Relação entre o ruído e as variáveis do processo produtivo na indústria extractiva a céu aberto

O ruído está intimamente associado a todos os processos industriais, sendo os ligados à indústria extractiva dos mais ruidosos. O presente artigo pretende equacionar o estado da arte relativamente a relações entre a variável ocupacional – Ruído e as inerentes ao processo produtivo. Teve por base uma pesquisa bibliográfica, desenvolvida através da combinação de um conjunto de palavras-chave, pré-definidas, diretamente ligadas às varáveis a tratar. Da pesquiza efectuada pode-se concluir que as variáveis inerentes aos equipamentos e respetivas operações são as mais significativas. Foi também verificado que a variável ruído se encontra muitas vezes associada a vibrações transmitidas aos sistemas mão-braço e corpo inteiro e a substâncias ototóxicas. Tal, entre outras causas, faz com que aumente a dificuldade em classificar a PAIR como uma doença profissional. Por último, por envolver custos e redução na produtividade, verificou-se ainda que os trabalhadores com PAIR são mais vulneráveis a acidentes de trabalho

The evolution of the Portuguese mining industry- Health, Safety and Sustainability perspectives

A demanda de matérias-primas é um indicador fundamental do nível e dos ritmos de desenvolvimento das sociedades. De entre estas, as matérias-primas minerais são as que apresentam maiores consumos. Este tipo de materiais vai desde os inertes para o betão ao petróleo e suporta todo o modo de vida e actividades da sociedade após a revolução industrial. Com base na análise da evolução histórica da Indústria Extractiva Portuguesa desde o início do século passado até à actualidade, pretende este trabalho analisar a evolução das condições de trabalho neste sector, um dos que apresenta maiores índices de sinistralidade a nível nacional. Trata-se de uma actividade primária, cuja matéria-prima é um recurso natural, finito e não renovável, os mecanismos de intervenção sobre os quais, reconhecidamente, deve incidir a actuação dos decisores sectoriais, situam-se no trinómio da sustentabilidade - ambiente, economia e sociedade. A segurança e saúde ocupacionais estão claramente situadas dentro deste último pilar. Curiosamente, é o sector com menor grau de I&D, e onde menos se investe em períodos de crescimento e onde mais se desinveste em períodos de recessão. Num período de fraco crescimento económico, mas onde as matérias-primas minerais, nomeadamente as metálicas e as energéticas estão em forte alta, proporciona a oportunidade ímpar de consolidar e melhorar as condições de segurança do sector.Raw materials demand is a primary indicator of a society's level and rate of development. Within raw materials, mineral resources attain higher consumptions. Mineral raw materials comprise a wide variety of resources, (from concrete aggregates to crude oil) and since the Industrial Revolution support modern society's way of life. From the analysis of the historical evolution of the Portuguese mining industry, from the beginning of the last century to present day, this paper intends to analyze the working conditions evolution in the mining sector which exhibits the national highest injury, illness and fatality statistics. The mining industry being a primary economical activity, having a non-renewable, finite and natural resource as raw material, the intervention mechanisms upon which should sectorial decision maker's act, are within the trinomial sustainability model: environment, economics and society. Occupational health and safety is without any doubt part of the third pillar: society. Strangely enough, ohs has a low level of I&D, least investments rates during periods of growth and higher disinvestment in periods of recession. In a low economical growth rate, but when mineral raw materials, namely metallic and energetic are high in international markets, providing an unique moment to improve and sustain the safety conditions in the mining sector

Inflammatory and Cardiometabolic Risk on Obesity: Role of Environmental Xenoestrogens

Some chemicals used in consumer products or manufacturing (eg, plastics, pesticides) have estrogenic activities; these xenoestrogens (XEs) may affect immune responses and have recently emerged as a new risk factors for obesity and cardiovascular disease. However, the extent and impact on health of chronic exposure of the general population to XEs are still unknown.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals - Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications

Background: The role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with endocrine disrupting activity in the aetiology of obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions has been recently highlighted. Adipose tissue (AT) is a common site of POPs accumulation where they can induce adverse effects on human health. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of POPs in human visceral (vAT) and subcutaneous (scAT) adipose tissue in a sample of Portuguese obese patients that underwent bariatric surgery, and assess their putative association with metabolic disruption preoperatively, as well as with subsequent body mass index (BMI) reduction. Methods: AT samples (n=189) from obese patients (BMI ≥35) were collected and the levels of 13 POPs were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the time of surgery. BMI variation was evaluated after 12 months and adipocyte size was measured in AT samples. Results: Our data confirm that POPs are pervasive in this obese population (96.3% of detection on both tissues), their abundance increasing with age (RS=0.310, p<0.01) and duration of obesity (RS=0.170, p<0.05). We observed a difference in AT depot POPs storage capability, with higher levels of ΣPOPs in vAT (213.9±204.2 compared to 155.1±147.4 ng/g of fat, p<0.001), extremely relevant when evaluating their metabolic impact. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between POP levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome components, namely dysglycaemia and hypertension, and more importantly with cardiovascular risk (RS=0.277, p<0.01), with relevance for vAT (RS=0.315, p<0.01). Finally, we observed an interesting relation of higher POP levels with lower weight loss in older patients. Conclusion: Our sample of obese subjects allowed us to highlight the importance of POPs stored in AT on the development of metabolic dysfunction in a context of obesity, shifting the focus to their metabolic effects and not only for their recognition as environmental obesogens

Persistent organic pollutant levels in human visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue in obese individuals - Depot differences and dysmetabolism implications

Background: The role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with endocrine disrupting activity in the aetiology of obesity and other metabolic dysfunctions has been recently highlighted. Adipose tissue (AT) is a common site of POPs accumulation where they can induce adverse effects on human health. Objectives: To evaluate the presence of POPs in human visceral (vAT) and subcutaneous (scAT) adipose tissue in a sample of Portuguese obese patients that underwent bariatric surgery, and assess their putative association with metabolic disruption preoperatively, as well as with subsequent body mass index (BMI) reduction. Methods: AT samples (n=189) from obese patients (BMI ≥35) were collected and the levels of 13 POPs were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD). Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the time of surgery. BMI variation was evaluated after 12 months and adipocyte size was measured in AT samples. Results: Our data confirm that POPs are pervasive in this obese population (96.3% of detection on both tissues), their abundance increasing with age (RS=0.310, p<0.01) and duration of obesity (RS=0.170, p<0.05). We observed a difference in AT depot POPs storage capability, with higher levels of ΣPOPs in vAT (213.9±204.2 compared to 155.1±147.4 ng/g of fat, p<0.001), extremely relevant when evaluating their metabolic impact. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between POP levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome components, namely dysglycaemia and hypertension, and more importantly with cardiovascular risk (RS=0.277, p<0.01), with relevance for vAT (RS=0.315, p<0.01). Finally, we observed an interesting relation of higher POP levels with lower weight loss in older patients. Conclusion: Our sample of obese subjects allowed us to highlight the importance of POPs stored in AT on the development of metabolic dysfunction in a context of obesity, shifting the focus to their metabolic effects and not only for their recognition as environmental obesogens