Research Publications (Food Safety)

Cadmium (Cd) is one the leading environmental contaminants. The Cd toxicity and its potential stabilization strategies have been investigated in the recent years. However, the combined effects of biochar and microorganisms on the adsorption of Cd and maize plant physiology, still remained unclear.

Being sessile organisms, plants cannot escape unwanted changes in the environment. The rapid human population explosion caused significant environmental problems. Heavy metals produced through various sources can cause severe damage to living organisms. The study was planned to evaluate four grass species’ morpho-physiological growth characteristics and phytoremediation capabilities under chromium (Cr) and lead stress (Pb) in the arid climate.

Long-term monitoring is required to assess the current state and trend of water quality in anthropogenic-influenced estuarine systems. In this study, we evaluated 1581 samples from a 27-year time series (1990–2016) of physicochemical parameters, microbiological, and heavy metals in the surface waters of the Santa Cruz estuarine channel, Brazil.

Arsenic (As) is very common pollutant of the environment categorized as class-I human carcinogen. Rice crop is inherently efficient at accumulating As that is also triggered by conventional cropping methods (flooded conditions).

by Tahmina Islam, M. K. Reddy Non-essential toxic heavy metal like cadmium (Cd2+) interferes with the plant growth and development in many ways. Cd2+ travels via plant transportation system, specifically through xylem and may integrate into the food chain causing unfavorable condition in human health. Therefore, strategies to develop Cd2+ tolerance and less accumulation in the plant system require urgent attention.

In the context of eco-sustainable acquisition of food security, arsenic (As) acts as a deterring factor, which easily infiltrates our food chain via plant uptake. Therefore, devising climate-smart strategies becomes exigent for minimizing the imposed risks. Pertinently, Serendipita indica (S. indica) is well reputed for its post-symbiotic stress alleviatory and phyto-promotive potential.

Arsenic contamination causes numerous health problems for humans and wildlife via bioaccumulation in the food chain. Phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils with the model arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata provides a promising way to reduce the risk, in which the growth and arsenic absorption ability of plants and the biotransformation of soil arsenic may be greatly affected by rhizosphere microorganisms. However, the microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of P.

Cd(II) pollution in water will cause serious threats to the environment and human health. The general remediation protocol for Cd(II) pollution by hydroxide (Ca(OH)2 or NaOH) is still faced with filtering difficulties and high effluent pH.

Enhanced phytoextraction of metals using amendments and hyperaccumulator plants is a promising alternative to expensive traditional remediation techniques. The present study comprehensively investigated the effects of six amendments on both mobility and phytoextraction of Cd and the feasibility of integrating amendment with Ramie as a hyperaccumulator plant on Cd-contaminated soil remediation.

Shallow (<30 m) reducing groundwater commonly contains abundant dissolved arsenic (As) in Bangladesh. We hypothesize that dissolved As in iron (Fe)-rich groundwater discharging to rivers is trapped onto Fe(III)-oxyhydroxides which precipitate in shallow riverbank sediments under the influence of tidal fluctuations.

A promising solution for the remediation of cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil involves the use of Cd hyperaccumulators to reduce levels of soil Cd. The suitability of various plant species to act as cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulators was reviewed by considering bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF) and Cd concentration in shoots relative to soil parameters such as pH and organic matter content, and planting and growing parameters.

Splenomegaly is a symptom characterized by the presence of an enlarged spleen. The impact of environmental factors on splenomegaly is largely unknown. In this study, C57BL/6 mice were treated with 125 ppm or 1250 ppm lead (Pb) via drinking water for 8 wk, and the process of splenomegaly was evaluated. Treatment with 1250 ppm Pb, but not 125 ppm Pb, caused splenomegaly, which was associated with increased capacity for erythrocyte clearance.

Cadmium (Cd2+) and copper (Cu2+) are considered immunotoxic metals and their presence in combination in the aquatic environment may cause effects on shrimp species as Litopenaeus vannamei. Thus, this research evaluates the combined effects of Cd2+ and Cu2+ on shrimp inoculated with Vibrio harveyi bacteria. The experiments were performed at 96-hours of exposure to sublethal concentrations of both metals.

Rice ratooning system is becoming increasingly important for food security in China, however, information on grain cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) levels is lacking. We collected grain samples of main crop (MC) and ratoon crop (RC) from five sites, where the same eleven varieties were planted, and determined the Cd and As concentration in brown rice.

Effective treatment of water pollution is an economic and social requirement globally. Humic acid (HA) is a popular mitigator for such waters. However, the combined effect of HA and restorative plants on cadmium (Cd) remediation is not well understood. Therefore, we experimented on Cd remediation using HA along with vetiver grass and HA-vetiver grass.

During the last decade, alkali-activated aluminosilicates (fly ash, metakaolin, or blast furnace slag) or geopolymers have been investigated for their ability to immobilize wastes containing highly soluble oxyanionic metals of chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and antimony (Sb). Effective stabilization of these metal anions was perceived as a challenging issue since they are not liable for precipitation or balancing the negatively charged Al tetrahedra of geopolymer.

by Carolyn B. Meyer, Timothy A. Walker, Alex B. Francisco, Emily B. Morrison, Joseph S. Meyer Current estimates of terrestrial bird losses across Europe from ingestion of lead ammunition are based on uncertain or generic assumptions. A method is needed to develop defensible European-specific estimates compatible with available data that does not require long-term field studies. We propose a 2-step method using carcass data and population models.

Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful heavy metal that is risky for plant growth and human health. The zinc-finger transcription factor ZAT10 is highly conserved with ZAT6 and ZAT12, which are involved in Cd tolerance in plants. However, the definite function of ZAT10 in Cd tolerance remains uncertain. Here, we demonstrated that ZAT10 negatively regulated Cd uptake and enhanced Cd detoxification in Arabidopsis. The expression of ZAT10 in plants is induced by Cd treatment.

This study evaluated toxic metal concentration in raw milk and related potential health risks. 100 raw milk samples and 30 water samples consumed by cows were gathered from 10 dairy farms in Behbahan county, and Pb and Cd were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). In raw milk samples, mean Pb and Cd levels were 0.55±0.09 and 0.0031±0.0004 mg/l, respectively.

BackgroundLymphocytes are a group of white blood cells with a variety of roles their integrity is crucial for the body’s immune responses. Cadmium, a heavy metal and environmental pollutant, is known as a toxicant to exert its adverse effects on some sort of cells including blood cells.Research DesignIn this study, human lymphocytes were divided into 3 groups: (1) lymphocytes at 0-h, (2) lymphocytes at 24 h (control), (3) lymphocytes treated with cadmium chloride (15 μM).

Compared with pyrometallurgical recycling, hydrometallurgical recycling of spent lead paste has obvious advantages such as energy saving and emission reduction, however, hydrometallurgical recycling of spent lead paste is also characterized by high levels of impurities (e.g.,Fe, Ba and Cu) in the recovered products. In this study, a green process for the conversion of spent lead paste into high-purity lead carbonate is presented.

Soil contamination with toxic heavy metals [such as lead (Pb)] is becoming a serious global problem due to the rapid development of the social economy. However, accumulation of Pb in plant parts is very toxic for plant growth and decreases crop yield and productivity.

All processes involved in metal homeostasis must be coordinated to provide sufficient, but not toxic, concentrations of important bioelements, and to minimize detrimental effects of toxic metals. Our previous studies dealing with the exposure of O.

The combined contamination of heavy metals and microplastics is widespread in freshwater environments. However, there are few researches on their combined effects on aquatic plants.

The bioleaching process is carried out by aerobic acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacteria that are mainly mesophilic or moderately thermophilic. However, many mining sites are located in areas where the mean temperature is lower than the optimal growth temperature of these microorganisms.