33 The choroid plexus epithelium forms the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and 34 accumulates essential minerals and heavy metals. Choroid plexus is cited as being a ‘sink’ for 35 heavy metals and excess minerals, serving to minimize accumulation of these potentially toxic 36 agents in the brain. Understanding of how low doses of contaminant metals might alter transport 37 of other solutes in...

The choroid plexus epithelium forms the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier and accumulates essential minerals and heavy metals. Choroid plexus is cited as being a "sink" for heavy metals and excess minerals, serving to minimize accumulation of these potentially toxic agents in the brain. An understanding of how low doses of contaminant metals might alter transport of other solutes in the choroid...

Although the long-neglected field of human susceptibility to environmental toxicants is currently receiving renewed attention, there is only scant literature on factors influencing susceptibility to heavy metals. Genetic factors may influence the availability of sulfhydryl-containing compounds such as glutathione and metallothionein, which modify the distribution and toxicity of certain metals....

In a column experiment with horizontal permeable barriers, the effects of a biodegradable chelator-nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) on the uptake of heavy metals from municipal solid waste (MSW) compost by Festuca arundinacea and metal leaching were investigated. The use of NTA was effective in increasing Cu, Pb, and Zn uptakes in shoots of two crops of F. arundinacea. In columns with barriers and t...

Urbanization, industrialization and other human activities has introduced a number of heavy metal contaminants in the environment. Microorganisms inhabiting such sites are well efficient in developing resistance strategies against toxic heavy metal stress. The present work qualitatively describes uptake of nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb) by epiphytic root bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of the...

An extensive study of heavy metals in Australian mangroves has revealed strong regional differences in the concentrations of several metals. The results also indicate that (i) fine textured mangrove sediments are highly efficient and effective sinks for heavy metals; (ii) metal concentrations in mangrove tissues, particularly in young leaves, correlate with concentrations in the sediments; (iii...

The content, behaviour and significance of heavy metals in composted waste materials is important from two potentially conflicting aspects of environmental legislation in terms of: (a) defining end-of-waste criteria and increasing recycling of composted residuals on land and (b) protecting soil quality by preventing contamination. This review examines the effects of heavy metals in compost and ...

Biosorption of heavy metals using dried algal biomass has been extensively described but rarely implemented. We contend this is because available algal biomass is a valuable product with a ready market. Therefore, we considered an alternative and practical approach to algal bioremediation in which algae were cultured directly in the waste water stream. We cultured three species of algae with an...

The use of aquatic plants for phytoremediation is an important method for restoring polluted ecosystems. We sought to analyze the capacity of different aquatic plant species to absorb heavy metals and to summarize available relevant scientific data on this topic. We present a meta-analysis of Cu, Zn, and Cd absorption capacities of aquatic plants to provide a scientific basis for the selection ...