Health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and crops in a mining area(Au-Ag-Cutrona-oil et al.) of the Nanyang Basin, Henan Province, China

Heavy metal distribution in mining areas has always been a hot research topic due to the special environment of these areas. This study aims to explore the impact of heavy metal pollution on soils and crops in the study area, ensure the safety of local crops and the health of local residents, and provide a basis for the subsequent environmental restoration and the prevention and control of environmental pollution. Based on the analysis of the heavy metal concentrations in local soils and crops, the study investigated the spatial distribution, pollution degrees, and potential ecological risks of heavy metals in the farmland of a mining area in the southeastern Nanyang Basin, Henan province, China explored the sources of heavy metals and assessed the health risks caused by crop intake. The results of this study are as follows. The root soils of crops in the study area suffered heavy metal pollution to varying degrees. The degree of heavy metal pollution in maize fields is higher than that in wheat fields, and both types of fields suffer the most severe Cd pollution. Moreover, the root soils of different crops suffer compound pollution.The root soils in the maize fields suffer severe compound pollution at some sampling positions, whose distribution is similar to that of the mining area. Cd poses the highest potential ecological risks among all heavy metals, and the study area mainly suffers low and moderate comprehensive potential ecological risks. The principal component analysis(PCA) shows that the distribution of Zn, Cd, Pb, and As in soils of the study area is mainly affected by anthropogenic factors such as local mining activities;the distribution of Cr and Ni is primarily controlled by the local geological background;the distribution of Hg is mainly affected by local vehicle exhaust emissions, and the distribution of Cu is influenced by both human activities and the geological background. Different cereal crops in the study area are polluted with heavy metals dominated by Cd and Ni to varying degrees, especially wheat. As indicated by the health risk assessment results, the intake of maize in the study area does not pose significant human health risks;however, Cu has high risks to human health, and the compound heavy metal pollution caused by the intake of wheat in the study area poses risks to the health of both adults and children. Overall, the soils and crops in the study area suffer a high degree of heavy metal pollution, for which mining activities may be the main reason.

Spatial distribution characteristics and main controlling factors of germanium in soil of northern Dabie Mountains, China

With the increasing application of germanium(Ge)elements in modern industry,military and medical health industries,especially with the growing demand for Ge-rich agricultural products,the study of Ge-rich soil has become particularly important,but the enrichment pattern and control factors of Ge-rich soil are still not well understood due to the high dispersion and high migration of Ge-rich soil.In this paper,495 surface soil(0-20 cm)and 149 deep soil(150-200 cm)samples were collected from the northern foothills of Dabie Mountain using a double-layer grid layout,and the spatial distribution and enrichment characteristics of Ge were studied by high-resolution method,and the controlling factors affecting the distribution of Ge-rich soil was analyzed by geo-statistics and spatial analogy.The results show an average Ge content of 1.34 mg/kg for the surface and 1.36 mg/kg for the deep soil.In the assessment grade classification of surface and deep soil for Ge,the abundant and sub-abundant grades account for 37.97%and 31.70%,respectively,covering 752 km2 and 634 km2.Surface Ge-rich regions are distributed in concentrated strips in the north-central part of the studied region,and there is no clear pattern in the spatial distribution of deep soils.In the areas under study,such as Fenlukou,Dingji,and Jiangjiadian,the surface soil is very rich in Ge and has a high enrichment factor,which is valuable for agricultural development.In surface soils,river deposits and shallow metamorphic rock parent materials have the highest content of Ge,while in deep soils,the highest content has been found in the parent material of moderately acidic rock.Both surface and deep soils have the highest Ge content in purple paddy soils and plain areas.The source of Ge in the soils of the study area is most influenced by the lithology of the soil-forming parent material,while the distribution of Ge in the surface soils is jointly influenced by pH,SiO_(2),TFe_(2)O_(3),and Al_(2)O_(3) in the soil.This study has implications for understanding the enrichment pattern of Ge in soil and its controlling factors as well as for the development of Ge-rich agricultural products.

Patchouli alcohol induces autophagy in human lung adenocarcinoma cells A549 via increasing ratio of LC3 protein II/I and down-regulating p62

Objective:To study the patchouli alcohol(PA)-induced autophagy and proliferation inhibition of lung cancer A549 cells.Methods:the effects of PA at different concentrations on the proliferation and autophagy of A549 cells were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8(CCK-8)and electron microscopy,respectively.The A549 cells overexpressing LC3 gene were constructed by double luciferase lentiviral vector,and were treated with PA at half-inhibitory concentration(IC50)for 24 hours.Fluorescence microscopy was used to observe the fluorescence accumulation in cells.Western blot was used to detect the ratio of LC3 proteinⅡ/Ⅰ.Results:IC50 of PA on A549 cells for 24 h was 300μM.Treatment with 150μM and 300μM of PA for 24 h induced a cytoplasmic autophagic vesicle-like structure appearance in the cytoplasm of A549 cells,and the encapsulated cytoplasmic components were observed in those vesicles.150μM and 300μM of PA also elicited LC3 fluorescent protein accumulation(P<0.05).With the increased concentrations of PA,the ratios of LC3 proteinⅡ/Ⅰwere elevated(P<0.05),and the expressions of autophagy-related protein p62 were decreased gradually(P<0.05).Conclusion:PA can induce autophagy of lung cancer cells A549 by up-regulating the ratio of LC3 proteinⅡ/Ⅰand down-regulating p62 expression,which eventually inhibited the proliferation of lung cancer cells.