Potential health risks of trace metals in muscle tissue of tilapia and catfish from Mozambican markets

Due to the toxicity of trace metals and the propensity of fishes to bioaccumulate metals in their tissues, we investigated the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and zinc (Zn) in the muscles of tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodidatatus) collected from open markets in Mozambique. Fe and Hg were the most and least bioaccumulated metals in the fishes, respectively. One-way ANOVA showed significant differences between sites for the analytes. Furthermore, we estimated the possible health risks (estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and maximum allowable consumption rate (CRlim)) associated with fish consumption. The concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb exceeded the recommended maximum permissible limits (MPL) in fish samples, ranging between 5.65 – 12.7, 1.05 – 12.9, and 1.88 – 6.45 mgkg-1, respectively, whereas values lower than MPL viz. 5.25 – 18.9, ND – 0.033, and 30.8 – 52.3 mgkg-1 were observed for Cu, Hg, and Zn, respectively. Similarly, the EDI (mgkg-1day-1) were below the provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) with decreasing order: Fe >Zn >Cu >As >Cd >Pb>Hg. However, the THQ (mg kg-1) was slightly > 1 for As and Cd in some samples. Moreover, the CRlim (kg day-1) showed a decreasing order of Hg >Fe >Zn >Pb> Cu >Cd >As. Generally, consumers are susceptible to health hazards associated with As and Cd. Hence, regular toxicological monitoring of the fishes from the study area is imperative.

Health Risk Assessment of Selected Heavy Metals in Cocoyam from Three Quarry Sites in Old Netim, Cross River State, Nigeria

This study assessed health risk assessment of heavy metals in cocoyam from three quarry sites in Akamkpa LGA, Cross River State, Nigeria. Cocoyam tubers were obtained from three quarry sites in Oban Okoroba, each 4.5 kilometers apart and 20 kilometers from the control site. Cocoyam tubers were obtained from 0km, 0.2km, 0.4km, and 0.6km. Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to determine the content of Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Arsenic (As) and Manganese (Mn), showing relative abundance across all sites and samples in the sequence Mn > Cu > Pb > As > Cd. Quarry site D had highest levels of Mn, As and Cu (50.003 ± 5.478 mgkg-1, 0.207 ± 0.184 and 4.522 ± 1.204mgkg-1). Quarry site C and B respectively had the highest levels of Pb and Cd (1.136 ± 0.267 mgkg-1 and 0.041 ± 0.028 mgkg-1). Results of Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) and Life Carcinogenic Risk (LCR) showed ingestion of cocoyam tubers from Old Netim is safe and devoid of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. THI on the other hand revealed non-carcinogenic threat may result from prolonged ingestion of cocoyam tubers cultivated within quarry sites in Old Netim.

Heavy Metals in the Fish Tenualosa ilisha Hamilton, 1822 in the Padma–Meghna River Confluence: Potential Risks to Public Health

Hilsa shad (Tenulosa ilisha) is Bangladesh’s most important single-species fishery that contributes to 11% of total catch and employment for millions of people. However, heavy metals (HMs) toxicity in the edible organs of T. ilisha and their plausible public health threats have received weak attention. To provide insights on this issue, we determined, using ICP-MS, the concentration of Zn, Cu, Cr (VI), Pb, and Cd in the edible organs of five different sizes of T. ilisha and the surface water collected from the Padma–Meghna River confluence, Chandpur (Bangladesh). Multivariate analysis indicated that T. ilisha gills and liver contained higher HMs than muscle, and the surface water was below the safety limits. The study revealed that only Cr crossed the safety limits and bioaccumulated in the smaller-sized gills and liver. To assess the public health risks, target hazard quotient (THQ), total THQ (TTHQ) and carcinogenic (CR) risks were calculated. Only Cr imposed non-carcinogenic risks to consumers, while TTHQ showed higher chronic health risks. There was no CR risk measured for consumers, except for the largest-sized gills for children. Randomly positive relations between HMs and sizes were found; whereas, consistently positive relations were found among the tissue types. The outcomes of our study may aid policymakers in managing pollutants, especially the Cr sources in the greater Chandpur regions.

Ecological Risk Assessments of Heavy Metal Contamination in Water, Sediment and Biota of Otamiri and Imo Rivers, Nigeria

Heavy metals pollution of the environment is a serious concern because of the hazardous effects they pose to human health, ecosystems and other biological receptors. The aim of this study was to assess the ecological risk of exposure to heavy metals and physicochemical parameters around Otamiri and Imo rivers in Etche and Oyibo Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Water, sediment, arrow head plant (Sagittaria latifolia) and christmas bush Plant (Ceratopetalum gummiferum), tilapia fish samples (Oreochromis niloticus) and cat fish (Clarias gariepinus) were collected at different points from five sample stations for wet and dry seasons. These samples were analyzed quantitatively to assess the levels of contamination in the samples using the ecological risk assessment models associated with exposure to these contaminants. The results of the heavy metal analysis show that the Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) for biota samples ranged from 0.000 – 1.254 mg/kg/day while water ranged from 0.000 -0.322 mg/kg/day. The target hazard quotient (THQ) ranged from 0.000 – 69.228 for both biota and river water samples for Otamiri and Imo rivers The hazard index values indicated significant public health risk with values of 1.42 was recorded for Tilapia and 33.14 for Christmas bush plant. Cancer risk due to heavy metals exposure had a peak value of 1.04 x10-1 for wet season. The bioaccumulation of the metals showed that the pollution load index values ranged from 2.467- 5.822 in wet season and 9.708 – 99.853 in dry season. The presence of these heavy metals above threshold values suggest that the aquatic life that inhabit such rivers risk bioaccumulation which may affect the human population that depends on Otamiri/Imo rivers for fishing, drinking or irrigation. These poses a danger if bioaccumulation was to take place over a long period of time.

Trace Metal Residues in Swimming Warrior Crab Callinectes bellicosus: A Consumption Risk

This study was carried out in the Navachiste coastal lagoon, Mexico, surrounded by intensive agricultural and aquaculture activities that cause environmental pollution by the deposition of trace metal residues in the sediments of this coastal lagoon. The trace metals are bioaccumulated by benthic organisms such as the blue swimming warrior crab, Callinectes bellicosus, which inhabits this lagoon and is consumed by humans. Ninety-five C. bellicosus edible tissue samples were collected (April 2014–January 2015). The extraction procedure of the trace metals in edible tissue samples was carried out by acid digestion with nitric acid. Based on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States, two indices were used to measure health risk: the estimated daily intake (EDI) and the target hazard quotient (THQ). The hazard index (HI) was used to calculate the probability of adverse carcinogenic risk and the target hazard quotient per sample (MHI) to calculate the probability of developing a carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic risk. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences among trace metal concentrations (p < 0.01), but all trace metal concentrations in the edible tissues of C. bellicosus were higher than the maximum residual limits (MRLs). The highest EDI was for Zn, Fe, and Cu, showing that the consumption of these crabs might represent health risks. The THQ >1 was for Ni, Zn, Cd, and Cu, and the HI = 16 revealed the risk of C. bellicosus for high-level consumers. The MHI showed that 98% of samples presented a THQ >1, implying a high rate of bioaccumulation of trace metals by the crabs independent of the sampling site in the NAV. The presence of trace metals in the edible tissue of crabs reflects contamination by trace metals, and the indices results mean that the NAV lagoon is constantly polluted with trace metal residues by neighboring agriculture and aquaculture activities. These trace metal residues are being bioaccumulated in the edible tissues of C. bellicosus due to its feeding habits, resulting in a health risk if its consumption is high, including carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks.

Assessment of heavy metals and potential health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables grown on the roadside soils

Vegetables cultivated near roads absorb toxic metals from polluted soil, which enter into the human body through the food chain and cause serious health problems to humans. The present study investigated the contamination level of lead (Pb) and nickel (Ni) in soils and vegetables grown along the roadside of District Swat, Pakistan, and the health risks associated with the consumption of the tested vegetables have been investigated. The plant samples were collected from the cultivated field within a 120-meter range from the roadside. Spinacia oleracea, Allium cepa, Rumex dentatus, and Trachyspermum ammi were selected based on their importance as vegetables. In results, Pb concentration was higher in plants located at the distance between 0-10 m away from the roadside than the WHO permissible limit. In such plants, Pb concentration was higher than Ni. Rumex dentatus contained the highest concentration of Pb among the tested vegetables while Ni concentration was highest in Trachyspermum ammi as compared to other plants. Concentration and accumulation of both the metals decreased in soil and plants with increasing distance from the road. Similarly, target hazard quotient values noted for Pb and Ni were greater than unity, which shows that there is a potential risk associated with the consumption of tested vegetables near the road. Moreover, the values of target cancer risk were greater than 0.0001, which shows that there is a risk of cancer with the consumption of tested vegetables. In conclusion, the consumption of the tested vegetables was very dangerous as it may lead to higher risks of cancer.

ICP-MS Assessment of Essential and Toxic Trace Elements in Foodstuffs with Different Geographic Origins Available in Romanian Supermarkets

The present study was conducted to quantify the daily intake and target hazard quotient of four essential elements, namely, chromium, cobalt, nickel, and copper, and four toxic trace elements, mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic. Thirty food items were assigned to five food categories (seeds, leaves, powders, beans, and fruits) and analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Factor analysis after principal component extraction revealed common metal patterns in all foodstuffs, and using hierarchical cluster analysis, an association map was created to illustrate their similarity. The results indicate that the internationally recommended dietary allowance was exceeded for Cu and Cr in 27 and 29 foodstuffs, respectively. According to the tolerable upper level for Ni and Cu, everyday consumption of these elements through repeated consumption of seeds (fennel, opium poppy, and cannabis) and fruits (almond) can have adverse health effects. Moreover, a robust correlation between Cu and As (p < 0.001) was established when all samples were analyzed. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated an association between Pb, As, Co, and Ni in one group and Cr, Cu, Hg, and Cd in a second group, comprising 56.85% of the total variance. For all elements investigated, the cancer risk index was within safe limits, highlighting that lifetime consumption does not increase the risk of carcinogens.

Element contents and health risk assessment in wild edible mushrooms of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The content of macro- and microelements in dry samples of mushrooms of the species Macrolepiota procera, Boletus edulis and Cantharellus cibarius, collected at different areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was determined using the ICP-OES method (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry). Of the macroelements, K is the most represented, followed by S, P, Mg, and the least represented Ca and Na. Zn is the most represented of the essential microelements, followed by Fe, Se, Cu, Mn and Co. Al is the most abundant of the other trace elements followed by Ni and Cr. Of the toxic metals, the most represented is Cd, followed by Pb and As. There are differences in the concentration of micro- and macroelements in the mushrooms analysed, depending on the area from which they were collected because natural geology and geochemistry influence the content of macro- and microelements in wild edible mushrooms. The results show that the analysed mushrooms can be considered a good source of essential elements. The study also assessed potential health risks of heavy metals and the target hazard quotient (THQ) for As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr in the analysed mushrooms was lower than the safe level. The carcinogenic risk index revealed that Cd and Ni are the most prevalent pollutants in the mushrooms studied.

Effects of Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles (Fe3O4) Released From Synthesized Iron-based Thiourea Catalyst on the Growth, Cell Density, and Pigment Content of Chlorella Vulgaris

This study investigated the effects of Fe3O4 nanoparticles released from synthesized Thiourea catalyst to Chlorella vulgaris as an essential primary producer in aquatic systems. A range of Fe3O4 concentrations (0, 10, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg L-1) was applied for the exposure test. Biological parameters of C. vulgaris, including cell density, cell viability, and pigment content were assessed. Bioconcentration factor and bioaccumulation were evaluated for contaminated microalgae. Non-carcinogenic risks were then assessed using target hazard quotient (THQ) for potential human consumptions. Findings showed that C. vulgaris cell numbers increased from 0 to 500 mg L-1 of Fe3O4. Chlorophyll a represented a time-dependent response, and greatest values were detected in 250 and 500 mg L-1 Fe3O4 at 4.2 and 4 mg/g, respectively. Chlorophyll b content showed a time-related manner in exposure to Fe3O4 with the highest values recorded at 250 mg L-1 after 96 h. Moreover, bioaccumulation displayed a dose-dependent response as bioaccumulated iron was in the largest amount at 15000 µg/g dw in 1000 mg L-1, whereas the lowest one was in the control group at 1700 µg/g dw. The bioconcentration factor showed a concentration-relevant decrease in all iron treatments and 10 mg L-1 of Fe3O4 represented the greatest BCF at 327.3611. Non-carcinogenic risks illustrated negligible hazard (THQ < 1) in a dose-response pattern and the largest EDI and THQ were calculated in 1000 mg L-1 at 7.4332E-07 (mg kg-1 day-1) and 1.06189E-09, respectively. In essence, iron is an essential trace element for biological aspects in aquatic systems, but in exceeding concentrations could impose toxicity effects in C. vulgaris populations.

A survey of Nitrate and Nitrite Contents in Vegetables to Assess The Potential Health Risks in Kurdistan, Iraq

In this study, nitrate and nitrite contents were determined of a total (308) samples of 15 different types of vegetable such as leek, swiss chard, celery, spinach, garden cress, green onion, turnip, radish, aubergine, squash, tomato, pepper, cucumber, mint, and tarragon. They were taken from different fields located in Sulaymaniyah province: Sulaymaniyah city (Tanjarro and Kanaswra), Bazyan (Baynjan), Halabja (Said Sadiq), and Kalar (Grda Gozena). Using spectrophotometer measurements performed by UV/VIS double beam spectrophotometer at 538nm. The highest level of nitrate (529.55 mg/kg) for garden cress in Said Sadiq, (486.74 mg/kg) for Swiss chard in Kanaswra, and (477.65 mg/kg) for spinach in Bazyan. In addition, leek and celery contained high nitrate concentrations of about (416.65 and 447.60) mg/kg in Kanaswra and Bazyan, respectively. While the lowest nitrate concentration in fruiting vegetables like a tomato was 5.934 mg/kg in Bazyan, and aubergine in Grda Gozena was 5.617 mg/kg. Interestingly, the value of the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) and the Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) was lower than the standard limit, ADI for nitrate in this study was about (0.51, 2.18) mg/kg bw/day for adults and children, while the standard limit (3.70 mg/kg bw/day). Also, ADI for nitrite in this study was about (0.01, 0.05) mg/kg/bw for adults and children, while the standard limit was about 0 - 0.06 mg kg, as a result, the THQ ≤1. In summary, we can conclude that the amount of nitrates in raw vegetables was lower than the standard limit’s level and that this level does not cause health problems for consumers.