Factors affecting the distribution of cadmium,copper and lead and their effect upon yield and zinc content in bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Summary Concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cu in the roots, stems and leaves of bulgarian bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) were determined for plants grown in various soils of increasing levels of contamination of these metals. Most of each heavy metal absorbed by plants was retained in roots. Concentrations of Cd, Pb and Cu in roots increased in response to soil concentrations, whereas, in stems, only Cd and Pb concentrations increased and Cu concentration was relatively constant. It is thought that Cu transport to the stele was metabolically controlled, whereas Cd and Pb reached the stem by leakage across non suberised areas of the endodermis. Uptake of heavy metals was associated with a decrease in zinc content in plants and a decrease in yield. By regression analysis decrease in both zinc content and plant yield could be best related to Cd content in stems. Possible reasons for these effects are discussed.     

The effects of sublethal concentrations of zinc,cadmium and mercury on Euglena

Results on the effect of sub-lethal concentrations of zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), and mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) on Euglena are presented. During the growth cycle respiratory oxygen uptake and photosynthetic oxygen evolution in the light are initially strongly inhibited by Zn, Cd and Hg. The effects of the three metals on photosynthesis, using oxygen evolution as a criterion was confirmed by carbon fixation techniques.Photosystem I (PSI) associated electron transport 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP)_red. methyl viologen (MV) O₂, in contrast to total photosynthetic capacity, was only slightly inhibited by Zn, Cd and Hg, whereas the levels of activity of NADP-oxidoreductase in cells untreated or treated with heavy metals showed development like total photosynthesis. Metals strongly inhibited this enzyme which means that the supply of NADPH is lowered due to the action of Zn, Cd and Hg. Photosystem II (PSII) associated electron transport (H₂O dibromothymoquinone/2,3-dimethyl-5,6-methylenedioxy-D-benzoquinone O₂), however, was severely inhibited in a way similar to total photosynthesis. Effects on the cooperation of PSI + II showed patterns similar to PSII alone, i.e., heavy metals strongly reduced PSI + II dependent activities.Abbreviations DAD diaminodurene - DBMIB dibromothymoquinone - DCPIP 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - DMMIB 2,3-dimethyl-5,6-methylenedioxy-p-benzoquinone - DPC 1,5-diphenylcarbazide - MV methylviologen - PS photosystem Dedicated to Professor Kandler on occasion of his 60th birthday     

Relationship between mercury,organochlorine compounds and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen in yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) taken from different regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans

The aim of this study was to compare the δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, Hg and organochlorines (PCBs, p,p′-DDE and trans-nonachlor) in the yellowfin tuna taken from several regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The highest values of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C were observed in the tuna taken from Sri Lanka and Maldives (Indian Ocean), while the lowest values were observed in the tuna taken from Hawaii. In contrast, the highest Hg concentration was observed in the tuna taken from Hawaii, while the lowest concentration was observed in the tuna taken from Sri Lanka and Maldives. These orders of δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C and Hg may reflect the geographical characteristics of those among nine regions. On the other hand, the highest concentration of each organochlorine was found in the tuna taken from New Zealand, while the lowest was found in the tuna sample from Hawaii, probably reflecting the anthropogenic contamination among eight regions. The inter-regional variations in organochlorines were markedly larger than those in Hg concentration. The Hg uniformly distributed in the area under the normal curve of Hg concentration against δ¹³C or δ¹⁵N value, while the organochlorines did not. This difference may be ascribed to the fact that Hg is of natural and anthropogenic origins, while the organochlorines are of anthropogenic origin. A principal compartment analysis of δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, Hg and organochlorines apparently clarified the tuna taken from eight regions into 5 groups of Sri Lanka and Maldives, New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii and Japan.     

The transfer of cadmium, mercury, methylmercury, and zinc in an intertidal rocky shore food chain

We examined the transfer of cadmium (Cd), inorganic mercury [Hg(II)], methylmercury (MeHg), and zinc (Zn) in an intertidal rocky shore food chain, namely from marine phytoplankton to suspension-feeding rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) and finally to predatory whelks Thais clavigera. The uptake of metals from the dissolved phase was also concurrently quantified in the oysters and the whelks. Metal uptake by the oysters was not directly proportional, whereas metal uptake by the whelks was directly proportional to metal concentration in the water. The order of uptake was MeHg>Hg(II)>Zn>Cd, and was much higher in the oysters than in the whelks. The relative uptake of Zn and Cd was comparable between oysters and whelks, whereas MeHg and Hg(II) showed disproportionally higher uptake in oysters than in whelks as compared to Zn and Cd. The assimilation efficiencies (AEs) were in the order of MeHg>Zn>Cd=Hg(II) in oysters, whereas the AEs were highest for MeHg and comparable for Zn, Cd, and Hg(II) in the whelks. Pre-exposure of the oysters to different dissolved concentrations of Cd significantly elevated the AEs of Cd and Hg(II) but not of Zn, in association with the induction of metallothioneins in the oysters. The whelks significantly assimilated Cd and Zn from various prey (barnacles, oysters, mussels, and snails) with contrasting strageties of metal sequestration and storage. There was no significant relationship between the metal AE and the metal partitioning in the soluble fraction (including metallothionein-like proteins, heat stable protein, and organelles). The insoluble fraction of metals was also available for metal assimilation. Our calculations show that the dietary uptake of metals can be dominant in the overall bioaccumulation in the oysters and whelks, and the trophic transfer factor was >1 for all metals. Thus, the four metals have a high potential of being biomagnified in the intertidal rocky shore food chain. MeHg possessed the highest and Hg(II) and Cd the lowest potential of trophic transfer among the four metals considered.     

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.     

Determination of isotope ratios in human tissues enriched with zinc stable isotope tracers using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Enriched fecal and urine samples were prepared using ion-exchange column chromatography for analysis by Inductively Coupled and Fast Atom Bombardment Mass spectrometry (ICP-MS, FAB-MS) to compare precision between methods. Unenriched samples of human milk, feces, and whole blood were prepared similarly to monitor instrumental precision and analytical error. A least squares fit of the ICP-MS results vs the FAB-MS for⁷⁰Zn/⁶⁴Zn gave a slope of 0.98, with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of only 0.7%. The results for⁶⁸Zn/⁶⁴Zn gave a slope of 0.82, with a RSD of 14%. For unenriched tissues, all potential interferences were removed by the preparation procedure with no significant differences between preparation for isotope ratios of⁷⁰Zn/⁶⁴Zn,⁶⁸Zn/⁶⁴Zn,⁶⁷Zn/⁶⁴Zn, and⁶⁶Zn/⁶⁴Zn. Poisson counting statistics are a major contribution to the total analytical error indicating the usefulness of this procedure for enrichment studies.     

Effects of copper,zinc, and cadmium ions on the production of phosphate from phytic acid by the phytase system in spruce forest soil

Summary The hydrolysis of phosphate from phytic acid by the acid soil phytase system was reduced in the presence of metal ions. Copper was most effective in this respect — zinc and cadmium were less inhibitory. Binding to metals did not completely inhibit the hydrolysis of phytic acid. At higher metal concentrations, where binding to other soil constituents, like humic acids, interfered less, the inhibition of the phytase activity was stronger than that of acid phosphatase.     

The effect of industrial pollution on copper,lead, zinc and cadmium concentration in xylem rings of resistant (Populus marilandica) and sensitive (P. balsamifera) species of poplar

Summary The patterns of radial distribution of copper, lead, zinc and cadmium in two species of poplar, growing under polluted conditions near a copper smelter, were investigated. Populus marilandica is very resistant to such pollution, but P. balsamifera is sensitive. Soils were examined for concentrations of these metals, and only a surface layer of soil was polluted with copper and lead. P. balsamifera absorbed much more cadmium than P. marilandica under the same conditions. P. marilandica shows a pattern of copper radial distribution with significantly increased concentration of the meral in the layers in the middle of the trunk compared to P. balsamifera. Zinc and cadmium have a pattern with increased metal concentration from the bark towards the pith of the tree. In the case of copper and lead the pattern indicates increased concentrations of these metals in the rings adjacent to the pith while the pattern in other parts of the tree remains unconfirmed due to poor precision. Poplar xylem seems to accumulate zinc and cadmium while the content of lead in xylem is much lower than in the adjacent soil.This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Stefan Bialobok, Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Kornik     

Effect of cadmium, chromium and copper on symbiotic and free-living Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii

Abstract Plasmid-minus derivatives of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar trifolii have been isolated. Cured strains lacked symbiotic properties, however they showed increased heavy metal resistance. In the presence of 70 ppm chromium the parent strain, unlike cured derivatives, is unable to grow explanta but can nevertheless nodulate clover.
We propose that rhizobia can circumvent exposure to the heavy metal by entering the plant roots.
Acetylene reduction tests showed that nodulated plants, grown in the presence of 10 ppm of chromium, had an increased nitrogenase activity compared to the control plants.     

Metallothionein concentration in sponges (Spongia officinalis) as a biomarker of metal contamination

The synthesis of metallothioneins (MTs) is often induced when organisms are exposed to heavy metals in the field. They are among the major "specific" biomarkers identified to date. With a view to include MTs in biomonitoring programs, the organisms most commonly studied are bivalves. Sponges present most of the characteristics researched in bioindicators of pollution and consequently have been proposed to constitute a "Sponge Watch Program". The detection of large quantities of metals in sponges suggests the existence of detoxification systems and indeed, the presence of metallothionein-like proteins (MTLPs) has been reported in two different species of sponges. In Spongia officinalis, the present study has demonstrated the presence of compounds exhibiting most of the characteristics of MTs: cytosolic, heat-stable, with apparent molecular mass of 4 to 15 kDa and binding (at least) Ag, Cu and Zn. Specimens have been collected along the French Mediterranean coast from three sites differing by their degree of contamination. Relationships between MTLP and metal concentrations have been established. For copper, mercury and zinc, the correlations were significantly positive.     

Phytochelatins govern zinc/copper homeostasis and cadmium detoxification in Cuscuta campestris parasitizing Daucus carota

Cuscuta sp., known with the common name of “dodder”, is an obligate parasite capable of invading stems and leaves of a wide range of host plants. Dodder stem usually coils counterclockwise around the host and, within a few days, develops haustorial structures at each point of contact. As soon as dodder haustoria reach host vascular bundles, they start tapping water, photosynthates and minerals. Metal ions such as zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) are essential for dodder growth and metabolism, although an exceedingly high (over-homeostatic) supply of these micronutrients can result in growth inhibition and cellular toxicity. Even more so, non-essential metals such as cadmium (Cd), if transferred from the host to the parasite, need to be neutralized by timely detoxification mechanisms. In this work, we showed that Cuscuta campestris Yuncker establishes effective haustorial connections with leaf petioles and blades of Daucus carota L. (carrot), with the consequent transfer of Cd and essential metals (such as Zn and Cu) from the host vascular bundles to the parasite. Following up to this point, we detected the presence in the parasite of significant amounts of glutathione and phytochelatins, even in the absence of Cd exposure. This suggests that thiol peptides in dodder might be particularly important for Zn and Cu homeostasis as well as for Cd detoxification. Finally, we demonstrated that dodder is capable of synthesizing phytochelatins on its own, rather than massively importing them from the host, and also provided evidence for the existence of an endogenous, constitutively expressed, dodder's phytochelatin synthase.     

Variation in trophic shift for stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur

Use of stable isotope ratios to trace pathways of organic matter among consumers requires knowledge of the isotopic shift between diet and consumer. Variation in trophic shift among consumers can be substantial. For data from the published literature and supplementary original data (excluding fluid-feeding consumers), the mean isotopic shift for C was +0.5±0.13‰ rather than 0.0‰, as commonly assumed. The shift for C was higher for consumers analyzed as muscle (+1.3±0.30‰) than for consumers analyzed whole (+0.3±0.14‰). Among consumers analyzed whole, the trophic shift for C was lower for consumers acidified prior to analysis (−0.2±0.21‰) than for unacidified samples (+0.5±0.17‰). For N, trophic shift was lower for consumers raised on invertebrate diets (+1.4±0.21‰) than for consumers raised on other high-protein diets (+3.3±0.26‰) and was intermediate for consumers raised on plant and algal diets (+2.2±0.30‰). The trophic shift for S differed between high-protein (+2.0±0.65‰) and low-protein diets (-0.5±0.56‰). Thus, methods of analysis and dietary differences can affect trophic shift for consumers; the utility of stable isotope methods can be improved if this information is incorporated into studies of trophic relationships. Although few studies of stable isotope ratios have considered variation in the trophic shift, such variation is important because small errors in estimates of trophic shift can result in large errors in estimates of the contribution of sources to consumers or in estimates of trophic position.     

Time course of gold-induced accumulation of copper and zinc and the effects of dimercaptosuccinate and cadmium on gold metabolism in rat kidney

After the s.c. administration of sodium aurothiomalate (SATM, 10 mg Au/kg) to male rats, the gold content of the kidney increased to a maximum after 4 days and thereafter declined slowly. The total copper content of the kidney increased at least until 11 days after SATM treatment but was not simply a function of the renal gold content. Gold and copper accumulated in the metallothionein-like, low molecular weight protein fraction and the initial uptake of gold by this fraction appeared to be related to the accumulation of copper. The Zn²⁺ content of the kidney was initially unchanged but later increased with the additional Zn²⁺ bound predominantly to the non-soluble components. The accumulation of low molecular weight protein-bound copper was not related either to the Zn²⁺ content of this fraction or to the total Zn²⁺ content of the kidney.Daily administration of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA, 50 mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks to SATM-pretreated rats resulted in a 50% reduction in the concentration of gold in the non-soluble fraction and in both the high and low molecular weight protein components of the soluble fraction. Copper, which accumulated in the non-soluble components and in the soluble low molecular weight protein, was lost only from the non-soluble components.Uptake of gold by the kidneys was increased when rats were pretreated with Cd²⁺. The accumulation of gold in the low molecular weight protein fraction was also increased, but most of the additional gold in the kidneys was accumulated by the non-soluble components. SATM had no effect on the renal concentration or subcellular distribution of Cd²⁺. It was concluded that the soluble low molecular weight metal binding protein does not have prominent regulatory or protective functions in the renal metabolism of gold.     

Detection of breastfeeding and weaning in modern human infants with carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios

Carbon ((13)C/(12)C) and nitrogen ((15)N/(14)N) stable isotope ratios were longitudinally measured in fingernail and hair samples from mother-infant pairs where infants were exclusively breastfed (n = 5), breast- and formula-fed (n = 2), or exclusively formula-fed (n = 1) from birth. All exclusively breastfed infants had a dual enrichment in carbon ( approximately 1 per thousand) and nitrogen ( approximately 2-3 per thousand) when compared to maternal values. In contrast, breast- and formula-fed subjects had reduced enrichments compared to exclusively breastfed subjects, and the exclusively formula-fed infant showed no increase in delta(13)C or delta(15)N values. This finding of a carbon trophic level effect in breastfeeding infants suggests that (13)C-enrichments of approximately 1 per thousand in archaeological populations are not necessarily the result of the consumption of C(4)-based weaning foods such as maize or millet. During the weaning process, the delta(13)C results for breastfed infants declined to maternal levels more rapidly than the delta(15)N results. This suggests that delta(13)C values have the potential to track the introduction of solid foods into the diet, whereas delta(15)N values monitor the length of time of breast milk consumption. These findings can be used to refine the isotopic analysis of breastfeeding and weaning patterns in past and modern populations.     

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios of deposit-feeding polychaetes in the Nanakita River Estuary, Japan

Two types of deposit-feeding polychaetes, Neanthes japonica and Notomastus sp., and their surrounding sediments were collected from the Nanakita River Estuary and a small brackish lagoon (Gamõ Lagoon) in northeastern Japan. The samples were examined using stable isotope analysis to assess the site specific feeding mode of the animals and their trophic status. N. japonica is a surface deposit-feeder and Notomastus sp. is a subsurface deposit-feeder. In the estuary, the sedimentary ⁵N tended to become isotopically heavier from the upper estuary (2.0 3.9) to the river mouth (4.3 6.2), while sedimentary organic ¹³C constant value (–26.8 –24.4, average –25.6) throughout the river estuary. The ¹³C values of N. japonica were similar to those of the surrounding sediment in the upper estuary, whereas in the lower estuary, N. japonica had a heavier ¹³C value than the surrounding sediment. The ¹³C and dg ¹⁵N values indicated that the carbon, but not the nitrogen, of N. japonica was derived from upland plants in the upper estuary. In the lower estuary, a significant fraction of carbon of N. japonica was derived from phytoplankton. Notomastus sp. exhibited heavier ¹³C values than the surrounding surface sediment throughout the estuary and had heavier ¹³C values than N. japonica in the same location. These results suggest selective utilization of sedimentary carbon by those animals following bacterial processing and subsequent fractionation. The difference in ¹⁵N between sedimentary organics and corresponding polychaetes was 5 ± 1 and rather higher than 3.4 ± 1.1 expected for normal trophic effects in other animals.     

Spatial,ontogenetic and interspecific variability in stable isotope ratios of nitrogen and carbon of Merluccius capensis and Merluccius paradoxus off South Africa

General linear models (GLMs) were used to determine the relative importance of interspecific, ontogenetic and spatial effects in explaining variability in stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) of the co‐occurring Cape hakes Merluccius capensis and Merluccius paradoxus off South Africa. Significant GLMs were derived for both isotopes, explaining 74 and 56% of observed variance in Merluccius spp. δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C, respectively. Spatial effects (west or south coast) contributed most towards explaining variability in the δ¹⁵N model, with Merluccius spp. off the west coast having higher (by c. 1·4‰) δ¹⁵N levels than Merluccius spp. off the south coast. Fish size and species were also significant in explaining variability in δ¹⁵N, with both species showing significant linear increases in δ¹⁵N with size and M. capensis having higher (by c. 0·7‰) δ¹⁵N values than M. paradoxus. Species and coast explained most and similar amounts of variability in the δ¹³C model, with M. capensis having higher (by c. 0·8‰) δ¹³C values than M. paradoxus, and values being lower (by c. 0·7‰) for fishes off the west coast compared with the south coast. These results not only corroborate the knowledge of Merluccius spp. feeding ecology gained from dietary studies, in particular the ontogenetic change in trophic level corresponding to a changing diet, but also that M. capensis feeds at a slightly higher trophic level than M. paradoxus. The spatial difference in Merluccius spp. δ¹⁵N appears due to a difference in isotopic baseline, and not as a result of Merluccius spp. feeding higher in the food web off the west than the south coast, and provides new evidence that corroborates previous observations of biogeographic differences in isotopic baselines around the South African coast. This study also provides quantitative data on the relative trophic level and trophic width of Cape hakes over a large size range that can be used in ecosystem models of the southern Benguela.     

锌肥对不同基因型大麦吸收积累镉的影响

对土壤添加不同Zn、Cd条件下两种基因型(Sahara和Clipper)大麦对Zn、Cd的吸收积累研究表明,在本实验条件下土壤添加Zn、Cd对植物地上部生物量没有显著影响,但土壤添加Zn抑制植物根系生长,在土壤不缺Zn情况下添加Zn<20mg·kg^-1时并没有对大麦体内Cd浓度产生显著影响;当土壤Zn添加量达到40mg·kg^-1时,植物体内Cd浓度明显降低,植物吸收Cd的总量随着土壤添加Zn的增加而显著下降,这主要是由于根系生物量的下降所致,两个基因型大麦品种Zn效率存在显著差异,但这一差异对植物吸收Cd的总量没有影响,Zn高效品种Sahara根部Cd浓度显著低于Clipper。     

Effect of lipid removal on carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios in crustacean tissues

The analysis of tissue's naturally occurring stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios is a useful tool to delineate trophic relationships. However, the interpretation of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N is complicated by the influence of multiple factors such as the tissue-specific lipid content. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of lipid extraction on δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N compositions in muscle, hepatopancreas and gonads of a marine decapod crustacean, the spider crab Maja brachydactyla. Samples were analyzed for stable isotopes before and after lipid removal, using a derived Soxhlet extraction method. Differences in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were measured among tissues before and after treatment. Lipid extraction of muscle did not have a significant effect on either δ¹³C or δ¹⁵N. By contrast, ecologically significant shifts for both carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes ratios (+ 2.9 ± 0.8‰ for δ¹³C, and + 1.2 ± 0.7‰ for δ¹⁵N) were noticed in the hepatopancreas. In regard to gonads, lipid extraction led to a shift only on δ¹³C (+ 1.3 ± 0.3‰). Finally, the derived Soxhlet extraction method removed the lipid influence for δ¹³C, and had an effect on δ¹⁵N composition for lipid-rich samples. We recommend this treatment for carbon stable isotope studies on decapod crustacean lipid-rich tissues.     

Synthesis and characterisation of copper(II), zinc(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of salicylglycine, a metabolite of aspirin

Copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt(II) complexes of the aspirin metabolite salicylglycine (H₂L), of stoichiometry M(HL)₂·solvate, have been prepared and characterised. In these complexes salicylglycinate is coordinated to the metal via its carboxylato group and possibly also its amide oxygen in the copper(II) complex. Under basic conditions copper(II) forms the complex Cu(LH₋₁)·2H₂O·MeOH, in which the ligand is coordinated to the metal via its carboxylate and phenolate oxygen atoms and the deprotonated peptide nitrogen atom.     

Interspecific comparisons of relative assimilation efficiencies for zinc and cadmium in an ecological series of talitrid amphipods (Crustacea)

A dual-labelling radioisotope technique has enabled the relative assimilation efficiencies of an essential (Zn) and a non-essential trace metal (Cd) to be determined in an ecological series of talitrid amphipods from low-shore to fully terrestrial habitats. All species exhibited high assimilation efficiencies for zinc and cadmium (within the range 66.7–96.4%). Interspecific differences in assimilation rates showed no trend with increasing terrestriality of the habitat. Elevated dietary zinc concentrations failed to enhance zinc assimilation efficiency. Incorporation of antibiotics into the diet to eliminate gut microflora did not affect zinc assimilation efficiencies. The implications of having high trace-metal assimilation efficiencies are discussed in terms of land invasion by talitrids.