Seasonal arsenic in catfish (Siluriformes, Ariidae) and the hydrochemical conditions of two areas in a Ramsar site on the Brazilian coast.

The construction of a data bank concerning metal and metalloid content of bioindicator fish from coastal areas is very important as it can help environmental managers in decision making. In natural conditions, the concentration of elements can be influenced by abiotic parameters such as water salinity. In this study, catfish Cathorops spixii were evaluated concerning the total arsenic (As) concentration in the muscle tissues of individuals subjected to different abiotic conditions in the Cananéia-Iguape Estuarine-Lagoon Complex (CIELC), which was recently included on the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance.

Microscale Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) for interstitial water of estuarine sediments affected by multiple sources of pollution.

Estuaries in the world are affected by different contamination sources related to urbanisation and port/industrial activities. Identifying the substances responsible for the environmental toxicity in estuaries is challenging due to the multitude of stressors, both natural and anthropogenic. The Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) is a suitable way of determining causes of toxicity of sediments, but it poses difficulties since its application is labour intensive and time consuming.

Biomonitoring Assessment of Toxic and Trace Elements in Sterechinus neumayeri Sea Urchins from the Comandante Ferraz Station in Antarctica.

In the present study, sea urchin Sterechinus neumayeri tissues were used for the passive biomonitoring of toxic and trace elements at the Comandante Ferraz Station, Antarctica and compared to a pristine region (Botany). As, Ba, Br, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Na, Rb, Sc, Se and Zn concentrations were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), while toxic metals (Cd, Hg, Ni and Pb), and Cu were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS). The findings were compared to other organisms commonly applied for biomonitoring purposes and to the sediment concentrations of each sampling region.

Emerging contaminants (Rh, Pd, and Pt) in surface sediments from a Brazilian subtropical estuary influenced by anthropogenic activities.

The concentrations of Platinum (Pt), Rhodium (Rh) and Palladium (Pd) were evaluated from a highly impacted estuary in Brazil influenced by industrial pole, highway traffic and sewage outfall. The Santos-São Vicente region presents important economic activities derived from a largest harbor of Latin America and an industrial pole surrounded by intensive highway traffic. Values of Rh varied from 0.

Heavy Metals in Tissues of Blue Crabs Callinectes danae from a Subtropical Protected Estuary Influenced by Mining Residues.

This short note aims to report in detail a preliminary assessment of the concentrations of Cd, Hg and Pb in tissues of blue crabs Callinectes danae collected from the Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe estuarine complex (CIP), in the South of São Paulo State coast, Brazil. In October 2014, blue crabs were collected from CIP. Tissues were removed by dissection and metal determination was performed by GF-AAS and CV-AAS.

Implications on the Pb bioaccumulation and metallothionein levels due to dietary and waterborne exposures: The Callinectes danae case.

This study aimed to assess the bioaccumulation of Pb and induction of metallothionein-like proteins (MT) in Callinectes danae through single and combined dietary and waterborne exposures. Male C. danae individuals were collected in the south area of the Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe Protected Area (APA-CIP), in São Paulo State, Brazil.

The environmental impact of informal and home productive arrangement in the jewelry and fashion jewelry chain on sanitary sewer system.

The outsourcing informal home practices adopted in jewelry and fashion jewelry chain can cause toxic substance elimination in the effluents and raise a concern for its environmental impact. This study evaluates if this informal work alters the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs: As, Cd, Cr total and Cr-VI, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sn, and Zn) in the sewage network. The sanitary sewage samples (n = 540) were collected in 15 manholes during two campaigns in three different areas of Limeira-SP, Brazil (industrial area, with informal work and without known industrial/informal activity).

An environmental forensic approach for tropical estuaries based on metal bioaccumulation in tissues of Callinectes danae.

The blue crab Callinectes danae is distributed throughout the Atlantic coast and this study aimed to evaluate a environmental forensics approach that could be applied at tropical estuarine systems where this species is distributed, based on the metal concentrations in its tissues. For this purpose, blue crab samples were collected in 9 sites (distributed in 3 areas) along the Santos Estuarine System, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in gills, hepatopancreas and muscle tissues.

Impact of harbour, industry and sewage on the phosphorus geochemistry of a subtropical estuary in Brazil.

The distribution of different forms of phosphorus in surface sediment from 17 sites were investigated by SEDEX method. The sites were divided into three sectors: Santos Channel (SC - influenced by harbour, fertilizers plants and phosphogypsum mountains), São Vicente Channel (SVC- domestic waste) and Santos Bay (SB - sewage outfall). The average percentage of each P fraction of the surface sediments in this region followed the sequence P-Fe (38%)>P org (27%)>P exch (13%)>Detrital - P (12%)>Auth - P (10%).

Selenium status and hair mercury levels in riverine children from Rondônia, Amazonia.

Objective: Riverine communities in Rondônia State are exposed to high selenium (Se) content in their diet because of the high-selenium soils identified in the Amazon. However, the Amazonian population has a high mercury (Hg) exposure because this metal accumulates in the soil. Because children are more vulnerable to Hg toxicity, the aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate Se status and hair Hg levels in riverine children (aged 3-9 y) living in two different locations in Rondônia State: Demarcação area (DA) and Gleba do Rio Preto (GRP).

Metal distribution in sediment cores from São Paulo State Coast, Brazil.

Ten sediment core samples with lengths ranging from 35 to 100 cm were collected in the Baixada Santista region and analyzed to determine As, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Rb, Sb, Ta, Th, U, Zn and rare earths (Sc, Ce, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb) level concentrations using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). The studied region is located in the southeastern coast of São Paulo State and is comprised of a densely urbanized area, the largest industrial complex of the country, with a predominance of petrochemical and fertilizer plants. It is also home to Brazil's most important and busiest port.

[Total hair mercury in children from a coastal population in Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil].

Mercury (Hg) levels in hair are directly related to eating habits, especially fish consumption by coastal populations with a large contingent of traditional fishing families. This study assessed total Hg levels in children's hair. The study group was selected from three public elementary schools in Cananéia, São Paulo State, Brazil (ages 4 to 12 years).

Zinc levels after iron supplementation in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of iron supplementation on zinc distribution in nondialyzed chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Design: Prospective nonrandomized observational study.

Setting: Outpatients of the Nephrology Division at Federal University of São Paulo.

Chemical composition of the fruit mesocarp of three peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) populations grown in central Amazonia, Brazil.

The percent composition, soluble and insoluble food fibers, oil fatty acids and minerals were determined in the mesocarp of fruits of three peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) populations grown in Central Amazonia, Brazil. Amino acids were also determined in one of the populations. The mean protein levels ranged from 1.