Effects of Se and Cd Co-treatment on the Morphology,Oxidative Stress,and Ion Concentrations in the Ovaries of Laying Hens

This study aims at revealing the effects of the combined treatment of selenium and cadmium on ovary morphology, oxidative stress, and 28 kinds of ion concentrations in laying hens. In this experiment, 128 healthy 31-week-old chickens were selected and divided into four treatment groups, three of which were separately fed the basic diets supplemented with either Se or Cd or both Se and Cd for 90 days, and the remaining group was fed the basic diet and treated as a control. The chickens were sacrificed for collecting ovarian tissues. Morphological structure and ultrastructure analysis of ovaries in the Cd-treated group revealed ovarian damage, with decreased activities of SOD and GPx, along with increased levels of MDA and H₂O₂. Cd treatment also resulted in disturbances in ion balance. The concentrations of Ca, Ti, Cu, Zn, and Ba were significantly reduced, while the concentrations of Fe, Mo, and Cd were significantly increased when compared with the control group. Interestingly, the damages caused by cadmium were alleviated in the Se+Cd-treated group. These results indicate that selenium can alleviate cadmium-induced ovarian damages.     

Simultaneous Determination of Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Se in Human Blood of Jordanian Smokers by ICP-OES

A total of 73 blood samples (56 from smokers and 17 from nonsmokers) were collected to determine the concentrations of selected heavy metal in the whole blood of smokers and nonsmokers living in and around the city of Amman, Jordan. Analysis of heavy metals in the whole blood samples of various groups took in consideration the number of cigarettes smoked per day. The analysis of blood samples was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. This study aimed to evaluate the blood metal levels in smokers and nonsmokers and to assess the influence of smoking cigarettes on blood metal levels. The results were compared with those from a control group. The results indicated that the average concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) were 0.0313, 0.344, 2.328, 3.214, and 0.332 mg/L, respectively. Statistical analysis of results indicated that these average concentrations were significantly higher compared with the average concentrations in nonsmokers (P < 0.05). Moreover, the correlations between blood metal and other blood metal levels in smokers, the correlations between blood metal and other blood metal levels in nonsmokers, and the correlations between blood metal concentration in smokers and its concentration in nonsmokers were calculated. The standard reference material (blood serum National Institute of Standards and Technology 1598) and the quality control were used to validate the reliability of the method used for the estimation of heavy metals in blood samples. Results revealed that there was an agreement between the certified values and the measured values.     

蕹菜典型品种中Cd、Pb、Cr、Ni 等重金属含量及其相关性

目的:蕹菜(Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.)Cd(镉)积累典型品种对Cd、Pb(铅)、C(r铬)、N(i镍)等多种重金属的吸收积累及相互关系。方法:采用盆栽试验,分析4个蕹菜Cd积累典型品种在6种土壤上的两茬茎叶及根Cd、Pb、Cr、Ni含量及相关性。结果:①品种和土壤对供试蕹菜典型品种Cd含量的效应均达显著水平(P<0.05),对Pb、Cr和Ni含量的效应因重金属、收获时期及部位而不同,二者对Cd、Pb含量具一定的交互效应。②两茬茎叶Cd含量平均值均为T308>GDB>QLB>QLQ,根Cd平均含量高于茎叶Cd平均含量;除Cr外,根Pb和Ni平均含量均高于茎叶。③Cd、Pb、Cr、Ni含量呈现复杂的相关关系。茎叶Cd含量与Pb含量正相关,且第一茬相关性极显著(P<0.01);Pb含量与Ni含量相关关系明显,第一茬茎叶、根Pb含量与Ni含量的正相关达到显著(P<0.05)或极显著水平(P<0.01),但第二茬茎叶Pb含量与Ni含量却显著负相关(P<0.05);Pb含量与Cr含量的相关性仅第一茬茎叶显著(P<0.05);Cr含量与Ni含量的相关性仅第二茬茎叶达极显著水平(P<0.01)。结论:蕹菜典型品种对Cd、Pb、Cr、Ni的吸收积累存在协同和拮抗两种作用。     

Determination of Distributions of Cd, Cu, and Pb Concentrations in Sediments of a Mexican Reservoir to Infer Their Environmental Risk

The José Antonio Alzate Dam in the State of Mexico, Mexico, receives wastewaters from domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities through the Lerma River. Chemical and physicochemical characteristics of the water were determined. Sediment has been studied in order to define the importance of its influence on the reservoir's state as a whole. The quantification of the metals, Cd, Cu, and Pb in total forms and the geochemical distribution and the chemical mobility of these metals in sediment have been established using a chemical sequential extraction scheme. The three metals showed a common characteristic, being more abundant in fraction F6 (residual), but the other fractions of the geochemical distribution were variable depending on the metal. First, the contamination level was evaluated with the results of the total metals, using the criteria of EPA, Thomas and Murdoch, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment for sediment in water bodies. Subsequently, the risk was assessed using the same criteria but considering the results of sequential extractions, where the geochemical distribution of each metal allowed a better understanding of metal portions with more influence on the risk, in which Cu and Pb presented low risk, but not Cd.     

Estimation of Dietary Pb and Cd Intake from Pb and Cd in Blood or Urine

Successful trials were made to estimate the dietary daily intake of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) via foods from the levels of the metals in blood or urine. In practice, 14 and 15 reports were available for Pb and Cd in blood (Pb-B and Cd-B), urine (Pb-U and Cd-U) and 24-h diet duplicates (Pb-D and Cd-D), respectively, from which 68 pairs each of Pb or Cd in blood and food duplicates [each being geometric mean (GM) values for the survey sites] were obtained. Regression analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between Pb-B and Pb-D, and also between Cd-B and Cd-D, suggesting that it should be possible to estimate both Pb-D and Cd-D from Pb-B and Cd-B, respectively. For Cd-U, the number of available cases was limited (20 pairs), but a significant correlation was detected between Cd-U (as Cd-U_cr, or Cd levels in urine as corrected for creatinine concentration) and Cd-D. Care should be taken in estimating Pb-D from Pb-B, as the ratio of Pb-D over Pb-B may decrease as a function of increasing Pb-B levels. The Pb-D (μg/day) for typical Japanese women with Pb-B of 15 μg/l was best estimated to be 13.5 μg/day. No Cd-B- or Cd-U_cr-dependent change was detected in case of Cd. The best estimate of Cd-D for Cd-B at 1.5 μg/l should be about 19.4 μg/day.     

Effect of Different Selenium Sources on Productive Performance,Serum and Milk Se Concentrations,and Antioxidant Status of Sows

The experiment was conducted to study the effects of different selenium (Se) sources on productive performance, serum and milk Se concentrations, and antioxidant status of sows. A total of 12 sows (Landrace×Yorkshire) with same pregnancy were randomly divided into two groups; each group was replicated six times. These two groups received the same basal gestation and lactation diets containing 0.042 mg Se/kg, supplemented with 0.3 mg Se/kg sodium selenite or selenomethionine (i.e., seneno-dl-methylseleno), respectively. The feeding trial lasted for 60 days, with 32 and 28 days for gestation and lactation period, respectively. Compared with sodium selenite, maternal selenomethionine intake significantly increased (P < 0.05) the weaning litter weight and average weight of piglet. The Se concentration in the serum, colostrum, and milk of sows were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the selenomethionine-treated group. The antioxidant status was greatly improved in sows of selenomethionine-treated group and was illuminated by the increased total antioxidant capability (T-AOC; P < 0.05) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA; P < 0.01) level in the serum of sows, increased T-AOC (P < 0.05), glutathione (GSH) peroxidase (P < 0.05), superoxide dismutase (P < 0.05) and GSH (P < 0.05), and MDA (P < 0.05) level in the colostrum and milk of sows. These results suggested that maternal selenomethionine intake improved Se concentration and antioxidant status of sows, thus maintain maternal health and increase productive performance after Se was transferred to its offspring.     

农作物体内铅,镉,铜的化学形态研究

本文报道了农作物体内重金属存在的化学形态。用逐步提取法分析了生长在污染土壤上的水稻、小麦的根与叶。结果表明,在两种作物中,根部的铅以活性较低的醋酸可提取态与盐酸可提取态占优势,而叶中的铅以盐酸可提取态占优势。不论根部或叶部,在各种形态镉中,以氯化钠可提取镉所占比例较高,作用较重要。作物体内的铜活性较强,根部以乙醇可提取态占优势,叶中以水提取态占优势。各种结合形态的重金属迁移能力、毒性效应有显著差异。作物体内重金属化学形态特征与其表观毒性效应有密切联系。     

Phytoextraction of Ni,Pb and,Cd by duckweeds

Abstract

Heavy metals phytoextraction potential of swollen duckweed (Lemna gibba Linn.) and lesser duckweed (Lemna aequinoctialis Welw.) was determined under greenhouse conditions by exposing to untreated industrial/municipal effluent for a period of 21?days. The nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in water samples were measured weekly and in plant biomass at the termination of experiments. Significant differences (p?<?0.05) between initial and final physicochemical parameters and in heavy metal concentrations of plant and water samples were observed. Periodically measured metal concentrations in mediums revealed that removal percentage was dependent on initial Ni (2.15?mg L^?1), Pb (1.51?mg L^?1), and Cd (0.74?mg L^?1) concentrations. The final metal removal percentages were in the sequence of Ni (97%) > Pb (94%) > Cd (90%) when treated with Lemna gibba L. as compared to control (9–12% reduction). High biomass production of Lemna gibba L. resulted in a large metal reduction in the growth medium and the total plant metal contents were in the sequence of Ni (427?µg) > Pb (293?µg) > Cd (105?µg). The lesser duckweed did not survive under experimental conditions. Based on these results, we concluded that Lemna gibba L. is a good candidate for phytoremediation of wastewater.     

Epidermal uptake of Pb,Cd, and Zn in tubificid worms

Summary The epidermal uptake of Pb, Cd, and the essential element Zn by tubificid worms was investigated. The animals were starved and contaminated via the water column at 4°C and 25°C. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), laser induced mass analysis (LAMMA), electron microscopy, and the sulfide-silver method at the electron microscopical level were used. The sulfidesilver method revealed many reaction products indicating heavy metals in membrane-limited lysosomal structures in epidermal cells of contaminated Limnodrilus udekemianus. In these lysosomes, which were particularly abundant in the epidermis of the hind end, Pb, Cd, and Zn were detected by LAMMA and EDX analysis. Beside this distinct occurrence of the three elements a uniform pattern of reaction products was found in epidermal cells after contamination with Cd and Zn, but not after treatment with Pb. As shown by atomic absorption spectroscopy, Cd was the most enriched element at 25°C, followed by Pb and Zn. Simultaneous application of Zn reduced the uptake of Cd, whereas the uptake of Pb was increased. At 4° C uptake of Pb and Cd was slower than at 25° C, while Zn uptake was blocked completely. This shows that heavy metal uptake can be strongly dependent on environmental conditions, which has to be taken into account if animals are used as monitor organisms for heavy metal pollution in the environment.     

High Concentrations of Boric Acid Trigger Concentration-Dependent Oxidative Stress,Apoptotic Pathways and Morphological Alterations in DU-145 Human Prostate Cancer Cell Line

Biological Trace Element Research - Boric acid is known to regulate the proliferation of cancer cells. Prostate cancer is among the types of cancer with high mortality in men. There are a few...     

在蚯蚓影响下土壤Pb、Cd有效态的变化及小白菜对Pb、Cd的富集转移作用

研究了在蚯蚓影响下Pb、Cd添加量不同(Pb:500～1 700 μg·g-1;Cd:1～30 μg·g-1)的土壤中Pb和Cd有效态及其含量的变化以及小白菜(Brassica chinensis L. )对土壤中Pb和Cd的富集和转移作用.结果显示,在蚯蚓的影响下,Pb添加量为500～1 400 μg·g-1的土壤中酸提取态和可还原态Pb含量显著提高,有效态Pb总含量也随土壤中Pb添加量的提高逐渐增加;Cd添加量为5～20 μg·g-1的土壤中酸提取态Cd含量显著提高,有效态Cd总含量也随土壤中Cd添加量的提高而逐渐增加;当土壤中Pb和Cd添加量分别达到1 700和30 μg·g-1时,蚯蚓对Pb和Cd基本无活化作用.在蚯蚓的影响下,小白菜地上部分Pb含量显著提高,对Pb的转移系数也均高于各自的对照,地上部分和地下部分对Pb的富集系数分别为0.037～0.061和0.401～0.628.在蚯蚓影响下,在Cd添加量较低(1～5 μg·g-1)的土壤中小白菜地上部分和地下部分的Cd含量以及对Cd的富集系数均高于各自的对照;而在Cd添加量较高(10～30 μg·g-1)的土壤中小白菜地上部分和地下部分的Cd含量以及对Cd的富集系数均低于各自的对照,并随土壤中Cd添加量的提高逐渐降低;小白菜地上部分和地下部分对Cd的富集系数分别为1.196～11.516和1.744～20.425;各处理组小白菜对Cd的转移系数与各自的对照差异不显著.研究结果显示,蚯蚓主要对土壤中酸提取态和可还原态Pb以及酸提取态Cd有活化作用,并且可促进Pb由小白菜地下部分向地上部分的转移,但对Cd的转移无明显促进作用;此外,小白菜对Pb的富集作用不明显,但对Cd有一定的富集能力,这种能力的大小与土壤Cd含量有关.     

Pb and Cd uptake in rice roots

Pb and Cd are heavy metal pollutants that inhibit plant growth. Using a cultivated rice variety (Dongjin, Oryza sativa L.), we studied how the transport and toxicity of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ are affected by the presence of K⁺, Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺. K⁺ had a little effect on uptake or toxicity of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺. Ca²⁺ or Mg²⁺ blocked both Cd²⁺ transport into rice roots and Cd²⁺ toxicity on root growth, which suggested that their detoxification effect is directly related to their blocking of entry of the heavy metals. Similarly, Ca²⁺ blocked both Pb²⁺ transport into the root and Pb²⁺ toxicity on root growth. The protective effect of Ca²⁺ on Pb²⁺ toxicity may be related to its inhibition of the heavy metal accumulation in the root tip, a potential target site of Pb²⁺ toxicity. Mg²⁺ did not ameliorate the Pb²⁺ toxicity on root growth as much as Ca²⁺ did, although it decreased Pb²⁺ uptake into roots similarly as Ca²⁺ did. These results suggest that the protective effect of Ca²⁺ on Pb²⁺ toxicity may involve multiple mechanisms including competition at the entry level, and that Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ may compete with divalent cations for transport into roots of rice plants.     

Serum levels of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in cigarette smokers

In order to show the accumulation of Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn in smokers, levels of these metals in serum were determined in 108 subjects: 32 non-smokers, 37 average cigarette smokers and 39 heavy cigarette smokers. The analysis was carried out by potentiometric stripping analysis (PSA) with the Tecator "Striptec System". Backward oxidation time of the amalgamated metals, by means of electrolysis, in a thin "film" of mercury in an electrode, gives their concentration measure. Our data showed an increase in average values of Cd and Pb in the serum of heavy smokers compared with average and non-smokers. Instead, as regards Cu and Zn, no differences were found in the two groups of smokers compared with the non-smokers used as controls. Results obtained of the Cd and Pb levels in serum are compatible with the presence of these metals in cigarette tobacco and inhaling them could contribute to disease connected with their accumulation in the human organism. For these subjects the increase in Cd values is of particular importance as it could predispose pulmonary emphysema.     

Cd、Pb投加浓度对其在黑土中化学形态分布及油菜生长和吸收Cd、Pb的影响

采用室内模拟实验和连续形态分级方法研究了Cd、Pb投加浓度对其在黑土中化学形态分布及油菜生长和吸收Cd、Pb量的影响.结果表明:随Cd、Pb投加量的增加,土壤中Cd交换态含量增幅较大,Pb碳酸盐结合态、Fe-Mn氧化物结合态含量增幅较大;外源Cd在土壤中的存在形态以交换态和残留态为主,Pb的交换态比例相对较低,其存在形态主要为残留态;土壤Cd、Pb投加浓度较低时,促进了油菜的生长,投加浓度较高时,对油菜生长的抑制作用较为明显;地下部分Cd、Pb含量远高于地上部分,与Cd相比,Pb向地上部的迁移率相对较小;土壤中Cd、Pb各形态含量与油菜地下、地上部分吸收的Cd、Pb量均呈显著正相关,与干质量呈负相关;交换态Cd、Pb对油菜干质量影响最大,碳酸盐结合态对油菜吸收Cd、Pb的贡献最大.     

三种重金属在克氏原螯虾体内的富集特征

2005年5月在合肥市、肥东县、肥西县的池塘河沟采集雌雄组克氏原螯虾共30只,分离出几丁质外骨骼、肝脏和腹部肌肉组织样品84份,用原子吸收法测定其中Cd、Pb、Cr的残留量。结果表明：克氏原螯虾体内Cr、Cd和Pb的平均检出率分别为100％,91．7％和94．1％;平均含量分别为4．03、0．38和7．14μg&#183;g^-1。Cr的富集量在3种组织之间的差异不显著,cd和Pb在3种组织中差异极其显著。外骨骼中Cr、Cd、Pb的平均含量分别为4．03、0．12和12．31μg&#183;g^-1,合肥市、肥西、肥东三地之间除Cr的富集量差异极显著外,其他2种重金属的富集量差异都不显著;肝脏中Cr、Cd、Pb的平均含量分别为3．88、1．04和9．12μg&#183;g^-1,3个地区重金属的富集量的差异都极其显著;肌肉中Cr、Cd、Pb的平均含量分别为4．16、0．09和0．72μg&#183;g^-1,3个地区除重金属Cr的富集量差异极显著外,Cd和Pb的差异都不显著。3种重金属污染物的富集量与体质量没有明显的相关性。3种重金属在雌雄个体之间的富集差异不显著。     

Phytoremediation of Cd,Ni, Pb and Zn by Salvinia minima

Most metals disperse easily in environments and can be bioconcentrated in tissues of many organisms causing risks to the health and stability of aquatic ecosystems even at low concentrations. The use of plants to phytoremediation has been evaluated to mitigate the environmental contamination by metals since they have large capacity to adsorb or accumulate these elements. In this study we evaluate Salvinia minima growth and its ability to accumulate metals. The plants were cultivated for about 60 days in different concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn (tested alone) in controlled environmental conditions and availability of nutrients. The results indicated that S. minima was able to grow in low concentrations of selected metals (0.03 mg L^?1 Cd, 0.40 mg L^?1 Ni, 1.00 mg L^?1 Pb and 1.00 mg L^?1 Zn) and still able to adsorb or accumulate metals in their tissues when cultivated in higher concentrations of selected metals without necessarily grow. The maximum values of removal metal rates (mg m² day^?1) for each metal (Cd = 0.0045, Ni = 0.0595, Pb = 0.1423 e Zn = 0.4046) are listed. We concluded that S. minima may be used as an additional tool for metals removal from effluent.     

Litter accumulation in woodlands contaminated by Pb,Zn, Cd and Cu

Summary Close to a primary lead-zinc-cadmium smelter the standing crop of litter in woodlands was found to be elevated relative to more distant sites. The total litter accumulation is similar to that from contaminated sites reported by other authors but in this case the concentrations of heavy metals are considerably lower than those reported for other sites. Evidence is provided to support the hypothesis that within the woodlands studied, litter accumulation is not closely pH dependent, but is clearly related to both cadmium and zinc concentrations in litter. Litter accumulation occurs in certain particle size ranges and fractionation shows that the weight of accumulated litter in these size ranges is highly correlated to cadmium concentrations. These results are discussed in relation to the reported possible long term effects of metal contamination on decomposition processes and the possibility of adaptation to these adverse effects.     

Oxidative Stress and Redox-Dependent Signaling in Prostate Cancer

Biochemistry (Moscow) - Tumor emergence and progression is complicated by the dual role of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Low concentrations of ROS are essential for many intracellular metabolic...