Identification and characterization of plastic debris in the gastrointestinal tract of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from Espírito Santo coast, Brazil.

The Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) is categorized as vulnerable in the Brazilian list of endangered animals, and its populations suffer from several anthropological threats. In this study, we analyzed the presence of macro, meso, and microplastics (MPs) in Guiana dolphins (n = 12) in Brazil Southeastern coast by analysing their gastrointestinal tract. The MP extractions were carried out with H2O2 (35 %) to remove organic matter. Four specimens ingested meso and macroplastics, including an item of polypropylene of 19.22 cm that was produced about 943 km from the place in which the animal was found stranded. All the specimens analyzed had fragment-type microplastics in their intestines. Blue was the prevailing color, followed by black, green, and red. We highlight the contamination by microplastics in the species, still little investigated, especially the need to understand the contamination by microplastics along trophic levels.

Formaldehyde exposure and atmospheric biomonitoring with lichen Cladonia verticillaris in an anatomy laboratory.

Formaldehyde is one of the most toxic contaminants of indoor environments and very common in the anatomy laboratory. In this work, we investigated the level of formaldehyde exposure to staff and students who attended an anatomy lab and in nearby environments in the same university building. We also performed atmospheric biomonitoring of the sites with the lichen Cladonia verticillaris. Quantification samplings were performed over four weeks, on 7 days with and 7 days without practical classes, totaling 70 samples. The samples were collected in five different locations, three points inside the laboratory and two points outside the laboratory, representing nearby and susceptible environments to contamination. The results showed CHOH concentrations from 0.20-3.76 ppmv for days with practical courses and 0.17-3.06 ppmv for days without practical classes. Although the laboratory was more contaminated than the surrounding environments, the concentration of formaldehyde in these areas is not negligible, showing a dispersion of formaldehyde from the laboratory. Potential dose (PD) and cancer risk (CR) were calculated for an individual exposed to the same levels analyzed for 8 h daily and 30 years of work. The study on C. verticillaris lasted 90 days and evaluated the variation of chlorophyll and pheophytin (photosynthetic pigments). The results showed a significant difference in the production of chlorophylls a and b and total chlorophyll when compared to control, and there was also a progressive increase of the total pheophytin/total chlorophyll ratio. The results also showed the correlation between the increase in chlorophylls and the studied environments with less ventilation since these places provided greater accumulation of formaldehyde in the long run. Thus, measurable evidence was obtained of biological disorders in a living organism caused by exposure to formaldehyde.

A new automated solar disc for water disinfection by pasteurization.

A new automated Solar Water Pasteurization Disc of double reflection of 3.8 and 1.3 m in diameter for the first and second reflectors has been erected and tested for performing microbiological disinfection of water in a simple, efficient, and continuous treatment in Brazil. The disc was constructed with a light weight aluminum frame and low-cost materials such as iron and small mirrors of 10 × 10 cm for easy assembly and replacement. The solar disc is automated for solar azimuth tracking and free of any connection to the electrical network. Experiments were conducted in summer and autumn with an average solar radiation of 150 W m-2, and the solar disc achieved a water flow of 60 litres per hour at temperatures above 60 °C. The water showed 100% disinfection effectiveness in tests with Escherichia coli. Therefore, this solar disc produces 315 litres of safe water between 10:00 and 15:00 h in the Brazilian Southeast. The solar disc's low relative weight, portability, and lack of connection to the electricity grid and production of drinking water for one family per day make it possible to consider its use in rural areas that are poor and difficult to access.

Photodegradation of ethylene by use of TiO2 sol-gel on polypropylene and on glass for application in the postharvest of papaya fruit.

The papaya is a commercially important fruit commodity worldwide. Being a climacteric fruit, it is highly perishable. Thus, for the transportation of papaya fruit for long distances without loss of quality, it is necessary to avoid the autocatalytic effect of ethylene in accelerating the ripening of the fruit. This work addresses the application of heterogeneous photocatalysis to the degradation of ethylene. A TiO2 sol-gel supported on polypropylene (PP) and on glass was used as the catalytic material, and a UV-A lamp was employed as the radiation source. Initially, a concentration of 500 ppbv ethylene was exposed to the catalyst material irradiated by UV-A radiation. A sensitive photoacoustic spectrometer was used to monitor the photocatalytic activity. The TiO2 sol-gel supported on the glass substrate was more efficient than on the PP in degrading the ethylene. Under direct UV-A exposure, the skin appearance of 'Golden' papaya was damaged, depreciating the fruit quality and thus preventing its commercialization. However, the feasibility of the heterogeneous photocatalysis to preserve the fruit quality was achieved when ethylene was removed from the storage ambient using fans, and then, this plant hormone was degraded by a reactor set apart in a ventilation closed system.

A preliminary nationwide survey of the presence of emerging contaminants in drinking and source waters in Brazil.

This is the first nationwide survey of emerging contaminants in Brazilian waters. One hundred drinking water samples were investigated in 22 Brazilian state capitals. In addition, seven source water samples from two of the most populous regions of the country were evaluated. Samples were collected from June to September of 2011 and again during the same period in 2012. The study covered emerging contaminants of different classes, including hormones, plasticizers, herbicides, triclosan and caffeine. The analytical method for the determination of the compounds was based on solid-phase extraction followed by analysis via liquid chromatography electrospray triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Caffeine, triclosan, atrazine, phenolphthalein and bisphenol A were found in at least one of the samples collected in the two sampling campaigns. Caffeine and atrazine were the most frequently detected substances in both drinking and source water. Caffeine concentrations in drinking water ranged from 1.8ngL-1 to values above 2.0µgL-1 while source-water concentrations varied from 40ngL-1 to about 19µgL-1. For atrazine, concentrations were found in the range from 2.0 to 6.0ngL-1 in drinking water and at concentrations of up to 15ngL-1 in source water. The widespread presence of caffeine in samples of treated water is an indication of the presence of domestic sewage in the source water, considering that caffeine is a compound of anthropogenic origin.

TiO2 sol-gel for formaldehyde photodegradation using polymeric support: photocatalysis efficiency versus material stability.

Photocatalysts supported on polymers are not frequently used in heterogeneous photocatalysis because of problems such as wettability and stability that affect photocatalysis conditions. In this work, we used polypropylene as support for TiO2 sol-gel to evaluate its stability and efficiency under UV radiation. We also tested the effect of the thermo-pressing PP/TiO2 system on the photocatalytic efficiency and stability under UV radiation. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM micrographs showed that the films of TiO2 sol-gel onto PP has approximately 1.0-µm thick and regular surface and the generation of polypropylene nanowires on hot-pressed samples. XRD showed the formation of TiO2 anatase on the surface of the films made by dip-coating. All photocatalysts were tested in decontaminating air-containing gaseous formaldehyde (70 ppmv) presenting degradation of the target compound to the limit of detection. The photocatalysts showed no deactivation during the entire period tested (30 h), and its reuse after washing showed better photocatalytic performance than on first use. The photocatalyst showed the best results were tested for 360 h with no observed deactivation. Aging studies showed that the film of TiO2 causes different effects on the photostability of composites, with stabilizing effect when exposed to most energetic UVC radiation (λmax = 254 nm) and degradative effects when exposed to UVA radiation (λmax = 365 nm).