Demetallization of Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm: A preliminary study

Objectives: To determine the concentration of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions after the application of chelator to Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Material and Methods: Fifty bovine maxillary central incisors were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for 60 days. The following were used as irrigation solutions: 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) combined with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), distilled water (pH 3, 7 and 10), and 2.5% NaOCl. Each solution was kept in the root canal for five minutes. Fifteen uncontaminated root canals were irrigated with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10). Six teeth were used as bacterial control. The number of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) values were used for descriptive statistics. Results: Calcium chelation using 17% EDTA at pH 7 was higher than at pH 3 and 10, regardless of whether bacterial biofilm was present. The highest concentration of iron occurred at pH 3 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. The highest concentration of manganese found was 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA at pH 7 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. Zinc levels were not detectable. Conclusions: The pH of chelating agents affected the removal of calcium, iron, and manganese ions. The concentration of iron ions in root canals with bacterial biofilm was higher after the use of 17% EDTA at pH 3 than after the use of the other solutions at all pH levels

Demetallization of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm: a preliminary study

Objectives To determine the concentration of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions after the application of chelator to Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Material and Methods Fifty bovine maxillary central incisors were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for 60 days. The following were used as irrigation solutions: 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) combined with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), distilled water (pH 3, 7 and 10), and 2.5% NaOCl. Each solution was kept in the root canal for five minutes. Fifteen uncontaminated root canals were irrigated with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10). Six teeth were used as bacterial control. The number of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) values were used for descriptive statistics. Results Calcium chelation using 17% EDTA at pH 7 was higher than at pH 3 and 10, regardless of whether bacterial biofilm was present. The highest concentration of iron occurred at pH 3 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. The highest concentration of manganese found was 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA at pH 7 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. Zinc levels were not detectable. Conclusions The pH of chelating agents affected the removal of calcium, iron, and manganese ions. The concentration of iron ions in root canals with bacterial biofilm was higher after the use of 17% EDTA at pH 3 than after the use of the other solutions at all pH levels

Particulate material from a Brazilian agro-industrial region impacted by sugar cane: chemical characterization, identification of markers, environmental and health implications

Apesar da crescente mecanização, a queima da palha da cana-de-açúcar no Estado de São Paulo ainda emite elevada carga de material particulado (MP) para a atmosfera. Este trabalho objetiva a caracterização química desse MP, para avaliar sua importância em termos ambientais e na saúde. Amostras de MP coletadas em Ourinhos e Araraquara apresentaram concentrações dos marcadores de queima de biomassa: levoglucosano (L), manosano (M) e galactosano (G), maiores e mais variadas nos períodos noturno e de safra, devido à maior intensidade das queimadas. As concentrações médias obtidas para amostragens de 24h (ng m-3; n=73) foram de: L=116±82, M=16,4±14,7 e G=10,7±9,3. Levoglucosano foi determinado predominantemente em partículas finas (58-89%), enquanto os outros dois anidroaçúcares tiveram distribuição mais homogênea. A correlação linear entre L e K+ foi fraca, e a razão L/K+ foi menor que na Amazônia, indicando a presença de partículas de solo. A razão L/M (9±5; n=105) reforça a importância da queima de cana-de-açúcar na formação do MP, e pode ser útil para a caracterização do tipo de biomassa queimada e do processo de combustão. No estudo de especiação química foi identificado que os n-alcanos variaram de 0,24 a 118 g m-3, sendo as razões de diagnóstico aplicadas aos homólogos n-alcanais, n-alcanonas, n-alcanóis e ácidos n-alcanóicos decisivas para comprovar que a queima de biomassa foi a fonte dominante de MP para a atmosfera. A soma das concentrações dos hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos nas amostras variou de 2 a 39 ng m-3, sendo o reteno o mais abundante (14-84%). Para quatro das seis amostras de safra analisadas, o índice benzo(a)pireno equivalente foi superior (2,3; 1,9; 1,6 e 1,1 ng m-3) ao valor limite recomendado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (1,0 ng m-3), demonstrando que a queima da cana-de-açúcar pode emitir concentrações preocupantes de compostos com potencial carcinogênico e mutagênico. A emissão de compostos orgânicos para atmosfera foi de até 123 µg m-3 na safra e 0,82 µg m-3 na entressafra. As maiores concentrações de compostos polares foram observadas em amostras de safra, porém, em termos percentuais, a proporção de n-alcanos chegou a 96%. No entanto, em termos absolutos, a massa de carbono orgânico solúvel emitida foi maior na safra. A soma das concentrações dos açúcares quantificados por CG-EM correspondeu de 26 a 78% do açúcar total, indicando que a fração hidrofílica do MP pode ser maior que a determinada pelo fracionamento. O caráter hidrofílico do MP emitido durante a queima de cana-de-açúcar pode influenciar na formação de núcleos de condensação de nuvens e no regime de chuvas regional.Although there is an increasing mechanization of the sugar cane harvesting practice in São Paulo State (SP), the emission of particulate matter (PM or aerosol) to the atmosphere due to leaf burning is still high. The aim of this work is to perform a chemical characterization of this atmospheric aerosol to evaluate its importance related to environmental and health issues. The concentrations of the biomass burning markers: levoglucosan (L), mannosan (M) and galactosan (G), determined in the aerosol samples collected in Ourinhos and Araraquara (SP), were higher and more variable in the night samples and during the harvest period, when most of the biomass burning activities occurs. The average concentrations (ng m-3) for samples collected during 24h (n=73) were: L=116±82, M=16.4±14.7 and G=10.7±9.3. Levoglucosan was found predominantly in fine particles (58-89%), while the other two anhydrosugars had a more homogeneous distribution. The linear correlation between L and K+ was weak, and the L/K+ ratio was smaller than the one found in the Amazon, indicating the presence of soil re-suspension particles. The L/M ratio (9±5; n=105) strengthen the evidence that sugar cane leave burning was the main source of the regional aerosol. This ratio can be useful to characterize the type of biomass that is being burnt and the process of combustion. In the chemical speciation study, it was identified that n-alkanes ranged from 0.24 to 118 g m-3. The diagnostic ratios applied to the n-alkanals, n-alkanones, n-alkanols and n-alkanoic acids homologous series were vital to prove that the biomass burning was the dominant source of aerosols to the atmosphere. The sum of the concentrations of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the samples ranged from 2 to 39 ng m-3, and retene was the most abundant (14-84%). Four out of six samples of aerosol samples from the harvest period analyzed, had the benzo(a)pyrene equivalent index (2.3; 1.9; 1.6 and 1.1 ng m-3) higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization (1.0 ng m-3), demonstrating that sugar cane burning can emit unsafe concentrations of compounds with carcinogenic and mutagenic potential. The emission of organic compounds to the atmosphere was up to 123 µg m-3 in the harvest period, compared to 0.82 µg m-3 in the non-harvest period. The largest concentrations of polar compounds were observed in samples from the harvest period, however, in percentage terms, the proportion of n-alkanes (non-polar) reached 96%. Nevertheless, in absolute terms, the mass of soluble organic carbon emitted was larger in the harvest period. The sum of the sugars concentrations quantified by gas chromatography in this work corresponded from 26 to 78% of the total sugar content, indicating that the hydrophilic fraction of the aerosol can be larger than that determined using the fractionation method. The hydrophilic character of the aerosol emitted during the sugar cane burning may affect the formation of cloud condensation nuclei and the regional rain pattern

Demetallization of Enterococcus faecalis Biofilm: A preliminary study

Objectives: To determine the concentration of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions after the application of chelator to Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Material and Methods: Fifty bovine maxillary central incisors were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for 60 days. The following were used as irrigation solutions: 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) combined with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), distilled water (pH 3, 7 and 10), and 2.5% NaOCl. Each solution was kept in the root canal for five minutes. Fifteen uncontaminated root canals were irrigated with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10). Six teeth were used as bacterial control. The number of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) values were used for descriptive statistics. Results: Calcium chelation using 17% EDTA at pH 7 was higher than at pH 3 and 10, regardless of whether bacterial biofilm was present. The highest concentration of iron occurred at pH 3 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. The highest concentration of manganese found was 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA at pH 7 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. Zinc levels were not detectable. Conclusions: The pH of chelating agents affected the removal of calcium, iron, and manganese ions. The concentration of iron ions in root canals with bacterial biofilm was higher after the use of 17% EDTA at pH 3 than after the use of the other solutions at all pH levels

Demetallization of enterococcus faecalis biofilm: a preliminary study

Objectives: To determine the concentration of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions after the application of chelator to Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Material and Methods: Fifty bovine maxillary central incisors were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for 60 days. The following were used as irrigation solutions: 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) combined with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), distilled water (pH 3, 7 and 10), and 2.5% NaOCl. Each solution was kept in the root canal for five minutes. Fifteen uncontaminated root canals were irrigated with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10). Six teeth were used as bacterial control. The number of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) values were used for descriptive statistics. Results: Calcium chelation using 17% EDTA at pH 7 was higher than at pH 3 and 10, regardless of whether bacterial biofilm was present. The highest concentration of iron occurred at pH 3 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. The highest concentration of manganese found was 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA at pH 7 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. Zinc levels were not detectable. Conclusions: The pH of chelating agents affected the removal of calcium, iron, and manganese ions. The concentration of iron ions in root canals with bacterial biofilm was higher after the use of 17% EDTA at pH 3 than after the use of the other solutions at all pH levels

Total sugars in atmospheric aerosols: an alternative tracer for biomass burning

Ambient aerosols were collected in an agro-industrial region of Sao Paulo State (Brazil) between May 2010 and February 2012 (n = 87). The atmosphere of the study region is highly affected by the emissions of gases and particles from sugar and fuel ethanol production, because part of the area planted with sugarcane is still burned before manual harvesting. This work proposes the quantification of total sugars as an alternative chemical tracer of biomass burning, instead of levoglucosan. The quantification of total sugars requires a small area of a filter sample and a simple spectrophotometer, in contrast to the determination of levoglucosan, which is much more complex and time-consuming. Total sugars concentrations in the aerosol ranged from 0.28 to 12.5 mu g m(-3), and (similarly to levoglucosan) the emissions were significantly higher at night and during the sugarcane harvest period, when most agricultural fires occur. The linear correlation between levoglucosan and total sugars (r = 0.612) was stronger than between levoglucosan and potassium (r = 0379), which has previously been used as a biomass burning tracer. In the study region, potassium is used in fertilizers, and this, together with substantial soil dust resuspension, makes potassium unsuitable for use as a tracer. On average, ca. 40% of the total sugars was found in particles smaller than 0.49 mu m. By including data from previous work, it was possible to identify from 35 to 42% of the total sugars, with biomass burning making the largest contribution. The high solubility in water of these sugars means that determination of their concentrations could also provide important information concerning the hydrophilic properties of atmospheric aerosols.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Use of levoglucosan, potassium, and water-soluble organic carbon to characterize the origins of biomass-burning aerosols

Three chemical species related to biomass burning, levoglucosan, potassium and water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), were measured in aerosol samples collected in a rural area on the outskirts of the municipality of Ourinhos (Sao Paulo State, Brazil). This region is representative of the rural interior of the State, where the economy is based on agro-industrial production, and the most important crop is sugar cane. The manual harvesting process requires that the cane be first burned to remove excess foliage, leading to large emissions of particulate materials to the atmosphere. Most of the levoglucosan (68-89%) was present in small particles (<1.5 mu m), and its concentration in total aerosol ranged from 25 to 1186 ng m(-3). The highest values were found at night, when most of the biomass burning occurs. In contrast, WSOC showed no diurnal pattern, with an average concentration of 5.38 +/- 2.97 mu g m(-3) (n = 27). A significant linear correlation between levoglucosan and WSOC (r = 0.54; n = 26; p < 0.0001) confirmed that biomass burning was in fact an important source of WSOC in the study region. A moderate (but significant) linear correlation between levoglucosan and potassium concentrations (r = 0.62; n = 40; p < 0.0001) was indicative of the influence of other sources of potassium in the study region, such as soil resuspension and fertilizers. When only the fine particles (<1.5 pm; typical of biomass burning) were considered, the linear coefficient increased to 0.91 (n = 9). In this case, the average levoglucosan/K+ ratio was 0.24, which may be typical of biomass burning in the study region. This ratio is about 5 times lower than that previously found for Amazon aerosol collected during the day, when flaming combustion prevails. This suggests that the levoglucosan/K+ ratio may be especially helpful for characterization of the type of vegetation burned (such as crops or forest), when biomass-burning is the dominant source of potassium. The relatively high concentrations of WSOC (and inorganic ions) suggest an important influence on the formation of cloud condensation nuclei, which is likely to affect cloud formation and precipitation patterns. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.FAPESPFAPESP [08/58073-5, 10/50236-2, 2009/07415-6]CNPq [311668/2011-9]CNPqCAPESCAPE

Demetallization of Enterococcus faecalis biofilm: a preliminary study

<div><p>Abstract Objectives To determine the concentration of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions after the application of chelator to Enterococcus faecalis biofilms. Material and Methods Fifty bovine maxillary central incisors were prepared and inoculated with E. faecalis for 60 days. The following were used as irrigation solutions: 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) combined with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10), distilled water (pH 3, 7 and 10), and 2.5% NaOCl. Each solution was kept in the root canal for five minutes. Fifteen uncontaminated root canals were irrigated with 17% EDTA (pH 3, 7 and 10). Six teeth were used as bacterial control. The number of calcium, iron, manganese and zinc ions was determined using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean ± standard deviation (SD) values were used for descriptive statistics. Results Calcium chelation using 17% EDTA at pH 7 was higher than at pH 3 and 10, regardless of whether bacterial biofilm was present. The highest concentration of iron occurred at pH 3 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. The highest concentration of manganese found was 2.5% NaOCl and 17% EDTA at pH 7 in the presence of bacterial biofilm. Zinc levels were not detectable. Conclusions The pH of chelating agents affected the removal of calcium, iron, and manganese ions. The concentration of iron ions in root canals with bacterial biofilm was higher after the use of 17% EDTA at pH 3 than after the use of the other solutions at all pH levels.</p></div

Raman Lidar monitors emissions from sugar cane fires in the State of São Paulo: a pilot-project integrating radar, sodar, aerosol and gas observations

Ourinhos is situated in one of the major sugar cane producing regions in the State of São Paulo, where the manual harvesting is generally preceded by burning the foliage, resulting in large quantities of aerosols being emitted into the atmosphere. A onemonth pilot study was executed during August 2010, to characterize the effects of those emissions on the atmosphere, considering the local circulation and the consequences for the region. The plumes were tracked by IPMet´s two S-band Doppler radars, also deploying a large range of meteorological, physical and chemistry instrumentation: a mobile Lidar with Raman channel to observe elevated layers and the type of aerosols, a medium-sized Sodar, as well as 6 Automatic Weather Stations spread through town. Various gases and particulates were also sampled, providing the atmospheric chemistry data base and thus documenting the impact on the region. This paper highlights a case study on 26 August, when a plume was tracked by TITAN Radar Software from the start of the fire, moving southwards at 14-17 km.h-1 with the winds at about 3,5 km above ground level, until it reached Ourinhos 2h15min later, where it was observed by the Raman Lidar and also detected by the aerosol and gas samplers. The high aerosol load of the atmosphere was confirmed by hourly mean values of AOD varying between 0,265 and 0,288 until 07:00 LT, after which they increased to 0,433 by 09:00 LT, as well as hourly mean backscatter profiles. Hourly values of the Lidar Ratio identified the aerosols as biomass burning products, also confirmed through the analysis of gas and aerosol samples simultaneously collected at the Lidar site.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP