Cellulose Acetate Textile Fiber Filtration System Applied for Pre-Treatment of Surface Water

This study aimed to evaluate a nonwoven (NW) production and performance from cellulose acetate fiber from cigarette butts andapplied to a filtration system for surface water pre-treatment. The system had a surface area of 692 cm³, cellulose acetate from cigarette butt as filter media, was used and was fed with surface water from a pond. In order to evaluate the treatment performance of the filtration system were evaluated in the raw water (RW) and the filtered water (FW) the classical parameter of water quality as turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), apparent color, true color, and total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metals (iron, copper, and cadmium). Moreover, the presence of nicotine was investigated in the FW. The results showed a mean removal efficiency in order to 62.01%, 54.42%, 50.36 %, 6.73%, and 5.20% for turbidity, TSS, apparent color, true color, and TOC, respectively. The removal of metals varied in the order of 72.26%, 9.61%, and 2.12% for cadmium, iron, and copper, respectively. The presence of nicotine in RW and FW was not identified. In this way, besides reducing the negative environmental impacts caused by cigarette butts present in the environment, the developed technology showed potential for removing pollutants present in surface waters.

Geomitologia da Pedra da Onça: Conservação do Patrimônio Natural e Cultural por meio da História do Gato-maracajá, o Verdadeiro Felino da Ilha do Governador, Rio de Janeiro, RJ

A Geomitologia da Pedra da Onça apresenta uma ampla influência cultural sobre os moradores da Ilha do Governador (Rio de Janeiro, RJ). As variantes dessa história têm como parte em comum a transformação de um felídeo em rocha (petrificação), possibilitando a divulgação dos elementos locais da geodiversidade e biodiversidade por meio de uma abordagem lúdica, visando à conservação do Patrimônio Natural e Cultural. Para alcançar tal objetivo, o presente estudo elaborou uma recriação do mito por meio da substituição da onça e do gato-maracajá (os dois animais citados nas variantes) pelo Smilodon populator, animal extinto cuja ocorrência pretérita é bem documentada no Brasil. Além disso, o presente estudo demonstra o potencial de tal metodologia para o ensino da história evolutiva de grupos biológicos, uma vez que se faz presente aqui também um breve resumo sobre a evolução no grupo interno dos Felidae, além de abordar os hábitos de vida do gato-maracajá (Leopardus wiedii) e de Smilodon. Como a história evolutiva de Felidae está intrinsecamente relacionada a ambos os táxons referidos, o método aqui empregado revela um notável potencial para a divulgação e ensino de Geociências e Biologia.

Anthropic Influences on the Quality of Underground Waters for Human Consumption in Russas, Ceará, Northeastern Brazil

In regions with semi-arid characteristics, groundwater is a precious source of water supply, mainly from alluvium, due to the decent quality of its waters. However, the sandy texture favors vulnerability, and the infiltration and percolation of fluids increase the risk of contamination of the aquifer in the presence of polluting sources. The population’s knowledge about these problems is still ephemeral, which can lead to the consumption of contaminated water, putting health at risk. Thus, research was conducted in the municipality of Russas – Ceará, to study the quality of groundwater, the possible polluting sources in the urban area, and assess the possible risks to human health. First, technical visits for reconnaissance and survey of information were conducted, such as possible polluting sources and situations of existing wells. The selection of wells to collect water followed criteria of proximity to polluting sources, well conditions, and, mainly, those linked to the use of water for human consumption. The result showed that 43% of the samples are above the limits proved by Brazilian legislation for turbidity, total hardness, TDS, sodium, chloride, and nitrate, while the others are withinthe standard. Concerning chlorides and nitrates, the concentrations show there is possibly a relationship with anthropic contaminants(agricultural area; domestic effluents) for the aquifer recharge areas and condition common problems to human health. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to continue research in Medical Geology that will enable the monitoring and future management of water quality of groundwater for the population.

Fossil Chondrichthyes from the Neogene of Portugal: Diversity and Occurrence

Portugal has a rich fossil record both on the continent and in the Azores islands (Santa Maria). For decades, researchers have found thousands of fossils and identified hundreds of species from major taxonomic groups. The present work focuses on analyzing the scientific literature on fossils of Chondrichthyes collected in fossiliferous deposits of the Neogene. Fossils of sharks and rays, teeth, dermal denticles, and caudal spines were discovered in deposits from Aquitanian to Piacenzian (Neogene). About 105 deposits were identified and studied on the mainland and on the Island of Santa Maria, most of which have disappeared or are currently inaccessible. In total, 36 publications list 91 species of Chondrichthyes, 11 of which were described for the first time in Portugal, and 61 genera. Twelve orders are represented in the material published so far.

Assessment of the Potentiality to the Debris-Flow Occurrence from Physiographic and Morphometrics Parameters: a Case Study in Santo Antônio Basin (Caraguatatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil)

This work aims to evaluate the potential for the debris-flow triggering from Santo Antônio hydrographic basin, located in the Serra do Mar region on North Coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, based on physiographic attributes, rainfall data, and morphometric parameters. For this purpose, hydrographic basin techniques were applied, assessing the vulnerability to the debris flow from geomorphological, geological, climatic, and anthropic aspects, and morphometric parameters relevant to the triggering of these processes in watersheds were calculated. Seven physiographic units were identified, which supported the understanding of geological and geomorphological aspects of the basin: coastal plains; river plains; colluvium and talus ramps; escarpments of Serra do Mar; upland of Paraitinga; mountainous relief and hillocks domain. The sub-basins located in steep sections of the relief, with high slopes, valleys, and channels docked, high drainage densities present higher values in the morphometric parameters, indicating a greater potential for triggering and occurrence of debris-flow processes. The joint analysis of physiographic compartmentalization with the identification of relief features, slope, amplitude, valley, slope shapes and morphometric parameters, is extremely relevant to recognize hydrographic basins susceptible to debris flows, as it integrates, and correlates aspects of the physical environment considered to trigger in the occurrence of these processes.