Urban sediment particle size and pollutants in Southern Brazil

Background, aim and scope: Studies of particulate-associated pollutants, or PAPs, in urban areas have become necessary due to their potentially deleterious effects on the environment. However, it is not just the sediments themselves which are problematic but also their particle size composition, which has a great influence on their capacity to adsorb and transport pollutants. This paper presents the particle size distributions and concentrations of five metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) of urban sediments collected from paved streets and gully pots from 20 cities in southern Brazil. The cities have different characteristics and hence sources of PAPs associated with differing geologies, soil types and type of urbanisation. Studies of this nature enable elucidation of the relationship between diffuse sources such as streets and gully pots and the likelihood of PAPs to subsequently pollute the urban aquatic environment. Materials and methods: Sediment samples were taken at random from paved streets and gully pots in 20 cities in Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil by means of a portable vacuum cleaner to avoid loss of finer particles. The particle sizes of the samples were measured using a Cilas® 1180 laser particle analyzer, and the concentrations of five metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined by wet acid digestion (HCl–HF–HClO4–HNO3) followed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy on th

Avaliação do desempenho das ações e serviços de controle da Tuberculose pela estratégia saúde da família

Introduction: Front of the persistence of tuberculosis in several municipalities in the country, the Ministry of Health (MS) established the National Tuberculosis Control Plan (NTCP), whose goals were to integrate 100% of the Brazilian municipalities in the fight against the disease. Objective: To evaluate the performance of tuberculosis (TB) control actions and services of the Family Health Strategies in the city of Salgueiro-PE. Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative and descriptive survey study that evaluated health services in the city of Salgueiro- Pe, involving 40 participants. The data were selected through the steps of specific questions for the evaluation of TB, in addition to the questions on the epidemiological situation and the current state of health. In order to know the conditions for the control of TB in the municipality, a script was also elaborated with orientations directed to the manager. Results: The results of our study showed a population aged from 34 to 59 years with a predominance of males (70%) and incomplete elementary school (37.5%). Regarding the place of diagnosis, the hospital had a higher prevalence of cases diagnosed with tuberculosis with 62.5%. 85,0% performed the Directly Observed Treatment. The averages of the evaluated actions showed that the municipality of Salgueiro-PE does not develop actions of health education and active search of symptomatic respiratory patients, The results were favorable only for the accomplishment of sputum bacilloscopy, monthly consultations of control and medical monitoring. Conclusion: The results showed weaknesses in the performance of actions and services by the Family Health Strategy in the municipality of Salgueiro, with damage to TB control and treatment.Introdução: A atenção básica é resultado do desenvolvimento e consolidação do SUS através do programa de Estratégia Saúde da Família. Diante do quadro de persistência da tuberculose em vários municípios do País, o Ministério da Saúde (MS) estabeleceu o Plano Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose (PNCT) cujas metas eram integrar 100% dos municípios brasileiros na luta contra a doença. Objetivo: Avaliar o desempenho das ações e serviços de controle da tuberculose (TB) da Estratégia Saúde da Família no município de Salgueiro-PE. Método: Trata-se de estudo transversal, quantitativo e descritivo de inquérito que avaliou serviços de saúde na cidade de Salgueiro-PE, envolvendo 40 participantes. Os dados foram coletados através de questionário com perguntas específicas para cada componente organizacional essencial da atenção básica para as ações de controle da TB, além de perguntas sobre o perfil do paciente, informações clínicas epidemiológicas e estado atual de saúde. A fim de conhecer as políticas realizadas no controle da TB no município em  estudo, foi também elaborado um roteiro com perguntas direcionadas ao gestor. Resultados: Houve predominância do sexo masculino com 28 (70%), com ensino fundamental incompleto 15 (37,5%) e com faixa etária de 34 a 59 anos de idade. Quanto ao local do diagnóstico, o hospital teve maior prevalência de casos diagnosticados com tuberculose com 62,5%, os que realizavam tratamento supervisionado foram 85,0%. As médias das ações avaliadas demonstraram que o município de Salgueiro-PE não desenvolve ações de educação em saúde e busca ativa de sintomáticos respiratórios, obtendo médias favoráveis apenas para realização da baciloscopia de diagnóstico, consultas mensais de controle e acompanhamento medicamentoso. Conclusão: Houve fragilidades no desempenho das ações e serviços pela estratégia saúde da família no munícipio de Salgueiro, com prejuízos ao controle e ao tratamento, sendo necessário o fortalecimento das ações e serviços no combate à doença

A STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF LAND USE AND OCCUPATION ON BASIN WATER QUALITY THROUGH MULTIVARIATE STATISTICS

ABSTRACT Without effective actions to improve environmental management, water resources tend to become scarce. Thus, this study aimed to understand the processes influencing the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the water due to land uses and occupation in the Ipê stream basin, in Ilha Solteira - SP (Brazil), regarding the dependence of the analyzed variables. Monitoring of chemical, physical, and biological water quality was performed from 2006 to 2011, and the records of land use and occupation in 2011. A factorial multivariate analysis allowed us to understand that the processes in densely populated areas increased degradation of water by the input of organic loads, yet those of farming areas enhanced the degradation of the chemical and physical quality of spring waters. Therefore, installing irrigation systems near populated areas, for crops consumed in natura, may compromise this agricultural activity, as well as the absence of water filtration systems downstream agricultural areas. Furthermore, we concluded that multivariate statistics is a powerful tool to detect these influencing processes in water quality. In this study, this type of analysis played an important role isolating the processes acting on water quality

Uso do solo e monitoramento dos recursos hídricos no córrego do Ipê, Ilha Solteira, SP

Brazil has great potential of water resources, however, with deficiency in terms of qualitative and quantitative monitoring and knowledge of the influences of land use. So, this study had the purpose of presenting the qualitative and quantitative monitoring of water for irrigation and the influences caused by the use and occupation of land in the watershed of Ipê stream, in the municipality of Ilha Solteira, São Paulo. The qualitative monitoring was conducted from 2006 to 2011 and the quantitative monitoring from 2009 to 2011. In order to evaluate the influences, the Pearson correlation analysis was used. It was found that the watershed is mostly made up by the crop of sugar cane and the use in conflict with areas of permanent preservation are the fallow areas and pasture. The watershed is characterized with high concentrations of iron and coliforms, originating from degraded pastures and irregular use of urban and rural occupation. The small permanent preservation areas, bad soil conservation and expansion of urban areas imply in the deterioration of the quality and availability of water, generating socio-economic and environmental impact in the area.UNESP, Campus Jaboticabal, Rua Prof. Valdir Pedro Morano, CEP 14883-260, Jaboticabal, SPUNESP, Campus Ilha Solteira, Av. Brasil, 56, Centro, CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, SPUNESP, Campus Jaboticabal, Rua Prof. Valdir Pedro Morano, CEP 14883-260, Jaboticabal, SPUNESP, Campus Ilha Solteira, Av. Brasil, 56, Centro, CEP 15385-000, Ilha Solteira, S