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Pereira WVDS, Ramos SJ, Melo LCA, Dias YN, Martins GC, Ferreira LCG, Fernandes AR. Human and environmental exposure to rare earth elements in gold mining areas in the northeastern Amazon. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 340:139824. [PMID: 37586491 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Rudimentary methods are used to exploit gold (Au) in several artisanal mines in the Amazon, producing hazardous wastes that may pose risks of contamination by rare earth elements (REEs). The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of REEs and assess their environmental and human health risks in artisanal Au mining areas in the northeastern Amazon. Thus, 25 samples of soils and mining wastes were collected in underground, colluvial, and cyanidation exploration sites, as well as in a natural forest that was considered as a reference area. The concentrations of REEs were quantified using alkaline fusion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and the results were used to estimate pollution indices and risks associated with the contaminants. All REEs showed higher concentrations in waste deposition areas than in the reference area, especially Ce, Sc, Nd, La, Pr, Sm, and Eu. Pollution and enrichment levels were higher in the underground and cyanidation mining areas, with very high contamination factors (6.2-27) for Ce, Eu, La, Nd, Pr, Sm, and Sc, and significant to very high enrichment factors (5.5-20) for Ce, La, Nd, Pr, and Sc. The ecological risk indices varied from moderate (167.3) to high (365.7) in the most polluted sites, but risks to human health were low in all areas studied. The results of this study indicate that artisanal Au mining has the potential to cause contamination, enrichment, and ecological risks by REEs in the northeastern Amazon. Mitigation measures should be implemented to protect the environment from the negative impacts of these contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendel Valter da Silveira Pereira
- Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Federal Rural University of the Amazon, 66077-830, Belém, Pará, Brazil; Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
| | - Sílvio Junio Ramos
- Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Leônidas Carrijo Azevedo Melo
- Department of Soil Science, School of Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Lavras, 37200-900, Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Yan Nunes Dias
- Vale Institute of Technology - Sustainable Development, 66055-090, Belém, Pará, Brazil
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Xiong L, Huang J, Wu C, Yuan Q, Wang S, Zhu L, Li Z, Sun Z, Fang Y, Li W, Hu G. Yttrium chloride induces ferroptosis in cardiomyocytes via iron accumulation and triggers cardiac lipid peroxidation and inflammation that cause heart adverse events in mice. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 263:115279. [PMID: 37480692 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115279] [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: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
The growing presence of yttrium (Y) in the environment raises concern regarding its safety and toxicity. However, limited toxicological data are available to determine cardiotoxicity of Y and its underlying mechanisms. In the present study, yttrium chloride (YCl3) intervention with different doses was performed in male Kunming mice for the toxicological evaluation of Y in the heart. After 28 days of intragastric administration, 500 mg/kg·bw YCl3 induces iron accumulation in cardiomyocytes, and triggers ferroptosis through the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4)/glutathione (GSH)/system Xc- axis via the inhibition of Nrf2 signaling pathway. This process led to cardiac lipid peroxidation and inflammatory response. Further RNA sequencing transcriptome analysis found that many genes involved in ferroptosis and lipid metabolism-related pathways were enriched. The ferroptosis induced by YCl3 in cardiomyocytes ultimately caused cardiac injury and dysfunction in mice. Our findings assist in the elucidation of the potential subacute cardiotoxicity of Y3+ and its underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health of Ganzhou, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Jinyu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Chunmei Wu
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Qiong Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Sihui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Liye Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Zilu Li
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Ziyue Sun
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Yi Fang
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Weisong Li
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Gonghua Hu
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases of Ministry of Education, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health of Ganzhou, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000, Jiangxi, PR China.
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Dai L, Ge J, Wang L, Wan X, Guo G, Liang T, Bolan N, Rennert T, Rinklebe J. Hair-biomonitoring assessment of rare-earth-element exposure in residents of the largest rare-earth mining and smelting area of China. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 179:108177. [PMID: 37690222 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108177] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The long-term and large-scale mining of rare earth minerals may lead to an accumulation of rare earth elements (REEs) in the environment, posing potential health risks to residents. We collected scalp hair (n = 254) from residents of a smelting area, a mining area, and a reference area to clarify human exposure to REEs. The contents of 15 REEs investigated in human hair samples were notably higher in the mining and smelting areas than in the reference area. Significant differences between some REEs were observed between the mining and smelting areas, for instance, cerium (Ce), dysprosium, and praseodymium. In the study areas, exposure to different sources of REEs may be one of the factors that contributed to the variations of REE correlations and clusters in human hair. Furthermore, in the smelting area, Ce contents in hair decreased with increasing age of children. However, Ce contents in the hair of adults increased with age. In contrast, Ce accumulation continuously increased in the reference area residents' hair with age. Regression results indicated that age and location were more important than sex when considering the influence on REE accumulation in residents' hair. The results of this study may help policymakers to implement guidelines to alleviate residents' exposure to REE in mining and smelting areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Dai
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jinsong Ge
- Ecological Environment Planning and Environmental Protection Technology Center of Qinghai Province, Xining 810007, China
| | - Lingqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Ecological Environment Planning and Environmental Protection Technology Center of Qinghai Province, Xining 810007, China; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany.
| | - Xiaoming Wan
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Guanghui Guo
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Tao Liang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Nanthi Bolan
- UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia
| | - Thilo Rennert
- University of Hohenheim, Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation, Department of Soil Chemistry and Pedology, 70593 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany.
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Liu Z, Ding Y, Xie S, Hu Y, Xiao H, Liu X, Fan X. Chronic exposure to yttrium induced cell apoptosis in the testis by mediating Ca 2+/IP3R1/CaMKII signaling. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1104195. [PMID: 36794068 PMCID: PMC9923002 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1104195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Environmental pollutants, such as rare earth elements, affect human health and particularly induce reproductive system injury. Yttrium (Y), one of the most widely used heavy rare earth elements, has been reported the cytotoxicity. However, the biological effects of Y3+ in the human body are largely unknown. Methods To further investigate the effects of Y on the reproductive system, in vivo (rat models) and in vitro studies were performed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examination were conducted, and western blotting assays were performed to detect the protein expression. TUNEL/DAPI staining were used to detect cell apoptosis, and the intracellular calcium concentrations were also determined. Results Long-term exposure to YCl3 in rats produced significant pathological changes. YCl3 treatment could induce cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro. In addition, YCl3 enhanced the concentration of cytosolic Ca2+ and up regulated the expression of IP3R1/CaMKII axis in Leydig cells. However, inhibition of IP3R1 and CaMKII with 2-APB and KN93, respectively, could reverse these effects. Conclusion Long-term exposure to yttrium could induce testicular injury by stimulating cell apoptosis, which might be associated with activation of Ca2+/IP3R1/CaMKII axis in Leydig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhehao Liu
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yechun Ding
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Shuchun Xie
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yaqiong Hu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Hai Xiao
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Xia Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Xiaona Fan
- College of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China,Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease of Ministry of Education of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China,*Correspondence: Xiaona Fan ✉
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