Ecotoxicological assessment of bauxite residue (red mud) overflow treated by dissolved air flotation (DAF).

In this study, the effluent from the Bayer process of transforming bauxite into alumina, followed by dissolved air flotation (DAF) treatment, was evaluated to identify the best experimental conditions that generate less toxic or nontoxic effluent for discharge. Two freshwater organisms, the Chlorophyceae microalga Raphidocelis subcapitata (96-h algal growth inhibition test), and the microcrustacean Daphnia similis (48-h acute immobility test), were used to analyze the efficiency of effluent treatment by detecting and comparing the toxicity of the treated effluent. Experimental factorial planning used different concentrations of the coagulant ferric chloride and the flocculant Nalco® N-99-005B, and different recycle ratios. The highest recycle ratio (30%) and highest flocculant concentration (150 mg/L) had the best solids removal efficiency, above 90%. Probably the higher concentration of flocculant led to the formation of a more stable froth, promoting an increase in the hydrophobic characteristics of the flocs. Two operating conditions were satisfactory according to acute and chronic bioassays, with removal efficiencies of total suspended solids and turbidity higher than 98%, for both variables. Producers, R. subcapitata microalga, were more sensitive than the primary consumers, D. similis microcrustaceans, indicating the importance of performing tests with different bioindicators.

Analysis of individual versus group behavior of zebrafish: a model using pH sublethal effects.

An image analysis biomonitoring system was used to evaluate sublethal effects of pH on the mean swimming velocity of zebrafish. Responses to stress were tested comparing individual and group responses. Group analysis indicated no effect for all acid pH and for pH 9.0-9.5. Individual analysis indicated behavioral differences for most acid pH and higher than 9.5. Sensitivity to sublethal pH was best assessed when using individual analysis. Zebrafish decreased hyperactivity and increased hypoactivity with more acid or alkaline pH. Individual approach allowed to determine hyperactivity or hypoactivity and the species' thresholds of exposure, which is critical for the management of impairments.

[Health in the post-2015 United Nations Development Agenda]. / Saúde na Agenda de Desenvolvimento pós-2015 das Nações Unidas.

This paper evaluates health as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, between 2012 and 2014. Health was part of the debate since the Millennium Summit and the MDGs (2000), and it also appears in the documents discussing the Post-2015 Agenda, from the Rio+20 to the Open Working Group (OWG), whose report was submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) 2014-2015, and in the Global Consultation on Health and the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons reports. The Authors concluded that the treatment of health in all these documents is uniform. They point out that the scope of the health-related SDG is very comprehensive, but its targets are conceptually fragmented and reduced. They advocate their change as to include not only the idea of social determinants of health, but also targets in the field of public health, which were not included in the proposal of the OWG. They also warn that the global and national governance systems need to be reformed and advocate more participation of the civil society, which can influence diplomacy, which, in turn, will be responsible for the agreement signed at the UNGA in 2015.

[Health and the green economy: challenges for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty]. / Saúde e economia verde: desafios para o desenvolvimento sustentável e erradicação da pobreza.

In a scenario where ecosystemic services are being eroded and there is high social inequity, a new model of development is necessary, namely one capable of promoting social development with a reduction of its ecological footprint. The 'Green Economy' model is one of the proposed models. This paper seeks to analyze the environmental, social and individual impacts on human health in the context of a 'brown economy', and discusses the contributions of a green economy on the promotion of equity and health. The assumption is that economic development and environmental sustainability are not incompatible and both contribute to the eradication of poverty. The transition to a sustainable economy depends on political decisions, and transcends technological developments. Above all, it should instigate new models of production, consumption and social organization, which promote socio-environmental justice, encouraging social participation and democratic forms of governance to define a solid agenda for the implementation of sustainable development and mechanisms to implement them at all levels.

[Health and environmental governance for sustainable development]. / Governança em saúde e ambiente para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, will address the challenges for sustainable development (SD), 'green economy and poverty eradication' and the 'institutional structure of sustainable development'. Therefore it will address the governance needed to achieve such goals. This paper discusses the structure of global, regional and national governance of and for health and environment in the context of SD. Among other global actions, the Millenium Development Goals were a significant recent political effort, but despite its advances, it fails when ignores the structural causes of production and consumption patterns and the unequal distribution of power, which are responsible for inequities and impede true development. To achieve SD, proposals must avoid reductionism, advancing conceptually and methodologically to face the challenges of the socio-environmental determinants of health through intersectoral action, including social participation and all levels of government. It is paramount to continue the implementation of Agenda 21, to meet the MDGs and to create 'Sustainable Development Goals'. Regarding the health field, Rio+20 Summit must reassure the connection between health and sustainability - as a part of the Social pillar of sustainable development - inspiring politics and actions in multiple levels.

Saúde na Agenda de Desenvolvimento pós-2015 das Nações Unidas / Health in the post-2015 United Nations Development Agenda / La salud en la Agenda de Desarrollo post 2015 de las Naciones Unidas

O artigo examina a presença da saúde como Ob-jetivo do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) na Agenda do Desenvolvimento pós-2015, no processo transcorrido entre 2012 e 2014. Presente desde a Cúpula do Milênio e os ODM (2000), a saúde também aparece nos documentos que tratam da Agenda pós-2015, da Rio+20 ao documento do Grupo de Trabalho Aberto das Nações Unidas (OWG), submetido à Assembleia Geral das Nações Unidas (AGNU) 2014-2015, passando pela Con-sulta Global sobre Saúde e o Painel de Alto Nível de Pessoas Eminentes. Os autores concluem pela uniformidade com que a saúde aparece nestes documentos. Identificam a amplitude do enunciado do ODS Saúde, mas alertam para o fracionamento e redução conceitual de suas metas. Propõem mudanças nas mesmas, acrescentando a questão dos determinantes sociais da saúde e metas em saúde pública, ausentes na proposta do OWG. Alertam para a necessidade de reformas na governança global e nacional, bem como para a participação da sociedade civil e da influência que pode exercer sobre a diplomacia, responsável pelo pacto que será firmado na AGNU de 2015.

This paper evaluates health as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the context of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, between 2012 and 2014. Health was part of the debate since the Millennium Summit and the MDGs (2000), and it also appears in the documents discussing the Post-2015 Agenda, from the Rio+20 to the Open Working Group (OWG), whose report was submitted to the General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) 2014-2015, and in the Global Consultation on Health and the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons reports. The Authors concluded that the treatment of health in all these documents is uniform. They point out that the scope of the health-related SDG is very comprehensive, but its targets are conceptually fragmented and reduced. They advocate their change as to include not only the idea of social determinants of health, but also targets in the field of public health, which were not included in the proposal of the OWG. They also warn that the global and national governance systems need to be reformed and advocate more participation of the civil society, which can influence diplomacy, which, in turn, will be responsible for the agreement signed at the UNGA in 2015.

El artículo examina la presencia de la salud como Objetivo de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) en la Agenda de Desarrollo post 2015, en el proceso transcurrido entre 2012 y 2014. Presente desde la Cumbre del Milenio y los ODM (2000), la salud también aparece en los documentos que tratan sobre la Agenda post 2015, desde Rio+20 hasta el documento del Grupo de Trabajo Abierto de Naciones Unidas (OWG), sometido a la Asamblea General de Naciones Unidas (AGNU) 2014-2015, pasando por la Consulta Global sobre Salud y el Grupo de Alto Nivel de Personas Eminentes. Los Autores concuerdan en la uniformidad con que la salud aparece en estos documentos. Identifican la amplitud del enunciado del ODS Salud, pero advierten sobre el fraccionamiento y la reducción conceptual de sus metas. Proponen cambios en las mismas, acrecentando la cuestión de los determinantes sociales de la salud y metas en salud pública, ausentes en la propuesta del OWG. Alertan sobre la necesidad tanto de reformas en la gobernanza global y nacional, como de la participación de la sociedad civil y de la influencia que puede ejercer sobre la diplomacia, responsable del pacto que será firmado en la AGNU de 2015.

Behavioral response of zebrafish Danio rerio Hamilton 1822 to sublethal stress by sodium hypochlorite: ecotoxicological assay using an image analysis biomonitoring system.

We evaluated behavioral responses of zebrafish Danio rerio exposed to sublethal concentrations of sodium hypochlorite using an image analysis biomonitoring system (IABS). First, the limits of normal variation in swimming activity of zebrafish were determined by monitoring traveled distance of 40 control fishes using the IABS. An acute toxicity test was performed to determine the LC(50(24 h)) for D. rerio to NaOCl. To evaluate the toxic effects in swimming activity, 32 fishes were exposed to 40%, 30%, 20%, 10% of the LC(50 )and 32 were used as control using the IABS. We considered toxic concentrations where more than 10% intervals of the treated group were below the limits of normal variation and were significantly different from the control group. Two main responses were observed: an escape response (increased swimming activity) at 10% treated group, a gradual decrease in swimming activity from the 20% of the LC(50) on, and an avoidance response at higher concentrations. The response of the 20% treated group were considered as a NOAEL and responses of the 30% and 40% treated groups indicated significant hypoactivity (adverse effect). This behavioral biomonitoring system has proven to be a useful tool to detect sublethal toxicity that could be incorporated in biomonitoring protocols in Brazil.

Saúde e economia verde: desafios para o desenvolvimento sustentável e erradicação da pobreza / Health and the green economy: challenges for sustainable development and the eradication of poverty

Em um cenário onde os serviços ecossistêmicos vão sendo perdidos e há graves iniquidades sociais é necessário um novo modelo de crescimento capaz de promover o desenvolvimento social com a redução da pegada ecológica. A 'economia verde' é um dos modelos propostos. Este trabalho analisa os impactos ambientais, sociais e individuais da economia marrom na saúde humana e aborda as contribuições da economia verde para a promoção da equidade e saúde. Assume que o desenvolvimento econômico e a sustentabilidade ambiental não são incompatíveis e contribuem para o combate à pobreza. A transição para uma economia sustentável depende de decisões políticas e vai além do desenvolvimento de tecnologias, devendo implantar um novo modo de produção, consumo e organização social que promova a justiça socioambiental, incentivando a participação social e as formas democráticas de governança para definir uma agenda concreta de implementação de objetivos para o desenvolvimento sustentável e de mecanismos capazes de implementá-los em todos os níveis.

In a scenario where ecosystemic services are being eroded and there is high social inequity, a new model of development is necessary, namely one capable of promoting social development with a reduction of its ecological footprint. The 'Green Economy' model is one of the proposed models. This paper seeks to analyze the environmental, social and individual impacts on human health in the context of a 'brown economy', and discusses the contributions of a green economy on the promotion of equity and health. The assumption is that economic development and environmental sustainability are not incompatible and both contribute to the eradication of poverty. The transition to a sustainable economy depends on political decisions, and transcends technological developments. Above all, it should instigate new models of production, consumption and social organization, which promote socio-environmental justice, encouraging social participation and democratic forms of governance to define a solid agenda for the implementation of sustainable development and mechanisms to implement them at all levels.

Governança em saúde e ambiente para o desenvolvimento sustentável / Health and environmental governance for sustainable development

A Conferência da ONU sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Rio+20, propõe a discussão dos desafios do desenvolvimento sustentável (DS) e dos temas 'economia verde e da erradicação da pobreza' e 'estrutura institucional do desenvolvimento sustentável' e, por conseguinte, sua governança. Este artigo visa discutir a atual configuração da governança da e para a saúde e ambiente no contexto do DS. Os Objetivos do Milênio foram significativo esforço político recente, mas apesar dos progressos, falham ao omitir as causas estruturais dos modos de produção e consumo e da distribuição desigual de poder que são as produtoras das iniquidades e impedem o verdadeiro desenvolvimento. Propostas para o DS devem superar reducionismos e avançar conceitual e metodologicamente para o enfrentamento dos determinantes socioambientais da saúde por meio de ações intersetoriais, incluindo a participação social, e em todas as esferas de governo. É fundamental o prosseguimento da implantação dos princípios da Agenda 21, o cumprimento dos ODM e a criação dos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável. No campo da saúde, espera-se que a Rio+20 reafirme as articulações da saúde com a sustentabilidade, como parte do pilar social do desenvolvimento sustentável, inspirando a definição de políticas e ações nos planos global, nacional e local.

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20, will address the challenges for sustainable development (SD), 'green economy and poverty eradication' and the 'institutional structure of sustainable development'. Therefore it will address the governance needed to achieve such goals. This paper discusses the structure of global, regional and national governance of and for health and environment in the context of SD. Among other global actions, the Millenium Development Goals were a significant recent political effort, but despite its advances, it fails when ignores the structural causes of production and consumption patterns and the unequal distribution of power, which are responsible for inequities and impede true development. To achieve SD, proposals must avoid reductionism, advancing conceptually and methodologically to face the challenges of the socio-environmental determinants of health through intersectoral action, including social participation and all levels of government. It is paramount to continue the implementation of Agenda 21, to meet the MDGs and to create 'Sustainable Development Goals'. Regarding the health field, Rio+20 Summit must reassure the connection between health and sustainability - as a part of the Social pillar of sustainable development - inspiring politics and actions in multiple levels.

Sustentabilidade, desenvolvimento e saúde: desafios contemporâneos / Sustainability, development and health: contemporary challenges

RESUMO Esse ensaio teve por objetivo a discussão da saúde como elemento intrínseco do processo de sustentabilidade pela ação setorial e na sua relação com os condicionantes econômicos, sociais e ambientais. Apresenta um debate pautado na temática da Rio+20, no sentido de apontar caminhos de consolidação da relação da saúde com o desenvolvimento sustentável, dialogando com a formulação do conceito de economia verde e na construção de processos de governança. Apresenta a discussão do território como espaço de organização social em que a saúde interage com os processos de desenvolvimento, das múltiplas dimensões que compõem a governança da e para a saúde, do ambiente e para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the importance of health as an intrinsic element in the sustainability process through the sectoral action and through its relation with the economic, social and environmental conditions. It proposes a debate guided by the Rio+20 Conference thematic in the sense of pointing out ways to consolidate the relationship between health and sustainable development, in a dialogue with the concept of green economy and towards the construction of governance processes. It presents the discussion of territory as the space of social organization in which health interacts with the development processes, the multiple dimensions, which compose governance of and for health, of the environment and for the sustainable development.

Sustentabilidade, desenvolvimento e saúde: desafios contemporâneos / Sustainability, development and health: contemporary challenges

RESUMO Esse ensaio teve por objetivo a discussão da saúde como elemento intrínseco do processo de sustentabilidade pela ação setorial e na sua relação com os condicionantes econômicos, sociais e ambientais. Apresenta um debate pautado na temática da Rio+20, no sentido de apontar caminhos de consolidação da relação da saúde com o desenvolvimento sustentável, dialogando com a formulação do conceito de economia verde e na construção de processos de governança. Apresenta a discussão do território como espaço de organização social em que a saúde interage com os processos de desenvolvimento, das múltiplas dimensões que compõem a governança da e para a saúde, do ambiente e para o desenvolvimento sustentável.

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the importance of health as an intrinsic element in the sustainability process through the sectoral action and through its relation with the economic, social and environmental conditions. It proposes a debate guided by the Rio+20 Conference thematic in the sense of pointing out ways to consolidate the relationship between health and sustainable development, in a dialogue with the concept of green economy and towards the construction of governance processes. It presents the discussion of territory as the space of social organization in which health interacts with the development processes, the multiple dimensions, which compose governance of and for health, of the environment and for the sustainable development.

Degradation and detoxification of three textile Azo dyes by mixed fungal cultures from semi-arid region of Brazilian Northeast

The aim of this work was to study the degradation and detoxification of three textile azo dyes (Reactive Red 198, Reactive Red 141 and Reactive Blue 214) by mixed fungal cultures from semi-arid region of Brazilian Northeast. Sediment samples of twenty water reservoirs in the surroundings of Serra da Capivara National Park, area of environmental preservation in the caatinga in the State of Piauí, with semi-arid climate, were evaluated in order to select the consortia of fungi capable to degrade and detoxify these dyes. The mixed fungal culture from Caldeirão Escuridão (CE) reservoir was the most efficient in the degradation and detoxification of the dyes tested.