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Journal ArticleDOI

Soil heavy metal contamination and health risks associated with artisanal gold mining in Tongguan, Shaanxi, China

01 Jul 2017-Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety (Ecotoxicol Environ Saf)-Vol. 141, Iss: 141, pp 17-24
TL;DR: The results showed that soils were highly contaminated by residual tailings and previous mining activities, and local residents had high chronic risks due to the intake of Hg and Pb, while their carcinogenic risk associated with Cd through inhalation was low.
About: This article is published in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.The article was published on 2017-07-01. It has received 282 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Soil contamination & Phytoremediation.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper provides a comprehensive ecological and health risk assessment on the heavy metals in soils in Chinese industrial and agricultural regions and thus provides insights for the policymakers regarding exposure reduction and management.

1,019 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review focuses on and describes heavy metal contamination in soil-food crop subsystems with respect to human health risks, and explores the possible geographical pathways of heavy metals in such subsystems.

952 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This work provides a comprehensive review of recent research on various carbon adsorbents in terms of their surface functional groups and the associated removal behaviors and performances to heavy metals in aqueous solutions.

697 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This review provides a comprehensive account of the relative impact of the THMs As, Cd, Cr(VI), Hg, and Pb on the authors' total environment.
Abstract: Certain five heavy metals viz. arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr)(VI), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb) are non-threshold toxins and can exert toxic effects at very low concentrations. These heavy metals are known as most problematic heavy metals and as toxic heavy metals (THMs). Several industrial activities and some natural processes are responsible for their high contamination in the environment. In recent years, high concentrations of heavy metals in different natural systems including atmosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere have become a global issue. These THMs have severe deteriorating effects on various microorganisms, plants, and animals. Human exposure to the THMs may evoke serious health injuries and impairments in the body, and even certain extremities can cause death. In all these perspectives, this review provides a comprehensive account of the relative impact of the THMs As, Cd, Cr(VI), Hg, and Pb on our total environment.

527 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
25 Feb 2021-Toxics
TL;DR: In this paper, a review focusing on the toxic effect of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)) and pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides) adversely influencing the agricultural ecosystem (plant and soil) and human health is presented.
Abstract: Environmental problems have always received immense attention from scientists. Toxicants pollution is a critical environmental concern that has posed serious threats to human health and agricultural production. Heavy metals and pesticides are top of the list of environmental toxicants endangering nature. This review focuses on the toxic effect of heavy metals (cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn)) and pesticides (insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides) adversely influencing the agricultural ecosystem (plant and soil) and human health. Furthermore, heavy metals accumulation and pesticide residues in soils and plants have been discussed in detail. In addition, the characteristics of contaminated soil and plant physiological parameters have been reviewed. Moreover, human diseases caused by exposure to heavy metals and pesticides were also reported. The bioaccumulation, mechanism of action, and transmission pathways of both heavy metals and pesticides are emphasized. In addition, the bioavailability in soil and plant uptake of these contaminants has also been considered. Meanwhile, the synergistic and antagonistic interactions between heavy metals and pesticides and their combined toxic effects have been discussed. Previous relevant studies are included to cover all aspects of this review. The information in this review provides deep insights into the understanding of environmental toxicants and their hazardous effects.

373 citations

References
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Book
01 Jan 1984
TL;DR: The Biosphere The Anthroposphere Soils and Soil Processes Weathering Processes Pedogenic Processes Soil Constituents Trace Elements Minerals Organic Matter Organisms in Soils Trace Elements in Plants.
Abstract: Chapter 1 The Biosphere Chapter 2 The Anthroposphere Introduction Air Pollution Water Pollution Soil Plants Chapter 3 Soils and Soil Processes Introduction Weathering Processes Pedogenic Processes Chapter 4 Soil Constituents Introduction Trace Elements Minerals Organic Matter Organisms in Soils Chapter 5 Trace Elements in Plants Introduction Absorption Translocation Availability Essentiality and Deficiency Toxicity and Tolerance Speciation Interaction Chapter 6 Elements of Group 1 (Previously Group Ia) Introduction Lithium Rubidium Cesium Chapter 7 Elements of Group 2 (Previously Group IIa) Beryllium Strontium Barium Radium Chapter 8 Elements of Group 3 (Previously Group IIIb) Scandium Yttrium Lanthanides Actinides Chapter 9 Elements of Group 4 (Previously Group IVb) Titanium Zirconium Hafnium Chapter 10 Elements of Group 5 (Previously Group Vb) Vanadium Niobium Tantalum Chapter 11 Elements of Group 6 (Previously Group VIb) Chromium Molybdenum Tungsten Chapter 12 Elements of Group 7 (Previously Group VIIb) Manganese Technetium Rhenium Chapter 13 Elements of Group 8 (Previously Part of Group VIII) Iron Ruthenium Osmium Chapter 14 Elements of Group 9 (Previously Part of Group VIII) Cobalt Rhodium Iridium Chapter 15 Elements of Group 10 (Previously Part of Group VIII) Nickel Palladium Platinum Chapter 16 Elements of Group 11 (Previously Group Ib) Copper Silver Gold Chapter 17 Trace Elements of Group 12 (Previously of Group IIb) Zinc Cadmium Mercury Chapter 18 Elements of Group 13 (Previously Group IIIa) Boron Aluminum Gallium Indium Thallium Chapter 19 Elements of Group I4 (Previously Group IVa) Silicon Germanium Tin Lead Chapter 20 Elements of Group 15 (Previously Group Va) Arsenic Antimony Bismuth Chapter 21 Elements of Group 16 (Previously Group VIa) Selenium Tellurium Polonium Chapter 22 Elements of Group 17 (Previously Group VIIa) Fluorine Chlorine Bromine Iodine

9,739 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The principles, advantages and disadvantages of immobilization, soil washing and phytoremediation techniques which are frequently listed among the best demonstrated available technologies for cleaning up heavy metal contaminated sites are presented.
Abstract: Scattered literature is harnessed to critically review the possible sources, chemistry, potential biohazards and best available remedial strategies for a number of heavy metals (lead, chromium, arsenic, zinc, cadmium, copper, mercury and nickel) commonly found in contaminated soils. The principles, advantages and disadvantages of immobilization, soil washing and phytoremediation techniques which are frequently listed among the best demonstrated available technologies for cleaning up heavy metal contaminated sites are presented. Remediation of heavy metal contaminated soils is necessary to reduce the associated risks, make the land resource available for agricultural production, enhance food security and scale down land tenure problems arising from changes in the land use pattern.

2,826 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive assessment of soil heavy metal pollution derived from mines in China is provided, while identifying policy recommendations for pollution mitigation and environmental management of these mines.

2,061 citations

01 Jan 2007
Abstract: Some heavy metals have bio-importance as trace elements but, the biotoxic effects of many of them in human biochemistry are of great concern. Hence, there is the need for proper understanding of the conditions, such as the concentrations and oxidation states, which make them harmful, and how biotoxicity occurs. It is also important to know their sources, leaching processes, chemical conversions and their modes of deposition to pollute the environment, which essentially supports lives. Literature sources point to the fact that these metals are released into the environment by both natural and anthropogenic sources, especially mining and industrial activities, and automobile exhausts (for lead). They leach into underground waters, moving along water pathways and eventually depositing in the aquifer, or are washed away by run-off into surface waters thereby resulting in water and subsequently soil pollution. Poisoning and toxicity in animals occur frequently through exchange and co-ordination mechanisms. When ingested, they combine with the body’s biomolecules, like proteins and enzymes to form stable biotoxic compounds, thereby mutilating their structures and hindering them from the bioreactions of their functions. This paper reviews certain heavy metals and their biotoxic effects on man and the mechanisms of their biochemical activities. Keywords: Biochemical, biotoxic, environment, heavy metals, pollution.

1,596 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of literature discussing the phytoremediation capacity of hyperaccumulators to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals and the possibility of using these plants in phytomining is presented.

1,509 citations