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Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Soil Samples from the Vicinity of Busy Roads: Influence on Drosophila melanogaster Life Cycle

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Abstract

An assessment of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in 25 soil samples collected near busy roads in Irbid city, Jordan indicated contamination of these soil samples with different concentrations of 624, 1.243, 242, and 847 µg/g for Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn, respectively. The survival percentage of Drosophila melanogaster third-instar larvae on synthetic medium containing these concentrations for the first generation shows a significant reduction in their growth and development or metamorphosis for most soil extracts. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in survival growth and development in the second generation. The survival percentages of the second generation at pupa stage was higher than the first generation, whereas at the adult stage, there was a lower survival percentage indicating some effects on metamorphosis caused by concentration of heavy metals on Drosophila melanogaster.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to the Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid-Jordan for introducing facilities. Many thanks also to Hokmia Al-Khateeb, Ibrahim Dukhnoosh, and Hazem Haddad for their technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Adnan Massadeh

  2. Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Science, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 3030, Irbid, 22110, Jordan

    Fouad Al-Momani & Ahmed Elbetieha

Authors
  1. Adnan Massadeh
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  2. Fouad Al-Momani
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  3. Ahmed Elbetieha
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Correspondence to Adnan Massadeh.

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Massadeh, A., Al-Momani, F. & Elbetieha, A. Assessment of Heavy Metals Concentrations in Soil Samples from the Vicinity of Busy Roads: Influence on Drosophila melanogaster Life Cycle. Biol Trace Elem Res 122, 292–299 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8080-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-007-8080-9

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