On-line speciation of arsenical compounds in fish and mussel extracts by HPLC-ICP-MS

The separation and determination of sub-μmol/l levels of six environmentally significant As compounds was accomplished by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined online with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The species of interest (arsenite and arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine and arsenocholine) were quantified in fish and mussel extracts after separation on a Dionex AS7 column equipped with an on-guard AG7 column using a bicarbonate buffer as the mobile phase in a gradient mode. The species thus eluted were directly forwarded to the ICP-MS detector. The detection power of the overall system allows each As form to be determined at concentrations as low a 0.0013–0.0027 μmol 1⁻¹.     

Spatial distribution of heavy metals in urban soils of Naples city (Italy)

Concentrations of surface and sub-surface soil Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn in the Naples city urban area were measured in 1999. Contourmaps were constructed to describe the metals spatial distribution. In the most contaminated soil samples, metals were speciated by means of the European Commission sequential extraction procedure. At twelve sites, Cu, Pb and Zn levels in soil were compared with those from a 1974 sampling. Many surface soils from the urban area as well as from the eastern industrial district contained levels of Cu, Pb and Zn that largely exceeded the limits (120, 100 and 150 mg kg(-l) for Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively) set for soils of public, residential and private areas by the Italian Ministry of Environment. Chromium values were never above regulatory limits(120 mg kg(-1)). Copper apparently accumulates in soils contiguous to railway lines and tramway. Cu and Cr existed in soil mainly inorganic forms (-68%), whereas Pb occurs essentially as residual mineral phases (77%). The considerable presence of Zn in the soluble, exchangeable and carbonate bound fraction (23%) suggests this element has high potential bioavailability and leachability through the soil. Concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn have greatly increased since the 1974 sampling, with higher accumulation in soils from roadside fields.     

Influence of low molecular weight anionic ligands on the sorption of heavy metals by soil constituents: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The sorption of heavy metals by soil constituents reduces the absorption of these pollutants by crops and vegetables, and thus limit food contamination. Low...     

Higher sorption of arsenate versus arsenite on amorphous Al-oxide, effect of ligands

Arsenic pollution is currently a major health issue because As is toxic for human beings, animals, and plants. Knowledge of As mobility is therefore important to assess health risk. The sorption of arsenite and arsenate on metal oxides in the presence of various anionic ligands is closely linked to the mobility, bioavailability, and risk. It was reported that the sorption mechanisms and characteristics of arsenite and arsenate on Al-oxides were different from that on Fe-oxides. Previous work reports the sorption of arsenite and arsenate on Fe-oxides in the presence of ligands. Whereas there is few knowledge on the sorption of arsenite and arsenate by Al-oxides in the presence of ligands. Here, we studied the sorption of arsenite and arsenate on amorphous Al-oxide by batch experiments. We tested the effect of organic ligands: oxalate, malate, tartrate, citrate; and inorganic ligands: sulfate, phosphate, selenate, selenite. Results show that amorphous Al-oxide has more sorption affinity for arsenate than arsenite. The inhibition of As sorption by ligands at pH 6 is higher for arsenite than arsenate. For arsenite, the As sorption inhibition decreases in the order phosphate, citrate, malate, selenite, oxalate, tartrate, sulfate, and selenate. For arsenate, the As sorption inhibition decreases in the order phosphate, malate, citrate, selenite, tartrate, oxalate, sulfate, and selenate.     

Trace element accumulation by moss and lichen exposed in bags in the city of Naples (Italy)

This paper presents the results of a bioaccumulation study of trace elements in the Naples urban area based on the use of the moss Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw. and the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf exposed in bags in 23 sites. Moss and lichen bags were exposed for 4 months starting from the beginning of July 1999. Bags gathering was carried out after 10 weeks of exposure, at the end of the dry season, and after 17 weeks, during the wet season. The elements Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V and Zn were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry ICP-MS in both biomonitors. For the majority of the elements the total amounts found in S. capillifolium were higher than in P. furfuracea whether considering the whole period of exposure or the weekly uptake. It was observed that there was a much greater difference in metal accumulation by P. furfuracea between the dry and wet seasons compared with S. capillifolium. In the wet period, the lichen seems to accumulate a larger quantity of metals. With the exception of Mn, trace element concentrations did not appear to be significantly affected by the washing away of rainfall. K loss during exposure suggested cell membrane damage in both organisms. For P. furfuracea the K leakage was limited to the dry period of exposure. A clear distinction between "lithophilic" and "anthropogenic" elements was achieved by cluster analysis. Significant correlations were found among Fe-Cu-Cr-Ni, Pb-Cd-Co, V-Cr-Ni, Zn-Ni-Pb, suggesting a common source for each group of elements.     

Sorption of Cu, Pb and Cr on Na-montmorillonite: competition and effect of major elements

The competitive sorption among Cu, Pb and Cr in ternary system on Na-montmorillonite at pH 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 and at different heavy metal concentrations, and the effect of varying concentrations of Al, Fe, Ca and Mg on the sorption of heavy metals were studied. Competitive sorption of Cu, Pb and Cr in ternary system on montmorillonite followed the sequence of Cr ? Cu > Pb. Moreover, the competition was weakened by the increase of pH while was intensified by the increase of heavy metal concentration. The sorption of heavy metal on montmorillonite was inhibited by the presence of Ca and Mg, while Al and Fe showed different patterns in affecting heavy metal sorption. Aluminum and Fe generally inhibited the sorption of heavy metal when the pH and/or concentration of major elements were relatively low. However, promoting effects on heavy metal sorption by Al and Fe were found at relatively high pH and/or great concentration of major elements. The inhibition of major elements on heavy metal sorption generally followed the order of Al > Fe > Ca ? Mg, while Fe was more efficient than Al in promoting the sorption of heavy metals. These findings are of fundamental significance for evaluating the mobility of heavy metals in polluted environments.     

Analytical characterization of movements of the spinal column and risk assessment due to repeated movements of the upper limbs of building painters

Manual activities of construction workers may induce musculoskeletal disorders. This study on a group of painters aimed to analytically characterize movements of the spinal column by both lumbar motion monitor and television cameras and to determine, using the Occupational Repetitive Actions (OCRA) Index method, the risk exerted by repeated movements of the upper limbs. The main results are: painting with a roller generally exposes workers to a lesser risk for upper limbs than painting with a brush; a roller-stick fixed at the wrong length can lead to stretching of the back at lumbar and cervical levels; to remain within the range of ‘acceptable risk’ (OCRA Index evaluation), a worker should not paint a vertical wall for over 3 h if using a roller and 2.5 h if painting with a brush; and, on average, a painter who paints for 5 h in a day lifts the bucket about 120,140 times.     

Accumulation history of radionuclides in the lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum from Mt. Vesuvius (south Italy)

The fruticose lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum, growing on the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius (south Italy), was used as a biomonitor of 134Cs, 137Cs, 103Ru and 106Ru derived from the April 26 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident. Samples were taken at five different quotes (370, 490, 580, 780 and 960 m a.s.l.) and four successive dates (October 1986, December 1986, October 1987 and May 1999). At the first sampling, the concentrations (as Bq kg(-1) dry weight) ranged between 460 and 1020 for 134Cs, 1330 and 2500 for 137Cs, 90 and 200 for 103Ru and 360 and 710 for 106Ru, values generally lower in respect to those measured in soil and higher plants. Of the total 137Cs measured only 14% was due to 1950s and 1960s nuclear weapons tests fallout. Highest average activities of all nuclides were observed at the quote of 960 m and significant correlation (0.7相似文献   

Assessment of workers' exposure to palladium in a catalyst production plant

Airborne particulate matter was collected and biomonitoring of workers was performed by sampling blood, urine and hair of 84 exposed subjects, 17 occasionally exposed employees, 21 controls from administrative offices and 25 unexposed people (external controls). Determination of Pd was performed using Quadrupole and High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. The Production of Catalysts Department and the Refining Service presented the highest levels of Pd in airborne matter collected by means of an area sampler. The highest level of soluble Pd (1.66 microg m(-3)) was found in the Production of Catalysts Department. The highest concentration of Pd in airborne matter, collected by means of personal devices (7.90 microg m(-3)) was found in the Refining Service. Hair showed a clear distribution pattern among departments, with values ranging from 0.60 to 5.54 microg g(-1). Administrative workers presented blood levels of Pd between 2 and 500 times higher than external controls. Only urine levels correlated with the measurements of airborne Pd collected with personal devices. A very strong association between airborne Pd collected by personal devices and Pd levels in hair (r(2)= 0.569, with p< or = 0.01) and urine (r(2)= 0.684, with p< or = 0.01) was found. On the basis of these findings: (i) blood results appear to be an unsuitable biological marker for occupational exposure to Pd; (ii) urine could be considered as a satisfactorily responsive bio-marker for occupational monitoring; and (iii) hair cannot be considered a good index of time-related exposure.