Development of Fluorescent Sensors for Biorelevant Anions in Aqueous Media Using Positively Charged Quantum Dots.

Quantum dots (QDs) have captured the attention of the scientific community due to their unique optical and electronic properties, leading to extensive research for different applications. They have also been employed as sensors for ionic species owing to their sensing properties. Detecting anionic species in an aqueous medium is a challenge because the polar nature of water weakens the interactions between sensors and ions. The anions bicarbonate (HCO3-), carbonate (CO32-), sulfate (SO42-), and bisulfate (HSO4-) play a crucial role in various physiological, environmental, and industrial processes, influencing the regulation of biological fluids, ocean acidification, and corrosion processes. Therefore, it is necessary to develop approaches capable of detecting these anions with high sensitivity. This study utilized CdTe QDs stabilized with cysteamine (CdTe-CYA) as a fluorescent sensor for these anions. The QDs exhibited favorable optical properties and high photostability. The results revealed a gradual increase in the QDs' emission intensity with successive anion additions, indicating the sensitivity of CdTe-CYA to the anions. The sensor also exhibited selectivity toward the target ions, with good limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs). Thus, CdTe-CYA QDs show potential as fluorescent sensors for monitoring the target anions in water sources.

Neumonía por Legionella pneumophila: reporte de caso / Legionella pneumophila pneumonia: a case report

Resumen Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 70 años, hipertenso y extabaquista que fue hospitalizado por disnea, malestar general, fiebre y dolor abdominal. Tras el abordaje inicial con nifuroxazida y cefotaxime no presentó mejoría y, al realizar más estudios, fue diagnosticado con neumonía por L. pneumophila. Tras el diagnóstico y recibir terapia con levofloxacina, mostró mejoría y se recuperó de los síntomas iniciales, por lo que fue dado de alta. Se discuten las dificultades diagnósticas, de abordaje y la situación nacional para la detección de L. pneumophila en Costa Rica.

Abstract We present the case of a 70-year-old male patient, hypertensive and ex-smoker who was hospitalized for dyspnea, malaise, fever and abdominal pain. After the initial approach with nifuroxazide and cefotaxime, he showed no improvement and, upon further study, he was diagnosed with L. pneumophila pneumonia. After the diagnosis and receiving therapy with levofloxacin, he showed improvement and recovered from the initial symptoms, for which he was discharged. Diagnostic and approach difficulties and the national situation for the detection of L. pneumophila in Costa Rica are discussed.

Linking multivariate statistical methods and water quality indices to evaluate the natural and anthropogenic geochemical processes controlling the water quality of a tropical watershed.

The improvement of water management requires monitoring techniques that accurately evaluate water quality status and detect the effects of land use changes on water chemistry. This study aimed to evaluate how multivariate statistical methods and water quality indices can be applied together to evaluate the processes controlling water chemical composition and the overall water quality status of a tropical watershed. Thirty-four water samples were collected in the Formoso River basin, located on the border of the Amazon Forest. Water parameters were measured in situ using a multiparameter and in the lab using spectroscopic and volumetric techniques. The water quality dataset was interpreted through principal component analysis, multivariate linear regression, and water quality indices. Statistical methods allowed us to identify the sources and geochemical processes controlling water quality chemistry, which were carbonate dissolution, runoff/erosion, nutrient input due to anthropogenic activities, and redox reactions in flooded zones. They were also used to create linear functions to evaluate the effects of land use changes on the geochemical processes controlling water chemistry. Conversely, the water quality indices provide information about the overall condition of the water. The Weight-Arithmetic Quality Index correctly evaluates water suitability for its multiple uses, according to the Brazilian guidelines. Conversely, the Ontario Water Quality Index is not suitable to evaluate the water quality of tropical rivers, since the usual higher water temperature and the low oxygen contents associated with tropical environments result in biased water quality evaluations by this index.

Optical Biosensors and Their Applications for the Detection of Water Pollutants.

The correct detection and quantification of pollutants in water is key to regulating their presence in the environment. Biosensors offer several advantages, such as minimal sample preparation, short measurement times, high specificity and sensibility and low detection limits. The purpose of this review is to explore the different types of optical biosensors, focusing on their biological elements and their principle of operation, as well as recent applications in the detection of pollutants in water. According to our literature review, 33% of the publications used fluorescence-based biosensors, followed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with 28%. So far, SPR biosensors have achieved the best results in terms of detection limits. Although less common (22%), interferometers and resonators (4%) are also highly promising due to the low detection limits that can be reached using these techniques. In terms of biological recognition elements, 43% of the published works focused on antibodies due to their high affinity and stability, although they could be replaced with molecularly imprinted polymers. This review offers a unique compilation of the most recent work in the specific area of optical biosensing for water monitoring, focusing on both the biological element and the transducer used, as well as the type of target contaminant. Recent technological advances are discussed.

Environmental Sensing in High-Altitude Mountain Ecosystems Powered by Sedimentary Microbial Fuel Cells.

The increasing need for fresh water in a climate change scenario requires remote monitoring of water bodies in high-altitude mountain areas. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of SMFC operation in the presence of low dissolved oxygen concentrations for remote, on-site monitoring of physical environmental parameters in high-altitude mountainous areas. The implemented power management system (PMS) uses a reference SMFC (SMFCRef) to implement a quasi-maximum power point tracking (quasi-MPPT) algorithm to harvest energy stably. As a result, while transmitting in a point-to-point wireless sensor network topology, the system achieves an overall efficiency of 59.6%. Furthermore, the control mechanisms prevent energy waste and maintain a stable voltage despite the microbial fuel cell (MFC)'s high impedance, low time response, and low energy production. Moreover, our system enables a fundamental understanding of environmental systems and their resilience of adaptation strategies by being a low-cost, ecological, and environmentally friendly alternative to power-distributed and dynamic environmental sensing networks in high-altitude mountain ecosystems with anoxic environmental conditions.

[Evaluation of surface water quality in recreational areas, an integrative proposal of chemical and microbiological markers]. / Evaluación de la calidad de aguas superficiales en espacios recreacionales , una propuesta integradora de marcadores químicos y microbiológicos.

Climate change affects the interactions between water systems, ecosystems, and the atmosphere. It also increases the risk of the presence of microorganisms which affect the systems that use these resources. The impact of the population on the water resources has become more evident in recent years, highlighting the close relationship between the levels of inorganic components and microbiological contamination of water and community health. The characterization of the variables that account for water pollution is a complex process. In this paper, it is proposed to quantified nitrites and phosphorous as chemical markers and fecal coliforms, genomic human adenovirus and/or picobirnavirus and infectious human enterovirus detection as microbiological markers for the prevention of water-borne infections in individuals exposed to superficial aqueous matrices by recreational activities.

El cambio climático afecta a las interacciones entre los sistemas hídricos, los ecosistemas y la atmósfera. También aumenta el riesgo de la presencia de microorganismos que afectan a los sistemas que utilizan estos recursos. El impacto de la población sobre los recursos hídricos se ha hecho más evidente en los últimos años, destacando la estrecha relación entre los niveles de componentes inorgánicos así como la contaminación microbiológica del agua y la salud de la comunidad. La caracterización de las variables que dan cuenta de la contaminación del agua es un proceso complejo. En este trabajo se propone la cuantificación de nitritos y fósforo como marcadores químicos y la detección de coliformes fecales, adenovirus humanos genómicos y/o picobirnavirus y enterovirus humanos infecciosos como marcadores microbiológicos para la prevención de infecciones de origen hídrico en individuos expuestos a matrices acuosas superficiales por actividades recreativas.

An integrative water quality evaluation in two surface water bodies from a tropical agricultural region in Cartago, Costa Rica.

A monitoring study was carried out in two micro-catchments in the Reventazón basin, in Northern Cartago, Costa Rica; pesticide occurrence and water quality were analyzed. Twelve pesticides were detected, five insecticides (chlorpyrifos, carbofuran, cypermethrin, imidacloprid, and oxamyl), four fungicides (carbendazim, imazalil, metalaxyl, and thiabendazole), and three herbicides (diuron, linuron, and terbutryn); eight of them presented risk quotients RQ >1, which implies a high risk for the environment. The water quality evaluation included fourteen physicochemical and microbiological parameters, out of which thermotolerant coliforms, nitrate, and total phosphorus exceeded a selected threshold value in every sample. Five metals were also included in the evaluation, Pb was the most frequent, followed by few detections of Cd, Cu, and Cr. Four water quality indexes (WQIs) were applied, two of them, the CCME WQI, based on physicochemical parameters, and the BMWP-CR WQI, based on benthic macroinvertebrate recount adapted to Costa Rican species, categorized all the sampling points as "bad" and "very bad" quality. This work of monitoring is important in the Latin American region, where there is a lack of information for regulation improvement and management decisions. These results showed poor management of the micro-catchments in this agricultural rural area.

Spatial variability of surface water quality in a large Brazilian semiarid reservoir and its main tributaries.

Brazil has one of the greatest hydroelectric potential in the world with high number of reservoirs for the electricity generation. However, little is known about the influence of these environments on the water quality. The water quality monitoring data from 14 stations distributed throughout the Irapé HPP reservoir (lentic environment), and its main tributaries (lotic environment), between the years 2008 and 2018, were evaluated and compared to assess the spatial variability of water quality. The analyzed parameters included total alkalinity, thermotolerant coliforms, electric conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand, dissolved iron, total phosphorus, nitrate, total ammoniacal nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, pH, total dissolved solids, sulfate, water temperature, and turbidity. Cluster analysis (CA), Kruskal-Wallis (KW) tests, Spearman rank-order correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to identify and compare the relationship between the main parameters in the lotic and lentic environments. The CA resulted in four clusters according to proximity and the environment type (lotic or lentic). In general, the water quality showed better conditions in the reservoir and in the lotic stations on the immediate surround. The results may be associated with the greater sedimentation in the lentic environment. The analyses indicated that agricultural activities and the geochemical characteristics of the region are the main responsible for changes in the water quality.

Pesticide occurrence and water quality assessment from an agriculturally influenced Latin-American tropical region.

A monitoring study was carried out in three agriculturally influenced microcatchments in Costa Rica during 2012-2014, for pesticides and water quality parameters. A total of 42 pesticides were analyzed, detecting the following in water samples: two herbicides (oxyfluorfen, diuron), four insecticides (carbofuran, chlorpyrifos, oxamyl, ethion), and two fungicides (thiabendazole, carbendazim); while in sediment samples only the insecticides, chlorpyrifos and cypermethrin were found. Water quality was also assessed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment Water Quality Index and the National Sanitation Water Quality Index, the first one classified most of the sampling point as marginal and poor quality while the second one classified most of them as good quality, the most affected parameters were nitrate, phosphorous, suspended solids and organic matter content. The results suggest that the water quality in the microcatchments seems to be affected by the nearby agricultural and urban activities in the region.

RiverCore: IoT Device for River Water Level Monitoring over Cellular Communications.

Flooding is one of the most frequent and costly natural disasters affecting mankind. However, implementing Internet of Things (IoT) technology to monitor river behavior may help mitigate or prevent future disasters. This article outlines the hardware development of an IoT system (RiverCore) and defines an application scenario in a specific hydrological region of the state of Colima (Mexico), highlighting the characteristics of data acquisition and data processing used. Both fixed position and moving drifter node systems are described along with web-based data acquisition platform developments integrated with IoT techniques to retrieve data through 3G cellular networks. The developed architecture uses the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol, along with encryption and security mechanisms, to send real-time data packages from fixed nodes to a server that stores retrieved data in a non-relational database. From this, data can be accessed and displayed through different customizable queries and graphical representations, allowing future use in flood analysis and prediction systems. All of these features are presented along with graphical evidence of the deployment of the different devices and of several cellular communication and on-site data acquisition tests.

Fluoretação da água de abastecimento público: produção e disponibilidade das informações em questão / Fluoridation of public water supply: production and availability of information / Fluoración del agua de abastecimiento público: producción y disponibilidad de la información en cuestión

A elaboração, formulação, execução e avaliação da qualidade da água, com envolvimento ativo da população, é fundamental para melhorar o modelo vigente de vigilância. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as informações disponíveis sobre o heterocontrole e controle da fluoretação da água para abastecimento público em uma região metropolitana brasileira. Foi realizado levantamento de documentos de gestão, de trabalhos científicos que incluiu textos nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa publicados entre 1953 e 2015, e de informações nos sites das prefeituras e da empresa de abastecimento. Foram identificados: o ano do levantamento dos dados; número de municípios incluídos; tema principal; autores/instituições; método de pesquisa; análise de concentração do fluoreto e qual o nível encontrado. Para as informações encontradas nos sites identificou-se o ano, a fonte, característica e trecho principal. Cinco textos científicos foram identificados referentes ao tema nos municípios estudados, além de informações baseadas em relatórios de gestão, disponíveis do Centro Colaborador do Ministério da Saúde em Vigilância da Saúde Bucal. As informações presentes nos sites da empresa e prefeituras eram superficiais e não foram encontrados dados de controle/heterocontrole da fluoretação. A socialização das informações sobre o controle da água e, em particular, sobre a fluoretação, é importante para inserir essa temática no debate sobre saúde bucal e para garantir a realização dessa política no resgate de uma água tratada, de qualidade, sem intermitência e com flúor.

The elaboration, formulation, execution, and evaluation of water quality, together with the active involvement of the population, is essential to improve the current surveillance model. This study analyzed the information available on the external and general control of public water supply fluoridation in a Brazilian metropolitan region. A survey of management documents and scientific articles was carried out including texts in Portuguese and English, published between 1953 and 2015. Additionally, the websites of the municipalities and the supply company were searched for information. For analysis, the year of data collection, the number of municipalities included, the main theme, the authors/institutions, the research method, the analysis and the level of fluoride concentration were identified. For the information found on the websites, the year, source, characteristics, and main section were identified. Five scientific texts and information based on management reports made available by the Collaborating Center of the Ministry of Health in Oral Health Surveillance were found. Information on the company and city hall websites was superficial and no fluoridation control and external control data were found. The socialization of information on water control and on fluoridation is important to insert this theme in the oral health debate. In addition, to support the continuity of this policy to rescue treated, quality water, without intermittence and with fluoride.

La elaboración, formulación, ejecución y evaluación de la calidad del agua, con la participación activa de la población, es fundamental para mejorar el modelo de vigilancia actual. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar las informaciones disponibles sobre el heterocontrol y el control de la fluoración de agua de abastecimiento público en una región metropolitana brasileña. Se realizó una recogida de documentos de gestión y trabajos científicos, que incluyó textos en portugués e inglés publicados entre 1953 y 2015. También se buscó información en los sitios web de los ayuntamientos y la empresa de abastecimiento. Se identificaron los siguientes: el año de recolección de datos; número de municipios incluidos; tema principal; autores/instituciones; método de investigación; análisis de la concentración de fluoruro y qué nivel se encuentra. De las informaciones encontradas en los sitios web, se identificaron el año, la fuente, la característica y la parte principal. Se identificaron cinco textos científicos sobre el tema en los municipios estudiados, además de informaciones basadas en informes de gestión, disponibles en el Centro Colaborador del Ministerio de Salud en Vigilancia de la Salud Oral. Las informaciones en los sitios web de la empresa y de los ayuntamientos fueron superficiales y no se encontraron datos de control/heterocontrol de fluoración. La socialización de las informaciones sobre el control del agua y, en particular, sobre la fluoración, es importante para insertar este tema en el debate sobre la salud bucal y garantizar la realización de esa política en el rescate del agua tratada y de calidad, sin intermitente y con flúor.

Effectiveness of the monitoring program for ensuring the quality of water treated for dialysis in the state of São Paulo / Efetividade do programa de monitoramento da qualidade da água tratada para diálise no estado de São Paulo

ABSTRACT Introduction: Chronic kidney failure is a disease that affects the functions of the kidneys and can cause irreversible kidney failure over time. Among the main factors that cause this disease are hypertension and diabetes mellitus. The number of patients presenting this clinical condition has been increasing in Brazil, leading to an increase in renal replacement therapy, such as hemodialysis. Material and methods: In the state of São Paulo, a joint action between the Adolfo Lutz Institute, the Sanitary Surveillance Center, and the Sanitary Surveillance Groups have promoted the State Program for the Monitoring of Water Treated for Dialysis since 2007 to evaluate the chemical and microbiological quality of the water used in dialysis in compliance with the current legislation. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the monitoring program developed between 2010 and 2016 as a tool for corrective action when unsatisfactory results are observed. Results: The level of satisfactory results during the period varied from 85.8 to 98.0%, indicating an increase in the adequacy of the dialysis services in producing water with adequate quality for patient health. Conclusion: The design adopted in the state monitoring program is highly effective based on new collections after the joint actions of the Sanitary Surveillance System and the State Dialysis Services.

RESUMO Introdução: A Insuficiência Renal Crônica caracteriza-se como uma doença que afeta as funções dos rins, podendo causar a falência irreversível dos órgãos ao longo do tempo. Dentre os principais fatores que podem causar a doença, destacam-se a hipertensão arterial e o diabetes mellitus. O número de pacientes com esse quadro clínico - que precisam submeter-se a procedimentos de tratamentos renais substitutivos, como a hemodiálise - vem aumentando no país. Materiais e métodos: No estado de São Paulo, uma ação conjunta entre o Instituto Adolfo Lutz, o Centro de Vigilância Sanitária e Grupos de Vigilância Sanitária vem promovendo, desde 2007, o Programa Estadual de Monitoramento de Água Tratada para Diálise para avaliar a qualidade química e microbiológica da água utilizada em tratamentos dialíticos, em atendimento à legislação vigente. Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o Programa de Monitoramento desenvolvido entre 2010 a 2016, como ferramenta para tomadas de ações corretivas quando resultados insatisfatórios foram observados. Resultados: O nível de resultados satisfatórios no período variou de 85,8% a 98,0%, indicando aumento de adequação dos Serviços de Diálise na produção de água com qualidade necessária à preservação da saúde dos pacientes. Conclusão: Os resultados indicaram que o delineamento adotado no programa estadual de monitoramento, com novas colheitas após tomadas de ações conjuntas entre os órgãos do Sistema de Vigilância Sanitária e as equipes dos Serviços de Diálise do estado, apresenta alta efetividade.

Petroleum hydrocarbons in water from a Brazilian tropical estuary facing industrial and port development.

A fast paced industrial and port development has occurred at Suape Estuary, Northeast Brazil, but no information about hydrocarbon concentrations in water is available to this area. Considering that, the contamination level of Suape was determined by UV-Fluorescence in terms of dissolved and/or dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (DDPHs), during wet and dry seasons. DDPHs ranged between 0.05 and 4.59 µg L(-1) Carmópolis oil equivalents and 0.01-1.39 µg L(-1) chrysene equivalents, indicating DDPHs close to a baseline contamination level. Some relatively high concentrations (>1 µg L(-1)) were probably associated with shipyard operations (hull paintings and ship docking), pollutants remobilization by dredging operations, occasional industrial discharges and oil derivatives released by vessels. DDPHs concentrations were lower in the wet season suggesting that the increased dilution rates caused by rainfall dominated upon the wet deposition of atmospheric combustion-derived PAHs process. Results in this study may be used as baseline to further studies in this area.

Utilização de macroinvertebrados bentônicos no biomonitoramento de atividades antrópicas na bacia de drenagem do Reservatório de Itupararanga, Votorantim - SP, Brasil / Using benthic macroinvertebrates for biomonitoring the anthropic activity in the drainage basin of Itupararanga reservoir, Votorantim - SP, Brazil

Objetivo - A Represa de Itupararanga é a principal fonte de abastecimento de água da região de Sorocaba, banhando os municípios de Ibiúna, Piedade, São Roque, Cotia, Vargem Grande Paulista, Mairinque, Alumínio e Votorantim, no Estado de São Paulo. O trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a diversidade de macroinvertebrados bentônicos abordando as relações de parâmetros bióticos e abióticos em diferentes pontos da bacia de drenagem da Represa de Itupararanga. Métodos - Realizou-se quatro coletas no período de setembro de 2008 a abril de 2009, cada uma com 5 pontos amostrais, dos quais dois foram lagoas marginais à represa, um riacho, um ponto na Represa de Itupararanga e um ponto na Cachoeira da Chave. Os macroinvertebrados bentônicos foram coletados com ajuda do aparelho amostral "Surber" sendo triados e identificados no Laboratório de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Paulista, campus Sorocaba. Resultados - No inventárioforam encontradas 22 taxas, sendo 5 famílias de Diptera, 1 família de Megaloptera, 5 famílias de Odonata, 3 famílias de Coleoptera, 5 famílias de Hemiptera e 3 famílias de Ephemeroptera. Houve predominância de Chironomidae (Diptera) com 68,6% dos organismos, seguidos de Pleidae (Hemiptera) com 7,14% dos organismos e Libellulidae (Odonata) com 4,48% dos organismos coletados. Os pontos com valores mais altos no índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener foram as lagoas marginais que coincidiram com valores mais baixos de condutividade e sólidos totais dissolvidos. Conclusão - Analisando a bacia através do índice biótico BMWP, concluiu-se que encontra-se em estado aceitável, com algumas evidências de contaminação.

Objective - The Itupararanga reservoir is the main supply source of potable water for the Sorocaba region, in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, and it supplies the municipalities of Ibiúna, Piedade, São Roque, Cotia, Vargem Grande Paulista, Mairinque, Alumínio and Votorantim. The purpose of this study was to analyze the diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates, including the relationships between biotic and abiotic parameters, at different points around the drainage basin of the Itupararanga reservoir. Methods - Four sets of samples were taken over the period between September 2008 and April 2009, with each set consisting of following 5 sampling points: two from the lakes adjacent to the reservoir, one from a nearby stream, one from a point in the Itupararanga reservoir and one from the local Chave Waterfall. The benthic macroinvertebrates were collected with the aid of a "Surber" sampling apparatus, and they were subsequently triaged and identified in the Laboratory of Biological Sciences of Sorocaba, campus of the University Paulista. Results - We found 22 taxa were found in the species inventory present in the samples, including 5 families of Diptera, 1 family of Megaloptera, 5 families of Odonata, 3 families of Coleoptera,5 families of Hemiptera and 3 families of Ephemeroptera. There was a predominance of Chironomidae (Diptera), accounting for 68.6% ofthe organisms, followed by Pleidae (Hemiptera) and Libellulidae (Odonata), which accounted for 7.14% and 4.48% of the organisms collected, respectively. The sampling locations with the highest values in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index were the adjacent lakes, which were also the locations with the lowest values for conductivity and total dissolved solids. Conclusion - Upon analyzing the basin with the BMWP biotic index, we concluded that its overall condition is acceptable, although there is some evidence of contamination.

A importância de programas de monitoramento da qualidade da água para diálise na segurança dos pacientes / The relevance of the program for monitoring dialysis water quality to the patient safety

Considerando a importância da qualidade da água tratada nos serviços de diálise para prevenção de riscos aos pacientes renais crônicos, foi estabelecido o programa de monitoramento com a finalidade de avaliar a qualidade da água tratada nos serviços de diálise do Estado de São Paulo, com base nos parâmetros estabelecidos pela Resolução RDC nº 154/2004. Foi atestada a efetividade das ações de vigilância sanitária que tem resultado em aumento dos níveis de qualidade da água tratada em vários dos parâmetros analisados, o que indica a importância da continuidade dos programas de monitoramento com intuito de garantir a segurança dos pacientes.

Considering the relevance of the quality of treated water in dialysis units to prevent the risks for patientswith chronic kidney diseases, a Monitoring Program has been established in order to evaluate the quality of treated water used in the dialysis units of the state of São Paulo, based on the parameters establishedby Resolution RDC # 154/2004. The effectiveness of the sanitary surveillance activities was evidencedbecause the consistent water quality has been improved on several analyzed parameters, which indicatesthe importance of keeping up the treated water-monitoring program at hemodialysis units in order toguarantee the patients safety.

The relevance of the program for monitoring dialysis water quality for the patient safety / A importância de programas de monitoramento da qualidade da água para diálise na segurança dos pacientes

Considering the relevance of the quality of treated water in dialysis units to prevent the risks for patients with chronic kidney diseases, a Monitoring Program has been established in order to evaluate the quality of treated water used in the dialysis units of the state of São Paulo, based on the parameters established by Resolution RDC / 154/2004. The effectiveness of the sanitary surveillance activities was evidenced because the consistent water quality has been improved on several analyzed parameters, which indicates the importance of keeping up the treated water-monitoring program at hemodialysis units in order to guarantee the patients safety.

Considerando a importância da qualidade da água tratada nos serviços de diálise para prevenção de riscos de infecção aos pacientes com insuficiência renal crônica, foi estabelecido o programa de monitoramento nos serviços de diálise do Estado de São Paulo, com base nos parâmetros estabelecidos pela Resolução RDC nº 154/2004. Foi atestada a efetividade das ações de vigilância sanitária que tem resultado em aumento dos níveis de qualidade da água tratada em vários dos parâmetros analisados, o que indica a importância da continuidade dos programas de monitoramento com intuito de garantir a segurança dos pacientes.

Fatores determinantes da qualidade das águas superficiais na bacia do Alto Acaraú, Ceará, Brasil / Assessment of the surface water quality in the upland of Acaraú watershed, Ceará, Brazil

Análise Fatorial/Análise da Componente Principal (AF/ACP) foram empregadas com o objetivo de identificar os fatores determinantes (naturais e antrópicos) da qualidade das águas superficiais na bacia do Alto Acaraú, Ceará. Realizaram-se coletas trimestrais, no período de fev/2003 a mar/2004, em seis pontos localizados nas áreas de influência urbana e de drenagem de perímetros irrigados. Foram analisados os parâmetros pH, temperatura, cor, turbidez, nitrato, amônia total, amônia livre, amônia ionizada, sódio, cloretos, potássio, sulfato, dureza, cálcio, magnésio, alcalinidade total, alcalinidade do bicarbonato, condutividade elétrica, sólidos suspensos, oxigênio dissolvido, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio, fósforo total, ortofosfato solúvel, clorofila "A", coliformes totais e coliformes termotolerantes. Através das técnicas de estatística multivariada, AF/ACP, foram selecionadas as variáveis que explicavam o maior percentual da variância total dos dados. Três componentes são responsáveis pela estrutura da qualidade das águas explicando 88 por cento da variância total. O modelo mostrou que o primeiro fator (39,81 por cento da variância) expressou-se como um componente mineral. O segundo, explicando 29,22 por cento da variância, apresentou-se como um componente de nutrientes. No terceiro fator (19,16 por cento da variância), identificou-se como um componente de escoamento superficial das áreas agrícolas e clima. A rotação dos fatores, os parâmetros indicadores da qualidade das águas estão, principalmente, relacionados com a solubilidade dos sais (natural), com nutrientes e transporte de sedimentos (ação antrópica).

Factor analysis/Principal Component Analysis (FA/PCA) were applied to the data set on water quality in upper Acaraú River basin (Brazil) to study the effects caused by human activities on water. Variables were measured at six key sampling sites (villages and agricultural areas) in four campaigns from February/2003 to March/2004. The samples were analyzed for pH, temperature, color, electrical conductivity, turbidity, nitrate, ammonia, sodium, chloride, potassium, sulfate, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, total alkalinity, alkalinity bicarbonate, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen (DO), 5-days biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), total phosphate, orthophosphate, chlorophyll-a, and feacal coliform. Multivariate statistical techniques, (FA/PCA), allowed the identification of variables that explain the major percent of total variance. Three components were identified as responsible for the data structure, explaining 88 percent of the total variance of the data set. Model showed that the first factor (39.81 percent of variance) assigned as mineralization factor. The second one (29.22 percent of variance) represented as nutrients group. The third factor (19.16 percent variance) assigned as a combination of agricultural area runoff and weathering. Varimax rotation showed that the mainly water quality parameters were related to mineralization (natural process) and non-point pollution (anthropogenic activities).

Distribuição da umidade num perfil de solo irrigado por gotejamento superficial e subsuperficial / Humidity distribution in a soil profile irrigated by surface and buried drip systems

Conduziu-se o presente trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar a distribuição de água no perfil de um Latossolo cultivado com mamoeiro do grupo Formosa, irrigado por dois gotejadores por planta instalados a 0,30 m da mesma. Usou-se gotejamento superficial com emissores de vazão de 3,75 L.h-1 e subsuperficial com emissores de vazão foi 2 L.h-1 a 0,25 m de profundidade. Os valores de umidades foram obtidos por meio de sondas de TDR instaladas e distribuídas em perfis de solo. As leituras foram realizadas em intervalos de dez minutos, durante dois ciclos de irrigação, utilizando um sistema de aquisição de dados composto por uma TDR, um datalogger e quatro multiplexadores. Os dados foram analisados a partir de isolinhas de distribuição de umidade e os resultados mostraram que o sistema de gotejamento subsuperficial apresentou uma menor variação da umidade concentrada na direção do sistema radicular do mamoeiro e o armazenamento de água no sistema subsuperficial foi 17 por cento superior ao superficial.

This work aimed at evaluating water distribution in a Latossol profile cultivated with papaya of Formosa group, irrigated by two drippers per plant installed at 0.30 m from the plant. Surface drip irrigation with emitters of 3.75 Lh-1flow rate and subsurface drip with emitters of 2 Lh-1 at 0.25 m depth were used. The humidity values were obtained by means of TDR probes installed and distributed in soil profiles. The readings were performed in a ten-minute interval during two irrigation cycles, using a data acquisition system composed by a TDR, one datalloger and four multiplexers. The data were analyzed from isolines of humidity distribution and results showed that the subsurface drip system had a smaller variation of humidity concentrated in the direction of papaya root system. The water storage for the subsurface system was 17 percent larger than the one for surface system.