Count, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria recovered from dental solid waste in Brazil

In Brazil, few studies on microbial content of dental solid waste and its antibiotic susceptibility are available. An effort has been made through this study to evaluate the hazardous status of dental solid waste, keeping in mind its possible role in cross-infection chain. Six samples of solid waste were collected at different times and seasons from three dental health services. The microbial content was evaluated in different culture media and atmospheric conditions, and the isolates were submitted to antibiotic susceptibility testing. A total of 766 bacterial strains were isolated and identified during the study period. Gram-positive cocci were the most frequent morphotype isolated (48.0%), followed by Gram-negative rods (46.2%), Gram-positive rods (5.0%), Gram-negative-cocci (0.4%), and Gram-positive coccobacillus (0.1%). Only two anaerobic bacteria were isolated (0.3%). The most frequently isolated species was Staphylococcus epidermidis (29.9%), followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (8.2%), and Enterococcus faecalis (6.7%). High resistance rate to ampicillin was observed among Gram-negative rods (59.4%) and Gram-positive cocci (44.4%). For Gram-negative rods, high resistance was also noted to aztreonam (47.7%), cefotaxime (47.4%), ceftriaxone and cefazolin (43.7%), and ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (38.2%). Against Gram-positive cocci penicillin exhibit a higher resistance rate (45.0%), followed by ampicillin, erythromycin (27.2%), and tetracycline (22.0%). The present study demonstrated that several pathogenic bacteria are present in dental solid waste and can survive after 48 h from the waste generation time and harbor resistance profiles against several clinical recommended antibiotics.     

Endogenous Growth and the Possibility of Eliminating Pollution

This paper studies the effect on optimal growth of the possibility that at some moment in the future a technology is discovered that eliminates pollution. We formalize this possibility as a probability p per unit of time of discovering such a technology. We focus on steady-state behavior and show that the optimal rate of growth increases with the hope of eliminating pollution. For an economy where there is no growth in the steady state of the optimal trajectory when p = 0, a positive p may imply positive growth. The higher the value of the probability, the larger the endogenous rate of growth.     

Determination of copper in biological samples by flame atomic absorption spectrometry after precipitation with Me-BTAP

A simple and sensitive method was developed for determination of trace copper by direct precipitation preconcentration and detection with Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS). The reagent 2-[2'-(6-methyl-benzothiazolylazo)]-4-aminophenol (Me-BTAP) was used as precipitating agent. The experimental conditions for the quantitative precipitation of copper, such as pH, amount of reagents, temperature and the effect of diverse ions on the precipitation have been investigated. It was found that copper is quantitatively extracted (> or =95%) and the method provides a sensitivity enhancement of 40-fold for a 10 ml sample volume with a detection limit of 0.5 microg l(-1). The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of trace copper in water, urine and biological samples.     

Evaluating the ecological integrity of Atlantic forest remnants by using rapid ecological assessment

The need for quick identification of priority areas for biodiversity protection makes rapid assessment methods important management tools for defining conservation strategies. An increasingly used rapid assessment method is rapid ecological assessment (REA), a fast and flexible survey directed toward selected indicator species and vegetation forms. The purpose of this study was to propose and test REA based on plant community features of the semideciduous Atlantic forest (SAF). Correlation tests were performed between data collected by REA and plant species diversity, richness, and abundance collected by conventional woody plant inventory methods. The study was conducted in 21 SAF patches in Northern Paraná State, Brazil. The phytosociological inventory was conducted along a single transect and required 2 days to complete (excluding time spent for herbarium identification), whereas REA was conducted along three to four transects per working day. REA results correlated positively with woody plant diversity, proving REA to be an efficient method for defining the conservation status of SAF fragments, but accuracy of evaluations of threats to biological integrity are relatively low. Both the selection of appropriate variables and the skill level of field staff are critical and can strongly influence REA results.     

Assessment of liquid disposal originated by uranium enrichment at Aramar Experimental Center São Paulo--Brazil

This work presents a liquid disposal monitoring originated from uranium enrichment process at Aramar Experimental Center from 1990 to 1998. Assessment of uranium, fluorides, ammoniacal nitrogen, chemical oxygen demand, and pH measurements were made in water samples and compared with results achieved in other countries, as North America and India. The liquid disposal evaluation, generated by uranium enrichment process, showed low levels, considering most parameters established by Federal and State Legislation, aiming environmental pollution control. However, uranium levels were above the limits established by Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente, Environment Protection Agency and mainly by the World Health Organization.     

Metal and hydrocarbon behavior in sediments from Brazilian shallow waters drilling activities using nonaqueous drilling fluids (NAFs)

The impact of drilling oil activities in the Brazilian Bonito Field/Campos Basin (Rio de Janeiro) shell drilling (300 m) using nonaqueous fluids (NAFs) was investigated with respect to Al, Fe, Mn, Ba, Co, Pb, Cu, As, Hg, Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, V, and aliphatic and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in the sediment. Sampling took place in three different times during approximately 33 months. For the metals Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Cd, Fe, Ni, Mn, V, and Zn, no significant variation was observed after drilling activities in most of the stations. However, an increase was found in Ba concentration—due to the drilling activity—without return to the levels found 22 months after drilling. High Ba contents was already detected prior to well drilling, probably due to drilling activities in other wells nearby. Hydrocarbon contents also suggest previous anthropogenic activities. Aliphatic hydrocarbon contents were in the range usually reported in other drilling sites. The same behavior was observed in the case of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Nevertheless, the n-alkane concentration increased sharply after drilling, returning almost to predrilling levels 22 months after drilling activities.     

Pollution by oestrogenic endocrine disruptors and β-sitosterol in a south-western European river (Mira,Portugal)

The Mira River is a Portuguese water body widely known for its wilderness and is advertised as one of the less polluted European rivers. On this presumption, the levels of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) in Mira waters were never measured. However, because environmentalists have claimed that the Mira could be moderately polluted, a range of 17 EDCs were measured not only at the estuary but also along the river. The targeted EDCs included natural and pharmaceutical oestrogens (17β-oestradiol, oestrone and 17α-ethynylestradiol), industrial/household pollutants (octylphenols, nonylphenols and their monoethoxylates and diethoxylates and bisphenol A), phytoestrogens (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, genistein) and the phytosterol sitosterol (SITO). For this propose, waters from six sampling sites were taken every 2 months, over a 1-year period (2011), and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Unexpectedly high levels of oestrogens and of industrial/household pollutants were measured at all sampling sites, including those located inside natural protected areas. Indeed, the annual average sum of EDCs was ≈57 ng/L for oestrogens and ≈1.3 μg/L for industrial/household chemicals. In contrast, the global average levels of phytoestrogens (≈140 ng/L) and of SITO (≈295 ng/L) were lower than those reported worldwide. The EDC concentrations were normalised for ethynylestradiol equivalents (EE_2eq). In view of these, the oestrogenic load of the Mira River attained ≈47 ng/L EE_2eq. In addition, phosphates were above legal limits at both spring and summer (>1 mg/L). Overall, data show EDCs at toxicant relevant levels in the Mira and stress the need to monitor rivers that are allegedly less polluted.     

Determinants of dioxins and furans in blood of non-occupationally exposed populations living near Portuguese solid waste incinerators

Biomonitoring of dioxin body burden, as evaluated by PCDD/F levels in blood, has been carried out in a total of 138 adults from general population living in the vicinity of solid waste incinerators in Portugal. Measurements were performed included in cross-sectional surveys within two Environmental Health Surveillance Programs launched in response to ecotoxicological concern in relation to solid waste incinerators near Lisbon and in Madeira Island. Overall conclusion from first published results is indicative that dioxin exposure of global populations cannot be related to the emissions of these facilities, meaning that dioxin sources control seems to be effective in relation to both incinerators. Main objective of present work was to investigate potential determinants of dioxin levels in the studied populations. Findings from this investigation also suggest that incineration does not impact on dioxin blood levels of nearby residents. Follow-up of a small group of individuals (22) from Lisbon gives preliminary indication on temporal control effectiveness of the Lisbon facility. Regarding comparison between PCDD/F levels from Lisbon and Madeira communities, individuals from Lisbon show higher median PCDD/F levels, likely to be better explained by more highly polluted areas in Lisbon than by eventual differences in dietary habits of the studied groups. In fact, analysis performed on the diet of both groups (not detailed in the present study) does not show a statistically significant difference in relation to any of the most relevant foodstuffs in the context of dioxin exposure. Comparison between Lisbon and Madeira in relation to pattern of the single congeners for PCDD/Fs shows a very similar profile. The highest contributions to the PCDD/Fs toxicity came from 12378-PCDD, 23478-PCDF, Hexa-CDD, 2378-TCDD and Hexa-CDF.