Abstract As of August 2019, several oil slicks reached the Brazilian coast, compromising local ecosystems and the economy of coastal communities. In this context, this study aimed to assess seafood quality at the Canavieiras Extractive Reserve (RESEX), located in the state of Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, by determining polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations in local biota following the oil spill. It was designed and carried out in a participatory manner, involving RESEX fishers, shellfish and crab gatherers and managers, as well as university researchers. A total of 72 biota samples were analyzed, and the sum of the 16 priority USEPA PAHs ranged from less than the limit of detection to 30.81 ng g-1 (w.w.). When also considering alkylated compounds, concentrations ranged from 3.53 to 360.75 ng g-1 (w.w.). No sample contained PAHs concentrations suggestive of human consumption risks. No difference in PAHs concentrations between the six studied areas and regarding different biota feeding habits were observed. Higher PAHs concentrations were generally noted in molluscs, as these organisms do not have enzyme systems capable of metabolizing these compounds. This initiative demonstrated the feasibility of participatory construction resulting in a study concerning valued species to local communities, ensuring a contribution to local fishing and marketing activities.

ABSTRACT Scolicidal agents are important in the treatment of cystic echinococcosis. This study evaluated the scolicidal activity of the plant Blepharocalyx salicifolius (H.B.K.) Berg against Echinococcus ortleppi protoscoleces. The parasite species was identified by amplifying a fragment of the gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COX 1). B. salicifolius crude extract at concentrations of 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/mL was analyzed at different times (5, 10, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min). N-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions (100 and 200 mg/ mL) were also analyzed at 5, 10, 15 and 30 min. Both fractions showed 100% scolicidal activity at the concentration of 200 mg/mL at 5 min. Gallic acid, identified as the major compound of the ethyl acetate fraction- was responsible for the observed scolicidal activity. The results showed that crude extract and fractions of B. salicifolius have scolicidal effect against E. ortleppi protoscoleces.

The goals were to estimate nutrients and carbon flow rates between Guanabara Bay and the adjacent coastal waters, to characterize the provenance of the exported/imported organic matter. Samples were collected from different depths over 25 h in two seasons at the bay entrance. Measurements included physicochemical parameters, nutrients, chlorophylls, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate nitrogen (PN), carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic composition, sterols in suspended particulate matter (SPM) and bacterioplankton. Most variables showed higher values in ebb tide events. The flow rates calculated on daily basis and estimated on annual basis revealed the exportation to the continental shelf of 1.27 × 104 kmol year-1 dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), 9.52 × 102 kmol year-1 dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), 2.65 × 104 t year-1 DOC, 1.96 × 104 t year-1 POC, and 2.96 × 104 t year-1 PN. The estimates show the bay contributes with 0.01% of the total global carbon influx to the ocean.

RESUMOEste estudo teve, como objetivo, determinar os efeitos da luminosidade e do tipo de recipiente na produção de mudas de Cassia grandis; para isto foram cultivadas, em um substrato composto por terra vegetal + pó de madeira (1:1), as mudas, em tubete contendo 0,3 dm3 deste substrato e em vasos de plástico contendo 1,0 dm3 do mesmo substrato as quais foram submetidas aos sombreamentos de 50 e 25% e pleno sol. As avaliações foram realizadas a cada duas semanas medindo-se a altura das plantas e o diâmetro do caule, durante o período de oito semanas e ao final da oitava semana a área foliar, a massa seca da parte aérea e raiz, a razão entre altura de planta/diâmetro do caule e o índice de qualidade de Dickson, também foram determinados. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com os tratamentos arranjados em esquema fatorial 3 x 2 [3 níveis de luminosidade (50 e 25% de sombreamento e sem sombreamento) e dois tipos de containers (tubetes de plástico e vaso de plastico)], com quatro repetições cada uma contendo 10 plantas As médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey em nivel de 0,05 de probabilidade e os ajustes das curvas polinomiais de regressão não linear para as características avaliadas foram calculados em função do tempo; os sombreamentos de 25 e 50% foram as melhores alternativas de luminosidade e os tubetes foram os recipientes mais adequados para a produção de mudas de Cassia grandis.

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to determine the effects of the luminosity and type of container on producing Cassia grandis seedlings. Thus, in a substrate composed by topsoil + wood powder (1:1) the seedlings were grown into plastic tubets containing 0.3 dm3 of such substrate, or into plastic pots containing 1.0 dm3 of the same substrate, and subjected to 50 and 25% shading or full sunlight. The assessments were performed every two weeks by measuring plant height and stem diameter, during eight weeks period. At the end of this period, the leaf area, dry mass of shoots and roots, the ratio between height of plant/diameter of stem, and the Dickson quality index were also assessed. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with treatments arranged in a 3 x 2 factorial [3 luminosity levels (50, 25% shading and full sunlight) x 2 types of containers (plastic tubets and clay pots)] with four replicates of 10 seedlings each. Means were compared by Tukey test at 0.05 probability level and adjustments for the non-linear regression polynomial curves for the assessed characteristics were computed in function of time. Shadings of 25 and 50% were the best alternatives to luminosity; and the tubets were the most suitable containers for production of Cassia grandis seedlings.

Os processos de deposição e preservação de matéria orgânica (OM) em sedimentos da Baía de Ilha Grande, sudoeste Atlântico, foram avaliados através de análise elementar (C e N) e de marcadores moleculares (esteróis e n-alcoois). Foram analisadas amostras de quatro testemunhos datados, representando diferentes níveis e tipos de influência antrópica. A concentração total de esteróis variou de 71 a 9.320 ng g-1, com predomínio de 24-etil-colesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-etil-colest-5-en-3β-ol e 24-etil-5a-colest-3β-ol. Entre os n-alcoóis, com concentrações totais entre 130 a 15.407 ng g-1, houve predomínio de compostos de cadeia longa (> C22). A confirmação da origem terrestre ou marinha dos marcadores moleculares selecionados foi realizada por análise de componentes principais (PCA). A PCA revelou, ainda, tendência e eventos que influenciaram o acúmulo de OM nas últimas décadas, como o aumento na ocupação humana na região e a remoção de uma floresta de manguezal ocorrida entre 1940 e 1960. A ausência ou baixa contaminação fecal foi revelada através do esterol coprostanol e índices associados.

The deposition processes and preservation of organic matter (OM) in the sediments of Ilha Grande Bay, SW Atlantic, were evaluated based on elemental composition (C and N) and molecular markers (sterols and n-alcohols). Samples from four dated sediment cores, representing distinct levels and type of human influence, were analyzed. The concentration of total sterols ranged from 71 to 9,320 ng g-1, with 24-ethyl-cholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-ethyl-cholesta-5-en-3β-ol and 24-ethyl-5a-cholesta-3β-ol as the most abundant compounds. The n-alcohols, with a total concentration between 130 and 15,407 ng g-1, were dominated by long-chain compounds (> C22). Assignments of the selected markers to terrestrial or marine sources were evaluated using principal component analysis (PCA). The trends and events that influenced the OM accumulation in the last decades were also revealed by the PCA, as the increasing human settlement in the region and the removal of a mangrove forest occurred between 1940 and 1960. The absence or low level of sewage contamination was indicated by the sterol coprostanol and associated indexes.

O histórico de acumulação em sedimentos de produtos de combustão produzidos na área metropolitana ao redor da Baía de Guanabara foi avaliado através de black carbon (BC) e hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA) como indicadores. A concentração de BC variou de 0,23-0,51%, com uma tendência crescente de acúmulo de massa ao longo dos últimos 118 anos, mas a proporção BC/carbono orgânico caiu nos últimos 30 anos, possivelmete reflexo de eutrofização. Observaram-se as maiores concentrações de HPAs pirolíticos nos períodos entre 1925 e 1976, condizendo com o período subsequente de desmatamento, urbanização e industrialização que ocorreu na bacia da Guanabara. Estes HPAs foram melhor caracterizados pelo índice diagnóstico BFl/(BFl+BePy). Os dados obtidos permitiram caracterizar os principais eventos que influenciaram o padrão dos produtos de combustão: queima de biomassa e de derivados de petróleo, a crise econômica nos anos 1970 e 1990 e a entrada de etanol na matriz energética brasileira.

The accumulation history of combustion products from the metropolitan area around Guanabara Bay was evaluated using black carbon and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as indicators. BC concentration varied between 0.23 and 0.51%, with an increasing mass accumulation tendency over the last 118 years, whereas a decrease in the values of the ratio BC/organic carbon was observed in the upper sediment layers, probably reflecting the enhancement of bay's eutrophication process in the last 30 years. Higher concentrations of pyrolytic PAH were observed between 1925 and 1976, being consistent with the subsequent deforestation, urbanization, and industrialization that occurred in the Guanabara basin in the period. These PAHs were best characterized by the BFl/(BFl+BePy) diagnostic ratio. The data obtained allowed the characterization of the main events that influenced the combustion patterns in the region: burning of biomass and fossil fuel, economic crisis of 1970 and 1990 and the introduction of ethanol in the Brazilian energetic matrix.

The inputs of organic matter derived from natural and anthropogenic sources to Sepetiba Bay were investigated by using aliphatic hydrocarbons and sterols in superficial sediments. Concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 2.65 μg g-1, <0.01 to 17.41 μg g-1 and 0.77 and 9.24 μg g-1 for n-alkanes, UCM (unresolved complex mixture) and total sterols, respectively. The selected markers and ratios among individual compounds showed the major contribution of terrestrial sources to the total pool of sedimentary organic matter in the bay, but the accumulation of autochthonous organic matter increased with distance from the shoreline. The input of petroleum hydrocarbons and sewage (coprostanol in the range 0.01 to 0.43 μg g-1) were also detected, especially in the more urbanized regions of the bay, but at lower levels of contamination when compared to estuaries in other Brazilian coastal regions.

A Baía de Guanabara no Rio de Janeiro tem sofrido profundas alterações ambientais. O aumento da concentração de metais-traço em seus sedimentos está entre as alterações mais relevantes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a contaminação por metais-traço e avaliar a disponibilidade em sedimentos de áreas de manguezais (Surui, Nova Orleans e Piedade). Concentrações de Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu e Al foram determinadas em segmentos de testemunhos após tratamento com 1 mol L-1 de HCl e com HNO3. Fe e Mn foram determinados na lixívia de HNO3 concentrado. As concentrações foram baixas em comparação com aquelas reportadas para a Baía de Guanabara e o Cd mostrou a mais alta recuperação em 1 mol L-1 HCl (90%). Apesar de oxidados ou subóxicos os sedimentos mostraram SAV na faixa de 0,07 to 18,79 mmol g-1 sugerindo heterogeneidade e desequilíbrio aparente. Óxidos de Fe, Mn, carbonatos e matéria orgânica são as fases que mais provavelmente controlam a biodisponibilidade dos metais.

The Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro has undergone profound alterations of its natural environmental conditions. Metal concentration increase in sediments has been reported to be among these alterations. Trace-metal contamination and availability were studied in sediments of 3 mangrove areas of the bay. Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu and Al concentrations were determined in segments of sediment cores, after treatment with 1 mol L-1 HCl and with concentrated HNO3. Fe and Mn were determined in the leach with HNO3. Concentrations were low in comparison to those reported for Guanabara Bay and Cd showed up to 90% recovery in the HCl extract. Sediments found to be oxic to suboxic showed AVS concentrations in range of 0.07 (bottom) to 18.79 mmol g-1(sub-surface) indicating heterogeneity and apparent disequilibrium. Fe and Mn oxides, carbonates and organic matter may be the most important phases controlling metal availability and distribution.