Wânia Duleba

Analysis of foraminifera assemblages and sediment geochemical properties to characterise the environment near Araçá and Saco da Capela domestic sewage submarine outfalls of São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo State, Brazil

Superficial bottom samples were collected near diffusers of domestic sewage submarine outfalls at Araçá and Saco da Capela, São Sebastião Channel, Brazil. The goal of this study was to investigate the distribution and composition of live benthic foraminifera assemblages and integrate the results obtained with geochemical analyses to assess human-induced changes. According to the results obtained no environmental stress was observed near the Saco da Capela submarine outfall diffusers. The foraminifera assemblage is characterised by species typical of highly hydrodynamic environments, with well-oxygenated bottom waters and low nutrient contents. In contrast, near Araçá submarine outfall, organic enrichment was denoted by high phosphorus, sulphur and, to a lesser extent, total organic carbon content. Harmful influences on foraminifera could be identified by low richness and specific diversity, as well as the predominance of detritivore feeder species, which are associated with higher organic matter flux and low oxygen in the interstitial pore water.

The inventory of geological heritage of the state of São Paulo, Brazil: Methodological basis, results and perspectives

An inventory of geological sites based on solid and clear criteria is a first step for any geoconservation strategy. This paper describes the method used in the geoheritage inventory of the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and presents its main results. This inventory developed by the geoscientific community aimed to identify geosites with scientific value in the whole state, using a systematic approach. All 142 geosites representative of 11 geological frameworks were characterised and quantitatively evaluated according to their scientific value and risk of degradation, in order to establish priorities for their future management. An online database of the inventory is under construction, which will be available to be easily consulted and updated by the geoscientific community. All data were made available to the State Geological Institute as the backbone for the implementation of a future state geoconservation strategy.

Estudo multidisciplinar (geoquímica e associações de foraminíferos) para caracterizar e avaliar intervenções antrópicas na Baía do Araçá, Canal de São Sebastião, SP

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar possiveis alteracoes ambientais, decorrentes de aporte de esgoto domestico, na Baia do Araca, Canal de Sao Sebastiao, SP. Para atingir tal objetivo foram realizadas analises granulometricas, geoquimicas (Cot, N, S e P) e das associacoes de foraminiferos de sedimentos marinhos superficiais, coletados ao redor dos difusores do emissario submarino de esgotos domesticos do Araca, em Abril de 2006. De acordo com os resultados obtidos a regiao estudada e constituida de sedimentos litoclasticos, predominantemente arenosos. Contudo, na porcao nordeste da area de estudo, ha ocorrencia de elevadas concentracoes de sedimentos finos (silte e argila), com significativas concentracoes de Cot (>; 1%), N (>; 0,20%) e S (>; 0,3%). O enriquecimento orgânico que ocorre na area de estudo e evidenciado, principalmente, pelas concentracoes de fosforo, de enxofre, assim como pelo potencial de oxirreducao, inferido por meio dos valores de Eh e razoes C/S. No tocante as associacoes de foraminiferos bentonicos, observou-se baixa riqueza, com predominância de especies infaunais e detritivoras. Especies epifaunais, bioindicadoras de ambiente bem oxigenado, estao concentradas em estacoes sem influencia do esgoto disposto pelo emissario submarino. A presenca de foraminiferos com carapacas medias e pequenas esta, qualitativamente, associada a condicoes de menor oxigenacao no compartimento bentonico. A dominância de somente uma especie (Ammonia tepida), em toda a area de estudo, corrobora o estresse ambiental evidenciado pelos demais parâmetros bioticos e abioticos.

Environmental impact of the largest petroleum terminal in SE Brazil: A multiproxy analysis based on sediment geochemistry and living benthic foraminifera

The Dutos e Terminais do Centro Sul (DTCS) is one of the largest petroleum terminals of the South America located in the São Sebastião Channel (SSC) on the southeastern Brazilian coast. The aims of this study were to compare the sediment quality near the DTCS with that of several sites in the SSC region including the Araçá (AR) domestic sewage outfall and to assess the efficiency of the DTCS wastewater treatment plant. To achieve these goals, textural, geochemical, and living benthic foraminifera results were analyzed for the DTCS, AR, and SSC regions. Sediments in the DTCS area were silty with high concentrations of total organic carbon (1.7–2.4%), total nitrogen (0.2–0.3%), total sulfur (0.4–0.6%), and total (0.12–0.18%) and inorganic phosphorous (0.07–0.11%). These values were higher than those in sediments collected in the SSC and Araçá regions. The sediments’ concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the SSC and AR regions were lower than their corresponding probable effect levels (PELs). However, sediments near the DTCS were enriched with As, Cu, and Ni, whose concentrations exceeded their corresponding threshold effect levels (TELs). Around the DTCS outfall diffusers, living foraminiferal densities and diversities were lower than those for the other areas studied. In the DTCS area, it was necessary to search 50 to 190 cm3 of sediment to find 100 live specimens. In the SSC and Araçá areas, a maximum of 40 cm3 of sediment was enough to locate 100 live specimens. The lower density and diversity of living foraminifera around the DTCS than around the other areas illustrates the impact of the environmental stress caused by the presence of pollutants. These results indicate that the wastewater treatment plant efficiency is low and its discharge of pollutants from petrochemical waste liquids affects the benthic fauna around the DTCS in a potentially harmful manner.

Influence of dominant wind patterns in a distal region of the NW Iberian Margin during the last glaciation

This work combines planktonic foraminiferal assemblages, stable isotope, transfer function estimated sea surface paleotemperatures (SST) and export productivity (Pexp) with sedimentological records from the PC7 core to document paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic changes on a distal region of the NW Iberian Margin since the last glaciation (<≈68 ka). Neodymium and strontium isotope data are also used to identify the provenance of ice rafted debris (IRD) during Heinrich event 5 (H5). Our results are compared and combined with previously published records and evidence that melt water and icebergs from the Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Europe ice sheets arrived to the NW Iberian Margin causing a significant decrease of SST during the last six Heinrich Stadials (HS) and some Dansgaard–Oeschger (D-O) stadial events. εNd and 87Sr/86Sr indicate that the studied locality mostly received sediments from European Ice Sheets (EIS) during H5. During the HS and D–O stadial events, SSTs were in general higher than in other cores collected in inner areas of the NW Iberian Margin. The presence and intensification of Portugal Current probably induced heat transfer to this distal region of the Iberian Margin. Our results also suggest the occurrence of high variability in the intensity and wind patterns during the last glaciation. In some periods, the intensity of northerly winds could have been very strong and contributed to a significant stimulation of ocean productivity in this distal area through the intensification of upwelling. In general, oceanic productivity decreased during the HS and D–O as the presence of cold and less saline water prevented nutrient rich waters from deep levels reaching the surface. The high productivity events were bracketed by periods characterized by the highest influence of the Azores Current eastern branch during which northerly winds and the oceanic productivity should have been weakened. Supplementary material: Geochemical and foraminiferal data analysed in this work as well as Pearson Correlations between the analysed data are available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.3931813

Brazilian Scope of Management and Recycling of Textile Wastes

Brazil is one of the largest world producers of textiles and clothing. It is an important producer of cotton fiber , yarn, plain and knitted fabrics. This stimulates the country’s GDP generating millions of direct and indirect jobs in this sector. However, such activity generates various environmental problems, such as the generation of solid wastes from textile and clothing industrial processes, as well as the post-consumer clothing, which are discarded commonly in landfills. Thus, the present study presents considerations about mechanical processes for textile recycling , recycled cotton yarn and jeans characteristics, the generation of solid wastes in textile and clothing Brazilian industry and the actions directed toward sustainability. The textile reuse and recycling may contribute to the reduction of environmental problems, in addition to being economically viable source of income and social benefits for all involved in this chain, from street collectors to the industrial sector.

Interpretações paleoambientais obtidas a partir das variações na coloração das carapaças de foraminíferos, da Enseada do Flamengo, SP

Two cores obtained respectively from Saco da Ribeira and Saco do Pereque-Mirim, both located within Flamengo Bay, northern coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil, have been studied. At former site many pyrite- filled foraminifera carapaces were observed. At the other site, there occur carapaces filled with pyrite, as well as carapaces impregnated with limonite and iron monosulfide, the latter showing a close relationship between limonite and iron monosulfide impregnated carapaces with strongly bioturbated levels. These observations reveal more reducing conditions in the Saco da Ribeira than in the Saco do Pereque-Mirim. By quantifying the number of carapaces impregnated with hydroxide/oxide vs. those filled by ferrous sulfide, it was possible to estimate some differences in redox potenciais at these two sites.