A review on human attitudes towards reptiles in Brazil

For many millennia humans and reptiles have interacted, but the attitude of humans towards these animals has depended on culture, environment, and personal experience. At least 719 reptile species are known to occur in Brazil and about 11% of this fauna has been exploited for many different purposes, including bushmeat, leather, ornamental and magic/religious uses, and as folk medicines. Brazil can therefore serve as an interesting case study for better understanding reptile use by human societies, and the present paper catalogues some of the reptile species being used in Brazil and discusses implications for their conservation. A literature review indicated that 81 reptile species are culturally important in this country, with 47 (58%) species having multiple uses, 54 being used for medicinal purposes, 38 as food, 28 for ornamental or decorative purposes, 20 used in magic/religious practices, 18 as pets, and 40 are commonly killed when they come into contact with humans. Regarding their conservation status, 30 (37.5%) are included on State's Red List, Brazilian Red List or the IUCN Red List. There are many forms of interaction between reptiles and humans in Brazil-although most of them are quite negative in terms of wildlife conservation-which reinforces the importance of understanding such uses and interactions in the context of protecting reptiles in Brazil. A better understanding of the cultural, social, and traditional roles of these reptiles is fundamental to establishing management plans for their sustainable use.     

Dissolved inorganic nutrients and chlorophyll a in an estuary receiving sewage treatment plant effluents: Cachoeira River estuary (NE Brazil)

Sampling was conducted monthly during a transition period between the dry and rainy seasons in order to evaluate the effectiveness of a municipal sewage treatment plant (STP) in eutrophication control. STP effluent and fluvial input data were also estimated. In the dry period, high concentrations of nutrients, chlorophyll a (up to 360 μg?L^?1), and anoxia in bottom waters were observed in the upper portion of the estuary. Nitrate was scarce during the dry months, although high concentrations were observed at the river sources and the upper estuary. The N:P and Si:P molar ratios were usually below 16:1, and the Si:N ratio was higher than 1:1. The fluvial inputs were a greater source of nutrients to the estuary than the STP, but nutrient loading by these effluents were also important in contributing to the eutrophication of the upper estuarine zone, especially in the dry season when symptoms were more intense.     

Designing an integrated environmental monitoring plan for land-based marine fish farms located at exposed and hard bottom coastal areas

The increase in aquaculture activities in the last few decades has not been accompanied by a corresponding increase in environmental controls and regulations. In this context, the application of environmental monitoring plans (EMPs) has become necessary to assess the environmental impact associated with fish farming wastes. The objective of this review paper is to evaluate the suitability of experimental and analytical procedures as monitoring tools for inclusion in EMPs for intensive land-based marine fish farms (LBMFFs). The strong hydrodynamics and, in particular, the lack of sediment on the rocky coasts where LBMFFs are usually located, greatly limit the monitoring tools that can be used. We propose EMPs that employ a weight-of-evidence approach to evaluate: contamination, trophic and toxic effects, and ecological integrity. Laboratory tests, in situ bioassays and field surveys of local species are presented as key tools for assessing the impact of LBMFFs on ecosystems. The δ(15)N signal along a spatial gradient is proposed for evaluating exposure to contaminants. Trophic effects can be determined by growth of transplanted macro- and microalgae. Toxic effects can be evaluated by responses at different levels of biological organization, including biochemical and histological changes, physiological alterations and survival, in species from different trophic levels. Fouling tests and analysis of community structures are recommended for assessing ecological integrity. This review contributes to the development of environmental controls for intensive LBMFFs, and for other activities that discharge wastewater to rocky shores.     

Inputs of heavy metals due to agrochemical use in tobacco fields in Brazil’s Southern Region

Only a few studies have assessed the joint incorporation of heavy metals into agricultural systems based on the range of agrochemicals used on a specific agricultural crop. This study was conducted to assess the heavy metals input through application of the main agrochemicals used in Brazilian tobacco fields. A total of 56 samples of different batches of 5 fertilizers, 3 substrates, 8 insecticides, 3 fungicides, 2 herbicides, and 1 growth regulator commonly used in the cultivation of tobacco in Brazil’s Southern Region were collected from 3 warehouses located in the States of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná. The total As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn content of the samples was then determined and compared with the regulations of different countries and information found in the available literature. The fertilizers were identified as the primary source of heavy metals among the agrochemicals used. Application of pesticides directly to the shoots of tobacco plants contributed very little to the supply of heavy metals. The agrochemicals used in Brazilian tobacco fields provide lower inputs of the main heavy metals that are nonessential for plants than those registered in the international literature for the majority of crop fields in different regions of the world.     

Heavy metals concentrations in zooplankton and suspended particulate matter in a southwestern Atlantic temperate estuary (Argentina)

The present work includes part of the first studies of metals concentrations in the zooplankton from a heavily industrialized estuary of Argentina, the Bahía Blanca estuary. Cd, Cu, and Pb concentrations in the zooplankton (macro- and mesozooplankton) and the suspended particulate matter were measured at stations with different degree of pollution. Physicochemical variables and zooplankton composition and abundance were also analyzed. Thus, the aim of the present work was to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals in these two different fractions, and the possible relation among them due to their importance in the biogeochemical cycles of marine environments. Samplings were carried out during a year, from March 2005 to April 2006, every 2 months, at stations located near chemical and petrochemical industries, stations far from these points and one station in an intermediate location. In the mesozooplankton, the mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Pb were 3.63?±?1.46, 34.46?±?5.40, and 11.54?±?3.04 μg?g^?1 dry weight (d.w.) respectively, while in the macrozooplankton, 3.20?±?2.28, 21.86?±?4.79, and 8.36?±?1.85 μg?g^?1 d.w. On the other hand, particulate Cd, Cu, and Pb presented a mean concentration of 3.33?±?1.22, 12.75?±?2.67, and 12.53?±?3.20 μg?g^?1 d.w., respectively. Metals’ levels in both the SPM and zooplankton fluctuated throughout the study time and were relatively high in the particulate phase especially for Cu and Pb. Moreover, zooplankton accumulated important concentrations of the three metals. The sources of them are probably the discharges of the industries and domestic sewages located near the estuary.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface water and bed sediments of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River

This study was performed to elucidate the distribution, concentration trend and possible source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface water and bed sediments of the Hungarian upper section of the Danube River and the Moson Danube branch. A total of 217 samples (water and sediments) were collected from four different sampling sites in the period of 2001–2010 and analysed for the 16 priority US Environmental Protection Agency PAHs. Concentrations of total 16 PAHs (∑PAHs) in water samples ranged from 25 to 1,208 ng/L, which were predominated by two- and three-ring PAHs. The ∑PAH concentrations in sediments ranged from 8.3 to 1,202.5 ng/g dry weight. Four-ring PAHs including fluoranthene and pyrene were the dominant species in sediment samples. A selected number of concentration ratios of specific PAH compounds were calculated to evaluate the possible sources of PAH contamination. The ratios reflected a pattern of pyrogenic input as a major source of PAHs. The levels of PAHs determined were compared with other sections of the Danube and other regions of the world.     

Trace metals in sediments of Southeast Pacific Fjords, north region (42.5 degrees to 46.5 degrees S)

Analyses of trace metals in benthic sediments from selected fjords and channels between 41 degrees 30' and 46 degrees 50'S, 75 degrees -72.3 degrees W were made after the CIMAR 1 Fjords expedition co-ordinated by CONA-Chile in 1995; the metals analyzed include Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn. The objective of this study was to establish baseline values for these metals and to compare them with similar studies made in comparable, but geographically distinct, environments. Box core samples were collected at 35 stations and metal analysis was by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) using the MESS-2 reference standard. The ranked abundance by metal was Ba > Sr > V > Zn > Cr > Cu approximately Ni approximately Pb > Co > Cd; these metals were not homogenous across the region and coefficients of variation were >10%. There were distinct groupings by metal and geographical area including the fjords, basins and channels. Depth profiles of the metal concentrations also varied spatially, e.g. Guafo, Laguna San Rafael, Moraleda, Corcovado, Quitralco, and Jacaf were predominantly homogeneous with depth profiles indicative of pristine systems experiencing few human impacts. In contrast, Aysen, Cupquelan and Puyuguapi Fjords had higher concentrations towards the surface, indicating elevated inputs in recent years. No major differences in metal content of the sediments were observed when compared with values from comparable natural systems in the northern hemisphere. Principal component analysis (PCA) grouped several seemingly isolated locations as having the same metal signature and indicated the pattern of dispersion across the region.     

Spatial and temporal variations in inhalable CuZnPb aerosols within the Mexico City pollution plume

We report on the CuPbZn content of PM10 and PM2.5 samples collected from three sites (urban T0, suburban T1 and rural T2) during the Mexico City MILAGRO campaign of March 2006. Daytime city centre concentrations of summation operator CuZnPb(PM10) were much higher (T0 > 450 ng m(-3)) than at the suburban site (T1 < 200 ng m(-3)). Rural site (T2) summation operator CuZnPb(PM10) concentrations exceeded 50 ng m(-3) when influenced by the megacity plume but dropped to 10 ng m(-3) during clean northerly winds. Nocturnal metal concentrations more than doubled at T0, as pollutants became trapped in the nightly inversion layer, but decreased at the rural site. Transient spikes in concentrations of different metals, e.g. a "copper event" at T0 (CuPM10 281 ng m(-3)) and "zinc event" at T1 (ZnPM10 1481 ng m(-3)) on the night of March 7-8, demonstrate how industrial pollution sources produce localised chemical inhomogeneities in the city atmosphere. Most metal aerosols are <2.5 microm and SEM study demonstrates the dominance of Fe, Ti, Ba, Cu, Pb and Zn (and lesser Sn, Mo, Sb, W, Ni, V, As, Bi) in metalliferous particles that have shapes including spherical condensates, efflorescent CuZnClS particles, cindery Zn, and Cu wire. Metal aerosol concentrations do not change in concert with PM10 mass, which is more influenced by wind resuspension than industrial emissions. Metalliferous particles can induce cell damage, and PM composition is probably more important than PM mass, with respect to negative health effects, so that better monitoring and control of industrial emissions would likely produce significant improvements in air quality.     

Phytoremediation assessment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gomphrena globosa</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zinnia elegans</Emphasis> grown in arsenic-contaminated hydroponic conditions as a safe and feasible alternative to be applied in arsenic-contaminated soils of the Bengal Delta

Several agricultural fields show high contents of arsenic because of irrigation with arsenic-contaminated groundwater. Vegetables accumulate arsenic in their edible parts when grown in contaminated soils. Polluted vegetables are one of the main sources of arsenic in the food chain, especially for people living in rural arsenic endemic villages of India and Bangladesh. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of floriculture in the crop rotation system of arsenic endemic areas of the Bengal Delta. The effects of different arsenic concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg As L^?1) and types of flowering plant (Gomphrena globosa and Zinnia elegans) on plant growth and arsenic accumulation were studied under hydroponic conditions. Total arsenic was quantified using atomic absorption spectrometer with hydride generation (HG-AAS). Arsenic was mainly accumulated in the roots (72 %), followed by leaves (12 %), stems (10 %), and flowers (<1 %). The flowering plants studied did not show as high phytoremediation capacities as other wild species, such as ferns. However, they behaved as arsenic tolerant plants and grew and bloomed well, without showing any phytotoxic signs. This study proves that floriculture could be included within the crop rotation system in arsenic-contaminated agricultural soils, in order to improve food safety and also food security by increasing farmer’s revenue.