scholarly journals Estudio ambiental sobre el riesgo ecológico que representa el plomo presente en el suelo / Environmental study on ecological lead risks in soils

2013 ◽  
pp. 66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maritza Reyes Guzmán ◽  
Gerardo Avendaño Prieto
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
The United States ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Environmental Study ◽  
El Sistema ◽  
Lead Metal ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Environmental Agency

En el contexto de la Ingeniería Ambiental es bien conocido que el plomo es un metal altamente tóxico que genera problemas graves para la salud humana. La Agencia de Protección Ambiental de los Estados Unidos, indica que una cantidad de 15 µg de plomo por litro, es preocupante, porque puede causar daño en el cerebro y el sistema nervioso. En algunos suelos de la Sabana de Bogotá, se han encontrado concentraciones altas de plomo, que en algunos casos superan los promedios mundiales. Este trabajo estudia qué parte del plomo contenido en el suelo podría introducirse en la cadena alimenticia, existiendo un riesgo ecológico potencial para el normal desarrollo de la flora, la fauna y en especial para la población humana que consume productos agrícolas cultivados en estos suelos. Se midieron las concentraciones de plomo en diferentes muestras de suelo y se encontró que aproximadamente el 27% del plomo contenido en los suelos tiene el riesgo de movilizarse fácilmente y afectar negativamente el ecosistema.ABSTRACTIn the field of Environmental Engineering, it is widely recognized the effects of toxic lead metal which may bring about serious problems for the human health system. The United States Environmental Agency pointed out that an amount of 15 mg of lead per litter represents a high risk which causes brain and central nervous system damages. In some plain fields of Bogota, high concentrations of lead have been found, showing high rates over world estimations. This research reveals the existence of lead fragments which can be used in the feeding chain, having a potential ecological risk for the development of flora and fauna, especially in part of the human population which consumes agricultural products grown in these soils. Different lead concentrations were measured in soil samples which show that about 27% of the lead contained has the risk of expanding easily affecting negatively the environment.RESUMÉÉDans le domaine de l’ingénierie de l’environnement, il est de notoriété commune que le plomb est un métal extrêmement toxique pouvant générer de sérieux problèmes pour la santé humaine. L’Agence de Protection de l’Environnement des Etats-Unis indique qu’un taux de 15 µg de plomb par litre devient préoccupant puisque cette quantité suffit à provoquer chez l’homme des dommages cérébraux et nerveux. Dans certains sols du plateau de Bogota, des concentrations élevées en plomb ont été trouvées et ce phénomène inquiète les spécialistes car dans certains cas, les résultats de l’analyse des sols montrent des taux de contamination supérieurs à la moyenne. Notre travail vise à montrer quel pourcentage de cette teneur des sols en plomb pourrait être introduit dans la chaîne alimentaire pouvant provoquer un risque écologique pour le développement normal de la faune et de la flore mais aussi et surtout de la population consommant des produits agricoles cultivés sur ces sols. Les concentrations en plomb ont été mesurées sur différents échantillons de sols et les résultats indiquent qu’environ 27 % de cette teneur en plomb présente le risque d’un déplacement aisé et d’une nuisance à l’écosystème.RESUMONo contexto da engenharia ambiental é bem conhecido que o chumbo é um metal altamente tóxico que gera problemas graves à saúde humana. A Agência de Proteção Ambiental dos Estados Unidos indica que uma quantidade de 15 µg de chumbo por litro é preocupante, porque pode causar dano no cérebro e o sistema nervoso. Em alguns solos da Savana de Bogotá foram encontradas concentrações altas de chumbo, que em alguns casos excedem a média mundial. Este trabalho estuda qual parte do chumbo contido no solo poderia ser introduzida na cadeia alimentar, existindo um risco ecológico potencial para o normal desenvolvimento da flora, a fauna e especialmente para a população humana que consume produtos agrícolas cultivados nestes solos. Mediram-se as concentrações de chumbo em diferentes amostras do solo e encontrou-se que aproximadamente 27% do chumbo contido nos solos tem o risco de movimentar-se facilmente e afetar o ecossistema de maneira negativa.

scholarly journals Geochemical Distribution of Some Heavy Metals in Agricultural Soil and Their Environmental Impacts in Kirkuk, Northern Iraq

2021 ◽  
Vol 54 (2A) ◽  
pp. 75-92
Author(s):  
Abbas R. Ali
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Agricultural Soil ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Heavy Elements ◽  
Traffic Density ◽  
Accumulation Factor ◽  
Soil Horizons ◽  
Subsurface Soil ◽  
High Concentrations

This study is based on agricultural soil samples which are collected along three traverses (A, B, C), near the gypsum quarries located near the village of Bajwan north of Kirkuk city, to conduct a geochemical analysis and determining some heavy elements (Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Sr, Pb, Cd) levels in the surface and subsurface soil horizons, and to indicate the potential sources of contamination with these elements. Accordingly, 30 samples were collected (six samples from travers A, five samples from travers B, and four samples from travers C) from the soil for each of the surface and subsurface levels. The results showed that the average concentrations of most studied elements increased in the subsurface soil compared to the surface soil, as a result of the influence of different geological and environmental conditions on the distribution of these elements in different soil horizons. The concentrations of the studied elements (Co, Ni, Cd) are more than their natural concentrations when compared to the natural abundance of these elements in the earth's crust, which indicates an increase in the concentration of these elements in the soil as a result of the proximity of the study area to the oil industries activities, causing the emission of high concentrations of heavy elements. As well as the traffic density of vehicles, causing the release of high concentrations of some elements. The geo accumulation factor (Igeo) indicates that most of the soil samples within different horizons of most of the heavy elements are uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, and moderately contaminated for cadmium. Also, by calculating the RI and the environmental risk factor (Er), it was found that the relative content of cadmium in soil samples recorded a considerable potential ecological risk to a high potential ecological risk. This indicates high affinity of cadmium in the soil as its infiltration into the subsurface layers.

scholarly journals A Novel Microbial Zearalenone Transformation through Phosphorylation

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Yan Zhu ◽  
Pascal Drouin ◽  
Dion Lepp ◽  
Xiu-Zhen Li ◽  
Honghui Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Transformation ◽  
Acid Tolerance ◽  
Transformation Product ◽  
The United States ◽  
Corn Silage ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
The 16S Rrna Gene ◽  
Bacillus Strains

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin widely occurring in many agricultural commodities. In this study, a purified bacterial isolate, Bacillus sp. S62-W, obtained from one of 104 corn silage samples from various silos located in the United States, exhibited activity to transform the mycotoxin ZEA. A novel microbial transformation product, ZEA-14-phosphate, was detected, purified, and identified by HPLC, LC-MS, and NMR analyses. The isolate has been identified as belonging to the genus Bacillus according to phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and whole genome alignments. The isolate showed high efficacy in transforming ZEA to ZEA-14-phosphate (100% transformation within 24 h) and possessed advantages of acid tolerance (work at pH = 4.0), working under a broad range of temperatures (22–42 °C), and a capability of transforming ZEA at high concentrations (up to 200 µg/mL). In addition, 23 Bacillus strains of various species were tested for their ZEA phosphorylation activity. Thirteen of the Bacillus strains showed phosphorylation functionality at an efficacy of between 20.3% and 99.4% after 24 h incubation, suggesting the metabolism pathway is widely conserved in Bacillus spp. This study established a new transformation system for potential application of controlling ZEA although the metabolism and toxicity of ZEA-14-phosphate requires further investigation.

scholarly journals Indigenous Water Rights in Comparative Law

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-402
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Macpherson
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Global Financial Crisis ◽  
Water Rights ◽  
The United States ◽  
Wall Street ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Academy Award ◽  
Increasing Demand ◽  
Poor Management

At the end of the 2015 Academy Award-winning film The Big Short, which explores the origins of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, a caption notes that the Wall Street investor protagonist of the film who predicted the collapse of the United States (US) housing market would now be ‘focused on one commodity: water’. Water is sometimes described in popular culture as ‘the new oil’ or ‘more valuable than gold’. It is predicted to be the subject of increasing uncertainty, competition, conflict, and even war, as increasing demand from a growing human population and development meets reduced supply as a result of poor management, overuse, and climate change.

scholarly journals An Integrated Study of Toxocara Infection in Honduran Children: Human Seroepidemiology and Environmental Contamination in a Coastal Community

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergio A. Hernández ◽  
José A. Gabrie ◽  
Carol Anahelka Rodríguez ◽  
Gabriela Matamoros ◽  
María Mercedes Rueda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Environmental Study ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Student Body ◽  
Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽  
Serological Tests ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Coastal Community ◽  
Pcr Rflp

(1) Background: Infections caused by Toxocara canis and T. cati are considered zoonoses of global importance. Reports from North and South America indicate that human infections are widespread in both continents, but epidemiological information from Central America is still lacking. (2) Methodology: In the present cross-sectional multi-year study, we aimed to undertake the first seroepidemiological and environmental study on toxocariasis in Honduras. This included the determination of seroprevalence of anti-Toxocara spp. antibodies in children using a Toxocara spp. purified excretory-secretory antigens enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (TES-ELISA) and a confirmatory Western blot. As well, through statistical analysis including logistic regression we aimed at identifying relevant biological and epidemiological factors associated with seropositivity. The study also entailed detection of parasites’ eggs in the soil samples both through Sheather’s concentration method and a nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. (3) Results: The study was undertaken in a coastal community of Honduras in 2 different years, 2015 and 2017. A total of 88 healthy schoolchildren completed the study, with participation of 79% (73/92) and 65% (46/71) of the student body in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Thirty-one children participated in both years (i.e., dual participants). Through both serological tests, seropositivity was confirmed in 88.6% (78/88) of children. Due to the high number of seropositives, logistic regression analysis was not possible for most socio-economic and epidemiological variables. Eosinophilia, on the other hand, was associated with seropositivity, independently of other intestinal helminthic infections. Continued seropositivity was observed in most of the dual participants, while seroconversion was determined in 8 of these children. Microscopic examination of soil samples did not yield any positive results. Through nested PCR-RFLP, 3 of the 50 samples (6%) were positive for Toxocara spp.; two were identified as T. canis and one as T. cati. (4) Conclusions: This work documents for the first time, high levels of human exposure to Toxocara spp. in Honduras. These findings, along with the country’s favorable epidemiological conditions for this zoonosis, emphasize the need for more research to determine whether this infection is underreported in the country.

Chinese Breakthrough into Latin America

2012 ◽  
pp. 84-91
Author(s):  
E. Dabagyan
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
The United States ◽  
Chinese Economy ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Economic Factors ◽  
American Continent ◽  
External Relations ◽  
Multilateral Agreements

The article deals with a number of problems associated with the growing presence of China in the Latin American continent. The author emphasizes that mutual interest is based on economic factors. In particular, the rapidly developing Chinese economy needs more raw materials and agricultural products, which are available in abundance in Latin America. At the same time, the countries of the continent are interested in freeing from orientation solely to the United States and in a diversification of external relations. The present bilateral and multilateral agreements and treaties between China and Latin America showed a strengthening of trade and economic cooperation. But Beijing's strategy is based on a model of exchange of raw materials to finished products. This causes some resentment on the part of Latin American experts and entrepreneurs.

scholarly journals Environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. Eggs in a rural settlement in Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 279-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vamilton Alvares Santarém ◽  
Elisabeth da Cunha Franco ◽  
Fernanda Torres Kozuki ◽  
Danila Fini ◽  
Luiz Euribel Prestes-Carneiro
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Rural Community ◽  
Environmental Contamination ◽  
Human Population ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Larva Migrans ◽  
Visceral Larva Migrans ◽  
Paulo State ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Flotation Technique

In order to study the environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs in a rural community from the Pontal do Paranapanema region, São Paulo State, Brazil, soil samples from 31 out of 121 plots were collected in eight different places on each house. The samples were submitted to flotation technique in sodium nitrate (d = 1.20g/cm³). Eggs of Toxocara spp. were recovered in nine (29.03%) out of the 31 plots. At least one dog was registered in 27 of the 31 plots examined (87.1%) and at least one cat in 17 (54.84%). The number of pets per plot ranged from one to six (mean of 2.3) for dogs and one to 14 (mean of 1.29) for cats. In 16 plots (51.61%), the presence of both dogs and cats was observed. There was no relation between the presence of pets in the plots and soil contamination (p > 0.05). However, the environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs associated to the poor conditions of the inhabitants may be an important risk factor for the human population to ocular or visceral larva migrans.

scholarly journals High concentrations of coarse particles emitted from a cattle feeding operation

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 8809-8823 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Hiranuma ◽  
S. D. Brooks ◽  
J. Gramann ◽  
B. W. Auvermann
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
The United States ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Size Distributions ◽  
Cattle Feeding ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Organic Particles

Abstract. Housing roughly 10 million head of cattle in the United States alone, open air cattle feedlots represent a significant but poorly constrained source of atmospheric particles. Here we present a comprehensive characterization of physical and chemical properties of particles emitted from a large representative cattle feedlot in the Southwest United States. In the summer of 2008, measurements and samplings were conducted at the upwind and downwind edges of the facility. A series of far-field measurements and samplings was also conducted 3.5 km north of the facility. Two instruments, a GRIMM Sequential Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) and a GRIMM Portable Aerosol Spectrometer (PAS), were used to measure particle size distributions over the range of 0.01 to 25 μm diameter. Raman microspectroscopy was used to determine the chemical composition of particles on a single particle basis. Volume size distributions of dust were dominated by coarse mode particles. Twenty-four hour averaged concentrations of PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 μm or less) were as high as 1200 μg m−3 during the campaign. The primary constituents of the particulate matter were carbonaceous materials, such as humic acid, water soluble organics, and less soluble fatty acids, including stearic acid and tristearin. A significant fraction of the organic particles was present in internal mixtures with salts. Basic characteristics such as size distribution and composition of agricultural aerosols were found to be different than the properties of those found in urban and semi-urban aerosols. Failing to account for such differences may lead to errors in estimates of aerosol effects on local air quality, visibility, and public health.

Within-field Pathogenic Diversity of Phytophthora sojae in Commercial Soybean Fields in Iowa

2009 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison E. Robertson ◽  
Silvia R. Cianzio ◽  
Sarah M. Cerra ◽  
Richard O. Pope
Keyword(s):  
The United States ◽  
Phytophthora Sojae ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Soybean Plant ◽  
North Central Region ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Many ◽  
Pathogenic Diversity

Phytophthora root and stem rot (PRR), caused by the oomycete Phytophthora sojae, is an economically important soybean disease in the north central region of the United States, including Iowa. Previous surveys of the pathogenic diversity of P. sojae in Iowa did not investigate whether multiple pathotypes of the pathogen existed in individual fields. Considering the many pathotypes of P. sojae that have been reported in Iowa, we hypothesized multiple pathotypes could exist within single fields. In the research reported herein, several soil samples were collected systematically from each of two commercial fields with a history of PRR in Iowa, and each soil sample was baited separately for isolates of P. sojae. Numerous pathotypes of P. sojae were detected from both fields. As many as four pathotypes were detected in some soil samples (each consisting of six to eight soil cores), which suggests that a single soybean plant could be subjected to infection by more than one pathotype. This possibility presents important implications in breeding resistant cultivars and in the management of PRR. Accepted for publication 14 July 2009. Published 8 September 2009.

scholarly journals Gharacteristics and management style of Mexican enterprises in the United State

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica Blanco Jimenez ◽  
J Valdez ◽  
Martha Fasci
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Management Style ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Bilateral Relations ◽  
Steady Growth ◽  
The Us ◽  
El Sistema

Key words: Enterprises, Foreign Direct Investment, management style, Mexico, United StatesAbstract: The United States and Mexico are two countries with vast cultural and economic differences, but their bilateral relations oftrade and Foreign Direct Investment (FDl) are very close. Their geographic proximity and their membership to NAFTA have increased the US-Mexican goods trade and have multiplied the Foreign Direct Investment (FDl) inflows into Mexico by seven folds during 1988-2000. Onthe other hand, the Mexican FDI inflows into the United States even though enjoyed a steady growth during last years, but without asubstantial ncrease. Although, there are some outside oolitical nd economical fctors that have influenced this evolution ofFDI in both countries, there are some managerial fctors that have made it difficult to integrate he Mexican enterprises with the US ones. Some researches confirm that in Mexico, cultural aspects influence in all possible ways to make business. These are different from the American management style, so the Mexican enterprises that want o invest in the American market must adopt the American management system, in order to have a successful investment. This research aims to: 1) Demonstrate thgrowing mutual economic trade interdependence between Mexico and the United States, 2) ldentify in which sectors and what areas are most of the Mexican enterprises located in the United States and 3) Compare the Mexican management style with the American system.Palabras Clave: Empresas, estilo de administración, Estados Unidos, Inversión Directa Extranjera, MéxicoResumen: Los Estados Unidos y México son dos países con importantes diferencias culturales y económicas, sinembargo su relación bilateral en el comercio y la inversión es muy estrecha. La proximidad geográfica y la firma del Tratado de Libre Comercio de Norte América han incrementado el comercio USA-México y han permitido que la inversión directa extranjera Americana enMéxico se multiplique por siete veces de 1988 a|2000. Por otro lado, la Inversión Directa Extranjera de México en los Estados Unidos, aunque presenta un incremento enestos últimos años, no ha tenido un crecimiento sustancial. Existen factores políticos y económicos que han influenciado esta evolución deIDE en ambos países, sin embargo, hay otros factores como la cultura empresarial que ha sido un elemento de dificultad para integrar las empresas Mexicanas en los Estados Unidos. Algunos investigadores confirman que la cultura empresarial infuye en la manera como las empresas Mexicanas hacen negocios, la cual es diferente a la cultura empresarial Americana, entonces, las empresas Mexicanas que quieran invertir y hacer negocio en el mercado Americano, tienen que adoptar elestilo empresarial Americano para tener éxito en sus inversiones. Por lo tanto, esta investigación trata de: 1) Demostrar el crecimiento de Ia dependencia económica comercial que existe entre México y los Estados Unidos, 2)ldentificar en que sectores y donde están establecidas la mayor parte de las empresas mexicanas en los Estados Unidos y 3) Comparar el estilo empresarial mexicanos con el sistema Americano. 

scholarly journals Development of trade and economic cooperation between China and Russia in new geopolitical conditions

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (51) ◽  
pp. 25-39
Author(s):  
A.V. Brizitskaya
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Bilateral Trade ◽  
The United States ◽  
Agricultural Products ◽  
Political Life ◽  
Trade Relations ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Modern Period ◽  
The World ◽  
Trade War

The article analyzes the trade relations between Russia and China in the modern period characterized by changes in the situation on the world stage and in the domestic political life of countries. The dynamics and commodity structure of bilateral trade of Russia and China have been studied, the Index of trade com-plementarity has been calculated, which showed that Chinese exports are more complementary to the structure of Russian imports than vice versa. Emphasis is placed on traditional trade in goods, excluding services and cross-border e-Commerce. The paper identifies two main directions which the development of Russian exports to China can take in the conditions of the "trade war" of China and the United States. The short-sighted policy of increasing only fuel and energy exports is justified. The reasons hindering the development of non-resource exports of Russia, primarily agricultural products and food, to China have been identified.

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