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.

Avaliação do impacto da agricultura em áreas de proteção ambiental, pertencentes à bacia hidrográfica do rio ribeira de iguape, São Paulo

In order to ascertain the impact of agricultural activities on water quality of the Ribeira de Iguape River Basin in the state of São Paulo, surface water areas for catchment and drinking water have been characterized. The sampling period covered March/2002 - February/2003 and January/2004 at 10 different catchment points. SPE-LC-UV/Vis was used to monitor various pesticide classes such as carbamates, triazines and nitroanilines. The results revealed that water quality is associated with seasonal variation. Of 152 samples analyzed, only 24% showed the presence of pesticides, particulary during the wet season. High variability in pH, turbidity and color were observed.

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.

Un método de bajo costo para la determinación de cobre a nivel de vestigios en matrices de interés ambiental por espectrofotometría en fase sólida (EFS)

A method for determining copper by solid phase spectrophotometry (SPS) was optimized using the Doehlert design. Copper(II) was sorbed on a styrene-divinylbenzene anion-exchange resin as a Cu(II)-1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) complex, at pH 7.0. Resin phase absorbances at 560 and 800 nm were measured directly. The detection limit was found to be 2.5 µg L-1. The relative standard deviation on ten replicate determinations of 10 µg Cu(II) in 1000 mL samples was 1.1%. The linear range of the determination was 5.0-100 µg L-1. The method was applied successfully to the determination of Cu(II) in natural water and vegetable samples.

Evolución de la Psicología Ambiental en el Contexto de PSICAMB. Análisis de las Contribuciones a los Congresos Entre 1986 y 2013

En el presente artículo se hace un breve repaso de las circunstancias académicas, institucionales y de algunos de los avatares que han venido sucediendo hasta dar lugar a la constitución de la Asociación de Psicología Ambiental (PSICAMB) y sus primeros años. Junto a este recorrido, también se ha prestado atención a los trabajos que se han presentado en las doce jornadas y congresos bianuales que se han celebrado hasta la actualidad. Para ello se ha llevado a cabo un análisis de contenido de los 1065 títulos recogidos en estos eventos. Por lo que respecta al nivel de participación se observa que cada vez este es más alto tanto en el número trabajos presentados cómo en los autores que los avalan. Por lo que respecta al análisis de los títulos, se observó que las quince categorías utilizadas se subsumían en cinco: 'aspectos teóricos, conceptuales y metodológicos', 'medio construido' 'medio natural' la 'psicología de la conservación' 'los riesgos y los desastres'. Los resultados del análisis muestran un alto volumen en cada una de estas categorías salvo en el 'medio natural' y se observa como con el devenir de los años se ha ido prestando atención más a unos temas que a otros.

A gestão integrada de resíduos sólidos urbanos - perspectiva ambiental e económico-energética

The importance of urban solid waste integrated systems is characterized by the several components of these systems, which are, basically, formed by physical, chemical and biological methods. This article, characterizes these methods and, which is also important, identifies the several and potential environmental impacts of those techniques. It's also extremely important to make a study of the economic rentability of those infrastructures and, also, characterize the quantitative energetic contributions of some components of these systems. This study was analysed and their results are presented in this article.

Educação ambiental nas escolas da região de Ribeirão Preto (SP): concepções orientadoras da prática docente e reflexões sobre a formação inicial de professores de química

During short courses, 95 secondary school teachers from 49 state schools and 421 students from the Ribeirão Preto region (in Sao Paulo state, Brazil, with a population of 530,000) were asked to fill in different questionnaires. The points raised in the teacher's questionnaire were used as a guide to establish a continuous dialogue during the short courses. Most of the schools claimed to have some kind of environmental education (EE). Based on the questionnaires and dialogues we analyzed how the teachers' perceptions on EE reflect on the views secondary students hold about their own responsibility for preserving the environment. The role of universities in the preparation of chemistry teachers capable of effectively approaching EE is also discussed.

Ètica per aixecar la Moral : Problemes ètics als serveis socials bàsics en temps de crisi

Els riscos ètics als serveis socials en temps de crisi es multipliquen i s’intensifiquen, però en essència no es tracta de riscos nous ni diferents dels que es podien produir en temps de bonança econòmica i social. No obstant, la cruesa del context dels serveis socials bàsics (freqüència de les situacions límit que s'han d'atendre, les qüestions internes i externes de la pràctica professional, el malestar i desencant dels professionals) pot suposar una oportunitat de visibilitat i prendre consciència d'aquests riscos ètics. A la vegada, l'anàlisi i l'abordatge d'aquest nou context des d'una perspectiva ètica pot suposar un antídot que permeti ressituar la pràctica professional (amb els seus límits, però també amb les seves possibilitats), millorar-ne la qualitat i la transparència, i, de retruc, trencar amb la dinàmica de cronificació de la insatisfacció i queixa professional. És a dir, la perspectiva ètica pot ajudar a aixecar la moral dels professionals. Així doncs, amb aquesta recerca pretenem assolir els següents objectius: Identificar els riscos ètics de la intervenció als serveis socials bàsics en relació als efectes i l'impacte de la crisi econòmica; analitzar els diferents riscos ètics identificats i efectuar propostes d'abordatge i minimització d'aquests riscos ètics

Ambiental volatile organic compounds in the megacity of São Paulo

In order to characterize the composition of the main urban air organic compounds in the megacity of Sao Paulo, analysis of samples collected during the winter of 2003 downtown was carried out. The samplings were performed on the roof of a building in the commercial center of São Paulo. Hydrocarbons and carbonyls compounds were collected on August 4, 5 and 6. Comparing to previous data, the concentration of hydrocarbons presented no decrease in the concentration, except for the aldehydes, which decreased when compared to previous data. Among the HCs species analyzed, the highest concentrations observed were those of toluene (7.5 ± 3.4 ppbv), n-decane (3.2 ± 2.0 ppbv), benzene (2.7 ± 1.4 ppbv) and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene (2.2 ± 1.5 ppbv).

Experimento didático sobre cromatografia gasosa: uma abordagem analítica e ambiental

This paper describes an experiment to teach the principles of gas chromatography exploring the boiling points and polarities to explain the elution order of a series of alcohols, benzene and n-propanone, as well as to teach the response factor concept and the internal standard addition method. Retention times and response factors are used for qualitative identification and quantitative analysis of a hypothetical contamination source in a simulated water sample. The internal standard n-propanol is further used for quantification of benzene and n-butanol in the water sample. This experiment has been taught in the instrumental analysis course offered to chemistry and oceanography students.

Salir de la escuela: entre la tradición y la educación ambiental para la sostenibilidad = Excursions from school: between tradition and environmental education for sustainability

Las actividades escolares fuera del centro constituyen una marca de calidad del pasado y del presente educativo, y tienen que seguir siéndolo en el futuro. A partir de una investigación cualitativa se identifican las razones aducidas por enseñantes para salir del aula y, con ejemplos concretos, quedan plasmados algunos de los objetivos perseguidos, así como otros que se añaden a la propia actividad. Se identifican salidas vivenciales y otras más experimentales, se reconocen valores positivos, pero también se echa en falta un trabajo más coherente con los principios actuales de la educación ambiental. Precisamente esta educación es la propuesta como el camino a seguir para renovar objetivos, técnicas y procedimientos para salir del aula

Um panorama sobre a abordagem ambiental no currículo de cursos de formação inicial de professores de química da região sudeste

This work analysed the contents of 701 disciplines from 22 chemistry courses that prepare chemistry teachers in 16 public Universities in Southeastern Brazil. Only a small number (23) of disciplines showed an explicit relationship between human activities and the environment. A total of 11 theoretical and 193 experimental disciplines explored to some extent scientific and technological aspects related to the environment, but did not include their relationship with society. As the experimental disciplines supposedly include some kind of waste treatment, this may explain why secondary school chemistry teachers work mainly on recycling programs and waste issues at their schools. The aim of this work is to provide information on which to base a much needed discussion about how to better prepare our chemistry teachers to act as Environmental Educators at school, as the Brazilian Education Legislation requires.