Assessment of Workers’ Contamination Caused by Air Pollution Exposure in Industry Using Biomonitors     

M. Â. B. C. Menezes  C. V. S. Sabino  M. B. Franco  E. C. P. Maia  C. C. B. Albinati 《Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry》2004,49(1-3):403-414

The workers health service is guided to look for risks. There is not an evaluation of the onset of the disease linked to a long-term exposure to low levels of toxic agents. Besides, there are few records of the level of metal concentration in the environmental air in industry, as well as few records of the level of contamination of factory workers. To assess the level of pollution in workplace, galvanising industry was chosen as the object of this study. The worker exposure and contamination levels were assessed by means of airborne particulate matter collected in air filters and biomonitors. The analysis of the air filter, hair and toenail samples were carried out by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, and urine samples by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The statistical multivariate analysis and ANOVA methods were applied to elemental concentration. Copper and iron elements were highlighted as the main contributors on the differentiation of the classes. The results point out the effectiveness of biomonitors in occupational studies.  相似文献   

Isolation,biodegradation ability and molecular detection of hydrocarbon degrading bacteria in petroleum samples from a Brazilian offshore basin     

Suzan Pantaroto de Vasconcellos  Elaine Crespim  Georgiana Feitosa da Cruz  Diego Barbosa Senatore  Karen Christina Marques Simioni  Eugênio Vaz dos Santos Neto  Anita Jocelyne Marsaioli  Valéria Maia de Oliveira 《Organic Geochemistry》2009,40(5):574-588

The detection of microorganisms with potential for biodeterioration and biodegradation in petroleum fields is of great relevance, since these organisms may be related to a decrease in petroleum quality in the reservoirs or damage in the production facilities. In this sense, petroleum formation water and oil samples were collected from the Campos Basin, Brazil, with the aim of isolating microorganisms and evaluating their ability to degrade distinct classes of hydrocarbon biomarkers (9,10-dihydrophenanthrene, phytane, nonadecanoic acid and 5α-cholestane). Twenty eight bacterial isolates were recovered and identified by sequencing their 16S rRNA genes. Biodegradation assays revealed that bacterial metabolism of hydrocarbons occurred through reactions based on oxidation, carbon–carbon bond cleavage and generation of new bonds or by the physical incorporation of hydrocarbons into microbial cell walls. Based on the biodegradation results, selective PCR-based systems were developed for direct detection in petroleum samples of bacterial groups of interest, namely Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp., Achromobacter xylosoxidans, Dietzia spp. and Bacillus pumilus. Primer sets targeting 16S rRNA genes were designed and their specificity was confirmed in silico (i.e. computational analysis) and in PCR reactions using DNA from reference strains as positive and negative controls. Total DNA from oil was purified and the amplification tests revealed the presence of the target bacteria in the samples, unraveling a significant potential for petroleum deterioration in the reservoirs sampled, once proper conditions are present for hydrocarbon degradation. The application of molecular methods for rapid detection of specific microorganisms in environmental samples would be valuable as a supporting tool for the evaluation of oil quality in production reservoirs.  相似文献   

Aeolian dune migration along the Ceará coast, north-eastern Brazil     

Jose A. Jimenez  Luis P. Maia  Jordi Serra  & Jader Morais 《Sedimentology》1999,46(4):689-701

Aeolian dune dimensions and migration rates are analysed along the Ceará coast, north-east Brazil. Dunes that are currently mobile along the Ceará coast are composed of barchans and sand sheets. The results show that barchans maintain an equilibrium form, which can be characterized by values of dimensionless shape parameters H/W and W/L , where H is the dune height, W is the wing-to-wing width and L is the dune length. Dunes are highly mobile, with average migration rates of 17·5 m year⁻¹ for barchans and 10 m year⁻¹ for sand sheets. The calculated migration rates were found to depend strongly on dune dimensions for both barchans and sand sheets, i.e. the larger the dune is, the lower the migration rate will be. This size dependence was associated with the existence of a representative common transport rate along the dune fields, which induces a different dune migration rate dependent on dune size. Finally, from the observed dune evolution, an aggregated scale aeolian sediment transport was inferred. This bulk transport rate, of the order of 90–100 m³ m⁻¹ year⁻¹, is only valid for a timescale of years to decades, which is the timescale used in dune evolution analysis.  相似文献   

Spectroscopic Characterization of Organic Structures and Organic‐Inorganic Interactions in Paper Mill Sludge     

Claudia M. B. F. Maia  Fabio Simonelli  Antinio S. Mangrich 《洁净——土壤、空气、水》2001,28(7):372-377

The organic composition and organic‐inorganic interaction in paper mill sludge (PS) solvent extracts (hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone and ethanol) and humic fractions, humic acid (HA) and humin (HU) were studied by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR), proton and carbon‐13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR; ¹³C NMR), Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐vis). The strategy of fractionating the PS, sequentially, with organic solvents of increasing polarity is a reliable analytical procedure for humic substance sample separation because it results in more purified fractions. FTIR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR results showed that hexane extract consisted mainly of aliphatic hydrocarbon structures. Their contents in the extracts decreased as the polarity of the extracting solvent increased and the content of oxygen functional groups increased. Carboxylic and carboxylate functional groups were found in the acetone extract, and ester and ether functions were predominantly found in the ethanol extract. EPR spectra revealed some Fe³⁺ complexes with rhombic structure (g₁ = 4.3; g₂ = 9.0) in the humic fractions and in all solvent extracts, except hexane. Quasi‐octahedral Fe³⁺ complexes (g = 2.3; ΔH_pp ≤ 400 G) were found in the HU fraction and in the acetone extract. The organic free radical content in the HA fraction was higher than the non‐fractionated PS sample and HU fraction.  相似文献   

An Application of HFE-D for Evaluating Sea Water Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers of Southern Vietnam     

Thi Thuy Van Le  Rungruang Lertsirivorakul  Tran Vuong Bui  Marcia K. Schulmeister 《Ground water》2020,58(6):1012-1022

The coastal aquifers and inland waters of the Long Xuyen Quadrangle and Ca Mau Peninsula of southern Vietnam have been significantly impacted by sea water intrusion (SI) as a result of recent anthropogenic activities. This study identified the evolution and spatial distribution of hydrochemical conditions in coastal aquifers at this region using Hydrochemical Facies Evolution Diagram (HFE-D) and Geographical Information System mapping. Hydraulic heads and water chemistry were measured at 31 observation wells in four layered aquifers during dry and rainy seasons in early (2005), and more recent (2016), stages of agricultural development. Hydrochemical facies associated with intrusion or freshening stages were mapped in each aquifer after assigning mixing index values to each facies. The position of groundwater freshening and SI phases differed in Holocene, Upper Pleistocene, Middle Pleistocene, and Lower Pleistocene aquifers. The geographic position of freshening and intrusion fronts differ in dry and rainy seasons, and shifted after 11 years of groundwater abstraction in all four aquifers. The spatial and temporal differences in hydrochemical facies distributions according to HFE-D reflect the relative impact of SI in the four aquifers. The study results provide a better understanding of the evolution of groundwater quality associated with SI in a peninsular coastal aquifer system, and highlight the need for improving groundwater quality and management in similar coastal regions.  相似文献   

Spatial multicriteria approach to water scarcity vulnerability and analysis of criteria weighting techniques: a case study in São Francisco River,Brazil     

de Ara&#;jo  Matheus Duarte  Maia Ara&#;jo de Brito  Y&#;scara  de Oliveira  Rui 《GeoJournal》2022,87(4):951-972

The water availability deficit is a governance crisis and an environmental, social, and economic risk. This study presents a spatial multicriteria approach for mapping Water Scarcity Vulnerability (WSV) and a comparative analysis of criteria weighting techniques to support the management of water resources in semiarid regions. Initially, nine vulnerability indicators were identified from a literature review and spatialized through a Geographic Information System (GIS) for a water donor region and another recipient from the São Francisco River, in the semiarid region of Brazil. Subsequently, one subjective and two objectives weighting techniques were implemented and compared to measure the weights of the indicators. Finally, the Viekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranje (VIKOR) method was combined with GIS to construct WSV maps. The results indicate the conditions of WSV in the transposition water donor region can be more critical than the region receiver, and the choice of the weighting method influences the results of the multicriteria-GIS approaches. The WSV mapping approach can be helpful for water management decision-making to identify priority areas and spatial inequalities. The comparative analysis in this study can provide a valuable reference for choosing weighting methods in spatial multicriteria applications.

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Phytoplankton reference communities for Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries     

Claire Buchanan  Richard V. Lacouture  Harold G. Marshall  Marcia Olson  Jacqueline M. Johnson 《Estuaries and Coasts》2005,28(1):138-159

Phytoplankton reference communities for Chesapeake Bay were quantified from least-impaired water quality conditions using commonly measured parameters and indicators derived from measured parameters. A binning approach was developed to classify water quality. Least-impaired conditions had relatively high water column transparency and low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and orthophosphate. Reference communities in all seasons and salinity zones are characterized by consistently low values of chlorophylla and pheophytin coupled with relative stable proportions of the phytoplankton taxonomic groups and low biomasses of key bloom-forming species. Chlorophyll cell content was lower and less variable and average cell size and seasonal picophytoplankton biomass tended to be greater in the mesohaline and polyhaline reference communities as compared to the impaired communities. Biomass concentrations of the nano-micro phytoplankton size fractions (2–200 μm) in 12 of the 16 season-specific and salinity-specific reference communities were the same or higher than those in impaired habitat conditions, suggesting that nutrient reductions will not decrease the quantity of edible phytoplankton food available to large consumers. High (bloom) and low (bust) biomass events within the impaired phytoplankton communities showed strikingly different chlorophyll cell content and turnover rates. Freshwater flow had little effect on phytoplankton responses to water quality condition in most of the estuary. Improved water column transparency, or clarity, through the reduction of suspended sediments will be particularly important in attaining the reference communities. Significant nitrogen load reductions are also required.  相似文献   

Avalanche Defence Strategies and Monitoring of Two Sites in Mountain Permafrost Terrain, Pontresina, Eastern Swiss Alps     

Marcia Phillips 《Natural Hazards》2006,39(3):353-379

Snow-supporting avalanche defence structures are increasingly being built at high altitudes in potential permafrost areas. Special construction methods and guidelines have been developed to ensure a minimal stability of the structures, which have a vital role in the protection of underlying settlements and transport infrastructure against snow avalanches. If the avalanche slopes are located on ice-rich permafrost terrain, as is the case in a steep avalanche gully above Pontresina (Eastern Swiss Alps), other means of protection must be used – such as deflection or retention dams – as construction on ice-rich sediments can be very problematic. Experimental snow-supporting structures were built in 1997 in order to test different types of structures and their foundations, to develop specially adapted construction methods and to monitor the long-term behaviour of the structures in moderately creeping frozen ground with volumetric ice contents under 20%. Snow-nets were found to be the most suitable type of protection against avalanches in this type of permafrost terrain due to their deformability and because they are well adapted to rock fall. The structures do not improve slope stability but contribute towards maintaining permafrost as they delay snow melt by modifying the spatial and temporal distribution of the snow cover. The results of the project described have led to a better understanding of permafrost-related avalanche defence problems.  相似文献   

Sedimentologic and stratigraphic constraints on emplacement of the Star Kimberlite, east–central Saskatchewan     

John-Paul Zonneveld  Bruce A. Kjarsgaard  Shawn E. Harvey  Larry M. Heaman  David H. McNeil  Kirsten Y. Marcia 《Lithos》2004,76(1-4):115-138

Diamond-bearing kimberlites in the Fort à la Corne region, east–central Saskatchewan, consist primarily of extra-crater pyroclastic deposits which are interstratified with Lower Cretaceous (Albian and Cenomanian) marine, marginal marine and continental sediments. Approximately 70 individual kimberlite occurrences have been documented. The Star Kimberlite, occurring at the southeastern end of the main Fort à la Corne trend, has been identified as being of economic interest, and is characterized by an excellent drill core database. Integration of multi-disciplinary data-sets has helped to refine and resolve models for emplacement of the Star Kimberlite. Detailed core logging has provided the foundation for sedimentological and volcanological studies and for construction of a regionally consistent stratigraphic and architectural framework for the kimberlite complex. Micropaleontologic and biostratigraphic analysis of selected sedimentary rocks, and U–Pb perovskite geochronology on kimberlite samples have been integrated to define periods of kimberlite emplacement. Radiometric age determination and micropaleontologic evidence support the hypothesis that multiple kimberlite eruptive phases occurred at Star. The oldest kimberlite in the Star body erupted during deposition of the predominantly continental strata of the lower Mannville Group (Cantuar Formation). Kimberlites within the Cantuar Formation include terrestrial airfall deposits as well as fluvially transported kimberlitic sandstone and conglomerate. Successive eruptive events occurred contemporaneous with deposition of the marginal marine upper Mannville Group (Pense Formation). Kimberlites within the Pense Formation consist primarily of terrestrial airfall deposits. Fine- to medium-grained cross-stratified kimberlitic (olivine-dominated) sandstone in this interval reflects reworking of airfall deposits during a regional marine transgression. The location of the source feeder vents of the Cantuar and Pense kimberlite deposits has not been identified. The youngest and volumetrically most significant eruptive events associated with the Star Kimberlite occur within the predominantly marine Lower Colorado Group (Joli Fou and Viking Formations). Kimberlite beds, which occur at several horizons within these units, consist of subaerial and marine fall deposits, the latter commonly exhibiting evidence of wave-reworking. Black shale-encased resedimented kimberlite beds, likely deposited as subaqueous debris flows and turbidites, are particularly common in the Lower Colorado Group. During its multi-eruptive history, the Star Kimberlite body is interpreted to have evolved from a feeder vent and overlying positive-relief tephra ring, into a tephra cone. Initial early Joli Fou volcanism resulted in formation of a feeder vent (200 m diameter) and tephra ring. Subsequent eruptions, dominated by subaerial deposits, partly infilled the crater and constructed a tephra cone. A late Joli Fou eruption formed a small (70 m diameter) feeder pipe slightly offset to the NW of the early Joli Fou feeder vent. Deposits from this event further infilled the crater, and were deposited on top of early Joli Fou kimberlite (proximal to the vent) and sediments of the Joli Fou Formation (distal to the vent). The shape of the tephra cone was modified during multiple marine transgression and regression cycles coeval with deposition of the Lower Colorado Group, resulting in wave-reworked kimberlite sand along the fringes of the cone and kimberlitic event deposits (tempestites, turbidites, debris flows) in more distal settings.  相似文献   

A stochastic estimation of sediment production in an urban catchment using the USLE model     

E. G. Lisboa  C. J. C. Blanco  R. O. P. Maia  L. A. L. Bello 《水文科学杂志》2017,62(15):2571-2586

The goals of this study were to map the spatial distribution of sediment production and to estimate the probability of this production at the waterline based on a high potential of silting. The RUSLE-GIS model and Monte Carlo simulation were used. A sensitivity analysis of stochastic factors was performed by calculating the simple correlation coefficient. This procedure was applied to the Estrada Nova catchment, located in the city of Belém, northern Brazil, which has been subject to channel improvements and the construction of a detention basin. The results indicate that, following the urbanization and drainage improvements, there was a reduction in the annual sediment production probability, which is consistent with the dynamics in land use. The erodibility was the most sensitive factor in the sedimentation estimates. The methodology was considered an alternative to estimate sediment production in an urban catchment.  相似文献