Marble industry effluents cause an increased bioaccumulation of heavy metals in Mahaseer (Tor putitora) in Barandu River, district Buner, Pakistan

Distribution and bioaccumulation of trace elements in two Cyprinidae fish species in the Indus river, Pakistan, including the impact of hydraulic structure on macroinvertebrates' biodiversity

The concentration of trace elements (chromium, lead, zinc, copper, manganese, and iron) was determined in water, sediment and tissues of two Cyprinidae fish species - Labeo rohita and Tor putitora - collected from the eight sampling stations of Indus River in 2022 for four successive seasons (autumn, winter, spring, summer), and also study the present condition of macroinvertebrates after the construction of hydraulic structure. The obtained results of trace element concentrations in the Indus River were higher than the acceptable drinking water standards by WHO. The nitrate concentration ranges from 5.2 to 59.6 mg l-1, turbidity ranges from 3.00 to 63.9 NTU, total suspended solids and ammonium ions are below the detection limit (<0.05). In the liver, highest dry wt trace elements (μg/g) such as Cr (4.32), Pb (7.07), Zn (58.26), Cu (8.38), Mn (50.27), and Fe (83.9) for the Labeo rohita; and Tor Putitora has significantly greater accumulated concentration (Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe) in muscle and liver than did Labeo rohita species. Additionally, lower number of macroinvertebrates were recorded during the monsoonal season than pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. Local communities surrounded by polluted environments are more probably to consume more fish and expose them to higher concentrations of toxic trace elements (lead and copper). The findings also provide a basis for broader ecological management of the Indus River, which significantly influenced human beings and socioeconomic disasters, particularly in the local community.

Treatment of marble industry wastewater by Brassica napus (L.) under oxalic acid amendment: efficacy as fodder and carcinogenic risk assessment

In the present study, Brassica napus, a food plant, was grown for phytoextraction of selected heavy metals (HMs) from marble industry wastewater (WW) under oxalic acid (OA) amendment. The hydroponic experiment was performed under different combination of WW with OA in complete randomized design. Photosynthetic pigments and growth reduction were observed in plants treated with WW alone amendments. The combination of OA in combination with WW significantly enhanced the growth of plants along with antioxidant enzyme activities compared with WW-treated-only plants. HM stress alone enhanced the hydrogen peroxide, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde contents in plants. OA-treated plants were observed with enhanced accumulation of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and lead (Pb) concentrations in the roots and shoots of B. napus. The maximum concentration and accumulation of Cd in root, stem, and leaves was increased by 25%, 30%, and 30%; Cu by 42%, 24%, and 17%; and Pb by 45%, 24%, and 43%, respectively, under OA amendment. Average daily intake and hazard quotient (HQ) were calculated for males, females, and children in two phases of treatments in phytoremediation of metals before and after accumulation into B. napus leaves and stems. HQ of metals in the leaves and stem was < 1 before metal accumulation, whereas > 1 was observed after HM accumulation for all males, females, and children. Similarly, the hazard index of the three study types was found > 1. It was observed that the estimated excess lifetime cancer risk was of grade VII (very high risk), not within the accepted range of 1 × 10-4 to 1 × 10-6. Based on the present study, the increased levels of HMs up to carcinogenicity was observed in the B. napus which is not safe to be consumed later as food.

Irrigation suitability, health risk assessment and source apportionment of heavy metals in surface water used for irrigation near marble industry in Malakand, Pakistan

Water is a vital, finite resource whose quantity and quality are deteriorating as the world population increases. The current study aims to investigate the concentration of heavy metals (HM) in surface water for irrigation purposes with associated human health risks and pollution sources near the marble industry in Malakand, Pakistan. Twenty-seven water samples were randomly collected and analyzed for HM concentration by inductively coupled plasma‒optical emission spectrometry (ICP‒OES). pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were measured using standard methods of American Public Health Association (APHA). Irrigation suitability was assessed using specific water quality parameters. The associated health risks from ingestion and dermal exposure to heavy metals were calculated by USEPA health risk indices. Pollution sources and spatial distribution mapping were studied using compositional data analysis (CoDa) and the application of a geographic information system (GIS) to understand the changing behavior of heavy metals in surface waters. The concentrations of BOD (89%), COD (89%), Al (89%), Ca (89%), Cr (56%), Cu (78%), Fe (56%), K (34%) Mg (23%), Mn (56%), Na (89%), Ni (56%), P (89%), and Zn (11%) exceeded the safety limits of National Environmental Quality standards (NEQs) of Pakistan. The results of Kelly's ratio (KR) classified surface water as unsuitable for irrigation. The average daily doses (ADD, mg/kg/day) for Al, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn were higher in children than in adults. The hazard index (HI) for children and adults was above the threshold (HI > 1), indicating a significant risk of non-carcinogenic toxicity. The carcinogenic risk values for Cr and Ni were above the USEPA limit (1 × 10-6 to 1 × 10-4), suggesting a potential carcinogenic risk for the target population. Principal component analysis (PCA), biplot (CLR), and the CoDa-dendrogram allowed for the identification of elemental associations, and their potential source was anthropogenic rather than natural in origin. Regular monitoring and phytoremediation strategies are proposed to safeguard crops and human health.

A Triple-Helix Intervention Approach to Direct the Marble Industry towards Sustainable Business in Mexico

The marble industry in Mexico, similarly to the international market, is going through some problems which are characterized by low productivity performance, inconsistency in management and administrative organization, high raw material waste, and negative social and environmental impact. The methodology used in this paper is based on a systematic review of the strategies and solutions used to address these problems reported between 2014 and 2021, including the results of the application of in situ surveys to three marble companies in the Mixteca Poblana region. These surveys are collected in this article alongside industry experience to propose, in a structured way, a three-pronged management approach with the aim of directing the marble industry towards a sustainable industry model. The structure of this approach, based on forms of capital and sustainability dimensions, engages governments, companies, schools and society to guide this industrial sector to become a sustainable business, integrating knowledge and experience of the marble industry processes. We recommend adding performance metrics to this approach to assess the value chain of the marble industry.

Assessment of organochlorine pesticides and health risk in tobacco farming associated with River Barandu of Pakistan

Diffuse pesticide pollution through tobacco fields is a serious threat to both natural integrities and living beings because tobacco is known as a pesticide-intensive crop. Upsurge in the knowledge of detrimental impacts caused by organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) has made them a burning issue particularly in developing countries. Pakistan is a country famous for its agro-based economy and simultaneously is the second most significant pesticide consumer in South Asian countries. The studied area is tobacco hub of the country. Thus, the present work is aimed to investigate the contamination profile that highlights the ecological and health risk posed by OCPs in River Barandu, located in the proximity of tobacco farming region. ΣOCP levels in sediments ranged between 32.918 and 98.810 ng/g and in water between 0.340 and 0.935 μg/L. Hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and heptachlor were the most prevailing pesticides in both matrices of the river. Isomeric composition of DDTs and HCHs highlighted that the β-HCH and p,p'-DDT were dominant isomers in water, while α-HCH and p,p'-DDT in sediment compartment. Enantiomeric compositions of HCH and DDT indicate both recent and historic uses of these compounds in the area. Indirect contamination through nearby tobacco clusters has been depicted through spatial analysis. Ecological risk assessment based upon the risk quotient (RQ) method revealed that α-endosulfan, dieldrin, heptachlor, and ∑HCHs represent a very high level of ecological risks. The OCPs' lifetime carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks associated with dermal exposure to river's water were considered nominal for surrounding populations. However, detailed ecological and health risk studies are recommended considering the bio-accumulating nature of these contaminants in the food chain.

Metal Bioaccumulation in the Gill, Liver, and Muscle of Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) From the Northeastern Mediterranean and Human Health Risk Assessment Associated with Their Seasonal Consumption

Heavy metals are continuously released into the oceans from both natural and anthropogenic sources. They are serious threats to both ecosystem and human health because of their toxicity, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. We present metal concentrations in the economically important bluefish from Iskenderun Bay, providing valuable information on Northeastern Mediterranean aquatic ecosystem health, as well as the human health risk. The concentrations of manganese, iron, copper, zinc, selenium, cadmium, lead, and mercury were determined in the gill, liver, and muscle tissues of bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) caught in Iskenderun Bay (Turkey) during four seasons. Samples were analysed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Fe and Zn were detected in the highest concentrations during all four seasons. The ranges of Fe concentrations were 61.15-108.76, 229.78-377.02, and 6.35-8.63 and those of Zn were 25.21-44.25, 42.25-76.08, and 6.27-13.59 in the gills, livers, and muscles, respectively. In contrast, Hg and Cd were not found in the bluefish tissues in any season with the exception of Cd in the gills during the spring (0.757 mg/kg, above the legal limit of 0.5 mg/kg). On a seasonal basis, no meaningful accumulation trend was observed for the muscles or gills, while the highest concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in the liver were found in the spring. Liver tissues possessed higher metal concentrations than gill and muscle tissues. Estimated daily and weekly intakes of the metals due to human consumption of the bluefish were considerably lower than the provisional tolerable intake. In this study, there was an inflow of metals into Iskenderun Bay; however, no significant metal accumulation was found in bluefish tissues at a rate that would harm human health.

Seasonal variation of heavy metals and metallothionein contents in Asian swamp eels, Monopterus albus (Zuiew, 1793) from Tumpat, Kelantan, Malaysia

BACKGROUND

Levels of toxic metal exposure in indigenous inhabitants are key bioindicators of the severity of environmental contamination. This study measured the seasonal variation of heavy metals and metallothionein (MT) contents in Asian swamp eels (Monopterus albus) from a paddy field situated in Tumpat, Kelantan, Malaysia, to identify prevalence, patterns and associations and togain insight on the suitability of MT as a biomarker for metal exposure.

METHODS

Gill, muscle and liver tissues of M. albus (n = 50) sampled during the ploughing, seedling, growing and harvesting phases of rice growing were collected. The concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and cadmium (Cd) in these tissues were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. MT from each sample was isolated and purified, and subsequently quantitated using UV spectrophotometry. Associations between metal and MT concentrations, season and tissue type were evaluated using Pearson correlation and ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey HSD analysis.

RESULTS

Zn was present in higher quantities in gill and liver tissues, while Cu levels were elevated solely in liver. Patterns of non-essential metal accumulation were varied: Cd was detected in low concentrations in all tissues, while Pb and Ni were abundant in gill tissues across all seasons. MT concentration in liver tissue was consistently higher than that found in muscle or gill tissue, except during the growing phase. Moreover, significant correlations (P < 0.05) were observed for Cd, Ni, and Zn when MT was employed as metal exposure biomarker. However, no significant association was found between high Pb and Ni levels and MT concentration in gill tissue.Variation of bioaccumulation rates of heavy metals among the different tissues was observed. Some of these metal concentration differences were found to be associated with MT concentration and, by extension, to its high metal-binding capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

Significant liver MT-Zn, MT-Cd, and MT-Ni correlations found in this study emphasised the role of metallothionein as a biomarker for exposure of zinc, cadmium and nickel metals in M. albus.