Caracterização químico-estrutural e petrográfica das micas litiníferas da Mina do Castanho nº 1 (Gonçalo-Guarda)

Sem resumo disponível.Mestrado em Geoquímic

Lithium in Public Drinking Water and Suicide Mortality in Portugal: Initial Approach

Introduction: Lithium can be found naturally in drinking water. There is some evidence that natural levels of lithium in drinking water may have a protective effect on suicide mortality. The aim of this study is to evaluate if higher natural concentrations of lithium in public drinking water are associated with lower local rates of suicide in Portugal. Material and Methods: Suicide standardized mortality ratios at 54 Portuguese municipalities within the 6-year period from 2011 to 2016 was correlated with lithium concentrations in public drinking water and socioeconomic factors using Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) with one-tailed tests. Multivariate regression models were adjusted for well-known socioeconomic factors known to influence suicide mortality in Portugal (population density, average income per capita, unemployment rates and proportion of Roman Catholics). Results: The average lithium level, as evidenced by raw values for 54 municipalities, was 10.88 μg/L (standard deviation = 27.18). There was no statistically significant correlation between lithium levels and suicide standardized mortality ratio (r = 0.001, p-value = 0.996). There was a statistically significant higher suicide standardized mortality ratio for males (p-value = 0.000). When analyzed separately for both sexes, no statistically significant correlation between suicide standardized mortality ratio and lithium levels was found (male r = 0.024, p-value = 0.862; female r = 0.000, p-value = 0.999). No association between suicide standardized mortality ratio and socioeconomic factors was found: population density (r = -0.144, p-value = 0.300), average income per capita (r = -0.112, p-value = 0.418), unemployment rates (r = -0.001, p-value = 0.994), and proportion of Roman Catholics (r =- 0.150, p-value = 0.278). Discussion: Unlike most international studies regarding natural lithium levels and suicide risk, no inverse relation was found in Portugal. Factors such as the country’s low suicide rate, confunding suicide risk variables, and unaccounted lithium intake might have influenced these findings. Conclusions: No association between lithium in public drinking water and suicide rates was found in Portugal

Characterization of Microbial Communities Associated with Ceramic Raw Materials as Potential Contributors for the Improvement of Ceramic Rheological Properties

Technical ceramics are being widely employed in the electric power, medical and engineering industries because of their thermal and mechanical properties, as well as their high resistance qualities. The manufacture of technical ceramic components involves complex processes, including milling and stirring of raw materials in aqueous solutions, spray drying and dry pressing. In general, the spray-dried powders exhibit an important degree of variability in their performance when subjected to dry-pressing, which affects the efficiency of the manufacturing process. Commercial additives, such as deflocculants, biocides, antifoam agents, binders, lubricants and plasticizers are thus applied to ceramic slips. Several bacterial and fungal species naturally occurring in ceramic raw materials, such as Sphingomonas, Aspergillus and Aureobasidium, are known to produce exopolysaccharides. These extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) may confer unique and potentially interesting properties on ceramic slips, including viscosity control, gelation, and flocculation. In this study, the microbial communities present in clay raw materials were identified by both culture methods and DNA-based analyses to select potential EPS producers based on the scientific literature for further assays based on the use of EPS for enhancing the performance of technical ceramics. Potential exopolysaccharide producers were identified in all samples, such as Sphingomonas sp., Pseudomonas xanthomarina, P. stutzeri, P. koreensis, Acinetobacter lwoffi, Bacillus altitudinis and Micrococcus luteus, among bacteria. Five fungi (Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxysporum, Acremonium persicinum and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa) were also identified as potential EPS producers.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia-EXPL/CTM-CER/0637/201

Are there geogenic relationships for Lithium between geology, geochemical anomalies and low levels of violence in the region of Guanambi, State of Bahia, NE Brazil? / Existem relações geográficas para o Lítio entre geologia, anomalias geoquímicas e baixos níveis de violência na região de Guanambi, Estado da Bahia, NE do Brasil?

Lithium has been applied for therapeutic purposes in the treatment of mental health disorders, such as bipolar affective disease, in the prevention of behaviour changes, and may be related, to some extent, to the reduction of suicide and violence. In Brazil, the main occurrences of lithium are found in the east/northeast region. In the Guanambi domains, in south-central Bahia, until recently, there were no references to lithium occurrences. The geology of the region is characterized by the monzo-syenitic batholith of Guanambi and its associated late intrusions (2.05Ga), where important manifestations of a pneumatolithic character are described. There are also evaporitic levels, interspersed with carbonate members of the São Francisco Supergroup (Bambuí Group - 650Ma). The Geological Survey of Brazil (CPRM) carried out an extensive geochemical survey, sampling and analysing water, sediments and soils. The geostatistical treatment and interpretation of these data revealed the existence of lithium anomalies in the Guanambi domains, in sites that spatially overlap the rocks of the Guanambi batholith and the carbonate rocks of the Bambuí Group. According to Atlas da Violência (2019), in Guanambi the homicide rate was 30.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, that is, it is lower than the average homicide rate in Brazil (31.6 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants), or the average rate in Bahia (48.8 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants). The relationships between lithium and health can be addressed by medical geochemistry. This article is relevant to the community of geoscientists and health planners, whose objective is to investigate the hypothesis put forward of the effective relationship between geogenic lithium levels and the homicide rate in these sites in the State of Bahia

Health impact of lithium mining: preliminary results of the ILiFOOD project

A atividade mineira para exploração de lítio está em expansão devido à utilização de lítio em baterias de produtos eletrónicos ou veículos elétricos. Os níveis de lítio nas águas, solos e alimentos em diferentes regiões geográficas são variáveis, especialmente nas zonas próximas de explorações de lítio. O projeto exploratório ILiFOOD tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto da mineração de lítio nas explorações agrícolas/hortas familiares de locais circundantes e na ingestão alimentar das populações. A investigação contribuirá para avaliar o risco de exposição das populações locais ao lítio, e a outros elementos químicos, com base nos seus níveis em vegetais (couves e batatas) e em águas (de rega e de consumo) e solos provenientes de zonas rurais próximas e afastadas de minas ativas com recursos de lítio, localizadas nas regiões de Barroso- -Alvão e Guarda. Para estimar a exposição da população, serão aplica dos inquéritos sociodemográficos e de consumo alimentar aos residentes dos locais em estudo. Trata-se de um estudo inovador em Portugal que irá, pela primeira vez, explorar a relação entre a exposição ali mentar e a atividade mineira da exploração de recursos litiníferos. Os resultados preliminares obtidos na envolvente da mina C57 (Guarda) revelaram teores mais elevados de Li nas couves amostradas nas hortas localizadas até 0,5 km de distância da mina.Lithium mining activity is expanding due to the use of lithium in batteries for electronic products or electric vehicles. Lithium levels in the water, soils, and food vary from region to region, especially in areas within active mining lithium explorations. ILiFOOD aims to evaluate the impact of lithium mining on surrounding local farms and populations' dietary intake. This exploratory project will contribute to enlightening the risk of exposure of local populations to lithium and other chemicals elements, by evaluating its levels in vegetables (cabbages and potatoes) and in water (drinking and irrigation) and soil from rural areas close and far from active lithium mines resour ces, located in Barroso-Alvão and Guarda regions to assess popula tion´s exposure, socio-demographic and food consumption surveys will be applied to inhabitants of local farms. This is an innovative study in Portugal, which will for the first time; assess the relationship between food exposure and mining activity of lithium resources. Preliminary results obtained in the surroundings of the C57 mine (Guarda) revealed higher levels of Li in the cabbage leaves sampled in the local farms located up to 0.5 km away from the mine.Este trabalho é financiado por fundos nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., no âmbito do projeto EXPL/CTA-AMB/0977/2021.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from Estarreja urban area: a myth or a reality?

International audienc

Investigation of Hg and Zn contamination in agricultural soils of an industrial area: a case of public health?

International audienc

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils from Estarreja urban area: a myth or a reality?

International audienc

Lithium in Portuguese Bottled Natural Mineral Waters—Potential for Health Benefits?

There is increasing epidemiologic and experimental evidence that lithium (Li) exhibits significant health benefits, even at concentrations lower than the therapeutic oral doses prescribed as treatment for mental disorders. The aim of this study is to determine the content of Li in 18 brands of bottled natural mineral waters that are available on the Portuguese market and from which the sources are found within the Portuguese territory, to provide data for Li intake from drinking water. Analyses of Li were performed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The results indicate highly different Li concentrations in natural mineral waters: one group with low Li concentrations (up to 11 µg Li/L) and a second group with Li concentrations higher than 100 µg/L. The highest Li concentrations (>1500 µg Li/L) were observed in the highly mineralized Na-HCO3 type waters that are naturally carbonated (>250 mg/L free CO2). As a highly bioavailable source for Li dietary intake these natural mineral waters have potential for Li health benefits but should be consumed in a controlled manner due to its Na and F− contents. The consumption of as little as 0.25 L/day of Vidago natural mineral water (2220 µg Li/L), can contribute up to 50% of the proposed daily requirement of 1 mg Li/day for an adult (70 kg body weight). In future, Li epidemiological studies that concern the potential Li effect or health benefits from Li in drinking water should consider not only the Li intake from tap water but also intake from natural mineral water that is consumed in order to adjust the Li intake of the subjects

As and Hg assessment of cattle exposure in pasture lands around the Estarreja Chemical Complex (Aveiro, Portugal). Preliminary results near the S. Filipe sewage outlet.

International audienc