No abstract

In anoxic sediments, as those found in estuaries, the mobility of metals can be controlled by the formation of stable sulfide complexes. The potential bioavailability of a metal can then be predicted on the basis of the acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) criterion. Distributions of AVS and SEM (Hg, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Ni) along the sediment profiles were determined seasonally for three rivers that constitute the Santos-Cubatão estuarine system (SE Brazil), which is located in one of the most industrialized areas of Latin America. AVS and SEM concentrations varied significantly, from 0.04 to 31.9 μmol g(-1) and 0.086-6.659 μmol g(-1), respectively. The highest AVS levels in sediments were detected in the winter, whereas high SEM values predominated in the summer. Considering SEM-AVS molar differences as a parameter to evaluate potential bioavailability, sediments nearest to the industrial area represent higher risk to biota, especially during the summer. It is due to relatively low AVS values and not necessarily high concentrations of metals.

and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) were combined in order to verify the ecological hazard of contaminated sediments from the Santos-Cubatão Estuarine System (SE Brazil), which is located in one of the most industrialized areas in the Latin America. Intertidal sediments from the Morrão River estuary were collected seasonally in short cores. The redox conditions, organic matter contents and grain-size were the main controlling factors on SEM distribution. However, clear relationships among these variables and AVS were not observed. The molar SEM/AVS ratios were frequently > 1 especially in the summer, suggesting major metal bioavailability hazard in this humid hot season.

The geochemical composition of sediment pore water was investigated in comparison with the composition of sediment particles and surface water in an estuary within one of the most industrialized areas in Latin America (Santos-Cubatão estuarine system, SE Brazil). Pore and surface waters presented anomalously high levels of F − , NH4 + , Fe, Mn and P due to two industrial point sources. In the summer, when SO 4 2− / Cl− ratios suggested an enhanced sulfate reduction, the higher dissolved levels observed in pore waters for some metals (e.g., Cu and Ni) were attributed to reductive dissolution of oxidized phases. Results evidenced that the risks of surface water concentration increase due to diffusion or advection from pore water are probably dependent on coupled influences of tidal pumping and groundwater inputs.

This study aimed to verify the need for minerals and vitamins to increase the production of cell mass by acetic acid bacteria (AAB) isolated from the vinegar industry (086/06) and standard strain (Acetobacter aceti CCT 2565). Five minerals (Mo, B, Zn, Fe, and Mn) and eight vitamins (p-aminobenzoic acid, thiamine, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, cyanocobalamin, and inositol) were tested in a fractional factorial design. To prepare the inoculum, different compositions of MYP (mannitol, yeast, and peptone) medium were tested. The most adequate medium was mannitol 25 g/L, yeast extract 0.625 g/L, and peptone 0.375 g/L. Through contour curves, it was determined that strain 086/06 needed supplementation with minerals Mo, B and Mn and vitamins p-aminobenzoic acid, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin. Standard strain CCT 2565 needed supplementation of all minerals and vitamins studied, except inositol. The lower requirement of micronutrients for high cell multiplication of the 086/06 strain may be related to the adaptation of strain 086/06 to industrial production conditions.