L. Lima

Antibiotic resistance gene abundances associated with waste discharges to the Almendares River near Havana, Cuba

Considerable debate exists over the primary cause of increased antibiotic resistance (AR) worldwide. Evidence suggests increasing AR results from overuse of antibiotics in medicine and therapeutic and nontherapeutic applications in agriculture. However, pollution also can influence environmental AR, particularly associated with heavy metal, pharmaceutical, and other waste releases, although the relative scale of the “pollution” contribution is poorly defined, which restricts targeted mitigation efforts. The question is “where to study and quantify AR from pollution versus other causes to best understand the pollution effect”. One useful site is Cuba because industrial pollution broadly exists; antibiotics are used sparingly in medicine and agriculture; and multiresistant bacterial infections are increasing in clinical settings without explanation. Within this context, we quantified 13 antibiotic resistance genes (ARG; indicators of AR potential), 6 heavy metals, 3 antibiotics, and 17 other organic pollutants at 8 locations along the Almendares River in western Havana at sites bracketing known waste discharge points, including a large solid waste landfill and various pharmaceutical factories. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found between sediment ARG levels, especially for tetracyclines and β-lactams (e.g., tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), tet(W), blaOXA), and sediment Cu and water column ampicillin levels in the river. Further, sediment ARG levels increased by up to 3 orders of magnitude downstream of the pharmaceutical factories and were highest where human population densities also were high. Although explicit links are not shown, results suggest that pollution has increased background AR levels in a setting where other causes of AR are less prevalent.

Seasonal variations in antibiotic resistance gene transport in the Almendares River, Havana, Cuba

Numerous studies have quantified antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in rivers and streams around the world, and significant relationships have been shown that relate different pollutant outputs and increased local ARG levels. However, most studies have not considered ambient flow conditions, which can vary dramatically especially in tropical countries. Here, ARG were quantified in water column and sediment samples during the dry- and wet-seasons to assess how seasonal and other factors influence ARG transport down the Almendares River (Havana, Cuba). Eight locations were sampled and stream flow estimated during both seasons; qPCR was used to quantify four tetracycline, two erythromycin, and three beta-lactam resistance genes. ARG concentrations were higher in wet-season versus dry-season samples, which combined with higher flows, indicated much greater ARG transport downstream during the wet-season. However, water column ARG levels were more spatially variable in the dry-season than the wet-season, with the proximity of waste outfalls strongly influencing local ARG levels. Results confirm that dry-season sampling provides a useful picture of the impact of individual waste inputs on local stream ARG levels, whereas the majority of ARGs in this tropical river were transported downstream during the wet-season, possibly due to re-entrainment of ARG from sediments.

Simultaneous metal adsorption on tannin resins

Vegetable tannin sorbent is evaluated as ion exchange resin using a multitracer study on the adsorption behavior of various elements. Lisiloma latisiliqua L. tannins, polycondensated into spherical pellets were chosen as sorbent resin material. Sorption evaluation of Ce, Cu(II), U(VI), Eu, Fe(III), Th, Nd as representatives of different classes of metal ions were done at different pH values. The distribution ratio of the studied elements was calculated from laboratory experiments. Tannic ion exchange material shows excellent ability for actinides and rare earth elements adsorption from waters. Using radiotracers, the number of catechins subunits involve in each tannin-metal complex was determined.

Use of immobilized tannin adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from water

Adsorption of Cr(VI) by two tannin sorbents is evaluated using radiotracers. Evaluation of the sorption process shows that the Cr(VI)-tannin molecule binding is the principal responsible for chromium adsorption. High sorption capacities were registered for both sorbents at pH 2. ForEucaliptus Saligna Sm sorbent (ETS) sorption capacity is 0.92±0.03 mmol/g and forLysiloma latisiliqua sorbent (LTS) is 3.8±0.3 mmol/g. Influence of different ions present in water is examined. High sorption capacity is reported for LTS in sea and tap water samples. It represents 90–94% of adsorption in distillated water.

Removal of mercury(II) and methylmercury from solution by tannin adsorbents

Adsorption of mercury(II) and methylmercury by two tannin sorbents was investigated using radiotracers. High sorption capacities for mercury are registered for both sorbents at pH 7. ForEucaliptus Saligna Sm sorbent (ETS) the maximum sorption capacity was 1.2±0.2 mmol/g and forLysiloma latisiliqua sorbent (LTS) was 8.5±0.2 mmol/g. Methylmercury adsorption maximum was recorded at pH 4 and in buffered solutions at pH2. This species can be recovered in the presence of mercury(II). Influence of different ions present in water was examined. High recoveries were reported for ETS in tap water samples but a decrease of uptake is observed for seawater.

Estimate of mercury and methyl mercury intake associated with fish consumption from Sagua la Grande River, Cuba

This paper provides an estimate of the weekly intake of total mercury (THg) and methyl mercury (MeHg) from consumption of fish from the Sagua la Grande River, Villa Clara, Cuba, by determining the THg levels in different fish species. The levels varied between 0.143 and 0.484 μg g−1 on a fresh weight basis. None of the analysed fish was found to have levels above the national and international regulatory levels, although THg levels over 0.2 μg g−1, the threshold concentration established by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the consumption by vulnerable population groups, were found in 75% of samples. The MeHg level was found to be 84% of the THg content. A Food Frequency Survey was given to 127 townspeople to estimate river fish consumption. The weekly intake of MeHg was found to be greater than the value established by the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) in 50% of children, in 80% of pregnant women, and in 75% of women in childbearing age. These weekly intakes can represent an important risk to the populations health, especially for vulnerable groups.

HAV-1: A multipurpose multimonitor for reactor neutron flux characterization

A simple non-solid multimonitor HAV-1 for the systematic evaluation of reactor neutron flux parameters fork0 neutron activation analysis is presented. Solutions of Au, Zr, Co, Zn, Sn, U and Th (deposited in filter paper) are used to study the parameters α andf. Dissolved Lu is used to neutron temperature (Tn) determination, according to the Wescotts formalism. A multipurpose multimonitor HAV-1 preparation, certification and evaluation is presented.