Radovan Stanovič

Human exposure to heavy metals and possible public health risks via consumption of wild edible mushrooms from Slovak Paradise National Park, Slovakia

The contamination level of 92 samples (12 species) of wild edible mushrooms and underlying substrates with heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in the Slovak Paradise National Park that borders with a region of historical mining and processing of polymetallic ores, were determined. The collected samples were analyzed using of atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The metals were determined separately in hymenophore (H) and rest of fruit bodies (RFB). Bioaccumulation factor as well as ratio of metal content in H and RFB were calculated. Cadmium and lead contents in hymenophore exceeded statutory limits of the EU (Cd: 0.5 mg/kg dry weight (dw), Pb: 1.0 mg/kg dw) for edible mushrooms in 96% and 83% of the samples, respectively. The risk from the consumption of the collected mushroom species was calculated based on the provisionally tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) values, and the highest health risk arising with consumption of particularly Macrolepiota procera, Marasmius oreades and Russula vesca from the observed area was demonstrated. It was shown that average weekly consumption of tested mushrooms species results the threat of exceeding of PTWI limits in the case of cadmium values (by 164%, 86% and 4% of PTWI for M. oreades, R. vesca and R. puellaris, respectively) and of mercury (by 96% of PTWI for M. procera) but not lead.

Accumulation and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in soil and plants of four different ecosystems in a former polymetallic ores mining and smelting area (Slovakia).

ABSTRACT Heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in soils and plants of four different ecosystems (forest, grassland, agro and urban ecosystem) at different distances from the source of the pollution were analyzed in order to assess and compare soil contamination in the various ecosystems and determine the potential accumulation of plants depending on the place they inhabit. Correlation relationships among heavy metals in soils differ depending on the ecosystem, and between soil and plant, the heavy metals showed significant correlation for Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Contamination factor (Cf), degree of contamination (Cd) and pollution load index (PLI) were used in order to determine the level of environmental contamination of the study area. All studied ecosystems were rated as moderately contaminated (except agroecosystem, which was found as low contamination ecosystem) according to Cd and extremely polluted according to PLI. The highest pollution in both cases was found in urban ecosystem, and Cd, Cu and Fe were determined as the biggest pollutants.

Assessment of environmental and health risks in former polymetallic ore mining and smelting area, Slovakia: Spatial distribution and accumulation of mercury in four different ecosystems

Former long-term mining and smelting of pollymetallic ores in the Middle Spiš area caused a serious contamination problem of the environment with heavy metals and metalloids, especially mercury (Hg). Several studies have reported concentration of Hg in the area but this paper provides first detailed characterization of Hg contamination of different environmental components in agricultural, forest, grassland and urban ecosystems. The ecosystems are in different distances from emission sources - former mercury and copper smelting plants in NE Slovakia. Total Hg content was studied in soil/substrate samples (n = 234) and characteristic biological samples (Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth, Macrolepiota procera (Scop.) Singer, Boletus edulis Bull., Cyanoboletus pulverulentus (Opat.) Gelardi, Vizzini & Simonini, Triticum aestivum (L.), Poa pratensis (L.)) (n = 234) collected in the above-mentioned ecosystems. The level of contamination and environmental risks were assessed by contamination factor (Cf), index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) and potential environmental risk index (PER). To determine the level of transition of Hg from abiotic to biotic environment, bioconcentration factor (BCF) was used. To determine a health risk resulting from regular and long-term consumption of the locally available species, the results of the Hg content were compared with the Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) for Hg defined by World Health Organization. The results suggest that almost 63% of the area belong to the very high risk category and 80% of the sampling sites shown very high contamination factor. Geoaccumulation index showed that almost 30% of the area is very strongly contaminated and only 8% is not contaminated with Hg. Spearmans correlation relationship confirmed that the values of PER, BCF, Cf and Igeo decreased with an increasing distance from the pollution source. The percentage of contribution to PTWI ranged between 5.76-69.0% for adults and 11.5-138% for children. Mushroom M. procera showed the highest %PTWI among the tested biological samples. Studied ecotoxicological parameters showed high level of health risk for population living in the area. Consumption of the crops grown in the area and mainly edible wild mushrooms might negatively affect the health of the consumers in the long-term.

Determination of heavy metals concentration in raw sheep milk from mercury polluted area.

The paper focuses on determining the content of monitored contaminants (Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) in 53 samples of raw sheep milk collected in 2013 and 2014 on the sites Porac and Matejovce nad Hornadom (middle Spis). The area is characterized by historical mining and metalworking activity (mining and processing of polymetallic ores rich in Hg, Cd and Pb). Currently, the area is one of the most mercury contaminated areas in Central Europe. All statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical software Statistica 10.0 ( Statsoft, USA). Descriptive data analysis included minimum value, maximum value, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The results of the studied contaminant content show that the limit value for cadmium (10 μg.kg -1 ) was exceeded in 25 samples. In the case of lead, the limit value of 20 μg.kg -1 was exceeded in 16 cases. The limit value for copper (0.4 mg.kg -1 ) was exceeded in one case. The limit value for zinc is not defined by a legislative standard. The risk level of the studied contaminants in the samples of raw sheep milk decreases as follows: Cd > Pb > Hg > Cu > Zn. It can be concluded that frequent and long-term consumption of the raw sheep milk originating from the studied sites poses a health risk. The content of the contaminants in the milk and their eventual transition into dairy products should be monitored over a longer term in more detail. Normal 0 21 false false false CS JA X-NONE

The relationships between content of heavy metals in soil and in strawberries

ABSTRACT The work was aimed at assessment of quality of strawberry based on the contents of heavy metals as well as the possible correlations between selected heavy metals in soil and strawberries. The results revealed that from all observed metals in soil determined in aqua regia only in the case of cadmium the maximum permissible limit in comparison with the limit resulting from the Law No. 220/2004 as well as threshold values proposed by European Commission (EC) (2006) has been exceeded. In our paper the values of cadmium in the soil representing 1.86 to 2.41 times higher values than limit valid in the Slovak Republic (0.7 mg/kg) and 2.6 to 3.38 times higher in comparison to EC (0.5 mg/kg). In our study in 1 M NH4NO3 the values of lead ranged from 0.125 to 0.205 mg/kg representing values exceeded the limit valid in Slovak Republic (0.1 mg/kg) about 0.037–0.105 mg/kg. Despite exceeded values of heavy metals in soil, no values above the limit directly in strawberries when compared to Food Codex of Slovak Republic as well as to Commission Regulation 1881/2006 were recorded. Among the varieties statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in intake of heavy metals were found.

Differences in ability of selected amaranth cultivars to accumulate risky metals / Zróżnicowana zdolność wybranych odmian szarłatu (Amaranhtus) do pobierania i akumulacji metali ciężkich z gleb

Abstract The objective of the study is to compare the degree of accumulation of risky metals by seeds and aboveground biomass of five amaranth cultivars cultivars (Golden Giant, Rawa, Annapurna, Oscar Blanco, Koniz), as well as to assess the metal input extent in system soil-plant. The soil of amaranth cultivation was uncontaminated with the exception of Cd and Pb contents, those were 40% and 10% higher than limits given for the soil extract by aqua regia and by NH4NO3, respectively. In seeds of all investigated amaranth cultivars the maximal allowed amounts for Cd and Pb were by 60-100% and 25-200% (respectively) exceeded. In aboveground amaranth biomass 0.17-12.25 fold higher amounts of heavy metals were determined in comparison to amaranth seeds. Our results confirm, that amaranth seeds and leaves as food raw materials could represent a risk to the health of the consumer from the aspect of high Cd and Pb amounts. Because of the ability to produce abundance of biomass and at the same time to accumulate high amounts of dangerous heavy metals amaranth could be used as a potential plant for a soil phytoremediation. The results confirmed the ability of amaranth to accumulate metals even from relatively „clean“ soil Streszczenie Celem przeprowadzonych badań było porównanie stopnia akumulacji metali ciężkich (mogących stanowić ryzyko dla zdrowia ludzi) przez nasiona i biomasę pięciu wybranych odmian uprawnych szarłatu (Golden Giant, Rawa, Annapurna, Oscar Blanco, Koniz). Celem pracy była także ocena zależności pobierania metali ciężkich: gleba-roślina. Stwierdzono, że badane gleby były zanieczyszczone Cd i Pb, których zawartość przekraczała odpowiednio 40% i 10% zawartości wyjściowej oznaczonej w ekstrakcie wody królewskiej i NH4NO. W nasionach Szarłatu wszystkich badanych odmian zawartość Cd i Pb przekraczały dozwolone zawartości tych pierwiastków odpowiednio o 60--100% i 25--200%. W częściach nadziemnych szarłatu zawartość badanych metali była średnio 0,17-12,25 krotnie wyższa niż w nasionach badanych roślin. Na podstawie otrzymanych wyników stwierdzono, że nasiona oraz liście szarłatu wykorzystywane na cele żywnościowe mogą stanowić zagrożenie dla zdrowia konsumentów, wynikające z wysokich zawartości Cd i Pb. Szarłat posiadając dużą zdolność akumulacji Cd i Pb, poprzez wytwarzanie obfitej biomasy roślinnej może być wykorzystany w celu fitoremediacji gleb. Wyniki potwierdziły zdolność do akumulacji metali ciężkich przez różne odmiany szarłatu nawet z terenów uznawanych za niezanieczyszczone