Carlos Augusto do Nascimento

Cytotoxicity assays as tools to assess water quality in the Sinos River basin.

Cytotoxicity assays using cell cultures may be an alternative to assess biological toxicity of surface waters and may help to improve the control of water quality. This study compared two methods to prepare culture media for the exposure of Hep-2 cells to water samples collected from the Rolante River, an important affluent of the Sinos River. The toxicity was evaluated using the MTT and neutral red assays. Two methods were used to prepare culture media. In method 1, the sample was diluted at 1:1, 1:10, 1:100, 1:1000, 1:10.000 (v/v, sample/medium) in a standard culture medium; in method 2, water samples were used as the solvent for the culture medium, which was prepared at concentrations of 100, 80, 60, 40 and 20%. Semi-confluent cultures were then exposed to the media test for 24 hours, and cytotoxicity was determined immediately using the MTT and NR assays. Mitochondrial activity (MTT) was significantly lower at all concentrations in both methods, except at 1:1000 in method 1. However, the lysosome viability (NR) results revealed cytotoxicity only in the 1:1 sample of method 1. Both culture preparation methods were efficient and sensitive to the MTT assay, but method 2 seemed to be more adequate for the NR assay. The Rolante River has cytotoxic contaminants to Hep-2 cells, which may be one of the explanations for the poor water quality of the Sinos River basin.

Caffeine as an indicator of human fecal contamination in the Sinos River: a preliminary study

The preservation of hydric resources is directly related to fecal contamination monitoring, in order to allow the development of strategies for the management of polluting sources. In the present study, twenty-five water samples from six water public supply collection sites were used for the evaluation of the presence of caffeine, total and fecal coliforms. Caffeine was detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.15 ng mL-1 to 16.72 ng mL-1. Total coliforms were detected in all samples, with concentrations in the range of 52 NMP/100 mL to higher than 24196 NMP/100 mL, whether the concentration range for fecal coliforms was in the range of below 1 NMP/100 mL to 7800 NMP/100 mL. No significant correlation was found between total coliforms and caffeine concentrations (rs = 0.35, p = 0.09). However, a moderate correlation between fecal coliforms and caffeine concentrations was found (rs = 0.412, p <0.05), probably indicating a human source for these bacteria. Caffeine determination in water may be a useful strategy to evaluate water contamination by human fecal waste.

Monitoring of metals, organic compounds and coliforms in water catchment points from the Sinos River basin.

Unplanned use and occupation of the land without respecting its capacity of assimilation and environmental purification leads to the degradation of the environment and of water used for human consumption. Agricultural areas, industrial plants and urban centres developed without planning and the control of effluent discharges are the main causes of water pollution in river basins that receive all the liquid effluents produced in those places. Over the last decades, environmental management has become part of governmental agendas in search of solutions for the preservation of water quality and the restoration of already degraded resources. This study evaluated the conditions of the main watercourse of the Sinos River basin by monitoring the main physical, chemical and microbiological parameters described in the CONAMA Resolution no. 357/2005.The set of parameters evaluated at five catchment points of water human consumption revealed a river that has different characteristics in each reach, as the upper reach was class 1, whereas the middle and lower reaches of the basin were class 4. Monitoring pointed to households as the main sources of pollutants in those reaches, although metals used in the industrial production of the region were found in the samples analyzed.

Evaluation of virus recovery methods and efficiency of tannin-derived coagulants in removing total coliforms, E. coli and enteric viruses in effluents of a domestic sewage treatment plant

In the present study, nine coagulants having potential to be used for sewage treatment were compared to assess their efficiency in removing total coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and adenovirus. The coagulants tested were metallic and organic and their efficiency was compared when treating samples of raw and treated sewage (activated sludge). Before the efficiency tests of the coagulants, viral concentration methods were compared. Coagulation tests were carried out by using the jar-test system and the doses used ranged from 100 ppm to 1,000 ppm. Viral DNA was extracted and subjected to real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using primers for the gene of AdV hexon. Aluminum sulfate (1,000 ppm) presented the best results for raw sewage among metal coagulants whereas Acquapol® C118 and WW (1,000 ppm) had the most satisfactory results among organic coagulants, both reducing up to 7 logs for coliforms and 4 logs for virus. For the treated effluent, FeCl2 (1,000 ppm) presented best results for metal coagulants, whereas, from organic coagulants, the best removal rates were for Acquapol® 893/11 (1,000 ppm), both reducing up to 3 logs for coliforms and 4 logs for virus.

Overview of use, distribution and pollution of surface water in Arroio Pampa in Rio dos Sinos Basin

The human intervention in surface water fountains is intense and decisive. In light of the urbanization, with the production of household waste in large quantities with high organic load of pollutants and because the activities of industrialization, which produce industrial effluents with high quantity of heavy metals, the standard of quality of the water surface is reduced drastically. The result is a reduction in quality of life in these basins, which are highly exposed to acquisition of infectious diseases and exposure to carcinogenic agents and teratogenics represented by heavy metals. Rivers which pass through urban centres, a rule, carry in their waters domestic sewage and industrial effluents. Although the Brazilian environmental law determines the tracking, and classification of these water bodies, with subsequent publication of the results, in most cases this does not occur effectively. The Arroio Pampa with most of its territory in the municipality of Novo Hamburgo - RS - Brazil, passing through densely populated neighborhoods, has every domestic sewage disposed of these neighborhoods by its waters, is receiving corps of industrial effluents, and despite having his mouth to approximately 1.5 km from the point of water for consumption of more than 250,000 people, it is typical example of this situation. This paper discusses the panorama of uses, distribution and contamination of surface waters from the focus on studies in Arroio Pampa, located in the basin of Rio dos Sinos in the metropolitan area of Porto Alegre. Key words: surface water, water resources, pollution.

Seasonal assessment and apportionment of surface water pollution using multivariate statistical methods: Sinos River, southern Brazil

Assessment of surface water quality is an issue of currently high importance, especially in polluted rivers which provide water for treatment and distribution as drinking water, as is the case of the Sinos River, southern Brazil. Multivariate statistical techniques allow a better understanding of the seasonal variations in water quality, as well as the source identification and source apportionment of water pollution. In this study, the multivariate statistical techniques of cluster analysis (CA), principal component analysis (PCA), and positive matrix factorization (PMF) were used, along with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman’s correlation analysis in order to interpret a water quality data set resulting from a monitoring program conducted over a period of almost two years (May 2013 to April 2015). The water samples were collected from the raw water inlet of the municipal water treatment plant (WTP) operated by the Water and Sewage Services of Novo Hamburgo (COMUSA). CA allowed the data to be grouped into three periods (autumn and summer (AUT-SUM); winter (WIN); spring (SPR)). Through the PCA, it was possible to identify that the most important parameters in contribution to water quality variations are total coliforms (TCOLI) in SUM-AUT, water level (WL), water temperature (WT), and electrical conductivity (EC) in WIN and color (COLOR) and turbidity (TURB) in SPR. PMF was applied to the complete data set and enabled the source apportionment water pollution through three factors, which are related to anthropogenic sources, such as the discharge of domestic sewage (mostly represented by Escherichia coli (ECOLI)), industrial wastewaters, and agriculture runoff. The results provided by this study demonstrate the contribution provided by the use of integrated statistical techniques in the interpretation and understanding of large data sets of water quality, showing also that this approach can be used as an efficient methodology to optimize indicators for water quality assessment.

Monitoramento de pH, temperatura, OD, DBO e condições microbiológicas das águas do arroio pampa em novo Hamburgo-RS

A Agenda 21 e um plano de acao aprovado na Conferencia das Nacoes Unidas sobre o Meio Ambiente e Desenvolvimento, a Rio-92, realizada no Rio de Janeiro. No documento estao definidos os compromissos que 179 paises assinaram e assumiram de construir um novo modelo de desenvolvimento. Trata-se de um plano que resulte em melhor qualidade de vida para a humanidade e que seja economica, social e ambientalmente sustentavel. Desde 2002, o nosso pais tem uma agenda 21 Brasileira. Falta em Mato Grosso que as demais esferas de governo articulem e organizem a Agenda 21 local. Entre as tres cidades mais populosas de Mato Grosso, apenas Varzea Grande esta com o documento elaborado desde 2007. E necessario que os municipios se atentem para implantar os compromissos para a defesa do meio ambiente.

Corporate governance and proactive environmental management in Novo Hamburgo and neighbouring cities, Brazil.

This study compiled data on environmental auditing and voluntary certification of environment-friendly businesses of the Commercial and Industrial Association of Novo Hamburgo, Campo Bom and Estância Velha and analysed them according to classical environmental management principles: sustainable development and corporate governance. It assessed the level of application of the concepts of corporate governance to everyday business in companies and organisations and estimated how the interconnection and vertical permeability of these concepts might help to make bureaucratic environmental management systemic, proactive and evaluative, changes that may add great value to the operations evaluated. Results showed that, when analysing only audited items not directly defined in legislation, no significant changes were identified. The inclusion of more advanced indices may promote the transition from bureaucratic management, which meets regulated environmental standards only satisfactorily, into proactive and systemic environmental management, which adds value to companies and helps to perpetuate them. Audited and analysed data did not reveal actions that depend on the internal redistribution of power and the interconnection or verticality of attitudes that may materialize concepts of corporate governance.

Physical-chemistry tracking of the waters of Pampa Stream in Novo Hamburgo (RS)

Cursos de agua que passam por areas densamente urbanizadas carregam em suas aguas esgoto domestico e efluentes industriais. A legislacao ambiental brasileira determine o monitoramento, e a classificacao destes corpos hidricos, com posterior publicacao dos resultados obtidos. Mas na maioria dos casos isto efetivamente nao ocorre. O arroio Pampa c om a maior parte do seu territorio no municipio de Novo Hamburgo (RS, Brasil), passa por bairros muito habitados e tem todo o esgoto domestico destes bairros escoado por suas agua s. Tambem e um corpo re ceptor de efluentes industriais. Apesar de ter sua foz a aproximadamente 1,5 km do ponto de captacao de agua para o consumo de mais de 250.000 pessoas, e exemplo tipico desta situacao. Este trabalho monitorou por periodo de um ano as aguas do arroio Pampa, e as aguas do rio dos Sinos a montante da foz do arro io, com coletas espacadas por aproximadamente 45 dias, buscando a classificacao segundo a Resolucao CONAMA 357 e determinar a influencia das aguas do arroio Pampa no ponto do Rio dos Sinos onde se localiza a captacao de agua para consumo do municipio de No vo Hamburgo. A determinacoes dos parâmetros nos pontos de amostragem do arroio Pampa e do ponto localizado no rio dos Sinos a montante da foz do arroio, foram realizadas pela Central Analitica do Centro Un iversitario FEEVALE. A influencia das aguas do arroio Pampa no Rio dos Sinos no ponto de captacao da Companhia Municipal de Saneamento (COMUSA), foi realizada usando dados desta companhia e da Fundacao Estadual de Protecao Ambiental Henrique Luiz Roessler – RS (FEPAM), entidades que monitoram este ponto de retirada de agua. As aguas do arroio Pampa apresentaram para alguns parâmetros caracteristicas seme lhantes a de esgoto domestico, ocorrendo em algumas amostras coletadas altos teores de cromo e niquel. O impacto relevante causado pelas aguas do arroio Pam pa no Rio dos Sinos e relativo a esgoto domestico. porem a Watercourses that pass through heavily urbanized areas in their waters carry domestic sewage and industrial effluents. Brazilian environmental legislation determines the monitoring and classification of water bodies, with subsequent publication of results. But in most cases it actually does not occur . The Pampa stream with most of its territory in the municipality of Novo Hamburgo (RS, Brazil), passes very neighborhoods inhabited and has all the sewage of these areas drained by its waters. It is also a receiving body of industrial effluents. Despite its mouth is approximately 1.5 km from the point of abstraction of water for the consumption of more than 250,000 people, is typical example of this situation. This work monitored by one year the waters of the Pampa stream, and the waters of the Sinos river upstream from the mouth of the creek, with samples spaced approximately 45 days, seeking classification under CONAMA Resolution 357 and the influence of water the stream at the point of Pampa Rio dos Sinos where is the abstraction of water for the city of Novo Hamburgo. The determination of the parameters at the sampling points of the Pampa stream and the point located in the Sinos river upstream from the mouth of the creek, were performed by the Analytical Center of the University Center FEEVALE. The infl uence of the waters of the Pampa stream Sinos River at the point of capture of the Municipal Sanitation Company (COMUS) was performed using data from this company and the Foundation for Environmental Protection Henrique Luiz Roessler - RS (FEPAM), groups t hat monitor this point of withdrawal of water. The waters of the Pampa stream for some parameters showed similar characteristics to domestic wastewater occurring in some samples collected high levels of chromium and nickel. The relevant impact caused by th e waters of the Pampa stream Rio dos Sinos is on domestic sewage. But the finding of significant levels of chromium and nickel determine preventive care and the influence of industrial effluents in the waters of the stream. The solution to the current dire state chemical and microbiological water of the stream Pampa necessarily entails the construction and operation of systems for domestic wastewater treatment, and an

Historic aspects of management of Arroio Pampa on hidrographic basin of Rio dos Sinos

As interacoes entre a sociedade humana ou meio antropico, com os meios fisico e biologico, tem sido marcada por simplificacoes e por uma visao arrogante e pretensiosa de que a sociedade humana tudo pode sobre os meios fisico e biologico. Este trabalho apresenta a evolucao da interacao entre um manancial hidrico superficial de pequeno porte, denominado Arroio Pampa, na cidade de Novo Hamburgo e os processos antropicos de urbanizacao. A presenca da sociedade humana traz impactos ambientais relevantes ao curso de agua, com grande poluicao de carga orgânica, resultante de esgotos domesticos e poluicao industrial, pois o corpo de agua e receptor de efluentes industriais tratados e nao tratados. A presenca da captacao de agua de Novo Hamburgo a jusante da confluencia do Arroio Pampa com o Rio dos Sinos e a tendencia cega de utilizar todas as areas das planicies de inundacao dos cursos de agua, sao narradas dentro de uma perspectiva de evolucao historica do Arroio Pampa. Palavras-chave: agua, desenvolvimento, recursos hidricos.