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.     

Evaluation of cetacean exposure to organotin compounds in Brazilian waters through hepatic total tin concentrations

In Brazil, there is no restriction to the use of organotins (OTs). Previous investigations have shown that hepatic ∑Sn in cetaceans is predominantly organic. Hepatic ∑Sn concentrations were determined by GFAAS in 67 cetaceans (13 species) that stranded on Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Espirito Santo (ES) states. Concentrations (in ng/g wet wt.) of marine tucuxis (n = 20) from the highly contaminated Guanabara Bay (in RJ) varied from 1703 to 9638. Concentrations of three marine tucuxi foetuses and one newborn calf (all from Guanabara Bay) varied between 431 and 2107. Contrastingly, the maximum level among 19 oceanic dolphins was 346, and 15 out of these 19 specimens presented concentrations below detection limit. The levels of Sn in six marine tucuxis from a less contaminated area (ES) varied from below detection limit to 744. Comparing to the literature, coastal cetaceans from Brazil appear to be highly exposed to OTs.     

On the effect of MSW moisture content on meeting target recycling rates

A mathematical model to calculate the recycle rates for packaging materials from the municipal solid wastes (MSW) built from the dry mass values that are obtained from the corresponding wet masses and their respective moisture contents is presented in this work. A possible universal methodology is also described to be used with the previous model so that reliable comparisons between indicators for different regions are feasible. Furthermore, this mathematical model demonstrates the effect of the moisture content of packaging materials on their recycling rates and constitutes a fundamental tool for operators and persons responsible for MSW management to define new policies and technical measures viewing the improvement of recycling rates. A theoretical study and the application of the model to the MEMSW of the Lisbon region shows that the moisture content of the mixed wastes plays a dominant role in the recycling rates of packaging materials such as paper, plastics and glass. Moreover, accounting for all relevant masses in the dry basis yields higher recycling rate values: increases of 32.8% for paper, 50% for plastics and 44.6% glass are observed.     

Evolution of biodegradation of deinking by-products used as alternative cover material

Deinking by-products (DBP) have been used as alternative cover material for landfills and mine tailings. Since DBP is biodegradable because of its high cellulose and hemicellulose content, a laboratory experimental program was performed to monitor the evolution of biodegradation and changes in the physico-chemical and geotechnical properties of DBP samples submitted to accelerated biodegradation for 1460 days at 38 degrees C. The evolution of gas and leachate production was monitored in terms of both quality and quantity, which allowed for the calculation of mass loss with time. Under the conditions of the tests (no load applied), 19.6% of the mass was lost as gas, whereas 6.1% was leached out. The results show that biodegradation did not significantly alter the compaction behavior of DBP. The void ratio and water content increased significantly, while the volume of the samples slightly decreased. This seem to indicate that the porous structure of the samples was no longer the same after 1460 d of accelerated biodegradation. A slight increase in the relative density indicates that the organic/inorganic matter ratio increased. The results of permeability tests performed with samples at various stages of biodegradation and at various confining stresses show that the saturated hydraulic conductivity of recompacted biodegraded DBP decreased from 7 x 10(-7)cm/s to approximately 2 x 10(-7)cm/s, as biodegradation advanced.     

Spectroscopic changes on fulvic acids from a kraft pulp mill effluent caused by sun irradiation

Large volumes of wastewater with a high organic load are generated by the pulp and paper industry that negatively affect the quality of receiving waters. The main waste products in the pulp mill effluents are lignin derived macromolecular compounds, which are similar to natural humic substances and very resistant to wastewater treatments. Fulvic acids (FA) represent the higher percentage of these humic substances and it was observed that solar irradiation modify their properties. Several analytic tools, namely, UV–Visible, molecular fluorescence and FTIR spectroscopies, were used to assess the effect of solar exposition on fulvic acids from a kraft pulp mill effluent. It may be concluded that sun irradiation may alter to a high extent the physicochemical properties of macromolecular organic matter, namely fulvic acids, released by kraft pulp mill effluents. After solar exposition, the aromaticity decreases, the aliphatic structures become more oxygenated, and the fulvic acids from the pulp mill effluent remaining in solution are more similar to aquatic fulvic acids from non polluted sites.     

Bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in female common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) from western European seas: geographical trends, causal factors and effects on reproduction and mortality

Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in blubber of female common dolphins and harbour porpoises from the Atlantic coast of Europe were frequently above the threshold at which effects on reproduction could be expected, in 40% and 47% of cases respectively. This rose to 74% for porpoises from the southern North Sea. PCB concentrations were also high in southern North Sea fish. The average pregnancy rate recorded in porpoises (42%) in the study area was lower than in the western Atlantic but that in common dolphins (25%) was similar to that of the western Atlantic population. Porpoises that died from disease or parasitic infection had higher concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) than animals dying from other causes. Few of the common dolphins sampled had died from disease or parasitic infection. POP profiles in common dolphin blubber were related to individual feeding history while those in porpoises were more strongly related to condition.     

C, δC and total C content in soils around a Brazilian PWR nuclear power plant

Nuclear power plants release ¹⁴C during routine operation mainly as airborne gaseous effluents. Because of the long half-life (5730 years) and biological importance of this radionuclide (it is incorporated in plant tissue by photosynthesis), several countries have monitoring programs in order to quantify and control these emissions. This paper compares the activity of ¹⁴C in soils taken within 1 km from a Brazilian nuclear power plant with soils taken within a reference area located 50 km away from the reactor site. Analyses of total carbon, δ¹³C and ¹³⁷Cs were also performed in order to understand the local soil dynamics. Except for one of the profiles, the isotopic composition of soil organic carbon reflected the actual forest vegetation present in both areas. The ¹³⁷Cs data show that the soils from the base of hills are probably allocthonous.