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Taurozzi D, Gallitelli L, Cesarini G, Romano S, Orsini M, Scalici M. Passive biomonitoring of airborne microplastics using lichens: A comparison between urban, natural and protected environments. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 187:108707. [PMID: 38692149 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Currently, natural and urban ecosystems are affected by different types of atmospheric deposition, which can compromise the balance of the environment. Plastic pollution represents one of the major threats for biota, including lichens. Epiphytic lichens have value as bioindicators of environmental pollution, climate change, and anthropic impacts. In this study, we aim to investigate the lichen bioaccumulation of airborne microplastics along an anthropogenic pollution gradient. We sampled lichens from the Genera Cladonia and Xanthoria to highlight the effectiveness of lichens as tools for passive biomonitoring of microplastics. We chose three sites, a "natural site" in Altipiani di Arcinazzo, a "protected site" in Castelporziano Presidential estate and an "urban site" in the centre of Rome. Overall, we sampled 90 lichens, observed for external plastic entrapment, melt in oxygen peroxide and analysed for plastic entrapment. To validate the method, we calculated recovery rates of microplastics in lichen. Particularly, 253 MPs particles were detected across the 90 lichen samples: 97 % were fibers, and 3 % were fragments. A gradient in the number of microplastic fibers across the sites emerged, with increasing accumulation of microplastics from the natural site (n = 58) to the urban site (n = 116), with a direct relationship between the length and abundance of airborne microplastic fibers. Moreover, we detected the first evidences of airborne mesoplastics entrapped by lichens. On average, the natural site experienced the shortest fibre length and the centre of Rome the longest. No differences in microplastics accumulation emerged from the two genera. Our results indicated that lichens can effectively be used for passive biomonitoring of microplastic deposition. In this scenario, the role of lichens in entrapping microplastics and protecting pristine areas must be investigated. Furthermore, considering the impact that airborne microplastics can have on human health and the effectiveness of lichens as airborne microplastic bioindicators, their use is encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Taurozzi
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Gallitelli
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy.
| | - Giulia Cesarini
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy; National Research Council - Water Research Institute (CNR-IRSA), Corso Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania, Italy
| | - Susanna Romano
- Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Roma Tre University, Via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Orsini
- Department of Industrial, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering, Roma Tre University, Via Vito Volterra 62, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Scalici
- Department of Sciences, University of Roma Tre, Viale G. Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Università di Palermo, Piazza Marina 61, 90133 Palermo, Italy
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Niepsch D, Clarke LJ, Jones RG, Tzoulas K, Cavan G. Lichen biomonitoring to assess spatial variability, potential sources and human health risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and airborne metal concentrations in Manchester (UK). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2024; 196:379. [PMID: 38499718 PMCID: PMC11291577 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-024-12522-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Airborne metals and organic pollutants are linked to severe human health impacts, i.e. affecting the nervous system and being associated with cancer. Airborne metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in urban environments are derived from diverse sources, including combustion and industrial and vehicular emissions, posing a threat to air quality and subsequently human health. A lichen biomonitoring approach was used to assess spatial variability of airborne metals and PAHs, identify potential pollution sources and assess human health risks across the City of Manchester (UK). Metal concentrations recorded in lichen samples were highest within the city centre area and along the major road network, and lichen PAH profiles were dominated by 4-ring PAHs (189.82 ng g-1 in Xanthoria parietina), with 5- and 6-ring PAHs also contributing to the overall PAH profile. Cluster analysis and pollution index factor (PIF) calculations for lichen-derived metal concentrations suggested deteriorated air quality being primarily linked to vehicular emissions. Comparably, PAH diagnostic ratios identified vehicular sources as a primary cause of PAH pollution across Manchester. However, local more complex sources (e.g. industrial emissions) were further identified. Human health risk assessment found a "moderate" risk for adults and children by airborne potential harmful element (PHEs) concentrations, whereas PAH exposure in Manchester is potentially linked to 1455 (ILCR = 1.45 × 10-3) cancer cases (in 1,000,000). Findings of this study indicate that an easy-to-use lichen biomonitoring approach can aid to identify hotspots of impaired air quality and potential human health impacts by airborne metals and PAHs across an urban environment, particularly at locations that are not continuously covered by (non-)automated air quality measurement programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Niepsch
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK.
| | - Leon J Clarke
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| | | | - Konstantinos Tzoulas
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
| | - Gina Cavan
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M1 5GD, UK
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Kumari K, Kumar V, Nayaka S, Saxena G, Sanyal I. Physiological alterations and heavy metal accumulation in the transplanted lichen Pyxine cocoes (Sw.) Nyl. in Lucknow city, Uttar Pradesh. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 196:84. [PMID: 38147167 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12256-9] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution has become a major concern due to its detrimental effects on living beings. The present study is aimed at assessing the current status of air pollution in Lucknow city using lichen transplantation technique and assesing its effect on physiology of Pyxine cocoes. The samples of P. cocoes were collected from relatively pollution-free area Malihabad and transplanted in 10 designated sites in five regions for 30 days. Various parameters such as heavy metals, chlorophyll pigments, carotenoid, chlorophyll degradation, and electrolyte conductivity were estimated in transplanted lichens. The study revealed that the concentration of all 10 heavy metals was higher in all transplanted samples than in the control sample, which was found in order of Al > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Ni > Co > Cd. Among all 10 transplanted sites, the significantly increased accumulation of aluminum (5.11 to 5.47 µg L-1), iron (4.73 to 5.46 µg L-1), manganese (110.99 to 144.58 µg g-1), and zinc (87.96 to 97.40 µg g-1) was found in Charbagh, Qaisarbagh, and Alambagh sites. Further, in all samples, chlorophyll a (3.98 µg L-1), chlorophyll b (1.22 µg L-1), total chlorophyll (5.20 µg L-1), and chlorophyll degradation (0.55 µg g-1) were significantly decreased, whereas elevated levels of carotenoid (0.71 µg g-1), and electrolyte conductivity (64.99 µS cm-1), were observed. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) investigated the morphological changes in transplanted lichen samples, and significant damage to the anatomy of mycelium was found in most of the polluted site's samples, which correlated with the pollution levels. The present study clearly demonstrated that the transplanted lichen P. cocoes is an efficient bioaccumulator and bioindicator of air quality in urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti Kumari
- Department of Botany, Lucknow University, Lucknow, 226007, Uttar Pradesh, India
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
| | - Varun Kumar
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sanjeeva Nayaka
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
- Lichenology Laboratory, CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
| | - Gauri Saxena
- Department of Botany, Lucknow University, Lucknow, 226007, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Indraneel Sanyal
- CSIR-National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
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Kováčik J, Husáková L, Vlassa M, Piroutková M, Vydra M, Patočka J, Filip M. Elemental profile identifies metallurgical pollution in epiphytic lichen Xanthoria parietina and (hypo)xanthine correlates with metals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 883:163527. [PMID: 37094670 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of 55 elements in lichens under the heap of a former nickel smelter (village Dolná Streda, Slovakia) and at eight sites at different distances from the heap plus six sites throughout Slovakia was studied to determine the elemental profile. The major metals in the heap sludge and in the lichens below the heap (Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Co) were surprisingly low in lichens from both the near and far vicinity of the heap (4-25 km), indicating limited airborne spread. However, two different sites with metallurgical activity (another site near the ferroalloy producer in Orava) typically contained the highest amount of individual elements, including rare earth elements, Th, U, Ag, Pd, Bi and Be, and their separation from other sites was confirmed by PCA and HCA analyses. In addition, the amounts of Cd, Ba and Re were highest at sites without a clear source of pollution and further monitoring is needed. It was also an unexpected finding that the enrichment factor calculated using UCC values was increased (often considerably >10) for 12 elements at all 15 sites, indicating eventual anthropogenic contamination with P, Zn, B, As, Sb, Cd, Ag, Bi, Pd, Pt, Te and Re (and other EF values were locally increased). Metabolic analyses showed a negative correlation between some metals and metabolites (ascorbic acid, thiols, phenols and allantoin), but slightly positive (amino acids) or highly positive correlation with purine derivatives hypoxanthine and xanthine. The data suggest that lichens adapt their metabolism to excessive metal loading and that epiphytic lichens are suitable for identifying metal contamination even at apparently clean sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jozef Kováčik
- Department of Biology, University of Trnava, Priemyselná 4, 918 43 Trnava, Slovak Republic.
| | - Lenka Husáková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573 HB/D, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Mihaela Vlassa
- Raluca Ripan Institute for Research in Chemistry, Babeş-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele Str., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Martina Piroutková
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573 HB/D, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Vydra
- Department of Biology, University of Trnava, Priemyselná 4, 918 43 Trnava, Slovak Republic
| | - Jan Patočka
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemical Technology, University of Pardubice, Studentská 573 HB/D, 532 10 Pardubice, Czech Republic
| | - Miuța Filip
- Raluca Ripan Institute for Research in Chemistry, Babeş-Bolyai University, 30 Fântânele Str., 400294 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Özkök EA, Çobanoğlu G. Spatial evaluation of air quality by biomonitoring of toxic element accumulation in lichens in urban green areas and nature parks on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:908. [PMID: 37386263 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11496-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
The city of Istanbul is constantly exposed to air pollution due to its high population, heavy traffic - sea and air transport - and urban industry. This study basically aims to determine the recent level of airborne heavy metals, using lichen biomonitoring method. The cosmopolitan foliose lichen Xanthoria parietina growing abundantly on trees was sampled from 16 urban green spaces in 8 districts on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. Multi-element analysis by ICP-MS was applied to measure the accumulation of 10 potentially toxic trace elements in lichen samples. Spatial distributions of element levels in the air in the sampling areas are shown by mapping. According to the analysis data, the sequence of element deposition levels in lichen samples was as follows; Al > Fe > Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > V > Ni > As. Most of the measured atmospheric element amounts yielded results much higher than the reference material in all areas. It was detected that the highest pollution in terms of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ni elements was in Elmasburnu Nature Park area in Beykoz district, which is a touristic place by the sea. Changes in the city's air quality over the years have been evaluated by comparing element levels in these locations in a previous biomonitoring study and some differences were found. The resulting data is valuable for periodic monitoring of toxic elements in the air, for determining causes of air pollution, and for taking precautions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Aysu Özkök
- Department of Biology, Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey
| | - Gülşah Çobanoğlu
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Marmara University, Istanbul, TR-34722, Turkey.
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Elemental and chemometric analysis of baseline gradient contamination in Usnea barbata lichens from Tierra del Fuego (South Patagonia). Microchem J 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.microc.2022.108283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Astolfi ML, Conti ME, Messi M, Marconi E. Probiotics as a promising prophylactic tool to reduce levels of toxic or potentially toxic elements in bees. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136261. [PMID: 36057357 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Bees are precious living beings for our planet. Thanks to their essential service of pollination, these insects allow the maintenance of biodiversity and the variety and amount of food available. Unfortunately, we are observing an increasingly devastating reduction of bee families and other pollinating insects for factors related to human activities, environmental pollution, diseases and parasites, compromise of natural habitats, and climate change. We show that probiotics can protect bees from element pollution. We collected bees, beeswax, honey, pollen, and propolis directly from hives in a rural area of central Italy to investigate the content of 41 elements in control (not supplemented with probiotics) and experimental (supplemented with probiotics) groups. Our data show a significantly lower concentration of some elements (Ba, Be, Cd, Ce, Co, Cu, Pb, Sn, Tl, and U) in experimental bees than in control groups, indicating a possible beneficial effect of probiotics in reducing the absorption of chemicals. This study presents the first data on element levels after probiotics have been fed to bees and provides the basis for future research in several activities relating to the environment, agriculture, economy, territory, and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy; CIABC, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Marcelo Enrique Conti
- Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marcello Messi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Marconi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le A. Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
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Sharma P, Bano A, Singh SP, Sharma S, Xia C, Nadda AK, Lam SS, Tong YW. Engineered microbes as effective tools for the remediation of polyaromatic aromatic hydrocarbons and heavy metals. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 306:135538. [PMID: 35792210 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have become a major concern to human health and the environment due to rapid industrialization and urbanization. Traditional treatment measures for removing toxic substances from the environment have largely failed, and thus development and advancement in newer remediation techniques are of utmost importance. Rising environmental pollution with HMs and PAHs prompted the research on microbes and the development of genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) for reducing pollution via the bioremediation process. The enzymes produced from a variety of microbes can effectively treat a range of pollutants, but evolutionary trends revealed that various emerging pollutants are resistant to microbial or enzymatic degradation. Naturally, existing microbes can be engineered using various techniques including, gene engineering, directed evolution, protein engineering, media engineering, strain engineering, cell wall modifications, rationale hybrid design, and encapsulation or immobilization process. The immobilization of microbes and enzymes using a variety of nanomaterials, membranes, and supports with high specificity toward the emerging pollutants is also an effective strategy to capture and treat the pollutants. The current review focuses on successful bioremediation techniques and approaches that make use of GEMs or engineered enzymes. Such engineered microbes are more potent than natural strains and have greater degradative capacities, as well as rapid adaptation to various pollutants as substrates or co-metabolizers. The future for the implementation of genetic engineering to produce such organisms for the benefit of the environment andpublic health is indeed long and valuable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Sharma
- Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 CREATE Way, Singapore, 138602, Singapore
| | - Ambreen Bano
- IIRC-3, Plant-Microbe Interaction and Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Sciences, Integral University, Lucknow, UP, India
| | - Surendra Pratap Singh
- Plant Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Dayanand Anglo-Vedic (PG) College, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, 208001, India
| | - Swati Sharma
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140413, India
| | - Changlei Xia
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center of Efficient Processing and Utilization of Forest Resources, International Innovation Center for Forest Chemicals and Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210037, China; Dehua Tubao New Decoration Material Co., Ltd., Huzhou, Zhejiang 313200, China
| | - Ashok Kumar Nadda
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, 173 234, India.
| | - Su Shiung Lam
- Higher Institution Centre of Excellence (HICoE), Institute of Tropical Aquaculture and Fisheries (AKUATROP), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248007, India.
| | - Yen Wah Tong
- Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore; Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Megacities (E2S2) Phase II, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), 1 CREATE Way, Singapore, 138602, Singapore; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive, 117585, Singapore.
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Li Z, Zhao X, Wang D, Wang Y, Tao Y, Zhang T, Zhao P, Li Y. Reliability and accuracy analysis of time-weighted average exposure to heavy metals based on personal exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155209. [PMID: 35421500 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Time-weighted average (TWA) exposure has been used as a surrogate for personal air exposure in some large-scale studies. However, the uncertainties of TWA exposure remain to be determined, although its boundedness has been widely recognized. This study aims to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of TWA exposure based on personal exposure. A total of 180 combined indoor-outdoor-personal air samples were collected of six cities during the non-heating and heating periods. The personal exposure levels of Hg, As, Cd, and Pb were 0.16, 21.20, 0.74, and 34.47 ng/m3 in the non-heating period, respectively, but were 0.20, 34.53, 3.45, and 18.59 ng/m3 in the heating period, respectively. The ratios of TWA and personal exposure of heavy metal(loid)s ranged from 0.91 to 1.53. Indoor pollution was the most significant factor of TWA exposure, accounting for 78.3-97.6% and 88.4-98.6% in the heating and non-heating period, respectively. Based on the results of redundancy analysis and risk assessment by TWA exposure, we concluded that TWA exposure could be used for qualitative investigation, as a substitute for personal exposure, but it may result in large bias when used for quantitative investigation. Larger sample size and more exposure scenarios can reduce the estimation error of TWA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenglei Li
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Xiuge Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Danlu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yunjing Wang
- Vehicle Emission Control Center of Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Yan Tao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China.
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Puqiu Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Yidu Li
- Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution Prediction and Control, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu Province, China
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Conti ME, Astolfi ML, Finoia MG, Massimi L, Canepari S. Biomonitoring of element contamination in bees and beehive products in the Rome province (Italy). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:36057-36074. [PMID: 35060025 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18072-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED In this study, we determined the levels of elements (i.e. As, Be, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, U, and Zn) in bees and edible beehive products (honey, wax, pollen, and propolis) sampled from five selected sites in the Rome province (Italy). RATIONALE to increase the information variety endowment, the monitoring breakdown structure (MBS) conceptual model was used (nine elements, 429 samples, and approximately thirteen thousand determinations over a 1-year survey). Thus, we employed Johnson's probabilistic method to build the control charts. Then, we measured the element concentration overlap ranges and the overlap bioaccumulation index (OBI). Subsequently, we evaluated the estimated daily intake (EDI) of the analysed elements and matched them with acceptable reference doses. The human health risk caused by the intake of individual elements found in edible beehive products and their risk summation were evaluated through the target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) methods. FINDINGS excluding honey, this study confirms the capacity of wax, pollen, propolis, and bees to accumulate high levels of toxic and potentially toxic elements from the surrounding environment (with high OBI-U, i.e. OBI-Upper values, i.e. the common upper concentration limit of the overlap concentration range). Bees and pollen showed a high bioaccumulation Cd surplus (OBI-U = 44.0 and 22.3, respectively). On the contrary, honey had high OBI-L values (i.e. honey concentrates metals several times less than the common lower concentration limit of the overlap concentration range). This finding implies that honey is useless as an environmental indicator compared with the other biomonitor/indicators. The EDI values for the edible beehive products were lower than the health and safety reference doses for all the considered elements. Our data show that honey, wax, propolis, and pollen are safe for consumption by both adults and children (THQ < 1; HI < 1), even considering the sporadic possibility of consuming them simultaneously. ORIGINALITY This study has been conducted for the first time in the Rome province and demonstrates that edible indicators are safe for consumption for the considered elements in bees and edible beehive products. Depending on the ecosystem/pollutants studied, the OBI consents to make a correct choice for environmental biomonitoring studies and to focus the attention on the most sensitive biomonitors/indicators when required at the project level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Enrique Conti
- Department of Management, University of Rome, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161, Sapienza, Italy.
| | - Maria Luisa Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, P. Le Aldo Moro, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Finoia
- Italian National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, Viale V. Brancati 60, 00166, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Massimi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P. Le Aldo Moro, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Canepari
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, P. Le Aldo Moro, 00185, Rome, Italy
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Ali M, Song X, Ding D, Wang Q, Zhang Z, Tang Z. Bioremediation of PAHs and heavy metals co-contaminated soils: Challenges and enhancement strategies. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 295:118686. [PMID: 34920044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Systemic studies on the bioremediation of co-contaminated PAHs and heavy metals are lacking, and this paper provides an in-depth review on the topic. The released sources and transport of co-contaminated PAHs and heavy metals, including their co-occurrence through formation of cation-π interactions and their adsorption in soil are examined. Moreover, it is investigated that co-contamination of PAHs and heavy metals can drive a synergistic positive influence on bioremediation through enhanced secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), production of biosynthetic genes, organic acid and enzymatic proliferation. However, PAHs molecular structure, PAHs-heavy metals bioavailability and their interactive cytotoxic effects on microorganisms can exert a challenging influence on the bioremediation under co-contaminated conditions. The fluctuations in bioavailability for microorganisms are associated with soil properties, chemical coordinative interactions, and biological activities under the co-contaminated PAHs-heavy metals conditions. The interactive cytotoxicity caused by the emergence of co-contaminants includes microbial cell disruption, denaturation of DNA and protein structure, and deregulation of antioxidant biological molecules. Finally, this paper presents the emerging strategies to overcome the bioavailability problems and recommends the use of biostimulation and bioaugmentation along with the microbial immobilization for enhanced bioremediation of PAHs-heavy metals co-contaminated sites. Better knowledge of the bioremediation potential is imperative to improve the use of these approaches for the sustainable and cost-effective remediation of PAHs and heavy metals co-contamination in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukhtiar Ali
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xin Song
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Da Ding
- Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, 210042, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
| | - Zhuanxia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhiwen Tang
- Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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12
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Vehicular influence on atmospheric concentrations and source apportionment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some major cities in three regions of Ghana using epiphytic lichens. Toxicol Rep 2022; 9:1691-1699. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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13
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Lucadamo L, Gallo L, Corapi A. PAHs in an urban-industrial area: The role of lichen transplants in the detection of local and study area scale patterns. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 284:117136. [PMID: 33915398 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Spatial variation of the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was evaluated within an urban-industrial district where the main anthropogenic pressures are a 15 MW biomass power plant (BPP) and road traffic. The use of a high-density lichen transplant network and wind quantitative relationships made it possible to perform a hierarchical analysis of contamination. Combined uni-bi and multivariate statistical analyses of the resulting databases revealed a dual pattern. In its surroundings (local scale), the BPP affected the bioaccumulation of fluoranthene, pyrene and total PAHs, although a confounding effect of traffic (mostly petrol/gasoline engines) was evident. Spatial variation of the rate of diesel vehicles showed a significant association with that of acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, anthracene and naphthalene. The series of high-speed wind values suggests that wind promotes diffusion rather than dispersion of the monitored PAHs. At the whole study area scale, the BPP was a source of acenaphthylene and acenaphthene, while diesel vehicles were a source of acenaphthylene. PAHs contamination strongly promotes oxidative stress (a threefold increase vs pre-exposure levels) in lichen transplants, suggesting a marked polluting effect of anthropogenic sources especially at the expense of the mycobiont. The proposed monitoring approach could improve the apportionment of the different contributions of point and linear anthropogenic sources of PAHs, mitigating the reciprocal biases affecting their spatial patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Lucadamo
- DiBEST (Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences), University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy.
| | - L Gallo
- DiBEST (Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences), University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - A Corapi
- DiBEST (Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences), University of Calabria, 87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
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14
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Astolfi ML, Conti ME, Ristorini M, Frezzini MA, Papi M, Massimi L, Canepari S. An Analytical Method for the Biomonitoring of Mercury in Bees and Beehive Products by Cold Vapor Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26164878. [PMID: 34443466 PMCID: PMC8399589 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bees and their products are useful bioindicators of anthropogenic activities and could overcome the deficiencies of air quality networks. Among the environmental contaminants, mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal that can accumulate in living organisms. The first aim of this study was to develop a simple analytical method to determine Hg in small mass samples of bees and beehive products by cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The proposed method was optimized for about 0.02 g bee, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly, 0.05 g beeswax and honey, or 0.1 g honeydew with 0.5 mL HCl, 0.2 mL HNO3, and 0.1 mL H2O2 in a water bath (95 °C, 30 min); samples were made up to a final volume of 5 mL deionized water. The method limits sample manipulation and the reagent mixture volume used. Detection limits were lower than 3 µg kg−1 for a sample mass of 0.02 g, and recoveries and precision were within 20% of the expected value and less than 10%, respectively, for many matrices. The second aim of the present study was to evaluate the proposed method’s performances on real samples collected in six areas of the Lazio region in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +39-06-4991-3384
| | - Marcelo Enrique Conti
- Department of Management, Sapienza University of Rome, via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Martina Ristorini
- Department of Bioscience and Territory, University of Molise, 86090 Pesche, Italy;
| | - Maria Agostina Frezzini
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.A.F.); (L.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Marco Papi
- Association of Beekeepers of Rome and Province, via Albidona 20, 00118 Rome, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Massimi
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.A.F.); (L.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Silvia Canepari
- Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.A.F.); (L.M.); (S.C.)
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15
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Pichler G, Candotto Carniel F, Muggia L, Holzinger A, Tretiach M, Kranner I. Enhanced culturing techniques for the mycobiont isolated from the lichen Xanthoria parietina. Mycol Prog 2021; 20:797-808. [PMID: 34720793 PMCID: PMC8550697 DOI: 10.1007/s11557-021-01707-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Lichens and their isolated symbionts are potentially valuable resources for biotechnological approaches. Especially mycobiont cultures that produce secondary lichen products are receiving increasing attention, but lichen mycobionts are notoriously slow-growing organisms. Sufficient biomass production often represents a limiting factor for scientific and biotechnological investigations, requiring improvement of existing culturing techniques as well as methods for non-invasive assessment of growth. Here, the effects of pH and the supplement of growth media with either D-glucose or three different sugar alcohols that commonly occur in lichens, D-arabitol, D-mannitol and ribitol, on the growth of the axenically cultured mycobiont isolated from the lichen Xanthoria parietina were tested. Either D-glucose or different sugar alcohols were offered to the fungus at different concentrations, and cumulative growth and growth rates were assessed using two-dimensional image analysis over a period of 8 weeks. The mycobiont grew at a pH range from 4.0 to 7.0, whereas no growth was observed at higher pH values. Varying the carbon source in Lilly-Barnett medium (LBM) by replacing 1% D-glucose used in the originally described LBM by either 1%, 2% or 3% of D-mannitol, or 3% of D-glucose increased fungal biomass production by up to 26%, with an exponential growth phase between 2 and 6 weeks after inoculation. In summary, we present protocols for enhanced culture conditions and non-invasive assessment of growth of axenically cultured lichen mycobionts using image analysis, which may be useful for scientific and biotechnological approaches requiring cultured lichen mycobionts. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11557-021-01707-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregor Pichler
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Fabio Candotto Carniel
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lucia Muggia
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Andreas Holzinger
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mauro Tretiach
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ilse Kranner
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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16
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Castellani F, Massimi L, Vitali M, Canepari S, Guidotti M, Conti ME, Protano C. High spatial resolution analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) using transplanted lichen Evernia prunastri: A case study in central Italy. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 742:140590. [PMID: 32629268 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The ability of transplanted lichen Evernia (E.) prunastri (L.) to act as a high spatial biomonitoring tool for 14 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) was evaluated at 23 monitoring sites in a very polluted area in central Italy. The selected area is characterized by the presence of numerous emission sources, such as waste-to-energy plant, steel plant, vehicular traffic, and domestic heating. Transplanted E. prunastri proved to be a useful tool to biomonitor PBDEs, due to its ability to bioaccumulate individual congeners in varying concentrations in relation to the strength of the emission sources present over the territory. PBDEs levels widely ranged from 132 to 24,237 ng kg-1 dry weight, according to the sources of emission located around the monitoring sites. The highest concentrations were detected at the sites close to the municipal solid waste incinerator, steel plant, and high busy roads, confirming their important role as PBDEs emissions sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Castellani
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, Tuscia University, Largo dell'Università snc, 01100 Viterbo, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Massimi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Matteo Vitali
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Silvia Canepari
- Department of Chemistry, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Guidotti
- Arpa Lazio, Regional Agency for Environmental Protection, Sede di Rieti, via Salaria per l'Aquila 8, I-02100 Rieti, Italy.
| | - Marcelo Enrique Conti
- Department of Management, University of Rome La Sapienza, Via del Castro Laurenziano 9, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Carmela Protano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome La Sapienza, P.le Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
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17
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Astolfi ML, Marconi E, Lorini L, Valentino F, Silva F, Ferreira BS, Canepari S, Majone M. Elemental concentration and migratability in bioplastics derived from organic waste. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 259:127472. [PMID: 32599378 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In line with the Circular Economy approach, the production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) with organic waste as the feedstock may a biotechnological application to reduce waste and recover high-value materials. The potential contaminants that could transfer from bio-waste to a PHA include inorganic elements, such as heavy metals. Hence, the total content and migratability of certain elements were evaluated in several PHA samples produced from different origins and following different methods. The total content of certain elements in PHA ranged between 0.0001 (Be) and 49,500 mg kg-1 (Na). The concentrations of some alkaline (Na and K) and alkaline earth (Ca and Mg) metals were highest, which are of little environmental concern. The feedstock type and PHA stabilisation and extraction procedures affected the element contents. Several sets of experiments were conducted to evaluate the migration of elements from the PHA samples under different storage times, temperatures, and pH levels. The total contents of some heavy metals (As, Cd, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in PHA produced from fruit waste or crops (commercial PHA) were lower than those in the PHA samples produced from the mixture of the organic fraction of municipal waste and sludge from wastewater treatment. Both the PHA obtained by extraction from wet biomass (acid storage) with aqueous phase extraction reagents and commercial PHA were below the migration limits stipulated by the current Toy Safety Directive and by Commission Regulation (EU) October 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food under frozen and refrigerated conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Elisabetta Marconi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Lorini
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Valentino
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Fernando Silva
- Department of Chemistry, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Bruno Sommer Ferreira
- Biotrend - Inovação e Engenharia em Biotecnologia, S.A., Biocant Park, Núcleo o4 Lote 2, 3060-197, Cantanhede, Portugal
| | - Silvia Canepari
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Majone
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
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18
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Effectiveness of Different Sample Treatments for the Elemental Characterization of Bees and Beehive Products. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25184263. [PMID: 32957599 PMCID: PMC7570605 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25184263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee health and beehive products’ quality are compromised by complex interactions between multiple stressors, among which toxic elements play an important role. The aim of this study is to optimize and validate sensible and reliable analytical methods for biomonitoring studies and the quality control of beehive products. Four digestion procedures, including two systems (microwave oven and water bath) and different mixture reagents, were evaluated for the determination of the total content of 40 elements in bees and five beehive products (beeswax, honey, pollen, propolis and royal jelly) by using inductively coupled plasma mass and optical emission spectrometry. Method validation was performed by measuring a standard reference material and the recoveries for each selected matrix. The water bath-assisted digestion of bees and beehive products is proposed as a fast alternative to microwave-assisted digestion for all elements in biomonitoring studies. The present study highlights the possible drawbacks that may be encountered during the elemental analysis of these biological matrices and aims to be a valuable aid for the analytical chemist. Total elemental concentrations, determined in commercially available beehive products, are presented.
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19
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Mukhopadhyay S, Dutta R, Das P. A critical review on plant biomonitors for determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air through solvent extraction techniques. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 251:126441. [PMID: 32443242 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hydrocarbons having two or more fused aromatic rings, released from natural (like forest fires and volcanic eruption) as well as man-made sources (like burning of fossil fuel & wood, automobile emission). They are persistent priority pollutants and continue to last for a long time in the environment causing severe damage to human health owing to their genotoxicity, mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. The study of PAHs in environment has therefore aroused a global concern. PAHs adsorption to plant cell wall is facilitated by transpiration and plant root lipids which help PAHs transfer from roots to leaves and stalks, causing more accumulation of contaminants with the increase in lipid content. Hence, these bioaccumulators can be utilized as biomonitors for indirect assessment of ambient air pollution. Efficacy of specific plants, lichens and mosses as useful biomonitors of airborne PAHs pollution has been discussed in this review along with prevalent classical and modified extraction techniques coupled with proper analytical procedures in order to gain an insight into the assessment of atmospheric PAHs concentrations. Different modern and modified solvent extraction techniques along with conventional Soxhlet method are identified for extraction of PAHs from accumulative bioindicators and analytical methods are also developed for accurate determination of PAHs. Process parameters like choice of solvent, temperature, time of extraction, pressure and matrix characteristics are usually checked. An approach of biomonitoring of PAHs using plants, lichens and mosses has been discussed here as they usually trap the atmospheric PAHs and mineralize them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shritama Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India.
| | - Ratna Dutta
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India.
| | - Papita Das
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Jadavpur University, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India.
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20
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Astolfi ML, Protano C, Marconi E, Massimi L, Piamonti D, Brunori M, Vitali M, Canepari S. Biomonitoring of Mercury in Hair among a Group of Eritreans (Africa). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17061911. [PMID: 32183479 PMCID: PMC7143335 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Small-scale or artisanal mining, using gold-mercury amalgamation to extract gold from ore, is a significant source of exposure for the workers and nearby populations. Few studies on hair mercury (Hg) have been conducted in Africa despite the fact that Africa has several gold deposits. No studies have been conducted in Eritrea that is one of the emerging gold producing countries in Africa. The aim of the study was to assess the Hg concentration in hair samples (n = 120) of a population living in Asmara, capital of Eritrea, and to evaluate the influence of some factors on the Hg levels in hair. Information on age, height, weight, occupation, smoking and fish consumption of participants were collected via questionnaire. Hair Hg concentration was significantly higher among women compared to men (p < 0.001) and among women preparing spicy products in Medeber market compared to those who did other jobs (p = 0.010). These results highlight the need for routine biomonitoring surveys and for health promotion campaigns devoted to local decision makers and workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Astolfi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (S.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0649913384
| | - Carmela Protano
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (E.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Elisabetta Marconi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (E.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Lorenzo Massimi
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (S.C.)
| | - Daniel Piamonti
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology and Geriatric Science, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, I-00161 Rome, Italy; (D.P.); (M.B.)
| | - Marco Brunori
- Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrology, Anaesthesiology and Geriatric Science, Sapienza University, Viale del Policlinico 155, I-00161 Rome, Italy; (D.P.); (M.B.)
| | - Matteo Vitali
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; (C.P.); (E.M.); (M.V.)
| | - Silvia Canepari
- Department of Chemistry, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; (L.M.); (S.C.)
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