Poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules carrying the herbicide atrazine: effect of chitosan-coating agent on physico-chemical stability and herbicide release profile     

R. Grillo  A. H. Rosa  L. F. Fraceto 《International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology》2014,11(6):1691-1700

Polymeric nanoparticles can be used as carrier systems for a variety of bioactive compounds, altering the physico-chemical properties of the substances that are incorporated in the particle matrix. Coating techniques are employed to modify the interactions of the particles with the target medium. The objective of this work was to prepare nanocapsules of poly(ε-caprolactone) containing the herbicide atrazine and study the effect of coating the nanocapsule surfaces using different concentrations of chitosan. The encapsulation efficiency, release kinetics profile, and physico-chemical stability of the formulations were evaluated. Encapsulation percentages of 64–84 % were achieved. The release kinetics profile of the herbicide was altered when the nanocapsules were coated, and the release mechanism could be described by a combination of diffusion and relaxation of the polymeric chains. The stability of the formulations was influenced by the concentration of chitosan used in the preparation procedure. Given the global application of herbicides in agriculture, the results indicate that their association with coated modified release carrier systems could be beneficial from both ecological and economic perspectives. These systems offer delivery that is more efficient, as well as improved adhesion of herbicides to the target plants.  相似文献   

Predictive modeling for preventive Archaeology: overview and case study     

Maria Danese  Nicola Masini  Marilisa Biscione  Rosa Lasaponara 《Central European Journal of Geosciences》2014,6(1):42-55

The use of GIS and Spatial Analysis for predictive models is an important topic in preventive archaeology. Both of these tools play an important role in the Support Decision System (SDS) for archaeological research and for providing information useful to reduce archaeological risk. Over the years, a number of predictive models in the GIS environment have been developed and proposed. The existing models substantially differ from each other in methodological approaches and parameters used for performing the analysis. Until now, only few works consider spatial autocorrelation, which can provide more effective results. This paper provides a brief review of the existing predictive models, and then proposes a new methodological approach, applied to the neolithic sites in the Apulian Tavoliere (Southern Italy), that combines traditional techniques with methods that allow us to include spatial autocorrelation analysis to take into account the spatial relationships among the diverse sites.  相似文献   

Biomarkers in croakers Micropogonias furnieri (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) from polluted and non-polluted areas from the Patos Lagoon estuary (Southern Brazil): evidences of genotoxic and immunological effects     

Amado LL  da Rosa CE  Leite AM  Moraes L  Pires WV  Pinho GL  Martins CM  Robaldo RB  Nery LE  Monserrat JM  Bianchini A  Martinez PE  Geracitano LA 《Marine pollution bulletin》2006,52(2):199-206

Biomarkers of exposure and effect of pollutants were analyzed in croakers Micropogonias furnieri (Teleostei: Sciaenidae) captured in winter and summer in a polluted and in a non-polluted site at the Patos Lagoon estuary (Southern Brazil). Catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities (exposure biomarkers) and lipid peroxidation (effect biomarker) were analyzed in liver samples. Other two effect biomarkers were also studied: blood cells DNA damage (through comet assay and micronucleus test) and respiratory burst measurements. In a broad view, results point to an important seasonal variation of the biochemical biomarkers analyzed. However, data obtained clearly indicate that croakers collected in winter at the polluted site were subjected to a level of clastogenic agents sufficient to generate irreversible genetic damages (mutations) and impair the fish immune system.  相似文献   

Stable isotope and trace element status of subsistence-hunted bowhead and beluga whales in Alaska and gray whales in Chukotka     

Dehn LA  Follmann EH  Rosa C  Duffy LK  Thomas DL  Bratton GR  Taylor RJ  O'Hara TM 《Marine pollution bulletin》2006,52(3):301-319

Tissues of bowhead, beluga, and gray whales were analyzed for Ag, Cd, Cu, Se, Zn, THg and MeHg (belugas only). Delta15N and delta13C in muscle were used to estimate trophic position and feeding habitat, respectively. Trace element concentrations in tissues were significantly different among whale species. Hepatic Ag was higher in belugas than bowheads and gray whales. Gray whales had lower Cd concentrations in liver and kidney than bowhead and belugas and a sigmoid correlation of Cd with length was noted for all whales. Renal and hepatic Se and THg were higher in belugas than in baleen whales. The hepatic molar ratio of Se:THg exceeded 1:1 in all species and was negatively correlated to body length. Hepatic and renal Zn in subsistence-harvested gray whales was lower than concentrations for stranded whales. Se:THg molar ratios and tissue concentrations of Zn may show promise as potential indicators of immune status and animal health.  相似文献   

Magnetic properties of surface sediments as proxies of recent anthropogenic pollution in the Anllóns riverbed (NW Spain)     

Vincenzo Costanzo-Álvarez  Rosa Devesa-Rey  Milagrosa Aldana  María Teresa Barral  Diego López-Rodríguez  Belkys Andrade 《Environmental Earth Sciences》2017,76(13):454

A study of surface sediments from the Anllóns riverbed (northwestern Spain) was conducted to assess the use of their magnetic properties as proxies of recent trace element contamination (i.e., As, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni and Cu). Thermomagnetic curves, hysteresis parameters, specific magnetic susceptibility χ, frequency-dependent magnetic susceptibility κ _FD%, magnetic remanence and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization ratios (i.e., S and SIRM/χ) reveal the presence of mostly fine-grained magnetite and maghemite in these samples. The Tomlinson Pollution Load Index (PLI), as well as the magnetic parameters χ, κ _FD%, SIRM/χ and S-ratios, vary more or less in agreement to each other when they are sequentially arranged throughout a 30-km-long transect that goes from the town of Carballo to the river mouth in Ponteceso. From that profile, it is possible to identify an anomaly of χ that lies between two small peaks of the PLI and seems to define a contaminated area probably linked to a diffuse low-impact source of pollution. There is also a conspicuous peak of the PLI that is likely associated to a nearby gold mine. The variations of the κ _FD%’s along the transect are the ones that best reflect the changes in the PLI values, regardless of the level of contamination. This result suggests that adsorption is the main mechanism of trace elements removal by Fe oxides in these samples. Direct signal analyses, used to decompose the isothermal remanent magnetization curves, reveal the presence of four magnetic fractions, with varying relative concentrations all over the profile, namely single-domain magnetite, close to the superparamagnetic threshold (SD/SP) and/or maghemite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 1.2), single-domain magnetite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 2), hematite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 2.5) and goethite (\(\log B_{1/2}\) ca 3.5). Integrating all the available information, it was sketched out a likely sequence of events that included magnetic minerals neoformation in parent soils, their subsequent chemical transformations and the contamination episodes that affected the region.  相似文献