Journal of trace elements and minerals最新文献

Background/Introduction

Anthropogenic activities, including those carried out by artisans, have been confirmed to be one of the various means by which potentially toxic elements (PTE) are introduced into the soil. This study aims to determine the PTE concentration and distribution in soils around artisans workshops in Ago-Iwoye, southwestern Nigeria.

Methods

Twenty (20) soil samples comprising ten (10) samples from soil around auto-mechanic workshops, six (6) from soils around vulcanizer workshops and four (4) from soils around welder workshops were collected and analyzed for elemental concentration using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).

Results

Elemental analysis revealed the following trend for selected metals in auto-mechanic, vulcanizing and welding workshops, respectively: Ba (60–100, 100–200 and 130–590 mg.kg⁻¹); Co (10–47, 8–19 and 15–37 mg.kg⁻¹); Cr (29–161, 22–95 and 57–272 mg.kg⁻¹); Cu (28–123, 16–100 and 88–486 mg.kg⁻¹); Ni (11–33, 7–29 and 34–112 mg.kg⁻¹); Pb (17–75, 12–77 and 36–677 mg.kg⁻¹); Sc (2–16, 1–7 and 2–8 mg.kg⁻¹); Sr (13–55, 17–72 and 33–91 mg.kg⁻¹); V (35–212, 20–117 and 40–103 mg.kg⁻¹) and Zn (82–684, 70–548 and 314–3240 mg.kg⁻¹). Geochemical assessment using contamination factor, and geo-accumulation index showed that the artisanal workshops exhibited significant contamination levels for metals such as Ba, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn and the contamination level varied across the artisan workshops with soils around welders workshops showing highest contamination.

Conclusion

Contamination indices revealed the artisan workshops have varying contribution to the metal load in the area and Pollution Load Index (PLI) indicated a decline in soil quality across all artisanal workshops with welding workshops revealing the highest anthropogenic contribution of PTE to the soil.

Background

Over the past few decades, nanoparticles have been widely employed to limit the growth of cancer both in vivo and in vitro, as well as many dangerous bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In traditional medicine, a marine plant called Rhizophora mucronata is frequently used to treat skin conditions, inflammation, and diabetes.

Objective

Evaluate the efficacy of selenium nanoparticles synthesized using mangrove plant extracts in combating oral pathogens and assess their potential for additional biological properties towards the development of novel therapeutic interventions for oral infections and related conditions.

Methods

In the current study, R. mucronata was utilized to create selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) in an environmentally friendly manner. The elements of the material were identified using EDX spectroscopy, its shape was examined using SEM, and its surface Plasmon resonance was measured using UV–Vis spectroscopy. Moreover, FT-IR was used to identify the SeNPs' functional groups.

Results

The produced nanoparticles ranged in size from 20 to 60 nm and had a spherical form. Later analyses concentrated on the ability of the synthesized nanoparticles to combat common oral pathogens that cause dental cavities and other oral diseases. The marine plant-derived SeNPs showed notable zones of inhibition in addition to lethal actions against these oral infections. These nanoparticles also demonstrated anti-inflammatory and potentially effective DPPH radical scavenging qualities.

Conclusion

Based on the above reported results, it can be concluded that SeNPs generated by R. mucronata have significant potential for a variety of pharmacological and medical uses.

Context

Drought stress is a major environmental factor limiting sunflower (Helianthus annus L.) growth and productivity, worldwide. Although there has been research on the use of zinc (Zn) to alleviate drought stress in sunflower, more has yet to be indicated on how Zn may affect sunflower yield and biochemical properties in drought stress conditions as the objective of the present research.

Methods

The field experiment was a split plot on the basis of a complete randomized block design with 18 treatments and 3 replicates conducted in the province of Fars, Iran, in 2018. The experimental treatments of drought (main plots) including irrigating at 70 (control, S1), 105 (mild, S2) and 140 mm (severe, S3) evaporation from the evaporation pan and the sub plots (factorial arrangement) of sunflower genotypes (Shams and Barzegar) and Zn fertilizer (ZnSO₄) at 0, 40 and 70 kgha⁻¹ were tested. Different sunflower, growth, yield and biochemical parameters were determined.

Results

Stress significantly affected leaf area index (LAI), tray diameter (TD), grain weight (GW), infertile seeds (I), water use efficiency (WUE) and proline (Pr), and genotype was significant on LAI, TD, number of grains per tray (NGT), GW, WUE, and grain protein (PP). However, Zn significantly increased LAI, PP, GW and WUE by 50, 5.9, 35 and 32 %, respectively.

Conclusion

Zn fertilization can alleviate the unfavourable effects of drought stress on sunflower yield and biochemical properties by improving plant growth (LAI), yield (grain weight), and physiology (water use efficiency and protein percentage), and genotype is a determining factor.

Introduction

Carica papaya is an economically important fruit crop belonging to the family Caricaceae. In this study, we assessed the antioxidant potential and mineral element composition of mature and young fruits, as well as leaves, of the ‘Red Lady’ cultivar of C. papaya.

Materials and methods

The DPPH free radical scavenging assay and the FRAP assay were used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the crude methanolic extract and its butanolic fraction from the mature and young fruit parts and leaf of the C. papaya. The mineral elemental composition was analyzed through ICP-MS analysis.

Results

DPPH assay showed that butanolic fraction of young leaves (97±1.155%) and seeds (96.33± 0.8819%) exhibited superior antioxidant potential, followed by mature leaves (81.33 ± 1.856%), mature seeds (72.67± 0.8819%), mature pulp (51±1.155%), young pulp (43.67±2.028%), young peel (34.33±1.202%), and mature peel (30±2.309%). Assessment of metal reducing activity using FRAP assay revealed a similar pattern of antioxidant potential as demonstrated by the DPPH assay. The IC-PMS analysis identified eleven elements in both mature and young fruit parts and leaves of the plant. These elements include potassium (K), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), and cobalt (Co). In both mature and young parts of the fruit, as well as in young leaves, potassium (33,874.68 ± 0.0013 mg kg^-1 to 8365.31 ± 0.00049 mg kg^-1) was the most abundant element. It was followed by magnesium (14,255.82 ± 0.000282 mg kg^-1 to 474.92 ± 0.00125 mg kg^-1) and then calcium (9857.51 ± 0.00049 mg kg^-1 to 366.84 ± 0.00088 mg kg^-1). However, in mature leaves, magnesium (14,255.82 ± 0.000282 mg kg^-1) was the most prevalent, followed by calcium (9857.51 ± 0.00049 mg kg^-1).

Conclusion

This research revealed the antioxidant and metal-reducing properties of both mature and young C. papaya fruit and leaves. These findings underscore the nutraceutical potential of C. papaya in combating diseases related to oxidative stress. Furthermore, the presence of essential mineral nutrients in both the young and mature fruit and leaves enhances their health benefits.

Background

Artisanal gold mining can help reduce poverty while creating job possibilities for many low-income and unskilled workers. However, it is an activity with several detrimental societal consequences. Miners are exposed to chemical toxins that have long-term health consequences.

Objectives

This study examined soil degradation, pollution, and environmental hazards from artisanal gold mining in Ibodi-Ijesa, Osun State, Nigeria. The aim is to assess the levels of Cu, Co, Cd, Pb, As, and Ni in the study area as potential indicators of environmental concerns.

Methods

Soil samples were systematically collected from 66 distinct locations surrounding the gold mining site, at depths ranging from 0 to 15 cm, within distances of 0 to 500 m, and at intervals of 100 m. These samples underwent standard laboratory procedures for heavy metal analysis using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).

Results: The findings showed that copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) concentrations ranged from 80.17 to 100.11 mg.kg⁻¹, 42.11 to 50.07 mg.kg⁻¹, 30.93 to 54.00 mg.kg⁻¹, and 35.30 to 44.20 mg.kg⁻¹, respectively. Nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and arsenic (As) were all below the detection limit. Although all analysed heavy metal concentrations were lower than the control samples, they outperformed the control values. The contamination index showed no distinct distribution pattern, but all values surpassed those of the control samples. Furthermore, the Health Risk Index was greater than one, indicating possible health hazards for inhabitants.

Conclusion

The study indicated that artisanal gold mining operations in Ibodi-Ijesa substantially influenced soil quality, raising heavy metal concentrations and posing health hazards to adjacent populations.

Cadmium is a non-essential trace metal element with no known biological function. Cd is toxic to both plants and human beings; hence, it is of prime concern to the scientific community. The objective of this research is to find out the effect of heme oxygenase 1 on Cd toxicity in Sorghum bicolor seedlings. Hydroponically adapted seedlings were treated to various concentrations of Cd within the range of 10 to 200 μM. Seedlings were harvested after 120 h of Cd stress. The cellular homeostasis and metal tolerance mechanisms were conducted to evaluate growth parameters, stress parameters (MDA and H₂O₂ content), non-enzymatic and enzymatic parameters (CAT, APX and GPX) including HO 1. The results showed that HO 1 activity was measured to be highest in leaves at 150 μM CdCl₂, which was 29.61 %.The HO 1 activity was correlated with the MDA content and antioxidant enzymes activity at this Cd concentration. The highest activity of HO 1 was revealed through the decrease of GPX and CAT activities. Consequently, HO 1 works within a cohort that helps the development of the plant's defense mechanisms by scavenging ROS, which is confirmed by the time-dependent study. Accordingly, our research highlighted that HO 1 might increase the efficiency of stress tolerance by enhancing antioxidant defence mechanisms against Cd toxicity in S. bicolor.

Background

Trace metal deficiency has become a major constraint on the productivity and sustainability of soils. Agriculture becomes more complex, advanced and intensive farming systems develop, however, the deficiency of trace metal are more frequent and extensive in different systems.

Methods

This study investigated the variation of trace metal minerals in soil profiles of diverse land use systems (LUSs), i.e. agriculture, horticulture and forestry, falling under three dominant soil orders (Entisol, Inceptisol and Aridisol) in Malwa region of Punjab. Through comprehensive analyses, we explore the intricate relationships between soil characteristics, land use practices, and the distribution of key trace metals—namely zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn).

Results

The mean values of DTPA-extractable trace metal from soil profiles of different land uses varied from 1.75 to 2.09, 1.64–2.32, 1.18–1.69 mg kg⁻¹ for Zn; 0.59–1.02, 0.59–0.99, 0.64–0.92 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu; 12.12–16.49, 9.84–16.05, 7.94–11.56 mg kg⁻¹ for Fe; 7.82–9.99, 4.66–9.39, 6.51–7.46 mg kg⁻¹for Mn in soil orders Entisol, Inceptisol and Aridisol, respectively. The concentration of trace metals in different soil orders follows the pattern of ntisol>Inceptisol>Aridisol. In contrast, there is a considerable amount of variation and no discernible pattern in the distribution of trace metals under various LUSs in each soil order. Several LUSs were examined, and agriculture land use system (ALUS) had the greatest Fe and Mn content, while the horticulture land use system (HLUS) had the highest Zn and Cu content. The Irrespective of soil orders and LUSs, the concentration of trace metals decreased as soil depth increased. Diverse LUSs and management practices have a substantial impact on the physico-chemical characteristics of soils, which in turn influence the availability of trace metals. According to the Pearson correlation studies, trace metals were positively associated with soil OC and negatively associated with soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and there was also a positive correlation between DTPA-Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn in the investigated soils. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that soil CaCO₃ and organic carbon (OC) content were the most variable soil parameters influencing crop trace metal availability in different soil orders and land use systems.

Conclusion

The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the dynamic interplay between soil properties and land use, providing valuable insights for sustainable agricultural practices and environmental management in the region.