Submitted by Biblioteca de Pós-Graduação em Geoquímica BGQ (bgq@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-03-21T18:33:58Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Alexandre Paoliello Lemos.pdf: 1789781 bytes, checksum: b9e2ff253c7580263be0baac75c0fd47 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-21T18:33:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_Alexandre Paoliello Lemos.pdf: 1789781 bytes, checksum: b9e2ff253c7580263be0baac75c0fd47 (MD5) / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Química. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências- Geoquímica Ambiental. Niterói, RJ / A Baía de Sepetiba (RJ) possui histórico de contaminação industrial e atualmente há uma intensificação de atividades de dragagem devido à ampliação da área portuária. Embora seja comum a avaliação de amostras superficiais de sedimentos submetidos à dragagem, a qualidade do material a ser dragado pode ser melhor avaliada por meio do estudo da variabilidade vertical na coluna de sedimento. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de avaliar a variabilidade espacial da biodisponibilidade de metais (Cd, Ni, Fe e Mn) e as possíveis alterações desta biodisponibilidade em função da ressuspensão de sedimentos costeiros da ilha da Madeira (baía de Sepetiba - RJ). Foram comparados os efeitos da ressuspensão sobre amostras de diferentes profundidades de três perfis sedimentares (T1, T2 e T3) coletados em distâncias crescentes do Saco do Engenho (a principal fonte contaminação de Cd). A biodisponibilidade potencial dos metais foi avaliada através da proporção entre as concentrações fracamente ligadas (extraídas em HCl 1M, após agitação por 16h) e fortemente ligadas aos sedimentos (extraídas em HNO3 concentrado), investigandose também possíveis relações entre o comportamento dos metais-traço e as características físicas e químicas nos perfis sedimentares. As concentrações de metais foram ordens de grandeza superiores aos limites estabelecidos pela Resolução CONAMA 454/2012, em especial para o Cd. O Ni apresentou concentrações geralmente abaixo ou similares ao background e mostrou baixa biodisponibilidade. O contaminante analisado, Cd, esteve quase que 100% na fase fracamente ligada aos sedimentos, o que foi preocupante devido aos altos níveis de contaminação. Observou-se um gradiente de concentração do Cd com o distanciamento da fonte principal de contaminação (T1>T2>T3). As diferenças observadas na biodisponibilidade potencial dos metais estudados, após os ensaios de ressuspensão foram pequenas. Isto foi atribuído ao fato de que os contaminantes analisados já estavam essencialmente associados à fase fracamente ligada aos sedimentos antes do experimento. O Mn foi o único metal que apresentou variações relevantes após a ressuspensão. Porém, devido às altas concentrações de metais, uma pequena alteração na biodisponibilidade relativa pode representar um aumento significativo na fração biodisponível do metal / Sepetiba bay has a history of industrial contamination and intensification of dredging activities. Although evaluation of surface sediment samples is common in areas submitted to dredging, the quality of the dredged material can be better evaluated by studying the vertical variability in the sediment column. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial variability and possible changes on metals bioavailability (Cd, Ni, Fe and Mn) due to resuspension of coastal sediments from Madeira Island (Sepetiba bay). The effects of resuspension were compared for samples of different depths in three sedimentary profiles (T1, T2 and T3) collected in increasing distances from the Saco do Engenho, the major source of Cd. The potential bioavailability of metals was evaluated by the ratio between the weakly-bound concentrations (extracted in 1M HCl, and after stirring for 16h) and concentrations strongly-bound to sediments (extracted in concentrated HNO3 according to the EPA method 3051a). Possible relationships between the behavior of trace metals and the chemical and physical characteristics of the sedimentary profiles were also investigated. Concentrations were orders of magnitude higher than the limits established by CONAMA Resolution 454/2012, mainly for Cd. Ni showed concentrations generally below or similar to the background, showing low bioavailability. Cd concentrations were nearly 100% in the weakly-bound phase, which is very important considering the high levels of contamination of this area. There was a Cd concentration gradient with the distance from the main source of contamination (T1> T2> T3). The differences in potential bioavailability of studied metals after resuspension assays were small. This was attributed to the fact that the contaminants were mainly associated with the weaklybound phase even before the experiment. Mn was the only metal that showed relevant variations after resuspension. However, because of high metal concentrations, a small change in relative bioavailability can represent a large amount of contaminants being concentrated in bioavailable forms.

Les bassins de retenue des eaux pluviales sont utilisés pour préserver la qualité des eaux réceptrices par sédimentation pendant le temps de pluie. Cependant, les efficacités du bassins n'étaient pas satisfaisants en raison de la mal compréhension du processus de sédimentation. Afin de mieux comprendre ces processus dans des ouvrages in situ, cette thèse porte à la fois sur des expérimentations in situ et sur les modélisations de l'hydrodynamique et du transport particulaire dans les bassins de retenue pilotes et in situ. Cette recherche s’est appuyée en grande partie sur le bassin Django Reinhardt (BDR) à Chassieu (volume: 32000 m3, surface: 11000 m2) dans le cadre de l’OTHU et sur les données expérimentales obtenues par Dufresne (2008) et Vosswinkel et al. (2012). Les échantillons de sédiments ont été prélevés et leurs caractéristiques physiques ont été analysées en laboratoire dans le but de cerner leur distribution spatiale. Concernant la modélisation numérique, les simulations de l’hydrodynamique en régime permanent ont été réalisées à l'aide du logiciel CFD Fluent et ont été évaluées à partir de l’analyse de corrélation entre le comportement hydrodynamique du bassin et la distribution spatiale des caractéristiques physiques des sédiments. Les conditions limites sur le fond couramment utilisées et largement décrites dans la littérature ont été testées dans le but de représenter la distribution spatiale des sédiments et l’efficacité de décantation du BDR. Les conditions testées sont : i) contrainte de cisaillement critique ou bed shear stress – BSS et ii) énergie cinétique turbulente critique ou bed turbulent kinetic energy - BTKE. L’approche Euler-Lagrange dite « particle tracking » a été mise en œuvre. En raison de l'échec de prédiction des zones de dépôt à l’aide des conditions limites disponibles (BSS et BTKE), une nouvelle relation a été proposée pour estimer le seuil BTKE. La condition à la limite obtenue en utilisant cette nouvelle relation a été testée sur un bassin pilote (Dufresne, 2008) et sur le BDR en régime permanent. Les résultats obtenus n’étaient pas très satisfaisants concernant la prédiction des zones de dépôt et l’efficacité de décantation dans le bassin BDR, même en considérant une distribution granulométrique non uniforme. Afin de mieux prédire les zones de dépôt dans le BDR, une nouvelle méthode a été proposée en considérant le transport des particules, leur décantation et leur érosion en régime transitoire. Sur la base de la méthode proposée pour le transport des particules, la décantation et l'érosion en régime transitoire, plusieurs modélisations avec différentes conditions limites ont été réalisées dans un bassin de retenue pilote rectangulaire (Vosswinkel et al., 2012). Les prédictions des efficacités et des zones de dépôt en régime transitoire avec la méthode proposée sont satisfaisantes / Stormwater detention basins are used to preserve the quality of receiving waters by sedimentation during the wet weather. However, the removal efficiencies of basin were not satisfactory due to the not well understanding of the sedimentation processes. In order to further understand these processes in the real facilities, this thesis therefore focuses both on in situ experiments and modeling of the hydrodynamic and sediment transport in field detention basin and in small scale basin in laboratory. This research was supported by large part on the Django Reinhardt basin (DRB) in Chassieu within the OTHU program and the experimental data deriving from Dufresne (2008) and Vosswinkel et al. (2012). Samples of sediments accumulated in the basin were collected and their physical characteristics were analyzed in order to determine their spatial distribution. Concerning numerical modeling, the hydrodynamic simulations in steady state were performed using CFD software Fluent and were evaluated by the correlation analysis between the hydrodynamic behavior of DRB and the spatial distribution of the physical characteristics of sediments. The bed boundary conditions used in the literatures were tested in order to represent the spatial distribution of sediments and removal efficiency of DRB. The conditions tested were: i) critical bed shear stress - BSS and ii) critical bed turbulent kinetic energy - BTKE. Because of the failure prediction of DRB deposit zones with usual bed boundary conditions, a new relationship based on particle settling velocities has been proposed to estimate the BTKE threshold for the bed boundary condition. The proposed boundary condition was tested in a pilot basin (Dufresne, 2008) and the DRB using the Euler-Lagrange approach under steady flow conditions. The results were not very satisfactory regarding the DRB deposit zones, even considering non-uniform grain size. In order to better predict the deposit zones and settling efficiency in field detention basins, a new method has been proposed accounting for the sediment transport, settling and erosion under unsteady conditions. Based on this proposed method for representing the particle transport, settling and erosion processes under unsteady conditions, various simulations with different bed boundary conditions were carried out in a pilot rectangular basin (Vosswinkel et al., 2012). The predictions of removal efficiencies and deposition zones are satisfactory. Hence, taking into account transient effects on both hydrodynamics and sediment transport leads to drastically improve the spatial and temporal distributions of sediments in settling detention basins.

<p>Infant exposure to the microbial and allergenic content of indoor floor dust has been shown to play a significant role in both the development of, and protection against, allergies and asthma later in life. Resuspension of floor dust during infant locomotion induces a vertical transport of particles to the breathing zone, leading to inhalation exposure to a concentrated cloud of coarse (> 1μm) and fine (≤ 1μm) particles. Resuspension, and subsequent exposure, during periods of active infant locomotion is likely influenced by gait parameters. This dependence has been little explored to date and may play a significant role in floor dust resuspension and exposure associated with forms of locomotion specific to infants. This study explores associations between infant locomotion dynamics and floor dust resuspension and exposure in the indoor environment. Infant gait parameters for walking and physiological characteristics expected to influence dust resuspension and exposure were identified, including: contact frequency (steps min^-1), contact area per step (m²), locomotion speed (m s^-1), breathing zone height (cm), and time-resolved locomotion profiles. Gait parameter datasets for standard gait experiments were collected for infants in three age groups: 12, 15, and 19 months-old (m/o). The gait parameters were integrated with an indoor dust resuspension model through a Monte Carlo framework to predict how age-dependent variations in locomotion affect the resuspension mass emission rate (mg h^-1) for five particle size fractions from 0.3 to 10 μm. Eddy diffusivity coefficients (m² s^-1) were estimated for each age group and used in a particle transport model to determine the vertical particle concentration profile above the floor.</p><p>Probability density functions of contact frequency, contact area, locomotion speed, breathing zone height, and size-resolved resuspension mass emission rates were determined for infants in each group. Infant standard gait contact frequencies were generally in the range of 100 to 300 steps min^-1and increased with age, with median values of 186 steps min^-1for 12 m/o, 207 steps min^-1 for 15 m/o, and 246.2 steps min^-1 for 19 m/o infants. Similarly, locomotion speed increased with age, from 67.3 cm s^-1at 12 m/o to 118.83 cm s^-1 at 19 m/o, as did the breathing zone height, which varied between 60 and 85 cm. Resuspension mass emission rates increased with both infant age and particle size. A 19 m/o infant will resuspend comparably more particles from the same indoor settled dust deposit compared to a 15 m/o or 12 m/o infant. Age-dependent variations in the resuspension mass emission rate and eddy diffusivity coefficient drove changes in the vertical particle concentration profile within the resuspended particle cloud. For all particle size fractions, there is an average of a 6% increase in the resuspended particle concentration at a height of 1 m from the floor for a 19 m/o compared to a 12 m/o infant. Time-resolved locomotion profiles were obtained for infants in natural gait during free play establish the transient nature of walking-induced particle resuspension and associated exposures for infants, with variable periods of active locomotion, no motion, and impulsive falls. This study demonstrates that floor dust resuspension and exposure can be influenced by the nature of infant locomotion patterns, which vary with age and are distinctly different from those for adults.</p>

Sedimentation rates and compositions of sinking particles were investigated at three sites on the Beaufort slope and one in Canada Basin during the period 1990-1994 using moored sequential sediment traps. A method was developed to identify the terrigenous and biogenic components of the fluxes. The physical context including ice cover, ocean currents, river inputs, winds, air temperature, incident light, and nutrient availability provide essential information to the interpretation of the particle fluxes and to the understanding of shelf-basin sediment transport in this area. Eddies, internal waves, upwelling and downwelling, and the state of the ice cover all played important and overlapping roles in the pattern of observed fluxes. A peak in the flux of highly terrigenous material under complete ice cover in mid-winter to the northwest of Mackenzie Trough was associated with predominantly downwelling conditions and the passage of a series of eddies and internal waves. A prolonged spring diatom bloom occurred in the mid-slope area and was clearly associated with an early opening of the ice on the east side of the shelf. Higher fluxes at the Canada Basin site were associated with a large eddy clearly identifiable from the current-T-S record and also from the composition of the suspended material carried with it. At the base of the slope (2700 m), the composition was highly terrigenous and remarkably consistent. Higher up the slope (700 m), biogenic peaks in the summer diluted the terrigenous material briefly, but it appears that there is a constant background of highly terrigenous material. There was a high degree of variability between sites and over the slope there was not enough data to asses the inter-annual variability. In Canada Basin, the inter-annual variability was closely linked to the extent of open water in the summer period. At all sites, lateral transport is clearly indicated by the increase in flux with depth. The data robustly demonstrate the need for detailed knowledge of physical processes for informed interpretation of particle fluxes and sediment transport in this area.

[Truncated abstract] The expansion of human populations in coastal land margins has resulted in major modifcations to estuarine ecosystems. The use of numerical models as predictive tools for assessing remediation strategies is increasing. However, parameterisation of physical processes, developed mainly through field investigations, is necessary for these models to be reliable and effective management tools. The physical processes in micro–tidal diurnal tidal systems are relatively unknown and the current study examines field measurements obtained from the upper Swan River estuary (Western Australia), a diurnal, partially mixed system during the summer when the freshwater discharge is negligible. The aims of the study were to characterise, temporally and spatially, the dominant physical processes and associated sediment resuspension. Variability at three dominant time-scales were examined: 1) sub–tidal oscillations (∼5 to 10 days) resulting from local and remote forcing; 2) tidal (∼ 24 hours) due to astronomical forcing; and 3) intra-tidal (∼2 to 3 hours) resulting from the interaction between tidal constituents. Circulation in estuaries is widely accepted in the literature to be dominated, in varying proportions, by tidal range, freshwater discharge and gravitational circulation. In the upper Swan River estuary sub–tidal oscillations were responsible for the largest upstream displacement of the salt wedge in the absence of freshwater discharge. Moreover, these sub–tidal fluctuations in water level modified the ‘classic’ estuarine circulation. The dynamics of diurnal tides are largely controlled by the tropic month, which oscillates at a slightly different period to the lunar month, resulting in the spring–neap tidal cycle to be sometimes different from syzygy. The phase lag between the diurnal (O1 + K1) and semi-diurnal (M2 + S2) constituents, at the seasonal time scale cause the maximum tidal range to be near the solstice. Over a 24–hour tidal cycle this phase lag is manifested as an intra–tidal oscillation that occurs on the flood tide. Turbidity events that last ∼1 to 2 hours occur during the intra–tidal oscillation, but are not related to maximum shear stress predicted from the mean flow characteristics. The increases in turbidity during the intra–tidal oscillation is, however, correlated with the near–bed Reynolds fluxes. During the intra–tidal oscillation advection opposes the estuarine circulation in the near–bed region, promoting vertical shear that results in destratifcation of the water column. The turbulent mixing generated at the interface and in the near–bed region coincide with resuspension events. Similar turbidity data have often been disregarded and documented as being ‘spikes’ based on the premise that the mean flow was below a critical level to resuspend sediment. Resuspension events were not simply related to mean processes and may be controlled by turbulent instabilities generated when tidal currents reverse during an intra-tidal oscillation