High Concentration of Heavy Metal and Metalloid Levels in Edible Campomanesia adamantium Pulp from Anthropic Areas

This study aimed to quantify the extent of heavy metal, non-metal and metalloid levels in the Campomanesia adamantium pulp obtained from an area crossed by road experiencing high large vehicle traffic and intensive agriculture modern farming, to monitor the health risks associated with pulp consumption by humans. For this purpose, in three spots located within this area, ripe fruits were collected on the roadside, bush and farm-margin. Pulp samples were digested by microwave-assisted equipment, and chemical elements were quantified by ICP OES. The concentrations of K, Pb, Se, Fe, Mo, Zn, Co, Ni and Mn in the pulp collected in roadside/bush points showed statistical differences (p < 0.05). The heavy metals and metalloid concentrations that exceeded FAO/WHO standards were ordered Pb > As > Mo > Co > Ni > Mn > Cr. Therefore, among these metalloid and heavy metals, As, Pb and Cr were found to be higher in farm-margin > roadside > bush (1.5 × 10−3, 1.1 × 10−3 and 6.2 × 10−4), respectively. Therefore, As is the most important metalloid with higher levels in farm-margin, roadside and bush (1.5 × 10−3, 1.0 × 10−3 and 6.0 × 10−4 > 10−6–10−4 and 3.33, 2.30 and 1.34 > 1), respectively, to total cancer risk and hazard quotient, if 10 g daily of pulp are consumed.

High Concentration of Heavy Metal and Metalloid Levels in Edible Campomanesia adamantium Pulp from Anthropic Areas

This study aimed to quantify the extent of heavy metal, non-metal and metalloid level of Campomanesia adamantium pulp obtained from area crossed by road of the high large vehicle traffic and intensive agriculture modern farm, and for monitoring the health risks associated with pulp human consumption. For this purpose, three spots located between this area, ripe fruits were collected in roadside, bush and margin-farm. Pulp samples were digested by microwave-assisted equipment, and mineral elements were quantified by ICP OES. The mineral elements average demonstrated no statistical difference observed between this pulp (p &gt; 0.05). The heavy metals and metalloid concentrations that exceeded FAO/WHO standards are ordered Pb &gt; As &gt; Mo &gt; Co &gt; Ni &gt; Mn &gt; Cr. Therefore, among these metalloid and heavy metals, As, Pb and Cr were found higher in farm-margin &gt; roadside &gt; bush (1.5 &times; 10-3, 1.1 &times; 10-3 and 6.2 &times; 10-4) respectively. Therefore, As is the most important metalloid with higher levels in farm-margin, roadside and bush (1.5 &times; 10-3, 1.1 &times; 10-3 and 6.2 &times; 10-4 &gt; 10-6&ndash;10-4 and 3.33, 2.30 and 1.34 &gt; 1) respectively, to total cancer risk and hazard quotient, if 100 g daily of pulp are consumed.

Formation of drop-shaped inclusions based on Pt, Pd, Au, Ag, Bi, Sb, Te, As during crystallization of the intermediate solid solution in the Cu-Fe-Ni-S system

The phase and chemical composition of drop-shaped inclusions in directionally crystallized intermediate solid solution was studied. The initial melt contained (in mol.%): Fe 31,79; Cu 15,94; Ni 1,70; S 50,20; Sn 0,05; As 0,04; Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ag, Au, Se, Te, Bi, Sb 0,03. Experimental data indicate the simultaneous crystallization of two types of liquids upon cooling of the initial sulfide melt. One of them is formed in the subsystem (Pd, Au, Ag)-(Bi, Sb, Te), and the second - in the subsystem Cu-(S, Bi, Sb, Te). When these liquids solidified, inclusions formed, which we divided into four classes. Class I has a eutectic-like structure with a matrix of Pd(Bi,Sb)xTe1-x solid solution and Au crystallites with Ag, Cu, and Pd impurities. Class II is formed from sulfosalts with inclusions of Bi and Au. Class III includes inclusions of sperrylite Pt(As,S)2. Class IV forms compound inclusions from fragments of classes I-III. The experiment described in the work showed a more complex behavior of noble metals and metalloid impurities during the crystallization of complex sulfide-metalloid melts compared with the previously described data of isothermal experiments.

Potential Ecological Risk and Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Metalloid in Soil around Xunyang Mining Areas

Xunyang is rich in various metal minerals and is one of the four major metal mining areas in Shaanxi province, China. To explore the effects of soil heavy metals and metalloid pollution on the environment and human health around the mining areas, four places—Donghecun (D), Gongguan (G), Qingtonggou (Q) and Nanshagou (N)—were selected as the sampling sites. Potential ecological risk (PER) and health risk assessment (HRA) models were used to analyze the environmental and health risks around the mining areas. The concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cu, Hg) and metalloid (As) in cultivated land in the vicinity of Xunyang mining areas indicated that, except for Cu, the remaining elements detected exceeded the threshold values at some sites. The geo-accumulation index (IGeo) revealed that soils in G and Q could be identified as being extremely contaminated. PER indicated that there was significantly high risk at G and Q for Hg. In N, Pb recorded the highest E r i , which also demonstrates a considerable pre-existing risk. HRA indicated that the hazard index (HI) for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks was much higher among children than among adults, and the ingestion pathway contributed the greatest risk to human health, followed by the dermal pathway and inhalation. Because the HI values of the metals and metalloid in the study areas were all lower than 1, there was no significant non-carcinogenic risk. However, the carcinogenic risk for Cr is relatively higher, surpassing the tolerable values in G, Q, and N. This study analyzed the ecological risks and human health risks of heavy metals and metalloid in farmland soils near the sampling mining areas, and demonstrated the importance of environmental changes caused by land development in the mining industry.