Article
Environmental Sciences
Roheela Yasmeen, Laiba Asif
Summary: Heavy metals can cause detrimental disruptions in vultures and threaten vulture populations globally. A study conducted at Changa Manga Vulture Conservatory in Punjab using non-invasive techniques found that captive vultures exhibit hostile behavior and fear human interaction. The study also revealed that both essential and non-essential heavy metals were detected in higher concentrations in feathers and fecal samples, possibly due to the type of feed provided to captive vultures.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ting Liu, Qian Chen, Linbao Zhang, Xiaoli Liu, Chunming Liu
Summary: This study investigated the toxic effects of selenium and mercury on the halophyte Suaeda salsa at the genetic, protein, and metabolite levels. Changes in pathways involved in metabolism, photosynthesis, and energy production were revealed under different treatments. Both selenium and mercury inhibited growth of S. salsa, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, and disrupted osmotic regulation through gene expression, with selenium showing potential for synergistic effects.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yilu Gu, Tomohiro Tobino, Fumiyuki Nakajima
Summary: This study investigated the toxicity of two alkylphenols, 4-tert-butylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol, on a benthic ostracod. It found that the dietary exposure route was more important for 4tBP, while the waterborne exposure route was more important for 4tOP, highlighting the importance of exposure routes in determining chemical toxicity effects.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fahadul Islam, Sheikh Shohag, Shomaya Akhter, Md. Rezaul Islam, Sharifa Sultana, Saikat Mitra, Deepak Chandran, Mayeen Uddin Khandaker, Ghulam Md Ashraf, Abubakr M. Idris, Talha Bin Emran, Simona Cavalu
Summary: Metals play important roles in the human body, but high metal uptake can be harmful to the nervous system, leading to oxidative stress and decreased enzyme activity. Metal accumulation can cause lifelong deterioration, including severe neurological problems. Accidental metal exposure is closely associated with various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Long-term exposure to various metals is a known environmental risk factor, which has become more widespread due to human activities. Therefore, metals can affect brain physiology and the immune system, contributing to the formation of harmful proteins in Alzheimer's disease.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yasmina M. Abd-Elhakim, Mohamed M. Hashem, Khaled Abo-EL-Sooud, Bayan A. Hassan, Khlood M. Elbohi, Adham A. Al-Sagheer
Summary: The widespread usage of nanotechnology and engineered nanomaterials in consumer products has led to increased release of nanoparticles into the environment. This, combined with the presence of heavy metals, results in complex interactions that impact soil and aquatic organisms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jordyn Ann Howard, Halyna Kuznietsova, Natalia Dziubenko, Axel Aigle, Marco Natuzzi, Eloise Thomas, Vladimir Lysenko, Laurent David, Thomas Brichart, Francois Lux, Olivier Tillement
Summary: Heavy metals pose a threat to human health even at low concentrations within the body. The consumption of contaminated food and water is one source of exposure. Lead and cadmium can accumulate in organs like the kidneys and liver, causing various diseases. Since lead and cadmium contamination is widespread, novel strategies are needed to prevent their absorption and accumulation. In this study, a DOTAGA-functionalized chitosan polymer is evaluated as a promising method to force the elimination of lead and cadmium when orally administered in mice.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sarah Stone, Kitty S. McKnight, Christoph Naab, Darren J. Koppel, Monique T. Binet, Dianne F. Jolley, Stuart L. Simpson
Summary: Predicting the toxicity of effluent exposures poses a challenge due to variations in duration, composition, and concentration. This study assessed the toxicity of two complex effluents on a copepod species and found that pulse exposures had a greater impact on larval development and population size compared to continuous exposures.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diego Garcia-Mendoza, Hans J. H. J. van den Berg, Nico W. van den Brink
Summary: Wood mice exposed to cadmium showed impaired antibody responses, mainly affecting B cell functioning. This could make exposed mice more susceptible to infections. Site-specific assessments of immunomodulatory effects in the field are crucial.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fabrizio Pietrini, Laura Passatore, Serena Carloni, Lorenzo Massimi, Maria Luisa Astolfi, Chiara Giusto, Massimo Zacchini
Summary: Environmental pollution caused by heavy metals is a significant threat to the environment and human health. Using safer substitutes for toxic heavy metals, like Bi instead of Pb, is a potential solution. However, there is limited research on the effects of Bi on living organisms, especially plants. This study found that Bi has a toxic effect on plant growth, reduces chlorophyll and carotenoid content, impairs nitrogen balance, and affects the photosynthetic machinery.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sergio Ghidini, Maria Olga Varra, Lenka Husakova, Giovanni Loris Alborali, Jan Patocka, Adriana Ianieri, Emanuela Zanardi
Summary: This study analyzed muscle and liver tissues from Italian heavy pigs to investigate the health risk associated with the chronic consumption of these products. The concentrations of toxic metals and metalloids were found to be very low, posing no food safety concern. However, in worst-case scenarios, the consumption of pig liver by children contributed to a significant portion of the tolerable weekly intakes of certain elements, suggesting potential long-term negative health effects for the younger population.
Article
Ecology
Denglong Lu, Wenbao Luo, Haipu Li, Zhaoguang Yang
Summary: This study investigated the bioaccumulation, biotransformation, and detoxification of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in the liver of yellow catfish (Tachysurus fulvidraco) under dietary exposure to two iAs forms (arsenate (AsV) and arsenite (AsIII)). The results showed that both AsV and AsIII significantly accumulated in the fish, and the detoxification of iAs depended on arsenic methylation and the level of antioxidants. Both reduction and oxidation processes of iAs were found, and low toxicity intermediates were identified.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Muhammad Iftikhar Hussain, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Majida Naeem, Kafeel Ahmad, Muhammad Umer Farooq Awan, Mona S. Alwahibi, Mohamed Soliman Elshikh
Summary: The study found that forage irrigated with wastewater is safe for livestock consumption, but there is higher bioaccumulation in the forage species. Therefore, soil and food chain components should be avoided from trace metal contamination.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Thilomi Samarakoon, Takeshi Fujino
Summary: Investigating the effects of natural compounds and xenobiotics on aquatic ecosystems is crucial for ecological risk assessments. This study focused on the effects of sublethal cadmium concentrations and humic acid concentrations on various characteristics of Moina macrocopa. Results showed that cadmium had negative effects on swimming velocity and reproduction, while humic acid had positive effects on growth, reproduction, and lifespan. When combined, the positive effects of humic acid on life-history characteristics were still observed at low Cd concentration, but not at higher concentration. These findings suggest energy tradeoffs in M. macrocopa when exposed to stressors.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Muhammad Iftikhar Hussain, Majida Naeem, Zafar Iqbal Khan, Shahzad Akhtar, Muhammad Nadeem, Maha Abdallah Alnuwaiser, Kafeel Ahmad, Oscar Vicente, Hsi-Hsien Yang
Summary: This study explored the distribution of Cu and Cd metals in soil-plant ecosystems and their impact on the public health risk for ruminants. The results showed that the forage crops grown in metal polluted soil had higher levels of Cu and Cd, leading to increased intake of these metals by ruminants. Additionally, local inhabitants faced serious health risks from consuming milk and meat from these contaminated animals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katie E. Hillyer, Eric Raes, Andrew Bissett, David J. Beale
Summary: The study characterized bacterial communities in a metal-contaminated estuary sediment using multiple methods, and found additional contamination in areas with high metal concentrations. The dominant bacterial phyla included Proteobacteria and Desulfobacteria, and high concentration areas were enriched with metabolically versatile and biofilm forming phyla. The results can be used to inform management decisions and predictive models.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)