Evaluation of Essential and Toxic Element Concentrations in Buckwheat by Experimental and Chemometric Approaches

The essential and toxic element concentrations in buckwheat were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer（ICP-OES）. The concentration data were subjected to common chemometrics analyses, including correlation analysis（CA）, principal component analysis（PCA） and hierarchical cluster analysis（HCA）, to gain better understanding of the differences among the tested samples. Our results indicated that the essential and toxic element concentrations were not different between Fagopyrum tataricum（L.） Gaertn and F. esculentum Moench. The element concentrations varied among buckwheat samples from different sources. Commercial tartary buckwheat tea contained several essential elements, thus, could be used as the source of essential elements. The detection of toxic heavy metals in commercial tartary buckwheat tea suggested that safety issue of such buckwheat products should be seriously concerned. Our results also revealed that the place of origin and the processing protocol of tartary buckwheat affected the element concentrations of the commercial form. The implications to the quality control and safety evaluation of buckwheat were extensively discussed.

Potentially Toxic Element Concentration in Fruits Collected from Markazi Province(Iran): A Probabilistic Health Risk Assessment

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)such as arsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),mercury(Hg),and lead(Pb)in fruit samples collected from Markazi Province,Iran.A probabilistic health risk assessment due to ingestion of PTEs through the consumption of these fruits was also conducted.Methods The concentration of PTEs in 90 samples of five types of fruits(n=3)collected from six geographic regions in Markazi Province was measured.The potential health risk was evaluated using a Monte Carlo simulation model.Results A significant difference was observed in the concentration of PTEs between fruits as well as soil and water samples collected from different regions in Markazi Province.The order of PTE concentration in the soil and water samples was as follows:Pb>As>Hg>Cd.Furthermore,the highest level of transfer factor for Cd and Hg correlated with the grape.The estimated daily intake for adults and children was lower than the recommended tolerable daily intake.Conclusion The population in Markazi Province,Iran,is not at considerable noncarcinogenic or carcinogenic risk due to the ingestion of PTEs through the consumption of the examined fruits.

Atmospheric deposition fluxes and health risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in Caohai Lake(Guizhou Province,China)

In this study,the sources of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)from atmospheric deposition in the waters of Guizhou’s Caohai Lake were investigated in addition to the potential risks to human health.Moss bags were used to enrich PTEs from atmospheric deposition,and eight monitoring sites that best represented geographic variation were established around Caohai Lake.Moss bags were collected and examined at every 3 months to identify spatiotemporal patterns of dry and wet atmospheric deposition of PTEs.Zn was the most abundant metal identified from deposition in Caohai(72.07%–95.94%),followed by Pb and Cd,while Hg was the least abundant(0.008%–0.354%).The contributions of wet deposition of PTEs were greater than those of dry deposition,and deposition during the heating season from December to April was greater than that between April to July.Hg was mainly derived from atmospheric dry deposition(65.38%–84.44%).Spatial distribution analysis indicated that atmospheric deposition was associated with the intensity of human activities and heating emissions.Exposure via hand-to-mouth contact accounted for over 99%of the total exposure risk although overall exposure was lower than threshold acceptable levels for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals,indicating an overall lack of risk towards human health.Nevertheless,the health risk from atmospheric deposition of PTEs in Caohai Lake may be reduced by focusing on Zn,Pb,and Cd deposition in rainfall and minimizing the hazards associated with hand-to-mouth exposure to PTEs.

Detection of Total Phenols, Essential and Toxic Elements in Latvian Whole Grain Bread

A survey was carried out with the aim of assessing the level of the total phenolic compounds （TPC）, essential （Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn） and toxic （Cd and Pb） elements in 10 Latvian whole grain rye and/or wheat flour bread samples, obtained from the local market. The quantities of the TPC were determined by spectrophotometry. Mineral content was determined by flame photometry, flame atom absorption spectrometry （FAAS） and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry （ETAA） after wet digestion in concentrated HNO3. The values were comparable to the literature data. The average content in all the samples was （on a basis of weight of the product） 547 ± 28 mg/100 g for Na; 280 ±20 mg/100 g for K; 32 ± 2 mg/100 g for Ca; 88 ±5 mg/100 g for Mg; 0.49 ± 0.09 mg/100 g for Cu; 1.6 ±0.2 mg/100 g for Zn. Both Pb and Cd were determined below the limit of detection （LOD 5 0.10 mg/100 g）. The LOD values were determined for each element. The TPC content in defatted samples was slightly lower than the non-defatted ones, showing the dependence on the sample preparation. The calculated average levels of the elements were compared with the maximum levels recommended or regulated by the national legislation.

Decontamination of Potential Toxic Elements in Sewaged Soils by Inorganic Amendments

This study investigated the feasibility of using some natural clay minerals available in Egypt like kaolinite, bentonite, also using of iron oxide, rock phosphate and mixture of these types to minimize the rate of Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn desorption from sewage soils and to evaluate the effect of these mixtures on Zn equivalent constant values before and after remediation. The obtained results indicated that all mixtures used were minimizing the rate of potential toxic elements （PTE＇s） release from sewage soils compared to control treatment. According to the decreasing order of different treatments, data indicated that application of the mixture treatment of bentonite, kaolinite and rock phosphate （RP） in sewage soils becomes the best treatment compared to other treatments used. However, the lowest and save Zn equivalent constant value which represents the hazard indicator in the study was observed in sewage soil treated with the mixture of bentonite and RP. The kinetic constants of Elovich, modified Freundlich and Hoerl equations, the best fitted models, were significantly decreased compared to control treatments with different percent of minimization according to type of pollutants and remediation material used. To understand the mechanisms of PTE＇s retained in treated sewage soil, distribution study was applied which showed that different pollutants studied were removed to hardly available form different mechanisms of PTE＇s undergo in treated sewage soils were discussed in the study.

Multivariate Analyses of Potentially Toxic Elements along an Industrialized Urban River in Northern Taiwan

The Ker-Ya River flows through the high-tech industrial park and urban residential areas of Hsin-Chu in northern Taiwan. Major and trace element concentrations of waste effluents, river water, and sediment samples collected during 2017 along the Ker-Ya River were analyzed to elucidate the distribution pattern of potential pollutants. Principal component analyses were applied, and four major contaminant associations were recognized: 1) Ce, Co, Fe, La, V, and Cr;2) Cu and Ni associated with Hg, Ni, P, Ga, W, In, and Ti;3) B, Li, Ba, Ca, and Ag;and 4) Sn with Zn, In, and Cd. All associations are considered to be mainly anthropogenic. Although the element associations recognized from the water samples are not exactly the same as those from the sediment samples but nevertheless, they are similar, suggesting that the short-term and long-term distribution patterns are consistent. The A association accounts for the most variance in the data and exhibits the widest distribution, suggesting the existence of contaminant sources in the upper and lower reaches, respectively. The sediments near the outlet of the city sewage plant also contain association A elements, signaling incomplete processing of the diverged waters sent to the plant at the river mouth. The B association (mainly Cu and Ni) appeared mainly in the upper and middle reaches, indicative of sources from industries in the upper reaches and the tributary Nan-Men Creek. The C association (B, Ba, Ca, and Li) was limited to the center part of the river, probably attributable to a nearby paper mill. The D association (primarily Sn, In, and Zn) was present in the top point of the middle reaches, suggesting the presence of other contaminant sources in the upper reaches. Although a total of four concomitant associations were recognized, none of the elements exceeded the drinking water standard, suggesting that there was no severe pollution present.

Evaluation by ICP-MS of Essential, Nonessential and Toxic Elements in Brazilian Fish and Seafood Samples

Fish is considered one of the healthiest foods due to the high levels of several important cardioprotective compounds such as long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. However, due to widespread environmental pollution, high levels of contaminants may also be present in fish and seafood samples, which may counteract the beneficial effects of consumption of this food. With this in mind, the aims of this study were: 1) to examine both toxic and essential chemical elements in seafood and river and sea fish samples sold in different Brazilian regions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS);2) to estimate the daily intake of these chemical elements by Brazilians. The toxic elements Ba, Cd, Pb, Sr, V and Sb were found in higher concentrations in seafood than in either sea or river fish, while As concentrations were higher in both seafood and sea fish than in river fish. On the other hand, Hg levels were higher in river and sea fish. Concentrations of the essential chemical elements Co, Mn, Cu, Fe, Mg, Zn and Mo were significantly higher in seafood compared with both sorts of fish except for Se, whose levels were similar in seafood and sea fish. Daily intake of all chemical elements was estimated on the basis of a calculation of the amount of fish consumed by Brazilian households (mean fish and seafood consumption of 11.0 g/person/day). The amount of toxic element in fish and seafood did not represent a risk for the Brazilian people. Moreover, fish and seafood seem to be a good source of selenium.

Microbial responses towards biochar application in potentially toxic element(PTE)contaminated soil:a critical review on effects and potential mechanisms

Soil harbors a huge diversity of microorganisms and serves as the ecological and social foundation of human civilization.Hence,soil health management is of utmost and consistent importance,aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.One of the most hazardous contaminants in soil matrix is potentially toxic elements(PTEs),which can cause stress in soil indigenous microorganisms and severely jeopardize soil health.Biochar technology has emerged as a promising means to alleviate PTE toxicity and benefit soil health management.Current literature has broadly integrated knowledge about the potential consequences of biochar-amended soil but has focused more on the physical and chemical responses of the soil system than microbiological attributes.In consideration of the indispensable roles of soil microbials,this paper first introduces PTE-induced stresses on soil microbials and then proposes the mechanisms of biochar’s effects on soil microbials.Finally,microbial responses including variations in abundance,interspecific relationships,community composition and biological functions in biochar-amended soil are critically reviewed.This review thus aims to provide a comprehensive scientific view on the effect of biochar on soil microbiological health and its management.

The concentration and probabilistic risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in fillets of silver pomfret(Pampus argenteus):A global systematic review and meta-analysis

The contamination of fish type products such as silver pomfret fish fillets by potentially toxic elements(PTEs)has raised global health concerns.Related studies regarding the concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish were retrieved among some international databases such as Scopus,Pub Med and Embase between 1 January 1983 and 10 March 2020.The pooled(mean)concentration of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was meta-analyzed with the aid of a random-effect model(REM).Also,the non-carcinogenic risk was estimated via calculating the 95 th percentile of the total target hazard quotient(TTHQ).The meta-analysis of 21 articles(containing 25 studies or data reports)indicated that the ranking of PTEs in fillets of silver pomfret fish was Fe(11,414.81μg/kg wet weight,ww)>Zn(6055.72μg/kg ww)>Cr(1825.79μg/kg ww)>Pb(1486.44μg/kg ww)>Se(1053.47μg/kg ww)>Cd(992.50μg/kg ww)>Ni(745.23μg/kg ww)>Cu(669.71μg/kg ww)>total As(408.24μg/kg ww)>Co(87.03μg/kg ww)>methyl Hg(46.58μg/kg ww).The rank order of health risk assessment by country based on the TTHQ for adult consumers was Malaysia(2.500)>Bangladesh(0.886)>Iran(0.144)>China(0.045)>Pakistan(0.020)>India(0.015),while the corresponding values for child consumers was Malaysia(11.790)>Bangladesh(4.146)>Iran(0.675)>China(0.206)>Pakistan(0.096)>India(0.077).The adult consumers in Malaysia and children in Malaysia and Bangladesh were at considerable non-carcinogenic risk.Therefore,following the recommended control plans in order to reduce the health risk associated with the ingestion of PTEs via consumption of silver pomfret fish fillets is crucial.

A 14-year measurement of toxic elements in atmospheric particulates in Hong Kong from 1995 to 2008

Toxic elements in the atmosphere can enter and accumulate in the human body, seriously impacting human health. In this study, we analyzed a 14-year （1995-2008） measurement of three toxic elements （As, Cd and Cr） in PMlo in Hong Kong, China. The pollution of these toxic elements in Hong Kong was not serious. The trend analysis showed that As and Cr in PM10 increased at a statistically significant level （p〈0.05） during the 14-year period, while the Cd in PM10 did not change significantly. Typical seasonal variations were observed for all three toxic elements, largely in relation to the Asian monsoon. Hourly 10-day backward trajectories were computed and cate- gorised into four groups. The continental air masses showed much higher concentrations of the three toxic elements than the marine air masses. The abundances of As and Cd in the PM10 were much higher in the continental air masses than those in the marine air masses, while the abundances of Cr showed an opposite pattern. The trends of the three toxic elements in East China＇s air mass were consistent with those in the overall data set ofHong Kong. Examination of the toxic element data recorded at urban sites and a roadside site also indicated a large contribution of external air masses to particulate As and Cd in Hong Kong. These results suggest that the long-range transport from the mainland of China is the dominant contributor to particulate As and Cd, while both local and long-distance sources determine the particulate Cr in Hong Kong.

Using cemented paste backfill to tackle the phosphogypsum stockpile in China:A down-to-earth technology with new vitalities in pollutant retention and CO_(2) abatement

Phosphogypsum(PG),a hard-to-dissipate by-product of the phosphorus fertilizer production industry,places strain on the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem functions of storage sites.This pervasive problem is already widespread worldwide and requires careful stewardship.In this study,we review the presence of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)in PG and describe their associations with soil properties,anthropogenic activities,and surrounding organisms.Then,we review different ex-/in-situ solutions for promoting the sustainable management of PG,with an emphasis on in-situ cemented paste backfill,which offers a cost-effective and highly scalable opportunity to advance the value-added recovery of PG.However,concerns related to the PTEs'retention capacity and long-term effectiveness limit the implementation of this strategy.Furthermore,given that the large-scale demand for ordinary Portland cement from this conventional option has resulted in significant CO_(2) emissions,the technology has recently undergone additional scrutiny to meet the climate mitigation ambition of the Paris Agreement and China's Carbon Neutrality Economy.Therefore,we discuss the ways by which we can integrate innovative strategies,including supplementary cementitious materials,alternative binder solutions,CO_(2) mineralization,CO_(2) curing,and optimization of the supply chain for the profitability and sustainability of PG remediation.However,to maximize the co-benefits in environmental,social,and economic,future research must bridge the gap between the feasibility of expanding these advanced pathways and the multidisciplinary needs.

萃取/反萃取-电感耦合等离子体发射光谱(ICP-OES)法测定肥料样品中铅、镉、汞、铊、锑、砷

为保障农产品的质量与安全,肥料中的有毒有害物质,尤其是重金属含量被严格限制。为提高肥料中有毒有害物质检测的效率,利用铅、镉、汞、铊、锑、砷在盐酸介质中形成稳定的碘络合物的特性,采用甲基异丁基酮(MIBK)萃取、硝酸溶液反萃取的方法实现肥料样品中基质与待测元素的分离,通过电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定肥料样品中的6种重金属元素。通过考察萃取条件及残余基体对分析结果的影响,结果证实,在6 mol/L的盐酸萃取体系中加入5 mL碘化铵(30%)溶液,采用10 mL的MIBK萃取2~3次即可使样品中的铅、镉、汞、铊、锑、砷等被完全萃取,通过萃取/反萃取的方法实现了样品的分离富集,方法的检出限(3σ)为铅0.042 mg/kg、镉0.005 mg/kg、汞0.059 mg/kg、铊0.026 mg/kg、锑0.024 mg/kg、砷0.052 mg/kg,加标回收率在90.1%~108%,可以满足不同肥料样品的质量控制要求。按照实验方法测定6种不同肥料样品中的重金属含量,并采用标准方法进行方法比对,结果表明两种方法的测定结果基本一致。

锑矿周边土-蔬金属元素富集特征与风险评估

为揭示不同锑矿废渣堆放区周围土壤-蔬菜系统中潜在有害重金属元素(PTEs)的富集特征及健康风险,该文以不同种类废渣堆场(锑矿废石、锑矿冶炼渣、锑矿尾砂)周围3处村落及在废渣共同影响下的琏溪河下游的1处村落为采样区,并以采样区域内的土壤-蔬菜系统为研究对象。运用统计学、迁移系数法和体外消化模拟法等方法对土壤和蔬菜样品中的Sb、As、Hg、Pb、Cd和Zn等6种PTE的富集特征及健康风险评估进行讨论。结果表明,6种PTEs在土壤中的平均含量均超过湖南省土壤背景值及风险筛选值。所有蔬菜样品对土壤PTEs的吸收能力弱,生物累积系数平均值低于0.12。蔬菜样品的PTEs中Pb、Cd、Zn的生物转移系数数值均超过1.0,易被蔬菜富集。4个采样区中,锑的暴露风险指数均大于1.0,对人体存在明显的健康风险。用于评价复合污染危害的指数HI在4个采样区均大于2.0,主要PTEs污染因子为Sb和Pb,复合污染已对人体存在健康风险。研究表明,4个采样区的土壤已受到多种PTEs的污染与富集,蔬菜对当地居民均存在健康风险,需要特别关注。

Rapid detection and risk assessment of soil contamination at lead smelting site based on machine learning

A general prediction model for seven heavy metals was established using the heavy metal contents of 207soil samples measured by a portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer(XRF)and six environmental factors as model correction coefficients.The eXtreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)model was used to fit the relationship between the content of heavy metals and environment characteristics to evaluate the soil ecological risk of the smelting site.The results demonstrated that the generalized prediction model developed for Pb,Cd,and As was highly accurate with fitted coefficients(R~2)values of 0.911,0.950,and 0.835,respectively.Topsoil presented the highest ecological risk,and there existed high potential ecological risk at some positions with different depths due to high mobility of Cd.Generally,the application of machine learning significantly increased the accuracy of pXRF measurements,and identified key environmental factors.The adapted potential ecological risk assessment emphasized the need to focus on Pb,Cd,and As in future site remediation efforts.

Analysis of the Fertilizing and Bioremediation Potential of Leaf Litter Compost Amendment in Different Soils through Indexing Method

This research study explored the efficacy of leaf litter compost as a sustainable soil amendment with the objective of promoting soil health and mitigating the accumulation of potentially toxic elements. The investigation encompassed the impact of various organic compost amendments, including leaf compost, cow dung manure, kitchen waste compost, municipal organic waste compost, and vermicompost. The study employed Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) to evaluate soil nutrient levels and concentrations of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, and lithium. The fertilization and bioremediation potential of these compost amendments are quantified using an indexing method. Results indicated a substantial increase in overall nutrient levels (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur) in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic composts. Fertility indices (FI) are notably higher in compost-amended soils (ranging from 2.667 to 3.938) compared to those amended with chemical fertilizers (ranging from 2.250 to 2.813) across all soil samples. Furthermore, the mean concentrations of PTEs were significantly lower in soils treated with leaf compost and other organic compost amendments compared to those treated with chemical fertilizers amendments. The assessment through the indexing method revealed a high clean index (CI) for leaf compost amendment (ranging from 3.407 to 3.58), whereas the chemical fertilizer amendment exhibits a relatively lower CI (ranging from 2.78 to 3.20). Consequently, leaf compost and other organic composts exhibit the potential to enhance sustainable productivity, promoting soil health and environmental safety by improving nutrient levels and remediating potentially toxic elements in the soil.

潜在有毒元素和抗生素复合污染形成与治理研究的教学实践

该实验以小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)为研究对象,采用水培方法,形象直观地展现了潜在有毒元素Cu^(2+)、Zn^(2+)和抗生素土霉素(oxytetracycline,OTC)、磺胺嘧啶(sulfadiazine,Sul)单一及复合污染对小麦种子根和芽的毒性差异,以期为土壤潜在有毒元素和抗生素复合污染防治和土壤生态系统安全提供理论依据。实验表明,小麦种子的根和芽对单一污染的敏感程度依次为:Sul>Cu^(2+)>OTC>Zn^(2+);复合处理对小麦种子根伸长和芽长呈现“低促高抑”规律,且根长和芽长抑制率都随处理浓度的增大而增大。该实验从小麦种子的根和芽对环境污染物胁迫的直观感受,到环境污染物如何影响作物生长科学问题的提出与解决,加深了学生对复合污染影响植物生长的理解,激发了学生对环境学课程的热情和兴趣。

冻融及耦合酸化作用下土壤中重金属的浸出性及其机制解析

冻融与不同pH溶液的耦合作用下土壤中重金属浸出行为尚缺乏研究。本研究采用TCLP测试评估了冻融及耦合酸化处理前后土壤中重金属的浸出毒性,并采用孔隙(颗粒)与裂隙图像识别与分析系统(PCAS)和地球化学模拟软件(PHREEQC)分别探究土壤矿物颗粒的微观结构和矿物学演化特征。结果表明,经过30次冻融循环后,As、Cd、Cu、Mn、Pb和Zn的最大浸出浓度分别为0.22 mg/L、0.61 mg/L、2.46 mg/L、3.08 mg/L、29.36 mg/L和8.07 mg/L。在冻融和酸化的耦合作用下,土壤颗粒的孔隙度增加了4.79%。孔隙和裂缝的演化所引起的颗粒结构破坏证实了这一结果。在冻融作用下,土壤颗粒的各向异性增加,而在冻融与酸化的耦合作用下,土壤颗粒的各向异性降低。SEM-EDS、PCAS量化和PHREEQC模拟的结果表明,重金属的释放机制不仅与矿物颗粒的微观结构演化特征有关,还受质子腐蚀以及矿物的溶解和沉淀的影响。这些结果将为季节性冻土地区污染场地土壤修复评价提供重要参考。

Contamination assessment,source apportionment and associated health risks of PTEs in agricultural soil under five land-use patterns in Sanya,China

To understand the levels of potentially toxic elements(PTEs)contamination in soils and their effects on human health from different agricultural land use in Sanya,China.128 soil samples(64 topsoil samples and corresponding subsoil samples)were collected from the five representative land-use patterns.Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS),Atomic fluorescence spectrometry(AFS),and Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry(ICP-OES)were used to determine the content of PTEs(As,Cd,Hg,Cu,Cr,Ni,Pb,Zn,Co,Mo,Sb,and V).Correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to determine the source of PTEs.Geo-accumulation index(I_(geo)),hazard quotient(HQ),and total carcinogenic risk index(TR)were used to measure the PTEs contamination and its relative health impacts.Results showed that the average values of 12 PTEs in topsoil were higher than the Hainan soil geochemical baseline,showing different degrees of PTEs accumulation effect.The concentration of PTEs in the topsoil was lower than those in the subsoil except for Cd and Hg.The I_(geo)revealed that the major accumulated element in soils was As followed by Mo.Source apportionment suggested that parent materials and agricultural practices were the dominant factors for PTEs accumulation in the topsoil.Noncarcinogenic risks of soil samples from five land-use patterns presented a trend of paddy field>dry field>woodland>orchard>garden plot.However,the HQ values of 12 PTEs were less than the recommended limit of HQ=1,representing that there are no non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs for children and adults in the study area.The TR values are within 6.95×10^(-6)-1.38×10^(-5),which corresponds to the low level.Therefore the PTEs in the agricultural soil of the study area show little influence on the health status of the local population.

基于多传感器数据采集的水库污染范围检测方法研究

水库污染范围的检测是预防水环境污染中不可缺少的环节,但由于检测过程易受天气变化、土壤湿度、微生物等因素的影响,因此,提出基于多传感器数据采集的水库污染范围检测方法。调查淄博市的水环境污染现状,构建水质检测模型。确定实验材料和实验仪器,采用温度传感器、pH值传感器、多参数水质传感器采集采样点处的水质信息,并对多个传感器采集的水质数据进行融合处理。获得数据融合结果后,计算风险熵完成水库污染范围检测。最后通过水质中的毒性元素质量浓度、相对贡献率验证了基于多传感器数据采集的水库污染范围检测方法的有效性。