The Use of Feathers to Monitor Heavy Metal Contamination in Herons, Korea

This study measured concentrations of iron, manganese, zinc, copper, lead, and cadmium in environmental substrates (water and sediment) as well as in the diet and feathers of Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax and Grey Heron Ardea cinerea chicks from Pyeongtaek heronry, Gyeonggi-do, Korea. Zinc and cadmium concentrations in sediment were relatively high, but lead was low. In the diet, only copper concentrations were higher in Black-crowned Night Herons than in Grey Herons. Cadmium concentrations in the diet of two heron species from a Pyeongtaek heron colony were also higher than reported in other studies. In feathers, iron, copper, and lead concentrations were significantly different between heron species. Iron and copper concentrations were higher in Black-crowned Night Heron chicks than in Grey Heron chicks, but lead concentrations were not. Therefore, with the exception of lead, heavy metal concentrations in feathers were not related to concentrations in the diet. Zinc, iron, and lead concentrations in heron feathers were within the ranges reported by other heron studies, but manganese, copper, and cadmium were much higher. Lead and cadmium concentrations in feathers of Black-crowned Night Heron and Grey Heron chicks were elevated to lead and cadmium concentrations in the diet. Therefore, we suggest that lead and cadmium concentrations in heron feathers reflect contamination of breeding sites and are useful bioindicators of local contamination. An erratum to this article is available at .     

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Feathers of Korean Shorebirds

This study presents concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper, lead, and cadmium in the feather of five shorebird species from Yeongjong Island, Korea in the East Asian–Australian migration flyways. The objectives of this study were to determine levels of heavy metal concentrations in the feathers of shorebirds, to evaluate the pattern of heavy metal concentrations in the feather and the liver, and to examine the correlation between heavy metal concentrations in the feathers and livers. We hypothesized that difference of heavy metal concentrations will show by the breeding ground of shorebirds. Lead concentrations in dunlins (geomean = 14.8 μg/g wet weight) and great knots (20.8 μg/g wet weight) feathers were significantly higher than Terek sandpipers (3.32 μg/g wet weight); other metals were not different among shorebirds. Zinc, lead, and cadmium concentrations in the feather were correlated with the liver concentrations, but manganese and copper concentrations were not. Zinc, manganese, copper, lead, and cadmium concentrations in the feather from this study were within the range of earlier studies for wild birds, but cadmium concentrations in dunlins were higher than other studies. Because lead concentrations in livers and feathers of the Terek sandpiper were lower than in other shorebirds, we suggest that Terek sandpipers were exposed to lower lead concentrations than Kentish plovers, dunlins, and great knots on their breeding ground. An erratum to this article can be found at     

龙岩市食品中重金属污染检测与评价

目的了解龙岩市食品中重金属铅、镉污染状况，为建立食品污染物预警系统提供依据。方法按照2006-2007年福建省食品污染物监测计划结合龙岩实际情况，采用石墨炉原子吸收光谱法对该市各生产厂家、商场及农贸市场等各类食品中铅、镉进行检测。结果共检测10类食品430份样品，其中铅含量超标率7．67％，镉含量超标率3．95％。结论龙岩市食品中重金属含量总体合格率较高，但个别食品仍受不同程度的重金属污染。     

2010年潍坊市市售食品中重金属污染情况调查

目的了解潍坊市区出售的食品中重金属污染情况,以便采取相应的预防策略。方法采用原子吸收光谱法和原子荧光光度法测定食品样品中的铅、镉、砷、汞含量。结果全年共采集各类食品共461份,其中检测铅含量样品461份,超标5份,超标率1.1%;检测镉含量样品351份,超标14份,超标率4.0%;检测砷含量样品328份,超标4份,超标率1.2%;检测汞含量样品221份,超标9份,超标率4.1%。结论潍坊市食品中重金属污染总体情况不严重,但部分种类仍存在一定程度重金属含量超标的情况,需要引起重视。     

环境重金属暴露与子宫内膜异位症

子宫内膜异位症（EMs）发生发展机制包括内分泌、遗传、免疫和环境因素。环境污染会导致水源、土壤以及空气中积累大量重金属,如铁、镍和镉等元素。妇女暴露于这些重金属,大量重金属进入体内,在其体内与某些有机成分结合形成金属络合物或金属整合物,后者促进活性氧（ROS）的产生。ROS通过激活丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）途径,加重机体氧化应激,进而促进内膜细胞的增殖和对异位病灶的侵袭。部分重金属如镉、镍等,在体内能与雌激素受体（ER）特异性结合,产生类雌激素效应,干扰内分泌代谢,增加女性罹患EMs的风险。综述妇女暴露于环境重金属与EMs的相关性及研究进展,为探讨EMs发生发展机制积累新的资料。     

2005-2006年北京市海淀区食品中重金属污染调查结果

食品中的重金属污染物主要来源于某些地区特殊自然环境中的高本底含量，由于人为的环境污染而早于有毒有害金属对食品污染，食品生产过程中含有重金属材料污染食品：摄入有害重金属元素污染食品对人体产生多方面的危害。因此，为掌握我区食品重金属污染程度，达到有效预防和控制，于2005和2006年我们在北京市疾病预防控制中心的统一部署下，     

Evaluation of Bivalves as Bioindicators of Metal Pollution in Freshwater

The fresh water bivalves, Lamellidens corrianus, Lamellidens marginalis, and Indonaia caeruleus were exposed to chronic concentration of arsenic (0.1719 ppm), cadmium (0.1284 ppm), copper (0.033 ppm), lead (1.50 ppm), mercury (0.0443 ppm) and zinc (1.858 ppm) separately up to 30 days in laboratory. Dry weight of each animal was used to calculate metal concentrations (μg/g) and the metal body burden (μg/individual). It was observed that lead (1235.4 μg/g) and arsenic (37.9 μg/g) concentration were highest in Lamellidens corrianus, zinc (3,032.3 μg/g) was highest in Lamellidens marginalis, while mercury (5.87 μg/g), cadmium (142 μg/g) and copper (826.7 μg/g) was highest in Indonaia caeruleus.     

Heavy Metal Exposure from Personal Care Products

Numerous studies have described human exposure to heavy metals from diverse sources in Nigeria, but little is known about the exposure from personal care products, and few or no report is available on the personal care product concentrations of cadmium, chromium, copper and zinc, which have biotic effects. The levels of these elements were determined in 74 samples of 5 different classes of personal care products commonly used in Nigeria using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Significant levels of Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn were found in all the products. The highest values of Cd (0.553 ppm) and Cu (0.783 ppm) were observed in hair cream, while medicated cream was mostly implicated for Cr (0.383 ppm) and Zn (0.793 ppm). Since no limit relating to cosmetic products is available, it is difficult to ascertain if the values of metals obtained in this study are too high or low; but Cd and Cr are prohibited in any amount in cosmetics. Prolonged use of soaps and creams containing these elements may pose threat to human health and the environment.     

Contamination of Cows Milk by Heavy Metal in Egypt

The present investigation was carried out to assess the residues levels of five metals (Cadmium, Copper, Lead, Iron and Zinc) in cow milk collected from different sites in El-Qaliubiya governorate, Egypt. A total of 100 cow milk samples were collected from twenty cows in each location sites during the morning milking in the period from March to April, 2011. The highest average concentration are those of iron (16.38 μg/g) followed by zinc (10.75 μg/g) and lead (4.404 μg/g), while the lowest mean concentration are 2.836 and 0.288 μg/g for copper and cadmium, respectively. The results showed that most of the milk samples from the different sites containing all the studied metals with concentration higher than those recommended for milk by international dairy federation standard and Codex.     

Air-Borne Heavy Metal Contamination to Dietary Vegetables: A Case Study from India

Contamination of edible parts of three dietary vegetables, Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.), Radish (Raphanus sativus L.), and Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by air-borne cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and lead (Pb) was determined using pot culture experiments at three sites in the city of Varanasi, India. The data revealed that although Cr and Cu in vegetables remained below their safe limits, about 68% of the total samples contained Cd, Ni, and Pb above their respective safe limits of 1.5, 1.5, and 2.5 μg g⁻¹. Site wise synchrony and air accumulation factor (AAF) indicated that atmospheric deposition was the main contributor of metal contamination to vegetables. The study suggests that if the present trends of atmospheric deposition are continued, air-borne heavy metals will contaminate the agricultural produce with long-term health implications.     

石家庄市市售食物中重金属污染调查分析

目的了解石家庄市区市售食物中重金属铅、汞、镉的含量状况及分布规律。方法样品均为市区市售常见食品,样品处一时测试采用国家标准方法 (GB5009.12.15.17)。结果处于轻度铅污染和污染水平的样品占检测样本的比例≥30%的为肉类50.0%、海水鱼类36.4%、甲壳类45.8%、软体类44.0%、蔬菜36.0%、猪肾30.0%。镉污染主要是猪肾,处于重度污染水平的样品比例为10.0%;汞污染主要是海水鱼类,海水鱼汞含量的超标率为4.54%,结论石家庄市区主售食品处于轻度的铅污染水平,汞、镉含量较安全。     

The Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) as an Environmental Bioindicator Species of Heavy Metal Contamination

This study aims to examine the possible presence of lead and cadmium in the liver and kidneys of hooded crows (Corvus cornix). Liver and kidneys of hooded crow carcasses were collected in Province of Cuneo (Piedmont, Italy) in order to detect lead and cadmium content. Significant differences were found in lead and cadmium levels between areas of intensive cultivation versus areas where meadows are prevalent. Moreover, age greatly influenced the burden of heavy metals, while sex did not seem to affect the level of contamination. The source of contamination may be phosphate fertilizers used for intensive cultivation in the study area.     

公路旁土壤中重金属污染分布及潜在生态危害的研究

[目的]研究公路旁土壤中重金属污染的分布及潜在生态危害。[方法]以319国道龙岩市新罗区路段为研究区,对耕作土采样,用原子吸收光谱法和分光光度法分析土壤中重金属Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn和Cr含量,并与对照区比较,同时采用Lars Hakanson指数法评价重金属的潜在生态危害。[结果]研究区表层土壤cd[(1.48±0.60)mg/kg]、Pb[(160.17±55.99)mg/kg]、cu[(38.44±12.16)mg/kg]、Zn[(80.35±6.60)mg/kg]、Cr[(79.50±23.58)mg/kg]含量显著高于对照区(P<0.001),Cd和Pb为重度污染(100％),Cu和Cr为轻微污染(分别占监测点位的55.8％和35.3％);土壤对重金属元素的吸收及污染程度:Pb>Cd>Cu>Cr>zn。潜在生态危害综合指数为253.0,主要污染为Cd,达到很强的生态危害,其次是Pb、Cu、Cr和Zn,均为轻微生态危害;潜在生态危害地带自公路起向其两侧扩散范围约为150 m。[结论]公路旁土壤中重金属以Cd、Pb污染为主,属于中等生态危害,污染物主要来源于机动车辆燃料和轮胎中所含微量重金属成分。     

Spatial-Based Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Agricultural Soils Surrounding a Non-ferrous Metal Smelting Zone

This work aimed to assess the degree of anthropogenic influence and severity of heavy metal from a non-ferrous metal smelting industrial zone. The results suggested that anthropogenic inputs played a dominant role in the enrichment of Cu, Zn, Pb, Sb and Cd. These metals showed similar spatial distribution patterns. Multivariate analysis showed strongly significant relationships between Cu–Zn,Cd–Zn, Cd–Sb, Sb, Sb, Cu, Zn, and Pb. Strong relationship was found between Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sb and organic matter in soil. Risk evaluation results within the soil investigated profile was in the following order: Cd > Sb > Cu > Zn > Pb. Nemerow’s synthetical contamination index revealed that there is substantial ecotoxicological risk among the sampling sites with 8 of 9 of these locations exceeding the Nemerow criteria for seriously impacted sites and another site was close to moderately polluted domain.