Inorganic contamination in roadkill birds in Northeast Brazil / Contaminação inorgânica em aves atropeladas no Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Wildlife roadkill surveys in Brazil often focus on birds, as they are one of the main groups affected by road accidents. In addition roadkill, anthropogenic litter also contributes to a significant number of bird fatalities every year. The present study aimed to investigate the stomach contents and possible contamination by inorganic material of birds killed on a federal highway that crosses the Serra de Itabaiana National Park in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. Monitoring and data collection were carried out from January to June 2022, with a motorcycle at an average speed of 60 km/h. The collected animals were transported to the Institute of Technology and Research, located at the Tiradentes University, Sergipe, Brazil, and a plastic material was identified. The plastic material found was subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which showed a similar wavenumber to a polymer in the polypropylene chain, very common in plastic packaging. The presence of plastics and metals in the intestinal contents of Caracara plancus and Crotophaga ani is noteworthy, as they have a greater tendency to ingest plastics due to their generalist diet. Plastic contamination in Progne chalybea and Nyctidromus albicollis probably occurred through bioaccumulation, from the consumption of insects contaminated by microplastics.

Resumo As pesquisas sobre atropelamentos de animais silvestres no Brasil geralmente se concentram nas aves, pois elas são um dos principais grupos afetados por acidentes rodoviários. Além dos atropelamentos, o lixo antropogênico também contribui para um número significativo de mortes de aves todos os anos. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar o conteúdo estomacal e possível contaminação por material inorgânico de aves atropeladas em uma rodovia federal que atravessa o Parque Nacional da Serra de Itabaiana, no estado de Sergipe, Brasil. O monitoramento e a coleta de dados foram realizados no período de janeiro a junho de 2022, com uma motocicleta a uma velocidade média de 60 km/h. Os animais coletados foram transportados para o Instituto de Tecnologia e Pesquisa situado na Universidade Tiradentes, Sergipe, Brasil, onde foi identificado um material plástico. O material plástico encontrado foi submetido à espectroscopia no infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR), que mostrou número de onda semelhante a um polímero da cadeia do polipropileno, muito comum em embalagens plásticas. Chama a atenção a presença de plásticos e metais no conteúdo intestinal de Caracara plancus e Crotophaga ani, pois apresentam maior tendência à ingestão de plásticos devido à dieta generalista. A contaminação plástica em Progne chalybea e Nyctidromus albicollis provavelmente ocorreu por bioacumulação, a partir do consumo de insetos contaminados por microplásticos.

Analysis of the occurrence of microplastics in beach sand on the Brazilian coast.

The occurrence of microplastics in coastal areas is a growing concern due to the increase in plastic waste pollution in recent decades. This study had as objective to evaluate the occurrence of microplastics in Brazilian beach sand, using a simple and fast methodology. In addition, possible microplastics were classified according to color, shape and chemical composition. The study was conducted on six beaches on the Brazilian coast: Pecado Beach (RJ), Castanheiras Beach (ES), Regência Beach (ES), Imbassaí Beach (BA), Viral Beach (SE) and Ponta dos Mangues Beach (SE). The methodology was adapted from international protocols, with section demarcation (100 m), where samples were collected from the superficial layer of the beach sand in ten quadrants (50 cm × 50 cm). The laboratory extraction procedure consisted of the density separation technique in two stages: the first used sodium chloride solution and the second used zinc chloride solution. For the visual inspection and screening procedures, a stereoscopic microscope was used. A total of 166 items of microplastics were collected on the six beaches on the Brazilian coast under study. The largest quantity of possible microplastics was recorded on the beaches of Viral (SE) and Ponta dos Mangues (SE) with 30.4 items/m2 and 17.4 items/m2, respectively. Regarding colour, white items were predominant (49.3%), and among particle types, fragments represented 85.1%. In addition, some microplastic particles were sent for FT-IR analysis, one of which was identified as being polyethylene. This study contributes to the knowledge of the presence of microplastics in different locations, and to supporting decision makers regarding coastal management.

Characterization of a tubular electrochemical reactor for the degradation of the commercial diuron herbicide.

After designing and constructing an electrochemical reactor with concentric electrodes and tangential feed (RECT), it is necessary to characterize it and to study its performance. The experimental study of the residence time distribution (RTD) was conducted for flow rates of 2.78 × 10-6 m3 s-1, 8.33 × 10-6 m3 s-1 and 13.9 × 10-6 m3 s-1. According to the values obtained from the Pe number (0.67-1.52), the RECT fits as tubular with great dispersion. The determined empirical correlation (Sh = 18.16 Re0.50 Sc0.33) showed a laminar flow behavior in the range of Reynolds number (Re) between 23 and 117. In order to use RECT in effluent treatment, an electrochemical oxidation study of the Diuron model molecule (Nortox®) was performed to analyze reactor performance in a closed system with total reflux. A decay kinetics of pseudo-first order was associated with the decay of the concentration of diuron and 30% mineralization in 180 min of process were obtained, having a total volume of 4 × 10-3 m3 and an initial concentration of commercial Diuron in 215.83 mg dm-3. Eleven by-products were identified by HPLC-MS analysis and, from this, it was possible to propose a route of degradation of the diuron. From these observations, it can be inferred that the studied electrochemical reactor had applicability in the degradation of recalcitrant compounds, as is the case of commercial diuron. Make some changes in the electrochemical reactor studied and other advanced oxidative processes, such as electro-Fenton, can be associated with the studied system to achieve a better conversion efficiency.

Assessing the presence of endocrine disruptors and markers of anthropogenic activity in a water supply system in northeastern Brazil.

Several chemical substances known as micropollutants are used in daily activities, and they pose risks to both human health and the environment. Some of these substances disrupt the endocrine system in addition to being responsible for major public health issues and for endangering some aquatic species. The aim of this research is to investigate the frequency of endocrine disruptors and anthropogenic activity markers in a Water Supply System (SAA) in Sergipe State, Brazil. Twenty-two water samples were collected from five SAA points from 2016 to 2017. They were prepared through solid phase extraction and analyzed in a gas chromatographer coupled to a mass spectrometer. In total, 13 compounds (diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, nonylphenol, pentachlorophenol, bisphenol A, androstane, estrone, estradiol, 17 α-ethinyl estradiol, progesterone, coprostanol, cholesterol and caffeine) that are endocrine disruptors and antrophic activity markers were herein assessed - both in raw (underground and surface) and treated water (distribution system and reservoir) samples. Based on our results, 50% of the samples contained caffeine; 45.5%, cholesterol; 31.81%, diethyl phthalate; 31.81%, dibutyl phthalate; 18.18%, bisphenol A; and 4.54%, estradiol. Therefore, it is important to create and implement public policies focused on public health and on assuring the safety of aquatic ecosystems.

Aplicação de índices para avaliação da qualidade da água da Bacia Costeira do Sapucaia em Sergipe / Application of indexes to assess the water quality of coastal basin of the Sapucaia in Sergipe

RESUMO A redução da disponibilidade qualiquantitativa da água no mundo está diretamente relacionada às formas de uso e ocupação do solo, aos processos produtivos da agricultura e da pecuária, ao processo de urbanização e à geração de efluentes domésticos e industriais. Por isso, é importante a realização de diagnósticos de bacias hidrográficas, sobre o uso e a ocupação de seu solo e sobre a qualidade da água como ferramenta para a gestão hídrica. Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar e monitorar a qualidade da água da Bacia Costeira do Sapucaia, Sergipe. As coletas foram realizadas em oito pontos, com periodicidade trimestral, de agosto de 2014 a setembro de 2015. Na avaliação da qualidade da água foram utilizados: o Índice de Qualidade da Água (IQA) e o Índice de Estado Trófico (IET). As análises das amostras foram realizadas de acordo com os procedimentos estabelecidos no Standard Methods, sendo analisados os seguintes parâmetros: coliformes totais e termotolerantes, turbidez, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, sólidos totais, fósforo total, nitrogênio total, temperatura, condutividade, demanda bioquímica de oxigênio e clorofila. Os resultados do IQA classificam os corpos d'água em aceitável (2,5%), bom (92,5%) e ótimo (5,0%). Os resultados do IET classificaram as amostras como: ultraoligotrófico (67,5%), oligotrófico (20,0%), mesotrófico (2,5%), eutrófico (7,5%) e supereutrófico (2,5%). Os resultados obtidos permitem afirmar que os rios Aningas, Sapucaia e a Lagoa Redonda apresentam baixo grau de degradação, com menor conservação do ponto amostral localizado no Rio Sapucaia, dentro da Reserva Santa Isabel, por ser uma área bastante visitada nos finais de semana e feriados.

ABSTRACT The reduction of quali-quantitative availability of water in the world is directly related to the forms of land use and occupation, the productive processes of agriculture and cattle raising, the process of urbanization and the generation of domestic and industrial effluents. Thus, it is important to evaluate hydrographic basins regarding the use and occupation of their land and water quality as a tool for water management. This study aimed to characterize and monitor the quality of water of the Sapucaia Coastal Basin in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. The collections were performed quarterly in eight points of the basin, from August 2014 to September 2015. In the assessment of water quality, the Water Quality Index (WQI) and the Trophic State Index (TSI) were used. The analyzes of the samples were carried out according to the procedures outlined in Standard Methods; the following parameters were analyzed: total and fecal coliforms, turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen, total solids, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, temperature, conductivity, biochemical oxygen demand and chlorophyll. The results from the application of the WQI classified water bodies as acceptable (2.5%), good (92.5%) and very good (5.0%). The results of the TSI ranked the samples as ultraoligotrophic (67.5%), oligotrophic (20.0%), mesotrophic (2.5%), eutrophic (7.5%) and supereutrophic (2.5%). The results allow to affirm that Aningas and Sapucaia rivers and Lagoa Redonda pond, belonging to the Sapucaia Coastal Basin, in Sergipe, have a low degree of degradation, with lower conservation of the sample point located in Sapucaia river, within the Reserva Santa Isabel reserve, that being a widely visited area on weekends and holidays.