Lead and other metals can substitute for Ca2+ in calmodulin

We have studied the interaction between some heavy metal ions, as compared with earth alkali ions, and calmodulin, a tissue protein which binds Ca2+ and mediates some of its effects. 1. Calmodulin dependent phosphodiesterase was activated with Pb2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ba2+, and Cd2+ (EC50 about 0.8 microM). The maximal activation achieved decreases in the order given. Hg2+, Sn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Ni2+, Bi3+, and Sb3+ up to 20 microM did not activate. 2. Pb2+ can replace Ca2+ with respect to the calmodulin-dependent phosphorylation of brain membranes. With high Pb2+ concentrations, phosphorylation was inhibited. 3. Calmodulin binding to brain membranes was enhanced with concentrations below 10(-4)M in the following order: Pb2+ greater than or equal to Ca2+ approximately Sr2+ greater than Cd2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Ba2+. In contrast Mg2+, Hg2+, Sn2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Cu2+ triggered, if at all, a non-saturable binding of calmodulin. 4. In the flow-dialysis, other ions competed with 45Ca2+ binding to calmodulin in the following order: Pb2+ approximately Ca2+ greater than Mn2+, Ba2+, Cd2+, Sr2+. Thus among the ions investigated Pb2+ is a fully potent substitute for Ca2+ in every calmodulin-dependent reaction investigated. Cd2+ is always much less potent. The earth alkali ions Sr2+ and Ba2+ take an intermediate position. It remains to be shown whether calmodulin is merely a storage site for Pb2+, or whether the resulting functional changes play a role in Pb2+ poisoning.     

Relative in vitro affinity of hepatic metallothionein for metals

The ability of selected metals (Ag, Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Tl and V) to displace Zn from Zn-metallothionein (Zn-MT) was quantitated. Of the metals tested Cd had the highest affinity for MT, with 1.33 microM displacing 50% of the 65Zn bound to MT (EC50), followed by Pb (1.46 microM), Cu (1.93 microM), Hg (3.93 microM), Zn (8.06 microM), Ag (10.4 microM), Ni (474 microM) and Co (880 microM). As, Ca and Mo had a limited ability to displace Zn from MT while Al, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Tl and V had no effect on Zn binding even at 1.0 mM.     

Combined toxicity of heavy metal mixtures in liver cells

With rapid industrialization, China is now facing great challenges in heavy metal contamination in the environment. Human exposure to heavy metals through air, water and food commonly involves a mixture consisting of multiple heavy metals. In this study, eight common heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni) that cause environmental contamination were selected to investigate the combined toxicity of different heavy metal mixtures in HL7702 cells. Toxicity (24 h LC₅₀) of each individual metal on the cells ranked Hg > Cr = Cd > Cu > Zn > Ni > Mn > Pb; toxicity of the different mixtures ranked: M5 > M3PbHgCd > M5+Mn > M5+Cu > M2CdNi > M4A > M8‐Mn > M8 > M5+Zn > M4B > M8‐Cr > M8‐Zn > M8‐Cu > M8‐Pb > M8‐Cd > M8‐Hg > M8‐Ni > M3PbHgNi > M3CuZnMn. The cytotoxicity data of individual metals were successfully used to build the additive models of two‐ to eight‐component metal mixtures. The comparison between additive model and combination model or partly additive model was useful to evaluate the combined effects in mixture. Synergistic, antagonistic or additive effects of the toxicity were observed in different mixtures. These results suggest that the combined effects should be considered in the risk assessment of heavy metal co‐exposure, and more comprehensive investigations on the combined effects of different heavy metal mixtures are needed in the future. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Toxicity evaluation in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans after chronic metal exposure

In this study, specific developmental stage for adults from day 1 to day 10 was selected to evaluate the chronic metal toxicity, because the population of dead nematodes and the accumulation of intestinal autofluorescence increased sharply after day 10. Chronic exposure to Cr, Pb, Cu, and Hg caused a significant elevation in fractions of dead animals after day 4, and resulted in a significant induction of hsp-16.2::gfp expression at all assayed metal concentrations. Moreover, chronic exposure to Ag, Cr, Pb, Cu, Hg, and Cd would induce a more severe stress response than exposure to Zn and Mn in intestine, and chronic exposure to Pb, Hg, Cr, Zn, and Mn would induce a more severe stress response than exposure to Ag, Cu and Cd in head neurons. Therefore, in determining the usefulness of animals in metal toxicity assessment, this study established a method using nematodes in testing the chronic metal toxicity.     

Effect of some metal compounds on the Ca2+ binding and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity of eggshell gland mucosa homogenate from the domestic fowl

Some metal ions, e.g. Hg2+, Cd2+ and Al3+, can have the effects as ecotoxicological agents, of causing eggshell thinning and breakage in birds. In a homogenate of the Ca2+-secreting part of the eggshell gland mucosa, a study was made of the influence of Hg2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, methyl-Hg+, Zn2+, V3+, Al3+ and Ni2+ in different concentrations on the rate of ATP-dependent 10(-4) M Ca2+ binding. All compounds had an inhibitory action. The most potent metal (Hg2+) produced 50% inhibition (IC50) at 1.1 X 10(-6) M, whereas this value for the least potent compound (Ni2+) was 9 X 10(-4) M. The specific Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity was also inhibited by the tested metal ions. In all cases except methyl-Hg+ the IC50 for this activity was lower than that for Ca2+ binding. The most potent ion in this respect was Cd2+, with an IC50 of 8 X 10(-8) M, and the least potent was methyl-Hg+, with an IC50 of 1.4 X 10(-3) M. Pb2+ and Cd2+ in a concentration range of 10(-5)-10(-4) stimulated the Mg2+-ATPase activity, however, to almost the same extent as 10(-4) M Ca2+. A possible explanation for this effect is that these ions may have an affinity for sites of Ca2+ binding of the polypeptide calmodulin and thereby influence the Ca2+ metabolism of the shell gland mucosa.     

The interaction of cations with activity of soluble protein kinase C from mouse brain

The interaction of some cations with the enzymatic activity of soluble protein kinase C was determined in order to elucidate whether protein kinase C can be activated by other metal cations besides Ca2+. Protein kinase C was activated by Ca2+ and Sr2+ having EC50 values of nearly 10 microM and 200 microM, respectively. Ba2+ likewise activated protein kinase C but was less potent. Co2+, Ni2+ and Mn2+ had no activating effects on the activity in the absence of Ca2+, but was slightly reduced in the presence of Ca2+ (0.5 mM). Cations with ionic radii close to Ca2+ (0.99 A) inhibited the activity irrespective of the absence or presence of Ca2+. The order of potency is as follows: Hg2+ greater than Cd2+ approximately Cu2+ much greater than Sm3+ greater than Tb3+ greater than La3+. Pb2+ and Zn2+, which showed a high affinity to SH-groups, as well as Hg2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+, which also inhibited the activity. Thus, among the ions investigated, the alkaline-earth ions Sr2+ and Ba2+ could be substituted for Ca2+, irrespective of ionic radii. The serious environmental pollutants such as Hg2+, Cd2+ or Pb2+ impaired the activity of protein kinase C probably due to SH-blocking.     

The toxicity of sixteen metallic compounds in Chinese hamster ovary cells

The toxicity of 16 metal salts to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was determined by measuring the cloning efficiency (CE) of CHO cells after exposure to the metals. CHO cells differed by a factor of 10(5) to 10(6) in their toxic response to these metal salts. While Cd(II) was the most toxic ion, Mg(II) exhibited the least toxicity based on either CE50 (concentration required to reduce the CE to 50%) or D0 (concentration increment which reduced the CE by 63%). On the basis of CE50, the toxicity ranking was Ag greater than Tl for monovalent metals, Cd greater than Zn greater than Hg greater than Co greater Cu greater than Mn greater than Ni greater than Be greater than Pd greater than Sr greater than Mg for divalent metals, and In greater than Rh greater than Y for trivalent metals. A similar ranking was found for D0. For the 11 divalent metals, correlations of CE50 and D0 in the CHO cell assay and the Pearson-Mawby softness parameter for metals (sigma p) were reasonably strong. A good correlation exists between the results of this study on the toxic response in CHO cells and published data on toxicity in mice and Drosophila. It appears that the CHO cell cloning assay may be useful in preliminary screening of metallic compounds as an indicator of their predicted toxicity in higher organisms.     

反渗透膜浓缩技术对60mg促肝细胞生长素粉针剂常见金属元素含量影响的研究

目的了解反渗透膜浓缩技术对60mg促肝细胞生长素（PHGF）中钠（Na）、钾（K）、镁（Mg）、钙（Ca）、铁（Fe）、铬（Cr）、锰（Mn）、镍（Ni）、铜（Cu）、锌（Zn）、砷（As）、银（Ag）、镉（Cd）、锑（Sb）、钡（Ba）、铅（Ph）等金属元素含量的影响,为药品工艺改进、质量控制及临床安全用药提供科学依据。方法采用在线内标,建立电感耦合等离子体质谱（ICPMS）技术对样品常见金属元素的检测方法,并对药品金属元素进行检测,比较2种规格药品中金属元素含量差异。结果ICPMS测定PHGF常见金属元素线性相关系数均〉0．9990;方法准确度、精确度和稳定性均达到要求,有证参考物质全血验证,方法准确度、精密度高。60mgPHGF与20mgPHGF生产工艺稳定,元素批间相对误差分别在0．00％-5．48％、0．24％-6．05％之间;2种规格药品各检测元素比较,Na、Mg、K、Fe、Ni、Zn、As、A异、Cd间均P〉0．05;Ca、Mn、Cu、Sb、Ba、Pb问均P〈0．01;Cr间P〈0．05。结论60mgPHGF与20mgPHGF检测元素比较,Na、Mg、K、Fe、Ni、Zn、As、Ag、Cd元素含量没明显差异;Ca、Mn、Cu、Sb、Ba、Pb元素含量有非常显著差异,20mgPHGF中Ca、Mn、Ba、Pb含量高。     

火焰原子吸收光谱法测定附子中微量元素的含量

目的:建立以空气-乙炔火焰原子吸收光谱法测定附子中铜(Cu)、铁(Fe)、锰(Mn)、铅(Pb)、镉(Cd)、铬(Cr)、锌(Zn)、镍(Ni)、钙(Ca)、镁(Mg)10种微量元素含量的方法。方法:样品经硝酸-高氯酸(4∶1)浸泡,置电热板上140℃消解处理。结果:测得各线性范围(μg·mL-1):Cu为0～3.0,Fe为0～4.0,Mn为0～1.0,Pb为0～5.0,Cd为0～0.25,Cr为0～4.0,Zn为0～2.0,Ni为0～5.0,Ca为0～4.0,Mg为0～4.0;相关系数均>0.9926;回收率在100.11%～102.62%之间;方法精密度的RSD在0.16%～2.2%之间。结论:该方法适合中药附子的Cu、Fe、Mn、Pb、Cd、Cr、Zn、Ni、Ca、Mg的含量测定,可为进一步研究附子中微量元素与其临床疗效关系提供有益依据。     

中药马齿苋的微量元素测定

本文报道用原子吸收分光光度法及等离子体发射光谱法测定马齿苋中二十一种微量元素的结果。     

Dose-response effects of various metal ions on rat liver metallothionein,glutathione, heme oxygenase,and cytochrome P-450

Adult male rats received ip injections of the maximum tolerable dose (MTD; μmol/kg/day, in parentheses following metal), or a fraction thereof, of Hg (5), Cd (20), Se (25), Ag (65), Cu (75), Co (100), Ni (120), Zn (200), Mn (250), Fe (300), Pb (400), or Cr (400) 36 and 12 hr before sacrifice. MTDs were estimated from previous studies, and at least three serial dilutions ($\text{1}\text{2}$, $\text{1}\text{4}$, $\text{1}\text{8}$, etc.) of the MTDs were tested for each metal. The effects of metal treatment on hepatic heme oxygenase activity (HO), cytochrome P-450, reduced glutathione (GSH) and metallothionein (MT), and renal MT and GSH were determined. Nine metals increased HO at the MTD, but only Cd, Se, Mn, and Pb increased HO at lower doses. These four metals plus Ag and Cr depressed cytochrome P-450 levels at the MTD, but only Cd, Mn, and Pb depressed cytochrome P-450 at a lower dose. Se increased hepatic GSH at the two highest doses, but all other metals had little or no effect. Kidney GSH was increased by all metals except Cd, Ag, Cu, and Cr, to a maximum level of only 150% of control (Pb). Cd and Zn induced hepatic MT in a dose-related manner to 420 and 580% of control, respectively. On a molar basis, Cd was about eight times more potent than Zn in increasing hepatic MT concentration. Hg, Ni, Mn, Fe, Pb, and Cr also significantly increased hepatic MT, but only to 150–200% of control. Pb had a slight but significant effect on hepatic MT at all doses down to 1/16th the MTD. This effect of PB, as well as other metals having a small effect on MT, may be the result of the effects of stress on MT rather than the metal ion per se. Renal MT was effectively induced by Hg, Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Pb. Relatively small amounts of Hg (0.62 μmol/kg/day) significantly increased renal MT when compared to the minimum effective dose of Cd (10 μmol/kg/day) or Zn (50 μmol/kg/day). In conclusion, metals have a number of effects on potential hepatic and renal biochemical defense mechanisms. Most of the metals lacked specificity, affecting a number but not all of the parameters examined. However, of the 12 metals examined, Zn was the most selective in that it produced marked increases in MT and little or no effect on the other parameters, whereas Cd had the broadest effect, altering all parameters except GSH.     

Trace element concentration and its risk assessment in common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia Bordin, 1904) from southern basin of Caspian Sea

This study evaluated the extent of metal levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in edible muscles of common kilka at Babolsar and Amirabad coastal regions from the southern basin of Caspian Sea. These values were compared with the WHO and the UNFAO safety standards regarding the amount of the abovementioned heavy metals in fish tissues (mg/kg w.w.). Results showed that Zn concentrations were highest among the trace elements examined, while concentrations of Hg were generally the lowest in the analyzed tissues. In the other hand, the accumulation of these elements was not significantly different between coastal regions (p?>?0.05). While accumulation of Cu and Mn at edible muscles of Clupeonella cultriventris were significant difference between two coastal regions (p??Cu?>?Cr?>?Cd?>?Ni?>?Mn?>?Pb?>?Hg. Furthermore, Pearson correlation revealed that Zn, Cu, Mn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cd and Hg in edible muscles of C. cultriventris were not significantly correlated in length (R^2?<^?0.50; p?>?0.05), but it was significantly correlated in weight (p?C. cultriventris consumption.     

Quantitative aspects of metal ion content and toxicity in Drosophila

As a basis for both a genetic and a biochemical approach to a study of metal ion effects, a method for quantitating the toxic response of Drosophila to metal ions was developed. The response to 13 metal ions has been examined, including several chemical groups from the periodic table: the IIb ions Zn2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+; the IIa ions, Be2+, Mg2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+; the transition elements, Ni2+, Cu2+, Co2+, and Mn2+: and trivalent ions, Y3+ and Cr3+. The standard test procedure provides estimates of the median lethal concentration (LC50) and the range of the tolerance distribution both of which are obtained by the method of probit transformation. Range is defined as the change in concentration between the LC2.5 and the LC97.5. Estimation of range as the measure of the limits of the tolerance distribution was utilized to measure variation in the response to metals with time. Genetic characterization of strains will require strains of flies without overlapping tolerance ranges. Although there was a general trend of increasing values of range with increasing LC50 values, the exceptions (e.g., Cr3+ and Be2+) indicated that several factors may be involved in determining the range of lethal responses. Elemental analyses have been performed on flies before and after metal ion treatments to establish the amount of metal ion taken up and baselines for comparison. This study provides additional evidence that Drosophila is an appropriate organism for the study of specific biochemical alterations induced by metals, e.g., the cadmium-induced increase in Q(+)tRNAs.     

Effects of divalent metals on the isolated rat glomerulus

Glomerular changes are prominent in metal-induced nephrotoxicity, and the glomerulus may be a primary site of damage in some cases. In order to separate direct effects of metal ions from those occurring secondary to systemic or post-glomerular toxicity, we have studied the effects of divalent salts of Hg, Cd, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni and Co on several metabolic parameters in freshly isolated rat glomeruli. The concentration of the metal ion causing a 50% reduction in the incorporation of [3H]leucine into protein over 16 h varied from 30 microM with Cd to about 2 mM with Ni and Mn. The log of the concentration was significantly correlated with the softness of the metal ion, indicating greater toxicity of ions such as Cd2+ and Hg2+ that prefer sulphur as a ligand. Incorporation of [3H]sulphate into proteoglycans was affected in a comparable manner to total protein synthesis. However, the softer metals caused a preferential decrease in the production of more highly charged dermatan sulphate, indicative of an effect on mesangial cells. Glomeruli were found to contain about 50 fmol each of glutathione upon isolation, and this value decreased with time. However, Cd and Zn caused increases in total glomerular glutathione, and this phenomenon was inhibited by buthionine sulphoximine, indicating that synthesis of new glutathione was responsible for the increases. These studies demonstrate the usefulness of the isolated glomerulus for investigating mechanisms of nephrotoxicity, and indicate that the mesangial cell may be a preferred target for some metal ions.     

ICP-AES/ICP-MS测定西藏和河南产藏红花中主要金属元素及重金属含量(英文)

建立了ICP-AES/ICP-MS测定西藏和河南产藏红花中19种元素含量的方法。19种元素包括主要元素Ca、Fe、Mg、P、Sr、Al、Mn、Zn、V、Cr、Se、Co、Ni、Mo和重金属As、Cu、Cd、Hg、Pb。对于所测元素,标准曲线的相关系数>0.9938,方法的相对标准偏差RSD<5.25%。结果表明,ICP-AES/ICP-MS可用于藏红花质量控制,并为西藏和河南产藏红花中元素的含量测定提供了方法。     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定不同批次良附丸中17种无机元素的含量

目的：测定不同批次良附丸中17种无机元素的含量。方法：采用微波消解法对样品进行处理,电感耦合等离子体质谱法（ICP-MS）测定中药成方制剂良附丸中无机元素含量。结果：不同批次良附丸中Na、Mg、K、Ca、Mn、Cr、Fe、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Se、Sr、Mo、Cd、Pb、Hg平均含量（mg·kg^-1）分别为741.57,1214.16,12157.06,99.83,185.46,2.85,678.00,3.00,4.49,27.93,0.47,0.09,6.56,0.10,0.11,1.32,0.02。结论：良附丸中富含Fe、Mn、Zn、Cu等人体必需的微量元素,含有少量Ni、Se等人体必需的微量元素,Pb、Cd、Hg、As等有害元素的含量在限度范围内,不同批次的无机元素含量差异较小,为进一步研究无机元素与其药效间的内在关联奠定了基础。     

Response of the charophyte Nitellopsis obtusa to heavy metals at the cellular,cell membrane,and enzyme levels

The responses of the freshwater macroalga Nitellopsis obtusa to heavy metal (HM) salts of Hg, Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, and Ni were assessed at different levels: whole-cell mortality (96-h LC(50)), in vivo cell membrane (45-min depolarization of resting potential, EC(50)), and enzyme in plasma membrane preparations (K+, Mg2+-specific H+-ATPase inhibition, IC(50)). To measure ATPase activity, a novel procedure for isolation of plasma membrane-enriched vesicles from charophyte cells was developed. The short-term ATPase inhibition assay (IC(50) from 6.0 x 10(-7) to 4.6 x 10(-4) M) was slightly more sensitive than the cell mortality test (LC(50) from 1.1 x 10(-6) to 2.6 x 10(-3) M), and the electrophysiological test with the end point of 45-min depolarization of resting potential was characterized by less sensitivity for HMs (EC(50) from 1.1 x 10(-4) to 2.2 x 10(-2) M). The variability of IC(50) values assessed for HMs in the ATPase assays was close to that of LC(50) values in the mortality tests (CVs from 33.5 to 83.5 and from 12.4% to 57.7%, respectively), whereas the EC(50) values in the electrophysiological tests were characterized by CVs generally below 30%. All three end points identified two separate HM groups according to their toxicity to N. obtusa: Co, Ni, and Cr comprised a group of less toxic metals, whereas Hg, Cu, and Cd comprised a group of more toxic metals. However, the adverse effects within each group were discriminated differently. For example, the maximum difference between the highest and lowest LC(50) for the group of less toxic metals in the long-term mortality test was approximately 60% of the response range, whereas the corresponding difference in IC(50) values in the ATPase assay was 30%. In contrast, the LC(50) values of the more toxic metals occupied only 10% of the response range, whereas the IC(50) values were spread over 70%. Further investigation should be done of the underlying mechanism or mechanisms responsible for the observed differences in the dynamic range of a particular end point of the groups of toxicants of varying strength.     

Distribution and ecological assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the East Lake, China

Concentrations and risk assessment of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) were investigated in 106 samples of surface sediments from the East Lake, China in this study. The mean concentration of Zn was highest among the eight heavy metals (225 mg kg^?1), followed by As (191 mg kg^?1), Cr (145 mg kg^?1), Cu (55 mg kg^?1), Ni (27.1 mg kg^?1), Pb (7.93 mg kg^?1), Cd (0.94 mg kg^?1) and Hg (0.21 mg kg^?1). Niuchao Hu was less polluted by heavy metals compare to the other four lakelets of the East Lake. The correlations among these heavy metals and the results of principal component analysis indicated that the distribution of Cd, Pb and Hg was related to anthropogenic activities, whereas Cu, As and Cr were affected by the parent rocks. Zinc and Ni were influenced both by anthropogenic activities and parent rocks. Based on the Sediment Quality Guidelines, the results of toxicity assessment indicated that adverse effects caused by Cr and As would be expected frequently. Nickel, Zn, Cd and Hg may cause adverse effects occasionally and Cu and Pb may cause toxicity infrequently. Arsenic was found to have the highest acute toxicity by toxic units (TUs), followed by Cr, Ni, Zn, Hg, Cu, Cd and Pb. The potential ecological risk index analysis indicated that As, Cd and Hg had considerable or high ecological risk, whereas Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb had low ecological risk. The potential ecological risk index (RI) of the heavy metals in the surface sediments of East Lake was 483, indicating considerable ecological risk. Close attention should be paid to pollution of the heavy metals in East Lake, China.     

Using an Integrated Approach to Assess the Sediment Quality of an Mediterranean Lagoon,the Bizerte Lagoon (Tunisia)

The present study investigates the quality of surface sediments from the Bizerte lagoon (North Tunisia) using an integrated approach including chemical contaminant analysis, bioassays and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). Sediment samples were collected at 9 sites and analyzed for eight heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Fe and Mn). PAHs, PCBs, OCPs were measured previously in the same sediment samples. Our results indicated that the highest concentrations of metals were found near urban areas due to the municipial and industrial wastewater discharges. Sediment pollution assessment was carried out using geoaccumulation index and enrichment factor, which indicate a widespread pollution by Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn in the studied sediments. For bioassays, aqueous and organic extracts were used to assess toxicity and genotoxicity in sediments by using Microtox^® and SOS Chromotest, respectively. Toxicity levels were compared to metallic and organic pollutants contents. Our results highlight differences in the pattern of responses between the different assays and show no correlation with all the studied contaminants, emphasizing the influence of other contaminants not analyzed in the present study. Based on SQGs, the results of toxicity assessment indicated that adverse effects caused by Ni and Zn would be expected frequently. Nickel was found to have the highest predicted acute toxicity, followed by Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu and Cr. There was no significant relationship between sediment toxicity calculated from heavy metal concentrations (SQG approach) and those measured with bioassays. These findings support the use of integrated approachs for evaluating the environmental risks of sediments.     

Effects of certain mono-, di- and trivalent metal cations on the K+-stimulated p-Nitrophenyl phosphatase in rat brain

The effects of certain monovalent (Ag+1 and Li+1), divalent (Hg+2, Cu+2, Zn+2, Co+2, Fe+2, Pb+2, Mn+2, Sn+2, Ni+2, and Se+2) and trivalent (Fe+3, As+3, and Al+3) metals on a mitochondrial preparation of K+-stimulated-p-nitrophenyl phosphatase (K+-PNPPase) from rat brain were studied. Except for salts of Ni+2, Se+2 and Li+1, which irrespective of concentration failed to produce 50% inhibition, all of the metals examined were found to be potent inhibitors of the enzyme with 150 values of 0.24 microM for Ag+1 among the monovalent, 0.70, 30, 37, 38, 47, 60, 62, 490 and 850 microM for Hg+2, Cu+2, Cd+2, Zn+2, Co+2, Fe+2, Pb+2, Mn+2 and Sn+2, respectively, among the divalents and 100, 550 and 870 microM for Fe+3, As+3, and AL+3 respectively, among the trivalents. Salts of silver and mercury were the most toxic for this enzyme. All metals showed concentration dependent inhibition except lithium. The order of their potency was Ag+1 greater than Hg+2 greater than Cu+2 greater than Cd+2 greater than Zn+2 greater than Co+2 greater than Fe+2 greater than Pb+2 greater than Fe+3 greater than Mn+2 greater than As+3 greater than Sn+2 greater than Al+3 greater than Ni+2 greater than Se+2 greater than Li+1.