Dispersion of hazardous nanoparticles on beaches around phosphogypsum factories

Anthropogenic occurring nanoparticles (NPs) have been one of the principal catalytic components of marine pollution throughout its history. The phosphogypsum (PG) factories present environmental risks and evident marine pollution in different parts of the world. Many of these factors continue to operate, however, some have already been abandoned by the private sector. The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the real nanoparticles (NPs) present on a beach in southern Brazil to illustrate the need to create public policies and projects for environmental recovery. This work focused on real representative sampling of suspended sediments (SSs), and on a modern analytical procedure via advanced electron microscopes (field emission scanning electron microscope-FE-SEM and high resolution transmission electron microscope-HR-TEM coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system-EDS) to analyze NPs containing hazardous elements (HEs). The results presented in this work demonstrate who the size, morphology, among other physical-geochemical characteristics influence in the adsorption of HEs by the NPs and their respective agglomerates. This study is of great importance for carrying out the application of advanced techniques and methods to better understand the formation and transport of NPs on beaches, which allows assisting in the management of waste from plaster factories on a global scale

Nanoparticles and interfaces with toxic elements in fluvial suspended sediment

Studies examining nanoparticles (NPs) and hazardous elements (HEs) contained in suspended sediments (SSs) are vital for watershed administration and ecological impact evaluation. The biochemical consequence of titanium-nanoparticles (Ti-NPs) from SSs in Colombia's Magdalena River was examined utilizing an innovative approach involving nanogeochemistry in this study. In general, the toxicity and the human health risk assessment associated with the presence of some Ti-NPs + HEs in SSs from riverine systems need to be determined with a robust analytical procedure. The mode of occurrence of Ti-NPs, total Ti and other elements contained within SSs of the Magdalena River were evaluated through advanced electron microscopy (field emission scanning electron microscope-FE-SEM and high resolution transmission electron microscope-HR-TEM) coupled with an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (EDS); X-Ray Diffractions (XRD); and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This work showed that enormous quantities of Ti-NPs were present in the river studied and that they displayed diverse geochemical properties and posed various possible ecological dangers. Ti-NP contamination indices must be established for measuring the environmental magnitudes of NP contamination and determining contamination rank among rivers. Finally, SS contamination guidelines must be recommended on an international level. This study contributes to the scientific understanding of the relationship of HE and Ti-NP dynamics from SSs in riverine systems around the world

Air pollutants and their degradation of a historic building in the largest metropolitan area in latin america

Historic buildings that comprise the cultural heritage of humanity are in need of preservation on a worldwide scale in regard to degradation resultant from atmospheric pollutants. The Brazilian Public Market, located in the historic center of the mega city of Sao Paulo, is the object of this research, due to its representation of historical Brazilian architecture. The general objective of this manuscript is to analyze the influence of air pollutants on the degradation of the historic Sao Paulo Public Market in the city of Sao~ Paulo, Brazil. Methodologically, between May 2018 and April 2019, samples of sedimented dust were collected at five points on the side walls of the market’s historic structure, for the analysis of accumulated ultrafine particles (UFPs) and nanoparticles (NPs). A total of 20 samples of particulate matter were collected using self-made passive samplers (SMPSs). Using SMPSs, 12 months of accumulation and deposition were used to sample the atmospheric PM1. The results demonstrate the presence of dangerous elements such as: As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn. Note that EDS coupled with microscopy techniques, points out the risks to human health, due to the presence of these dangerous elements that accumulate in the building’s structure. The results show that 85% of the NPs sampled contained Pb, and 56% contained Pb and Ti, which are harmful to both historic buildings and human health. Air pollution enables the further deterioration of the Sao Paulo Public Market, which is in need of restoration

Avaliação da qualidade de vida, da dor nas costas, da funcionalidade e de alterações da coluna vertebral de estudantes de fisioterapia

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade de vida, dor nas costas, funcionalidade e as alterações da coluna vertebral de estudantes de fisioterapia. Participaram 42 universitários, sendo avaliada a coluna vertebral por meio do arcômetro, a dor nas costas por meio de um questionário multidimensional de dor, a qualidade de vida por meio do questionário SF-36 e funcionalidade a partir do Roland-Morris. Foi realizada estatística descritiva e teste qui-quadrado (α=0,05). Os resultados demonstraram: prevalência de alterações nas curvaturas da coluna vertebral de 38,1%; (n=16); alta prevalência de dor nas costas (69%; n=29); baixa prevalência de comprometimento da funcionalidade (3,4%; n=1); que não há associação entre as alterações nas curvaturas da coluna vertebral e funcionalidade e dor nas costas; e que os escores dos domínios do SF-36 foram maiores que 45, exceto o domínio "dor", cujo escore aproximado foi de 35. Conclui-se que quanto menor os níveis de intensidade da dor melhor o nível de qualidade de vida