Journal of trace elements and minerals最新文献

{"title":"Alfalfa seeds biofortification with zinc for production of enriched sprouts","authors":"Marco Antonio Alves de Paula ,&nbsp;Rafael Giovanini de Lima ,&nbsp;Paulo Sérgio Monteiro ,&nbsp;Fabrícia Queiroz Mendes ,&nbsp;Hudson Wallace Pereira de Carvalho ,&nbsp;Willian Rodrigues Macedo","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Hidden hunger is considered a dilemma, especially in developing countries. The scarcity of micronutrients causes severe health problems by weaking the population's immune system. Biofortified food can mitigate the harm of this problem by assisting specially less favored persons that cannot afford supplements.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the biofortification of alfalfa (<em>Medicago sativa</em> L.) seeds with zinc (Zn) through osmotic conditioning as a strategy to produce enriched sprouts that contribute to human mineral nutrition and adopt modern analytical tools to verify Zn absorption in seedlings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Four rates of Zn were tested: 0 mmol l^-1, 0.005 mmol l^-1, 0.010 mmol l^-1, and 0.015 mmol l^-1 of Zn as ZnSO₄·7H₂O. Sprout mass (g), root length (cm) and shoot length (cm), germination rate (%), germination speed index, and Zn concentration in the sprouts were evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>No significant differences between treatments were observed for sprout mass and germination speed index. However, increases were noticed for root growth and germination rate at estimated doses of 0.0091 and 0.0099 mmol l^-1 of Zn, respectively. X-ray fluorescence analysis showed Zn concentrations as follows: 134, 176, 208, and 288 μg g^-1 for the 0, 0.005, 0.010, and 0.015 mmol l^-1 of Zn treatments, respectively. Biofortification proved a viable tool for plant shoot enrichment, with doses close to 0.010 mmol l^-1 of Zn resulting in superior plant development and adequate Zn accumulation in the sprouts.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Osmotic conditioning has proven to be a technological process capable of assisting in food biofortification, and X-ray fluorescence is an adequate analytical tool to measure mineral elements in plant-based food.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100230"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143645028","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":"The Product Quality Research Institute elemental impurity interlaboratory study: Results and implications for industry","authors":"James M. Harrington ,&nbsp;Donna S. Seibert ,&nbsp;Glenn Williams ,&nbsp;Thanh Nguyen ,&nbsp;Denise McClenathan ,&nbsp;Stephen W. Erickson","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Pharmaceutical laboratories experienced a paradigm shift in drug product elemental impurity (EI) expectations in International Council on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) Guideline Q3D and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) General Chapters &lt;232&gt;/&lt;233&gt;. These guidelines describe a risk-based approach to EI analysis. Few systematic evaluations of interlaboratory performance on EI analysis in pharmaceutics have been conducted following these guidelines. Our goal is to address key technical challenges faced by laboratories during the implementation of these regulations.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and Methods</h3><div>We organized an interlaboratory study using standardized samples and methodology to assess sample preparation and analysis variability. Participants performed microwave-assisted acid preparation of simulated pharmaceutical products and analyzed Class 1 and 2A EI's by inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Several laboratories performed X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) for comparison.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>ICP-MS reproducibility was high both within and between laboratories, except for Hg and V. Exhaustive extraction and total digestion were generally comparable, between 87 and 111 % for As, Cd, Co, and Pb. Total digestion exhibited lower variability than exhaustive extraction. Two types of microwave systems produced comparable results for most elements except Hg and Pb. The summation approach was comparable to direct analysis of tablets except for Hg and Cd, but summation demonstrated greater variability. XRF showed good agreement with ICP-MS and low replicate variability within labs.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion and Conclusions</h3><div>While the results were generally favorable, they demonstrate that some technical challenges remain to be addressed related to standardizing laboratory practices including interference correction strategies and selection of preparation methods. We discuss implications for method transfer between laboratories.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100227"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611698","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":"Comparison between inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and benchtop X-ray fluorescence performance for trace elemental exposure in rat tissues","authors":"Kolawole E. Adesina ,&nbsp;Stefano A. Parducci ,&nbsp;Joseph D. Brain ,&nbsp;Ramon M. Molina ,&nbsp;Marc Weisskopf ,&nbsp;Aaron J. Specht","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Trace elemental toxicants induce health detriment in almost every organ system in the human body and account for a large amount of environmental and ecological environmental pollution. Traditionally, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been the gold standard for measuring elemental concentrations in biological tissues collected from toxicological and epidemiological studies. However, ICP-MS is often limited by its complexity, cost, and time-intensive nature.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This study investigates the feasibility of benchtop X-ray fluorescence (XRF) as an efficient alternative for trace elemental analysis in rat tissues, offering comparable quantification capabilities with enhanced operational simplicity. We conducted a comparative analysis using tissue samples from multiple rat organs, including stomach, eyes, and liver.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The elemental concentrations of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), and Zinc (Zn) were measured using both ICP-MS and a high-powered benchtop XRF (Epsilon 4, Malvern Panalytical). Our findings demonstrated strong linear regression correlations between the two methods: As (R² = 0.86), Cd (R² = 0.81), Cu (R² = 0.77), Mn (R² = 0.88), and Zn (R² = 0.74). The overall Pearson correlation coefficient was <em>r</em> = 0.95 (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05), indicating high concordance between the mean concentrations obtained from ICP-MS and benchtop XRF. The median minimum detection limits for the elements were 0.12 µg/g, with specific limits for Cd (0.0042 µg/g), Cu (0.040 µg/g), Zn (0.12 µg/g), As (0.25 µg/g), and Mn (0.35 µg/g) over a 7.5-minute measurement period. Bland-Altman analysis revealed high agreement between the two methods, particularly for As, Cu, and Mn.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These results suggest that both ICP-MS and benchtop XRF are viable for elemental quantification in organ tissues, with benchtop XRF being more practical for low-mass samples. This study shows benchtop XRF's potential for high-throughput, accurate trace element analysis in biological samples, broadening its use in environmental and toxicological research.</div></div><div><h3>Synopsis</h3><div>Human and ecological tissues of varying compositions and densities can be measured effectively using benchtop X-ray fluorescence</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143611700","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":"Preliminary analysis of trace metals in well water collected from Lehigh Acres, Florida, USA","authors":"J.O. Olowoyo ,&nbsp;L.G. Pap ,&nbsp;O.M. Oladeji","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The supply of water for domestic purposes from wells is common in some areas in the United States of America. However, research has shown that this underground water may become polluted with trace metals due to both natural processes and anthropogenic effects.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>The current study evaluated the levels of trace metals in well water from a community in Florida. The study further investigated the potential health risks associated with the levels of trace metals in the water samples.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 34 water samples (treated and untreated) were used for the study. The result showed the presence of Pb in both treated and untreated water samples 18.2 ± 1.8 µg L^-1–117.7 ± 4.5 µg L^-1. Fe concentrations ranged from 10.7 ± 2.2 µg L^-1–940.1 ± 3.5 µg L^-1. Values obtained for Pb were higher than the recommended limit. Three of the water samples have Fe values above the recommended limit for human consumption. Differences obtained from the treated and untreated water samples for some of the trace metals were not significant (p &lt; 0.05). The health risk calculated in this study for Pb, and other trace metals did not show any potential health risk at this stage because the values were all &lt;1. The ecological risk assessment also showed no threat to the environment at this stage with a caution for Pb and Cu due to the values obtained.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The presence of Pb in water suggests the need for continuous monitoring of the water samples from the area and further investigation to the actual source of Pb may be necessary so as to ensure safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100231"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143641661","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":"Evaluation of the total contents and bioaccessible fractions of inorganic constituents in nutritive flours exposed to consumption in Brazil","authors":"Thaís Luz de Souza ,&nbsp;Leilane Rodrigues Santos ,&nbsp;Caio Silva Assis Felix ,&nbsp;Laura Beatriz Souza e Souza ,&nbsp;Ivana Ferreira Simões ,&nbsp;Crislaine Santos Lima ,&nbsp;Marcele Catarino Souza dos Santos ,&nbsp;Rennan Geovanny Oliveira Araújo ,&nbsp;Aníbal de Freitas Santos Júnior ,&nbsp;Daniele Cristina Muniz Batista Santos","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100228","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100228","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Inorganic constituents are chemical elements or metal ions essential for human survival, through regulatory mechanisms in various cellular processes. The aim of this study was to determine the total (TT) and bioaccessible (TB) content of inorganic constituents in 20 nutritive flour (NF) samples exposed to consumption in Brazil, using the INFOGEST <em>in vitro</em> digestion method.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Approximately 0.250 g of NF sample was digested in a closed digestion block with 2.8 mL of 65 %(m m^-1) HNO₃ + 1.0 mL of 30 %(m m^-1) H₂O₂ + 4.2 mL of deionized water, for 45 min at 200 °C. Concentrations of Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). Estimates of the bioaccessible levels of microelements (Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) were performed based on the <em>in vitro</em> INFOGEST protocol.</div></div><div><h3>Results and Discussion</h3><div>The range of total microelement contents in the NF (dry weight, in µg g^-1) were: Al (18.00 to 333), Ba (0.98 to 67.10), Cu (1.45 to 75.51), Fe (8.57 to 337), Mn (0.38 to 107), Sr (0.54 to 59.39), and Zn (3.44 to 122). Macroelement contents (dry weight, in µg g^-1) were: Ca (43.12 to 5276), K (71.60 to 11,392), Mg (42.09 to 6519), Na (63.85 to 1668), and P (134 to 19,359). Significant concentrations of Fe, Mg, Mn, P and Zn were found in pumpkin seed flour. Copper levels in grape seed flour was high when compared to the other samples analyzed. Multivariate analysis showed groupings and similarities among the samples. Bioaccessible contents (in %) ranged from Al (0.21 to 10.37), Cu (2.93 to 26.57), Fe (1.39 to 36.46), Mn (0.73 to 107), and Zn (3.71 to 117). In the NF analyzed, Mn and Zn were the elements most available in the gastrointestinal fluids.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The technique of ICP OES proved to be adequate, as it showed good linearity, sensitivity, precision and accuracy for the determination of inorganic constituents in NF samples. Variations in inorganic composition between NF were observed. This study contributes to the expansion of the contribution of NF to the diet of the population.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100228"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591610","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":"Total and Bioaccessible contents of Microelements in Multivitamin Formulations Exposed to Consumption in Brazil using in vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion (INFOGEST Protocol)","authors":"Abdon Luiz Ornelas Latif ,&nbsp;Thaís Luz de Sousa ,&nbsp;Laura Beatriz Souza e Souza ,&nbsp;Ivana Ferreira Simões ,&nbsp;Alex Sander Lopes da Silva ,&nbsp;Daniele Cristina Muniz Batista Santos ,&nbsp;Aníbal de Freitas Santos Júnior ,&nbsp;Clícia Maria de Jesus Benevides","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Multivitamin formulations (MFs) are used worldwide to meet needs in diets for the purpose of improving health, when necessary. Therefore, evaluating the <em>in vitro</em> micronutrient bioaccessibility by gastrointestinal digestion methods is essential to understand the available fraction of these analytes in the body.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>In this study, methods were optimized and validated using the INFOGEST 2.0 protocol for <em>in vitro</em> gastrointestinal digestion and ICP OES to quantify concentrations of 13 trace elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se, Sn, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn) in Brazilian MFs. Additionally, it seeks to correlate the levels of elements indicated on the label with the recommended daily values (RDV).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Approximately, 0.75 g of MF sample were digested in a closed digestion block using 2.0 mL of 65 %(m/m) HNO₃ + 5.0 mL of ultrapure water + 1.0 mL of 30 %(m/m) H₂O₂, at 180 °C for 90 min. Microelement bioaccessibility in Brazilian MFs through <em>in vitro</em> gastrointestinal digestion INFOGEST 2.0 and analysis by ICP OES were performed.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The range of microelements total contents (µg g^-1) in the multivitamin formulations were: Al (11.2 ± 0.2 to 256.0 ± 22.2), Ba (&lt; 0.004 to 1.2 ± 0.1), Cu (11.0 ± 0.9 to 1327.9 ± 25.6), Fe (1373.2 ± 49.7 to 8480.6 ± 146.9), Mn (443.6 ± 3.9 to 2670.7 ± 137.5), Mo (&lt; 0.02 to 29.0 ± 1.4), Se (&lt; 0.01 to 54.7 ± 1.6), Sn (&lt; 0.01 to 15.0 ± 2.4), Sr (&lt; 0.002 to 60.4 ± 0.7), Ti (&lt; 3.0 to 99.3 ± 5.3), and Zn (551.5 ± 21.2 to 3675.5 ± 40.3). Vanadium was below the quantification limit (&lt; 0.02). The results revealed low bioaccessible contents (%) of Cu (0 to 23.8), Fe (0 to 15.7), Mn (0 to 11.4), and Zn (0 to 9.7), emphasizing the importance of regulation and quality control for consumer confidence.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The analysis of Brazilian MFs raised significant concerns, as most samples did not reach 50 % of the total declared content. The low mineral release during digestion simulation indicates the need for more effective formulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591757","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":"Statistical and probabilistic modeling of groundwater contamination: A data-driven uncertainty and risk assessment in Barind Tract, Rajshahi, Bangladesh","authors":"Mir Md Tasnim Alam ,&nbsp;Md Opu Sarker ,&nbsp;Mahfuzur Rahman ,&nbsp;Nazmus Sakib ,&nbsp;Mahir Tajwar ,&nbsp;Md Yousuf Gazi ,&nbsp;Shamiha Shafinaz Shreya ,&nbsp;Saika Islam Meim ,&nbsp;Anwar Zahid","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100223","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100223","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Groundwater contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) poses serious health risks in Bangladesh, yet limited studies have addressed their seasonal and spatial variability. In the Barind Tract, Rajshahi, groundwater is a critical resource for drinking and irrigation, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive evaluation of contamination patterns and health implications.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A total of 244 groundwater samples (122 per season) were analyzed for As, Al, Cu, Mn, Cr, and B using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry and VIS Spectrophotometry. Contamination was assessed using Metal Evaluation Index (MEI), Nemerow Pollution Index (NPI), Contamination Degree (CD), and Poseidon Index (PoS). Statistical analyses included ANOVA, effect size (η², f²), PCA, and HCA. Monte Carlo simulation (10,000 iterations, 95% CI) estimated probabilistic health risks for adults and children.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Boron (1.034 mg L⁻¹) and manganese (0.824 mg L⁻¹) dominated during the wet season, while manganese (0.735 mg L⁻¹) and aluminum (0.605 mg L⁻¹) were highest in the dry season. MEI, NPI, and CD indices indicated significant contamination in Sirajganj, Chapai Nawabganj, and Natore, with Chapai Nawabganj (PoS 9.01) and Natore (PoS 8.223) showing extensive groundwater degradation. Statistical analyses confirmed significant seasonal variations, with aluminum, copper, chromium, and boron showing the most fluctuation due to hydrological and geochemical changes. Health risk assessments identified 64 samples unsafe for children and 32 for adults, with Monte Carlo simulations indicating hazard indices reaching up to 4.68 for children in certain hotspots.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Pronounced seasonal variations in groundwater contamination underscore the necessity of targeted, season-specific monitoring and mitigation measures. Tailored interventions are essential to safeguard public health, especially for children who face higher exposure risks. The findings offer critical insights for policy-makers and stakeholders, promoting sustainable groundwater management in the Barind Tract.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100223"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143637625","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":"The phosphate solubilizing and N fixing Pantoea agglomerans bacteria affecting yield and biochemical properties including nutrient uptake of different tomato genotypes","authors":"Hamed Soltani ,&nbsp;Akbar Hassani ,&nbsp;Mohammad Baba Akbari Sari ,&nbsp;Mehrdad Hanifei","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Suggesting and testing innovative methods, which may enhance the growth and quality of crop plants in the field is of economic and health significance.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives and methods</h3><div>There is not much data, to our knowledge, on the use of the endophytic bacteria, <em>Pantoea agglomerans</em>, affecting growth, yield and biochemical properties of different tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em>) genotypes (Rusha, Maranku, Hiro, and Vitara, supplied by the Zola Company, Holland) in the field conditions, as the objective of the present research. Different tomato growth and quality parameters including leaf greenness, number of flower, yield, fruit dissolved solids and dry biomass, pH, vitamin C, and nutrient uptake (N, P, K) were determined.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Genotype 3 followed by Genotype 4 indicated to be the most efficient ones with significantly higher tomato yield and nutrient uptake. The bacterial inoculation significantly increased tomato yield from a minimum of 7.58 kg plot⁻¹ (control) to a maximum of 11.08 kg plot⁻¹ (bacteria and Genotype 3). Interestingly, the highest vitamin C was resulted by the combination of the bacteria and Genotype 2 (15.53 mg 100g⁻¹) and the least by the control treatment (12.18 mg 100g⁻¹). The bacteria and Genotype 3 resulted in the highest N (3.76 and 4.46%) and P (0.38 and 0.52%) concentrations, and for K (2.67 and 3.83%) it was resulted by Genotype 1 and the bacteria. Fruit pH was negatively and significantly correlated with all the measured parameters.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Although genotype was a determining factor significantly affecting tomato growth, yield and biochemical properties including nutrient uptake (N, P and K), its combination with <em>P. agglomerans</em>, intensified such enhancing effects. The tested bacterial strain, as a suitable biofertilization method, with respect to the compatibility of tomato genotype, is able to enhance tomato growth, yield and quality by affecting plant biochemical properties. The future research may look for the single and combined effects of <em>P. agglomerans</em> with the other PGPR strains on tomato quality and yield in different conditions including stress, which is of economic and health significance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143591756","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":"Health risks of geogenic contaminants in gold mining areas in Geita, Tanzania","authors":"Noel Isack Kaaya ,&nbsp;Maheswara Rao Vegi ,&nbsp;Athanas Simon Macheyeki","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Mining in Tanzania's Lake Zone, especially Geita, may release toxic elements linked to health risks like cancer, but the most hazardous PTEs and vulnerable groups are uncertain.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>This study aims to assess the health risks posed by metal(loid)s in &lt;75 µm particles of gold mine tailings for workers, children, and adults at four artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sites in Geita: Bululu, Ifugandi, Nyarugusu, and Lwamgasa.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Concentrations of metal(loid)s in tailings were measured using ICP-OES. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed for children, gold mine workers, and adult residents using the USEPA risk assessment approach. Multivariate analysis using Minitab 18 software was used for the identification of metal(loid)s source.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Tailings from ASGM sites contain 49 % to 54 % of particles &lt;75 µm, which can be ingested or transported by wind, presenting significant health risks. The most carcinogenic PTEs are As (86 %), Ni (9 %), and Cr (5 %), while Cd and Pb pose negligible risks. As causes the highest risk in Bululu and Ifugandi, while Cr and Ni are most concerning in Nyarugusu and Lwamgasa. The Health Hazard Index (HI) exceeds the safe limit (1.00) in Bululu for As, while in Nyarugusu, Cr and Mn also surpass the limit.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Geogenic contaminants from mining may cause cancer. Therefore, there is a need to mitigate pollution by using methods such as tailing stabilization, phytoremediation, better tailings management, awareness programs, health screenings, and safety regulation enforcement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143580551","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":"Amaranthus: A nutritious solution to malnutrition for underprivileged populations in Pakistan","authors":"Tanveer Ahmad ,&nbsp;Mirza Abrar ,&nbsp;Syeda Anum Masood Bokhari ,&nbsp;Shahid Iqbal ,&nbsp;Abid Mahmood Alvi ,&nbsp;Qumer Iqbal ,&nbsp;Muhammad Awais Ghani ,&nbsp;Muhammad Umar ,&nbsp;Raja Tahir Iqbal","doi":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jtemin.2025.100221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Malnutrition in Pakistan is cause of concern which is affecting everyone regardless of age and gender. The situation for women and children is even more alarming and prevalence of malnutrition in Pakistan exceeds against other developing countries. The poor and underprivileged populations in Sindh, Balochistan, KPK and South Punjab are severely affected by undernutrition of macro and micronutrients. Despite continuous efforts, malnutrition in certain areas of Pakistan is on surge due to many factors. Poverty, lack of sufficient nutritious food coupled with lack of food diversity are main factors of undernutrition in Pakistan. Amaranth is a climate resilient; drought tolerant plant and it can be produced with minimal number of resources even in poor soils. The adaptability and nutritional value of 25 exotic vegetable amaranth genotypes were investigated using standard analytical approaches in order to evaluate the several possibilities of the plant leaves in underprivileged population of Pakistan. The study discovered that exotic amaranth genotypes produce abundant green matter with optimum moisture contents and number of leaves per plant with good height. The investigation for nutrients disclosed the maximum ash content, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and carbohydrate from the leaves as (4.32 g 100<em>g</em>⁻¹ FW), (6.76 g 100<em>g</em>⁻¹ FW), (0.66 g 100<em>g</em>⁻¹ FW), (4.29 g 100<em>g</em>⁻¹ FW) and (18.19 g 100<em>g</em>⁻¹ FW) respectively in different genotypes. The maximum energy yielded in calories was 407.41 (kJ 100<em>g</em>⁻¹ FW). Elemental breakdown was performed in (mg g⁻¹ DW) and it indicated that the leaves contained maximum potassium (15.52 mg g⁻¹ DW), calcium (11.11 mg g⁻¹ DW), Magnesium (9.67 mg g⁻¹ DW), Iron (0.24 mg g⁻¹ DW), Zinc (0.18 mg g⁻¹ DW) and phosphorus (5.85 mg g⁻¹ DW) in different genotypes under investigation. Comparing the nutrients in exotic vegetable amaranth genotypes with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) values, the outcomes expose that the leaves of amaranth contain substantial amount of important nutrients that are crucial in combating malnutrition in underprivileged populations in Pakistan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":73997,"journal":{"name":"Journal of trace elements and minerals","volume":"12 ","pages":"Article 100221"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143580640","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}