Significance of platinum group metals emitted from automobile exhaust gas converters for the biosphere

Intention, Goal, Scope, BackgroundFollowing the introduction of automobile catalytic converters the platinum group metals (PGM) platinum (Pt), palladium (Pd) and rhodium (Rh) gain on increasing interest in environmental research as these metals are emitted with exhaust fumes into the environment. Consequently, elevated PGM levels were found in different environmental matrices uch as road dusts, soils along heavily frequented roads, sediments of urban rivers etc. Accordingly, the effects of increasing PGM emissions on the biosphere are controversially discussed.ObjectiveThis paper summarizes the present knowledge on the biological availability of PGM to plants and animals. As biological availability is one of the most decisive factors determining the toxicologi-cal potential of xenobiotics, this information is very important to evaluate the possible threat of the noble metals to ecosystems.Results and DiscussionThe availability of soluble as well as particle bound PGM to terrestrial plants was demonstrated in several studies. Experimental investigations revealed uptake of Pt, Pd and Rh also by aquatic plants. Additionally, the biological availability of the noble metals for animals has been verified in experimental studies using soluble metal salts, catalytic converter model substances, sediments of urban rivers, road dust or tunnel dust as metal sources. These studies refer mainly to aquatic animals. Beside of free living organisms, in particular worms parasitizing fish demonstrated a high potential to accumulate PGM. This could be of great interest in respect of biomonitoring purposes. Generally, for plants as well as for animals Pd turns out to be the best available metal among the PGM. Compared to other heavy metals, the biological availability of PGM from road dust to zebra mussels(Dreissena polymorpha) ranged between that of Cd and Pb.ConclusionEspecially chronic effects of PGM on the biosphere can not be excluded due to (1) their cumulative increase in the environment, (2) their unexpected high biological availability and bioaccumulation and (3) their unknown toxicological and ecotoxicological potential. However, it appears that acute effects on ecosystems due to anthropogenic PGM emission are not likely.Recommendation and OutlookResearch on environmental PGM contamination of the biosphere, especially the fauna, and on long-term toxiciry of low PGM concentrations is highly appreciated. These studies require very sensitive analytical techniques to determine PGM even in low sample amounts. Research has to be done in particular on reliable determination of (ultra) trace levels of Pd and Rh as the lack of data on these two metals is mainly due to analytical problems.

[1]  Whole body retention in rats of different 191Pt compounds following inhalation exposure. , 1975 .

[2]  J. Stara,et al.  Preliminary studies on the toxicity and metabolism of palladium and platinum. , 1975, Environmental health perspectives.

[3]  D. Winge,et al.  Distinct metal-binding configurations in metallothionein. , 1985, The Journal of biological chemistry.

[4]  J. Messerschmidt,et al.  The determination of platinum in biotic and environmental materials, I. μg/kg- to g/kg-range , 1988 .

[5]  D. Richardson,et al.  Platinum(II) binding to metallothioneins. , 1988, Journal of inorganic biochemistry.

[6]  T. Florence,et al.  Platinum in the human diet, blood, hair and excreta. , 1992, The Science of the total environment.

[7]  B. Mergler,et al.  Platinum traces in airborne particulate matter. Determination of whole content, particle size distribution and soluble platinum , 1993 .

[8]  J. Messerschmidt,et al.  Platinum species analysis in plant material by gel permeation chromatography , 1994 .

[9]  P. J. Parsons,et al.  The effects of various platinum metal species on the water plant Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms. , 1994 .

[10]  G. Vernet,et al.  Effects of platinum (Pt4+) on Lumbriculus variegatus müller (annelida, oligochaetae): Acute toxicity and bioaccumulation , 1996, Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology.

[11]  R. Wittig,et al.  Reciprocal effects of platinum and lead on the water household of poplar cuttings , 1996, Environmental science and pollution research international.

[12]  B. Michalke,et al.  Transformation behaviour of different platinum compounds in a clay-like humic soil : speciation investigations , 1996 .

[13]  L. Peichl,et al.  Biomonitoring verkehrsbedingter Platin-Immissionen , 1996 .

[14]  E. Helmers,et al.  Platin in belasteten gräsern , 1997 .

[15]  Y. Yan,et al.  Reaction of a platinum(IV) complex with native Cd,Zn-metallothionein in vitro. , 1997, Journal of inorganic biochemistry.

[16]  Wei‐Yin Sun,et al.  Determination of the association constant of platinum(II) to metallothionein , 1997 .

[17]  E. Helmers.  Platinum emission rate of automobiles with catalytic converters , 1997, Environmental science and pollution research international.

[18]  B. Michalke,et al.  Platinum determination in nutrient plants by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with special respect to the hafnium oxide interference , 1997 .

[19]  Y. Yan,et al.  Interaction of sodium chloroplatinate and iproplatin with metallothionein in vivo. , 1997, Journal of inorganic biochemistry.

[20]  F. Zereini,et al.  Verteilung von Platingruppenelementen (PGE) in den Umweltkompartimenten Boden, Schlamm, Straßenstaub, Straßenkehrgut und Wasser , 1997 .

[21]  E. Helmers,et al.  Geochemical behaviour of platinum-group elements (PGE) in particulate emissions by automobile exhaust catalysts: experimental results and environmental investigations , 1997 .

[22]  H. Eschnauer,et al.  A contribution to the ecology and enology of platinum , 1997 .

[23]  E. Helmers,et al.  Platinum and rhodium in a polluted environment: studying the emissions of automobile catalysts with emphasis on the application of CSV rhodium analysis , 1998 .

[24]  E. Helmers,et al.  Comparison of palladium and platinum in environmental matrices: Palladium pollution by automobile emissions? , 1998, Environmental science and pollution research international.

[25]  D. Klockow,et al.  Speciation of platinum metabolites in plants by size-exclusion chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry , 1998 .

[26]  J. Vercauteren,et al.  Determination of the uptake of [Pt(NH3)4](NO3)2 by grass cultivated on a sandy loam soil and by cucumber plants, grown hydroponically. , 1998, The Science of the total environment.

[27]  B. Xing,et al.  Binding properties and stoichiometries of a palladium(II) complex to metallothioneins in vivo and in vitro. , 1998, Journal of inorganic biochemistry.

[28]  S. Zang,et al.  Dissolution of metallic platinum as water soluble species by naturally occurring complexing agents , 1998 .

[29]  D. Stüben,et al.  Uptake of traffic-related heavy metals and platinum group elements (PGE) by plants , 1998 .

[30]  E. Helmers,et al.  Distribution of platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Rh) in environmental and clinical matrices: Composition, analytical techniques and scientific outlook , 1998, Environmental science and pollution research international.

[31]  B. Michalke,et al.  Platinum speciation with hyphenated techniques: high performance liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis on-line coupled to an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer – application to aqueous extracts from a platinum treated soil , 1998 .

[32]  S Artelt,et al.  Bioavailability of fine dispersed platinum as emitted from automotive catalytic converters: a model study. , 1999, The Science of the total environment.

[33]  D. Klueppel,et al.  Platin-Speziation in pflanzlichen Materialien mittels HPLC-ICP-MS , 1999 .

[34]  M. Schuster,et al.  Bestimmung von Palladium in Umweltkompartimenten , 1999 .

[35]  S. Rauch,et al.  Platinum uptake by the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus in urban rivers. , 1999, The Science of the total environment.

[36]  S. Biagianti-Risbourg,et al.  Effets du platine chez Brachydanio rerio (Téléostéen, Cyprinidé). I. Toxicité aiguë: bioaccumulation et histopathologie intestinales , 1999 .

[37]  G. Vernet,et al.  Atteintes ultrastructurales intestinales induites par une concentration sublétale de platine chez le téléostéen Brachydanio rerio , 1999 .

[38]  J. Schäfer,et al.  Pflanzenverfügbarkeit, Boden — Pflanze Transfer , 1999 .

[39]  F. Zereini,et al.  Anthropogenic platinum-group element emissions : their impact on man and environment , 2000 .

[40]  T. Gebel.  Toxicology of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and their compounds , 2000 .

[41]  H. Ballach,et al.  Determinants of the phytotoxicity of platinum , 2000 .

[42]  P. Schramel,et al.  Platinum bioaccumulation in plants and overview of the situation for palladium and rhodium , 2000 .

[43]  F. Zereini,et al.  Anthropogenic Platinum-Group Element Emissions , 2000 .

[44]  P Schramel,et al.  Platinum-group elements: quantification in collected exhaust fumes and studies of catalyst surfaces. , 2000, The Science of the total environment.

[45]  S. Rauch,et al.  Routes for bioaccunmulation and transormation of platinum in the urban environment , 2000 .

[46]  B. Sures,et al.  First report on the uptake of automobile catalyst emitted palladium by European eels (Anguilla anguilla) following experimental exposure to road dust. , 2001, Environmental pollution.

[47]  J. Jain,et al.  Implications of platinum-group element accumulation along U.S. roads from catalytic-converter attrition. , 2001, Environmental science & technology.

[48]  B. Sures,et al.  Trace analysis of platinum in biological samples: a comparison between sector field ICP-MS and adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry following different digestion procedures , 2001 .

[49]  S. Parry,et al.  Temporal and spatial studies of autocatalyst-derived platinum, rhodium, and palladium and selected vehicle-derived trace elements in the environment. , 2001, Environmental science & technology.

[50]  S. Rauch,et al.  Bioaccumulation of palladium, platinum and rhodium from urban particulates and sediments by the freshwater isopod Asellus aquaticus. , 2001, Water research.

[51]  S. Rauch,et al.  Platinum Group Elements in the Feathers of Raptors and Their Prey , 2002, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology.

[52]  B. Sures,et al.  Relevance and Analysis of Traffic Related Platinum Group Metals(Pt, Pd, Rh) in the Aquatic Biosphere, with Emphasis on Palladium , 2002, Ecotoxicology.

[53]  B. Sures,et al.  Untersuchungen zur Bioverfügbarkeit Kfz-emittierter Platingruppenelemente (PGE) für die aquatische Fauna unter besonderer Berücksichtigung von Palladium , 2002 .

[54]  Bernd Sures,et al.  Biological availability of traffic‐related platinum‐group elements (palladium, platinum, and rhodium) and other metals to the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in water containing road dust , 2002, Environmental toxicology and chemistry.

[55]  B. Kastenholz,et al.  BONDING STATES OF PALLADIUM IN PHYTOSYSTEMS: FIRST RESULTS FOR ENDIVE , 2002 .

[56]  P Schramel,et al.  Environmental risk of particulate and soluble platinum group elements released from gasoline and diesel engine catalytic converters. , 2002, The Science of the total environment.

[57]  R. Byrne,et al.  Fractionation of platinum group elements in aqueous systems: comparative kinetics of palladium and platinum removal from seawater by Ulva lactuca L. , 2003, Environmental science & technology.

[58]  B. Sures.  Accumulation of heavy metals by intestinal helminths in fish: an overview and perspective , 2003, Parasitology.

[59]  B. Markert,et al.  Distribution of platinum group elements and other traffic related elements among different plants along some highways in Germany. , 2003, The Science of the total environment.

[60]  B. Sures,et al.  Determination of Pt, Pd and Rh in biological samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry as compared with adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry and total-reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis , 2003 .

[61]  B. Sures,et al.  The acanthocephalan Paratenuisentis ambiguus as a sensitive indicator of the precious metals Pt and Rh from automobile catalytic converters. , 2003, Environmental pollution.

[62]  Determination of the platinum group metals Pt, Pd and Rh in biological samples by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry as compared with adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry and total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis. , 2003 .

[63]  Khaiwal Ravindra,et al.  Platinum group elements in the environment and their health risk. , 2004, The Science of the total environment.

[64]  B. Sures,et al.  Accumulation and distribution of platinum and rhodium in the European eel Anguilla anguilla following aqueous exposure to metal salts. , 2004, Environmental pollution.

[65]  B. Sures.  Environmental parasitology: relevancy of parasites in monitoring environmental pollution. , 2004, Trends in parasitology.

[66]  Bernd Sures,et al.  Platinum‐Group Metals , 2004 .