The effect of toxic metal As on the Matricaria Chamomilla L. medicinal plant

The paper presents an experimental laboratory study of the bioaccumulation of the toxic metal arsenic in the medicinal plant chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla L.). The study makes a comparison regarding the bioaccumulation capacity of the chamomile plant in which arsenic is found as a unique contaminant, as well as in mixtures of 2, 3, or 4 toxic metals (Cd, Ni and Pb) on a natural soil enriched with metals, compared to the chamomile plant developed on an unpolluted substrate. The tests followed the effects of soil pollution with metals on the germination and development of chamomile. The experimental results indicated that arsenic does not bioaccumulate in the chamomile plant, remaining in the soil. The experiment that was an exception is the one with arsenic as the only contaminant (E1) in which at 90 days, the arsenic content in the chamomile plant was 3.58 mg/kg arsenic, the value that is within normal limits, below the phytotoxic value of 5 mg/kg, but was higher than that determined in the plant from the control test experiment (<0.75 mg/kg). The bioaccumulation factor (BCF) after 90 days, in all experiments, either by a combination of metals or a single contaminant had values lower than 1, indicating that the plant does not accumulate arsenic. The total chlorophyll from the results obtained indicates that the toxicity in the E1 experiment is higher than in the metal mixture.

Efficacy of Cicer arietinum L. & Vigna mungo L. in remediation of Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent Chromium is a major soil pollutant; thus, its remediation from soil deserves due attention. Phytoremediation is an area of active current research which is eco-friendly and economic. Use of leguminous plants for phytoremediation will improve soil quality, fertility and nutrient balance and would help in restoration of natural soil ecosystem. The present study focuses on the use of two commonly growing legumes; Cicer arietinum (RP1) and Vigna mungo (RP2) to explore their remediation potential towards Cr(VI) with concentration ranging from 100-900 mg kg−1 with the growth up to three weeks and were assessed for remediation potential and toxicity parameters. Higher percentage of decrease in root and shoot length was observed in RP2 as compared to RP1. Chlorophyll content was also found to be decreasing with increasing Cr stress in both the species. RP2 recorded higher BCF than RP1. Highest bioaccumulation factor 4.32 was observed in RP2 at 400 mg kg−1 concentration. Translocation factor >1 was observed in both the plants with highest as 1.67 at 600 mg kg−1 in RP2 and 1.93 at 400 mg kg−1 in RP1. Remediation percentage of 72.25% in RP2 at 600 mg kg−1 and 73.13% at 400 mg kg−1 in RP1 was observed. Both the plants showed high tolerance and remediation potential towards Cr(VI) therefore has a great phytoremediation prospect, however, RP2 can be preferred over RP1.

Shells of Intertidal Mudflat Snails: A Promising Biomonitoring Materials of Nickel Pollution

Monitoring the level of metal pollution in a water body, especially in polluted areas, is crucial. Gastropod shells have been used as a biomonitor for metal pollution. The goal of this study was to evaluate the utilisation of the mudflat snails, Telescopium telescopium shells, as biomonitoring materials for nickel (Ni) pollution in the intertidal area. The snails and their habitat surface sediments were sampled from 17 sites in Peninsular Malaysia. Up to 21 individuals from each site were sampled and dissected. In addition to the shells, six parts of the soft tissues (cephalic tentacle, foot, gill, muscle, mantle, and remaining soft tissues) were analysed for Ni. The snail shell was found to be a potential biomonitoring material for Ni pollution based on four positive points: (i) higher value of shell/soft tissue ratios (> 1.00); (ii) categorisation as a ‘microconcentrator’ based on bioaccumulation factor; (iii) significant correlation coefficients (at least P < 0.05) and significant influential total Ni levels in the sediments to the shell Ni; and (iv) higher precision of Ni in the shells based on the lowest value of the coefficient of variation of Ni. The described results indicated that the shell of T. telescopium would be suitable for assessing Ni pollution in the intertidal areas.

Evolution of the mineral concentration and bioaccumulation of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, feeding on two different larval media

Intensive black soldier fly (BSF) Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) rearing has a great importance for the feed industry. The objective of the present work was to perform a systematic study about the effect of the feeding media on the concentration and bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of Ca, K, Mg, Na, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn in BSF fractions. Therefore, the evolution of the concentration of these elements has been studied along the stages of the BSF life cycle (larva, pupa and adult) as well as during its growth (exuviae) and metamorphosis (empty puparia). Two diets consisting of beer bagasse and commercial hen feed moistened with water have been chosen. An inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer has been used to perform the elemental analyses. The obtained results demonstrated that the behaviour was generally, similar for all the elements studied, i.e. an accumulation in exuviae and puparia followed by their further elimination. Moreover, no significant differences in the results as a function of the feeding media have been found. This may be attributed to the fact that the chosen diets were equally favourable for this insect’s growth. The obtained concentrations have been expressed on a dry as well as a wet sample basis. BAF results also suggested that exuviae and puparia could be used as supplements or as bioactive compounds.

Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Basmati Rice: Implications for Public Health

Basmati rice is increasingly recognized and consumed in different parts of the world due to its different tastes and nutritional properties. This research focused on determining the cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) content in locally grown basmati rice in Pakistan and assessing the risks of these values to human health. Root, shoot and grain samples of basmati rice were taken, along with soil samples from the five regions studied. Metal mean concentrations (mg/kg) in grains fluctuated from 2.70 to 9.80 for Cd, 4.80 to 9.85 for Zn, 1.16 to 1.46 for Cu, 1.84 to 10.86 for Co, 2.05 to 13.07 for Fe, 5.03 to 11.11 for Mn and 3.24 to 13.28 for Ni, respectively. All metal values were within permissible limits except for Cd. The enrichment factor for Cd was highest among all sites. Cobalt and zinc had the highest bioaccumulation factor and translocation factor. The highest enrichment factor was noticed for Cd and the lowest for Cu. The health risk index at all examined sites was less than one. Consistent examination is recommended to limit health hazards instigated by the use of rice polluted with a greater concentration of Cd.

Metals in Calluna vulgaris, Empetrum nigrum, Festuca vivipara and Thymus praecox ssp. arcticus in the geothermal areas of Iceland

This investigation was conducted to identify the content of metals in Calluna vulgaris (family Ericaceae), Empetrum nigrum (family Ericaceae), Festuca vivipara (family Poaceae) and Thymus praecox subsp. arcticus (family Lamiaceae), as well as in the soils where they were growing in eight geothermal heathlands in Iceland. Investigation into the vegetation of geothermal areas is crucial and may contribute to their proper protection in the future and bring more understanding under what conditions the plants respond to an ecologically more extreme situation. Plants from geothermally active sites were enriched with metals as compared to the same species from non-geothermal control sites (at an average from about 150 m from geothermal activity). The enriched metals consisted of Cd, Co, Cu, Fe and Ni in C. vulgaris; Cd, Mn and Ti in E. nigrum; Hg and Pb in F. vivipara; and Cd, Fe and Hg in T. praecox. Notably, C. vulgaris, E. nigrum, F. vivipara and T. praecox had remarkably high concentrations of Ti at levels typical of toxicity thresholds. Cd and Pb (except for C. vulgaris and F. vivipara) were not accumulated in the shoots of geothermal plants. C. vulgaris from geothermal and control sites was characterised by the highest bioaccumulation factor (BF) of Ti and Mn; E. nigrum and F. vivipara by the highest BF of Ti and Cr; and T. praecox by the highest BF of Ti and Zn compared to the other elements. In comparison with the other examined species, F. vivipara from geothermal sites had the highest concentration of Ti in above-ground parts at any concentration of plant-available Ti in soil.

Risk assessment of pollution with heavy metals in water and fish from River Nile, Egypt

The aim of this study is to investigate the level of contamination with metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Pb) in the Nile River at the great Cairo region. Samples of water and fish were collected seasonally from different sites along the investigated area. Physical and chemical parameters of the studied water samples such as temperature, transparency, electrical conductivity, pH, BOD, and COD were measured. In aquatic ecosystems, heavy metal concentrations are monitored by detecting some indices like water pollution indices (WPI) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF). The results clarified that Fe, Pb, and Mn concentrations in water exceed the allowed limits set by WHO, 2011 in all sites while Cu and Zn are in allowed limits. While in fish muscle Fe and Cu are within the permissible limits set by FAO, 1992, but Mn, Zn and Pb exceed the limits. Some of the metals like Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are essential for animals and plants while many other like Pb, Cd, Cr and Co are classed as nonessential metals. All values of HI were below 1 except for Pb in case of habitual fish eaters that give alarm to fish consumer.

Phytoremediation Perspectives of Seven Aquatic Macrophytes for Removal of Heavy Metals from Polluted Drains in the Nile Delta of Egypt

The current study addressed the heavy metals accumulation potentials of seven perennial aquatic macrophytes (Cyperus alopecuroides, Echinochloa stagnina, Eichhornia crassipes, Ludwigia stolonifera, Phragmites australis, Ranunculus sceleratus and Typha domingensis) and the pollution status of three drains (Amar, El-Westany and Omar-Beck) in the Nile Delta of Egypt. Nine sites at each drain were sampled for sediment and plant analyses. Concentrations of eight metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Co, Cd, Ni, and Pb) were determined in the sediment and the aboveground and belowground tissues of the selected macrophytes. Bioaccumulation factor (BF) and translocation factor (TF) were computed for each species. The sediment heavy metals concentrations of the three drains occurred in the following order: El-Westany > Amar > Omar-Beck. The concentrations of sediment heavy metals in the three drains were ordered as follows: Fe (438.45–615.17 mg kg−1) > Mn (341.22–481.09 mg kg−1) > Zn (245.08–383.19 mg kg−1) > Cu (205.41–289.56 mg kg−1) > Pb (31.49–97.73 mg kg−1) > Cd (13.97–55.99 mg kg−1) > Ni (14.36–39.34 mg kg−1) > Co (1.25–3.51 mg kg−1). The sediment exceeded the worldwide permissible ranges of Cu, Zn and Pb, but ranged within safe limits for Mn, Cd, Ni and Co. P. australis accumulated the highest concentrations of Fe, Co, Cd and Ni, while E. crassipes contained the highest concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, and Pb. Except for C. alopecuroides and Cu metal, the studied species had BF values greater than one for the investigated heavy metals. Nevertheless, the TFs of all species (except Cd in L. stolonifera) were less than one. Hence, the studied species are appropriate for accumulation, biomonitoring, and phytostabilization of the investigated metals.

DETERMINATION OF HEAVY METALS ACCUMULATION IN LACTUCA SATIVA AND SPINACIA OLERACEA GROWN FROM CONTAMINATED SOILS OBTAINED BESIDE FCE KATSINA, NIGERIA

The study was carried out to evaluate the heavy metals accumulation in the stems, leaves and roots of Lactuca sativa (Lettuce) and Spinacia oleracea (Spinach). Pot experiment was conducted to examine the phytoextraction ability of these plants for some heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn) in contaminated soils obtained from an area where indiscriminate burning of waste materials is being carried out beside FCE Katsina. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) was used for the determination of heavy metals concentrations. The mean levels of metals accumulation evaluated in Lactuca sativa show a higher amount of Fe (47.97 mg/kg) with the lowest amount of Pb (0.44 mg/kg) which follows the order Fe>Zn>Cu>Cd>Pb. Similarly, Spinacia oleracea followed the trend where higher amount of Fe (24.13 mg/kg) with lower Cd (0.25 mg/kg) content was detected, which follows Fe>Zn>Cu>Pb>Cd. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was

Poisonous Metal Levels in Sediment and Selected Biota in Coastal Waters of Nigeria

Sediment and biota samples were collected biannually from the Bonny/New Calabar River Estuary in Niger Delta, Nigeria and analysed for poisonous metals of interest to the International Atomic Energy Agency (Pb, Cd, and Hg) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer A-500 and Direct Mercury analyser (DMA-80). Results for biota showed that Cd ranged from 0.003 to 0.558 ± 0.01mg/kg, Hg ranged from 0.014 ± 0.004 to 0.021± 0.010 mg/kg, Sediment: Cd ranged from 0.022 ± 0.001 – 0.82 ± 0.0002 mg/kg; Hg 0.010 ± 0.005 to 0.027 ± 0.009 mg/kg. Lead was below the detection limit of the instrument both in biota and sediment. The concentrations of the respective poisonous metals were within the permissible limit of the World health organization. The study showed high concentration of Cd in Crayfish compared to other seafood. The bioaccumulation factor showed higher level of Hg compared Cd while the Analysis of variance for the three stations did not show any significant variation among the three stations. Regular monitoring and comparison of level of contamination with regulatory bodies are advocated to prevent the concentration of the metal contaminants from getting to an alarming level.