Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Endometrial Tissue Using Electron Microscope

Objective This study was done to estimate whether heavy metals in the air may affect endometrial chemical composition. Materials and Methods A total of 30 albino Wistar rats were employed and randomly divided into three groups. The rats of Group 1 and 2 were acutely and sub-chronically exposed to the gas form of heavy metals, respectively. Group 3 was used as a control group. Endometrial tissue worth of heavy metals of the groups was measured in through using scanning electron microscope. Results A statistically no significant difference was found for endometrial chemical composition of all of the heavy metals (chrome, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc and lead) between group 1 and 2 (p > 0.05). On the other hand, there was statistically significant difference for all of the heavy metals between group 1 and group 3 (p < 0.05), while there was statistically significant difference for chrome, manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel (p < 0.05), but zinc and lead (p > 0.05) between group 2 and 3. Conclusion Air pollutants of Pb and Zn resulting mostly from combustion of fossil fuels and certain special industrial process in Kirikkale may be a risk factor for the high pregnancy loses by changing endometrial homeostasis.     

Determination of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Zn) by ICP-OES and their speciation in Algerian Mediterranean Sea sediments after a five-stage sequential extraction procedure

Surface sediment samples (n = 18) were collected from the Algerian Mediterranean coasts and analyzed for seven metals using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry in order to asses the distribution and bioavailability of metals and to study the anthropogenic factors affecting their concentrations. Sediment samples were size-fractionated into three sizes: 1,080–500 (coarse), 500–250 (medium), and <250 mm (fine). Bulk sediments were subjected to both sequential extraction and total digestion to evaluate the reliability of the sequential extraction procedure (SEP), while the fractions have been only sequentially extracted for metals speciation. The metals were sequentially extracted into five phases namely exchangeable (P1), carbonates (P2), Fe–Mn oxides (P3), organic (P4) and residual (P5). Metal recoveries in sequential extractions were ±20% of the independently measured total metal concentrations; the high recovery rates indicate the good reliability of the SEP used in this study. Correlation coefficients indicated that the grain size has an effect on the distribution of metals in the investigated samples. The order of metal levels in the fractions was medium > fine > coarse for all the metals. The average total extractable metal concentrations for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn were 1.1, 8.8, 4.7, 1,291.3, 13.9, 5.7 and 20.4 μg/g, respectively. The northeastern shelf had the lowest metal levels while the highest were in northwestern part mainly due to the significant tourism activities in the northwestern part. Comparison of our results to Earth’s crust values and to previous studies points out that our samples were relatively unpolluted with respect to the heavy metals investigated; most of the metals are not from anthropogenic sources. Enrichment factors as the criteria for examining the impact of the anthropogenic sources of heavy metals were calculated, and it was observed that the investigated samples were not contaminated with Cr, Cu, and Fe, moderately contaminated with Ni, Pb, and Cd, and contaminated with Cd in some sites. The P5 phase had the highest percents of Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn. Cadmium and lead were predominant in the P4 phase, while Cu, Fe and Zn were distributed in the order P5 > P3 > P4 > P2 > P1. The following order of bioavailability was found with the heavy metals Pb > Cr > Cd > Ni > Zn > Cu > Fe.     

Plant Uptake/Bioavailability of Heavy Metals from the Contaminated Soil after Treatment with Humus Soil and Hydroxyapatite

Cellulose nitrate membrane filter was used for the preconcentration-separation of Cu, Co, Cd, Pb and Cr ions. The analyte ions were collected on the membrane filter by the aid of carmine. Then membrane filter was dissolved by using nitric acid. The levels of the analytes in the final solutions were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The analytical parameters including pH, amounts of carmine, sample volumes etc. have been optimized. No influences have been observed from the matrix ions. The detection limits for analytes were in the range of 0.08 μg/l-0.93 μg/l. The validation of the procedure was checked by the analysis of standard reference sediment (GBW 07309). The present method has been successfully applied for the FAAS determinations of analyte ions in real samples including black tea and magnesium salts.     

Assessment of the Quality Characteristics of Two Lakes (Koronia and Volvi) of N. Greece

Quality parameters from 17 sampling stations from Lake Koronia and 18 from Lake Volvi were determined during sampling period of one year. Physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, DO) did not show remarkable differences neither between sampling sites nor between sampling periods. Nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) were higher in lake Koronia than in Volvi showing relatively small temporal and spatial variations. As far as heavy metals in sediments, lake Koronia is considerably more polluted than Volvi lake especially with the metals Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb and Cd. The mean total concentrations of metals in lake Koronia decrease in the order Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Fe > Cd. The mean total concentrations of metals in lake Volvi decrease in the order Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Fe $>$ Cd.     

The role and distribution of total suspended solids in the macrotidal coastal waters of Korea

Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of total suspended solids (TSS) in the shallow and macrotidal regions of the Korean peninsula indicated there were significant changes in TSS concentrations. These were seasonally influenced by the wind, river input and tidal cycle. There were high TSS values at estuarine and river mouth stations and during low tide due to the re-suspension of bottom sediment by strong wind action during winter months, in addition the land input through rivers and strong tidal current during ebbing. Monthly mean values of TSS significantly correlated with wind speed and nitrate concentration (p < 0.01). This indicated that the resuspension of surface sediment was a more important source of TSS than the river input, and that nitrate was introduced into the water column during the resuspension process. TSS were seven times higher at low tide than in high tide. Light penetration was significantly inhibited by TSS; as >98% of incident light was absorbed within 2 m and zero photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) under 2 m in the estuarine stations during winter. Removal of heavy metals and nutrients by TSS in the water column was evident. Over 80% of the initial concentration of nutrients was removed within 10 min under various concentrations of TSS and also TSS contained significantly higher concentration of heavy metals than surface sediment. The concentration levels of nutrients and chemical oxygen demand in the west coast were comparable with the East and South Sea, even the major rivers in the Korean peninsula flow into the West Sea with major pollutant loadings into the coastal areas. High concentration of TSS is likely to contribute to the removal process of these pollutants, resulting in relatively lower levels of nutrients and organic materials in these coastal waters.     

土法炼锌区土壤-白菜系统中重金属的化学调控研究

采用苗圃盆栽试验,用腐殖质、EDTA、不同量的石灰等对赫章土法炼锌区的污染土壤进行处理。测定了基质的化学特性、重金属的DTPA提取态含量,并观察了白菜生长特性及其对重金属累积特性。结果表明,施用石灰处理,土壤速效磷由0.5mg/kg增加到10 mg/kg,土壤中Pb、Zn和Cd的DTPA提取态分别降低了83.9%、23.1%和79.4%;白菜中Pb、Zn和Cd的含量分别减少97.2%、94.7%和89.4%;白菜生物量增加了5.97倍。土法炼锌区影响白菜生长主要土壤因子是pH值和速效磷,白菜中的Cd、Pb与土壤DTPA提取态的Cd、Pb呈显著正相关。在土法炼锌区重金属污染土壤中施加石灰是一种实用而有效的改良措施。     

大冶龙角山地区土壤中重金属污染现状与评价

为了研究大冶龙角山地区尾砂坝内尾砂排放对下游耕地土壤中重金属含量的影响,本文对尾矿坝及河流两岸的耕地进行布点采样,通过等离子体发射光谱仪（ICP—OES）测定土壤中A5、Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Zn6种重金属的含量,并用污染指数法进行分析评价。旨在调查研究的基础上,使人们认识当地重金属污染的严重性,加大环境保护力度。     

典型电子垃圾拆解区大气颗粒物中元素污染的季节变化特征

分别在典型电子垃圾拆解区(E)和其参考区(S)采集了大气总悬浮颗粒物(TSP)样品,利用等离子体电感耦合质谱(ICP-MS)检测了13种元素。结果表明,E地区大气TSP中各元素含量均高于对照区,特别是污染元素Zn、Cu、Cd、Sn和Pb。E地区和S地区TSP中元素质量浓度的季节变化趋势相似,TSP中地壳元素质量浓度夏季高于冬季,而污染元素冬季高于夏季。E地区和S地区TSP中Cu、Zn、Sn和Pb的富集因子(EF)100,E地区EF值高于对照区,说明这些元素主要来源于电子垃圾处理过程;而Mg、K、Ca、Ti、V、Mn、Fe、Co和Cd的EF值为1~10,说明元素主要为自然来源。     

纳米材料在痕量重金属离子测定中的应用

介绍了纳米材料的吸附性能,评述了影响其分离富集重金属离子效果的主要因素,综述了纳米金属氧化物、碳纳米管及其他纳米材料在痕量重金属离子测定中的应用进展,提出提高纳米吸附材料的选择性和稳定性,开发便携式商品化的纳米材料萃取小柱是今后的发展方向.     

水样中常见金属离子的快速测定

研究了用高效毛细管电泳对自来水水样中常见金属离子的快速测定方法。结果表明,K+、Na+、Li+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Ba2+、Sr2+7种离子在8 min内可全部分离,回收率为98.0%~103.3%。峰面积和迁移时间的相对标准偏差分别在3.2%和1.1%以下,重现性较好,具有较高的检测灵敏度。