Levels of organochlorine contaminants in natural bovine milk marketed in Mojuí dos Campos and Belterra, Brazil

Analyzing the organochlorine pesticide (OCP) content in milk is relevantbecause it helps evaluate the quality of milk that reaches the consumer's table and also helps identify the geographical areas where there is a high possibility of contamination. Accordingly,thispilot project was aimed at determining the extent of contamination by OCP residues and their metabolites in fresh cow's milk in Mojuí dos Campos and Belterra, Pará, using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography coupled with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). The OCPs evaluated in this study weredichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane (DDD)), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (α, β, γ, and δ), endosulfanα and β, andendosulfansulfate. None of the thirty bovine milk samples analyzedshowed any contamination with OCPs.TheOCP content was within the limit of quantification of the method. The results of this study add to the existing knowledge on the quality ofbovine milk produced in these locations. However, further researchon other environmental matricesis required to confirm the results obtained in this study

PAH profiles in suspended particulate matter from an urbanized river within the Brazilian Amazon

Federal University of Pará. Geoscience Institute. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Geoscience Institute. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Geoscience Institute. Belém, PA, Brazil.The distribution, seasonal variation and sources of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Aurá River, a small amazon typical river located in Northern Brazil, were determined. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of SPM revealed a mixture of PAH from different origins and a seasonal variation of PAH primary source for the studied area. Pyrene was the dominant PAH in both studied periods. Total PAH content (ΣPAH) ranged from lower than quantification limit (< LOQ) to 2498.2 ng g−1 dw during the dry season and < LOQ to 2865.8 ng g−1 dw during the wet season. Low molecular weight PAH (LMW) represented 51% of ΣPAH during the dry season and 29% during the wet season. It was noted, by comparing previous data, that the main source of these compounds was altered after the deactivation of an irregular landfill next to the river

Seasonal assessment of trace element contamination in intertidal sediments of the meso-macrotidal Hooghly (Ganges) River Estuary with a note on mercury speciation

University of Calcutta. Department of Marine Science. Calcutta, India.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo. Del. Gustavo A. Madero, CDMX, Mexico.University of Kalyani. International Centre for Ecological Engineering. Department of Ecological Studies. Nadia, India.Thiruvalluvar University. Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.University of Calcutta. Department of Marine Science. Calcutta, India.The spatial and seasonal distribution of trace elements (TEs) (n = 16) in surficial sediment were examined along the Hooghly River Estuary (~ 175 km), India. A synchronous elevation of majority of TEs concentration (mg kg− 1) was encountered during monsoon with the following descending order: Al (67070); Fe (31300); Cd (5.73); Cr (71.17); Cu (29.09); Mn (658.74); Ni (35.89). An overall low and homogeneous concentration of total Hg (THg = 17.85 ± 4.98 ng g− 1) was recorded in which methyl mercury (MeHg) shared minor fraction (8–31%) of the THg. Sediment pollution indices, viz. geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF) for Cd (Igeo = 1.92–3.67; EF = 13.83–31.17) and Ba (Igeo = 0.79–5.03; EF = 5.79–108.94) suggested high contamination from anthropogenic sources. From factor analysis it was inferred that TEs primarily originated from lithogenic sources. This study would provide the latest benchmark of TE pollution along with the first record of MeHg in this fluvial system which recommends reliable monitoring to safeguard geochemical health of this stressed environment

Assessment of DDT and metabolites in soil and sediment of potentially contaminated areas of Belém, Amazon Region, Brazil

Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of DDT and metabolites in surface soils and soil profiles from two areas containing deposits of obsolete pesticides in Belém, Amazon Region, Brazil. DDT and metabolites were extracted by microwave assisted extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Concentrations of total DDT in surface soil samples ranged from 64.22 mg kg-1 in area 1 (A1) to 447.84 mg kg-1 in area 2 (A2). Lower levels were found in soil profiles than at the surface (6.21-21.17 mg kg-1 in A1 and 36.13-113.66 mg kg-1 in A2). pp'-DDT, pp'-DDE and pp'-DDD were detected in sediments at levels of 2.01, 0.96 and 0.35 mg kg-1, respectively. The ratio (DDE + DDD)/ΣDDT was low indicating the recent introduction of DDT to the environment in the two study areas, through the volatilization and atmospheric deposition of the obsolete pesticides

Levels of organochlorine pesticides in Amazon turtle (Podocnemis unifilis) in the Xingu River, Brazil

Universidade Federal do Pará. Programa de Pós-graduação em Zoologia. Belém, PA, Brasil / Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Coordenação de Zoologia. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Núcleo de Altos Estudos Amazônicos. Belém, PA, Brazil.Due to the toxicity and high environmental persistence of organochlorine pesticides in aquatic organisms, turtles have been studied as environment biomonitors. These animals are important sources of protein for the riverside and indigenous peoples of the Brazilian amazon. In the present study, organochlorine pesticide contamination was investigated in Podocnemis unifilis. Liver, muscle and fatty tissue samples were removed from 50 specimens collected from five sampling points located in the Xingu River basin. Fourteen organochlorine pesticides were analysed via gas chromatography with an electron capture detector (CG-ECD). Eight organochlorine pesticides were detected with average concentrations of ∑DDT, ∑Endossulfan and ∑HCH which were 26.17 ± 26.35, 14.38 ± 23.77 and 1.39 ± 8.46 ng g−1 in moisture content, respectively. DDT compounds were the most predominant, with a greater concentration of pp′-DDT in the liver and pp′-DDD in the muscle. Significant differences were noted between the types of tissues studied, and the concentration of OCPs varied between sampling sites

Assessment of Mercury Concentration in Turtles (Podocnemis unifilis) in the Xingu River Basin, Brazil

Many studies on mercury contamination in aquatic biota deal with the effect of consuming metal-contaminated organisms on human health. In this study, we examined the factors that cause mercury contamination in Podocnemis unifilis in the Xingu River Basin of Mato Grosso and Par&aacute; States, Brazil. We quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy with cold vapor the total mercury (THg) content in the liver and muscle samples of 50 Podocnemis unifilis specimens collected from the basin. The liver and muscle samples contained 134.20 &plusmn; 119.30 ng g&minus;1 THg and 24.86 &plusmn; 26.36 ng g&minus;1 THg, respectively. Each chelonian or meal has, on average, 5.34&times; more Hg than the highest level established as acceptable. From the results it can be inferred that, given the weekly consumption of chelonians, the riverine and indigenous communities in the Xingu River Basin are at risk of chronic consumption of Hg in amounts beyond the acceptable limit. The potential high risk to the health of this population is evident; however, the risk classification needs to be further studied

DDT concentration in fish from the Tapajós River in the Amazon region, Brazil

Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Para. Chemistry Faculty. Belem, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Para. Chemistry Faculty. Belem, PA, Brazil.DDT and metabolites were measured in six species of fish collected from the Tapajós River in the village of Barreiras, near the town of Itaituba in the Brazilian Amazon region. The selected fish were the most consumed and economically important to the local people. DDT was used frequently in this region for malaria control. Fish samples were analyzed after extraction by microwave-assisted extraction in hexane/acetone (8:2, v/v) by gas chromatography with electron capture detector. Residues of op&#8242;-DDT and pp&#8242;-DDT and metabolites were detected, including pp&#8242;-DDE, pp&#8242;-DDD, op&#8242;-DDT, and op&#8242;-DDE, in 98 per cent of the samples, with a greater abundance of pp&#8242;-DDT. Total DDT levels were 7.1û249.5 ng g&#8722;1 wet weight (w.w). The DDE/DDT ratio was low, indicating recent exposure to DDT. The study area that may be related to generated waste used in public health campaigns to combat mosquitos (Anopheles spp.), still present in the Amazon environment, that transmit malaria. DDT levels and metabolites found in fish species do not present risks to human health because they are below acceptable limits for consumption

Large-scale agriculture and environmental pollution of ground and surface water and sediment by pesticides in the Brazilian Amazon: the case of the Santarém region

Research funding was provided by the Canada-Brazil Awards–Joint Research Projects Program. This study was financially supported by the Capes/DFATD Program (Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel, Brazil/Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development, Canada), through project number 002/16, granted under the Call # 002/2015 of the Capes General Program for International Cooperation. The first author was the recipient of a full doctoral fellowship by Capes at CDS/UnB in Brazil.University of Brasília. Centre for Sustainable Development. Brasília, DF, Brazil.University of Brasília. Faculty UnB at Planaltina. Planaltina, DF, Brazil.University of Brasília. Institute of Geosciences. Brasília, DF, Brazil.Vale do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri Federal University. Diamantina, MG, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.University of Quebec at Montreal. Institute of Environmental Sciences & GEOTOP. Montreal, Canada.University of Quebec at Montreal. Institute of Environmental Sciences & GEOTOP. Montreal, Canada.The current development model of the agricultural sector in Brazil has considerable potential to cause negative environmental impacts, including the pollution of aquatic ecosystems, as it may contribute to the intensification of erosive processes on deforested soils, to the leaching of eroded materials, and to the consequent siltation of waterbodies with soil particles containing environmental pollutants. We aimed at assessing the occurrence of several pesticide residues in aquatic ecosystems located near large soybean crops of the Santarém region, in the eastern Brazilian Amazon. By adopting a methodological approach combining analytical and environmental chemistry, 10 groundwater samples, 18 surface water, and 15 drainage bottom sediment samples, all collected in streams from the study region, were analyzed. The study included a distributed sampling procedure covering an area of approximately 20 km2, and the potential risks of the studied pollutants and their implications for the region were likewise examined and critically discussed. Results indicate that active ingredients such as the herbicides atrazine and metolachlor were detected in the waters, as well as organochlorine insecticides such as DDTs and endosulfan. The spatialization of the resulting pesticide concentrations in water suggests that the contamination would not be punctual but would rather come from various point sources. As for the sediments, glyphosate and DDT contamination was likewise pervasive. Our findings suggest the need of elucidating the sediment and water polluting effects of large-scale soybean crops in the Amazonian rainforest

Evaluation of the contamination of the soil and water of an open dump in the Amazon Region, Brazil

Ministério de Sanidad, Consumo y Bienestar SocialFederal University of Pará. Graduate in Natural Sciences. Baião, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Coastal Studies Institute. Bragança, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Geosciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Geosciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Coastal Studies Institute. Bragança, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Coastal Studies Institute. Bragança, PA, Brazil.The emergence of cities and the ongoing growth of urban areas have contributed to an overwhelming increase in negative environmental impacts. A major concern is the impact caused by the inadequate disposal of municipal solid waste in open dumps without proper regulation or planning. The negative impacts caused by the inadequate disposal of solid waste include the contamination of groundwater and soils, the proliferation of disease vectors, and odoriferous and visual pollution. One specific problem generated by the disposal of solid waste is the decomposition of the organic matter found in this waste, which generates leachates. These highly soluble substances can percolate through the soil and penetrate bodies of superficial water or the water table. The present study was based on the integration of geophysical data with physicochemical, hydrochemical, and microbiological analyses, as well as the analysis of heavy metal concentrations in water and leachate samples. Contamination was confirmed and may be associated with the leachate produced by the solid waste deposited inadequately at the study site. The results provide insights into important public health and safety issues, and should alert local authorities with regard to the environmental impacts caused by underground contamination in the Amazon town of Mocajuba (Brazil)

Evaluation of Paralytic Shellfish Toxins in Marine Oyster Farming and Microalgae in the Atlantic Amazon Evidences Safety but Highlights Potential Risks of Shellfish Poisoning

Marine phycotoxins are organic compounds synthesized by some species of microalgae, which accumulate in the tissues of filter-feeder organisms such as bivalve mollusks. These toxins can cause acute intoxication episodes in humans, a severe threat to aquaculture and fisheries. In the State of Pará, Brazil, oyster farming has community, artisanal and sustainable bases, using mangroves as cultivation environment and seed banks. In small-scale production, there are often no established methods of safeguarding the health of consumers elevating the potential risks of shellfish poisoning outbreaks. Our study evaluated the presence of phycotoxins in oysters cultivated in five municipalities in the region of the Atlantic Amazon (Pará, Brazil) assessing the quality of the final product. We further evaluated the microalgae, water quality, and the spatio-temporal variation of physicochemical factors in the same area. Diatoms dominated the microalgae composition, followed by dinoflagellates, some of which are reported to be potentially toxic and producers of paralytic shellfish toxins. For the first time, we describe the occurrence of the potentially toxic dinoflagellate Ostreopsis sp. in the Amazon region. Furthermore, for the first time, toxins were detected in oyster farming in the northeast of the State of Pará, namely GTX2,3, STX, and dc-STX nevertheless, with nontoxic values. The identified toxins represent a potential threat to shellfish consumers