Microbiological quality of recreational waters in Araraquara, SP, Brazil

The microbiological flora of 108 water samples was explored to evaluate the role of recreational waters as a possible source of human diseases in Araraquara, S.P., Brazil. These waters included six swimming pools and three lakes with beaches. The number of total and fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, fecal streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and heterotrophic organisms was determined. As was the occurrence of Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia, enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), Mycobacteria, yeasts in general and dermatophytes. Shigella, Yersinia, EIEC and dermatophytes were not isolated. Other organisms or groups of microorganisms were found in variable proportions. From this study it is concluded that recreational waters used by the population of Araraquara, may be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganism and this may serve as a source of human diseases.

Removal of radionuclides from acid mine waters by retention on adsorbing materials

This study proposes a method for decontamination of acid drainage water from a uranium mine, as an alternative process to lime treatment. The research embodied the recovery of uranium with an ion-exchange resin, treatment of effluent resin with lime, or with inorganic adsorbents and biosorbents. The uranium decontamination level using the resin process was 94% and allowed the recovery of this element as a commercial product. Among the inorganic adsorbents studied, phosphogypsum was effective for Ra-226, Ra-228, and Pb-210 removal. Among the biosorbents, Sargassum sp.was superior in relation to its specific capacity to accumulate and remove Ra-226.

Health risk related to radon in a thermal spa utilizing waters from Guarani aquifer

This investigation was carried out within the Parana sedimentary basin, Brazil, involved the sampling of groundwater and air, and was realized with the purpose of evaluating the radioactivity, due to radon gas, in a thermal spa utilizing the waters from Guarani (Botucatu-Piramboia) aquifer. The results reported here provide additional information relative to that of previous studies focusing on the presence of radionuclides in the aquifer, which have mainly characterized those belonging to uranium and thorium series decay, such as the uranium isotopes (U-238 and U-234), radium isotopes (Ra-226 and Ra-228), radon daughters (Bi-214 and Pb-214) and radon (Rn-222) itself the results obtained were compared with the maximum permissible concentration limits in air and drinking water defined by international standards, such as the guidelines for drinking water quality established by the World Health Organization. The possible processes responsible for the presence of radon in the aquifer were also considered in order to evaluate the data obtained.

The transfer of uranium isotopes U-234 and U-238 to the waters interacting with carbonates from Mendip Hills area (England)

Laboratory time-scale experiments were conducted on limestone and dolomite gravels from the Mendip Hills area, England, with the purpose of evaluating the release of U-238 and U-234 to different aqueous solutions. The U-234/U-238 activity ratio (AR) lab data were reliable to interpret the field data. The obtained values do not indicate a reduction in the amount of dissolved U and an increase in the AR of the remaining dissolved U as commonly observed for groundwater systems close to redox boundaries. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Reproductive biology and seasonal distribution of Mustelus schmitti (Elasmobranchii : Triakidae) in the Rio de la Plata oceanic front, south-western Atlantic

The population structure and reproductive biology of Mustelus schmitti was analysed during autumn (1994, 1995) and spring (1994) in the Rio dc la Plata occanic front. The samples consisted mainly of a adult males and immature females, indicating that nursery areas are Situated elsewhere. In autumn, the highest female densities occurred between 36 degrees S and 35 degrees S, with densities decreasing further south, and high male densities occurred over all latitudes of the study area. In Spring, both Sexes occurred north of latitude 36 degrees 30 degrees S. Males attained Maturity at. 59 cm total length (TL), and females at 72 cmTL Litter size varied From one to ten in spring and two to nine in autumn, With embryos ranging from 9 to 26 cm and 7 to 26 cm TL respcctivcly the mean TL of embryos was significantly higher in spring (22 cm), suggesting that parturition Occurs ill late spring and summer. Litter size was found to Increase with female TL..

Analysis of aromatic amines in surface waters receiving wastewater from a textile industry by liquid chromatographic with electrochemical detection

A high performance liquid chromatography ( HPLC) method with electrochemical detection (ED) was developed for the determination of benzidine, 3,3-dimethylbenzidine, o-toluidine and 3,3-dichlorobenzidine in the wastewater of the textile industry. The aromatic amines were eluted on a reversed phase column Shimadzu Shimpack C-18 using acetonitrile + ammonium acetate (1 x 10(-4) mol L-1) at a ratio 46: 54 v/v as mobile phase, pumped at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). The electrochemical oxidation of the aromatic amines exhibits well-defined peaks at a potential range of +0.45 to +0.78 V on a glassy carbon electrode. Optimum working potentials for amperometric detection were from 0.70 V to +1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Analytical curves for all the aromatic amines studied using the best experimental conditions present linear relationship from 1 x 10(-8) mol L-1 to 1.5 x 10(-5) mol L-1, r = 0.99965, n = 15. Detection limits of 4.5 nM (benzidine), 1.94 nM (o-toluidine), 7.69 nM (3,3-dimethylbenzidine), and 5.15 nM (3,3-dichlorobenzidine) were achieved, respectively. The detection limits were around 10 times lower than that verified for HPLC with ultra violet detection. The applicability of the method was demonstrated by the determination of benzidine in wastewater from the textile industry dealing with an azo dye processing plant.

Use of diffusive gradients in thin films and tangential flow ultrafiltration for fractionation of Al(III) and Cu(II) in organic-rich river waters

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and tangential-flow ultrafiltration (TF-UF) were combined for fractionation of Al and Cu in river water containing high content of dissolved organic carbon. A procedure based on ultrafiltration data is proposed to determine diffusion coefficients of the analytes in water samples and model solutions containing both free metal (M) and complex (metal - humic substance). Aiming to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed approach, the DGT results were compared with those from a protocol for determination of labile Al and Cu based on solid phase extraction (SPE). Good agreement between data from DGT and SPE were attained for model solutions. For analysis of real organic-rich water samples, differences between DGT and SPE measurements were consistent with the time-scales of the techniques. The concentration of labile Al determined by DGT were lower than the total dissolved concentrations (determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and exceeded the ultrafiltered concentration, indicating that inorganic Al species (species small enough to pass through 1 kDa membrane) were minor species as compared with Al organic complexes. For both Al and Cu, there were species not measured by DGT as they are not sufficiently labile. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Further notes on the capture of a Carcharhinus leucas in a northeastern Atlantic oceanic insular shelf, the Azores Archipelago, Portugal

In March 1993, a specimen of Carcharhinus leucas was captured by fishermen on the south coast of Terceira Island, the Azores Archipelago. Its head was recovered and its jaws were preserved. This is the first capture of this species on an oceanic insular shelf in the Atlantic. The distribution of C. leucas in this ocean is commented.

Seed dispersal by fishes in tropical and temperate fresh waters: The growing evidence

Fruit-eating by fishes represents an ancient (perhaps Paleozoic) interaction increasingly regarded as important for seed dispersal (ichthyochory) in tropical and temperate ecosystems. Most of the more than 275 known frugivorous species belong to the mainly Neotropical Characiformes (pacus, piranhas) and Siluriformes (catfishes), but cypriniforms (carps, minnows) are more important in the Holarctic and Indomalayan regions. Frugivores are among the most abundant fishes in Neotropical floodplains where they eat the fruits of a wide variety of trees and shrubs. By consuming fruits, fishes gain access to rich sources of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins and act as either seed predators or seed dispersers. With their often high mobility, large size, and great longevity, fruit-eating fishes can play important roles as seed dispersers and exert strong influences on local plant-recruitment dynamics and regional biodiversity. Recent feeding experiments focused on seed traits after gut passage support the idea that fishes are major seed dispersers in floodplain and riparian forests. Overfishing, damming, deforestation and logging potentially diminish ichthyochory and require immediate attention to ameliorate their effects. Much exciting work remains in terms of fish and plant adaptations to ichthyochory, dispersal regimes involving fishes in different ecosystems, and increased use of nondestructive methods such as stomach lavage, stable isotopes, genetic analyses and radio transmitters to determine fish diets and movements. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Determination of labile inorganic and organic species of Al and Cu in river waters using the diffusive gradients in thin films technique

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

Measuring fluoride concentration in mineral waters in the Araraquara region, Brazil

It has been shown that people of all ages can benefit from the topical and systemic effects of water fluoridation. However, the increase in consumption of bottled water, either to substitute for or supplement consumption of water from public sources, has implications for safe fluoride supplementation. Taking that into consideration, in 1995 we analyzed the fluoride content in 31 commercial brands of mineral water in the region of Araraquara, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Fluoride concentration as determined by our analysis was compared to the concentration of fluoride specified on each label. Only 25% of the products studied listed the fluoride concentration on their labels. In addition, among 31 mineral water brands, 26 listed the date when the chemical analysis to determine chemical composition had been performed. Of these, 20 had not been put through the annual chemical analysis determined by Brazilian law. Based on these results, if the mineral waters tested had been the only source of drinking water, fluoride supplementation would have been necessary in 69% of the samples analyzed. In the case of children up to 6 years of age who use products containing fluoride, such as topical gels, mouthwashes or toothpastes, supplementation should be recommended only if commercially bottled water is the only source of water used, not only for drinking but for cooking as well.

Investigation of the Genotoxic Potential of the Waters of a River Receiving Tannery Effluents by Means of the in vitro Comet Assay

The comet assay has been described as an efficient tool for the detection of changes in the DNA molecule of cells exposed to contaminating agents in vivo and in vitro. The possible environmental contamination due to the persistence of chromium residues from tannery effluents was determined in the waters of the Córrego dos Bagres stream, Municipal district of Franca/SP, by the comet assay on CHO-K1 cells. Water samples were collected during the four seasons of the year 2001 at three distinct stations along the river. The data suggest that the comet test showed good sensitivity for the environmental monitoring of these waters and indicated that this test can be efficient for the determination of the quality of waters contaminated with effluents containing heavy metal residues such as chromium.