Manganese (Mn) is the third most abundant transition metal in the Earth's crust. Decades of increasing worldwide mining activities have inevitably led to the release of large amounts of this metal ...into the environment. Mine drainage, either acidic or neutral, often contains high levels of Mn, which have potentially detrimental effects on ecosystems and receiving water bodies. This review provides a comprehensive assessment of the main implications and challenges of Mn treatment in mine drainage. With this aim, the beneficial and adverse effects of Mn on ecosystems and human health are presented first. A comparison of background and mine effluents Mn contents is also provided, further stressing the need for Mn removal from mine drainage. Several technical options to address Mn contamination in acid and neutral mine drainage, and the challenges associated with Mn removal, are subsequently discussed. Thus, this paper presents up-to-date knowledge on the available physicochemical and biological processes deemed operative in Mn removal during mine drainage treatment and their limitations considering the distinctive behavior of Mn. The discussion is further extended to passive treatment systems, which are the most commonly implemented systems for mine drainage treatment on abandoned or closed mine sites, and highlights both their design criteria and operation requirements, as well as the factors that influence Mn removal efficiency. Finally, new perspectives on future research and development needs are identified to address the challenges in Mn removal during mine drainage treatment.
•Mn is ubiquitous in the environment and widely used in many industrial sectors.•There is growing concern regarding Mn impacts on human health and ecosystems.•Mining effluents can significantly impact Mn concentrations in natural waters.•Mn treatment in mining effluents is complex and notoriously difficult.•Further research on Fe to Mn ratio, modified materials and inoculation is warranted.
ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the occurrence of incidents in the context of mobile terrestrial pre-hospital care. Methods: a descriptive research was carried out through the observation of 239 ...treatments performed by 22 healthcare professionals at the Mobile Emergency Care Service, located in Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fisher’s exact test and chi-square test were used for data analysis. Results: the total time dedicated to patient care was 439.5 hours, during which 2386 security incidents were observed. The most notable ones were related to written communication (235), patient identification through bracelets (238), and safety in medication preparation (81). Conclusions: the need to promote and implement initiatives aimed at patient safety is evident, with special focus on international safety goals within the scope of mobile pre-hospital care services.
RESUMEN Objetivos: analizar la ocurrencia de incidentes en el contexto de la atención prehospitalaria móvil terrestre. Métodos: se realizó una investigación descriptiva a través de la observación de 239 atenciones realizadas por 22 profesionales de la salud en el Servicio de Atención Móvil de Urgencia, ubicado en la Baixada Fluminense, Río de Janeiro, Brasil. Para el análisis de los datos, se emplearon la prueba exacta de Fisher y la prueba de chi-cuadrado. Resultados: el tiempo total dedicado a la atención al paciente fue de 439,5 horas, durante las cuales se observaron 2386 incidentes de seguridad. Los más destacados fueron relacionados con la comunicación escrita (235), la identificación del paciente a través de pulseras (238) y la seguridad en la preparación de medicamentos (81). Conclusiones: se evidencia la necesidad de promover e implementar iniciativas que apunten a la seguridad del paciente, con un enfoque especial en las metas internacionales de seguridad, en el ámbito de los servicios de atención prehospitalaria móvil.
RESUMO Objetivos: analisar a ocorrência de incidentes no contexto do atendimento pré-hospitalar móvel terrestre. Métodos: realizou-se uma pesquisa descritiva através da observação de 239 atendimentos efetuados por 22 profissionais de saúde no Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU), situado na Baixada Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Para a análise dos dados, empregaram-se o teste exato de Fisher e o teste qui-quadrado. Resultados: o tempo total dedicado ao atendimento ao paciente foi de 439,5 horas, durante o qual se observaram 2386 incidentes de segurança. Os mais notáveis foram relativos à comunicação escrita (235), identificação do paciente através de pulseiras (238) e à segurança na preparação de medicamentos (81). Conclusões: evidencia-se a necessidade de promover e implementar iniciativas que visem a segurança do paciente, com foco especial nas metas internacionais de segurança, no âmbito dos serviços de atendimento pré-hospitalar móvel.
Radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr) and stable (δ88/86Sr) strontium isotope compositions spanning a calendar year are reported for rivers from across subarctic Canada that drain contrasting lithologies ranging ...from Precambrian bedrock (Koksoak, Great Whale and La Grande rivers of Northern Quebec) to carbonate and clastic Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks of the Western Interior Platform (Nelson River, of central and western Canada). The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic compositions of the river waters reflect the underlying geology, with rivers draining the Precambrian Shield having higher 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.727–0.734) than the Phanerozoic dominated Nelson River (0.713). The stable strontium isotope values (δ88/86Sr) range from 0.26 to 0.39‰, with the values for the Nelson River overlapping those of the other three. Rivers that have not been developed for hydroelectric power show a seasonal variation in the 87Sr/86Sr ratios, whereas those that have been diverted or dammed show little or no seasonal variation due to increased residence time of their water in hydroelectric reservoirs. The three rivers from Northern Quebec show discrete ranges in their 87Sr/86Sr and δ88/86Sr isotope compositions that correlate with the Ca/Sr and Na/Sr ratios of the river water. These correlations are interpreted to reflect differential chemical weathering of felsic versus mafic source rocks and/or of surficial sediment vs bedrock sources.
•River impoundment (damming) alters the Sr isotope composition of rivers.•Spring meltwater plumes alter the Sr isotope composition of the rivers.•Stable Sr isotope compositions and river chemistry reflect the bedrock geology.•Stable Sr isotope compositions of boreal rivers reflect silicate vs carbonate weathering.
Responsible use and effective treatment of mine water are prerequisites of sustainable mining. The behavior of contaminants in mine water evolves in relation to the metastable characteristics of some ...species, changes related to the mine life cycle, and mixing processes at various scales. In cold climates, water treatment requires adaptation to site-specific conditions, including high flow rates, salinity, low temperatures, remoteness, and sensitivity of receiving waterbodies. Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) represent a newer issue in mine water treatment. This paper reviews recent research on the challenges and opportunities related to CECs in mine water treatment, with a focus on advanced oxidation and membrane-based processes on mine sites operating in cold climates. Finally, the paper identifies research needs in mine water treatment.
To reflect on the safe care exercised by the pre-hospital care team by emergency ambulance in times of coronavirus infection.
A reflection and description of how to provide safe care to the patient ...and the professional during pre-hospital care in times of coronavirus infection.
To ensure the health of all those involved in the care, health professionals who work in pre-hospital care by emergency ambulance should use the recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as the use of surgical masks and N95, N99, N100, PFF2 or PFF3, the use of an apron or overall, goggles and face shield, gloves and a hat. The entire team must receive training and demonstrate the ability to use PPE correctly and safely.
The professional working in the pre-hospital care by ambulance is exposed to a series of occupational risks that need to be discussed and minimized through professional training.
•Depending on the prevailing conditions, eskers can host significant aquifers.•Eskers constitute a significant source of exploitable sand and gravel.•Such glaciofluvial formations are often implied ...in land use conflicts.•A GIS-based approach was developed for supporting groundwater protection.•The outputs of the approach are used to guide land management strategies.
Part of Abitibi-Témiscamingue in northwestern Quebec (25,750km2), within the Quebec/Ontario Clay Belt, Canada.
The focus is set on the unconfined granular aquifers found in eskers, the latter containing significant groundwater resources, both in terms of water quality and quantity. Yet, these glaciofluvial deposits also constitute the main source of exploitable sand and gravel and are therefore frequently at the roots of land use conflicts.
Methods and indices based on the use of geographic information systems (GIS) were developed in support of land management strategies oriented towards the protection of groundwater resources in eskers of northwestern Quebec. A groundwater resource sensitivity index was defined for each 10×10m parcel of esker on the basis of (1) an evaluation of the aquifer potential based on three geomorphological parameters observable on well-known granular aquifers and (2) estimates of the parameters included in the DRASTIC method. The pressure induced by sand and gravel extraction on the groundwater resources was subsequently evaluated on the basis of (1) the resource sensitivity index, and (2) the spatial density of sand and gravel extraction sites and groundwater wells. These calculations are used to suggest solutions for supporting the sustainable management of sand and gravel extraction activities at the regional scale and for highlighting sectors where field data acquisition is most needed.
to analyze, according to the scientific literature, communication strategies in the transfer of cases between pre-hospital and in-hospital services and their contributions to patient safety.
this is ...a literature review study, that is, one that aims to gather and synthesize research results on the subject in a systematic and orderly manner.
ten articles were published, published between 2010 and 2018, and two points of discussion emerged: use of mnemonics; and barriers to transferring a case.
studies point to the need to standardize the case transfer process, as well as integrative training of professionals, regular assessment of the teams involved in emergency medical services and the need for research on the subject.
The presence of naturally occurring contaminants in groundwater is a public health concern in rural areas of northeastern North America, where public and private wells are important sources of ...drinking water. In southern Quebec (Canada), inorganic groundwater chemistry data have been recently collected following standard procedures in several regional hydrogeological projects implemented by the government of Quebec. In this study, a groundwater chemistry database was compiled from 16 regional projects altogether covering an area of approximately 100,000 km2. The database includes information on water supply infrastructures, geological settings, hydrogeological conditions and inorganic water chemistry for 2369 water samples. Samples were mostly collected from private domestic wells, and to a lesser extent from municipal and observation wells. The data revealed that fluoride, barium, manganese and arsenic are the most common elements exceeding Canadian drinking water guidelines. Exploratory data analysis techniques were applied to selected subsets of data to gain insight into the sources and distribution of these hazardous groundwater contaminants. These exploratory methods include graphical data analysis (maps, Piper and empirical cumulative distribution function plots), multivariate compositional data analysis (clustering and correlation analysis) and geochemical modeling (saturation index calculations). The results suggest that fluoride, barium, manganese and arsenic are all derived from natural sources. Elevated fluoride concentrations are mainly associated with dilute Ca–Na–HCO3 bedrock groundwaters from granitic areas (Grenville Province), and more geochemically evolved Na–HCO3 to Na–HCO3–Cl bedrock groundwaters from shale areas (St. Lawrence Platform). High-F groundwaters are generally characterized by low Ca concentrations (<30 mg/L) and alkaline pH (pH > 8), suggesting that F is mainly controlled by fluorite (CaF2) precipitation and anion exchange with OH−. Barium is present at elevated concentrations in mineralized Ca–Na–HCO3, Na–HCO3 to Na–HCO3–Cl waters from bedrock aquifers of the St. Lawrence Lowlands. These groundwaters are mainly chemically evolved, strongly reducing waters occurring in confined aquifers and near major faults, which appear to correspond to discharge areas for deep regional flow. High Ba concentrations are generally associated with very low SO4 concentrations (< 5 mg/L) resulting from sulfate reduction, suggesting a solubility control of Ba through barite (BaSO4) precipitation. Most high manganese concentrations occur in less chemically evolved, near-neutral Ca–HCO3 groundwaters from both granular and bedrock aquifers, particularly those associated with metasedimentary and metavolcanic lithologies (Superior Province, St. Lawrence Platform and Appalachian Province). The results suggest that dissolved Mn concentrations are limited by the precipitation of Mn carbonates under alkaline conditions, but increase under reducing conditions owing to the dissolution of Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides. Elevated arsenic concentrations were mostly found in Ca-(Na–Mg)–HCO3 bedrock groundwaters of the Superior and Appalachian Provinces. As-rich groundwaters are associated with the presence of As-bearing sulfides in weakly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks (shale, slate, phyllite) and hydrothermally altered rocks. Most high As concentrations do not appear to be directly derived from sulfide oxidation, but rather from secondary sources, in particular through the reductive dissolution of As-rich Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides. This work shows that the combination of graphical, multivariate statistical and geochemical modeling techniques is a powerful approach to explore large hydrochemical datasets. It also reveals the benefits of using multivariate compositional data analysis instead of classical approaches based on raw data and log-ratios for groundwater chemistry data. Compositional data analysis techniques improved the detection of multivariate outliers, the cluster reliability in cluster analysis, and removed the spurious positive correlation between hydrochemical variables associated with total mineralization.
•A groundwater chemistry database of 2369 samples was compiled for southern Quebec.•The geochemistry of F, Ba, Mn and As was investigated using exploratory data analysis.•Compositional data analysis was used and compared with standard statistical methods.•The geogenic sources of F, Ba, Mn and As were identified.
Neosporosis and toxoplasmosis are two important infections in young and adult sheep, leading to low production and abortion. This study aimed to determine the frequency of antibodies to Toxoplasma ...gondii and Neospora caninum in sheep from the eastern region of São Paulo State, Brazil. Serum samples (382) were collected from the sheep and assayed for T. gondii through modified agglutination test (MAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and for N. caninum antibodies, through IFAT, with cut-off titers equal to 16 (T. gondii) and 25 (N. caninum). All frozen samples were sent to the Center for Zoonoses Research (NUPEZO), Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health (DHSVP), FMVZ, UNESP, for serological tests. A total of 71/382 (18.6%) samples reacted to T. gondii, especially at titers 16 (28; 39.4%), 64 (15; 21.1%), 256 (21; 29.6%) and 1024 (6; 8.5%) by MAT, and 16 (34; 47.9%), 64 (18; 25.4%), 256 (14; 19.7%) and 1024 (5; 7%) by IFAT. As regards N. caninum, 49/382 (12.8%) samples reacted at titers 25 (17; 34.7%), 50 (11; 22.5%), 100 (11; 22.5%), and ≥200 (10; 20.4%). These animals presented infection but no clinical signs. Six and ten animals had high titers for toxoplasmosis and neosporosis. No significant association was observed between antibodies for both parasites (P=0.535) according to Fisher's exact test, and no correlation was found between T. gondii (MAT) and N. caninum antibody titers (r=−0.0068; P=0.895), T. gondii (IFAT) and N. caninum antibody titers (r=−0.0025; P=0.961). Thus, T. gondii and N. caninum infections were observed in farms located in São Paulo State, where sheep play an important economical role for the national and regional business.
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