Heavy Metals and the Occurrence of Ulcerative Dermal Necrosis (UDN) in Sea Trout from the RIVER REGA, Poland—Consumer Health Assessment

Various factors, including heavy metals, can make fish more susceptible to disease. This study investigated, inter alia, the relationship between Pb, Cd, and Hg contamination of the organs and muscles of sea trout from the river Rega (Poland) and the occurrence of UDN (ulcerative skin necrosis) symptoms. Moreover, the dietary risk of Pb, Cd, and Hg uptake from the muscles of healthy sea trout was assessed based on estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), benchmark dose lower confidence limits (BMDL01 and BMDL10), and tolerable weekly intake (TWI). The metal concentrations varied, depending on the fish organs and the fish condition. A significantly higher amount of Pb was found in the gonads, gills, and muscles, Cd in the kidneys, and Hg in the muscles of sea trout with UDN symptoms. The lowest concentrations of Pb and Cd were detected in the muscles, and of Hg in the gonads. Dietary exposure to Pb, Cd, and Hg accounted for: 0.4% of BMDL01 and 1.0% of BMDL10, 0.56% of TWI, and 16.5% of TWI, respectively. THQs for each metal and the HI value for combined metals were below 1. The weakening of fish due to UDN-like disease probably increased the accumulation of Pb in the gonads, gills, and muscles, and of Cd in the kidneys, of the sea trout. As regards the maximum levels (MRLs), the muscles of healthy sea trout are safe for consumption. The risk assessment suggests no concern for the health of consumers

Mercury in Selected Abiotic and Biotic Elements in Two Lakes in Poland: Implications for Environmental Protection and Food Safety

Mercury, which tends to bioaccumulate and biomagnify in aquatic food webs, poses a potential health risk to wildlife and to consumers of predatory fish in particular. Its concentration in biota can be high even at low environmental concentrations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine mercury in both abiotic (water and sediment) and biotic elements (common reed (Phragmites australis) and fish: pike (Esox lucius), bream (Abramis brama) and roach (Rutilus rutilus)) in the context of assessing the pollution of two lakes in Poland and the safety of fish consumers. The possibility of Hg biomagnification in fish was also considered. Mercury was determined by means of cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). The concentrations of Hg in water and bottom sediments of Lake Ińsko were lower than in Lake Wisola. In the bottom sediments of both lakes, a positive correlation was found between the Hg content and organic matter. The concentration of mercury in the organs of common reed did not exceed 0.017 mg/kg dry weight (dw), and its distribution can be presented as follows: root > leaves > stems > rhizomes. In fish organs from both lakes, the average mercury content did not exceed 0.086 mg/kg of wet weight (ww) and in most cases it was the highest in pike. Higher values were only observed in the muscles and skin of roach. This indicates a lack of biomagnification in the relationships between planktivorous-predatory and benthivores-predatory fish. Based on the maximum levels of mercury in fish and the calculated parameters, i.e., estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ) and tolerable weekly intake (TWI), the muscles of the examined fish were found to be safe for consumption. The average dietary exposure to total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) was below 0.3% of the TWI

Biosorption of Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) on calcium alginate beads: equilibrium, kinetic and mechanism studies

The biosorption process of three divalent metal ions – nickel, lead and zinc- from on calcium alginate from aqueous solution was studied, in single component systems. The biosorbent were investigated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The batch mode experiments of the adsorption process were carried out as a function of pH, initial metal ions concentration, sorbent dosage and contact time. The adsorption influencing parameters for the maximum removal of metal ions were optimized. The experimental data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Langmuir-Freundlich, Koble-Corrigan and Redlich-Peterson models. The kinetic data of biosorption process were evaluated using pseudo-first and pseudo-second order equations. The Weber and Morris model was employed to interpret the metal ions diffusion in biosorption process

The content of toxic metals in different types of tea and their impact on consumers health

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, which, along with a number of beneficial health ingredients, such as trace elements, also contains undesired substances - as impurities. Among the impurities occur heavy metals, and their presence in tea leaves can pose serious problems to human health because they are not biodegradable, remain in the environment and can become part of the food chain. The total metal content of the tea leaves and infusions depends on the type of tea (green, black) and on the influence of other factors, including the properties of the soil. Despite the limited extent of metal migration from the dried tea to infusions, tea pollution with metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury is not indifferent to human health.Herbata jest jednym z najbardziej popularnych napojów na świecie, który obok wielu korzystnych dla zdrowia składników, jak mikroelementy, zawiera również te niepożądane - stanowiące zanieczyszczenie. Wśród nich znajdują się metale ciężkie, których obecność w liściach herbaty może stwarzać poważne problemy dla zdrowia ludzkiego, ponieważ nie ulegają one biodegradacji, a pozostając w środowisku mogą stać się częścią łańcucha pokarmowego. Całkowita zawartość metali w liściach herbat oraz w naparach zależy od rodzaju herbaty (zielona, czarna) oraz od wpływu wielu innych czynników, w tym właściwości gleby. Pomimo ograniczonej migracji metali z suszu do naparów zanieczyszczenie herbat metalami tj. ołów, kadm czy rtęć nie jest obojętne dla zdrowia człowieka. REFERENCE

Toxic Elements and Mineral Content of Different Tissues of Endemic Edible Snails (Helix vladika and H. secernenda) of Montenegro

The objective of the present study is to determine the differences between the mineral content of various organs of Helix vladika and H. secernenda, the two most abundant edible snail species in Montenegro. The bioaccumulation of 12 examined elements (zinc, manganese, copper, aluminum, cadmium, lead, nickel, iron, chromium, lithium, selenium and mercury) was determined in the hepatopancreas, albumen gland, digestive tract, reproductive system, mantle, foot and shell from three sampling sites (Biogradska Gora, Nikšić and Malesija). The examined populations of H. vladika and H. secernenda showed a significant difference in their lithium and selenium contents. The levels of the most examined metals (Zn, Mn, Cu, Al, Cd, Pb, Se and Hg) varied significantly among organs. The digestive tract and hepatopancreas tend to bioaccumulate selenium and cadmium. The general mean concentration of cadmium in the examined snail tissues exceeded the maximum allowable level at the Biogradska Gora and Malesija sites. Therefore, the use of the Montenegrin edible snails collected from the wilderness for human consumption seems to be limited by their higher bioaccumulation capacity for toxic elements such as cadmium