Adilson dos Anjos

Mercury and DDT exposure risk to fish-eating human populations in Amazon

In order to investigate the potential risk of mercury and DDTs exposure to fish-eating human populations in Samuel Reservoir, not affected directly by gold-mining activities, the axial muscle of Cichla monoculus was analyzed. Twenty-nine and thirty adults individuals were collected respectively on February (rainy season) and August (dry season) 2007. The specimens were sacrificed by spinal section before sex identification, body weight and total length determination. For total mercury, DDT and DDE quantifications and cholinesterase activity samples of the axial muscle were frozen at -20°C, and for histopathological studies gill and liver were fixed in ALFAC solution for 16 h. A value of 48.2% and 33% of the individuals, respectively from rainy and dry seasons, presented mercury concentrations higher than the maximum established for safe human consumption (0.5 μg g⁻¹) by World Health Organization. A positive correlation between body weight and Hg concentration was observed only in individuals from the rainy season, but no correlation was observed to DDT and DDE from both seasons. Differently from that observed to mercury, DDT levels presented a significant difference between both studied seasons, but no correlation was observed for both mercury and DDTs and sex. The levels of DDTs in muscle of C. monoculus are under the maximum established by FAO-Alimentarius CODEX and Swedish Food Regulation for human consumption. The histopathological and neurotoxic findings showed that the wild population of fish is affected by chronic exposure to mercury, meaning risk also to fish-eating populations. Finally, the results showed that C. monoculus is an important vehicle for human exposure to mercury and DDTs in Samuel Reservoir and that it is necessary a continuous biomonitoring of the levels of both pollutants in order to manage the risk of exposure to human populations.

Yield response to fertilization strategies in no-tillage soybean, corn and common bean crops

Two research fields were conducted on a Haplohumox from 1998 and to 2005. The study aimed to evaluate the strategies for starter fertilizer application on corn, soybean and common bean yield as well as the accumulation of earlier dry matter for corn in a no-tillage crop rotation system in south of Brazil. There was no increase in the yield of soybean with phosphorus and potassium application for at least seven seasons, while corn and common bean showed increased yields with phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen application. For soybean, corn and common beans in no-tillage systems with high levels of phosphorus and medium of potassium, the starter fertilizer can be applied in any of the methods evaluated and in any of the period considered. The presence or absence of potassium in the furrow, phosphorus sources and row preparation components provided similar yields to corn, soybean and common bean.

Atributos químicos de um latossolo bruno sob sistema plantio direto em função da estratégia de adubação e do método de amostragem de solo

Fertilizer application in the sowing rows does not necessarily increase crop yields, but it does increase the variability of the soil chemical properties, particularly of the nutrients P and K. This variability is greater in the no-tillage system because there is no homogenization of the soil surface layer. This study evaluated the effect of fertilization strategies on soil chemical properties at distinct soil depths after three and six years from the beginning of the experiment in a Haplohumox under long-term no-tillage. Besides, the variation of these properties considering two methods of soil sampling, with and without inclusion of the seeding row, was evaluated. Ten treatments were applied, nine considering P sources (rock phosphate and triple superphosphate), row preparation equipment (double disc opener and coulter opener), fertilizer placement (in-row and broadcast), time of application (summer and winter) and one control treatment, without fertilizer. The measured soil chemical properties were higher in the surface layers and depth distribution, except for P, was not influenced by the fertilization strategies. The soil P values were the lowest in the 0-5 cm layer where the coulter opener equipment had been continuously used for more than three years and no fertilizer was applied. With the inclusion of the sowing row in the soil sampling, higher K, Ca and CEC values were observed. The methodologies of soil sampling, with and without the inclusion of the sowing row and the 0-10 and 0-20 cm sampling layers resulted in similar fertilizer and lime recommendations for areas under long-term no-tillage.

Adesivo biológico de fibrina na mioescleropexia posterior em coelhos: estudo experimental

PURPOSES: 1. To evaluate the adhesion capacity of the fibrin biological adhesive in surgery of posterior fixation of the superior rectus muscle, when it is used for the reduction of the arc of contact. 2. To compare the reduction of the superior rectus muscles action of eyes in which the biological adhesive has been used with those used as a control group. METHODS: The sample consisted of 30 animals, 60 eyes. One of the eyes of each animal was treated with biological adhesive (30 eyes), while the other was used as a control (30 eyes). All animals were sacrificed on the 60th postoperative day. Muscle reduction was analyzed and the sizes of the adherences produced at surgery and after 60 days were measured. RESULTS: The fibrin clot was produced immediately after applying the biological adhesive and at the end of few seconds all muscle fibers were adhered to the sclera. All muscles treated with biological adhesive showed reduction in motor function on the 60th postoperative day when compared with the control group. The sizes of the initially produced adherence compared with those after 60 days was reduced 28.48%. There was an ascending and positive but weak correlation (r=0.367204). There must exist other variables affecting adherence reduction. There was no significant inflammatory reaction or any other complication related to the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical results of motor function demonstrated that the biological adhesive of fibrin produced muscle-scleral adhesion, reducing the arc of contact of the superior rectus muscle in rabbits.