A água é um importante recurso natural que contribui para melhorias no bem-estar social e desenvolvimento inclusivo. A presença de produtos químicos, rejeitos radioativos e agentes infecciosos pode comprometer a qualidade desse recurso, afetando a biodiversidade e a subsistência de milhões de pessoas. A Ecotoxicologia Aquática é uma ciência que surgiu para dar suporte no enfrentamento dos problemas de contaminação dos corpos d\'água por compostos tóxicos. Seus instrumentos de análise são capazes de avaliar a toxicidade de compostos químicos, sinalizando os potenciais efeitos ecotoxicológicos e seus mecanismos de ação em organismos vivos em ambientes impactados. A Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Pardo (UGRHI 04) abrange 27 municípios com um importante contingente populacional (1.092.477 habitantes), inserido em uma região cuja prática agrícola baseia-se na cultura de cana-de-açúcar para a produção de etanol e açúcar. Dentro desse contexto, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a toxicidade para organismos bioindicadores de amostras de água superficial do Rio Pardo, principal afluente da Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio Pardo. Foram realizados ensaios de toxicidade aguda com Daphnia similis e Vibrio fischeri, e toxicidade crônica com Ceriodaphnia dubia. Adicionalmente, analisaram-se Oxigênio Dissolvido (OD), pH e Temperatura da água. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que, os parâmetros físico-químicos analisados estão de acordo com os limites estabelecidos pela Resolução CONAMA 357/2005 [OD (>= 5 mgO2/L); pH (6 a 9)]. Nos ensaios de toxicidade aguda realizados com Daphnia similis, tanto na estação chuvosa quanto na estação seca, não observou-se toxicidade sobre os organismos testados. Todas as amostras foram classificadas como Não Tóxicas (NT). Nos ensaios de toxicidade crônica com Ceriodaphnia dubia, na estação chuvosa, nenhuma das amostras analisadas apresentou toxicidade. Das amostras analisadas na estação seca, 50% apresentaram Efeito Crônico (EC); os resultados mostraram diferença estatisticamente significante entre o número médio de neonatos produzidos por adulta no grupo controle (19,2) e nas amostras dos pontos de coleta 2 (10,7), 3 (10,5) e 5 (8,1). No entanto, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante nas amostras dos pontos de coleta 1 (13,7), 4 (12,3) e 6 (14,3), classificadas como NT. A comparação entre os resultados obtidos no presente estudo, nos ensaios de toxicidade crônica com Ceriodaphnia dubia, mostrou similaridade com a série histórica de dados (2010-2015) fornecida pela Agência Ambiental do Governo do Estado de São Paulo (CETESB). Nos ensaios de toxicidade aguda realizados com Vibrio fischeri, nas estações chuvosa e seca do ano de 2016, não observou-se toxicidade sobre a bactéria após os períodos de 5 e 15 minutos de exposição; todas as amostras foram classificadas como NT. Apesar do Rio Pardo estar inserido em área com reconhecido uso de produtos agrícolas e pouca proteção de Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP), os resultados mostraram toxicidade apenas para o organismo Ceriodaphnia dubia, na estação seca do ano de 2016, possivelmente relacionada com a diminuição da vazão média e a concentração de poluentes na água. Cabe destacar a importância da manutenção do monitoramento periódico pela CETESB, considerando o Art. 14 da Resolução CONAMA 357/2005, que prevê a \"não verificação de efeito tóxico crônico a organismos\" para águas doces de Classe 1 e 2 no contexto brasileiro. / Water is an important natural resource that contributes to improvements in social well-being and inclusive development. The presence of chemicals, radioactive waste and infectious agents can compromise the quality of this resource, affecting the biodiversity and livelihoods of millions of people. Aquatic Ecotoxicology is a science that has emerged to support the problems of contamination of water bodies by toxic compounds. Its analytical instruments are able to evaluate the toxicity of chemical compounds, signaling the potential ecotoxicological effects and their mechanisms of action in living organisms in impacted environments. The Pardo River Hydrographic Basin (UGRHI 04) covers 27 municipalities with a significant population (1.092.477 inhabitants), inserted in a region whose agricultural practice is based on the cultivation of sugarcane for the production of ethanol and sugar. In this context, the objective of the study was to evaluate the toxicity to bioindicators organisms of surface water samples of the Pardo River, main tributary of the the Pardo River Hydrographic Basin. Acute toxicity tests were performed with Daphnia similis and Vibrio fischeri, and chronic toxicity with Ceriodaphnia dubia. In addition, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and water temperature were analyzed. The obtained results showed that the physical-chemical parameters analyzed are in accordance with the limits established by CONAMA Resolution 357/2005 [DO (>= 5 mgO2 / L); pH (6 to 9)]. In the acute toxicity tests performed with Daphnia similis, both in rainy season and in dry season, no toxicity was observed on the organisms tested. All samples were classified as Non-Toxic (NT). In the chronic toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia in the rainy season none of the analyzed samples presented toxicity. Of the samples analyzed in the dry season, 50% presented Chronic Effect (CE); The results showed a statistically significant difference between the mean number of neonates produced by the adult in the control group (19,2) and the collection points 2 (10,7), 3 (10,5) and 5 (8,1). However, there was no statistically significant difference in the samples from collection points 1 (13,7), 4 (12,3) and 6 (14,3), classified as NT. The comparison between the results obtained in the present study in the chronic toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia showed similarity with the historical data series (2010-2015) provided by the Environmental Agency of the State of São Paulo (CETESB). In the acute toxicity tests performed with Vibrio fischeri in the rainy and dry seasons of 2016, no toxicity was observed on the bacteria after periods of 5 and 15 minutes of exposure; All samples were classified as NT. Although Rio Pardo is inserted in an area with recognized use of agricultural products and little protection from Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA), the results showed toxicity only for the Ceriodaphnia dubia organismo, in the dry season of 2016, possibly related to the decrease in average flow and the concentration of pollutants in the water. It is important to highlight the importance of Maintenance of periodic monitoring by CETESB, considering Art. 14 of CONAMA Resolution 357/2005, which provides for \"non-verification of chronic toxic effect to organisms\" for Class 1 and 2 fresh waters in the Brazilian context

A contínua entrada de metais pesados nos ambientes aquáticos constitui uma potencial ameaça aos ecossistemas naturais devido à ação tóxica direta em organismos aquáticos. Nos ambientes aquáticos, os organismos estão expostos a metais tanto dissolvidos na água como aqueles presentes na cadeia trófica. Um maior conhecimento sobre o papel do alimento como rota adicional de exposição a metais ou como um possível retentor de sua toxicidade para invertebrados aquáticos é necessário. Considerando-se a importância dos metais na contaminação ambiental, bem como a necessidade de melhor entendimento das interações desses elementos nos sistemas aquáticos, o presente estudo visou a avaliar a sensibilidade de espécies fitoplanctônicas (Selenastrum capricornutum e Microcystis aeruginosa) e de espécies zooplanctônicas (Daphnia similis e Ceriodaphnia dubia) aos metais cádmio e cromo e os efeitos tóxicos desses elementos em tais organismos. O crescimento celular, a concentração de clorofila, o biovolume e o peso seco das algas foram analisados quando as espécies algais foram expostas aos metais por meio de testes de toxicidade aguda. Testes de toxicidade aguda e crônica com o zooplâncton aos metais também foram realizados e o efeito de diferentes densidades algais (alta, média e baixa) sobre a toxicidade dos metais aos cladóceros foi avaliado. Além disso, algas foram expostas aos metais, oferecidas como alimento a C. dubia e os efeitos tóxicos crônicos foram investigados. Os resultados demonstraram que S. capricornutum foi mais sensível ao cádmio e M. aeruginosa foi mais sensível ao cromo, sendo essa diferença relacionada à capacidade das algas para reter os metais. Com o aumento de ambos os metais, houve uma diminuição na densidade celular, na taxa de crescimento, na clorofila e no peso seco das algas. A presença de diferentes densidades de S. capricornutum não alterou significativamente o valor da CE(I)50; 48h aos metais para D. similis, mas a elevada densidade de M. aeruginosa reduziu a toxicidade do cádmio para o dafinídeo. A alta densidade de alimento (106 céls/mL) influenciou negativamente a reprodução e a sobrevivência de C. dubia quando exposta a concentrações subletais dos metais em solução. Alimento exposto à metais, quando fornecido em alta e em média densidade, também afetou a sobrevivência e a reprodução dos organismos-teste. Apesar de a água ser uma importante rota de exposição aos metais para os organismos aquáticos, o alimento deve ser considerado uma via de contaminação adicional. / The continuous input of heavy metals into aquatic systems constitutes a potential threat to natural ecosystems because of the direct toxic action on aquatic organisms. In aquatic ecosystems, the organisms are exposed to dissolved metals in the water as to metals presents in the food chain. A larger knowledge about paper of food as an additional route of exposure to metals or as possible retainer of its toxicity for aquatic organisms is necessary. Considering the importance of metals in contamination of aquatic ecosystems and the need of better understanding of the interactions of those elements in the aquatic ecosystems as well, the aim of this study was to evaluate the sensibility of phytoplankton species (Selenastrum capricornutum and Microcystis aeruginosa) and zooplankton species (Daphnia similis and Ceriodaphnia dubia) to cadmium and chromium metals and the toxic effects of those elements in such organisms. Analysed of cellular growth, chlorophyll concentration, biovolume and dry weight of the algae were carried out when algal species were exposed to metals. Acute and chronic toxicity tests with the zooplankton were also accomplished and the effect of different algal densities (high, middle and low) on toxicity of metals to cladoceran was evaluated. Alga S. capricornutum was exposed to metals, supplied as food to C. dubia and chronic toxicity effects were investigated. The results demonstrated that S. capricornutum was more sensitive to cadmium and M. aeruginosa was more sensitive to chromium, this difference was related the capacity of the algae to retain metals. Cell density, growth rate, chlorophyll and dry weight of the algae were reduced with increase of both metals. The presence of different density of S. capricornutum does not alter the value of EC50 to metals for D. similis, but high density of M. aeruginosa reduced the toxicity of cadmium for daphnid. High food density (106 cells/mL) influenced negatively on reproduction and survival of C. dubia when this organism was exposed to sublethal concentrations of metals in solution. Food exposed to metals, when it was supplied at high and middle density, also affected survival and reproduction of the test organisms. Although the water to be considered a important route of exposure of metals for aquatic organisms, the food should be considered an additional source of toxicity.

Os corantes são amplamente utilizados nas indústrias têxteis, farmacêuticas, alimentícias, cosméticas, fotográficas, entre outras. Contudo, essas substâncias podem ser tóxicas, mutagênicas e resistentes a muitos processos de degradação utilizados em estações de tratamento. Estima-se que cerca de 15% dos corantes utilizados no mundo sejam perdidos durante o processo de tingimento e lançados no ambiente, atingindo principalmente os corpos d\'água. No entanto, apesar da grande quantidade de corantes comerciais disponíveis e da alta quantidade lançada no ecossistema aquático, os estudos sobre a toxicidade dessas substâncias são escassos e pouco se conhece sobre seus efeitos mutagênicos e principalmente ecotoxicológicos. Dentro deste contexto, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a ecotoxicidade, bem como a capacidade dos corantes têxteis Reactive Blue 4 (RB 4) e Reactive Blue 15 (RB 15) de lesar o material genético, empregando ensaios de toxicidade aguda com Daphnia similis e Vibrio fischeri, toxicidade crônica com Ceriodaphnia dubia, genotoxicidade (Teste do Cometa) com fibroblastos de derme humana e mutagenicidade com Salmonella typhimurium. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se a concentração de cobre em Ceriodaphnia dubia expostas ao corante Reactive Blue 15, que possui esse metal na sua estrutura química. O corante RB 4 foi moderadamente tóxico e o corante RB 15 foi relativamente não tóxico para Daphnia similis. Ambos corantes reduziram a luminescência de Vibrio fischeri em elevadas concentrações, sendo o corante RB 4 mais tóxico para a bactéria quando comparado ao corante RB 15. O corante RB 4 induziu efeito hormesis nos ensaios com C. dubia, ou seja, houve um estímulo na reprodução nas menores concentrações, seguido por um decréscimo em concentrações mais elevadas, ao passo que, o corante RB 15 reduziu a fecundidade de C. dubia. Não houve acúmulo de cobre nos organismos expostos ao corante RB 15. Nenhum dos corantes foram genotóxicos para fibroblastos de derme humana e apenas o corante RB 4 induziu mutagenicidade, por substituição de pares de base. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os corantes podem causar efeitos adversos nos organismos mesmo em baixas concentrações e que o lançamento contínuo dessas substâncias nos corpos d\'água é preocupante. / Dyes are widely used in different types of industries, such as textile, pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics, photographic, among others. However, these substances can be toxic, mutagenic and resistant to many degradation processes used in wastewater treatment. It is estimated that about 15% of the dyes used in the world is lost during the dyeing process and released into the environment, affecting mainly water bodies. However, despite the large amount of commercial dyes available and high quantity released in the aquatic ecosystem, studies on the toxicity of these substances are scarce and little is known about their mutagenic and ecotoxicological effects. Considering that, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ecotoxicity, and the ability of the Reactive Blue 4 (RB 4) and Reactive Blue 15 (RB 15) textile dyes to damage the genetic material, using acute toxicity tests with Daphnia similis and Vibrio fischeri, Ceriodaphnia dubia chronic toxicity, genotoxicity (Comet assay) in human dermal fibroblasts and mutagenicity with Salmonella typhimurium. Additionally, we assessed the concentration of copper in Ceriodaphnia dubia exposed to the Reactive Blue 15 dye, which has this metal in its chemical structure. The RB 4 dye was moderately toxic and RB 15 dye was relatively non-toxic to Daphnia similis. Both dyes reduced the Vibrio fischeri luminescence in high concentrations, and the RB 4 was more toxic to bacteria when compared to dye RB 15. The RB 4 dye induced hormesis effect in the C. dubia tests. We observed that the reproduction was stimulated at lower concentrations followed by a decrease at higher concentrations. While the RB 15 dye reduced fecundity of Ceriodaphnia dubia. There was no accumulation of copper in organisms exposed to the RB 15 dye. None of the dyes were genotoxic to human dermal fibroblasts, and only the RB 4 dye induced mutagenicity, by base-pair substitution. The results show that the dyes can cause adverse effects on organisms even at low concentrations and that the continuous release of these substances in water bodies is worrying.

Multi-walled carbon nanotube aggregates can be suspended in the aqueous phase by natural organic matter. These aggregates are ingested by filter feeding zooplankton. Ingested aggregates result in decreased growth and decreased reproduction. These effects may be caused by reduction in energy input from normal feeding behavior. pH alters natural organic matter structure through changes in electrostatic repulsion. Altered natural organic matter structure changes multi-walled carbon nanotube aggregate size. This size variation with variation in pH is significant, but not large enough a change in size to alter toxicity, as the aggregate size range remains well within the particle size selection of the organisms.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-07-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:21:11Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 franca_jg_dr_jabo.pdf: 2251025 bytes, checksum: 4391181f6db61217e2ad4bea2e7f55fd (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial tóxico do permanganato de potássio (KMnO4) através da avaliação da toxicidade aguda (CL50;96 h) e crônica para a tilápia, Oreochromis niloticus e a ecotoxicidade desse composto através de ensaios com o microcrustáceo Ceriodaphnia dubia e com a microalga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. Para o teste de toxicidade aguda foram utilizados alevinos de tilápia (0,52 + 0,10g e 3,35 + 0,36 cm), expostos a seguintes concentrações: 0; 0,5; 1,0; 2,0; 4,0 e 6,0 mg.L-1 KMnO4. Os efeitos subletais do KMnO4 foram avaliados pelo do teste de toxicidade crônica, com um grupo controle e duas concentraçõesteste, utilizadas na aqüicultura para o manejo e controle de doenças (1,0 e 4,0 mg.L-1 KMnO4). Para este teste foram utilizadas tilápias (40 g) jovens, expostas por 30 dias, com amostragem de 10 indivíduos por tratamento, nos intervalos de 0, 7, 15 e 30 dias. Os biomarcadores avaliados no presente estudo foram: análises hematológicas, da atividade fagocítica, determinações da concentração de GSH, da atividade enzimática da GST, catalase e peroxidação lipídica e genótoxicas. No teste de toxicidade aguda, o baixo valor de CL50;96h (1,81 mg.L-1), sugere que esta espécie de peixe, nesta fase de desenvolvimento, apresenta grande sensibilidade ao composto. No teste de toxicidade crônica, os peixes expostos na concentração de 1 mg.L-1 de KMnO4 não apresentaram variações significativas nos parâmetros sanguíneos analisados quando comparados ao grupo controle. Na concentração de 4 mg.L-1, as alterações no quadro hematológico indicaram processo de hemólise e redução da atividade fagocítica em consequência da ação oxidante do KMnO4. Nas concentrações de 1 e 4 mg.L-1 KMnO4 houve redução significativa da capacidade fagocítica de macrófagos. Na análise bioquímica, somente a enzima GSH apresentou aumento significativo... / This study aimed know the toxic potential of the potassium permanganate (KMnO4) through the evaluation of the acute (LC50;96h) and cronic toxicity to tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus and the ecotoxicity of this compound through the assays with the microcrustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia and with microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. For the acute toxicity test were used tilapia fingerlings (0.52 + 0.10g and 3.35 + 0.36 cm), exposed to concentrations: 0; 0.5; 1.0; 2.0; 4.0 and 6.0 mg.L-1 KMnO4. The sublethal effects of the KMnO4 were evaluated through cronic toxicity test, with a control group and two test concentrations, used in the aquaculture to management and control fishes diseases (1.0 and 4.0 mg.L-1 KMnO4). To this experiment were used with juvenile tilapia (40 g), exposed for 30 days, with samples of 10 individuals from each treatment at intervals of 0, 7, 15 and 30- days. The biomarkers evaluated in this present study were: hematological analysis, phagocytic activity, determination of GSH concentration, of enzymatic activity of GST, catalase, lipid peroxidation and genotoxities. In the acute toxicity test, the low value of LC50;96h (1.81 mg.L- 1), suggests that this species of fish, in this phase of development, it presents the great sensitivity to the KMnO4. In the cronic toxicity test, the fishes exposed in the concentrations of 1 mg.L-1 de KMnO4 did not present significant variations in the analyzed sanguineous parameters when compared with the control group. In concentration of 4 mg.L-1 the hematological alterations indicated process of hemolysis and immunosuppression in consequence of the oxidant action of KMnO4. In the immunologicals analysis, the concentrations of 1 and 4 mg.L-1 KMnO4 had significant reduction of the fagocitic capacity of the fishes suggesting suppression of the immune system. In the analysis biochemical, only the enzyme GSH presented significant increase... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2017-04-17T23:51:07Z No. of bitstreams: 1 WanessaKalineDeAraujoMoura_TESE.pdf: 2835389 bytes, checksum: 2e690065461ca562c7c35cca77b810e5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2017-04-21T00:20:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 WanessaKalineDeAraujoMoura_TESE.pdf: 2835389 bytes, checksum: 2e690065461ca562c7c35cca77b810e5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-04-21T00:20:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 WanessaKalineDeAraujoMoura_TESE.pdf: 2835389 bytes, checksum: 2e690065461ca562c7c35cca77b810e5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-22 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / O trabalho de pesquisa objeto deste projeto foi desenvolvido na regi?o do baixo curso do rio Doce no munic?pio de Natal, nos bairros de Lagoa Azul, Paju?ara e Redinha, ao longo do Rio Doce, limite com o munic?pio de Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte. A regi?o da plan?cie fluvial do Rio Doce localiza-se em Zona de Prote??o Ambiental (ZPA-9). Esta ZPA ? uma das que ainda n?o est?o regulamentadas e nela s?o observados diversos problemas ambientais decorrentes do uso e ocupa??o do solo, caracterizando um flagrante desrespeito ? legisla??o ambiental e cuja prote??o ? dificultada devido ? inexist?ncia de mecanismos legais espec?ficos. Este trabalho tem por objetivos implantar e estabelecer a manuten??o do cultivo da esp?cie Hyalella azteca (Crustacea, Amphipoda) no Laborat?rio de Ecotoxicologia - ECOTOX (UFRN) para avalia??o ecotoxicol?gica de sedimento; avaliar a qualidade da ?gua e do sedimento, utilizando os clad?ceros Ceriodaphnia dubia, Ceriodaphnia silvestrii e Hyalella azteca respectivamente, da regi?o do baixo curso do Rio Doce por meio de ensaios ecotoxicol?gicos e an?lises f?sicas e qu?micas de forma a avaliar a interfer?ncia das a??es humanas ao longo do rio. Foram realizadas visitas ? ?rea no per?odo de 2012 a 2014. Os locais de amostragem foram denominados LE, R2, R3, R4 e R5. A avalia??o da qualidade da ?gua e dos sedimentos do baixo curso do rio Doce, trecho localizado entre a Lagoa de Extremoz e a Redinha, por meio de an?lises f?sicas e qu?micas, e de ensaios ecotoxicol?gicos, na ?gua e no sedimento, nos anos de 2012, 2013 e 2014, embasou o conhecimento e respondeu as quest?es de pesquisa: nos testes ecotoxicol?gicos realizados em ?gua e sedimentos h? uma resposta mensur?vel da biota no ambiente aqu?tico, pois a altera??o encontrada nos par?metros f?sicos e qu?micos medidos em ?gua e os resultados negativos encontrados em pelo menos 50% dos testes de toxicidade cr?nica realizados mensalmente no per?odo de um ano evidenciaram o comprometimento da qualidade da ?gua do rio Doce pelo menos em parte do ano, destacando que as diversas atividades desenvolvidas no entorno da drenagem podem estar contribuindo para as varia??es observadas. / The object of this research project was developed on the lower course of the river Doce in the city of Natal, in the districts of Lagoa Azul, Paju?ara and Redinha, along the river Doce, limit with the municipality of Extremoz, Rio Grande do Norte. The region of the Doce river plain is located in the area of environmental protection (ZPA-9). This is one of the ZPA which are not yet regulated and are observed several environmental problems arising from the use and occupation of land, featuring a blatant disregard to environmental legislation and whose protection is hampered due to the lack of specific legal mechanisms. This work aims to deploy and establish the maintenance of cultivation of Hyalella azteca species (Crustacea, Amphipoda) in the laboratory of Ecotoxicology-ECOTOX (UFRN) for ecotoxicological assessment of sediment; assess the quality of the water and the sediment using the cladocerans Ceriodaphnia dubia, Ceriodaphnia silvestrii and Hyalella azteca respectively, the lower course of the Rio Doce for ecotoxicological tests and physical and chemical analyses in order to evaluate the interference of human actions along the river. The visits were carried out in the period from 2012 to 2014. Sampling sites were named LE, R2, R3, R4 and R5. The evaluation of the quality of the water and sediments of the lower course of the Doce river, excerpt located between the lagoon of Extremoz and Redinha, through physical and chemical analyses, and ecotoxicological tests, in water and sediment, in the years 2012, 2013 and 2014, served the knowledge and answered the questions of research: ecotoxicological tests carried out in water and sediments there is a measurable response of biota in aquatic environment because the change found in physical and chemical parameters measured in water and the negative results found in at least 50 of chronic toxicity tests conducted on a monthly basis within one year showed the commitment of the Doce river water quality at least part of the year, noting that the various activities carried out in the vicinity of drainage may be contributing to the observed variations.

No description available.

Mercury contamination of the North Fork Holston River below Saltville, Virginia has nearly extirpated most mussel populations. Because natural recovery of these populations has not occurred, this research combined field and laboratory assessments to determine the extent of ecological impairment in the river. In situ 60-day Asian clam (Corbicula fluminea) growth studies in 2005 showed a positive correlation (p=0.03) between low clam growth and sediment mercury levels. Because of severe low flow conditions of the NFHR in late 2005 conductivity dissipation from a point source brine discharge downstream rarely reached background level (~345 µS/cm) and was observed as high as 690 µS/cm 640 m below the discharge site. In addition, conductivity doubled in the river section adjacent to the remediated Ponds 5 and 6 (rm 81.6 and 80.4). Such low flow conditions (mean flow < 50 ft3/sec) occur in the NFHR approximately every five years. This low flow situation also evidenced a thick white flocculent or floc observed to accumulate at the base of the two remediated ponds. Analysis of the flocculent determined it to be high in aluminum (1.9-38 mg/L) and iron (2.0-51.0 mg/L), well above US Environmental Protection Agency Water Quality Criteria limits (0.0087 and 1.0 mg/L, respectively); riverine sediments collected below the accumulated floc also had high levels of calcium (240,000-380,000 mg/kg) and mercury(0.62-1.7 mg/kg). Acute tests with juveniles of Villosa iris and <24-hr old Ceriodaphnia dubia were used to measure the toxicity of the brine discharge, which had a conductivity of ~ 14,000 µS/cm. Results of these tests indicated C. dubia to be more sensitive than V. iris; however, chronic toxicity test results were similar for V. iris and C. dubia. The Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Concentration (LOAEC) for mussel survivorship after 28 days was 10,000 µS/cm, while the LOAEC for growth was 5,000 µS/cm. LOAECs for the C. dubia 7-day chronic were 25 % (survivorship) and 12.5 % (reproduction), while mean conductivity at these two concentrations was 4,054 and 2,211 µS/cm, respectively. Toxicity tests conducted with Pond 6 dyke cut discharges resulted in similar lethal concentrations for C. dubia and V. iris. Forty-eight hour LC50s of these discharges ranged from 12.07-15.95 % for C. dubia, and 17.36-18.95 % for V. iris. Dyke cut discharges also exhibited exceedingly high alkaline pH (11.5-12.2), which caused 100 % mortality to C. dubia in 15 min. The Pond 5 and 6 dyke discharges are the likely source for the flocculent accumulation at the base of the two remediated pond areas. The combined effect of mercury, aluminum and iron, along with periodic fluxes of high conductivity and alkaline pH during low flow conditions may contribute to low mussel recruitment downstream of Saltville, VA. / Master of Science

Submitted by Automa??o e Estat?stica (sst@bczm.ufrn.br) on 2018-01-16T17:06:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ThiagoFariasNobrega_DISSERT.pdf: 1767927 bytes, checksum: 4bc39921c977a9668ed14d461e4bc936 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Arlan Eloi Leite Silva (eloihistoriador@yahoo.com.br) on 2018-01-19T14:01:37Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ThiagoFariasNobrega_DISSERT.pdf: 1767927 bytes, checksum: 4bc39921c977a9668ed14d461e4bc936 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-19T14:01:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ThiagoFariasNobrega_DISSERT.pdf: 1767927 bytes, checksum: 4bc39921c977a9668ed14d461e4bc936 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-20 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES) / Os efeitos delet?rios das atividades humanas ao meio ambiente s?o temas de v?rios estudos e consequentemente de mudan?as de paradigmas. Exemplo disso, ? que at? pouco tempo acreditava-se em um infinito poder de dilui??o dos ecossistemas em rela??o aos agentes t?xicos, e pouco se conhecia dos efeitos dos contaminantes aos organismos. Em ?reas de intenso crescimento urbano ? comum o descarte indiscriminado de subst?ncias t?xicas e consequentemente o desequil?brio das din?micas naturais dos ecossistemas. Dentre estes, os lagos s?o complexos e importantes fontes de ?gua superficial, abrigam esp?cies e t?m influ?ncia sobre o clima da regi?o ao seu redor. A Lagoa de Extremoz/RN, litoral Nordeste do Brasil, ? um corpo h?drico localizado numa regi?o de r?pido crescimento urbano. Est? sob influ?ncia de atividades rurais, urbanas e industriais, al?m do regime clim?tico prop?cio a per?odos prolongados de estiagem. O abastecimento de cerca de 300.000 pessoas depende da estabilidade h?drica dessa lagoa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi descrever as rela??es entre par?metros f?sicos, componentes qu?micos e as respostas observadas nos ensaios ecotoxicol?gicos, buscando informa??es sobre as varia??es sazonais. Para isso, foram realizadas, em dois anos, 2013 e 2014, an?lises f?sicas, qu?micas e ecotoxicol?gicas da ?gua e do sedimento superficial, em duas esta??es de amostragem na Lagoa de Extremoz (T1 e T2) e uma no rio Guajiru (T3). Nas amostras de ?gua foram aferidos o pH, turbidez, cloreto, OD, nitrato, nitrito, fosfato reativo total, metais e dureza. Para avaliar a toxicidade das amostras foram usados Ceriodaphnia dubia e C. silvestrii como organismos-teste. No sedimento foram aferidos os teores de carbonato, mat?ria org?nica e metais, caracteriza??o granulom?trica e avaliado os efeitos t?xicos sobre a sobreviv?ncia de Hyalella azteca. Verificou-se no per?odo de estiagem, ocorr?ncia de toxicidade aguda aos Hyalella azteca e nesse mesmo per?odo as concentra??es de metais em ?gua e sedimento tamb?m foram maiores. Em uma an?lise espacial percebeu-se que a maioria das amostras com efeito t?xico aos organismos-teste e com maiores concentra??es de metais foram coletadas na esta??o T2. Portanto, existem evid?ncias de que a qualidade da ?gua da Lagoa de Extremoz esteja diminuindo gradualmente e este processo se agrava pontualmente nos per?odos de menor pluviometria e na esta??o de amostragem T2. / The deleterious effects of human activities on the environment, are subject of several studies and therefore paradigm shifts. Until recently thought up in an infinite power dilution of ecosystems in relation to toxic agents, and little was known of the effects of contaminants to organisms. The intense urban growth contributes to the increase of toxic substances and the instability of the environment dynamics. Among these, the lakes are complex ecosystems important for sustaining life, by stock and provide water, to have influence on microclimates and others. The Extremoz Lake/RN, northeastern Brazil, is a water body located in a fast urban growth area. It is under the influence of rural, urban and industrial activities, further on the climate regime conducive to prolonged periods of drought. The supply of approximately 300.000 people depended on the hydraulic stability of this lake The aim of this study was to describe the relationship between physical, chemical components and the responses observed in the ecotoxicological tests, seeking information on seasonal variations. Physical, chemical and ecotoxicological analysis of water and surface sediment were held in two years, 2013 and 2014, in two sampling stations in Extremoz Lake (T1 and T2) and in Guajiru (T3) river. In all the water samples were measured pH, turbidity, chloride, DO, nitrate, nitrite, the total reactive phosphate, hardness and metals. Ceriodaphnia dubia and C. silvestrii as test organisms were used to evaluate the toxicity of the water samples. In the sediment were measured the carbonate, organic matter, metals, particle size, and evaluated the toxic effects on the survival of Hyalella Azteca. In dry season occurred acute toxicity to Hyalella azteca and in the same period the concentrations of metals in water and sediment were also higher. In a spatial analysis, it was noticed that most of the samples with toxic effects on test organisms and with the highest metal concentrations were collected at T2. So there is evidence that the Extremoz Lake quality is gradually declining and this process is occasionally worsens during periods of lower rainfall and sampling station T2.

The problem of high proportion of zeroes has long been an interest in data analysis and modeling, however, there are no unique solutions to this problem. The solution to the individual problem really depends on its particular situation and the design of the experiment. For example, different biological, chemical, or physical processes may follow different distributions and behave differently. Different mechanisms may generate the zeroes and require different modeling approaches. So it would be quite impossible and inflexible to come up with a unique or a general solution. In this dissertation, I focus on cases where zeroes are produced by mechanisms that create distinct sub-populations of zeroes. The dissertation is motivated from problems of chronic toxicity testing which has a data set that contains a high proportion of zeroes. The analysis of chronic test data is complicated because there are two different sources of zeroes: mortality and non-reproduction in the data. So researchers have to separate zeroes from mortality and fecundity. The use of mixture model approach which combines the two mechanisms to model the data here is appropriate because it can incorporate the mortality kind of extra zeroes. A zero inflated Poisson (ZIP) model is used for modeling the fecundity in <i> Ceriodaphnia dubia</i> toxicity test. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) based ZIP model is developed to handle longitudinal data with zeroes due to mortality. A joint estimate of inhibition concentration (ICx) is also developed as potency estimation based on the mixture model approach. It is found that the ZIP model would perform better than the regular Poisson model if the mortality is high. This kind of toxicity testing also involves longitudinal data where the same subject is measured for a period of seven days. The GEE model allows the flexibility to incorporate the extra zeroes and a correlation structure among the repeated measures. The problem of zero-heavy data also exists in environmental studies in which the growth or reproduction rates of multi-species are measured. This gives rise to multivariate data. Since the inter-relationships between different species are imbedded in the correlation structure, the study of the information in the correlation of the variables, which is often accessed through principal component analysis, is one of the major interests in multi-variate data. In the case where mortality influences the variables of interests, but mortality is not the subject of interests, the use of the mixture approach can be applied to recover the information of the correlation structure. In order to investigate the effect of zeroes on multi-variate data, simulation studies on principal component analysis are performed. A method that recovers the information of the correlation structure is also presented. / Ph. D.