Sources of Metal and Elemental Contamination of Terrestrial Environments

Comparative Genotoxicity Analysis of Heavy Metal Contamination in Higher Plants

“… Increased production of intracellular metal-binding compounds.  Development of metal-tolerant enzymes Heavy metal toxicity effects biological molecules, for example, when metals binds to S group, blocks the active site of enzyme, and may cause conformational changes in enzymes, disrupts the cellular homeostasis and cause oxidative damage by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as singlet oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical which cause lipid peroxidation, membrane defects and unstability of enzymes in higher plants (Webber, 1981;Freedman & Hutchinson, 1981;Aust et al, 1985). Chloroplast, mitochondrial and plasma membrane are linked to electron transport and generate ROS as by products (Becana et al, 2000).…”

Heavy Metals in Soils and Their Environmental Significance

“…Entry of fertilizer-derived Cd into the food chain depends on the amount offertilizer used, its Cd content, fertilizer and soil properties (especially pH), and the crop's ability to absorb Cd (Smilde and van Luit, 1983). Of these factors, the Cd content as determined by the rock phosphate source is the most difficult to control, because supplies of rock phosphate with low Cd contents are finite and sources with Sources: Freedman and Hutchinson (1981): Williams and David (1973); Reuss et al (1978); Smilde and van Luit (1983); Stenstrom and Vahter (1974).…”

Pollen storage by stingless bees as an environmental marker for metal contamination: spatial and temporal distribution of metal elements

“…Mining activities represent a major source of environmental contamination by metal residues (Freedman & Hutchinson, 1981;Perugini et al, 2011). In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, mine exploitation in the Iron Quadrangle reached its peak towards the middle of last century and the activity is still intense (Meneses et al, 2011).…”

“…The presence of metals in the environment can be the result of external sources such as industrial smelter pollution, emissions from ferrous metallurgy, external mining activities and busy highway traffic (Bilandžić et al, 2011;Lambert et al, 2012).Mining activities represent a major source of environmental contamination by metal residues (Freedman & Hutchinson, 1981;Perugini et al, 2011). In the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, mine exploitation in the Iron Quadrangle reached its peak towards the middle of last century and the activity is still intense (Meneses et al, 2011).…”