OBJECTIVES: This study examined the spatial distribution and the extent of soil contamination by heavy metals resulting from primitive, unconventional informal electronic waste recycling in the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing site (AEPS) in Ghana. METHODS: A total of 132 samples were collected at 100 m intervals, with a handheld global position system used in taking the location data of the soil sample points. Observing all procedural and quality assurance measures, the samples were analyzed for barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), using X-ray fluorescence. Using environmental risk indices of contamination factor and degree of contamination (Cdeg), we analyzed the individual contribution of each heavy metal contamination and the overall Cdeg. We further used geostatistical techniques of spatial autocorrelation and variability to examine spatial distribution and extent of heavy metal contamination. RESULTS: Results from soil analysis showed that heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher than the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency and Dutch environmental standards. In an increasing order, Pb>Cd>Hg>Cu>Zn>Cr>Co>Ba>Ni contributed significantly to the overall Cdeg. Contamination was highest in the main working areas of burning and dismantling sites, indicating the influence of recycling activities. Geostatistical analysis also revealed that heavy metal contamination spreads beyond the main working areas to residential, recreational, farming, and commercial areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the studied heavy metals are ubiquitous within AEPS and the significantly high concentration of these metals reflect the contamination factor and Cdeg, indicating soil contamination in AEPS with the nine heavy metals studied.
Agriculture ; Barium ; Burns ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Cobalt ; Copper ; Electronic Waste* ; Fluorescence ; Ghana* ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy* ; Nickel ; Recycling* ; Soil* ; Spatial Analysis ; United States Environmental Protection Agency ; Zinc

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, setting time and compressive strength of MTA and two novel tricalcium silicate-based endodontic materials, Bioaggregate (BA) and Biodentine (BD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cytotoxicity was evaluated by using a 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT) assay. Measurements of 9 heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, nickel, and zinc) were performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) of leachates obtained by soaking the materials in distilled water. Setting time and compressive strength tests were performed following ISO requirements. RESULTS: BA had comparable cell viability to MTA, whereas the cell viability of BD was significantly lower than that of MTA. The ICP-MS analysis revealed that BD released significantly higher amount of 5 heavy metals (arsenic, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc) than MTA and BA. The setting time of BD was significantly shorter than that of MTA and BA, and the compressive strength of BA was significantly lower than that of MTA and BD. CONCLUSIONS: BA and BD were biocompatible, and they did not show any cytotoxic effects on human periodontal ligament fibroblasts. BA showed comparable cytotoxicity to MTA but inferior physical properties. BD had somewhat higher cytotoxicity but superior physical properties than MTA.
Cadmium ; Cell Survival ; Chromium ; Compressive Strength ; Copper ; Fibroblasts ; Humans ; Iron ; Manganese ; Metals, Heavy ; Nickel ; Periodontal Ligament ; Spectrum Analysis ; Water ; Pemetrexed

This study was carried out to assess the present level of atmospheric metals. Five metals-lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, vanadium-were checked on the industrial(Sasang) and residental area(Daeshindong) in the city of Pusan sampling period was the year of 1986, 1990, and 1994, and the sampling time was 2 days of each site. As the result of comparison with the atmospheric standard of ASHRAE(1980) the average concentrations of lead was above the standard, the average concentrations of chromium was around the standard, and the average concentrations of cadmium and vanadium was below the standard. The average concentrations of manganese was above the standard of industrial environment. And the average concentrations of five metals was higher in the industrial area than the residental area The average concentrations of lead cadmium and chromium showed the increase tendency by the year, and the average concentrations of vanadium showed no change, and the average concentrations of manganese showed the decrease tendency. As a result of correlation analysis, lead and cadmium(r=0.31), vanadium and manganese(r=0.24), vanadium and chromium(r=0.19) showed significance.
Busan* ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Manganese ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy* ; Vanadium

By atomic absorbance spectrophotometry, the content of heavy metals (lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercure) in freshwater fish and shelfish in the market and in 2 lakes in Hanoi from June to December 2002 was analysed. The contents are: lead 100%, arsenic 98.5%, cadmium 92.9% and mercury 88.6%, they are in the tolerable limits according to 1998 year Vietnam MOH regulation 867/BYT. The contents of various heavy metals are not similar in diverse genera of fish and shelfish. In some genera of fish, arsenic contents are higher than average from 0..68 to 0.601 mg/kg and mercury content 0.053mg/kg. Heavy metal contents in 2 lakes of Thanh Tri district and in diverse markets in Hanoi have not significant differences
Metals, Heavy ; Mercury ; Lead

OBJECTIVETo analyze the residues of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.

METHODThe SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg collected in literatures. And, Green Trade Standards of Importing & Exporting Medicinal Plants & Preparations was used as the standard to evaluate the pollution condition of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg in Chinese crude drugs.

RESULTChinese crude drugs were contaminated by heavy metals in different levels. The content of Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Hg exceeded the limit of the standard and the percentage was 21.0%, 12.0%, 9.7%, 28.5%, 6.9%, respectively; the phenomena of two, three and four metals exceeding limited standard simultaneity in a drug were also found and the percentage was 4.6%, 1.5%, 0.7%, respectively; the content of heavy metals in Radix Platycodi, Radix Asari and Rhizoma Coptidis was higher among the thirty-six Chinese crude drugs; All of the content of five heavy metals in Barbary Fructus Lycii Rhizoma Anemones Raddeanae, Radix Panacis Quiquefolii and Fructus Aurantii were below the limit; The pollution levels of heavy metals in different locality were different; The content of Cu, Pb in cultivated Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in wild Chinese crude drugs, while the content of As in wild Chinese crude drugs was higher than that in cultivated Chinese crude drugs.

CONCLUSIONThe pollution levels of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs were detailed reported in this paper. And it provided ways for the further study of heavy metals in Chinese crude drugs.

Cadmium ; analysis ; Copper ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Lead ; analysis ; Mercury ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis

This study aims at providing the fundamental data on the field of cosmetics by comparing heavy metal concentration in terms of domestic / foreign products, items, companies and colors. This study has determined the concentration of chromium, lead, mangagnese, nickel, copper and vanadium in cosmetics such as moisturizer, concealer, foundation (Ivory-yellow), compact powder (Ivory-yellow), lip color (Red, brown), eye shadow (Red, brwon and dark green) and eye liner (Black) manufactured by five domestic cosmetic companies and five foreign cosmetic companies on the market. The samples have been collected in cosmetic stores in Pusan from Dec. lst 1996 to Jan. 3lst 1997. The results are as follows : 1. The heavy metal concentration in cosmetics was 2.42ng/g for chromium, 0.82ng/g for lead, 4.49ng/g for manganese, 1.69ng/g for nickel, 0.53ng/g for copper, and 0.51ng/g for vanadium, respectively. 2. Lead and vanadium concentration were significantly higher in domestic cosmetics than foreign cosmetics(p<0.05). 3. The mean(GM) concentrations of heavy metal were different significantly (p<0.01) when classified with cosmetic items. The highest means shown at eye shadow in Cr (14.96ng/g), Cu (1.32ng/g), V (1.28ng/g), and Ni (8.30ng/g), compact powder in Pb(2.50ng/g), eye liner in Mn(90.62ng/g). 4. The mean(GM) concentrations of heavy metal were different significantly (p<0.01) among colored cosmetics. The highest mean concentration of Cr, Ni, Cu and V were dark green- colored cosmetics, that of Mn was black-colored cosmetics, and that of Pb was ivory yellow-colored cosmetics.
Busan ; Chromium ; Copper ; Lip ; Manganese ; Nickel ; Vanadium

The mineral contents of the adult Clonorchis sinensis from rabbits and human were measured, and its qualitative and semi-quantitative analyses were studied with 3.4 meter Ebert-Grating spectrograph, and its quantitative analyses were studied with Beckman DU spectrophotometer. The adult Clonorchis sinensis used in this study were divided into two groups, the first group was collected from the bile passage of the man (C. sinensis from man), the second group was collected from the bile passage of the rabbit(C. sinensis from rabbit). Simultaneously, spectrographic and photometric analyses were also performed on the adult worms of Paragonimus westermani. Furthermore, comparative spectrographic analyses of the trace elements were carried out on the C. sinensis from man, C. sinensis from rabbit, Fasciola hepatica, Eurytrema pancreaticum, and Paragonimus westermani, and the approximate contents of the trace elements of the above trematodes were compared with that of their host tissues and biles. The results obtained were as follows: In the spectrographic analyses of C. sinensis from man, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, copper, calcium, aluminum, iron, and magnesium were detected predominantly, and zinc, titanium, silicone, lead, manganese, barium, cromium, molybdenum, and silver were detected as trace elements. In the differences of level of the minerals in these two C. sinensis, copper level of C. sinensis from man was higher than that of C. sinensis from rabbit, while calcium level of the former worm was higher than that of the latter worm. The trace level of lead, molybdenum, and silver were acertained in the former, but latter were not detected . The contents of the minerals showed the characteristic features in each trematodes: the mineral of flukes in each host were much more than that of the others; such as copper in C. sinensis from man, calcium in the C. sinensis from rabbit, and silicone in the P. westermani. The vanadium was detected in the F. hepatica, E. pancreaticum, and P. westermani, while the other flukes were not detected. In the comparative spectrographic analyses of the trace elements among the trematodes and their host tissues and biles, the minerals which detected from flukes were also found in their tissues and biles of their host. But the mineral levels of C. sinensis from man, F. hepatica, E. pancreaticum, and P. westermani were higher than that of their host tissues and biles, except the C. sinensis from rabbit.
parasitology ; helminth ; trematoda ; C. sinensis ; rabbit ; Fasciola hepatica ; Eurytrema pancreaticum ; Paragonimus westermani ; biochemistry ; sodium ; phosphorus ; potassium ; copper ; calcium ; aluminum ; iron ; magnesium ; zinc ; titanium ; silicone ; lead ; manganese ; barium ; cromium ; molybdenum ; silver ; vanadium

The rapidly increasing annual global volume of e-waste, and of its inherently valuable fraction, has created an opportunity for individuals in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana to make a living by using unconventional, uncontrolled, primitive and crude procedures to recycle and recover valuable metals from this waste. The current form of recycling procedures releases hazardous fractions, such as heavy metals, into the soil, posing a significant risk to the environment and human health. Using a handheld global positioning system, 132 soil samples based on 100 m grid intervals were collected and analysed for cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Using geostatistical techniques and sediment quality guidelines, this research seeks to assess the potential risk these heavy metals posed to the proposed Korle Ecological Restoration Zone by informal e-waste processing site in Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana. Analysis of heavy metals revealed concentrations exceeded the regulatory limits of both Dutch and Canadian soil quality and guidance values, and that the ecological risk posed by the heavy metals extended beyond the main burning and dismantling sites of the informal recyclers to the school, residential, recreational, clinic, farm and worship areas. The heavy metals Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn had normal distribution, spatial variability, and spatial autocorrelation. Further analysis revealed the decreasing order of toxicity, Hg>Cd>Pb> Cu>Zn>Cr, of contributing significantly to the potential ecological risk in the study area.
Agriculture ; Burns ; Cadmium ; Chromium ; Copper ; Geographic Information Systems ; Ghana ; Humans ; Metals ; Metals, Heavy ; Recycling ; Soil ; Spatial Analysis ; Zinc

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to provide an assessment of the risks to human health associated with the exposure to heavy metal bioaccumulation in Manila Catfish (Arius dispar) from Laguna Lake.

METHODS: Manila Catfish (common name Kanduli) samples were collected in eight sampling stations in three major areas of the lake during the dry and wet seasons. Dry season samples were collected from May to June 2010 and wet season samples from September to November 2010. Coordinates of sampling locations were recorded using Global Positioning System to facilitate re-sampling activities and ensured that subsequent samples for the wet season were collected in the area as that of the wet season samples. Heavy metals analyses for cadmium, lead, arsenic, and chromium were conducted using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer and Mercury Analyzer for mercury. Estimates of health risks associated with Kanduli consumption were estimated based on non-carcinogenic health effects of heavy metals.

RESULTS: Non-carcinogenic Health Quotient (NHQ) values of the five heavy metals showed that lead is the most significant pollutant of concern in terms of adverse health effects from risks associated with Kanduli consumption from the lake.

CONCLUSION: From the point of view of disease prevention and control, long term consumption of Kanduli from Laguna Lake is expected to increase health risk due to lead contamination.

.humans ; Arsenic ; Mercury ; Cadmium ; Lakes ; Chromium ; Catfishes ; Seasons ; Geographic Information Systems ; Metals, Heavy ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

Genotypic and environmental variation in Cd, Cr, As, Ni and Pb concentrations of grains, and the relationships between these heavy metals and Fe, Zn were investigated using 9 rice genotypes grown in 6 locations for two successive years. Significant genotypic variation was detected in the five heavy metal concentrations in grains, indicating the possibility to reduce the concentration of these heavy metals in grains through breeding approach. The environmental effect varied with metal, with Pb and Ni having greater variation than the other three metals. There was significant genotype-environment (location) interaction of the concentrations of all five heavy metals in grains, suggesting the importance of cultivar choice in producing rice with low heavy metal concentrations in grains for a given location. Correlation analysis showed that Cd and As, Cr and Ni, and As and Pb concentrations in rice grains were closely associated, and that Ni concentration in grains was negatively correlated with Zn concentration.
Arsenic ; analysis ; Cadmium ; analysis ; Chromium ; analysis ; Edible Grain ; chemistry ; genetics ; Environment ; Genetic Variation ; genetics ; Genotype ; Lead ; analysis ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; Nickel ; analysis ; Oryza ; chemistry ; genetics ; Soil Pollutants ; analysis