Urban air pollution is still an emerging environmental problem, it causes damage to health and is difficult to be controlled in urban centers. The population of large metropolises is often exposed to concentrations of nitrogen oxides (NOx), mainly due to vehicle emissions. Epidemiological studies claim that exposure to these oxides is strongly correlated with the incidence of different types of cancer. This work evaluated the impact of NOx emissions on the air quality of five Brazilian urban centers, using passive sampling. The NO/NO2 ratio indicated photochemical aging in the atmosphere of all the cities studied. Although there has been a predominant trend towards decreasing of nitrogen oxides concentrations in many locations, average annual values > 40 μg m−3 NO2 have been found, in Brazil as well as other parts of the world, what indicates the need to control air pollution in these areas.

Formaldehyde (FA) and acetaldehyde (AA) were determined in the ambient air of five gas stations (GS) in the city of Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil, using three passive samplers exposed simultaneously for 8 h and analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The concentration ranges found were 3.31-5.78 µg m−3 for FA and 10.5-28.2 µg m−3 for AA. These values were below the exposure limits recommended by national and international agencies for occupational environments, however, FA concentrations were above the more restrictive limit (3.30 µg m−3) stablished by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for long-term outdoor exposure. The lifetime cancer risks (LCR) found associated with the exposure of GS employees to these aldehydes over the 30-year period varied between 4.51 × 10−6-8.00 × 10−6 for FA and 2.46 × 10−6-6.60 × 10−6 for AA. These values are above the acceptable limit set by the USEPA (1.0 × 10−6), reinforcing the need for actions to minimize the occupational exposure, mainly to FA, which is associated with nasopharyngeal cancer.

Different fuels are used in Brazil and there is little knowledge about the presence of organic and inorganic acids in the atmosphere of the Brazilian cities. HNO3, HCl, HCOOH and CH3COOH were sampled in the gas phase using passive samplers and thermodiffusion system, in which the H2SO4 particulate was also sampled, in five sites of Salvador. Ion chromatography analyses showed that the organic and inorganic acids measured contributed on average with 89 and 11%, respectively, to the acidity of the city’s atmosphere. The strong correlations between HCOOH, CH3COOH and HCl with CO and NO2 indicated a common source for these compounds, predominantly from vehicular emissions. H2SO4 showed strong correlations with PM10 (particulate matter 10 µm or less in diameter) and with its precursor SO2; and HNO3 with NO2 and NO precursors. Most of the compounds presented negative correlations with meteorological parameters. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) confirmed these observations. The ratios [HCOOH] / [CH3COOH] varied between 0.69-1.9, typical of urban areas.

The sea spray can be transported to long distances, reaching the semiarid regions. In this work, the rainwater and the atmospheric particulate matter were characterized by investigating the presence of sea spray in the atmosphere of the semiarid region of Bahia, Brazil, aiming to study the influence of its transport on the salinization of the waters of the region. Stable isotopes of deuterium and oxygen-18 were also determined in the rain as environmental tracers, evaluating the isotopic ratios 18O/16O and D/H. The atmosphere of the region suffers marine influence, as well as resuspended soil particles and anthropogenic sources. The results demonstrate that the amount of sea spray which reaches the region is insufficient to interfere at the groundwater composition and the cause of its salinization should be attributed to the local geology and the evaporation and salt concentration process due to the high temperatures found in the region.

The phytochemical profile of typical seeds from semiarid areas of Bahia was explored. The desalination capacity of the seeds discovered in previous studies considered the seeds potentially suitable for desalination of water. Coals composed of crushed seeds of umbu (Spondias tuberosa Arr. Cam.) and umburana (Amburana cearensis A. C. Sm.) were prepared by heating at 250 ºC. As the desalination process using these materials involves ion exchange besides adsorption, it became necessary to study their chemical composition to check the possibility of transferring undesirable chemical species to the water during the contact between material and water. None of the tested metabolites were found in umbu coal, which enabled its use in desalination. However, the presence of coumarin and alkaloids in the umburana seeds coal indicated that this material is not suitable for that use.

The goal of this work was to develop a homemade device to desalinate brackish water, using biological material like seeds from different plant species of the semi arid regions. Umbu seeds (Spondias tuberosa Arruda Câmara) were found to be the most appropriate material, removing a higher quantity of salt from the water compared to the other tested materials. The salt content in 1 L of brackish water typical of the region can be removed with only 1 g of the material, if the water is heated to 50 °C and it may also lower the water hardness, achieving drinking water standards.

Objective of this work was identifying superficial water quality parameters, significant to semi-arid hydrographic basins, minimizing costs of water monitoring. The Salitre river basin, an important sub-basin of the São Francisco river, was used as a case study. STD, Cl-, DO, BOD, pH, NO3-, PO4(3-), Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Pb were considered the most significant parameters, with concentration levels found in some stretches of the basin not compliant with the current legislation. Some of the Salitre river basin sediments may represent a risk to the quality of the water body in relation to levels of nickel and zinc.

This work presents a review of sampling and analytical methods that can be applied to atmospheric traces of reduced sulphur compounds (RSC) in the atmosphere. Sampling methodology involving discontinuous methods with preconcentration is mostly used. For the most part, adsorption on solids and cryogenic capture are applied as a procedure. The analysis of these compounds has been done mainly by gas chromatography with FPD, fluorescence and spectrophotometry. Advantages and disadvantages of the methodologies are also mentioned in this paper, aiming to guide the reader towards the most appropriate choice of a sampling and analytical method for RSCs.

Anatoxin-a and its analogues are azabicyclic alkaloids that represent one of the most powerful nicotinic agonists known for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Because of this potent mechanism of action, anatoxin-a and its derivatives represent a target for the discovery of novel drugs. Their syntheses are useful for environmental monitoring and also for pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic and toxicological studies. Some strategies for the synthesis of anatoxin-a and analogous compounds are described herein, covering the period from 1996 to the present date. In this review, emphasis is given to the chemical and toxicological aspects of some variants of anatoxin-a, including homoanatoxin-a and anatoxin-a(s).

This study is a result of undergraduate student participation in the Environmental Chemistry discipline provided by the Chemistry Institute/UFBA. The students were involved in the development of passive samplers, a project of the LAQUAM (Environmental Analytical Chemistry Laboratory). The students' residences and other neighborhoods were used to create a passive sampling network, allowing the measurement of atmospheric levels of pollutants in urban areas and in those under industrial influence. The assembly of the passive samplers, including impregnation of filters and chemical analysis were part of the students' practice tasks. The results were analyzed taking into consideration the Brazilian legislation.

O desempenho de um amostrador passivo foi testado sob exposição em câmara de Teflon. O SO2 fixado no filtro impregnado com solução de Na2CO3 1,0 x 10-2 mol L-1 foi extraído com uso de banho de ultra-som e solução de H2O2 durante 15 min, e determinado como SO4(2-) por cromatografia iônica. O amostrador apresentou bom desempenho, exceto sob condições de estagnação total do ar (0 m s-1), para períodos de exposição muito curtos (0,5 h), em atmosfera contendo O3 > 150 mig m-3 e compostos reduzidos de enxofre em altas concentrações. A umidade relativa do ar (20 - 80%) e exposição à concentração zero não afetaram o desempenho. Mostrou estabilidade por um mês quando estocado a 4 ºC ou por uma semana à temperatura ambiente (~25 ºC). Sua precisão variou entre 3,5 e 23% dependendo da concentração de SO2 e a exatidão entre 91 e 100%.

The performance of a passive sampler was tested under exposure in Teflon chamber. The SO2 trapped in impregnated filter with 1.0 x 10-2 mol L-1 Na2CO3 solution was extracted in ultrasound bath with H2O2 solution for 15 min and determined as SO4(2-) by ion chromatography. The sampler presented good performance except for air in total stillness condition (0 m s-1), for very short exposure periods (0.5 h), for atmosphere with O3 > 150 mug m-3 and for high concentrations of reduced sulfur compounds. The relative humidity of the air (20 - 80%) and the exposure to zero concentration did not affect the sampler performance. It showed stability for one month at 4 ºC or for one week at about 25 ºC. Its precision varied within 3.5 and 23% depending of the SO2 concentration and the accuracy varied from 91 to 100%.

Este trabalho, teve como objetivo estudar a germinação das sementes de pau-de-balsa (Ochroma lagopus Sw., Bombacaceae) em diferentes estágios de maturação aparente dos frutos; a germinação das sementes provenientes de árvores com diferentes diâmetros a altura do peito (DAP) e a germinação das sementes tratadas para quebra de dormência. No primeiro experimento, avaliou-se a germinação das sementes dos frutos verdes, verdosos (verde amarelado), negros (fruto fechado) e negros deiscentes (fruto aberto com painas expostas). No segundo, a germinação das sementes de árvores da mesma idade e com diferentes DAP's: pequeno (5,4 cm), médio (9,1 cm) e grande (13,2 cm). No terceiro, a germinação das sementes com diferentes quebra de dormência: testemunha; água por 24 e 48 horas; água a 80ºC até esfriar; H2SO4 por ½ e 1 minuto com e sem paina; queima da paina em peneira metálica; e semeio de sementes com a paina. As sementes germinaram em gerbox sobre papel de filtro, em câmara de germinação, nas temperaturas de 20ºC, 30ºC e 25ºC, no primeiro, segundo e terceiro experimentos, respectivamente. As sementes de pau-de-balsa germinaram melhor e mais rápido quando coletadas de frutos negros a negros deiscentes, ou quando coletadas de árvores com menor e médio diâmetros, ou quando tratadas com água quente a 80ºC até esfriar, ou com ácido sulfúrico por ½ ou 1 minuto com ou sem paina. Os tratamentos com ácido tem a vantagem de quebrar a dormência da semente e dissolver a paina. As sementes recém colhidas e germinadas não apresentaram dormência tegumentar.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the germination of "pau-de-balsa" (Ochroma lagopus Sw., Bombacaceae) seed as a function of maturation stages of fruits, the germination of seeds harvested from trees with different diameters at height breast (DBH), and the germination of seed with different treatments to break dormancy. In the first experiment, the germination of seeds from fruits of different maturation stages, green, greenish (green yellowish), black (closed fruit) and dehiscent black (fruit opened with displayed seed cotton), was evaluated. In the second, the germination of seeds from trees with the same age (17 months) and with different DBH, small (5.4 cm), medium (9.1 cm) and large (13.2 cm) was evaluated. In the third, the germination of seeds subjected to dormancy breaking treatments, control, water for 24 and 48 hours, water at 80ºC and left to cool, H2SO4 for 1/2 and 1 minute and with and without seed cotton; seed cotton burned on metallic sieve, and sowing of seeds with seed cotton was evaluated. The seeds were germinated on paper in germination chambers at 20ºC, 30ºand 25ºC in the first, second and third experiments, respectively. The pau-de-balsa seeds germinated better and faster when the fruits were black or black dehiscent, or when collected on trees with small or medium diameter, or treated with water at 80ºC, or treated with sulfuric acid for 1/2 or 1 minute with or without seed cotton. The treatments with sulfuric acid has the advantage to breaking dormancy and dissolving the seed cotton. The seeds newly collected and germinated no presented seedcoat dormancy.

OBJETIVO: Determinar os efeitos da injeção subtenoniana posterior de corticóide (ISPC) sobre a pressão intra-ocular (Po) e acuidade visual em uma série de pacientes com uveíte. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo de 18 pacientes que foram submetidos à injeção subtenoniana posterior de acetato de triancinolona (Kenalog® 40 mg - 9 pacientes, 14 injeções) ou acetato de metilprednisolona (Depomedrol® 40mg - 9 pacientes, 15 injeções) para tratamento de inflamação intra-ocular crônica e/ou edema macular cistóide. RESULTADOS: A acuidade visual final melhorou em 92% dos pacientes após a primeira injeção periocular de corticóide. Cinqüenta por cento melhoraram 1 linha e 42% melhoraram pelo menos 3 linhas, sendo que o tempo médio para a melhora foi de 3 semanas. Aumento da pressão intra-ocular ocorreu em 44 % dos pacientes (8 pacientes) com média de 31 mmHg, variando de 21 a 38 mmHg. O aumento da pressão intra-ocular foi mais freqüente nos pacientes jovens e nos que receberam Kenalog®, com início, em média, após 2,5 semanas. CONCLUSÃO: Ainjeção subtenoniana de corticóide é uma forma de tratamento eficaz para a baixa acuidade visual secundária a alguns tipos de uveíte, como uveíte intermediária, doença de Behçet, síndrome de Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada, vasculite retiniana e artrite reumatóide. Porém, pode induzir aumento da pressão intra-ocular em alguns pacientes, especialmente em crianças e jovens.

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of posterior subtenon steroid injection (PSSI) according to intraocular pressure and visual acuity, in patients with uveitis. METHODS: Eighteen patients with diagnosis of uveitis were analized and submitted to posterior subtenon steroid injection of triancinolone acetonide (Kenalog® 40mg - 9 patients, 14 injections) or of methyl- prednisolone acetate (Depomedrol® 40mg - 9 patients, 15 in- jections) for the treatment of chronic eye inflammation or cystoid macular edema. RESULTS: Final visual acuity improved in 92% of the patients after the first injection; 50% improved one line, and 42% improved at least three lines. The mean time for improvement was three weeks. Increase of IOP occurred in 44% of the patients (8 patients), who showed a mean intraocular pressure of 31 mmHg and a range of 21 to 38 mmHg. It was more frequent among young patients, and in the Kenalog® group, with onset after 2.5 weeks on average. CONCLUSION: A subtenoninjection of corticosteroids appears to be an effective treatment for decreased vision associated with some types of uveitis, such as intermediate uveitis, Behçet's disease, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada syndrome, retinal vasculitis and rheumatoid arthritis. However, it may contribute to increase in intraocular pressure in some cases, specially in children and young patients.

OBJETIVO: Descrever 3 casos de crianças submetidas à injeção subtenoniana posterior de acetato de triancinolona (Kenalog® 40mg) para tratamento de uveíte intermediária, com desenvolvimento de glaucoma secundário refratário. MÉTODOS: Relato de caso. RESULTADOS: Três crianças com diagnóstico de uveíte intermediária, submetidas à injeção subtenoniana posterior de acetato de triancinolona para tratamento de inflamação vítrea crônica e/ou edema macular cistóide, desenvolveram glaucoma refratário e foram submetidos à excisão cirúrgica do corticóide de depósito e/ou cirurgia filtrante para controle da pressão intra-ocular (PIO). CONCLUSÃO: Corticóide de depósito periocular pode representar alto risco para desenvolvimento de glaucoma secundário, de difícil controle em crianças. Excisão cirúrgica do corticóide de depósito pode resultar em controle da PIO, porém, em alguns casos, a realização de cirurgia filtrante é necessária.

PURPOSE: To describe 3 cases of children submitted to posterior subtenon steroid injection (PSSI) of triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog® 40mg) for the treatment of intermediate uveitis, with development of refractory glaucoma. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Three children with the diagnosis of intermediate uveitis were treated with PSSI of triamcinolone for the control of a chronic vitreous inflammation and/or cystoid macular edema. After treatment they developed refractory glaucoma and were submitted to surgery, for removal of the steroid deposit and/or filtering surgery to control the intraocular pressure (IOP). CONCLUSION: The use of PSSI can represent a high risk for development of secondary glaucoma, with difficult control in children. Surgery to remove the remaining steroid may control IOP, but in some cases filtering surgery may be necessary.

In a tropical coastal area. During 6 months the composition of rain samples collected simultaneously over 24h with an open collector and with an automatic opened collector (KFA - J¸lich Type) at 500m of the Atlantic coastline of Salvador were compared. All average concentrations were higher for the "total" samples than for the "wet only" samples, except for hydrogen ions, nitrate and ammonium.