Avaliação da contaminação humana por hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPAs) e seus derivados nitrados (NHPAs): uma revisão metodológica

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocabons (PAHs) and their nitroderivatives (NPAHs) are ubiquitous in the environment and they are produced in several industrial and combustion processes. Some of these compounds are potent carcinogens/mutagens and their determination in biological samples is an important step for exposure control. A review of the analytical methodologies used for the determination of PAHs and their metabolites in biological samples is presented.

Contaminação do ambiente aquático por pesticidas. Estudo de caso: águas usadas para consumo humano em Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso - análise preliminar

A preliminary analyses of the possible contamination of superficial and underground water by the active ingredients of the pesticide products used in the surroundings of the urban area of Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brazil, was carried out. A description of the study region and of its environmental characteristics, which can favor the contamination of the local aquatic environment, was presented. The EPA screening criteria, the groundwater ubiquity score (GUS) and the criteria proposed by Goss were used to evaluate which pesticides might contaminate the local waters. Among the active ingredients studied, several present risks to the local aquatic environment.

Biossensores amperométricos para determinação de compostos fenólicos em amostras de interesse ambiental

Phenols are widely used in many areas and commonly found as industrial by-products. A great number of agricultural and industrial activities realise phenolic compounds in the environmental. Waste phenols are produced mainly by the wood-pulp industry and during production of synthetic polymers, drugs, plastics, dyes, pesticides and others. Phenols are also released into the environmental by the degradation of pesticides with phenolic skeleton. The phenols level control is very important for the environmental protection. Amperometric biosensor has shown the feasibility to complement laboratory-based analytical methods for the determination of phenolic compounds, providing alternatives to conventional methods which have many disadvantages. This brief review considers the evolution of an approach to amperometric measurement using the catalytic properties of some enzymes for phenolic compounds monitoring.

Estudi dels efectes de les plantes ornamentals en la qualitat ambiental de l'aire urbà : anàlisi ecològic i aerobiològic a Tiana

Pollen allergy has a remarkable clinical impact all over Europe, and there are evidences that the prevalence of allergic respiratory induced reactions by pollen in Europe has been increasing in recent decades. The presence of potentially allergenic ornamental species in the town of Tiana, representing 41% of total species recorded. Approximately 28% of these species are Platanus acerifolia. This study attempts to relate the effect it has on the people’s health, the presence of certain urban ornamental plants by identifying and locating the ornamental trees in the town.

Química atmosférica do enxofre (IV): emissões, reações em fase aquosa e impacto ambiental

The oxidation process of sulfur(IV) species by oxygen, ozone and nitrogen oxides, catalysed by trace metal ions, can play an important role in atmospheric chemistry processes like acid rain, visibility degradation and health hazard. An overview of the more relevant investigations on emissions sources, aqueous phase conversion process and environmental impact is presented.

Impacto de las proliferaciones de medusas en la valoración económica ambiental de las playas de Denia (Sudoeste Mediterráneo), Alicante, España

El actual incremento de medusas en las costas mediterráneas, percibido como un factor negativo en la calidad de las playas, supone un factor reductor de la demanda turística en las ubicaciones costeras, sobre todo en aquellas más afectadas por éstas proliferaciones. Debido a que la época de mayor presencia de fitoplacton disponible (principal fuente de alimento de las medusas), relacionada a la alta incidencia lumínica, coincide con la temporada alta de turismo en el verano; las notificaciones de incidencias por picaduras de medusa en esta época son frecuentes. Ejemplo de ello, es el caso de Denia (Alicante, España) donde, desde 2008, se ha detectado un considerable aumento de incidencias sanitarias a causa de picaduras de medusa, paralela a la aparición de la especie invasora de cubomedusa Carybdea marsupialis (Bordehore et al, 2011). En este estudio se ha realizado una valoración económica de la playa como un bien ambiental recreativo, mediante encuestas semi-estructuradas elaboradas por Paulo Nunes (CIESM), aplicadas a una muestra inicial de 300 individuos; y evaluado cual sería el impacto social y económico en la valoración ambiental de Denia, si las proliferaciones de medusa no se estabilizaran. Se ha estimado el valor económico del impacto sicial causado por las bioinvasiones marinas en las playas recreacionistas según Nunes and Van den Bergh (2004) y Nunes and Markandya (2008); el método que también ha sido aplicado en el mismo estudio aplicado en Israel (B. Galil, J. Gowdy and P. Nunes 2012) y en Cataluña (2013, Paulo Nunes, M. Loureiro, L. Piñol, S. Sastre, L. Voltaire). En ambos casos los resultados en el impacto económico son considerables pero menores a los esperados, al igual que en los resultados obtenidos en Denia (Alicante).

Métodos de baixo custo para purificação de reagentes e controle da contaminação para a determinação de metais traços em águas naturais

Probably one of the most difficult and challenging aspects of measuring trace metals in natural waters is to avoid contamination during sampling, manipulation and analysis. This work discusses how to avoid contamination using simple procedures, and considers alternative methods to purify deionised water and low grade reagents to enable accurate determination of trace metals in natural waters in a common laboratory. Measurements were performed by cathodic stripping voltammetry and copper was used as a model metal to test the procedures. It was possible to evaluate copper speciation in natural waters even when total dissolved copper concentration was as low as 1.5 nmol L-1. The methods' accuracy was confirmed by analysis of certified seawater.

A Química Ambiental no Brasil

Defining environmental chemistry is a not an easy task because it encompasses many different topics. According to Stanley E. Manahan, author of a classical textbook of Environmental Chemistry, this branch could be defined as the one centered in the study of the sources, transport, effects and fates of chemical species in the water, soil, and air environments, as well as the influence of human activity upon these processes. More recently, new knowledge emerged from the Environmental Toxicology allowed to go even deeper in the meaning of 'effects' and 'fates' of a continuous growing number of organic and inorganic species disposed in water bodies, soils and atmosphere. Toxicity tests became an important tool to evaluate the environmental impact of such species to a great number of organisms, thus allowing to set quality criteria for drinking water, sediments and biota. The state of art shows that environmental chemistry is a multi-inter disciplinary science by nature; therefore, it needs more than a limited, unique-approach and non-oriented set of data to understand the nature of natural processes. Taking all these aspects into consideration, one can say that Environmental Chemistry in Brazil is now a well established area of research within the classical areas of the Chemistry, with a large number of emerging groups as well research groups with worldwide recognition.

Avaliando a contaminação por elementos traço em atividades de maricultura: resultados parciais de um estudo de caso realizado na ilha de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Adopting the perspective of human health risk assessment, an interdisciplinary research group has been investigating since 1998 the quality of mussels and oysters cultivated in coastal zones of Santa Catarina State. Evaluation of physico-chemical parameters considered relevant in measuring the degree of eutrophication showed values compatible with the dynamics of well balanced environmental systems. Concentrations of metallic and semi-metallic elements in seawater and bivalves were found to be similar to or lower than those found in Chile, Greenland and the USA. Further investigations focusing upon sediments will provide new and useful data for the management of sustainable mariculture strategies in Brazil.

Utilizando o monitoramento ambiental para o ensino da química: pedagogia de projeto

The article shows how the monitoring of the water quality can be utilized in an inter-disciplinary pedagogical project involving Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Microbiology making the apprenticeship more dynamic and consolidating the link between the student and the community.

Relato de uma experiência pedagógica no ensino de química: formação profissional com responsabilidade ambiental

The toxic heavy metals can not be transformed in other less toxic substances as organic wastes through chemical process. Various chemistry courses at Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Humanities (FFCLRP/USP) use heavy metals in their experimental classes. In this context, a course were created: "Heavy Metal Wastes generated in the teaching and research laboratories: disposal or recovery" and has a specific goal to capacitate the students to define the adequate strategy for disposal or recovery of the chemical wastes, in particular heavy metals, through an interdisciplinary approaching. This course was given to 25 students during the second semester of 2000 and 2001. The environmental responsibility desired for the professional and citizen can be promoted.

Determinação de As em amostras orgânicas de interesse ambiental por espectrometria de absorção atômica com atomização eletrotérmica após combustão em bomba de O2

The toxicity of the major As species present in the environment justifies the effort for quantifying the element in environmental organic samples, which can vary from animal and vegetal tissues to coal and industrial residues. This paper comments about the applicability of the O2 bomb digestion, as a general procedure for all environmental organic materials. A rapid and straightforward method is suggested, which consists in burning the sample in the bomb at high O2 pressure, dissolving the vapours in diluted HNO3 and determining As in the resulting solution by atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization. The method was applied to certified materials and plant samples.

Educação ambiental na universidade: construindo possibilidades

Environmental education is a big challenge in this century and the University has an important role to play in it. This paper presents a practical experience of environmental education in the university teaching at the University of Bahia. That experience involves the creation of an interdisciplinary group that has been developing research and teaching activities with interdisciplinary perspectives. The paper also discusses a methodology proposed by this group aiming to include environmental education in science teaching using social and cultural approaches.

Contaminação de águas por BTXs e processos utilizados na remediação de sítios contaminados

After decades of polluting actions the environment manifests serious and global consequences. The contamination of soils and groundwater by organic compounds is a widespread problem mainly on account of contamination by leakage from underground storage tanks, which often results in the release of gasoline or other chemicals. The main problem about groundwater contamination is due to the toxicity of water-soluble components such as benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX). In the present work a study about classical and modern methods for remediation of BTX is reported.