Acute toxicity of the water-soluble fraction of diesel in Prochilodus vimboides Kner (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

Diesel oil can be a source of contamination in aquatic environments, mainly as a result of spills. The effects of the water-soluble fraction of diesel (WSF) on Prochilodus vimboides were assessed. Fish were exposed to three different WSF dilutions for up to 96 h and were compared to a control group. Damages in the fragments of DNA were analyzed using the Comet assay. The presence of erytrocyts abnormalities was assessed by micronucleus test. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and the accumulation of copper in gills were also analyzed. Fish exposed for 96 h had higher rates of damage than those exposed for 24 h. There was no significant difference regarding the presence of micronuclei between exposed and control fish and between 24-h and 96-h exposures. For AST, no significant difference was observed between samples collected at the two exposure times. Fish exposed to a 1:100 dilution of WSF showed higher activity of the enzyme ALT than the control fish after a 24-h exposure period. There was no bioaccumulation of copper in the gills. We conclude that the genotoxic effects of WSF in the cells are more evident in P. vimboides during an acute exposure.

O óleo diesel pode ser uma fonte de contaminação em ambientes aquáticos, principalmente como resultado de derrames acidentais. Foram avaliados os efeitos da fração solúvel do óleo diesel (FSO) em Prochilodus vimboides. Os peixes foram expostos a três diferentes diluições da FSO por até 96 horas e comparados com um grupo controle. Os danos nos fragmentos de DNA foram analisados utilizando o ensaio Cometa. A presença de anormalidades nos eritrócitos foi avaliada pelo teste do micronúcleo. A atividade da Aspartato aminotransferase (AST) e alanina aminotransferase (ALT) e da acumulação de cobre nas brânquias também foram analisados. Os peixes expostos por 96 h tiveram maiores taxas de danos do que aqueles expostos por 24 h. Não houve diferença significativa quanto à presença de micronúcleos entre os peixes expostos e controle e entre 24 e 96 h exposições. Para AST, não foi observada diferença significativa entre as amostras coletadas em dois tempos de exposição. Os peixes expostos a uma diluição de 1:100 do FSO apresentaram maior atividade da enzima ALT do que os peixes do controle após um período de exposição de 24 horas. Não houve bioacumulação de cobre nas brânquias. Os efeitos genotóxicos nas células foram os mais evidentes em P. vimboides durante a exposição aguda a FSO.

Determinación de zonas de riesgo al agua arsenical y prevalencia de hacre en Villa Belgrano, Tucumán, Argentina / Determination of zones exposed to Arsenical Water and CERHA prevalence in Villa Belgrano, Tucumán, Argentina

INTRODUCCIÓN: En Tucumán la concentración de arsénico en agua fluctúa entre 0,1 y 0,01 ppm. El sistema de salud carece de registro de casos. OBJETIVOS: Elaborar un mapa de riesgo ambiental, estimar la prevalencia de hidroarsenicismo crónico regional endémico (HACRE) y explorar la relación entre la concentración de arsénico en agua y las manifestaciones clínicas en Villa Belgrano, Tucumán. MÉTODOS: estudio transversal. Se analizaron todas las fuentes de agua y se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 119 personas adultas. Para la definición de caso de HACRE se utilizó un criterio diferente al de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) en concentración de arsénico en agua, orina y cabello y tiempo de consumo, siendo éste más sensible en el valor de corte de arsénico en el agua. Se consideró caso definido a quien había consumido agua con un nivel de arsénico mayor a 0,01 partes por millón(ppm) por más de 5 años y presentado más de 3 ug/g en cabello y/o más de 40 ug/g en orina, con clínica compatible. RESULTADOS: El 75% de las fuentes de agua tenían valores mayores a 0,01 ppm de arsénico. Con los criterios de la OMS, se registraron 51 casos probables y no hubo casos definidos. Según los criterios del estudio, hubo 3 casos definidos y una prevalencia del 2,6%. No se halló una asociación entre lesiones no cutáneas o cutáneas graves y valores mayores a 0,01 ppm. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia estimada según los criterios del estudio tuvo valores similares a los establecidos en la bibliografía bajo las condiciones en cuestión, aunque con otros criterios no comparables.

INTRODUCTION: In Tucumán, the arsenic concentration in water fluctuates between 0,1 and 0,01 ppm.The provincial health system does not have any record of cases. OBJECTIVES: To identify and create a map of environmental risk, estimating also chronic endemic regional hydroarsenicism(CERHA) prevalence in Villa Belgrano and exploring the relation between arsenic concentration in water and clinical manifestations. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. All water sources were analyzed and 119 adults were randomly selected. The definition of case considered the own criteria, which differed from the ones of World Health Organization (WHO) regarding arsenic concentration in water, urine and hair as well as time of consumption. The study criteria is most sensible in arsenic water concentration. Those who had consumed water with more than 0.01 parts per million (ppm) for over 5 years and presented more than 3 ug/g in hair and/or more than 40 ug/gin urine with compatible clinical signs were considered as cases. RESULTS: 75 % of water sources had arsenic levels higher than 0.01 ppm. According to the WHO criteria, there were 51 probable cases and there was not any defined case. According to the study criteria, there were 3 defined cases with a prevalence of 2.6%. The study did not find an association between withnon-cutaneous or serious cutaneous injuries and arsenic levelin water higher than 0.01 ppm. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence estimated according to the study criteria was similar to the one established in the bibliography under the same conditions, though with other criteria which are not comparable.

Reporte de cinco casos de cyclosporiosis en un centro penitenciario en Venezuela / Cyclosporiosis five cases report in Venezuelan penitentiery center

Cyclospora cayetanensis, es un protozoario intestinal humano, productor de diarrea en individuos inmunocompetentes e inmunocomprometidos. La transmisión ocurre por ingestión de ooquistes que han esporulado en el ambiente. La transmisión del parásito ocurre a través de un vehículo ambiental. En los países en vías de desarrollo, la ciclosporiosis se ha relacionado con el agua y los alimentos contaminados, contacto con la tierra o animales, y variables asociadas con bajas condiciones socioeconómicas. En junio de 2004 se realizó un estudio parasitológico en un centro pe nitenciario en Venezuela, donde se presentaron varios casos con diarrea. A 7 personas del sexo masculino, con edades entre 19-39 años y con diarrea de 2 a 10 días de du ración, se les realizó examen de heces con S.S. 0,85%, lugol, Quesel, Sudán III, ziehl Neelsen, Micrometría y Esporulación en K2Cr2O4 2,5%. Se encontró ooquistes de C. cayetanensis en 5 (71, 42%) y huevos de Ancylos tomídeos en 1 (14,3%). El número de casos, en los cuales se observó C. cayetanensis, en individuos con diarrea, en este centro penitenciario en Venezuela, resulta muy llamativo en virtud de ser este un microorganismo de baja prevalencia a escala mundial y nacional. No obstante, las condiciones de hacinamiento y probablemente medidas higiénicas inadecuadas, tanto en las áreas físicas como en la conservación y manipulación del agua y alimentos, favorecen la transmisión de parásitos que ocasionan diarrea. Lo cual demuestra, la necesidad de establecer medidas de control y educación sanitaria a los manipuladores de alimentos, para evitar la transmisión y aparición de diarrea por diversos agentes infecciosos entre estas poblaciones.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a human intestinal protozoan, causing diarrhea in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Transmission occurs by ingestion of oocysts that have sporulated in the environment. In developing countries, ciclosporosis has been associated with contaminated food and water, contact with soil or animals and low socioeconomic conditions. In June 2004, a parasitological survey in a venezuelan prison in, where several diarrhea cases appeared. All seven (7) people were male, age ranging 19-39 year-old with diarrhea during between 2 and 10 days; they were evaluated by stool examination with ss 0,85%, iodine, quensel, sudan III, ziehl Neelsen stain/mi - crometry and sporulation in K2Cr2O4 2,5%. C. cayetanensis oocysts were found in 5 (71,42%) and hookworm eggs in one (14,3%). The number of diarrhea cases at this prison in Venezuela in which C. cayetanensis was observed, is very striking, knowing the premise for this microorganism to be global and regional low prevalent protozoan. However, overcrowding and poor hygienic measures, probably both, in the physical areas and in the storage and food/water handling, contribute to diarrhea-causing parasites transmission. This shows the need to implement control measures and health education for food handlers to prevent transmission and diarrhea outbreaks caused by infectious agents among this population.

Presença de trialometanos na água e efeitos adversos na gravidez / Trihalomethanes in drinking water and adverse effects on pregnancy

Este trabalho constituiu um estudo do tipo transversal, que objetivou avaliar a possível associação entre a exposição a trialometanos presentes na rede pública de abastecimento de água da região metropolitana de São Paulo e a ocorrência de desfechos adversos na gravidez. Para a realização deste estudo, foram selecionados 19 municípios da região metropolitana de São Paulo que eram abastecidos por apenas uma estação de tratamento de água, no período de 1998 a 2002. Partiu-se da verificação dos níveis de trialometanos na água de abastecimento e da análise da prevalência de baixo peso ao nascer, prematuridade, anomalias congênitas, defeitos no tubo neural e no sistema nervoso central, nos recém-nascidos dos municípios estudados, para se analisar a associação entre a exposição a trialometanos e a ocorrência de desfechos adversos na gravidez. A população estudada consistiu em todas as mulheres grávidas e seus filhos recém-nascidos, residentes nos municípios selecionados durante o período de estudo, que tiveram suas declarações de nascido vivo registradas no Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos (SINASC). Os níveis de trialometanos foram tratados como categorias. A análise descritiva foi seguida pela análise univariada, e esta pela análise multivariada. Para expressar as possíveis associações dos desfechos pesquisados com os trialometanos foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado, seguido da estimativa das razões de chance (odds ratio - OR) com intervalos de 95 por cento de confiança. O controle das variáveis de confusão se deu através da análise de regressão logística múltipla não condicional, seguindo os procedimentos de Hosmer e Lemeshow (2000). As variáveis que apresentaram nível de significância estatística (p < 0,2) na análise univariada foram inseridas no modelo múltiplo...

This paper describes a cross-sectional study that aimed to evaluate the possible association between exposure to trihalomethanes present in public water supplies in the metropolitan region of São Paulo and the occurrence of adverse outcomes in pregnancy. In order to perform the research, 19 municipalities located in the metropolitan area of São Paulo that were supplied by only one water treatment plant, from 1998 to 2002, were selected. The starting point was the verification of trihalomethane levels in public water supplies and the analysis of the prevalence of low birth weight, preterm delivery, congenital anomalies, neural tube and nervous system defects in newborns of the municipalities that were involved in the study, in order to analyze the association between exposure to trihalomethanes and the occurrence of adverse outcomes in pregnancy. The population that was studied consisted of all pregnant women and their newborn children who were living in the selected municipalities during the research period, and had their birth certificates registered in the Information System on Live Births (SINASC). The levels of trihalomethanes were treated as categories. The descriptive analysis was followed by a univariate analysis and then by a multivariate analysis. To express the possible associations of the research outcomes with trihalomethanes, the chi-square test was used followed by the estimation of odds-ratio with a 95% confidence interval. Confounding variables were controlled through the analysis of unconditional multiple logistic regression, following the procedures of Hosmer and Lemeshow (2000). The variables that showed statistical significance (p < 0.2) in univariate analysis were entered into the multivariate mode. The results pointed out an association between possible risk of prematurity and malformation related to trihalomethanes, raising the need for in-depth studies, due to the implications of that fact in public health...

Avaliação microbiológica de diferentes marcas de água mineral / Microbiological evaluation of different brands of mineral water / Evaluación microbiológica de las diferentes marcas de agua mineral

As bactérias do grupo coliformes são indicadoras de contaminação fecal, sendo empregadas como parâmetro para caracterização da qualidade das águas em geral, bem como monitoramento daquelas destinadas ao consumo humano. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade bacteriológica de água mineral. Foram analisadas sete diferentes marcas comercializadas no município de Alagoinhas (BA), no período de junho de 2008 a junho de 2009, pelo método de tubos múltiplos, para a determinação do número mais provável (NMP/100 mL) de coliformes totais e termotolerantes, contagem padrão e coloração de Gram, para análise das características morfotintoriais das bactérias mesofílicas. As análises foram realizadas no Laboratório de Biologia Experimental da Universidade do Estado da Bahia (UNEB), Campus II, Alagoinhas. Nos resultados obtidos, três amostras apresentaram contaminação por coliformes totais e, dentre estas, duas revelaram contaminação por coliformes termotolerantes. Na contagem de colônias, três amostras deram resultados insatisfatórios com mais de 500 UFC/mL. Verificou-se a presença de bactérias Gram positivas e Gram negativas, cocos e bacilos. Estes resultados mostram que 57,1porcento das amostras encontram-se em desacordo com um ou mais padrões e são contraindicadas para consumo humano.

The coliform group bacteria are indicators of fecal contamination, being used as a parameter for monitoring the quality of water in general, as those intended for human consumption. The objective of this study is to assess the bacteriological quality of mineral water. Seven different brands market in the municipality of Alagoinhas (BA), from june, 2008 to june, 2009 were analyzed using the multiple-tube method for determining the most probable number (NMP/100mL) of total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms, standard score for mesophilic bacteria and Gram stain to analyze the morphology and staining characteristics characteristics of mesophilic bacteria. The tests were performed at the Laboratory of Experimental Biology, University of Bahia (UNEB), Campus II, Alagoinhas. Three samples showed total coliforms, and two of them were contaminated by coliforms thermotolerant. The colony count showed that three samples were found unsatisfactory withmore than 500 CFU/mL. It was observed the presence of Gram-positive and Gram-negative, cocci and bacilli. These results show that 57.1per cent of the samples are in disagreement with one or more patterns, indicating poor quality or at least dubious quality for human consumption.

Las bacterias del grupo coliformes son indicadores de la contaminación fecal y se utilizan como parámetro para la caracterización de la calidad de las aguas en general, así como el monitoreo de aquellas destinadas al consumo humano. El objetivo de este estúdio fue evaluar la calidad bacteriológica del agua mineral. Se analizaron siete marcas diferentes comercializadas en la ciudad de Alagoinhas (BA),en el perío de junio de 2008 a junio de 2009, por el método de tubos múltiplos para la determinación del número más probable (NMP/100ml) de coliformes totales y termotolerantes, recuento estándar y la coloración de Gram. Para analizar las características de las bacterias mesófilas morphotinctorial los análisis se realizaron en el Laboratorio de Biología Experimental de la Universidad de Bahia (UNEB), Campus II, de la ciudad de Alagoinhas. En los resultados, tres muestras presentaron contaminación por coliformes totales, y dentro de estos, dos mostraron contaminación por coliformes termotolerantes. En el recuento de colonias, tres muestras presentaron resultados satisfactorios con más de 500 UFC/ml. Se verificó la presencia de Gram-positivos y Gramnegativos cocos y bacilos. Estos resultados muestran que el 57,1por ciento de las muestras están em desacuerdo con una o más normas y están contraindicados para el consumo humano.

Algae acid phosphatase affected by ten metals and enzymatic parameters determination in presence of mercury and copper

Acid phosphatases play important roles in algae metabolism such availability/recycling of inorganic phosphate and autophagic digestive processes. Chemicals released into the environment from agricultural activities and through industrial and urban wastes, may impair algae enzyme activity. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro activation/inhibition effect of ten metals, commonly present as contaminants in soil and water, on the acid phospahatase extracted from the green algae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Results demonstrated that Hg, Al, Mo, Pb, Se, and Cd inhibited the enzyme activity in 56.3, 54.5, 30.6, 25.5, 23.1 and 11.5 per cent respectively. This corresponds to the maximum percentage of effect attained at the metal concentration tested (0.02-2.0 mM). On the other hand, Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr exhibited an increment on phosphatase activity equal to 95.5, 87.6, 87.6, 77.6 and 42.8 per cent, respectively. Kinetic parameters values were calculated for the metals that showed hisghest effects. Thus, Ki ( inhibition constant) and Kd (dissociation constant) values equal to 0.0400 and 0.0016 mM were determined for Hg and Cu, respectively. A non-competitive inhibition mechanism was attributed to the former. Results improved the understanding of the basic events of the impact of metals at biochemical lebels in primary producers organisms.