This study aims to synthesize and characterize an economical and ecological adsorbent with high adsorption capacity. For this purpose, the peanut shells (Pistacia vera L.) were modified chemically. After the synthesis of activated carbon (AC), the optimum conditions for enrichment steps were performed using parameters: pH and contact time for uranium in the model solutions. The measurements were carried out by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). From the shapes of the BET isotherms, the AC obtained exhibits type I. The study indicated that the surface area and total pore volume of the AC were found to be 679.9 m² g^-1 and 0.31 cc g^-1, respectively. The adsorption capacity was found to be 260 mg g^-1. The optimum pH was found to be 6.0 for enrichment using the AC obtained by sulfuric acid as a chemical-modifier. The optimized method was applied to enrichment of U at ppb levels in the model solutions.

Samples of soil and food plants were collected from wastewater-irrigated fields in the vicinity of Gaziantep, in southeast Turkey, and analyzed for several trace elements (TEs). The concentrations of Co, Mo and Zn in edible portions of corn, mint and vegetables (eggplant, pepper and tomato) were 0.03-0.66, 0.1-3.2 and 8-148 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. In the edible portions of corn and mint, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations in all samples were <0.01-0.05, 2.0-5.5, 6-47, 0.6-6.7 and 0.2-3.5 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. No single plant species had consistently high concentrations of all metals. For example, corn had the highest concentration of Zn (89 mg kg⁻¹), but the lowest concentration of Cd (<0.01 mg kg⁻¹). The maximum concentrations of some TEs in some crop samples, as well as soil samples, exceeded certain threshold values set in Turkey and other countries. For some TEs there was little difference between wastewater-irrigated and control soil concentrations. Transfer factors (TFs; plant concentration/soil concentration) were high for Cu, Zn and Mo, in comparison with the other TEs (Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb). Higher uptake of certain metals may be associated with the dominant form of the element in the soil matrix. The uptake of chemicals to plant tissues is influenced by the chemical and physical characteristics of the soil and species-specific factors. Although the geochemistry of the region plays a significant role in the levels of TEs in soil and plants, bioaccumulation of metals and subsequent toxicity to plants and animals can be exacerbated by higher environmental concentrations caused by wastewater irrigation and other anthropogenic factors.

In this study, lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) were determined in soil, water, vegetable and fruit samples taken from around oil refinery region in Batman, Turkey. Digestion procedures for samples were optimized and all optimum parameters were used both in digestion and in determination steps. In order to determine Pb and Cd, slotted tube atom trap (STAT) was used to increase the sensitivity in atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Preconcentration procedure under the optimum conditions was applied to water, vegetable and fruit samples to determine Pb, Cd and Ni in trace levels. In soil samples, concentrations of analytes were found in the range of 4.0 ± 0.2-12,000 ± 60 mg/kg for Pb, 0.15 ± 0.01-3.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg for Cd and 21 ± 1-65 ± 3.4 mg/kg for Ni. In all water samples, concentration of Ni was expressed as nanogram per milliliter (ng/mL) and found to be higher than Pb and Cd levels. It was observed that Pb, Cd and Ni concentrations varied from both plant to plant and in same plants at different experimental sites. Pb concentrations in vegetable and fruit samples interested varied between 20 ± 2 and 160 ± 12 ng/g, and the highest level of Pb was found to be in green pepper taken from 1000 m away from refinery.

This paper describes the indirect human exposure to Ni via the oral route for the regional scale in the EU, together with a method to assess additional local exposure from industrial emissions. The approach fills a gap in the generic REACH guidance which is inadequate for assessing indirect environmental exposure of metals. Estimates of regional scale Ni dietary intake were derived from Ni dietary studies performed in the EU. Typical and Reasonable Worst Case dietary Ni intakes for the general population in the EU were below the oral Derived No Effect Level (DNEL) of Ni sulfate for systemic effects. Estimates for the Ni dietary intake at the local scale take into account the influence of aerial Ni deposition and transfer from soil to crops grown near industrial plants emitting Ni. The additional dietary exposure via this local contribution was small. Despite the use of conservative parameters for these processes, this method may underestimate dietary exposure around older industrial sites because REACH guidance does not account for historical soil contamination. Nevertheless, the method developed here can also be used as a screening tool for community-based risk assessment, as it accounts for historical soil pollution. Nickel exposure via drinking water was derived from databases on Ni tap water quality. A small proportion of the EU population (<5%) is likely to be exposed to tap water exceeding the EU standard (20 μg Ni/l). Taking into account the relative gastrointestinal absorption of Ni from water (30%) versus from solid matrices (5%), water intake constitutes, after dietary intake, the second most important pathway for oral Ni intake. Incidental ingestion of Ni from soil/dust at the regional scale, and also at the local scale, was low in comparison with dietary intake.

Samples of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium L.) fruits (epicarp and mesocarp), leaves and its fruit marmalade from sites in Seville (Andalucia, Spain) with different levels of traffic were analysed for Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations by ICP/AES. Comparative values are given from a background area. The effect of washing on metal content in epicarp and leaves was investigated. Results revealed that Ba, Fe and Mn accumulated in leaves > epicarp > mesocarp, Cu and Ni in leaves > epicarp congruent withmesocarp and Zn leaves > mesocarp > epicarp. Washing had no significant effect on epicarp metal content while it removes part of Cu, Fe and Zn deposited on leaves. Bitter orange fruits are used mainly to make marmalade; artificial contamination effects on fruit composition were investigated and the dietary intake of the elements was determined. The citrus fruits sprayed with metal solution showed a significant increase in the studied elements compared to untreated fruits. The levels of all elements studied were lower than provisional tolerable daily intake values indicating that bitter orange marmalade consumption is safe for alimentary use.

Bitter orange tree exhibit differences in metal content between fruits and leaves and fruits are safe for consumption.

To assess whether trace metal concentrations (which influence metabolism as both essential and non-essential elements) are increased or decreased in cancerous tissues and to understand the precise role of these metals in carcinogenesis.

Concentrations of trace metals including Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mg and Ca in both cancerous and non-cancerous stomach tissue samples were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Tissue samples were digested using microwave energy. Slotted tube atom trap was used to improve the sensitivity of copper and cadmium in flame AAS determinations.

From the obtained data in this study, the concentrations of nickel, copper and iron in the cancerous human stomach were found to be significantly higher than those in the non-cancerous tissues, by using t-test for the paired samples. Furthermore, the average calcium concentrations in the cancerous stomach tissue samples were found to be significantly lower than those in the non-cancerous stomach tissue samples by using t-test. Exceedingly high Zn concentrations (207-826 mg/kg) were found in two paired stomach tissue samples from both cancerous and non-cancerous parts.

In contrast to the literature data for Cu and Fe, the concentrations of copper, iron and nickel in cancerous tissue samples are higher than those in the non-cancerous samples. Furthermore, the Ca levels are lower in cancerous tissue samples than in non-cancerous tissue samples.

Aluminum concentrations in the fruit samples taken from different regions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after dry ashing digestion. To identify the aluminum phases being most responsible for fruit-available aluminum, the soil samples near the fruit plants were also analyzed for aluminum by using various digestion and selective extraction reagents. The relation between the aluminum concentrations in fruits and in soil extracts was studied. The obtained aluminum concentrations in the fruits were in the range of 1.5 to 42.0 mg kg(-1) on dry weight basis. It was observed that the aluminum concentrations of morello cherry(R(2) = 0.79) and mulberry (R(2) = 0.99) were correlated to the aluminum concentrations in citric acid extracts of the soils. While the aluminum concentrations of the EDTA and acetic acid extracts in some soils samples include 35% and 25% of total aluminum, respectively, the other soils contain only 1-2%.