Arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury in king bolete Boletus edulis and tolerance limits

In the article are reviewed and discussed available data on arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury content of the fruiting bodies of king bolete. The values of cadmuim concentration of the fruiting bodies of king bolete collected from the areas unpoluted with metals and metaloids in Poland and other European countries usually are greater than an actual tolerance limits set by E.U. law for 0.2 mg/kg wet weight in cultivated mushrooms. Analogically, as is for cadmium also content of lead to be sometimes greater than tolerance limit of 0.3 mg/kg w.w. set in EU for cultivated mushrooms. The fruiting bodies of king bolete usually are also relatively rich in mercury at concentration much greater when compared to tolerance limit set earlier in Poland (in E.U. there is no tolerance limit for mercury in mushrooms). In the case of cadmium it can bee agreed, that this element content of pooled samples of the fruiting bodies of king bollete collected from unpolluted regions usually will not exceed a value of 20 mg/kg d.m., while at polluted areas will exceed a value of 20 mg/kg d.m. In the case of mercury it can bee agreed, that this element content of pooled samples of the fruiting bodies of king bollete collected from unpolluted regions usually will not exceed a value of 5 mg/kg d.m., while at polluted areas will exceed a value of 5 mg/kg d.m. In the case of lead it can be agreed, that this element content of some percent of pooled samples of the fruiting bodies of king bolete collected from unpoluted regions will sometimes exceed an actual the EU tolerance limit of 0.3 mg/kg w.w. as set only or cultivated mushrooms. In the case of arsenic it can be agreed, that total arsenic contant of some percent of pooled samples of the fruiting bodies of king bolete collected from unpoluted regions will exceed value of 0.50 mg/kg d.m.     

Arsenic and mercury tolerance and cadmium sensitivity in Arabidopsis plants expressing bacterial gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase

Cysteine sulfhydryl-rich peptide thiols are believed to play important roles in the detoxification of many heavy metals and metalloids such as arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in plants. The gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-ECS) catalyzes the synthesis of the dipeptidethiol gamma-glu-cys (gamma-EC), the first step in the biosynthesis of phytochelatins (PCs). Arabidopsis thaliana, engineered to express the bacterial gamma-ECS gene under control of a strong constitutive actin regulatory sequence (A2), expressed gamma-ECS at levels approaching 0.1% of total protein. In response to arsenic, mercury, and cadmium stresses, the levels of gamma-EC and its derivatives, glutathione (GSH) and PCs, were increased in the A2::ECS transgenic plants to three- to 20-fold higher concentrations than the increases that occurred in wild-type (WT). Compared to cadmium and mercury treatments, arsenic treatment most significantly increased levels of gamma-EC and PCs in both the A2::ECS transgenic and WT plants. The A2::ECS transgenic plants were highly resistant to arsenic and weakly resistant to mercury. Although exposure to cadmium produced three- to fivefold increases in levels of gamma-EC-related peptides in the A2::ECS lines, these plants were significantly more sensitive to Cd(II) than WT and trace levels of Cd(II) blocked resistance to arsenic and mercury. A few possible mechanisms for gamma-ECS-enhanced arsenic and mercury resistance and cadmium hypersensitivity are discussed.     

Arsenic,cadmium, cobalt,copper, lead,mercury, molybdenum,selenium and zinc concentrations in liver,kidney and muscle in Australian sheep

Matched muscle, liver and kidney samples from 152 sheep in different states of Australia were analysed for trace elements. Mean levels found in muscle, livers and kidneys were 0.010, 0.010 and 0.011 mg kg⁻¹ (fresh weight) for arsenic; 0.0035, 0.280 and 0.853 mg kg⁻¹ for cadmium; 0.006, 0.060 and 0.044 mg kg⁻¹ for cobalt; 0.74, 66.0 and 2.72 mg kg⁻¹ for copper; 0.007, 0.040 and 0.057 mg kg⁻¹ for lead; 0.0025, 0.0034 and 0.0061 mg kg⁻¹ for mercury; 0.014, 1.05 and 0.44 mg kg⁻¹ for molybdenum; 0.09, 0.31 and 0.95 mg kg⁻¹ for selenium; and 40.4, 37.2 and 20.8 mg kg⁻¹ for zinc. The lead, mercury and arsenic concentrations in meat and organs may be regarded as low, but the concentrations of cadmium in kidney and livers are sometimes relatively high. Apart from cadmium, lead and selenium, tissue trace element concentrations were not related to the age of the investigated animals. Differences in essential and non-essential trace element accumulation in sheep reared in different regions (states and territories) of Australia were also evaluated. Cadmium, lead and selenium were the only elements that appeared to show significant regional differences. Overall the results show that concentrations of the elements considered are within current acceptable ranges.     

Evaluation of cadmium, mercury and lead intake with daily food rations

Using the data of the Central Statistical Bureau concerning the consumption of about 90 basic food products daily food rations were reproduced as taken by medium-income worker families. The diets were reproduced in Lublin, Olsztyn, Poznań, Warsaw and Wroc?aw determining in them cadmium, mercury and lead by atomic absorption spectrophometry. It was found that weekly intake of cadmium with food rations was in the range from 133 to 189 mcg, that of lead was 504 to 952 mcg, and mercury from 61.6 to 154.0 mcg. The obtained results were not exceeding 50% PTWI for any of these metals but they were rather higher than those in previous years, which indicates increasing contamination of food products with toxic elements. In areas with higher industrialization level the dietary intake of metals was as a rule higher than in areas with lower accumulation of industry.     

Differential morphological changes in sympathetic nerve fibers elicited by lead,cadmium, and mercury

Effects of intraocular injection of lead acetate, cadmium chloride, or mercury chloride on the sympathetic adrenergic ground plexus of the iris were studied using monoamine fluorescence histochemistry. Injection of 5 μl of a 1.4 mm lead solution into the anterior eye chamber caused a significant hyperinnervation as compared to sodium acetate-injected control irides. This hyperinnervation persisted 2 weeks after injection. Increasing the dose to 42 mm did not increase the extent of the hyperinnervation. Cadmium chloride solutions (1.4 and 7 mm) did not affect the adrenergic nerve fiber density as compared to sodium chloride-injected controls. Injection of mercury chloride caused a marked and dose-dependent degeneration of adrenergic nerves. Two weeks after injection of a 3.5 mm mercury chloride solution, the nerves had regenerated almost completely. Our results demonstrate that intraocular injections of neurotoxic heavy metals, and subsequent analysis with Falck-Hillarp fluorescence microscopy, is a rapid and sensitive method to evaluate adrenergic neurotoxicity.     

微波消解同时测定农产品中铅、镉、汞

目的:建立一种适合同时测定农产品中铅,汞,镉的样品前处理方法。方法:采用微波消解方法处理样品,样品消化液经赶酸后定容,分别用来测定汞和铅、镉。结果:测定铅,镉,汞方法的线性范围分别为:0.0μg/L～20μg/L,0.0μg/L～2μg/L,0.0μg/L～5μg/L;相关系数分别为:0.9979,0.9978,0.9988;回收率分别为:95.8%～103%,95.1%～104%,98.4%～110.6%;方法的检测限分别为0.012μg/L,0.009μg/L,0.0027μg/L。结论:该方法精密度好,准确度高,快速简单,能够很好地满足农产品中铅,汞,镉含量的测定要求。     

Urinary kallikrein activity in workers exposed to cadmium, lead, or mercury vapour

A significant reduction of kallikrein activity in urine (assayed by its amidolytic activity) was found in 64 normotensive workers who had been exposed to cadmium for 11 years on average and whose cadmium concentrations in urine ranged from 2.2 to 33.1 micrograms/g creatinine. The mean (geometric) urinary kallikrein activity (in U/g creatinine) amounted to 0.52 (range 0.11-1.90) in the control group (n = 193) against 0.39 (range 0.10-1.03) in the cadmium group, and the prevalence of abnormally low activity levels (less than or equal to 0.20 U/g creatinine) amounted to 17.2% in the cadmium group against 5.2% in the control group. A reduction of aldosterone release (aldosterone in urine) associated with an increased natriuresis was also observed. This might constitute a compensatory mechanism maintaining blood pressure in the normal range. These biological effects of cadmium were not reversible after removal from exposure. This study indicates that cadmium can induce an irreversible toxic effect in the distal nephron. It also suggests that an excessive cadmium body burden alone may not be sufficient to induce hypertension, but in individuals whose blood pressure regulation may be impaired by other factors cadmium could stimulate the development of hypertension. This study also supports the recommendation to prevent hypertensive subjects from being exposed to cadmium. There was no indication that moderate exposure to mercury vapour (n = 53; mercury in urine, range 11-224 micrograms/g creatinine; average duration of exposure: six years) or to inorganic lead (n = 23; lead in blood, range 40-67 micrograms/100 ml; average duration of exposure: eight years) was associated with a reduction of kallikrein production by the kidney.     

Maternal exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury and neural tube defects in offspring

Arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury are neurotoxins, and some studies suggest that these elements might also be teratogens. Using a case-control study design, we investigated the relation between exposure to these heavy metals and neural tube defects (NTDs) in offspring of Mexican-American women living in 1 of the 14 Texas counties bordering Mexico. A total of 184 case-women with NTD-affected pregnancies and 225 control-women with normal live births were interviewed about their environmental and occupational exposures during the periconceptional period. Biologic samples for blood lead and urinary arsenic, cadmium, and mercury were also obtained for a subset of these women. Overall, the median levels of these biomarkers for heavy metal exposure did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between case- and control-women. However, among women in the highest income group, case-women were nine times more likely (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.4-57) than control-women to have a urinary mercury 5.62 microg/L. Case-women were 4.2 times more likely (95% CI 1.1-16) to report burning treated wood during the periconceptional period than control-women. Elevated odds ratios (ORs) were observed for maternal and paternal occupational exposures to arsenic and mercury, but the 95% CIs were consistent with unity. The 95% CIs of the ORs were also consistent with unity for higher levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury in drinking water and among women who lived within 2 miles at the time of conception to industrial facilities with reported emissions of any of these heavy metals. Our findings suggest that maternal exposures to arsenic, cadmium, or lead are probably not significant risk factors for NTDs in offspring. However, the elevated urinary mercury levels found in this population and exposures to the combustion of treated wood may warrant further investigation.     

Placental transfer of lead,mercury and cadmium in women living in a rural area

Summary The influence of the lead content of drinking water on the transplacental transfer of lead was investigated in 70 pregnant women living in a rural area of Belgium. The mothers were divided into 2 groups: group A: morning water lead below 50 g/liter; group B: morning water lead above this value. In group A, the mean lead content of water was 11.8 g/liter and in group B it amounted to 247.4 g/liter.The difference in the mean lead concentration between the two groups were for maternal blood: 3.2 g/100 ml, for umbilical cord blood: 3.3 g/100 ml, and for placenta: 3.6 g/100 g. These differences are statistically significant.There were significant correlations between water lead and lead concentration in blood (mother, newborn) or placenta. An increment of water lead concentration from 50 to 500 g/liter increases blood lead concentration in mother and in newborn by about 3 g/100 ml and in placenta by about 2.5 g/100 g (wet weight).     

太原市粮食类食品铅镉汞含量与安全性评价

目的:了解太原市粮食类食品中重金属元素的含量水平,评价其质量安全。方法:在太原市的几个主要超市和粮油供应点总共采集7种米类和15种面类,总共66份样品,传统方法测定铅、镉、汞的含量,SPSS17.0建立数据库并进行分析。结果:2010年太原市粮食类食品中铅、镉、汞总体合格率分别达到90.91%、95.45%和100%。结论:2010年太原市粮食类食品重金属污染状况不严重,少部分米类和面类存在重金属超标情况,应采取相应措施,保证食品质量安全。     

Biomonitoring of mercury,cadmium, and lead exposure in Japanese children: a cross-sectional study

Objectives

To measure current Hg, Cd, and Pb exposure in Japanese children, and to estimate dietary intakes of foods responsible for high body burden.

Methods

Blood, hair, and urine samples were collected from 9 to 10-year-old 229 children in Asahikawa and measured for Hg, Cd, and Pb in these matrices. Diet history questionnaire was used to estimate intake of marine foods and other food items. Hg level was measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Cd and Pb levels were determined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results

Geometric mean (GM) of blood Hg, Cd, and Pb was 4.55 μg/L, 0.34 μg/L, and 0.96 μg/dL, respectively. Urinary Cd level was 0.34 μg/g creatinine (GM) and hair Hg was 1.31 μg/g (GM). Approximately one-third (35 %) of blood samples had Hg level above the U.S. EPA reference dose (RfD; 5.8 μg/L). Hair Hg level exceeded U.S. EPA RfD (1.2 μg/g) in 59 % samples. Children in the upper quartile of blood Hg level had significantly higher intake of large predatory fish species compared to those in the lower quartile of blood Hg.

Conclusions

Those with high blood Hg level may be explained by more frequent intake of big predatory fish. Cd and Pb exposure is generally low among Japanese children. As no safety margin exists for Pb exposure and high exposure to MeHg is noted in Japanese population; periodic biomonitoring and potential health risk assessment should continue in high-risk populations, notably among children.     

南宁市市售蔬菜中铅、镉、砷和汞含量的调查分析

目的 了解南宁市市售蔬菜中铅、镉、砷、汞污染情况,及时发现食品安全隐患,为风险预警提供依据.方法 2011年从南宁市的6个城区随机采集农贸市场销售的蔬菜样本,共13个品种390份,按照GB/T 5009进行分析;采用加标回收试验进行质量控制.结果 390份蔬菜中铅、镉、砷、汞检出率分别为89.2％、91.3％、61.8％、7.4％,超标率均为零.结论 南宁市市售蔬菜中铅、镉、砷、汞含量均未超出限量标准,属轻度污染.     

History of Inuit community exposure to lead, cadmium, and mercury in sewage lake sediments

Exposure to lead, cadmium, and mercury is known to be high in many arctic Inuit communities. These metals are emitted from industrial and urban sources, are distributed by long-range atmospheric transport to remote regions, and are found in Inuit country foods. Current community exposure to these metals can be measured in food, but feces and urine are also excellent indicators of total exposure from ingestion and inhalation because a high percentage of each metal is excreted. Bulk domestic sewage or its residue in a waste treatment system is a good substitute measure. Domestic waste treatment systems that accumulate metals in sediment provide an accurate historical record of changes in ingestion or inhalation. We collected sediment cores from an arctic lake used for facultative domestic sewage treatment to identify the history of community exposure to Pb, Cd, and Hg. Cores were dated and fluxes were measured for each metal. A nearby lake was sampled to measure combined background and atmospheric inputs, which were subtracted from sewage lake data. Pb, Cd, and Hg inputs from sewage grew rapidly after the onset of waste disposal in the late 1960s and exceeded the rate of population growth in the contributing community from 1970 to 1990. The daily per-person Pb input in 1990 (720,000 ng/person per day) exceeded the tolerable daily intake level. The Cd input (48,000 ng/person per day) and Hg input (19,000 ng/person per day) were below the respective TDI levels at the time.     

Urinary kallikrein activity in workers exposed to cadmium, lead, or mercury vapour.

A significant reduction of kallikrein activity in urine (assayed by its amidolytic activity) was found in 64 normotensive workers who had been exposed to cadmium for 11 years on average and whose cadmium concentrations in urine ranged from 2.2 to 33.1 micrograms/g creatinine. The mean (geometric) urinary kallikrein activity (in U/g creatinine) amounted to 0.52 (range 0.11-1.90) in the control group (n = 193) against 0.39 (range 0.10-1.03) in the cadmium group, and the prevalence of abnormally low activity levels (less than or equal to 0.20 U/g creatinine) amounted to 17.2% in the cadmium group against 5.2% in the control group. A reduction of aldosterone release (aldosterone in urine) associated with an increased natriuresis was also observed. This might constitute a compensatory mechanism maintaining blood pressure in the normal range. These biological effects of cadmium were not reversible after removal from exposure. This study indicates that cadmium can induce an irreversible toxic effect in the distal nephron. It also suggests that an excessive cadmium body burden alone may not be sufficient to induce hypertension, but in individuals whose blood pressure regulation may be impaired by other factors cadmium could stimulate the development of hypertension. This study also supports the recommendation to prevent hypertensive subjects from being exposed to cadmium. There was no indication that moderate exposure to mercury vapour (n = 53; mercury in urine, range 11-224 micrograms/g creatinine; average duration of exposure: six years) or to inorganic lead (n = 23; lead in blood, range 40-67 micrograms/100 ml; average duration of exposure: eight years) was associated with a reduction of kallikrein production by the kidney.     

Time trends in burdens of cadmium, lead, and mercury in the population of northern Sweden

The time trends of exposure to heavy metals are not adequately known. This is a worldwide problem with regard to the basis for preventive actions and evaluation of their effects. This study addresses time trends for the three toxic elements cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb). Concentrations in erythrocytes (Ery) were determined in a subsample of the population-based MONICA surveys from 1990, 1994, and 1999 in a total of 600 men and women aged 25-74 years. The study took place in the two northernmost counties in Sweden. To assess the effect of changes in the environment, adjustments were made for life-style factors that are determinants of exposure. Annual decreases of 5-6% were seen for Ery-Pb levels (adjusted for age and changes in alcohol intake) and Ery-Hg levels (adjusted for age and changes in fish intake). Ery-Cd levels (adjusted for age) showed a similar significant decrease in smoking men. It is concluded that for Pb and maybe also Hg the actions against pollution during recent decades have caused a rapid decrease of exposure; for Hg the decreased use of dental amalgam may also have had an influence. For Cd, the decline in Ery-Cd was seen only in smokers, indicating that Cd exposure from tobacco has decreased, while other environmental sources of Cd have not changed significantly. To further improve the health status in Sweden, it is important to decrease the pollution of Cd, and actions against smoking in the community are important.     

宁波市2011年农产品重金属污染状况分析

目的:了解我市农产品中重金属铅、汞、镉的含量水平,评价其食用安全质量。方法:在全市范围内采集本地产的具有代表性、典型性和适时性的产品,共12个品种550份,按照GB/T5009进行分析。结果:550份样品中铅、镉、汞检出率分别为46.5%、70.9%、13.1%。超标率分别为1.1%、4.9%、0.91%。结论:2011年我市农产品卫生质量基本良好,部分品种农产品超标且含量较高,应引起高度重视。     

宁波市江北区市售蔬菜中铅、镉、汞检测结果分析

目的:了解宁波市江北区市售蔬菜中铅、镉、汞污染情况,为减少中毒和制定预防措施提供依据。方法:随机采集江北区3个农贸市场销售的蔬菜样本,共8个品种72份,用微波消解仪进行消化处理,按照GB/T5009进行分析;用圆白菜标准样品(GBW10014)进行质量控制。结果:72份蔬菜中铅、镉、汞检出率分别为100%、100%、16.7%。其中铅含量较高的为生菜和空心菜,镉含量较高的为食用菌和生菜,汞含量均较低。结论:宁波市江北区市售蔬菜存在铅、镉、汞的轻度污染。