Trace metals with seasonal considerations in coastal algae and molluscs from Beirut,Lebanon

Twelve species of intertidal algae and molluscs from Ras Beirut, Lebanon have been investigated for their heavy metal content. Atomic absorption spectrophotometric analysis showed that the algae and molluscs concentrated similar levels of most metals. However, of the twelve organisms, Brachydontes variabilis had the highest copper, Patella coerulea and Colpomenia sinuosa had the highest iron, and Pinctada radiata had the highest zinc values with rather elevated cadmium. Cystoseira spinosa concentrated the lowest levels of zinc, and nickel was variable in all organisms.Seasonal comparisons of metal levels were also considered in three algae and three molluscs studied previously. The only signs of seasonal variation in the algae were with nickel and iron in Halimeda tuna and lead in Pterocladia pinnata. Both cadmium and lead were generally lowest in the spring samples of the algae. Lead and nickel concentrations in the molluscs were generally highest in the summer and lowest in the spring. Slight seasonal trends were seen with lead and iron in Brachydontes variabilis and lead in Monodonta turbinata.The lack of comparison data from the Mediterranean, particularly the eastern basin, makes it essential that studies of this nature be continued.     

Metal concentrations in certain coastal organisms from Beirut

Trace metal concentrations were determined in six species of intertidal organisms common to the coast of Ras Beirut, Lebanon. Lead, cadmium, nickel, iron, and zinc were highest in the polychaete,Hermodice carunculata, but the eggs of the sea urchin,Arbacia lixula, had similar iron levels and the sea anemone,Actinia equina, had zinc concentrations which also approached levels in the polychaete. The highest copper occurred in the shore crab,Pachygrapsus transversus, while chromium was highest in the eggs ofArbacia lixula.Cystoseira spinosa, the only alga studied, had average copper and iron concentrations similar to those found in the same species in another study. Together with the sea urchin eggs,C. spinosa exhibited the most variable zinc levels in the present investigation. The fish,Thalassoma pavo, which is rather common along the rocky coastal areas of Lebanon, appeared to have fairly high concentrations of certain elements in relation to levels reported in species of fish from other locations.Sewage, garbage, industrial and agricultural waste materials all enter the Mediterranean from Lebanon without prior treatment, which along with increased land erosion, probably contribute substantially to the availability of metals to the biota studied. It is suggested that more work on trace elements in coastal organisms from the eastern Mediterranean basin be undertaken before any conclusive statements are made. Such work should also investigate the various physiological and biochemical factors involved in metal uptake and retention by each species.     

Mercury,cadmium, zinc,copper and selenium in harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) from West Greenland

Muscle, liver, kidney and skin samples taken from 78 harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) were analysed for mercury, cadmium, zinc, copper and selenium. The highest concentrations of mercury were found in the liver (geometric mean 4.17 g/g wet weight), whilst the highest concentrations of cadmium were in the kidney (g.m. 13.2 g/g ww). The levels of cadmium were more than ten times higher than in harbour porpoises from the North Sea and the British NW coast, whilst the mercury levels were about the same. The importance of the cadmium content in the prey is discussed, but this attempt did not revealed the differences. Very high levels of zinc (g.m. 359 g/g ww) and selenium (g.m. 28.6 g/g ww) were found in skin samples, respectively seven and ten times more than in liver. A significant correlation was found between age and the level of mercury and cadmium in all organs. The concentration of mercury and selenium in liver and skin samples and of cadmium and zinc in kidney samples were highly correlated.     

Uptake of six heavy metals by oat as influenced by soil type and additions of cadmium,lead, zinc and copper

Summary The influence of heavy metal additions on availability and uptake of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, manganese and iron by oat was studied. The experiments were carried out as pot experiments using sandy loam, sandy soil and organic soil. Selective extractants were used to remove metals held in different soil fractions.Lead and copper were preferently bound by organics and oxides, zinc by oxides and inorganics, and cadmium by inorganics and organics.Addition of cadmium to the soils resulted in higher cadmium concentrations in all plant parts but lower concentrations of lead, zinc, copper, manganese and iron, and the accumulation indexes of these metals were also lower when cadmium was added to the soil.Addition of cadmium plus lead, zinc and copper resulted in higher cadmium concentrations in leaves and straw of plants grown in sandy loam and sandy soil, but lower concentrations when plants were grown in organic soil as compared with the results when cadmium was added separately. The transfer of cadmium, lead, zinc and copper from soil to plant was greatest from sandy soil, and zinc and cadmium were more mobile in the plant than were lead and copper.Cadmium concentrations in leaves correlated significantly with CaCl₂ and CH₃COOH extractions in sandy loam and sandy soil and with CH₃COOH extractions in organic soil.Generally, the total metal uptake was lowest from organic soil.     

Influence of chosen elements on the dynamics of the cariogenic process

This prospective study comprised 140 natural crowns of the teeth extracted from 31 boys and 35 men, as well as 39 girls and 35 women. They were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of primary teeth and group II consisted of permanent teeth. In each group, two subgroups were distinguished: subgroup A containing teeth without caries and subgroup B comprising carietic teeth. Zinc, iron, copper, nickel, chromium, cobalt, lead, cadmium, selenium, and strontium were determined in the samples by using the total reflection X-ray fluorescence method. Significantly higher concentrations of zinc, iron, copper, nickel, selenium, and strontium were detected in the crowns of healthy primary and permanent teeth than in the crowns of the carietic primary and permanent teeth. The concentrations of chromium, cobalt, lead, and cadmium were significantly higher in primary and permanent teeth with caries than in the healthy ones. Judging from the obtained results, we think that lower concentrations of zinc, iron, copper, nickel, selenium, and strontium together with higher concentrations of chromium, cobalt, lead, and cadmium in the carietic primary and permanent teeth, in relation with the respective concentrations of those elements in healthy teeth, can be one of the caries risk factors.     

The effect of physico-chemical parameters on speciation of trace metals insediments from inland and coastal waters of Ghana

The speciation of cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, manganese and iron into exchangeable, carbonate, reducible and organic bound fractions was studied in sediments from coastal and freshwater environments in Ghana. This was relevant as the species in which metals are stored within specific sediment components is important in determining their impact on the environment. For both coastal and inland sediments, a higher percentage of cadmium was associated with the more available exchangeable and carbonate fractions, while iron, zinc and manganese were mainly associated with the reducible and organic fractions. Lead and copper were found to have the greatest ability to form different species in the samples examined and were more evenly associated with all the fractions. The metals generally showed more ability to form different species in inland freshwaters than in coastal relatively saline waters. However, differences between inland and coastal waters were based more on whether the environments were oxidising or reducing than on whether they were fresh or saline. The metals may be divided into three groups of high mobility consisting of lead and copper; moderate mobility made up of cadmium, manganese and zinc; and low mobility, represented by iron.     

Levels of toxic and essential elements in arctic fox in Svalbard

Concentrations of cadmium, mercury, lead, arsenic, selenium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron in liver, and cadmium in kidneys, were analysed in 95 carcasses of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) caught in Svalbard during three winter seasons from 1984 through 1986. The hepatic concentration ranges of cadmium, mercury, lead and arsenic were 0.1–2.4, 0.01–2.2, < 0.5–2.9 and 0.01–1.3 g·g^–1 WW, respectively. The range of cadmium concentration in the kidneys was from 0.2 to 13 g·g^–1 WW. Cadmium and mercury concentrations were higher in adult animals than in juveniles. The average concentrations of cadmium and lead were similar to recently published levels in polar bear from Svalbard, but the mercury concentrations were lower. Significant geographical differences were observed between trapping areas. Foxes caught north of Isfjorden had lower levels of liver iron and higher levels of all other elements analysed than those caught south of Isfjorden. The recorded concentrations of heavy metals indicate a moderate degree of exposure, which most likely is of natural origin.Gunnar Norheim died January 9, 1991     

Trace elements and melanoma.

Melanoma incidence has been steadily increasing in recent years in most western countries, thus suggesting a role of environmental risk factors. Among these determinants, it has been hypothesized that some trace elements of nutritional and toxicological interest may be implicated in the etiology of the disease. We examined patients with newly diagnosed melanoma of the skin and population controls from the Modena province northern Italy. Clinical and dietary data were collected through questionnaires, and toenails were sampled for trace element determination. Levels of cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium, zinc, copper and iron in toenails were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and by neutron activation analysis. Data obtained from 58 cases and 58 controls indicated higher levels of copper and lower concentrations of iron in melanoma patients, whilst no other differences were seen for the remaining elements. Patterns of correlations of zinc and copper with the estimated intake of some dietary factors were different between cases and controls. Results of the present study suggest that abnormal intake or metabolism of copper and of iron might be implicated in the etiology of melanoma, whilst they do not indicate an involvement of exposure to cadmium, chromium, lead, selenium and zinc in this disease.     

The IRT1 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana is a metal transporter with a broad substrate range

The molecular basis for the transport of manganese across membranes in plant cells is poorly understood. We have found that IRT1, an Arabidopsis thaliana metal ion transporter, can complement a mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain defective in high-affinity manganese uptake (smf1). The IRT1 protein has previously been identified as an iron transporter. The current studies demonstrated that IRT1, when expressed in yeast, can transport manganese as well. This manganese uptake activity was inhibited by cadmium, iron(II) and zinc, suggesting that IRT1 can transport these metals. The IRT1 cDNA also complements a zinc uptake-deficient yeast mutant strain (zrt1zrt2), and IRT1-dependent zinc transport in yeast cells is inhibited by cadmium, copper, cobalt and iron(III). However, IRT1 did not complement a copper uptake-deficient yeast mutant (ctr1), implying that this transporter is not involved in the uptake of copper in plant cells. The expression of IRT1 is enhanced in A. thaliana plants grown under iron deficiency. Under these conditions, there were increased levels of root-associated manganese, zinc and cobalt, suggesting that, in addition to iron, IRT1 mediates uptake of these metals into plant cells. Taken together, these data indicate that the IRT1 protein is a broad-range metal ion transporter in plants.     

Atomabsorptionsmessungen von Blei,Cadmium, Kupfer,Eisen und Zink im Seston der Ostsee

Zusammenfassung 1. Auf einer Forschungsfahrt in die Ostsee im April/Mai 1973 wurden 100 Sestonproben entnommen und auf ihren Gehalt an Blei, Cadmium, Zink, Kupfer und Eisen mit Hilfe der flammenlosen Atom-Absorptions-Spektrometrie analysiert.2. Die mittlere Konzentration im Seston der Ostsee beträgt für Blei 123 ppm, für Cadmium 5,8 ppm, für Zink 300 ppm, für Kupfer 61 ppm und für Eisen 3535 ppm.3. Im Vergleich zu Metallanalysen ozeanischen Sestons müssen die Blei- und Cadmiumkonzentrationen als stark überhöht angesehen werden.4. Die Konzentrationen des partikulär gebundenen Eisens, Zinks und Kupfers können bis auf lokal stark erhöhte Eisen- und Zinkkonzentrationen als natürlich angesehen werden.5. Arbeitsweise und Meßgenauigkeit der Metallanalytik werden beschrieben.

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Atomic absorption measurements of lead, cadmium, copper, iron and zinc in seston of the Baltic Sea

During a cruise with R. V. Alkor from Kiel Bight to Finnish Bay, nearly 100 seston samples were taken during April/May 1973. Samples from the 23 stations were analyzed for lead, cadmium, copper, iron and zinc by flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean values for lead and cadmium were 123 and 5.8 ppm, respectively; for zinc, 733 ppm, for copper, 61 ppm, and for iron, 3535 ppm. In contrast to trace-metal analyses of off shore seston, the concentrations for lead and cadmium in Baltic-Sea seston are very high; these results are in good agreement with analyses of the dissolved metals. The concentrations of zinc, copper and iron in the particulate matter from the Baltic-Sea, apart from some local influences, agree well with values published from the concentrations in off shore seston. The distribution and variation of the individual values are discussed. The method for analysing the metals and its precision are briefly described.

     

The distribution of zinc,cadmium, lead and copper within the woodlouse Oniscus asellus (Crustacea,Isopoda)

Summary The concentrations of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper have been determined in the hepatopancreas, hindgut and rest of the body tissues of Oniscus asellus collected from eight sites in the U.K. The hepatopancreas is by far the most important storage organ of heavy metals, particularly cadmium, and at each site, contains a mean of at least 89% of the total body load of this element. Specimens of Oniscus asellus from contaminated sites may contain concentrations of zinc, cadmium, lead and copper in the hepatopancreas of about 1%, 0.5%, 2.5% and 3% of the dry weight respectively, which are among the highest so far recorded in the soft tissues of any animal.There is a significant positive correlation between the mean relative dry weight of the hepatopancreas of Oniscus asellus and the concentrations of zinc or cadmium in leaf litter from all eight sites. It is suggested that animals from sites which are contaminated heavily with zinc or cadmium have a large hepatopancreas because this enables them to de-toxify a greater amount of the metal.     

Flow of Chromium into Apple Fruit during Development

A continuous flow of chromium into apples occurs throughout their growth. This ready movement of chromium into the apple is similar to that reported for essential trace elements such as boron, zinc, iron, copper, and manganese but differs from the restricted movement reported for mercury and cadmium.     

Effects of mine drainage on the river hayle,cornwall a) factors affecting concentrations of copper,zinc and iron in water,sediments and dominant invertebrate fauna

Concentrations of copper, zinc and iron were measured in waters, sediments and invertebrates collected from the River Hayle. In river water at least 70% of copper and iron was associated with the particulate fraction whereas 80% of zinc was in the soluble form. Although total concentrations of zinc in water exceeded those of copper approximately ten fold, copper predominated over zinc in the sediments by a factor of approximately three. Iron was the most abundant metal recorded in both water and sediments.Seasonal differences in total metal content of waters suggested that concentrations of copper, zinc and iron increased during. periods of high flow and decreased during lower flows. Copper concentrations in the sediment, unlike zinc and iron, showed markedly higher values during the summer sampling period when flows were minimal.In the free-living Trichoptera larvae, concentrations of copper and zinc in the tissue appeared to follow copper and zinc levels in the water. Similar relationships in Odonata and Plecoptera larvae were not obtained. Factors affecting animal/metal relationships are discussed with particular reference to adaptation shown by organisms exposed to high concentrations of heavy metals in their environment.Department of Applied Biology, Cambridge     

Low ambient temperature decreases cadmium accumulation in the liver and kidneys of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)

The importance of photoperiod and ambient temperature on the accumulation of cadmium in the liver and kidneys of bank voles was determined in the present study. Males and females, aged 1 month, were given 3.0 g Cd ml^–1 drinking water and divided into four groups according to photoperiod (16 h light/8 h dark and 8 h light/16 h dark) and ambient temperature (20 or 5°C); liver and kidneys were removed for cadmium as well as copper, iron and zinc analyses at the end of 6 weeks. Bank voles exposed to 5°C in both photoperiods consumed approximately 30% less water containing cadmium than those kept at 20°C. However, the total accumulation of cadmium in the liver and kidneys of males and females exposed to the low temperatures was 4.3–4.8 and 2.2–3.3 times less than that in animals maintained at room temperature in the long and short photoperiod, respectively. Simultaneously, the low temperature brought about an increase in the copper concentrations in the liver (12–43%) and kidneys (47–78%), giving rise to an inverse correlation between the cadmium accumulation and the tissue copper concentration. In contrast to cadmium and copper, the concentrations of iron and zinc were affected primarily by photoperiod. These findings indicate that ambient temperature is an important determinant of cadmium retention in the bank vole. It appears that low temperature decreases tissue cadmium accumulation not only by reducing cadmium intake but also through changes in copper metabolism.     

Trace metal interactions in the macroalga Enteromorpha prolifera (O. F. Müller) J.Ag., grown in water of the Scheldt estuary (Belgium & SW Netherlands), in response to cadmium exposure

The littoral macroalga Enteromorpha prolifera was sampled along the Scheldt estuary at Lillo (Belgium), Bath and Ellewoutsdijk (SW Netherlands). The algae were incubated in water from the same locations with salinities of 7, 14 and 23%, at about 50 molquanta m^–2 s^–1 irradiance and 15 °C. One series of cultures was exposed to 400 nm Cd, a second series served as a control. Temporal changes in cadmium, copper, iron, lead and zinc contents of E. prolifera were monitored with atomic absorption spectroscopy in a 21 day experiment. Both synergistic and antagonistic metal interactions became evident in response to cadmium uptake. During the first 8 days of incubation iron contents increased in both cadmium-exposed and control algae. However, iron contents were relatively higher in cadmium-exposed algae. Similar, but weaker synergisms were also found between lead/cadmium and coper/cadmium. Zinc contents decreased in controls and cadmium-exposed algae, but were significantly lower in cadmium-exposed algae. A distinct antagonism between cadmium and zinc was observed in cadmium-exposed algae.     

Heavy metal complexation in polluted molluscs I. Limpets (Patella vulgata and Patella intermedia)

The accumulation of cadmium, zinc and copper by the marine gastropod molluscs Patella vulgata and Patella intermedia has been studied by gel permeation chromatography of water-soluble extracts of environmentally contaminated shellfish.A major proportion of the water-soluble cadmium and copper in these molluscs is associated with a protein of molecular weight 10 800 daltons. Evidence is presented supporting the similarity of this protein with mammalian metallothionein. This protein contained only a small proportion of the zinc found in the samples.     

Accumulation of cadmium and copper by the terrestrial snail Arianta arbustorum L.: kinetics and budgets

Summary Specimens of the terrestrial gastropod Arianta arbustorum were fed on cadmium- or copper-enriched agar plates with the aim of performing an input/output analysis and of studying the distribution of these metals in several organs of the snails. After a feeding period of 20 days about 45% of cadmium were lost. 36% accumulated in the hepatopancreas, where a cadmium concentration of more than 500 g/g was measured. The efficiency of cadmium assimilation decreased from about 90% at the beginning to about 55% after 20 days. Copper was distributed more evenly than cadmium, but the main site of copper storage seemed to be the foot/mantle tissues, where 49% of the ingested copper were found. The efficiency of copper assimilation always exceeded 95%. The patterns of distribution and assimilation of copper and cadmium are discussed in relation to differences in the cytological and biochemical detoxification mechanisms which exist for these metals in molluscs.     

Zinc,cadmium, mercury and selenium in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Central East Greenland

Muscle, liver, and kidney tissues from 38 polar bears (Ursus maritimus) caught in the Scoresby Sound area, Central East Greenland, were analysed for zinc, cadmium, mercury and selenium. In general, cadmium concentrations were low in muscle, liver and kidney tissue, with geometric means (g.m.) of 0.022 (range: <0.015–0.085), 0.841 (range: 0.092–3.29) and 13.1 (range: 1.04–115) g Cd/g wet weight (ww) respectively. This finding can be explained by low cadmium levels in the blubber of ringed seals. The concentration of mercury in muscle tissue was low (g.m. 0.071; range: 0.039–0.193 g Hg/g ww), whereas concentrations in liver and kidney tissue were relatively high (liver: g.m. 7.87; range: 1.35–24.8 g Hg/g ww, and kidney: g.m. 15.2; range: 1.59–66.6 g Hg/g ww). Mercury and cadmium were positively correlated with age in liver and kidney. Zinc was positively correlated with age in kidney, and selenium was correlated with age in liver. Contrary to other marine mammals, polar bears had higher mercury levels in the kidneys than in the liver. In all three tissues polar bears had significantly lower cadmium levels than ringed seals from the same area. Mercury levels were likewise significantly lower in the muscle tissue of polar bears than in ringed seals, whereas levels in the liver and kidney were significantly higher. The previous geographic trend for cadmium and mercury found in Canadian polar bears could be extended to cover East Greenland as well. Hence cadmium levels were higher in Greenland than in Canada, while the opposite was the case for mercury. Greenland polar bears had higher mercury and cadmium contents in livers and kidneys than polar bears from Svalbard. The mercury levels in muscle and liver tissue from polar bears from East Greenland were twice as high as found in bears from western Alaska, but half the levels found in northern Alaska. Cadmium and zinc were partially correlated in kidney tissue, and this was found for mercury and selenium as well. Cadmium and zinc showed molar ratios close to unity with the highest concentrations occurring in kidney tissue, while the levels of zinc exceeded cadmium in muscle and liver tissue by up to several decades. Mercury and selenium showed molar ratios close to unity in liver and kidneys.     

Rescue of heavy metal effects on cell physiology of the algal model system Micrasterias by divalent ions

Recent studies have shown that metals such as copper, zinc, aluminum, cadmium, chromium, iron and lead cause severe dose-dependent disturbances in growth, morphogenesis, photosynthetic and respiratory activity as well as on ultrastructure and function of organelles in the algal model system Micrasterias denticulata ( Volland et al., 2011, Volland et al., 2012 and Andosch et al., 2012). In the present investigation we focus on amelioration of these adverse effects of cadmium, chromium and lead by supplying the cells with different antioxidants and essential micronutrients to obtain insight into metal uptake mechanisms and subcellular metal targets. This seems particularly interesting as Micrasterias is adapted to extremely low-concentrated, oligotrophic conditions in its natural bog environment.     

Biomonitoring Survey of Trace Metal Pollution in Streams of a Catchment Draining a Zinc and Lead Mining Area of Upper Silesia,Poland Using the Amphipod Gammarus fossarum

We have used accumulated metal concentration data to investigate variability in the bioavailabilities of cadmium, copper, lead, zinc and iron to the amphipod Gammarus fossarum inhabiting the Biala Przemsza river system draining an area of lead and zinc mining. The highest bioavailabilities of most of the metals were found in a stream carrying water from mine drainage and flotation processes. Significant amounts of bioavailable cadmium entered via another stream receiving waters from ore processing. The bioavailabilities of copper varied little, indicating the lack of a local point source of entry. All metals other than copper showed seasonal variations with the highest concentrations recorded in October. Comparative data show the Biala Przemsza system to be contaminated with cadmium, lead, zinc and iron. The data presented exemplify metal concentration ranges in G. fossarum inhabiting industrial areas, and can be used as a reference for future surveys involving this species in Central Europe.