scholarly journals Occurrence of heavy metals and contaminants on the surface of adjacent rivers

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57
Author(s):  
Warita Alves de Melo ◽  
Carla Afonso da Silva Bitencourt Braga ◽  
Lilian Carla Carneiro

Water is fundamental to the survival of living beings. It registers every impact and can function as an indicator of environmental stressors. Our objective in the current study was to assess the sanitary conditions of the waters in the Açude, Maria Lucinda and Santa Rosa streams. This was done by checking pH, running quantitative analyses of heavy metals and testing for total coliforms. The effect of ultraviolet (UV) rays on samples positive for coliforms was evaluated. The average pH of the streams ranged between 4 and 7 and changed between drought and rainy season conditions. Chromium and nickel values were above those permitted by the Brazilian National Council on the Environment, CONAMA. In the dry season, zinc values were above those established by CONAMA for waterbodies of Classes 1 and 2. Thermotolerant coliforms were present in all samples collected and above permitted values. After exposing the bacteria to UV light, it was noted that UV irradiation was unable to decrease the bacteria count. Ninety residents who use stream water were interviewed: 24% of interviewees said they use the waters of the Açude and Mary Lucinda streams and along the Santa Rosa stream, 95% of inhabitants said they use the water.

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 833
Author(s):  
Edina Preklet ◽  
László Tolvaj ◽  
Eszter Visi-Rajczi ◽  
Tamás Hofmann

The goal of this research was the systematic study and comparison of the divided individual effects of UV light irradiation and water leaching during artificial weathering. Spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) samples were irradiated by ultraviolet (UV) light. Another sequence of samples was treated with the combination of UV irradiation and water leaching. The total extent of UV treatment was 20 days for both series of samples. Time relation of UV irradiation and water leaching was 2:1. The chemical changes were observed by FTIR spectroscopy. The difference spectrum was used for determination of the chemical changes. Degradation of lignin was greater for the leached samples than for the pure UV treated samples. Scots pine suffered greater lignin degradation than spruce, and produced higher absorption increase on the absorption region of unconjugated carbonyls. The unconjugated carbonyl groups were the most responsive chemical elements to leaching. Spruce was more susceptible to leaching of unconjugated carbonyl groups than Scots pine. Two absorption bands of unconjugated carbonyl groups at 1706 and 1764 cm−1 wavenumbers were produced by photodegradation. The absorption band at 1764 cm−1 was more sensitive to water leaching than the band at 1706 cm−1.


Author(s):  
Mariko Nakata ◽  
Masayuki Shimoda ◽  
Shinya Yamamoto

Abstract Irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light on the cortical surface can induce a focal brain lesion (UV lesion) in rodents. In the present study, we investigated the process of establishing a UV lesion. Rats underwent UV irradiation (365 nm wavelength, 2.0 mWh) over the dura, and time-dependent changes in the cortical tissue were analyzed histologically. We found that the majority of neurons in the lesion started to degenerate within 24 hours and the rest disappeared within 5 days after irradiation. UV-induced neuronal degeneration progressed in a layer-dependent manner. Moreover, UV-induced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positivity and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) immunoreactivity were also detected. These findings suggest that UV irradiation in the brain can induce gradual neural degeneration and oxidative stress. Importantly, UV vulnerability may vary among cortical layers. UV-induced cell death may be due to apoptosis; however, there remains a possibility that UV-irradiated cells were degenerated via processes other than apoptosis. The UV lesion technique will not only assist in investigating brain function at a targeted site but may also serve as a pathophysiological model of focal brain injury and/or neurodegenerative disorders.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1310
Author(s):  
Matúš Várady ◽  
Sylwester Ślusarczyk ◽  
Jana Boržíkova ◽  
Katarína Hanková ◽  
Michaela Vieriková ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of roasting on the contents of polyphenols (PPH), acrylamide (AA), and caffeine (CAF) and to analyze heavy metals in specialty coffee beans from Colombia (COL) and Nicaragua (NIC). Samples of NIC were naturally processed and COL was fermented anaerobically. Green beans from COL (COL-GR) and NIC (NIC-GR) were roasted at two levels, light roasting (COL-LIGHT and NIC-LIGHT) and darker roasting (COL-DARK and NIC-DARK), at final temperatures of 210 °C (10 min) and 215 °C (12 min), respectively. Quantitative analyses of PPH identified caffeoylquinic acids (CQA), feruloylquinic acids, and dicaffeoylquinic acids. Isomer 5-CQA was present at the highest levels and reached 60.8 and 57.7% in COL-GR and NIC-GR, 23.4 and 29.3% in COL-LIGHT and NIC-LIGHT, and 18 and 24.2% in COL-DARK and NIC-DARK, respectively, of the total PPH. The total PPH contents were highest in COL-GR (59.76 mg/g dry matter, DM). Roasting affected the contents of PPH, CAF, and AA (p < 0.001, p < 0.011 and p < 0.001, respectively). Nickel and cadmium contents were significantly higher in the COL-GR than in the NIC-GR beans. Darker roasting decreased AA content, but light roasting maintained similar amounts of CAF and total PPH.


Zygote ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Victor Tosin Okomoda ◽  
Haziqah Jumahat Nursyaza ◽  
Ijabo Oga Samuel ◽  
Anuar Hassan ◽  
Abraham Sunday Oladimeji ◽  
...  

Summary The optimum distance and duration of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for the complete inactivation of African catfish Clarias gariepinus egg nucleus was investigated in this study. The UV light was suspended above the unfertilized eggs at four distances (5, 10, 20 and 30 cm) and for five durations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min). Then, the irradiated eggs were activated with sperm from diploid C. gariepinus and cold shocked at 5°C for 5 min just moments before cell cleavage. Ploidy analysis was performed using karyotype chromosome counting. The results obtained suggested that the further the distance, the better the hatchability rate, however prolonged duration seemed to significantly reduced hatchability. All treatments with surviving progenies at the end of the study showed evidence of successfully diploid gynogen (2n = 56) induction at different percentages. However, the optimal protocol that gave a moderately high hatchability/survival rate and completely induced gynogens was exposure of the eggs to UV irradiation at 20 cm for 1 min. It was concluded that the distance and duration of UV irradiation affects gynogenetic induction in African catfish C. gariepinus.


2009 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 1836-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thaís Mioto Martineli ◽  
Oswaldo Durival Rossi Junior ◽  
Natacha Deboni Cereser ◽  
Marita Vedovelli Cardozo ◽  
Cristianne Lino Fontoura ◽  
...  

The consumption of lamb meat in Brazil has increased in the last years but little information about the microbiological quality of this product is available. To evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of lamb carcasses, the quantification of microorganism populations indicators (mesophiles and psychrotrophs; total and thermotolerant coliforms; Escherichia coli; moulds and yeasts) and the pathogenic microorganisms indentification (Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp.) were performed. A total of 60 lamb carcasses were sampled from one abattoir in São Paulo. Swab samples were collected from three points (forequarter, back and hindquarter) on the muscle surface after carcasses final washing. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive evaluation of the results whose counts were grouped by intervals of microorganism populations. Counts ranged from 1.0 x 10¹ to 8.0 x 10(4) colony-forming unit cm-2 (CFU cm-2) for mesophiles; 1.0 x 10(0) to 4.4 x 10(4)CFU cm-2 for psychrotrophs; < 1.0 x 10(0) to 4.4 x 10(4)CFU cm-2 for moulds and yeasts; < 0.3 to > 32.0 most probable number/cm² (MPN cm-2) for total and thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli. Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp. were not found in any of the carcasses. Most carcasses presented low counts for all microorganisms. Overall results may be explained by the small size of the industry where the study was taken. Results suggest that good microbiological quality lamb meat is possible to be obtained, but improvement in hygienic-sanitary conditions is still required.


2002 ◽  
Vol 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Horiuchi ◽  
H. Ochi ◽  
K. Kaisei ◽  
K. Ishida ◽  
K. Matsushige

ABSTRACTSurface lattice displacements of titanium dioxide (TiO2: rutile) during ultra-violet (UV) light irradiation have been investigated using a total reflection x-ray diffraction, which provides a high signal to noise ratio (S/N) and superior in-plane surface diffraction. Under the environments in vapors of H2O, CH3OH, C2H5OH and C3H6OH, the photo-catalytic activities of TiO2 (110), (100) and (001) surfaces subject to UV irradiation have been measured. It is found that the diffraction peaks and their full width half maxima (FWHMs) show some peculiarities with respect to the photo-catalytic activities in both surface lattices and adsorbed molecules in vapors. Furthermore, Kelvin force microscopy (KFM) has showed that there exists a very high surface potential, probably due to surface atom displacements induced by UV irradiation. With regard to the origin of the photo-catalytic activities, the induced surface potentials are discussed.


Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 2141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Li ◽  
Linlin Wang ◽  
Yun Cai ◽  
Peifeng Pan ◽  
Jinze Li ◽  
...  

In this work, a silicon nanopillar array was created with nanosphere lithography. SnO2 film was deposited on this nanostructure by magnetron sputtering to form an SnO2/silicon nanopillar array sensor. The humidity sensitivity, response time, and recovery time were all measured at room temperature (25 °C) with UV or without UV irradiation. As a result, the humidity sensitivity properties were improved by enlarging the specific surface area with ordered nanopillars and irradiating with UV light. These results indicate that nanostructure sensors have potential applications in the field of sensors.


1984 ◽  
Vol 246 (5) ◽  
pp. C486-C493 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Eggena ◽  
F. Fahrenholz ◽  
I. L. Schwartz

We have shown previously ( Eggena et al., Endocrinology 113: 1413-1421, 1983) that [Phe2,Phe(p-N3)3]-AVP induces a prolonged hydrosmotic response in the toad bladder when activated by ultraviolet (UV) light. To determine whether this response is due to covalent binding of the ligand with 8-arginine vasopressin (AVP) receptors, bladders were challenged with the ligand in the presence of AVP or the AVP antagonist, [Phe(p-N3)2]AVP, during photolysis. The permeability of bladders to water was tested subsequently in the absence of hormone or analogue. Bladders with a history of exposure to AVP (or to [Phe-(p-N3)2]AVP) during UV irradiation were considerably less permeable to water than controls, suggesting that [Phe2,Phe(p-N3)3]AVP, AVP, and [Phe(p-N3)2]AVP compete for the same receptor system during photolysis. Other experiments were directed at defining optimal conditions for covalent linkage of [Phe2,Phe(p-N3)3]AVP to receptors. These studies have indicated that two 10-min cycles of UV irradiation are more effective than one and that osmotic water flow at a rate of 1 mg X min-1 X cm-2 during irradiation does not interfere with the ligand-receptor interaction. Acidification of the serosal bath solution to pH 6.5 did not inhibit covalent binding of the ligand to receptors during photolysis. However, the capacity of the ligand-receptor complex to increase bladder permeability to water was markedly inhibited by serosal fluid acidification. These experiments have suggested that [Phe2 ,Phe(p-N3)3]AVP binds covalently to AVP receptors during photolysis and generates a signal that gradually decays as a function of time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maxsueli Aparecida Moura Machado ◽  
Barbara Müller ◽  
Ricardo César Tavares Carvalho ◽  
Eduardo Eustáquio de Souza Figueiredo

ABSTRACT: Brazil is the largest exporter of beef of the world and Mato Grosso State is the highest beef producer in this country. To maintain product competitiveness and market expansion, sanitary hygienic control of the entire process is indispensable to ensure the attainment of harmless beef and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hygienic sanitary conditions of vacuum-packed beef produced by establishments qualified for export in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. A total of 60 samples were submitted to coliforms counts at 35°C and at 45°C and E. coli. The mean contamination by at 35°C and coliforms at 45°C were 3,1 x 102MPN/g and 7.7MPN/g respectively. The presence of E. coli was verified in five samples, representing an occurrence of 8.3% (5/60), and Salmonella spp. in 5% (03/60) of the analyzed samples. The MPN (Most Probable Number) average of coliforms at 35°C and 45°C are in accordance to national and international legislation; however, the presence of Samonella spp., E. coli in some sample indicates a low risk of occurrence of salmonellosis and colibacillosis transmitted by the evaluated beef. However, transmission risk of these diseases cannot be ruled out, since the presence of E. coli does not depend on the amount of coliforms and national legal standards established for the group of thermotolerant coliforms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 761-774
Author(s):  
Lopamudra Das ◽  
John C Poutsma ◽  
Michael J Kelley

Polyimides (PIs) have a wide range of industrial and scientific applications due to their excellent thermal and mechanical stability and chemical resistance. Their response to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is of further interest in high-value applications such as spacecraft technology and electronics packaging. In this work, we investigated the effect of 172-nm UV xenon excimer lamp irradiation on samples of pyromellitimido-oxydianiline (PMDA-ODA) commercial films in the absence of oxygen. The average irradiance received at the sample position was 90 mW/cm2, and the total radiation dosage varied from 0 to 64 J/cm2. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle measurements were used to characterize the effect. Calculated UV-visible spectroscopy absorption spectra were obtained using the ZINDO//B3LYP/3-21G method to give an indication of which orbitals are involved in the transitions near 172 nm. The reactivity of the different UV-treated PI samples toward nitrogen-borne heptafluorodecene vapor was then investigated using the above techniques. Grafting reactions occurred on the surface of the photochemically activated polymer. This study explored the potential for modification of PI surfaces using UV-light-assisted grafting to impart valuable functionalities.


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