; NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center S.c.a.r.l., Piazza Marina 61 (c/o Palazzo Steri), 90133, Palermo, Italy.
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Bertanza G, Abbà A, Alias C, Amatucci A, Binelli A, Castiglioni S, Fossati M, Cruzeiro C, Torre CD, Domini M, Feretti D, Gilioli G, Magni S, Mazzoleni G, Menghini M, Pedrazzani R, Schroeder P, Simonetto A, Steimberg N, Ventura V, Vezzoli S, Zerbini I. To spread or not to spread? Assessing the suitability of sewage sludge and other biogenic wastes for agriculture reuse. MethodsX 2024; 12:102599. [PMID: 38379723 PMCID: PMC10876616 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2024.102599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Sewage sludge (biosolids) management represents a worldwide issue. Due to its valuable properties, approximately one half of the EU production is recovered in agriculture. Nevertheless, growing attention is given to potential negative effects deriving from the presence of harmful pollutants. It is recognized that a (even very detailed) chemical characterization is not able to predict ecotoxicity of a mixture. However, this can be directly measured by bioassays. Actually, the choice of the most suitable tests is still under debate. This paper presents a multilevel characterization protocol of sewage sludge and other organic residues, based on bioassays and chemical-physical-microbiological analyses. The detailed description of the experimental procedure includes all the involved steps: the criteria for selecting the organic matrices to be tested and compared; the sample pre-treatment required before the analyses execution; the chemical, physical and microbiological characterisation; the bioassays, grouped in three classes (baseline toxicity; specific mode of action; reactive mode of action); data processing. The novelty of this paper lies in the integrated use of advanced tools, and is based on three pillars:•the direct ecosafety assessment of the matrices to be reused.•the adoption of innovative bioassays and analytical procedures.•the original criteria for data normalization and processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Bertanza
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
- MISTRAL, Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca, Milano Bicocca e Verona “Modelli Integrati di Studio per la Tutela della Salute e la Prevenzione negli Ambienti di Vita e di Lavoro”, Università di Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Abbà
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Carlotta Alias
- Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Achille Amatucci
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Andrea Binelli
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milano I-20133, Italy
| | - Sara Castiglioni
- Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, IRCCS. Via Mario Negri 2, Milano I-20156, Italy
| | - Marco Fossati
- Dipartimento Ambiente e Salute, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, IRCCS. Via Mario Negri 2, Milano I-20156, Italy
| | - Catarina Cruzeiro
- Helmholtz Zentrum München – Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, Neuherberg D-85764, Germany
| | - Camilla Della Torre
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milano I-20133, Italy
| | - Marta Domini
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Donatella Feretti
- MISTRAL, Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca, Milano Bicocca e Verona “Modelli Integrati di Studio per la Tutela della Salute e la Prevenzione negli Ambienti di Vita e di Lavoro”, Università di Brescia, Italy
- Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Gianni Gilioli
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Stefano Magni
- Dipartimento di Bioscienze, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 26, Milano I-20133, Italy
| | - Giovanna Mazzoleni
- MISTRAL, Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca, Milano Bicocca e Verona “Modelli Integrati di Studio per la Tutela della Salute e la Prevenzione negli Ambienti di Vita e di Lavoro”, Università di Brescia, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Viale Europa 11, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Michele Menghini
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 38, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Roberta Pedrazzani
- MISTRAL, Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca, Milano Bicocca e Verona “Modelli Integrati di Studio per la Tutela della Salute e la Prevenzione negli Ambienti di Vita e di Lavoro”, Università di Brescia, Italy
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Industriale, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 38, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Peter Schroeder
- Helmholtz Zentrum München – Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH), Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, Neuherberg D-85764, Germany
| | - Anna Simonetto
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Nathalie Steimberg
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e Sperimentali, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Viale Europa 11, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Vera Ventura
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Simona Vezzoli
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Architettura, Territorio e Ambiente e di Matematica, Università degli Studi di Brescia. Via Branze 43, Brescia I-25123, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zerbini
- Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Sanità Pubblica, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Viale Europa 11, Brescia I-25123, Italy
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Song Y, Vlaardingen MV, Senden F, Peijnenburg WJ, Vijver MG. Trimetal-based nanomaterials induced toxicity to plants: Does it differ from the toxicity of mixed and single-element nanoparticles? Heliyon 2023; 9:e23178. [PMID: 38149197 PMCID: PMC10750049 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced materials comprising multiple metal alloys have made their way into the market. Trimetal-based nanomaterials (TNMs) are an example of advanced materials which have gained significant traction and are now employed in a wide array of products. It is essential to raise the question if the toxicity of advanced nanomaterials like TNMs differs from the joint effects as manifested by exposure to the single component nanoparticles (NPs). To answer this question, a trimetal-based nanomaterial: bismuth cobalt zinc oxide (BiCoZnO) was tested. This TNM had a mass ratio of 90 % ZnO NPs, 7 % Bi2O3 NPs and 3 % Co3O4 NPs. Nanoparticle-exposed lettuce seedlings (Lactuca sativa L.) showed decreases in relative root elongation (RRE) and biomass production after 21 days of exposure. The 50 % of maximal effective concentration (EC50) value of the TNMs for biomass production was 1.2 mg L-1 when the exposure period was 240 h. This is of the same magnitude as the EC50 values found for ZnO NPs (EC50 = 1.5 mg L-1) and for the mixture of components NPs (MCNPs) which jointly form the TNMs (EC50 = 3.7 mg L-1) after 10 d of exposure. The inhibition of plant root elongation by the TNMs was partially (65 %) attributed to the release of Zn ions, with the actual concentration of released Zn ions being lower in TNMs compared to the actual concentration of Zn ions in case of ZnO NPs. It is therefore to be concluded that the concentration of Zn ions cannot be used as a direct measure to compare the toxicity between traditional and advanced Zn-related nanomaterials. The EC50 values could be assessed within a factor of two; which is helpful when developing advanced alloy nanomaterials and assessing prospective the effects of trimetal-based nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchao Song
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333, CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mieke van Vlaardingen
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333, CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Senden
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333, CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Willie J.G.M. Peijnenburg
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333, CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
- National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Center for Safety of Substances and Products, Bilthoven, 3720, BA, the Netherlands
| | - Martina G. Vijver
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333, CC, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Alias C, Piovani G, Benassi L, Abbà A, Sorlini S, Gelatti U, Zerbini I, Feretti D. Evaluation of Toxicity and Genotoxicity of Concrete Cast with Steel Slags Using Higher Terrestrial Plants. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2193-2200. [PMID: 37401854 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
The potential impact of concrete mixtures containing steel slag (SS) as a partial replacement of natural aggregates (NA) on the terrestrial ecosystem was assessed using a battery of plant-based bioassays. Leaching tests were conducted on four concrete mixtures and one mixture containing only NA (reference concrete). Leachates were tested for phytotoxicity using seeds of Lepidium sativum, Cucumis sativus, and Allium cepa. Emerging seedlings of L. sativum and A. cepa were used to assess DNA damage (comet test). The genotoxicity of the leachates was also analyzed with bulbs of A. cepa using the comet and chromosome aberration tests. None of the samples caused phytotoxic effects. On the contrary, almost all the samples supported the seedlings; and two leachates, one from the SS-containing concrete and the other from the reference concrete, promoted the growth of C. sativus and A. cepa. The DNA damage of L. sativum and A. cepa seedlings was significantly increased only by the reference concrete sample. In contrast, the DNA damage in A. cepa bulbs was significantly enhanced by the reference concrete but also by that of a concrete sample with SS. Furthermore, all leachates caused an increase in chromosomal aberrations in A. cepa bulbs. Despite some genotoxic effects of the concrete on plant cells, the partial replacement of SS does not seem to make the concrete more hazardous than the reference concrete, suggesting the potential use of SS as a reliable recycled material. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2193-2200. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Alias
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giovanna Piovani
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Benassi
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alessandro Abbà
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural, Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sabrina Sorlini
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural, Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Umberto Gelatti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Zerbini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donatella Feretti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- B+LabNet-Environmental Sustainability Laboratory, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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Alpine-ice record of bismuth pollution implies a major role of military use during World War II. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1166. [PMID: 36670239 PMCID: PMC9859787 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28319-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Military conflicts result in local environmental damage, but documenting regional and larger scale impacts such as heavy metal pollution has proven elusive. Anthropogenic emissions of bismuth (Bi) include coal burning and various commodity productions but no emission estimates over the past century exist. Here we used Bi measurements in ice cores from the French Alps to show evidence of regional-scale Bi pollution concurrent with the Spanish Civil War and World War II. Tracers of the main sources of Bi emissions measured in the same ice-coal-burning, steel- and aluminum-industry, alloy and other metal processing-indicate a major, previously undocumented additional emissions source that we attribute to military activities between 1935 and 1945 Common Era (CE) in western Europe. These include the use of bismuth for low-melting point alloys for shells, thin-walled aluminum alloy aircraft oil, and munitions.
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