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Heavy metal(loid) (HM) pollution in agricultural soils has become an environmental concern in antimony (Sb) mining areas. However, priority pollution sources identification and deep understanding of environmental risks of HMs face great challenges due to multiple and complex pollution sources coexist. Herein, an integrated approach was conducted to distinguish pollution sources and assess human health risk (HHR) and ecological risk (ER) in a typical Sb mining watershed in Southern China. This approach combines absolute principal component score-multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) and positive matrix factorization (PMF) models with ER and HHR assessments. Four pollution sources were distinguished for both models, and APCS-MLR model was more accurate and plausible. Predominant HM concentration source was natural source (39.1%), followed by industrial and agricultural activities (23.0%), unknown sources (21.5%) and Sb mining and smelting activities (16.4%). Although natural source contributed the most to HM concentrations, it did not pose a significant ER. Industrial and agricultural activities predominantly contributed to ER, and attention should be paid to Cd and Sb. Sb mining and smelting activities were primary anthropogenic sources of HHR, particularly Sb and As contaminations. Considering ER and HHR assessments, Sb mining and smelting, and industrial and agricultural activities are critical sources, causing serious ecological and health threats. This study showed the advantages of multiple receptor model application in obtaining reliable source identification and providing better source-oriented risk assessments. HM pollution management, such as regulating mining and smelting and implementing soil remediation in polluted agricultural soils, is strongly recommended for protecting ecosystems and humans.

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There are significant concerns about the risks to human health posed by metal(loid) contamination in dietary fishes in Bangladesh. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate heavy metal(loid) contamination in fish and their associated health risks using published data from 2000 to 2022. Additionally, the safe limit of fish consumption was estimated using the target hazard quotient (THQ) followed by computational modelling and artificial neural networks (ANN). Results showed that freshwater and herbivorous fishes pose the least non-cancer risks, whereas saltwater and carnivorous fishes pose the highest non-cancer risks to Bangladeshi consumers. However, freshwater and omnivorous fish consumption pose the highest cancer risks compared to all studied metal(loid)s. In particular, among the heavy metal(loid)s, As, Cr, Hg, and Ni pose significant cancer and non-cancer risks to Bangladeshi consumers. On the contrary, the ANN and Decision tree regression (DTR) characterized the dataset, simulation model, or data testing condition, reaching 94.7% accuracy and allowing us to measure the safest fish consumption limit. The herbivorous fishes are less contaminated and allow greater consumption (175.09 g day-1). Contrarily, the allowable intake rates of carnivorous and omnivorous fishes are 153.05 and 168.63 g day-1, respectively. Besides, the safe consumption rate of saltwater fishes was 156.51 g day-1, which was lower than freshwater (180.59 g day-1) and euryhaline fishes (182.17 g day-1). Therefore, this study will assist fish consumers in selecting less contaminated fish, ensuring safe consumption levels, and ultimately reducing health risks associated with metal(loid) contamination in fish.

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High geological background concentrations of toxic metal(loid)s arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) from natural enrichment in soils of karst regions have attracted much attention. In this study, paired soil-rice samples were collected from karst and non-karst regions in Guangxi, China to assess the potential risks of metal(loid) transfer from soil to rice grains, and rice grains to humans. Our results indicate that the karstic soils had greater As (25.7 vs. 12.4 mg·kg-1) and Cd (2.12 vs. 1.04 mg·kg-1) contents than those in non-karstic soils. However, metal(loid) transfer from soil to rice grains (ratio of rice grains to soil content) of As and Cd was 40 % and 49 % lower in karst regions, which may relate to their 42 % and 61 % lower HNO3-extractable As and CaCl2-extractable Cd, resulting in similar As/Cd contents in karstic and non-karstic rice grains. In vitro assay using a modified physiologically-based extraction test shows that karstic rice grains had a lower As/Cd bioaccessibility than non-karstic grains, which can be attributed to their ∼50 % greater P content, which negatively correlated with As/Cd bioaccessibility. Additionally, karstic rice grains had 39 % greater phytate and exhibited 45 % and 9.4 % lower As and Cd bioaccessibility in the gastric phase with phytate supplement at 0.6 %. Our work indicates that despite the greater As/Cd contents in karstic soils, the risks of As/Cd transfer from soil to rice grains as well as their exposure risks to humans via rice consumption may not be greater than non-karst regions.

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Arsenic is a ubiquitous metalloid and heavy metal that contributes to the global decline in human fertility. Humans are constantly exposed to arsenic through biotic and abiotic sources, especially ingestion of arsenic-contaminated food and water. Its exposure is associated with several adverse health challenges, including reproductive toxicity. In spite of its reported adverse effects, arsenic exposure remains a global challenge. Hence, this study provides a comprehensive review of the literature on the impact and mechanism of arsenic on male and female reproductive function. Additionally, a review of the potential therapeutic strategies is presented. Evidence from the literature reveals that arsenic upregulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation which mediates arsenic-induced suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and inactivation of 3ß-HSD and 17ß-HSD activities, leading to reduced gonadal steroidogenesis. Through several oxidative stress-dependent signaling, arsenic induces the apoptosis of the germ cells, thus contributing to the development of infertility. At the moment, there is no specific treatment for arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity. However, increasing data form the scientific literature reveals the benefits of antioxidants in ameliorating arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity. These molecules suppress ROS generation and maintain optimal activities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, leading to optimal steroidogenesis and gametogenesis as well as improved germ cells. Overall, this study revealed the impact and associated mechanism of arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity. It also provides evidence from the literature demonstrating potential therapeutic measures in managing arsenic-induced reproductive toxicity.

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Erosion and leaching of metal(loid)s from contaminated sites can spread pollution to adjacent ecosystems and be a source of toxicity for living organisms. Phytostabilization consists of selecting plant species accumulating little or no metal(loid)s in aerial parts to establish a vegetation cover and thus to stabilize the contaminants in the soil. Seeds of white lupin, common vetch, and buckwheat were sown in greenhouse on soils from former French mines (Pontgibaud and Vaulry) contaminated with metal(loid)s including high concentrations of As and Pb (772 to 1064 and 121 to 12,340 mg kg-1, respectively). After 3 weeks of exposure, the growth of white lupin was less affected than that of the 2 other species probably because metal(loid) concentrations in roots and aerial parts of lupins were lower (5-20 times less Pb in lupin leaves on Pontgibaud soil and 5-10 times less As in lupin leaves on Vaulry soil than in vetch and buckwheat). To limit oxidation and/or scavenge metal(loid)s, white lupin increased the content of proline and total phenolic compounds (TPC) in leaves and roots by a factor 2 whereas buckwheat stimulated the production of TPC by a factor 1.5-2, and non-protein thiols (NPT) by factors around 1.75 in leaves and 6-12 in roots. Vetch accumulated more proline than white lupin but less NPT than buckwheat and less TPC than the 2 other plant species. The level of oxidation was however higher than in control plants for the 3 species indicating that defense mechanisms were not completely effective. Overall, our results showed that white lupin was the best species for phytostabilization but amendments should be tested to improve its tolerance to metal(loid)s.

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Coix lacryma-jobi L. is a traditional medicinal plant in east Asia and is an important crop in Guizhou province, southwest China, where there are elevated levels of soil mercury and arsenic (As). Exposure to multiple potentially toxic elements (PTEs) may affect plant accumulation of metal(loid)s and food safety in regions with high geological metal concentrations. Field experiments were conducted to study the effects of PTEs on metal(loid) accumulation and physiological response of C. lacryma in different plant parts at three pollution levels. Total root length, number of root tips, number of branches, and number of root crosses increased with increasing pollution level, with increases in highly polluted areas of 44.2, 57.0, 79.6, and 97.2%, respectively, compared to lightly polluted areas. Under multi-element stress the activity of C. lacryma antioxidant oxidase showed an increase at low and medium PTE concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. The As contents were all below the maximum limit of cereal food contaminants in China (GB 2762-2022, As < 0.5 mg kg-1). The stems had high Tl bioconcentration factors but the translocation factors from stem to grain were very low, indicating that the stems may be a key plant part restricting Tl transport to the grains. C. lacryma increased root retention and reduced the transport effect, thus reducing metal accumulation in the grains. C. lacryma adapted to PTE stress through root remodeling and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities.

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Humans are exposed to a cocktail of heavy metal toxicants at the same time in the environment rather than single metal. The kidney is often a site of early damage due to high renal contact to these pollutants. This study was done to examine the cumulative toxic effect of multiple elements prevalent in the environment. To explore the effect of subchronic exposure to heavy metal mixture male and female Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into 14 groups and given varying doses [MPL (maximum permissible limit), 1X, 5X, 10X, 50X, or 100X] of the multiple metals and metalloid mixtures via drinking water for 8 weeks. It was determined that metal treatment caused increased metal load in renal tissue. The kidney function deteriorated in response to 10X, 50X, 100X concentration of the dosing mixture was found associated to oxidative stress, glomerular damage, necrosis, cell death and further exacerbation of the inflammation.

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Cell surface components, specifically glycans, play a significant role in several biological functions like cell structure, crosstalk between cells, and eventual target recognition of the cells for therapeutics. The dense layer of glycans, i.e., glycocalyx, could differ in taxon, species, and cell type. Glycans are coupled with lipids and proteins to form glycolipids, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, making their study challenging. However, understanding glycosylation at the cellular level is vital for fundamental research and the advancement of glycan-targeted therapy. Among different pathways, metabolic glycan labelling uses the natural metabolic processes of the cell to introduce abiotic functionality into glycan residues. The Bertozzi group pioneered metabolic oligosaccharide engineering using glycan salvage pathways to convert monosaccharides with unnatural modifications. This eventually results in the probe becoming part of the complex cellular glycan structures via click chemistry using copper. On the other hand, the boronic acid-based probe can recognise carbohydrates in a single step without any chemical modification of the surface. This review discusses the significance of glycans as biomarkers for different diseases and the necessity to evaluate them in situ within the physiological environment. The review also discusses the prospect of this field and its potential applications.

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Water quality degradation by decommissioned mining sites is an environmental issue recognized globally. In the Ore mountains of Central Europe, a wide array of contaminants is released by abandoned under- and aboveground mining sites threatening the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater resources. Here, we focus on the less-explored internal pollution processes within these mines involving organic carbon and microorganisms in trace metal(loid)s mobilization processes. Over an 18-month period, we conducted hydrological and biogeochemical monitoring at the Reiche Zeche mine, a former lead-zinc-silver mine, in Germany, reaching 230 meters below ground, well below the critical zone. Our results show strong seasonal fluctuations in water availability, concentrations of metal(loid)s, pH, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) components across multiple depths. Excess metal(loid) presence during high flow conditions indicated mobilization behavior deviating from conservative dilution. Our findings reveal strong positive correlations between metal(loid) variability and pH (0.894), and between metal(loid) variability and the DOM fluorescent component C2 (-0.910), a proxy for microbial activity. Accordingly, the microbial processes may significantly contribute to the observed metal(loid) composition and fluxes. By elucidating the intricate roles of hydrological and biogeochemical factors in trace metal(loid) mobilization, our research offers a comprehensive framework for improving mine water management and remediation, potentially informing global environmental policies and sustainable mining practices.

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Unfolded protein accumulation in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers ER stress, leading to a unique transcriptomic response called unfolded protein response (UPR). While ER stress is linked to various environmental stresses, its role in plant responses to heavy metal toxicity remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate if heavy metals Fe, Zn, Cu, and As induce ER stress in plants. For this purpose, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were treated with Fe (200, 400 µM), Zn (500, 700 µM), Cu (25, 50 µM), and As (250, 500 µM) for 7 days, which resulted in 50-70% decrease in plant growth. All treatments increased insoluble protein levels, indicating unfolded protein accumulation, with the highest induction observed for 50 µM Cu treatment (fivefold). Expressions of genes involved in the perception and signaling of ER stress (IRE1, bZIP28, bZIP60, bZIP17) indicate that Zn toxicity specifically induces bZIP28 but not the IRE1 branch of UPR. All metals except Fe also induced genes associated with protein folding in the ER (BIP1, BIP3, and CNX) and ER-associated protein degradation (ERAD) (HRD1). This finding indicates Zn, Cu, and As but not Fe cause ER stress in plants. Furthermore, increased expression of ER oxidoreductase 1 (ERO1) suggests that metal toxicity also disrupts oxidative protein folding in the ER lumen. This study enhances our understanding of the intricate interplay between essential nutrients, metal toxicity, protein folding machinery, and ER stress, demonstrating that heavy metal toxicity has an ER stress component in plants alongside its established effects on energy metabolism, membrane integrity, and oxidative stress.

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Exposure to environmental pollutants, including trace metals, is a major driver of bee decline worldwide. While pesticides undergo standardised risk assessments (i.e., LD50) and the implementation of online databases, no such approaches exist for trace metals. Here, using acute oral exposure, we determined the LC50, LD50, and mass-standardised LD50 of copper and cadmium, essential and non-essential metals, respectively, in workers and males of the buff-tailed bumble bee. We also evaluated gut damage and sucrose consumption in workers post-exposure. Cadmium was more toxic than copper for workers at same doses, although both metals induced severe gut melanisation and reduced sucrose consumption at high concentrations. Males displayed higher tolerance to cadmium, but it was correlated to their higher body mass, emphasising the necessity for reporting mass-standardised LD50 for genuine sex comparisons in risk assessments. Our findings advocate for the establishment of databases focusing on metal-induced lethal effects on model bee species.

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Globally, metal/metalloid(s) soil contamination is a persistent issue that affects the atmosphere, soil, water and plant health in today's industrialised world. However, an overabundance of these transition ions promotes the excessive buildup of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ion imbalance, which harms agricultural productivity. Plants employ several strategies to overcome their negative effects, including hyperaccumulation, tolerance, exclusion, and chelation with organic molecules. Polyamines (PAs) are the organic compounds that act as chelating agents and modulate various physiological, biochemical, and molecular processes under metal/metalloid(s) stress. Their catabolic products, including H2O2 and gamma amino butyric acid (GABA), are also crucial signalling molecules in abiotic stress situations, particularly under metal/metalloid(s) stress. In this review, we explained how PAs regulate genes and enzymes, particularly under metal/metalloid(s) stress with a specific focus on arsenic (As), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and zinc (Zn). The PAs regulate various plant stress responses by crosstalking with other plant hormones, upregulating phytochelatin, and metallothionein synthesis, modulating stomatal closure and antioxidant capacity. This review presents valuable insights into how PAs use a variety of tactics to reduce the harmful effects of metal/metalloid(s) through multifaceted strategies.

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The determination of metal(loid) (As, Fe, Al, Sr, Zn, Pb, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Cd) levels in the muscle tissue of 23 different deep-sea bony fish sampled off Mersin Bay (NE Levantine Basin) and the assessment of health risks for human consumption were aimed. Tissue metal(loid) concentrations were determined as dry weight and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The tissue metal(loid) concentrations (µg g dw) were converted to wet weight prior to health risk assessment calculations. Standard mathematical formulas were used to determine the health risk assessment. There was a statistically significant difference between the fish species in terms of tissue metal(loid) levels (p < 0.05). The highest metal(loid) level was found in C. sloani among other species. As and Fe had the highest and Cd the lowest tissue concentrations in the examined species (p < 0.05). The relationships between the metal(loid)s analyzed in the tissue were significant (p < 0.01;0.05). Fe had an antagonistic effect with Cd, while other metal(loid)s had a synergetic effect with each other. Risk assessment analyses were performed for the consumable species, and it was found that the estimated daily and weekly intakes were below the tolerable limits established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The target hazard quotient (THQ) values exceeded the threshold of 1 (THQ > 1) only for As. The target cancer risk (TCR) was below the tolerable limits (> 10-5) except for As, Cd, and Al.

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The co-occurrence of metal (loid)s in realistic aquatic environments necessitates the evaluation of their combined effects. However, the generality of the additive effect hypothesis is contentious, particularly due to metal(loid)-metal(loid) interactions. The absence of systematic evaluation approaches restricts our ability to draw overall conclusions and make reliable predictions. In this study, we reviewed 1473 effect sizes from 38 publications, and classified all responses into seven main categories (from molecular to individual levels) according to their toxicological significance. Our meta-analysis revealed that metal(loid) mixtures had significant effects on aquatic organisms (33 %, 95 % CI 28 %-39 %, P < 0.05), along with significant response heterogeneity (Qt = 690,319.62, P < 0.0001; I2 = 99.95 %). Concurrently, we developed a Random Forest machine learning model to predict adverse effects and identify key variables. These two methods demonstrated that the toxicity of metal(loid) mixtures is primarily linked to the choice of toxicity endpoints, and the characteristics of metal(loid) mixtures. Our findings underscore the potential of combining meta-analysis with machine learning, a more systematic approach, to enhance the understanding and prediction of the adverse effects of metal(loid) mixtures, and they offer guidance for risk assessment and policy-making in complex environmental scenarios.

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Using contaminated land to grow lignocellulosic crops can deliver biomass and, in the long term, improve soil quality. Biostimulants and microorganisms are nowadays an innovative approach to define appropriate phytomanagement strategies to promote plant growth and metal uptake. This study evaluated biostimulants and mycorrhizae application on biomass production and phytoextraction potential of four lignocellulosic crops grown under two metal-contaminated soils. Two greenhouse pot trials were setup to evaluate two annual species (sorghum, hemp) in Italy and two perennial ones (miscanthus, switchgrass) in China, under mycorrhizae (M), root (B2) and foliar (B1) biostimulants treatments, based on humic substances and protein hydrolysates, respectively, applied both alone and in combination (MB1, MB2). MB2 increased the shoot dry weight (DW) yield in hemp (1.9 times more), sorghum (3.6 times more) and miscanthus (tripled) with additional positive effects on sorghum and miscanthus Zn and Cd accumulation, respectively, but no effects on hemp metal accumulation. No treatment promoted switchgrass shoot DW, but M enhanced Cd and Cr shoot concentrations (+84%, 1.6 times more, respectively) and the phytoextraction efficiency. Root biostimulants and mycorrhizae were demonstrated to be more efficient inputs than foliar biostimulants to enhance plant development and productivity in order to design effective phytomanagement strategies in metal-contaminated soil.

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The combined contamination of terrestrial environments by metal(loid)s (MEs) and microplastics (MPs) is a major environmental issue. Once MPs enter soils, they can interact with MEs and modify their environmental availability, environmental bioavailability, and potential toxic effects on biota. Although research efforts have been made to describe the underlying mechanisms driving MP and ME interactions, the effects of MPs on ME bioavailability in terrestrial Mollusca have not yet been documented. To fill this gap, we exposed the terrestrial snail Cantareus aspersus to different combinations of polystyrene (PS) and arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), or mercury (Hg) concentrations. Using kinetic approaches, we then assessed the variations in the environmental availability of As, Cd or Hg after three weeks of equilibration and in the environmental bioavailability of As, Cd or Hg to snails after four weeks of exposure. We showed that while environmental availability was influenced by the total ME concentration, the effects of PS were limited. Although an increase in As availability was observed for the highest exposure concentrations at the beginning of the experiment, the soil ageing processes led to rapid adsorption in the soil regardless of the PS particle concentration. Concerning transfers to snail, ME bioaccumulation was ME concentration-dependent but not modified by the PS concentration in the soils. Nevertheless, the kinetic approaches evidenced an increase in As (2- to 2.6-fold) and Cd (1.6-fold), but not Hg, environmental bioavailability or excretion (2.3- to 3.6-fold for As, 1.8-fold for Cd) at low PS concentrations. However, these impacts were no longer observable at the highest PS exposure concentrations because of the increase in the bioaccessibility of MEs in the snail digestive tract. The generalization of such hormetic responses and the identification of the precise mechanisms involved necessitate further research to deepen our understanding of the MP-mediated behaviour of MEs in co-occurring scenarios.

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Nanobiotechnology is a potentially safe and sustainable strategy for both agricultural production and soil remediation, yet the potential of nanomaterials (NMs) application to remediate heavy metal(loid)-contaminated soils is still unclear. A meta-analysis with approximately 6000 observations was conducted to quantify the effects of NMs on safe crop production in soils contaminated with heavy metal(loid) (HM), and a machine learning approach was used to identify the major contributing features. Applying NMs can elevate the crop shoot (18.2 %, 15.4-21.2 %) and grain biomass (30.7 %, 26.9-34.9 %), and decrease the shoot and grain HM concentration by 31.8 % (28.9-34.5 %) and 46.8 % (43.7-49.8 %), respectively. Iron-NMs showed a greater potential to inhibit crop HM uptake compared to other types of NMs. Our result further demonstrates that NMs application substantially reduces the potential health risk of HM in crop grains by human health risk assessment. The NMs-induced reduction in HM accumulation was associated with decreasing HM bioavailability, as well as increased soil pH and organic matter. A random forest model demonstrates that soil pH and total HM concentration are the two significant features affecting shoot HM accumulation. This analysis of the literature highlights the significant potential of NMs application in promoting safe agricultural production in HM-contaminated agricultural lands.

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Electrocatalytic water splitting produces green and pollution-free hydrogen as a clean energy carrier, which can effectively alleviate energy crisis. In this paper, bimetallic and selenium doped cobalt molybdate (Se-CoMoO4) nanosheets with rough surface are resoundingly prepared. The multihole Se-CoMoO4 nanosheets display ultrathin and rectangular architecture with the dimensions of âˆ¼ 3.5 µm and 700 nm for length and width, respectively. The Se-CoMoO4 electrocatalyst shows remarkable water electrolysis activity and stability. The overpotentials of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are 270 and 63.3 mV at 10 mA cm-2, along with low Tafel slopes of 51.6 and 62.0 mV dec-1. Furthermore, the Se-CoMoO4 couple electrolyzer merely requires a cell voltage of 1.48 V to achieve 10 mA cm-2 current density and presents no apparent attenuation for 30 h. This investigation declares that the hybridization of transition bimetallic oxide with nonmetallic adulteration can afford a tactic for the preparation of bifunctional non-precious metal-based electrocatalysts.

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The rhizosphere contains both essential nutrients and potentially harmful substances for plant growth. Plants, as sessile organisms, must efficiently absorb the necessary nutrients while actively avoiding the uptake of toxic compounds. Metalloids, which are elements that exhibit properties of both metals and nonmetals, can have different effects on plant growth, ranging from being essential and beneficial to being toxic. The toxicity of metalloids in plants arises due to either the dosage of exposure or the specific elemental type. To utilize or detoxify these elements, plants have developed various transporters that regulate their uptake and distribution in plants. Arguably, genomic sequence analysis suggests the presence of such transporter families throughout the plant kingdom, from chlorophytes to higher plants. These transporters form defined families with related transport preferences. The isoforms within these families have evolved with specialized functions regulated by defined selectivity. Hence, understanding transporters' chemistry to atomic detail is important to achieve desired genetic modifications for crop improvement. Here, we outline various adaptations in plant transport systems to deal with metalloids, including their uptake, distribution, detoxification, and homeostasis in plant tissues. Structural parallels are drawn to other nutrient transporter systems to support emerging themes of functional diversity of active sites of transporters, elucidating adaptations of plants to utilize and extrude metalloid concentrations. Considering the observed physiological importance of metalloids, this review intends to highlight the shared and disparate features in metalloid transport systems and their corresponding nutrient transporters.

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The red deer is an ungulate and large game species. The contamination of the ecosystems by metal(loid)s may lead to the exposure of animals (as well as humans) through water and food resources. The direct contact of hunters and wild animal meat consumers with deer carcasses may be a potential contaminant source. This study aimed to determine the metal(loid)s' concentrations in the liver and kidney of red deer from two regions of Portugal (Idanha-a-Nova and Lousã), and to relate these with histopathologic lesions. Thirteen young male deer were submitted to metal(loid) determination (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrophotometry (ICP-MS) and histopathology examination. Renal Cd (8.072 ± 5.766 mg/kg dw) and hepatic Pb (3.824 ± 6.098 mg/kg dw) mean values were high, considering the maximum values for consumption established by the European Commission. The hepatic mean value of Cu was significantly higher in Idanha-a-Nova (150.059 ± 33.321 mg/kg dw), and it is at the Cu toxicity limit considered for ruminants (150 mg/kg). The pollution induced by Panasqueira mines (Castelo Branco) may be a possible explanation for some of the findings, especially the higher values of hepatic Cu and Pb found in Idanha-a-Nova deer. These results have high importance under a One Health perspective, since they have implications in public health, and pose at risk the imbalance of animal populations and ecosystems.

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