Método multirresíduo para monitoramento de contaminação ambiental de pesticidas na região de Bauru (SP) usando mel como bio-indicador

The presence of residues of the major groups of pesticides (organohalogen, organophosphorous, pyrethroids and organonitrogen) in representative samples of honey produced in Bauru (state of São Paulo, Brazil) was investigated from 1999 through2004. A multiresidue method was applied to honey samples to determine 48 pesticides with recoveries ranging from 76 to 95%. The limits of detection found were lower than 10 µg/kg for GC-MS-SIM. The results indicated that most pesticides found in the samples belonged to the organohalogen and organonitrogen groups. Residues of malathion were detected in almost all of the samples in high concentration.

Quantificação de sulfadimetoxina em leite por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência

A method for HPLC determination of sulfadimethoxyne in milk is presented. The analyte isolation and concentration were performed by solid-phase extraction through a C-8 cartridge, pre-conditioned with hexane, methanol and water and eluted with MeOH. The recovery determination was done with a spiked solution of 20, 50 or 100 µg L-1. In this concentration range, the recovery was 83.2% with a RDS of 15.4%. For quantification, a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 (4.6 mm x 150 mm, 5 µm), a mobile phase of MeCN: 0.01 mol L-1 KH2PO4 aq. (1:4), and a variable wavelength detector (275 nm) were used.

Avaliação de contaminação ambiental causada por poluentes orgânicos persistentes utilizando simulação computacional

Environmental concern is growing in the current days and there is global agreement to banish production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POP). The synthetic insecticides chlordecone and mirex, classified as POPs, have similar structures and they are potentially toxic. This work uses properties and physicochemical constants related to the pesticides and computational simulation to evaluate the leach phenomenon and persistency in soil. The largest tendency of persistence of the compound is found to be in the surface of soil, but even low concentration in water represents a high risk due to bioaccumulation in adipose tissue.

Contaminação de águas subterrâneas por pesticidas: avaliação preliminar

A discussion about groundwater contamination is presented in this work. Contamination by agricultural activity, more specifically by pesticides is emphasized. Indirect and direct estimates could be used to predict pesticide behavior in soil, and consequently, to evaluate the potential of groundwater contamination. These results could be applied to advise about the possibility of groundwater contamination by pesticides, and to provide subsidies for making decisions more quickly and efficiently.

LS-SVM: uma nova ferramenta quimiométrica para regressão multivariada. Comparação de modelos de regressão LS-SVM e PLS na quantificação de adulterantes em leite em pó empregando NIR

Least-squares support vector machines (LS-SVM) were used as an alternative multivariate calibration method for the simultaneous quantification of some common adulterants found in powdered milk samples, using near-infrared spectroscopy. Excellent models were built using LS-SVM for determining R², RMSECV and RMSEP values. LS-SVMs show superior performance for quantifying starch, whey and sucrose in powdered milk samples in relation to PLSR. This study shows that it is possible to determine precisely the amount of one and two common adulterants simultaneously in powdered milk samples using LS-SVM and NIR spectra.

Composição centesimal do leite humano e caracterização das propriedades físico-químicas de sua gordura

Human milk fat is essential for development of newborn infants. Many studies detail chemical characteristics of human milk fat; however there are no studies about its physical properties. The objective of this work was to analyze the centesimal composition of human milk and to compare the calculated energy value with the estimated energy by the creamatocrit method. Chemical composition and physical properties of human milk lipids and Betapol - a structured lipid - were also studied. The results showed that energy values of human milk estimated by creamatocrit and calculated by the centesimal composition didn't present significant correlation. Human milk lipids and Betapol presented distinct physico-chemical properties.

Contaminação de aqüífero por hidrocarbonetos: estudo de caso na Vila Tupi, Porto Velho - Rondônia

Underground storage tanks (UST) are widely used in the Porto Velho area. A large number of these USTs are in bad condition due to corrosion processes causing groundwater contamination. A large number of these leaking underground fuel tanks (LUFT) are in urban areas but due to the lack of water quality monitoring, they are only detected when there is a high contamination level. This study identified petroleum hydrocarbons, derived from a LUFT, by a silica gel/petroleum ether partitioning gravimetric method and by gas chromatographic analysis of samples collected in wells dug in a gas station and in houses in the aforementioned neighborhood.

Avaliação da contaminação por elementos metálicos dos sedimentos do Estuário Santos - São Vicente

Three approaches were applied to evaluate metal contamination in 41 sediment samples from the Santos - São Vicente Estuarine System: normalization to Al, statistical analysis and sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). The results showed increases in the concentrations of Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cr and Hg, which seemed to be associated with human activities. The levels of Al, Fe and Co probably were associated with crustal material or natural weathering processes. About 45% of the samples presented concentrations exceeding TEL-ERL, levels occasionally associated with adverse biological effects. Four of these samples presented concentrations above PEL-ERM, levels frequently associated with adverse biological effects.

Avaliação da concentração de retinol em leite UHT ("Ultra High Temperature") comercializado em Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Deficiency of micronutrients is a public health problem. Cow milk is a source of retinol. The objective of this study is to evaluate the retinol concentration in milk commercialized in Natal/RN. Ten samples were taken of each brand of UHT milk. Vitamin content was determined by HPLC using the Shimadzu LC-10 AD Chromatograph, coupled to the Shimadzu SPD 10 A UV-VIS Detector and the Shimadzu C-R6A Chromatopac Integrator with Shim-pack CLC-ODS (M) column, measuring 4.6 mm x 25 cm. The mobile phase was 100% methanol, with a flow of 1 mL/min. The mean retinol concentration varied between 22.7 ± 4.9 µg/100 mL and 44.1 ± 4.1 µg/100 mL, with the differences statistically significant (p<0.001). Only one of the 7 brands had retinol concentration below the normal requirements for human consumption.

Marcadores orgânicos de contaminação por esgotos sanitários em sedimentos superficiais da baía de Santos, São Paulo

Organic markers, such as sterols and ketones, were used to assess sewage contamination in sediments from the Santos Bay, SP, and its continental shelf. These compounds were analyzed by GC/FID after soxhlet extraction, clean up and derivatization. The concentration of coprostanol and ratios between selected sterols were used to evaluate fecal contamination. The stations located in the mid-western part of the Santos Bay presented organic matter from sewage due to the input of fecal material from the city of Santos by submarine sewage outfall. Stations located at the continental shelf did not present fecal contamination. Coprostanol levels in sewage outfall stations were higher in comparison to other Brazilian coastal areas, except Guanabara Bay/RJ, and could be related to the fraction of the population without sewage treatment.

Avaliação da contaminação por organofosforados em águas superficiais no município de Rondinha - Rio Grande do Sul

Water pollution is a serious environmental problem. In Rondinha, Rio Grande do Sul, on a small area planted with tobacco, it has been using organophosphates pesticides. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the organophosphates pesticides contamination of the superficial water in this municipality. The samples collected in fifteen places were evaluated by the method of organophosphates acethylcolinestherase inhibition. In five samples the organophosphates levels were above the limit established by CONAMA, indicating the necessity of arrangements that allow reducing the risk of the population and the environment contamination.

Biossíntese de goma xantana a partir da fermentação de soro de leite: rendimento e viscosidade

Xanthan is a polysaccharide synthesized by Xanthomonas bacteria and of extreme commercial importance as a microbial polysaccharide. The aim of this work was to produce xanthan using mozzarella cheese whey as substrate, by different isolates natives the Xanthomonas. The alternative medium for production was milk whey, urea and K2HPO4. The xanthan maximum productivity was 21.91 g L-1. Analysis of apparent viscosity was made in solutions of gum at 0.5-2.0%, 25-65 ºC with shear rate of 25-1000 s-1.The maximum viscosity found was 57.30 mPa.s. The isolates demonstrate capacity to degrade the lactose and to produce xanthan, being constituted an alternative for the industrial production.

Lipídios modificados obtidos a partir de gordura do leite, óleo de girassol e ésteres de fitosteróis para aplicação em spreads

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the modifications in milkfat properties with the addition of sunflower oil (SO) and phytosterol esters (PE) and chemical interesterification. Fatty acid composition, softening point and consistency were determined. The saturation degree of milkfat decreased with the addition of SO and PE. Consequently, milkfat presented lower softening point and consistency. Chemical interesterification caused an increase in softening point due to the formation of higher amounts of trissaturated triacylglycerols with rearrangement. The incorporation of unsaturated fatty acids from SO and PE by milkfat triacylglycerols after chemical reaction caused linearization of consistency curves.

Estimativa de risco de contaminação das águas por pesticidas na região sul do estado do RS

Pesticides can be quite useful in agricultural production, however, some pesticides after application can reach and contaminate the hydric resource. Pesticide monitoring must be careful because it is expensive and lengthy. Thus, in this work, a theoretical prediction was made using the approaches suggested by EPA-USA, the Groundwater Ubiquity Score index (GUS) and the Goss method associated with physicochemical properties of 27 pesticides used in a region in the south of Brazil. The results of this work led to the identification of the pesticides that should be prioritized in the environmental monitoring due to their high potential for contaminating water resources.

Avaliação da contaminação do Igarapé do Sabino (Bacia do Rio Tibiri) por metais pesados, originados dos resíduos e efluentes do Aterro da Ribeira, em São Luís, Maranhão

This work aimed to carry out an environmental monitoring in sabino narrow river (affluent of Tibiri Basin, in São Luís - MA, Brazil), in order to verify the main environmental impacts caused by effluent residues from Ribeira landfill. Chemical analysis and bibliographic and cartographic researches on this ecosystem were also carried out. In addition, heavy metals, such as Hg, Pb and Zn, were investigated in water samples by ICP-MS technique. It was observed that the contents of such heavy metals were above the tolerance limits established by the Brazilian legislation, showing a strong impact level on the evaluated ecosystem.