Mercury distribution in a mangrove tidal creek affected by intensive shrimp farming.

In this study, the Hg distributions in water and sediments from a mangrove creek that receives intensive shrimp farming effluents were determined. The average dissolved and particulate Hg concentrations in the water varied from 3.1 to 9.2 ng L(-1) and from 4.4 to 9.4 ng L(-1), respectively. However, the Hg concentrations in the suspended particulate matter and the bottom sediments varied from 95.4 to 115.7 ng g(-1) and from 1.6 to 10.3 ng g(-1), respectively. A Ward quadratic distance cluster analysis based on the Hg concentrations and hydro- and geochemical parameters (oxygen, salinity, temperature, pH, and organic matter and aluminum content) showed the effects of shrimp farming effluents on the Hg distribution pattern. Furthermore, these results were supported by the Hg distribution in the sediment cores. This study emphasizes the necessity of including Hg as a potential pollutant when monitoring the environmental impacts of intensive shrimp farming.

Electrochemical oxidation of cisatracurium on carbon paste electrode and its analytical applications.

The electrochemical oxidation of cisatracurium was investigated by cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry at a carbon paste electrode and the experimental parameters have been optimized in order to obtain the optimum analytical signal. A differential pulse voltammetric method with carbon paste electrode is described for the determination of cisatracurium with detection limit of 0.38 mug/ml and quantitation limit of 1.26 mug/ml. The proposed method was applied to determine the content of cisatracurium in human urine and human serum, obtaining accurate and precise results.

Acute effects evaluation of HgCl2 on epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis (Siluroidei; trichomycteridae).

The effects of HgCl2 on the epidermis of Trichomycterus brasiliensis were studied by histological, histochemical, and ultrastructural methods. First, the normal organization of the tissue was described in order to study the HgCl2 effects on the skin structure. The epithelial cells presented a typical structural organization found in many fishes. Basically five types of cells could be detailed: goblet cells, club cells, germinative stratum cells, intermediate layer cells, and epithelial cells in the superficial layer. The goblet cells in the superficial layer present evidence of secretory activity by positive histochemical reactions. In cells exposed to HgCl2, different morphological alterations were observed in the epithelium structure, such as an increase in the lymphocyte number, hypertrophied epithelial cells at the surface, modified taste buds, obstruction of the goblet cells pore, and high cellular proliferation. Moreover, the chemical nature of the goblet cells was not modified by the presence of the HgCl2 dissolved in water. All animals died within 24 hr after the contamination with inorganic mercury at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.1 mg HgCl2/liter.