Plasmonic fingerprinting: next-generation SERS architectures for sensitive heavy metal quantification

Heavy metals in the water can accumulate in the organs of fish, which was reported in various continental fish farms in Peru. The objective of the present study was to know the situational state of the water bodies and their effect on rainbow trout meat, determining the level of contamination by heavy metals. The present investigation was carried out in the Lagunillas lagoon, a high Andean zone of Santa Lucía, Puno. The physicochemical parameters of the water were determined and the quantification of heavy metals in the muscle, kidney, and liver of trout was carried out, by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry in the Testing Laboratory accredited by the Peruvian Accreditation Agency INACAL-DA (CERPER - Certifications of Peru SA). The results in the concentration of Sb (0.002 ml/Kg), As (0.0347 ml/Kg), Cd (0.001 ml/Kg), Cu (0.0024 ml/Kg), Cr (0.003 ml/Kg), Hg (0.0001 ml/Kg), and Pb (0.0004 ml/Kg) are below the maximum permissible limits established by the Ministry of the Environment and SANIPES. It is concluded that the water quality of the Lagunillas lagoon in the district of Santa Lucía, Lampa - Puno, is suitable for the cultivation of rainbow trout meat for human consumption.

The presence of heavy metals in chocolates and candies poses growing public health concerns, particularly for children who are frequent consumers. This review consolidates evidence on the occurrence, sources, toxicological impacts, and analytical monitoring of metals, including Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, and Al, in confectionery products. These metals originate from multiple pathways, including environmental contamination of raw materials, processing equipment, coloring agents, and metallic packaging. Prolonged exposure, even at low concentrations, has been associated with neurotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and developmental impairments. Comparative evaluation highlights Pb and Cd as the most prevalent contaminants, with Cd bioaccumulating in the kidneys and Pb causing irreversible neurological damage in children. Modern spectroscopic and chromatographic methods, including ICP‐MS, TXRF, and AAS, provide sensitive detection and quantification of metals, supporting regulatory compliance. However, disparities between permissible limits and detected concentrations in several studies emphasize weak enforcement and the need for standardized global monitoring protocols. The review also identifies major research gaps, limited region‐specific exposure data, inadequate assessment of combined metal toxicity, and a lack of longitudinal studies linking chronic exposure to contaminated confectionery and health outcomes. Strengthening analytical surveillance, adopting sustainable raw materials, and implementing safer packaging alternatives are essential to minimize heavy metal exposure and safeguarding consumer health.

Pemphigus are autoimmune bullous diseases with production of autoantibodies against keratinocyte adhesion proteins. The Northeast (NE) of So Paulo (ESP) is endemic to foliaceus (PF) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV). Heavy metals -lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) -have been related to autoimmunity and pemphigus. The possible contamination of the Guarani Aquifer and river basins ESP NE region by heavy metals has been inquired. Objectives. Were evaluated: (i) cadmium (Cd), Pb, Cu, chromium (Cr), mercury, manganese (Mn) and Zn in residential water samples in Ribeiro Preto (representing the Guarani Aquifer) and Pardo rivers, Mogi Guau and Sapucai / Mirim; (ii) Pb, Cu and Zn in samples of patients with PF, PV and controls; (iii) occupational or leisure exposure at different exposures to heavy metals in patients and controls. Materials and methods. The quantification of heavy metals in water samples, and whole blood and serum of 118 patients with pemphigus (PV 56; 62 PF) and 135 controls was performed by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Results. The analysis of Cu (0.01825 mg L-1) in the river Sapuca / Mirim and Hg (0.00024 mg L-1) in Mogi Guau showed values above the legislation. Limnological results characterized the basin of the Mogi-Guau as impacted. The metal concentrations in urban water supply samples showed great variation between households. The blood Cu concentration resulted higher in females (111.9 g%; 94.5 g%). Compared to residents, higher Zn concentrations (89.1g%%) were observed in the city of Batatais, compared to Ribeiro Preto (76.5 g%). Pb concentrations above the reference value were found more often in PV group compared to controls (31.1%; 15.7%, respectively). Zn concentrations were lower in PV and PF, compared to controls (75.4 g%; 80.1 g%; 83.4 g%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed higher concentrations of Pb for the elderly and exposed to metals. The variables age, exposure to pesticides, occupational exposure, rural, contact rivers and concentration of Zn were the most significant influence on the incidence of pemphigus in the endemic region. Conclusions. Heavy metals in the water samples complied with current legislation, except Cu in the river Sapuca / Hg at Mirim and Mogi-Guau. The etiopathogenesis of pemphigus may be associated with the presence of Pb and Zn deficiency in genetically predisposed individuals.

The study was primarily conducted to assess the stakeholders' knowledge regarding the contamination caused by heavy metals in poultry feedstuffs. The concentration of some heavy metals (lead, chromium, cadmium, and nickel) and macro-minerals (sodium, potassium, and calcium) was also analyzed in poultry feeds collected from selected local markets in Sherpur district, Bangladesh. A well-structured questionnaire survey was used to investigate different stakeholders' perspectives in relation to metal contamination in feed. Heavy metals and calcium were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The flame emission spectrophotometric technique was applied to determine sodium and potassium. The majority of the stakeholders (90%) were found to have no knowledge regarding heavy metal contamination. Lead and nickel concentrations were below the detectable level in the collected samples. The average concentration of chromium in Jhenaigati upazila was four times higher than in Nalitabari upazila, at 21.806 mg kg-1 and 5.452 mg kg-1, respectively. The concentrations of cadmium in both brand and nonbrand samples exceeded the maximum allowable limit set by the European Union at 1.329 mg kg-1 and 1.328 mg kg-1, respectively. Sodium, potassium, and calcium were found in the ranges of 0.0011%-0.0035%, 0.0010%-0.0013%, and 0.0080%-0.0305%, which were extremely low in concentration compared to the minimum requirement in poultry feed. Regular surveillance and governance systems should be incorporated into national policy to cease the hazardous impacts of heavy metals through feed contamination. From a nutritional viewpoint, poultry feeds need to be critically formulated.

In this study, we evaluated the levels of some of the most investigated metals (Cu, Se, Zn, Pb, and Hg) in the blood of patients affected by the most common chronic neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS), in order to better clarify their involvement. For the first time, we investigated a Sicilian population living in an area exposed to a potentially contaminated environment from dust and fumes of volcano Etna and consumer of a considerable quantity of fish in their diet, so that this represents a good cohort to demonstrate a possible link between metals levels and development of neurodegenerative disorders. More specifically, 15 patients affected by AD, 41 patients affected by MS, 23 healthy controls, and 10 healthy elderly controls were recruited and subjected to a venous blood sampling. Quantification of heavy metals was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). This technique has allowed us to establish that there is a concomitance of heavy metal unbalance associated with AD more than in other neurodegenerative pathologies, such as MS. Also, we can assess that the concentration of these elements is independent from the diet, especially from occasional or habitual consumption of fruits and vegetables, prevalence in the diet of meat or fish, possible exposure to contaminated environment due both to the occupation and place of residence.

Electrochemical modified electrode with bismuth film for ultrasensitive determination of aluminum (iii)

A possible cause associated with urinary lithiasis (UL) is the bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the kidney. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of Cu, Pb, and Cd in kidney tissues removed from patients with nephrological problems and associate it with UL. Samples of 50 kidney sections from patients were analyzed. Results were statistically analyzed using a fixed effects model including the overall mean, the effect of the health status of patients (with or without UL), gender (male and female), the interaction between both factors and the random error (NID (0, σ 2)). Cu level was 8.8 ± 4.4 mg/kg (mean ± DS) and 25.5% of samples had levels above normal. Lead content in 97.9% of the samples (3.6 ± 1.5 mg/kg) was above normal. All results of Cd (13.2 ± 16.6 mg/kg) were below the maximum permissible limits. There was no difference in the amount of heavy metals on patients with or without UL (P > 0.05) nor depending on the gender (P > 0.05). It was concluded that there is no apparent relationship between a very elevated level of Cu or Pb in the kidney on the development of UL.

Industrial wastewater sludge represents a significant environmental burden due to the increasing volume generated and the limitations of conventional disposal methods such as landfilling and incineration. As industries seek sustainable and cost-effective waste management alternatives, energy recovery from sludge has emerged as a promising solution. This study investigates the potential of industrial wastewater sludge as an alternative solid fuel by evaluating the physicochemical characteristics of six sludge types collected from different industrial sectors: Beverage Production, Beverage Recycling, Dairy Processing, Flavour Industry, Oleochemical, and Paper Processing. Comprehensive analyses were conducted, including MC determination, proximate analysis, calorific value measurement using bomb calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and heavy metal quantification via Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The calorific values ranged from 11.85 to 31.31 kJ/g, with Dairy Processing wastewater sludge recorded the highest average HHV at 31.308 kJ/g, placing it within the typical coal range (26.50–34.63 kJ/g). Meanwhile, Beverage Production, and Oleochemical sludges showed lower energy content than coal but surpassed both charcoal benchmarks (19.09 and 20.09 kJ/g). Proximate analysis revealed high volatile matter and fixed carbon content, further supporting their suitability for thermal energy recovery. However, sludges with high MC, particularly from beverage industries, require pre-treatment for efficient combustion. The study underscores the viability of industrial sludge as a renewable energy source and recommends optimization of treatment processes.

Surface water, a critical global freshwater resource, faces severe heavy metal contamination threatening ecosystems and human health. Traditional detection methods like ICP-MS are time-consuming and expensive due to complex sample preparation, which is not practical for on-site monitoring. While laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) enables rapid and in situ elemental analysis, its quantitative efficiency in on-site monitoring remains limited by the laborious manual gradient-preparing procedures. Here, we developed a microfluidic-based concentration gradient generator (CGG)-LIBS platform by integrating automated gradient generation with standard addition calibration to enable real-time field quantification of heavy metals in water. The microfluidic CGG device, fabricated via 3D printing, generated six linear concentration gradients (R2 > 0.998) through continuous injection mixing. This method integrates multiple steps of solution preparation into a single process, thereby simplifying the experimental procedure while minimizing errors and contamination associated with segmented operations. The trace heavy metals barium (Ba), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were tested using CGG-LIBS, where the results (Ba: R2 = 0.999, LoD = 40.9 μg/L; Cu: R2 = 0.998, LoD = 71.1 μg/L; Mn: R2 = 0.999, LoD = 62.8 μg/L) demonstrated the stable, accurate, and sensitive quantitative determination performance of CGG-LIBS. And the LoDs meet the standard limit of China (GB 3838-2002). Furthermore, comparisons with ICP-MS (<5% relative errors) demonstrated CGG-LIBS's reliability for monitoring natural water systems, as validated through Yangtze River and East Lake water samples. In summary, the CGG-LIBS platform is viable for detecting real water bodies and holds promising application prospects.

Strategy for the co-extraction and simultaneous quantification of organic pollutants and heavy metals by the on-line hyphenation of magnetic field-assisted in-tube solid phase microextraction and chromatographic technique.

Precise source tracing and risk quantification of multi-source heavy metals (HMs) contamination in soil pose significant challenges for regional environmental management. This study proposed an innovative dynamic coupling model that combines a self-organizing map (SOM) and positive matrix factorization (PMF), overcoming the limitations of single models. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and the initial ecological risk index (RI) were integrated with human health risks to form a comprehensive evaluation chain of "pollution source-exposure pathway-risk contribution." The results showed that the average concentrations of eight HMs in soil exceeded background levels, with Cd exhibiting the highest exceedance ratio (0.67mg/kg, 4.17 × background value). Cd, Zn, and As are influenced by human activities, as evidenced by variation coefficients greater than 70%. The SOM-PMF model successfully identified five pollution sources and their respective contribution rates (contribution/main elements): agricultural sources (8.48%, As), traffic sources (30.24%, Pb, As, Cr), natural background sources (23.04%, Ni, Cu, Cr), industrial sources (18.34%, Cd, Pb, Zn), and smelting sources (19.91%, Mn). Ecological risk assessments have indicated that Cd represents the most significant environmental cumulative risk ( geo = 1.52) and potential ecological risk ( microorganism = 0.34). However, source-risk coupling analysis reveals that agricultural activities (47.3% of As) contribute 24% to the biological risk, with As replacing Cd as the priority element for control. Traffic sources are the primary contributors to health risks, with Pb and As being the main elements (with proportions of 65.18% and 45.52%, respectively), followed by agricultural sources primarily associated with As (47.3%). These sources contribute over 42% to both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks. As was the major contributor to health risks in the study area, with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks in children significantly higher than in adults (3.28 and 4.24 times, respectively). This study provides a scientific basis and technical support for the zonal management and collaborative control of multi-source soil HM pollution.

In this work, we show an easy and practical analytical method to quantify the content of heavy metals in grassused to feed cattle located in areas of high vehicle traffic flow. Technique used in this work proved to be useful,easy sample preparation, wide dynamic range, and high performance. Analyzes were performed on a FluorescenceSpectrometer Energy Dispersive X- Ray (EDX). Quantification of metals was performed using the methodof fundamental parameters. The analysis of the grass showed high content of elements such as Fe and Mn. Along,results indicated heavy metals concentration was highest in the proximity to the vehicle road, element Fe hadhighest concentration and element Cu had the lowest concentration, finally we determined minimal distance tothe road vehicles to ensure the heavy metals concentration was minimal.

Full nutritional spectrum and hazard risk assessment of high commodity value aquaculture species in Penang, Malaysia

When pollutants and heavy metals are found in water, there are major risks to the environment and public health. This work provides a novel and cost-effective approach to assessing the quality of water by utilizing a color sensor system designed to detect and measure these contaminants. The system examines RGB (Red, Green, Blue) values from water samples to ascertain the amount and presence of pollutants. Various chemical combinations were used in a series of laboratory tests to evaluate the sensor's accuracy and reliability. To make classification based on RGB measurements easier, the RGB data was analyzed to ascertain the correlation between color intensity and pollution levels. The findings indicate that this method has a great deal of promise for on-site, real-time water quality monitoring and might be a useful and efficient replacement for conventional laboratory testing. By providing a rapid and easy method of identifying hazardous substances in water, this technology seeks to enhance sustainable water management and public health.

This dissertation focused on the development of novel miniaturized analytical systems for the determination of several analytes of interest, which can be divided into 2 sections. The first section is the development of alternative methods for the measurement of organic compounds using paper-based/polymer-based analytical device coupled with electrochemical detection. Various target organic compounds including dopamine, glucose, and 4-aminophenol were determined by the proposed systems. The second section is the development of paper-based colorimetric/electrochemical device for the simultaneous quantification of heavy metals (e.g. chromium, nickel, copper, iron, lead, and cadmium). Miniaturized systems were initially designed to allow the appropriate geometry for each assay. Experimental parameters in the detection mode were optimized and selected in order to determine the best analytical conditions. Strategies to improve the selectivity and sensitivity in analysis were discussed. An analytical performance of the system comprising of linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, reproducibility, accuracy, intra-day, and inter-day precision, was investigated. Selectivity for the detection of analytes of interest was demonstrated for common interferences. The results showed that the accuracy and precision of these proposed systems were reported in an acceptable range lower than 5%. A low detection limit was achieved (e.g. 14.8 pmol and 5.8 nmol for detection dopamine and glucose, respectively). In addition, the developed systems were successfully applied to the determination of target analytes in samples (e.g. relevant biological, pharmaceutical, and environmental samples) with satisfactory results, correlating to those obtained from the conventional analytical techniques.