Biological Approaches for Remediation of Metal-Contaminated Sites

Environmental pollution by several heavy metals and metalloids is a severe problem worldwide, as soils became increasingly contaminated, posing a threat to ecosystems and ultimately to human health. Contamination derives from large scale urbanization and industrialization, threatening land ecosystems, surface and groundwater, as well as food safety and human health. Remediation strategies for heavy metal-contaminated sites are necessary to protect from their toxic effects and conserve the environment for future generations. Numerous physicochemical techniques have been adopted including excavation and deposition in landfills, thermal treatment, leaching and electro-reclamation. These techniques are fast but inadequate, costly, cause adverse effects on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, and may lead to secondary pollution. In fact, many of these approaches only change the problem from one form or place to another, and do not completely destroy the pollutants. There was an urgent need to develop new technologies which are cost-effective and eco-friendly. In this context, biological remediation has tremendous potential. It uses plants and microorganisms to remove or contain toxic contaminants and is considered as the most effective method because it is a natural process, environmentally-friendly, has a low cost, and wide public acceptance. The present chapter aims to provide a comprehensive review of some of the promising processes mediated by plant and microbes to remediate metal-contaminated environments. Some biological processes used for the decontamination of organic compounds will also be included because of their relevance and potential common use for both purposes.

Os registos religiosos - o acervo da Pousada dos Lóios (Évora): Um caso de estudo

A presente dissertação de mestrado em Gestão e Valorização do Património Histórico e Cultural assenta num estudo de caso: o acervo dos registos religiosos da Pousada dos Lóios, em Évora. Ao longo dos quatro capítulos que a constituem, procuramos explicar o que são os registos religiosos, qual a sua dimensão e riqueza patrimonial e cultural, analisamos os vários aspectos que os definem, e propomos dois planos de acção para a sua salvaguarda, conservação e valorização. Neste contexto cruzamos o mundo da religiosidade popular em busca da fé que dá azo à criação dos registos religiosos, e o da história da gravura artística, uma vez que a gravura é o elemento fulcral, a imagem da religiosidade e do registo religioso; investigamos a presença da denominada arte popular no contexto da religiosidade, da história da arte e da sociedade; procedemos à elaboração do inventário do acervo, à respectiva catalogação e análise. Por último, apresentamos uma proposta de exposição como forma de valorização complementar para os registos religiosos da Pousada dos Lóios. ABSTRACT; The following dissertation of master's degree in Management and Valorization of the Historic and Cultural Patrimony is based on a case study of the assets of the religious registers of the Pousada dos Lóios in Évora. Through the four chapters that constitute it, we try to explain what are the religious registers, its dimension and patrimonial and cultural value, we analyze the many aspects that define them, and we propose two plans of action to its protection, conservation and valorization. ln this context we cross the world of popular religiosity in search of the faith that gives birth to the creation of religious registers, and the history of the artistic illustration, since the illustration is the central element, the image of religiosity and of the religious register; we investigate the presence of the so called popular art in the context of religiosity, in the history of art and in society; we elaborate an inventory of the assets, the respective cataloguing and analysis. At last, we present proposal of exposition as a way of complementary valorization of the religious registers of the Pousada dos Lóios.