Seguridad ocupacional contra Bacillus anthracis en la industria de curtiembre peruana / Occupational safety against Bacillus anthracis in the Peruvian tannery industry

El carbunco es una zoonosis que afecta a animales herbívoros, causada por el microorganismo Bacillus anthracis; que se encuentra en su forma vegetativa en el organismo infectado, y una vez en contacto con el aire forma esporas que infectan al huésped, liberando toxinas que inducen edema, septicemia y necrosis tisular. En humanos, la transmisión se produce por cortes, pinchazos o contacto directo de piel lesionada con esporas o tejidos de animales infectados. En Perú, para la década de 1980, se reportaron 400 casos anuales en áreas rurales agrícolas, adquiridos por manipulación del ganado vacuno, muerto por ántrax. Es por ello, que la piel y el cuero procedente de animales infectados representa un riesgo de infección para los trabajadores de industrias curtiembres. Se realizó un estudio transversal para evaluar el riesgo biológico ocupacional y las medidas de bioseguridad relacionadas con el Bacillus anthracis en pequeñas, medianas y grandes empresas curtiembres peruanas. Se aplicó un instrumento a los trabajadores para cuantificar las variables, componentes de riesgo biológico y conocer las medidas higiénicas adoptadas. Posteriormente se calculó e interpretó el nivel de riesgo biológico. Se encontró que el nivel de riesgo supera el límite de exposición biológica para el Bacillus anthracis en todas las empresas evaluadas y los trabajadores de las pequeñas empresas tienen poco conocimiento acerca del riesgo biológico al que están expuestos, siendo necesaria la capacitación de los trabajadores acerca del Bacillus anthracis y adopción de medidas de bioseguridad en empresas curtiembres, que garanticen la salud de los trabajadores(AU)

Anthrax is a zoonosis that affects herbivorous animals, caused by the microorganism Bacillus anthracis; which is found in its vegetative form in the infected organism, and once in contact with the air it forms spores that infect the host, releasing toxins that induce edema, septicemia and tissue necrosis. In humans, transmission occurs through cuts, punctures, or direct contact of broken skin with spores or tissues of infected animals. In Peru, for the 1980s, 400 annual cases were reported in rural agricultural areas, acquired by handling cattle, which died of anthrax. For this reason, the skin and leather from infected animals represent a risk of infection for workers in tanneries. A cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate the occupational biological risk and biosafety measures related to Bacillus anthracis in small, medium and large Peruvian tanneries. An instrument was applied to the workers to quantify the variables, components of biological risk and to know the hygienic measures adopted. Subsequently, the level of biological risk was calculated and interpreted. It was found that the level of risk exceeds the biological exposure limit for Bacillus anthracis in all the companies evaluated and the workers of the small companies have little knowledge about the biological risk to which they are exposed, being necessary the training of the workers about the Bacillus anthracis and adoption of biosafety measures in tanneries, which guarantee the health of workers(AU)

Consortium of Microalgae for Tannery Effluent Treatment

Abstract Wastewater generated in tanneries have essential elements for microalgae growth, but it has also some toxic compounds that may hinder or restrain the growth of microalgae in this environment. This work tested microalgae consortium growth originating from a deactivated effluent treatment decanter of a complete tannery (beamhouse to finished leather) for the treatment of wastewater of a tannery processing wet-blue leather to finished leather. It was initially evaluated the growth of the microalgae consortium in the three effluents diluted in 50% distilled water: raw effluent (50RE50W), effluent after primary coagulation/flocculation (50PE50W), and effluent after primary and secondary biological treatment (50BE50W). After 16 days of cultivation, the 50PE50W presented the highest biomass concentration (1.77 g L−1). The highest removal values for effluents 50RE50W, 50PE50W and 50BE50W were 51.02%, 99.90%, 82.88%, and 91.75% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), N-NH3, TKN, and P-PO4-, respectively. It was verified low levels of nutrient removal in the raw effluent (100RE), since the consortium was not able to grow in this medium. Finally, at concentrations of 25RE75BE (25% raw effluent diluted with 75% effluent after the biological treatment) and 50RE50B (50% raw effluent diluted with 50% effluent after the biological treatment), effective removal values were reached. Biomass growth concentration up to 1.3 g L-1 and removal values for N-NH3, TKN, P-PO4, COD, total organic carbon (TOC) and biological oxygen demand (BOD5), of 99.90%, 79.36%, 87.82%, 14.26%, 35.82%, and 42.86%, respectively, were reached in 50RE50B.

Influence of tannery wastewater sludge doses on biometric and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in conilon coffee / Influence of tannery wastewater sludge doses on biometric and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in conilon coffee = Influência de doses de lodo de curtume nos parâmetros biométricos e de fluorescência da clorofila em café conilon

Tannery wastewater sludge is an industrial residue that can be used in the pure form or associated to other residues, such as byproduct production from cultivated plants. The objective of the present study was to assess substrate composition for producing conilon coffee stem cuttings, varying increasing tannery wastewater sludge doses. A randomized block design was used with four treatments, three increasing doses of tannery wastewater sludge and one conventional treatment. The stem cuttings were assessed for parameters related to photosystem II functioning and biometry. The results indicated that substrates consisting of tannery wastewater sludge, humus and subsoil promote, in general, improvement in plant growth compared to conventional substrates, highlighting the Dickson quality index. Both chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and chlorophyll contents estimates were not affected by using tannery wastewater sludge in the mixture to formulate substrate for conilon coffee stem cuttings.

O lodo de curtume é um resíduo industrial que pode ser aproveitado de forma pura ou associado a outros resíduos, como na produção de substratos de plantas cultivadas. Neste sentido, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a composição de substrato para a produção de mudas de café conilon, variando doses crescentes de lodo de curtume. O delineamento utilizado foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro tratamentos, sendo três doses crescentes de lodo e um tratamento convencional. As mudas foram avaliadas em relação aos parâmetros relacionados ao funcionamento do fotossistema II e a biometria. Os resultados indicam que substratos compostos por lodo, húmus e terra de subsolo promoveram, em geral, melhoria no crescimento das mudas quando comparados aos substratos convencionais, destacandose o índice de qualidade de Dickson. Os parâmetros de fluorescência e estimativas do teor de clorofila não foram afetados pela utilização do lodo de curtume na mistura para formulação de substrato de mudas de café conilon.

Strategy of oxygen transfer coefficient control on the L-erythrulose fermentation by newly isolated Gluconobacter kondonii

Background: The effect of diverse oxygen transfer coefficient on the L-erythrulose production from meso-erythritol by a newly isolated strain, Gluconobacter kondonii CGMCC8391 was investigated. In order to elucidate the effects of volumetric mass transfer coefficient (K La) on the fermentations, baffled and unbaffled flask cultures, and fed-batch cultures were developed in present work. Results: With the increase of the K La value in the fed-batch culture, L-erythrulose concentration, productivity and yield were significantly improved, while cell growth was not the best in the high K La. Thus, a two-stage oxygen supply control strategy was proposed, aimed at achieving high concentration and high productivity of L-erythrulose. During the first 12 h, Klawas controlled at 40.28 h-1 to obtain high value for cell growth, subsequently K La was controlled at 86.31 h-1 to allow for high L-erythrulose accumulation. Conclusions: Under optimal conditions, the L-erythrulose concentration, productivity, yield and DCW reached 207.9 ± 7.78 g/L, 6.50 g/L/h, 0.94 g/g, 2.68 ± 0.17 g/L, respectively. At the end of fermentation, the L-erythrulose concentration and productivity were higher than those in the previous similar reports.

Manual de buenas prácticas: industria del cuero / Good practice handbook for leather Industry

El presente manual propone una guía de buenas prácticas para la prevención de riesgos del trabajo, protección y promoción de la salud, destinada a todos los actores sociales del sector del cuero. Es una herramienta útil para el desarrollo de políticas preventivas en los ámbitos laborales y un soporte de capacitación permanente para los trabajadores. Fue elaborado en el marco de los Programas Nacionales de Prevención por rama de actividad (PRONAPRE) de la SRT, por la Comisión de Trabajo Cuatripartita de la industria del cuero, y es fruto del debate y el consenso de: la SRT, el Ministerio de Trabajo Empleo y Seguridad Social de la Nación, la Unión de Aseguradoras de Riesgos del Trabajo (UART), el Sindicato de Obreros de la Industria del Cuero de Esperanza (S.O.I.C.), Sindicato de Obreros Curtidores de la República Argentina (S.O.C) , y Asociación de Curtidores de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (ACUBA); y la Cámara de la Industria Curtidora Argentina

Cytotoxicity assays to evaluate tannery effluents treated by photoelectrooxidation / Ensaios de citotoxicidade na avaliação de efluentes de curtume tratados por fotoeletrooxidação

The advanced oxidation process (AOP) is used to increase the treatment efficiency of effluents however, it is necessary to compare the toxicity of treated and untreated effluents to evaluate if the decontamination process does not cause any biological harm. Cultured cells have been previously used to assess the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of various compounds. Hence, the aim of this work was to assess the applicability of cytotoxicity assays to evaluate the toxicity related to the AOP treatment. Samples of an industrial effluent were collected after their treatment by a conventional method. Cytotoxicity of standard and AOP treated effluents was assessed in CRIB and HEp-2 cell line using the MTT and neutral red assays. We observed decrease at cell viability in the both assays (50% MTT and 13% NRU) when cells were exposed to the AOP treatment in the highest concentration. Thus, cytotoxic assays in cultured cells can be explored as an useful method to evaluate toxicity as well as to optimize effluents treatment process.

Resumo O processo de oxidação avançada (POA) tem sido usado para aumentar a eficiência do tratamento de efluentes; no entanto, é necessário comparar a toxicidade de efluentes tratados e não tratados para avaliar se o processo de descontaminação não é capaz de causar algum risco biológico. Cultivos celulares têm sido utilizados para avaliar o potencial genotóxico e citotóxico de vários compostos. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a aplicabilidade de ensaios de citotoxicidade para avaliar a toxicidade relacionada ao tratamento com POA. As amostras de um efluente industrial foram recolhidas após o tratamento por um método convencional. A citotoxicidade dos efluentes padrão e tratado com POA foi avaliada nas linhagens celulares CRIB e HEp-2 usando os ensaios do MTT e do vermelho neutro. Observou-se diminuição da viabilidade celular em ambos os ensaios (50% MTT e 13% VN) quando as células foram expostas à concentração mais elevada do efluente tratado com POA. Assim, os ensaios de citotoxicidade em cultivos celulares podem ser explorados como um método útil para avaliar a toxicidade, bem como para otimizar os processos de tratamento de efluentes.

Sinos River Hydrographic Basin: urban occupation, industrialization and environmental memory / Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio dos Sinos: ocupação urbana, industrialização e memória ambiental.

This article presents an analysis of the process of industrialization and urbanization of the Sinos Valley in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, starting from the establishment of leather goods and footwear manufacturing in the region during the 19th century when tanneries and factories producing footwear and/or components for footwear began to appear, and with special attention to aspects related to the environmental impact on the Sinos river hydrographic basin. The article is based on both bibliographic and documentary research and also draws on biographical narratives of workers with links to the leather goods and footwear industry obtained using ethnographic method. It was found that contemporary environmental conflicts emerge from within a memory of work and an environmental memory in which the factories, the unplanned urbanization, and the utilization of water and other natural resources form a chain of significance. Significance that precludes any form of fragmented analysis that isolates any of these aspects from the others: the economic, socio-historic, cultural, political, or the environmental.

Resumo O artigo aborda o processo de industrialização e urbanização do Vale do Rio dos Sinos/Rio Grande do Sul/Brasil, desde a implantação da indústria coureiro-calçadista na região, no século XIX, com o surgimento dos curtumes e das fábricas de calçados e/ou componentes para calçados, destacando, em especial, os aspectos ligados ao impacto ambiental na Bacia Hidrográfica dos Sinos. Faz-se uso de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, além da exposição de narrativas biográficas de trabalhadores ligados à indústria coureiro-calçadista, obtidas por meio do método etnográfico. Verifica-se que os conflitos ambientais contemporâneos emergem do interior de uma memória do trabalho e de uma memória ambiental, nas quais a fábrica, a ocupação urbana desordenada, o uso da água e dos demais recursos naturais formam um encadeamento de sentido que impede qualquer análise fragmentada que isole um destes aspectos: o econômico, o socio-histórico, o cultural, o político, o ambiental.

Aprovechamiento de cromo eliminado en aguas residuales de curtiembres (San Benito, Bogotá), mediante tratamiento con sulfato de sodio / Chromium rcovereed and re-sed from tannery residual water (located in sann benito, bogotá), by treatment with sodyum sulphate

El proceso de curtido consiste en transformar la piel de ganado vacuno u otros animales, en cuero, mediante la aplicación de taninos que son sustancias de origen vegetal, o también de cromo. Este elemento es un contaminante cuya concentración máxima permisible en vertimientos industriales es de 1 mg/L, según la Resolución 1074 de 1997 del Departamento Administrativo de Medio Ambiente (DAMA), para el Distrito Capital, por la cual se establecen estándares ambientales en materia de vertimientos. Se evaluó la factibilidad técnica para recuperar y reutilizar cromo de las aguas residuales del proceso de curtido de una curtiembre en San Benito (Bogotá), precipitándolo con soda cáustica 4 M y regenerándolo con sulfato de sodio y ácido fórmico grado industrial en reemplazo de ácido sulfúrico, regulado por estupefacientes, para reutilizar la sal de cromo en el mismo proceso de curtido. Su implementación minimiza contaminación de aguas con cromo y disminuye costos de producción. Se redujo el contenido de cromo del agua residual del proceso de curtido en 99,9% desde concentraciones promedio de 2.475 mg/L hasta niveles inferiores a 1,0 mg/L, permitiendo reutilización del agua para lavado de pieles saladas que ingresan al proceso, después de tratamiento con hidroxicloruro de aluminio e hipoclorito de sodio, disminuyendo significativamente su consumo. Se determinó la calidad del cuero obtenido mediante pruebas de encogimiento y resistencia a la flexión. Los procesos de reutilización de materiales producidos como desecho en procesos de curtiembres son fundamentales en la sostenibilidad ambiental de estas industrias.

The tan processes consist in the transformation of cattle or other animal skin in leather through the application of tannins which are substances from vegetal origin, or also with chromium. This element is a pollutant which maximum allowed concentration from industrial disposal is 1 mg/L, under Resolution 1074 of 1997 from the Administrative Department of the Environment (ADE) for the Capital District which establishes environmental standards on dumping. Technical feasibility for chrome recovery and reuse of wastewater from the tanning process in a tannery in San Benito (Bogotá) was evaluated, accelerating it with 4 M caustic soda and regenerating it with sodium sulfate and formic acid (industrial grade) in place of sulfuric acid, regulated by drugs, to reuse the chromium salt in the tanning process. Its implementation minimizes water pollution with chromium and decreases production costs. Chromium content of residual water in the tanning process decreased 99.9% from average concentrations of 2,475 mg / L to levels below 1,0 mg/L, allowing reuse water for salted skins wash that start the process after treatment with aluminum chloride hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite, reducing its consumption significantly. The quality of leather obtained was determined by shrinkage tests and bending strength. Processes of materials produced reuse as waste in tan processes are fundamental to the environmental sustainability of these industries.

Crescimento da cultura da cenoura após aplicações de resíduos de curtume e carboniferos no solo / Growth of carrot crop after application of tannery waste and coal mining in soil

Com a industrialização, a produção de resíduos tem aumentado durante os anos. Além disso, a disposição destes resíduos é uma posição discutida entre os órgãos ambientais. Em virtude disto, o objetivo foi estudar o efeito residual de adições sucessivas de resíduos de curtume e carboníferos sobre as propriedades químicas do solo e o acumulo de metais pesados nas plantas de cenoura. Os tratamentos aplicados a campo foram T1 = Controle, somente solo; T2 = Adubação com NPK + calcário para atingir pH 6,0; T3 = Lodo de curtume em quantidade adequada para atingir pH 6,0 + PK; T4 = Duas vezes a quantidade de lodo de curtume utilizada no tratamento 3 + PK; T5 = Resíduo carbonífero + NPK + calcário em quantidade adequada para atingir pH 6,0; T6 = Resíduo carbonífero + lodo de curtume em quantidade adequada para atingir pH 6,0 + PK; T7 = Serragem cromada + NPK + calcário em quantidade adequada para atingir pH 6,0; T8 = Cr mineral + lodo de curtume em quantidade adequada para atingir pH 6,0 + PK. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições por tratamento. A adição de cromo, tanto via mineral, quanto via resíduos não afetaram o crescimento da cenoura. Além disso, os teores encontrados na parte aérea, radicular, e córtex da raiz são considerados baixos, demonstrando um baixo potencial de contaminação destes resíduos.

With the industrialization, waste production has been increased over the years. Moreover, the disposition of these wastes is a position discussed among environmental agencies. So, the aim of this study was to evaluate the residual effect of successive additions of tannery waste and coal on the chemical properties of the soil and the accumulation of heavy metals in carrot plants. The treatments were applied to field: T1 = Control, only solo; T2 = fertilization with NPK + lime to reach pH 6.0; T3 = tannery sludge in adequate quantity to achieve pH 6.0 + PK; T4 = Twice the amount tannery sludge used in treatment 3 + PK; T5 = waste coal + NPK + lime in adequate quantity to achieve pH 6.0; T6 = waste coal + tannery sludge in adequate quantity to achieve pH 6.0 + PK; T7 = Sawdust = chrome + NPK + lime in adequate quantity to reach pH 6.0; T8 = Cr + mineral tannery sludge in adequate quantity to achieve pH 6.0 + PK. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with three replicates per treatment. The results demonstrate that carrot plants grew normally in the treatments with high chromium concentrations, either addition with residues or mineral. Furthermore, the levels found in the shoots, roots and roots cortex were low, indicating a low potential of these waste contamination.

Neonatal Late-onset Hypocalcemia: Is There Any Relationship with Maternal Hypovitaminosis D? / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia is defined as hypocalcemia developed after postnatal 3 days and associated with hypoparathyroidism, high phosphate diets and vitamin D deficiency. We experienced the increment of neonatal late onset hypocalcemia over 1 year. We tried to evaluate the relationship between late onset hypocalcemia and maternal hypovitaminosis D. METHODS: The medical records in the neonates with late-onset hypocalcemia during January 2007 to July 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Among those patients, 17 paired sera of mothers and neonates had collected. The levels of 25-OH vitamin D (25OHD) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) were measured and were compared with neonate and the mother. RESULTS: The mean gestational age was 38+1 weeks, and the mean body weight was 2,980 g. The onset time of hypocalcemia was 5.9 days of age. Most of them (88.2%) were feeding with formula and no one was only breast milk feeding. Of the 17 patients, 13 were born in spring or in winter. The median levels of calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, iPTH and 25OHD were 7.0 mg/dL, 8.6 mg/dL, 191.0 U/L, 57.2 pg/mL and 24.0 ng/mL in neonates. The levels of 25OHD of 6 neonates were <20 ng/mL. A total of 16 mothers were considered vitamin D-deficient (<20 ng/mL), and vitamin D insufficient (20<25OHD<30 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: Neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia in our study seems to be influenced by maternal vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency. Sun tanning and vitamin D supplements from winter to spring would be helpful to prevent maternal vitamin D deficiency, one of the causes of neonatal late-onset hypocalcemia.

Spectrophotometric Measurement of Minimal Erythema Dose Sites after Narrowband Ultraviolet B Phototesting: Clinical Implication of Spetrophotometric Values in Phototherapy

BACKGROUND: The spectrophotometer is well known to be a useful tool for estimating the objective minimal erythema dose (MED) during planning of phototherapy protocol. However, only a few spectrophotometric values are used to evaluate the erythema and pigmentation of the MED site during phototesting. OBJECTIVE: To determinea new meaning of the relationships among spectrophotometric values during phototesting. METHODS: Twenty-five patients with psoriasis and 23 patients with vitiligo were selected before undergoing narrowband ultraviolet B phototherapy. We interpreted the gross findings of erythema and measured the L*a*b* values using a spectrophotometer at each phototest spot. We compared MEDs, basic spectrophotometric values (L*a*b*), and b*/L* values separately according to skin type, and determined the correlation of each spectrophotometric value and the correlation between a* and b*/L* values. RESULTS: Among L*a*b* values, only b* values showed a statistically significant difference between the type III and IV groups (p=0.003). There was a positive correlation only between MEDs and b* values (p<0.05). The average b*/L*value in the type IV group was significantly higher than the type III group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The higher b* values in type IV skin indicates that skin tanning develops more prominently than type III. The correlation between MEDs and b* values may signify that the skin pigmentation status is deepened with the higher MEDs. The difference in b*/L*values between type III and IV skin reflects that the b*/L*value is thought to be an index of tanning. The a* value, known as an index of erythema, does not influence the degree of tanning.

Prevalencia de alcoholismo en trabajadores de la industria del cuero-calzado y su asociación con el nivel de desestrés / Prevalence in workers of leather-ffotwea industry and its association with desestrés level

Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de alcoholismo en trabajadores de la industria cuero-calzado como consecuencia de estrés laboral. Justificación: Aumentar la calidad de vida en el trabajador debido a que el alcohol es utilizado para disminuir el cansancio, y el estrés disminuye los estados fisiológicos y de rendimiento laboral. Método: Se aplicó el cuestionario AUDIT (uso de alcohol [OMS]). El tipo de muestreo fue aleatorio con un I.C. al 90% = 50 cuestionarios. Resultados: El 60% estuvo integrado por mujeres y 40% por hombres. La media de edad fue de 28. El 70% de las mujeres obtuvo 21 puntos (elevado nivel de alcoholismo), y en los hombres fue de 33 puntos. Los hombres en fines de semana ingieren más alcohol que en jornadas acumuladas (2:1) por desestrés, p < 0,05 (prueba de X2). Existió una correlación significativa entre ser hombre e ingerir más alcohol en fines de semana (p < 0,05). Conclusión: Se observa una tendencia en el sexo femenino a ingerir cada vez más alcohol a corta edad sobre todo cuando se sienten estresadas, pero el género masculino ingiere grandes cantidades y lo siente habitual en fines de semana.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of alcoholism in workers as a result of the work stress. Justification: Increase the quality of life in the worker because the alcohol is used to reduce fatigue and stress decreases physiological states and work. Method: We applied the AUDIT questionnaire (alcohol use [WHO]). The type of sampling was random with an I.C. of 90% = 50 questionnaires. Results: The 60% were women and the 40% male. The age mean was 28. The 70% of women obtained 21 points (high level of alcoholism), and in men was 33 points. Men ingest more alcohol on weekends than in the cumulative working days (2:1) due de-stress, p < 0.05 (X2 test). There was a significant correlation between being a man and to ingest more alcohol on weekends (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It is observed a tendency in women to ingest alcohol at a more early age especially when they feel stressed, but males ingest more large amounts being it normal on weekends.

Statistical medium optimization of an alkaline protease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 10501, its characterization and application in leather processing.

Proteases are shown to have greener mode of application in leather processing for dehairing of goat skins and cow hides. Production of protease by submerged fermentation with potent activity is reported using a new isolate P. aeruginosa MTCC 10501. The production parameters were optimized by statistical methods such as Plackett-Burman and response surface methodology. The optimized production medium contained (g/L); tryptone, 2.5; yeast extract, 3.0; skim milk 30.0; dextrose 1.0; inoculum concentration 4%: initial pH 6.0; incubation temperature 30 °C and optimum production at 48 h with protease activity of 7.6 U/mL. The protease had the following characteristics: pH optima, 9.0; temperature optima 50 °C; pH stability between 5.0-10.0 and temperature stability between 10-40 °C. The protease was observed to have high potential for dehairing of goat skins in the pre- tanning process comparable to that of the chemical process as evidenced by histology. The method offers cleaner processing using enzyme only instead of toxic chemicals in the pre-tanning process of leather manufacture.

Avaliação da exposição ambiental ao cromo na população residente no entorno de curtumes em Rondônia / Assessment of environmental exposure to chromium in the resident population in the vicinity of tanneries in Rondônia

O cromo é um metal de grande importância por ser amplamente utilizado em atividades industriais, como por exemplo, curtumes e fabricação de aço inoxidável. O Cr (III) é essencial para os seres-humanos, pois participa do metabolismo da glicose, enquanto o Cr (VI) é classificado pela IARC como carcinogênico. Nos curtumes, o sal Cr2(SO4)3 é utilizado durante a etapa de curtimento e o metal, apesar de encontrar sob a forma de Cr(III), pode ser oxidado a Cr(VI) durante algumas reações químicas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a exposição ambiental ao cromo da população residente no entorno de curtumes em Candeias do Jamari, município de Rondônia. Um grupo de pessoas residentes próximo aos curtumes foi comparado com um grupo de moradores do município de Itapuã do Oeste, RO. A metodologia para a determinação de cromo em urina foi validada por espectrometria deabsorção atômica eletrotérmica. (...) O método foi aplicado na determinação decromo em 42 amostras de urina da população e 49 águas de consumo, do rio Candeias do Jamari e do reservatório de Samuel, locais de despejo dos efluentes dos curtumes e reservatório de água para consumo do grupo de comparação, respectivamente. (...) O estudo mostra que concentrações mais elevadas de cromo na urina estão associadas ao tempo de residência e com o passar dos anos poderá haver diferença estatística entre as concentrações de cromo na urina do grupo expostos e não exposto.

Optimization studies on production of a salt-tolerant protease from Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain BC1 and its application on tannery saline wastewater treatment

Treatment and safe disposal of tannery saline wastewater, a primary effluent stream that is generated by soaking salt-laden hides and skin is one of the major problems faced by the leather manufacturing industries. Conventional treatment methods like solar evaporation ponds and land composting are not eco-friendly as they deteriorate the ground water quality. Though, this waste stream is comprised of high concentration of dissolved proteins the presence of high salinity (1-6 percent NaCl by wt) makes it non-biodegradable. Enzymatic treatment is one of the positive alternatives for management of such kind of waste streams. A novel salt-tolerant alkaline protease obtained from P.aeruginosa (isolated from tannery saline wastewater) was used for enzymatic degradation studies. The effect of various physical factors including pH, temperature, incubation time, protein source and salinity on the activity of identified protease were investigated. Kinetic parameters (Km , Vmax) were calculated for the identified alkaline protease at varying substrate concentrations. Tannery saline wastewater treated with identified salt tolerant protease showed 75 percent protein removal at 6 h duration and 2 percent (v/v) protease addition was found to be the optimum dosage value.

Efectos sobre factores ocupacionales y en el medio ambiente originados por el proceso de descarne a partir del curtido / Effects on occupational factors and environment as a result from rawhide process of the tanning

La ciudad de León cuenta con 500 empresas de curtiduría y 9 dedicadas al procesamiento del sebo cuyos subproductos (descarne) son desechos que se vierten al medio ambiente en grandes cantidades, ya que no representan un interés para su procesamiento y comercialización, lo que ha causado diversos problemas de contaminación en las zonas habitacionales circundantes por el vertido de aguas residuales, residuos sólidos y emisiones atmosféricas. El impacto al medio se puede considerar como adverso, directo y temporal; reversible, pero con un alto costo económico, lo que implica la necesidad de establecer medidas preventivas de control y mitigación. En el presente estudio se describen las etapas delproceso, las buenas y malas prácticas, los procedimientos estándares de operación y los impactos al medio ambiente originados por el inadecuado manejo de los residuos de las industrias sebaderas. Los resultados muestran que el 80 por ciento de las empresas procesadoras carece de sistemas de almacenamiento adecuado y no poseen sistemas de control ambiental. De igual manera, la mayoría de los operarios no cuenta con equipos de protección personal y no existe un adecuado manejo de sustancias utilizadas en los procesos, lo que incrementa el riesgo de accidentes laborales.

The city of León has 500 tannery companies and nine work in fat processing, whose by-product waste (rawhide) is dumped to the environment in tons because there is no interest in processing and commercializing this substance. This situation has caused several contamination problems in surrounding residential areas because ofthe discharge of wastewater, solid waste, and atmospheric emissions. Impact on environment can be considered as adverse, direct and temporal, as well reversible, but excessively expensive, which involvesthe need of established preventive measures of control and mitigation.The present study describes the different stages of the process, goodand bad practices, standard operational procedures, and environmentalimpacts due to the inadequate handling of waste by these companies. Results show that 80 percent of the processing companies lack appropriate storage systems and do not have an environmental control system. Additionally, most of the operators do not have personal protective equipment and there is not a proper handling of the substances used in processes; this increases the risk of work-related accidents.

Characterization of a novel lipase from Bacillus sp. isolated from tannery wastes

Kinetics of a lipase isolated from Bacillus sp. was studied. The enzyme showed maximum activity at pH 9 and temperature 60ºC. The Michaelis constant (K M 0.31 µM) obtained from three different plots i.e., Lineweaver-Burk, Hanes-Wolf and Hofstee, was found to be lower than already reported lipases that confirmed higher affinity of the enzyme for its substrate p-NPL (p-nitrophenyl laurate). Vmax of the enzyme was found to be 7.6 µM/mL/min. Energy of activation calculated from Arrhenius plot was found to be 20.607 kJmol-1. Activation enthalpy (ΔH*) had negative trend and the value for the hydrolysis of p-NPL by the enzyme at optimum temperature was -2.748 kJmol-1 . Activation entropy (ΔS*) and free energy of activation (ΔG*) of the enzyme were found to be 1.468 Jmol-1K-1 and -3.237 kJmol-1, respectively at optimum temperature. Low value of Q10 (0.04788) shows high catalytic activity of the enzyme. Mn2+, Fe2+ and Mg2+ enhanced the lipase activity whereas Cu2+, Na+ and Co2+ inhibited the enzyme activity. However, the enzyme activity was not affected significantly by K+ ions. EDTA and SDS also significantly inhibited the lipase activity. Activity of the enzyme was increased in n-hexane while decreased with increase in concentration of acetone, chloroform, ethanol and isopropanol.

A Case of Chromium Contact Dermatitis due to Exposure from a Golf Glove

Chromium is a transition metal and has been shown to elicit contact dermatitis. Although leather products have been known to be the most significant source of chromium exposure these days, the majority of reports have been related to exposure from shoe products. We herein report a professional golfer who became allergic to golf gloves made of chromium-tanned leather. A 27-year-old woman golfer presented with recurrent, pruritic, erythematous plaques that had been occurring on both hands for several years. The lesions developed whenever she had worn golf gloves for an extended period of time, especially during tournament season. To identify the causative agent, patch tests were performed and the results demonstrated a strong positive reaction to potassium dichromate 0.5% and to her own glove. The amount of chromium in her golf glove was analyzed to be 308.91 ppm and based on this, a diagnosis of allergic contact dermatitis due to a chromium-tanned leather glove was made. She was treated with oral antihistamines combined with topical steroids and advised to wear chromium-free leather gloves. There has been no evidence of recurrence during a six month follow-up period.

Folliculitis after Tanning Oil Application / 대한피부과학회지

Folliculitis is an inflammatory disease that has various causes. It has been widely reported to be caused by exposure to industrial oil such as cutting oil and diesel oil. A 39-year-old man presented with multiple diffuse erythematous papules with a follicular distribution on the anterior chest, back and shoulder. The histopathologic findings of the papules showed follicular epithelial destruction and a perifollicular inflammatory cellular infiltration. He was diagnosed as having folliculitis. The distribution of lesions matched with the area of tanning oil application was identical to that of the patient's applying tanning oil before the development of skin lesions. We report here on a case of folliculitis due to applying tanning oil. Tanning oil caused the follicular occlusion and dilatation in hairless mice in one experiment.

Niveles de cromo y alteraciones de salud en una población expuesta a las actividades de curtiembres en Bogotá, Colombia / Chromium levels and their relationship with alterations in the health of tannery workers living and working in Bogotá, Colombia

Objetivo Determinar si los niveles de cromo en orina están más altos de los permitidos y contrastarlos con alteraciones de salud en personas del barrio San Benito en Bogotá. Métodos En una muestra de 827 personas, se cuantificó cromo total en orina como biomarcador de exposición y se contrastó con alteraciones de salud atribuibles a exposición a cromo. La exposición se definió, por la "Ocupación actual" relacionada con la labor en curtiembres. Se definieron dos estratos: "Directamente expuestos" 26 por ciento y "Potencial alta exposición" 73 por ciento. Resultados Un 6,3 por ciento presentó niveles de cromo >10 ug/L (intervalo de confianza: 4,64-7,96 por ciento). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos estratos. El 34,3 por ciento presentó diagnósticos posiblemente atribuibles a la exposición a cromo. El 23,3 por ciento otorrinolaringológico; 6,5 por ciento dermatológico; 2,9 por ciento oftalmológico; 1,6 por ciento cavidad oral y el 65,7 por ciento no relacionados. Se halló asociación entre niveles >10ug/L y residir en la zona (OR 4,94 IC:1,2- 20,7 por ciento). Los resultados sugieren asociación entre ocupación y alteraciones de salud atribuibles a la exposición a compuestos de cromo. Conclusiones Las personas que participan del proceso productivo del cuero tienen un riesgo significativo de presentar hallazgos clínicos posiblemente atribuibles a la exposición a cromo, OR 4,33 (3,12-6,02). La población general se esta viendo expuesta de manera no diferente a aquella con ocupación relacionada con las curtiembres, lo que puede deberse a que los habitantes del sector están en contacto con cromo o compuestos por vías diferentes a la ocupacional, como contaminación ambiental.

Objective Determining whether chromium levels in urine samples were higher than limits and contrasting them with alterations in the health of people living and working in the San Benito neighbourhood of Bogotá. Methods The total amount of chromium in urine was measured as a biological marker of exposure in a sample of 827 people. This was contrasted with health alterations attributed to chromium exposition. Exposure was defined by being whether current economic activity was related to working in a tannery. Two groups were defined: being directly exposed (26 percent) and having potentially high exposure (73 percent). Results 6.3 percent presented >10 ug/L chromium levels (4.64 percent to 7.96 percent confidence interval). No significant statistical differences were found between both groups. 34.3 percent presented a diagnosis of possible attribution to chromium exposure, of whom 23.3 percent were due to otorhinolaryngologic issues, 6.5 percent to dermatological ones, 2.9 percent to ophthalmologic ones and 1.6 percent to oral cavity issues. The remaining 65.7 percent of cases were not related. >10ug/L levels and living in the particular neighbourhood in question were associated (4.94 odds ratio; 1.18 percent-20.69 percent CI). The results suggested a connection between economic activity and health alterations due to chromium components. Conclusions The people involved in producing leather have a significant risk of presenting clinical conditions attributed to chromium exposure (4.33 OR; 3.12-6.02 CI). San Benito´s inhabitants are being exposed to chromium as if they were actually working in a tannery as they are in daily contact with chromium or its components through non work-related activities, such as environmental contamination. Concern at such exposure should lead to further in-depth studies.