Multi-element Contamination and Health Risks in Green Leafy Vegetables from Ambagarh Chowki, Chhattisgarh, India.

Leafy plants are commonly consumed as vegetables in India due to their high nutrient and vitamin content. This study, conducted in Ambagarh Chowki (India), investigated the accumulation potential of 52 elements (including Al, As, Ba, Be, Bi, Ca, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, Dy, Er, Eu, Fe, Ga, Gd, Ge, Ho, K, La, Li, Lu, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Nd, Ni, P, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tb, Te, Th, Ti, Tl, Tm, U, V, W, Y, Yb, and Zn) in seven leafy vegetable species, namely Amaranthus tricolor L., Corchorus olitorius L., Cordia myxa L., Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Moringa oleifera Lam., and Spinacia oleracea L. Technique: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was employed for analysis. The maximum concentrations of elements such as Al, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Ga, Ge, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Th, Tl, U, V, W, and REEs were observed in S. oleracea leaves, indicating their highest accumulation potential. In contrast, the maximum concentrations of As were found in H. sabdariffa leaves; Ca and Si in M. oleifera leaves; Mg, Sr, and Mo in A. tricolor leaves; and P, K, Cu, and Zn in C. myxa leaves, respectively. Twenty-one elements (Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, Co, V, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, Th, Sb, Ba, Be, Li, Sr, Tl, U, Se, Sn, and REEs) exceeded permissible limits set by the WHO. The elevated hazard index values indicated significant non-carcinogenic effects. The sources of these elements could be attributed to a combination of geological factors and agricultural practices. This study highlights the need for further investigation into the potential health implications of consuming these vegetables in the aforementioned region.

Contamination, speciation, and health risk assessment of arsenic in leafy vegetables in Ambagarh Chowki (India).

Green leafy vegetables are essential for a balanced diet, providing vital nutrients for overall well-being. However, concerns arise due to contamination with toxic substances, such as arsenic, posing risks to food safety and human health. This study analyzes inorganic (iAs), monomethyl (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic (DMA) in specific leafy vegetables (Amaranthus tricolor L., Corchorus olitorius L., Cordia myxa L., Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Moringa oleifera Lam., and Spinacia oleracea L.) grown in the heavily polluted Ambagarh Chouki region, Chhattisgarh, India. Concentrations of DMA, MMA, and iAs ranged from 0 to 155, 0 to 7, and 131 to 3579 mg·kg-1, respectively. The health quotient (HQ) for iAs ranged between 0.37 and 3.78, with an average value of 2.58 ± 1.08.

A review on arsenic in the environment: bio-accumulation, remediation, and disposal.

Arsenic is a widespread serious environmental pollutant as a food chain contaminant and non-threshold carcinogen. Arsenic transfer through the crops-soil-water system and animals is one of the most important pathways of human exposure and a measure of phytoremediation. Exposure occurs primarily from the consumption of contaminated water and foods. Various chemical technologies are utilized for As removal from contaminated water and soil, but they are very costly and difficult for large-scale cleaning of water and soil. In contrast, phytoremediation utilizes green plants to remove As from a contaminated environment. A large number of terrestrial and aquatic weed flora have been identified so far for their hyper metal removal capacity. In the panorama presented herein, the latest state of the art on methods of bioaccumulation, transfer mechanism of As through plants and animals, and remediation that encompass the use of physicochemical and biological processes, i.e., microbes, mosses, lichens, ferns, algae, and macrophytes have been assessed. Since these bioremediation approaches for the clean-up of this contaminant are still at the initial experimental stages, some have not been recognized at full scale. Nonetheless, extensive research on these primitive plants as bio-accumulators can be instrumental in controlling arsenic exposure and rehabilitation and may result in major progress to solve the problem on a worldwide scale.

A review on arsenic in the environment: contamination, mobility, sources, and exposure.

Arsenic is one of the regulated hazard materials in the environment and a persistent pollutant creating environmental, agricultural and health issues and posing a serious risk to humans. In the present review, sources and mobility of As in various compartments of the environment (air, water, soil and sediment) around the World are comprehensively investigated, along with measures of health hazards. Multiple atomic spectrometric approaches have been applied for total and speciation analysis of As chemical species. The LoD values are basically under 1 µg L-1, which is sufficient for the analysis of As or its chemical species in environmental samples. Both natural and anthropogenic sources contributed to As in air, while fine particulate matter tends to have higher concentrations of arsenic and results in high concentrations of As up to a maximum of 1660 ng m-3 in urban areas. Sources for As in natural waters (as dissolved or in particulate form) can be attributed to natural deposits, agricultural and industrial effluents, for which the maximum concentration of 2000 µg L-1 was found in groundwater. Sources for As in soil can be the initial contents, fossil fuel burning products, industrial effluents, pesticides, and so on, with a maximum reported concentration up to 4600 mg kg-1. Sources for As in sediments can be attributed to their reservoirs, with a maximum reported concentration up to 2500 mg kg-1. It is notable that some reported concentrations of As in the environment are several times higher than permissible limits. However, many aspects of arsenic environmental chemistry including contamination of the environment, quantification, mobility, removal and health hazards are still unclear.

Appraisal of groundwater quality with WQI and human health risk assessment in Karamik wetland and surroundings (Afyonkarahisar/Turkey).

Groundwater in Karamik wetland and surroundings, which is one of the important wetlands in Turkey, was examined and the chemical properties and quality of groundwater were determined in the present study. In addition, the possible risks to human health as a result of groundwater usage were investigated along with spatial analyses carried out using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Physicochemical analyses were carried out on 25 samples taken from groundwater. The dominant ions in the study area are Ca, Mg, and HCO3. When the results are compared with the limit values in the valid drinking water guidelines such as TSI-266 (Standards for drinking waters, 2005) and WHO (Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 2011), the groundwaters were not suitable for use as drinking water in terms of NO3, Fe, Pb and As. The analysis results were evaluated together with GIS and Water Quality Index (WQI) methods. In the evaluations with the WQI method, 76% of the samples were in the "poor water" class. The groundwater in the study area is polluted by both geogenic and anthropogenic sources. For this reason, health risk assessment was performed due to the use of groundwater in the region by the local people in different areas, especially as drinking water, and the negative effects of water quality. Accordingly, there are non-carcinogenic negative effects on health in terms of NO3, As, Pb and Fe parameters from the use of groundwater by children. In addition, Pb and As concentrations are at carcinogenic levels for both children and adults in all groundwater samples collected from the study area. Therefore, it is not recommended to use groundwater as drinking water without treatment.

Assessment of groundwater quality and human health risk related to arsenic using index methods and GIS: A case of Suhut Plain (Afyonkarahisar/Turkey).

In this study the spatial variation of groundwater quality and the potential health risk situation arising were evaluated determining Water Quality Index (WQI and IWQI) for drinking and irrigation water in Suhut Plain (Afyonkarahisar, Turkey). A total of 27 groundwater samples were collected from wells in May-2019 and physicochemical analysis results were evaluated. According to analysis results of the water samples, the orders of anion and cations are HCO3>SO4-2>Cl- > CO3-2 and Ca+2 > Mg+2 > Na+>K+, respectively. It has been determined that groundwater samples are generally in "excellent" and "good" water class according to the WQI and IWQI assessment. At the same time, groundwater in the study area is suitable for agricultural irrigation water. However, many water samples cannot be used as drinking water in terms of TDS, Mg, NO3 and AsT according to limit values of TSI-266 (2005) and WHO (2011). Health risk assessment indicate that, the risk of developing cancer due to arsenic exposure in healthy adults or children is very low. But, arsenic has a high non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic potentially harmful effect.

Assessment of groundwater quality and usability of Salda Lake Basin (Burdur/Turkey) and health risk related to arsenic pollution.

PURPOSE: In this study the aim was to analyze the seasonal concentration, groundwater quality, usage areas and arsenic-related health risk of major ions and heavy metals in groundwater samples collected from the Salda Lake basin. METHODS: In this study, 42 groundwater samples were collected from springs and wells in dry and wet seasons in 2015. Hydrogeochemical evaluations were made using different diagrams such as Piper and Gibbs diagrams. Groundwater quality was determined by the water quality index method (WQI) and different diagrams. Finally, health risk assessments related to arsenic were performed. RESULTS: The dominant water types are Mg-Ca-HCO3 and Mg-HCO3 in the wet season and Mg-HCO3 and Mg-HCO3-CO3 in the dry season. According to calculated WQI values ranged from 24.14 to 56.93 in the wet season ranged from 25.27 to 145.87 in dry season. This situation indicates that the quality of water samples is mostly good both seasons. AsT concentrations were between 2.1-6.3 µg/L in the dry season and 2.9-10.5 µg/L in the wet season. The risk of developing cancer due to arsenic exposure in healthy adults or children is very low. But arsenic has high non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic potentially harmful effect in the study area. In addition, water samples are not appropriate for use as drinking water in terms of fertilizers and trace element concentrations. Also, MH will be an important problem in waters that will be used as irrigation water. The use of some samples is not recommended as it may cause crusting on metal surfaces in industrial areas. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained, the quality of groundwater in the study area should be monitored and the usage areas should be determined accordingly.

Evaluation of sustainable groundwater utilization using index methods (WQI and IWQI), multivariate analysis, and GIS: the case of Aksehir District (Konya/Turkey).

Aksehir district is one of the regions where significant agricultural production and industrial activities are carried out. Groundwater is the most important water resource in this region used for different purposes, especially for drinking and irrigation water. In order to ensure sustainable water management in the study area, it is necessary to reveal the drinking and irrigation water quality of groundwater and to take precautions and determine the management plans. In the present study, groundwater quality was evaluated using water quality index methods (WQI and IWQI) and statistical analyses to determine the sustainable and most appropriate usage of groundwater. In addition, spatial distribution maps were prepared using GIS for drinking and irrigation WQI assessments of the groundwater. A total of 31 groundwater samples were collected from wells in October 2018 and physicochemical analysis results were evaluated. According to the results obtained with the WQI method, all groundwater samples in the study area are definitely not suitable for use as drinking water. According to the results obtained by the IWQI method, samples S23, S24, S25, S27, S28, S29, and S31 especially are not suitable for use as irrigation water. Statistical evaluations support the results obtained from WQI and IWQI methods. Also, factor analysis indicates that anthropogenic pollution, especially agricultural applications, is effective on the chemical and quality characteristics of groundwater samples in addition to the geological properties. As seen in the spatial distribution maps for WQI and IWQI results, while the quality of groundwaters around Dogruözü and Erdogdu is not suitable for drinking water, the groundwater quality in the north-east of the study area is also unusable for irrigation water. Consequently, the use of groundwater in the region as drinking water can be dangerous for human health and alternative drinking water resources should be investigated. In addition, in order to ensure the sustainable use of groundwater, it is necessary to control agricultural activities in the region, to monitor the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and to encourage organic farming practices in the region.

Hydro-chemical and microbiological pollution assessment of irrigation water in Kizilirmak Delta (Turkey).

The Kizilirmak Delta is one of the most important agricultural production regions and it was included as part of the Ramsar Convention in 1998. The water used in agricultural irrigation is mostly supplied from drainage channels. In the present study, 120 water samples were collected from drainage channels and analyzed to characterize the groundwater chemistry and microbiological contamination. Sea water interface, discharge of sewage, wastewater from agricultural activities and livestock and uncontrolled solid waste landfills were identified as the most important pollutant sources in the delta. Serious microbiological pollution was detected in channel water samples. These results indicate that sewage waters mix with the channel waters in the delta. Also, the correlations of parameters such as EC, TDS, DO, Cl- and SO42- indicate that channel waters contain high dissolved minerals. It was concluded that especially agricultural pollution and waste water affects water resources negatively in the region.

Assessment of water quality and hydrogeochemical processes of Salda alkaline lake (Burdur, Turkey).

Salda Lake is one of the rare alkaline lakes in the world. In this study, the major and trace element contents of the Salda Lake water were analysed in two periods. Lake water samples were taken at the surface, at 10 m and 20 m depths. The pH and EC values of the lake water varied from 9.08 to 9.34 and from 1690 to 2124 µS/cm, respectively. The dominant water type of the lake water was Mg-CO3-HCO3. The high Mg content in the lake water originated from the weathering of ultramafic rocks which were located in the lake basin. All of the Ca, Cl and SO4 contents were high in surface samples in the dry period. The CO3 and HCO3 contents of the lake water did not show a change with depth and were constant in the wet period. The Mg, Na and K contents of the lake water increased depending on the depth in both periods, while CO3 and HCO3 contents showed depth-dependent increases only in the dry period. Weathering processes and anthropogenic inputs are the largest dissolution mechanisms that control the chemical structure of the lake water. The Salda Lake water is generally classified as class I in terms of T, DO, oxygen saturation, NH4 and NO2 parameters according to the SWQR and USEPA regulations. But, the water is in classes II, III, IV and V with respect to pH, EC, NO3, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), oxygen saturation, As and Cr in the different periods. The increase in the As and Cr concentrations is geogenic in origin and is related to the lithological units that interact with the bottom and surroundings of the lake.

Hydrogeochemistry, water quality and health risk assessment of water resources contaminated by agricultural activities in Korkuteli (Antalya, Turkey) district center.

Groundwater is a major water source for drinking, domestic and agricultural activities in the Korkuteli district. However, the intensive agricultural activities in the region negatively affect the groundwater quality. In this study, 30 water samples were collected from springs, wells, and tap waters in dry and wet seasons. Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Mg-Ca-HCO3 were dominant water types in the study area. According to the Gibbs diagrams, which were prepared to determine the mechanism controlling the groundwater geochemistry, samples from both seasons fell in the rock-dominance zone. The water quality index indicates the increase of ion concentrations due to the agricultural effect along with the rainwater in the region. Also, according to WHO standards, water samples are not appropriate to use as drinking water in terms of the heavy metal and fertilizers analysis results. In terms of the irrigation usage, most groundwater samples are suitable in dry and wet seasons. According to HCO3 and SO4 results, the mentioned samples can induce incrustation on metal surfaces and therefore are not recommended for industrial use. Groundwater chemistry in the study area is affected with water-rock interaction and dense agricultural activities. In conclusion, the study area is at high risk in terms of the health risk assessment.

Effect on human health of the arsenic pollution and hydrogeochemistry of the Yazir Lake wetland (Çavdir-Burdur/Turkey).

In this study, the physicochemical parameters, major ions and arsenic (As) contents of water resources in the Yazir lake wetland, were evaluated. In addition, water resources in this region were investigated from the point of water quality and health risk assessment. Thirty water samples were collected from the area in dry and wet seasons. Ca-Mg-HCO3 and Ca-HCO3 were the dominant water types. The Gibbs diagram suggests that most of the samples fall in rock-dominance zone, which indicates the groundwater interaction between rock chemistry. When compared to drinking water guidelines established by World Health Organization and Turkey, much greater attention should be paid to As, Fe, and Mn through varied chemicals above the critical values. According to the pH-ORP diagram, the predominant species is arsenate (H2AsO4-2). The high concentrations of As in the surface water and groundwater are related to oxidative and reductive dissolution reaction of Fe and Mn hydroxides within the Kizilcadag ophiolite and melange. In addition, the seasonal changes in As concentrations depend on the increase in pH of water samples. The major toxic and carcinogenic chemical within water samples is As for groundwater and surface water. From the results of hazard index, it is verified that As which is taken by ingestion of water was the main contaminant, and toxic human risk in the study area. The obtained results will help define strategies for As problems in the water resources in future.

Evaluation of potential human health risk and investigation of drinking water quality in Isparta city center (Turkey).

Isparta city center is selected as a work area in this study because the public believes that the tap water is dirty and harmful. In this study, the city's drinking water in the distribution system and other spring waters which are used as drinking water in this region were investigated from the point of water quality and health risk assessment. Water samples were collected from major drinking water springs, tap waters, treatment plants and dam pond in the Isparta province center. Ca-Mg-HCO3, Mg-Ca-HCO3, Ca-Na-HCO3, Ca-HCO3, Ca-HCO3-SO4 and Ca-Mg-HCO3-SO4 are dominant water types. When compared to drinking water guidelines established by World Health Organization and Turkey, much greater attention should be paid to As, Br, Fe, F, NH4, PO4 through varied chemicals above the critical values. The increases of As, Fe, F, NH4 and PO4 are related to water-rock interaction. In tap waters, the increases of As and Fe are due to corrosion of pipes in drinking water distribution systems. The major toxic and carcinogenic chemicals within drinking water are As and Br for both tap water and spring water. Also, F is the non-carcinogenic chemical for only spring waters in the study area.

Evaluation of total oxidative status and total antioxidant capacity in patients with endemic fluorosis.

The objective of the present study was to determine the plasma total oxidative status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients with endemic fluorosis. A total of 79 (35 males and 44 females; mean age 44.0 ± 11.9 years) patients with endemic fluorosis and 55 (23 males and 32 females; mean age 48.3 ± 8.5 years) age-, sex- and body mass index-matched healthy controls were included in this study. The urine fluoride levels and plasma TOS and TAC levels were measured. The urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than control subjects as expected (1.91 ± 0.15 vs. 0.49 ± 0.13 mg/L, respectively; p < 0.001). TOS was significantly higher in fluorosis group than in control group (17.55 ± 3.82 vs. 15.06 ± 4.31 µmol H(2)O(2) Eq/L, respectively; p = 0.001). TAC was significantly lower in fluorosis group than in control group (1.60 ± 0.36 vs. 1.82 ± 0.51 mmol Trolox Eq/L, respectively; p = 0.004). Oxidative stress index (OSI) was significantly higher in fluorosis group than in control group (11.5 ± 3.8 vs. 8.8 ± 3.7, respectively; p < 0.001). Correlation analysis in all the groups indicated that TAC was negatively correlated with urine fluoride (r = -0.25, p = 0.003), TOS was positively correlated with urine fluoride (r = 0.34, p < 0.001) and OSI was positively correlated with urine fluoride (r = 0.36, p < 0.001). The results of our study demonstrate that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the endemic fluorosis.

Increased plasma neopterin and hs-CRP levels in patients with endemic fluorosis.

Although fluoride induced inflammatory reactions have been shown in animals and in vitro humans, there are few studies about fluoride induced inflammatory reactions in human beings at clinical setting. We aimed to measure the plasma neopterin, a marker of activation of the monocyte/macrophage system, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in patients with endemic fluorosis to investigate the possible role of inflammatory processes (monocyte/macrophage activity) in the underlying pathophysiology of fluoride toxicity at clinical level. Plasma neopterin and hs-CRP levels were determined in endemic fluorosis patients and control subjects. Plasma neopterin levels were significantly higher among patients with endemic fluorosis when compared with control group (2.40 ± 0.66 vs. 1.63 ± 0.27 ng/mL respectively; p < 0.001) and plasma hs-CRP levels were also significantly higher among patients with endemic fluorosis when compared with control group (2.41 ± 1.23 vs. 1.93 ± 0.64 mg/L respectively; p < 0.001). Plasma neopterin levels were positively correlated with urine fluoride levels (r = 0.67, p < 0.001) and serum hs-CRP levels were positively correlated with urine fluoride levels (r = 0.36, p < 0.001). We have found that plasma neopterin and hs-CRP levels are increased in patients with endemic fluorosis. We have concluded that inflammation play an important role in the pathophysiology of fluoride toxicity in patients with endemic fluorosis.

Serum parathyroid hormone levels in chronic endemic fluorosis.

Endemic waterborne fluorosis is a public health problem in Isparta, a city located in southern Turkey. Fluoride is a cumulative element that increases metabolic turnover of the bone and also affects the homeostasis of bone mineral metabolism. There are number of similarities between the effects of excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) and fluorosis on bone. So fluoride might show its effect via PTH. We aimed to determine PTH levels in patients with endemic fluorosis to estimate the possible toxic effects of chronic fluoride intake. Fifty-six patients with endemic fluorosis and 28 age-, sex-, and body-mass-index-matched healthy controls were included in this study. Endemic fluorosis was diagnosed according to the clinical diagnosis criteria of Wang. The urine fluoride levels of fluorosis patients were significantly higher than those of control subjects as expected (1.9 ± 0.1 vs. 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/L, respectively; P < 0.001). PTH levels in fluorosis group were significantly higher than control group (65.09 ± 32.91 versus 47.40 ± 20.37, respectively; P = 0.01). The results of our study demonstrate that serum PTH levels are increased in patients with endemic fluorosis. Fluoride, by interfering calcium balance, may be the cause of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Chronic fluoride exposure has a role in etiology of coronary artery ectasia: sialic acid/glycosaminoglycan ratio.

The sialic acid/glycosaminoglycan ratio was determined in 35 coronary artery ectasia patients and 35 control subjects to determine the possible role of fluoride in the etiology of the disease. The coronary artery ectasia patients and controls were selected from subjects who underwent coronary angiography. The mean serum sialic acid level was significantly lower in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE) than in controls (340.3±28.6 vs. 427.0±15.9 µg/mL, respectively; p<0.001). The mean serum glycosaminoglycan level was significantly higher in patients with CAE than in controls (5,013.1±158.6 vs. 3,833.6±237.1 µg/mL, respectively; p<0.001). The sialic acid/glycosaminoglycan ratio in patients with coronary artery ectasia was significantly lower than in controls (0.068±0.007 vs. 0.111±0.005; p<0.001). There was more than 38.7% reduction in this ratio in patients with CAE when compared with controls. We demonstrated that chronic fluoride exposure has an important role in pathogenesis of coronary artery ectasia.