introduction: recent investigations have detected the presence of significant levels of heavy metals (chromium, lead and cadmium) in toys and other pvc products manufactured for children. in some countries, addition of compounds containing toxic metals to toys are limited or prohibited. methods: to evaluate the safety of some of the plastic toys in the city of isfahan with respect to toxic trac...

Accurate trace-metal and strontium-isotope analyses of archaeological corn cobs require that metal contaminants be removed prior to chemical analysis. Archaeological cobs are often coated with construction debris, dust, or soilwhich containsmineral particles. In addition,most archaeological cobs are partially or completely burned and the burned parts incorporatemineral debris in their hardened ...

This paper reports the results of the in situ application of diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) passive samplers for trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) monitoring in transboundary Udy and Lopan rivers of the Seversky Donets watershed in the Kharkiv region,Ukraine, which has a long history of industrial development. The research discusses potential sources of DGT-measured labile m...

The amounts of labile trace metals: [Co] (3 to 11 µg g-1), [Cu] (15 to 69 µg g-1), [Ni] (6 to 15 µg g-1), [Pb] (7 to 42 µg g-1), and [Zn] (65 to 500 µg g-1) in ash collected from the 2012 Williams Fire in Los Angeles, California attest to the role of fires in remobilizing industrial metals deposited in forests. These remobilized trace metals may be dispersed by winds, increasing human exposures...

Because metals cannot be degraded or destroyed, the assessment of the health risks of metals via ambient air and dietary intake is an issue of special interest. Trace metals in air phase can be classified as metals or metalloids including the semi-metallic elements: boron, arsenic, selenium, and tellurium. Both natural and anthropogenic processes and sources emit metals and their compounds into...

The presence of essential (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni and Al) and non-essential trace metals (Cd and Pb) was tested in liver (N=26) and kidney (N=42) from dead Southern Right Whale (SRW--Eubalaena australis) calves found beached in Península Valdés, Argentina. Essential metals were detected in all samples, particularly in hepatic tissue; though Ni and Al were accumulated mainly in the kidney. Cd and Pb...

Accumulation of trace metals in sediment can cause severe ecological impacts. The present study determines the elemental concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in surface sediment of Shadegan wetland. Shadegan wetland is one of the most important wetlands in southwest of Iran and it is in Ramsar-listed wetlands. For this purpose, 7 sampling stations were selected for sediment ...

The presence of many metals at trace or ultra-trace levels in the human environment has received increased global attention (WHO 1977; Hutton 1982; IRPTC 1984). Surveillance of concentrations of heavy metals in the environment is of global interest since elements like cadmium, lead and mercury are listed as environmenta]ly dangerous chemical substances. Sediments as a sink for pollutants are wi...

A study to monitor marine pollution with reference to trace elements (Fe, Zn, Mn and Cu) on T. attenuata, commonly called as screw shell over a period of one year on the whole body and various organs, viz. digestive diverticula, foot, mantle and ovary was conducted from the sandy beach of Porto Novo Coast (Lat 11 degrees 29' N Long: 79 degrees 46' E) of Peninsular India using Atomic Absorption ...

An intensive investigation was conducted to study the distribution of trace metals in surface soils of Hong Kong and to assess the soil environmental quality. From results of cluster analysis, and comparisons among soil types and areas, it is clearly shown that increases in trace metal concentrations in the soils were generally extensive and obvious in urban and orchard soils, less so in vegeta...