Avaliação do potencial mutagênico da água do açude de Lucrécia (RN- Brasil): um enfoque na relação saúde e ambiente

The water quality of many reservoirs in the world has been reduced due to percolation of contaminants to water, which can have natural or anthropogenic origin, increasing the level of genotoxic compounds in aquatic ecosystems. This fact has contributed to the reduction of environmental quality, and commitment the health of living beings that inhabit these ecosystems, including the human population. In this backdrop of reduced water quality, is the Lucrecia dam, which is a major surface water reservoirs by volume of semi-arid region of Rio Grande do Norte, and that has shown contamination by heavy metals, cyanobacteria toxic and the natural presence of Radon. The population that use this source has been showing high rates of cancer, popularly associated with the consumption of this water, with a prevalence about three times higher compared to the whole state of Rio Grande do Norte. Based on this, the present study aimed to evaluate the mutagenic potencial of surface water from the Lucrecia dam, using the Micronucleus Test in Tradescantia pallida (Trad-MN) and in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (CBMN) assay, as well as identify the concentrations of some heavy metals in this water. Water samples were collected on a dry season and a rainy season, in two distinct points. Moreover, in order to bring a completely view about the relationship of man-health-environment in this local, through the knowledge of knowing / acting environmental from residents of Lucrecia, and the use and perceptions they have about the dam of your city, a study of Environmental Perception was carried out with local residents. The results obtained for the both micronucleus test, showed significant results for the three points analyzed. The strongest mutagenic effect was observed in the dry season for both assays. Chemical analyses detected an increase of heavy metal levels in different points and season above the maximum allowed by legislation. Regarding the study of Environmental Perception with local residents, it was observed the knowledge of the environment that the residents have, as well as the strong ties and perceptions with the dam of the city. Thus, the combination of these two aspects (the genetic toxicity tests conducted in the dam together with analysis of environmental perception with the residents of Lucrecia) allowed to draw a more complete diagnosis on the local situation

Horticultura no baixo curso do Rio Doce, zona norte do Natal/RN: avaliação da qualidade da água por meio de ensaios ecotoxicológicos

The research is developed in areas of horticulture in the city of Natal, in the neighborhoods of Lagoa Azul, Pajuçara and Redinha, along the Doce River, border area with Extremoz city, Rio Grande do Norte State. The region of the fluvial plain of Doce River is located in an Environmental Protection Zone (ZPA-9). This is one of the ZPA which is not under the regulatory marks and there are several environmental problems caused by use and land occupation, featuring an evident disregard of environmental laws and whose protection is hindered by the lack of specific legal mechanisms. This study aims to provide an overview of the use of pesticides in the lower course of the Doce River, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, and to assess environmental degradation in the area through chronic toxicity tests using the microcrustaceous Ceriodaphnia dubia Richard 1894 (Cladocera, Crustacea) as test organism. Visits were made to the area in 2009 and 2010. To obtain information a diagnosis of the local situation was accomplished based on personal observation and non-participatory photographic record, with the aim of assessing the environmental characteristics, population diversity and work processes of horticulturists. During the visits four different points of the Doce River were chosen to collect water for ecotoxicological tests and survey of physico-chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, chloride, turbidity, conductivity and temperature), which were measured in the field using Multiparameter Probe (TROLL 9500). The adverse effects of pesticide use in the lower course of the Doce River is a major problem for both the environmental and human health, since many of the substances and active principles that enter in the composition of the products are synthesized molecules whose effects can only be evaluated through different studies on their actions and behavior at short, medium or long term

Experiências de inverno no seridó potiguar

The knowledge known as "winter experiences" has been developed for centuries among country people in the Brazilian Northeast hinterlands. It consists in the systematic observation of the nature to forecast and protect people against the effects of droughts. This knowledge is transmitted orally through generations. These experiences are guided by the observation of the behavior of fauna, flora, stars, the weather in the holy days and other very specific aspects of the lives of country people. Almost all country people living in the rural area know at least one experience, but the Prophets of Rain are known as the communicators of winter prophecies formulated from the observation of the experiences. The country person is identified as a Prophet of Rain because of his close relationship with nature and his ability to forecast. No matter if the prophecies are always right, he possesses a vital social role, as his practices contribute to prevent, ease and encourage other people. The main aim of this work is to analyze the role of the winter experiences for the country people in the Seridó Potiguar. In this sense, we sought to understand to what extent this knowledge still orients the productive practices of farmers living in this region and identify which factors instigate the observation of winter experiences nowadays. 241 questionnaires were applied to farmers in the rural cities of Acari, Caicó, Parelhas and Lagoa Nova and interviews were conducted with 15 Prophets in the Seridó. The methodological framework of this work is the analysis of content proposed by Bardin (2010). In this study area, the experiences exert influence and relevance to the country people in the Seridó, because they consider them as a way to ease their anguishes face the possible drought in the region. The major role of the Prophet is to feed the hope of country people for better days, rather than contribute for the organization of the productive activities. Among the interviewed people, the forecast from the observation of winter experiences have greater credibility than the meteorological and disseminated by media. The Prophets of Rain base their prophecies on the set of natural elements present in the environment. Many factors stimulate the winter experiences by the Prophets nowadays, as cultural transmission, age, relationship with nature, level of education, faith, among others, but specially the productive activities (agriculture and cattle raising) and the droughts. The winter means abundance and happiness in this region and the experience is one of the ways that people find to minimize the anxiety and, according to their possibilities, to prepare for a year of droughts or for winter

Percepção e ações educativas em ambientes escolares: enfoques aos documentos legais determinantes em área de proteção ambiental

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Ecossocialismo: a gênese de uma ecologia social em assentamentos de reforma agrária a partir dos movimentos sociais do campo

The world`s ecology crisis has in the capitalism way of production one of the possible causes. The unstopped search for the profits, into unlimited exploration of limited resources, made a huge transformation in human relationships with the nature, causing environment devastation, shortage of resources and species disappearance. Arises the necessity of question the society model that we are and which brings this crisis state, while we are impelled to search an alternative way. The ecosociallist praxis blows marxist principles with ecological matters, bringing important contributions regarding alternatives to capital/exploratory modus, advocating for a social fair society and environmentally sustainable. This way, by bibliographic review, we will research about this theory which have been growing in academic middles. In the same way, we will analyze the rural social movements paper in the construct of this reality. Throut the half estruture interviwes, bibliografic research and visities in the space of settlement called Moacir Lucena, that is today a exemple of rural resignification

Degradação ambiental no município de Cerro Corá RN por técnicas de geoprocessamento

The processes of occupation and evolution of natural environments as a result of a disorderly process of implementing economic practices agrosilvopastoris play today an important role in the degradation process of changing the landscape and natural resources of the semiarid Northeast. The Serra de Santana has natural elements important to the state of Rio Grande do Norte as the source of the Potengi. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the degree of degradation in the municipality of Cerro Cora - RN. We used satellite images Landsat-5 and census data for the year 2008. The method made use of geotechnology which includes land use, NDVI, rainfall, livestock and erodibility in the evaluation of environmental degradation, as well as satellite images of Landsat TM-5, in the years 1984, 1995 and 2008, letters of NDVI, census data regarding the socioeconomic obtained from IBGE. The results showed that the absolute majority in the municipality of Cerro Cora has a low to medium susceptibility, which together represent 63.92% of the municipality, with a regression of disturbed areas and the areas of agriculture, and a recovery of the areas of Caatinga , coming to occupy currently 92% of the municipal territory. A Geographic Information System is indispensable to environmental monitoring of Cerro Cora / RN

Avaliação do risco ocupacional de trabalhadores expostos a agrotóxicos no município de Touros/Rio grande do Norte

The use of pesticides is being used intensively with severe consequences for exposed farmers. This study aimed to describe the socioeconomic and health profiles of 60 farmers in the city of Touros / RN through the questionnaire recommended by: (International Commission for Protection against Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens (ICPEMC). The analysis of these data allowed to prove the importance of knowledge about the socioeconomic and health profile of rural farmers as a way to understand the reality of this population, that is vulnerable to exposure due to the lack of knowledge and conditions. Aiming to analyze the frequency of micronucleus (MN) and other nuclear abnormalities in oral mucosa cells of 54 farmers that work in the city of Touros / RN it was applied the micronucleus test (MN) in oral mucosa. Our results showed an increased frequency of MN and other nuclear abnormalities related to the exposure and effects of pesticides on health. Based on the results, it is clear that farmers are using pesticide in the wrong way and compromising their health. A Cordel has been developed as a method to taking the results to the people affected by the pesticides. Therefore this study alerts to the need for profound changes in the social, cultural and health context to reduce health risks for both people and for the environment

Conservação de espécies nativas em um assentamento rural do município de Apodi-RN: impactos socioambientais e econômicos e o uso da biotecnologia como alternativa promissora

The Caatinga biome has a high diversity of potential and their conservation constitutes one of the greatest challenges of Brazilian science. The sustainable management of the Caatinga emerges as an alternative that through the formation of systems agrossilvipastoris, enables the use of forest resources sustainably, ensuring their conservation, regeneration and recovery. In RN this technique has been developed mainly in settlements of Agrarian Reform, such as P. A. Moaci Lucena, and their impacts go beyond the environmental aspect and reverberate socially and economically on the quality of life of family farmers. Despite the efficiency of the Sustainable Management of the Caatinga in the conservation of native species, many forests species of this biome faces serious problems of propagation and for this reason have become vulnerable to extinction, as is the case of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth . Thus , it is evident the need to use sustainable alternatives to overcome the difficulties of propagation of this species and enable their replacement in areas where their existence is threatened. The Plant Biotechnology is considered as a promising alternative in this sense, considering that by micropropagation enables the large-scale production of seedlings with high health genetics status. This work has the following objectives: evaluate the perception of family farmers of P. A. Moaci Lucena in relation to social, environmental and economic impacts of the Sustainable Management of the Caatinga and check the conditions of germination and in vitro propagation of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth that enabling the production of seedlings of this specie on a large scale. To achieve the first objective, semi-structured interviews showed that in the perception of farmers PA Moaci Lucena, the Sustainable Management of the Caatinga was responsible for generating many social, environmental and economic impacts that affected directly in the improvement in the quality of life of the families of the Settlement Project Moaci Lucena. Have to achieve the second objective, were investigated the influence of different substrates and concentrations of growth regulator BAP in the germination and shoot induction in vitro of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth. The vermiculite was presented as the most suitable substrate for germination of this species, because it provided a more rapid germination, higher growth rates and higher dry matter accumulation. Regarding micropropagation, the concentration of 17.76 μmol/L of BAP presented a more responsive in relation to multiplication rate and the number of shoots in M. caesalpiniifolia, thus constituting the most suitable concentration for the in vitro propagation of this specie

Metais pesados no caranguejo Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) e ecotoxicologia de sedimentos do estuario dos Rios Jundiai e Potengi - RN

This study is conducted in the estuary of the rivers Jundiaí and Potengi, one of the most important estuaries of Rio Grande do Norte, which suffers a strong anthropogenic influence from neighboring cities. According to Resolution 344/2005 environments that have high concentrations of metals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury need ecotoxicological tests. This study aims to evaluate the heavy metals contamination in the estuary through analysis of sediment collected at four points distributed from Macaíba to Natal city, and in the crab Uçá, Ucides cordatus. The study aims also to evaluate the effects of sediment toxicity in the tests organisms Leptocheirus plumulosus. To obtain data about the concentrations of heavy metals in the environment, sediments were collected in January and May 2011 and crab Uçá was collected in June 2011. On the other hand the monitoring was carried out through toxicological tests with sediment collected from July to October 2011. During the collection of sediment samples the physico-chemical parameters of water (dissolved oxygen, pH, chloride, turbidity, conductivity and temperature) were measured by using multi-parametric probe (TROLL 9500). It was possible to identify contamination by metals such as lead, cadmium, arsenic and copper both in the sediment and in the Uçá crab, which characterizes that the consumption of this crustacean may be a risk to human health. Once the concentrations of metals were identified, toxicology tests were performed and revealed toxic effect to organisms in at least one of the four months studied. Point 2 was classified as toxic in three of the four months studied . The heavy metal contamination is a risk to the environment, to aquatic organisms and to the community which survives of resources taken from the environment

Avaliação do potencial de toxicidade de florações de cianobactérias como subsídio para ações de gestão ambiental em açudes do semiárido potiguar

Blooms negatively compromise the aquatic environment, plants, animals and human health.Some species are toxin-producing, such as the neurotoxin saxitoxin and the hepatotoxin microcystin, which may contaminate water reservoirs, as those existing in the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil) which are used to supply the population, fishing, aquiculture and recreational activities, thereby providing the risk of human exposure through water intake, dermal contact and respiratory tract. Thus, it is recommended a constant monitoring of the density of cyanobacteria with the quantification of cyanotoxins. One goal with this work was the monitoring of water in four reservoirs in semiarid of RN through the identification and enumeration of cyanobacteria and through the identification and quantification of cyanotoxins by ELISA. Furthermore, we intended to assess the environmental perception of farmers and artisanal fishers in reservoirs of semiarid of RN through semi-structured interviews with questions mostly related to water and eutrophication. Through these objectives the aim was the development of management strategies for aquaculture and prevention of risks to public health. The results showed that the highest values of microcystins were found in the rainy season. Standards for drinking water, according to the guidelines of Ministry of Health 2914/2011 and CONAMA 357/05, setting the maximum values for raw water density of cyanobacteria: 50,000 cel.mL-1; microcystin: 1 μg. L-1 and saxitoxin: 3 μg. L-1. The values found for microcystin ranged between 0.00227 μg. L-1 and 24.1954 μg. L-1. From 128 samples analyzed, 27% were above the limit. There was no clear seasonal pattern for saxitoxins and their values ranged between 0.003 μg. L-1 and 0.766 μg. L-1 with none of the values above the limit. Furthermore, 76% of the densities of cyanobacteria values were above the limit. About environmental perception, 52 interviews were conducted and the results show that the respondents recognize the main uses of water of the rervoirs, recognize the importance and have a positive view about the reservoirs. They also realize that the water has a poor quality and can cause health problems. The results provide data showing the persistence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins, many times over the limit, reinforcing the importance of constant monitoring. The assessment of environmental perception gives foundation for later proposed environmental education linked to public health management into the context of this particular population, making it more effective

Vinculando a etnoictiologia às evidências biológicas para explicar o declínio da riqueza da ictiofauna neotropical

The diversity of fish species from South America has been affected by various anthropogenic practices. Some studies have reported the influence that illegal transferring or introduction of exotic species have on the trophic webs of continental lakes. The loss of diversity on fish populations and consequent impacts on fishery are commonly evidenced in these cases. The Brazilian Northeast has ponds for which exotic Amazonian species were transferred as Extremoz Lake. These environments serve as study models for comparison and investigation about the possible impacts of these introductions. We tested the hypothesis that loss of species that this trend can be related with the insertion of the genus Cichla, commonly documented as top predator in its endemic environment. Possible structural causes that interfere in other processes such as migration were also investigated. Thus, the local ecological knowledge of fishermen and a current ecotrophic model were used. We took samples of phytoplankton, zooplankton and fishes during two annual cycles. Concurrently, we made interviews with the fishing community. In fact, there are relations between the loss of fish and the insertion of peacock bass in Extremoz Lake. However, Cichla kelberi was not indicated as primary factor to explain fish species decline. The construction of bridges located in the Rio Doce was main factor for respondents and what explains loss of species. The migration of saltwater fish and / or from the river to Extremoz Lake is hindered by the unsuitability of the crossing-streams that are under these structures. According to the ecotrophic model Hoplias malabaricus was considered key-species and Cichla kelberi top predator. This last trend was similarly noticed in the stomach and local ecological knowledge of fishermen analysis. Overfishing simulations to Cichla kelberi resulted that only raising its captures in 200%, other native species would increase their biomass values only 15 to 30% (in 6 years).The negative effects of the alien species introduction without prior studies and lack of investments in appropriating these constructions to the needs of the fish fauna structures seem to act simultaneously. Both are causing the decline of fish species richness and consequent local artisanal fishery collapse

Coeficientes de incidência do dengue e sua relação com os diferenciais intra-urbanos segundo condições de vida no município do Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

This study sprang from the hypothesis that spatial variations in the morbidity rate for dengue fever within the municipality of Natal are related to intra-city socioeconomic and environmental variations. The objective of the project was to classify the different suburbs of Natal according to their living conditions and establish if there was any correlation between this classification and the incidence rate for dengue fever, with the aim of enabling public health planners to better control this disease. Data on population density, access to safe drinking water, rubbish collection, sewage disposal facilities, income level, education and the incidence of dengue fever during the years 2001 and 2003 was drawn from the Brazilian Demographic Census 2000 and from the Reportable Disease Notification System -SINAN. The study is presented here in the form of two papers, corresponding to the types of analysis performed: a classification of the urban districts into quartiles according to the living conditions which exist there, in the first article; and the incidence of dengue fever in each of these quartiles, in the second. By applying factorial analysis to the chosen socioeconomic and environmental indicators for the year 2000, a compound index of living condition (ICV) was obtained. On the basis of this index, it was possible to classify the urban districts into quartiles. On undertaking this grouping (paper 1), a heterogeneous distribution of living conditions was found across the city. As to the incidence rate for dengue fever (paper 2), it was discovered that the quartile identified as having the best living conditions presented incidence rates of 15.62 and 15.24 per 1000 inhabitants respectively in the years 2001 and 2003; whereas the quartile representing worst living conditions showed incidence rates of 25.10 and 10.32 for the comparable periods. The results suggest that dengue fever occurs in all social classes, and that its incidence is not related in any evident way to the chosen formula for living conditions

Processos sócio-ambientais relacionados às situações de degradação na região do Rio Doce, Natal/RN

Natal is a medium-sized coastal city (800.000 inhabitants), capital of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, in the Northeast of Brazil. According to statistics published by the IBGE (2000), the area of Natal that stretches from Redinha to Lagoa Azul holds about 12% of the municipal population. Part of this area is bordered by a watercourse, the Rio Doce, which has been afflicted by a range of socio-environmental problems over the years. This study was carried out with the aims of 1) identifying the socio-environmental processes related to urban expansion, with an emphasis on those causing environmental degradation in this region; b) analysing the perception of the target population in relation to the environment it occupies; and c) determining the socioeconomic profile of the local residents and the sanitary facilities available to them. A survey was carried out by conducting interviews and completing questionnaires with the residents to assess the situation both qualitatively and quantitatively in the communities of Caiana, Pajussara Sítio, Gramoré Povoado and Gramoré Sítio, as well as by conducting bibliographical and documentary research. It was discovered that the sanitary conditions of the riverside dwellers are precarious and only 1% of the houses in the suburbs mentioned are connected to the public sewers. It was established that the Rio Doce is intensively exploited through the extraction of sand for the building trade, irrigation of riverside vegetable plots and use of the water for bathing, washing of clothes and leisure. It was also found that about 40% of the population resident in this area has migrated from the rural zone, which is one of the factors rendering it difficult for them to adapt to the urban setting. Such information can be of use to the authorities in the environmental planning of these districts and their sustainable development

A biotecnologia vegetal como alternativa para a cotonicultura familiar sustentável

This paper aims to describe the familiar cotton culture in the districts of Tangará and Triunfo Potiguar, located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. It relates specific problems that small cotton agriculturists face in the cotton production and sale as well as their perception in relation to public policies that have been put into practice in these districts. The research revealed soils with potentiality for the cotton culture, but that are not being cultivated for anything else but subsistence, not being able to become productive, specifically through the cotton culture. That activity should be practiced so that it preserves the environment and the familiar farmers themselves, since it was verified they are constant1y exposed to health problems due to insecticides use. In what refers to fomentation policies it was observed that bureaucracy delays the liberation of the money destined to production, seeds delivery and other actions related to production and commercialization. Some procedures such as information and training about productivity development and attention with the environrnent and infrastructure are recommended. The results indicate lack of investments, rural credit and technical help, main1y in Triunfo Potiguar. There is unanimity, from the rural farmers of that district in what refers to the desire of improving the production and remaining in that activity. In this sense, the contribution of this research for the most appropriate culture production can be materialized through the technique of tissue's culture, aimed at obtaining plants that are resistant to diseases. The data indicated that the hormonal supplementations used induced regenerative calluses making in vitro morphogenesis possible in alI tested varieties. The use of the activated coal antioxidant was efficient, reducing oxidation, however not suppressing it. The results lead to an opportunity for the familiar tàrmers from Rio Grande do Norte enlarge the cotton culture, because to obtain plants that are resistant to diseases implies in insecticides reduction, propitiating smaller impact to the atmosphere and less cost

Caracterização sócio-ambiental do bairro de Felipe Camarão- Natal/ RN

The rapid growth of the Brazilian cities in the latest years has brought a series of problems regarding housing policies and, therefore, the provision of dwellings for the low-income class people. Following the pattern of other capital cities, Natal has repeated the pattern of urbanization practiced in the country, which concentrates the low-income class inhabitants in specific zones of the city known as peripheries or even in a dwelling place for less-favored classes such as Felipe Camarão, which is one of ten boroughs belonging to the western administrative zone, a region which has historically received less attention from the public administrators towards infrastructure investments. Based on those aspects, the general objective of this work is to investigate which main social-environmental alterations have resulted from the processes of urbanization and field occupation in that area. The specific objectives are concerned with verifying 1) the process of urbanization and the process of dividing urban soil from the 1960s; 2) the current configuration of the public spaces in the borough; 3) the process of the deprivation of the original landscape characteristics of Environmental Protection Zones; 4) the dynamics of land occupation which are predominant in dune areas; 5) the dynamics of land occupation which are predominant in mangrove areas; 6) and the destruction of green covering on the land with its consequent alteration of the local floristic pattern. The methodology consisted of in-loco visits; the application of questionnaires as community research; a survey of bibliography published by the organisms and institutions in charge of carrying out the city hall s environmental and housing policies; and descriptive statistics of the collected data. Concerning the pattern of occupation which is predominant in the borough, the treatment of space dispensed by the local dwellers has culminated in the emergence and consolidation of environmental alterations which are clearly different from common occurrence in both the building area represented by housing complexes and in the green areas represented by dunes and mangroves. The data show that there was the predominance of the irregular land occupation process over the official housing policy during the population settlement which contributed with a series of frequent and foreseeable problems in the dynamics of urbanization of poverty such as invasions and appropriations of land parcels, the beginning of irregular arrangement of streets, the formation of villages and slums, which are full of self-constructed housing units, and the occupation and degradation of susceptibly fragile environmental areas such as the dune slopes and the mangroves