Contamination of soil and the medicinal plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllanthus niruri</Emphasis> Linn. with cadmium in ceramic industrial areas

Phyllanthus niruri is a plant that is used to prevent calcium oxalate crystallisation and to block the stone formation in urolithiasis. Contaminants in the environment can be readily taken up by medicinal plants due to their ability to absorb chemicals into their tissues. If contaminated plants are ingested, they have the potential to negatively affect human and environmental health. The aim of this study was to assess contamination in the soil and the medicinal plant P. niruri by cadmium (Cd) in ceramic industrial areas of Monte Carmelo, Brazil. Soil samples and plant samples (divided in root, shoot and leaves) were collected from a contaminated monitoring site and from a rural area (which was used as a reference site for comparative purposes). The Cd concentrations of the samples were analysed with an atomic absorption spectrometer. P. niruri was found to be sensitive to soil contamination by Cd that was attributed to ceramic industrial emissions. The results revealed that Cd bioaccumulation in the roots and shoots of P. niruri was associated with a significant increase (p?<?0.05) in the concentration of active lignan compounds (phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin) in the leaves. The identification of high concentrations of Cd and active lignan compounds suggests a risk of contamination of the site and the risk of a high dose of Cd to people exposed at the site.     

Ovariectomy predisposes female rats to fine particulate matter exposure’s effects by altering metabolic,oxidative, pro-inflammatory,and heat-shock protein levels

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The reduction of estrogen levels, as a result of menopause, is associated with the development of metabolic diseases caused by alterations in...     

Acute ecotoxicity and genotoxicity assessment of two wastewater treatment units

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Water contamination by discharge of untreated or poorly treated wastewater into water bodies is a current issue that may cause harm to humans. Water...     

Sustainability: A Study of the Level of Ecological Behavior of Postgraduate Students in Brazil

The decline in the supply of natural resources is a cause for concern, especially given continued worldwide population growth. New habits and attitudes toward resource use are slowly being introduced into the everyday lives of persons residing in a number of countries. The term “ecological behavior” refers to acting in favor of the environment, whether these actions are voluntarily or not, or learned or not (Pato & Tamayo, 2006 ). The general objective of this study is to identify the environmental behavior—one of several terms used interchangeably with ecological behavior—of graduate students from a Brazilian federal institution of higher education. We chose this particular group because many of them already act, or will act, as professors. Thus, by virtue of their positions, they will function as opinion leaders who will influence the education of future professionals, establishing a chain through which shared values can gradually change the environmental behavior of society.     

Tracking mercury in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean: the use of tuna and tuna-like species as indicators of bioavailability

Mercury is a trace element that is potentially dangerous due its high toxicity and tendency to bioaccumulate in organisms. Currently, high mercury concentrations are seen in the environment especially due climate changes. Studies regarding mercury bioavailability in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean using tuna and tuna-like species are rare. The aim of the present study was to use tuna and tuna-like species (Thunnus atlanticus, Thunnus albacares, Katsuwonus pelamis, Euthynnus alletteratus, Coryphaena hippurus and Sarda sarda) as indicators of the availability of total mercury (THg) in oceanic food webs of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. THg concentrations varied significantly among species for both muscle and liver (Kruskal–Wallis test; H5,130 = 52.7; p < 0.05; H5,130 = 50.1; p < 0.05, respectively). The lowest concentrations were found in C. hippurus (0.008 mg kg−1 wet weight in the muscle and 0.003 mg kg−1 wet weight in the liver), and the highest concentrations were reported in the muscle of T. atlanticus (1.3 mg kg−1 wet weight) and in the liver of S. sarda (2.5 mg kg−1 wet weight). The continued monitoring of tuna and tuna-like species is necessary to assist in their conservation since tuna can be sentinels of mercury pollution.     

Influence of different textile fibers on characterization of dyeing wastewater and final effluent

Textile industry needs to recover and reuse its wastewater as to fulfil the demand of increasingly strict regulations. The characterization of dyeing wastewater samples according to textile fiber and final textile effluent enables the application of different treatment methods. This study aims to characterize dyeing wastewater in black color of polyamide, polyester, and viscose fibers and final textile effluent. Samples were collected and characterized completely for major pollution indicator parameters. Dyeing wastewater of polyester showed higher values for some parameters, e.g., 4994.44% (49,944,400 mg L^?1 and 917 NTU) of turbidity and 4100.00% of phenol when compared to dyeing wastewater of other fibers. Other parameters such as pH, alkalinity, color, phosphorus, nitrogen, sulfides, chlorides, oil and grease, dissolved solids, and chemical and biochemical oxygen demand were also assessed. In addition to individual characterization, this study also presents a correlation of the contribution of each parameter to the final textile effluent. Although dyeing wastewater of polyamide contributes the most in terms of quantity for the final effluent, this study revealed that dyeing wastewater of polyester influenced the most on the final composition of the textile wastewater when evaluating color, turbidity, total iron, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, phenol, mercury, oil and grease, and total phosphorus. The present study is focused on bringing new insights to provide future research with other strategies to improve the treatment of dyeing wastewater. In addition, some suggestions are also given for wastewater treatments according to type of textile fiber.     

Forecasting model to assess the potential of secondary lead production from lead acid battery scrap

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Lead acid battery (LAB) scrap management is an important issue both environmentally and economically. The recovery of lead from battery scrap leads to...     

Guarana improves behavior and inflammatory alterations triggered by methylmercury exposure: an in vivo fruit fly and in vitro neural cells study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Methylmercury (MeHg) is a well-known environmental pollutant associated with neurological and developmental deficits in animals and humans. However,...