Estadísticas de los gastos en bienes preferentes: Educación y Sanidad

El desarrollo y nivel de calidad que las estadísticas del gasto en educación y sanidad han alcanzado en la actualidad es algo incuestionable. Hace más de tres décadas era impensable compararse con otros países o regiones en términos de gastos públicos con el nivel de desagregación actual

Criterios de Calidad Ambiental: Aplicación a Aguas Limitadas del Golfo de Cádiz

En desarrollo de la Directiva 60/2000/CE Marco de aguas (DOCE nº L 327/1, 22 de diciembre de 2000) y dentro del marco de actuación de la Orden de 14 de febrero de 1997, por la que se clasifican las aguas litorales andaluzas (BOJA nº 27, de 4 de marzo), en la presente Tesis Doctoral se desarrollan metodologías y criterios de calidad ambiental –valores guía y normas de calidad química- para aguas clasificadas como “limitadas” por la normativa andaluza. Para la elaboración de estos criterios de calidad, se han utilizado dos tipos de datos: fisicoquímicos y ecotoxicológicos. Los datos fisicoquímicos se obtuvieron a partir de la caracterización fisicoquímica de cuatro áreas litorales: Ría de Huelva, Bahía de Cádiz, Río Iro y Bahía de Algeciras. Las principales variables analizadas fueron las relativas a nutrientes: nitrógeno, fósforo, silicatos y carbono. A partir de los resultados fisicoquímicos se han determinado los niveles basales de los parámetros fisicoquímicos en cada una de las áreas ambientales. Utilizando aproximaciones estadísticas, se han obtenido valores guía de calidad ambiental, entendidos éstos como concentraciones que no deben aumentar en las aguas al objeto de conservar su calidad. Los valores guía obtenidos se han comparado con los objetivos de calidad vigentes mediante la Orden Andaluza anteriormente citada. Los resultados demostraron que éstos objetivos de calidad están mal diseñados y no proporcionan una adecuada protección a las aguas litorales. Para cada zona litoral, se propusieron nuevos objetivos de calidad o niveles guía, más acordes con la situación actual de contaminación/calidad de las aguas de las cuatro áreas litorales estudiadas. Para la obtención de los valores ecotoxicológicos se seleccionó un conjunto de compuestos específicos presentes en los vertidos de tierra al mar (tensioactivos, pesticidas, metales pesados), y se ensayó la toxicidad de éstos sobre un conjunto de organismos marinos pertenecientes a tres taxones diferentes (microalgas, crustáceos y bacterias). A partir de los resultados de toxicidad, se obtuvieron las normas de calidad química de estos compuestos siguiendo el procedimiento establecido en el Anexo V de la Directiva Marco de Aguas. Estas normas de calidad química deben entenderse como las concentraciones de los compuestos en el agua, que no causan un riesgo para las comunidades acuáticas. Las normas de calidad química se han comparado con los objetivos de calidad de las normativas y se ha analizado críticamente la adecuación o no de las concentraciones legales frente al criterio obtenido a partir de datos ecotoxicológicos. En aquellos casos en los cuales se ha comprobado que los valores legales están mal seleccionados, se han propuesto nuevas normas de calidad química. Finalmente, la conclusión global que se obtiene en este trabajo de investigación es que las aguas limitadas son cuerpos de aguas con morfología, hidrodinámica, presión por vertidos y acciones antropogénicas particulares y específicas, y por tanto, la mejor estrategia para una correcta evaluación de la calidad de estos cuerpos de agua y el control de la contaminación, es tratar a estos sistemas desde la particularidad y no desde la generalidad de los objetivos de calidad de las normativas actuales.794 paginas con anexo

The potential of different marine microalgae species to recycle nutrients from recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) fish farms and produce feed additives

This study researched the use of six microalgae species (N. gaditana, P. lutheri, I. galbana, T. chuii, P. tricornutum and C. gracilis) and a bloom to treat effluent from a marine fish farm and produce quality biomass. More specifically, simulated water from a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) was used. Microalgae culture was carried out under controlled conditions using 18 L bubble column photoreactors under batch and semi-continuous operation. The main parameters analysed were micronutritional requirements, biomass productivity, nutrient removal rate (nitrogen and phosphorus), biomass composition, and quality. Also, based on the results obtained, a quantitative classification of the microalgae was carried out. The results showed that all microalgae required at least trace metals. In certain species, the addition of vitamins was also required for viable cultivation. In the case of biomass productivity under batch operation, values were between 67 mg L−1 d−1 and 7 mg L−1 d−1 using T. chuii and C. gracilis, respectively, and between 71 mg L−1 d−1 and 9 mg L−1 d−1 using T. chuii and N. gaditana under semi-continuous operation. In the case of total dissolved phosphorus removal, no differences were found between species, reaching in all cases final concentrations <0.01 mg L−1. Total dissolved nitrogen removal rate varied between species and operating conditions, being the highest obtained using T. chuii under semi-continuous operation (12.6 mg L−1 d−1) and the lowest with C. gracilis batch operation (0.15 mg L−1 d−1). Biomass composition in terms of protein and lipids varied between species and operating conditions, but quality in terms of amino acids and fatty acids profile remained homogeneous in all cases. Finally, according to the developed score methodology, I. galbana was the microalgae with the highest biomass production score, while T. chuii was for wastewater treatment. © 2021This work was carried out within the SUNRAS Project ?Sustainable and Efficient Management of Marine Aquaculture Effluents using Solar Technologies? (N? AGL2016-80507-R; Plan Nacional de I+D+i 2013?2016) funded by Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Government of Spain. This study was also supported by a Personal Investigador en Formaci?n (PIF) contract (Ref. UCA/REC01VI/2017) funded by Universidad de C?diz. We also would like to acknowledge the technicians of Servicio Central de Investigaci?n en Cultivos Marinos at the Faculty of Marine and Environmental Science (Universidad de C?diz) and Centro Tecnol?gico de Acuicultura de Andaluc?a (CTAQUA) for their support

Removal of emerging pollutants in conventional and microalgae based biotechnology urban wastewater treatment plants

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) reduce portion of the input of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems, but there is no data available about the elimination of emerging contaminants with microalgae technology. The aim of this work was to determine the average mass flows and concentrations of pharmaceuticals in influents and effluents from two sewages treatment plants using conventional and microalgae based biotechnologies and to compare the removal of pharmaceuticals using both depuration technologies. Only between 20 to 60% of five pharmaceuticals groups is reduce in both WWTP using conventional technologies consisting of a pretreatment, primary settling and secondary treatment by aerobic biological reactor. Using microalgae based biotechnologies efficiency of removal pharmaceuticals is higher than conventional technologies and it increase by using DAF (Dissolve Air Flotation) technology to separate algae biomass

Microbial indicators of faecal contamination in waters and sediments of beach bathing zones

This study presents the results obtained of the microbial characterization of waters and sediments of 18 coastal bathing zones of the south-western coast of the Iberian Peninsula. To make this characterization, two indicators of faecal contamination have been selected: faecal coliforms (FC) and Clostridium perfringens (CP). The results show that low concentrations of FC and CP in water not necessarily implies that their concentration in sediment and elutriates has to be low as well. The highest concentrations were found in locations close to the mouth of rivers, and in beaches of low energy and hence low water renewal, and high accumulation of fine sediments. The concentrations of FC were lower than those obtained for CP in most of the sampling locations. Although quality standards for bathing waters do not take the parameter CP into account, it has been demonstrated that it should be a good indicator of faecal contamination

Effect of the test media and toxicity of LAS on the growth of Isochrysis galbana.

In this paper, the toxicity of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) was evaluated in the marine microalga Isochrysis galbana using data of growth inhibition toxicity tests at 96-h exposure time. Toxicity was examined in standard conditions and by means of the modification of two variables of the test media: (1) the dilution water and (2) the content of nutrients in the test medium. For this purpose, a total of 10 toxicity test were designed: five dilution waters, four natural marine waters and one synthetic seawater; each in two different nutritive conditions, saturated nutrient concentration (SC) by the addition of modified f/2 nutritive medium, and natural nutrient concentration (NC), i.e., without the addition of f/2. At threshold toxicity levels, the dilution waters used in the test and the nutrient concentrations did not affect the toxicity of LAS. At IC50 concentrations, the toxicity of LAS is influenced by both variables: under SC conditions, the toxic effect of LAS diminishes, obtaining in all the tests IC50 > 10 mg/L LAS. Under NC conditions, IC50 concentrations ranging between 3.15 and 9.26 mg/L LAS have been obtained

Microalgae biotechnology for simultaneous water treatment and feed ingredient production in aquaculture br

The use of Tetraselmis chui to produce sole feed ingredient and the recovery of nutrients from a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) aquaculture facility was studied. The microalga was cultured in a pilot-scale (6 m3) outdoor raceway reactor located in a sole production plant. First, the growth of the microalgae, the addition of phosphorus and the quality of the resulting water were studied. It was possible to cultivate in semi-continuous mode T. chui using the purge stream of a RAS, obtaining productivities of 15 mg L1 d1, and reaching 36 mg L1 d1 when phosphorus was added. In terms of water quality of the effluent, the pollutants concentration were below discharge limits (suspended solids and total dissolved nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon) -directive 91/ 271/EEC. In the case of Vibrio sp., the concentration in the culture water at the end of the experiments remained below typical environmental concentrations (10 % microalgae

Retinoprotective Effect of Wild Olive (Acebuche) Oil-Enriched Diet against Ocular Oxidative Stress Induced by Arterial Hypertension

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of ocular diseases, including hypertensive eye diseases. The beneficial effects of olive oil on cardiovascular diseases might rely on minor constituents. Currently, very little is known about the chemical composition and/or therapeutic effects of the cultivated olive tree’s counterpart, wild olive (also known in Spain as acebuche—ACE). Here, we aimed to analyze the antioxidant and retinoprotective effects of ACE oil on the eye of hypertensive mice made hypertensive via administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME), which were subjected to a dietary supplementation with either ACE oil or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) for comparison purposes. Deep analyses of major and minor compounds present in both oils was accompanied by blood pressure monitoring, morphometric analyses, as well as different determinations of oxidative stress-related parameters in retinal layers. Aside from its antihypertensive effect, an ACE oil-enriched diet reduced NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) oxidase activity/gene/protein expression (with a major implication of NADPH oxidase (NOX)2 isoform) in the retinas of hypertensive mice. Supplementation with ACE oil in hypertensive animals also improved alterations in nitric oxide bioavailability and in antioxidant enzyme profile. Interestingly, our findings show that the use of ACE oil resulted in better outcomes, compared with reference EVOO, against hypertension-related oxidative retinal damage.Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad, Junta de Andalucía (2017/440; 2020/275; CTS-584)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Gobierno de España (Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2017-2020Programa Estatal de I+D+I PID2019-109002RB-I0

Ecotoxicity and biodegradability of an alkyl ethoxysulphate surfactant in coastal waters.

Alkyl ethoxysulphates (AES) are anionic surfactants widely used in numerous commercial and industrial applications. In spite of the high AES volume consumption a few data concerning the occurrence, fate and effects of AES in marine environments are reported in literature. The objective of this study is to evaluate the biodegradability and toxicity of AES in pristine sea water. Ultimate biodegradation was studied according to the guideline 835.3160 “Biodegradability in sea water” proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Acute toxicity of AES was studied to the microalgae Nannochloropsis gaditana, Isochrysis galbana, Chaetoceros gracilis, Dunaliella salina and Tetraselmis chuii and the invertebrate Artemia franciscana, using culture growth inhibition and death, respectively, as effect criteria. During the degradative process two different stages were observed, which were better described with the first order and logistic kinetic models, respectively. Lag times were 3.3 (stage A) and 26.5 (stage B) days whereas half-lives were 18.6 (stage A) and 49.8 (stage B) days. AES inhibited the microalgae growth, with 96-h EC50 values ranging from 4.68 g L− 1 for D. salina to 24.02 mg L− 1 for I. galbana. Mean 48- and 72-h LC50 values for A. franciscana were 38.30 and 23.92 mg L− 1, respectively. The results indicate an extensive biodegradability of AES in sea water, although at a very slow rate. Acute toxicity was highly dependent on the species tested, being the green alga D. salina the most affected organism. The present study provides relevant data concerning the biodegradability and adverse effects of an AES surfactant on marine organisms, which are useful to establish water quality criteria in a regulatory framework

Selection of microalgae species for the treatment of marine aquaculture effluents: the SUNRAS project

Fisheries and aquaculture are a major source of employment and income on which the livelihoods of 10-12% of the world's population are based. However, the production process has to be improved in order to increase the sustainability. The ratio of Kg of wild fish needed to produce one kilogram of fish called Fish In Fish Out (FIFO), the carbon and water footprint and the discharge of nitrogen and phosphorus into the environment are certain points that must be resolved to increase the sustainability of this industry. Microalgae and aquaculture have traditionally been grown in both freshwater and seawater, two activities that have always been linked due to microalgae are part of the food chain as primary producers and feed different species in larval stages. They are now playing an increasingly important role in the world of wastewater treatment but in the field of aquaculture, this technology is less technologically advanced and often linked to extensive systems. Since the main problem of alternative sources of proteins and fatty acids of terrestrial origin do not have adequate profiles, some authors propose the use of microalgae as a potential substitute for fishmeal and fish oil