Search Results (55)

This study aims to understand the risks posed by metals in Peruvian coffee plantations to human health and environmental integrity, ensuring the protection of local communities and the ecosystems reliant on this agricultural activity. To assess the contamination levels, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) were surveyed in the soil, roots, and parchment coffee beans cultivated in Amazonas and San Martin regions, using both conventional and organic cultivation. Results showed that As was the metal with the highest concentration in soil (52.37 ± 21.16 mg/kg), roots (11.27 ± 2.3 mg/kg), and coffee beans (10.19 ± 1.69 mg/kg), followed by Cr in soil (22.36 ± 11.47 mg/kg) and roots (8.17 ± 3.85 mg/kg) and Pb in beans (0.7 ± 0.05 mg/kg). Cd was only detected in soil (1.70 ± 1.73 mg/kg). The bioaccumulation (BAF) findings suggest that roots and coffee beans have a low capacity to accumulate As, Cd, Ni, and Pb, but they have the potential capacity to accumulate Cr. The translocation factor (TF) indicated that all values were less than one, except for As from San Martin in conventional and organic cultivation. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) showed that the soil was unpolluted for Cr, Ni, and Pb but was polluted to different extents for As and Cd. Similarly, the ecological risk (ER) pointed to a low risk for Cr, Ni, and Pb and values from low to considered risk for As and Cd depending on the region and cultivation system. Hazard index (adults: 1.68 × 10⁻³, children: 9.26 × 10⁻³) and cancer risk (adults: 1.84 × 10⁻⁷, children: 2.51 × 10⁻⁷) indicated a low risk for humans via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. Full article

The secondary, substitute habitats are becoming more important for the survival of many valuable plant species, including medicinal plants—for example, bearberry Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. The aim of the conducted research is to compare the ability of A. uva-ursi to accumulate heavy metals in leaves from railways (anthropogenic substitute habitat) and the natural habitats (pine forests). We measured the concentration of five heavy metals (Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in plant material and in the soil. The bioaccumulation factor was also calculated. Moreover, we measured biotic factors including A. uva-ursi height and abundance, along with the plant diversity indices, in the investigated plots. The presented results reveal that (1) none of the parameters concerning the content of the selected heavy metals described in the currently applicable legal acts were exceeded, (2) A. uva-ursi does not show the potential for heavy metal accumulation, except for zinc and partially mercury, (3) its individuals in the natural habitats are lower, (4) the abundance (percentage cover) of A. uva-ursi is the lowest in the natural habitat, and (5) the value of the Shannon–Wiener diversity index is the highest in the vegetation patches with A. uva-ursi developed in natural habitats. Full article

Steroid hormones, recognized as emerging environmental contaminants, have garnered increasing attention in recent years. The present work studied the distribution characteristics in the environment, bioaccumulation in aquatic products, and the associated environmental and health risks of typical steroid hormones from commercial freshwater aquaculture farms operating under different aquaculture modes (monoculture and polyculture). Totals of 9 and 14 steroid hormones were detected in water and sediment samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.66 ± 0.17 ng/L to 40.5 ± 5.08 ng/L and from 0.36 ± 0.08 ng/g to 123 ± 19.9 ng/g, respectively. Hazard index (HI) calculations indicated that all sampling locations were identified as medium or high risk for both water and sediment matrices. Nineteen steroids were detected in at least one type of tissue, with the concentrations in the bile, plasma, muscle, liver, and gill ranging from <LOQ to 52.6 ± 4.82 ng/L, from <LOQ to 41.9 ± 4.80 ng/L, from 0.36 ± 0.07 ng/g to 321 ± 19.1 ng/g, from <LOQ to 1140 ± 107 ng/g, and from 0.36 ± 0.03 ng/g to 1450 ± 239 ng/g, respectively. Furthermore, four synthetic steroid hormones exhibited significant bioaccumulation across various tissues, such as MLA in bile and 5α-DHP in muscle, liver, and gill (BAF > 5000 L/kg). Notably, despite low estimated daily intakes (EDIs) (0.43–6.43 ng/day/person to 18.7 ng/day/person) and hazard quotients (HQs) (below 4.188 × 10⁻⁷), the high bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) underscore the necessity for stringent regulatory measures by local governments. Additionally, a comparison of EDI results across different aquaculture modes and fish species revealed that steroid hormone-related health risks to humans are influenced by both the fish species and the aquaculture mode. This study indicated that the consumption of poly-cultured fish (e.g., bighead carp) may pose a greater steroid-related health risk, compared to the consumption of mono-cultured fish. Full article

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, and chromium in samples of sediment, water, and Typha angustifolia plants in the stream of the Drenica River were determined to assess the level of pollution. According to sediment analysis results from seven locations, the concentrations of Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cr exceeded the permitted limits according to WHO standards from 1996. In the plant samples, the concentrations of Cd and Pb were above the allowed limits according to GD161 and ECE standards, and according the WHO standard, the water quality in the Drenica River is classified into the first, second, and third quality categories. The results of this study show the bioaccumulation coefficient in Typha angustifolia plants, and it was found that the most bioaccumulated of the metals is Cd, with a bioaccumulation coefficient (BAF) greater than 1. The pollution load index (PLI), enrichment factor (EF index), Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), potential ecological risk factor (Eif), and potential ecological risk index (RI) were used in combination to assess the degree of pollution and the environmental risk presented to the freshwater ecosystem of the Drenica River. The results show that the Drenica River is mainly polluted by Ni, Cu, and Cr, reflecting substantial impacts of anthropogenic activities, including sizeable industrial effects, the development of urbanism, agricultural activities, and the deposition of waste from a ferronickel factory in the area. Full article

This study was conducted in the territory of the industrial site of the Udachny Mining and Processing Division (Yakutia, Russia). The objects of study were permafrost soils and two species of shrubs (Betula middendorffii T. and Duschekia fruticose R.). Soil and plant samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry for the presence of potentially toxic elements (Pb, Ni, Mn, Cd, Co, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu, and As). The bioaccumulation factor for each element was also calculated. In the studied plants, the investigated elements were arranged in the following descending row in terms of their content: Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Co > Cd, but in terms of bioaccumulation degree, they decrease in the following row: Cr > Zn > Ni > Mn > Pb > Cu > Cd > Co—for Betula middendorffii, Cr > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > Mn > Mn > Cd > Co—for Duschekia fruticose. The bioaccumulation factor results confirmed that Betula middendorffiii and Duschekia fruticosa are resistant to high concentrations of Cr, Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, and Zn elements coherent to kimberlites. Full article

Wild-grown edible mushrooms are important in world diets and are also efficient metal accumulators. Yunnan, Southwest China, is the main producing region, with typically high levels of geochemical metals. The environmental factors, bioaccumulation, distribution and human health risks of metals were examined in paired soil and Tricholoma matsutake (n = 54). T. matsutake grows on acidified soils (pH = 3.95–6.56), and metals show a strong heterogeneity, with Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in the ranges of 16–201, 0.046–8.58 g kg⁻¹, and 22.6–215, 3.7–155 mg kg⁻¹. High soil Fe content led to great accumulation in T. matsutake (0.24–18.8 g kg⁻¹). However, though the soil Mn content was higher than that of Zn and Cu, their concentrations in T. matsutake were comparable (21.1–487 vs. 38.7–329 and 24.9–217 mg kg⁻¹). This suggested that T. matsutake prefers to accumulate Zn and Cu compared to Mn, and this is supported by the bioaccumulation factors (BAFs = 0.32–17.1 vs. 0.006–1.69). Fe was mainly stored in stipes, while Mn, Zn and Cu were stored in caps, and the translocation factors (TFs) were 0.58 vs. 1.28–1.94. Therefore, stipe Fe showed the highest health risk index (HRI) at 1.28–26.9, followed by cap Cu (1.01–2.33), while 98–100% of the Mn and Zn were risk-free. The higher concentration and greater risk of Fe was attributed to the significant effect of soil Fe content (R = 0.34) and soil pH (R = −0.57). This study suggested that Fe, as an essential mineral, may exert toxic effects via the consumption of T. matsutake from high geochemical background areas. Full article

Biochar is crucial for agricultural output and plays a significant role in effectively eliminating heavy metals (HMs) from the soil, which is essential for maintaining a soil–plant environment. This work aimed to assess machine learning models to analyze the impact of soil parameters on the transformation of HMs in biochar–soil–plant environments, considering the intricate non-linear relationships involved. A total of 211 datasets from pot or field experiments were evaluated. Fourteen factors were taken into account to assess the efficiency and bioavailability of HM–biochar amendment immobilization. Four predictive models, namely linear regression (LR), partial least squares (PLS), support vector regression (SVR), and random forest (RF), were compared to predict the immobilization efficiency of biochar-HM. The findings revealed that the RF model was created using 5-fold cross-validation, which exhibited a more reliable prediction performance. The results indicated that soil features accounted for 79.7% of the absorption of HM by crops, followed by biochar properties at 17.1% and crop properties at 3.2%. The main elements that influenced the result have been determined as the characteristics of the soil (including the presence of different HM species and the amount of clay) and the quantity and attributes of the biochar (such as the temperature at which it was produced by pyrolysis). Furthermore, the RF model was further developed to predict bioaccumulation factors (BAF) and variations in crop uptake (CCU). The R² values were found to be 0.7338 and 0.6997, respectively. Thus, machine learning (ML) models could be useful in understanding the behavior of HMs in soil–plant ecosystems by employing biochar additions. Full article

Combining phytoextraction and biochar amendment was suggested as an alternative for selenium (Se) bioremediation in contaminated soils. The current study aimed to test the performance of activated biochar as an amendment for the phytoextraction of selenium-contaminated soil by Phleum sp. Results showed that Se immobilization in soil was enhanced by the addition of activated biochar owing to its improved physicochemical structure compared to pristine biochar. In parallel, activated biochar contributed to improving soil fertility by increasing pH and organic matter. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of Se in the absence of activated biochar and biochar amendment was 8.7, which suggests the suitability of the Phleum plant species as a Se secondary accumulator species to be further used in a Nordic context. Se plant uptake was positively correlated to Se level in soil, pH, redox potential, organic matter, cations (Ca, Mg, Na, K), metals (Al, Cr, Fe, Mn, Co, Pb) and anions (Cl, SO₄). However, Se bioavailability for plant uptake was reduced due to Se immobilization in soil by activated biochar. Thus, activated biochar addition played an important role to support Se levels reduction in contaminated soil and consequently hinder phytoextraction performance by Phleum species. This combination of activated biochar and Phleum Se-accumulator plant was validated as an efficient solution for Se remediation in contaminated soil which could be applied at large scale under cold climates. Full article

Phytoremediation, an ecological approach aimed at addressing polymetal(loid)lic-contaminated mining soils, has encountered adaptability challenges. Dominant plant species, well-suited to the local conditions, have emerged as promising candidates for this purpose. This study focused on assessing the phytoremediation potential of ten plant species that thrived in heavy metal(loid)-contaminated mining soils. This investigation covered nine heavy metal(loid)s (As, Cu, Cd, Cr, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn) in both plants and rhizosphere soils. The results revealed a significant impact of mining activities, with heavy metal(loid) concentrations surpassing the Yunnan Province’s background levels by 1.06 to 362 times, highlighting a significant concern for remediation. The average levels of the heavy metal(loid)s followed the order of As (3.98 × 10³ mg kg⁻¹) > Cu (2.83 × 10³ mg kg⁻¹) > Zn (815 mg kg⁻¹) > Sn (176 mg kg⁻¹) > Pb (169 mg kg⁻¹) > Cr (68.1 mg kg⁻¹) > Ni (36.2 mg kg⁻¹) > Cd (0.120 mg kg⁻¹) > Hg (0.0390 mg kg⁻¹). The bioconcentration factors (BCFs), bioaccumulation factors (BAFs), and translocation factors (TFs) varied among the native plants, indicating diverse adaptation strategies. Low BCFs and BAFs (ranging from 0.0183 to 0.418 and 0.0114 to 0.556, respectively) suggested a low bioavailability of heavy metal(loid)s. Among the species, both J. effusus and P. capitata showed remarkable abilities for As accumulation, while A. adenophora demonstrated a notable accumulation ability for various heavy metal(loid)s, especially Cd, with relatively high BCFs (1.88) and BAFs (3.11), and the TF at 1.66 further underscored the crucial role of translocation in preventing root toxicity. These findings emphasized the potential of these plant species in mine ecological restoration and phytoremediation, guiding targeted environmental rehabilitation strategies. Full article

Heavy metal pollution represents a global health issue. Different methods and technologies are adopted to mitigate the problem of heavy metal pollution. Phytoremediation has been gaining attention as an environmentally friendly method to remediate this problem. The purpose of this research is to explore the effectiveness of phytoremediation in agricultural settings to assess the effect of five soil management practices (chicken manure, sewage sludge, leaf compost, cow manure, and vermicompost) on Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn accumulation in the mustard (leaves and pods) of three mustard Brassica juncea varieties (black mustard, yellow mustard, and mighty mustard). The accumulation in mustard was quantified using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). The results showed that the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of the three mustard varieties exceeded one (BAF > 1) for Cd and Mo. It indicates that mustard is a good accumulator of Cd and Mo, whereas BAF values for Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn were less than one (BAF < 1). The accumulated Cu, Mo, Ni, and Zn levels were below the allowable limit, whereas the Cd and Pb levels were beyond the limit. This result indicates that the investigated mustard varieties can be grown on heavy metal polluted sites for Cd and Mo phytoremediation purposes, but care is needed with regard to Cd and Mo toxicity. Full article

Trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) is a contaminant with toxic activity. Its presence in waters and soils is usually related to industrial activities such as tanneries. The aim of this study was to compare the removal of Cr(III) in hydroponic solutions and tannery effluents using two floating macrophytes: Salvinia auriculata and Eichhornia crassipes. First, to determine the chromium removal capacity in solution and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in tissues of each plant, experiments were set up with contaminated solutions with Cr(III) concentrations of 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L. Subsequently, both plant species were exposed to a primary tannery effluent contaminated with 12 mg/L of Cr(III) in order to study the removal capacity of organic and inorganic matter, as well as the acute toxicity in the water flea (Daphnia magna) and genotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Tests carried out on nutrient solutions revealed that both plants have a high capacity for removing Cr(III) in solution. The BAF in tissues was higher in E. crassipes compared to S. auriculata. In the experiments with a tannery effluent, both species presented low nutrient and organic matter removal efficiency, but they showed good Cr(III) removal capacity, with average reduction values of 57% for S. auriculata and 54% for E. crassipes after 72 h of exposure. E. crassipes contributed most to the reduction in acute toxicity in D. magna, while S. auriculata did not show a similar effect. However, both plant species managed to reduce the genotoxicity marker in D. rerio when compared with the initial effluent and the control. Full article

Increased heavy metal pollution worldwide necessitates urgent remediation measures. Phytoremediation stands as an eco-friendly technique that addresses this issue. This study aimed to investigate the applicability of phytoremediation in agricultural practices. Specifically, to evaluate the impact of five soil amendments (chicken manure, sewage sludge, leaf compost, cow manure, and vermicompost) on three cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) varieties (Capture, Primo vantage, and Tiara) yield, quality, and the accumulation of Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn in cabbage heads. The bioaccumulation efficiency of cabbage was determined using an inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Analysis revealed that soil enriched with chicken manure exhibited the highest cabbage yield. Each cabbage variety demonstrated very high bioaccumulation factor (BAF) indicating substantial heavy metal accumulation. These findings underscore the potential of utilizing crops for phytoremediation to mitigate heavy metal pollution. Additionally, the concentrations of metals below the permissible limits suggest that employing crops for phytoremediation can simultaneously ensure food productivity. This study emphasizes the necessity for further research into the use of crops for remediation strategies. Full article

Rice tends to accumulate heavy metals present in soil that have been introduced by human activities and pass them up the food chain. The present study aimed to evaluate the accumulation of selected trace elements (Cu, Zn, and Pb) in paddy and soil and the transfer of these metals from soil to rice by analysing the bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and translocation factor (TF) of heavy metals in paddy (Oryza sativa L.) and soil. Samples of matured paddy and the substrates were collected from three different areas located near a rural point (RP), a transportation point (TP), and an industrial point (IP). Heavy metal concentrations present in the soil and various parts of the plants were ascertained using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Cu, Zn, and Pb accumulation in the soil were detected in increasing orders of RP > TP > IP, IP > TP > RP, and IP > RP > TP, respectively. The BCF_shoot, BAF, and transfer factor of both Zn and Pb from soil to rice were detected in the order of TP > IP > RP, which was different from Cu, where BCF_shoot and TF showed the order of RP > IP > TP but the BAF indicated IP > RP > TP. TF > 1 was discovered for Zn and Pb at the TP, and for Cu at the RP, which could be attributed to the TP’s strongly acidic soil and Cu’s abundance in the RP’s soil. Paddy height and yield traits were the most significant at the IP site, showing the highest number of fertile spikelets, the average weight of a 1000-paddy spikelet, and the harvest index (0.56). These findings can be related to the normal range of Zn and Pb found in rice plants that support growth. Thus, the findings of this study demonstrated that soil properties and metal abundance in soil from certain land use practices can partially influence the mobility and transfer of metals through soil–plant pathways. Full article

The long-term use of copper (Cu) fungicides in viticulture in Europe has led to Cu accumulation in vineyard top soils. However, less is known about the accumulation of Cu in grapevine grafts after the callusing process/before planting in the nursery. This paper presents the capacity of 5BB and SO4 rootstocks to accumulate Cu, as well as the patterns of translocation in the grafts. After heat forcing (callusing), the grapevine grafts of Sauvignon Blanc on 5BB and SO4 rootstocks were grown in pots for six months in a glasshouse and exposed to various Cu formulations (Cu-oxychloride, Cu-gluconate) and concentrations in peat (50, 150, 500, and 1000 mg Cu of dry weight (DW)). In addition to monitoring the shoot growth dynamics and analyzing the copper content in graft organs, bioaccumulation (BAFs) and translocation factors (TFs) of Cu were calculated. The mean Cu concentrations were ranked as follows: roots (15–164) > rootstock trunks (8–38) > canes (5–21) mg kg⁻¹ DW. The Cu concentrations depended on the Cu formulation and concentration in the substrate. Higher Cu content was found in the roots of both rootstocks (5BB and SO4, 23–155 and 15–164 mg kg⁻¹ DW, respectively) and the lowest in the canes (less than 10 mg kg⁻¹ DW) of grafts grown in Cu-oxychloride-treated peat. Based on the BAFs and TFs, both rootstocks could be considered as Cu exclusive. A higher translocation rate was determined in systemic Cu-gluconate and SO4 rootstock. With shoot length measurements, the significant inhibitory effects of Cu on grapevine grafts growth could not be confirmed, despite the inhibitory effects that were clearly expressed in the first two months of growth. Soils containing more than 500 mg Cu/kg⁻¹ are less suitable for growing vine grafts. Full article

A new technique for the passive monitoring of particulate matter was developed, exploiting olive pollen as a bioindicator. We tested the pollen bioaccumulation efficiency when exposed to atmospheric particulate at three different sites in the Umbria region (Central Italy). Pollen grains, placed into sampling holders, were exposed in Perugia, a polluted town impacted by traffic emissions; in Terni, an industrial hotspot; and at Monte Martano, a regional rural site. At the end of the exposure period, the daily deposition fluxes of the soluble and insoluble elements and soluble molecular ions present in particulate were determined, and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and bioaccumulation index over time (BAIt) were derived to validate the passive monitoring system, distinguish the deposition contribute from natural pollen composition, and interpret the temporal dependence of the pollen exposure to pollutants. We observed BAFs greater than 1, which means that bioaccumulation occurs, and pollen can be considered a good passive sampler for several crustal and anthropic ions and toxic elements at all sites. BAIt values greater than 1 were detected only for some of the ions and metals previously present in the pollen, like Ca, Cr, and Mn at Terni; and nitrate, Ca, and Mn at Monte Martano and Perugia. Full article