Maurício Dziedzic

Environmental risk assessment of antibiotics: an intensive care unit analysis.

Hospital effluents have been usually known by the microbiological pollution they cause, but only recently they have been considered a significant source of aquatic environmental pollution due to the presence of medicines in these effluents. In this context, an environmental risk assessment (ERA) is presented for the most used intravenous antibiotics in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital in Curitiba (Brazil). The amount of antibiotics used in the ICU was evaluated during 18months (June 2006 until November 2007), in order to calculate the Predicted Environmental Concentration (PEC1). Antibiotic excretion data (on its original form) and the removal of the selected drugs in the sewage treatment plants based on the activated sludge system were used to calculate, respectively, PEC2 and PEC2r. The Predicted No-Effect Concentration (PNEC) of pharmaceuticals was also considered to assess the environmental risk by calculating the PEC/PNEC ratios. All PECs were 1ngL(-1). The worst-case PEC estimations (PEC1 and PEC2) were observed for sodic ceftriaxone, sodic cefazolin, meropenem, ampicillin, cefepime and sodic piperacillin. PEC/PNEC ratios showed that, given the present pattern of usage, high aquatic environmental risk is expected for these antibiotics. Further studies should be carried out to elucidate their contribution to increasing antimicrobial multi-drug-resistant species.

Análise de indicadores ambientais no reservatório do Passaúna

The relevance of environmental indicators is associated with their use as tools with which society evaluates its own evolution. In the environmental context, indicators are parameters which are representative of the processes involved, are concise and easy to interpret, and which are used to represent the main characteristics of a certain area. The present work proposes a set of environmental indicators for the Passauna reservoir, one of the main sources of drinking water in Curitiba, Brazil, based on 14 parameters. This paper also presents a proposal for the determination of an environmental stress index (ICA) based on the relative importance of pollution threats. An example is shown, considering the available data for six parameters, which indicates that the Passauna reservoir is under strong environmental stress.

Estimating nutrient loads in the Passaúna reservoir with FLUX

The present paper describes an application of the FLUX program to obtain the nutrient loads for the Passaúna Reservoir in Curitiba´s Metropolitan Region, in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The difficulties and advantages associated with model usage are listed, highlighting the tools available to increase the efficiency of monitoring systems which provide the elements for water quality evaluation models. Estimates of loads in the tributary watersheds are presented, and the associated export coefficients are obtained, indicative of soil use and nutrient-related pollution levels. A comparison of these export coefficients with published values indicates that unaccounted-for non-point sources are likely to exist in the area of study.

Data for: Evaluating EIA Systems’ Effectiveness: A State of the Art

Compilation of articles published between 1996 and 2016 on the subject of environmental impact assessment effectiveness.