To investigate the characteristics and potential sources of heavy metals pollution, surface sediments collected from Bohai Bay, North China, were analyzed for the selected metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn). The Geoaccumulation Index was used to assess the level of heavy metal pollution. Pb isotopic compositions in sediments were also measured to effectively identify the potential Pb sources. ...

The impact of heavy metal toxicity on the shoot and root lengths, total protein, fiber characteristics, moisture content and nutrient composition of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) was evaluated. Plants were grown in pots containing soil and treated with different concentrations (mg/kg) of lead (Pb; 300, 400 and 500), cadmium (Cd; 0.5, 1 and 1.5) and zinc (Zn; 250, 500, and 700) as well as mixtures...

BACKGROUND Few studies have investigated trace elements (TE) in human intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue. Trace element presence can have diverse meanings: essential TE show the metabolic modalities of the tissue, while environmentally-related TE indicate pollution and tissue-specific absorption and accumulation. IVD is a highly specific compartment with impaired communication with adjacent bone....

An exploratory study on soil contamination of Cd, Zn, Pb was carried out in the surroundings of a historical, abandoned Pb-Zn mining area in Hunan Province, China. The accumulation in soils and representative plants of Cd, Zn, Pb and their chemical speciation were investigated. The obtained results indicated that Cd, Zn and Pb presented a significant contamination compared with Environmental Qu...

one of the major strengths of a geographic information system (gis) in geosciences is the ability to integrate and combine multiple layers into mineral potential maps showing areas which are favorable for mineral exploration. these capabilities make gis an extremely useful tool for mineral exploration. several spatial modeling techniques can be employed to produce potential maps. however, these...

Metal and bioessential element concentrations were measured in three species of 17-year periodical cicadas (Magicicada spp.) to determine how cicada tissue chemistry is affected by soil chemistry, measure the bioavailability of metals from both uncontaminated and lead-arsenate-pesticide contaminated soils, and assess the potential risks of observed metal contamination for wildlife. Periodical c...

Zinc (Zn) is an essential element for normal brain function; an abnormal Zn homeostasis in brain and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been implied in the etiology of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms that regulate Zn transport in the blood– brain interface remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate Zn transport by the blood–CSF barrier (BCB) in the choroid plexus, w...

the accumulation of heavy metals cd, cu, ni, pb, v and zn in the mangrove, avicennia marina, was studied. cu, cd, and pb were accumulated in root tissues to levels higher than surrounding sediments. zn, ni, and v were accumulated to levels lower than sediment concentrations. pb and zn showed little mobility to leaf tissue but cu was accumulated in leaves with low concentration. since pb and zn ...

 Concentration of heavy and toxic metals Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg were determined in liver and muscles of Rutilus frisii kutum and their relationships with growth parameters (length, age, condition factor) and hepatosomatic index were examined. Thirty-six fish samples were collected from February through March 2009 caught by beach seine in the southwest parts of the Caspian Sea. Atomic absorption ...

In this work, a novel electrochemiluminescence (ECL) sensor based on Au nanoparticles-hybridized Pb (II)-β-cyclodextrin (Pb-β-CD) metal-organic framework for detecting hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) was developed. Pb-β-CD shows excellent ECL behavior and unexpected reducing ability towards Au ions. Au nanoparticles could massively form on the surface of Pb-β-CD (Au@Pb-β-CD) without use of any add...