Toxicity Potential of Nutraceuticals.

During the past few decades and especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of nutraceuticals has become increasingly popular in both humans and animals due to their easy access, cost-effectiveness, and tolerability with a wide margin of safety. While some nutraceuticals are safe, others have an inherent toxic potential. For a large number of nutraceuticals, no toxicity/safety data are available due to a lack of pharmacological/toxicological studies. The safety of some nutraceuticals can be compromised via contamination with toxic plants, metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs of abuse, etc. Knowledge of pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies and biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility appears to play a pivotal role in the safety and toxicity assessment of nutraceuticals. Interaction studies are essential to determine efficacy, safety, and toxicity when nutraceuticals and therapeutic drugs are used concomitantly or when polypharmacy is involved. This chapter describes various aspects of nutraceuticals, particularly their toxic potential, and the factors that influence their safety.

Research progress on the environmental risk assessment and remediation technologies of heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil.

Controlling heavy metal pollution in agricultural soil has been a significant challenge. These heavy metals seriously threaten the surrounding ecological environment and human health. The effective assessment and remediation of heavy metals in agricultural soils are crucial. These two aspects support each other, forming a close and complete decision-making chain. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the distribution characteristics of soil heavy metal pollution, the correlation between soil and crop heavy metal contents, the presence pattern and migration and transformation mode of heavy metals in the soil-crop system. The advantages and disadvantages of the risk evaluation tools and models of heavy metal pollution in farmland are further outlined, which provides important guidance for an in-depth understanding of the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in farmland soils and the assessment of the environmental risk. Soil remediation strategies involve multiple physical, chemical, biological and even combined technologies, and this paper compares the potential and effect of the above current remediation technologies in heavy metal polluted farmland soils. Finally, the main problems and possible research directions of future heavy metal risk assessment and remediation technologies in agricultural soils are prospected. This review provides new ideas for effective assessment and selection of remediation technologies based on the characterization of soil heavy metals.

Human health risks associated to trace elements and metals in commercial fish from the Brazilian Amazon.

Fish constitutes the main protein source for the Amazonian population. However, the impact of different anthropogenic activities on trace element and metal accumulation in fish and their risks for human health at a regional scale remain largely unexplored. Here we assessed exposure levels of 10 trace elements and metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) in 56 samples belonging to 11 different species of fish from the Brazilian Amazon. We studied the relationship between exposure levels, fish origin, and fish feeding habits, and assessed toxicological and carcinogenic risks for the Amazonian population. No significant correlation was found between sampling site and exposure levels to the studied elements, but a significant difference was found between the accumulation of some metals and the position of the fish species in the food chain. The concentrations of Cr and Hg in fish flesh were found to exceed the Brazilian limits for human consumption. This study shows that current fish consumption patterns can lead to estimated daily intakes of Hg, As and Cr that exceed the oral reference dose, thus posing a toxicological concern. Furthermore, carcinogenic risks may be expected due to the continued exposure to Cr and As. The results of this study show that the consumption of wild caught fish in the Amazon region should be controlled. Moreover, continued monitoring of trace element and metal contamination in fish and on the health of the Amazonian population is recommended, particularly for riverine and indigenous communities.

Different extractable pools of Cd and Pb in agricultural soil under amendments: Water-soluble concentration sensitively indicates metal availability.

Identification of the most appropriate chemically extractable pool for evaluating Cd and Pb availability remains elusive, hindering accurate assessment on environmental risks and effectiveness of remediation strategies. This study evaluated the feasibility of European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction, Ca(NO3)2 extraction, and water extraction on assessing Cd and Pb availability in agricultural soil amended with slaked lime, magnesium hydroxide, corn stover biochar, and calcium dihydrogen phosphate. Moreover, the enriched isotope tracing technique (112Cd and 206Pb) was employed to evaluate the aging process of newly introduced Cd and Pb within 56 days' incubation. Results demonstrated that extractable pools by BCR and Ca(NO3)2 extraction were little impacted by amendments and showed little correlation with soil pH. This is notable because soil pH is closely linked to metal availability, indicating these extraction methods may not adequately reflect metal availability. Conversely, water-soluble concentrations of Cd and Pb were markedly influenced by amendments and exhibited strong correlations with pH (Pearson's r: -0.908 to -0.825, P < 0.001), suggesting water extraction as a more sensitive approach. Furthermore, newly introduced metals underwent a more evident aging process as demonstrated by acid-soluble and water-soluble pools. Additionally, water-soluble concentrations of essential metals were impacted by soil amendments, raising caution on their potential effects on plant growth. These findings suggest water extraction as a promising and attractive method to evaluate Cd and Pb availability, which will help provide assessment guidance for environmental risks caused by heavy metals and develop efficient remediation strategies.

Tremendously enhanced catalytic performance of Fe(III)/peroxymonosulfate process by trace Cu(II): A high-valent metals domination in organics removal.

Dissolved copper and iron ions are regarded as friendly and economic catalysts for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, however, neither Cu(II) nor Fe(III) shows efficient catalytic performance because of the slow rates of Cu(II)/Cu(I) and Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycles. Innovatively, we observed a significant enhancement on the degradation of organic contaminants when Cu(II) and Fe(III) were coupled to activate PMS in borate (BA) buffer. The degradation efficiency of Rhodamine B (RhB, 20 µmol/L) reached up to 96.3% within 10 min, which was higher than the sum of individual Cu(II)- and Fe(III)- activated PMS process. Sulfate radical, hydroxyl radical and high-valent metal ions (i.e., Cu(III) and Fe(IV)) were identified as the working reactive species for RhB removal in Cu(II)/Fe(III)/PMS/BA system, while the last played a predominated role. The presence of BA dramatically facilitated the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I) via chelating with Cu(II) followed by Fe(III) reduction by Cu(I), resulting in enhanced PMS activation by Cu(I) and Fe(II) as well as accelerated generation of reactive species. Additionally, the strong buffering capacity of BA to stabilize the solution pH was satisfying for the pollutants degradation since a slightly alkaline environment favored the PMS activation by coupling Cu(II) and Fe(III). In a word, this work provides a brand-new insight into the outstanding PMS activation by homogeneous bimetals and an expanded application of iron-based advanced oxidation processes in alkaline conditions.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of γ-alooh nanoflowers as an adsorbent for cadmium removal from domestic wastewater.

In this study, cadmium ions were effectively removed from domestic wastewaters using an adsorptive treatment strategy based on γ-AlOOH nanoflowers. A novel, rapid, and simple procedure was developed for the synthesis of the nanoflowers. Characterization studies were performed using X-ray powder diffraction patterns and scanning electron microscope images. The synthesized nanoflowers were utilized as adsorbent in the batch adsorption experiments. The influential parameters of the adsorption process were optimized, and a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry (FAAS) system was used to determine maximum percent removal of cadmium ions. Matrix-matched calibration strategy, in which the calibration plot was developed in wastewater medium, was utilized for the accurate and precise quantification of cadmium in the effluent samples. The percentage removal efficiency values were calculated between 84 and 98% for different concentrations of cadmium ions in the wastewater samples. Equilibrium data was fitted to the four different linearization methods of the Langmuir isotherm model, as well as the Freundlich isotherm model and Elovich isotherm model. The best fitting was achieved for the Langmuir model with a high R2 value of 0.9956 and maximum adsorption capacity was calculated as 6.23 mg/g.

Toxic Metals and Metalloids in Food: Current Status, Health Risks, and Mitigation Strategies.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Exposure to toxic metals/metalloids, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb), through food consumption is a global public health concern. This review examines the contamination status of these metals/metalloids in food, assesses dietary intake across different populations, and proposes strategies to reduce metal/metalloid exposures throughout the food chain. RECENT FINDINGS: For the general population, dietary intake of metals/metalloids is generally lower than health-based guidance values. However, for vulnerable populations, such as infants, children, and pregnant women, their dietary intake levels are close to or even higher than the guidance values. Among different food categories, seafood shows higher total As, but largely present as organic species. Rice accumulates higher As concentration than other cereals, with inorganic As (iAs) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) being the main As species. Methylated thioarsenate species, such as dimethylmonothioarsenate, have also been detected in rice. The distribution of iAs and DMA in rice shows geographical variation. Additionally, seafood and cocoa products generally contain more Cd than other food, but seafood consumption does not significantly increase in adverse health effects due to its high zinc and iron content. Compared to As and Cd, Pb concentrations in food are generally lower. To minimize the health risks of metal/metalloid exposure, several strategies are proposed. Food contamination with toxic metals/metalloids poses significant concerns for human health, particularly for vulnerable populations. This review provides scientific evidence and suggestions for policy makers to reduce human exposure of metals/metalloids via dietary intake.

Exploring acid mine drainage treatment through adsorption: a bibliometric analysis.

Discharge of acidic wastewater from mining activities (acid mine drainage (AMD)) is a major global environmental and public health issue. Although several approaches, including chemical precipitation and membrane technology, have been developed to treat AMD, adsorption has emerged as the most promising technology due to its cost-effectiveness and efficacy. Despite the wide adoption of adsorption in treating AMD, the evolution of research in this area remains poorly understood. To address this gap, a bibliometric analysis of the most recent literature involving the application of adsorption in AMD remediation was conducted by merging datasets of articles from Scopus (1127) and the Web of Science Core Collection (1422), over the past decade (2013-2022). This analysis revealed a yearly increase of 11% in research publications, primarily contributed by China, the United States, and South Africa. Keyword analysis revealed that natural schwertmannites and their transformations, activated carbon, zeolites, and clay minerals, are the most extensively employed adsorbents for the removal of common metals (arsenic, chromium, iron, manganese, among others). The findings underscore the need for future focuses on recovering rare earth elements, using nanoparticles and modified materials, pursuing low-cost, sustainable solutions, integrating hybrid technologies, pilot-scale studies, exploring circular economic applications of AMD sludges, and inter-continental collaborations. These insights hold significant future implications, serving as a valuable reference to stakeholders in the mining industry.

Edible vegetables grown in the vicinity of electronic wastes: A study of potential health risks and DNA damage in consumers.

There has been a growing concern on the health effect of edible plants growing near/on/within the vicinity of dumpsites. This study investigated two edible vegetables: Amarathus hybridus and Talinum triangulare (Jacq) grown in the vicinity of a major informal dumpsite of electronic waste in Nigeria. The levels of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and heavy metal concentrations in the vegetables were measured. The health risks of consuming the vegetables were assessed using the hazard index (HI), lifetime cancer risk (LCR), estimated daily intake (EDI), and hazard quotient (HQ). Using the Ames Salmonella fluctuation test on Salmonella typhimurium (TA100 and TA98) and the SOS chromo test on Escherichia coli (PQ37), the mutagenicity and genotoxicity of the vegetables were evaluated. The two vegetables have elevated levels of heavy metals, PBDEs, PCBs, and hazardous PAHs. Compared to A. hybridus, T. triangulare was more contaminated. The amounts of organic constituents and heavy metals in the vegetables correlated favorably. The levels of the HQ, HI, and LCR were above the suggested guideline values, indicating a significant risk of both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic consequences, particularly in children. The two vegetables were mutagenic even at 50 % concentration in the Ames test. This was corroborated with SOS-chromo test results showing that the two vegetables were indeed genotoxic. This study demonstrated the harmful effects of growing food crops close to dumpsites; therefore, sufficient measures should be implemented to stop farmers and individuals from utilizing dirt from dumps as fertilizer or from planting in soil that has been used as a dump in the past or present.

Comparison of environmental impacts from pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion of oily sludge.

Thermochemical treatment of oily sludge (OS) has been demonstrated to be an effective approach for resource and energy recovery. However, the migration and emission of potential pollutants have limited its further development. In this study, the environmental impacts, including aromatic compounds in liquid products, N-, S-, and Cl-containing pollutants in gaseous products, and residual organic matter and heavy metals in solid residues, during the pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion processes of OS are comparatively investigated. The results indicate that the aromatics in the liquid products obtained from pyrolysis and gasification are primarily hydrocarbons with 10, 14, and 16 carbon atoms, and the corresponding degree of unsaturation is between 7 and 16. By contrast, the aromatics produced during combustion are mainly hydrocarbons with 10-12 carbon atoms and an unsaturation degree of 7. The liquid products from gasification of OS contain aromatics with more carbon atoms and a higher degree of unsaturation, suggesting potential issues of recalcitrant aromatics and tar by-products during the gasification process. The release behaviors of N-, S-, and Cl-containing pollutants during the thermochemical treatment of OS are closely related to the specific thermochemical technology and treatment temperature. At 550 °C, these pollutants are gradually released from the OS. By contrast, at 950 °C, they are released over a narrow temperature range with significantly higher concentrations. Furthermore, compared with the peak concentrations of SO2 and HCl during thermochemical processing at 550 °C, these values increase by 1-2 orders of magnitude at 950 °C. With the increase in treatment temperature, the loss on ignition (LOI) of residues from pyrolysis or gasification of OS gradually decreases and stabilizes around 0.5 %. On the other hand, the LOI from combustion fluctuates around 1.0 %. In addition, the removal rates of total organic carbon in the residues from all three thermochemical processes exceed 98.89 %. However, the potential ecological risks associated with heavy metals in the residues from thermochemical treatment of OS also increase to some extent. Cr, Cu, and Zn are found to evaporate and escape into liquid and gaseous products, while Pb is retained in the residues. Notably, the residue from combustion poses the highest environmental risks among the three processes.

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the zuari river, goa, india.

Limited research has been conducted on microplastic (MP) contamination in the rivers of Goa. To address this gap, this study examines the levels of MP contamination in the surface water of the Zuari River, Goa. We investigate the abundance, characteristics (size, shape, colour, and polymer composition), and risk assessment of MPs. MPs were detected at all sampling stations in the Zuari River, with concentrations varying from 0.01 particles/L (S3) to 1.38 particles/L (S13). The average abundance of MPs in the water samples was 0.28 ± 0.35 particles/L. MPs were more common in the 0.3-1 mm size range (51.70%) than in the 1-5 mm range (48.30%). The most common MP shapes observed were fibers (37.88%) and fragments (29.66%). FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyacrylamide carboxyl-modified MPs. The Pollution Load Index (PLI) showed an average value of 3.8, indicating significant contamination (PLI > 1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed various degradation features such as pits, scratches, grooves, and cracks on the MPs surfaces, while energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) detected metals on the MP's surfaces. This study provides key insights into MP pollution in the Zuari River's surface water and lays the groundwork for future research and management strategies in the region.

Bioremediation petroleum wastewater and oil-polluted soils by the non-toxigenic indigenous fungi.

Soil and wastewater samples contaminated by petroleum-related industries were collected from various locations in Saudi Arabia, a country known for its vast oil reserves. The samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, including the presence of metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and aromatic compounds. A total of 264 fungal isolates were analyzed and categorized into eight groups of Aspergillus (194 isolates) and four groups of Penicillium (70 isolates). The potential of these fungal groups to grow in oil or its derivatives was investigated. Two isolates, Aspergillus tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FU-KSU69, were utilized in two remediation experiments-one targeting wastewater and the other focusing on polluted soil. The FA-KSU5 strain demonstrated complete removal of Fe3+, As3+, Cr6+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+, with bioremediation efficiency for petroleum hydrocarbons in the wastewater from these sites ranging between 90.80 and 98.58%. Additionally, the FU-KSU69 strain achieved up to 100% reduction of Co2+, Ba2+, B3+, V+, Ni2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, with removal efficiency ranging from 93.17 to 96.02% for aromatic hydrocarbons after 180 min of wastewater treatment. After 21 days of soil incubation with Aspergillus tubingensis FA-KSU5, there was a 93.15% to 98.48% reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and an 88.11% to 97.31% decrease in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This strain exhibited the highest removal rates for Cd2+ and As3+ followed by Fe3+, Zn2+, Cr6+, Se4+ and Cu2+. Aspergillus niger FU-KSU69 achieved a 90.37% to 94.90% reduction in TPHs and a 95.13% to 98.15% decrease in PAHs, with significant removal of Ni2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, followed by Co2+, V+, Ba2+ and B3+. The enzymatic activity in the treated soils increased by 1.54- to 3.57-fold compared to the polluted soil. Although the mixture of wastewater and polluted soil exhibited high cytotoxicity against normal human cell lines, following mycoremediation, all treated soils and effluents with the dead fungal biomass showed no toxicity against normal human cell lines at concentrations up to 500 µL/mL, with IC50 values ≥ 1000 µL/mL. SEM and IR analysis revealed morphological and biochemical alterations in the biomass of A. tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FA-KSU69 when exposed to petroleum effluents. This study successfully introduces non-toxigenic and environmentally friendly fungal strains play a crucial role in the bioremediation of contaminated environments. Both strains serve as low-cost and effective adsorbents for bio-remediating petroleum wastewater and oil-contaminated soil. Heavy metals and hydrocarbons, the primary pollutants, were either completely removed or reduced to permissible levels according to international guidelines using the dead biomass of FA-KSU5 and FA-KSU69 fungi. Consequently, the environments associated with this globally significant industry are rendered biologically safe, particularly for humans, as evidenced by the absence of cytotoxicity in samples treated with A. tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FA-KSU69 on various human cell types.

Disclosing the key role of Fe/As/Cu in community co-occurrence and microbial recruitment in metallurgical ruins.

Mining activities have led to the persistent presence of substantial heavy metals at metallurgical sites. However, the impact of long-term and complex heavy metal pollution in metallurgical ruins on the structure and spatial shift of microbiome remains unclear. In this study, we focused on various types of metallurgical sites to uncover the occurrence of heavy metals in abandoned mines and the response patterns of microbial communities. The results indicate that mining activities have caused severe exceedances of multiple heavy metals, with AsBio, CuBio, and FeBio being the primary factors affecting community structure and function. Co-occurrence network analyses suggest that several genera, including Ellin6515, Cupriavidus, Acidobacteria genus RB41, Vicinamibacteraceae, Blastococcus, and Sphingomonas, may play significant roles in the synergistic metabolism of communities responding to Fe-Cu-As stress. Although random dispersal contributed to community migration, null models emphasized that variable selection predominates in the spatial turnover of community composition. Additionally, metagenomic prediction (PICRUSt2) identified key genes involved in stress and detoxification strategies of heavy metals. The composite heavy metal stress strengthened the relationship between network structure and the potential function of the community, along with critical ecosystem functions. Our findings demonstrated that microbial interactions were crucial for ecosystem management and the ecological consequences of heavy metal pollution remediation.

Immobilization mechanism of heavy metals by crystals and liquid phase during melting treatment of MSWI fly ash.

Melting treatment has emerged as a promising technology for managing municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) fly ash owing to its advantageous features of effective detoxification and volume reduction. The melting treatment of MSWI fly ash involves the immobilization of heavy metals by crystals and liquid phase. Herein, the immobilization mechanism of heavy metals (Cu, Pb and Cd) by the crystals and the liquid phase was investigated using melting experiments, thermodynamic calculations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Results demonstrate that the immobilization of heavy metals is influenced by a combination of factors: the reaction of heavy metals, physical encapsulation ability of the liquid phase and chemical fixation ability of both the crystals and the liquid phase. An increase in the content of SiO2 and Al2O3 promotes the conversion of heavy metals oxides into heavy metals chlorides. Furthermore, an increase in the content and polymerization degree of the liquid phase facilitates the physical encapsulation of heavy metals chlorides. The chemical fixation ability of the crystals and the liquid phase differs for Cu and Pb, while Cd cannot be immobilized through chemical fixation. To enhance the immobilization of heavy metals during melting treatment, the chemical composition of MSWI fly ash should be adjusted within the anorthite region of the ternary phase diagram. This study provides valuable insights into the immobilization mechanism of heavy metals by the crystals and the liquid phase during the melting treatment of MSWI fly ash.

Heavy metal accumulation and interaction dynamics in Brachidontes pharaonis: a bioindicator study in the Red Sea.

This work evaluates utilizing the native mussel Brachidontes pharaonis as a bioindicator and sentinel organism for monitoring heavy metals Cu, Zn, and Cd along the Red Sea coast of Egypt. Samples were collected from four coastal locations, and the concentrations of heavy metals in the mussels' tissues, shells, seawater, and sediments were analyzed. Subsequently, bioassay experiments were conducted by exposing the organisms to single, binary, and tertiary metal mixtures, and the accumulation of heavy metals was determined to elucidate the dynamics of metal-metal interactions. Field samples revealed significant variations in heavy metal concentrations in the mussels' soft tissues across different locations, with Zn ranging from 58.1 to 121.0 µg/g dw (dry weight), Cu ranging between 18.3 and 36.7 µg/g dw, and Cd ranging from 0.3 to 1.04 µg/g dw. Conversely, the shells exhibited minimal spatial variations, with much lower contents of Cu (ranging from 1.9 to 2.8 µg/g dw) and Zn (ranging from 1.8 to 1.9 µg/g dw). However, the shells accumulated Cd at higher levels (ranging from 1.4 to 2.1 µg/g dw) compared to the soft tissues. Following a 96-h bioassay experiment, the soft tissues displayed a linear accumulation of metals with increasing exposure dose, with Cd showing the highest accumulation rate (approximately threefold) followed by Zn (twofold) and Cu (1.7-fold). In binary and tertiary exposures, the metals exhibited a general antagonistic interaction, affecting each other's accumulation. On the other hand, the accumulation of heavy metals in the shells after the 96-h bioassay exposure did not follow a consistent linear pattern, suggesting that accumulation during this short experimental period occurs primarily through adsorption rather than the biological pathway.

Evaluating metal levels and potential health risks of nail polish brands on the Ghanaian market.

Research has shown possible existence of heavy metals in cosmetic products, as they are known to impact colour. Assessments have been carried out on selected brands of nail polishes on Ghanaian markets in the Ashanti Region, for levels of six metals, i.e., lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), aluminium (Al), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). A total of twenty (20) nail polish samples were analysed using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer model nova 400P. The highest concentrations determined were Al (77.50 mg/L), Cu (2.126 mg/L), and Cr (25.66 mg/L). The levels of Pb, Cd, and Mn were all below detection limit. All samples analysed were below the WHO permissible limits, making them safe for use. Health risks associated with intake of these metals via dermal route, inhalation, and ingestion are evaluated, Hazard Quotient (HQ) and Hazard Index (HI) are below unity, suggesting no potential health risks associated with their use.

Traces of the past: assessing the impact of potentially toxic elements from an abandoned mine on groundwater and agricultural soil in San Luis Potosí, México.

The study was conducted in Cerritos, San Luis Potosí, México, near the Guaxcama mine, focused on environmental contamination (groundwater and agricultural soil) from antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg). In March 2022, 20 agricultural soil and 16 groundwater samples were collected near the historically cinnabar (HgS)- and arsenopyrite (FeAsS)-rich Guaxcama mine. Hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS) for As, cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CV-AFS) for Hg, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for Cd, Pb, and Sb were used for the determinations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). While concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb, and Sb in groundwater were below detection limits, As levels exhibited a range from 40.9 ± 1.4 to 576.0 ± 1.0 µg/L, exceeding permissible limits for drinking water (10 µg/L). In agricultural soil, As was between 7.67 ± 0.16 and 24.1 ± 0.4 µg/g, Hg ranged from 0.203 ± 0.018 to 2.33 ± 0.19 µg/g, Cd from 2.53 ± 0.90 to 2.78 ± 0.01 µg/g, and Pb from 11.7 ± 1.2 to 34.3 ± 4.1 µg/g. Only one study area surpassed the Mexican As soil limit of 22 µg/g. Sequential extraction (four-step BCR procedure) indicated significant As bioavailability in soil (fractions 1 and 2) ranging from 3.66 to 10.36%, heightening the risk of crop transfer, in contrast to the low bioavailability of Hg, showing that fractions 1, 2, and 3 were below the limit of quantification (LOQ). Crucial physicochemical parameters in soil, including nitrate levels, pH, and organic matter, were pivotal in understanding contamination dynamics. Principal component analysis highlighted the influence of elements like Fe and Ca on phytoavailable As, while Pb and Cd likely originated from a common source. Ecological risk assessments underscored the significant impact of pollution, primarily due to the concentrations of Cd and Hg. Non-cancer and cancer risks to residents through As poisoning via contaminated water ingestion also were found. The hazard index (HI) values varied between 4.0 and 82.2 for adults and children. The total incremental lifetime cancer risk (TILCAR) values for adults ranged from 7.75E - 04 to 1.06E - 02, whereas for children, the values were from 2.47E - 04 to 3.17E - 03.

Investigation of the Effect of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Antioxidant System and Serum Aluminum, Zinc, and Iron Levels in Acute Aluminum Toxicity.

Aluminum (Al), one of the three most prevalent metals in the Earth's crust, adversely impacts all metabolic systems of living organisms due to its extensive utilization by humans. It is known that omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3FA) protect the organism against diseases and have positive effects on the immune system. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of ω-3FA on 8-OH-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), glutathione (GSH) levels and adenosine deaminase (ADA), paraoxonase (PON), and catalase (CAT) activities in rats with acute aluminum toxicity. The study also aimed to investigate the antioxidant system, as well as Al, zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe) levels. Forty Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40) were used in the study and the rats were divided into four equal groups (n = 10). In group I, 0.5 mL of 0.9% saline solution (NaCI) was injected intraperitoneally. Group II was injected with 34 mg/kg aluminum chloride (AlCI3) intraperitoneally. Group III received 400 mg/kg ω-3FA for 7 days and group IV received both AlCI3 and 400 mg/kg ω-3FA for 7 days. At the end of the study, blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture. The findings showed that Al exposure increased serum 8-OHdG and total oxidant status (TOS) levels, as well as ADA activity, which are markers associated with oxidative damage. Conversely, PON and CAT activities, GSH, and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels decreased compared to the control group. Furthermore, Zn and Fe levels decreased as Al levels increased. In conclusion, Al has the capacity to induce oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation, while ω-3 fatty acids may mitigate this damage through a regulatory mechanism. Moreover, ω-3-FA could be used as a therapeutic agent that reduces Al toxicity.

Biosorption of Cr(VI) by Theobroma cacao pericarp.

This paper reports a comprehensive study of Theobroma cacao pericarp (TCP) residues, which has been prepared, characterized, and tested as an inexpensive and efficient biosorbent of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity of TCP obtained at optimal conditions (pH = 2, dose = 0.5 g L-1, C0 = 100 mg L-1) was qmax = 48.5 mg g-1, which is one of the highest values reported by the literature. Structural and morphological characterization has been performed by FTIR, SEM/EDX, and pHPZC measurements. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of O-H, -NH, -NH2, C = H, C = O, C = C, C-O, and C-C functional groups that would be involved in the Cr(VI) biosorption processes. The experimental equilibrium data of biosorption process were successfully fitted to non-linear Langmuir (R2 = 0.95, χ2 = 11.0), Freundlich (R2 = 0.93, χ2 = 14.8), and Temkin (R2 = 0.93, χ2 = 14.7) isotherm models. Kinetics experimental data were well adjustment to non-linear pseudo-2nd (R2 = 0.99, χ2 = 2.08)- and pseudo-1st-order kinetic models (R2 = 0.98, χ2 = 2.25) and also to intra-particle Weber-Morris (R2 = 0.98) and liquid film diffusion (R2 = 0.99) models. These results indicate that Cr(VI) biosorption on heterogeneous surfaces as well as on monolayers of TCP would be a complex process controlled by chemisorption and physisorption mechanisms. The thermodynamic results indicate that the Cr(VI) biosorption on TCP is a feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic process. TCP can be regenerated with NaOH and reused up to 3 times.

Machine learning approaches to identify the link between heavy metal exposure and ischemic stroke using the US NHANES data from 2003 to 2018.

Purpose: There is limited understanding of the link between exposure to heavy metals and ischemic stroke (IS). This research aimed to develop efficient and interpretable machine learning (ML) models to associate the relationship between exposure to heavy metals and IS. Methods: The data of this research were obtained from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (US NHANES, 2003-2018) database. Seven ML models were used to identify IS caused by exposure to heavy metals. To assess the strength of the models, we employed 10-fold cross-validation, the area under the curve (AUC), F1 scores, Brier scores, Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), precision-recall (PR) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) curves. Following these tests, the best-performing model was selected. Finally, the DALEX package was used for feature explanation and decision-making visualization. Results: A total of 15,575 participants were involved in this study. The best-performing ML models, which included logistic regression (LR) (AUC: 0.796) and XGBoost (AUC: 0.789), were selected. The DALEX package revealed that age, total mercury in blood, poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), and cadmium were the most significant contributors to IS in the logistic regression and XGBoost models. Conclusion: The logistic regression and XGBoost models showed high efficiency, accuracy, and robustness in identifying associations between heavy metal exposure and IS in NHANES 2003-2018 participants.