Determination of 4-nonylphenol in carp blood samples by solid phase extraction and chromatographic techniques

In this study, selective methods were developed for isolation, purification, separation and determination of 4-nonylphenol (4NP) in biological samples. Several methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence and diode array detection and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectromotry (GC-MS) are described for the simultaneous determination of 4NP. The nonylphenols in the plasma of fish were extracted through solid phase process by using octadecyl, polymeric and octadecyl endcapping sorbents. The average recoveries in plasma samples spiked with 4NP of levels 1?µg?mL^?1 were between 80–95% using added surrogate standards. The aim of this study was to determine whether trace amounts of 4NP in fish plasma samples could be detected by solid phase extraction and chromatographic methods (HPLC, GC-MS). This technique of monitoring the levels of endocrine-disruptors in plasma samples is consistent, reliable as well as inexpensive.     

Study of sorptive properties of trap systems for selective enrichment of volatile organic compounds from tobacco smoke samples

There is a dearth of data on the consumer product concentrations of iron, lead, and nickel for accurate comparison to be made. The levels of these elements were determined in 85 samples of six different classes of personal care products commonly used in Nigeria using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results of the analysis showed that the range of the mean concentrations of Fe was 0.485–1.108 ppm, Pb ND–0.163 ppm, and Ni ND-0.160 ppm. The analytical data have demonstrated that the selected consumer products are possible sources of iron, lead, and nickel exposure. Users can be exposed to these metals directly through dermal contact or inhalation. The regulations relating to cosmetic products give no limit values for heavy metals in cosmetic products, hence, it was difficult to establish if the values obtained in this study are safe or not. Prolonged use of soaps, creams, and detergent containing these elements may pose threat to human health and the environment. This could be responsible for various skin diseases such as allergic skin, follicular and pigmentary disorders, which are common among the users (exposed groups) of these products in Nigeria. A body of evidence has presented a rare example of systemic allergic dermatitis caused by topical application of a mercury-containing cosmetic to the upper lip of a 32-year-old Turkish patient.     

Nickel in the muscle tissues of freshwater fish from north eastern Poland should not cause human health concerns

Excessive intake of nickel (Ni) is known to produce adverse health effects in humans, including carcinogenicity and allergenicity. The main route of exposure for humans is diet, including fish. There is, however, little information concerning Ni content in freshwater fish in Poland. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of Ni in meat tissues of three fish species from north eastern Poland and assess toxic potential to healthy and susceptible sub-groups of individuals. The settings for the study lakes span a range of anthropogenic influence from protected areas to a basin with a town and several villages and another one influenced by a pesticide tomb leakage. Fish were netted and kept frozen until analysis. After defrosting, the fish were filleted and minced. The ashed samples were dissolved in nitric acid and analyzed for Ni by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Roach meat contained 6.6–23 µg kg^?1 Ni, bream 9.5–178 µg kg^?1, and carp 16.5–139 µg kg^?1. These concentrations are low, indicating that the fish were not excessively contaminated with the metal. Consuming a 250 g portion of fish would result in an average nickel intake of 4 µg for roach, <10 µg for bream, and <20 µg for carp. These values represent only 0.4–2% of the maximum level that is likely to pose a risk of adverse effects as established in the USA. Consumption of fish from the study region need not necessarily pose a health threat.     

Urinary level of homovanillic acid and mercury in autistic children

Catecholamines and their metabolites affect children's nervous system. Dopamine is an important neurotransmitter in the brain. In the routine analysis for diagnostics of diseases, the dopamine metabolite homovanillic acid (HVA) is determined. Mercury is a neurotoxic agent and can cause different undesirable effects on the brain. In the present work a putative correlation between HVA, the main metabolite of dopamine, and mercury in urine of healthy and autistic children was studied. The level of HVA was higher in the urine of autistic children (14.5 ± 8.3 mg L^?1) compared to generally healthy children (4.4 ± 0.5 mg L^?1). The level of mercury in the urine of autistic children was lower (0.36 ± 0.24 µg L^?1) than in the urine of healthy children (2.1 ± 1.0 µg L^?1) showing that there is no correlation between HVA and mercury.     

Effective bioremoval of Fe(III) ions using paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) pomace generated in the food industry

In these studies, removal of Fe(III) ions by biosorption processes from aqueous solutions was carried out using paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) pomace generated during processing in the food industry. The biosorbent material was characterized using several analytical methods, including particle size distribution, XRD, SEM–EDS, electrokinetic zeta potential, surface area analysis (BET, BJH), thermogravimetry, morphology (SEM), spectrophotometry FT-IR. Several factors, such as biosorbent dosage, initial concentration, contact time and initial pH were analyzed to show an effect on the bioremoval process, efficiency and adsorption capacity. As a result, the maximum adsorption efficiency and capacity were determined to be 99.1% and 7.92 mg/g, respectively. Based on the kinetics analysis, the bioremoval process is better described by the Langmuir isotherm model and the pseudo-second order equation model. In conclusion, the achieved research results suggest that paprika biomass can be an effective material for efficiently removing iron(III) from wastewater and improving water quality. These studies on the recovery of iron metal from the environment fit in the latest trends in the concept of the global circular economy.

     

Honeybees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apis mellifera</Emphasis>) as a biological barrier for contamination of honey by environmental toxic metals

The aim of the study was to investigate the transfer of toxic metals from honeybee workers (Apis mellifera L.) to bee honey in relation to the ecological state of the environment. The materials of the study consisted of samples of honeybee bodies and varietal honeys taken from the same apiary located in three areas: R1—urbanized (16), R2—ecologically clean (16) and R3—industrialized (15) of south-eastern Poland. The contents of 14 elements in all tested samples, including toxic metals (Cd, Pb, Hg, Al, Ni, Tl) as well as bioelements (K, Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, Se), were analysed by the ICP-OES method with prior microwave mineralization. The concentrations of the majority of the studied elements, excluding aluminum and lead, were significantly higher in bee bodies than in honey samples (P?<?0.05). The pollution of bee bodies by toxic metals was dependent on the environmental cleanliness, and the most pollution was observed in the industrialized area. The bee body was the most effective barrier for Cd and Tl transfer to the honey, while the level of Ni was similar in both tested materials. The Al concentration was significantly higher in honey than bee bodies (14.81?±?24.69 and 6.51?±?5.83 mg kg^?1, respectively), which suggests the possibility of secondary contamination of honey. The greatest sensitivity to heavy metal pollution was observed in honeydew honey compared to nectar honeys (P?<?0.05). It was proved for the first time that bees work as biofilters for toxic metals and prevent honey contamination.     

Organochlorine contaminants in the Vistula Lagoon sedimentation zone as possible source of lagoon recontamination

The presented results include decade of monitoring of the Vistula Lagoon waters and have been supplemented by the determination of chlorinated compounds, as well as on concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the sedimentation zone. Monitoring of river waters entering the Polish part of the lagoon and the lagoon waters confirmed the presence of plant protection chemical; the largest contributors has lindane (34%) and DDT_total (21%); the same as for sediments were dominate lindane (19%) and DDT_total (14%) within pp-DDT isomer dominate (13%). In the lagoon water, PCDD/Fs were determined within a range of 1.5–5.6 ng dm^?3, leading to average toxicity of 0.18?±?0.13 ng TEQ·dm^?3. In sediments, their concentrations fell within a range of 22.7–405.7 ng kg^?1 dw and the average toxicity of the lagoon sediments was set at 5.00?±?1.98 ng TEQ·kg^?1 dw. Both in water and sediments, the greatest share among PCDD/Fs has octa-chlorodibenzodioxin. Due to the hydromorphological conditions of the lagoon, the waters are mixed to the bottom causing the surface layer of sediment to become remobilized—this is suggested as the key factor when it comes to water recontamination and increased access of POPs to marine organisms.     

Dynamic effects of fiscal and monetary policy instruments on environmental pollution in ASEAN

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This study aims to re-examine the impacts of monetary and fiscal policy on environmental quality in ASEAN countries from 1990 to 2019. We utilized the...     

Analysis of ecotoxic influence of waste from the biomass gasification process

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The purpose of this research was evaluation of the effect of soil contamination with waste coming from biomass gasification on chosen indicators of...     

Assessment of soils contamination with veterinary antibiotic residues in Northern Poland using developed MAE-SPE-LC/MS/MS methods

Among the wide range of compounds reaching the soil are the veterinary antimicrobials. Since no regulations regarding acceptable levels of drug concentrations in the environment exist, monitoring tests, particularly concerning soils, are carried out very rarely. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the contamination of agricultural soils in Northern Poland with seven antimicrobial veterinary medicines which has never been carried out before. Veterinary drugs were detected in 54% of the examined soil samples; the most commonly detected drugs were sulfonamides and trimethoprim. The highest indicated concentrations refer to enrofloxacin (57.0 μg kg^?1) and trimethoprim (47.8 μg kg^?1). The presence of these target drugs in the soil environment confirms the need for further monitoring studies. The analytical methods developed in this study are an excellent tool to achieve this goal and allow an estimation of the risk connected with the presence of veterinary antimicrobials in soils.