Spatialized PM2.5 during COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil's most populous southern city: implications for post-pandemic era.

Brazil has experienced one of the highest COVID-19 fatality rates globally. While numerous studies have explored the potential connection between air pollution, specifically fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and the exacerbation of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the majority of this research has been conducted in foreign regions-Europe, the United States, and China-correlating generalized pollution levels with health-related scopes. In this study, our objective is to investigate the localized connection between exposure to air pollution exposure and its health implications within a specific Brazilian municipality, focusing on COVID-19 susceptibility. Our investigation involves assessing pollution levels through spatial interpolation of in situ PM2.5 measurements. A network of affordable sensors collected data across 9 regions in Curitiba, as well as its metropolitan counterpart, Araucaria. Our findings distinctly reveal a significant positive correlation (with r-values reaching up to 0.36, p-value < 0.01) between regions characterized by higher levels of pollution, particularly during the winter months (with r-values peaking at 0.40, p-value < 0.05), with both COVID-19 mortality and incidence rates. This correlation gains added significance due to the intricate interplay between urban atmospheric pollution and regional human development indices. Notably, heightened pollution aligns with industrial hubs and intensified vehicular activity. The spatial analysis performed in this study assumes a pivotal role by identifying priority regions that require targeted action post-COVID. By comprehending the localized dynamics between air pollution and its health repercussions, tailored strategies can be implemented to alleviate these effects and ensure the well-being of the public.

A new strategy for risk assessment of PM2.5-bound elements by considering the influence of wind regimes.

For regulatory purposes, air pollution has been reduced to management of air quality control regions (AQCR), by inventorying pollution sources and identifying the receptors significantly affected. However, beyond being source-dependent, particulate matter can be physically and chemically altered by factors and elements of climate during transport, as they act as local environmental constraints, indirectly modulating the adverse effects of particles on the environment and human health. This case study, at an industrial site in a Brazilian coastal city - Joinville, combines different methodologies to integrate atmospheric dynamics in a strategic risk assessment approach whereby the influence of different wind regimes on environmental and health risks of exposure to PM2.5-bound elements, are analysed. Although Joinville AQCR has been prone to stagnation/recirculation events, distinctly different horizontal wind circulation patterns indicate two airsheds within the region. The two sampling sites mirrored these two conditions and as a result we report different PM2.5 mass concentrations, chemical profiles, geo-accumulation, and ecological and human health risks. In addition, feedback mechanisms between the airsheds seem to aggravate the air quality and its effects even under good ventilation conditions. Recognizably, the risks associated with Co, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn loadings were extremely high for the environment as well as being the main contributors to elevated non-carcinogenic risks. Meanwhile, higher carcinogenic risks occurred during stagnation/recirculation conditions, with Cr as the major threat. These results highlight the importance of integrating local airshed characteristics into the risk assessment of PM2.5-bound elements since they can aggravate air pollution leading to different risks at a granular scale. This new approach to risk assessment can be employed in any city's longer-term development plan since it provides public authorities with a strategic perspective on incorporating environmental constraints into urban growth planning and development zoning regulations.

Evaluating the emissions from the gasification processing of municipal solid waste followed by combustion.

In this study, we evaluated the emissions of pollutants generated from the combustion of syngas in the gasification of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in Brazil using a mobile grille gasifier fed with domestic waste without any previous separation or grinding. The basic syngas composition (H2, CH4 and CO) was analyzed by gas chromatography and the Lower Calorific Value was calculated, which ranged from 1.9 to 10.2 MJ/kg. In the monitoring of combustion gases (CO2, CO, NO, NO2, SO2 and Total Hydrocarbon Content), values were found for these pollutants that were lower than the values established by the Brazilian legislation, except for SO2. Regarding the determination of the emission of metals, values lower than those permissible in the legislation were found for the most toxic metals grouped as class I (Cd, Hg, Tl). Therefore, it was evident that gasification followed by the combustion of syngas from MSW without prior segregation at source has the advantages of having fewer process steps, allowing the low emission of pollutants into the environment and it avoids that the residues are deposited in landfills, which are generators of leachate and greenhouse gas (methane).

Biochemical responses in freshwater fish after exposure to water-soluble fraction of gasoline.

The water-soluble fraction of gasoline (WSFG) is a complex mixture of mono-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of WSFG diluted 1.5% on freshwater fish. Astyanax altiparanae were exposed to the WSFG for 96 h, under a semi-static system, with renewal of 25% of the gasoline test solution every 24 h. In addition, a decay of the contamination (DC) was carried out. During DC, the fish was exposed to the WSFG for 8 d, followed by another 7 d with renewal of 25% of volume aquaria with clean water every 24 h. For depuration, fish were transferred to aquaria with clean water, and in addition, 25% of the water was replaced every 24 h. The liver and kidney biotransformation, antioxidant defenses and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were evaluated. In the liver, the WSFG 1.5% caused reduction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) after 96 h and DC. In the kidney, only in depuration an increased GST activity was observed, and after DC a higher LPO levels. An increase of the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity occurred at 96 h in both tissues; however, in the liver was also observed during the depuration. In WSFG 96 h, the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity in the kidney increased. As biomarkers of neurotoxicity, the brain and muscle acetylcholinesterase activities were measured, but the WSFG 1.5% did not change them. Therefore, this study brought forth more data about WSFG effects on freshwater fish after lower concentrations exposure and a DC, simulating an environmental contamination.

Development, essential oil yield and composition of mint species and chemotypes under different radiation and nitrogen levels / Desenvolvimento, produção e composição do óleo essencial de espécies e quimiotipos de menta sob diferentes níveis de radiação e nitrogênio

Radiation and soil nutrient levels affect essential oil production in aromatic plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the vegetative development, essential oil yield and composition of Mentha aquatica L. (linalool chemotype) and Mentha x piperita L. (linalool and menthol chemotypes) cultivated under different radiation levels (100%, 46% and 23%), and with or without nitrogen fertilization. The essential oil samples were obtained from leaves by 3 hours hydro-distillation and analyzed by GC/MS. Reduced leaf area, stem number and total dry mass accumulation was found in all genetic materials submitted to the lowest level of radiation. Nitrogen requirements were different in mint chemotypes, being M. x piperita, linalool chemotype, the only genetic material where nitrogen fertilization resulted in higher stem number and total dry mass under full radiation. Although reduction in radiation levels decreased essential oil yield and the percentage of its major constituents menthol, menthone, linalool and linalil acetate, no correlation between essential oil production and plant development was observed.

Radiação e os níveis de nutrientes no solo afetam a produção de óleo essencial em plantas aromáticas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento vegetativo, rendimento e composição de óleo essencial de Mentha aquatica L. (quimiotipo linalol) e Mentha x piperita L. (quimiotipos linalol e mentol), cultivado sob diferentes níveis de radiação (100%, 46% e 23%), e com ou sem adubação nitrogenada. O óleo essencial foi obtido a partir de folhas por hidrodestilação durante três horas, e analisado por GC/MS. Observou-se redução da área foliar, número de hastes e massa seca total em todos os materiais genéticos submetidos ao menor nível de radiação. Os quimiotipos de menta apresentaram diferentes necessidades de nitrogênio, sendo M. x piperita, quimiotipo linalol, o único material genético onde a adubação nitrogenada resultou em maior número de haste e massa seca total, em plena radiação. Embora a redução nos níveis de radiação tenha reduzido o rendimento de óleo essencial e o percentual de seus principais constituintes, mentol, mentona, linalol e acetato de linalila, nenhuma correlação entre a produção de óleo essencial e desenvolvimento da planta foi observada.

Adsorption of glycerol, monoglycerides and diglycerides present in biodiesel produced from soybean oil.

The most common methods currently used for the removal of waste glycerol, monoglycerides and diglycerides remaining after phase separation during biodiesel production involve wet processes. These procedures are not environmentally viable because they require large volumes of water and thus generate significant quantities of effluent. In this study, adsorption was employed to replace this purification step. Some commercial activated carbons were tested along with adsorbents chemically modified with HNO3. A kinetics study was conducted at 30 degrees C and adsorption isotherms were obtained at 20 degrees C, 30 degrees C and 40 degrees C. The results indicated that the adsorption of glycerol increased with the use of chemically-modified activated carbon, showing that pH has a strong influence on glycerol adsorption. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model provided the best fit with the experimental data for the monoglycerides while the pseudo-second-order model showed a better fit for the glycerol and diglycerides. The Freundlich model had the best fit with experimental data on the adsorption equilibrium for all temperatures. The thermodynamic study indicated that the adsorption process is endothermic and thus adsorption is favoured by increasing the temperature. The adsorption process using chemically-modified activated carbon was therefore very effective for the removal of waste glycerol resulting from biodiesel production, which is of considerable significance given the legal limits imposed.

Bioautography to assess antibacterial activity of Ottonia martiana Miq. (Piperaceae) on the human oral microbiota

Ottonia martiana Miq. (Piperaceae), planta conhecida popularmente por "anestésia" e empregada no tratamento de odontalgias devido à sua ação anestésica sobre a mucosa oral, foi investigada por meio de ensaios antibacterianos de difusão em disco de papel e de bioautografia frente a microorganismos presentes na microbiota oral humana [Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175), Streptococcus mitis (ATCC 49456), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), Streptococcus salivarius (ATCC 25975), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229 e 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 27853). Os resultados dos bioensaios mostraram que o extrato bruto de O. martiana (32.9 mg mL-1) apresenta potencial antibacteriano frente às bactérias Gram-positivas testadas. Dentre as substâncias bioativas detectadas foram identificadas a piperovatina (Rf 0.35), piperlonguminina (Rf 0.52) e a isopiperlonguminina (Rf 0.52). A piperovatina e isopiperlonguminina foram isoladadas do extrato das raízes de O. martiana, guiadas pelo teste de bioautografia.

Ottonia martiana Miq. (Piperaceae), a plant known popularly in southern Brazil as "anestésia" and used in the treatment of odontalgia for its anesthetic action on the oral mucosa, was investigated for antibacterial activity by paper disc agar diffusion and bioautographic methods, against microorganisms present in the human oral cavity [Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175), Streptococcus mitis (ATCC 49456), Streptococcus pyogenes (ATCC 19615), Streptococcus salivarius (ATCC 25975), Escherichia coli (ATCC 11229 and 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 27853).The crude extract of O. martiana (32.9 mg mL-1) had antibacterial potential against all Gram-positive bacteria tested. Analysis of the bioautograms led to the detection of bioactive substances, among which it was possible to identify piperovatine (Rf 0.35), piperlonguminine (Rf 0.52) and isopiperlonguminine (Rf 0.52). The piperovatine and isopiperlonguminine were isolated from the roots of O. martiana, guided by a bioautographic antibacterial bioassay.

Genotoxicity of Achillea millefolium essential oil in diploid cells of Aspergillus nidulans.

The essential oil of Achillea millefolium is commonly used in folk medicine for the treatment of several diseases and has been demonstrated previously to exert an in vitro antimicrobial activity against human pathogens. Current study investigates the genotoxic activity of A. millefolium oil. The oil's major constituents are: chamazulene (42.15%), sabinene (19.72%), terpin-4-ol (5.22%), beta-caryophyllene (4.44%) and eucalyptol (3.10%), comprising 74.63% of the total. The oil's genotoxic evaluation was performed at concentrations of 0.13 microL/mL, 0.19 microL/mL and 0.25 microL/mL with a heterozygous diploid strain of Aspergillus nidulans, named A757//UT448, with green conidia. A statistically significant increasing number of yellow and white mitotic recombinants, per colony, of the diploid strain was reported after oil treatment with 0.19 microL/mL and 0.25 microL/mL concentrations. The genotoxicity of the oil was associated with the induction of mitotic non-disjunction or crossing-over by oil.

Determinação de ácidos graxos trans em batata palha comercializada na cidade de Curitiba-PR / Determination of trans fatty acids in potato straws commercialized at Curitiba

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição dos ácidos graxos, em especial os ácidos graxos trans, de amostras de batata palha adquiridas em supermercados da cidade de Curitiba (PR)Brasil. Foram analisadas 20 marcas diferentes de bata álha, utilizando-se métodos oficiais para a determinação da gordura total. Determinou-se o perfil dos ácidos graxos mediante cromatografia a gás (CG), usando padr~es analíticos para sua identificação. Concluiu-se que a gordura vegetal hidrogenada utilizada como meio de fritura da batata palha gera alto teor de gordura trans (em torno de 14,5g/100g) e que o nível dessa gordura torna-se quase nulo com o emprego de óleo vegetal ou óleo de palma como veículo de fritura

Bioprocess applied to the treatment of residual waters of coffee wet processing for the incorporation of selected yeast strains / Desenvolvimento de bioprocesso aplicado ao tratamento de águas residuais do beneficiamento úmido do café pela incorporaçäo de linhagenm selecionada de leveduras

The aim of the present work was to isolated yeast strains able to degrade the degomming water originated from the wet processing of coffee, characterizing the formed metabolities, The drink prepared from the treated grains by wet processing is considered of better quality when compared with the grains treated by dry process. However, the great polluent potential of the residual water from this processing represents serious concern for the environment. The degumming water essentially presents organic contamination, with Oxygen Biochemical Demand (OBD) and Oxygen Chemical Demand (OCD) rates supeior to 20.000 mg O2/L. Candida tropicalis, C. lypolitica, C. guillermondii, C. parapsilopsis, Kloeckera apiculata e Rhodotorula rubra, isolated from coffee cheeries wew inoculated in flasks containing the degumming water and then submitted to constant agitation (120 rpm) for 48 hours at 28§C. The isolated species revealed capacity to degrade the substrate, however C. parapsilopsia showed reduction percentages of OBD and OCD rates of 50.14 ppor cento e 29.81 por cento, respectivelly, showing the viability of the use of those microorganisme as biological depollutants.