Role of the sediments of two tropical dam reservoirs in the flux of metallic elements to the water column

In tropical climates, the high rainfall and temperature, throughout the annual cycle, allow high leaching rates of metallic elements from the basin upstream, which accumulate in the reservoirs. However, the concentration of these elements in natural waters is usually lower than expected, due to the ease of adsorption and co-precipitation in solid phases. We have studied two tropical dam reservoirs in Brazil, Três Marias (Minas Gerais) and Tucuruí (Pará), with the aim of understanding the correlation between physical–chemical parameters of the water column, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the accumulated material and the solubility, mobilization and precipitation of metals in reservoirs. Metals speciation performed in selected samples determined that metallic micronutrients are preferentially adsorbed or retained through precipitation/co-precipitation onto fine-size charged crystalline/amorphous Fe-oxides. Under the prevailing reducing and low pH conditions of the bottom reservoirs, some adsorbed metals (particularly Fe and Mn) are easily released from their metal bearing-phases and mobilized to the aqueous phase of sediments, which show high levels of soluble forms of these elements. However, the solubilization process and the release to the water column are not very extensive, as abundances of metals such as Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu in water are low, although increasing with dept

Assessing the impact of metals loads and other contaminants in large freshwater bodies using hyperspectral remote sensing. A challenge for the future of lakes and rivers management

The use of remote sensing to estimate water quality parameters, such as suspended sediments, metals and nutrients distribution, seems to be a useful technology to use as a preliminary study in large freshwater bodies. Empirical models based on the relationships between spectral measurements and water and sediments quality analytical data, will decrease the number of sampling sites in the basin, since remote sensing is a considered a potential method to estimate water quality variations. In order of having a synergy between hyperspectral data and geochemical, mineralogical and hydrological information, we would like to use the hyperspectral remote sensing technology in two different scenarios: (1) A contamination area by intense agriculture and (2) A contamination area by mine industry

Food waste accounting - Methodologies, challenges and opportunities

Food waste (FW) is a priority both at global and European level. The United Nations (UN) defined the Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target of ‘By 2030, halve per capita global FW at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses’. The European Commission has committed to achieve this goal and defined FW as a priority within the Circular Economy Action Plan. In order to support achievement of the SDG 12.3 target on food waste and maximise the contribution of all actors, the Commission to established the EU Platform on Food Losses and Food Waste (FLW) to support all actors in defining measures needed to prevent food waste, sharing best practice, and evaluating progress made over time. The first step to address FW is to have a robust account of FW generated along the Food Supply Chain (FSC). Studies can be found in the literature that estimate FW at the EU level but results are discrepant because of different approaches, e.g. inclusion of inedible fractions of food and type of measurement. Furthermore, each approach presents strengths and weaknesses that may influence its use for specific purposes. At present, a consolidated framework for FW quantification in Europe is still an open challenge. A robust FW accounting system and FW quantification is primordial to enable monitoring FW and measuring distance to FW reduction targets. Such information is necessary to identify the most important FW streams, to define a baseline to monitor FW reduction over time, and to recognise FW flows that may undergo a valorisation process in a circular economy perspective To contribute to the development of harmonized and robust FW accounting methodologies and FW quantification, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), bioeconomy unit (D1) organized a technical workshop entitled ‘Food waste accounting: methodologies, challenges and opportunities’ with speaker’s representative of the main projects related to FW accounting. The aim of the workshop was to share experiences and perspectives on FW quantification at the European scale, highlighting opportunities and challenges in order to improve FW quantification and ensure better decision support in relation to FW reduction and valorisation. A key message from the workshop was that a harmonize methodology for FW accounting is not yet defined and there is the need of improving and matching methodological aspects and policy questions as the information needs are different depending on the area of policy intervention (either prevention, management or valorisation). Together with a clear framework for FW accounting, a clear and consensual FW definition clearly and in standardized way the aim, definitions and terminology (edible/inedible and avoidable/unavoidable), system boundaries, and, units of measurement is very important. This involves defining. This would enable the comparison of existing data across countries, commodities, and FSCs, which would further help exploring patterns and driving factors of FW generation. It was also identified the need to improve data quality and the development of methods to account liquid waste. Moreover, research is necessary to identify systematically types and sources of uncertainty and variability within the FW accounting framework and provide guidelines and tools to assess them. Another challenge to be addressed is the identification of FW drivers is of extreme relevance for both designing properly the framework for primary data collection and defining effective reduction strategies.JRC.D.1-Bio-econom

Geochemistry of metals in the bottom sediments of tropical dam reservoirs in San Francisco River (Três Marias, MG) and Tocantins River (Tucuruí, PA), Brazil.

In tropical climates, the high rainfall and temperature, throughout the annual cycle, allow high leaching rates of metallic elements from the basin upstream, which accumulate in the reservoirs. However, the concentration of these elements in natural waters is usually lower than expected, due to the easiness of adsorption and co-precipitation in solid phases. We have studied two tropical dam reservoirs in Brazil, Três Marias (Minas Gerais) and Tucuruí (Pará), with the aim at understanding the correlation between physical-chemical parameters of the water column, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of the accumulated material and the solubility, mobilization and precipitation of metals in reservoirs. Metals speciation performed in selected samples assess that metallic micronutrients are preferentially adsorbed or retained through precipitation/co-precipitation onto fine-size charged crystalline/amorphous Fe-oxides. Under the prevailing reducing and low pH conditions of the bottom reservoirs some adsorbed metals (particularly Fe and Mn) are easily released from their solid hosts and mobilized to the aqueous phase of sediments, which show high levels of soluble forms of these elements. However, the solubilisation process and the release to the water column are not very extensive, as abundances of metals such as Fe and Mn in water are low, although increasing with depth

Bioaccessibility by perspiration uptake of minerals from two diferent sulfurous peloids

The risks associated with the use of peloids in thermal centers, spas, or at home, must be tested to develop appropriate safety guidelines for peloids formulations and the release of substances of high concern. Additionally, the beneficial effects of some elements on human health should be assessed to aid in interpreting the therapeutic action and effectiveness of pelotherapy on dermatological or osteomuscular disorders. Therefore, a methodology was developed to better understand the biogeochemical behavior of the elements in formulated peloids. Two peloids were formulated with the same clay and two different sulfurous mineral-medicinal waters for 90 days, with light stirring every 15 days. Bentonite clay, with a high content of smectite and Ca and Mg as the main exchangeable cations, and high heat capacity, was used. The selected mineral-medicinal waters were collected from two Portuguese thermal centers with recognized therapeutic efficacy for rheumatic, respiratory and dermatological pathologies. The peloids were used without drying and withdrawn directly from the maturation tank, and a mixture of bentonite and demineralized water was prepared as a reference sample. A stabilized, ready-to-use, artificial perspiration test was used to simulate the peloids' interaction with skin. Thirty-one elements extracted from the two prepared peloids were analyzed using ICP-MS. The data were analyzed and related to the mineralogical composition of the original clay and supernatant composition of the maturation tanks. The content of some potentially toxic elements and metals' bioaccessibility by perspiration showed very low solubility and undetectable amounts extracted from the studied samples. This analytical method provided reliable information on dermal exposure and the identification of some elements that may enter the systemic circulation, requiring implementation of surveillance and control measures.Open access funding provided by FCT|FCCN (b-on). This research was funded by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and Exatronic, Lda, Grant Number SFRH/BDE/11062/2015 and also supported by GeoBioTec Research Centre (UIDB/04035/2020), funded by FCT, FEDER funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness Factors COMPETE

Elaboração de chaves de classificação da ocupação do solo em imagens de satélite

Tese de mestrado em Engenharia Geográfica, apresentada à Universidade de Lisboa, através da Faculdade de Ciências, 2014Esta dissertação descreve o trabalho desenvolvido no IFAP - Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas, I.P., no âmbito do Mestrado em Engenharia Geográfica. O trabalho incidiu essencialmente na integração e acompanhamento das atividades desenvolvidas na Secção de Parcelário, e teve como tema de estudo a elaboração de chaves de interpretação da ocupação do solo e o desenvolvimento de um sistema de verificação célere das declarações prestadas pelos agricultores. Na vertente de integração das atividades que se desenvolvem no Instituto, produziram-se e controlaram-se posicionalmente ortofotografias, correspondentes às Folhas 410 e 411, da série M888 da Carta Militar de Portugal do Instituto Geográfico do Exército (IGeoE). No âmbito da Deteção Remota, foram utilizadas imagens de muito alta resolução espacial, provenientes do satélite GeoEye-1. Utilizaram-se quatro regiões distintas de Portugal: Reguengos de Monsaraz e Alvito, para a produção, controlo posicional e equalização de ortoimagens; e Vale de Cambra e Palmela, para o desenvolvimento do tema de estudo. A produção de ortofotografias e de ortoimagens, englobou três fases importantes, tais como: a triangulação aérea e em bloco (respetivamente), a extração do modelo digital do terreno de forma automática e na fase final a respetiva ortoretificação. O desenvolvimento do tema de estudo considerou as seguintes fases: a escolha das áreas de estudo e definição da nomenclatura a utilizar, a demarcação das áreas de treino, a classificação automática das imagens de satélite através de um método de classificação supervisionado e a sua avaliação. Por fim foi ainda desenvolvida uma metodologia de extração automática das zonas não agrícolas para verificação das áreas declaradas, nos pedidos de ajuda comunitários. No decorrer deste trabalho, a análise de resultados é realizada posteriormente à descrição e metodologia utilizadas, sendo o último capítulo destinado às conclusões finais.The dissertation describes the role of activities developed at IFAP - Instituto de Financiamento da Agricultura e Pescas, I.P., in order to finish the Master Degree in Geomatic Engineering. The thesis was focused on the enrolment of the student in the development of the current activities of the IFAP Cadastral Section (1st part) and in the elaboration of interpretation keys for the soil occupation, supporting the development of a simple and quick check system for the farmers declaration about cultures (2nd part). Concerning the enrolment of the student on the Institute current activities (1st part), particularly in the production of orthophotographies from aerial images, and making its positional control for the geographic area correspondent to Sheet 410 e 411 of the Military Chart of Portugal, Series M888, from the Instituto Geográfico do Exército (IGeoE). Regarding remote sensing field (2nd part), it were used very high spatial resolution images from GeoEye-1 satellite. The satellite images cover four distinct regions of Portugal: Reguengos de Monsaraz and Alvito (in the South) were used for the production of ortoimages and it was made its positional control and equalization. The satellite images that cover the area of Vale de Cambra (in the North) and Palmela (at the centre) were used for the thematic investigation development. The production of ortophotoimages and ortoimages were made in digital environment and divided in three main steps: aerial triangulation and on block (accordingly), the automatically digital elevation model extraction and finally the orthorectiphication. The thematic investigation and development was divided according the follow main tasks: the study area selection and the nomenclature to use in the classification of the soil occupation, the training areas demarcation, the automatic classification of the satellite images using a supervised classifier and the results evaluation. The final task considered the development of a methodology to automatically extract the non-agriculture areas declared on the European guarantee funds for agriculture. The results are discussed after the parts description and methodologies, the chapter was final reserved to ending considerations

Bioaccessibility by perspiration uptake of minerals from two different sulfurous peloids

Testing the risks of peloid usage in thermal centers, spas, or at home is essential for establishing safety guidelines regarding peloid formulations and releasing concerning substances. Additionally, evaluating the beneficial effects of specific elements on human health helps understand the therapeutic action and effectiveness of pelotherapy for dermatological or musculoskeletal disorders. A methodology was developed to study the biogeochemical behavior of elements in formulated peloids. With periodic stirring, two peloids were created with the same clay and two different sulfurous mineral-medicinal glasses of water for 90 days. Bentonite clay, rich in smectite and primary exchangeable cations Ca and Mg, with high heat capacity, was used. The mineral-medicinal waters were collected from recognized Portuguese thermal centers for their efficacy in treating rheumatic, respiratory, and dermatological pathologies. The peloids were used directly from the maturation tank without drying, and a reference sample of bentonite mixed with demineralized water was prepared. An artificial perspiration test simulated the peloids’ interaction with the skin. Thirty-one elements extracted from the two prepared peloids were analyzed using ICP-MS. The data were analyzed and compared to the original clay's mineralogical composition and the maturation tanks' supernatant composition. The solubility of potentially toxic elements and the bioaccessibility of metals through perspiration were low, with undetectable amounts extracted from the samples. This analytical method provided reliable information on dermal exposure and identifying elements that may enter the bloodstream, requiring the implementation of surveillance and control measures.Acknowledgement. FCT funded this research—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia and Exatronic, Lda, Grant Number SFRH/BDE/11062/2015 and also supported by GeoBioTec Research Centre (UIDB/04035/2020), funded by FCT, FEDER funds through the Operational Program Competitiveness Factors COMPETE

In vitro assessment of oral and respiratory bioaccesibility of trace elements of environmental concern in Greek fly ashes: assessing health risk via ingestion and inhalation

Fly ash engender significant environmental and human health problems due to enhanced contents of potentially harmful trace elements (TrElems). This study aims to evaluate human exposure to TrElems via a combined ingestion (i.e., oral bioaccessibility) and inhalation (i.e., respiratory bioaccessibility) pathway. Five fly ash samples were collected from power plants operating in the main lignite basins of Greece, while the ingestible (<250 μm) and inhalable (<10 μm) particle size fractions were utilized. The Unified Bioaccessibility Method (UBM) was utilized to assess the oral bioaccessibility, while the respiratory bioaccessible fractions were extracted using the Artificial Lysosomal Fluid (ALF). All studied FAs exhibited significantly higher contents in Ba, Cr, Ni, V and Zn. Cadmium was presented relative enriched in the finer size fraction (<10 μm), while Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni and V were depleted. The UBM-extractable concentrations fluctuated greatly among the studied FAs, while notably lower bioaccessible contents were recorded in the gastrointestinal phase. On the other hand, ALF-extractable concentrations were surprisingly higher than the corresponding UBM-extractable ones in the gastric phase. The oral bioaccessibility of the studied TrElems ranged from 12.5 to 100%, while respiratory bioaccessibility presented high values exceeding 45% on average. A significant effect of fly ash type on human bioaccessibility was revealed. Thus, high-Ca FAs exhibited significantly higher bioaccessibility of the studied TrElems via ingestion, while a relatively higher bioaccessibility via inhalation was observed for high-Si FAs. Regarding non-carcinogenic health risk via ingestion and inhalation, Cr and Co exhibited the highest HQing and HQinh values, however there were significantly lower than safe level (HQ < 1). On the contrary, Cr was the dominant contributor to carcinogenic risk with CR values being well above threshold or even tolerable risk levels.publishe

Current trends in the traceability of geographic origin and detection of species-mislabeling in marine bivalves

Marine bivalves are increasingly consumed worldwide, with their complex supply chain being particularly prone to fraud. This scenario drives economic losses and is a threat to public health, with multiple recent food worries driving consumers to demand more transparency and information on the seafood they buy. To increase consumers confidence in bivalves and enforce current legislation, robust tools are needed to fight species mislabeling and confirm the place of origin of bivalves being traded. The present study provides a critical overview based on a databases search, over the traceability of geographic origin and detection of species-mislabeling in marine bivalves, summarizing the tools currently available to confirm claims on these topics along the supply chain. We also identify current trends on the use of tools, pinpoint which countries contribute to advance the state of the art on these topics, and highlight the bivalve groups/species being more commonly surveyed. The most used tools to expose species mislabeling in marine bivalves are DNA and fatty acid analysis, while elemental analysis is the most commonly employed approach to confirm their geographic origin. Stable and unstable isotope analysis, as well as metabolomics, are also starting to be increasingly used to verify species authenticity and provenance in marine bivalves. Further studies are still needed to identify annual/seasonal variations and determine if these can be a constraint for the optimization of protocols to fight fraudulent practices. The implementation of an open global database to allow realtime data comparison will be paramount to advance the state of the art.publishe

Suggestions to improve data coverage and comparability in food waste accounting studies across the EU

Member States are now obliged to monitor the generation of food waste along the food supply chain and to take measures to limit it. To contribute to the harmonization of food waste quantification in the EU, the European Commission has published a delegated act establishing a common methodology and minimum quality requirements for the uniform measurement of food waste generated in Member States. A review of studies quantifying food waste at Member State level carried out by the European Commission Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) unveils big discrepancies in the state-of-play in food waste accounting across Member States. Only a few countries have quantified food waste along the entire food supply chain. Moreover, the studies reviewed were developed following different quantification approaches, including the adoption of different food waste definitions, which limit their comparability. Based on the review conducted, this report summarizes the main limitations and data gaps encountered that hinder comparability of the results, in light of what is required by the delegated act. Issues identified include the food waste definition used, the assessment of edible and inedible food waste, the geographical and temporal scope and system boundaries, the quantification of food waste drained as/with wastewater, the choice of the measurement method, the use of primary and/or secondary data, the adoption of sampling and upscaling procedures, and the assessment of the uncertainty of the results. Suggestions are provided to support Member States in addressing the limitations and data gaps encountered. The harmonization of food waste quantification across the Member States is essential to ensure the comparability of the results and to assess the performance of the EU towards target 12.3 defined under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.JRC.D.1-Bio-econom