Modeling the environmental fate of manganese from methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl in urban landscapes

Characterizing spatiotemporal variability in airborne heavy metal concentration: Changes after 18 Years in Baltimore, MD

INTRODUCTION

This study investigates the impact of changes in local industry, urban development, and proximity to suspected emission sources on airborne metal concentration in Baltimore, Maryland between 2001 and 2019 with particular focus on the urban industrial community of Curtis Bay in South Baltimore.

METHODS

Integrated PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ Harvard Impactors were set up at six locations in the Baltimore City metropolitan area in weeklong sampling sessions from January-July 2019 to assess variation in airborne metal concentration by proximity to suspected metal emission sources. PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ were collected on Teflo filters and analyzed for a panel of 12 metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Zn) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The findings were compared against airborne metal concentrations reported by the Baltimore Supersite in 2001 and 2003 to assess changes over the 18-year period.

RESULTS

PM_2.5 concentrations reported from this study ranged from 3.27 μg/m³ to 36.0 μg/m³ and PM₁₀ concentrations ranged from 9.00 μg/m³ to 30.1 μg/m³ across all sampling sites. Metal concentrations ranged from 1.4 times (Cd) to 4.8 times (Cr) higher in PM₁₀ compared to PM_2.5. Compared to the study reference site, median PM_2.5 concentrations of Co and Fe were roughly 1.8 times and 2.1 times higher, respectively, at near-road sampling sites indicating significant variability in airborne metal concentration by proximity to local traffic emissions. PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ Sb concentrations were 3.4 times and 6.7 times higher at a near incinerator site compared to the reference, consistent with existing evidence of Sb sourcing from municipal incinerators in Baltimore City. Decreases in Cr (-40%), Ni (-73%), Pb (-55%), and Zn (-36%) concentrations were observed over the 18-year period while concentrations of Cu, Fe, and Mn were not statistically significantly different.

CONCLUSION

Declines in airborne Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentration since 2001 appear to coincide with industrial decline highlighting the success of remediation and redevelopment efforts. Remaining spatial variability is related to vehicular traffic and proximity to a municipal incinerator which should be focal areas for future intervention to reduce metal exposure disparities in Baltimore City.

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl increases cell vulnerability to oxidative stress on rat thymocytes

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is used as a gasoline antiknock additive. However, the toxic effect of MMT is currently not well understood. In this study, we investigated the toxic effect of MMT on rat thymocytes using a flow cytometer and fluorescent probes. MMT at 100-300 µM significantly increased the population of cells exhibiting propidium fluorescence, i.e., the population of dead cells. The intensity of BES-So-AM fluorescence significantly increased when using 100 µM MMT. In addition, the intensity of oxonol fluorescence in rat thymocytes increased with the treatment with MMT in a concentration-dependent manner (10-100 µM). The toxic effect of MMT was inhibited by quercetin, antioxidant flavonoid. Moreover, co-treatment with 30-100 µM MMT and 100 µM H₂O₂ increased the cell lethality further. These results indicate that MMT increases cell vulnerability to oxidative stress on rat thymocytes. This study provides insight into the toxic effect of MMT on the immune system.

Metallic Burden of Deciduous Teeth and Childhood Behavioral Deficits

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects 5%–8% of children in the U.S. (10% of males and 4% of females). The contributions of multiple metal exposures to the childhood behavioral deficits are unclear, although particular metals have been implicated through their neurotoxicity. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the body burden of Mn is positively correlated with ADHD symptoms. We also investigated the putative roles of Ca, Fe, Pb, and Hg. We collected shed molars from 266 children (138 boys and 128 girls) who lost a tooth between 11 and 13 years of age. The molars were analyzed for metals using ICP-OES. The third grade teacher of each child completed the Teacher’s Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBD) to produce a score for “Total Disruptive Behavior” and subscale scores for “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, Inattention, and Oppositional/Defiant. The mean Mn, Fe, Pb and Ca concentrations found in teeth was 3.1 ± 2.9 µg/g, 11.4 ± 12.1 µg/g, 0.5 ± 0.7 µg/g, and 3.0 × 10⁵ ± 0.8 × 10⁵ µg/g, respectively. Hg was not detected. No significant association was found between Mn and behavioral deficits. Ca was significantly negatively associated, and Pb showed a significant positive association with Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, Inattention, and Oppositional/Defiant Disorders. These findings call into question the putative independent association of manganese exposure and behavioral deficits in children, when the balance of other metallic burden, particularly Ca and Pb burdens play significant roles.

Loss of pdr-1/parkin influences Mn homeostasis through altered ferroportin expression in C. elegans

Overexposure to the essential metal manganese (Mn) can result in an irreversible condition known as manganism that shares similar pathophysiology with Parkinson's disease (PD), including dopaminergic (DAergic) cell loss that leads to motor and cognitive impairments. However, the mechanisms behind this neurotoxicity and its relationship with PD remain unclear. Many genes confer risk for autosomal recessive, early-onset PD, including the parkin/PARK2 gene that encodes for the E3 ubiquitin ligase Parkin. Using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) as an invertebrate model that conserves the DAergic system, we previously reported significantly increased Mn accumulation in pdr-1/parkin mutants compared to wildtype (WT) animals. For the current study, we hypothesize that this enhanced accumulation is due to alterations in Mn transport in the pdr-1 mutants. While no change in mRNA expression of the major Mn importer proteins (smf-1-3) was found in pdr-1 mutants, significant downregulation in mRNA levels of the putative Mn exporter ferroportin (fpn-1.1) was observed. Using a strain overexpressing fpn-1.1 in worms lacking pdr-1, we show evidence for attenuation of several endpoints of Mn-induced toxicity, including survival, metal accumulation, mitochondrial copy number and DAergic integrity, compared to pdr-1 mutants alone. These changes suggest a novel role of pdr-1 in modulating Mn export through altered transporter expression, and provides further support of metal dyshomeostasis as a component of Parkinsonism pathophysiology.

Deposition of glomalin-related soil protein and sequestered toxic metals into watersheds

We hypothesized that glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP) are eroded in sufficient quantities to influence metal loading into watersheds. We tested correlations among GRSP, Glomeromycota fungi, and metals (cadmium, iron, lead, and manganese) in proteins extracted from embankment soils at seven locations along an urban/coastal watershed. Immunoreactive (IRSP) and easily extractable (EE-IRSP) glomalin ranged from 0.007 to 2.9 mg g(-1) and from 0.006 to 0.63 mg g(-1) of soils, respectively. Glomalin-bound metals (microg mg(-1) protein) were Cd = 0.00-0.338; Fe = 0.5-227.7; Pb = 0.11-188.95; Mn = 2.23-784.42). Glomeromycota fungi were detected in 24% of all samples tested with PCR targeting the 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA extracted from soils. Specific assay for G. intraradices showed 3.08 x 10(7) copies g(-1) and 1.96 x 10(3) copies g(-1) of soil at two sites. Estimated annual glomalin loading into the watershed ranged from 5.48 x 10(2) to 7.22 x 10(4) kg of IRSP and from 2.57 x 102 to 2.86 x 10(4) kg of EE-IRSP; including 2.7 kg (Cd), 6.3 x 10(3) kg (Fe), 5.06 x 10(2) kg (Pb), and 1.80 x 10(3) kg (Mn). These data provide insights into the sources and ecological fate of a ubiquitous soil protein and its metals content.