Treatment of textile matrices using Fenton processes: influence of operational parameters on degradation kinetics, ecotoxicity evaluation and application in real wastewater.

Since conventional processes for treating textile effluents have limitations, this work aimed to investigate the application of advanced oxidation technology in this type of matrix. Initially, for a textile dyes mixture in solution, the photo-Fenton/sunlight process proved to be the most efficient among other systems tested. During the tests it was found that the degradation kinetics depends of the pH and catalyst and oxidant concentrations. After 60 min under optimized conditions, the color was reduced by 98.19%, with 92.52% organic matter conversion. Ecotoxicity tests with the Lactuca Sativa vegetable indicated that the dyes were not totally oxidized to inert compounds, although the treated solution did not cause a significant toxic effect for this species. In the second stage of the research, the photodegradation in real samples of textile wastewater was evaluated. The efficiency of the photo-Fenton/sunlight process was lower than that obtained for the dyes solution, a fact attributed to the greater complexity of the real matrix. However, the data also indicated that the combination of coagulation/flocculation and advanced oxidation processes is the most suitable methodology to reduce the fraction of biodegradable compounds. In summary, research has revealed that photocatalytic degradation of dyes through advanced oxidation is an efficient treatment.

Poor Status of Vitamin D: A Survey of Area With Lowest Sunlight Radiation in Sichuan, China.

Objective: Vitamin D plays an important role in bone and mineral metabolism. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is the primary determinant for vitamin D synthesis. However, population-based data of vitamin D status was sparse in areas with sunlight deprivation in China. This study aimed to assess serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels among adult women in Sichuan basin with the lowest sunlight radiation in China, and the associations with sunlight exposure and age. Methods: In the context of the same ethnicity, similar latitude and lifestyle in sunlight-limited basin and sunlight-abundant plateau, 1,057 women in basin and 337 in plateau aged 29-95 years were included in this study, from November 2012 to February 2013. Daily sunlight exposure duration of previous month was obtained using questionnaires. Serum 25(OH)D was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D severe deficiency [25(OH)D <30 nmol/L] and deficiency [30 ≤ 25(OH)D <50 nmol/L] was significantly higher in basin than plateau (21.85% vs. 10.09%, and 59.32% vs. 40.36%; P<0.0001). Women from basin exhibited lower serum 25(OH)D levels than those from plateau (40.66 ± 15.62 vs. 52.54 ± 19.94 nmol/L, P<0.0001). In basin, women more than 50 years old had higher 25(OH)D than younger counterparts, and 25(OH)D level of these groups was not associated with sunlight exposure duration. While in plateau, women younger than 60 years old had higher 25(OH)D than the older women. Furthermore, for those younger groups, women with long sunlight exposure (≥3 h daily) had higher 25(OH)D concentration than those with short sunlight exposure (<3 h daily). Serum PTH was negatively associated with 25(OH)D in basin, but not in plateau. Conclusions: Alarmingly high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in women in sunlight-deprived basin in Sichuan. Only the vitamin D status of younger women from plateau with adequate solar radiation could benefit from sunlight exposure. Vitamin D supplementation and vitamin D-fortified food should be encouraged to improve vitamin D status for women living in sunlight-limited areas, or with old age.

Experimental data on antibiotic cephalexin removal using hydrogen peroxide and simulated sunlight radiation at lab scale: Effects of pH and H2O2.

Cephalexin (CPX) is a ß-lactam antibiotic widely used to treat bacterial infections in the respiratory tract, skin, bones, and ear; a situation that has contributed to its discharge into wastewater (mainly through excretion after ingestion) and its accumulation in water bodies. CPX presence on environmental compartments could interfere in the physiological functions of animals and humans due to the induction of mutagenic and carcinogenic effects. Different technologies have been evaluated to remove CPX from aqueous matrices. In this way, this work presents the main data regarding the use of the combination of hydrogen peroxide and simulated sunlight radiation in CPX removal. Effects of H2O2 initial concentration and solution pH were evaluated using a face-centered, central composite design and the response surface methodology. Optimized conditions, under the evaluated experimental range, were established. In addition, data about the total organic carbon and anions content in treated samples were collected. These data can be useful for the evaluation of the use of H2O2 and light radiation on organic pollutants removal, the comparison of the effectiveness of different technologies on CPX elimination, and as a starting point to carry out this type of process at pilot or real scale.

Sunlight driven photolytic ozonation as an advanced oxidation process in the oxidation of bezafibrate, cotinine and iopamidol.

This study investigates the efficacy of the system O3/sunlight radiation compared to dark ozonation when treating pharmaceuticals compounds of different reactivity, namely bezafibrate, cotinine, and iopamidol. Results show the beneficial effects of simulated sunlight radiation (300-800 nm) when treating ozone recalcitrant compounds such as cotinine and iopamidol. The system O3/sunlight radiation increased mineralization extent in all cases if compared to dark ozonation. Transformation products identified in individual runs suggest that amine oxidation and further alkyl chain attack is the main route of bezafibrate ozonation. Hydroxylation seems to be the preferential path in cotinine abatement while H abstraction from alcoholic moieties is suggested in the case of iopamidol. Toxicity of intermediates was approximately evaluated by QSAR methodologies and experimentally through Daphnia Magna survival after 24 h. As a rule of thumb, initial intermediates generated are even more toxic than parent compounds, however, after 120 min of treatment, toxicity significantly decreased. Amongst the most toxic compounds generated: 4-Chlorobenzoyltyramine, and 4-Chloro-N-[2-(3,4-dihydroxy-phenyl)-ethyl]-benzamide (from bezafibrate), and N-(2-Hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-ethyl)-N'-(1-hydroxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-5-(2-hydroxy-propionylamino)-2,4,6-triiodo-isophthalamide, N,N'-Bis-(1-hydroxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-5-(2-hydroxy-propionylamino)-2,4,6-triiodo-isophthalamide, and N-(1-Hydroxymethyl-2-oxo-ethyl)-5-(2-hydroxy-propionylamino)-2,4,6-triiodo-isophthalamide (from iopamidol) were identified.

Occurrence of squamous cell carcinoma in Milchschaf sheep in Uruguay / Ocorrência do carcinoma de células escamosas em ovinos Milchschaf em Uruguai

ABSTRACT: In this study, the epidemiological and pathological features of an outbreak of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in adult female sheep and a young ram, Friesian Milchschaf breed or crossbreed is described. Seven adult females belonging to an original flock nucleus of 20 animals were affected, as well as a young ram belonging to the same nucleus was affected in other establishment. Multiple verrucous neoplastic masses of several months of evolution were evident in the head region, with local invasion and regional lymph node metastases. Histological studies revealed a cancerous stage of invasion of the dermis and neoplastic proliferation characteristic of invasive SCC, and a pre-cancerous stage with solar elastosis and chronic solar keratosis lesions induced by sunlight. Decrease in latitude, increased level of solar radiation with long exposure to sunlight, and the phenotypic characteristics of the breed are the main factors responsible for the high prevalence of SCC, showing the susceptibility of the Friesian Milchschaf breed and crossbreed in temperate zones as Uruguay.

RESUMO: Neste estudo descrevem-se as características epidemiológicas e patológicas de um surto de carcinoma de células escamosas (SCC) em ovelhas adultas e ram jovem, raça Friesian Milchschaf ou cruza. Foram afetadas sete fêmeas adultas pertencentes a um núcleo de rebanho original de 20 animais, bem como um ram jovem pertencente ao mesmo núcleo em que foi afetado em outro estabelecimento. Múltiplas neoplásicas verrucosas de vários meses de evolução foram evidentes na região principal, com invasão local e metástases de linfonodos regionais. Estudos histológicos revelaram um estágio cancerígeno de invasão da derme e proliferação neoplásica característica do SCC invasivo e um estágio pré-cancerígeno com elastose solar e lesões de ceratose solar crônica induzidas pela luz solar. A diminuição da latitude, o aumento do nível de radiação solar com longa exposição à luz solar e as características fenotípicas da raça são os principais fatores responsáveis pela alta prevalência de SCC, mostrando a susceptibilidade da raça Friesian Milchschaf e cruzada em zonas temperadas como o Uruguai.