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- Glyphosate in portuguese adults – a pilot studyPublication . Nova, Paulo; Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Silva, MargaridaBackground: Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum biocide and the active ingredient in the most widely used herbicides worldwide. Since 2015, when the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a Class 2A carcinogen, global interest in this chemical spiked particularly as regards exposure of the general population. Objective: An exploratory glyphosate exposure assessment was conducted among Portuguese adults. Methods: Self-selected participants provided first morning urine which was tested for glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) at two distinct periods of time, by two different laboratories using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography linked to triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS), respectively. Results: In the first round of testing 28% and 50% presented detectable levels of glyphosate and AMPA respectively, with median values of 0.25 and 0.16 μg/L. Systematically available internal dose values were 8.20E- 06 mg/Kg (glyphosate) and 5.04-05 mg/Kg (AMPA). In the second round 73% and 97% presented detectable levels of glyphosate and AMPA respectively with median values of 0.13 and 0.10 μg/L. Systematically available internal dose values were 4.00E-06 mg/Kg (glyphosate) and 3.00E-06 mg/Kg (AMPA). Conclusions: Glyphosate exposure was detected among Portuguese adults, with percentages of glyphosate and AMPA contaminated urine in both rounds of testing and above values from previous studies in other European countries. Systematically available internal doses values were below EFSA’s risk assessment values (ADI or AOEL), and as such, the concentration values measured in this study are not per se a human health problem. Even though there were study limitations, it is the first assessment in Portugal and contributes to the overall knowledge map of glyphosate exposure in Europe.
- Toxicity assessment of high salinity tannery wastewater for the treatment in constructed wetlands.Publication . Silva, Gabriela; Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Quitério, Paula V.B.; Crispim, Luís F.C.; Brixc, Hans; Moura, Sandra G.C.; Castro, Paula M.L.
- Use of different types of plants for the uptake of contaminantsPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Marques, Ana P. G. C.; Oliveira, Rui S.; Rangel, António O. S. S.; Castro, Paula M. L.
- Substrate effect on bacterial communities from constructed wetlands planted with Typha latifolia treating industrial wastewaterPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Duque, Anouk F.; Moura, Alexandra; Henriques, Isabel S.; Correia, António; Rangel, António O.S.S.; Castro, Paula M.L.Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been recognized as being able to effectively treat wastewater from municipal and industrial sources. This study focused on the effect of different substrates and long-term operation of horizontal subsurface flowCWstreating tannery wastewater on the bacterial communities. The CWs were planted with Typha latifolia in three types of substrate: two units with different types of expanded clay aggregates and one unit with fine gravel. Another unit with expanded clay was left unvegetated. Changes in the bacterial community related to the type of substrate, different hydraulic loading rates and along CW operationwere examined using denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Bacterial enumerationwas also performed and several bacterial isolateswere retrieved from the CWs. Phylogenetic affiliations of those isolates were obtained on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and revealed that they were closely related to the genera Bacillus (TM1S1, TM1R3, TNR1 and TAR1), Paracoccus (TM1R2), Pseudomonas (TM1R1) and Halomonas (TM1S2). The type of substrate and the presence of T. latifolia had a major effect on the species richness and the structure of bacterial communities as inferred by numerical analysis of DGGE profiles.
- Phytosystems for the treatment of wastewater and soilPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Marques, Ana P. G. C.; Oliveira, Rui S.; Rangel, António O. S. S.; Castro, Paula M. L.
- Constructed wetland systems vegetated with different plants applied to the treatment of tannery wastewaterPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Rangel, António O.S.S.; Castro, Paula M.L.Wastewaters from leather processing are very complex and lead to water pollution if discharged untreated, especially due to its high organic loading. In this study the survival of different plant species in subsurface horizontal flow constructed wetlands receiving tannery wastewater was investigated. Five pilot units were vegetated with Canna indica, Typha latifolia, Phragmites australis, Stenotaphrum secundatum and Iris pseudacorus, and a sixth unit was left as an unvegetated control. The treatment performance of the systems under two different hydraulic loading rates, 3 and 6 cmd1, was assessed. COD was reduced by 41–73% for an inlet organic loading varying between 332 and 1602 kg ha1 d1 and BOD5 was reduced by 41–58% for an inlet organic loading varying between 218 and 780 kg ha 1 d1. Nutrient removal occurred to lower extents. Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia were the only plants that were able to establish successfully. Despite the high removal of organic content from the influent wastewater, during 17 months of operation, no significant differences in performance were observed between units.
- Changes in the bacterial community structure in two-stage constructed wetlands with different plants for industrial wastewater treatmentPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Duque, Anouk F.; Moura, Alexandra; Henriques, Isabel S.; Correia, António; Rangel, António O.S.S.; Castro, Paula M.L.This study focused on the diversity of bacterial communities from two series of two-stage constructed wetlands (CWs) treating tannery wastewater, under different hydraulic conditions. Series were separately planted with Typha latifolia and Phragmites australis in expanded clay aggregates and operated for 31 months. The effect of plant species, hydraulic loading and unit stage on bacterial communities was addressed through bacterial enumeration and denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Diverse and distinct bacterial communities were found in each system unit, which was related in part to the type of plant and stage position (first or second unit in the series). Numerical analysis of DGGE profiles showed high diversity in each unit with an even distribution of species. No clear relation was established between the sample collection time, hydraulic loading applied and the bacterial diversity. Isolates retrieved from plant roots and substrates of CWs were affiliated with c-Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, a-Proteobacteria, Sphingobacteria, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Both series were effective in removing organic matter from the inlet wastewater, however, based on batch degradation experiments it seems that biodegradation was limited by the recalcitrant properties of the wastewater
- Bioremediation case study: use of constructed wetlands for tannery wastewater treatment.Publication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Rangel, António O.S.S.; Castro, Paula M. L.
- Microbial monitoring of a subsurface constructed wetland treating domestic wastewaterPublication . Mina, Isabel A-P.; Costa, Marta; Matos, Ana; Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Castro, Paula M. L.
- Treatment of industrial wastewater with two-stage constructed wetlands planted with typha latifolia and phragmites australisPublication . Calheiros, Cristina S.C.; Rangel, António O.S.S.; Castro, Paula M.L.Industrial wastewater treatment comprises several processes to fulfill the discharge permits or to enable the reuse of wastewater. For tannery wastewater, constructed wetlands (CWs) may be an interesting treatment option. Two-stage series of horizontal subsurface flow CWs with Phragmites australis (UP series) and Typha latifolia (UT series) provided high removal of organics from tannery wastewater, up to 88% of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) (from an inlet of 420 to 1000 mg L-1) and 92% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (from an inlet of 808 to 2449 mg L-1), and of other contaminants, such as nitrogen, operating at hydraulic retention times of 2, 5 and 7 days. No significant (P < 0.05) differences in performance were found between both the series. Overall mass removals of up to 1294 kg COD ha-1 d-1 and 529 kg BOD5 h-1 d-1 were achieved for a loading ranging from 242 to 1925 kg COD ha-1 d-1 and from 126 to 900 kg BOD5 ha-1 d-1. Plants were resilient to the conditions imposed, however P. australis exceeded T. latifolia in terms of propagation.