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.     

Alternative methods for the pilot-scale production and characterization of chitosan nanoparticles

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This work describes the production/characterization of low molar mass chitosan nanoparticles derived from waste shrimp shells (SSC), as well as from a...     

Biochemical responses in armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi) after short-term exposure to diesel oil,pure biodiesel and biodiesel blends

Biodiesel fuel is gradually replacing petroleum-based diesel oil use. Despite the biodiesel being considered friendlier to the environment, little is known about its effects in aquatic organisms. In this work we evaluated whether biodiesel exposure can affect oxidative stress parameters and biotransformation enzymes in armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi, Loricariidae), a South American endemic species. Thus, fish were exposed for 2 and 7 d to 0.01 mL L⁻¹ and 0.1 mL L⁻¹ of pure diesel, pure biodiesel (B100) and blends of diesel with 5% (B5) and 20% (B20) biodiesel. Lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) levels and the activities of the enzymes glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were measured in liver and gills. Also, DNA damage (8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine) levels in gills and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity in liver were assessed. Pure diesel, B5 and B20 blends changed most of the enzymes tested and in some cases, B5 and B20 induced a higher enzyme activity than pure diesel. Antioxidant system activation in P. anisitsi was effective to counteract reactive oxygen species effects, since DNA damage and lipid peroxidation levels were maintained at basal levels after all treatments. However, fish gills exposed to B20 and B100 presented increased lipid peroxidation. Despite biodiesel being more biodegradable fuel that emits less greenhouse gases, the increased lipid peroxidation showed that biofuel and its blends also represent hazards to aquatic biota.     

Degradation and decolorization of a biodegradable-resistant polymeric dye by chelator-mediated Fenton reactions

Chelator-mediated Fenton reactions (CMFRs) were used to decolorize a biodegradable-resistant polymeric dye (Poly R-478). Screening of different iron chelators was performed on Fe(3+)-reduction activity. All chelators showed Fe(3+)-reduction activity over a wide range of pH (2-7) and each mol of catecholate chelators (3,4-dihydroxiphenilacetic acid--DOPAC and 2,3-dihydroxibenzoic acid--DHBA) reduced about 5-6 moles of Fe(3+) whereas hydroxamate chelators (acetohydroxamic acid-AHA and desferrioxamine B-DFB) reduced Fe(3+) stoichiometrically. The most effective decolorization of Poly R-478 was achieved by CMFR using catecholate chelators. In addition, a 2(4) factorial design was performed with the aim of evaluating the effects of the variables considered in this study (pH, [DOPAC], [Fe(3+)] and [H(2)O(2)]) and optimizing the dye decolorization, using response surface methodology. Statistical analysis of results showed that, in the range studied, except for Fe(3+), all variables have a significant effect on dye decolorization. A second-order model is proposed to represent the Poly R-478 decolorization. At optimum conditions, complete decolorization of the dye (degradation of the chromophoric group) and also complete chemical degradation of the dye was observed.     

Metal Pollution in the Environment of Minas Gerais State – Brazil

Intense mining activities in Minas Gerais State – Brazil brings out tons of waste to the environment. Considerable concentrations of toxic elements penetrate the soil, ground waters and rivers. This endangers the environment quality not only in the surrounding areas but also in ichthyofauna and in more distant areas of cattle raising and agricultural activities. After seasonal floods, veterinary clinic studies have shown that most animals raised in this region are affected by symptomatologic nervous diseases, still not clearly diagnosed, which suggests intoxication. These pathologies are mostly noted after floods. Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis was applied to determine Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Th and Zn in environmental samples. The obtained results show that the water and sediment contaminated with heavy metals and toxic elements from the Das Velhas River upstream basin, the mining region, carry contamination to the ichthyofauna and farming region within a distance of approximately 400 km.     

微波法复合絮凝剂PAFC-PAM的制备及脱色性能

研究了以三氯化铝,三氯化铁和阳离子聚丙烯酰胺为原料,在微波辐照下制备PAFC-PAM复合絮凝剂的工艺条件,探讨了pH值、复合絮凝剂投加量对活性染料模拟废水脱色率的影响,并考察了其对实际印染废水的处理效果。结果表明:在PAM/PAFC质量比为0.25、微波合成功率150W、微波时间3min制得的复合絮凝剂,浊度去除率为98.8%。在pH=8,投加量为42mg/L的最佳絮凝条件下,复合絮凝剂对模拟染料废水脱色率高达97%。与PAFC和PAM相比,PAFC-PAM具有较宽的pH适宜范围和较低的投加量且对实际印染废水的处理效果优于PAFC和PAM。     

Determination of Hg and diet identification in otter (Lontra longicaudis) feces

An analytical procedure for the determination of Hg in otter (Lontra longicaudis) feces was developed, to separate fish scales for the identification of the animal diet. Samples were washed with ultra-pure water and the suspension was sampled and transferred for digestion. The solubilization was performed with nitric-perchloric acid mixture, and detection carried out by the atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The quality of the analytical procedure was assessed by analyzing in-house standard solutions and certified reference materials. Total Hg concentrations were in the range of 7.6-156 ng g(-1) (July 2004), 25.6-277 ng g(-1) (January 2005) and 14.6-744 ng g(-1) (May 2005) that is approximately the same order of magnitude for all samples collected in two reservoirs at the Tiete River, Brazil. Although Hg concentrations varied with sampling periods and diet, high levels were correlated to the percentage of carnivorous fish scales present in the otter feces.     

Mercury concentration in fish from Piracicaba River (Minas Gerais, Brazil)

Mercury emissions from some upstream gold mining areas and recent findings of high natural Hg levels in sediments motivated studies on the Hg cycle in the Minas Gerais state. The study presents the total mercury amount found in Geophagus brasiliensis' muscular tissue (wet weight) and sediments from Piracicaba River. Mercury was analyzed using acid digestion followed by determination of total mercury by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. This study was also complemented with the analysis of the limnological parameters (water temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, suspended particles, pH, dissolved oxygen, maximum depth, photic index and total carbon). The mercury concentration in sediments samples was higher than the mercury concentration in muscular tissue of fish. The lowest Hg level measured in fish was 0.0147 microg g( - 1), while the highest was 0.101 microg g( - 1). In the sediment samples, the lowest and highest levels were 0.02 microg g( - 1) and 0.16 microg g( - 1), respectively. The Hg concentrations in fish and sediment were both under the maximum limit permitted by the World Health Organization.     

地铁运行引起的地面振动实测及传播规律分析

对地铁线路某区间段的地面振动进行实测,采集不同测线和不同测点处的水平方向、竖直方向加速度,并转化为傅里叶幅值谱对其进行衰减规律分析。利用公式将加速度记录换算为振级和分频振级,参照相关的国家标准分析不同距离处的振级和频率成分。对比同一加速度记录中的两对开方向列车引起的地面振动,进一步分析振动衰减的规律。所得到的结果可供地面建筑的隔振减振及城市轨道的规划和设计参考。