heavy metal poisoning – Page 2

Avian toxicoses: a review

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Pet and wild birds can be poisoned by many common substances including metals found in cage materials, kitchen cookware fumes, toxic plants, chocolate, salt, and rodent poison. Symptoms vary by toxin but can include difficulty breathing, weakness, seizures, and bleeding. Treatment focuses on removing the source, supportive care, and specific antidotes when available, though diagnosis is often challenging due to the small size of birds.

Investigation of the simulated microgravity impact on heavy metal biosorption by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

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This research shows that yeast commonly used in bread and beer production can absorb dangerous heavy metals from water, and this ability is even stronger in simulated weightlessness conditions. The metal-yeast complexes remain stable as they pass through the digestive system, making them safe for astronauts and potentially useful for cleaning contaminated drinking water in the food and beverage industry.

Roles of mobile genetic elements and biosynthetic gene clusters in environmental adaptation of acidophilic archaeon Ferroplasma to extreme polluted environments

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Scientists discovered how a special acid-loving microorganism called Ferroplasma survives and thrives in highly polluted mine drainage environments rich in dangerous heavy metals. The study revealed that these microorganisms use special genetic elements like jumping genes and metabolite-producing genes to adapt to these extreme conditions, enabling them to help clean up pollution. This discovery could lead to better biological methods for treating contaminated environments and making water safer near old mining sites.

Bioremediation of High-Concentration Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil by Combined Use of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Fe3O4–GO Anodes

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Researchers developed a new system to clean soil contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and chromium from electronic waste recycling areas. The system combines special bacteria with magnetized graphene-based electrodes that work together to remove up to 89% of zinc and other metals from polluted soil. This approach is more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than traditional cleaning methods, offering hope for restoring contaminated sites.

Sorption of Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Co, and Zn) by Bacteria of the Genus Bacillus: An Investigation of the Ability and Consequences of Bioaccumulation

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Researchers studied how three types of beneficial Bacillus bacteria can remove heavy metals like lead, cadmium, zinc, and cobalt from contaminated environments. The bacteria were most effective at capturing lead, removing up to 53% of the metal from the medium. The study showed these bacteria could potentially be used as probiotic treatments to help remove toxic metals from the body or clean up polluted soil. Microscopic analysis revealed that the metals accumulate on the bacterial cell surface, causing slight changes in bacterial shape and size.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Assisted Phytoremediation: A Promising Strategy for Cadmium-Contaminated Soils

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Cadmium contamination in farm soils poses serious threats to food safety and human health. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are beneficial fungi that form partnerships with plant roots and can significantly reduce the amount of cadmium that plants absorb from contaminated soil. These fungi work through multiple mechanisms including physically trapping cadmium in soil, improving plant nutrition and stress resilience, and enhancing the plant’s natural detoxification systems. This natural approach offers a sustainable and cost-effective strategy for cleaning up contaminated agricultural land.

Bibliometric analysis of European publications between 2001 and 2016 on concentrations of selected elements in mushrooms

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Researchers reviewed 200 European studies from 2001-2016 examining how mushrooms absorb heavy metals from soil. They found that mushrooms, especially edible species, can accumulate dangerous metals like cadmium, lead, and mercury, with the highest contamination in mushrooms from polluted industrial areas. Turkey, Poland, Spain, and Czech Republic led research efforts on this topic. Scientists increasingly used health risk assessment methods to determine safe consumption levels of mushrooms from different habitats.

Assessment of the Impact of Metals in Wild Edible Mushrooms from Dambovita County, Romania, on Human Health

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This study examined 18 types of wild mushrooms commonly eaten in Romania for their metal content and potential health risks. Researchers found that while mushrooms contain valuable nutrients like iron and zinc, some species accumulate toxic metals like lead and cadmium. Adults who eat these mushrooms generally face acceptable risks, but children are more vulnerable due to their smaller body size and higher food intake per kilogram of body weight.

Cadmium and Lead Tolerance of Filamentous Fungi Isolated from Contaminated Mining Soils

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Researchers isolated six types of fungi from mining-contaminated soil in Mexico that can survive in extremely toxic environments with high levels of lead and cadmium. These fungi have developed special strategies to handle these dangerous metals, with one species, Paecilomyces lilacinus, showing exceptional ability to tolerate both metals simultaneously. These findings suggest these fungi could be used to clean up contaminated soils in mining regions, offering hope for environmental remediation efforts.

Nitric Oxide-Mediated Regulation of Chitinase Activity and Cadmium Sequestration in the Response of Schizophyllum commune to Cadmium Stress

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A culinary mushroom called Schizophyllum commune can be harmed by cadmium pollution. When exposed to cadmium, the fungus produces nitric oxide, which causes enzymes called chitinases to become more active. These active enzymes break down the mushroom’s cell wall, allowing more cadmium to accumulate and ultimately damage the fungus’s growth. By reducing nitric oxide levels, scientists may be able to protect this mushroom from cadmium poisoning.

Disease: heavy metal poisoning