Bioaccumulation of antimony, arsenic, and mercury in the vicinities of a large antimony mine, China

To study the characteristics of antimony (Sb) bioaccumulation under high Sb background values, aquatic, amphibious and terrestrial biological samples were collected in the vicinity of the Xikuangshan (XKS) Sb mine area in China. Hydride generation-atomic fluorescence (HG-AFS) analysis showed that Sb concentrations in terrestrial invertebrates (average 30,400 μg kg^− 1 dry wt.) were higher than those in aquatic (average 5200 μg kg^− 1 dry wt.) and amphibian (average 2300 μg kg^− 1 dry wt.) biological samples. Within 1 km distance of the XKS Sb mine area, grasshoppers (Acrida chinensis) and earthworms (Pheretima aspergillum) had the highest Sb amounts of 17,300 ±3200 and 43,600 ± 47,700 μg kg^− 1 dry wt., respectively. No Sb biomagnifications were observed. The bioavailability of Sb was found to be lower than those of As and Hg. A preliminary conclusion is that antagonistic effects exist between Sb and Hg accumulation in biological samples from aquatic environments. Our study is the first to report such antagonistic effects between Sb and Hg. If this deduction proves to be correct, it should be taken into consideration in assessing human health risks, especially when Sb and Hg concentrations in the aquatic environments are high.     

Elemental composition and fatty acid profile of the edible fruits of Amatungula (Carissa macrocarpa) and impact of soil quality on chemical characteristics

The Amatungula fruit, from Carissa macrocarpa, is commonly consumed by the local people of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Levels of elements in the fruit were determined to assess if they conform to recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) and to assess for potential toxicities. Soils and fruit samples from nine sites in eastern KZN were investigated. Concentrations of elements in the fruit were found to be in the order of Ca > Mg > Fe > Mn ≈ Cu ≈ Pb > Se > Cr > Ni > Zn. For the elements in focus, except for Pb, all of the elements found in the fruit contribute significantly towards the RDAs. Lipid profiling was also done to determine the fruits potential as a source of essential fatty acids. The fruit was rich in monounsaturated and essential fatty acids with the linoleic acid to α-linolenic acid ratio conforming to the recommended range for cardiac health. Concentrations of elements in soil had no significant effect on plant concentrations, but competition between elements in soil influenced their availability. Total soil concentrations of most metals studied have significantly correlated Pb availability, indicating the impact of these metals on Pb availability. The Amatungula fruit showed tendency to accumulate Pb, with Pb levels in fruit at all sites being toxic to human health. Site location had a major effect on plant concentrations however uptake and distribution was primarily dependent on the plants inherent controls, as evidenced by the accumulation and exclusion of elements, to meet its physiological requirements.     

Bioaccumulation of alkyllead compounds from water and from contaminated sediments by mussels

The bioconcentration of alkyllead compounds from water and from contaminated sediments by freshwater mussels (Elliptio complanata) has been investigated. Higher levels of trimethyllead than triethyllead species are accumulated for the same exposure period. In-vivo transformation of the trialkyllead species by a series of dealkylation reactions giving dialkyllead and inorganic lead(II) species appears to take place. Rates of accumulation are higher for the more contaminated sediments.     

六溴环十二烷异构体在鮰鱼体内的浓度分布与生物累积特征

研究了鮰鱼体内六溴环十二烷(HBCDs)异构体的浓度分布与生物累积特征。首先采用基质固相分散(MSPD)法,同位素稀释定量,高效液相色谱-电喷雾串联质谱(HPLC-ESI-MS/MS)检测技术,建立了渔业饲料和鱼体中α-HBCD、β-HBCD和γ-HBCD的分析方法。该法对α-HBCD、β-HBCD、γ-HBCD的回收率分别为80.7%~110.5%、80.1%~109.0%、86.9%~104.5%,其检出限分别为0.002、0.002、0.001 ng/g。采用所建立的方法对25个渔业饲料样品和30个鱼样品进行分析,三种异构体在渔业饲料中的检出率均为16%,在鱼产品中的检出率分别为10%、6.67%和10%。鱼中HBCDs含量与渔业饲料中HBCDs含量的比值(生物累积因子)的结果为:α-HBCD,0.78;β-HBCD,0.45;γ-HBCD,1.08。对HBCDs在配对的渔业饲料与鱼中的相关关系进行了研究。     

Cadmium bioavailability and speciation using the permeation liquid membrane

The permeation liquid membrane (PLM) technique was used to evaluate cadmium speciation in media resembling natural freshwaters. A planar sheet PLM system was characterized by measuring Cd fluxes in the absence and presence of complexing agents such as citrate, malonate, nitrilotriacetate and the Suwannee River standard humic acid. Comparison with theoretical speciation calculations and the results of a Cd²⁺ selective electrode, showed that free Cd was correctly measured using the planar sheet PLM within the studied concentration range, i.e. 10⁻⁸ to 10⁻⁴ M. The effect of pH and potentially co-transported ions on Cd transport through the PLM was also studied. An example of the ability of the hollow-fiber PLM (HFPLM) to measure free Cd in the nM range is also presented. In order to evaluate the usefulness of the technique as a predictor of bioavailability, Cd PLM measurements (fluxes) were compared to Cd biouptake (internalization flux) for a freshwater alga, Chlorella kesslerii, in the absence and presence of SRHA. The use of PLM measurements is shown to be an attractive tool to better understand Cd biouptake.     

Bioaccumulative Behaviour of Some PCB Congeners in Lake Geneva Brown Trout (Salmo trutta lacustris L)

Abstract

The bioaccumulation of PCBs has been studied for 60 Brown trout in Lake Geneva (Switzerland). The contamination level (1–3 ppm in wet weight, 10–30 ppm in lipid weight) is rather high.

Bioaccumulation curves (concentration as a function of the weight of the fish) have been established for 6 congeners and total PCBs. The total concentration of PCBs in wet weight increased with the weight of the fish; highly-chlorinated congeners (I.U.P.A.C. nr. 180, 2,3,4,5,2′,4′,5′-heptachlorobiphenyl) presented a faster, and lightly-chlorinated (I.U.P.A.C. nr. 28, 2,4,4′-trichlorobiphenyl) a slower, bioaccumulation tendency.

The total concentration of PCBs in lipid weight was constant, the concentration of congener 28 increasing and of congener 180 decreasing with the weight of the fish. This is attributed to the antagonistic effects of “growth and lipid dilution” and of the decrease of elimination kinetics as a function of the weight (and age) of the fish.

The partitioning theory and the pharmacokinetic approach are complementary methods for analysing this field data.     

镉离子的生物富集

研究了表达外源特异性Cd2 转运系统的基因工程菌E.coli TOP10F'对Cd2 的富集行为.重组菌获得了比宿主菌高6倍的Cd2 富集能力,而且富集行为受pH变化的影响也大为降低.Na 、Mg2 以及Cu2 、Hg2 、Pb2 和Ni2 等共存离子的存在都对重组菌的Cd2 富集产生抑制,其中Cu2 的抑制作用最强,Ni2 最弱.EDTA的存在严重影响重组菌对Cd2 的生物富集,但柠檬酸的影响却很小.     

EDTA对Cd及Cd-Mn复合污染处理下藜生长的影响

采用盆栽实验方法,研究了在Cd及Cd-Mn复合污染土壤中添加EDTA对藜生长的影响以及对Cd的转运和富集作用.结果表明:单一Cd污染处理下最佳的EDTA添加水平为2.5mmol.kg-1,Cd-Mn复合污染处理下EDTA的添加水平为5.0mmol.kg-1,这时EDTA可以促进藜地下部分的重金属元素向地上部分迁移,藜地上部分含Cd量分别是对照值的1.8倍、3.7倍,同时对Cd的富集系数也有明显提高.     

Einfluss einer Lachgas-(N2O)-Narkose auf die 13CO2-Exhalation während eines intraoperativ durchgeführten 13C-Leucin-Atemtests. “Pitfall” in der Massenspektrometrie

Abstract

This paper deals with a study on the retention of radioactive ions ⁶⁵Zn²⁺ from diluted waste solutions by the hydrophytic plants Lemna minor, Elodea canadensis, Pistia stratiotes and Riccia fluitans. The bioaccumulation degree decreases in the following order: Riccia fluitans ≈ Pistia stratiotes ≥ Lemna minor > Elodea canadensis

The possibility to improve the bioaccumulation degree varying the temperature and the solution pH, in the absence of other cations, has been studied.

The thin layer radiochromatography method has been used and it proved that the saccharides and lipids are the biochemical fractions responsible for the ⁶⁵Zn²⁺ retention.     

Cold plasma ashing improves the trace element detection of single Daphnia specimens by total reflection X-ray fluorescence spectrometry

The recently developed dry method for the element determination of single freshwater microcrustacean specimens (Daphnia) using total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) spectrometry showed that inhomogeneities of the biological material on the glass carriers resulted in some cases in high background and hampered the detection of certain trace elements (e.g. Cr, Ni). The aim of this study was to test how inhomogeneities of the biological material can be reduced using cold plasma ashing (CPA) techniques. For that, single specimens of the microcrustacean Daphnia pulex prepared according to the dry method were measured by TXRF before and after CPA. To determine the efficiency of the removal of organic matrix, the background and signal-to-background relationship of 28 samples were analyzed. The results showed (1) a highly significant reduction of the background by CPA fluctuating between 26 and 46% (all elements) and (2) a significant increase of the signal-to-background relationship by the factor 1.5–2.5 (all elements) and a much better detection of Cr, Pb, As and Se. The element concentrations (with exception of Cr, Ni and Pb) after ashing were in the same range or slightly higher than that before ashing. No significant differences between the two treatments were observed for Mn, As, Pb, Se (November), Sr (November), Cr (March) and Pb (March). The element concentration of P, K, Ca, Cu, Zn, Cr (November), Fe and Rb were significantly higher after ashing. In general, they increased by 1.5–13.6% and were highest for Rb (March) and P (November). In contrast, the element concentration of Ni and Cr (only March) decreased significantly after ashing (Ni: 91.6–92.1%, Cr: 91.3%). We recommend the use of CPA for biological material in the microgram-range as a routine method for TXRF analysis, especially when trace elements in minute concentrations are of interest.