Ethnobotany and Management of Dimorphandra gardneriana in a Protected Area of Chapada do Araripe Semiarid Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

The development of conservation strategies for nontimber forest products requires the characterization of the management systems and ethnoecological knowledge of the used species, as well as the analysis of the biological impacts of these processes. This study aimed to evaluate management systems and extractivist areas and related ethnoecological knowledge of Dimorphandra gardneriana (fava d’anta) in the semiarid region of Ceará, Northeast of Brazil. Fava d’anta produces fruits with high concentration of bioflavonoids, substances with various pharmacological properties, being exploited by extractivist communities in the mosaic of protected areas in Chapada do Araripe, Ceará. Ethnoecological knowledge has been concentrated on collectors who have been in activity for a longer time and/or plant the species. We identified three management systems that can impact in different ways on fava d’anta populations, depending on the area and level of human interference with the species. The extractivists respect the zoning of protected areas and do not enter in the full protection area, choosing areas with the highest tree density. The different systems produce a mosaic that creates different extraction opportunities and modifications to the local landscape and to fava d’anta populations. Factors that may have effects on the conservation of the species are the lack of supervision and overexploitation of the resource in native areas, while the factors that affect the health of extractivists are the infrastructure of the work and exposure to wild environments.     

Removal of a red dye using noncommercial peroxidase extracted from rice bran

The present study investigates the application of a noncommercial peroxidase enzyme, which was extracted from rice bran, to decolorize wastewater that was simulating effluent from a textile manufacturer using a red dye in its coloration process.     

Identification of protein biomarkers of mercury toxicity in fish

Bioaccumulative metals such as mercury are found in increasing amounts in fish and their consumers. In the region of the Madeira River, in the Brazilian Amazon, mercury (Hg) is a predominant contaminant in the aquatic ecosystem. There is therefore a need to find specific biomarkers of mercury toxicity in fish to monitor contaminations. Here, mercury-bound proteins were identified in the liver tissues of fishes Mylossoma duriventre and Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii. Mercury was quantified in liver tissue, pellets and protein spots by graphite furnace atomic absorption. Proteins were fractionated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization. We identified nine proteins linked to mercury and that presented biomarker characteristics of mercury. Among the proteins identified, isoforms of parvalbumin, ubiquitin-40S ribosomal protein S27a, brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1-associated protein 2-like protein 2 and betaine–homocysteine S-methyltransferase 1 are notable for having the molecular function of binding to metallic ions.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons study in atmospheric fine and coarse particles using diagnostic ratios and receptor model in urban/industrial region

Atmospheric fine and coarse particles were collected in Teflon filters in three cities of the region of the Lower Sinos River Basin of Rio Grande do Sul in the year 2010. The filters were Soxhlet extracted, and 14 priority PAHs were analyzed using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC/MS). The principal emission sources of these compounds were assessed by using diagnostic ratios and receptor model: positive matrix factorization (PMF 3.0) of the US Environmental Protection Agency. The results of PAHs concentration for the studied year showed significant levels of high molecular weight (HMW) PAH, Ind, and BghiP, in PM_2.5 in the winter season, showing the influence of mobile sources. The application of receptor model PMF 3.0 revealed that the main sources of PAHs were vehicle fleet (both diesel and gasoline), followed by coal combustion, wood combustion, and resuspension of dust. The results of the receptor modeling are in agreement with the data obtained by the ratio diagnostic.     

The impact of point source pollution on shallow groundwater used for human consumption in a threshold country

Many developing and threshold countries rely on shallow groundwater wells for their water supply whilst pit latrines are used for sanitation. We employed a unified strategy involving satellite images and environmental monitoring of 16 physico-chemical and microbiological water quality parameters to identify significant land uses that can lead to unacceptable deterioration of source water, in a region with a subtropical climate and seasonally restricted torrential rainfall in Northern Argentina. Agricultural and non-agricultural sources of nitrate were illustrated in satellite images and used to assess the organic load discharged. The estimated human organic load per year was 28.5 BOD(5) tons and the N load was 7.5 tons, while for poultry farms it was 9940-BOD(5) tons and 1037-N tons, respectively. Concentrations of nitrates and organics were significantly different between seasons in well water (p values of 0.026 and 0.039, respectively). The onset of the wet season had an extraordinarily negative impact on well water due in part to the high permeability of soils made up of fine gravels and coarse sand. Discriminant analysis showed that land uses had a pronounced seasonal influence on nitrates and introduced additional microbial contamination, causing nitrification and denitrification in shallow groundwater. P-well was highly impacted by a poultry farm while S-well was affected by anthropogenic pollution and background load, as revealed by Principal Component Analysis. The application of microbial source tracking techniques is recommended to corroborate local sources of human versus animal origin.     

Effect of ceramic industrial particulate emission control on key components of ambient PM10

The relationship between specific particulate emission control and ambient levels of some PM₁₀ components (Zn, As, Pb, Cs, Tl) was evaluated. To this end, the industrial area of Castellón (Eastern Spain) was selected, where around 40% of the EU glazed ceramic tiles and a high proportion of EU ceramic frits are produced. The PM₁₀ emissions from the ceramic processes were calculated over the period 2000–2006, taking into account the degree of implementation of corrective measures throughout the study period. Abatement systems were implemented in the majority of the fusion kilns for frit manufacture in the area as a result of the application of the Directive 1996/61/EC, leading to a marked decrease in PM₁₀ emissions. By contrast, emissions from tile manufacture remained relatively constant because of the few changes in the implementation of corrective measures. On the other hand, ambient PM₁₀ levels and composition measurements were carried out from 2002 to 2006. A high correlation between PM₁₀ emissions from frit manufacture and ambient levels of Zn, As, Pb and Cs (R² from 0.61 to 0.98) was observed. On the basis of these results, the potential impact of the implementation of corrective measures to reduce emissions from tile manufacture was quantified, resulting in a possible decrease of 3–5 μg/m³ and 2 μg/m³ in ambient mineral PM₁₀ (on an annual basis) in urban and suburban areas, respectively. This relatively simple methodology allows us to estimate the direct effect of a reduction in primary particulate emissions on ambient levels of key particulate components, and to make a preliminary quantification of the possibilities of air quality improvement by means of further emission reduction. Therefore, it is a useful tool for developing future air quality plans in the study area and in other industrialised areas.     

Green sand reclamation using a fluidized bed with an attrition nozzle

The objective of this study was to determine the technical feasibility of green sand reclamation using attrition in a gas–solid fluidized bed. Reclamation of foundry sand is becoming important as it may help solve concerns related to transportation and dumping of the used sand, and reduce production costs by recycling sand. The crucial step in green sand reclamation is the removal of small clay particles that are bound to the sand particles.For this study two different types of green sand were used and supplied by two different foundries. Tests were performed in a fluidized bed equipped with an attrition nozzle operating at pressures of either 350 or 550 kPa (50 or 80 psig). Attrition experiments for one green sand were performed on either unburned or burned (calcined) green sand, to determine the effect of prior calcination of the green sand on its reclamation potential by attrition. Calcination temperatures of over 700 °C were employed, and the results suggest that calcination facilitates the removal of clay from the green sand.Green sand was analyzed for clay and organic content, acid request, and particle size before and after attrition. Attriting calcined green sand produces the best results. Also experiments conducted at the highest attrition pressure of 550 kPa gave good results. According to the mass balance, the mass lost during the attrition process may be limited to less than 14%, and this could be considered acceptable. The volume of air required for the attrition nozzle is rather high and this may adversely affect the economics of the process.     

Analysis of hazardous material releases due to natural hazards in the United States

Natural hazards were the cause of approximately 16,600 hazardous material (hazmat) releases reported to the National Response Center (NRC) between 1990 and 2008-three per cent of all reported hazmat releases. Rain-induced releases were most numerous (26 per cent of the total), followed by those associated with hurricanes (20 per cent), many of which resulted from major episodes in 2005 and 2008. Winds, storms or other weather-related phenomena were responsible for another 25 per cent of hazmat releases. Large releases were most frequently due to major natural disasters. For instance, hurricane-induced releases of petroleum from storage tanks account for a large fraction of the total volume of petroleum released during 'natechs' (understood here as a natural hazard and the hazardous materials release that results). Among the most commonly released chemicals were nitrogen oxides, benzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Three deaths, 52 injuries, and the evacuation of at least 5,000 persons were recorded as a consequence of natech events. Overall, results suggest that the number of natechs increased over the study period (1990-2008) with potential for serious human and environmental impacts.     

Solids and nutrient removal from flushed swine manure using polyacrylamides

Most of the organic nutrient elements (nitrogen and phosphorus) and carbon compounds in liquid swine are contained in fine suspended particles. Flocculation treatment with polyacrylamide (PAM) followed by screening is one the best methods to separate the liquid fraction from the solid fraction in swine manure, and thus to eliminate nutrient elements associated with solids. In this study, the efficiency of a synthetic polyacrylamide to treat swine manure was evaluated. After polymer treatment samples were sieved and the filtrated liquid was analyzed. TSS, VSS and COD concentrations in the liquid fraction were 2.17, 1.93 and 16.42 g/L respectively, accounting for 94, 94 and 77% removal percentages for TSS, VSS and COD using 30 mg/L of PAM.     

Consequence of altered nitrogen cycles in the coupled human and ecological system under changing climate: The need for long-term and site-based research

Anthropogenically derived nitrogen (N) has a central role in global environmental changes, including climate change, biodiversity loss, air pollution, greenhouse gas emission, water pollution, as well as food production and human health. Current understanding of the biogeochemical processes that govern the N cycle in coupled human–ecological systems around the globe is drawn largely from the long-term ecological monitoring and experimental studies. Here, we review spatial and temporal patterns and trends in reactive N emissions, and the interactions between N and other important elements that dictate their delivery from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems, and the impacts of N on biodiversity and human society. Integrated international and long-term collaborative studies covering research gaps will reduce uncertainties and promote further understanding of the nitrogen cycle in various ecosystems.