Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nuno Nunes, Sonia Ferraz, Marianna Venuleo, Ana I. R. N. A. Barros, Miguel A. A. Pinheiro de Carvalho
Summary: Macroalgae are valuable sources of compounds with various applications. However, they also accumulate heavy metals. This study assessed the heavy metal content in macroalgae samples from Madeira Archipelago and Gran Canaria Island, and found that most of the samples were suitable for use in the development of the blue economy industry.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wang Hui, Mao Wei Feng, Jiang Ding Guo, Liu Si Jie, Zhang Lei
Summary: The cumulative exposures of the 2-6 year-old group to the four heavy metals did not reach (but came close to) the corresponding safety threshold for both neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Further research is needed to study their cumulative health effects due to other food sources of these heavy metals.
BIOMEDICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bertil Wegmann, Patricia Tatemoto, Stefan Miemczyk, Johnny Ludvigsson, Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna
Summary: Heavy metals can impact fetal neurodevelopmental processes by crossing the placental and blood brain barriers. This study measured metal levels in cord blood and serum samples of children with and without ASD. The results suggest that prenatal aluminum levels may indicate later ASD incidence, potentially related to increased exposure to aluminum and lithium during pregnancy, while zinc exposure during pregnancy may be higher in controls. Additionally, there is strong evidence of increased mercury levels in 5-year-old children with ASD compared to controls.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Jincymol Kappen, Sinduja Bharathi, S. Abraham John
Summary: The galvanic reaction between graphene quantum dot (GQD)-stabilized silver nanoparticles (AgNP)-modified glassy carbon (GC) surface and Hg(II) leads to the complete dissolution of AgNPs within 15 minutes and the subsequent growth of Hg(0) as a flower on the GQD surface. This unique anti-amalgamation reaction is caused by direct deposition of Hg(0) by available oxygen functional groups and strong adsorption on the GQD graphene surface, followed by subsequent growth of Hg(0) as a flower due to the galvanic reaction between AgNPs and Hg(II).
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
M. Akila, S. Anbalagan, N. M. Lakshmisri, V Janaki, T. Ramesh, R. Jancy Merlin, S. Kamala-Kannan
Summary: The present study assessed the bioaccumulation of Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cr in fish species from Pulicat Lake in southeast India. The study found variations in the accumulation patterns of metals in sediment, water, and fish samples. Although some muscle samples exceeded the safe limit for Cu and Cr concentrations, the estimated daily intake remained within the standard reference dose, indicating the safety of consuming fish muscle tissues.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Colin A. Cooke, Jason H. Curtis, William F. Kenney, Paul Drevnick, Peter E. Siegel
Summary: Lead and mercury emissions and deposition have long histories extending into preindustrial times, but the timing, magnitude, and persistence of preindustrial emissions remain unclear. This study uses a well-dated sediment core from Lake Antoine, Grenada to assess the past 3000 years of tropical lead and mercury deposition. The results show that preindustrial increases in lead and mercury concentrations can be explained by variations in mineral and organic matter inputs from the watershed, reflecting climate-driven changes in the lake level. There is no evidence that preindustrial use of lead and mercury raised deposition rates in this remote ecosystem. Industrial-era accumulation rates in Lake Antoine have been accelerated by land use and land cover change within the crater rim, but global industrial pollution is still evident. After correcting for watershed inputs, recent atmospheric deposition rates of lead and mercury are in close agreement with monitoring data, challenging previous assessments that suggested preindustrial use of mercury raised atmospheric deposition rates globally.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Maetha M. Al-Sulaiti, Lama Soubra, Gouda A. Ramadan, Abdullah Qasem Saif Ahmed, Mohammad A. Al-Ghouti
Summary: This study examines the distribution of mercury (Hg) levels in fish and fish products in Qatar and their relationships with fish types, weights, protein, and lipid contents. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to analyze the influence of lipids and protein content on Hg accumulation in fish tissues. Additionally, the impact of Hg concentration and fish consumption on estimated weekly intake (EWI) is studied. Results show that Hg contamination levels are primarily affected by protein-lipid content in predatory species, and high lipid content reflects lower Hg levels indicating a polluted environment. The PCA analysis indicates a strong correlation between EWI and Mercury concentration, except in cases of low Mercury concentration.
Article
Thermodynamics
Dariusz Luszkiewicz, Maria Jedrusik, Arkadiusz Swierczok, Mariola Kobylanska-Pawlisz
Summary: The article presents the results of experiments on adding sulphide based additives to the CaCO3 slurry in Wet Flue Gas Desulphurization plant (WFGD), both in laboratory and full-scale. Full-scale tests were conducted on two WFGD installations that clean flue gas from burning hard coal and lignite. The study investigated the effects of sodium sulphide addition to the CaCO3 slurry on reducing mercury emissions and precipitation of heavy metals. The results show significant reduction of mercury emissions (up to 89% for hard coal and 90% for lignite) and decrease in heavy metal concentration in wastewater (with mercury precipitation efficiency reaching 88% for lignite and 83% for hard coal).
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehran Loghmani, Mohammad Mansour Tootooni, Salim Sharifian
Summary: The study found that fish from the Oman Sea are safe for both children and adults, even at high consumption rates. However, intake of certain metals may pose a health risk to consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sami Ullah, Abdullah G. Al-Sehemi, Muhammad Mubashir, Ahmad Mukhtar, Sidra Saqib, Mohamad Azmi Bustam, Chin Kui Cheng, Muhammad Ibrahim, Pau Loke Show
Summary: This study reports the application of hydrated lime for the effective adsorption of heavy metal mercury from aqueous solutions. The results show that hydrated lime has high thermal stability and good adsorption capacity.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ashley Bastiansz, Jessica Ewald, Veronica Rodriguez Saldana, Andrea Santa-Rios, Niladri Basu
Summary: This review study analyzed the global prevalence of mercury in skin-lightening products and explored the health risks associated with their use. The findings suggest that mercury is widely present as an active ingredient in skin-lightening products worldwide, and users are at risk of variable and often high exposures. These synthesized findings increase our understanding of the health risks associated with the use of these products and identify data gaps.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Karolina A. Biello, Alfonso Olaya-Abril, Purificacion Cabello, Gema Rodriguez-Caballero, Lara P. Saez, Conrado Moreno-Vivian, Victor Manuel Luque-Almagro, Maria Dolores Roldan
Summary: Proteomic, transcriptional, and bioinformatic approaches were used to characterize the molecular response of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT 5344 to cyanide and mercury, highlighting the mechanisms involved in the simultaneous detoxification of both compounds. The results generated could be applied for developing bioremediation strategies for cocontaminated wastes in the mining industry.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Wang, Ning Ding, Sioban D. Harlow, John F. Randolph, Bhramar Mukherjee, Ellen B. Gold, Sung Kyun Park
Summary: Exposure to heavy metals may affect sex hormone levels in women. This study analyzed the association between urinary metal concentrations and serum levels of estradiol (E-2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in a multi-ethnic group of women aged 45-56 years. The results showed that higher urinary metal concentrations were linked to lower E-2 levels for mercury and lead, higher FSH levels for lead, and higher SHBG levels for cadmium. However, no significant association was found between metals and testosterone levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Laura Flores-Caceres, Cristina Ortega-Villasante, Pablo Carril, Juan Sobrino-Plata, Luis E. Hernandez
Summary: Cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) are soil pollutants that cause oxidative stress. The tolerance of plants is regulated by signalling processes, such as the accumulation of sHSPs and activation of antioxidant enzymes. This study focused on the early responses of alfalfa seedlings to Cd and Hg exposure and found that ethylene plays a role in the response to metal stress. The findings suggest that ethylene modulation could be a potential strategy to enhance plant tolerance to heavy metals.
Article
Biology
Anna Makarova, Elena Nikulina, Nina Tsirulnikova, Tatyana Avdeenkova, Ksenia V. Pishchaeva
Summary: Mercury is a global pollutant found in soils in many regions worldwide. Phytoextraction, especially chemically induced, shows potential in remediation. Phosphorus and sulfur chelates are effective in enhancing mercury absorption by Trifolium repens L.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)