Contribution of lead in soil to children’s lead burden,an update

Abstract

Blood lead levels in children in the USA have dropped dramatically since lead in food, air and drinking water was reduced. In inner cities and older residential areas, increased lead exposure may still be a problem because of dilapidated housing with high lead paint levels. In these areas, at mining sites and around smelters lead levels in soil may be very high. A review of many studies indicates that lead in soil or mine tailings does not make a meaningful contribution to lead absorption by children. The contribution of lead in soil to overall exposure, if any, lies within the variation of the analytical method for blood lead measurements. The results of exposure studies in the pediatric population reviewed in this article do not support exposure predictions for children under 6 years of age based on the US EPA Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model (using default parameters or using results obtained with in vitro digestion models). They also do not support predictions based on the percent of solubility of lead in soil (accessibility studies).     

The effect of pH on the lability of lead and cadmium sorbed on humic acid particles

Abstract

Sorption of lead(II) or cadmium(II) ions on humic acid particles (at pH 3.5) yields surface complexes which are sparingly soluble in the pH 3.55 region. Interaction of these species with acetic acid or dilute nitric acid released ASV labile metal species (mainly hydrated metal ion). When the pH was adjusted between 4 and 7, increasing amounts of the metal humate species (and humic acid substrate) dissolved and low levels of ASV labile species were detected. Overnight interaction with an excess of acetate ions (0.01 M) led to higher lability values (attributed to acetate/humate ligand exchange). The percentage of labile metal ion detected in acetate solutions varied with the amount of metal ion initially sorbed (range 100 to 500 mmol g^?1). With the lower loadings, the ASV labile levels peaked in the pH 6–7 region (at around 12% of total sorbed cadmium, and 4% of total lead). In alkaline solutions, the percentage of labile Cd fell to about half of the peak value, but with Pb, lability values increased at pH > 8, due possibly to the formation of hydroxy complex species. The ASV lability of the Cd and Pb humates, and their 24 hour lability values (determined using a transfer to cation exchanger technique) has been compared with the behaviour of Cu and Zn humates (using similar conditions).     

Multicomponent chemistry in the synthesis of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Abstract

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are of growing interest since various isoforms of the enzyme are identified as promising drug targets for treatment of disease. The principal drawback of the clinically used CAIs is the lack of isoform selectivity, which may lead to observable side effects. Studies aiming at the design of isoform-selective CAIs entail generation and biological testing of arrays of compounds, which is a resource- and time-consuming process. Employment of multicomponent reactions is an efficient synthetic strategy in terms of gaining convenient and speedy access to a range of scaffolds with a high degree of molecular diversity. However, this powerful tool appears to be underutilized for the discovery of novel CAIs. A number of studies employing multicomponent reactions in CAI synthesis have been reported in literature. Some of these reports provide inspiring examples of successful use of multicomponent chemistry to construct novel potent and often isoform-selective inhibitors. On critical reading of several publications, however, it becomes apparent that for some chemical series designed as CAIs, the desired inhibitory properties are only assumed and never tested for. In these cases, the biological profile is reported based on the results of phenotypical cellular assays, with no correlation with the intended on-target activity. Present review aims at critically assessing the current literature on the multicomponent chemistry in the CAI design.     

Enhanced Phytoremediation Capacity of Chenopodium album L. Grown on Pb-Contaminated Soils Using EDTA and Reduction of Leaching Risk

Leaching of metals due to enhanced mobility during ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-assisted phytoextraction has been demonstrated as one of the potential hazards associated with this technology. This study was conducted to determine phytoextraction efficiency of Chenopodium album L. for Pb and EDTA-assisted (1.5, 3, and 9 mmol kg^?1) phytoextraction and potential for leaching of Pb. The results demonstrated that BCF_shoot (bioconcentration factor) was relatively higher than the BCF_root. Translocation factor in the shoot was higher than the roots. Thus, plant species would be applicable for Pb phytoextraction. EDTA enhanced translocation of Pb from roots to shoots. Lead content in the plant parts was maximum in the shoot and root of 9EDTA and 3EDTA, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between 3EDTA and 9EDTA. Lead concentration in the plant parts increased significantly from vegetative stage into flowering stage. Lead content taken up by the plant was lowest when EDTA was applied in a single dose. Therefore, application of EDTA in several increments rather than a single split reduced the leaching risk. Totally, optimum phytoextraction was observed when 3 mmol kg^?1 EDTA was added in triple dosage 60 days after the plant cultivation under triple application mode. The results indicated the plant has the potential for Pb phytoextraction, but it should not be used unless the biomass containing such accumulated metal is removed for disposal. Significant improvement over current ETDA-assisted phytoextraction of Pb may be possible but should be implemented cautiously because of environmental risk.     

A novel fluorescent sensor based on electrosynthesized benzene sulfonic acid‐doped polypyrrole for determination of Pb(II) and Cu(II)

To develop conducting organic polymers (COPs) as luminescent sensors for determination of toxic heavy metals, a new benzene sulfonic acid‐doped polypyrrole (PPy‐BSA) thin film was electrochemically prepared by cyclic voltammetry (CV) on flexible indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode in aqueous solution. PPy‐BSA film was characterized by FTIR spectrometry, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical properties of PPy‐BSA were investigated by ultraviolet (UV)‐visible absorption and fluorescence spectrometry in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) diluted solutions. PPy‐BSA fluorescence spectra were strongly quenched upon increasing copper(II) ion (Cu²⁺) and lead(II) ion (Pb²⁺) concentrations in aqueous medium, and linear Stern–Volmer relationships were obtained, which indicated the existence of a main dynamic fluorescence quenching mechanism. BSA‐PPy sensor showed a high sensitivity for detection of both metallic ions, Cu²⁺ and Pb²⁺, with very low limit of detection values of 3.1 and 18.0 nM, respectively. The proposed quenching‐fluorimetric sensor might be applied to the determination of traces of toxic heavy metallic ions in water samples.     

Biosorption of lead by cotton shells powder: Characterization and equilibrium modeling study

Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal causing serious health risks to humans and animals. In the present study, cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) shells powder was used as adsorbent for the treatment of synthetic Pb-contaminated water. The batch scale biosorption capacity of cotton shells powder was evaluated to study the effects of Pb concentrations, adsorbent doses and contact time at constant pH (6) and temperature (25?°C). Results revealed that sorption of Pb increased (q?=?0.09–9.60?mg/g) with increasing Pb concentration (1–15?mg/L) and contact time (15–90?min) while decreasing adsorbent dose (1–0.1?g/100?mL). The maximum Pb removal (90%) was achieved at Pb concentration (1?mg/L), contact time (90?min) and adsorbent dose (1?g/100?mL). Freundlich isotherm model proved best fit for Pb sorption (R²?=?0.99). The cotton shells powder has microporous structure confirmed by SEM, and has BET surface area (45 m²/g) and pore size (2.3 µm). These surface moieties along with various functional groups (C-H, C-O, C=O, O-H, S=O) confirmed by FTIR analysis might involve in Pb removal by complexation and ion exchange mechanisms. The cotton shells powder biomass could be considered as promising adsorbent for the removal of Pb from contaminated water.     

典型城市单元的土壤重金属溯源方法与实证研究

随着城市化进程的不断深入,土壤中重金属污染现状及其治理情况越来越受到重视,而查明污染源是有效治理污染的前提。源解析技术目前已广泛的应用于环境受体重金属来源解析实践中,总结了近年来土壤重金属成因分析的常用方法及原理,并提出了一种将多种方法相配合使用的方法体系。选取珠三角某市城郊农田作为研究对象,结果表明,Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn、As存在含量超过国家农用地筛选值的情况,其中Cd超标率高达60.1%。农业活动、工业生产、交通源和自然母质均对研究区土壤重金属的累积产生一定的贡献。正定矩阵因子分析法(PMF,Positive Matrix Factorization)模型模拟的Cd、Ni、Zn和Hg预测值与实测值线性拟合r~2均大于90%,其余元素r~2均大于60%,呈现出很好的相关性,满足研究需要。PMF模型和铅同位素比值法计算得到的交通及农业对土壤Pb累积的贡献率之和分别为86.0%和84.8%,PMF模型和物质流分析法计算得到的农业对土壤Cd的贡献率分别为86.7%和79.7%,结果均比较接近。结果表明正定矩阵因子法、同位素比值分析法,物质流分析法能很好的联用应用于土壤重金属源解析研究。     

Protective effect of Abutilon indicum against lead-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats

Despite ample literature on the toxic impact of lead on the environment and health, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis/toxicity is not clearly known. Because it is well established that lead induces oxidative stress, it is assumed that exposure to antioxidants may reduce the toxic impact of lead. In this study, we evaluated the impact of coadministration of the methanolic root extract of a plant Abutilon indicum (50, 100, 200 mg kg ⁻¹b.wt.) in mitigating the toxic impact of lead on the reproductive system of rats. In brief, Wistar rats were exposed to lead acetate in drinking water with or without coadministration of plant root extract and compared with that of control animals. After 45 days of exposure as outlined above, the animals were killed and the reproductive toxicity was assessed by sperm parameters, hormone and antioxidant enzyme assays, and testis histopathology. Significant reduction in testis weight, sperm count, testosterone levels, and antioxidant enzymes levels such as Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, and Glutathione peroxidase was seen in lead-treated animals, confirming the toxic impact. The coadministration of A. Indicum (100 and 200 mg kg ⁻¹b.wt.) was found to bring the studied parameters close to the levels seen in untreated (control) animals. Our findings are indicative of the protective nature of A. Indicum against lead-induced reproductive toxicity in a dose-dependent manner. However, further characterization of the root extract is required to elucidate the probable mechanism of protection.     

Lead biosorption by waste biomass of Corynebacterium glutamicum generated from lysine fermentation process

Biomass waste, mainly Corynebacterium glutamicum, is generated from large-scale lysine fermentation process. In this study, protonated C. glutamicum biomass was evaluated as a biosorbent for the removal of lead from synthetic wastewater. As Pb2+ were bound to the biomass, the solution pH deceased, indicating that protons in the biomass were exchanged with lead ions. The Corynebacterium biomass bound Pb2+ at up to 2.74 mmol g(-1) at pH 5, where lead does not precipitate. Compared with other biosorbents and conventional sorbents, such as natural zeolite, activated carbon and synthetic ion exchange resin, the protonated C. glutamicum biomass was considered to be a useful biomaterial for lead biosorption.     

Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on phytoextraction by corn (Zea mays) of lead-contaminated soil

The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in lead (Pb) uptake by corn (Zea mays) grown in soil supplemented with Pb was examined. Plants were subjected to four Pb levels: 0 (control); 10 (low); 100 (medium); and 500 mg L(-1) (high). At each Pb level, plants were grown in soil without and with fungicide (benomyl) (20 mg kg(-1)) to suppress AMF activity. Benomyl significantly reduced AMF colonization at high. medium, and zero Pb exposures. Benomyl application resulted in significantly lower concentrations of phosphorus in leaves at low and medium Pb exposures. The benomyl-treated plants had higher Pb and manganese concentrations in leaves than plants not treated with benomyl. In addition, benomyl-treated plants had generally lower concentrations of zinc and copper in leaves than plants not treated with benomyl. These results suggest that the role of AMF in heavy metal uptake is metal specific. Based on this work, the use of benomyl on soils contaminated with Pb can be recommended in phytoextraction.