Contribución de fuentes de material particulado atmosférico en zonas industriales complejas

La contaminación atmosférica procedente de la actividad industrial suscita especial interés en la comunidad científica, dado el impacto que puede provocar en la salud humana y en los ecosistemas. Entre los principales contaminantes se encuentra el material particulado atmosférico (PM), cuya composición química depende en gran medida de sus fuentes de origen. El PM de origen industrial puede contener compuestos y metales particularmente dañinos para las personas. Además, en función de las condiciones meteorológicas, las emisiones industriales pueden impactar directa o indirectamente sobre núcleos urbanos cercanos. Es por ello que surge la necesidad de profundizar sobre la caracterización química y la cuantificación de la contribución industrial al PM. En el presente trabajo de investigación se realiza un estudio sobre la contribución de fuentes del PM en zonas industriales complejas. En primer lugar, se ha tenido en cuenta el entorno de La Ría de Huelva por los importantes polígonos industriales que albergan sus alrededores. Aunque el impacto industrial ha sido ampliamente estudiado en el núcleo urbano de Huelva, se consideró también una zona urbana próxima a las industrias (La Rábida). Las concentraciones de PM10 obtenidas en el período 2015-2017 son similares a las observadas en entornos urbanos. No obstante, su composición se caracterizó por altos niveles de Cu, Zn y As, especialmente en La Rábida. El estudio de contribución de fuentes desveló una fuente industrial de PM10, cuyo principal emisor es la metalurgia de Cu. Dicha fuente se mantiene como la principal responsable de altas concentraciones de As en Huelva. Además, se identificó en La Rábida una segunda fuente de As que es debida a la manipulación de graneles de sulfuros polimetálicos en la zona portuaria. Gracias a los análisis de especiación de As, se pudo discriminar la fuente de este metaloide. Con objeto de caracterizar las principales anomalías geoquímicas a nivel regional se realizó un estudio de contribución de fuentes en estaciones representativas de Andalucía. Se consideró, además, la influencia de los episodios de intrusión de masas de aire norteafricanas (NAF) sobre los niveles de PM y su composición química. Aparte de observarse un incremento de los niveles de PM10 durante estos eventos, los elementos traza de origen industrial (p. ej. As, V o Cr) mostraron también concentraciones más altas. A pesar de que se produjo un mayor aumento de las fuentes naturales bajo episodios NAF, se comprobó que las fuentes antropogénicas (tráfico, regional e industrial) aumentan su contribución en un 50%. Por tanto, empeoraría la calidad del aire durante estos días, no sólo por los altos niveles sino además por incorporar elementos potencialmente tóxicos, siendo necesario que se tomen acciones para evitar en la medida de lo posible las emisiones antropogénicas. Finalmente, teniendo en cuenta la excepcional situación durante el año 2020 debido a la Covid-19, se evaluó la composición química de elementos traza en PM10 en Andalucía. En este sentido, se prestó especial interés a la etapa de confinamiento, en la que sólo se mantuvieron activos los servicios esenciales. Se ha destacado un claro descenso de los elementos asociados a las emisiones de tráfico durante el confinamiento en comparación con períodos anteriores y posteriores. La disminución de las emisiones de tráfico se corroboró con la caída acusada de los niveles de NO2 a partir de marzo de 2020. Atendiendo a las concentraciones de los elementos derivados de emisiones industriales específicas, se observaron diferentes tendencias. Mientras que en la Bahía de Algeciras no se aprecia un descenso relevante de la actividad industrial en los meses de confinamiento, las emisiones en la región cerámica de Bailén y en Huelva (fundición de Cu) sí disminuyeron durante dicho período. No obstante, a nivel anual se ha observado la persistencia de las mismas anomalías geoquímicas que ya se han registrado en años anteriores.Air pollution originating from industrial activities is a matter of interest for the scientific community since it can seriously affect to human health and the environment. One of the main pollutants is atmospheric particulate matter (PM), which is comprised of a high variety of chemical compounds and elements, depending basically on its origin sources. In this sense, industrial PM is characterized by its high content in particularly hazardous compounds and metals for the organism. Furthermore, under specific meteorological conditions, industrial emissions can impact at nearby urban areas. For this reason, deepening the chemical characterization and quantification of the industrial contribution to PM. In the present research work, a PM10 source contribution analysis has been developed in complex industrial areas. First of all, the estuary known as La Ria de Huelva, since important industrial estates are located in its surroundings. Even though, the industrial impact over the city of Huelva has been highly studied and characterized, an urban area next to the industries (La Rabida) has also been considered. PM10 concentrations observed during the period 2015-2017 are similar to those observed at urban backgrounds. However, its chemical composition is characterized by high Cu, Zn and As concentrations, particularly at La Rabida. Attending to PM10 source contribution analysis, an industrial source derived mainly from a Cu smelter factory is observed. This source is the major contributor to the high As concentrations registered at Huelva and La Rabida. Furthermore, a second As source related to the handle of polymetallic sulfides in a port area has been identified at La Rabida. By As speciation analysis it has been possible to differentiate between both sources. With the aim of characterizing the main geochemical anomalies at regional level a contribution source analysis has been developed at representative monitoring sites of Andalusia. Likewise, the influence of North African air masses (NAF) over PM10 levels and its chemical composition has been considered. Apart from the increment observed in PM10 concentrations, trace elements from industrial origin (e.g. As, V or Cr) also showed higher concentrations during these events. In spite of the increased contribution of the natural sources (crustal and seasalt) under NAF, it was also observed a 50% gain of the anthropogenic sources (traffic, regional and industrial). Consequently, a poorer air quality is found during these days due to the high PM levels and its content in hazardous elements. This fact should be taken into account by proper authorities in order to reduce anthropogenic emissions as far as possible. Finally, PM10 anthropogenic emissions and their chemical composition at a regional level have also been studied during 2020. Covid-19 pandemic conferred an exceptional situation to evaluate air quality, especially during population confinement months, when just essential services were kept. The results inferred a clear decrease of those related to traffic emissions during the lockdown period. This diminution was corroborated with the sharp drop of NO2 levels since March 2020. Regarding PM10 trace elements from specific industrial emissions, different trends have been observed. At Algeciras Bay industrial area it was not noted a relevant decrease of the emissions during the confinement moths. Nevertheless, in the ceramic region of Bailen and in Huelva (Cu smelter) a reduction of the industrial emissions was observed during the lockdown. Furthermore, an analysis of PM10 trace element concentrations during the whole 2020, has shown the continuation of the geochemical anomalies already observed in previous years

La descolonización del Sáhara Occidental

En febrero de 1976, España evacuaba el Sahara Occidental, después de noventa y un años de permanencia, dejando tras de si un territorio ocupado militarmente por Marruecos y Mauritania y un proceso de descolonización inconcluso, en virtud de los acuerdos tripartitos de Madrid, firmados en noviembre de 1975, por los cuales al régimen franquista se desentendía de las obligaciones que tenía como potencia administradora, según el artículo 73 de la Carta de las Naciones Unidas, cediendo la administración del territorio a Rabat y Nouakchott

Malófagos encontrados sobre pollos de Garza imperial Ardea purpurea y Garceta común Egretta garzetta en la Albufera de Mallorca

Mallophaga found on chicks of purple heron Ardea purpurea and little egret Egretta garzetta at S’Albufera de Mallorca. We describe the species of chewing lice found on ten purple heron Ardea purpurea) chicks and seven little egret Egretta garzetta chicks inspected in S’Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park (Balearic Islands, Spain) in 2008. Ardeicola leucoproctus was found on the head of one of the herons, whereas Ciconiphilus decimphastiatus was detected on the wings of two other herons and in five egrets. This is the first observation of A. leucoproctus in Europe, though it is known to parasitize the purple heron in other locations. Ciconiphilus decimphastiatus has been described parasitizing Ardeid species in the Iberian peninsula but not in the Balearic Islands. The transmission of these parasites probably follows a vertical route. The low prevalence observed, together with the detection of species typical of Ardeidae, may indicate that the birds inspected were in a condition of good health

Nanoparticles for Signaling in Biodiagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases

[EN]Advances in nanoparticle-based systems constitute a promising research area with important implications for the treatment of bacterial infections, especially against multidrug resistant strains and bacterial biofilms. Nanosystems may be useful for the diagnosis and treatment of viral and fungal infections. Commercial diagnostic tests based on nanosystems are currently available. Different methodologies based on nanoparticles (NPs) have been developed to detect specific agents or to distinguish between Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. Also, biosensors based on nanoparticles have been applied in viral detection to improve available analytical techniques. Several point-of-care (POC) assays have been proposed that can offer results faster, easier and at lower cost than conventional techniques and can even be used in remote regions for viral diagnosis. Nanoparticles functionalized with specific molecules may modulate pharmacokinetic targeting recognition and increase anti-infective efficacy. Quorum sensing is a stimuli-response chemical communication process correlated with population density that bacteria use to regulate biofilm formation

Analysis and behavior of different materials in sustainable construction and their alternatives for the improvement of the environment

[EN] The construction sector is widely known for its growing activity and its impact on the environment. The use of different materials within the world of construction has evolved over the years. Thus, thanks to technology, it has been possible to achieve an improvement in the behaviour of certain materials in the world of construction. In this article, different materials from this sector are analysed in order to achieve an improvement and awareness towards a more sustainable construction. The focus has been on the study of the behaviour of these materials and their responses to the phases of construction. As analysed, it has been possible to demonstrate that the controlled evolution of certain materials such as the use of clinker or cementite, significantly improves the context of sustainable construction. On the other hand, by replacing cement by other materials such as fly ash or slag can improve the durability by 50% which is a high figure related to the sustainable point of view, thus can reduce the impact on the environment.This work was supported by the European Union under the project Green Cities for Climate and Water Resilience, Sustainable Economic Growth, Healthy Citizens and Environments with reference 730283 and the framework of Condereff project (Ref. PGI05560-Condereff) Construction & demolition waste management policies for improved resource efficiency.Cárcel-Carrasco, J.; Martínez-Corral, A.; Kaur, J.; Llinares Millán, J. (2021). Analysis and behavior of different materials in sustainable construction and their alternatives for the improvement of the environment. Área de Innovación y Desarrollo,S.L. 131-135. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/19065813113

Propuesta basada en la filosofía Lean Manufacturing en relación a la productividad del Área Operativa de la empresa Veolia Aseo Sur Occidente del municipio de Zarzal - Valle del Cauca.

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo implementar una propuesta a la empresa Veolia Aseo Sur Occidente del Valle del Cauca, formulando una secuencia correcta para el desarrollo e implementación de la Filosofia Lean Manufacturing en la organización, se establece que las etapas a desarrollar son la definición de la visión de empresa que se desea obtener con el desarrollo de la filosofía, diagnóstico e identificación de aspectos problema en la empresa, análisis y definición de acciones a realizar, implementación de dichas acciones, y finalmente evaluación de los resultados obtenidos a fin de generar ajustes adecuados que permitan alcanzar la visión organizacional y una mejora continua de la empresa.PregradoADMINISTRADOR(A) DE EMPRESA

Metal Homeostasis and Exposure in Distinct Phenotypic Subtypes of Insulin Resistance among Children with Obesity

Background: Trace elements and heavy metals have proven pivotal roles in childhood obesity and insulin resistance. However, growing evidence suggests that insulin resistance could encompass distinct phenotypic subtypes. Methods: Herein, we performed a comprehensive metallomics characterization of plasma samples from children and adolescents with obesity and concomitant insulin resistance, who were stratified as early (N = 17, 11.4 ± 2.4 years), middle (N = 16, 11.8 ± 1.9 years), and late (N = 33, 11.7 ± 2.0 years) responders according to the insulin secretion profile in response to an oral glucose tolerance test. To this end, we employed a high-throughput method aimed at determining the biodistribution of various essential and toxic elements by analyzing total metal contents, metal-containing proteins, and labile metal species. Results: Compared with the early responders, participants with delayed glucose-induced hyperinsulinemia showed a worsened insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, 4.5 vs. 3.8) and lipid profile (total cholesterol, 160 vs. 144 mg/dL; LDL-cholesterol, 99 vs. 82 mg/dL), which in turn was accompanied by sharpened disturbances in the levels of plasmatic proteins containing chromium (4.8 vs. 5.1 µg/L), cobalt (0.79 vs. 1.2 µg/L), lead (0.021 vs. 0.025 µg/L), and arsenic (0.077 vs. 0.17 µg/L). A correlation analysis demonstrated a close inter-relationship among these multielemental perturbations and the characteristic metabolic complications occurring in childhood obesity, namely impaired insulin-mediated metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids. Conclusions: These findings highlight the crucial involvement that altered metal homeostasis and exposure may have in regulating insulin signaling, glucose metabolism, and dyslipidemia in childhood obesity.This research was funded by the Spanish Government through Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI22/01899). AGD is supported by an intramural grant from the Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (LII19/16IN-CO24), and RGD is a recipient of a “Miguel Servet” fellowship (CP21/00120) funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Exploring the association between circulating trace elements, metabolic risk factors, and the adherence to a Mediterranean diet among children and adolescents with obesity

Diet is one of the most important modifiable lifestyle factors for preventing and treating obesity. In this respect, the Mediterranean diet (MD) has proven to be a rich source of a myriad of micronutrients with positive repercussions on human health. Herein, we studied an observational cohort of children and adolescents with obesity (N = 26) to explore the association between circulating blood trace elements and the degree of MD adherence, as assessed through the KIDMED questionnaire. Participants with higher MD adherence showed better glycemic/insulinemic control and a healthier lipid profile, as well as raised plasma levels of selenium, zinc, cobalt, molybdenum, and arsenic, and increased erythroid content of selenium. Interestingly, we found that these MD-related mineral alterations were closely correlated with the characteristic metabolic complications behind childhood obesity, namely hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia (p 0.35). These findings highlight the pivotal role that dietary trace elements may play in the pathogenesis of obesity and related disorders.This research was partially funded by the Spanish Government through Instituto de Salud Carlos III- (PI22/01899). ÁG-D was supported by an intramural grant from the Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cádiz (LII19/16INCO24), and RG-D was recipient of a “Miguel Servet” fellowship (CP21/00120) funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Sexually dimorphic metal alterations in childhood obesity are modulated by a complex interplay between inflammation, insulin, and sex hormones

Although growing evidence points to a pivotal role of perturbed metal homeostasis in childhood obesity, sexual dimorphisms in this association have rarely been investigated. In this study, we applied multi-elemental analysis to plasma and erythrocyte samples from an observational cohort comprising children with obesity, with and without insulin resistance, and healthy control children. Furthermore, a wide number of variables related to carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, inflammation, and sex hormones were also determined. Children with obesity, regardless of sex and insulin resistance status, showed increased plasma copper-to-zinc ratios. More interestingly, obesity-related erythroid alterations were found to be sex-dependent, with increased contents of iron, zinc, and copper being exclusively detected among female subjects. Our findings suggest that a sexually dimorphic hormonal dysregulation in response to a pathological cascade involving inflammatory processes and hyperinsulinemia could be the main trigger of this female-specific intracellular sequestration of trace elements. Therefore, the present study highlights the relevance of genotypic sex as a susceptibility factor influencing the pathogenic events behind childhood obesity, thereby opening the door to develop sex-personalized approaches in the context of precision medicine.INiBICA, Grant/Award Number: LII19/16IN-CO24; Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Grant/Award Numbers: CP21/00120, PI22/0189