E. Orvini

Bio: E. Orvini is an academic researcher from University of Pavia. The author has contributed to research in topics: Bioaccumulation & Trace metal. The author has an hindex of 2, co-authored 2 publications receiving 118 citations.

Egrets as Monitors of Trace-Metal Contamination in Wetlands of Pakistan

Abstract: Environments in Pakistan are subject to increasing pollution, but previous studies were very scanty. During 1999 and 2000, we assessed trace element contamination at three wetlands, Karachi Harbour (with presumed industrial-urban pollution), Taunsa Barrage (agricultural pollution), and Haleji Lake (relatively unpolluted), using as indicators the eggs and the feathers of colonial waterbirds, particularly Little Egrets, their prey, and the sediments collected within their foraging areas. The concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Hg, Mn, Se, and Zn were generally within the normal background level, and mostly below the threshold that may affect bird survival or reproduction. However, somewhat high concentrations were found in fish from Karachi, for Pb that was at levels that may harm fish reproduction, and for Hg that was at limit concentration for human consumption. Alarming concentrations were found for Cr and Se in sediments from Karachi, that were above the critical levels for contaminated soil, and Se in eggs, that may affect egret reproduction. The differences among the three wetlands were less marked than hypothesized. The egret species within the same area differed in the concentration of certain elements in their eggs, possibly because females may have foraged in different habitats before breeding, whereas no interspecies difference was found in chick feathers, presumably because their food had been collected in similar habitats around the colony. High bioaccumulation from sediments to organic samples occurred for Hg, while Cd, Se, and Zn exhibited low accumulation; for all these elements, feathers of predatory birds such as the egrets are the best indicators of environmental contamination. On the other hand, As and Cr did not bioaccumulate, and the sediments, or the organisms low in the food chain, like fish or crustaceans, are better indicators of their presence in the environment than predatory birds.

Little Egrets (Egretta garzetta) and trace-metal contamination in wetlands of China.

Abstract: The rapidly developing Asian countries may face threatening environmental contamination, that however remains largely unassessed We studied persistent trace elements in three wetlands, Poyang Lake, relatively unpolluted, and Tai Lake, and Pearl River Delta, selected as hotspots of pollution in Central China We adopted as indicator the Little Egret, a widespread colonial waterbird, and during 1999 and 2000 we collected and analysed the same samples as for a parallel study we conducted in Pakistan, eg eggs, body feathers of chicks, prey spontaneously regurgitated by the chicks, and sediments at the areas most used by foraging egrets The levels of trace-metals at our three study areas were similar, or within the range, of those found in the few other studies for East Asia, with few exceptions The concentrations of the various elements were below the threshold that may affect the survival or reproduction of the birds, and even the highest concentrations relative to background, ie Se in eggs, and Hg in feathers at Pearl Delta, do not pose toxic hazards In sediments, the levels of trace elements were lower than the critical levels assumed for contaminated soil, except for alarming high levels of As at Poyang These results do not confirm our expectation, that Poyang was relatively uncontaminated, while Tai and Pearl were polluted Although trace metal concentration differed significantly among the three study areas, these differences were minor and were not consistent among elements and samples The bioaccumulation ratios from sediments through prey, feather and egg, were consistent with our previous findings for Pakistan Only Hg exhibited high bioaccumulation, while Se and Zn had low accumulation, and the other elements no accumulation This reasserts that feathers of predators such as egrets, may be more sensitive indicators of environmental contamination for the elements subject to bioaccumulation, whereas the sediments or the organisms low in the food chain are better indicators for the other elements

Assessment of environmental contamination using feathers of Bubulcus ibis L., as a biomonitor of heavy metal pollution, Pakistan.

Abstract: Concentrations of metals such as Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed in the feathers of cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) from three breeding colonies in the Punjab province, Pakistan. The mean concentrations of Ca, Cd, Fe, Pb and Mn were significantly different between the three study sites (River Chenab, River Ravi and Rawal Lake Reservoir). The mean concentrations of Ca, Cd, Fe and Mn were significantly greater at the River Chenab heronry and Cr, Co, Zn, and Pb concentrations at the River Ravi heronry. The feathers of cattle egrets collected from the Rawal Lake Reservoir heronry were least contaminated. Multivariate statistical methods viz., Factor Analysis based on Principal Component Analysis (FA/PCA); Hierarchical Cluster analyses (HACA), and Correlation Analyses identified relatively similar associations of metals and their sources of input. Metals such as Ca, Mg, and K were related with natural input from parent rock material whereas trace metals viz., Cu, Cd, Co, Pb, Ni, and Zn were associated mainly with anthropogenic processes. Metals such as Fe, Mn, and Li were either correlated with natural input or with anthropogenic activities. Concentration of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and Cr were well above the threshold level that can cause adverse effects in birds and pose menace to the cattle egrets population in Pakistan. The study suggested that the feathers of cattle egret could be used as a bio-monitor of the local heavy metals contamination.

Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares

Abstract: The production and the supply of high quality laboratory animals have fundamental importance for the accomplishment of vanguard scientific research, with reproducibility and universality. The quality of those animals depends, largely, of the available facilities for their production and lodging, to assure the demanded sanitary control and animals’ welfare, in agreement with the ethical principles that control the activity. The facilities also have to fill out other requirements, such as: the functionality of the environments to make possible the suitable and efficient handling of the animals, facilitating the execution of the routine activities; the respect to ergonomic principles to provide a safe environment and the operators’ well being. The facilities design is of vital importance so that the mentioned requirements can be reached. The project of the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN) Animal House Facilities was accomplished in the year of 1964. However, by that time there were not the current recommendations with respect to the sanitary, genetic and environmental controls. The facility was planned with the objective of being a production unit and a local for keeping of defined animals from sanitary, genetic and environmental point of view. Nevertheless, the original unit drawing presents an unsuitable distribution of the area where animals are stocked and also different activities are performed. The Animal House Facilities occupy an area of 840 m, with one pavement, where the production areas and the stock of original animal models of the own Institution are distributed, as well as the maintenance of animals from other national or foreigner institutions. It supplies rats and mice for biological tests of radiopharmaceutical lots, produced in IPEN, before they be sent to hospitals and clinics spread out in Brazil, for use in Nuclear Medicine. It also supplies rats and mice for tests of odontological materials, for tests with growth hormones and for researches of new pharmaceuticals and radiopharmaceuticals, among others applications. Many of the animals models produced in IPEN are unique in Brazil and they constitute, therefore, an important patrimony that should be preserved. This paper describes the activities that have been executed in Animal House Facilities of IPEN, including the refurbishment project and the adaptation of the facilities.

Distributions, Sources, and Species of Heavy Metals/Trace Elements in Shallow Groundwater Around the Poyang Lake, East China

Abstract: The shallow groundwater in the Poyang Lake area is one of the important sources of drinking water. However, there has been no systematic assessment on the groundwater quality associated with human consumptions. Here, we reported the concentrations and distributions of heavy metals/trace elements in the groundwater. Geographic Information System, ions relationship, and geochemical modeling program PHREEQC were used to investigate the distributions, sources, and chemical species of heavy metals/trace elements. The results showed that most of the shallow groundwater samples in the Poyang Lake area were in neutral or slightly acidic and oxidizing environment. The concentrations of Fe, Cr, Se, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd in most of the shallow groundwater samples were not significant in the area. However, the concentrations of Mn, Al in a few of samples and Pb in half of samples exceeded the limits, which makes the water unsuitable for drinking. The chemical components of shallow groundwater originated mainly from the dissolution of minerals and the input of anthropogenic activities. The concentrations and distributions of Pb, Mn, Al in groundwater largely depended on the dissolution of silicate and carbonate minerals, as well as the influence of human activities, as some of samples with high concentrations were found near industrial and domestic sites. The dissolution of minerals dominated the concentration distributions of Sr, Si, and Li. The concentrations of Al and Si in groundwater were also affected by pH. Chemical species of heavy metals/trace elements were also analyzed in this study. The data evaluation methods and results of this study could be useful to the water resource management and utilization in the area and other similar areas.