Quantification of Airborne Particulate Matter and Trace Element Deposition on Hedera helix and Senecio cineraria Leaves.

In both developed and developing countries, atmospheric pollution with particulate matter (PM) remains an important issue. Despite the health effects of poor air quality, studies on air pollution are often limited by the high costs of continuous monitoring and the need for extensive sampling. Furthermore, these particles are often enriched with potentially toxic trace elements and organic pollutants. This study evaluates both the composition of atmospheric dust accumulated during a certain timespan on Hedera helix and Senecio cineraria leaves and the potential for their use as bio-monitors. The test plants were positioned near automatic air quality monitoring stations at four different sites with respectively high, moderate and low traffic intensity. The gravimetric deposition of PM10 and PM2.5 on leaves was compared with data recorded by the monitoring stations and related to the weather conditions reported by Argentina's National Meteorological Service. To determine the presence of trace elements enriching the PM deposited on leaves, two analytical techniques were applied: XRF (not destructive) and ICP (destructive). The results indicated that only in the unpaved street location (site 2) did PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations (90 µg m-3 and 9 µg m-3) in the air exceed more than five times WHO guidelines (15 µg m-3 and 5 µg m-3). However, several trace elements were found to be enriching PM deposited on leaves from all sites. Predominantly, increased concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ti, Mn, Zn and Fe were found, which were associated with construction, traffic and unpaved street sources. Furthermore, based on its capability to sequester above 2800 µg cm-2 of PM10, 2450 µg cm-2 of PM2.5 and trace elements, Senecio cineraria can be taken into consideration for adoption as a bio-monitor or even for PM mitigation.

Utilizing spiders for biomonitoring air pollution from road traffic: a novel approach and preliminary findings.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are air pollutants generated mainly by fuel combustion, industry, and other anthropogenic sources. The level of these pollutants can be assessed by employing biomonitors, a cost-effective and less contaminating alternative than conventional methods. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether spiders inhabiting areas around a major city like Córdoba, Argentina, adsorb and retain PAHs in their exoskeletons. Additionally, we aimed to determine if spiders' life traits influence their capacity to accumulate PAHs and explore potential relationships between PAH levels and the types of roads where they were collected. Specimens of a funnel-shaped web spider (Aglaoctenus lagotis) and an orb-weaver (Metepeira spp.) were collected from roadsides. Roads were classified into four categories based on their traffic intensity. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we identified 15 different PAHs. Both species exhibited varying concentrations of PAHs, although Metepeira spp. showed 15-18 times higher PAH levels compared to A. lagotis. Moreover, A. lagotis individuals living alongside highways accumulated up to six times more PAHs compared to those along other road types. These findings suggest that spiders' life traits may influence pollutant concentrations. Our study demonstrates that spiders near roads are exposed to and accumulate PAHs on their exoskeletons, likely sourced from petrogenic vehicular emissions, highlighting their value as biomonitors and emphasizing the need for mitigation measures to address air pollutants emitted from mobile sources.

Environmental contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and contribution from biomonitoring studies to the surveillance of global health.

This work presents an integrated overview of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons' (PAHs) ubiquity comprising environmental contamination in the air, aquatic ecosystems, and soils; characterizes the contamination in biota; and identifies main biomonitors and human exposure to PAHs and associated health risks. Urban centers and industrial areas present increased concentrations in the air (1344.4-12,300 versus 0.03-0.60 ng/m3 in industrial/urban and rural zones) and soils (0.14-1.77 × 106 versus 2.00-9.04 × 103 versus 1.59-5.87 × 103 ng/g in urban, forest, and rural soils), respectively. Increased concentrations were found in coastal zones and superficial waters as well as in sediments (7.00 × 104-1.00 × 109 ng/g). Benzo(a)pyrene, a carcinogenic PAH, was found in all environmental media. Mosses, lichens, tree leaves, bivalves, cephalopods, terrestrials' snails, and honeybees are good biomonitors of biota contamination. More studies are needed to improve characterization of PAHs' levels, distribution, and bioaccumulation in the environmental media and assess the associated risks for biota and human health. Actions and strategies to mitigate and prevent the bioaccumulation of PAHs in the environment and trophic chains toward the WHO's One-Health Perspective to promote the health of all ecosystems and human life are urgently needed.

The goose barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes as a tool for trace metal biomonitoring and health risk assessment for human consumers in northwestern Atlantic coast of Morocco.

The bioaccumulation of trace metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Zn in soft tissues of the barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes was investigated seasonally along the Atlantic coast of northwestern Morocco. Average concentrations (µg g-1 dry weight) exhibited a decreasing order: Fe (548.15 ± 132.43) > Zn (430.80 ± 181.68) > Cd (17.46 ± 9.99) > Cu (7.72 ± 1.26) > Cr (3.12 ± 0.80), with the highest levels during wet seasons. The "Metal Pollution Index" and "Individual Multimetal Bioaccumulation Index" revealed a substantial barnacle contamination in industrialized areas. Additionally, Cd and Zn concentrations surpassed permissible guideline limits. While the "Target Hazard Quotient" and "Hazard Index" unveiled no significant health risks associated with barnacle consumption for humans, Cd posed potential risks, particularly for children consuming barnacles from polluted locations. Regarding the "Maximum Safe Consumption", Cd demonstrated potential harm across all sex and age groups. These findings contribute valuable data on the safety of barnacle consumption, marking the initial assessment of such risks in Morocco. The study offers evidence of metal pollution occurrence and proposes the barnacle species as a reliable biomonitor of trace metal bioavailabilities in marine coastal areas. To our knowledge, this investigation is the first comprehensive report of metal contamination biomonitoring using barnacles from Moroccan Atlantic waters.

Cystoseira compressa and Ericaria mediterranea: Effective Bioindicators for Heavy- and Semi-Metal Monitoring in Marine Environments with Rocky Substrates.

Marine environmental monitoring is essential to ensure that heavy-metal (HM) concentrations remain within safe limits. Most seawater analyses currently consider sediment or water samples, but this approach does not apply to rocky substrates, where water samples can only indicate immediate contamination. We used two common Mediterranean algae species, Cystoseira compressa and Ericaria mediterranea, as bioindicators living in the intertidal zone on rocky substrates along the seacoast. HM concentrations were assessed over a one-year period in the perennial base crust and in the seasonal frond, considering marine sites characterised by different contamination risks. Both algae showed that HMs accumulate mainly in the perennial base rather than in the seasonal frond. Furthermore, the algae species always showed a different order of bioaccumulation factors: Cd > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cu > Mn > Zn for the frond and Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd > Mn > Cu > Zn for the base. Our study shows that C. compressa and E. mediterranea accumulate HM consistently with the types of sites analysed and differentially with respect to the part of the thallus. These results demonstrate that these algae can be effectively used as reliable bioindicators to assess the presence of HM in marine environments with rocky substrates, providing both short- and long-term monitoring.

Assessing mercury contamination in Southern Hemisphere marine ecosystems: The role of penguins as effective bioindicators.

Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant known for its significant bioaccumulation and biomagnification capabilities, posing a particular threat to marine environments. Seabirds have been recognized as effective bioindicators of marine pollution, and, among them, penguins present a unique opportunity to serve as a single taxonomic group (Sphenisciformes) for monitoring Hg across distinct marine ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive systematic review of Hg concentrations, and performed a meta-analysis that took into account the various sources of uncertainty associated with Hg contamination in penguins. Beyond intrinsic species-specific factors shaping Hg levels, our results showed that the penguin community effectively reflects spatial patterns of Hg bioavailability. We identified geographic Hg hotspots in Australia, the Indian Ocean, and Tierra del Fuego, as well as coldspots in Perú and the South Atlantic. Furthermore, specific penguin species, namely the Southern Rockhopper (Eudyptes chrysocome) and Macaroni penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus), are highlighted as particularly vulnerable to the toxic effects of Hg. Additionally, we identified knowledge gaps in geographic areas such as the Galápagos Islands, South Africa, and the coast of Chile, as well as in species including Fiordland (Eudyptes pachyrhynchus), Snares (Eudyptes robustus), Erect-crested (Eudyptes sclateri), Royal (Eudyptes schlegeli), Yellow-eyed (Megadyptes antipodes), and Galápagos (Spheniscus mendiculus) penguins. Overall, our study contributes to the growing body of literature emphasizing the role of penguins as bioindicators of Hg pollution, but it also highlights areas where further research and data collection are needed for a more comprehensive understanding of Hg contamination in marine ecosystems in the Southern Hemisphere.

Microplastic abundance in urban vs. peri-urban mangroves: The feasibility of using invertebrates as biomonitors of microplastic pollution in two mangrove dominated estuaries of southern Africa.

Microplastic (MP) prevalence has been well documented, however, knowledge gaps exist for African mangrove forests. This research is the first to compare MP pollution (using FT-IR analysis) in an urban (Durban Bay) and peri-urban (Mngazana Estuary) mangrove forest in South Africa, across different compartments. MP pollution (typology, abundance, and distribution) was quantified in estuarine surface water, sediment and the soft tissue of three keystone species (Austruca occidentalis, Chiromantes eulimene and Cerithidea decollata) in relation to disturbances acting on these systems. MP averages ranged from 99 to 82 MPs/kg sediment, 177 to 76 MPs/L water and 82 to 59 MP/g-1 DW in biota. Overall fibres were the dominant MP type across all compartments. The three invertebrate species exhibited MP bioaccumulation, however, significant differences were observed between MP concentrations in the soft body tissue of invertebrates and abiotic compartments, providing evidence that they are not effective biomonitors of MP pollution.

Monitoring trace element concentrations with environmentally friendly biomonitors in Artvin, Turkey.

Air pollution is the change in air composition that disrupts human health and environmental balance. Although natural and anthropogenic processes include crustal movements, photosynthesis, and plant and animal emissions, other sources of contamination also include industrial operations, transportation activities, household resources, and the chemical and metal industries. Thus, biomonitoring can be employed as a quick, affordable, and efficient method for estimating air pollution. In this study, some inorganic pollutants were detected using olive trees (Olea europaea L.) at eleven different points, depending on the traffic density in Artvin, Turkey. Trace element concentrations (Cr, Ti, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Pb, Al, and Mn) were measured in soil once a year and seasonally in plant samples with ICP-OES. Furthermore, basic component analyses total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), total hydrogen (TH), and total sulfur (TS) were done with an elemental analyzer, total chlorophyll contents with a portable chlorophyll meter, and morphological and particle-based plant analyses with SEM-EDS. The pollution levels of these metals were calculated using the enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) parameters. Furthermore, the accuracy and validity tests of the analyses for trace metals were tested by applying certified reference materials (CRM) (ERM-CD281) for the plant samples and CRM (LGC-6187) for soil samples. Results indicated that soil trace element pollution distributions were ranked according to the following descending order: Fe (37,873.33 mg/kg) > Al (13,300 mg/kg) > Mn (1101.33 mg/kg) > Ti (353.5 mg/kg) > Zn (252.86 mg/kg) > Cu (87.77 mg/kg) > Cr (30.52 mg/kg) > Pb (19.65 mg/kg) > Ni (17.07 mg/kg) > Co (7.65 mg/kg). Moreover, air pollution from anthropogenic sources substantially increased average trace metal concentrations and sulfur emissions in autumn and winter. The average highest values of Fe (321.08 mg/kg) > Al (304.05 mg/kg) > Mn (32.75 mg/kg) > Zn (31.01 mg/kg) > Cu (17.92 mg/kg) > Ti (11.07 mg/kg) Cr (2.57 mg/kg) > Ni (17.07 mg/kg) were found in leaf samples taken from the roadside in autumn and winter. According to the EF and Igeo values, the main polluting trace elements in the soil were Zn, Cu, and Pb, while in the plant, these were detected as Fe, Al, Ti, Cr, Ni, and Cu. Kruskal-Wallis and correlation analysis statistically supported this relationship among metals. Results show that olive leaves are an effective bioindicator for detecting urban air pollution.

Assessing heavy metal pollution load index (PLI) in biomonitors and road dust from vehicular emission by magnetic properties modeling.

Vehicular traffic occupies a significant place among the sources of air pollution, due to population and urban growth that has led to an excessive increase in the vehicle fleet worldwide, and in Costa Rica as well. Vehicle emissions generate greenhouse gases (GHGs), particulate matter (PM), and heavy metals (HMs), due to combustion products from fossil-fuel engines, tire wear, and brake linings. HMs are important because they cannot be degraded or destroyed naturally; however, they can be diluted by physicochemical agents and be incorporated into trophic chains where they can be bioaccumulated causing significant negative effects on human well-being and ecological quality. This study aimed to assess the HM pollution load in biomonitors and road dust from vehicular emissions by chemical analyses and magnetic properties modeling. For this purpose, chemical and magnetic property analyses were carried out on samples of road dust and leaves of Cupressus lusitanica Mill. and Casuarina equisetifolia L., which were sampled during 2 different years in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica known as GAM. Contamination factor (CF) and pollution load index (PLI) results showed significant metal pollution in some of the study sites. Contamination by the metals V, Cr, and Zn was most commonly present in the biomonitors, and for road dust, they were Cr, Zn, and Pb. The PLI estimates obtained with the validated support vector machine (SVM) magnetic properties models were consistent (sensitivity, specificity, and precision) with those obtained by chemical analysis, demonstrating the feasibility of this method for the identification of this index of contamination.

Tarballs on the Brazilian coast in late 2022 sustain Lepas anatifera Linnaeus, 1758 (Crustacea: Cirripedia): Occurrence and risk of petroleum hydrocarbon ingestion.

Since the 2019 oil spill on the northeastern coast of Brazil, oil materials have washed up on the beaches. A characteristic of the recent oil spill that began in late August was that some of the oiled material, such as tarballs, contained the goose barnacle species Lepas anatifera (Cirripedia, Lepadomorpha), which is well-known for its cosmopolitan distribution and wide occurrence in the oceans. The findings of this study provide information on the occurrence and contamination of petroleum hydrocarbons in animals adhered to the surfaces of tarballs sampled from beaches in the Brazilian states of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, between September and November 2022. The size of the barnacles varied from 0.122 to 2.20 cm, suggesting that the tarballs had been floating in the ocean for at least a month. All groups of L. anatifera collected from the tarballs had polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present (∑21PAHs from 476.33 to 3816.53 ng g-1). In comparison to high-molecular-weight PAHs, which are primarily from pyrolytic sources, low-molecular-weight PAHs, such as naphthalene and phenanthrene, which are mostly related to petrogenic sources, were shown to be more abundant. In addition, dibenzothiophene, which is exclusive of petrogenic origin, was found in all samples (30.74-537.76 ng g-1). The aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs): n-alkanes, pristane, and phytane were also found and displayed petroleum characteristics. These results highlight the danger of increasing the absorption of petrogenic PAHs and AHs by organisms that use tarballs as substrates. L. anatifera is a crucial component of the food chain because many animals such as crabs, starfish, and gastropods consume it.

The prokaryotic community of Chondrosia reniformis Nardo, 1847: from diversity to mercury detection.

Microbial communities inhabiting sponges are known to take part in many metabolic pathways, including nutrient cycles, and possibly also in the bioaccumulation of trace elements (TEs). Here, we used high-throughput, Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA genes to characterize the prokaryotic communities present in the cortex and choanosome, respectively the external and internal body region of Chondrosia reniformis, and in the surrounding seawater. Furthermore, we estimated the total mercury content (THg) in these body regions of the sponge and in the corresponding microbial cell pellets. Fifteen prokaryotic phyla were detected in association with C. reniformis, 13 belonging to the domain Bacteria and two to the Archaea. No significant differences between the prokaryotic community composition of the two regions were found. Three lineages of ammonium-oxidizing organisms (Cenarchaeum symbiosum, Nitrosopumilus maritimus, and Nitrosococcus sp.) co-dominated the prokaryotic community, suggesting ammonium oxidation/nitrification as a key metabolic pathway within the microbiome of C. reniformis. In the sponge fractions, higher THg levels were found in the choanosome compared to the cortex. In contrast, comparable THg levels found in the microbial pellets obtained from both regions were significantly lower than those observed in the corresponding sponge fractions. Our work provides new insights into the prokaryotic communities and TEs distribution in different body parts of a model organism relevant for marine conservation and biotechnology. In this sense, this study paves the way for scientists to deepen the possible application of sponges not only as bioindicators, but also as bioremediation tools of metal polluted environments.

Environmental risk of microplastics in a Mexican coastal lagoon ecosystem: Anthropogenic inputs and its possible human food risk.

Coastal lagoons are ecosystems that are considered providers of a variety species of commercial value to the humans. However, they are currently threatened by a variety of anthropogenic-derived impacts, including environmental pollution by microplastics (MPs). For these reasons, it is necessary to identify suitable biomonitors for monitoring MP activities in aquatic environments and for estimating human ingestion of MPs from the consumption of commercial shellfish species. Therefore, our aims were to identify the anthropogenic activities that supply MPs into a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico and their variety; to determine whether oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are suitable biomonitors to perform MPs monitoring activities and to conduct an estimation of how many MPs could a human consume by the ingestion of a commercial portion of oysters harvested in this coastal lagoon. Our results noted that MP concentrations from water and sediment collected in Laguna de Terminos were 210,000 and 11.3 times higher than values reported in other protected areas worldwide. MPs chemical composition revealed that fishing and urban activities supply mainly polyethylene (21.1 %), poly (butadiene) diol (12.6 %) and polyethylene terephthalate (9.5 %). It was also determined that oysters did not reflect the spatial distribution of MPs within the study area and that a human could consume up to 806.1 MPs per 237.1 g serving of an oyster cocktail. Finally, a coastal lagoon polluted with MPs increases the risk of affecting species used for human consumption.

Tissue-based trace element pollution of clam Ruditapes philippinarum in China: Hotspot identification and multiple nonlinear analysis.

Considering the complexity of coastal and estuarine systems, a great challenge of environmental health assessment is to distinguish between natural and anthropogenically induced stress. Quantification of trace element accumulation in the tissues of sedentary bivalves with subsequent hotspot identification is important to assess the pollution status. The present study conducted a nationwide mapping of bioavailable macro- and trace elements in a widely distributed biomonitoring clam Ruditapes philippinarum from China. Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn concentrations in the clams showed similar levels as those documented previously in mussels, but were lower than those in oysters at similar sites from China. Notably, the total As concentrations in clams at Xinkai Estuary and Beibu Bay were relatively higher than those at other sites in China. After normalization by tissue biomass, salinity (Na) and nutrient (P), some hotspots were identified with high pollution of trace elements at Liaodong Bay of Bohai Sea, Gold Beach of Qingdao, Dongling Port of Yellow Sea, Hangzhou Bay and adjacent coasts of East China Sea, and Pearl River Estuary and Beibu Bay of South China Sea. This study demonstrated that most trace elements had a path-dependent effect of biomass, except for Cd which showed an indirect pathway of AgNi related accumulation. Results showed significant correlations between Cd, Zn, Ag and Ni, and between Pb/Cr and Ti in clams. After mass normalization, all trace elements displayed significantly positive correlations with Na or P. Simultaneously, the clam biomass played an intermediary role in trace element accumulation in non-linear patterns related to salinity and nutrient. These results are important in evaluating the composite ambiguous information of the historical data of trace element biomonitoring.

Biomonitoring of potentially toxic elements through oysters (Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis) from coastal lagoons of Southeast Gulf of California, Mexico: health risk assessment.

The coastal lagoons of the Gulf of California support important traditional fisheries and mollusc cultures (generally oysters) and receive important volumes of agricultural, industrial and urban effluents, consumption of the oysters could pose risk to human health. The concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the oysters Saccostrea palmula and Crassostrea corteziensis, from four coastal lagoons (Altata, AL; Macapule, ML; Navachiste, NL; El Colorado, ECL) in the Southeast Gulf of California, were seasonally evaluated (summer 2019-spring 2020). The order of magnitude of potentially toxic elements concentrations in the soft tissue in both oyster species and at all sites was Zn > Fe > Cu > As > Cd > Pb. Cadmium, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded the maximum permissible limits in more than one sampling site. The highest concentrations (mg kg-1, wet weight) of As (4.2 ± 1.1, spring) and Cd (3.3 ± 0.7, autumn) were registered in S. palmula et al. and NL sampling sites, respectively. Crassostrea corteziensis presented higher levels of Cu (40.5 ± 6.7, spring), Pb (2.0 ± 0.4, spring), and Zn (96.9 ± 20.4, spring) in ECL and Fe (62.2 ± 25.4, autumn) in ML. The hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeded the safe level of 1 for Cd in S. palmula and C. corteziensis in NL for children (~ 16 kg weight). In addition, in children, the hazard index (HI) values in both species of oysters ranged from 0.7 to 2.1 and 0.6 to 1.9, respectively. On the other hand, the intake of the studied elements through the consumption of oysters would not induce adverse effects to human health (men and women weighing 70 and 60 kg, respectively); HQ and HI values were < 1.

Using Peromyscus leucopus as a biomonitor to determine the impact of heavy metal exposure on the kidney and bone mineral density: results from the Tar Creek Superfund Site.

Background: Human population growth and industrialization contribute to increased pollution of wildlife habitats. Heavy metal exposure from industrial and environmental sources is still a threat to public health, increasing disease susceptibility. In this study, I investigated the effects of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)) on kidney and bone density. Objective: This study aims to determine the concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn in soil and compare them to the levels of the same metals in Peromyscus leucopus kidney tissue. Furthermore, the study seeks to investigate the impact of heavy metals on bone density and fragility using the fourth lumbar vertebra (L4) of P. leucopus. Methods: Cd, Pb, and Zn concentrations in soil specimens collected from Tar Creek Superfund Site (TCSFS), Beaver Creek (BC), and two reference sites (Oologah Wildlife Management Area (OWMA) and Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR)). Heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Micro-computed tomography (µCT) was used to assess the influence of heavy metals on bone fragility and density. Results: On the one hand, soil samples revealed that Pb is the most common pollutant in the sediment at all of the investigated sites (the highest contaminated site with Pb was TCSFS). Pb levels in the soil of TCSFS, BC, OWMA, and SNWR were found to be 1,132 ± 278, 6.4 ± 1.1, and 2.3 ± 0.3 mg/kg in the soil of TCSFS, BC and OWMA and SNWR, respectively. This is consistent with the fact that Pb is one of the less mobile heavy metals, causing its compounds to persist in soils and sediments and being barely influenced by microbial decomposition. On the other hand, the kidney samples revealed greater Cd levels, even higher than those found in the soil samples from the OWMA and SNWR sites. Cd concentrations in the kidney specimens were found to be 4.62 ± 0.71, 0.53 ± 0.08, and 0.53 ± 0.06 µg/kg, respectively. In addition, micro-CT analysis of L4 from TCSFS showed significant Pearson's correlation coefficients between Cd concentrations and trabecular bone number (-0.67, P ≤ 0.05) and trabecular separation (0.72, P ≤ 0.05). The results showed no correlation between bone parameters and metal concentrations at reference sites. This study is one of the few that aims to employ bone architecture as an endpoint in the field of biomonitoring. Furthermore, this study confirmed some earlier research by demonstrating substantial levels of heavy metal contamination in soil samples, kidney samples, and P. leucopus L4 trabecular bone separations from TCSFS. Moreover, this is the first study to record information regarding bone microarchitecture parameters in P. leucopus in North America.

Comparison between machine linear regression (MLR) and support vector machine (SVM) as model generators for heavy metal assessment captured in biomonitors and road dust.

Exposure to suspended particulate matter (PM), found in the air, is one of the most acute environmental problems that affect the health of modern society. Among the different airborne pollutants, heavy metals (HMs) are particularly relevant because they are bioaccumulated, impairing the functions of living beings. This study aimed to establish a method to predict heavy metal concentrations in leaves and road dust, through their magnetic properties measurements. For this purpose, machine learning, automatic linear regression (MLR), and support vector machine (SVM) were used to establish models for the prediction of airborne heavy metals based on leaves and road dust magnetic properties. Road dust samples and leaves of two common evergreen species (Cupressus lusitanica/Casuarina equisetifolia) were sampled simultaneously during two different years in the Great Metropolitan Area (GMA) of Costa Rica. MLR and SVM algorithms were used to establish the relationship between airborne heavy metal concentrations based on single (χlf) and multiple (χlf y χdf) leaf magnetic properties and road dust. Results showed that Fe, Cu, Cr, V, and Zn concentrations were well-simulated by SVM prediction models, with adjusted R2 values ≥ 0.7 in both training and test stages. By contrast, the concentrations of Pb and Ni were not well-simulated, with adjusted R2 values < 0.7 in both training and test stages. Heavy metal predicción models using magnetic properties of leaves from Casuarina equisetifolia, as collectors, yielded better prediction results than those based on the leaves of Cupressus lusitanica and road dust, showing relatively higher adjusted R2 values and lower errors (MAE and RMSE) in both training and test stages. SVM proved to be the best prediction model with variations between single (χlf) and multiple (χlf y χdf) magnetic properties depending on the element studied.

Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons extracted from lichens by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Lichens are well-known biomonitors for semi-volatile pollutants, due to their ability to absorb and retain different chemical compounds such as Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), directly linked to levels in the atmosphere. Based on that, this paper proposes an analytical method capable of quantifying 16 EPA-PAHs from lichens found in an intertropical zone, as a natural alternative to typical capture methods, with the aim of monitoring atmospheres polluted by toxic compounds. An analytical protocol, including sample pre-treatment, followed by ultrasound extraction, clean-up in a chromatographic column, concentration and quantification by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) using Selective Ion Monitoring has been developed. Additionally, a set of guidelines on lichen collection and sample handling is given, in order to achieve representative samples.•Limits of quantification (LOQ) and detection (LOD) varied from 2.0 to 16 µg/L and 1.0 to 5.0 µg/L, respectively. Calibration curves had correlation coefficients higher than 0.99 in all cases.•Validation of the method for determining PAHs concentration associated to 30 lichen samples collected along two roads, with high and low traffic volumes was carried out.•The method showed good performance according to the sources of PAHs, traffic patterns and gradient in roads.

Study of feces of neotropical otters (Lontra longicaudis) in the Ayuquila-Armería basin, Mexico as biomonitors of the spatiotemporal distribution of pesticides.

The pesticides used have contributed to increasing food production; it has also caused them to be found in most ecosystems and have negative effects on biota. The neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is vulnerable to pesticide accumulation and is characterized by being elusive, so it is necessary to address the use of indirect techniques that evaluate its populations' state in an efficient, logistically simple, and non-invasive way. This study aimed to determine the concentration of 20 pesticides in neotropical otter feces in the Ayuquila-Armería basin and to describe the spatiotemporal variation of these pesticides. The presence of 11 pesticides was determined. Imazalil, picloram, and malathion the pesticides with the highest concentrations; emamectin, λ-cyhalothrin, methomyl, and picloram were present in all samples. Emamectin was the only pesticide that presented significant differences concerning the temporality of the samplings, presenting higher concentrations in the wet season. Molinate concentrations showed significant differences concerning the location of the sampling sections in the basin; the lower part of the basin presented higher concentrations. The distribution of the populations of L. longicaudis in the Ayuquila-Armería basin does not respond to the degree of contamination by pesticides in surface waters or to the proximity to agricultural activities, and this in places with evident chemical and organic contamination and human presence. The use of otter feces for pesticide monitoring is an accepted non-invasive method to assess the degree of exposure and can be used to determine sites with pollution problems.

Metal and Pb isotope characterization of particulates encountered by foraging honeybees in Metro Vancouver.

Honeybees and their products are useful biomonitors of metal distribution in urban centres. This study investigates particulate sources that foraging honeybees encounter in Metro Vancouver. Metal concentrations and lead (Pb) isotope compositions were measured in topsoil (top 2 cm, n = 14) colocated with existing research hives and in particulate matter ≤10 µm (PM10, n = 27) collected throughout Metro Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) during honeybee foraging hours over the course of one year (2018-2019). Topsoil served as a proxy for resuspended/coarse PM and, together with PM10, covered the size range of particulates collected by foraging bees both actively (pollen) and passively (dusts). Particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5, n = 7) was collected on Whistler Mountain during two transpacific events (in spring 2014) to estimate the possible effect of transpacific particulate input on the Pb isotope composition of Western Canada aerosols. Metal concentrations and Pb isotopes in topsoil and PM from this study and bees and hive products from previous studies (collected in 2014-2019) reveal similar spatial trends: there were elevated amounts of some metals associated with anthropogenic activity (e.g., Pb, Zn, Sb) and less radiogenic Pb isotope compositions in most samples collected nearer to the city centre in comparison to samples collected in more suburban or rural areas. Bees and hive products have a smoothing effect on the spatiotemporal variability of the data; metal concentrations and Pb isotope compositions vary less in hive products than in PM, presumably because bees interact with multiple environmental domains while foraging. Wildfire smoke and transpacific input are phenomena that cause measurable shifts in Pb isotope compositions of PM, but not in hive matrices. The findings highlight important considerations to make (i.e., the smoothing effect) when linking public health data and decisions with environmental data from hive products in urban centres.

Geo-environmental approach to assess heavy metals around auto-body refinishing shops using bio-monitors.

The vehicular industry is looking for continuous challenges to develop the sustainability of its manufacturing, maintenance processes, and vehicle emissions due to marketability, environmental, economic, and policy concerns. The present study focuses on the impact of these processes on the environment. In Pakistan, most of the auto-body refinishing processes are carried out in an open atmosphere. The shades of Azadirachta indica (Neem Tree) are generally used for the outdoor practice of scrapping, grinding, and painting in auto-body refinishing shops of Pakistan. Azadirachta indica leaves were selected as bio-indicator. For the present work, 26 affected sites and 10 control sites were selected from Karachi city, which is the financial hub and biggest city of Pakistan. Concentrations of different metals (Fe, Co, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, and Zn) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. A geographic information system (GIS) is used to present the variation in concentrations within Karachi city. The only positive correlation was observed in Pb and Mn (0.750). Principal component analysis (PCA) is applied to identify the anthropogenic effect between auto-body refinishing areas and control areas. Almost all analyzed metals show higher concentration at affected sites but Pb (87.14 mg/kg), Mn (46.47 mg/kg) and Fe (146.95 mg/kg) were leading the values, as compared to their concentration at control sites, Pb (48.83 mg/kg), Mn (15.23 mg/kg) and Fe (43.07 mg/kg). All analyzed metals are frequently present in different color pigments, whereas Pb, Mn, and Fe may also come from other sources, like the anti-knocking agent, vehicular exhaust, and scraping of car surface.