Levels and Sources of Atmospheric Particle-Bound Mercury in Atmospheric Particulate Matter (PM₁₀) at Several Sites of an Atlantic Coastal European Region

[Abstract] Atmospheric particle-bound mercury (PHg) quantification, at a pg m⁻³ level, has been assessed in particulate matter samples (PM₁₀) at several sites (industrial, urban and sub-urban sites) of Atlantic coastal European region during 13 months by using a direct thermo-desorption method. Analytical method validation was assessed using 1648a and ERM CZ120 reference materials. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.25 pg m⁻³ and 0.43 pg m⁻³, respectively. Repeatability of the method was generally below 12.6%. PHg concentrations varied between 1.5–30.8, 1.5–75.3 and 2.27–33.7 pg m⁻³ at urban, sub-urban and industrial sites, respectively. PHg concentration varied from 7.2 pg m⁻³ (urban site) to 16.3 pg m⁻³ (suburban site) during winter season, while PHg concentrations varied from 9.9 pg m⁻³ (urban site) to 19.3 pg m⁻³ (suburban site) during the summer. Other trace elements, major ions, black carbon (BC) and UV-absorbing particulate matter (UV PM) was also assessed at several sites. Average concentrations for trace metals (Al, As, Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, V and Zn) ranged from 0.08 ng m⁻³ (Bi) at suburban site to 1.11 µg m⁻³ (Fe) at industrial site. Average concentrations for major ions (including Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻ and SO₄²⁻) ranged from 200 ng m⁻³ (K⁺) to 5332 ng m⁻³ (SO₄²⁻) at urban site, 166 ng m⁻³ (Mg²⁺) to 4425 ng m⁻³ (SO₄²⁻) at suburban site and 592 ng m⁻³ (K⁺) to 5853 ng m⁻³ (Cl⁻) at industrial site. Results of univariate analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) suggested crustal, marine and anthropogenic sources of PHg in PM₁₀ at several sites studied. Toxicity prediction of PHg, by using hazard quotient, suggested no non-carcinogenic risk for adults.This work was supported by Xunta de Galicia (Programa de Consolidación y Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas ref: ED431C 2017/28-2017-2020) FEDER-MINECO (UNLC15-DE-3097, financed together (80/20%) with Xunta de Galicia and Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad ref: RTI2018-101116-B-I00 (MCIU/AEI/FEDER, UE). We are grateful to Alicia Cantarero-Roldán (SAI-University of A Coruña) for ICP-MS technical support. M. Fernández-Amado appreciates the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades support (PTA2017-13607-I). The authors would like to thank P. Esperón (PTA2013-8375-I) for her support.Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2017/28-2017-202

Evolution of Gaseous and Particulate Pollutants in the Air: What Changed after Five Lockdown Weeks at a Southwest Atlantic European Region (Northwest of Spain) Due to the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic?

[Abstract] Due to the exponential growth of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Spain (2020), the Spanish Government adopted lockdown measures as mitigating strategies to reduce the spread of the pandemic from 14 March. In this paper, we report the results of the change in air quality at two Atlantic Coastal European cities (Northwest Spain) during five lockdown weeks. The temporal evolution of gaseous (nitrogen oxides, comprising NOₓ, NO, and NO₂; sulfur dioxide, SO₂; carbon monoxide, CO; and ozone, O₃) and particulate matter (PM₁₀; PM₂․₅; and equivalent black carbon, eBC) pollutants were recorded before (7 February to 13 March 2020) and during the first five lockdown weeks (14 March to 20 April 2020) at seven air quality monitoring stations (urban background, traffic, and industrial) in the cities of A Coruña and Vigo. The influences of the backward trajectories and meteorological parameters on air pollutant concentrations were considered during the studied period. The temporal trends indicate that the concentrations of almost all species steadily decreased during the lockdown period with statistical significance, with respect to the pre-lockdown period. In this context, great reductions were observed for pollutants related mainly to fossil fuel combustion, road traffic, and shipping emissions (−38 to −78% for NO, −22 to −69% for NO₂, −26 to −75% for NOₓ, −3 to −77% for SO₂, −21% for CO, −25 to −49% for PM₁₀, −10 to −38% for PM₂․₅, and −29 to −51% for eBC). Conversely, O₃ concentrations increased from +5 to +16%. Finally, pollutant concentration data for 14 March to 20 April of 2020 were compared with those of the previous two years. The results show that the overall air pollutants levels were higher during 2018–2019 than during the lockdown period.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (Programa Estatal de I+D+i Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad, ref: RTI 2018-101116-B-I00), Xunta de Galicia (Programa de Consolidación y Estructuración de Unidades de Investigación Competitivas ref: ED431C 2017/28-2017-2020) and FEDER-MINECO (UNLC15-DE-3097, financed together (80/20%) with Xunta de Galicia). Joel Sánchez-Piñero acknowledges the Xunta de Galicia and the European Union (European Social Fund-ESF) for a predoctoral grant (ED481A-2018/164). María Fernández-Amado acknowledges the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PTA2017-13607-I)

Estudio del perfil de egresadas de la titulación de Ingeniería de Minas por la Universidad de Vigo. Promociones 1997-2013

[RESUMEN] El ámbito laboral de la minería está tradicionalmente ligado al género masculino, justificándose esta realidad, durante siglos, por la dureza de las condiciones de trabajo y la peligrosidad inherente a las labores mineras. Esta situación se constató tradicionalmente en las minas de nuestro país, y aún hoy en día perdura en el ámbito de la operación minera, apreciándose sin embargo una presencia cada vez mayor de las mujeres en puestos técnicos. Con el fin de refrendar esta evolución con datos, se presenta en este trabajo el estudio del perfil laboral de las egresadas de las primeras 17 promociones de la titula ción de Ingeniería de Minas, implantada en la Universidad de Vigo en el curso 1992/1993. Este estudio se aborda como un objetivo clave en la ETSI de Minas de Vigo, ya que permite conocer el grado y el ámbito de inserción de sus egresadas en el mundo laboral, contribuyendo así a la mejora continua de los planes de estudio de sus dos grados implantados actualmente en la ETSI de Minas de Vigo (Grado en Ingeniería de la Energía y Grado en Ingeniería de los Recursos Mineros y Energéticos), herencia directa de la titulación de Ingeniería de Minas en proceso de extinción

Study of Temporal Variations of Equivalent Black Carbon in a Coastal City in Northwest Spain Using an Atmospheric Aerosol Data Management Software

[Abstract] Light-absorbing carbonaceous aerosols (including black carbon (BC)) pose serious health issues and play significant roles in atmospheric radiative properties. Two-year measurements (2015–2016) of aerosol light absorption, combined with measurements of sub-micrometric particles, were continuously conducted in A Coruña (northwest (NW) Spain) to determine their light absorption properties: absorption coefficients (σabs) and the absorption Ångström exponent (AAE). The mean and standard deviation of equivalent black carbon (eBC) during the period of study were 0.85 ± 0.83 µg m−3, which are lower than other values measured in urban areas of Spain and Europe. High eBC concentrations found in winter are associated with an increase in emissions from anthropogenic sources in combination with lower mixing layer heights and frequent stagnant conditions. The pronounced diurnal variability suggests a strong influence from local sources. AAE had an average value of 1.26 ± 0.22 which implies that both fossil fuel combustion and biomass burning influenced optical aerosol properties. This also highlights biomass combustion in suburban areas, where the use of wood for domestic heating is encouraged, as an important source of eBC. All data treatment was gathered using SCALA© as atmospheric aerosol data management support software program.This research was funded by the Spanish R&D Plan (PROACLIM project: CGL2014-52877-R and CRISOL project: CGL2017-85344-R) and by the Xunta de Galicia (GRC2013-047 and ED431C 2017/28).Xunta de Galicia; GRC2013-047Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2017/2

Motivational Interviewing in smoking treatment: a review

La Entrevista Motivacional (EM) ha demostrado su eficacia en un amplio rango de conductas adictivas. Sin embargo, con el tabaco es donde resulta más difícil demostrar su eficacia. La EM proporciona estrategias motivacionales específicas para cada estadio de cambio. El objetivo de este trabajo es revisar los estudios que investigan el uso de la EM en el tratamiento del tabaquismo con el fin de ofrecer una actualización de su eficacia. Para ello, se han revisado las investigaciones más importantes, publicadas a nivel internacional y en España. La revisión de los 33 estudios seleccionados nos lleva a concluir que es muy difícil evaluar y comparar los resultados de los estudios entre sí, debido a la variabilidad y heterogeneidad de los mismos. De ahí que sea en este campo donde se muestren los resultados más contradictorios sobre su eficacia. Se necesita, por lo tanto, más investigación para determinar la fiabilidad y las posibles explicaciones para los hallazgos discrepantes observados en el tabaquismo. Finalmente se sugiere la necesidad de conocer dónde y cómo interviene la EM dentro del tratamiento y qué condiciones podrían afectar a su eficaciaMotivational Interviewing (MI) has proved to be effective with a wide range of addictive behaviors. However, in the case of tobacco smoking it is more difficult to demonstrate its effectiveness. MI provides specific motivational strategies for each stage of change. The aim of this paper is to review studies investigating the use of MI in the treatment of smoking in order to provide an update on its effectiveness. To this end, we reviewed the most important research published internationally and in Spain. A review of 33 selected studies leads us to conclude that it is very difficult to assess and compare the results of the studies in view of their variability and heterogeneity. Hence, it is in this area that we see the most contradictory results on its effectiveness. We therefore need more research in order to determine its reliability and possible explanations for the discrepant findings observed in studies of smoking cessation. Finally, we strongly suggest the need to know which treatment location is best, how MI functions in treatment programs and which conditions may affect its effectivenessS

A Ciencia Cierta: proyecto de visibilización

[RESUMEN] ¿Por qué no aprendemos en las escuelas los grandes logros que miles de mujeres han alcanzado para el avance de la humanidad? El currículum escolar, especialmente el formal, no refleja las conquistas y éxitos que las mujeres han conseguido a lo largo de la Historia. Su escasa presencia en los libros de texto, fundamentalmente en el campo de la Ciencia y de la Tecnología, genera una idea errónea, sesgada y parcial de quiénes fueron los protagonistas de los hechos y procesos históricos, científicos y tecnológicos más importantes para el desarrollo y el progreso de nuestra sociedad. Esta identificación del hombre como protagonista histórico, principalmente en estos campos, podría estar provocando una feminización y una masculinización de las carreras académicas y profesionales, propiciada desde la infancia por un orden simbólico minuciosamente establecido en el que impera la dominación masculina. La aplicación por tanto de la perspectiva de género en los contenidos escolares y en el propio currículum oculto, nos permite equilibrar las relaciones desiguales de poder y desbancar al androcentrismo del puesto privilegiado que la autoridad masculina le ha otorgado. En este texto se presenta un proyecto de investigación que pretende por un lado devolver a las mujeres pioneras, científicas y tecnólogas el espacio que les corresponde dentro de las escuelas y por tanto dentro del conocimiento global. Y por otro, visibilizar nuevos modelos femeninos referenciales para transformar las subjetividades individuales que se edifican con fuerza en la infancia y en la adolescencia

Web Application for Atmospheric Aerosol Data Management: Software and Case Study in the Spanish Network on Environmental Differential Mobility Analysers

[Abstract] SCALA© (Sampling Campaigns for Aerosols in the Low Atmosphere) is a web-based software system that was developed in a multidisciplinary manner to integrally support the documentation and the management and analysis of atmospheric aerosol data from sampling campaigns. The software development process applied considered the prototyping and the evolutionary approaches. The software product (SCALA©) allows for the comprehensive management of the sampling campaigns’ life cycle (management of the profiles and processes involved in the start-up, development and closure of a campaign) and provides support for both intra- and inter-campaigns data analysis. The pilot deployment of SCALA© considers the Spanish Network on Environmental Differential Mobility Analysers (DMAs) (REDMAAS) and the PROACLIM project. This research project involves, among other objectives, the study of temporal and spatial variations of the atmospheric aerosol through a set of microphysical properties (size distribution, optical properties, hygroscopicity, etc.) measured in several locations in Spain. The main conclusions regarding size distribution are presented in this work. These have been have been extracted through SCALA© from the data collected in the REDMAAS 2015 and 2019 intercomparison campaigns and two years (2015 and 2016) of measurements with two Scanning Mobility Particle Sizers (SMPS) at CIEMAT (Madrid, central Spain) and UDC (A Coruña, NW of Spain) sites.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; CGL2014-52877-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad; CGL2017-85344-RXunta de Galicia; GRC2013-047Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2017/28Gobierno Regional de Madrid; Y2018/EMT-517

A multicenter case-control study of the effect of e-nos VNTR polymorphism on upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in NSAID users

[EN]Bleeding in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users limited their prescription. This first multicenter full case-control study (325 cases and 744 controls), explored the association of e-NOS intron 4 variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage (UGIH) in NSAID exposed and unexposed populations and assessed any interaction between this polymorphism and NSAIDs. NSAID users carrying e-NOS intron 4 wild type genotype or VNTR polymorphism have higher odds of UGIH than those unexposed to NSAIDs [Odds Ratio (OR): 6.62 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4.24, 10.36) and OR: 5.41 (95% CI 2.62, 11.51), respectively], with no effect modification from VNTR polymorphism-NSAIDs interaction [Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI): -1.35 (95% CI -5.73, 3.03); Synergism Index (S): 0.77 (95% CI 0.31, 1.94)]. Similar findings were obtained for aspirin exposure. Non-aspirin NSAID users who carry e-NOS intron 4 VNTR polymorphism have lower odds of UGIH [OR: 4.02 (95% CI 1.85, 8.75) than those users with wild type genotype [OR: 6.52 (95% CI 4.09, 10.38)]; though the interaction estimates are not statistically significant [RERI: -2.68 (95% CI -6.67, 1.31); S: 0.53 (95% CI 0.18, 1.55)]. This exploratory study suggests that the odds of UGIH in NSAID or aspirin users does not modify according to patient ' s e-NOS intron 4 genotype.This work was supported by a grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III [PI12/02414]/Plan Estatal de I + D + I 2012-2016; Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); the Novartis, Pfizer and Dr Esteve pharmaceutical companies; the Health Research Fund/Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria [PI021512, PI021364, PI020661, PI021572]; Ministry of Health & Consumer Affairs, Spain [SAF2002-04057]; Galician Regional Authority, Spain [PGIDIT03PXIC20806PN]; Department of Health of the Basque Country [03/11092 and 11/111103]; and Fundacion vasca de innovacin e investigacin sanitarias [OSIBG19/002 and OSIBG18/105]. The genotyping service was carried out at CEGEN-PRB3-ISCIII; Instituto de Salud Carlos III and ERDF [PT17/0019, of the PE I + D + I 2013-2016]

The REDMAAS 2014 intercomparison campaign: CPC, SMPS, UFPM and neutralizers

Ponencia presentada en:2nd Iberian Meeting on Aerosol Science and Technology (RICTA 2014) celebrado en Tarragona del 7 al 9 de julio de 2014.The Spanish network on environmental DMAs (Red Española de DMAs Ambientales, REDMAAS), working since 2010, is currently formed by six groups involved in the measurement of atmospheric aerosol size distributions by means of Differential Mobility Analyzers (DMAs). One of its activities is an annual intercomparison of mobility size spectrometers (SMPS and UFPM). In this work we show the results obtained in the 2014 campaign: the verification of DMA calibrations with latex, the results of the CPC and SMPS + UFPM intercomparisons, and a comparison of the new TSI 3087 X-ray and the former TSI 3077 85Kr neutralizers. The concentrations measured by different types of CPC were within the range of 10% of the average value. CPCs working at higher flow rates measured slightly higher concentrations, probably related to the smaller losses in the lines. All the SMPS worked at the same sampling and sheath flow rates (1:10 lpm). Four of the SMPS gave very good results for particles larger than 20 nm. The UFPM measured particle number concentrations in the average +/-10% band measured by the SMPS. Instruments working with the X-ray neutralizer measured higher concentrations than with the 85Kr neutralizers. This could mean that particle losses are smaller inside this neutralizer.This work has been financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation (CGL2011-15008-E, CGL2010-1777, CGL2011-27020 & CGL2011-26259)