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Papers by Nerina Lana

El valle intermontano de Uspallata se encuentra localizado en el centro Oeste de Argentina, sobre... more El valle intermontano de Uspallata se encuentra localizado en el centro Oeste de Argentina, sobre la cordillera de Los Andes, a 1800 m snm. En esta cuenca el recurso hídrico subterráneo se ha desarrollado formando acuíferos libres constituidos por sedimentos de granulometría gruesa, con buenas condiciones de porosidad y permeabilidad. Durante las últimas dos décadas, el valle ha experimentado un crecimiento urbano con desarrollos de actividades agrícolas, turísticas y emprendimientos inmobiliarios desordenados. Dichas actividades generan un fuerte impacto sobre el acuifero debido a que, por sus condiciones estructurales se facilitan los procesos de infiltración y percolación de excedentes afectando su dinámica, calidad y accesibilidad. Por ello el objetivo del presente trabajo es el uso de trazadores agroquímicos y biológicos en aguas subterráneas para determinar el impacto antrópico sobre el sistema acuífero del valle de Uspallata. Para ello, se utilizará una red de 13 pozos de agu...

The Llanura de la Travesía extends in the Mendoza and San Luis provinces between the Andean piedm... more The Llanura de la Travesía extends in the Mendoza and San Luis provinces between the Andean piedmont and the Sierras Pampeanas. The goal of this study was to reconstruct the vegetation and soil characteristics of the Llanura de la Travesía during early 1800s by means of a combinationg of information from several documentary sources. The reconstruction was based mainly on the reports of Don Faustino Ansay, recorded in 1802 to verify the state of the Camino de la Travesía or Real (Royal Road) from Corocorto (present Villa de la Paz) to San Luis. This information was complemented with field notes from other travelers along the road. Our results revealed that plant cover and density increased from west to east, as it is observed today. However, the absence of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco in the Ansay´s report, suggests that changes in the distribution of some tree species have occurred. This study validates the use of documental information to reconstruct past vegetation and soil chara...

DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ, 2003

The accumulation of soluble salts in soils is one of the main environmental factors that contribu... more The accumulation of soluble salts in soils is one of the main environmental factors that contribute to the productive capacity limitations of Argentina’s arid ecosystems. Salinization processes lead to critical states of degradation and desertification. The challenge to recover and improve the productivity of such degraded areas is complex because it should consider restoration strategies that will be integrated with local economic, cultural, and social activities. The integrative use and management of native species in remediation programs are an attractive restoration tool that could improve the productivity capacity of degraded areas. Native species have developed numerous strategies and adaptations that could ensure their survival in saline environments. Nevertheless, species selection, management, and appropriate technologies to be used in afforestation programs may be limited because of partial information on the potential and requirements of each native species and the enviro...

Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias

ABSTRACT

Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 2021

ABSTRACT Mountains arid environments are vulnerable under climate change scenarios. Variations in... more ABSTRACT Mountains arid environments are vulnerable under climate change scenarios. Variations in the recharge sources and the rising temperature can affect the water availability, threaten the socio-productive systems on local and regional scales. In this sense, two hydrological systems were studied in the Andes Range, Argentina, by hydrochemical and isotope techniques, with the purpose to understand the origin of water, the groundwater recharge, and to conceptualize the groundwater flow system. In the two sampling periods (winter and summer seasons) most of the waters were characterized by low mineralization and a HCO3-Ca type. The isotopic composition showed wide ranges of variation consistent with the altitudinal differences existing in the study systems. However, no significant isotope changes were observed between the samples collected in winter and summer periods. Therefore, little influence of liquid precipitation is inferred in the recharge source of both hydrological systems. This means that the western sector of the valley, where the ice bodies and permafrost are located, is the main recharge area for groundwater of both basins. This confirms the former hypothesis used for the hydrogeochemical conceptual model proposed, and highlights the importance of protecting these environments to ensure the provision of water in arid lands.

T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new ins... more T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing PBDEs accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic Sediment • organic matter • POPs • PBDEs Keywords asociaron al estado de degradación de la materia orgánica. En este sentido, fue posible determinar que tanto la cantidad de materia orgánica de los sedimentos como el tipo (estructura química) de materia orgánica estarían condicionando la acumulación y el transporte de PBDEs en el ambiente. A partir de los resultados es posible proponer a la tipificación de la materia orgánica de sedimento como herramienta útil y efectiva para predecir áreas donde es más factible que se acumule PBDE, así como la capacidad de transporte en los sedimentos.

Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias, 2010

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are considered persistent organic pollutants because of th... more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are considered persistent organic pollutants because of their ubiquity, persistence and bioaccumulation. Its harmful e...

T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new ins... more T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing PBDEs accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic Sediment • organic matter • POPs • PBDEs Keywords asociaron al estado de degradación de la materia orgánica. En este sentido, fue posible determinar que tanto la cantidad de materia orgánica de los sedimentos como el tipo (estructura química) de materia orgánica estarían condicionando la acumulación y el transporte de PBDEs en el ambiente. A partir de los resultados es posible proponer a la tipificación de la materia orgánica de sedimento como herramienta útil y efectiva para predecir áreas donde es más factible que se acumule PBDE, así como la capacidad de transporte en los sedimentos.

Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias, 2014

Fil: Lana, Nerina Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cient... more Fil: Lana, Nerina Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias, 2014

T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new ins... more T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing PBDEs accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic Sediment • organic matter • POPs • PBDEs Keywords asociaron al estado de degradación de la materia orgánica. En este sentido, fue posible determinar que tanto la cantidad de materia orgánica de los sedimentos como el tipo (estructura química) de materia orgánica estarían condicionando la acumulación y el transporte de PBDEs en el ambiente. A partir de los resultados es posible proponer a la tipificación de la materia orgánica de sedimento como herramienta útil y efectiva para predecir áreas donde es más factible que se acumule PBDE, así como la capacidad de transporte en los sedimentos.

Journal of Iberian Geology, 2019

Northeastern Mendoza is an arid area dominated by stabilized dunes and paleochannels. Groundwater... more Northeastern Mendoza is an arid area dominated by stabilized dunes and paleochannels. Groundwater is the main source of water for domestic and subsistence economy. Two types of wells are used for groundwater withdrawal. Wells operated by conventional windmills or pumps (Ws) and local traditional bucket wells operated manually (BWs). These wells are drugged a few cm below the water table, normally with a diameter of 1 m, remain always open and are located near corrals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the processes that control As in groundwater used As drinking water by rural communities. The study approach included an assessment of the natural as background levels and the use of environmental isotopes (δ 18 O and δ 2 H) to determine the origin of groundwater and improve the conceptual model for groundwater flow. Significant statistical differences were found between the chemical features of groundwater from Ws and BWs. The conceptual hydrogeologic model supported by isotopic data indicated that groundwater recharge was from the main Mendoza/Tunuyán Rivers in remote areas and that local rainwater recharge is negligible. The isotopic data suggests that a faster groundwater flow recharge could occur without any influence of a previous evaporation process. The natural As background level was 104 µg/L, with a range of between 8.6 and 394 µg/L. The average As concentration in Ws was 114 µg/L. Water from BWs showed higher average As concentration of 235 µg/L with a higher dispersion, high HCO 3 − , NO 3 − PO 4 −3 and Cl − concentrations, and the lowest concentrations of O 2 with greater turbidity than groundwater from Ws. The increase in As concentrations in groundwater of NE Mendoza is not related to evaporation processes despite arid climatic conditions. According to the oxidizing environment in the aquifer, high pH and very fine sediments, adsorption-desorption processes from solid surfaces were the determining factors for the availability and spatial variability of As in groundwater. Spatial variability was related to type of well rather than to geomorphologic units or to flow direction. The design of bucket wells, near corrals, allows the input of windblown sediments and leachate from livestock units creating point sources of As contamination in water used for human consumption. Keywords Lavalle district • Unconfined aquifer • As baseline • Water management • Pastoralist communities Resumen El noreste de Mendoza corresponde a una zona árida y desde el punto de vista geomorfológico dominan médanos estabilizados y paleocanales. El agua subterránea es la principal fuente de agua para consumo humano y la economía de subsistencia. La extracción de agua subterránea se realiza mediante dos tipos de pozos, los pozos convencionales operados por molinos de viento o bombas eléctricas (Ws) y los tradicionales "pozos balde" construidos y operados manualmente (BWs) con baldes. Para el desarrollo de este tipo de pozos, se excava apenas unos centímetros debajo del nivel freático, con diámetro de 1 m, se operan generalmente abiertos y se ubican en muchos casos próximos a los corrales. El objetivo del estudio incluye evaluar los procesos que controlan el contenido de As en el agua subterránea utilizada como agua potable por las comunidades rurales. Se evaluaron los niveles de As que representan el fondo natural y el uso de isótopos ambientales (δ 18 O y δ 2 H) para evaluar el origen de las aguas subterráneas y mejorar el modelo conceptual del sistema. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la química de las aguas subterráneas obtenida de los diferentes tipos de perforaciones, Ws y BWs. El modelo conceptual hidrogeológico es respaldado por los datos de isótopos, indicando una recarga al agua subterráneas desde los ríos Mendoza y Tunuyán en áreas remotas, resultando insignificante la recarga de lluvia local. Los datos de isótopos sugieren que podría ocurrir una recarga más rápida al flujo de agua subterránea sin ninguna influencia Extended author information available on the last page of the article Journal of Iberian Geology 1 3 de proceso de evaporación previo. El nivel de fondo natural de As es de 104 µg/L, con un rango entre 8.6 y 394 µg/L. La concentración promedio de As en Ws fue de 114 µg/L. El agua de BWs muestra una concentración superior a 235 µg/L, con una dispersión y concentración más altas para los compuestos de HCO 3 − , NO 3 − PO 4 −3 y Cl − , concentraciones más bajas de O 2 y una turbidez mayor que la del agua subterránea extraída de Ws. El aumento de las concentraciones de As en las aguas subterráneas de NE Mendoza no se relaciona con el proceso de evaporación, pese a las condiciones climáticas áridas. Según el ambiente oxidante en el acuífero, alto pH y sedimentos muy finos, los procesos de adsorción-desorción de las superficies sólidas resultan en los factores determinantes para la disponibilidad y variabilidad de As en el agua subterránea. La variabilidad espacial se relacionó con el tipo de pozo más que con unidades geomorfológicas o con la dirección del flujo. El diseño de los pozos balde permitiría la entrada de sedimentos arrastrados por el viento y lixiviados desde los corrales próximos a las captaciones, creando fuentes puntuales de contaminación en el agua utilizada para el consumo humano. Palabras clave Departamento de Lavalle • acuífero libre • Fondo Natural de As • gestión hídrica • puestos

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2017

ELECTROPHORESIS, 2016

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), cloud point extraction (CPE), and ultrasound backextraction... more Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), cloud point extraction (CPE), and ultrasound backextraction (UABE) techniques have been coupled for lixiviation, preconcentration, and cleanup of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from milk samples for determination by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Physicochemical parameters that affect the efficiency of the extraction system were investigated using a design of experiments based on multivariate statistical tools, and considering the sample matrix along the development. The coupling of the leaching step, UAE, enhanced ca. 3.5 times the extraction efficiency of the former sample preparation methodology (CPE-UABE) leading to cleaner sample extracts suitable for GC analysis. Under optimum conditions, the proposed methodology exhibits successful performance in terms of linearity and precision, with recoveries in the range of 68-70% and LODs within the range 0.05-0.5 ng/g dry weight (d.w.). The proposed sample preparation methodology coupled three green analytical techniques. It expands the application frontiers of CPE for the analysis of biological samples by GC. The optimized methodology was used for determination of PBDEs in powder milk samples, from both commercial and human sources.

Emerging Contaminants, 2016

The setting up of a country or region-based inventory is considered a crucial step toward the eli... more The setting up of a country or region-based inventory is considered a crucial step toward the elimination of worldwide persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contamination. Moreover, the need of comparable emission inventories at city or region level is widely recognized to develop evidence-based policies accounting for the relation between emissions and institutional, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics at small scale level. Due to the low spatial and temporal resolution of the available measurements, highly variable air concentrations of several POPs have been observed in Latin American and Caribbean countries. This paper presents a high resolution spatially disaggregated atmospheric emission inventory for selected POPs in order to assess the environmental fate of some of these compounds in a finer resolution. As study case we estimated releases to air of POPs in a typical mid-size urban conglomeration in Argentina. Inventoried compounds were total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on a sum basis, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), for which emissions were estimated in 0.92 kg/year, 1.65 kg/year, 4.2EÀ02 kg/year (total sum of congeners), 0.86 kg/year and 4.4EÀ02 kg/year respectively, values that are in accordance with the geographic and economic context. Although emitting sources are quite varied, there are very clear trends, particularly in relation to open burning of municipal solid waste and agrochemical use as major contributors. Overall, the inventory provides valuable data for the analysis of the heterogeneity of POP emissions and the necessary inputs for air quality modeling.

Analytica Chimica Acta, 2016

Green chemistry principles for developing methodologies have gained attention in analytical chemi... more Green chemistry principles for developing methodologies have gained attention in analytical chemistry in recent decades. A growing number of analytical techniques have been proposed for determination of organic persistent pollutants in environmental and biological samples. In this light, the current review aims to present state-of-the-art sample preparation approaches based on green analytical principles proposed for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and metabolites (OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs) in environmental and biological samples. Approaches to lower the solvent consumption and accelerate the extraction, such as pressurized liquid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, are discussed in this review. Special attention is paid to miniaturized sample preparation methodologies and strategies proposed to reduce organic solvent consumption. Additionally, extraction techniques based on alternative solvents (surfactants, supercritical fluids, or ionic liquids) are also commented in this work, even though these are scarcely used for determination of PBDEs. In addition to liquid-based extraction techniques, solid-based analytical techniques are also addressed. The development of greener, faster and simpler sample preparation approaches has increased in recent years (2003-2013). Among green extraction techniques, those based on the liquid phase predominate over those based on the solid phase (71% vs. 29%, respectively). For solid samples, solvent assisted extraction techniques are preferred for leaching of PBDEs, and liquid phase microextraction techniques are mostly used for liquid samples. Likewise, green characteristics of the instrumental analysis used after the extraction and clean-up steps are briefly discussed.

Emerging Contaminants, 2015

Certain wild animals represent sentinels to address issues related to environmental pollution, si... more Certain wild animals represent sentinels to address issues related to environmental pollution, since they can provide integrative data on both pollutant exposure and biological effects. Despite their technological benefits, PBDEs are considered a threat to environmental health due to their persistence, toxicity, and capacity to be accumulated. These pollutants have been found geographically widespread in fish, particularly in predator species such as trout. The aim of this work is to critically review the applicability and usefulness of wild trout for assessing PBDEs in freshwater environments. Reviewed reports include data from highly industrialized areas as well as areas from remote regions with relatively low human activity, including European and North American great lakes and freshwater environments in Europe, Greenland, subarctic areas and Patagonia, respectively. A summary of relevant factors were grouped into organism-specific factors (food habits, age, size, lipid content, sex and reproduction, tissue type, mechanism of contaminant uptake and metabolism), and PBDE levels in the surrounding environment (sediment). Five wild trout species [rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brown trout (Salmo trutta), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)], collected worldwide within the 1994 to present time frame, were considered. Multivariate techniques (principal component analysis-PCA) and mapping approach, showed clear differences in geographic distribution patterns of PBDE levels in trout depending on the region studied: wild trout from European and North American great lakes have the highest PBDE loads. This pattern could be due to high industrial activity at these locations. A correlational approach used to explore intraspecific relationships between PBDE levels and morphometry, showed positive relationships only for brown trout. Further, brown trout showed the highest trout-to-sediment ratios, which is suggestive of a relatively greater capacity of this species to accumulate PBDEs in relation to sediment levels. Overall, results suggest that adult wild trout could be useful as a PBDE bioindicator.

Science of The Total Environment, 2014

In the present work, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB... more In the present work, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and metabolites, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were analyzed in three Antarctic notothenioids fish species: Trematomus newnesi (TRN), Notothenia coriiceps (NOC) and Notothenia rossii (NOR). The contribution of each POP-family to the total load was as follows: ΣPCB (40%)>ΣDDT (27%)>ΣPBDEs (23%)>ΣHCH (10%). Among the 23 PCB congeners analyzed, penta-CBs homologues were the prevalent group, followed by hexa-CBs and hepta-CBs. DDT and its metabolites presented the following trend: p,p'-DDT>p,p'-DDE~p,p'-DDD. PBDE profile was dominated by BDE-47 and BDE-99 congeners, followed by BDE-100>BDE-28>BDE-154, BDE-153. Among HCHs, the γ-HCH isomer was detected in all samples, constituting 69% total HCH load, while α-HCH and β-HCH contributions were 15% and 16%, respectively. The levels of POPs reported here suggest that NOR and NOC are more susceptible to accumulate the analyzed contaminants than TRN, a species not previously analyzed for POPs. Distribution of POPs among different tissues of the three species (muscle, liver, gonads, and gills) was also investigated. Considering lipid weight, the general pattern of POPs distribution in tissues indicated that while gonads showed higher levels of PCBs, DDTs and HCH, the most significant PBDE concentrations were recorded in gills. Also, a comparative analysis of POPs concentration in fish samples from Antarctic area was included.

Talanta, 2010

Ultrasound-assisted leaching-dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by dispersive liquid-liqu... more Ultrasound-assisted leaching-dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (USAL-DSPE-DLLME) technique has been developed as a new analytical approach for extracting, cleaning up and preconcentrating polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from sediment samples prior gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis. In the first place, PBDEs were leached from sediment samples by using acetone. This extract was cleaned-up by DSPE using activated silica gel as sorbent material. After clean-up, PBDEs were preconcentrated by using DLLME technique. Thus, 1 mL acetone extract (disperser solvent) and 60 microL carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) were added to 5 mL ultrapure water and a DLLME technique was applied. Several variables that govern the proposed technique were studied and optimized. Under optimum conditions, the method detection limits (MDLs) of PBDEs calculated as three times the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) were within the range 0.02-0.06 ng g(-1). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for five replicates were <9.8%. The calibration graphs were linear within the concentration range of 0.07-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-47, 0.09-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-100, 0.10-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-99 and 0.19-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-153 and the coefficients of estimation were…

El valle intermontano de Uspallata se encuentra localizado en el centro Oeste de Argentina, sobre... more El valle intermontano de Uspallata se encuentra localizado en el centro Oeste de Argentina, sobre la cordillera de Los Andes, a 1800 m snm. En esta cuenca el recurso hídrico subterráneo se ha desarrollado formando acuíferos libres constituidos por sedimentos de granulometría gruesa, con buenas condiciones de porosidad y permeabilidad. Durante las últimas dos décadas, el valle ha experimentado un crecimiento urbano con desarrollos de actividades agrícolas, turísticas y emprendimientos inmobiliarios desordenados. Dichas actividades generan un fuerte impacto sobre el acuifero debido a que, por sus condiciones estructurales se facilitan los procesos de infiltración y percolación de excedentes afectando su dinámica, calidad y accesibilidad. Por ello el objetivo del presente trabajo es el uso de trazadores agroquímicos y biológicos en aguas subterráneas para determinar el impacto antrópico sobre el sistema acuífero del valle de Uspallata. Para ello, se utilizará una red de 13 pozos de agu...

The Llanura de la Travesía extends in the Mendoza and San Luis provinces between the Andean piedm... more The Llanura de la Travesía extends in the Mendoza and San Luis provinces between the Andean piedmont and the Sierras Pampeanas. The goal of this study was to reconstruct the vegetation and soil characteristics of the Llanura de la Travesía during early 1800s by means of a combinationg of information from several documentary sources. The reconstruction was based mainly on the reports of Don Faustino Ansay, recorded in 1802 to verify the state of the Camino de la Travesía or Real (Royal Road) from Corocorto (present Villa de la Paz) to San Luis. This information was complemented with field notes from other travelers along the road. Our results revealed that plant cover and density increased from west to east, as it is observed today. However, the absence of Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco in the Ansay´s report, suggests that changes in the distribution of some tree species have occurred. This study validates the use of documental information to reconstruct past vegetation and soil chara...

DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ, 2003

The accumulation of soluble salts in soils is one of the main environmental factors that contribu... more The accumulation of soluble salts in soils is one of the main environmental factors that contribute to the productive capacity limitations of Argentina’s arid ecosystems. Salinization processes lead to critical states of degradation and desertification. The challenge to recover and improve the productivity of such degraded areas is complex because it should consider restoration strategies that will be integrated with local economic, cultural, and social activities. The integrative use and management of native species in remediation programs are an attractive restoration tool that could improve the productivity capacity of degraded areas. Native species have developed numerous strategies and adaptations that could ensure their survival in saline environments. Nevertheless, species selection, management, and appropriate technologies to be used in afforestation programs may be limited because of partial information on the potential and requirements of each native species and the enviro...

Revista de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias

ABSTRACT

Isotopes in Environmental and Health Studies, 2021

ABSTRACT Mountains arid environments are vulnerable under climate change scenarios. Variations in... more ABSTRACT Mountains arid environments are vulnerable under climate change scenarios. Variations in the recharge sources and the rising temperature can affect the water availability, threaten the socio-productive systems on local and regional scales. In this sense, two hydrological systems were studied in the Andes Range, Argentina, by hydrochemical and isotope techniques, with the purpose to understand the origin of water, the groundwater recharge, and to conceptualize the groundwater flow system. In the two sampling periods (winter and summer seasons) most of the waters were characterized by low mineralization and a HCO3-Ca type. The isotopic composition showed wide ranges of variation consistent with the altitudinal differences existing in the study systems. However, no significant isotope changes were observed between the samples collected in winter and summer periods. Therefore, little influence of liquid precipitation is inferred in the recharge source of both hydrological systems. This means that the western sector of the valley, where the ice bodies and permafrost are located, is the main recharge area for groundwater of both basins. This confirms the former hypothesis used for the hydrogeochemical conceptual model proposed, and highlights the importance of protecting these environments to ensure the provision of water in arid lands.

T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new ins... more T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing PBDEs accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic Sediment • organic matter • POPs • PBDEs Keywords asociaron al estado de degradación de la materia orgánica. En este sentido, fue posible determinar que tanto la cantidad de materia orgánica de los sedimentos como el tipo (estructura química) de materia orgánica estarían condicionando la acumulación y el transporte de PBDEs en el ambiente. A partir de los resultados es posible proponer a la tipificación de la materia orgánica de sedimento como herramienta útil y efectiva para predecir áreas donde es más factible que se acumule PBDE, así como la capacidad de transporte en los sedimentos.

Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias, 2010

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are considered persistent organic pollutants because of th... more Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are considered persistent organic pollutants because of their ubiquity, persistence and bioaccumulation. Its harmful e...

T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new ins... more T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing PBDEs accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic Sediment • organic matter • POPs • PBDEs Keywords asociaron al estado de degradación de la materia orgánica. En este sentido, fue posible determinar que tanto la cantidad de materia orgánica de los sedimentos como el tipo (estructura química) de materia orgánica estarían condicionando la acumulación y el transporte de PBDEs en el ambiente. A partir de los resultados es posible proponer a la tipificación de la materia orgánica de sedimento como herramienta útil y efectiva para predecir áreas donde es más factible que se acumule PBDE, así como la capacidad de transporte en los sedimentos.

Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias, 2014

Fil: Lana, Nerina Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cient... more Fil: Lana, Nerina Belen. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivologia, Glaciologia y Ciencias Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Revista De La Facultad De Ciencias Agrarias, 2014

T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new ins... more T h i s w o r k i s a m u l t i d i s c i p l i n a r y environmental study that provides new insights into the relationships between sediment-organic matter characteristics and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) concentration. The aim of the present multivariate study was to correlate factors influencing PBDEs accumulation in sediment by using principal component analysis (PCA). Organic matter studies by Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses (Total Organic Carbon, pH, electrical conductivity) of sediment samples were considered for PCA. Samples were collected from an artificial irrigation network on the Mendoza River irrigation areas. PCA provided a comprehensive analysis of the studied variables, identifying two components that explained 63% of the data variance. Those factors were mainly associated to organic matter degradation degree, which represent a new insight into the relationships between organic Sediment • organic matter • POPs • PBDEs Keywords asociaron al estado de degradación de la materia orgánica. En este sentido, fue posible determinar que tanto la cantidad de materia orgánica de los sedimentos como el tipo (estructura química) de materia orgánica estarían condicionando la acumulación y el transporte de PBDEs en el ambiente. A partir de los resultados es posible proponer a la tipificación de la materia orgánica de sedimento como herramienta útil y efectiva para predecir áreas donde es más factible que se acumule PBDE, así como la capacidad de transporte en los sedimentos.

Journal of Iberian Geology, 2019

Northeastern Mendoza is an arid area dominated by stabilized dunes and paleochannels. Groundwater... more Northeastern Mendoza is an arid area dominated by stabilized dunes and paleochannels. Groundwater is the main source of water for domestic and subsistence economy. Two types of wells are used for groundwater withdrawal. Wells operated by conventional windmills or pumps (Ws) and local traditional bucket wells operated manually (BWs). These wells are drugged a few cm below the water table, normally with a diameter of 1 m, remain always open and are located near corrals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the processes that control As in groundwater used As drinking water by rural communities. The study approach included an assessment of the natural as background levels and the use of environmental isotopes (δ 18 O and δ 2 H) to determine the origin of groundwater and improve the conceptual model for groundwater flow. Significant statistical differences were found between the chemical features of groundwater from Ws and BWs. The conceptual hydrogeologic model supported by isotopic data indicated that groundwater recharge was from the main Mendoza/Tunuyán Rivers in remote areas and that local rainwater recharge is negligible. The isotopic data suggests that a faster groundwater flow recharge could occur without any influence of a previous evaporation process. The natural As background level was 104 µg/L, with a range of between 8.6 and 394 µg/L. The average As concentration in Ws was 114 µg/L. Water from BWs showed higher average As concentration of 235 µg/L with a higher dispersion, high HCO 3 − , NO 3 − PO 4 −3 and Cl − concentrations, and the lowest concentrations of O 2 with greater turbidity than groundwater from Ws. The increase in As concentrations in groundwater of NE Mendoza is not related to evaporation processes despite arid climatic conditions. According to the oxidizing environment in the aquifer, high pH and very fine sediments, adsorption-desorption processes from solid surfaces were the determining factors for the availability and spatial variability of As in groundwater. Spatial variability was related to type of well rather than to geomorphologic units or to flow direction. The design of bucket wells, near corrals, allows the input of windblown sediments and leachate from livestock units creating point sources of As contamination in water used for human consumption. Keywords Lavalle district • Unconfined aquifer • As baseline • Water management • Pastoralist communities Resumen El noreste de Mendoza corresponde a una zona árida y desde el punto de vista geomorfológico dominan médanos estabilizados y paleocanales. El agua subterránea es la principal fuente de agua para consumo humano y la economía de subsistencia. La extracción de agua subterránea se realiza mediante dos tipos de pozos, los pozos convencionales operados por molinos de viento o bombas eléctricas (Ws) y los tradicionales "pozos balde" construidos y operados manualmente (BWs) con baldes. Para el desarrollo de este tipo de pozos, se excava apenas unos centímetros debajo del nivel freático, con diámetro de 1 m, se operan generalmente abiertos y se ubican en muchos casos próximos a los corrales. El objetivo del estudio incluye evaluar los procesos que controlan el contenido de As en el agua subterránea utilizada como agua potable por las comunidades rurales. Se evaluaron los niveles de As que representan el fondo natural y el uso de isótopos ambientales (δ 18 O y δ 2 H) para evaluar el origen de las aguas subterráneas y mejorar el modelo conceptual del sistema. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la química de las aguas subterráneas obtenida de los diferentes tipos de perforaciones, Ws y BWs. El modelo conceptual hidrogeológico es respaldado por los datos de isótopos, indicando una recarga al agua subterráneas desde los ríos Mendoza y Tunuyán en áreas remotas, resultando insignificante la recarga de lluvia local. Los datos de isótopos sugieren que podría ocurrir una recarga más rápida al flujo de agua subterránea sin ninguna influencia Extended author information available on the last page of the article Journal of Iberian Geology 1 3 de proceso de evaporación previo. El nivel de fondo natural de As es de 104 µg/L, con un rango entre 8.6 y 394 µg/L. La concentración promedio de As en Ws fue de 114 µg/L. El agua de BWs muestra una concentración superior a 235 µg/L, con una dispersión y concentración más altas para los compuestos de HCO 3 − , NO 3 − PO 4 −3 y Cl − , concentraciones más bajas de O 2 y una turbidez mayor que la del agua subterránea extraída de Ws. El aumento de las concentraciones de As en las aguas subterráneas de NE Mendoza no se relaciona con el proceso de evaporación, pese a las condiciones climáticas áridas. Según el ambiente oxidante en el acuífero, alto pH y sedimentos muy finos, los procesos de adsorción-desorción de las superficies sólidas resultan en los factores determinantes para la disponibilidad y variabilidad de As en el agua subterránea. La variabilidad espacial se relacionó con el tipo de pozo más que con unidades geomorfológicas o con la dirección del flujo. El diseño de los pozos balde permitiría la entrada de sedimentos arrastrados por el viento y lixiviados desde los corrales próximos a las captaciones, creando fuentes puntuales de contaminación en el agua utilizada para el consumo humano. Palabras clave Departamento de Lavalle • acuífero libre • Fondo Natural de As • gestión hídrica • puestos

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2017

ELECTROPHORESIS, 2016

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), cloud point extraction (CPE), and ultrasound backextraction... more Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), cloud point extraction (CPE), and ultrasound backextraction (UABE) techniques have been coupled for lixiviation, preconcentration, and cleanup of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from milk samples for determination by gas chromatography-electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Physicochemical parameters that affect the efficiency of the extraction system were investigated using a design of experiments based on multivariate statistical tools, and considering the sample matrix along the development. The coupling of the leaching step, UAE, enhanced ca. 3.5 times the extraction efficiency of the former sample preparation methodology (CPE-UABE) leading to cleaner sample extracts suitable for GC analysis. Under optimum conditions, the proposed methodology exhibits successful performance in terms of linearity and precision, with recoveries in the range of 68-70% and LODs within the range 0.05-0.5 ng/g dry weight (d.w.). The proposed sample preparation methodology coupled three green analytical techniques. It expands the application frontiers of CPE for the analysis of biological samples by GC. The optimized methodology was used for determination of PBDEs in powder milk samples, from both commercial and human sources.

Emerging Contaminants, 2016

The setting up of a country or region-based inventory is considered a crucial step toward the eli... more The setting up of a country or region-based inventory is considered a crucial step toward the elimination of worldwide persistent organic pollutants (POPs) contamination. Moreover, the need of comparable emission inventories at city or region level is widely recognized to develop evidence-based policies accounting for the relation between emissions and institutional, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics at small scale level. Due to the low spatial and temporal resolution of the available measurements, highly variable air concentrations of several POPs have been observed in Latin American and Caribbean countries. This paper presents a high resolution spatially disaggregated atmospheric emission inventory for selected POPs in order to assess the environmental fate of some of these compounds in a finer resolution. As study case we estimated releases to air of POPs in a typical mid-size urban conglomeration in Argentina. Inventoried compounds were total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), total polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) on a sum basis, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), for which emissions were estimated in 0.92 kg/year, 1.65 kg/year, 4.2EÀ02 kg/year (total sum of congeners), 0.86 kg/year and 4.4EÀ02 kg/year respectively, values that are in accordance with the geographic and economic context. Although emitting sources are quite varied, there are very clear trends, particularly in relation to open burning of municipal solid waste and agrochemical use as major contributors. Overall, the inventory provides valuable data for the analysis of the heterogeneity of POP emissions and the necessary inputs for air quality modeling.

Analytica Chimica Acta, 2016

Green chemistry principles for developing methodologies have gained attention in analytical chemi... more Green chemistry principles for developing methodologies have gained attention in analytical chemistry in recent decades. A growing number of analytical techniques have been proposed for determination of organic persistent pollutants in environmental and biological samples. In this light, the current review aims to present state-of-the-art sample preparation approaches based on green analytical principles proposed for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and metabolites (OH-PBDEs and MeO-PBDEs) in environmental and biological samples. Approaches to lower the solvent consumption and accelerate the extraction, such as pressurized liquid extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, are discussed in this review. Special attention is paid to miniaturized sample preparation methodologies and strategies proposed to reduce organic solvent consumption. Additionally, extraction techniques based on alternative solvents (surfactants, supercritical fluids, or ionic liquids) are also commented in this work, even though these are scarcely used for determination of PBDEs. In addition to liquid-based extraction techniques, solid-based analytical techniques are also addressed. The development of greener, faster and simpler sample preparation approaches has increased in recent years (2003-2013). Among green extraction techniques, those based on the liquid phase predominate over those based on the solid phase (71% vs. 29%, respectively). For solid samples, solvent assisted extraction techniques are preferred for leaching of PBDEs, and liquid phase microextraction techniques are mostly used for liquid samples. Likewise, green characteristics of the instrumental analysis used after the extraction and clean-up steps are briefly discussed.

Emerging Contaminants, 2015

Certain wild animals represent sentinels to address issues related to environmental pollution, si... more Certain wild animals represent sentinels to address issues related to environmental pollution, since they can provide integrative data on both pollutant exposure and biological effects. Despite their technological benefits, PBDEs are considered a threat to environmental health due to their persistence, toxicity, and capacity to be accumulated. These pollutants have been found geographically widespread in fish, particularly in predator species such as trout. The aim of this work is to critically review the applicability and usefulness of wild trout for assessing PBDEs in freshwater environments. Reviewed reports include data from highly industrialized areas as well as areas from remote regions with relatively low human activity, including European and North American great lakes and freshwater environments in Europe, Greenland, subarctic areas and Patagonia, respectively. A summary of relevant factors were grouped into organism-specific factors (food habits, age, size, lipid content, sex and reproduction, tissue type, mechanism of contaminant uptake and metabolism), and PBDE levels in the surrounding environment (sediment). Five wild trout species [rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), brown trout (Salmo trutta), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus), and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)], collected worldwide within the 1994 to present time frame, were considered. Multivariate techniques (principal component analysis-PCA) and mapping approach, showed clear differences in geographic distribution patterns of PBDE levels in trout depending on the region studied: wild trout from European and North American great lakes have the highest PBDE loads. This pattern could be due to high industrial activity at these locations. A correlational approach used to explore intraspecific relationships between PBDE levels and morphometry, showed positive relationships only for brown trout. Further, brown trout showed the highest trout-to-sediment ratios, which is suggestive of a relatively greater capacity of this species to accumulate PBDEs in relation to sediment levels. Overall, results suggest that adult wild trout could be useful as a PBDE bioindicator.

Science of The Total Environment, 2014

In the present work, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB... more In the present work, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and metabolites, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) were analyzed in three Antarctic notothenioids fish species: Trematomus newnesi (TRN), Notothenia coriiceps (NOC) and Notothenia rossii (NOR). The contribution of each POP-family to the total load was as follows: ΣPCB (40%)>ΣDDT (27%)>ΣPBDEs (23%)>ΣHCH (10%). Among the 23 PCB congeners analyzed, penta-CBs homologues were the prevalent group, followed by hexa-CBs and hepta-CBs. DDT and its metabolites presented the following trend: p,p'-DDT>p,p'-DDE~p,p'-DDD. PBDE profile was dominated by BDE-47 and BDE-99 congeners, followed by BDE-100>BDE-28>BDE-154, BDE-153. Among HCHs, the γ-HCH isomer was detected in all samples, constituting 69% total HCH load, while α-HCH and β-HCH contributions were 15% and 16%, respectively. The levels of POPs reported here suggest that NOR and NOC are more susceptible to accumulate the analyzed contaminants than TRN, a species not previously analyzed for POPs. Distribution of POPs among different tissues of the three species (muscle, liver, gonads, and gills) was also investigated. Considering lipid weight, the general pattern of POPs distribution in tissues indicated that while gonads showed higher levels of PCBs, DDTs and HCH, the most significant PBDE concentrations were recorded in gills. Also, a comparative analysis of POPs concentration in fish samples from Antarctic area was included.

Talanta, 2010

Ultrasound-assisted leaching-dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by dispersive liquid-liqu... more Ultrasound-assisted leaching-dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (USAL-DSPE-DLLME) technique has been developed as a new analytical approach for extracting, cleaning up and preconcentrating polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from sediment samples prior gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis. In the first place, PBDEs were leached from sediment samples by using acetone. This extract was cleaned-up by DSPE using activated silica gel as sorbent material. After clean-up, PBDEs were preconcentrated by using DLLME technique. Thus, 1 mL acetone extract (disperser solvent) and 60 microL carbon tetrachloride (extraction solvent) were added to 5 mL ultrapure water and a DLLME technique was applied. Several variables that govern the proposed technique were studied and optimized. Under optimum conditions, the method detection limits (MDLs) of PBDEs calculated as three times the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) were within the range 0.02-0.06 ng g(-1). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for five replicates were <9.8%. The calibration graphs were linear within the concentration range of 0.07-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-47, 0.09-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-100, 0.10-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-99 and 0.19-1000 ng g(-1) for BDE-153 and the coefficients of estimation were…