Seasonal variations of trace metal accumulation on coral reef in Gulf of Mannar, India.

Investication of trace metal occumulation on coral and reef environment (sediment and water) of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve was studied during July 2007 to June 2008. The samples were collected for analyzing from Thoothukudi and Vembar group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar. The concentration of trace metal in the water are in the order of Fe > Pb > Zn > As > Mn > Cd > Cu and in sediment in the order of Fe > Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu >Cd and in coral rubbles in the order of Fe > Mn > Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd. In the waters the iron ranks first and copper ranks last; in the sediment iron ranks first in concentration and cadmium ranks the last. In corals the iron ranks first and cadmium ranks the last in concentration and during the entire study periods. SPSS two tailed Correlation coefficients between the months and the temporal variablilities of heavy metals were assessed using the monthly data for each component in all stations and analysis of variances (f values) for the water, sediment and coral rubbles between the stations and month during the study period. Conclude that the values recorded at Thoothukdi group of islands were little higher than the Vembar group of islands, and it might be due to discharges pumped from the industrial belt of Thoothukudi, domestic sewages from Thoothukudi town, harbour activities and thermal power plant operation along the southern side of the Gulf of Mannar.

Heavy metal levels in surface waters from a tropical river basin,Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil / Níveis de metais pesados em águas superficiais de um rio tropical, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Monthly, the distribution and enrichment of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb andZn) in surface waters were examined at eight sampling sites, in Tapacurá river (PernambucoState, Brazil), from March 1997 to December 1998 and from June 2005 to March 2006. Onaverage, metal levels ranged from 0.30 to 4.22 for Fe; 0.02 to 1.09 for Mn; 0.001 to 0.014 for Cu;0.006 to 0.029 for Pb and 0.003 to 0.020 for Zn, all in mg L-1. Heavy metals presented a greatheterogeneous horizontal distribution, with hotspots in municipal and agricultural areas. Theenrichment factor (EF) and the potential contamination index (Cp) indicated moderate to severecontamination by Cu and Zn. The results pointed the potential pathways of trace metals via thetransport of soil for the river basin, mainly from agricultural areas, and inefficient sewagetreatment at the cities. The first step to apply a remedial measure is the inspection of theagricultural areas, the controlled use of fertilizers and herbicides, as well as the development of anefficient sewage treatment to urban areas.

Mensalmente, a distribuição e o enriquecimento demetais pesados (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb e Zn) em águas superficiais foram analisados em oitopontos de amostragem no rio Tapacurá, Estado do Pernambuco, Brasil. O estudo foirealizado entre março/1997 e dezembro/1998 e entre junho/2005 e março/2006. Em média,o nível de metais pesados variou em mg L-1 entre 0,30 e 4,22 Fe; 0,02 e 1,09 Mn; 0,001 e0,014 Cu; 0,006 e 0,029 Pb e 0,003 e 0,020 Zn. Os metais mostraram distribuiçãohorizontal heterogênea grande com ênfase nas áreas municipais e agrícolas. O fator deenriquecimento (EF) e o índice de contaminação potencial (Cp) indicaram moderada asevera contaminação por Cu e Zn. Os resultados indicaram um caminho preferencial demetais pelo transporte de solo para bacia, principalmente de áreas agrícolas e pelotratamento ineficiente de esgotos urbanos. O primeiro passo para uma medida corretiva é ainspeção das áreas agrícolas e o controle do uso de fertilizantes e herbicidas, bem comodesenvolver um sistema de tratamento de esgotos eficiente nas áreas urbanas.

Heavy metal levels in surface waters from a tropical river basin, Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil / Níveis de metais pesados em águas superficiais de um rio tropical, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Monthly, the distribution and enrichment of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Pb and Zn) in surface waters were examined at eight sampling sites, in Tapacurá river (Pernambuco State, Brazil), from March 1997 to December 1998 and from June 2005 to March 2006. On average, metal levels ranged from 0.30 to 4.22 for Fe; 0.02 to 1.09 for Mn; 0.001 to 0.014 for Cu;  0.006 to 0.029 for Pb and 0.003 to 0.020 for Zn, all in mg L-1. Heavy metals presented a great heterogeneous horizontal distribution, with hotspots in municipal and agricultural areas. The enrichment factor (EF) and the potential contamination index (Cp) indicated moderate to severe contamination by Cu and Zn. The results pointed the potential pathways of trace metals via the transport of soil for the river basin, mainly from agricultural areas, and inefficient sewage treatment at the cities. The first step to apply a remedial measure is the inspection of the agricultural areas, the controlled use of fertilizers and herbicides, as well as the development of an efficient sewage treatment to urban areas.

Níveis de metais pesados em águas superficiais de um rio tropical, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil

Trace Metal Analysis Using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: The exposure of human beings to toxic trace metals continues to be an important public health issue and concern. This study was conducted to assess the exposure to trace metals in the general Korean population by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). METHODS: Blood and urine samples were obtained from 175 healthy subjects including those who visited the health promotion center or healthy volunteers. Specimens were collected in special containers and we applied simple sample processing to minimize contamination. We used ICP-MS (Fisons Instrument, Cheshire, UK) to analyze simultaneously the concentration of metals including lead, cadmium, aluminum, cobalt, copper, zinc and selenium. The effects of age, sex and smoking on the trace metal concentrations were also investigated. RESULTS: Distribution of trace metal levels in the general healthy population skewed toward lower values, which reflected low levels of exposure in the general healthy population. The concentrations of some trace metals were significantly affected by age, sex or smoking status. CONCLUSIONS: We performed a simultaneous multielement analysis of biological samples by ICPMS, a reliable and sensitive technique, to build a database of trace metal values in the general population. The results in this study can provide background data for future epidemiological and clinical studies associated with trace metal exposure in the Korean population.