Contamination characteristics in runoff fractions from a nuclear facility in São Paulo, Brazil.

The stormwater runoff may act as a nonpoint pollutant source and contributes to aquatic ecosystem quality decay in urban environments. The aim of this work was to evaluate the runoff characteristics on the transport of total solids and total metals, as well as pH and conductivity responses during the rainfall evolution. During 2017 and 2018, 12 rain events were monitored in 4 sampling stations at a car parking lot located at Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN/CNEN) in São Paulo/Brazil. A 4-chamber integrated collector allowed the sequential/temporal runoff evolution assessment. The runoff composition, in decreasing order of quantities, was Ca > K > Mg > Si > Al > Fe > Na > Zn > Mn > Sr > Ti > Mo > V > Cu > B > Pb > Ni > Ce > Sb > Cr > La > U > Th > Cd. The amount of total solids, Al, and Fe exceeded the Brazilian water quality standards. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified the elemental clusters linked to the facility activity, soil, and traffic/atmospheric-related deposition. The results show that the runoff characteristics could be differentiated by pollutant source. Factors such as seasonal variation, rain event intensity, air mass from oceanic or continental origin, spatial distribution inside the monitoring area, and the intensity of the first flush must be considered in order to disentangle the elemental clusters and pollution source contributions. In winter, continental air masses were associated with higher concentrations of heavy metals in the surface runoff. Spatial changes with no seasonal variation were observed for U, Th, La, and Ce.

Toxic mechanisms of cigarette smoke and heat-not-burn tobacco vapor inhalation on rheumatoid arthritis.

Tobacco combustion exposure worsens rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Non-combustible tobacco devices, as heat-not-burn tobacco (HNBT), are emerging as harm reduction to smokers by releasing nicotine and lower combustible tobacco products. Nevertheless, HNBT toxicity remains unclear. Hence, here we investigated the impacts of the tobacco combustible product (cigarette smoke; CS) or HNBT vapor exposures on antigen-induced arthritis (AIA) in C57BL/6 mice. Animals were exposed to airflow, HNBT vapor, or CS during 1 h/twice a day, under the Health Canada Intense (HCI) smoking regime, between days 14 to 20 after the first immunization. At day 21, 16 h after the last exposures, mice were i.a. challenged and the AIA effects were evaluated 24 h later. CS- or HNBT-exposed mice presented equivalent blood nicotine levels. CS exposure worsened articular symptoms, pulmonary inflammation, and expression of lung metallothioneins. Nevertheless, CS or HNBT exposures reduced lymphoid organs' cellularity, splenocyte proliferation and IL-2 secretion. Additional in vitro CS or HNBT exposures confirmed the harmful effects on splenocytes, which were partially mediated by the activation of nicotine/α7nAchR pathway. Associated, data demonstrate the toxic mechanisms of CS or HNBT inhalation at HCI regime on RA, and highlight that further investigations are fundamental to assure the toxicity of emerging tobacco products on the immune system during specific challenges.

Patterns of distribution and accumulation of trace metals in Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda), Phyllodistomum sp. (Digenea) and in its fish host Hoplias malabaricus, from two neotropical rivers in southeastern Brazil.

Here we evaluated the potential for trace metal accumulation of two parasitic species, Hysterothylacium sp. (Nematoda) and Phyllodistomum sp. (Digenea), found parasitizing Hoplias malabaricus, a characiform fish also known as trahira, collected from two neotropical rivers, Jacaré-Pepira and Jacaré-Guaçú, in southeastern Brazil. Fish were collected between July 2017 and July 2019, totaling 90 fish specimens analyzed, 45 from each river. From fish, we take samples of three different tissues: muscle, intestine and liver. Along with the parasite samples taken from fish hosts, tissue samples were analyzed by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) for obtaining the trace metal (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, As, Cd e Pb) concentrations. All elements were found in statistically higher concentrations in the parasites, both nematodes and digeneans, than in the host tissues, but in comparison, was observed that Hysterothylacium sp. had higher concentrations than those obtained in Phyllodistomum sp. We also found that uninfected fish had statistically higher concentrations of metals than infected ones. And in those who are infected, the size of the parasitic infrapopulations correlated negatively with the concentrations of trace metals obtained in the hosts tissues, that is, the concentrations in fish showed a tendency to decrease as the parasitic infrapopulations increased, or vice versa. In addition, our results show that the influence of the parasitic infrapopulations on metal concentrations in the fish host is not affected in cases of mono-infection or co-infection.

Occupational exposure of foundry workers assessed by the urinary concentrations of 18 elements and arsenic species.

BACKGROUND: Some raw materials applied in Fe foundry industries may contain potentially toxic elements. Thus, foundry worker's occupational exposure is a constant health concern. METHOD: In this study, 194 urine samples from foundry workers were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for biomonitoring of Al, As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, I, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Se, U and Zn. Moreover, arsenic speciation was performed in representative samples of production sector workers (group A) and administration sector workers (group B). RESULTS: Concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cs, I, Sb in urines from group A were higher than those found for group B. Samples of group A presented Cs, Ni, Mn, Pb, U and Zn concentrations higher than values reported for exposed workers assessed by other studies. Forty-four samples from group A exceed As-reference limits. Group A had approximately seven times more inorganic As (as arsenite) and 14 times more organic As (as dimethyl As) than group B. A statistically significant difference was observed in the elemental concentration in the workers' urine by the time in the function. Moreover, alcohol consumption is probably influencing the urine concentration of As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, I, Se and Zn. CONCLUSION: The monitored foundry workers are exposed to potentially toxic elements and more attention must be given to their health. Therefore, workplace safety conditions must be improved, and constant biomonitoring is necessary to ensure workers' health.

Potential risks of the residue from Samarco's mine dam burst (Bento Rodrigues, Brazil).

On November 5th, 2015, Samarco's iron mine dam - called Fundão - spilled 50-60 million m3 of mud into Gualaxo do Norte, a river that belongs to Rio Doce Basin. Approximately 15 km2 were flooded along the rivers Gualaxo do Norte, Carmo and Doce, reaching the Atlantic Ocean on November 22nd, 2015. Six days after, our group collected mud, soil and water samples in Bento Rodrigues (Minas Gerais, Brazil), which was the first impacted area. Overall, the results, water samples - potable and surface water from river - presented chemical elements concentration according to Brazilian environmental legislations, except silver concentration in surface water that ranged from 1.5 to 1087 µg L-1. In addition, water mud-containing presented Fe and Mn concentrations approximately 4-fold higher than the maximum limit for water bodies quality assessment, according to Brazilian laws. Mud particle size ranged from 1 to 200 µm. SEM-EDS spot provided us some semi quantitative data. Leaching/extraction tests suggested that Ba, Pb, As, Sr, Fe, Mn and Al have high potential mobilization from mud to water. Low microbial diversity in mud samples compared to background soil samples. Toxicological bioassays (HepG2 and Allium cepa) indicated potential risks of cytotoxicity and DNA damage in mud and soil samples used in both assays. The present study provides preliminary information aiming to collaborate to the development of future works for monitoring and risk assessment.