Speciation and the bioavailability of actinide elements

A good understanding of the quantitative uptake of actinide elements from foodstuffs, across the mucosal cell membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, into man is of great importance in setting intake limits and in assessing radiation doses to critical organs.

In the past, such knowledge has been gained from the extrapolation of animal models to man. Whilst this strategy has proved useful in a number of cases, it is, unfortunately, phenomenological and the results prone to perturbation from factors such as the fasting state of the animal and the initial chemical form of the actinide.

The application of computer simulation models which can calculate the chemical speciation of an element in a variety of foodstuffs under conditions pertinent to the gastrointestinal tract offers a non‐invasive and general method for predicting the uptake of exogenous elements, like the actinides.

This paper reviews the current state of chemical speciation analysis with respect to bioavailability highlighting areas requiring further consideration, presenting results amplifying the issues raised and showing that computer simulation has a rôle to play in predicting quantitative uptake of the actinides.     

Study of metal accumulation in wild plants using principal component analysis and ionic impulsions

The objective of this work is to apply principal component analysis (PCA) and ionic impulsions to the study of the accumulation and uptake of metals in wild plants. Soil samples were taken in three locations and the following plant species were selected: Poa, Pteridium aquilinum, Diplotaxis, Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium repens. After determining contents of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd and Fe in the plant samples and in the soils, principal component analysis was carried out for plant data treatment. Sample position maps revealed that there was no substantial differences among samples when plant species or sampling locations were used as a criteria. As the factors obtained by PCA only correlated with one or two variables, the study of accumulation patterns of metals was carried out by using ionic impulsions. The presence of large amounts of pollutants (like Cd, Cr) in plants is related to a greater assimilation of essential micronutrients in order to counteract the influence of the pollutants.     

Variations in the elemental compositions of plants,and computer‐aided sampling in ecosystems∗

To obtain comparable results of multi‐element analysis of plant materials by different laboratories, a harmonized sampling procedure for terrestrial and marine ecosystems is essential. The heterogeneous distribution of chemical elements in living organisms is influenced by different biological parameters. These parameters are mainly characterized by genetic predetermination, seasonal changes, edaphic and climatic conditions, and delocalization processes of chemical substances by metabolic activities.

The biological variations of the element content in plants were divided into 5 systematic levels, which are: 1. the plant species; 2. the population; 3. the stand (within an ecosystem); 4. the individual; and 5. the plant compartment. Each of these systematic levels can be related to: 1. genetic variabilities; 2. different climatic, edaphic and anthropogenic influences; 3. microclimatic or microedaphic conditions; 4. age of plants (stage of development), exposure to environmental influences (light, wind, pollution etc.), seasonal changes; and 5. transport and deposition of substances within the different plant compartments (organs, tissues, cells, organelles).

An expert system for random and systematic sampling for multi‐element analysis of environmental materials, such as plants, soils and precipitation is presented. After statistical division of the research area, the program provides advice for contamination‐free collection of environmental samples.     

Trace metals used as natural markers for discriminating some karstic freshwaters near Trieste (Italy)

Some heavy metals have been determined using voltammetry in freshwaters forming part of a karstic hydrological system (the Timavo River, north of Trieste), during attempts to characterize and discriminate the different sources of the springs. The trace elements can be considered natural markers, with lead appearing to be the most discriminating variable. Non parametric statistics and cluster analysis were used to estimate the significance of the determined parameters with respect to the considered ecosystem.     

Influence of cadmium on the storage and metabolism of HCH in rats

Male albino rats were administered Cd and HCH daily for six weeks to study the effect of Cd on storage and metabolism of HCH. The results indicated a marked inhibition of the metabolism of HCH in the group dosed with HCH + Cd. The metabolic rate of HCH in the group dosed with HCH + Cd was also significantly lower than that in the group dosed with HCH alone. The hepatic content of Cd and Zn was significantly increased whereas a marked depletion of Cu and Fe was observed in the groups exposed to Cd and HCH + Cd. A high level of free Cd and Zn or a low level of Fe and Cu in liver seemed to play an important role in the metabolic inhibition observed in this study.     

煤矸石烧结砖厂废气凝结物的研究

采集煤矸石烧结砖厂隧道窑废气热交换器内壁的凝结物,利用XRF、XRD、IR、DTA-TG、SEM、EDS、ICP-MS和AFS等方法进行了研究。结果表明:凝结物主要为水合硫酸亚铁和水合硫酸铁,S含量为119.2 mg/g,且Se、As、Pb等微量元素在凝结物中富集。与煤矸石原料相比,凝结物中Se的富集程度最高,含量达到了0.637 mg/g,相对富集因子为467.52;S、Tl、Mo、As、Pb的相对富集因子从57.05依次减小到6.18,F及亲硫元素Sb、Cd、Zn、Ni、Cu、Co富集程度较低;Sr、Th、Be、Ba、U、V、Cr的相对富集因子小于0.5,显示在烧结砖制备过程中的挥发性很低。     

Bioaccumulation and adverse effects of trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the common onion Allium cepa as a model in ecotoxicological bioassays

The common onion Allium cepa can be easily used in ecotoxicological bioassays to evaluate the bioavailability and adverse effects of pollutants and complex mixtures like waste, industrial effluent or coal-mining drainage that contain elevated levels of trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, onions were exposed for 7 days to individual metals (1?µg?mL^?1), i.e., aluminium, copper, iron and manganese, or PAHs (1.5?ng?mL^?1), i.e., benzo[a]antracene and benzo[a]pirene. Biological effects, measured as growth inhibition of roots and leaves, were integrated with analysis of bioaccumulation in roots, bulbs and leaves. Copper, iron and benzo[a]pirene caused a significant inhibition in root development of newly formed tissues, whereas only slight variations were caused by other chemicals; the number of new root filaments and the length of the leaves did not show significant variations, thus not representing sensitive parameters to evaluate adverse effects of pollutants in A. cepa. Chemicals bioaccumulation was always significant in roots, whereas levels in bulbs and leaves exhibited increased levels only for manganese, and a decrease for aluminium. The overall results confirmed the sensitivity of the bioassays with A. cepa, suggesting their utility for future applications to evaluate the adverse effects of complex mixtures containing metals or PAHs.     

Trace metal contents in some brands of canned beef in Nigeria

The concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel in some brands of canned beef in Nigerian markets were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The mean concentration ranges for these metals in mg?kg^?1 were 0.02–0.37 for Cd, <0.04–0.75 for Cr, 1.1–2.4 for Cu, <0.001–1.5 for Pb, 1.1–8.0 for Zn, <0.04–0.57 for Mn, 13.8–28.8 for Fe, 0.05–0.26 for Co, and 0.8–5.9 for Ni. The estimated dietary intake of metals from these products did not indicate any risk since the values were far below the permissible dietary intakes.     

Comparative evaluation of trace elements in the scalp hair of arthritis patients and healthy donors

This study was aimed to evaluate the comparative distribution, correlation and apportionment of selected elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb and Zn) in the scalp hair of arthritis patients and healthy subjects. The hair samples collected from the patients (rheumatoid and osteoarthritis) and healthy donors were digested in nitric acid and perchloric acid mixture, followed by the quantification of trace elements using atomic absorption spectrometry. In the case of healthy donors, highest mean concentration was shown by Ca (3240?µg?g^?1), followed by Mg (340?µg?g^?1), Zn (192?µg?g^?1), Fe (184?µg?g^?1) and Pb (27?µg?g^?1), whereas, the estimated average metal levels in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis patients were 3160, 290, 197, 61 and 23?µg?g^?1, and 3090, 300, 182, 50 and 21?µg?g^?1, respectively. Most of the elements revealed diverse and random distribution in the scalp hair of the donor groups. The correlation study pointed out significant disparities in the mutual relationships among the trace elements in the patients and controls. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis of the element data manifested diverse apportionment of the selected elements in the scalp hair of the patients compared with the healthy counterparts.     

天津市某社区老年人PM2.5暴露痕量元素健康风险评估

为研究PM_2.5暴露特征,对天津市某社区101名老年人(平均年龄67岁)夏季(2011年6月13日—7月2日)和冬季(2011年11月30日—12月12日)的PM_2.5暴露水平进行了监测,并分析了PM_2.5载带痕量元素的含量及其健康风险. 结果表明,研究对象夏、冬两季PM_2.5个体暴露浓度分别为(124.2±75.2)、(170.8±126.6)μg/m3,室内暴露浓度分别为(120.0±48.9)、(164.9±125.7)μg/m3,环境暴露浓度分别为(98.6±33.3)、(140.0±87.7)μg/m3. 10种痕量元素中,ρ(Zn)最高,夏季为324.18~345.65ng/m3,占痕量元素总质量浓度的37%以上;冬季为148.36~362.00ng/m3,占痕量元素总质量浓度的35%以上. V、Cr、Mn、Cu、Zn和Pb的非致癌风险值均小于1,理论风险较小;但其中Cr和Mn风险值均超过0.1〔HQ(风险系数)分别为0.882和0.306〕,对于属于易感人群的老年人群体,仍有可能对其身体健康产生危害,需引起重视;As、Cd和总体致癌风险均超过10-6,对人体健康的危害不容忽视.