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Du Y, Ai S, He J, Gu H, Wang X, Li Z, Dang Y. Health risk assessment of lead via the ingestion pathway for preschool children in a typical heavy metal polluted area. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:6163-6176. [PMID: 37266753 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01619-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The problems of environmental lead (Pb) pollution caused by mining activities have attracted global attention. Preschool children are vulnerable to exposure to Pb from the environment. To investigate the health risk of multiple exposures to Pb via oral ingestion (soil, water, rice, wheat, and vegetables) for preschool children in typical polluted areas, in this study, preschool children in Baiyin city were selected as the potential receptors, Pb concentrations in 28 soil samples and 33 vegetable samples were collected and measured. In addition, the Pb concentrations in local water, rice, and wheat were obtained by searching the literature. The Monte Carlo simulation was used in the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of the parameters. Results showed that Pb concentrations in spinach, tomato, cushaw, lettuce, broad bean, pea, eggplant, and radish exceeded the standards (GB 2762-2017), and 42.86% of soil samples exceeded screening values (GB 15618-2018). The non-carcinogenic risk was as high as 3.58. Vegetables and wheat were the major contributors in the oral ingestion pathway. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risk of preschool children was 6.02E-06, which was acceptable. Monte Carlo simulations showed that health risk assessment results were most likely to be influenced by Pb concentrations in the media. In conclusion, the food safety of vegetables in soil-polluted areas deserves more attention, and certain measures should be taken to reduce the health risks to preschool children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Shiwei Ai
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jie He
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Huilin Gu
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaoxue Wang
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhilan Li
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yuhui Dang
- Institute of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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2
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Wang B, Gao F, Li Y, Lin C, Cheng H, Duan X. Necessity of introducing particle size distribution of hand-adhered soil on the estimation of oral exposure to metals in soil: Comparison with the traditional method. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 448:130891. [PMID: 36764255 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.130891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to systematically investigate the relationship between children exposure possibility, metal concentration, metal bioaccessibility and soil particle size. fifty Children aged 3-8 years were recruited for the collection of hand-adhered soil, environmental soil, and blood samples. The mass distribution of hand-adhered soil with particle size were analyzed. Based on it, environmental soil samples were divided into five fractions to evaluate the effect of soil particle size on the total contents and bioaccessibilities of toxic metals. Then, a refined soil oral exposure model based on the particle size distribution of hand-adhered soil was established, and the estimation was compared with the typical traditional method. We found that finer particles were preferentially adhered to hand. The highest metal concentrations and bioaccessibilities occurred in the finest fraction, with values decreasing with increasing particle size. The exposure levels using the refined model were 2.0-3.4 times higher than those with the traditional method. In addition, Pb exposure level calculated using the refined model exhibited stronger and more significant correlation with blood Pb than those of the traditional soil. The construction of a refined exposure scenario based on hand-adhered soil could more exactly reflect the real exposure level and the difference among individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Fei Gao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Yujie Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China
| | - Chunye Lin
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Hongguang Cheng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, PR China.
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3
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Chen X, Cao S, Wen D, Zhang Y, Wang B, Duan X. Domestic dogs as sentinels of children lead exposure: Multi-pathway identification and source apportionment based on isotope technique. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 316:137787. [PMID: 36623594 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Environmental lead exposure poses risks to children' health, thus exposure sources and pathways identification remain important concern and research scope. Due to sharing the same environment, domestic animals, especially dogs, have been used as useful sentinels to identify human lead exposure. However, more evidence is needed on whether domestic dogs could be used to identify the lead exposure pathways and sources of children. Thus, this study investigated the dietary habits, behaviors, and household environment of children and dogs in a typical coal-fired area in China. The lead levels and lead isotope ratios (Acronym: LIRs, expressed as 208Pb/206Pb and 207Pb/206Pb) in dogs' and children's blood, as well as in environmental media (food, PM2.5, indoor/outdoor dust, drinking water and soil) were measured to explore the predominant lead pollution sources and exposure pathways of children. The results showed that the LIRs of children's blood (208Pb/206Pb = 2.0703 ± 0.0076, 207Pb/206Pb = 0.8501 ± 0.0052) were similar to those of dogs' blood (208Pb/206Pb = 2.0696 ± 0.0085, 207Pb/206Pb = 0.8499 ± 0.0052), as well as similar to the LIRs of environmental media, i.e. children's food (208Pb/206Pb = 2.0731 ± 0.0057, 207Pb/206Pb = 0.8491 ± 0.0036) and coal (208Pb/206Pb = 2.0683 ± 0.017, 207Pb/206Pb = 0.8515 ± 0.01). Children and dogs had similar lead exposure pathways, but the contributions of each exposure pathway were different, i.e., 83.1% vs. 76.9% for children and dogs via food ingestion, 1.4% vs. 5.6% via particulate matter exposure, and 15.5% vs. 17.5% via household dust exposure, respectively. The contribution of food via ingestion to lead exposure remains dominant, and coal combustion is a main lead exposure source for children and domestic dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Chen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - SuZhen Cao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Dongsen Wen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yaqun Zhang
- Gansu Academy of Eco-environmental Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Beibei Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China.
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4
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Li J, Du H, Peng F, Manyande A, Xiong S. Evaluation of the Effect of Different Cooking Methods on the Heavy Metal Levels in Crayfish Muscle. Biol Trace Elem Res 2022:10.1007/s12011-022-03476-0. [PMID: 36418635 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-022-03476-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The current study investigated the effects of various cooking styles (boiling, frying, and steaming) and seasoning methods (home cooking and ready-to-eat commodity) on levels of nine heavy metals in the crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) muscle. The estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotients (THQ), and target cancer risk (TCR) were used to assess the health risk in the crayfish muscle. The results showed that cooking processes significantly increased the concentration of Cu, which raises a potential risk for children (the THQ values > 1). The levels of toxic heavy metals in the ready-to-eat crayfish muscle were significantly higher than those in household cooking. Especially for As, the THQ values rose to 7.1 and 13.2 for adults and children respectively. Therefore, home cooking is safer than ready-to-eat crayfish, and children should consume crayfish within a limited range. The recommended consumption of the cooked abdominal muscle of crayfish should be 257 and 58 g/day, for children (16 kg) and adults (70 kg), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongying Du
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, 210037, People's Republic of China.
- National R & D Branch Center for Conventional Freshwater Fish Processing, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fangjun Peng
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Anne Manyande
- School of Human and Social Sciences, University of West London, Middlesex, TW8 9GA, UK
| | - Shanbai Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Environment Correlative Dietology, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- National R & D Branch Center for Conventional Freshwater Fish Processing, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, People's Republic of China
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5
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Wang B, Gao F, Li Y, Lin C, Cheng H, Duan X. Assessment of Children's Metal Exposure via Hand Wipe, Outdoor Soil and Indoor Dust and Their Associations with Blood Biomarkers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14614. [PMID: 36361494 PMCID: PMC9653965 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The soil environment contributes considerably to human exposure to metals. This study aimed to comprehensively compare children's exposure to soil metals using different sampling approaches (i.e., hand wipe, indoor dust and outdoor soil) and assessment strategies, combing the method of external exposure evaluation and the correlation with internal biomarkers. Environmental exposure samples (hand wipe, outdoor soil and indoor dust), blood samples and child-specific exposure factors were simultaneously collected for 60 children aged 3 to 12 years from an area of northwestern China. Eight typical toxic metals were analyzed. Results showed that metal levels in hand wipes were associated with children's age, years of residency and the ground types of the play areas. Hand-to-mouth contact was an important pathway for children's metal exposure, with the corresponding oral exposure cancer risk to Cr already exceeding the maximum acceptable level. In comparison, metal concentrations in hand wipes were one to seven times higher than those in outdoor soil and indoor dust. Even greater discrepancies were found for the estimated exposure dose, which could lead to differences of several to dozens of times. In addition, Pb, Mn and Cr in hand wipes were significantly correlated with those in blood, whereas no relationships were found with soil and dust. This study indicates that the selection of different sampling and assessing strategies could lead to great differences in children metal exposure outcomes. It also suggests that hand wipe, which could reflect the true and integrated exposure level and the individual difference, serves as a better matrix to assess children's metal exposure compared to soil and dust. Further studies should standardize the sampling method for hand wipes and verify its applicability for other age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beibei Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Fei Gao
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yujie Li
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Chunye Lin
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Hongguang Cheng
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
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6
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Ruggieri S, Drago G, Panunzi S, Rizzo G, Tavormina EE, Maltese S, Cibella F. The Influence of Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle, and Risk Perception on Dietary Patterns in Pregnant Women Living in Highly Contaminated Areas: Data from the NEHO Birth Cohort. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14173489. [PMID: 36079747 PMCID: PMC9458243 DOI: 10.3390/nu14173489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
During pregnancy, maternal nutrition and lifestyle play a critical role in influencing fetal development and newborn health outcomes. The aim of this study is to investigate the factors influencing the adherence to dietary patterns in pregnant women living in highly contaminated areas, and whether women with higher environmental risk perception manifest different nutritional behaviors during pregnancy. Food consumption data on 816 pregnant women from the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) residential birth cohort were analyzed. Dietary patterns were computed by principal component analysis. A multinomial logistic regression was also applied to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle, and pregnancy-related determinants of adherence to dietary patterns during pregnancy. Three patterns of food consumption—explaining 24.9% of the total variance—were identified as “prudent”, “high energy”, and “vegetarian” patterns. Results suggest that food choices during pregnancy follow a social gradient and align with other health behaviors during pregnancy: older, better educated, and physically active women with higher risk perception are more likely to follow healthier dietary patterns. Knowledge about what is eaten can contribute to dietary choices. Interventions to improve the prenatal nutrition knowledge of pregnant women are needed, especially concerning younger mothers and those with lower educational levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ruggieri
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Gaspare Drago
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Simona Panunzi
- Institute for System Analysis and Computer Science—BioMatLab, National Research Council of Italy, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Rizzo
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Elisa Eleonora Tavormina
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Sabina Maltese
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabio Cibella
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy
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7
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Liu M, Li M, Guo W, Zhao L, Yang H, Yu J, Liu L, Fang Q, Lai X, Yang L, Zhu K, Dai W, Mei W, Zhang X. Co-exposure to priority-controlled metals mixture and blood pressure in Chinese children from two panel studies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119388. [PMID: 35526645 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Metals may affect adversely cardiovascular system, but epidemiological evidence on the associations of priority-controlled metals including antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), cadmium, lead, and thallium with children's blood pressure (BP) was scarce and inconsistent. We conducted two panel studies with 3 surveys across 3 seasons among 144 and 142 children aged 4-12 years in Guangzhou and Weinan, respectively. During each seasonal survey, urine samples were collected for 4 consecutive days and BP was measured on the 4th day. We obtained 786 BP values and urinary metals measurements at least once within 4 days, while 773, 596, 612, and 754 urinary metals measurements were effective on the health examination day (Lag 0), and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd day preceding BP measurement (Lag 1, lag 2 and lag 3), respectively. We used linear mixed-effect models, generalized estimating equations and multiple informant models to assess the associations of individual metal at each lag day and accumulated lag day (4 days averaged, lag 0-3) with BP and hypertension, and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression to evaluate the relations of metals mixture at lag 0-3 and BP outcomes. We found Sb was positively and consistently related to systolic BP (SBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and odds of having hypertension within 4 days, which were the strongest at lag 0 and declined over time. And such relationships at lag 0-3 showed in a dose-response manner. Meanwhile, Sb was the only contributor to the relations of mixture with SBP, MAP, and odds of having hypertension. Also, synergistic interaction between Sb and As was significant. In addition, modification effect of passive smoking status on the association of Sb and SBP was more evident in passive smokers. Accordingly, urinary Sb was consistently and dose-responsively associated with increased BP and hypertension, of which Sb was the major contributor among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Meng Li
- School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Wenting Guo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Department of Public Health, Medical College of Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Huihua Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Linlin Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qin Fang
- Department of Medical affairs, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuefeng Lai
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Liangle Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Kejing Zhu
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Wencan Dai
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenhua Mei
- Zhuhai Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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8
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Chen L, Wang J, Beiyuan J, Guo X, Wu H, Fang L. Environmental and health risk assessment of potentially toxic trace elements in soils near uranium (U) mines: A global meta-analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 816:151556. [PMID: 34752878 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Soil pollution by potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs) near uranium (U) mines arouses a growing interest worldwide. However, nearly all studies have focused on a single site or only a few sites, which may not fully represent the soil pollution status at the global scale. In this study, data of U, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, As, Mn, and Ni contents in U mine-associated soils were collected and screened from published articles (2006-2021). Assessments of pollution levels, distributions, ecological, and human health risks of the nine PTEs were analysed. The results revealed that the average contents of the U, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn, As, Mn, and Ni were 39.88-, 55.33-, 0.88-, 3.81-, 3.12-, 3.07-, 9.26-, 1.83-, and 1.17-fold greater than those in the upper continental crust, respectively. The pollution assessment showed that most of the studied soils were heavily polluted by U and Cd. Among them, the U mine-associated soils in France, Portugal, and Bulgaria exhibited significantly higher pollution levels of U and Cd when compared to other regions. The average potential ecological risk value for all PTEs was 3358.83, which indicated the presence of remarkably high risks. Among the PTEs, Cd and U contributed more to the potential ecological risk than the other elements. The health risk assessment showed that oral ingestion was the main exposure route for soil PTEs; and the hazard index (HI) values for children were higher than those for adult males and females. For adult males and females, all hazard index values for the noncarcinogenic risks were below the safe level of 1.00. For children, none of the HI values exceeded the safe level, with the exception of U (HI = 3.56) and As (HI = 1.83), but Cu presented unacceptable carcinogenic risks. This study provides a comprehensive analysis that demonstrates the urgent necessity for treating PTE pollution in U mine-associated soils worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation CAS and MWR, Yangling 712100, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Jingzhe Wang
- MNR Key Laboratory for Geo-Environmental Monitoring of Great Bay Area & Guangdong Key Laboratory of Urban Informatics & Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Spatial Smart Sensing and Services, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jingzi Beiyuan
- School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
| | - Xuetao Guo
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hao Wu
- College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 420100, China
| | - Linchuan Fang
- State Key Laboratory of soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation CAS and MWR, Yangling 712100, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change, Xi'an 710061, China.
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9
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Zhang B, Liu L, Huang Z, Hou H, Zhao L, Sun Z. Application of stochastic model to assessment of heavy metal(loid)s source apportionment and bio-availability in rice fields of karst area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 793:148614. [PMID: 34328992 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mining activities and high geological background are considered the important factors causing heavy metal(loid)s accumulation in rice fields of karst area. In this study, the contents, main sources, and the factors influencing bio-availability of heavy metal(loid)s were determined using conditional inference tree (CIT), random forest (RF), and geostatistical analyses with 105 soil samples collected from rice fields in karst area. Contamination by Cd, Hg, As, and Pb in soil was relatively serious in the study area in which the compound pollution was highly similar to that in the flooded area. CIT and RF effectively identified the contributions of natural and anthropogenic inputs of soil heavy metal(loid)s. Concentrations of Pb, As, and Hg were closely associated with human inputs whose cumulative contribution rates reached 68%, 87%, and 86%, respectively. Industrial activities (28%) and geogenic characteristics (44%) were primary sources of Cd accumulation. The soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), distance from city center, the contents of heavy metal(loid)s in soil, and industry type were the most important factors influencing bio-availability of heavy metal(loid)s. Combined effect of multiple metals could not be ignored, in which As and Cd contributed over 80% to total non-carcinogenic risks for adults and children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bolun Zhang
- School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Lingling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Zhanbin Huang
- School of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology-Beijing, Beijing 100083, China.
| | - Hong Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China.
| | - Long Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Zaijin Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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10
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Health Risk Assessment of Metals via Multi-Source Oral Exposure for Children Living in Areas with Intense Electronic Manufacturing Activities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111409. [PMID: 34769926 PMCID: PMC8583640 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Oral ingestion is the predominant pathway of metal(loid)s exposure. In this study, the health risks of typical metal(loid)s (including Mn, As, Cr, Cd, and Pb) via multi-source, oral pathways for children aged 3-12 years, living in an area of China dominated by the electronic manufacturing industry, were studied based on the field sampling of duplicated diet, soil, and drinking water. Child-specific ingestion parameters were measured (except the soil ingestion rates, which were from a previous study of the same population), and a Monte Carlo method was applied to determine the uncertainty of the risk assessment. It was observed that children living in such environments were at risk of metal(loid)s exposure, with the accumulative carcinogenic risk exceeding the maximum acceptable level. Food intake was identified to be the primary exposure pathway. Moreover, Pb and Cr were the major risk elements to local children's health. Compared with primary school students, kindergarten children experienced a higher risk. This study highlights that high attention should be paid to children living in suburban areas dominated by the electronic manufacturing industry, and that priority should be given to studies on metal(loid)s exposure deriving from different types of food and their corresponding bioavailability, in order to further discern the precise risk sources to protect children's health.
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Ruggieri S, Maltese S, Drago G, Panunzi S, Cibella F, Bianchi F, Minichilli F, Cori L. Measuring Risk Perception in Pregnant Women in Heavily Polluted Areas: A New Methodological Approach from the NEHO Birth Cohort. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:10616. [PMID: 34682362 PMCID: PMC8536087 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Risk perception (RP) evaluation during pregnancy and its relationship with lifestyles are considered useful tools for understanding communities living in high-risk areas and preventing dangerous exposure. It is well known that exposure to pollutants and less-healthy lifestyles may result in increased disease occurrence during life. Our work investigated environmental RP through ad hoc questionnaires administered to 611 mothers within the NEHO birth cohort, recruited in three heavily contaminated areas of Southern Italy. Four different RP indices, an exploratory factorial analysis (EFA), and a latent class analysis were evaluated from questionnaires. The highest values of risk perception index were observed in the Milazzo site (0.64 ± 0.16) and the lowest in the Crotone site (0.5 ± 0.18). EFA revealed four latent factors, including different items describing environmental pollution, and subjects were classified into four latent classes with different RP indices. Significant RP profiles were different among the sites (p < 0.001). Our results did not demonstrate any association between RP and lifestyles during pregnancy. Improving healthy lifestyle behaviours, particularly in polluted areas, would generate co-benefits by preventing further risk factors. As remediation interventions can take a long time, it needs to improve healthy lifestyles in residents until remediation is completed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ruggieri
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (F.C.); (F.B.)
| | - Sabina Maltese
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (F.C.); (F.B.)
| | - Gaspare Drago
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (F.C.); (F.B.)
| | - Simona Panunzi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for System Analysis and Computer Science—BioMatLab, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabio Cibella
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (F.C.); (F.B.)
| | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (F.C.); (F.B.)
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Fabrizio Minichilli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.M.); (L.C.)
| | - Liliana Cori
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Clinical Physiology, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (F.M.); (L.C.)
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Human Health Risk Distribution and Safety Threshold of Cadmium in Soil of Coal Chemical Industry Area. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11070678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a highly carcinogenic metal that plays an important role in the risk management of soil pollution. In this study, 153 soil samples were collected from a coal chemical plant in northwest China, and the human health risks associated with Cd were assessed through multiple exposure pathways. Meanwhile, by the Kriging interpolation method, the spatial distribution and health risks of Cd were explored. The results showed that the average concentration of Cd in the soil was 0.540 mg/kg, which was 4.821 and 5.567 times that of the soil background value in Ningxia and China, respectively. In comparison, the concentration of Cd in the soil was below the national soil environmental quality three-level standard (1.0 mg/kg). In addition, health risk assessment results showed that the total carcinogenic risk of Cd was 1.269 × 10−6–2.189 × 10−6, both above the acceptable criteria (1 × 10−6), while the hazard quotient was within the acceptable level. Oral intake and ingestion of soil particles were the main routes of exposure, and the carcinogenic risk control value of oral intake was the lowest (0.392 mg/kg), which could be selected as the strict reference of the safety threshold for Cd in the coal chemical soil. From Kriging, a prediction map can be centrally predicted on heavy metal pollution in the area surrounding the coal entrance corridor and pedestrian entrance. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the determination of the heavy metal safety threshold of the coal chemical industry in China.
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Ruggieri S, Maltese S, Drago G, Cibella F, Panunzi S. The Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) Birth Cohort Study: Behavioral and Socioeconomic Characteristics and Drop-Out Rate from a Longitudinal Birth Cohort in Three Industrially Contaminated Sites in Southern Italy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18031252. [PMID: 33573257 PMCID: PMC7908468 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18031252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Pregnant women living in industrially contaminated sites (ICSs) are exposed to environmental contaminants through different pathways, and thus children’s health may be affected by pollutants. We created the Neonatal Environment and Health Outcomes (NEHO) longitudinal birth cohort in three ICSs in the Mediterranean area of southern Italy, collecting comprehensive information on personal data and lifestyles by questionnaire. Through multiple correspondence analysis, we identified possible clusters of enrolled women, and a neural network classifier analysis (NNCA) was performed to identify variables capable of predicting the attrition rate of the study. NEHO recruited 845 mother–child pairs over two years. The mothers’ mean age was 31.1 ± 5.2 SD years. We found significant differences in socioeconomic status (SES) among the three evaluated ICS, and an overall 11.1% prevalence of mothers who actively smoked during pregnancy. Active smoking during pregnancy was strongly associated with the lowest socioeconomic level (p < 0.0001). By means of the NNCA, we found that smoking during pregnancy and the lowest education level characterized the cluster with the highest attrition rate (p < 0.001). Our results demonstrate that reason for public health concern still exists regarding smoking during pregnancy and that SES influences both lifestyles, producing negative pregnancy outcomes and a higher survey attrition rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ruggieri
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (G.D.)
| | - Sabina Maltese
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (G.D.)
| | - Gaspare Drago
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (G.D.)
| | - Fabio Cibella
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council of Italy, 90146 Palermo, Italy; (S.R.); (S.M.); (G.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Simona Panunzi
- Institute for System Analysis and Computer Science—BioMatLab, National Research Council of Italy, 00168 Rome, Italy;
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Quinete N, Hauser-Davis RA. Drinking water pollutants may affect the immune system: concerns regarding COVID-19 health effects. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:1235-1246. [PMID: 33156499 PMCID: PMC7644792 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11487-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The current coronavirus pandemic is leading to significant impacts on the planet, changing our way of life. Although the COVID-19 virus mechanisms of action and pathogenesis are still under extensive research, immune system effects are evident, leading, in many cases, to respiratory distress. Although apparent pollution reduction has been noticed by the population, environmental and human health impacts due to the increased use of plastic waste and disinfectants is concerning. One of the main routes of human exposure to pollutants is through drinking water. Thus, this point of view discusses some major contaminants in drinking water known to be immunotoxic, exploring sources and drinking water routes and emphasizing the known mechanisms of action that could likely compromise the effective immune response of humans, particularly raising concerns regarding people exposed to the COVID-19 virus. Based on a literature review, metals, plastic components, plasticizers, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances may display the potential to exacerbate COVID-19 respiratory symptoms, although epidemiological studies are still required to confirm the synergistic effects between these pollutants and the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Quinete
- Institute of Environment & Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Modesto A. Maidique Campus, Miami, FL, 33199, USA.
| | - Rachel Ann Hauser-Davis
- Laboratório de Avaliação e Promoção da Saúde Ambiental, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Av. Brazil, 4.365, Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21040-360, Brazil
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Zhang R, Chen T, Zhang Y, Hou Y, Chang Q. Health risk assessment of heavy metals in agricultural soils and identification of main influencing factors in a typical industrial park in northwest China. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 252:126591. [PMID: 32240858 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in the soil poses a threat to human health. In this study, 62 pairs of topsoil and wheat grain samples were collected from a typical industrial park in northwest China, and the human health risks associated with cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were assessed through multiple exposure pathways. Meanwhile, the contribution of different environmental factors and their interactions were explored by using geo-detector. Results showed that Cd concentration in the soil ranged from 0.307 to 2.491 mg kg-1, with a median value of 0.588 mg kg-1, and almost half of the samples exceeded the pollution threshold. In comparison, other elements in the soil were below their mandatory thresholds. However, it is noteworthy that in addition to the median Cd concentration in wheat grains of 0.062 mg kg-1 (0.018-0.246 mg kg-1), the Pb concentration also reached 0.2 mg kg-1 (0.1-0.7 mg kg-1), with a sample over-standard rate of 48.39%. In addition, the health risk assessment results showed that the average total hazard index (HIt) for adults and children was 1.22 and 1.53, and the total carcinogenic risk (TCRt) was 7.0 × 10-4 and 2.32 × 10-4, respectively, both above acceptable criteria. Dietary intake was the main route of exposure. Among various factors, distance from industrial enterprises, altitude, and soil pH, distance from major roads were the most influential contributors. Their interactions were more prominent than the effects of single factors and this synergy deserves attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Tao Chen
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Yuhao Hou
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Qingrui Chang
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Plant Nutrition and the Agri-environment in Northwest China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
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Shahid M, Farooq ABU, Rabbani F, Khalid S, Dumat C. Risk assessment and biophysiochemical responses of spinach to foliar application of lead oxide nanoparticles: A multivariate analysis. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 245:125605. [PMID: 31883499 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive research progress in the recent past, the data regarding foliar uptake of heavy metals, associated biophysiochemical changes inside plants and possible health hazards are limited. This study determined the effect of foliar application of lead oxide nanoparticles (PbO-NPs) on lead (Pb) accumulation, physiological and biochemical changes inside spinach plants and associated health risks. A green method was used to prepare PbO-NPs using coconut water. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the preparation of smooth, unwrinkled, granular and spherical PbO-NPs. Spinach leaves were exposed via foliar application to three concentrations of PbO-NPs (0, 10 and 50 mg/plant). Foliar PbO-NPs application resulted in a significant accumulation of Pb in leaves (42.25 μg g-1), with limited translocation towards root tissues (4.46 μg g-1). This revealed that spinach can accumulate considerable amount of Pb via foliar uptake. Lead accumulation inside spinach caused a significant decrease in pigment contents (38%) and dry weight (67%). After foliar uptake, Pb caused several-fold increase in the activities of catalase and peroxidase. However, foliar PbO-NPs did not induce significant changes in H2O2 production, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. Application of PbO-NPs (50 mg/plant) showed possible health risks (non-carcinogenic) due to ingesting Pb-contaminated leaves of spinach. It is proposed that atmospheric contamination and foliar deposition of metal-PM can seriously affect vegetable growth and can provoke health issues due to ingestion of metal-enriched vegetables. Therefore, atmospheric levels of heavy metals need to be monitored on a regular basis to avoid their food chain contamination and possible human exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Pakistan.
| | - Abu Bakr Umer Farooq
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Faiz Rabbani
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, 61100, Pakistan
| | - Camille Dumat
- Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Av. de l'Agrobiopôle, 31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France; Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), UMR5044, Université J. Jaurès-Toulouse II, 5 allée Antonio Machado, 31058, Toulouse, France
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