1
|
Veeraswamy D, Subramanian A, Mohan D, Ettiyagounder P, Selvaraj PS, Ramasamy SP, Veeramani V. Exploring the origins and cleanup of mercury contamination: a comprehensive review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 31:53943-53972. [PMID: 37964142 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-30636-z] [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: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Mercury is a global pollutant that poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Natural sources of mercury include volcanic eruptions, while anthropogenic sources include industrial processes, artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and fossil fuel combustion. Contamination can arise through various pathways, such as atmospheric deposition, water and soil contamination, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification in food chains. Various remediation strategies, including phytoremediation, bioremediation, chemical oxidation/reduction, and adsorption, have been developed to address mercury pollution, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The effectiveness of remediation techniques depends on the nature and extent of contamination and site-specific conditions. This review discusses the challenges associated with mercury pollution and remediation, including the need for effective monitoring and management strategies. Overall, this review offers a comprehensive understanding of mercury contamination and the range of remediation techniques available to mitigate its adverse impacts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davamani Veeraswamy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
- College of Engineering, Science and Environment, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Arulmani Subramanian
- Department of Chemistry, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, 638 401, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Deepasri Mohan
- Division of Environmental Sciences, Sher-E-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Shalimar, 190025, Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, India
| | - Parameswari Ettiyagounder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Paul Sebastian Selvaraj
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
- College of Engineering, Science and Environment, Global Centre for Environmental Remediation (GCER), ATC Building, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan Campus, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia
| | - Sangeetha Piriya Ramasamy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Directorate of Natural Resource Management, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India
- School of Water, Energy, and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, MK43 0AL, UK
| | - Venkatesan Veeramani
- Department of Civil Engineering, University College of Engineering, Anna University, Ariyalur, 621 731, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alencar RM, Martínez JG, Machado VN, Alzate JF, Ortiz-Ojeda CP, Matias RR, Benzaquem DC, Santos MCF, Assunção EN, Lira EC, Astolfi-Filho S, Hrbek T, Farias IP, Fantin C. Preliminary profile of the gut microbiota from amerindians in the Brazilian amazon experiencing a process of transition to urbanization. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01413-y. [PMID: 38913252 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01413-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The Yanomami are one of the oldest indigenous tribes in the Amazon and are direct descendants of the first people to colonize South America 12,000 years ago. They are located on the border between Venezuela and Brazil, with the Venezuelan side remaining uncontacted. While they maintain a hunter-gatherer society, they are currently experiencing contact with urbanized populations in Brazil. The human gut microbiota of traditional communities has become the subject of recent studies due to the Westernization of their diet and the introduction of antibiotics and other chemicals, which have affected microbial diversity in indigenous populations, thereby threatening their existence. In this study, we preliminarily characterized the diversity of the gut microbiota of the Yanomami, a hunter-gatherer society from the Amazon, experiencing contact with urbanized populations. Similarly, we compared their diversity with the population in Manaus, Amazonas. A metabarcoding approach of the 16 S rRNA gene was carried out on fecal samples. Differences were found between the two populations, particularly regarding the abundance of genera (e.g., Prevotella and Bacteroides) and the higher values of the phyla Bacteroidetes over Firmicutes, which were significant only in the Yanomami. Some bacteria were found exclusively in the Yanomami (Treponema and Succinivibrio). However, diversity was statistically equal between them. In conclusion, the composition of the Yanomami gut microbiota still maintains the profile characteristic of a community with a traditional lifestyle. However, our results suggest an underlying Westernization process of the Yanomami microbiota when compared with that of Manaus, which must be carefully monitored by authorities, as the loss of diversity can be a sign of growing danger to the health of the Yanomami.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo M Alencar
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - José G Martínez
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
- Grupo de investigación Biociencias, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Institución Universitaria Colegio Mayor de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
| | - Valéria N Machado
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Juan F Alzate
- National Center for Genomic Sequencing, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Cinthya P Ortiz-Ojeda
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Lima, Peru
| | - Rosiane R Matias
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Denise C Benzaquem
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Maria C F Santos
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Enedina N Assunção
- Centro de Apoio Multidisciplinar, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Evelyn C Lira
- Centro de Apoio Multidisciplinar, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | | | - Tomas Hrbek
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
- Department of Biology, Trinity University, San Antonio, USA
| | - Izeni P Farias
- Laboratório de Evolução e Genética Animal, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| | - Cleiton Fantin
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia e Recursos Naturais da Amazônia, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abdelaal A, Sultan M, Abotalib AZ, Bedair M, Krishnamurthy RV, Elhebiry M. Emerging mercury and methylmercury contamination from new artisanal and small-scale gold mining along the Nile Valley, Egypt. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:52514-52534. [PMID: 36829096 PMCID: PMC10119075 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-25895-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The past decade witnessed the initiation and boom of the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) activities in the hyper-arid southern Egypt. The ores are mined in the Eastern Desert and then transported to the densely populated farming communities in the Nile Valley, where the river provides the water resources needed for ore processing. In search for economic benefits, the poorly educated farmers with limited technical resources transformed their cultivated lands into ASGM operations, exposing themselves, their families, the residents, and the Nile ecosystems to several environmental and occupational health problems. Using integrated remote sensing, field, geochemical, and isotopic analyses, we report the first inventory of ASGM-related total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) levels in tailings, amalgamation-tailing ponds, and surface and groundwater with emphasis on the Edfu city and its surroundings. The field and remote sensing-based mapping of ASGM activities reveals clustering around the Nile waterways and suggests interaction of Hg contamination sources with their surrounding receptors. Common ASGM practices include release of contaminated water from unlined amalgamation-tailing ponds into irrigation and drainage canals, and spreading of tailings over cultivated soils. In a short period (10 years), the released Hg contaminated multiple media, including the surface water, the shallow and deep aquifers, and possibly the soil, crops, and livestock. THg levels in amalgamation-tailing ponds (1200-8470 ng/L) are fourfold higher than US EPA and eightfold the WHO thresholds. The contaminated waters released from amalgamation-tailing ponds raised THg levels in surface water (irrigation canals: 50-100 ng/L; drainage canals: THg: > 200 ng/L) and groundwater (shallow and deep aquifers: 80-500 ng/L). Our findings highlight the need to extend the adopted approach to cover the entire length of the Nile River and its valley and the importance of conducting awareness campaigns to educate residents and health care providers about potential ASGM-related environmental and health hazards.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Abdelaal
- Environmental Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Said, 42526, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Sultan
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences Remote Sensing (ESRS) Facility, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA.
| | - Abotalib Z Abotalib
- Department of Geology, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences, Cairo, 1564, Egypt
- Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - R V Krishnamurthy
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences Remote Sensing (ESRS) Facility, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
| | - Mohamed Elhebiry
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Earth Sciences Remote Sensing (ESRS) Facility, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, 49008, USA
- Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rodriguez-Levy IE, Van Damme PA, Carvajal-Vallejos FM, Bervoets L. Trace element accumulation in different edible fish species from the Bolivian Amazon and the risk for human consumption. Heliyon 2022; 8:e11649. [PMID: 36444265 PMCID: PMC9699965 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Artisanal mining and erosion of metalbearing soils can contaminate aquatic ecosystems and affect the health of riparian human populations, through metal bio-accumulation processes and fish consumption. Concentrations of eight trace metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ni, Zn) and a metalloid (As) were measured in the muscle tissue of different edible fish species collected from markets of two cities along the Beni River banks, in the Bolivian Amazon. Relationships between the size of fish belonging to different trophic levels (carnivores, omnivores, detritivores and herbivorous) from four different fishing zones were analyzed. The most relevant results corresponded to the detritivore group, whose members exhibited significant positive correlations between the fish size and the concentration of three metals (cadmium, cobalt and nickel). Furthermore, a 3 × 3 scenario-risk analysis was performed to assess local risk for human health. This was done by relating three different scenarios of local fish consumption collected from literature (maximum, average and minimum) and three different levels of trace element concentrations (95th, 50th and 5th percentile) derived from the present study and the Minimal Risk Levels suggested by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Results of these calculations determined the amount of fish muscle per contaminant that could be consumed per day without risking human's health. Finally, Target Hazard Quotients were calculated for each trace element, aiming to indicate the potential exposure to each one and the concentration at which no adverse effects are expected. The obtained results made clear that mercury is the only trace element that represents an important health risk to humans within the studied region, considering most of the combinations in the 3 × 3 analysis. Chronic mercury intoxication could occur when consumption of fish in Riberalta or Rurrenabaque exceeded 83 g/day in females and 110 g/day in males.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Inti E. Rodriguez-Levy
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías (CICEI), Universidad Católica Boliviana “San Pablo”, Calle M. Márquez S/n Esq. Parque J. Trigo, Tupuraya, Cochabamba, Bolivia
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Paul A. Van Damme
- FAUNAGUA, Calle Innominada Al Final Av. Max Fernández S/n, Zona Arocagua Norte, Cochabamba, Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
| | - Fernando M. Carvajal-Vallejos
- FAUNAGUA, Calle Innominada Al Final Av. Max Fernández S/n, Zona Arocagua Norte, Cochabamba, Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia
- Unidad de Limnología y Recursos Acuátios (ULRA), Facultad de Ciencias y Tecnología (FCyT), Universidad Mayor de San Simón (UMSS), Calle Sucre Frente Al Parque La Torre S/N., Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - Lieven Bervoets
- ECOSPHERE, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
de Vasconcellos ACS, Ferreira SRB, de Sousa CC, de Oliveira MW, de Oliveira Lima M, Basta PC. Health Risk Assessment Attributed to Consumption of Fish Contaminated with Mercury in the Rio Branco Basin, Roraima, Amazon, Brazil. TOXICS 2022; 10:516. [PMID: 36136481 PMCID: PMC9504189 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the health risk attributable to the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish for the urban and non-urban populations living in the Roraima state, Amazon, Brazil. Seventy-five fish specimens distributed across twenty different species, comprising four trophic levels (i.e., herbivore, omnivore, detritivore, and carnivore), were collected at four locations in the Branco River Basin. The fish samples were sent to the Toxicology Laboratory at Evandro Chagas Institute to determine the total-Hg levels by using the cold vapor atomic system (CVAAS). The total-Hg levels ranged from 0 to 3.159 µg/g. The average concentration in non-carnivorous species (n = 32) was 0.116 µg/g, and among carnivorous fish (n = 43), it was 0.869 µg/g. The weighted average of contamination levels for all samples was 0.545 µg/g. The health risk assessment was conducted according to the methodology proposed by the World Health Organization and different scenarios of human exposure were considered, based on three levels of fish consumption (low: 50 g/day; moderate: 100 g/day and high: 200 g/day). Women of childbearing age ingest 5 to 21 times more mercury than the dose considered safe by the U.S. EPA and intake a dose from 2 to 9 times higher than the safe dose proposed by FAO/WHO. Children under 5 years of age ingest from 18 to 75 times the dose proposed by the U.S. EPA and from 8 to 32 more mercury than the limit proposed by FAO/WHO. In summary, regardless of the level of fish consumption, type of residency (urban or non-urban), and the subset of the population analyzed, anyone who consumes fish from the locations sampled is at high risk attributable to mercury ingestion, with the only exception of adult men, who consume an average of 50 g of fish per day.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos
- Laboratory of Professional Education on Health Surveillance, Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sylvio Romério Briglia Ferreira
- Postgraduate Program in Natural Resources (Pronat), Federal University of Roraima, Campus Paricarana, Boa Vista 69310-000, RR, Brazil
| | | | | | - Marcelo de Oliveira Lima
- Environmental Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, Secretariat of Science, Technology and Strategic Products, Ministry of Health of Brazil, Belém 70723-040, PA, Brazil
| | - Paulo Cesar Basta
- Department of Endemic Diseases Samuel Pessoa, National School of Public Health Sergio Arouca, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, RJ, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|