Determination of copper,nickel, and cadmium in sea water by apdc chelate coprecipitation and flameless atomic absorption spectrometry

Copper, nickel, and cadmium can be determined in 100 ml of sea water by coprecipitation with cobalt pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and graphite atomizer atomic absorption spectrometry. Concentration ranges likely to be encountered and estimated (1 σ ) analytical precisions are 1–6 nmol kg^-1 (±0.1) for copper, 3–12 nmol kg^-1 (±0.3) for nickel and 0.0–1.1 nmol kg^-1 (±0.1) for cadmium. The technique may be applied to fresh-water samples with slight modification.     

Trace Metal and Persistent Organochlorine Levels in Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) from the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary

Abstract

Tissue samples were collected from ten healthy mature female wood bison (B. bison athabascae) for examination. Livers and kidneys were tested for toxic heavy metals and trace metals considered as essential nutrients for successful reproduction, while fat samples were analyzed for persistent chlorinated hydrocarbons. No elevated levels of toxic heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury) were found and essential trace elements (copper, manganese, selenium, zinc) were within the acceptable ranges established for healthy cattle. All fat samples tested contained trace levels of α-BHC (mean value, 23 ppb) and lindane (mean value, 3 ppb).     

Biosorption of Copper and Cadmium in Packed Bed Columns with Live Immobilized Fungal Biomass of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phanerochaete chrysosporium</Emphasis>

Biosorption of copper (II) and cadmium (II) by live Phanerochaete chrysosporium immobilized by growing onto polyurethane foam material in individual packed bed columns over two successive cycles of sorption–desorption were investigated in this study. Initial pH and concentrations of the metals in their respective solutions were set optimum to each of those: 4.6 and 35 mg·l⁻¹ in case of copper and 5.3 and 11 mg·l⁻¹ for cadmium. The breakthrough curves obtained for the two metals during sorption in both the cycles exhibited a constant pattern at various bed depths in the columns. The maximum yield of the columns in removing these metals were found to be, respectively, 57% and 43% for copper and cadmium indicating that copper biosorption by the immobilized fungus in its column was better than for cadmium. Recovery values of the sorbed copper and cadmium metals from the respective loaded columns by using 0.1 N HCl as eluant was observed to be quite high at more than 65% and 75%, respectively, at the end of desorption in both the cycles. Breakthrough models of bed-depth service time, Adams–Bohart, Wolborska, and Clark were fitted to the experimental data on sorption of copper and cadmium in the columns, and only the Clark model could fit the sorption performance of the columns well over the entire range of ratios of concentrations of effluent to influent, i.e., C/C ₀ for both copper and cadmium biosorption. The kinetic coefficients of mass transfer and other suitable parameters in the system were determined by applying the experimental data at C/C ₀ ratios lower than 0.5 to the other three models.     

Levels of mercury,cadmium, lead and other selected elements in canned tuna fish commercialised in Jordan

During 2010, the concentrations of mercury and eight other trace elements in 90 canned tuna samples commercialised in Jordan were determined using mercury analyser (Hydra C®) and the inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The mean concentrations and ranges for elements analysed in mg?kg ^{? 1} (wet base) were as follows: total Hg (0.21; 0.06–0.57), Cd (0.06;?<?0.01–0.63), Pb (0.09; <0.04–0.24), total As (0.74; 0.11–1.56), Ni (0.51; 0.03–2.85), V (0.04; <0.03–0.1), Al (0.26; 0.08–1.63), Ba (0.13; 0.05–0.42) and Ag was not detected in any of the analysed samples (<0.02?mg?kg^?1). The data obtained in the present study compared well with data obtained from similar studies carried out in different parts of the world. Few samples had the mercury and cadmium levels slightly exceeding the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants draft guidelines. However, the estimated weekly intakes of these metals showed that there was no health risk associated with the consumption of the analysed canned tuna samples.     

Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectrometry-Based Metabolic Characterization of Panax Notoginseng Roots

The radix of Panax notoginseng is an important herbal resource for clinics, commercial markets, and the health industry worldwide. The quality of P. notoginseng roots is known to be associated with its cultivation age. This study used ¹H-nuclear-magnetic-resonance-spectrometry-based metabolic profiling to characterize P. notoginseng roots. Twenty metabolites—including four ginsenosides—contributed to the composition of P. notoginseng according to age. A partial least-squares regression model using a combined data set from two solvent systems was the best predictor of cultivation age. Finally, receiver-operating-characteristic analysis was used to screen potential markers of P. notoginseng root age. These results may be applied to the development of medicinal and nutraceutical products using P. notoginseng roots.     

Effect of cadmium on the accumulation of arsenic in a marine green alga,Dunaliellasp.

To investigate the effect of cadmium on the accumulation of arsenic by Dunaliella sp., the arsenic accumulated in the alga was determined as a function of time for coexistence of the algae with arsenic and cadmium, with batch methodology. Growth of Dunaliella sp. was affected by addition of arsenic (Na₂HAsO₄.7H₂O) and cadmium (CdCl.2.5H₂O). Growth inhibition of Dunaliella sp. was accelerated by coexistence of arsenic and cadmium. The content of arsenic in Dunaliella sp. became a maximum at 15 h after exposure. The arsenic content in the cells was influenced by addition of cadmium to the solution; the arsenic content in the alga derived from growth in a 10 mg As dm ^?3 solution decreased from 2.7 mg g^?1 in the absence of cadmium to 0.35 mg g^?1 for the addition of 100 mg Cd dm^?3. Dunaliella sp. accumulated cadmium in large quantities but, in conditions of coexistence with arsenic and cadmium, the cadmium content in cells decreased with an increase in the concentration of arsenic in the growth medium Cadmium accumulation by Dunaliella sp. was observed in dead cells although arsenic accumulation was not observed. About 85% of arsenic in the cells was in the water-soluble fraction. On the other hand, about 42% of cadmium in the cells was in the water-soluble fraction, and about 55% was in a fraction soluble in cold trichloroacetic acid.     

Sequential Voltammetric Determination of Uranium,Cadmium and Lead by Using the ex situ Bismuth Film Electrode: Application to Phosphate Fertilizers

A sequential voltammetric procedure for the determination of uranium, cadmium and lead was investigated at an ex situ bismuth film electrode (BiFE). First, the adsorptive stripping voltammetry was applied to assay the U(VI)‐cupferron complex in the differential pulse mode (detection limit of 1.0 µg L^?1, 200 s accumulation time). Through the manipulation of the same aliquot of the sample, efforts were made to quantify cadmium and lead by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Detection limits of 2.03 µg L^?1 for Cd (II) and 2.43 µg L^?1 for Pb (II) were calculated (100 s accumulation time). The methodology was successfully applied to phosphate fertilizer samples after open vessel wet decomposition (HNO₃/H₂O₂). The following value ranges were evaluated: U (VI) 37.2–150 mg kg^?1, Pb (II) 78.3–204 mg kg^?1 and Cd (II) 44.1–71.6 mg kg^?1. Validation was performed by using the standard reference materials SRM‐695 – phosphate fertilizer – and SRM‐1643e – water.     

Organoarsenic compounds in plants and soil on top of an ore vein

Plants and soil collected above an ore vein in Gasen (Austria) were investigated for total arsenic concentrations by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Total arsenic concentrations in all samples were higher than those usually found at non‐contaminated sites. The arsenic concentration in the soil ranged from ～700 to ～4000 mg kg^?1 dry mass. Arsenic concentrations in plant samples ranged from ～0.5 to 6 mg kg^?1 dry mass and varied with plant species and plant part. Examination of plant and soil extracts by high‐performance liquid chromatography–ICP‐MS revealed that only small amounts of arsenic (<1%) could be extracted from the soil and the main part of the extractable arsenic from soil was inorganic arsenic, dominated by arsenate. Trimethylarsine oxide and arsenobetaine were also detected as minor compounds in soil. The extracts of the plants (Trifolium pratense, Dactylis glomerata, and Plantago lanceolata) contained arsenate, arsenite, methylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, trimethylarsine oxide, the tetramethylarsonium ion, arsenobetaine, and arsenocholine (2.5–12% extraction efficiency). The arsenic compounds and their concentrations differed with plant species. The extracts of D. glomerata and P. lanceolata contained mainly inorganic arsenic compounds typical of most other plants. T. pratense, on the other hand, contained mainly organic arsenicals and the major compound was methylarsonic acid. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy metals contamination in roadside soil near different traffic signals in Dubai,United Arab Emirates

The present research was conducted to study heavy metal contamination in roadside soil viz. (i) at sites having more than two traffic signals (ii) roads having only one traffic signal and (iii) roads having no traffic signals. The samples were collected and analyzed for seven heavy metals i.e. cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) following the acid digestion of the respective soil samples. The range of the metals observed in soil having more than two traffic signals were Cd (0.17–1.01), Pb (259.66–2784.45), Cu (15.51–65.90), Ni (13.31–98.13), Fe (325.64–5136.37), Mn (57.95–166.43), and Zn (91.34–166.43) mg kg^?1 respectively. Similarly, the range of metals analyzed in samples collected from the roadside having only one traffic signal were Cd (nd–0.80), Pb (145.95–308.09), Cu (0.82–18.04), Ni (18.29–59.36), Fe (88.51–3649.42), Mn (25.88–147.34) and Zn (8.97–106.11 mg kg ^?1) respectively. However, the range of metals at roads having no traffic signals were Cd (0.0–0.57), Pb (8.34–58.20), Cu (2.88–5.81), Ni (3.34–73.80), Fe (55.34–332.81), Mn (2.98–98.73) and Zn (1.23–46.6 mg kg^?1) respectively. Cd, Cu, Ni, Fe, Mn and Zn in soil were present within the normal range of background levels, whereas lead was reported in high concentration. The level of lead had a correlation with the traffic density attributing its origin to vehicular exhaust. The values from three different sites of monitoring suggest that automobiles are a major source of the studied metals for the roadside environment.     

Concentrations of hazardous heavy metals in environmental samples collected in Xiamen, China, as determined by vapor generation non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry.

Non-dispersive atomic fluorescence spectrometry (NDAFS) coupled with vapor generation (VG) sample introduction was applied to the determination of the concentrations of hazardous heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury, in seawater, soils and total airborne particulate matter (PM) collected around the Xiamen area in China. Almost 100% sample introduction efficiency was achieved by using thiourea and ascorbic acid for the pre-reduction of As(V) to As(III), K3Fe(CN)6 and tartaric acid for pre-oxidation of Pb(II) to Pb(IV), and masking the interferences arising from the co-existing transition metals to As, Cd, Hg and Pb during their vapor generation process. Moreover, a novel sample pretreatment device was developed to avoid the loss of mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic during sample pretreatment. With such methods, the detection limit (DL) of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury was down to 0.08, 0.03, 0.05, 0.01 ng mL(-1) (3sigma), respectively. The relative standard deviations (RSD, n = 11) for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury at 10 ng mL(-1) were 0.9%, 1.6%, 1.3% and 2.0%, respectively. The concentrations of hazardous heavy metals in the environmental samples collected in Xiamen, China are in the range from 0.02 +/- 0.001 ng mL(-1) in seawater to 15.3 +/- 0.2 microg g(-1) in soils. Besides flame/GF-AAS and ICP-AES/MS, VG-NDAFS should be another choice for the determination of hazardous heavy metals in environmental samples.     

Transfer of Metals from Soil to Crops in an Area near a Coal Gangue Pile in the Guqiao Coal Mine,China

A field survey was conducted to investigate the metal contamination in coal gangue, soils, and crops (rice and soybeans), and to evaluate the possible health risks to the local population through food chain transfer near a coal gangue pile in the Guqiao Coal Mine, China. Contamination levels of zinc, lead, cadmium, and copper in coal gangue, soils, and crops were measured, and bio-accumulation factors from soil to crops were determined; the health risks were calculated accordingly. Results showed that both coal gangue and soil contained high levels of cadmium (0.15 mg kg^?1and 0.20 mg kg^?1) exceeding the background value of the soil. The lead soil concentration was low (9.99 mg kg^?1), but lead in rice (0.38 mg kg^?1) exceeded the maximal permissible limit of 0.2 mg kg^?1. For some tissues of crops studied, there was a significant correlation between the bio-accumulation factor values and the corresponding soil metal concentrations that were best described by a power equation. Oral intake of zinc, cadmium, and copper through crops posed no health risk to local residents, although hazard indices for rice (0.87–2.88) and soybeans (0.06–0.09) suggested that ingestion of rice grains was unsafe for human health. Therefore, rice was inappropriate to be planted in the soil surrounding this coal mine.     

Simultaneous Determination of Iron,Copper, and Cadmium by Adsorptive Stripping Voltammetry in the Presence of Thymolphthalexone

A novel, sensitive and selective adsorptive stripping procedure for simultaneous determination of iron, copper and cadmium is presented. The method is based on the adsorptive accumulation of thymolphthalexone (TPN) complexes of these elements onto a hanging mercury drop electrode, followed by reduction of adsorbed species by voltammetric scan using differential pulse modulation. The influences of control variables on the sensitivity of the proposed method for the simultaneous determination of iron, copper and cadmium were studied using the Derringer desirability function. The optimum analytical conditions were found to be TPN concentration of 2.0 μM, pH of 9.5, and accumulation potential at ?0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl with an accumulation time of 60 s. The peak currents are proportional to the concentration of iron, copper and cadmium over the 1–80, 0.5–100 and 1–100 ng mL^?1 ranges with detection limits of 0.5, 0.4 and 0.9 ng mL^?1_, respectively. The R.S.D. at a concentration level of 20 ng mL^?1 of iron, copper and cadmium were 2.5%, 0.9% and 1.5% (n=6), respectively. The procedure was applied to the simultaneous determination of iron, copper and cadmium in the tap water and some synthetic samples with satisfactory results.     

The determination of trace amounts of heavy metals in waters by a flow-injection system including ion-exchange preconcentration and flame atomic absorption spectrometric detection

The flow-injection system combines on-line ion-exchange preconcentration with atomic absorption spectrometry (a.a.s.) for the determination of traces (μg l^?1) of heavy metals in water samples. Miniature columns packed with 60–100 mesh chelating resin (122) with a salicylic acid functional group are used for preconcentration. A multifunctional rotary sampling valve which incorporated two parallel sampling columns allows sampling, exchange, elution and a.a.s. to be achieved sequentially. The increases in sensitivity for nickel, copper, lead and cadmium were 20–28-fold at a sampling rate of 40 h^?1 with 5-ml samples. Relative standard deviations were 1.5–4.1%. The recoveries of these four metals added to tap, sea and polluted waters were generally satisfactory, except for cadmium in polluted water. The effects of column diameter and elution flow rates on sensitivity are discussed. Possible interferences are described.     

Synthesis of magnetically modified mesoporous nanoparticles and their application in simultaneous determination of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II)

In this study, a novel adsorbent from a mesoporous family (MCM-41) coating with CoFe₂O₄ and piperazine was synthesized by a simple and easy route. Its application for simultaneous preconcentration of three heavy metals including lead, cadmium and copper in real samples followed by a flame atomic absorption spectroscopy was investigated. The central composite design was employed for investigating the most effective factors of pH, amount of adsorbent, the equilibrium time and their interactions. Under the optimum conditions, the detection limits for lead, cadmium and copper were 0.50, 0.30 and 0.25 μg L^?1, respectively, and the preconcentration factor (PF) was 33. The presented method was successfully employed for the simultaneous determination of the three mentioned heavy metals in real samples with recoveries of 90%–105%. The accuracy of the suggested methods was also investigated through spiking samples and a reasonable range for recoveries from 90.3% to 107% was acquired. The isotherm models and thermodynamic parameters have also been studied. The new adsorbent showed fast adsorption kinetics within 10 min and maximum Langmuir monolayer capacities of 238.09, 178.57 and 208.33 mg g^?1 for lead, cadmium and copper, respectively.     

Biosorption of Lead,Copper, and Cadmium by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phanerochaete chrysosporium</Emphasis> in Ternary Metal Mixtures: Statistical Analysis of Individual and Interaction Effects

Biosorption of three divalent metals, viz., lead, copper, and cadmium in ternary aqueous mixtures was studied using Phanerochaete chrysosporium in batch shake flasks. The mixtures were prepared containing the metals at their either varying optimum or equal initial concentration combinations in aqueous solution of pH optimum to each of the metals. Following were the optimum initial concentration ranges of the metals in mixture: lead, 60–100 mg/L; copper, 20–60 mg/L; and cadmium, 5–15 mg/L. And, for varying these optimum concentration levels of the metals, a 2³ full factorial design of experiments was employed. The results revealed that an increase in lead and cadmium concentrations helped in their better biosorption by the fungus, but an increase in initial copper concentration slightly diminished its removal. Statistical analysis of the results in the form of analysis of variance and Student t test gave a clear interpretation on the roles of both the individual metals and their interactions in the uptake of metals from mixture. Compared to the uptake of metals when presented individually, lead biosorption in mixture was found to be enhanced to a degree as high as 99%; on the other hand, copper and cadmium removals from mixtures were inhibited to the extent of 100% and 98%, respectively. However, this extent of inhibition or enhancement in the metal removals compared to the individual removals was less in mixtures containing all equal concentrations of the metals.     

Determination of Heavy Metals and Other Water Quality Parameters from the South China Sea

This study investigated the distribution and concentrations of chromium, copper, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, and lead in seawater and suspended particles in the South China Sea by collection of samples from different depths at sixteen stations. The salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved oxygen, and silicon concentration were also measured in seawater. The results showed that the concentration levels in seawater from 0 m to 4000 m followed this pattern: zinc > arsenic > copper > lead > chromium > cadmium. Significant correlations were observed between lead and chromium and between arsenic, cadmium, and lead at r > 0.728. Very weak correlations were observed between copper and arsenic and between copper and cadmium. The concentrations of dissolved metals and particulate metals had negative correlations except for zinc. The metal concentrations in seawater and suspended particles showed different correlation behavior with salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic carbon, and silicon.     

Arsenic pollution in the Yellowknife Area from gold smelter activities

Gold has been mined on a large scale at Yellowknife located in the sub-arctic North West Territories of Canada since 1938. The gold is associated with arsenopyrite ores, with necessitates the oxidation of the arsenic and sulphur by roasting at two Yellowknife smelters. Other metals are also present in the ore, notably antimony. As₂O₃ and SO₂ are emitted into the atmosphere. Large quantities of arsenic were liberated in the past and despite improvements in emission control, significant emission still occur. In order to assess the amount and extent of arsenic contamination in the local environment and the potential exposures and sources to man, soil samples and samples of the native vegetation were collected in and around the town of Yellowknife and the two smelters. Arsenic and antimony analyses were done by instrumental neutron activation analysis using the SLOWPOKE facility at University of toronto. Air-dried plant samples were bombarded at a neutron flux of 1·10¹²n cm²s and soil samples at 2.5·10¹¹n cm²s for 6 minute periods. The¹²²Sb and⁷⁶As-ray emissions at 559 keV were analysed after decay periods of 24–48 hours and compared with standard solutions and NBS standards. Zinc, copper, lead and cadmium analyses were done by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Arsenic was found to be accumulated in the soils in the vicinity of the two smelters to levels of several thousand ppm. Concentrations greater than 500 ppm occurred in the soil of Yellowknife townsite, and greater than 50 ppm occurred at all sites sampled within 15 km of the town. Antimony levels were about 10% of arsenic and were highly correlated with arsenic. Zinc occurred to 500 ppm around the smelters. Compared with background levels, the foliage of several native species showed substantial arsenic accumulation, up to several hundred ppm in birch. Only 5–25% of this arsenic could be removed by careful washing. Evidence suggests the arsenic is taken up from the soil creating an ongoing arsenic contamination problem. Soil arsenic levels are also sufficiently high to inhibit root growth in soils over a very extensive area.     

Comparison of mild extraction procedures for determination of arsenic compounds in different parts of pepper plants (Capsicum annum,L.)

Eight extraction agents (water, methanol–water mixtures in various ratios, methanol, a 20 mmol l^?1 ammonium phosphate buffer, and a methanol–phosphate buffer) were tested for the extraction of arsenic compounds from fruits, stems + leaves, and roots of pepper plants grown on soil containing 17.2 mg kg^?1 of total arsenic. The arsenic compounds in the extracts were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography–hydride generation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Whereas pure water was the most effective extraction agent for fruits (87 ± 3.3% extraction yield) and roots (96 ± 0.6% extraction yield), the 20 mM ammonium phosphate buffer at pH 6 extracted about 50% of the arsenic from stems + leaves. Decreasing extractability of the arsenic compounds was observed with increasing methanol concentrations for all parts of the pepper plant. In pepper fruits, arsenic(III), arsenic(V), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) were present (25%, 37%, and 39% respectively of the extractable arsenic). Arsenic(V) was the major compound in stems + leaves and roots (63% and 53% respectively), followed by arsenic(III) representing 33% and 42% respectively, and small amounts (not exceeding 5%) of DMA and methylarsonic acid were also detected. Hence, for a quantitative extraction of arsenic compounds from different plant tissues the extractant has to be optimized individually. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heavy Metal Contamination and Accumulation in Soil and Plant Species from the Xinqiao Copper Deposit,Anhui Province,China

The distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and various plants were investigated in Xinqiao, the location of one of the largest copper deposits in China. The concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP–MS), and the results suggest that the soil was contaminated by mining activities. Plants grown around the study area accumulated these metals at various concentrations. The concentrations of metals in the plants indicated that the accumulation levels were not consistent with the relative concentrations in the corresponding soils. Almost all plants primarily accumulated heavy metals in above-ground tissues, especially Commelina communis. High biological transfer coefficients for Buddleja davidii, Rumex acetosa, Debregeasia edulis, Commelina communis, and Rosacfolius smith for some metals indicate accumulation in stems and leaves and identify these plants as hyperaccumulators.     

Review: Reactive selenium metabolites as targets of toxic metals/metalloids in mammals: a molecular toxicological perspective

Human activities have been contaminating the environment with toxic heavy metal and metalloid compounds. Since the toxicity of one metal or metalloid can be dramatically modulated by the simultaneous ingestion of another, studies addressing the molecular basis of chemical interactions between toxic and essential elements are increasingly important. The intravenous injection of rabbits with selenite and arsenite or with selenite and mercuric mercury resulted in the in vivo formation of the seleno‐bis (S‐glutathionyl) arsinium ion, [(GS)₂AsSe]^?, or a glutathione‐coated mercuric selenide, (GS)₅(HgSe)_core, in blood. The formation of these species (and the formation of a cadmium–selenium species in blood after the exposure of rats to selenite and cadmium) critically involves reactive selenite metabolites, such as GS–Se^? and/or HSe^?, which indicates that these physiologically important metabolites are molecular targets of ingested toxic metals and metalloids. The fate and stability of [(GS)₂AsSe]^? and (GS)₅(HgSe)_core in vivo imply that the chronic exposure of mammals to inorganic arsenic and mercury will cumulatively affect the bioavailability of selenium, which could lead to selenium deficiency. Since selenium deficiency is significantly associated with the etiology of cancer in humans, the GSH‐driven in vivo formation of selenium‐containing metal and metalloid species provides a likely molecular mechanism for the chronic toxicity of environmentally persistent inorganic arsenic, mercury and cadmium. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.