The urban pigeon (Columba livia,Forma urbana) — A biomonitor for the lead burden of the environment

The concentrations of lead in the femura (Pb-F) and the 5-aminolaevulinic-acid-dehydratase in blood (ALA-D) have been determined in three pigeon populations (50 birds each), caught at urban sites with different traffic densities. The following mean concentrations were found (Pb-F [mg/kg wet wt.]/ALA-D [U/I]): 10.7/18.8 in the low burdened group, 27.9/10.8 in the moderate burdened group, and 49.5/5.6 in the high burdened group. These values were compared with a controlled group of 50 farm pigeons from two remote pigeonries, sited well away from motorways (Pb-F: 1.0/ALA-D: 35.6). The result was a strong positive correlation of the Pb-F and an inverse correlation of the ALA-D to the number of cars per day at the different sites. These local effects contributed much more to the differences of the Pb-F and ALA-D (in comparison with the rural pigeons) than the over-all elevated lead background level in the city. It has been concluded that the pigeon is an almost ideal animal for monitoring a narrow range of environmental lead burden. The main reason for this is that this species is exceptionally stationary; the usual ranges of the feeding, nesting, and sleeping sites of the pigeon are not greater than several hundred meters.     

Food contamination as a pathway for lead exposure in children during the 2010–2013 lead poisoning epidemic in Zamfara, Nigeria

In 2010, an estimated 400 to 500 children died of acute lead poisoning associated with artisanal gold mining in Zamfara, Nigeria. Processing of gold ores containing up to 10% lead within residential compounds put residents, especially children, at the highest risk. Principal routes of exposure were incidental ingestion and inhalation of contaminated soil and dusts. Several Nigerian and international health organizations collaborated to reduce lead exposures through environmental remediation and medical treatment. The contribution of contaminated food to total lead exposure was assessed during the environmental health response. Objectives of this investigation were to assess the influence of cultural/dietary habits on lead exposure pathways and estimate the contribution of contaminated food to children's blood lead levels(BLLs). A survey of village dietary practices and staple food lead content was conducted to determine dietary composition, caloric intakes, and lead intake. Potential blood lead increments were estimated using bio-kinetic modeling techniques. Most dietary lead exposure was associated with contamination of staple cereal grains and legumes during post-harvest processing and preparation in contaminated homes. Average post-harvest and processed cereal grain lead levels were 0.32 mg/kg and 0.85 mg/kg dry weight, respectively. Age-specific food lead intake ranged from 7 to 78 μg/day. Lead ingestion and absorption were likely aggravated by the dusty environment, fasting between meals, and nutritional deficiencies. Contamination of staple cereal grains by highly bioavailable pulverized ores could account for as much as 11%–34% of children's BLLs during the epidemic, and were a continuing source after residential soil remediation until stored grain inventories were exhausted.     

Development of Smart Colorimetric Sensing Films Carbohydrate-Based with Soybean Wax and Purple Cauliflower Anthocyanins for Visual Monitoring of Shrimp Freshness

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Novel pH-colorimetric intelligent films were designed from agar and methylcellulose matrix (AM) with soybean wax (SBW) in several percentages (5, 10, 15,...