Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Helena Sant'Ovaia, Claudia Cruz, Alexandra Guedes, Helena Ribeiro, Patricia Santos, Sonia Pereira, Jorge Espinha Marques, Maria dos Anjos Ribeiro, Catarina Mansilha, Helena Cristina Brites Martins, Bruno Valentim, Joana Torres, Ilda Abreu, Fernando Noronha, Deolinda Flores
Summary: The study focused on the tungsten Regoufe mine, which stopped operations in the 1970s. The research evaluated the contamination of soil, plants, and water in the mining area, specifically looking at potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The results showed that the area had a high level of contamination, posing ecological risks, particularly due to contributions from arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd). However, it was difficult to establish a direct link between As contamination and mining activities, as the soils were already enriched in metals and metalloids from natural geological processes. The study also found that PTE levels in plants were lower than in soil, but bioaccumulation was influenced by site-specific soil concentrations of As and Pb. Magnetic studies indicated the presence of technogenic particles, likely formed during ore processing/mining activities. Overall, the levels of PTEs in surface and groundwater samples were relatively low, with the exception of As, which exceeded drinking water standards.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
M. Azizi, A. Faz, R. Zornoza, S. Martinez-Martinez, V. Shahrokh, J. A. Acosta
Summary: This study evaluated the distribution, relationship, and pollution of metal(loid)s and rare earth elements (REEs) in mine tailings. The results showed high concentrations of these elements, with some exceeding soil contamination limits. The acidity of the waste materials decreased with increasing depth, resulting in precipitation and reduced mobility of the studied elements. Multivariate analysis proved to be a useful tool for identifying the sources of heavy metals and REEs in the mining waste.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Christophe Pascal, Luis Jaques, Atsushi Yamaji
Summary: A novel method to reconstruct the paleostress tensor is proposed and tested in Panasqueira Mine. The method involves measurement and inversion of vein attitudes, determination of pore pressures using fluid inclusion isochores and mineral geothermometry, and adjustment of the Mohr circle based on geomechanical constraints. The study provides valuable insights into the stress regime and lithostatic pressure during mineralization.
JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mitra Azizi, Angel Faz, Raul Zornoza, Silvia Martinez-Martinez, Jose A. A. Acosta
Summary: Mining activity negatively impacts the surrounding ecosystem, especially through the release of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Phytoremediation offers a potential solution to remediate contaminated areas. This study evaluated the contamination level of 29 metal(loid)s and rare earth elements (REEs) in natural soils and native plant species near a Pb-(Ag)-Zn mine, and assessed their potential for phytoextraction and phytostabilization.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaolin Kuang, Liang Peng, Shaoning Chen, Chen Peng, Huijuan Song
Summary: Acid mine drainage is harmful to the environment. Bioremediation using biological soil crusts (BSCs) is an effective method to alleviate metal pollution in acid mine drainage. The study found that BSCs can survive in strongly acidic environments and have a high metal(loid) accumulation ability. The main components of BSCs are algae, which regulate fatty acids and produce acid-resistant enzymes to remove metal(loid) pollutants from acid mine drainage.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chiamaka Belsonia Opara, Rosie Blannin, Doreen Ebert, Max Frenzel, Katrin Pollmann, Sabine Kutschke
Summary: This study developed a synchronized method for bioleaching valuable and hazardous metal(loid)s from sulfidic mine waste samples using a novel acidophilic consortium. The results showed that bioleaching could efficiently leach many metals within a short period of time, but some metals such as copper had poor leaching efficiency. Additionally, bioleaching resulted in the formation of secondary minerals.
MINERALS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raquel Juan-Ovejero, Jose Alvarez-Rogel, Antonio Penalver-Alcala, Rudo A. Verweij, Cornelis A. M. van Gestel, M. Nazaret Gonzalez-Alcaraz
Summary: Abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings create hostile conditions for above- and below-ground communities due to high metal(loid) levels, organic matter and nutrient deficiency, which is exacerbated in semiarid areas. However, spontaneous plant colonization of these tailings can promote the presence of soil microarthropod communities and contribute to improving ecosystem functionality.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria R. Costa, Doroteja Gosar, Marika Pinti, Adelaide Ferreira, Martina Bergant Marusic
Summary: This follow-up study of monitoring data from an abandoned gold mine in Portugal revealed that arsenic levels have consistently exceeded drinking water and irrigation limits. The experiment found that groundwater contains higher concentrations of dissolved minerals compared to surface water, with higher levels of As(III) and other elements. Exposure to arsenic-containing water samples resulted in decreased metabolic activity and increased genotoxicity in human cell lines. The study suggests that a mixture of arsenic with other chemical elements in water may have a synergistic effect in promoting cytotoxicity, which could have even more harmful effects with prolonged exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Patricia Santos, Jorge Espinha Marques, Joana Ribeiro, Catarina Mansilha, Armindo Melo, Rita Fonseca, Helena Sant'Ovaia, Deolinda Flores
Summary: This study investigates the physicochemical and geochemical changes in soils surrounding a self-burning waste pile in an abandoned coal mine. The results indicate that coal mining can lead to the generation of organic and inorganic contaminants that can spread to surrounding soils. Multivariate statistics and geostatistical methodologies were used to analyze the statistical and spatial relations of different elements and infer their sources. The presence of 16 priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soils suggests contributions from various sources.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Santos Mulholland, Jeremie Garnier, Daniel Ferreira Araujo, Welton Climaco Duarte, Gael Monvoisin, Cecile Quantin, Remi Freydier, Patrick Seyler
Summary: This study investigates the dynamics of metal and metalloid concentrations in the estuarine water of the Doce River in Brazil, particularly examining the effects of the collapse of an iron ore-processing tailing dam on particulate and dissolved metal(loid) concentrations. The results show that the dam failure resulted in increased concentrations of various metals, exceeding quality and regulatory guidelines and posing potential health risks to local communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sungmoon Yoon, Duk-Min Kim, Soonyoung Yu, Juhyun Park, Seong-Taek Yun
Summary: This study investigates the impact of tailings from gold mining on soil contamination near a river, and finds that the contamination levels are affected by the application of mercury, the discharge of light and heavy minerals, and mismanagement or spills of mercury. The distribution of soil contaminants is controlled by the specific gravity of minerals discharged to the environment, ore processing stages, and insufficient recovery and/or spills of mercury.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose alvarez-Rogel, Antonio Penalver-Alcala, M. Nazaret Gonzalez-Alcaraz
Summary: This study evaluated the consistency of soil improvement caused by natural vegetation colonization in abandoned metal(loid) mine tailings in semiarid areas throughout seasons. The results showed that the improvement in soil conditions induced by vegetation colonization was consistent throughout seasons, especially in more complex vegetation patches. However, bare soils and simpler soil-plant systems exhibited stronger seasonal variability in temperature, moisture content, salinity, and water-soluble metals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mojtaba Ostovar, Alireza Ghasemi, Farhad Karimi, Nima Saberi, Bas Vriens
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of EDTA-enhanced electrokinetic remediation (EKR) for the removal of trace and major metals from phosphate mine tailings. Experimental results showed that increasing EDTA concentration and voltage gradient led to enhanced migration and removal of contaminants. The differences in metal mobilization could be explained by studying the mineral hosts and aqueous speciation.
SEPARATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hatim Badri, David A. Polya, Andrew. C. Povey
Summary: DNA strand breaks caused by micrometer-scale solid particles with elevated heavy metals/metalloids, notably arsenic, were assessed in this study. The presence of H(2)O(2) led to significantly higher levels of damage, indicating a potential role of the Fenton reaction in DNA damage formation. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanism of this damage and the contribution of reactive oxygen species.
ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Chiamaka Belsonia Opara, Sabine Kutschke, Katrin Pollmann
Summary: This study evaluated the environmental risk of sulfidic mine waste from Portugal and Germany, finding higher mobility in certain metal(loid)s in the German waste samples.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Robertina Giacconi, Blanca Laffon, Solange Costa, Armanda Teixeira-Gomes, Fabrizio Maggi, Lisa Macera, Pietro Giorgio Spezia, Francesco Piacenza, Alexander Buerkle, Maria Moreno-Villanueva, Stefano Bonassi, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Joao Paulo Teixeira, Martijn E. T. Dolle, M. Liset Rietman, Eugene Jansen, Tilman Grune, Efstathios S. Gonos, Claudio Franceschi, Miriam Capri, Birgit Weinberger, Ewa Sikora, Wolfgang Stuetz, Olivier Toussaint, Florence Debacq-Chainiaux, Antti Hervonen, Mikko Hurme, P. Eline Slagboom, Christiane Schoen, Juergen Bernhardt, Nicolle Breusing, Eduardo Pasaro, Ana Maseda, Laura Lorenzo-Lopez, Jose C. Millan-Calenti, Mauro Provinciali, Marco Malavolta
Summary: This study analyzed the association between TTV viremia and physical frailty and cognitive impairment. The results showed that TTV viremia was associated with physical frailty and cognitive impairment. However, the association varied in different study samples.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Maria Joao Bessa, Fatima Brandao, Fernanda Rosario, Luciana Moreira, Ana Teresa Reis, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Blanca Laffon, Sonia Fraga, Joao Paulo Teixeira
Summary: Several studies have investigated the potential adverse health risks associated with exposure to nanoscale materials. In vitro model systems provide important information about the molecular mechanisms of action, while in vivo studies are crucial for understanding the relationship between dose and adverse effects. This review focuses on the toxicity assessment of inhaled (nano)particulate materials and provides an overview of available human respiratory models and exposure systems for in vitro testing, as well as their advantages, limitations, and current research.
JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH-PART B-CRITICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Andrew Collins, Peter Moller, Goran Gajski, Sona Vodenkova, Abdulhadi Abdulwahed, Diana Anderson, Ezgi Eyluel Bankoglu, Stefano Bonassi, Elisa Boutet-Robinet, Gunnar Brunborg, Christy Chao, Marcus S. S. Cooke, Carla Costa, Solange Costa, Alok Dhawan, Joaquin de Lapuente, Cristian Del Bo, Julien Dubus, Maria Dusinska, Susan J. J. Duthie, Naouale El Yamani, Bevin Engelward, Isabel Gaivao, Lisa Giovannelli, Roger Godschalk, Sofia Guilherme, Kristine B. B. Gutzkow, Khaled Habas, Alba Hernandez, Oscar Herrero, Marina Isidori, Awadhesh N. N. Jha, Siegfried Knasmueller, Ingeborg M. M. Kooter, Gudrun Koppen, Marcin Kruszewski, Carina Ladeira, Blanca Laffon, Marcelo Larramendy, Ludovic Le Hegarat, Angelique Lewies, Anna Lewinska, Guillermo E. E. Liwszyc, Adela Lopez de Cerain, Mugimane Manjanatha, Ricard Marcos, Mirta Milic, Vanessa Moraes de Andrade, Massimo Moretti, Damian Muruzabal, Matjaz Novak, Rui Oliveira, Ann-Karin Olsen, Norah Owiti, Mario Pacheco, Alok K. K. Pandey, Stefan Pfuhler, Bertrand Pourrut, Kerstin Reisinger, Emilio Rojas, Elise Runden-Pran, Julen Sanz-Serrano, Sergey Shaposhnikov, Ville Sipinen, Karen Smeets, Helga Stopper, Joao Paulo Teixeira, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Mahara Valverde, Frederique van Acker, Frederik-Jan van Schooten, Marie Vasquez, Johannes F. F. Wentzel, Maciej Wnuk, Annelies Wouters, Bojana Zegura, Tomas Zikmund, Sabine A. S. Langie, Amaya Azqueta
Summary: The comet assay is a versatile method for detecting various types of DNA damage in individual eukaryotic cells. It has been widely used in research, industry, and regulatory agencies, and has been adopted as an in vivo test for genotoxicity. The present document provides consensus protocols for applying the comet assay to different cell types, species, and types of DNA damage.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
M. C. Coelho, A. S. Rodrigues, J. A. Teixeira, M. E. Pintado
Summary: The tomato processing industry is vital for the global market, aiming to optimize production and minimize waste while ensuring high-quality products. By-products generated in this industry are often discarded as waste, but they contain bioactive compounds with various beneficial properties. Recycling these compounds not only reduces environmental impact but also enables the development of value-added products for different purposes. This review discusses the recovery and utilization of bioactive compounds from tomato by-products within the context of a circular economy.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Helena R. Rocha, Marta C. Coelho, Ana M. Gomes, Manuela E. Pintado
Summary: Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown that the consumption of fruits and vegetables can decrease the risk of various chronic diseases. The positive health benefits are attributed to secondary plant metabolites, particularly carotenoids and their metabolites, which affect gene expression and protein translation. However, there is still a lack of research on the digestive processes, stability, functionality, and impact on gut microbiota of carotenoids, as well as their role in oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. Future studies should focus on understanding the relationships between carotenoids, related metabolites, and their effects on transcription factors and metabolism.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Marta C. Coelho, Soudabeh Ghalamara, Ricardo Pereira, Antonio S. Rodrigues, Jose A. Teixeira, Manuela E. Pintado
Summary: This study focused on developing a zero waste strategy for the by-products of winemaking, specifically grape pomace. The phytochemical properties of the by-products were identified and characterized, and a green extraction method called ohmic heating was applied. The study found that red grape pomace contains more bioactive compounds compared to white grape pomace.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Marta C. Coelho, Celia Costa, Dalila Roupar, Sara Silva, A. Sebastiao Rodrigues, Jose A. Teixeira, Manuela E. Pintado
Summary: Several studies have shown that prebiotics and probiotics have positive effects on gut microbiota. This study aimed to assess the fermentability of tomato flour obtained through different extraction methods and its impact on specific microbiota groups. The results showed that the tomato flour could support the growth of Bifidus longum, and different strains of probiotics had different responses to the flour depending on their carbohydrate profiles. The study also found correlations between microbial growth, short-chain fatty acids, and the different extraction methods.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Marta C. C. Coelho, Soudabeh Ghalamara, Debora Campos, Tania Braganca Ribeiro, Ricardo Pereira, Antonio S. Rodrigues, Jose A. Teixeira, Manuela Pintado
Summary: Tomato by-products from processing industries in Portugal have the potential to be reused as a source of bioactive compounds. However, there is a lack of reliable national data on these by-products and their physicochemical properties, which hinders effective waste management planning. In this study, selected Portugal companies were recruited to obtain representative samples of by-products, and their physicochemical composition was evaluated. Additionally, an environmentally friendly method called ohmic heating (OH) was used to explore new safe value-added ingredients from these by-products.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Teresa Reis, Carla Costa, Sonia Fraga
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Peter Moller, Amaya Azqueta, Adriana Rodriguez-Garraus, Tamara Bakuradze, Elke Richling, Ezgi Eyluel Bankoglu, Helga Stopper, Victoria Claudino Bastos, Sabine A. S. Langie, Annie Jensen, Sara Ristori, Francesca Scavone, Lisa Giovannelli, Maria Wojewodzka, Marcin Kruszewski, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Blanca Laffon, Carla Costa, Solange Costa, Joao Paulo Teixeira, Mirko Marino, Cristian Del Bo, Patrizia Riso, Congying Zheng, Sergey Shaposhnikov, Andrew Collins
Summary: Accumulation of DNA strand breaks during cryopreservation is not a concern for mononuclear blood cell lines, and there is inter-laboratory variation in the results.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Peter Moller, Amaya Azqueta, Adriana Rodriguez-Garraus, Tamara Bakuradze, Elke Richling, Ezgi Eyluel Bankoglu, Helga Stopper, Victoria Claudino Bastos, Sabine A. S. Langie, Annie Jensen, Sara Ristori, Francesca Scavone, Lisa Giovannelli, Maria Wojewodzka, Marcin Kruszewski, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Blanca Laffon, Carla Costa, Solange Costa, Joao Paulo Teixeira, Mirko Marino, Cristian Del Bo', Patrizia Riso, Congying Zheng, Sergey Shaposhnikov, Andrew Collins
Summary: The study finds that potassium bromate is a suitable positive control for the Fpg-modified comet assay, which is widely used to measure oxidatively generated damage to DNA. Although all laboratories obtained positive concentration-response relationships, there was variation in the levels of Fpg-sensitive sites between different laboratories. However, the consistency between the measurements of %Tail DNA values and visual scores of comet images done in the central laboratory suggests a potential source of inter-laboratory variation.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Fatima Brandao, Carla Costa, Maria Joao Bessa, Vanessa Valdiglesias, Bryan Hellack, Andrea Haase, Sonia Fraga, Joao Paulo Teixeira
Summary: This study assessed the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of different-sized and surface-modified amorphous silica nanomaterials on rat alveolar epithelial cells. The results showed that variants with larger surface areas had higher cytotoxic potential, SiO2_40 induced significant DNA damage, and all tested variants increased gamma-H2AX levels. This study supports the use of multiparametric approaches to improve understanding of nanomaterial mechanisms and hazard prediction.
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Robert Clough, Chris F. Harrington, Steve J. Hill, Yolanda Madrid, Julian F. Tyson
Summary: This is the 15th Atomic Spectrometry Update focusing on advancements in elemental speciation over a 12-month period from January 2022. The review covers various analytic atomic spectrometry methods for determining oxidation states, organometallic compounds, coordination compounds, biomolecules containing metals and heteroatoms, and the use of metal-tagging for detection. Molecular detection techniques are also included as a complementary approach to speciation analysis. The number of publications and elements covered in the review has decreased, likely due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but the popular elements studied remain As, Hg, and Se, with a broad range of matrices such as biological, environmental, and food samples.
JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL ATOMIC SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaun G. Bevers, Casey Smith, Stephanie Brown, Nathan Malone, D. Howard Fairbrother, Aaron J. Goodman, James F. Ranville
Summary: Nanomaterials play a crucial role in environmental processes, but characterizing and quantifying them in environmental matrices is challenging. This study demonstrates the deleterious effects of particle-based backgrounds on the analysis of particle number concentration and particle size distribution using single particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A novel methodology is proposed to minimize the effects of particle coincidence and model the particle size distribution accurately. The significance of this methodology is demonstrated through the analysis of environmentally relevant nanomaterials and colloids.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-NANO
(2023)
