ENVIE Co-ordination action on indoor air quality and health effects; WP3 Final report – Characterisation of spaces and source

Human exposure to environmental pollutants occurs via various pathways. For many pollutants, especially the volatile ones, air exposure is the dominant pathway. Exposure via air occurs both outdoors and indoors, with diverse types of indoor spaces playing a role, e.g., home, workplace, and passenger cabins of means of transportation. In average people spend over 90% of their time indoors, that percentage being particularly high for some specific groups as new-born, elderly, disabled or sick people. The global exposure to air contaminants is therefore drastically determined by indoor conditions. It is now well established that indoor air pollution contributes significantly to the global burden of disease of the population. For a majority of indoor air contaminants, particularly in the presence of common indoor sources, however, indoor concentrations usually exceed outdoor concentrations, for some pollutants even with an indoor/outdoor ratio of 10 or 20. Emissions are identified, accordingly to the EnVIE approach and grouped into four categories: building materials and related sources, including dampness and moulds; ventilation, natural and mechanical, including, or not, heating, cooling and humidification/ dehumidification; consumer products, furnishing, cleaning and household products; and occupant activities. Emission of chemical substances from construction materials and products in buildings to the indoor air have been reported and reviewed for a wide range of substances, including those formed during secondary reactions, causing complaints of irritation and odour. During the last two decades there has been increasing advances in construction technology that have caused a much greater use of synthetic building materials. Whilst these improvements have led to more comfortable buildings, they also provide indoor environments with contaminants in higher concentrations than are found outside. Wood and cork are now frequently used as a building product for floor coverings, because the material is often regarded as “natural” and “healthy”. However, industrial products, even based on natural raw materials, may contain a number of artificial ingredients and the chemical emissions will strongly depend on the type of additives and the manufacturing process. Modern interior paints are usually based on a polymeric binder. In order to fulfil requirements on e.g., durability, paint contains various functional chemicals. Water-borne paints usually also contains small amounts of approved biocides. Polymeric binders with a very low content of residual monomers have been developed for paint. Besides the release of substances to the indoor air due to primary emission, damp building materials may give rise to volatile substances formed during secondary reactions. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are now receiving much more attention than heretofore. The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems as providers, among others, of services of cleaning and dilution of pollutants in the indoor air are also recognized as potential pollution sources. Several studies have shown that the prevalence of SBS symptoms is often higher in air conditioned buildings than in buildings with natural ventilation. 8 The outdoor air introduced indoors through either ventilation systems or natural means is also an important and not always controllable source for the intake of some outdoor pollutants. Outdoor air used for ventilation may also be source of pollution containing particulate matter, particulates of biological origin (microorganisms, pollen, etc.) and various gases like NOx and O building structures which is a driving force for the airflows which will transport to indoors water vapour and gaseous or particulate contaminants. Volatile organic compounds are emitted from a wide variety of household and consumer products with emission rates that are strongly dependent on the type of application and are distributed over several orders of magnitude. A number of product classes are identified and information on ingredients and available data on emissions from individual products are presented. Human activities and the associated use of products encompass a wide range of indoor sources involving release of inorganic gases, particles and organic compounds as a consequence of the activity. For some releases such as with air fresheners the release is a necessary part of the activity to achieve the intended effect whereas for others, such as the release of combustion fumes from a gas appliance, the purpose of the action (in this case generation of heat) is different from the emission. Combustion processes are an important source of a range of air pollutants as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, particulates and associated inorganic and organic chemicals, organic vapours e.g. formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene. Sources of these are present in both ambient and indoor environments. The concentrations present in the ambient air provide a baseline for the level of pollutant found indoors as this air enters indoors by processes of infiltration and ventilation. However, the concentration indoors will be modified by processes of sorption to surfaces and chemical reaction depending on the chemical and physical properties of the pollutant and internal surfaces. People themselves are a source of emissions of chemicals and gases, notably CO range of organic compounds that are referred to as body odours. The removal of such body odours is a prime objective of ventilation in order to achieve a satisfactory indoor environment. WP3 aims at to characterize spaces and sources in order to understand where and how to act to guarantee good IAQ. From the two strategies for good IAQ, source control and ventilation, the precautionary principle suggests that first priority shall be given to source control, avoiding, mitigating or simply managing sources of emissions. An overview of all policies on IAQ or related to IAQ, existing or in preparation, directly related to indoor air sources, but also covering outdoor air and industrial emissions, which could affect indirectly IAQ is made. Considering the presented it could be concluded that IAQ is yet poorly regulated at EU level, and in view of that some recommendations are made. The recommendations on policies have taken into account the existing related to IAQ policies such as new EU policies on chemicals (REACH; 2006/121/EC), consumer products (GPSD; 2001/95/EC), construction products (CPD; 89/106/EC) and energy performance of buildings (EPBD; 2002/91/EC) all refer to IAQ issues - suggesting that they could, and probably should, contribute to IAQ policy development and advocate an integrative and comprehensive policy approach centred

Used food oils: physical-chemical indicators of quality degradation

Comunicação apresentada em 11th Baltic Conference on Food Science and Technology “Food science and technology in achanging world” FOODBALT 2017 Conference Proceedings. Jelgava, LLUUsed food oil (UFO), designated as frying oil, is a residue. Degradation by reuse or during storage, may occur by contacting, chemical, enzymatic and microbiological pathways, but oxidation is a major concern of the industry, as it affects sensory and nutritional quality of edible oils, with potentially toxic compounds formation. In Portugal, UFO's main destination still is the sewerage system, an environmental problem and waste of raw material, which can be re-qualified for non-food uses. However, quality control applied to UFO's, often results into expensive analysis inappropriate for small laboratories and catering industry. This project, developed with the Musketeers Group Portugal co-promotion (2012-2016), aimed to identify low-cost physicochemical parameters for further implementation as UFO's Quality Degradation Indicators (QDI) indicating defects quickly and accurately. UFO's analysis was tested on the use, for industrial frying, and by degradation induced in the laboratory (frying and heat stability tests) by applying following parameters: moisture, water activity (a(w)), total acidity, peroxide index, iodine index, colour (CIE, CIE Lab), UV absorbency, total polar compounds and microbiological indicators. Internal procedures (ESAS) were validated, redefining working ranges and test conditions, as standards procedures did not provide reliable results for the entire life cycle of oils, whose profile changes with time and reuse. Results demonstrate significant differences with quick response parameters as Total Acidity, Peroxide Index and CIE Lab colour, outlined as QDI's. Moisture, aw and CIE Lab colour proved to be inadequate for this purpose. Iodine Index and UV Absorbency are more complex and time-consuming and were profiled as reference methods.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A análise da modalidade project finance no financiamento do setor elétrico brasileiro: estudo de caso de uma geradora eólica

O setor elétrico brasileiro passou por constantes alterações até chegar ao modelo utilizado nos dias atuais, baseado na contratação de energia elétrica por meio de leilões. Com os leilões de energia, a expansão da capacidade instalada proveniente da energia gerada por parques eólicos aumentou exponencialmente, assim como, o papel o financiamento neste setor. Como projetos de infraestrutura exigem um alto aporte de capital, já que grandes obras de construção são realizadas, a modalidade de financiamento project finance ganhou relevância justamente por ter como característica a alta contração de dívidas através de empréstimos de curto e longo prazo, deixando um percentual menor para o aporte de equity dos acionistas. Dessa forma, como o presente trabalho tem como foco a fonte eólica dentro do setor elétrico, será apresentado a relação do setor elétrico com a estruturação de um financiamento baseado na modalidade project finance, mostrando em um último capítulo, através de um estudo de caso de uma geradora eólica, como ocorre na prática tanto a relação entre o SEB e a modalidade project finance, quanto a dinâmica de estruturação de um projeto nesses moldes

Cuidado integral e ideación suicida en el adulto mayor de 60 años a más, Lima 2020.

En el actual trabajo el objetivo de esta investigación fue: determinar el cuidado integral e ideación suicida en el adulto mayor de 60 años a más, Lima 2020. Métodos: en esta investigación se utilizó el enfoque cualitativo, con diseño interpretativo y descriptivo, se utilizó la entrevista semiestructurada previo a ello se hizo firmar el consentimiento informado, los sujetos de estudio fueron 8 adultos mayores tanto de sexo femenino como de masculino entre las edades de 60 a 75 años en la ciudad de Lima, se utilizó el muestreo no probabilístico y la saturación de información, se utilizó el análisis de contenido mediante la triangulación de las entrevistas, los estudios previos y la teoría de cuidadora psicodinámica de Hildegart Peplou en la relación cuidador/ adulto mayor. Resultado: se constató que el cuidado integral no se cumple debido a que los cuidadores no tienen estudios con respecto a brindar una atención adecuada en la salud, un cuidado holístico, se presenció que la familia tampoco se involucra en el cuidado emocional que requiere el adulto mayor, por lo que se constató que los adultos mayores son vulnerables ante cualquier situación, llegaron a tener pensamientos e ideación de suicidio manifestando que fue por diversos problemas como la depresión, el abandono, el maltrato familiar, las enfermedades crónicas y también por antecedentes familiares que se presentaron en su familia. Conclusión: En esta tesis se determinó que el cuidado integral e ideación suicida en los adulto mayores de 60 años a más se realiza por parte de un familiar cercano, el cual quiere cumplir con un rol cuidador, pero al no contar con estudios que requieran el cuidado integral no cumplen con el objetivo, llevando al adulto mayor al riesgo de padecer enfermedades crónicas y mentales, debido a que no se finaliza con el cuidado adecuado por parte de este familiar hacia el rol que cumple el adulto mayor en su familia

Nivel de conocimiento y prácticas sobre estimulación temprana de madres de escolares de dos instituciones educativas pública y privada de Lima, 2019

Determina el nivel de conocimiento y prácticas sobre estimulación temprana de madres de escolares de dos instituciones educativas pública y privada de Lima, 2019. El estudio realizado es de tipo observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo y transversal. Participaron 71 madres de familia de los escolares del centro de educación pre escolar “Little San Borja” y la IEI 528 “Alegría de Jesús” de San Borja, 2019. Se utilizó instrumentos previamente validados. Obtiene que el nivel de conocimientos generales de estimulación temprana es medio (55%), el tipo de práctica de estimulación realizado mayoritariamente fue el inadecuado (59%), el nivel de conocimientos sobre la estimulación de las áreas motora, lenguaje, social y coordinación fue mayoritariamente medio en todos los casos (50.7% 43,7% 40,8% y 47,9% respectivamente). Se hizo además una comparación de los niveles de conocimiento registrados en razón del nivel educativo de las madres y en razón del tipo de colegio, resultando que las madres de familia con educación primaria completa e incompleta presentaron mayoritariamente un nivel de conocimiento alto (50%), las que tuvieron educación secundaria completa e Incompleta presentaron mayoritariamente un nivel medio (61%) y las madres con un nivel educativo superior también presentaron mayoritariamente un nivel medio (50%) sobre estimulación temprana, además las madres de familia del centro educativo escolar privado presentaron los mayores grados de conocimiento alto (25,8%) y medio (64,5%) sobre estimulación temprana. Concluye que el nivel de conocimientos generales de estimulación temprana de las madres de los escolares del centro de educación pre escolar “Little San Borja” y la IEI 528 Alegría de Jesús de San Borja fue mayoritariamente de nivel medio a nivel general y específicamente en las áreas motora, de coordinación, social y del área de lenguaje siendo las madres de familia del centro educativo escolar privado las que registraron los mayores grados de conocimiento sobre la estimulación temprana. Así mismo, el tipo de práctica de estimulación realizado por ellas fue mayoritariamente el inadecuado.Tesi

Estudio estratégico del mercado de snacks en Lima Metropolitana

El presente trabajo fue realizado como base para el marco teórico de mi tesis titulada “Estudio de pre-factibilidad para la producción y venta de ensaladas de frutas mediante máquinas expendedoras en universidades Lima Metropolitana”, buscando poder realizar un análisis general del rubro que permita determinar factores relevantes a tomar en cuenta para una empresa que quiera ingresar a competir en él, así como resaltar las mejores prácticas ya usadas por las principales empresas que participan de él. Para ello, se realizó un análisis actual tanto del país como del rubro, mediante la revisión tanto de pronósticos generados por el BCR, investigación de las nuevas normas vigentes en nuestro país, revisión de censos pasados y de distintas encuestas realizadas por investigadoras internacionales correspondientes al Perú. Asimismo, se investigó a detalle a las empresas mejor posicionadas en el rubro de modo que se puedan conocer cuáles son las nuevas tendencias que ayudan a que se mantengan vigentes y como se van adaptando antes las nuevas necesidades de sus consumidores, las cuales varían constantemente a raíz de las nuevas necesidades que los aquejen. Con toda esa información, finalmente se llegó a constatar la hipótesis de que el presente rubro es muy dinámico y se necesita de constante innovación, así como de la revisión permanente de la cadena de suministro y de las necesidades del público objetivo para poder seguir compitiendo en él.Trabajo de investigació