Assessment of physicochemical, microbiological, mineral and heavy metal parameters of honey

The qualities of the honey were evaluated using the following attributes Physico-chemical, Microbiological, minerals and metallic contaminants respectively. The Physico-chemical analysis revealed a moisture content of 17.45%, Ash 0.64%, Total solid 81.25%, Fat 0.64%, Protein 0.25%, Fibre 0.03%, Total carbohydrate81.22%, Energy value of 329.5 Kcal, [email protected], Sucrose content 5.48%, Nitrogen content 0.004%, Total acidity 3.45%, Reducing sugar 61.82%, insoluble water content 0.06%, Refractive index of 1.477, and Specific gravity of 1.234 respectively. The microbiological analysis showed a total bacterial count TBC of 7x102 cfu/g, Yeast count 2x101cfu/g and Mould count 2x101cfu/g, which was within the national standards range by SON as 1x102 cfu/g, 5x101 cfu/g, and 5x101 cfu/g respectively while the Coliform count, Escherichia count, Salmonella count, Staphylococus count and Clostridium count were not detected this research. Generally, honey may contain organisms from bees, soil, air and dust that may be introduced during post-harvest handling. This is evidence that honey is well preserved against bacteria so that these organisms would not survive unfavourable conditions. The mineral analysis showed the presences of potassium{K), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Zink (Zn), Iron (Fe) Arsenic (As) respectively with values of 70.5, 21.0, 95.0,12.0, 1.3, 1.0, and 1.0 (Mg/100g) while Cupper and Lead were not detected.

Comparative Study on Lead and Copper Biosorption Using Three Bioproducts from Edible Mushrooms Residues

Agricultural waste products can be used as biosorbents for bioremediation once they are low-cost and high-efficient in pollutants removal. Thus, waste products from mushroom farming such as cutting and substrate of Lentinula edodes (popularly known as shiitake) and Agaricus bisporus (also known as champignon) were evaluated as biosorbents for metallic contaminants copper (Cu) and lead (Pb). Shiitake and champignon stalks, and shiitake substrate (medium in which shiitake was cultivated) were dried, grounded, characterized and experimented to remove Cu and Pb from contaminated water. The Sips model was used to establish the adsorption isotherms. Regarding Cu, champignon stalks have the best removal efficiency (43%), followed by substrate and stalks of shiitake (37 and 30%, respectively). Pb removals were similar among three residues (from 72 to 83%), with the champignon stalks standing out. The maximum adsorption capacities (qmax) for Cu in shiitake and champignon stalks were 22.7 and 31.4 mg/g−1, respectively. For Pb, qmax for shiitake and champignon stalks, and shiitake substrate were 130.0, 87.0 and 84.0 mg/g−1, respectively. The surface morphology of the champignon stalks revealed an organized and continuous structure. After an interaction with metals, the stalk of champignon accumulated the metal ions into interstices. Mushroom residues showed a relevant adsorption efficiency, especially for Pb. Mushroom farming waste are a very low-cost and promising alternative for removing toxic heavy metals from aquatic environment.

Ecdysis as an auxiliary route for the removal of heavy metals in crustaceans: Laboratory analysis with native mangrove specimens

Fiddler crabs (Minuca burgersi) were kept under controlled conditions in an experimental laboratory to assess their ability to secrete metallic contaminants by ecdysis. They were fed different copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) concentrations, with subsequent measurement of heavy metals concentration in the released and renewed exoskeletons. Our results show that these crabs can purify both metals during ecdysis, demonstrating to be an efficient way to decontaminate these toxic components, besides accrediting this native species as a strong indicator of contamination in estuarine environments. Our results also reinforce the need for attention to the contamination characterization in crustaceans before and after ecdysis to avoid underestimation.

Quantification of Microplastics in North-Western Mediterranean Harbors: Seasonality and Biofilm-Related Metallic Contaminants

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most impacted basins in terms of microplastics pollution. Land-based activities are the major sources of plastic litter to the ocean, with harbors probably representing significant hotspots. In the framework of the SPlasH! project (Stop alle Plastiche in H2O, Interreg Marittimo project), microplastics were sampled in three north-western Mediterranean harbors during summer and winter. In this study, the areal concentrations of microplastics ranged from 5576 to 379,965 items·km−2. A decreasing gradient was observed from the inner to the outer zones of the studied harbors, pointing out these enclosed systems as hotspots regarding microplastic pollution. During summer, the areal concentrations of microplastics were higher than in winter, which could be explained by an enhancement of port activities leading to MPs production. The investigation of microplastics size classes distribution in the surface waters revealed that microplastics within the size range between 300 µm and 500 µm were the least represented. In this study, we assessed trace metal (Pb, Fe, Cu, V, Cd and As) bioaccumulation by the biofilm which developed on the surface of microplastics. The results highlighted that concentrations within the biofilm were higher than those in the surrounding waters. This result strongly suggested trace metal bioaccumulation on microplastics through biofilm formation. When trace metal concentrations were normalized over the corresponding surface of microplastics and macroplastics, higher values were obtained for microplastics, evidencing their enhanced capacities to bioaccumulate contaminants when compared to macroplastics.

Penilaian Sumber Pencemar Non Logam di Waduk Asin Pusong Kota Lhokseumawe Berdasarkan Analisis Multivariat

Human anthropogenic activities have resulted in an important transformation in the aquatic environment for decades, so the study of the assessment of non-metallic pollutant sources in the salty reservoir Pusong in Lhokseumawe City was conducted in October 2020 which was reviewed based on multivariate analysis. The study aims to find out the source of non-metallic pollutants in the salt reservoir waters of Pusong Kota Lhokseumawe with the collection of primary data conducted by observation at five observation stations, where water samples are taken using van dorn water sampler at a depth of ± 0 – 1 m with three repetitions per station. The results showed that non-metallic contaminants of total ammonia nitrogen, nitrate, and phosphate had exceeded the established quality standards (>5.00 mg/L, >0.30 mg/L, >0.008 mg/L and >0.015 mg/L), then based on PCA analysis, eigenvalues of each variable indicate the formation of two new components namely Component 1 consisting of non-metallic nitrate contaminants and total nitrogen ammonia (3.05), while Component 2 consists of non-metallic contaminants total coliform and BOD5 (1.93) with a data diversity of 82.99%. Besides, non-metallic contaminants of total nitrogen ammonia, as well as phosphates, have a significant relationship to temperature parameters, while non-metal nitrate contaminants have significant links to pH parameters, turbidity, and salinity. Furthermore, the complexity of the study area between observation stations based on CA analysis was divided into two groups, the first group consisted of Stations 2, 4, and 5 with non-metallic contaminants source nitrate, BOD5 as well as total coliform, while the second group consisted of Stations 1 and 3 with non-metallic contaminants of total ammonia nitrogen, phosphate, and surfactants. Kegiatan antropogenik manusia telah menghasilkan transformasi penting dalam lingkungan akuatik selama beberapa dekade, sehingga kajian penilaian sumber pencemar non logam di waduk asin Pusong Kota Lhokseumawe dilakukan pada bulan Oktober 2020 yang ditinjau berdasarkan analisis multivariat. Kajian bertujuan untuk mengetahui sumber pencemar non logam di perairan waduk asin Pusong Kota Lhokseumawe dengan pengumpulan data primernya dilakukan secara observasi di lima stasiun pengamatan, dimana sampel air diambil menggunakan van dorn water sampler pada kedalaman ± 0–1 m dengan tiga kali pengulangan setiap stasiunnya. Hasil kajian memperlihatkan bahwa sumber pencemar non logam total amonia nitrogen, nitrat maupun fosfat sudah melebihi baku mutu yang telah ditetapkan (>5.00 mg/L, >0.30 mg/L, >0.008 mg/L dan >0.015 mg/L), kemudian berdasarkan analisis PCA, nilai eigen dari masing-masing variabel mengindikasikan adanya pembentukan dua komponen baru yaitu Component 1 terdiri dari sumber pencemar non logam nitrat dan total amonia nitrogen (3.05), sedangkan Component 2 terdiri dari sumber pencemar non logam total coliform dan BOD5 (1.93) dengan keragaman datanya sebesar 82.99%. Selain itu, sumber pencemar non logam total amonia nitrogen maupun fosfat memiliki hubungan yang signifikan terhadap parameter suhu, sedangkan sumber pencemar non logam nitrat memiliki hubungan yang signifikan terhadap parameter pH, kekeruhan dan salinitas. Selanjutnya, kompleksitas wilayah studi antar stasiun pengamatan berdasarkan analisis CA terbagi atas dua kelompok, kelompok pertama terdiri dari Stasiun 2, 4 dan 5 dengan sumber pencemar non logam nitrat, BOD5 serta total coliform, sedangkan kelompok kedua terdiri dari Stasiun 1 dan 3 dengan sumber pencemar non logam total amonia nitrogen, fosfat serta surfaktan.

Quantification of Microplastics in North-Western Mediterranean Harbors: Seasonality and Biofilm-related Metallic Contaminants

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most impacted basin in terms of microplastics pollution. Land-based activities are the major sources of plastic litter to the ocean, with harbors probably representing significant hotspots. In the framework of the SPlasH! project (Stop alle Plastiche in H2O, Interreg Marittimo project), microplastics were sampled in three north-western Mediterranean harbors during summer and winter. In this study, the areal concentrations of microplastics ranged from 5,576 to 379,965 items.km-2. A decreasing gradient was observed from the inner to the outer zones of the studied harbors, pointing out these enclosed systems as hotspots regarding microplastic pollution. During the summer, because of an enhancement of port activities, the areal concentrations of microplastics were higher than in winter. The investigation microplastics size classes distribution in the surface waters revealed that microplastic within a size range between 300 µm and 500 µm were depleted. During this study, we assessed trace metal partitioning (Pb, Fe, Cu, V, Cd and As) between the dissolved phase and biofilm, thus highlighting concentrations within the biofilm two and six orders higher than those in the dissolved phase. This result strongly suggest trace metal bioaccumulation within the biofilm. When trace metal concentrations are normalized over the corresponding surface of microplastics and microplastics, higher values were obtained for microplastics evidencing their enhanced capacities to bioaccumulate contaminants with respect to macroplastics.