Potential Teratogenicity Effects of Metals on Avian Embryos.

Agricultural areas can provide sources of food and hiding and nesting places for wild birds. Thus, the chemical load of potentially toxic elements (Cd, Cu, Pb) due to industrial and agricultural activities can affect not only the adult birds but also the embryos developing in the egg. The toxic effects of heavy metals applied alone were investigated on chicken embryos in the early and late stages of embryonic development using injection and immersion treatment methods.

To Eat or Not to Eat?-Food Safety Aspects of Essential Metals in Seafood.

The popularity of seafoods is high due to their superb dietary properties and healthy composition. However, it is crucial to understand whether they adequately contribute to our essential nutritional needs. Small amounts of essential metals are indispensable in the human body to proper physiological functioning; their deficiency can manifest in various sets of symptoms that can only be eliminated with their intake during treatment or nutrition.

Potentially toxic elements in different tissues of great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) at a wetland area.

Concentrations of 4 potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Hg, Pb) were investigated in the feather, liver, kidney, and bone of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). The tissue samples were taken at the Central Tisza - Jászság Nature Conservation Area in Hungary. They were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Trophic transfer and biomagnification potential of environmental contaminants (heavy metals) in aquatic ecosystems.

Physical, chemical weathering and volcanic eruptions release heavy metals into soils and surface waters naturally. Contaminants from anthropogenic sources originated from industrial and municipality waste substantially modify and increase their contributions. They are then absorbed by fish gills, amphipod cuticles, and other sensitive organs of aquatic creatures.

Metal Load of Potentially Toxic Elements in Tuna ()-Food Safety Aspects.

The consumption of marine fishes has a positive effect on a consumer's health; however, it poses a potential risk due to their level of heavy metals in their body. Heavy metals can be naturally found in the environment, but their concentration can be increased with anthropogenic activities. Samples of tuna () were collected at a fishery market.

Farm to table: Residues of different pesticides in tomato and tomato juice - Food safety aspects.

During plant cultivation, the pesticides can get into the tissue of vegetables due to crop protection processes, and thus into the food chain. Therefore, they constitute a potential risk to the consumer's health. Depletion of pesticides [spirotetramat (Movento), azoxystrobin and difenoconazole (Amistar Top)] was monitored by testing tomatoes treated individually or simultaneously and tomato juices prepared from the treated tomatoes.

Toxic elements in and food toxicological significance.

Cd, Hg, and Pb concentrations were investigated in fish. Samples originated from the Atlantic Northeast fishing area 27 and were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. The aim of the study was to estimate the health impact of consumption, based on the concentrations and calculated exposure for each element.

Reproductive toxicological changes in avian embryos due to a pesticide and an environmental contaminant.

Single and simultaneous toxic effects of glyphosate (Amega Up, 360 g L-1, 4%) and copper sulphate (0.01%) were studied in avian embryos treated either with injection directly into the air chamber or by immersion application for 30 min on day 0 of incubation. Alterations of the chicken embryos were evaluated during necropsy performed on day 19 of incubation, together with mortality, body weight and the type of developmental abnormalities.

Comparison of metal burden in different muscle tissues of Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo).

Concentrations of 12 metals (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb and Zn) were examined in the pectoral and thigh muscle of great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo). The samples were collected from Central Tisza-Jászság Nature Conservation Area in Hungary. The tissue samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Comparative evaluation of HET-CAM and ICE methods for objective assessment of ocular irritation caused by selected pesticide products.

Eye irritation potency of pesticides (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides) was comparatively tested by HET-CAM and ICE method. Based on the results of the tests the statistical analysis of agreement between classification using individual methods was done by Goodman-Kruskal's rank correlation and determination (calculation) of Cohen's kappa coefficient. Statistical analysis of agreement between classification revealed significant correlation between results of in vivo and in HET-CAM assays (76%).

Development of an autonomous flow-proportional water sampler for the estimation of pollutant loads in urban runoff.

Implementation of an extensive urban runoff monitoring program, targeting the quantification of heavy metal and organic micropollutant loads, necessitated the development of an autonomous water sampler. The design requirements for the device were to fulfill flow-proportional continuous composite sampling of urban runoff events in a widely customizable, relatively inexpensive, and simple way. In this paper, we introduce the concept along with the experiences gained from the first several months of field tests at seven pilot areas in Hungary that represent a wide range of urban environments.

Biomonitoring of toxic metals in feathers of predatory birds from eastern regions of Hungary.

The aim of our study was to investigate the concentrations of toxic metals in the feathers of predatory birds in the Hortobágyi Madárpark (Bird Hospital Foundation). Samples were collected from different predatory birds originated from the eastern and north-eastern region of Hungary. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to determine the concentration of toxic metals.

Monitoring of heavy metal burden in wild birds at eastern/north-eastern part of Hungary.

Concentrations of different heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) were examined in the contour feathers of long-eared owl (Asio otus), little owl (Athene noctua), tawny owl (Strix aluco), barn owl (Tyto alba), Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus), rook (Corvus frugilegus), hooded crow (Corvus cornix), carrion crow (Corvus corone), common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and barn swallow (Hirundo rustica). The samples were collected from the Hortobágyi Madárpark (Bird Hospital Foundation) in Hungary. The bird species were classified into six groups based on their nourishment.

Monitoring of heavy metal burden in mute swan (Cygnus olor).

Concentrations of heavy metals (especially arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury and lead) were measured in the contour (body) feathers of mute swans (Cygnus olor) and in its nutrients (fragile stonewort [Chara globularis], clasping leaf pondweed [Potamogeton perfoliatus], Eurasian watermilfoil [Myriophyllum spicatum], fennel pondweed [Potamogeton pectinatus]) to investigate the accumulation of metals during the food chain. The samples (17 feathers, 8 plants) were collected at Keszthely Bay of Lake Balaton, Hungary. Dry ashing procedure was used for preparing of sample and the heavy metal concentrations were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES).

Evaluation of mercury and lead content in the liver of the cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) population of Kis-Balaton, Hungary.

Mercury and lead concentrations were measured in the livers of cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), an aquatic bird species living and nesting in the special, highly protected nature conservation area of Kis-Balaton, Hungary. The measurements of metal concentrations were performed by atomic absorption spectrometry using the cold vapour method for mercury and the electrothermal method for lead. Mercury concentrations in the livers were significantly higher in the adult population (4.

HET-CAM test for determining the possible eye irritancy of pesticides.

Agrochemicals and veterinary products must undergo numerous toxicological tests before registration. The use of animals in these studies is a controversial issue. The Draize eye irritation test is one of the most criticised methods because of the injuries inflicted on the test animals.