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Increasing heavy metal pollution in the environment and the fact that pine needles are good bio-monitors for air pollutants was the reason to investigate their accumulation in pine needles in Vienna (Austria). Pinus nigra is widespread over the city, thus allowing the study of different parameters influencing metal accumulation. The sampling sites were chosen based on traffic volume (low, medium, high). Fresh shoots were collected alongside one-year-old needles once per week from May to August 2015. The needle samples were washed and dried prior to acidic microwave-assisted digestion followed by quantitative determination using spectrometric methods. The investigation was focused on the following elements: Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, U, V, and Zn. The one-year-old needles mainly contained higher contents of elements than fresh shoots; in many cases, the values differed statistically significantly. By correlating needle elemental contents with the sampling site, statistically significant differences were registered for the majority of the investigated elements. These differences originate from the local traffic situation, soil elemental levels, translocation processes, and not traffic-related sources. No general trend of metal accumulation from spring to summer was registered.
Michaela Zeiner; Iva Juranović Cindrić. Accumulation of Major, Minor and Trace Elements in Pine Needles (Pinus nigra) in Vienna (Austria). Molecules 2021, 26, 3318 .
AMA StyleMichaela Zeiner, Iva Juranović Cindrić. Accumulation of Major, Minor and Trace Elements in Pine Needles (Pinus nigra) in Vienna (Austria). Molecules. 2021; 26 (11):3318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichaela Zeiner; Iva Juranović Cindrić. 2021. "Accumulation of Major, Minor and Trace Elements in Pine Needles (Pinus nigra) in Vienna (Austria)." Molecules 26, no. 11: 3318.
Pine needles are widely used as bio-indicators due to their worldwide distribution and the ease of sample collection. In contrast to deciduous trees, conifers offer the possibility of monitoring long-term exposure through older needles. Pinus halepensis Miller is a pine species native to the Mediterranean region, which has been used for restoration activities in arid and semiarid areas leading to vast spatial expansion. Needles from pine trees collected in the southeastern to northwestern extension of Croatia’s coastal area at twelve sampling sites were analysed for twenty-one metals and metalloids. Statistical evaluation of the obtained data revealed significant differences for Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Se, and Sr between the different regions. Needles from trees growing on islands did not show elevated levels of Mg and/or Na as a result of the sea spray influence. The differences in metal accumulation are supposed to be linked to the environmental conditions at the respective sampling site, since the species was the same everywhere. By comparing the elemental contents of the soil those of with needles, it can be clearly seen, that the root as well as the foliar uptake contribute to the final amount.
Michaela Zeiner; Ana Kuhar; Iva Juranović Cindrić. Geographic Differences in Element Accumulation in Needles of Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) Grown in Mediterranean Region. Molecules 2019, 24, 1877 .
AMA StyleMichaela Zeiner, Ana Kuhar, Iva Juranović Cindrić. Geographic Differences in Element Accumulation in Needles of Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) Grown in Mediterranean Region. Molecules. 2019; 24 (10):1877.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichaela Zeiner; Ana Kuhar; Iva Juranović Cindrić. 2019. "Geographic Differences in Element Accumulation in Needles of Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis Mill.) Grown in Mediterranean Region." Molecules 24, no. 10: 1877.
Walnuts (Juglans nigra) are considered to be a functional food. In the present study, twenty one macro-, micro-, and trace elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn) were selected to be determined in walnuts and walnut oils. The beneficial content of essential elements could be shown by the obtained results, the macro-elements Ca, K, Mg, and Na being present in nuts with 1062 mg/kg, 2771 mg/kg, 1426 mg/kg, and 42.3 mg/kg, respectively. Regarding micro- and trace elements, the following order (decreasing content) was found: Mn > Fe > Zn > B, Mo > Cu > Ni > Co > Al > Sr > Ba > Li > Pb > Se > Cr > As > Cd. Furthermore, the potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Pb) determined were below the maximum allowed values in most of the investigated walnut samples. A comparison of oils and nuts revealed that the former contain lower concentrations of all elements analyzed except for Fe and Zn. This suggested the origin from contamination during oil processing. Fe influences the oil oxidation rate, thus its entry during production should be avoided.
Iva Juranović Cindrić; Michaela Zeiner; Dora Hlebec. Mineral Composition of Elements in Walnuts and Walnut Oils. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2018, 15, 2674 .
AMA StyleIva Juranović Cindrić, Michaela Zeiner, Dora Hlebec. Mineral Composition of Elements in Walnuts and Walnut Oils. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018; 15 (12):2674.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIva Juranović Cindrić; Michaela Zeiner; Dora Hlebec. 2018. "Mineral Composition of Elements in Walnuts and Walnut Oils." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 15, no. 12: 2674.
Fruits and vegetables are considered a beneficial contribution to the human diet. Especially, berries contain a great deal of bioactive compounds, such as anthocyanins, organic acids, tannins, phenols, and antioxidants. Apart from organic substances, inorganic nutrients are also present in fruits. Some metals and metalloids are essential for humans, whilst others may exhibit harmful effects. Wild grown berries, collected in so-called unpolluted areas, are considered to be free of any potentially toxic ingredients. However, due to transmission processes pollutants can also reach remote areas and, furthermore, metal uptake from the soil via roots has to be taken into account. Thus, the presented study focused on the determination of Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb in lingonberries, blueberries, and rose hips collected in a non-polluted area in Croatia. Neither Cd nor Cr could be found in any sample. Ni levels were mainly up to 25 mg/kg, in a comparable range to the literature data. No health threat is to be expected by eating these fruits and berries regarding Cd, Cr, and Ni. Rose hips, however, contain Pb beyond the stipulated limit in fruits, and also Al is present at a high level (8 mg/g).
Michaela Zeiner; Iva Juranović Cindrić. Harmful Elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in Wild Berries and Fruits Collected in Croatia. Toxics 2018, 6, 31 .
AMA StyleMichaela Zeiner, Iva Juranović Cindrić. Harmful Elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in Wild Berries and Fruits Collected in Croatia. Toxics. 2018; 6 (2):31.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichaela Zeiner; Iva Juranović Cindrić. 2018. "Harmful Elements (Al, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in Wild Berries and Fruits Collected in Croatia." Toxics 6, no. 2: 31.
Black chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) are considered to be functional food containing high amounts of anthocyanins, phenols, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Whereas organic compounds are well studied, there is little research on the mineral composition of the chokeberries. Thus, the presented study is focused on the determination of Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr and Zn in black chokeberry fruits and infusions to study the metals’ extractability. The nutrients Ca, K and Mg are present in the fruits (dried matter) at g/kg level, whereas the other elements are present from µg/kg up to mg/kg level. The extraction yields of the metals from the infusion range from 4 (Al, Mn) up to 44% (Na). The toxic elements present do not pose any health risk when berries or infusions are consumed. Concluding, Aronia berries, as well as infusions derived from them, are a good dietary source of essential metals in addition to the organic compounds also contained.
Iva Juranović Cindrić; Michaela Zeiner; Darija Mihajlov-Konanov; Gerhard Stingeder. Inorganic Macro- and Micronutrients in “Superberries” Black Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) and Related Teas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2017, 14, 539 .
AMA StyleIva Juranović Cindrić, Michaela Zeiner, Darija Mihajlov-Konanov, Gerhard Stingeder. Inorganic Macro- and Micronutrients in “Superberries” Black Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) and Related Teas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14 (5):539.
Chicago/Turabian StyleIva Juranović Cindrić; Michaela Zeiner; Darija Mihajlov-Konanov; Gerhard Stingeder. 2017. "Inorganic Macro- and Micronutrients in “Superberries” Black Chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa) and Related Teas." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 5: 539.
In the present work, the accumulation of selected toxic and essential ultra-trace elements in fruits of service tree (Sorbus domestica L.) were determined depending on harvest time. Samples were collected from the same sampling area in two different years and within one year in September and October (maturity state). Harvesting the fruits in the same area excludes the influence of metals taken up via roots, thus the impact of airborne contamination by heavy metal translocation can be studied. All samples were dried and digested using an acidic microwave assisted digestion system prior to quantification by inductively coupled plasma—sector field mass spectrometry (ICP–SFMS). The elements chosen were Arsenic and Cadmium as well as Lithium, Molybdenum, and Selenium. The Arsenic content rose with maturity in mesocarp. Cadmium found in the mesocarp was unaffected by ripeness. For Selenium and Molybdenum, no statistically significant effect of ripeness could be found on their content in mesocarp. Lithium could not be detected in the majority of fruit samples. Differences between the metal concentrations based on the year of harvest were found for Arsenic, Molybdenum, and Selenium, depending on precipitation. The drier the season, the more Arsenic was accumulated. For Molybdenum and Selenium, the opposite effect was observed.
Michaela Zeiner; Iva Juranović Cindrić; Boris Majić; Gerhard Stingeder. Study of the Accumulation of Toxic and Essential Ultra-Trace Elements in Fruits of Sorbus domestica L. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2017, 14, 341 .
AMA StyleMichaela Zeiner, Iva Juranović Cindrić, Boris Majić, Gerhard Stingeder. Study of the Accumulation of Toxic and Essential Ultra-Trace Elements in Fruits of Sorbus domestica L. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14 (4):341.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichaela Zeiner; Iva Juranović Cindrić; Boris Majić; Gerhard Stingeder. 2017. "Study of the Accumulation of Toxic and Essential Ultra-Trace Elements in Fruits of Sorbus domestica L." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 4: 341.