Heavy Metal Pollution as a Biodiversity Threat

Tovar-Sánchez, Efraı́n; Hernández-Plata, Isela; Santoyo-Martínez, Miguel; Valencia-Cuevas, Leticia; Galante, Patricia Mussali

doi:10.5772/intechopen.74052

Cited by 40 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…Pollution therefore poses a substantial threat to ecosystem integrity and the biodiversity that protected areas support [ 11 , 12 ]. Biomonitoring is central to ecosystem management, conservation and restoration.…”

Section: Methods Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimised ICP-MS quantification method for using animal faeces as a measure of protected area ecosystem health

et al. 2021

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Pollution is a key threat to biodiversity and ecosystem health within protected areas. Using a non-invasive, multi-matrix approach, sediment, vegetation and faecal material from lion ( Panthera leo ) and giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis) were collected and assessed for the simultaneous quantification of 20 trace elements using an optimised method for Inductively Coupled Plasma-–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Method Linearity was confirmed over an analytical range of 0.1–50 mg/kg for aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe); 0.4–400 µg/kg for vanadium (V), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo), and cadmium (Cd); 0.5–5 µg/kg for mercury (Hg); and 1–1 000 µg/kg for elements arsenic (As), boron (B), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), tin (Sn), strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn). Coefficient of determination (R 2 ) was above 0.99 for all elements. Accuracy (% recovery) and precision (% RSD) of replicate measurements for certified reference material controls fell within 20% of expected value at lower concentrations and 15% at higher concentrations for all elements except Al. Results for instrument and method limit of detections (LOD), method limit of quantification (LOQ) and expanded uncertainty were satisfactory. Preliminary data indicate As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn were present in all matrices evaluated. This raises concerns regarding the combined action of multiple elements at concentrations that can adversely affect ecosystem and wildlife integrity. Sample quantity is reduced due to the power and sensitivity of ICP-MS. The optimised method is capable of detecting differences in trace element concentrations over large orders of magnitude in animal faeces containing different amounts of organic content. The method can be applied to the quantification of essential and potentially toxic elements in faeces across a wide range of terrestrial species.

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Section: Methods Detailsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimised ICP-MS quantification method for using animal faeces as a measure of protected area ecosystem health

et al. 2021

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“…Since PTEs are a potential risk to biodiversity and public health, studying species which can elucidate trends in PTE accumulation is important for developing conservation strategies and informing public health policy (Tovar-Sánchez et al, 2018). Recent work has shown a relationship between the PTE soil baseline and a bioaccumulation pathway for PTEs, namely, a terrestrial food chain of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and their rodent prey (Zietara et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentially toxic element accumulation in badgers (Meles meles): a compositional approach

Mullineaux¹,

Redpath²,

Ogle³

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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This is a PDF file of an article that has undergone enhancements after acceptance, such as the addition of a cover page and metadata, and formatting for readability, but it is not yet the definitive version of record. This version will undergo additional copyediting, typesetting and review before it is published in its final form, but we are providing this version to give early visibility of the article. Please note that, during the production process, errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain.

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“…Besides their natural origin, heavy metals are always remains a matter of serious concern due to their toxic actions on our environment (Jaishankar et al, 2014). Terrestrial ecosystem is facing huge concern of heavy metal contamination (Tovar-Sánchez et al, 2018). Anthropogenic activities such as mineral mining, electronic waste dumping and use of plastics, releases the heavy metals in the terrestrial environment involve the phenomenon of leaching (Tchounwou et al, 2012).This directly contaminates the terrestrial ecosystem.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary toxicity assessment of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) on terrestrial snail (Helix aspersa)

Dhiman¹

2020

Arch. Agric. Environ. Sci.

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Chromium and lead are among the major toxicants that have their own environmental concerns and are very harmful for living organisms even in small concentrations. The present study is performed to evaluate the acute toxicity potential of chromium and lead on terrestrial garden snail (Helix aspersa) at different concentration ranges from 1.0 mg/L to 20 mg/L at different exposure time. In determining acute toxicity, LC 50 values after 24, 48, 72 and 96 h for both the metals were determined by probit statistical analysis method. Graphs also plotted between percent mortality and used concentrations to obtain regression equation and R 2 values. The obtained median lethal concentration (LC 50) for chromium were 15.13 mg/L, 12.88 mg/L, 6.76 mg/L and 4.027 mg/L for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h period of exposure, respectively. Similarly, for lead obtained LC 50 values were 15.282 mg/L, 6.095 mg/L, 2.094 mg/L and 1.352 mg/L for 24, 48, 72 and 96 h period of exposure, respectively. The study signifies the role of these metals in causing metal stress which leads to variation in electrolytes and A/G (Albumin to Globulin) ratio. The analysis of obtained results revealed that chromium is less toxic to H. aspersa in comparison to lead at similar concentrations and exposure time. It is concluded that the present study is one of its own kind of approach which may contribute in developing standard protocols for determining preliminary toxicity assessment of different heavy metals.

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Heavy Metal Pollution as a Biodiversity Threat

Cited by 40 publications

References 73 publications

Optimised ICP-MS quantification method for using animal faeces as a measure of protected area ecosystem health

Optimised ICP-MS quantification method for using animal faeces as a measure of protected area ecosystem health

Potentially toxic element accumulation in badgers (Meles meles): a compositional approach

Preliminary toxicity assessment of chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) on terrestrial snail (Helix aspersa)

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