Metal contamination of the environment is frequently associated to the presence of two or more metals. This work aimed to study the impact of a mixture of metals (Cd, Pb and Zn) on the physiology of the non-conventional yeast Pichia kudriavzevii. The incubation of yeast cells with 5 mg/l Cd, 10 mg/l Pb and 5 mg/l Zn, for 6 h, induced a loss of metabolic activity (assessed by FUN-1 staining) and...

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of heavy metals on microbial decomposition of cellulose in heavy metal-contaminated soils using a cotton strip assay. The assay is a measure of the potential of soil microorganisms to decompose the plant polymer, cellulose. Cellulolytic activity in soil was assessed by determining the reduction in tensile strength of the buried cotton strips...

This study aims to measure the effect of toxic aqueous solutions of metals on the mobility of Artemia salina nauplii by using digital image processing. The instrument consists of a camera with a macro lens, a dark chamber, a light source and a laptop computer. Four nauplii were inserted into a macro cuvette, which contained copper, cadmium, iron and zinc ions at various concentrations. The naup...

background: l1 retrotransposons are the most active mobile dna elements in human genome. unregulated l1 retrotransposition may have deleterious effect by disrupting vital genes and inducing genomic instabilities. therefore, human cells control l1 elements by silencing their activities through epigenetic mechanisms. it has been shown that cell division and heavy metals stimulate the frequency of...

Human exposure to toxic metals and metalloids in the environment seldom occurs from a single pure compound. Most environmental exposure profiles are heterogeneous with co-exposure occurring coincident with multiple toxic metal species. This co-exposure to metals and metalloids in complex mixtures can result in a synergistic, additive or even depletive toxic response. The complexity of interacti...

Background: L1 retrotransposons are the most active mobile DNA elements in human genome. Unregulated L1 retrotransposition may have deleterious effect by disrupting vital genes and inducing genomic instabilities. Therefore, human cells control L1 elements by silencing their activities through epigenetic mechanisms. It has been shown that cell division and heavy metals stimulate the frequency of...

Arsenic and lead, known to have genotoxic and mutagenic effects, are ubiquitously distributed in the environment. The presence of arsenic in drinking water has been a serious health problem in many countries. Human exposure to these metals has also increased due to rapid industrialization and their use in formulation of many products. Liposuction material is a rich source of stem cells. In the ...

In the preceding publication of this series (10), a simplified tissue culture assay was described. The cytotoxic activity of various nucleic acid antagonists, antibiotics, amino acid and vitamin antagonists, respiratory poisons, miscellaneous chemicals, solvents, heavy metals, detergents, and fermentation beers were determined with the new into sterile bottles and dissolved in water (sterile), ...

Alluvial soils can store a wide range of metal contaminants originating from point and diffuse sources. The biological health of these soils is important as they act as an interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments, therefore playing an important role in maintaining the quality of surface waters. The aim of this work was to examine the lability, solubility and bioavailability of Pb,...