Water Conservation Overrides Osmotic Diuresis During SGLT2 Inhibition in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors are believed to improve cardiac outcomes due to their osmotic diuretic potential. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that vasopressin-driven urine concentration overrides the osmotic diuretic effect of glucosuria induced by dapagliflozin treatment. METHODS: DAPA-Shuttle1 (Hepato-renal Regulation of Water Conservation in Heart Failure Patients With SGLT-2 Inhibitor Treatment) was a single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, in which patients with chronic heart failure NYHA functional classes I/II and reduced ejection fraction were randomly assigned to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg daily or placebo (1:1) for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in urine osmolyte concentration. Secondary endpoints included changes in copeptin levels and solute free water clearance. RESULTS: Thirty-three randomized, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor-naïve participants completed the study, 29 of whom (placebo: n = 14; dapagliflozin: n = 15) provided accurate 24-hour urine collections (mean age 59 ± 14 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 31% ± 9%). Dapagliflozin treatment led to an isolated increase in urine glucose excretion by 3.3 mmol/kg/d (95% CI: 2.51-4.04; P < 0.0001) within 48 hours (early) which persisted after 4 weeks (late; 2.7 mmol/kg/d [95% CI: 1.98-3.51]; P < 0.0001). Dapagliflozin treatment increased serum copeptin early (5.5 pmol/L [95% CI: 0.45-10.5]; P < 0.05) and late (7.8 pmol/L [95% CI: 2.77-12.81]; P < 0.01), leading to proportional reductions in free water clearance (early: -9.1 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -14 to -4.12; P < 0.001]; late: -11.0 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -15.94 to -6.07; P < 0.0001]) and elevated urine concentrations (late: 134 mmol/L [95% CI: 39.28-229.12]; P < 0.01). Therefore, urine volume did not significantly increase with dapagliflozin (mean difference early: 2.8 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -1.97 to 7.48; P = 0.25]; mean difference late: 0.9 mL/kg/d [95% CI: -3.83 to 5.62]; P = 0.70). CONCLUSIONS: Physiological-adaptive water conservation eliminated the expected osmotic diuretic potential of dapagliflozin and thereby prevented a glucose-driven increase in urine volume of approximately 10 mL/kg/d · 75 kg = 750 mL/kg/d. (Hepato-renal Regulation of Water Conservation in Heart Failure Patients With SGLT-2 Inhibitor Treatment [DAPA-Shuttle1]; NCT04080518).

Regionalization and optimization strategy of ecological management in Xinjiang, China based on supply-demand relationship and spatial flow of ecosystem services.

As an important basis for the optimization of territorial space, ecological management zoning is of great significance for maintaining regional ecological security and promoting the construction of ecological civilization. With 10 ecosystem services, such as wind break and sand fixation, water conservation, and forest and grass supply, we built a supply index system for Xinjiang. Modelling and ecological economics methods were used to quantify ecosystem service supply. Ecosystem service demand of Xinjiang in 2020 was quantitatively assessed by combining land use intensity, population, and economic status. Based on the ecosystem service supply-demand ratio model and quadrant matching method, we explored the matching relationship and spatial differentiation of ecosystem ser-vice supply and demands on the 1 km grid scale. The breaking point formula and field intensity formula were used to evaluate the flow range and intensity of ecosystem services, and then ecological management zones were divided and corresponding control measures were proposed. The results showed obvious spatial differences in the supply and demand of ecosystem services in Xinjiang in 2020. The high-supply areas were mainly distributed in river valleys and along river systems, while the demand was concentrated in oasis-central cities. The overall supply of ecosystem services was less than the demand. The spatial distribution was dominated by low supply-low demand areas and high supply-high demand areas. There were seven output zones of ecosystem services in Xinjiang, namely Fuyun County, Fuhai County, Yizhou District, Shanshan County, Alashankou City, Keping County and Qira County. The rests were input zones. According to the comprehensive analysis, Xinjiang could be divided into five ecological management areas, i.e., mountain ecological barrier area, oasis ecological restoration area, desert ecological improvement area, desert-oasis ecological protection area, and patch ecological transport area.

An assessment of the urban water footprint and blue water scarcity: A case study for Van (Turkey) / Uma avaliação da pegada hídrica urbana e da escassez de água azul: um estudo de caso para Van, Turquia

Today, most of the world’s population faces water scarcity, while global warming, urbanization, industrialization and population increases continue to increase the severity of the pressure on water resources. Management ofwater resources plays a key role in the sustainability of agricultural production. The water footprint (WF) is different in comparison to other water statistics because it takes direct and indirect water consumption into account, and helps in the management of water resources. Within this context, the WF of Van province, which is Turkey’s most easterly located arid region, was calculated from 2004 to 2019. The study area covers lake Van, which is Turkey's largest lake, and the Van basin with an area of 23.334km² and a population of 1.136.757 (2019). In the calculations, crop (WFcrop), livestock (WFlivestock), and domestic and industrial water footprints (WFdomestic+industrial) were evaluated separately, and blue and green water footprints (WFblue and WFgreen) were analyzed in detail. According to the results, the average WF of Van province was found to be 8.73 billionm3 year-¹. Throughout the province, 87.6% of the WF is composed of WFcrop, 4.9% is WFlivestock and 7.5% is WFdomestic+industrial. Of the WFcrop, 62.5% depends on WFblue, i.e., freshwater. Most of the WFlivestock consisted of dairy cattle (49%) and sheep (38%). The average WFdomestic+industrial for 2004 to 2019 was 0.64billion m³ year-¹. The average per capita water footprint of Van province was found to be 889.9m³ year-¹ capita-¹. In addition, the province is classified as severe water scarcity (257%). This study is one of the first province-based calculations of WF in Turkey and is the first study to bring a different aspect to published literature by including residual soil moisture from the winter months. As a result of this study, the WFblue of the [...].

Hoje, a maior parte da população mundial enfrenta a escassez de água, enquanto o aquecimento global, a urbanização, a industrialização e o crescimento da população continuam a aumentar a gravidade da pressão sobre os recursos hídricos. A gestão dos recursos hídricos desempenha papel fundamental na sustentabilidade da produção agrícola. A pegada hídrica (WF) é diferente em comparação com outras estatísticas hídricas porque leva em consideração o consumo direto e indireto de água e auxilia na gestão dos recursos hídricos. Nesse contexto, o WF da província de Van, que é a região árida localizada mais a leste da Turquia, foi calculado de 2004 a 2019. A área de estudo cobre o lago Van, que é o maior lago da Turquia, e a bacia de Van, com uma área de 23,334 km² e uma população de 1.136.757 (2019). Nos cálculos, as pegadas hídricas de safra (WFcrop), pecuária (WFlivestock) e doméstica e industrial (WFdomestic+industrial) foram avaliadas separadamente, e as pegadas hídricas azul e verde (WFblue e WFgreen) foram analisadas em detalhes. De acordo com os resultados, o WF médio da província de Van foi encontrado em 8,73 bilhões de m³ ano-¹. Em toda a província, 87,6% do WF são compostos por WFcrop, 4,9% são WFlivestock e 7,5% são WFdomestic+industrial. Do WFcrop, 62,5% dependem do WFblue, ou seja, de água doce. A maior parte do gado WFlivestock era composto por gado leiteiro (49%) e ovelhas (38%). O WFdomestic+industrial médio de 2004 a 2019 foi de 0,64 bilhão de m³ ano-¹. A pegada hídrica per capita média da província de Van foi encontrada em 889,9 m³ ano-¹ capita-¹. Além disso, a região é classificada como grave escassez de água (257%). Este estudo é um dos primeiros cálculos de WF baseados em províncias na Turquia e é o primeiro estudo a trazer um aspecto diferente para a literatura publicada, incluindo a umidade residual do solo dos meses de inverno. Como resultado deste estudo, o WFblue do WFcrop está [...].

Evolution of water conservation in humans.

To sustain life, humans and other terrestrial animals must maintain a tight balance of water gain and water loss each day.1-3 However, the evolution of human water balance physiology is poorly understood due to the absence of comparative measures from other hominoids. While humans drink daily to maintain water balance, rainforest-living great apes typically obtain adequate water from their food and can go days or weeks without drinking4-6. Here, we compare isotope-depletion measures of water turnover (L/d) in zoo- and rainforest-sanctuary-housed apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans) with 5 diverse human populations, including a hunter-gatherer community in a semi-arid savannah. Across the entire sample, water turnover was strongly related to total energy expenditure (TEE, kcal/d), physical activity, climate (ambient temperature and humidity), and fat free mass. In analyses controlling for those factors, water turnover was 30% to 50% lower in humans than in other apes despite humans' greater sweating capacity. Water turnover in zoo and sanctuary apes was similar to estimated turnover in wild populations, as was the ratio of water intake to dietary energy intake (∼2.8 mL/kcal). However, zoo and sanctuary apes ingested a greater ratio of water to dry matter of food, which might contribute to digestive problems in captivity. Compared to apes, humans appear to target a lower ratio of water/energy intake (∼1.5 mL/kcal). Water stress due to changes in climate, diet, and behavior apparently led to previously unknown water conservation adaptations in hominin physiology.

Monitoring sediment yield for soil and water conservation planning in rural catchments.

Sediment yield in river catchments can cause siltation of reservoirs and channels, carries contaminants adhered to sediment particles, and represents water erosion at the catchment scale, leading to decreased agricultural productivity. Hydrological monitoring enables the understanding of overland flow and soil erosion dynamics. In this study, we analyzed whether the relationship between precipitation (P), water flow (Q), and suspended sediment concentration (SSC) during rainfall events shows the usefulness of hydrological and sedimentological monitoring in soil and water conservation projects to river catchments. We conducted a study in the Lajeado Ferreira catchment in southern Brazil. This catchment is characterized by high soil fragility and erosion rates because of relief and intense tobacco cultivation. The small size of the catchment (120 ha) allowed a better understanding of the processes that occurred between hillslope and watercourses. We analyzed 43 rainfall-runoff events (P-Q), and we selected characteristic variables of each event and related them to independent variables (climate, land use, and soil management) and their seasonality using regression techniques. We also conducted a hysteresis analysis to understand the behavior of SSC in relation to runoff. The results showed a high relation of sediment yield (SY) with maximum water flow of the event (Qmax), and linear regression models showed the best performance between characteristic variables. In addition, the seasonal variability of the land coverage presented greater influence on the SY than the precipitation itself.

Índice de Calidad Ecológica y gestión hídrica en tres ecosistemas de Colombia / Ecological quality index for water management in three Colombian ecosystems

Introducción: La investigación y el diagnóstico de fuentes hídricas es de interés académico y gubernamental, la exploración de instrumentos numéricos aplicados al ordenamiento de cuencas brinda la posibilidad de identificar dónde y qué variables son útiles en programas de monitoreo y rehabilitación en ecosistemas acuáticos, lo cual incluye la calidad del agua, convencionalmente analizada por índices fisicoquímicos e hidrobiológicos. En el 2014 a través de la guía de ordenamiento hídrico en Colombia, se desarrolló una evaluación del índice de calidad ecológica (ICE); la cual genera un sistema numérico de correlaciones que diagnostica, clasifica y detecta afectaciones ambientales. Objetivo: Esta investigación pretende demostrar que el ICE permite evaluar la calidad de ecosistemas acuáticos afectados por diferentes situaciones ambientales. Métodos: Se analizaron tres escenarios ubicados en diferentes regiones de Colombia y como grupo hidrobiológico indicador se utilizaron las algas perifíticas y fitoplanctónicas. Los ecosistemas fueron monitoreados entre el 2007 y 2016 y corresponden a una planicie de inundación, un río andino de alta montaña y un grupo de quebradas en un bosque húmedo tropical. Resultados: Las correlaciones canónicas fueron significativas (P < 0.005) y se estimó el óptimo y la tolerancia de cada taxa; variables relacionadas con la concentración de iones, la amortiguación de la acidez, la temperatura y la hidráulica, incidieron en la distribución de las abundancias de los organismos y la clasificación ecológica mediante el índice. Conclusiones: La aplicación del índice permite identificar variables, organismos y ordenamientos numéricos que posibilitan clasificar el estado ecológico en un sistema, resultados útiles en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de los ecosistemas acuáticos estudiados y que pueden ser implementados con otros escenarios.

Introduction: Research and diagnosis of water sources is of academic and governmental interest, for this reason, the exploration of numerical tools applied to watershed management, offers the possibility to identify where and what variables are useful in monitoring and rehabilitation programs of aquatic ecosystems. Environmental planning and management, which includes water quality, is conventionally analyzed by physical, chemical and hydrobiological indexes. In 2014, through the water management guide, included the assessment of the ecological quality index (EQI); it was generated a comprehensive approach through a numerical system of correlations that diagnoses, classifies and detects environmental impacts. Objective: This research aims to demonstrate that the EQI allows to assess the quality of aquatic ecosystems affected by different environmental situations. Methods: In order to analyze the application of this tool, we studied three scenarios located in different biogeographical regions of Colombia and, as a hydrobiological group indicator, we used peripheral and phytoplankton algae. The ecosystems were monitored between 2007 and 2015 and correspond to a flood plain, a high mountain Andean river and a group of water stream in a tropical humid forest. Results: Canonical correlations were significant (P < 0.005)and a model of weighted averages, allowed to estimate the optimum and the tolerance of each taxa for the sites ecological classification; variables related to ion concentration, acidity damping, temperature and hydraulics, influenced the models that explained the abundances distribution of the studied biological groups. Conclusions: The application of the EQI makes it possible to identify variables, organisms and numerical systems to classify ecological status. These results are useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of aquatic ecosystems and that can be implemented in other scenarios.

Saúde dos rios, saúde dos povos e do planeta: um olhar sobre o documentário Saúde! Velho Chico, de Stella Oswaldo Cruz Penido e Eduardo Vilela Thielen / Health of the rivers, health of the peoples and of the Earth: an analysis of the documentary Saúde! Velho Chico, by Stella Oswaldo Cruz Penido e Eduardo Vilela Thielen / Salud de los ríos, salud de los pueblos y de lo planeta: una análisis del documental Saúde! Velho Chico, de Stella Oswaldo Cruz Penido y Eduardo Vilela Thielen

Análise do documentário Saúde! Velho Chico, de Stella Oswaldo Cruz Penido e Eduardo Vilela Thielen, tomando-o como registro, a um só tempo, dos padrões históricos de interação com o Rio São Francisco e de alternativas capazes de construir uma relação mais sinérgica e sustentável com as águas fluviais. O filme contrapõe as metanarrativas do desenvolvimento ­ legitimadoras de intervenções como hidrelétricas, barragens, projetos de irrigação para a agricultura industrial e o controverso projeto de sua transposição ­ a formas de relação estabelecidas pelas diversas populações ribeirinhas, das quais a vida, o corpo e as culturas são construídos em estreita simbiose com o rio.

This review analyzes the documentary Saúde! Velho Chico, scripted and directed by Stella Oswaldo Cruz Penido and Eduardo Vilela Thielen, taking it as a record of the historical patterns of interaction with the Rio São Francisco (São Francisco River) and at the same time of alternatives based on the building of more synergistic and sustainable relationships with river waters. In this sense, the film contrasts the metanarratives of development ­ which legitimize interventions such as hydroelectric dams, irrigation projects for industrial agriculture as well as the controversial transfer of the São Francisco River project ­ with relationships established by the riverside populations, who have a close symbiosis between their life, body and cultures and the river.

Análisis del documental Saúde! Velho Chico, con guión y dirección de Stella Oswaldo Cruz Penido y Eduardo Vilela Thielen, entendido como un registro, al mismo tiempo, de los patrones históricos de interacción con el Rio São Francisco (río San Francisco) y de alternativas capaces de construir una relación más sinérgica y sostenible con las aguas de los ríos. La película contrasta las metanarrativas del desarrollo ­ que legitiman intervenciones como represas hidroeléctricas, proyectos de riego para la agricultura industrial y el controvertido proyecto de transposición del río ­ con formas de relación establecidas por las diversas poblaciones ribereñas, que tienen la vida, el cuerpo y las culturas en estrecha simbiosis con el río.

Water managements limit heavy metal accumulation in rice: Dual effects of iron-plaque formation and microbial communities.

Understanding the mechanisms on how water management can minimize the concentrations of heavy metals in rice grains is important. Two water managements were concerned in our studies, including continuously flooding and alternate wetting and drying (AWD). Compared to AWD, a continuously flooded culture reduces the concentration of cadmium and other metals in the rice grains by reducing the root-to-shoot translocation and the availability of metals in rhizosphere. In a flooded environment, the rice rhizosphere was characterized by an increased soil pH, reduced fluorescein diacetate (FDA) activity, and lower metal bioavailability. In addition, flooding significantly decreased the iron plaque on the root surface and reduced the affinity for metals in rhizosphere. Water managements significantly changed soil microbial diversity, especially the proportion of anaerobic bacteria, including the iron-reducing bacteria Latescibacteria, Desulfuromonadales, and Geobacteraceae. Interestingly, these bacteria exhibited a significant correlation with cadmium that was adsorbed on the root. This study revealed that continuously flooded culture is a valuable strategy for minimizing heavy metal accumulation in rice grains. By increasing the abundance of unique bacterial community, iron plaque formation and the affinity of metals in rhizosphere were reduced, and the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals in rice plants was finally mitigated.

Hydrological calibration and validation of the MGB-IPH model for water resource management in the upper Teles Pires River basin in the Amazon-Cerrado ecotone in Brazil / Calibração e validação do modelo MGB-IPH para gestão de recursos hídricos na bacia do alto Rio Teles Pires, ecótono Amazônia-Cerrado, Brasil

The upper Teles Pires River basin is located in the Brazilian agriculture frontier in the north of Mato Grosso state and has experienced significant changes in land use and cover, which can cause major changes in its hydrological dynamics. Climatic and hydrologic data are scarce in the region, which poses uncertainties in the decision-making process aiming at the sustainable management of water resources in this strategic area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the Large-Scale Distributed Hydrological Model (MGB-IPH) to assess water availability of the upper Teles Pires basin and support water resource management in the Amazon-Cerrado ecotone. The MGB-IPH model was calibrated and validated using data from three streamflow stations available in the basin. In order to verify the model performance, the Nash-Sutcliffe (NS) and the PBIAS statistical parameters were applied. Our results show that, by using the MGB-IPH model with generally available data, the maximum and minimum flow regimes can be successfully assessed in the upper Teles Pires basin. The continuity curves of daily flow simulated by the model showed a good fit with the observed flow. Overall, the results demonstrated the applicability of the MGB-IPH model for water resource assessment and management in the basin. (AU)

A bacia do alto Rio Teles Pires está localizada na região de fronteira agrícola no norte de Mato Grosso, onde significativas mudanças no uso e cobertura do solo vem ocorrendo, o que, por sua vez, pode resultar em alterações importantes na dinâmica hidrológica da bacia. Dados climáticos e hidrológicos são escassos na bacia, o que gera dificuldades para a gestão sustentável dos recursos hídricos nesta região estratégica. No presente trabalho, avaliamos o desempenho do Modelo de Grandes Bacias (MGB-IPH) para a estimativa da disponibilidade hídrica da bacia do alto Teles Pires, visando o suporte à tomada de decisões para a gestão hídrica no ecótono Amazônia-Cerrado. O modelo MGB-IPH foi calibrado e validado utilizando séries históricas de três estações hidrométricas presentes na bacia. Para avaliação da qualidade do modelo, foram empregados os índices estatísticos de desempenho de Nash-Sutcliffe (NS) e a porcentagem BIAS (PBIAS). Com base nos resultados é possível afirmar que a utilização do modelo MGB-IPH possibilita a estimativa das vazões mínimas e máximas da bacia do alto Teles Pires de forma satisfatória. As curvas de continuidade das vazões diárias simuladas pelo modelo apresentaram um bom ajuste com os dados observados. Os resultados demonstram a aplicabilidade do modelo MGB-IPH como ferramenta de apoio à avaliação e gestão dos recursos hídricos na bacia.(AU)

Psicologia ambiental e recursos em sustentabilidade: revisão integrativa / Environmental psychology and sustainability resources: integrative review / Psicología ambiental y recursos de sostenibilidad: revisión integradora

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar, por meio de revisão integrativa de artigos empíricos, a produção científica relacionando a Psicologia Ambiental (variáveis de comportamento/cognição) e sustentabilidade, considerando diferentes recursos. Para efeitos deste estudo, foram analisados os artigos que abordam um recurso único. A busca foi realizada nos periódicos Environment and Behavior, Journal of Environmental Psychology e Psyecology, reconhecidos pela relevância internacional em produção científica no campo da Psicologia Ambiental. Foram selecionados 24 artigos, publicados entre os anos de 2012 e 2016, a partir dos critérios de inclusão pré-estabelecidos. Os anos com maior número de publicação foram 2014 (n = 8) e 2015 (n = 8). A maioria dos artigos se refere a estudos realizados na Europa, apenas um trata de pesquisa no Brasil. Os recursos abordados nos estudos abrangeram transporte, produtos, água, energia elétrica, sacola plástica e pastagem natural. Os resultados revisados demonstram que há uma diversidade de conceitos na mediação entre comportamentos/cognições e diferentes recursos, indicando a relevância destas abordagens para a promoção de sustentabilidade. Sugere-se caminhos para pesquisa e intervenção nas relações sustentáveis entre pessoas e recursos disponíveis em seus meios.(AU)

The objective of this study was to examine, through an integrative review of empirical articles, the scientific production on the relation between Environmental Psychology (behavior/cognition variables) and sustainability considering different resources. For that purpose, this analysis considered articles approaching a unique resource. Search was conducted in three journals with international relevance in the scientific production of Environmental Psychology: Environment and Behavior, Journal of Environmental Psychology and Psyecology. Following pre-established inclusion criteria, results included 24 articles published from 2012 and 2016. Years with higher number of publications were 2014 (n = 8) and 2015 (n = 8). The articles found refer mostly to studies conducted in Europe; only one article is a research from Brazil. Resources included transportation, products, water, energy, plastic bag, and natural grassland. Results indicate that there is a diversity of concepts mediating behaviors/cognitions and different resources, which reveals the relevance of these approaches to the promotion of sustainability. Research and intervention paths are suggested to sustainable relations between people and resources available in their surroundings.(AU)

El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar, por medio de una revisión integradora de artículos empíricos, la producción científica que relaciona la Psicología Ambiental (variables de comportamiento/cognición) y la sostenibilidad, considerando diferentes recursos. Para los propósitos de este estudio, se analizaron artículos que abordan un solo recurso. La búsqueda fue realizada en los periódicos Environment and Behavior, Journal of Environmental Psychology y Psyecology, reconocidos por la relevancia internacional en producción científica en el campo de la Psicología Ambiental. Se seleccionaron 24 artículos, publicados entre los años 2012 y 2016, basados en criterios de inclusión preestablecidos. Los años con el mayor número de publicaciones fueron 2014 (n = 8) y 2015 (n = 8). La mayoría de los artículos se refiere a estudios realizados en Europa, sólo uno trata de investigación en Brasil. Los recursos abordados en los estudios incluyeron transporte, productos, agua, energía eléctrica, bolsas de plástico y pastoreo natural. Los resultados revisados demuestran que hay una diversidad de conceptos en la mediación entre comportamientos/cogniciones y diferentes recursos, indicando la relevancia de estos enfoques para la promoción de la sostenibilidad. Se sugieren caminos para la investigación e intervención en las relaciones sostenibles entre personas y recursos disponibles en sus medios.(AU)

Can plastics affect near surface layer ocean processes and climate?

Plastics in the ocean are of great concern nowadays, and are often referred to as the apocalyptic twin of climate change in terms of public fear and the problems they pose to the aquatic and terrestrial environment. The number of studies focusing on the ecological effects and toxicity of plastics has substantially increased in the last few years. Considering the current trends in the anthropogenic activities, the amount of plastics entering the world oceans is increasing exponentially, but the oceans have a low assimilative capacity for plastics and the near-surface layer of it is a finite space. If loading of the oceans with plastics continues at the current rate, the thin sea surface microlayer can have a substantial amount of plastics comparable to the distribution of phytoplankton, at least in the major oceanic gyres and coastal waters in the future. Also, processes like biofouling can cluster microplastics in dense fields in the near-surface layer. Plastics can contribute to the warming or cooling of the water column by scattering and attenuating incoming solar radiation, leading to a potential change in the optical and other physico-chemical properties of the water column. We propose a new notion that changes in solar radiation in the water column due to the plastics have the potential to affect the physical processes in the ocean surface and near-surface layers, and can induce climate feedback cycles. The future can be very different, if plastics evolve as one of the key players affecting the ocean physical processes and hence this is the time to tackle this puzzle with appropriate strategies or let the genie out of the bottle.

Gestión ambiental del recurso hídrico en jagüeyes comunitarios de Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia / Environmental management of water resource in community jagüeyes from Sincelejo, Sucre, Colombia

La presente investigación determina si en algunas comunidades rurales de Sincelejo, Caribe colombiano se realiza una adecuada gestión ambiental del recurso hídrico en jagüeyes comunitarios. Se efectuó la caracterización de 10 unidades seleccionadas, enfatizando en áreas y volúmenes de almacenamiento. Se estableció la relación comunidades-jagüeyes respecto a demandas de agua, balances hídricos y problemas socio-productivos relevantes presentados por limitaciones de acceso al agua. Y se definió la calidad del agua almacenada. Las medidas de área de los jagüeyes oscilaron entre 0,09 ha y 0,27 ha, con capacidades entre 1.632,28 m3 y 5.269,98 m3. Se evidenciaron balances hídricos negativos resultando en la definición de déficits. Los inconvenientes socio-productivos identificados se relacionaron con la evidente negligencia de los usuarios para administración, operación, mantenimiento e inversión económica sobre los jagüeyes. Por otro lado, aunque la ingesta es un aprovechamiento de menor consideración entre los usuarios, la calidad del agua se precisó como sanitariamente inviable para consumo humano. Se concluye que no existe una adecuada gestión ambiental del recurso hídrico de los jagüeyes estudiados, siendo necesaria la ampliación del estudio de estos por su relevancia para las comunidades rurales.

The present research determines if in some rural communities of Sincelejo, Colombian Caribbean, an adequate environmental management of the water resource is carried out in community jagüeyes. The characterization of 10 selected units was carried out, emphasizing areas and storage volumes. The community-jagüeyes relationship was established regarding water demands, water balances and relevant socio-productive problems presented by limitations on access to water. And the quality of the stored water was defined. The area measurements of the jagüeyes ranged from 0.09 ha to 0.27 ha, with capacities between 1,632.28 m3 and 5,269.98 m3. Negative water balances were evidenced resulting in the definition of deficits. The socio-productive disadvantages identified were related to the obvious negligence of the users for administration, operation, maintenance and economic investment on the jagüeyes. On the other hand, although the intake is an use of less consideration among users, water quality was specified as sanitary unfeasible for human consumption. It is concluded that there is no adequate environmental management of the water resource of the jagüeyes studied, being necessary the extension of the study of these due to their relevance for rural communities.

Taiwan's legal framework for marine pollution control and responses to marine oil spills and its implementation on T.S. Taipei cargo shipwreck salvage.

Many shipwreck events occur in the neighboring areas of Taiwan due to the volume of maritime traffic and geographical conditions around Taiwan. The oil spills from such events can be devastating for the surrounding sea and coastal areas. The government realized the importance of marine pollution prevention and enforced the Marine Pollution Control Act and the Major Marine Oil Pollution Emergency Response Plan to mitigate the impact of oil spill pollution. The T.S. Taipei shipwreck highlighted the effectiveness of the national marine pollution prevention system. Inter-departmental cooperation and collaboration with private sectors are the keys for effective response. This article is the first detailed documentation of an oil spill response for a maritime incident from the beginning to the final termination of shipwreck removal. It shows the people in Taiwan intend to collaborate with other states to make a significant contribution to marine environment conservation and sustainability.

Oil and gas infrastructure decommissioning in marine protected areas: System complexity, analysis and challenges.

Many offshore oil and gas production facilities are nearing the end of their operational life, with decommissioning now becoming a global challenge. The compatibility of decommissioning operations to marine protected areas (MPAs) creates further challenges. The recently-developed DAPSI(W)R(M) problem structuring framework (covering Drivers, Activities, Pressures, State changes, Impacts (on Welfare) and Responses (as Measures)) was applied here to interrogate the complexity of decommissioning oil and gas infrastructure within MPAs, with outputs feeding into the development of a novel database tool for Screening Potential Impacts of Decommissioning Activities (SPIDA). In meeting the current requirements of the marine regulatory regime, SPIDA provides a more streamlined, evidence-based process which can be applied by industry, statutory nature conservation bodies and regulators for identifying and evaluating evidence that supports the implications of decommissioning alternatives on the condition of MPAs. SPIDA has been developed to be adapted for other activities and sectors, including offshore renewables.

Effluent Treatment Technologies in the Iron and Steel Industry - A State of the Art Review.

Iron and steel industry is the principal driving force propelling economic and technological growth of a nation. However, since its inception this industry is associated with widespread environmental pollution and enormous water consumption. Different units of a steel plant discharge effluents loaded with toxic, hazardous pollutants, and unutilized components which necessitates mitigation. In this paper, pollutant removal efficiency, effluent volume product quality, and economic feasibility of existing treatments are studied vis-à-vis their merits, demerits, and innovations to access their shortcomings which can be overcome with new technology to identify future research directions. While conventional methods are inadequate for complete remediation and water reclamation, the potential of advanced treatments, like membrane separation, remains relatively untapped. It is concluded that integrated systems combining membrane separation with chemical treatments can guarantee a high degree of contaminant removal, reusability of effluents concurrently leading to process intensification ensuring ecofriendliness and commercial viability.

Macondo oil in northern Gulf of Mexico waters - Part 2: Dispersant-accelerated PAH dissolution in the Deepwater Horizon plume.

During the Deepwater Horizon blowout, unprecedented volumes of dispersant were applied both on the surface and at depth. Application at depth was intended to disperse the oil into smaller microdroplets that would increase biodegradation and also reduce the volumes buoyantly rising to the surface, thereby reducing surface exposures, recovery efforts, and potential stranding. In forensically examining 5300 offshore water samples for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) effort, profiles of deep-plume oil droplets (from filtered water samples) were compared with those also containing dispersant indicators to reveal a previously hypothesized but undocumented, accelerated dissolution of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the plume samples. We interpret these data in a fate-and-transport context and conclude that dispersant applications were functionally effective at depth.

Effects of water-saving irrigation on the residues and risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in paddy field.

The effects of different water-saving modes on PAHs residue and risk, field environment conditions and enzyme activities in paddy field were investigated in a field experiment plot in Laoyaba, Nanjing, China. Results showed that (1) water-saving treatment affected greatly the ΣPAHs in water and soil. The order of ΣPAHs residue in surface water and groundwater in farmland is as follows: dry fieldsroot>stem>rice grain. (4) Water-saving irrigation evidently decreased soil ecological risk (up to 55%-73%) and rice carcinogenic risk (up to 30%-45%) caused by PAHs compared with flooding irrigation. Water-saving irrigation could also reduce the Total Toxic Equivalency Concentration of PAHs in rice grain up to 50% relative to flooding irrigation. (5) The significant negative correlations were observed between the residual PAHs and the activities of laccase and dioxygenase (p<0.019), and the physical and chemical indexes (temperature, redox potential and dissolved oxygen of field, p<0.041). The changes of field environment conditions and enzyme activities induced by moisture control may be the main key factors affecting PAHs residue in water, soil and rice.

The potential for dispersant use as a maritime oil spill response measure in German waters.

In case of an oil spill, dispersant application represents a response option, which enhances the natural dispersion of oil and thus reduces coating of seabirds and coastal areas. However, as oil is transferred to the water phase, a trade-off of potential harmful effects shifted to other compartments must be performed. This paper summarizes the results of a workshop on the current knowledge on risks and benefits of the use of dispersants with respect to specific conditions encountered at the German sea areas. The German North Sea coast is a sensitive ecosystem characterised by tidal flats, barrier islands and salt marshes. Many prerequisites for a potential integration of dispersants as spill response option are available in Germany, including sensitivity maps and tools for drift modelling of dispersed and undispersed oil. However, open scientific questions remain concerning the persistence of dispersed oil trapped in the sediments and potential health effects.

Gestão da água e saneamento básico: reflexões sobre a participação social / Water resources management and basic sanitation: reflections on social participation

Resumo Tendo como objeto a participação social na gestão dos recursos hídricos no Brasil, este trabalho, ao analisar o texto da política nacional (Lei nº 9.433/1997) e a produção científica correlata, pretende contribuir para o aperfeiçoamento da governança desses recursos no país. Tal proposição é relevante em si mesma, haja vista o destaque dado pela literatura científica à gestão participativa da água, ainda mais em um contexto de escassez, como o que persiste em algumas regiões brasileiras. Além disso, as contribuições pretendidas também poderão ser úteis para a área de saneamento básico, ainda neófita no exercício dessas práticas e com quem os recursos hídricos estão intimamente associados. A análise revelou a importância das disposições legais existentes, que determinam a participação como princípio orientador das práticas exercidas. Indicou, também, fatores cuja atuação redunda em uma participação assimétrica, limitada, excludente ou até mesmo nula. Concluiu-se que, para superar tais fatores em prol da efetividade do controle social, a ampla capacitação dos agentes sociais constitui ação necessária.

Abstract Considering social participation in water management in Brazil as its subject and analyzing the Brazilian national policy (Law no. 9,433/1997) and the related scientific literature, this article intends to contribute to the improvement of governance practices of this natural resource in the country. This proposition is relevant in itself, considering the emphasis in the scientific literature on participatory water management, especially in a context of scarcity, such as the one persisting in some Brazilian regions. In addition, the intended contributions may also be useful for basic sanitation, still new to the exercise of these practices and with which water resources are intimately associated. The analysis revealed the importance of existing legal provisions, which determine participation as a guiding principle of the practices. It also indicated factors which redounds in an asymmetrical, limited, excluding, or even non-existing participation. In conclusion, the broad training of social agents is an action necessary to overcome such factors in favor of social control effectiveness.