scholarly journals Portable X-ray Fluorescence (PXRF) Analysis of Total Metal(loid)s and Sequential Extraction of Bioavailable Arsenic in Agricultural Soils of Animas Watershed

2021 ◽  
Vol 232 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaurav Jha ◽  
April L. Ulery ◽  
Kevin Lombard ◽  
Dawn VanLeeuwen ◽  
Colby Brungard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Agricultural Fields ◽  
Agricultural Crop ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Crop Uptake ◽  
Animas River ◽  
Total Concentrations

AbstractThe Animas River provides irrigation water in northwestern New Mexico and the Navajo Nation. Concerns regarding the river water quality arose on August 5, 2015, when approximately 11.35 million liters of heavy metal contaminated water was accidentally released from the Gold King Mine into the Animas River. This study sought to determine the total concentrations of 7 heavy metal(loid)s (As, Pb, and Zn as metals of concern and Fe, Mn, Ca, and Cu as metals of interest) using portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) in two agricultural fields and compare these values to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional screening levels (RSL). Total concentrations of 6 out of 7 metals were below the RSL; only As exceeded the soil screening value of 7.07 mg kg−1 at some locations in the agricultural fields. We also determined water-soluble (WS) and exchangeable fractions (Ex) of As that might be available for agricultural crop uptake using sequential extractions. The WS-As ranged from 0.014 to 0.074 mg kg−1 and Ex-As ranged from 0.135 to 0.248 mg kg−1 and thus were less than 1 and 3% of the total As concentration respectively (ranging from 5.62 to 14.79 mg kg−1) and not considered a threat for plant tissue accumulation. While the concentrations of As observed in the agricultural fields may have exceeded screening levels, the As was not apparently plant available and its risk to crops was determined to be low.

scholarly journals Residues of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Agricultural Soils Adjacent to Historical Sources of Their Storage and Distribution—The Case Study of Azerbaijan

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Ukalska-Jaruga ◽  
Karolina Lewińska ◽  
Elton Mammadov ◽  
Anna Karczewska ◽  
Bożena Smreczak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
The United States ◽  
Natural Soil ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Total Concentrations

The aim of this study was to identify and examine the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil collected from the surroundings of historical pesticide storage facilities on former agricultural aerodromes, warehouses, and pesticide distribution sites located in the most important agricultural regions in Azerbaijan. The conducted research included determination of three groups of POPs (occurring together), in the natural soil environment influenced for many years by abiotic and biotic factors that could have caused their transformations or decomposition. In this study, soil samples were collected in 21 georeferenced points located in the administrative area of Bilasuvar, Saatly, Sabirabad, Salyan and Jalilabad districts of Azerbaijan. Soil chemical analysis involved determination of organochlorine compounds (OCP): hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) (three isomers α-HCH, β-HCH and γ-HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) (six congeners 2,4′DDT; 4,4′DDT; 2,4′DDE; 4,4′DDE; 2,4′DDE; and 4,4′DDE); polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs): 16 compounds from the United States Environmental Protection Agency US EPA list and, PCBs (seven congeners identified with the following IUPAC numbers: 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153, and 180). Our research showed that OCPs reached the highest concentration in the studied areas. The total concentrations of OCPs ranged from 0.01 to 21,888 mg∙kg−1 with significantly higher concentrations of Σ6DDTs (0.01 μg kg−1 to 21880 mg kg−1) compared to ΣHCH (0.14 ng kg−1 to 166.72 µg kg−1). The total concentrations of PCBs in the studied soils was varied from 0.02 to 147.30 μg·kg−1 but only PCB138 and PCB180 were detected in all analyzed samples. The concentrations of Σ16 PAHs were also strongly diversified throughout the sampling areas and ranged from 0.15 to 16,026 mg kg−1. The obtained results confirmed that the agricultural soils of Azerbaijan contained much lower (up to by three orders of magnitude) concentrations of PCBs and PAHs than DDT. It is supported by the fact that PCBs and PAHs were not directly used by agriculture sector and their content results from secondary sources, such as combustion and various industrial processes. Moreover, the high concentrations of PAHs in studied soils were associated with their location in direct neighborhood of the airport, as well as with accumulation of contaminants from dispersed sources and long range transport. The high concentrations of pesticides confirm that deposition of parent OCPs have occurred from obsolete pesticide landfills.

Mobility of potentially toxic elements in family garden soils of the Riotinto mining area

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Romero-Baena ◽  
Cinta Barba-Brioso ◽  
Alicia Ross ◽  
Isabel González
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Clay Mineralogy ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Trophic Chain ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Total Concentrations

<p>Agricultural soils in mining areas usually accumulate potentially toxic elements (PTEs) that can become a health risk to humans by entering the trophic chain. In this study, five small agricultural plots close to Riotinto mines (SW Spain) were studied, with the aims of comparing the concentration of PTEs with respect to the regional (South Portuguese Zone) baseline and conducting availability studies in order to determine the contamination of soils. Chemical composition, total and clay mineralogy, and edaphic parameters were determined in topsoil and subsoil samples to characterize the soils, and single extractions were conducted to assess the mobility. The mineralogy of the soils was composed of quartz and phyllosilicates, with small amounts of feldspars and occasionally containing hematite and calcite. The texture ranged from sandy to silty loam, the pH was slightly acidic, and high contents of organic matter were found. Total concentrations of trace elements correlated with the texture, the content in iron oxy-hydroxides and the pH. The values of As, Pb, Cu, and Zn exceeded the regional baseline even in sites unaffected by mining. The results suggest that a widespread sampling is necessary to determine the local background. The most water-soluble element was As, due to the competition of organic matter for sorption sites. The content of Cu, Cr and Zn extracted with different methods were higher in sandy soils with low iron oxy-hydroxides content. Monoammonium phosphate and EDTA extractions seemed to remove elements from organic matter and iron oxy-hydroxides. The extracted fractions of As and metals reached up to 10-30 wt%.  Despite the high total concentrations of the element in soils, they generally showed low available proportions, especially with water and ammonium acetate extractants. The results suggest that the soils are not necessarily a risk to humans and higher investigation efforts are necessary to assess the availability of PTEs and their transfer to plants.</p>

scholarly journals Assessment of Health Risk and Elemental Concentrations in Minjingu Vegetables and Soils by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Yusuf I. Koleleni ◽  
Seriver Tafisa
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
Sweet Potato ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Health Risk Index ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Ethiopian Mustard ◽  
Sweet Potato Leaves

The samples of soil and selected species of vegetables (cowpea leaves, spinach, sweet potato leaves, Ethiopian mustard and Chinese cabbages) were randomly collected from four sites, Idara ya maji, Nkaiti, Mbulungu and Mkwajuni of Minjingu village of Manyara in Tanzania. The samples were analyzed by means of wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometry to determine the heavy metal concentrations in soils and vegetables of the field study with emphasis on their health risk index (HRI) assessment. The results indicate that soils have concentration range of 142-1547 for Ca, 737-2515 for K, 2396-4748 for Si, 0-121 for P, 0-181 for Mg, 0-36 for S, 0-68 for Na, 561-942 for Al, 121-4748 for Fe, 0-80 for Mn, 0-53 for Sr, 0-37 for Cs and 0-11 for Ni in mg/kg which was above the maximum tolerable limits(MTL). Elements detected in vegetables were in the range of 2123-6122 for Ca, 747-8005 for K, 65-996 for Si, 40-348 for Mg, for Mn, 85-584 for P, 22-705 for S, 0-218 for Na, 70-835 for Fe, 23-286 for Al, 0-98 for Cs, 84-1076 for Cl and 0-13 for Ni in mg/kg. The highest heavy metal retention capability was exhibited in Cowpea leaves, Spinach and Chinese cabbages but sweet potato leaves and Ethiopian mustard has shown lower concentrations. Control site recorded the least concentration values. The HRI values for Sr, Ni and Fe in vegetables exceeded the maximum threshold limits (HRI>1) set by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The findings of this work indicates that soils and vegetables grown, particularly cowpea leaves, spinach and Chinese cabbages were extremely contaminated at levels able to pose detrimental health effects to the consumers. Therefore the consumption of cowpea leaves, spinach and Chinese cabbages should be reduced to the maximum if not abandoned. But limited quantities of Ethiopian mustard and sweet potato leaves can be taken while immediate steps are taken to reduce anthropogenic activities at the polluting site. This situation makes the regular monitoring of the grown vegetables a compulsory act.

Standardization and bacteria inhibitory test of purified extract of mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq) seeds and leaves

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 2132-2138
Author(s):  
Virsa Handayani ◽  
Rezki Amriati Syarif ◽  
Ahmad Najib ◽  
Aktsar Roskiana Ahmad ◽  
Abdullah Mahmud ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Bitter Taste ◽  
Drying Shrinkage ◽  
Ash Content ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Lead Contamination ◽  
Specific Parameter ◽  
Chemical Content ◽  
Swietenia Mahagoni

Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq) is one of the plants that is often used by the community as traditional medicine. One of them is antifungal, antibacterial, antidiabetic, and eczema. This study aims to obtain standardized extracts from mahogany seeds and leaves. Standardization of purified extract of mahogany has been carried out according to the monographs of extract standardization guidelines, which include testing of specific and non-specific parameters. The results of the specific parameter testing showed that the purified extract of mahogany seeds is a thick extract, brown to reddish, smells distinctive and has a bitter taste. While the purified extract of mahogany leaves is a thick extract, greenish-brown in color, distinctive smell and has a bitter taste. The chemical content of purified extract of mahogany seeds and leaves showed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and saponins. Water-soluble essence levels in mahogany seeds and leaves was 14.84% and 10.28%. While the ethanol-soluble essence levels in mahogany seeds and leaves were 15.38% and 12.43%. Testing of non-specific parameters on mahogany seeds and leaves showed the results of drying shrinkage levels of 0.22% and 8.84%, moisture content of 2.60% and 4.04%, total ash content of 1.71% and 1.93%, levels acidic insoluble ash 0.38% and 0.32%, Total Plate Number (ALT) of mahogany seed bacteria 1x102 colonies/g, Number of mahogany mold seeds 4x10 colonies/g, heavy metal lead contamination and cadmium in mahogany seeds 0.0607µg/g and<0.003µg/g. The inhibitory diameter of each concentration of seeds against Escherichia coli, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, is 12,67; 13,67; 17,67; and 19,67 mm, respectively. The inhibitory diameter of each concentration of leaves against Escherichia coli, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9%, is 10,27; 10,90; 13,46; and 15,68 mm, respectively.

Heavy Metal Content of Agricultural Soils at Tumu, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. p8693
Author(s):  
Ogidi A. Ogidi ◽  
Danja B. A. ◽  
Sanusi K. A. ◽  
Nathaniel Sunday Samuel ◽  
Abdurrahman Abubakar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Metal Content ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
Local Government Area ◽  
Heavy Metal Content

Nitrogen and Sulfur Co-doped Fluorescent Carbon Dots for the Detection of Morin and Cell Imaging

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55
Author(s):  
Xuebing Li ◽  
Haifen Yang ◽  
Ning Wang ◽  
Tijian Sun ◽  
Wei Bian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Heating ◽  
Fluorescent Probe ◽  
Fluorescence Intensity ◽  
Carbon Dots ◽  
Cell Imaging ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Heating Process ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Doped Carbon Dots ◽  
Co Doped

Background: Morin has many pharmacological functions including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects. It is commonly used in the treatment of antiviral infection, gastropathy, coronary heart disease and hepatitis B in clinic. However, researches have shown that morin is likely to show prooxidative effects on the cells when the amount of treatment is at high dose, leading to the decrease of intracellular ATP levels and the increase of necrosis process. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the concentration of morin in biologic samples. Method: Novel water-soluble and green nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (NSCDs) were prepared by a microwave heating process with citric acid and L-cysteine. The fluorescence spectra were collected at an excitation wavelength of 350 nm when solutions of NSCDs were mixed with various concentrations of morin. Results: The as-prepared NSCDs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The fluorescence intensity of NSCDs decreased significantly with the increase of morin concentration. The fluorescence intensity of NSCDs displayed a linear response to morin in the concentration 0.10-30 μM with a low detection limit of 56 nM. The proposed fluorescent probe was applied to analysis of morin in human body fluids with recoveries of 98.0-102%. Conclusion: NSCDs were prepared by a microwave heating process. The present analytical method is sensitive to morin. The quenching process between NSCDs and morin is attributed to the static quenching. In addition, the cellular toxicity on HeLa cells indicated that the as-prepared NSCDs fluorescent probe does not show obvious cytotoxicity in cell imaging. Our proposed method possibly opens up a rapid and nontoxic way for preparing heteroatom doped carbon dots with a broad application prospect.

A synchrotron X-ray study of the electron density in C-type rare earth oxides

1996 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 414-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. N. Maslen ◽  
V. A. Streltsov ◽  
N. Ishizawa
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Rare Earth ◽  
Electron Density ◽  
Approximate Symmetry ◽  
Data Set ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Metal Atoms ◽  
Structure Factors ◽  
Deformation Electron Density ◽  
Synthetic Crystals

Structure factors for small synthetic crystals of the C-type rare earth (RE) sesquioxides Y2O3, Dy2O3 and Ho2O3 were measured with focused λ = 0.7000 (2) Å, synchrotron X-radiation, and for Ho2O3 were re-measured with an MoKα (λ = 0.71073 Å) source. Approximate symmetry in the deformation electron density (Δρ) around a RE atom with pseudo-octahedral O coordination matches the cation geometry. Interactions between heavy metal atoms have a pronounced effect on the Δρ map. The electron-density symmetry around a second RE atom is also perturbed significantly by cation–anion interactions. The compounds magnetic properties reflect this complexity. Space group Ia{\bar 3}, cubic, Z = 16, T = 293 K: Y2O3, Mr = 225.82, a = 10.5981 (7) Å, V = 1190.4 (2) Å3, Dx = 5.040 Mg m−3, μ 0.7 = 37.01 mm−1, F(000) = 1632, R = 0.067, wR = 0.067, S = 9.0 (2) for 1098 unique reflections; Dy2O3, Mr = 373.00, a = 10.6706 (7) Å, V = 1215.0 (2) Å3, Dx = 8.156 Mg m−3, μ 0.7 = 44.84 mm−1, F(000) = 2496, R = 0.056, wR = 0.051, S = 7.5 (2) for 1113 unique reflections; Ho2O3, Mr = 377.86, a = 10.606 (2) Å, V = 1193.0 (7) Å3, Dx = 8.415 Mg m−3, μ 0.7 = 48.51 mm−1 F(000) = 2528, R = 0.072, wR = 0.045, S = 9.2 (2) for 1098 unique reflections of the synchrotron data set.

scholarly journals Combined Influence of Low-Grade Metakaolins and Natural Zeolite on Compressive Strength and Heavy Metal Adsorption of Geopolymers

Minerals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 486
Author(s):  
Alcina Johnson Sudagar ◽  
Slávka Andrejkovičová ◽  
Fernando Rocha ◽  
Carla Patinha ◽  
Maria R. Soares ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Compressive Strength ◽  
Natural Zeolite ◽  
Metal Adsorption ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Heavy Metal Adsorption ◽  
Adsorption Model ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Adsorption Capacities

Metakaolins (MKs) prepared from low-grade kaolins located in the Alvarães (A) and Barqueiros (B) regions of Portugal were used as the aluminosilicate source to compare their effect on the compressive strength and heavy metal adsorption of geopolymers. Natural zeolite, an inexpensive, efficient adsorbent, was used as an additive in formulations to enhance geopolymers’ adsorption capacities and reduce MK utilization’s environmental footprint. Geopolymers were synthesized with the replacement of MK by zeolite up to 75 wt.% (A25, B25—25% MK 75% zeolite; A50, B50—50% MK 50% zeolite; A75, B75—75% MK 25% zeolite; A100, B100—100% MK). The molar ratios of SiO2/Al2O3 and Na2O/Al2O3 were kept at 1 to reduce the sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide environmental impact. Geopolymers’ crystallography was identified using X-ray diffraction analysis. The surface morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy to understand the effect of zeolite incorporation. Chemical analysis using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy yielded information about the geopolymers’ Si/Al ratio. Compressive strength values of geopolymers obtained after 1, 14, and 28 days of curing indicate high strengths of geopolymers with 100% MK (A100—15.4 MPa; B100—32.46 MPa). Therefore, zeolite did not aid in the improvement of the compressive strength of both MK-based geopolymers. The heavy metal (Cd2+, Cr3+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+) adsorption tests exhibit relatively higher adsorption capacities of Barqueiros MK-based geopolymers for all the heavy metals except Cd2+. Moreover, zeolite positively influenced divalent cations’ adsorption on the geopolymers produced from Barqueiros MK as B75 exhibits the highest adsorption capacities, but such an influence is not observed for Alvarães MK-based geopolymers. The general trend of adsorption of the heavy metals of both MK-based geopolymers is Pb2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ > Zn2+ > Cr3+ when fitted by the Langmuir isotherm adsorption model. The MK and zeolite characteristics influence geopolymers’ structure, strength, and adsorption capacities.

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