A comparative study on the relationship between acetylcholinesterase activity and acute toxicity in Daphnia magna exposed to anticholinesterase insecticides

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in Daphnia magna that had been exposed to four organophosphates (OPs; parathion, chlorpyrifos, malathion, and acephate) and one carbamate (propoxur) for 48 h. These results were related to acute toxicity (median effective concentration [EC50] for immobility). For the four OPs, the EC50s were 7.03 pM, 3.17 pM, 10.56 pM, and 309.82 microM, respectively. The EC50 for propoxur was 449.90 pM. Reduction in AChE activity was directly related to an increase in immobility in all chemicals tested. However, the ratio between the EC50 and the AChE median inhibiting concentration ranged from 0.31 to 0.90. A 50% reduction in AChE activity generally was associated with detrimental effects on mobility. However, for acephate, high levels of AChE inhibition (70%) were observed in very low concentrations and were not associated with immobility. In addition, increasing the concentration of acephate further had a slight negative effect on AChE activity but a strong detrimental effect on mobility. Binding sites other than AChE possibly are involved in acephate toxicity to D. magna. Our findings demonstrate different associations between AChE inhibition and toxicity when different chemicals are compared. Therefore, the value of using AChE activity as a biomarker in D. magna will be dependent on the chemical tested.

Genotoxicity and composition of particulate matter from biomass burning in the eastern Brazilian Amazon region

In the present study Tradescantia pallida micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassay was used to assess the genotoxicity of particulate matter with a mass median aerodynamic diameter less than 10 pm (PM(10)) in Tangara da Serra (MT), a Brazilian Amazon region that suffers the impact of biomass burning. The levels of PM (coarse and fine size fractions) and black carbon (BC) collected were also measured. Furthermore, the alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were identified and quantified in the samples taken during the burning period by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The PM and BC results for both fractions indicate a strong correlation (p < 0.001). The analysis of alkanes indicates an anthropic influence. Retene was the most abundant PAH found, an indicator of biomass burning, and 12 other PAHs considered to be potentially mutagenic and/or carcinogenic were identified in this sample. The Trad-MCN bioassay showed a significant increase in micronucleus frequency during the period of most intense burning, possibly related to the mutagenic PAHs that were found in such extracts. This study demonstrated that Trad-MCN was sensitive and efficient in evaluating the genotoxicity of organic compounds from biomass burning. It further emphasizes the importance of performing chemical analysis, because changes in chemical composition generally have a negative effect on many living organisms. This bioassay (ex situ), using T. pallida with chemical analysis, is thus recommended for characterizing the genotoxicity of air pollution. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Determination of anthropogenic and biogenic compounds on atmospheric aerosol collected in urban, biomass burning and forest areas in Sao Paulo, Brazil

This study was conducted at three sites of different characteristics in Sao Paulo State Sao Paulo (SPA), Piracicaba (PRB) and Mate Atlantica Forest (MAT) PM(10), n-alkanes. pristane and phytane, PAHs, water-soluble ions and biomass burning tracers like levoglucosan and retene, were determined in quartz fiber filters. Samplings occurred on May 8th to August 8th, 2007 at the MAT site; on August 15th to 29th in 2007 and November 10th to 29th in 2008 at the PRB site and, March 13th to April 4th in 2007 and August 7th to 29th in 2008 at the SPA site Aliphatic compounds emitted biogenically were less abundant at the urban sites than at the forest site, and its distribution showed the influence of tropical vascular plants Air mass transport front biomass burning regions is likely to impact the sites with specific molecular markers The concentrations of all species were variable and dependent of seasonal changes In the most dry and polluted seasons, n-alkane and canon total concentrations were similar between the megacity and the biomass burning site PAHs and inorganic ion abundances were higher at Sao Paulo than Piracicaba, yet, the site influenced by biomass burning seems lobe the most impacted by the organic anion abundance in the atmosphere Pristane and phytane confirm the contamination by petroleum residues at urban sites, at the MAT site, biological activity and long range transport of pollutants might influence the levels of pristane (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved

Efeito agudo da ingestão de álcool sobre a função endotelial em homens jovens

A disfunção endotelial, avaliada através da vasodilatação mediada pelo fluxo (FMD) e não mediada pelo fluxo (NFMD), está associada à ocorrência de eventos cardiovasculares. Enquanto o consumo moderado de bebidas alcoólicas está associado com baixo risco para doenças cardiovasculares, a ingestão de doses mais altas predispõe a arritmias cardíacas, acidente vascular encefálico e outros eventos, que têm maior incidência no período da manhã. A investigação dos efeitos do álcool sobre a função endotelial pode trazer um melhor entendimento para esta associação. O presente estudo tem por objetivo avaliar, em uma amostra homogênea, o efeito de uma dose relativamente elevada de álcool sobre parâmetros vasculares e de função endotelial. O diâmetro da artéria braquial (DAB), a FMD e a NFMD foram mensurados em três horários (17h, 22h e 7h), em 100 indivíduos do sexo masculino, hígidos, com idades entre 18 e 25 anos (média de 20,74 anos), por ecodoppler da artéria braquial (segundo o protocolo da International Brachial Artery Reactivity Task Force). Os indivíduos foram randomizados para ingerir uma bebida contendo álcool ou uma bebida similar não alcoólica, às 18h. O grupo que consumiu álcool apresentou um aumento no DAB entre as 17h (4,03 mm) e 22h (4,41 mm). Ocorreu uma redução da FMD para 2,43% e da NFMD para 6,30% às 22h, quando comparados com os valores anteriores à ingestão (FMD = 4,22% e NFMD = 13,7%). Foi constatado um efeito bifásico para a pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e diastólica (PAD), com redução às 22h (PAS = 105,18 mmHg; PAD = 60,14 mmHg), seguida de elevação às 7h (PAS = 117,50 mmHg; PAD = 70,98 mmHg). Conclui-se que, após um período inicial de vasodilatação, a ingestão aguda de álcool não afeta a função endotelial, comparado ao placebo.

Atmospheric particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from road transport in southeast Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Contribution of sugar-cane harvesting season to atmospheric contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Araraquara city, Southeast Brazil

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

Seletividade de acaricidas a insetos e ácaros predadores em citros

Estudou-se a seletividade de acaricidas a insetos e ácaros predadores em pomares citrícolas localizados em Monte Alto e Vista Alegre do Alto, SP, em 1993 e 1994. Os acaricidas nas dosagens testadas (em g.i.a/1001) foram: em 1993, pyridaben 20 CE, 20 PM e 75 PM (10 e 15), óxido fenbutatin (40) e testemunha; em 1994, pyridaben 20 CE e pyridaben 75 PM (10 e 20), óxido fenbutatin (40), cyhexatin (25) e testemunha. Larvas e adultos de Pentilia egena Muls. e Coccidophilus citricola Bréthes, adultos de Cycloneda sanguinea L., Azya sp. e Calloeneis sp. e larvas de crisopídeos foram observados nas plantas, previamente e a 1, 3, 7, 10, 14 e 21 dias após a aplicação. Para contagem de Euseius sp. e Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, 10 folhas do interior da planta foram coletadas e observadas. Os produtos foram classificados em: seletivo (até 25% de mortalidade); levemente tóxico (25 a 50%; moderadamente tóxico (51 a 75%) e tóxico (> 75% de mortalidade). Os resultados indicaram que todos os produtos foram seletivos a adultos de P. egena, porém, pyridaben causou de 25 a 50% e cyhexatin de 51 a 75% de mortalidade de larvas. Pyridaben 20 CE e 75 PM reduziram em 25 a 50% e 51 a 75% respectivamente o número de adultos de C. citricola; já cyhexatin foi tóxico e fenbutatin seletivo a adultos desta espécie. em relação a larvas de C. citricola mortalidade de 51 a 75% foi causada por pyridaben 20 CE e 75 PM, maior que 75% por cyhexatin e entre 25 e 50% no caso de fenbutatin. Todos os acaricidas foram tóxicos aos ácaros predadores por mais de 21 dias, no entanto, fenbutatin apresentou efeito residual menor (14 dias).

Influence of Sources and Meteorology on Surface Concentrations of Gases and Aerosols in a Coastal Industrial Complex

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of Intensive Agriculture on Dry Deposition of Aerosol Nutrients

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Characterization of atmospheric aerosols in the city of So Paulo, Brazil: comparisons between polluted and unpolluted periods

The objective of this study was to determine the size and composition of atmospheric aerosols in the downtown area of the city of So Paulo, Brazil, for a polluted and an unpolluted period. Aerosols were sampled with a portable air sampler (PAS), Micro-Orifice Uniform Deposit Impactor (MOUDI), and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer. At the study site, air quality is poor, especially during the winter, high concentrations of pollutants being emitted primarily by the light- and heavy-duty vehicle fleet. We analyzed mass, black carbon (BC), Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Rb, Sn, Zr, and Pb. During the polluted period, diurnal PM(10) was higher than nocturnal PM(10), whereas the inverse was true during the unpolluted period. The FPM was rich in BC, S, and Pb, whereas CPM was rich in Al, Si, Ca, Ti, and Fe. Mass balance was performed by category: ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride, crustal material, BC, and other. The PAS-determined FPM was mainly BC. The MOUDI-determined FPM crustal material explained more mass than did ammonium sulfate and BC during the polluted period, whereas ammonium sulfate had the largest mass during the unpolluted period. Crustal material was the major CPM component, followed by ammonium sulfate and BC. During the unpolluted period, FPM concentrations were lower, whereas those of ammonium sulfate were relatively higher, especially at night, and particle number was inversely proportional to particle size. Aerosol growth was more intense during the polluted period.

Metalli nel particolato atmosferico: distribuzione granulometrica e valutazione del contributo della combustione di biomasse

La tossicità delle polveri atmosferiche è associata sia alla natura granulometrica sia al carico di contaminanti, da qui la necessità di investigare oltre la concentrazione delle PM in atmosfera anche la loro composizione chimica. In questo studio è stata effettuata una prima caratterizzazione da un punto di vista sia granulometrico che chimico del particolato atmosferico campionato in una zona suburbana di Riccione (Castello degli Agolanti). In particolare sono state determinate le concentrazioni di metalli quali Pb, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe e Al nel PM 2,5 PM 10 e PM totale. Inoltre, dato che uno degli scopi dello studio è quello di verificare il contributo della combustione di biomasse sul carico complessivo di contaminanti, il periodo di campionamento comprende il giorno delle Fogheracce, festa popolare in cui vengono accesi diversi falò all’aperto. Complessivamente sono stati prelevati 13 campioni di 48 ore per ogni frazione granulometrica dal 9 Marzo all’8 Aprile 2011. Dallo studio emerge che nel periodo di campionamento, mediamente il contributo antropogenico è dominante per Pb, Cd, Ni Cu e Zn dovuto principalmente al traffico veicolare. Tali metalli, ad eccezione del Cu infatti si concentrano nel particolato più fine. Al e Fe invece sono principalmente marker delle emissioni crostali e si concentrano nella frazione grossolana. Interessante quanto registrato nella giornata delle Fogheracce. Oltre ad una variazione nel contenuto relativo dei metalli con un forte arricchimento di Pb e Al, per quest’ultimo si nota anche un forte incremento della sua concentrazione nella frazione PM2.5 ad indicare una diversa sorgente emissiva. Si evidenzia in questo studio un importante contributo nel carico di inquinanti da parte di combustioni di biomasse all’aperto.

Misura della sezione d'urto di produzione tt-barra nel canale adronico in collisioni pp con radice di s = 8tev a cms

La sezione d'urto di produzione per coppie tt-barra viene misurata utilizzando dati raccolti dall'esperimento CMS in collisioni protone-protone ad LHC, con energia nel sistema del centro di massa radice di s = 8 TeV. Il campione raccolto corrisponde ad una luminosità integrata di 19.5 fb^-1. La misura viene effettuata su eventi che contano un numero di jet pari o superiore a 6, almeno due dei quali identificati come prodotto dell'adronizzazione di quark bottom. Il valore di sezione d'urto ottenuto è (260 pm 10 (stat)) pb, in accordo con le previsioni teoriche del Modello Standard.

The use of mobile single-sided NMR for the diagnosis of osteoporosis: a preliminary study

Una nuova ed originale tecnica è stata messa a punto, finalizzata alla realizzazione di una procedura per la diagnosi dell’osteoporosi, mediante l’utilizzo di scanner low field single-sided NMR. Tre differenti scanner (NMR MOLE, MOUSE PM 10 e MOUSE PM5) sono stati usati per determinare il Bone Volume-to-Total Volume ratio (BV/TV), parametro che fornisce indicazioni sulla microstruttura dell’osso. I risultati sono stati confrontati con le analisi micro-CT. Gli esperimenti sono stati condotti nel Lab. NMR del dipartimento DIFA di UNIBO e nel Lab. NMR della Victoria University di Wellington (NZ), durante un periodo di visita di cinque mesi, supportato da una borsa di studio della “Facoltà di Scienze” di UNIBO. Le analisi micro-CT sono state condotte presso il Lab. di Tecnologie Mediche dell’Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna. La ricerca è stata parzialmente finanziata dalla “Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna”. La caratterizzazione dell’osso trabecolare di campioni animali e dei tessuti che lo circondano (come cartilagine e muscolo) è stata condotta tramite mappe di correlazione T1-T2 e D-T2 , dove T1 e T2 sono, rispettivamente, il tempo di rilassamento longitudinale e trasversale del nucleo 1H, e D è il coefficiente di autodiffusione molecolare. E’ stata sviluppata una sequenza di impulsi (Diffusion-Weighted T1-T2) per ottenere mappe T1-T2 pesate in diffusione. I risultati hanno consentito di mettere a punto una procedura che elimina il segnale NMR proveniente da cartilagine e muscolo, rendendo più realistico lo scenario di applicazione in-vivo. I tre diversi dispositivi NMR hanno dato risultati consistenti tra loro e con le immagini micro-CT. L’intera catena di esperimenti condotti ha mostrato che dispositivi NMR single-sided possono essere usati per valutare il BV/TV di ossa trabecolari, con il vantaggio di essere portatili, a basso costo e non invasivi, permettendo campagne di screening della popolazione a rischio osteoporosi.

Locally generated particulate pollution and respiratory symptoms in young children

BACKGROUND: Particulate matter <10 mum (PM(10)) from fossil fuel combustion is associated with an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in children and adolescents. However, the effect of PM(10) on respiratory symptoms in young children is unclear. METHODS: The association between primary PM(10) (particles directly emitted from local sources) and the prevalence and incidence of respiratory symptoms was studied in a random sample cohort of 4400 Leicestershire children aged 1-5 years surveyed in 1998 and again in 2001. Annual exposure to primary PM(10) was calculated for the home address using the Airviro dispersion model and adjusted odds ratios (ORS) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for each microg/m(3) increase. RESULTS: Exposure to primary PM(10) was associated with the prevalence of cough without a cold in both 1998 and 2001, with adjusted ORs of 1.21 (1.07 to 1.38) and 1.56 (1.32 to 1.84) respectively. For night time cough the ORs were 1.06 (0.94 to 1.19) and 1.25 (1.06 to 1.47), and for current wheeze 0.99 (0.88 to 1.12) and 1.28 (1.04 to 1.58), respectively. There was also an association between primary PM(10) and new onset symptoms. The ORs for incident symptoms were 1.62 (1.31 to 2.00) for cough without a cold and 1.42 (1.02 to 1.97) for wheeze. CONCLUSION: In young children there was a consistent association between locally generated primary PM(10) and the prevalence and incidence of cough without a cold and the incidence of wheeze which was independent of potential confounders.

The National Morbidity, Mortality, and Air Pollution Study Database in R

The NMMAPS data package contains daily mortality, air pollution, and weather data originally assembled as part of the National Morbidity,Mortality, and Air Pollution Study (NMMAPS). The data have recently been updated and are available for 108 United States cities for the years 1987--2000. The package provides tools for building versions of the full database in a structured and reproducible manner. These database derivatives may be more suitable for particular analyses. We describe how to use the package to implement a multi-city time series analysis of mortality and PM(10). In addition we demonstrate how to reproduce recent findings based on the NMMAPS data.