{"title":"Geologic setting of mineral licks and availability of trace element nutrients: case study of the Dewar Creek geothermal spring site in the Canadian Cordillera","authors":"Paul L. Broughton","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The link between the geology and development of mineral licks involves the mineralogy and availability of metallic elements that are necessary for mammalian nutritional requirements. The chemistries of natural mineral licks have been widely documented, but their constituent elements necessary for mammalian nutrition have usually not been linked to regional tectono-stratigraphic controls on their mineralogy and element availability. The extensive mineral lick emplaced along the Dewar Creek geothermal spring area in southeast British Columbia of the Canadian Cordillera has a dominant carbonate mineralogy that has been a longstanding attraction to ungulates. This case study provides insight into how the geologic context directly controls the availability of various trace metal nutrient ions and thereby attracts mammalian wildlife.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Sediments collected along the Dewar Creek geothermal spring are analyzed for their mineralogy and trace element concentration to further our understanding as to why the site is attractive to ungulates as a mineral lick.</div></div><div><h3>Results and conclusions</h3><div>The geologic framework provides the overall context for the location of mineral licks that result in the availability of metallic elements necessary for the nutritional requirements of mammals, and furthers our understanding on how the geologic framework controls the location of mineral licks that provide specific elements necessary for the health of ungulates. High concentrations of Sr (3000–12,000 ppm) and Mn (4000–9000 ppm) are incorporated into different carbonate minerals that accumulated as bottom sediment and overlying crust along the geothermal spring. The unusually high concentration of bioactive strontium in particular at this mineral lick facilitates the attractiveness to ungulates because of the impact on mammalian bone osteoporosis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100243"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143838429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Contamination status and toxicity risk assessment of selected potentially toxic elements in surface soils under the influence of different land uses in Midwestern Burkina Faso, West Africa","authors":"Michel Bembamba , Aboubakar Sako","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>As land use transitions from rain-fed farming to market gardening and artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso, soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has become a major environmental concern.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study investigates the PTE pollution status of highly anthropized soil in Midwestern Burkina Faso.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 226 topsoil samples were collected, and their PTE concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Enrichment factors and ecological and toxicity risk indices were used to evaluate the soil's contamination status.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results revealed that artisanal gold mining mainly contributed to Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn loadings in the soils, whereas agricultural practices might have partially contributed to Pb concentrations. Based on the spatial distribution maps of the ecological risk index (RI), the studied soils exhibited low (23–104), moderate (150 ≤ RI < 300), and very high (RI>600) risk levels. Samples with high toxicity units (ΣTU > 4) and toxicity risk index (TRI > 20) were clustered around artisanal gold mining sites. The strong spatial and linear correlations between ΣTU and RI (r² = 0.79), and between RI and TRI (r² = 0.90), suggest that the newly developed toxicity indices are suitable for assessing PTE toxicity in soils.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study's findings demonstrate that, in addition to chemical weathering, uncontrolled artisanal gold mining activities and, to a lesser degree, agricultural practices are likely to threaten soil functioning and food security. The study provides valuable insights into the ongoing global discourse on PTE distribution and its effects on soil environmental quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143817487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
N. Moussa , J. Etoubleau , T. Mohamed , J. Langlade , M.O. Awaleh
{"title":"Discovery of heavy mineral sand in Djiboutian coastline (Obock area, SE Afar rift)","authors":"N. Moussa , J. Etoubleau , T. Mohamed , J. Langlade , M.O. Awaleh","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>In this paper, we present the first study of black sand deposits collected along the coastline of the Obock area, which is located in the North East part of Djibouti (SE Afar Rif). This area consists mainly of uplifted madrepores, sand dunes and alluvial deposits.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>Geochemical studies were carried out using techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) to quantify the heavy mineral sands. Electron microprobe and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were used to identify minerals.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Mineral sands have been identified in coastal backshore deposits, containing light minerals (calcite, aragonite, quartz, anorthite, augite, microcline, albite, enstatite, nontronite and diopside) and heavy minerals (hematite, ilmenite, chromite and magnetite). In general, titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>) and iron oxide (Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) are found in the backshore, with averages of TiO<sub>2</sub> (23.9 %) and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (53.9 %) in the total of heavy mineral fraction.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although, titanomagnetite is not widely exploited in the world due of the treatment to enrich ores with Fe and Ti, the presence of ilmenite and vanadium as trace elements in the subsurface and in titanomagnetite respectively, even at very low grades may potentially justify further of the lateral extent and depth geochemical and drilling investigations in order to upgrade the concentration of titanium oxide in the Obock coastal sands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143838427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tatiana Pedron, Valmir Silva, Fernanda Pollo Paniz, Bruno Lemos Batista
{"title":"Speciation of arsenic and concentration of cadmium and arsenic in rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivated under co-exposure of cadmium/arsenic and different water ponding","authors":"Tatiana Pedron, Valmir Silva, Fernanda Pollo Paniz, Bruno Lemos Batista","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100240","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100240","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Over three billion people consume rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L), an important cereal in the human diet. It is cultivated typically in flooded soils. However, it is also grown in soils with limited water (upland or dryland). There are few studies on the concomitant translocation of As and Cd from soil to rice in different irrigation systems. The present work aimed to verify the influence of 3 irrigation systems (dry soil, semi-dry, and flooded soil) on the absorption and translocation of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) in the rice cultivar GURI INTA CL. Four different soil treatments were used in each of these irrigation regimes: As 10 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> only, Cd 10 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> only, 10 mg kg<sup>-1</sup> of As + Cd, and the control group (no As/Cd additions). Arsenic treatment affected the agronomic parameters (stem masses and heights and the mass of grains) of the plants cultivated in dry soil and semi-dry soil. It was observed that the co-exposure in flooded soil presented a higher concentration of total As with the lowest percentage of inorganic As (iAs 37.6 %) in grains. Co-exposure or only As had a similar iAs percentage in grains from plants cultivated under other irrigation systems ( ̴ 55 %). The highest Cd concentration was observed in the dry soil irrigation system, for both roots and grains, mainly in co-exposure treatment. Thus, the rice cultivar GURI INTA CL raised in flooded soils absorb higher amounts of As and lesser amounts of Cd. On the contrary, in dry soil there is higher and lesser absorption of Cd and As, respectively. Therefore, this new knowledge on the dynamics of absorption and translocation of As and Cd in Brazilian rice cultivars can provide mitigation strategies for the contamination of rice grains by toxic elements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100240"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143759744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A.I. CHEBLI , Z. CHELIGHEM , A. ZERGUI , A. AMZIANE , Y. ZEBBICHE , A. BELLOUM , S. ABDENNOUR
{"title":"Assessment of toxic elements contamination in cigarettes sold in algeria and associated health risks","authors":"A.I. CHEBLI , Z. CHELIGHEM , A. ZERGUI , A. AMZIANE , Y. ZEBBICHE , A. BELLOUM , S. ABDENNOUR","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100239","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100239","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Tobacco consumption remains a critical public health concern globally, with Algeria among the highest tobacco-consuming countries in Africa. Cigarettes contain toxic elements like lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, and nickel, contributing to severe health risks, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to (i) determine their concentrations in Algerian cigarettes and (ii) evaluate associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks in smokers.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Method</h3><div>A total of 200 samples from 25 brands were randomly collected from various retail outlets, then analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). To assess their health risks, Average Daily Dose (ADD), the Hazard Quotient; (HQ), the Hazard Index (HI), and the lifetime average daily dose (LADDi) were calculated and compared with international Studies.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>Analysed tobacco brands sold in Algeria have found to be contaminated by Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, and Ni. The highest levels of Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, and Ni were 19.02 ± 0.26, 0.72 ± 0.02, 0.450 ± 0.05, 8.96 ± 0.18, and 4.93 ± 0.06 μg.<em>g</em><sup>−1</sup> respectively. The limits of quantification (LOQ) were determined as follows: 0.0011 μg/g for Pb, 0.0018 μg/g for Cd, 0.0017 μg/g for Hg, 0.0013 μg/g for Cr, and 0.0014 μg/g for Ni. Recovery rates exceeded 80 % for all elements, ensuring the reliability of the analytical method. The Brand n°06 had the highest content in Pb, Hg, and Cr. This metallic contamination can be due to soil pollution as tobacco plants are highly capable of absorbing toxic elements, but also the manufacturing process and the use of flavours.The non-carcinogenic risk with HI > 1 was found in 96 % of the brands, primarily from lead and cadmium while 44 % had acceptable carcinogenic risks, mainly related to chromium.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study highlights the presence of toxic elements in cigarettes sold in Algeria at levels that could pose significant health risks. Given the scarcity of data on this issue in the region, our findings emphasize the need for stricter regulations and further studies to better assess and mitigate the exposure of Algerian smokers to these toxic elements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100239"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143716139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Corn (Zea mays L.) production and chlorophyll fluorescence affected by drought stress, N fertilization, and genotype","authors":"Mansour Halimi Soufi, Hamid Reza Mobasser, Ahmad Mehraban, Hamid Reza Ganjali, Khaled Miri","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100237","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100237","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Corn (<em>Zea mays</em> L.) physiology and production in drought stress conditions may be importantly affected by soil N and plant genotype.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>So, more has yet to be indicated on how drought stress and N fertilization may affect production and chlorophyll florescence of corn genotypes as the objective of the present research.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The experiment was a split plot on the basis of a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replicates conducted in two research sites in 2020. Drought stress levels (main plots) including irrigation after 70 mm evaporation from evaporating pan Class A, irrigation stoppage at flowering, grain filling and both flowering and grain filling, N chemical fertilization (sub plots) including control (0), 100, 200, 300 kg ha<sup>-1</sup> and corn genotypes (sub-sub plots) including Kusha 201 (G1), Fajr 260 (G2), and Dehghan 400 (G3) were tested. Different corn morphological (cob diameter, CDM), yield (biological yield, BY, and harvest index, HI) and florescence indices (Fo, Fm, Fv, and Fv/Fm) were determined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Although drought stress significantly decreased CDM, biological yield, and fluorescence indices, N fertilization (N300) alleviated the stress and G1 had higher BY, and G3 had less CDM (medium) and higher HI and Fo. The significant interaction of drought stress and N fertilization indicates, depending on the level of drought stress, the response of corn genotypes to N fertilization is different.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Depending on stress intensity, determination of appropriate level of N feralization and genotype may result in the most optimum yield production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100237"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143703977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nitu Islam , A. H. M. Selim Reza , Md. Abdur Rahman , Md. Shazzadur Rahman
{"title":"Comprehensive assessment of trace element pollution and its distribution in surface and groundwater around the Ishwardi export processing zone, Bangladesh","authors":"Nitu Islam , A. H. M. Selim Reza , Md. Abdur Rahman , Md. Shazzadur Rahman","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100238","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100238","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Due to industrial development and rapid urbanization, the discharge of industrial effluents significantly impacts the environment and ecosystems, particularly affecting surface and groundwater systems. This study assesses trace element contamination near the Ishwardi Export Processing Zone (IEPZ) in Bangladesh, with the aim of evaluating trace element concentrations in both surface and groundwater and their potential environmental impacts in and around the IEPZ.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Fourteen samples, including industrial waste, groundwater, and river water, were collected from the IEPZ. The concentrations of trace elements like Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Co in the collected samples were measured. Statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA), were performed with a confidence level of 95 % and a significance threshold of <em>p</em> < 0.05.</div></div><div><h3>Results and discussion</h3><div>Levels of Pb, Cu, and Ni exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in some samples, with Pb ranging from 4.3 to 34.3 µg <span>l</span><sup>-1</sup>, indicating potential health risks. The Contamination Index (Cd) varied from -2.696 to 0.277, reflecting low contamination, while the Metal Pollution Index (MPI) was 1.603, suggesting generally satisfactory water quality. PCA highlighted two components which explained 36.182 % and 28.161 % cumulative variance for PCA1 and PCA2, respectively.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study investigates the impact of industrial effluent discharge on surface and groundwater quality around the IEPZ, Bangladesh. Among the trace elements, Pb showed the highest concentration, likely due to battery recycling/manufacturing at one of the factories in the IEPZ. The wastewater flows into nearby rivers and also leaches into the surrounding groundwater. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing monitoring and improved waste management to mitigate the environmental impacts of industrial discharges in the IEPZ.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100238"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143716140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Seun Funmilola Akomolafe , Mary Aderonke Bola Ogundare , Ibikunle Akinlua , Oluwadamilare Oluwaseun Ajayi , Elijah Olalekan Odesanmi , Olusola Bolaji Adewale
{"title":"Comparative effect of dietary fortification of raw and roasted seeds of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L) on fertility biomolecules in cisplatin-induced spermatotoxic rats","authors":"Seun Funmilola Akomolafe , Mary Aderonke Bola Ogundare , Ibikunle Akinlua , Oluwadamilare Oluwaseun Ajayi , Elijah Olalekan Odesanmi , Olusola Bolaji Adewale","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100236","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Cisplatin is a known chemotherapeutic/anticancer drug, reported to induce oxidative stress, a major risk factor in male infertility. However, studies have shown that dietary pattern plays a pivotal role in the protection of chemotherapy-induced testicular damage, and till date no report on the comparative effect of raw and roasted pumpkin seeds against chemotherapy-induced male infertility and reproductive dysfunction. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate how raw and roasted pumpkin seed enriched diets affect reproductive function biomarkers in adult male Wistar rats that had been exposed to a single dose (7 mgkg<sup>-1</sup> i.p) of cisplatin-induced testicular damage.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Rats were fed with basal diets (CTRL), cisplatin-induced rats fed with basal diet (CIS); cisplatin-induced rats fed diet supplemented with raw (5 % and 10 %) and cisplatin-induced rats fed roasted (5 % and 10 %) pumpkin seeds for 14 days. A single administration of cisplatin was done 14th day after treatment with supplemented diet, and the rats were euthanized 24 h later for the evaluation of reproductive hormones, epidydimal sperm parameters, nitric oxide level, testicular and epididymal total thiol level and non-protein thiol level, catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and steroidogenic enzymes activities.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Reproductive hormones, epidydimal sperm parameters, and both testicular and epididymal levels of nitric oxide, total thiol and non-protein thiol, as well as glutathione-S-transferase, catalase and steroidogenic enzyme activities were significantly elevated (<em>p</em> < 0.05), with a reduction in arginase activity, and levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species in testes and epididymis of cisplatin- spermatotoxic rats pre-fed with pumpkin seed in comparison with untreated cisplatin-induced testicular damage rats. Testes architectures were efficiently restored in cisplatin-intoxicated rats pre-fed with pumpkin seed. In the immunohistochemistry assay, there were fewer caspase-3 expressions in cisplatin-intoxicated rats pre-fed with roasted pumpkin seed than in those pre-treated with raw pumpkin seed and untreated cisplatin-intoxicated group.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The ameliorative effects of raw and roasted pumpkin seeds on various biochemical parameters associated with fertility may suggest its role in enhancing male fertility in rats exposed to cisplatin. However, the roasted pumpkin seeds was noted to possess more ameliorative effect than raw seed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100236"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Metallic contaminants in foodstuff consumed in Algeria and associated health risks: A systematic review","authors":"Anissa ZERGUI , Akli Islam CHEBLI , Mohamed Amine KERDOUN , Fatiha HAMITRI-GUERFI , Rahma MAYOUF , Houaria TOUER , Bilel CHEFIRAT , Sofiane BOUDALIA","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>For decades, metallic trace elements contamination in food has posed a significant public health risk, as these metals accumulate in the body, affecting food safety and human health. This review examines the toxicity of trace elements in foodstuffs, focusing on their contamination sources and the associated health risks.</div></div><div><h3>Methodology</h3><div>Keywords such as Algeria, Food, Beverages, trace elements, and Metallic Contaminants were used to search related databases.</div></div><div><h3>Results and discussion</h3><div>A total of 22 original articles were reviewed. Data showed that trace elements were recorded in foodstuffs, which were related to geographic location (proximity to mining, industrial or highway areas), use of pesticides, and techniques in food processing. In adults, Targeted Hazard Quotient (THQ) values exceeded 1 for lead in raw cow milk, aluminum in coffee beans and packaged coffee, cadmium and aluminum in coffee capsules, and lead in fruits and vegetables. The Hazard Index (HI) was above 1 for raw cow milk, coffee, and fruits and vegetables. For infants, THQ values also exceeded 1 for raw cow milk, poultry eggs, honey, and food dyes, with elevated HI values for these items as well. These results suggest potential adverse health effects of trace elements exposure from consuming these foodstuffs.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>It is crucial to regularly update data and conduct ongoing monitoring to assess the impact of trace elements in future research. Additionally, continued investigation into the long-term health effects of chronic low-level trace elements exposure will be vital for creating more precise mitigation strategies and regulatory policies to reduce metallic contamination in food.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100235"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143645027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Albert Kobina Mensah , Ephraim Sekyi-Annan , Emmanuel Amoakwah
{"title":"Availability and mobilisation of potentially harmful elements in contaminated mining sites: A systematic review of using soil amendments and plants for remediation","authors":"Albert Kobina Mensah , Ephraim Sekyi-Annan , Emmanuel Amoakwah","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Aim</h3><div>Environmental contamination in Ghana constitutes both a political and sustainability challenge. This study offers a contemporary analysis of the influence and prevalence of potentially harmful elements (PHEs) in the environment related to mining activities. Additionally, we examine soil remediation initiatives and research conducted in the previous decade to tackle soil contamination and pollution issues within the mining industry.</div></div><div><h3>Material and methods</h3><div>The study focused on peer-reviewed publications in the last decade (i.e., 2014–2024) identified in the Scopus database. The search included articles written in English at the final stage of publication and all open-access content, including those published in gold. The study context was in Ghana. A total of 185 publications related to topics such as biochar, iron oxides, compost, charcoal, phytoremediation, organic amendments, inorganic fertilisers, and soil amendments were identified within the aforementioned time frame.</div></div><div><h3>Results and discussions</h3><div>We found 2,175 global document results from 2014 to 2024 related to soil amendments and phytoremediation for remediating harmful elements in mine-soils. We identified 524 documents in Ghana, which accounted for 24% of global research articles on these topics. The 185 studies that were included made up 35% of all studies on mine-contaminated soils in Ghana that used organic amendments and phytoremediation strategies. Consequently, the 185 documents constituted 9% of all research articles published in the world.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions and implications</h3><div>We emphasise the importance of implementing strategies to mitigate PHE contamination to protect the health of humans, plants, and animals. Overall, green remediation can effectively tackle PHEs contamination problems, minimise the spread of metals and metalloids in the food chain, prevent their transfer into surface water and groundwater resources, and ensure a clean environment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100234"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143683083","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}