Exposição ambiental ao chumbo: um problema de áreas contaminadas próximas a fábricas de baterias

The concentration of metal pollutants such as lead (Pb), has grown and developed in populated areas due to pollution and other human activities. Consequently, the potential for achieve this element food chain has also increased. Lead is very toxic to humans, especially to children, and exposure to lead can cause adverse health effects mainly on human nervous system, bone marrow and kidneys, interfering with chromosomal or genetic processes. This paper presents an overview of the main aspects related to environmental contamination by lead from battery plants. The assessment of an area contaminated by lead in Bauru-SP next a battery factory was reported in this work as well as the entire history of monitoring, classification and application of processes applied by CETESB since 2002. Analyzing the issue in its economic aspects, we found that the degradation of the environment is directly related to the development model adopted by the capitalist system, which is based on the law of supply and demand for products and services. The data presented indicate that Brazil still needs a broader policy where government agencies, industries and population through awareness can be united for the same purpose: to preserve life

Influence of soil texture in the recovery of Toxocara canis eggs by a flotation method

In epidemiological surveys, the evaluation of soil contamination by Toxocara canis eggs requires a quick and easy method for the isolation of parasite eggs from soil samples. The efficiency of flotation methods is influenced by sample size, soil texture, degree of soil contamination, pretreatment, flotation solutions and time of flotation. This investigation was designed to evaluate the influence of soil texture in the recovery of T. canis eggs with the centrifugal flotation technique of Dada (Dada, B.J.O., 1979. A new technique for the recovery of Toxocara eggs from soil. J. Helminthol., 53: 141-144). Four types of soil (clay silt, sandy, silty clay and sand) were artificially contaminated with T. canis eggs (200 eggs per gram). Zinc sulphate (specific gravity 1.20) and sodium dichromate (specific gravity 1.35) were used as flotation solutions. Twenty replicated examinations were performed for each type of soil and flotation solution. There was a statistically significant difference in the results depending on soil type. The highest recovery percentages were observed in soils rich in sand (62.5% for sand and 38.0% for sandy soil). Differences were also observed with different flotation solutions. Sodium dichromate solution was more efficient for recovering T. canis eggs, regardless of the soil texture. © 1994.

Investigação da poluição por metais tóxicos no córrego do Cintra

Cintra stream is the major receiver of treated effluent from sanitary, hospital and research laboratory sewage from the UNESP campus in Botucatu, Rubião Júnior District, São Paulo state; and it has shown evidence of diffuse contamination by metals along it. Analyses of the most toxic metals (Pb, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn) were carried out by using an atomic absorption spectrometer AA-6.800 - Perkin Elmer, analyst 700. ANOVA followed by the Tukey test were used for data analyses at 5% significance level. The main objective of this study was to compare current data on metal levels with data from other studies, in the same area, and of the same nature, conducted before and after implementation of chemical residue management by the university in 2008. Also, it aimed at identifying and quantifying possible diffuse and punctual contamination. Sites S1 and S2 showed punctual contamination, while diffuse sources were observed between S4 and S5. The quality of water in the Cintra Stream improved after establishment of the program of laboratory chemical residue management in the Campus of UNESP.

Construction and demolition waste as a source of PVC for recycling

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antimicrobial resistance and species composition of Enterococcus spp. isolated from waters and sands of marine recreational beaches in Southeastern Brazil

Density, species composition and antimicrobial resistance in bacteria of the Enterococcus genus were evaluated in seawater and sands from 2 marine recreational beaches with different levels of pollution. The 2 beaches showed predominance of Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, in the water and the sand. Dry sand presented higher densities of Enterococcus sp. and higher frequency of resistant strains than wet sand and seawater. The beach with a higher degree of pollution presented higher percentages of resistant strains (66.7% and 61.5%, in sand and in water, respectively) and resistance to a larger number of antimicrobials compared with the less polluted beach, Ilha Porchat (35.7% and 31.25% of resistant strains in sand and water, respectively). in water samples, the highest frequencies of resistance were obtained against streptomycin (38.5%) and erythromycin (25%), whilst in sand, the highest frequencies were observed in relation to erythromycin and tetracycline (38.1% and 14.3%, respectively). These results show that water and sands from beaches with high indexes of faecal contamination of human origin may be potential sources of contamination by pathogens and contribute to the dissemination of bacterial resistance. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Poder poluente de águas residuárias de suinocultura após utilização de um tratamento integrado

Em experimento de campo, avaliou-se o potencial de impacto ambiental de águas residuárias de suinocultura, acondicionadas em um tanque de estocagem, com distintos tempos de retenção hidráulica e aplicadas, posteriormente, em lisímetros preenchidos com solos arenosos, argilosos e de texturas médias. Para tal, foram determinados os valores de pH nos solos e as quantificações das concentrações de zinco e cobre na água residuária in natura e, após os quatro tempos de retenção hidráulica do tanque de estocagem, nos percolados dos lisímetros e nos solos. Os resultados mostram que a estocagem não foi eficiente na redução, aos níveis exigidos pela legislação, das concentrações de zinco e cobre nos efluentes do tanque de estocagem. A aplicação no solo gerou reduções eficientes nas concentrações de zinco e cobre. Por fim, enfocando a contribuição fertilizante destas águas residuárias, o solo argiloso foi o mais beneficiado com este sistema integrado de tratamento, contribuindo para a redução das concentrações de zinco e cobre para valores abaixo dos permitidos pelas legislações, o que protegeria o lençol freático da contaminação por esses dois metais pesados.

Ocorrência de Staphylococcus sp. em água utilizada em propriedades leiteiras do Estado de São Paulo

Com o objetivo de verificar o papel da água utilizada durante a produção do leite como via de transmissão de Staphylococcus sp., fez-se a contagem de Staphylococcus coagulase negativa e Staphylococcus aureus nas amostras de água das fontes, dos reservatórios e dos estábulos de 30 propriedades leiteiras situadas na região Nordeste do Estado de São Paulo. As maiores ocorrências de isolamentos (10,0 e 16,6%) e os maiores valores médios (4,3×10(4) e 2,5×10(4)) de contagens desses microrganismos foram encontrados nas amostras de água dos estábulos utilizada na obtenção de leite. Estes resultados são importantes pois evidenciam a possibilidade de contaminação do leite ou dos animais por cepas patogênicas.

Aspectos Microbiológicos e Demanda de Cloro de Amostras de Água de Dessedentação de Frangos de Corte Coletadas em Bebedouros Pendulares

Foram analisadas 72 amostras da água de dessedentação de frangos de corte, 18 da entrada e 54 dos bebedouros pendulares. As amostras foram submetidas às mensurações de coliformes totais, coliformes fecais, estreptococos fecais, Escherichia coli e organismos mesófilos, além da detecção da presença de Salmonella sp e da taxa de demanda de cloro. Os resultados evidenciaram uma elevada contaminação bacteriológica, já na primeira semana, com os indicadores na ordem de 10³ a 10(5). Não houve isolamento de nenhuma cepa de Salmonella sp, provavelmente por não haver ave infectada no plantel. A taxa de demanda de cloro mostrou-se elevada, devido ao maior acúmulo de matéria orgânica nos bebedouros, com o ápice na quinta semana (98,7%), seguida de uma leve diminuição na sexta semana (98,5%). As análises dos resultados evidenciam o bebedouro pendular como um instrumento depreciativo e ineficiente em relação às qualidades higiênico-sanitárias das águas fornecidas aos frangos de corte, contribuindo para um alto risco de contaminação por patógenos de veiculação hídrica. Preconizam-se a utilização de modelos de bebedouros menos deletérios e o monitoramento semanal de cloro residual nos bebedouros pendulares, a fim de se obter uma desinfecção satisfatória da água.

Characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from carcasses of beef cattle during their processing at an abattoir in Brazil

Beef carcass sponge samples collected between March 2003 and August 2005 at an abattoir in Brazil were surveyed for the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Only one carcass among the 80 tested showed a STEC, stx2-encoding gene by PCR amplification. The frequency of carcass contamination by E. coli during processing was tested at three situations, respectively: preevisceration, postevisceration and postprocessing, during the rain and dry seasons. The prevalence of E. coli at the three points was of 30.0%, 70.0%, 27.5% in the rain season and of 22.5%, 55.0%, 17.5% during the dry season, respectively. The E. coli isolates exhibited a high level (45.0%) of multidrug resistance to two or more antimicrobial agents. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Clostridium perfringens em rações e águas fornecidos a frangos de corte em granjas avícolas do interior paulista: Brasil

Através de métodos bacteriológicos convencionais, avaliou-se a contaminação por Clostridium perfringens na ração e água utilizadas na alimentação e dessedentação de frangos de corte em diferentes regiões avícolas do interior paulista. C. perfringens esteve presente em 42 e 30% das amostras de ração e águas analisadas, respectivamente. As médias das contagens foram 6,7 x 10-2UFC mL para as amostras de água e 3,69 x 10-2UFC g para as de rações. As altas freqüências e contagens de C. perfringens verificadas nas rações e nas águas podem estar associadas à falta de higiene geral na manipulação e armazenamento dos mesmos. Sugere-se o monitoramento periódico da presença de C. perfringens nestas fontes, com a finalidade de evitar tal patógeno, em vista que o mesmo pode causar um surto de enterite necrótica levando, assim a grandes prejuízos na produção avícola.

Filamentous fungi found on foundress queens of leaf-cutting ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Spatial Distribution of Seropositive Dogs to Leptospira spp. and Evaluation of Leptospirosis Risk Factors Using a Decision Tree

Background: Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease associated with poor areas of urban settings of developing countries and early diagnosis and prompt treatment may prevent disease. Although rodents are reportedly considered the main reservoirs of leptospirosis, dogs may develop the disease, may become asymptomatic carriers and may be used as sentinels for disease epidemiology. The use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) combined with spatial analysis techniques allows the mapping of the disease and the identification and assessment of health risk factors. Besides the use of GIS and spatial analysis, the technique of data mining, decision tree, can provide a great potential to find a pattern in the behavior of the variables that determine the occurrence of leptospirosis. The objective of the present study was to apply Geographical Information Systems and data prospection (decision tree) to evaluate the risk factors for canine leptospirosis in an area of Curitiba, PR.Materials, Methods & Results: The present study was performed on the Vila Pantanal, a urban poor community in the city of Curitiba. A total of 287 dog blood samples were randomly obtained house-by-house in a two-day sampling on January 2010. In addition, a questionnaire was applied to owners at the time of sampling. Geographical coordinates related to each household of tested dog were obtained using a Global Positioning System (GPS) for mapping the spatial distribution of reagent and non-reagent dogs to leptospirosis. For the decision tree, risk factors included results of microagglutination test (MAT) from the serum of dogs, previous disease on the household, contact with rats or other dogs, dog breed, outdoors access, feeding, trash around house or backyard, open sewer proximity and flooding. A total of 189 samples (about 2/3 of overall samples) were randomly selected for the training file and consequent decision rules. The remained 98 samples were used for the testing file. The seroprevalence showed a pattern of spatial distribution that involved all the Pantanal area, without agglomeration of reagent animals. In relation to data mining, from 189 samples used in decision tree, a total of 165 (87.3%) animal samples were correctly classified, generating a Kappa index of 0.413. A total of 154 out of 159 (96.8%) samples were considered non-reagent and were correctly classified and only 5/159 (3.2%) were wrongly identified. on the other hand, only 11 (36.7%) reagent samples were correctly classified, with 19 (63.3%) samples failing diagnosis.Discussion: The spatial distribution that involved all the Pantanal area showed that all the animals in the area are at risk of contamination by Leptospira spp. Although most samples had been classified correctly by the decision tree, a degree of difficulty of separability related to seropositive animals was observed, with only 36.7% of the samples classified correctly. This can occur due to the fact of seronegative animals number is superior to the number of seropositive ones, taking the differences in the pattern of variable behavior. The data mining helped to evaluate the most important risk factors for leptospirosis in an urban poor community of Curitiba. The variables selected by decision tree reflected the important factors about the existence of the disease (default of sewer, presence of rats and rubbish and dogs with free access to street). The analyses showed the multifactorial character of the epidemiology of canine leptospirosis.

Ocorrência de larva migrans na areia de áreas de lazer das escolas municipais de ensino infantil, Araçatuba, SP, Brasil

A areia das áreas de lazer de escolas podem constituir vias de transmissão para várias zoonoses parasitárias, representando risco potencial para as crianças que brincam nesses locais. Foi avaliada a ocorrência de agentes de larva migrans em 28 escolas municipais de ensino infantil de Araçatuba, SP. Foram colhidas 535 amostras de areia das áreas de lazer dessas escolas nos meses de janeiro (verão) e julho (inverno) de 1997 para estabelecimento da freqüência de isolamento de larvas e/ou ovos de Ancylostoma spp. e de ovos de Toxocara spp., pelos métodos de centrífugo-flutuação e de Baermann, respectivamente. A presença de larvas de Ancylostoma spp. foi observada, em pelo menos uma das amostras, em 35,7% (10/28) das amostras da primeira colheita (verão) e em 46,4% (13/28) quando da segunda colheita (inverno). Ovos de Toxocara spp. não foram encontrados e a presença de ovos de Ancylostoma spp. foi observada em 0,56% (3/535) das amostras.

Chromosome aberration and micronucleus frequencies in Allium cepa cells exposed to petroleum polluted water - A case study

In the present study, we applied Chromosome Aberration (CA) and Micronucleus (MN) tests to Allium cepa root cells, in order to evaluate the water quality of Guaeca river. This river, located in the city of Sao Sebastiao, SP, Brazil, had been affected by an oil pipeline leak. Chemical analyses of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPHs) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also carried out in water samples, collected in July 2005 (dry season) and February 2006 (rainy season) in 4 different river sites. The largest CA and MN incidence in the meristematic cells of A. cepa was observed after exposure to water sample collected during the dry season, at the spring of the river, where the oil leak has arisen. The F, cells from roots exposed to such sample (non-merismatic region) were also analyzed for the incidence of MN, showing a larger frequency of irregularities, indicating a possible development of CA into MN. Lastly, our study reveals a direct correlation between water chemical analyses (contamination by TPHs and PAHs) and both genotoxic and mutagenic effects observed in exposed A. cepa cells. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Occurrence and behavior of butyltins in intertidal and shallow subtidal surface sediments of an estuarine beach under different sampling conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)