Geochemical variations in Solimões formation sediments (Acre basin, Western Amazonia)

SUMMARYMajor mineral, major element and minor element compositions are documented for a suite of drill core sediment samples representing a ~350m profile through the Solimões Formation sediments (Western Amazonia). Major element compositions are quantified using a chemical index of alteration (CIA) in order to asses the degree of weathering. Significant variations in CIA values throughout the profile, as well as abrupt changes between overlying, suggest that during the generation and deposition of thes sediments there were rapid changes in the ambient tectonic setting.

GEOCHEMISTRY AND GEOCHRONOLOGY OF SURFICIAL ACRE BASIN SEDIMENTS (WESTERN AMAZONIA): KEY INFORMATION FOR CLIMATE RECONSTRUCTION.

Geochemical and geochronological analyses of samples of surficial Acre Basin sediments and fossils indicate an extensive fluvial-lacustrine system, occupying this region, desiccated slowly during the last glacial cycle (LGC). This research documents direct evidence for aridity in western Amazonia during the LGC and is important in establishing boundary conditions for LGC climate models as well as in correlating marine and continental (LGC) climate conditions.

Flood pulse and spatial dynamics of mercury in sediments in Puruzinho lake, Brazilian Amazon

The study was conducted in Puruzinho lake (Humaitá, AM) considering seasonal periods of rainy and dry in way to elucidate the flood pulse importance in the deposition, remobilization and distributions of mercury and organic matter in bottom sediments in the Madeira River Basin (Brazilian Amazon). Bottom sediments and soils samples were analyzed for total mercury and organic matter. Mercury concentrations obtained in bottom sediment were 32.20-146.40 ng g-1 and organic matter values were 3.5 - 18.0%. The main region for accumulation of mercury and organic matter was in the central and deepest lake area In the rainy season there was a greater distribution of Hg and organic matter, mainly controlled by means of income of the Madeira river water during flooding, while the predominant process in the dry season was the remobilization of total Hg due to the resuspension of bottom sediments.

Trématodes parasites de poissons marins du littoral de Rio de Janeiro, Brésil

Les Trématodes de 35 espèces de poissons marins, d'importance commerciale, collectés dans le littoral de Rio de Janeiro, ont été étudiés. Dix-sept espèces de Trématodes appartenant à 13 familles ont été recensées. Quatre de ces espèces sont référés pour la première fois au Brésil: Diphtherostomum americanum, Diplomonorchis floridensis, Pancreadium otagoensis et Neomegasolena chaetodipteri, neuf dans de nouveaux hôtes: D. americanum, Diplangus paxillus, Hurleytrema shorti, Lecithochirium microstomum, Morascus filiformis, Neolebouria multilobatus, P. otagoensis, Pleorchis mollis et Opechona bacillaris, une a été recontrée dans un hôte mentionné pour la première fois au Brésil: Vitellibaculum spinosum et cinq autres espècies sont déjà répertoriées: Acanthocollaritrema umbilicatum, Bucephalopsis calliocotyle, Bucephalus varicus, Parahemiurus merus et Tergestia pauca. Tergestia selenei est consideré synonyme de T. pauca. Les principales mesures sont données pour chaque espèce.

Quantitative paleoparasitology applied to archaeological sediments

Three techniques to extract parasite remains from archaeological sediments were tested. The aim was to improve the sensibility of recommended paleoparasitological techniques applied in archaeological remains. Sediment collected from the pelvic girdle of a human body found in Cabo Vírgenes, Santa Cruz, Argentina, associated to a Spanish settlement founded in 1584 known as Nombre de Jesús, was used to search for parasites. Sediment close to the skull was used as control. The techniques recommended by Jones, Reinhard, and Dittmar and Teejen were used and compared with the modified technique presented here, developed to improve the sensibility to detect parasite remains. Positive results were obtained only with the modified technique, resulting in the finding of Trichuris trichiura eggs in the sediment.

Parasitism in Kansas in the 1800s: a glimpse to the past through the analysis of grave sediments from Meadowlark cemetery

During the excavations of the XIX century Meadowlark cemetery (Manhattan, Kansas, US), samples of sediments were taken from around five skeletons, and analyzed to detect intestinal parasites. No helminth eggs were found, but immunological ELISA tests for Entamoeba histolytica were positive in three samples. The immunological techniques have been successfully used in paleoparasitology to detect protozoan infections. Amoebiasis could have been a severe disease in the past, especially where poor sanitary conditions prevailed, and there is evidence that this cemetery may have been used in a situation where poor sanitary conditions may have prevailed. The presence of this protozoan in US during the late XIX century gives information on the health of the population and provides additional data on the parasite's evolution since its appearance in the New World.

Simulium (Inaequalium) marins, a new species of black fly (Diptera: Simuliidae) from inselbergs in Brazil

A new species of black fly, Simulium (Inaequalium) marins (Diptera: Simuliidae), is described based on the male, female, pupa and larva. This new species was collected from two localities: a small stream on the Pico dos Marins, a high mountain with granite outcrops in Piquete County, state of São Paulo, and in a small stream in the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique and the paleoparasitological analysis of sambaqui (shell mound) sediments

Parasite findings in sambaquis (shell mounds) are scarce. Although the 121 shell mound samples were previously analysed in our laboratory, we only recently obtained the first positive results. In the sambaqui of Guapi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, paleoparasitological analysis was performed on sediment samples collected from various archaeological layers, including the superficial layer as a control. Eggs of Acanthocephala, Ascaridoidea and Heterakoidea were found in the archaeological layers. We applied various techniques and concluded that Lutz's spontaneous sedimentation technique is effective for concentrating parasite eggs in sambaqui soil for microscopic analysis.

Simulação da produção de sedimentos para a microbacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão dos Marins (SP)

O modelo SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) foi aplicado para simular a carga de sedimentos produzida pela microbacia hidrográfica do Ribeirão dos Marins, em Piracicaba (SP), no biênio 1999/2000. A aplicação do modelo requer a entrada dos dados na forma espacializada que foi feita com o auxílio de uma interface entre o modelo e um Sistema de Informações Geográficas (SIG's). A microbacia foi discretizada em sub-bacias para determinar os parâmetros de entrada no modelo. Os resultados obtidos na simulação da produção de sedimentos foram comparados aos dados observados em um posto hidrossedimentométrico, localizado no terço superior da microbacia, utilizando o Coeficiente de Eficiência de Nash e Sutcliffe (COE) e o desvio dos dados simulados em relação aos observados (Dv). Para as condições específicas da microbacia do Ribeirão dos Marins, os resultados obtidos na simulação da produção de sedimentos pelo modelo, após a calibração, foram de 0,83, para o COE, e de -3,2 %, para o Dv, indicando um bom ajuste dos dados simulados comparados aos dados observados.

The attenuation of concentrations model: a new method for assessing mercury mobility in sediments

In this work we propose a new approach for the determination of the mobility of mercury in sediments based on spatial distribution of concentrations. We chose the Tainheiros Cove, located in the Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil, as the study area, for it has a history of mercury contamination due to a chloro-alkali plant that was active during 12 years. Twenty-six surface sediment samples were collected from the area and mercury concentrations were measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrophotometry. A contour map was constructed from the results, indicating that mercury accumulated in a "hot spot" where concentrations reach more than 1 µg g-1. The model is able to estimate mobility of mercury in the sediments based on the distances between iso-concentration contours that determines an attenuation of concentrations factor. Values of attenuation ranged between 0.0729 (East of the hot spot, indicating higher mobility) to 0.7727 (North of the hot spot, indicating lower mobility).

Distribuição de mercúrio total como indicador de poluição urbana e industrial na costa brasileira

The monitoring of the pollution status of the Brazilian coast is hampered by the lack of a consistent environmental indicator. We propose Hg as an environmental proxy to anthropogenic pollution of coastal regions due to its absence in the Brazilian geology, its ubiquity in anthropogenic effluents, and its toxicity. Available data suggest Hg "backgrounds" in coastal sediments of 1-10 ng g-1, in the East and 15-30 ng g-1 in the South. We suggest short sediment cores to establish these values estimating a geo-accumulation index to compare all areas. The distribution of index values showed the majority of southern coast at least moderately contaminated whereas many eastern areas are still pristine.

Mercury in soils and sediments from gold mining liabilities in Southern Amazonia

The 1980-1990 Amazonian gold rush left an enormous liability that increasingly has been substituted by developing fish aquaculture. This work aimed at the identification of the mercury levels in the environment, associated with fish farms located in the North of Mato Grosso State, Southern Amazon. Sediment and soil samples were analyzed for total organic carbon and total mercury. Results indicate that the chemical characteristics of the sediment largely depend on the management procedures of the fish pond (liming, fish food used and fish population). The soils presented relatively low concentrations when compared with other data from the literature.

Geoquímica de fósforo como indicadora da qualidade ambiental e dos processos estuarinos do Rio Jaguaribe - costa nordeste oriental brasileira

Phosphorus geochemistry as a proxy of environmental estuarine processes at the Jaguaribe River, Northeastern Brazil. Sedimentation of different phosphorus geochemical fractions can characterize the natural or anthropogenic processes dominant in the watershed. Selective chemical extraction of different phosphorus geochemical forms in estuarine sediments showed the predominance of inorganic over organic forms suggesting an increase in inorganic phosphorus input from anthropogenic sources. Local hydrochemistry favors the dominance of inorganic ferric and carbonatic phosphorus. Ongoing changes in the estuarine throphy, from mesothrophic to euthrophic, may decrease the immobilization of these forms, increasing dissolved phosphorus and favoring euthrophy. Detritic phosphorus suggests a fluvial origin of this fraction and acts as a tracer of river influence upon the estuary.

Butyltin speciation in sediments from Todos os Santos Bay (Bahia, Brazil) by GC-PFPD

Butyltin compounds were investigated in surface sediments from 17 stations in Todos os Santos Bay. Analytical conditions for organotin determination in marine sediments were optimized for GC with pulsed flame photometric detection. Detection limits were: 5.4 µg kg-1 for TBT; 0.2 µg kg-1 for DBT; and 2.1 µg kg-1 for MBT, using a 610-nm filter. In general, TBT concentrations were low and in the range of

Organic and total mercury determination in sediments by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry: methodology validation and uncertainty measurements

The purpose of the present study was to validate a method for organic Hg determination in sediment. The procedure for organic Hg was adapted from literature, where the organomercurial compounds were extracted with dichloromethane in acid medium and subsequent destruction of organic compounds by bromine chloride. Total Hg was performed according to 3051A USEPA methodology. Mercury quantification for both methodologies was then performed by CVAAS. Methodology validation was verified by analyzing certified reference materials for total Hg and methylmercury. The uncertainties for both methodologies were calculated. The quantification limit of 3.3 µg kg-1 was found for organic Hg by CVAAS.