Conclusion: Humic and fulvic acids can remove toxic metals in water.
Title: Humic and Fulvic Acids as Potentially Toxic Metal Reducing Agents in Water
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The present work introduces a relatively low cost and highly efficient method to reduce the level of potentially toxic metals in water. The reducing agents were humic and fulvic acids isolated from lignite (an abundant and cheap coal) with a simple, rapid, and inexpensive procedure. The maximum binding capacity (for a single metal) was presented by fulvic acids in the following order Cr>Pb>Ni>Cu>Cd, while for humic acids was Pb>Ni>Cr>Cu>Cd.
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic substances can protect against viruses, heavy metal toxicity, and ionizing radiation.
Title: Medical aspects and applications of humic substances
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: In addition to the classic use of peat in balneotherapy and veterinary medicine, the application of isolated humic substances (HS) as well as synthetic humic acid (HA)-like polymers may play a considerable role in future. There are a large number of phenolic compounds which can be transformed into HA-like substances targeted for special functions such as antivirally active agents, heavy metal-chelating compounds, toxic chemical-binding polymers, and substances protecting against ionizing radiation.
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acids have anti-cancer and anti-aging properties and may help protect against toxicity caused by iron, lead, copper, and mycotoxins.
Title: Therapeutic Efficiency of Humic Acids in Intoxications
Type of Article: Review Article
Summary: Humic acids (HAs) possess antioxidant activity. This property also gives HAs their anti-cancer effect. Moreover, the administration of HAs can be useful as a supportive treatment alongside cancer chemotherapy, where it protects tissue cells around the application of chemotherapeutics and prevents (mitigates) oxidative damage to these cells. Antioxidant effects of HAs can also be beneficial in anti-aging therapy, lowering social stress, and promoting wound healing, as well as in protecting against iron-induced hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. Additionally, HAs can protect against lead and copper poisoning, mycotoxins, and other toxicants.
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10143271/
____________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic and fulvic acids may protect the body against oxidative damage.
Title: Humic and fulvic acids alleviate oxidative damage induced by hydrogen peroxide.
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: Both humic acid and fulvic acid showed a significant decrease in the enzymes activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) indicating their direct protective effects against induced oxidative stress, via GPx and SOD defense enzymes modulation.
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid is effective in detoxification, providing some useful nutrients, and strengthening the immune system.
Title: Humic Acid: The Power of Detox and Immune Support All in One
Type of Document: Web page
Takeaway: Because humic acid is too large to be absorbed into the bloodstream, redistribution of toxins is not a concern making it ideal for detoxification. The compound binds substances in the digestive tract to be removed from the body. In addition, humic acid contains nutrients needed by the body and can strengthen our immune response.
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid may help in liver regeneration, removes toxic metals, and increases the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.
Title: Effects of Humic Acid on Animals and Humans: An Overview of Literature and a Review of Current Research
Type of Document: Online scientific document
Takeaway: This review article discusses the beneficial properties of humic acids, including their potential role in liver regeneration, detoxification, and enhancing the oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells.
Link: https://www.vetservis.sk/media/object/433/effects_of_humic_acid_on_animals_and_humans.pdf
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Fulvic acid binds with heavy metals in dietary sources and prevents their accumulation in the body.
Title: Dietary supplementation of fulvic acid for growth improvement and prevention of heavy metal accumulation in Nile tilapia fed with green mussel
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The present study demonstrated that the dietary supplementation of fulvic acid could be used as a strategy to prevent Pb and Cd accumulation in fish fed with diet containing green mussel and a supplementation level of 200 mg kg−1 could be recommended to prevent Pb and Cd accumulation and to enhance the growth of Nile tilapia culture.
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1687428520300340
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Fulvic acid binds with lead and helps prevent lead toxicity.
Title: Lead(II)-fulvic acid complexes. Conditional stability constants, solubility, and implications for lead(II) mobility
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: Fulvic acid binds with lead and helps prevent lead toxicity. This study compares the complexation of lead(II) by fulvic acids derived from a podzol soil (SFA) and from river water (WFA). In 0.1 M electrolyte, complexation by SFA is stronger than it is by WFA. From pH 4.0 to 6.0, the logarithm of 1:l lead(II)-SFA conditional stability constants increases from 4.0 to 6.3. The corresponding constants for lead(II)-WFA in the range pH 4.5 to 6.0 increase from 3.7 to 5.1. Lead(II) forms insoluble precipitates at low lead(II)/fulvic acid mole ratios.
Link: https://sci-hub.se/https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/es60167a001
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid binds with heavy metals and can improve the utilization of heavy metal-containing feed for fish growth.
Title: Response to Humic Acid Addition into Feeds with Heavy Metal Content Made of Green Mussels on Growth of Asian Seabass
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The addition of Humic Acid (HA) in animals feed brings many advantages, one of which it can chelate heavy metals. HA addition in feed formulation is needed to prevent the accumulation of heavy metals in fish body. An experiment was designed to evaluate the response of HA addition in the diets made of green mussels which contains heavy metals on the growth performance and feed efficiency of Asian seabass, Lates calcarifer juveniles. A total of five experimental diets were formulated with difference dosage of HA addition (0, 400, 800, 1200, 40 and 1600) mg Kg-1 of feed in the experimental diets (A, B, C, D and E), respectively. The experimental diets were fed to triplicate group of 15 Asian seabass juveniles with initial body weight of 4.30 ± 0.60 g in a 70 days cultivation by feeding at satiation. The result shows feed consumption, feed digestibility, protein retention, growth performance and feed efficiency were significantly affected by the HA addition in the fish diet (P< 0.05). Treatment E with HA addition 1600 mg Kg-1 diet proved to give best biological response among all treatments. This indicates that the humic acid addition in the diet formulation can improve the utilization of feed for fish growth. The heavy metal Cd in flesh of Asian seabass is still under the limit set in the food safety standard, so the fish in this experiment are still considered safe for human consumption. The present study concluded that green mussel meal as alternative source protein with HA addition can be considered as potential feed additive for the diets of Asian seabass juveniles.
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Fulvic acid helps treat a variety of diseases and protects the body against heavy metal accumulation.
Title: Titrimetric estimation of fulvic acid substances in Oriens Shilajit as a part of herbal nutraceutical standardization
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: Fulvic acids are family of organic acids and form a major part of the soil organic matter contents. In the present study, we aimed to estimate the amount of Fulvic acids in Shilajit, a well-known medicinal application in ayurveda using titration method. We obtained a fulvic acid percentage of 0.96% (w/w). Fulvic acid in Shilajit can be used to treat a variety of ailments as well protect the body against heavy metal accumulation.
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid binds chromium and thus decreases its toxicity.
Title: The effect of humic acid on the toxicity and bioavailability of trivalent chromium.
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The influence of humic acid (HA) on the toxicity and bioavailability of two forms of trivalent chromium (chromic chloride and chrome lignosulfonate) was evaluated using a common freshwater invertebrate, Daphnia pulex. With both compounds, the 50 mg/liter HA significantly decreased toxicity at all time points examined. The remaining two HA concentrations, 0.5 and 5 mg/liter, either had no influence or decreased the toxicity of the compounds. Humic acid appeared to have no influence on the bioavailability of chrome lignosulfonate. However, for chromic chloride, 5 and 50 mg/liter HA decreased the percentage free chromium at all time points examined.
Link: https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/0147-6513(89)90014-6
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Fulvic acid reduces cadmium accumulation, thus reducing cadmium toxicity.
Title: Role Of Fulvic Acid On The Reduction Of Cadmium Toxicity On Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus)
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The effect of fulvic acid on cadmium (Cd) toxicity, the impact on fish immunological, and haematological changes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromius niloticus) were studied. The fish (100±10g) were exposed to 10 ppm Cd alone or with 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 ppm for 15 and 45 days. Cd exposure reduced significantly (P<0.04), for example the erythrocyte count (RBCs), haemoglobin content (Hb), haematocrit value (Hct), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell haemoglobin concentration. These parameters were improved when fulvic acid was applied with Cd. The values of RBCs, Hb, Hct, MCH and MCHC were increased significantly in the control fish group. The addition of fulvic acid to Cd contaminated medium considerably reduced metal absorption and accumulation in fish tissues, while metals in water and faeces increased. Fish exposed to Cd alone accumulated 2.15 and 5.970 mg Cd/g dry weight in the liver tissue over 15 and 45 days, respectively. Cd reduced significantly to 1.292 and 4.16.; 0.92 and 3.791; and 0.41 and 2.43 mg Cd/g dry weight tissue in fish exposed to 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3g fulvic acid/L over 15 and 45 days, respectively. Similar trends were observed in gills and musculature.
Link: https://www.witpress.com/elibrary/wit-transactions-on-ecology-and-the-environment/132/20937
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid reduces accumulation of heavy metals in fish and protects against toxicity-related death.
Title: Effect of humic acid during concurrent chronic waterborne exposure of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to copper, cadmium and zinc
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: Commercial dissolved organic carbon (DOC), in the form of humic acid, at environmentally relevant concentration reduced the bioavailable fractions of the metals (especially Cu), leading to reduced accumulation, alleviated biochemical disturbances and protected against mortality.
Link: https://sci-hub.se/https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20970854/
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid decreases cadmium toxicity and accumulation.
Title: Effects of Humic Acid and Water Hardness on Acute Toxicity and Accumulation of Cadmium in the Freshwater Fish (Puntius gonionotus Bleeker)
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: An increase in humic acid concentrations (0.5, 5.0, and 50 mg/L) decreased cadmium toxicity and accumulation in the freshwater fish Puntius gonionotus Bleeker. Moreover, simultaneous increases in humic acid and water hardness concentrations also resulted in a decrease in cadmium toxicity.
Link: https://thaiscience.info/Journals/Article/SCAS/10460003.pdf
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid at appropriate concentrations reduces the toxicity of cadmium.
Title: The influence of humic acid and the toxicity and bioavailability of selected trace metals
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The influence of humic acid (HA) on the toxicity and bioavailability of hexavalent chromium and cadmium was evaluated using a common freshwater invertebrate, Daphnia pulex. The 0.5, 5.0 and 50 mg HA/l concentrations had little influence on either the acute toxicity or the bioavailability of hexavalent chromium. The acute toxicity of cadmium was increased, decreased or not influenced by HA, depending on the concentration of HA and the time point examined. There was a dose-related pattern of binding (a maximal decrease in percent free cadmium followed by metal release from HA) observed with HA and cadmium. The release of cadmium from the HA may have resulted from an associated time dependent decrease in pH.
Link: https://sci-hub.se/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0166445X88900367
____________________________________________________________
Conclusion: Humic acid decreases copper toxicity in some organisms.
Title: The toxicity and bioaccumulation of cadmium and copper as affected by humic acid
Type of Document: Peer-reviewed journal article
Takeaway: The toxicity of cadmium (Cd) and copper (Cu) to daphnids was evaluated over a 42-day exposure period at three humic acid concentrations. The addition of humic acid to test water decreased the acute and chronic toxicity of Cu but increased the acute and chronic toxicity of Cd.
Link: https://sci-hub.se/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0166445X84900250