Multiple potentially toxic elements in urban gardens from a Brazilian industrialized city.

Urban agriculture should be promoted as long as the food produced is safe for consumption. Located in the metropolitan region of São Paulo-Brazil, Santo André has intense industrial activities and more recently an increasing stimulus to urban gardening. One of the potential risks associated to this activity is the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In this study, the concentration of PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Ni, Mo, Pb, Sb, Se, V and Zn) was evaluated by soil (n = 85) and soil amendments (n = 19) in urban gardens from this municipality. Only barium was above regulatory limits in agricultural soil ranging from 20 to 112 mg kg-1. Geochemical indexes (Igeo, Cf and Er) revealed moderate to severe pollution for As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Pb Se and Zn, especialy in Capuava petrochemical complex gardens. A multivariate statistical approach discriminated Capuava gardens from the others and correlated As, Cr and V as main factors of pollution. However, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were below the acceptable range for regulatory purposes of 10-6-10-4 for adults. Soil amendments were identified as a possible source of contamination for Ba, Zn and Pb which ranged from 37 to 4137 mg kg-1, 20 to 701 mg kg-1 and 0.7 to 73 mg kg-1, respectively. The results also indicated the presence of six pathogenic bacteria in these amendments. Besides that, the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance for Shigella, Enterobacter and Citrobacter isolates suggests that soil management practices improvement is necessary.

Implications of ZnO Nanoparticles and S-Nitrosoglutathione on Nitric Oxide, Reactive Oxidative Species, Photosynthetic Pigments, and Ionomic Profile in Rice.

Zinc is an important nutrient for several plants and humans. Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical that is important to biological processes that mediate the growth and mitigation of biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. The present study investigated the enzymatic and photosynthetic profile and the accumulation of macro- and microelements in rice plants (Oryza sativa L.) that received foliar treatments of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), nitric oxide donor (GSNO), and the association of both (GSNO-ZnO NPs). Zinc concentration in rice husks increased by 66% and 68% in plants treated with ZnO NPs and GSNO-ZnO NPs, respectively. The GSNO treatment caused an increase of 25% in the Fe concentration in the rice grains. Only a small disturbance of the antioxidant system was observed, with increases in H2O2, S-NO, and NO2-, mainly in the group treated with GSNO-ZnO NPs; however, the disturbance did not affect the yield, the growth, or vital processes, such as as photosynthetic pigments production. There was an increase in chlorophyll B of 290% and an increase in chlorophyll A of 187% when ZnO NPs was applied. GSNO-ZnO NPs increased chlorophyll B by 345% and chlorophyll A by 345%, indicating that the treatments GSNO, ZnO NPs, and GSNO-ZnO NPs reduced possible oxidative stress and helped as protective treatments.

Selenium Biofortification Enhanced Grain Yield and Alleviated the Risk of Arsenic and Cadmium Toxicity in Rice for Human Consumption.

Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) are toxic to rice plants. However, selenium (Se) has the potential to regulate As and Cd toxicity. The present study aimed to evaluate the co-exposure to As5+ and Se6+ species in two rice cultivars, BRS Pampa and EPAGRI 108. The plants were divided into six groups and cultivated until complete maturation of the grains, under greenhouse conditions. Regarding total As and inorganic As (i-As) accumulation in grains, the highest concentrations were found for BRS Pampa. For Se, EPAGRI 108 presented the highest concentration of inorganic and organic Se (i-Se and o-Se). The exposure assessments showed that Se biofortification can mitigate the As accumulation in rice and, consequently, the risk of As and Cd toxicity in grains for human consumption. The combined effect of As and Se in rice plants could represent an alternative to biofortify this food in a safe way and with a higher percentage of bioavailable Se. Although Se is able to mitigate As toxicity in rice plants, in the present study we showed that co-exposure in different cultivars under the same growing conditions may present different responses to As and Se exposure.

Chromium Speciation by HPLC-DAD/ICP-MS: Simultaneous Hyphenation of Analytical Techniques for Studies of Biomolecules.

The first element legislated adopting chemical speciation was chromium (Cr) for differentiation between the highly toxic Cr(VI) from the micronutrient Cr(III). Therefore, this work aimed to develop a new analytical method through the coupling of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC-DAD) with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to obtain molecular and elemental information simultaneously from a single sample injection. In the first step, a low-cost flow split made of acrylic was developed aiming at optimally directing the sample to the detectors, enabling the HPLC-DAD/ICP-MS coupling. After the extraction of Certified Reference Materials (CRM of natural water NIST1640a and sugar cane leaf agro FC_012017), the recoveries determined by ICP-MS were 99.7% and 85.4%, respectively. Then, the method of HPLC-DAD/ICP-MS was applied for real samples of the CRMs. The presence of possible biomolecules associated with Cr(III) and Cr(VI) species was evaluated, with the simultaneous response detection of molecular (DAD) and elementary (ICP-MS) detectors. Potential biomolecules were observed during the monitoring of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in sugar cane leaves, water samples and a supplement of Cr picolinate. Finally, the article also discusses the potential of the technique applied to biomolecules containing other associated elements and the need of more bioanalytical methods to understand the presence of trace elements in biomolecules.

Influence of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom on Pb Toxicokinetic in Pregnant Rats.

(Pb) is a toxic metal, responsible for several damages to human health. Agaricus bisporus (Ab) is a mushroom with promising antioxidant properties to be used as an alternative chelator in Pb intoxication. The aim was to understand the Pb toxicokinetic and the potential of Ab as a protective agent. A total of 20 female Wistar rats were distributed into 4 groups (n = 5/group): Control (receiving water); Group Ab 100 mg/kg (gavage); Group Pb 100 mg/L in water; and Group Ab + Pb-100 mg/kg + 100 mg/L (gavage and water). Pb administration occurred daily until the 19th day of pregnancy. On day 19 of gestation, the rats were euthanized, and the blood and tissues were collected for Pb measurement, using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The results showed that the levels of Pb in the blood, placenta, and liver of the mothers, and in the brain of the fetuses increased significantly in the Pb group. On the other hand, the combined exposure to Pb + Ab showed a significant decrease in the metal concentration in relation to the Pb group, returning to normal levels. Kidney and bone lead levels also increased significantly in the Pb group. However, in the combined exposure group, levels did not return to the control amounts; there was protection, but the Pb concentration was still significantly higher than in the control. In the brain, no significant differences were observed. In conclusion, we suggest A. bisporus is a natural chelator, because the co-administration of the mushroom was able to interact with Pb ions, minimizing the Pb absorption and distribution. These effects are suggested since A. bisporus have antioxidants and beta glucan that interact with Pb, chelating it and, thus, reducing its toxic effects.

Evaluation of collision/reaction gases in single-particle ICP-MS for sizing selenium nanoparticles and assessment of their antibacterial activity.

Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) have recently attracted attention because they combine the benefits of Se and lower toxicity compared to other chemical forms of this element. In this study, SeNPs were synthesized by a green method using ascorbic acid as the reducing agent and polyvinyl alcohol as stabilizer. The nanoparticles were widely characterized. To determine the total concentration of Se by ICP-MS, several isotopes and the use of He as collision gas were evaluated, which was effective in minimizing interferences. A method for sizing SeNPs by single particle ICP-MS (SP-ICP-MS) was developed. For this purpose, He and H2were evaluated as collision/reaction gases, and the second one showed promising results, providing an average diameter of 48 nm for the SeNPs. These results agree with those obtained by TEM (50.1 nm). Therefore, the SP-ICP-MS can be implemented for characterizing SeNPs in terms of size and size distribution, being an important analytical tool for Se and other widely studied nanoparticles (e.g. Ag, Au, Ce, Cu, Fe, Zn). Finally, the antibacterial activity of SeNPs was assessed. The SeNPs showed bacteriostatic activity against three strains of Gram-positive bacteria and were particularly efficient in inhibiting the growthE. faecaliseven at very low concentrations (MIC < 1.4 mg l-1). In addition, a bactericidal activity of SeNPs againstS. aureuswas observed. These nanoparticles may have potential application in pharmaceutical industry, biomedicine and agriculture.

Occupational exposure to potentially toxic elements in the foundry industry: an integrated environmental and biological monitoring.

Industrial foundry processes release metal dust and fumes into the environment. Our study evaluated the exposure to potentially toxic elements in foundry workers. The assessed samples consisted of air particulate matter (n = 42), urine (n = 194), and blood (n = 167). Six workers had high concentrations of arsenic (As) in urine and one of them had a high cadmium (Cd) content in blood, according to Biological Exposure Index from the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. The work task significantly influenced the concentrations of cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), and manganese (Mn) in air, barium (Ba) in urine, and lead (Pb) and cesium (Cs) in blood, while the employment years affected concentrations of Mn, tin (Sn), and uranium (U) in urine and iodine (I) in blood. Arsenic, Pb, Co, and Cd in particulate matter and biological matrices presented significant covariation by working activity, supporting the occupational exposure. In this study, subjects were occupationally exposed to multiple potentially toxic elements. Carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks were associated with As, Co, Ni, and Mn exposure.

Comparison of foliar spray and soil irrigation of biogenic CuO nanoparticles (NPs) on elemental uptake and accumulation in lettuce.

Nanoparticles (NPs) can be used in several ways in agriculture, including increasing production rates and improving nutritional values in plants. The present study aims to clarify how biogenic copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) applied by two routes of exposure (foliar spray and soil irrigation) affect the elemental uptake by lettuce. In vivo experiments using lettuce (n = 4) were performed with CuO NPs in comparison with copper salt (CuSO4), considering a final mass added of 20 mg of CuO per plant. The elemental composition of roots was mostly affected by the soil irrigation exposure for both Cu forms (NPs and salt). Neither Cu form added by soil irrigation was translocated to leaves. Copper concentration in leaves was mainly affected by foliar spray exposure for both Cu forms (NPs and salt). All Cu forms through foliar spray were sequestered in the leaves and no translocation to roots was observed. Foliar spray of CuO NPs caused no visual damage in leaves, resulted in less disturbance of elemental composition, and improved dry weight, number of leaves, CO2 assimilation, and the levels of K, Na, S, Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn in leaves without causing significant changes in daily intake of most elements, except for Cu. Although Cu concentration increased in leaves by foliar spray of CuO NPs, it remained safe for consumption.

Occupational exposure of foundry workers assessed by the urinary concentrations of 18 elements and arsenic species.

BACKGROUND: Some raw materials applied in Fe foundry industries may contain potentially toxic elements. Thus, foundry worker's occupational exposure is a constant health concern. METHOD: In this study, 194 urine samples from foundry workers were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for biomonitoring of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Se, U and Zn. Moreover, arsenic speciation was performed in representative samples of production sector workers (group A) and administration sector workers (group B). RESULTS: Concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cs, I, Sb in urines from group A were higher than those found for group B. Samples of group A presented Cs, Ni, Mn, Pb, U and Zn concentrations higher than values reported for exposed workers assessed by other studies. Forty-four samples from group A exceed As-reference limits. Group A had approximately seven times more inorganic As (as arsenite) and 14 times more organic As (as dimethyl As) than group B. A statistically significant difference was observed in the elemental concentration in the workers' urine by the time in the function. Moreover, alcohol consumption is probably influencing the urine concentration of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, I, Se and Zn. CONCLUSION: The monitored foundry workers are exposed to potentially toxic elements and more attention must be given to their health. Therefore, workplace safety conditions must be improved, and constant biomonitoring is necessary to ensure workers' health.

Effects of copper oxide nanoparticles on growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedlings and possible implications of nitric oxide in their antioxidative defense.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) have been extensively explored for use in agriculture. Previous studies have indicated that application of CuO NPs might be promising for development and conservation of plants, pest control, and for the recovery of degraded soils. However, depending on the applied concentration copper can cause phytotoxic effects. In this work, biosynthesized CuO NPs (using green tea extract) were evaluated on their effects on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) seedling growth, which were exposed at concentrations ranged between 0.2 and 300 µg mL-1. From the biosynthesized were obtained ultra-small CuO NPs (~ 6.6 nm), with high stability in aqueous suspension. Toxicity bioassays have shown that at low concentrations (up to 40 µg mL-1), CuO NPs did not affect or even enhanced the seed germination. At higher concentrations (higher than 40 µg mL-1), inhibition of seed germination and radicle growth ranging from 35 to 75% was observed. With the increase of CuO NPs concentrations, nitrite and S-nitrosothiols levels in radicles increased, whereas superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant activities decreased. The nitrite and S-nitrosothiols levels in lettuce radicles showed a direct dose response to CuO NP application, which may indicate nitric oxide-dependent signaling pathways in the plant responses. Therefore, the results demonstrated that at low concentrations (≤ 20 µg mL-1) of CuO NPs, beneficial effects are obtained from seedlings, enhancing plant growth, and the involvement of nitric oxide signaling in the phytotoxic effects induced by high concentration of this formulation. Graphical abstract.

Mineral profile exploratory analysis for rice grains traceability.

Rice geographical traceability requires analytical procedures and data evaluation capable of linking its composition to the producing area. In this work, major and trace elements in soil and rice grains and husk from 9 cities and 17 producers were evaluated. Arsenic species were measured solely in rice grains. The rice mineral profile evaluated by principal component analysis allowed the identification of controlling variables and origin fingerprints. Vectors controlling data variability were linked to the geographical area, to crop management, producers and in a lower extent to soil composition. Elemental discrimination through 3D models was proposed. Arsenic species in the grains and elemental husk composition were decisive to achieve the required discrimination. Rice discrimination was obtained by cities, producers and varieties. The present work model was compared with others from similar studies.