The Relationship Between Human Adenovirus and Metals and Semimetals in the Waters of the Rio Doce, Brazil.

The 2015 rupture of the Fundão dam near the district of Bento Rodrigues in Mariana, Minas Gerais, Brazil, released around 50 million m3 of iron ore tailings. The first tributary of the Rio Doceto receive this waste was the Gualaxo do Norte River. Many groups in Brazil and from around the world have studied the environmental and social impacts of this disaster. However, relationships between the introduction of mining waste, the geological complexity of the area, and the presence of pathogenic organisms have not yet been investigated. The present study aimed to measure the concentrations of enteric pathogens along the Gualaxo do Norte River after the environmental disaster and to correlate their abundance with the presence of metals and semimetals coming from both mining tailings and geological sources. For this purpose, we collected water samples from 27 stations along the entire basin during a hydrological year. The concentrations of metals and semimetals measured in this study were generally within limits established by national and international legislation, except for those of iron and manganese. Positive correlations between the human adenovirus (HAdV) and arsenic, barium, iron, lead, manganese, and nickel were confirmed, allowing us to observe that there is an abundance of the potentially infectious virus present in the studied sites containing metal/semimetal concentrations. These studies indicate the importance of investigations that consider viral enteric pathogens complexed with metals and may favor the stability and prolongation of the infectivity of such pathogens in water destined for human and animal usage.

Effect of solar radiation on the lipid characterization of biomass cultivated in high-rate algal ponds using domestic sewage.

The objective of this paper is to compare the lipid content and composition ofbiomass produced by a consortium of microalgae and bacteria, cultivated under different solar radiation intensities and tropical conditions in pilot-scale high-rate ponds (HRPs) using domestic sewage as culture medium. The treatment system consisted of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor followed by UV disinfection and six HRPs covered with shading screens that blocked 9%, 18%, 30%, 60% and 80% of the solar radiation. The total lipid content does not vary significantly among the units, showing a medium value of 9.5%. The results show that blocking over 30% of the solar radiation has a negative effect on the lipid productivity. The units with no shading and with 30% and 60% of solar radiation blocking have statistically significant lipid productivities, varying from 0.92 to 0.96 gm(-2) day(-1). Besides radiation, other variables such as volatile suspended solids and chlorophyll-a are able to explain the lipid accumulation. The lipid profile has a predominance of C16, C18:1 and C18:3 acids. The unsaturation of fatty acids increases with the reduction in solar radiation. On the other hand, the effect of polyunsaturation is not observed, which is probably due to the presence of a complex and diverse biomass.

A model based on a multivariate classification for assessing impacts on water quality in a DOCE river watershed after the Fundão tailings dam failure.

The main purpose of this study was to build multivariate classification models using water quality monitoring data for the hydrographic basin of the Gualaxo do Norte River, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, which was impacted in 2015 by the rupture of a containment structure for iron ore tailings. A total of 27 points were evaluated, covering areas affected and unaffected by the disaster, with monitoring of chemical, physical, and microbiological variables during the period from July 2016 to June 2017. Multivariate classification techniques were applied to the data, with the aim of developing models to determine when the impacted locations would present characteristics equivalent to those existing prior to the rupture. Classification models constructed using PLS-DA and LDA were able to predict three classes: unaffected main river, affected main river, and tributaries. The first technique was able to clearly differentiate the three classes for the data evaluated, achieving averages corresponding to 90% accuracy. The second method was consistent with the first, identifying the chloride content, conductivity, turbidity, and alkalinity as discriminatory variables, among those monitored, with the relationships among the parameters being coherent with the environmental conditions of the region. The model, with a correct classification rate of 91.67%, enabled identification of the behavior of new samples, using only these easily measured variables. In summary, application of the multivariate statistical tools allowed the development of models capable of providing information about the recovery process of an ecosystem impacted by the greatest environmental disaster to have occurred in Brazil.

Rural blackwater treatment by a full-scale Brazilian Biodigester Septic Tank: microbial indicators and pathogen removal efficiency.

The Brazilian Biodigester Septic Tank (BBST) is an on-site appropriate technology for blackwater treatment, which was developed to yield an effluent suitable for agricultural use. Although several studies have proven its efficacy for secondary blackwater treatment, there are few published studies about the microbiological quality of its effluent, and most of them focus on the quantification of total or thermotolerant coliforms. This study evaluates the performance of a BBST for the removal of human adenovirus (HAdV), Enterococcus spp., Salmonella sp., and Escherichia coli. The results further clarify the safety and risks associated with the reuse of the obtained effluent. The full-scale system consists of three 1.2 m3 interconnected reactors, with a blackwater input of 0.045 m3/day, and hydraulic retention time of 80 days. Six sample campaigns were performed at different stages of the monthly operating cycle. The system presented an average removal efficiency of 5.09 log10 for E. coli, 3.22 log10 for Enterococcus spp., 1.2 log10 for Salmonella sp., and 3.0 log10 for HAdV. According to the World Health Organization standards, the obtained effluent is suitable for subsurface irrigation, and for use in crops that develop distant from the soil or highly mechanized crop systems.

Indicador de salubridade ambiental: variações da formulação e usos do indicador no Brasil / Indicator of environmental health: formula modifications and indicator applications in Brazil

RESUMO O Indicador de Salubridade Ambiental (ISA) foi criado, em 1999, pelo Conselho Estadual de Saneamento (Conesan) do Estado de São Paulo. Embora tenha sido formado com o objetivo de medir o nível de salubridade ambiental dos municípios paulistas, o ISA tem sido utilizado em diversas Regiões do Brasil. Além disso, ao longo desses 17 anos, o ISA vem sendo alterado em sua formulação original, de acordo com as características do local a ser avaliado, como é sugerido pelo manual que o originou. Diante disso, o objetivo deste artigo foi avaliar o estado da arte da utilização do ISA no Brasil, identificando avanços, lacunas e desafios de seu uso. Para isso, realizou-se amplo levantamento bibliográfico a fim de encontrar estudos disponíveis em meios eletrônicos que utilizaram o ISA. Foram identificados e analisados 60 casos. As Regiões Nordeste e Sul do país são as que possuem a maior quantidade de estudos e a maioria deles (41,6%) é resultado de dissertações de mestrado. Cada estudo utiliza, em média, seis indicadores de primeira ordem e a revisão bibliográfica é método preponderante para escolhê-los e ponderá-los. Por fim, foi mostrado que as diferenças entre os ISA na verdade são um empecilho para a utilização desse indicador. Uma vez que cada estudo possui suas peculiaridades em termos de indicadores, pesos e critérios de cálculo, só é possível fazer comparações dos resultados obtidos entre um mesmo estudo ao longo do tempo, mas essas diferenças impossibilitam a comparação entre os valores obtidos em diferentes estudos.

ABSTRACT The Environmental Health Indicator (Indicador de Salubridade Ambiental - ISA) was established in 1999 by the São Paulo's State Council of Sanitation (Conesan). Although this indicator was created to measure the level of environmental health of the municipalities in São Paulo state, Brazil, ISA has been applied in several other regions of Brazil. Moreover, throughout these 17 years, the original ISA formulation has been altered according with local characteristics, as suggested by the manual that originated it. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate ISA application state of the art in Brazil, by the identification of the progress, gaps, and challenges of its use. An extensive literature investigation was performed in order to find studies available in electronic media that used ISA. We identified and analyzed 60 cases. The Northeast and South regions are those with the greatest number of studies, and the majority of them (41.6%) are result of master's dissertations. Each study uses an average of six first order indicators, and the literature review is the predominant method for choosing and evaluating them. Finally, we showed that the differences between the ISAs are actually a drawback for this indicator use. Since each study has peculiarities in terms of indicators, weights, and criteria calculation, it is only possible to compare the results from the same study over time, but these differences preclude the comparison between the values obtained in different studies.

Avaliação geoquímica de metais em sistemas fluviais afetados por atividades antrópicas no Quadrilátero Ferrífero / Geochemical assessment of metals in fluvial systems affected by anthropogenic activities in the Iron Quadrangle

RESUMO O presente estudo foi realizado na bacia hidrográfica do Rio do Peixe, Quadrilátero Ferrífero (QF), em Minas Gerais. Essa bacia apresenta um cenário geológico distinto e atividades antrópicas diversificadas, como a mineração de ferro, ouro e gemas, a agropecuária e a silvicultura. O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar as possíveis fontes de contribuições antropogênicas dos metais em sedimentos de fundo. Para isso, foram realizadas duas campanhas com amostragens de sedimentos de fundo em 12 pontos da bacia, nos meses de março e julho de 2015. A partir da técnica analítica de espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma, foram detectadas concentrações de Al, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti e Zn nos sedimentos de fundo. Os resultados dos indicadores da qualidade dos sedimentos fator de contaminação (FC), fator de enriquecimento (FE) e índice de geoacumulação (IGEO) demonstraram que há interferências antrópicas, sendo as atividades minerárias e industriais, o despejo de efluentes domésticos e o uso e a ocupação do solo inapropriado apontados como as principais fontes de contaminação de metais da bacia.

ABSTRACT The present study was carried out in the river basin area of Rio do Peixe, Iron Quadrangle, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This basin presents geological scenario and diversified anthropic activities, such as iron, gold and gems mining, agriculture, and forestry. The main objective of this research was to investigate the possible sources of anthropogenic contributions of metals in bottom sediments. Thus, two surveys were carried out on bottom sediments at twelve basin sites from March to July of 2015. Based on the plasma optical emission spectrometry analytical technique, we found concentrations of Al, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti and Zn in the bottom sediments. The results of the FC, FE and IGEO sediment quality indicators showed that there are anthropic interferences, in which mining and industrial activities, disposal of domestic effluents and use and occupation of inappropriate soil are identified as the main sources of metals contamination of the basin.

Identificação molecular de Escherichia coli diarreiogênica na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Xopotó na região do Alto Rio Doce / Molecular identification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in the watershed of Xopotó River, in Alto do Rio Doce, Brazil

RESUMO Esta pesquisa científica teve como principal objetivo identificar patótipos de Escherichia coli diarreiogênica nas águas superficiais da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Xopotó, na região do Alto Rio Doce, Minas Gerais. Os estudos referentes às estirpes diarreiogênicas de E. coli no meio ambiente no Brasil são escassos. A bacia hidrográfica escolhida para o estudo sofre intensa degradação ambiental devido ao lançamento de esgoto in natura em seus corpos d'água e às atividades antrópicas, como a agropecuária. As coletas de água nos 13 pontos amostrais foram realizadas em duas épocas do ano de 2015 (abril e julho). Para identificação dos genes de E. coli diarreiogênica, utilizou-se o método de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). A bacia hidrográfica apresentou contaminação diarreiogênica de patótipos E. coli produtora de toxina Shiga (STEC), E. coli enteropatogênica (EPEC) e E. coli enterotoxigênica (ETEC), tal ocorrência foi constante em ambas as campanhas. Os genes de virulência observados foram: na STEC, toxina Shiga (Stx1), responsável por causar doenças renais graves, como a síndrome hemolítico-urêmica (SHU); já a EPEC apresentou somente o gene virulento eae, característico do subgrupo atípico (aEPEC); a ETEC apresentou toxinas termolábeis (LT). A presença desses patótipos representa potencial risco de doenças diarreiogênicas na população que utiliza os recursos hídricos, particularmente idosos e crianças, e evidencia o comprometimento da qualidade microbiológica dos cursos d'água constituintes da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Xopotó, decorrente principalmente da ausência de estações de tratamento de esgoto (ETEs).

ABSTRACT The main purpose of this scientific research was to identify pathotypes of diarrheogenic Escherichia coli in the watershed of Xopotó River, in Alto do Rio Doce, Minas Gerais region, Brazil. The studies referring to the stirps diarrheagenics of E. coli in the environment in Brazil are scarce. The watershed chosen for the study suffers intense environmental degradation due the release of raw sewage into their water bodies and human activities, such as agriculture. The water collecting at 13 sampling points were held in two periods of the year 2015 (April and July). For the identification of the genes of diarrheagenic E. coli, the method of reaction polymerase chain (PCR) was used. The watershed presented pathogenic contamination of pathotypes Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) such a constant occurrence in both campaigns. The virulence genes observed were: STEC, Shiga toxin (Stx1), responsible for causing severe kidney disease as hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Besides that, EPEC presented only the virulent gene eae, characteristic of the atypical subgroup (aEPEC), as well as thermolabile toxins (LT). The presence of these pathotypes represents potential risk of diarrheagenic diseases in the population that uses the water resources, particularly the elderly and children, and demonstrates the commitment of the microbiological quality of constituents watercourses of the watershed of Xopotó River, mainly because the lack of sewage treatment facilities.

Estudo de indicadores de saúde ambiental e de saneamento em cidade do Norte do Brasil / Study of indicators of environmental health and sanitation in Northern city of Brazil

A qualidade de vida de uma população está diretamente relacionada com a infraestrutura urbana em que a mesma está inserida. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a saúde pública da área urbana do município de Tucuruí no Pará, sob o ponto de vista das condições do saneamento ambiental e a composição de um sistema com menor quantidade de variáveis para discriminar áreas com distintos níveis sanitário-ambientais, e relacionar esses indicadores com a ocorrência de agravos à saúde nessas áreas. O município de Tucuruí foi selecionado para a área de estudo devido à deficiência de sua infraestrutura sanitária, alta taxa de crescimento da população, e a forte incidência de doenças tropicais relacionadas diretamente com as condições sanitárias.

The quality of life from a population is directly related to urban infrastructure on which it is embedded. Accordingly, the objective of the study was to evaluate the public health in the municipality of Tucuruí in Pará, under conditions of environmental sanitation to the composition of a system with a smaller number of variables to discriminate areas with different levels of sanitary and environmental health, and relate these indicators with the occurrence of diseases related to health in these areas. The municipality of Tucuruí was selected for the study area due to the deficiency of their health infrastructure, high rate of population growth, and high incidence of tropical diseases directly related to the health conditions.

Identificação de áreas alternativas para disposição de resíduos sólidos na região do Baixo Ribeira do Iguape - SP / Identification of alternative areas for solid waste disposal in Baixo Ribeira do Iguape - SP

Este trabalho teve por objetivo a proposição de cenários para o equacionamento da disposição de resíduos sólidos gerados por áreas urbanas da região do Baixo Ribeira de Iguape, localizado no estado de São Paulo. Utilizou-se a análise multicritério, que requer a identificação de critérios que podem ser restrições e fatores. Como critérios de agregação optou-se pela Combinação Linear Ponderada e pela Média Ponderada Ordenada. Para cada um dos municípios calculou-se a área necessária para a disposição final de seus resíduos sólidos. Os resultados mostraram que a melhor área para o município de Cajati está localizada a aproximadamente 3,0km da sede do mesmo, para Jacupiranga a 2,7km e para Pariqüera-Açu a 2,4km. A metodologia mostrou-se adequada ao propósito em questão, levando-se em consideração 18 fatores e restrições influentes no processo de decisão.

This paper addresses the proposition of scenarios for the equation of the disposal of solid residues generated by urban areas of the region of the Baixo Ribeira de Iguape, located in the São Paulo State, Brazil. Multicriterion analysis requiring identification of criteria that can play restrictions and factors roles were used. Aggregation Criteria was represented by the Weighed Linear Combination and the Ordered Weighed Mean. For each one of the selected cities it was calculated the required area for the final disposal of its solid residues. The results had shown that the best area for the city of Cajati is located approximately 3,0 km of its headquarters, for Jacupiranga 2,7 km and for Pariqüera-Açu 2,4 km. The applied methodology revealed adequate to the objective of this research, taking into account 18 influential factors and restrictions in the decision process.