Technology-critical elements (TCEs), essential in emerging technologies, are increasingly finding their way into our environment, raising concerns about their sparsely studied behavior and toxicity. To contribute insights into the toxicological aspects, we employed in vitro bioassays to investigate the possible cytotoxic effects in four representative cell lines (AR-EcoScreen GR-KO-M1, DR-EcoScreen, MCF7AREc32, VM7Luc4E2) and the potential to induce oxidative stress via the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway for a number of these elements. Nine TCEs, three rare-earth elements (REEs: Gd, Nd, Yb) and six less-studied TCEs (LSTCEs: Ga, Ge, In, Ta, Te, Tl), were selected for this study, along with three well-studied traditional metal contaminants (TMCs: As, Cd, Pb) for comparison. Among the 12 studied elements, nine showed signs of inducing cytotoxicity: As, Cd, Ga, Nd, and Te in three out of the four studied cell lines and Gd, Ta, Tl, and Yb in one to two cell lines. Tellurium repeatedly exhibited the highest potency. The TCEs Ga and In, similar to As and Cd, also demonstrated the potential to induce oxidative stress. The results of this study suggest that some TCEs may potentially cause adverse health effects similar to As and Cd, thus prompting further investigations. 

While vegetable uptake of traditional metal contaminants is a well-studied pathway to human exposure and risk, a paucity of information exists on the uptake of emerging metal contaminants. This study evaluated the uptake of the Technology-critical elements (TCEs) gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), niobium (Nb), tantalum (Ta), thallium (Tl), and rare earth elements (REEs) into lettuce cultivated in 21 European urban soils. For comparison, the uptake of cadmium (Cd) was also analysed. First, the uptake was predicted by multiplying soil concentrations with previously established bioconcentration factors (BCFs). Subsequently, multiple regression models incorporating geochemical variables as predictors were used to determine whether prediction accuracy could be improved. A "3-predictor model" incorporated soil TCE concentration, pH, and organic matter (OM), and a "7-predictor model" added data on clay content and the soil concentrations of Fe, Al, and Mn as well. With the exception of Cd, Ge, and Tl, the BCF approach provided unsatisfactory predictions (R2 < 0.5), while the 7-predictor models yielded the best predictions, even when accounting for the greater number of predictors. While the most important predictors of uptake varied somewhat between the TCEs, the concentrations of TCEs in the soil generally explained the largest proportion of the variation. The least influential predictors in our dataset were [Mnsoil], [Fesoil], and soil OM. Incorporating geochemical data generally improved the predictions of uptake by lettuce, and these findings underscore the need for more detailed characterisations of the uptake potential of TCEs by food plants and subsequent consequences for human health.

Increased demand for rare earth elements (REE) has resulted in their increased exploitation and the need to better understand their cycling in aquatic environments. Thus far much of the research in boreal areas focused on REE cycling in larger rivers, while relatively little is known regarding their mobilization in smaller headwater streams. Here we used the Krycklan Catchment Study in northern boreal Sweden to investigate how REE are mobilized from diverse boreal headwaters and how their catchment exports are influenced by processes such as weathering, hydrology, and complexation with other solutes. We found that wetland dominated headwaters were source limited and prone to dilution during high discharge, while forested headwaters had considerably higher total REE concentrations and were less affected by discharge fluctuations. Larger downstream catchments showed clear discharge driven seasonal patterns, with high concentrations during spring flood and low concentrations during base flow. While the proportion of mineral soils and water travel time in the catchment were important predictors of REE mobilization, complexation with organic matter appears to play a greater role in higher-order streams with higher pH and a larger contribution from deeper groundwater sources. Overall, we highlight the stark differences between REE cycling in the headwaters and in higher order streams, which can provide important information on the processes that mobilize REE from catchments.

The Chicxulub asteroid impact event at the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary ~66 Myr ago is widely considered responsible for the mass extinction event leading to the demise of the non-avian dinosaurs. Short-term cooling due to massive release of climate-active agents is hypothesized to have been crucial, with S-bearing gases originating from the target rock vaporization considered an important driving force. Yet, the magnitude of the S release remains poorly constrained. Here we empirically estimate the amount of impact-released S relying on the concentration of S and its isotopic composition within the impact structure and a set of terrestrial K-Pg boundary ejecta sites. The average value of 67 ± 39 Gt obtained is ~5-fold lower than previous numerical estimates. The lower mass of S-released may indicate a less prominent role for S emission leading to a milder impact winter with key implications for species survival during the first years following the impact.

We present isotopic data bearing on the origin of the vent-distal, Lovisa stratiform Zn-Pb sulfide deposit, Bergslagen, Sweden. The age of deposition is constrained by secondary ionisation mass spectrometry (SIMS) U–Pb zircon dating of pumiceous mass flow deposits interbedded with mineralised, fine-grained volcaniclastic strata. Two mass flow deposits in the stratigraphic footwall yield ages of 1892 ± 2 Ma and 1892 ± 5 Ma respectively, whereas a mass flow deposit in the stratigraphic hanging wall yields an age of 1891 ± 3 Ma, constraining the mineralisation to c. 1892 Ma. Positively correlated δ66Zn (-0.299 to + 0.219‰), δ34S (-0.2 to + 4.7‰) and Zn/Cd (122 to 659) in sphalerite suggest mass-dependent, kinetic fractionation during sulfide deposition. Upwards decrease in these parameters and Zn/Pb relative to stratigraphic younging suggest that the hydrothermal system matured over time, whereby later fluid batches reached the depositional site less fractionated. Thermochemical sulfate reduction and cooling of single hydrothermal fluid batches are suggested as sulfide precipitation mechanisms while bacteriogenic sulfate reduction is deemed less likely based on by absence of highly negative δ114Cd (-0.212 to -0.069‰), and δ34S values. Sphalerite and galena Pb isotope compositions indicate leaching of c. 1.91–1.89 Ga felsic volcanic rocks as a principal metal source followed by subsequent, syn-metamorphic addition of radiogenic Pb. Limited syn-metamorphic isotopic homogenisation is suggested by retained systematic variations in different sulfide beds. 

Here we studied accumulation of heavy metals in brown crab (Cancer pagurus) and seafloor sediment from Jøssingfjord, Norway during 2018 to evaluate long-term, legacy pollution effects of coastal mine tailing sea disposal activities. Nickel and copper sediment pollution in the mine tailing sea disposal area was classified as moderate and severe, respectively, under Norwegian environmental quality standards, and highlights the persistent hazard and legacy impacts of heavy metals in these impacted fjord ecosystems. Mercury, zinc, and arsenic had stronger affinities to brown crab muscle likely due to the presence of thiols, and availability of metal binding sites. Our multi-isotopic composition data showed that lead isotopes were the most useful source apportionment tool for this fjord. Overall, our study highlights the importance and value of measuring several different heavy metals and multiple isotopic signatures in different crab organs and seafloor sediment to comprehensively evaluate fjord pollution and kinetic uptake dynamics. Brown crabs were suitable eco-indicators of benthic ecosystem heavy metal pollution in a fjord ecosystem still experiencing short- and long-term physical and chemical impacts from coastal mining sea disposal activities.

This study explored the elemental, isotopic, and chemometric profiles of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes to ensure the safety and quality of wines produced under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label. Essential nutrients, such as K, P, Ca, Mg, and Fe, were quantified alongside toxic elements, like Hg, Pb, Cd, and As, to evaluate the potential health impacts and compliance with food safety standards. Isotopic analysis provided a powerful tool for geographical authentication, essential for verifying the grapes’ PDO status and preventing market fraud. Chemometric techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multivariate Classification Methods, were employed to interpret complex datasets, enabling the identification of unique patterns and clusters that signify quality attributes and possible contamination. The study’s findings not only enhance the traceability and authentication processes essential for PDO labels but also offer valuable insights into the safety and quality management of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes, addressing the implications for growers, regulators, and consumers, thereby supporting sustainable viticulture and robust quality control in global wine production.

Background and objectives: Determining the geographical origin of durum wheat is an important and emerging challenge because consumers perceive added value of final products (e.g., pasta) depending on the origin. Declaration of geographical origin is also an emerging requirement of specific national regulations. Among analytical strategies for determining geographical origins of samples, isotopic techniques based on both light and radiogenic isotope targets stand out, despite limitations of applicability, validation and assessment of interyear variability.

Findings: In this study, 87Sr/86Sr isotopic analysis was successfully used to discriminate Italian (ITA) samples versus rest-of-the world (RoW) samples and subsequently integrated with an elemental analysis (ICP‒MS) on 75 elements. A tiered approach was finally adopted in which the results of the 87Sr/86Sr analysis were input to a second step of support vector machine classification modeling (SVMC) based on the Al, Mn, Mo, P, S, Ti, Y, and Zn percentages in each sample. This model was tested against a blind group of samples with overall satisfactory performance.

Conclusion: Valuable information from multielemental and stable isotope ratio analyses was collected for authentic samples from different Italian, European, and non-European regions harvested during different years.

Significance and novelty: This study demonstrates the potential and validity of an innovative combined multielemental and strontium isotope ratio approach for the geographic discrimination of durum wheat on a global scale: the developed predictive model has already been routinely employed to control industrial lots.

Purpose:

World imports of Italian sparkling wines fell by 9% in value and 5% in quantities. In view of this, the quality characterisation of these products is desirable to increase their market value and restore their global visibility.

Design/methodology/approach:

For this purpose, in this paper, heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hf, Hg, Mn, Mo, Nb, Ni, Pb, Re, Sb, Sn, Ta, Th, Tl, U, W, V, Zn, Zr), rare Earth elements (REEs) (Ce, Dy, Er, Eu, Gd, Ho, La, Lu, Nd, Pr, Sm, Tb, Tm, Yb) and isotopes ratio (208Pb/206Pb, 207Pb/206Pb, 206Pb/204Pb, 208Pb/207Pb, 87Sr/86Sr) were analysed in Italian sparkling wines with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification by High Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) and MultiCollector Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS). The samples were produced in the Veneto region, and they were compared to white and red wines from the same area.

Findings:

Sparkling wines present a characteristic elemental pattern compared to white and red ones, with lower content of heavy metals and higher content in REEs. The ratio 87Sr/86Sr resulted in a powerful micro-scale geographical origins marker while Pb ratios as winemaking process one, both useful to prevent possible frauds. Multivariate data analyses, such as PCA and PLS-DA, were used to develop a model of recognition of Venetian sparkling wines.

Originality/value:

The good classification of sparkling wines was achieved (95%), proving the suitable use of these analytes as markers for recognising sparkling wines and their geographical origin verification. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study investigating heavy metals, REEs and isotopes in Venetian sparkling wine for their recognition.

Lead (Pb) is heterogeneously distributed in the environment and multiple sources like Pb ammunition and fossil fuel combustion can increase the risk of exposure in wildlife. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) in Sweden have higher blood Pb levels compared to bears from other populations, but the sources and routes of exposure are unknown. The objective of this study was to quantify the contribution of two potential sources of Pb exposure in female brown bears (n = 34 individuals; n = 61 samples). We used multiple linear regressions to determine the contribution of both environmental Pb levels estimated from plant roots and moose (Alces alces) kills to blood Pb concentrations in female brown bears. We found positive relationships between blood Pb concentrations in bears and both the distribution of moose kills by hunters and environmental Pb levels around capture locations. Our results suggest that the consumption of slaughter remains discarded by moose hunters is a likely significant pathway of Pb exposure and this exposure is additive to environmental Pb exposure in female brown bears in Sweden. We suggest that spatially explicit models, incorporating habitat selection analyses of harvest data, may prove useful in predicting Pb exposure in scavengers.