Transboundary Socio-Ecological Effects of a Marine Protected Area in the Southwest Atlantic

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been regarded as an alternative to protect natural resources and to improve fisheries. However, MPAs may also have negative socio-economic consequences on fishing communities. We aimed to check the effectiveness of a socially conflicting MPA in Brazil by assessing target reef fish biomass in islands inside (n = 6) and outside (n = 6) the MPA, fisheries’ productivity (biomass), catch per unit of effort (CPUE), and fishers’ socio-economic status (mainly fishers’ income) in three fishing communities subjected to different degrees of influence (close, average, and long distance) of the MPA. The CPUE was higher in the fishing community that was further away from the MPA, fish biomass was higher in the islands located inside the MPA in the southern region and in the islands located outside the MPA in the northern region, while fishers were making the most money closest to the MPA, where conflicts are the highest, probably from practicing very intensive fisheries. This integrated approach showed that the studied MPA has not delivered ecological benefits, such as higher CPUE or more fish, while higher income closer to the MPA could not be clearly attributed to its effects.     

Chemical Characterization of Soil Used as a Deposit for Waste Originating From the Manufacturing of Products Based on Fiberglass

Companies need to follow environmental laws as they affect their manufacturing systems, waste handling, and the management of soil on their properties to ensure that their properties are either improved or altered as little as possible. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the use of energy dispersive X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) to determine the concentrations of elements present in the soil at a manufacturer of products based on fiberglass where wastes from production activities have been deposited on the property.     

Modeling of vapor intrusion from hydrocarbon-contaminated sources accounting for aerobic and anaerobic biodegradation

A one-dimensional steady state vapor intrusion model including both anaerobic and oxygen-limited aerobic biodegradation was developed. The aerobic and anaerobic layer thickness are calculated by stoichiometrically coupling the reactive transport of vapors with oxygen transport and consumption. The model accounts for the different oxygen demand in the subsurface required to sustain the aerobic biodegradation of the compound(s) of concern and for the baseline soil oxygen respiration. In the case of anaerobic reaction under methanogenic conditions, the model accounts for the generation of methane which leads to a further oxygen demand, due to methane oxidation, in the aerobic zone. The model was solved analytically and applied, using representative parameter ranges and values, to identify under which site conditions the attenuation of hydrocarbons migrating into indoor environments is likely to be significant. Simulations were performed assuming a soil contaminated by toluene only, by a BTEX mixture, by Fresh Gasoline and by Weathered Gasoline. The obtained results have shown that for several site conditions oxygen concentration below the building is sufficient to sustain aerobic biodegradation. For these scenarios the aerobic biodegradation is the primary mechanism of attenuation, i.e. anaerobic contribution is negligible and a model accounting just for aerobic biodegradation can be used. On the contrary, in all cases where oxygen is not sufficient to sustain aerobic biodegradation alone (e.g. highly contaminated sources), anaerobic biodegradation can significantly contribute to the overall attenuation depending on the site specific conditions.     

DDT polluted meltwater affects reproduction in the mussel Dreissena polymorpha

The zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha was used to follow the recently reported DDT pollution of Lake Iseo (N. Italy). Histopathological analyses were performed on mussels sampled from March 2005 to April 2006, when high DDT levels were found, and results were compared to those from mussels sampled in 2001/2002, before the pollution event. During the 2005/2006 reproductive season, the first male gamete release happened one month later than the onset of spawning in females who showed a high number of specimens with degenerating oocytes, despite a regular pattern of gametogenesis. These results indicated a disrupting action of DDT on the mechanisms involved in sperm release, and a disturbance in the gametogenic phases of the ovary. Pathological pictures in the digestive gland of many mussels from both 2001/2002 and 2005/2006 have also been observed, but DDT pollution is unable to explain the presence of pathological fields in mussels during 2001/2002, for which a previously reported contamination seems to be the main cause. A possible role of DDT in skewing the sex ratio towards a predominance of females was also discussed, considering the high number of females sampled in 2005/2006.     

Biomonitoring of oral epithelial cells in petrol station attendants: Comparison between buccal mucosa and lateral border of the tongue

Owing to the influence of geno- and cytotoxicity on chemical carcinogenesis, studies have demonstrated that petroleum derivatives are able to induce genetic damage and cellular death with conflicting results so far. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from gas petrol attendants using two different anatomic buccal sites: cheek mucosa and lateral border of the tongue. A total of 23 gas petrol attendants and 23 health controls (non-exposed individuals) were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from cheek and lateral border of the tongue mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative and dropped in clean slides which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. The results pointed out significant statistical differences (p < 0.05) of micronucleated oral mucosa cells from gas petrol attendants for both oral sites evaluated. In the same way, petroleum derivate exposure was able to increase other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis, being the most pronunciated effects as those found in the lateral border of the tongue. No interaction was observed between smoking and petroleum exposure. In summary, these data indicate that gas petrol attendants comprise a high risk group for DNA damage and cellular death. It seems that the lateral border of the tongue is a more sensitive site to geno- and cytotoxic insult induced by petroleum derivates.     

Community-Based Technology Transfer in Rural Aquaculture: The Case of Mudcrab Scylla serrata Nursery in Ponds in Northern Samar,Central Philippines

Finding aquaculture development approaches to open up livelihood opportunities for the rural poor and in mainstreaming smallholder fish farmers to reduce poverty remain a challenge. This paper examines the community-based technology transfer mechanism of mudcrab nursery in ponds and its socioeconomic impacts on smallholder mudcrab growers in Northern Samar, Philippines. Results indicated that the technology is a viable enterprise done by a straight culture system method, which is the rearing of crablets from <1.0 to 4.0 cm for 42 days, or by-phases. However, technology adoption hinges on many factors like area ownership, farm distance from household, and market including the type of strategy needed to enhance technology uptake. Collaboration among research and development institutions and local partners is critical in training and empowering rural communities to adopt aquaculture technologies.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13280-014-0528-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Water quality of the Ribeirão Preto Stream, a watercourse under anthropogenic influence in the southeast of Brazil

It is known that Brazil still has a privileged position of water quantity and quality, but water use has not proceeded in a responsible manner and often results in impairment of quality. This study aims to evaluate limnological parameters, parasites and bacteria, and concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Mn, Hg, and Zn) in surface water of Ribeirão Preto Stream. The Ribeirão Preto Stream is located in urban areas under anthropogenic influence. The results showed that the levels of dissolved oxygen values were lower than those established by the National Environmental Council (CONAMA Resolution No 357/2005). The reading of electrical conductivity showed values typical of impacted environments. The parasitological analysis revealed the presence of nematode larvae. The bacteriological analysis showed higher values for total coliform and Escherichia coli than those set by the Brazilian National Environment Council (CONAMA). The heavy metals Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Mn, Hg, and Zn showed concentrations in accordance with the guidelines established by CONAMA. The results provide data on the quality of these waters and showed the necessity to protect the watercourse from point sources of contamination, recommending their continued monitoring.     

Does financial openness cause the intensification of environmental degradation? New evidence from Latin American and Caribbean countries

Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - The impact of financial openness on environmental degradation, mainly via carbon dioxide emissions, was investigated for a panel of 21 Latin American...     

Continuous monitoring of odours from a composting plant using electronic noses

The odour impact of a composting plant situated in an urbanized area was evaluated by continuously monitoring the ambient air close to the plant during a period of about 4 days using two electronic noses. One electronic nose was installed in a nearby house, and the other one inside the perimeter of the composting plant in order to compare the response of both instruments. The results of the monitoring are represented by tables that report the olfactory class and the odour concentration value attributed to the analyzed air for each of the 370 measurements carried out during the monitoring period. The electronic nose installed at the house detected the presence of odours coming from the composting plant for about 7.8% of the monitoring total duration. Of the odour detections, 86% (25 of 29 measurements) were classified as belonging to the olfactory class corresponding to the open air storage of the waste screening overflows heaps, which was therefore identified to be the major odour source of the monitored composting plant. In correspondence of the measurements during which the electronic nose inside the house detected the presence of odours from the composting plant, the olfactory classes recognized by both instruments coincide. Moreover, the electronic nose at the house detected the presence of odours from the composting plant at issue in correspondence of each odour perception of the house occupants. The results of the study show the possibility of using an electronic nose for environmental odours monitoring, which enables the classification of the quality of the air and to quantify the olfactory nuisance from an industrial source in terms of duration and odour concentration.