Gerenciamento de resíduos em laboratórios de uma universidade pública brasileira: um desafio para a saúde ambiental e a saúde do trabalhador / Waste management in laboratories of a Brazilian public university: a challenge for environmental health and occupational health

RESUMO As instituições de ensino superior, enquanto geradoras e difusoras de conhecimento, precisam cada vez mais assumir seu papel no contexto regional, especialmente na criação de políticas sustentáveis e de preservação do meio ambiente. Neste sentido, o presente artigo objetiva compreender as práticas de gerenciamento de resíduos de serviços de saúde nos laboratórios de ensino-pesquisa do Instituto de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - campus Montes Claros. Trata-se de uma pesquisa com abordagem qualitativa e quantitativa, realizada mediante a aplicação de questionário com os trabalhadores inseridos em atividades dos laboratórios de ensino. Para a análise, foram utilizadas as frequências absolutas e relativas, medidas de posição, tendência central e dispersão. Entre os problemas identificados, ressaltam-se: as não conformidades com a legislação vigente, em relação ao gerenciamento de resíduos nos laboratórios; a ausência relatada pelos trabalhadores, de capacitações para a realização de suas funções, como também de treinamentos para a prevenção de riscos e para o manejo adequado de resíduos; e a cobertura vacinal baixa contra hepatite B e tétano. Apesar de os locais pesquisados realizarem o gerenciamento dos seus resíduos, constata-se que muitas práticas estão em desacordo com a legislação vigente e precisam ser adequadas.

ABSTRACT Higher education institutions, as generators and disseminators of knowledge, are increasingly in need to assume their roles in regional context, especially in the creation of sustainable and environment preservation public policies. In this sense, the aim of this article was to understand the management of health care waste practices in teaching and research laboratories of the Institute of Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Minas Gerais - Montes Claros campus. It is a research with quantitative and qualitative approaches, carried out through survey application with workers engaged in the activities of the teaching labs. For the analysis, absolute and relative frequencies, position measurements, central tendency and dispersion were used. Among the problems detected, it should be highlighted: non-compliance with current legislation, concerned to laboratories waste management; absence reported by workers, of training for the accomplishment of their functions, as well as education for risk prevention and proper waste management; insufficient immunization coverage against hepatitis B and tetanus. Although the places researched manage their waste, this work concludes that many practices are at odds with the current legislation and need to be adequate.

Comparison of the nutritional and toxicological reference values of trace elements in edible marine fish species consumed by the population in Rio De Janeiro State, Brazil.

The present study estimated the human daily and weekly intake of inorganic elements due to consumption of fish in Rio de Janeiro state and the associated potential health risks posed by some toxic elements. All samples analyzed had values of Cd and Pb below the Maximum Tolerable Limits of 3.0 mg kg-1 for Pb and 1.0 mg kg-1 for Cd; only Mugil cephalus, Cynoscion leiarchus and Caranx crysos had As concentrations below 1 mg kg-1, maximum limit established by Brazilian legislation. The higher values of Cd and Pb correspond to 0.22% of PTWI and the higher value of As corresponds to 8.6% of PTWI. None of the studied species showed values higher than PTWI. The higher values of Cu EDI found in Pomatomus numida correspond to 33.3% of RDA; Fe in Salmo salar and Genypterus brasiliensis corresponds to 4.3% of EDI; Mn in Sardinella brasiliensis corresponds to 7.4% of EDI; Zn in S. salar corresponds to 13.2% of EDI and Se in S. salar corresponds to 20.6% of EDI. Some species can be a good source of inorganic elements. For risk assessment, it is important to assess specific eating habits of each region to avoid underestimating the data.

Organochlorine compound levels in fertile and infertile women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was quantify organochlorine compounds in women seeking for infertility treatment (n = 15) and in spontaneously pregnant ones (n = 21). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied regarding lifestyle, occupational and reproductive history. Blood samples were collected from both groups. RESULTS: From the pesticides studied, pp'DDE was detected in 100% of infertile women, at higher mean levels than in pregnant women (3.02 mcg/L vs. 0.88 mcg/L; p = 0.001; power of 69%), without correlation with the etiology of infertility. Levels of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were low, with positive samples in 100% in the infertile women for PCBs 138, 153, 180, while in pregnant women, they were 85.7% for congeners 138 and 153. Only PCB180 showed significance, with frequency of 71.4% (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for female infertility were: age, consumption of untreated water and of canned foods. Exposure to the most prevalent organochlorine compounds described in literature was confirmed in the study, indicating that pp'DDE may adversely influence female fertility.

Organochlorine compound levels in fertile and infertile women from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / Níveis de substâncias organocloradas em mulheres férteis e inférteis do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was quantify organochlorine compounds in women seeking for infertility treatment (n = 15) and in spontaneously pregnant ones (n = 21). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was applied regarding lifestyle, occupational and reproductive history. Blood samples were collected from both groups. RESULTS: From the pesticides studied, pp'DDE was detected in 100% of infertile women, at higher mean levels than in pregnant women (3.02 mcg/L vs. 0.88 mcg/L; p = 0.001; power of 69%), without correlation with the etiology of infertility. Levels of the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were low, with positive samples in 100% in the infertile women for PCBs 138, 153, 180, while in pregnant women, they were 85.7% for congeners 138 and 153. Only PCB180 showed significance, with frequency of 71.4% (p = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for female infertility were: age, consumption of untreated water and of canned foods. Exposure to the most prevalent organochlorine compounds described in literature was confirmed in the study, indicating that pp'DDE may adversely influence female fertility.

OBJETIVO: O estudo teve como objetivo quantificar as substâncias organocloradas em mulheres buscando tratamento para infertilidade (n = 15) e que espontaneamente engravidaram (n = 21). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Foi aplicado questionário considerando estilo de vida, história ocupacional e reprodutiva. Amostras de sangue foram obtidas em ambos os grupos. RESULTADOS: Dos pesticidas, pp'DDE foi detectado em 100% das inférteis, com níveis maiores que nas grávidas (3,02 mcg/L vs. 0,88 mcg/L; p = 0,001; poder 69%), sem correlação na etiologia da infertilidade. Os níveis de detecção das bifenilas policloradas (PCBs) foram baixos, com 100% de positividade das amostras nas inférteis para os PCBs 138, 153, 180, e de 85,7% nas grávidas para os congêneres 138 e 153. Apenas PCB180 mostrou significância na frequência de 71,4% (p = 0,019). CONCLUSÕES: Os fatores de risco para infertilidade feminina foram: idade, consumo de água não tratada e alimentos enlatados. A exposição aos organoclorados mais prevalentes descritos na literatura foi confirmada no estudo, indicando que pp'DDE pode influenciar adversamente a fertilidade feminina.

Landfill mining from a deposit of the chlorine/organochlorine industry as source of dioxin contamination of animal feed and assessment of the responsible processes.

In 1997, the Polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxin (PCDD)/Polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) concentrations in dairy products in Germany and other European countries increased. The PCDD/PCDF source was contaminated lime used in Brazilian citrus pulp pellets. The contaminated lime was mined from an industrial dump site. However, the detailed origin of the PCDD/PCDFs in the lime was not revealed. This paper investigates the contamination origin and describes the link between lime milk from the dumpsite of a chlorine/organochlorine industry and the contaminated lime. The contaminated lime stem from mining at the corporate landfill of Solvay Indupa in Sao Paulo. The landfill was used for 40 years for deposition of production residues and closed in 1996. The factory operated/operates at least two processes with potentially high PCDD/PCDFs releases namely the oxychlorination process for production of ethylene dichloride (EDC) and the chlor-alkali process. The main landfilled waste was lime milk (1.4 million tons) from the vinyl chloride monomer production (via the acetylene process) along with residues from other processes. The PCDD/PCDF fingerprint revealed that most samples from the chemical landfill showed an EDC PCDD/PCDF pattern with a characteristic octachlorodibenzofuran dominance. The PCDD/PCDF pattern of a Rio Grande sediment samples downstream the facility showed a chlor-alkali pattern with a minor impact of the EDC pattern. The case highlights that PCDD/PCDF- and persistent organic pollutants-contaminated sites need to be identified in a comprehensive manner as required by the Stockholm Convention (article 6) and controlled for their impact on the environment and human health. Landfill mining and reuse of materials from contaminated deposits should be prohibited.

PCDD/F-contamination in a hexachlorocyclohexane waste site in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In the 1950s, a production plant of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was established in Brazil with the main purpose of producing chemicals for vectors control. This factory was closed down in 1955 and around 300 tons of production residues were left behind in the open air. In 1995, the area was treated with lime to eliminate the HCH contamination. Soil sample gave a PCDD/F concentration of 13,900 ng I-TEQ/kg whereas samples from the neighborhood ranged from 0.19 to 2.08 ng I-TEQ/kg. PCDD/F levels in cow's milk samples varied from 4.1 to 6.5 pg I-TEQ/g of milk fat. High concentration in soil collected from the site suggests that treatment and recovery shall be made. Further dioxin monitoring is needed to better estimate the risk posed to local population through food consumption and soil usage.