Model for Health Risk Assessment in Portuguese Housing Spaces

Currently, people spend most of their time inside their homes. However, poor conditions in terms of comfort and quality of the indoor environment can pose high risks to the inhabitants’ health. Therefore, a good quality environment is essential, since, in addition to the hazards present in indoor air (e.g., particles, (S)VOCs, CO, radon and tobacco smoke), extreme temperatures, relative humidity levels, pests (e.g., mold, dust mites and bioaerosols), noise, airborne infectious agents (e.g., SARS-CoV-2) and contamination through water and soil can cause physical injuries, respiratory diseases, damage to multiple organ systems as well as harmful effects on the mental health of the occupants. Faced with this requirement, housing evaluation models were studied together with the main types of risk that could affect the health of the inhabitants, with the objective of proposing a new evaluation model for housing health and safety risks, fitted to the occupants, and especially suitable for Portuguese dwellings, although applicable in other geographical contexts. As a result of this analysis, this article proposes a new model for evaluating health and safety risks in housing, applicable in Portugal, supported by an inspection form and, as the main difference from the existing models, parameter measurements, providing complementary data for the evaluation. This model was created based on a set of functional and regulatory requirements that were identified for the healthy use of living spaces. Twenty-eight hazards were identified, and the respective risk factors were assessed using different processes and target demographics, including visual inspection, parameter measurements, occupants’ age and location and age of housing. In order to validate the model and determine its usefulness, it was applied to a set of houses with different construction dates, locations and occupants. This exercise enabled the identification of hazard classes and the calibration and fine tuning of the model application. Finally, proposals for future work are presented in order to create a base of evolution for the model

Ecotoxicological Evaluation of Methiocarb Electrochemical Oxidation

The ecotoxicity of methiocarb aqueous solutions treated by electrochemical oxidation was evaluated utilizing the model organism Daphnia magna. The electrodegradation experiments were performed using a boron-doped diamond anode and the influence of the applied current density and the supporting electrolyte (NaCl or Na2SO4) on methiocarb degradation and toxicity reduction were assessed. Electrooxidation treatment presented a remarkable efficiency in methiocarb complete degradation and a high potential for reducing the undesirable ecological effects of this priority substance. The reaction rate followed first-order kinetics in both electrolytes, being more favorable in a chloride medium. In fact, the presence of chloride increased the methiocarb removal rate and toxicity reduction and favored nitrogen removal. A 200× reduction in the acute toxicity towards D. magna, from 370.9 to 1.6 toxic units, was observed for the solutions prepared with NaCl after 5 h treatment at 100 A m−2. An increase in the applied current density led to an increase in toxicity towards D. magna of the treated solutions. At optimized experimental conditions, electrooxidation offers a suitable solution for the treatment and elimination of undesirable ecological effects of methiocarb contaminated industrial or agricultural wastewaters, ensuring that this highly hazardous pesticide is not transferred to the aquatic environment

Frailty syndrome, biomarkers and environmental factors – A pilot study

Frailty is an age-related syndrome expected to increase over the next decades. This syndrome has been identified to be the most common condition leading to disability, institutionalisation and death in the elderly. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate a possible link between frailty status, biomarkers and environmental exposures. A group of 71 older adults (≥65 years old) was engaged in this study. The study population was classified as 45.1% robust, 45.1% pre-frail and 9.8% frail. A significant higher prevalence of second-hand smokers was found in the pre-frail group when compared to robust. Furthermore, a higher prevalence of robust individuals was found among those consuming home-produced vegetables and water from well/springs. Significant differences were found between data collected in a lifetime exposure questionnaire (LTEQ) and the levels of genotoxicity endpoints and the mercury levels analysed regarding some exposure-related parameters, namely, smoking habits, intake of home-produced vegetables and the use of pesticides in agriculture. Understanding if the way we live(d) or worked can impact the way we age are important questions to be explored. Data obtained in this pilot study encourage further studies on this matter, exploring the role of exposures history and its impact on health

When toxicity goes circular: Isoprostanes as markers and effectors of oxidative stress.

In normal conditions, there is a dynamic equilibrium between oxidants and antioxidants in the human body; however, when there is an unbalance in this redox state, oxidative stress occurs. In an unbalanced state, the peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids originates isoprostanes (IsoPs), which can be considered as markers of oxidative stress. Since oxidative stress is associated with several non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs), IsoPs can be used as clinical biomarkers of such diseases. Patients with congestive heart failure, cystic fibrosis and chronic renal insufficiency, for example, have higher levels of IsoPs

Avaliação do potencial citotóxico de microplásticos em linhas celulares intestinais, hepáticas e neuronais

Os Microplásticos (MPs) são uma classe emergente de contaminantes, que resultam da libertação directa de pequenas partículas que constituem total ou parcialmente objetos de uso quotidiano ou da deterioração de plásticos que originalmente possuem maiores dimensões. O polietileno (PE), a poliamida (PA-nylon 12) e o policloreto de vinilo (PVC) são três polímeros muito comumente utilizados no fabrico de sacos de plástico, recipientes e utensílios domésticos, produtos de higiene pessoal, componentes automóveis e de eletrónica e materiais de construção. Devido à sua ubiquidade (resultante da extensa utilização), os seres vivos estão constantemente expostos a estes contaminantes. No caso humano, a ingestão diária de microplásticos é uma das formas mais frequentes de exposição, tornando assim fundamental avaliar a sua potencial toxicidade. Neste trabalho a citotoxicidade de PE, PA-nylon 12 e PVC foram avaliadas em três linhas celulares distintas: células do intestino (Caco-2), do fígado (HepG2) e neurónios (N27). De uma forma geral, os microplásticos testados apresentaram toxicidade para as linhas celulares N27 e HepG2, com exceção do PE nesta última. Por outro lado, para as células Caco-2 não foram registadas reduções significativas na viabilidade celular

Issue 2 - “Update on adverse respiratory effects of indoor air pollution” Part 1): Indoor air pollution and respiratory diseases: A general update and a Portuguese perspective

Objective To quantify the impact of different air pollutants on respiratory health based on robust estimates based on international data and to summarise the evidence of associations between indoor exposure to those pollutants and respiratory morbidity in the Portuguese population. Results Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses (MA) at the world level demonstrate the impact of indoor air quality on respiratory health, with indoor particulate matter and gasses exerting a significant effect on the airways. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been related to asthma and lung cancer. However, only meta-analyses on biomass use allowed documentation of long-term respiratory effects. While early publications concerning Portuguese-based populations mainly focused on indoor exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, later studies relocated the attention to relevant exposure environments, such as day care buildings, schools, residences and nursing homes. Looking at the pooled effects from the reviewed studies, high levels of carbon dioxide and particulate matter in Portuguese buildings were significantly associated with asthma and wheezing, with VOC and fungi showing a similar effect in some instances. Conclusions Despite the significant reduction of indoor air pollution effects after the 2008 indoor smoking prohibition in public buildings, studies show that several indoor air parameters are still significantly associated with respiratory health in Portugal. The country shares the worldwide necessity of standardisation of methods and contextual data to increase the reach of epidemiological studies on household air pollution, allowing a weighted evaluation of interventions and policies focused on reducing the associated respiratory morbidity

Avaliação toxicológica de lixiviados de aterro sanitário tratados usando o crustáceo de água doce Daphnia magna.

Os resíduos sólidos urbanos, gerados em grande escala pela sociedade moderna, precisam de ser corretamente descartados por forma a mitigar o seu impacto ambiental e na saúde pública. Estes resíduos são normalmente depositados em aterros sanitários, e, consequentemente, são gerados lixiviados altamente tóxicos que precisam de ser tratados. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a eficácia de diferentes tratamentos eletroquímicos na redução da toxicidade de um concentrado de lixiviado de aterro sanitário. O concentrado de lixiviado, resultante da aplicação de um processo de osmose inversa, foi tratado por processos eletroquímicos combinados, eletrocoagulação (EC) seguida de eletro-Fenton (EF) com diferentes intensidades de corrente e com diferentes concentrações iniciais de ferro. A eficácia do tratamento na diminuição da toxicidade foi avaliada através de ensaios de toxicidade aguda com o organismo modelo Daphnia magna. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os ensaios de EF realizados à densidade de corrente mais alta (200 A m-2) e com uma concentração de Fe inferior (60 mg L-1) permitiram uma diminuição da toxicidade inicial de 61,305 unidades tóxicas (UTs) para 33,195 UTs, correspondente a uma redução da toxicidade de cerca de 46

Response of Benthic Foraminifera to organic matter quantity and quality and bioavailable concentrations of metals in Aveiro Lagoon (Portugal)

This work analyses the distribution of living benthic foraminiferal assemblages of surface sediments in different intertidal areas of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal), a polihaline and anthropized coastal lagoon. The relationships among foraminiferal assemblages in association with environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, Eh and pH), grain size, the quantity and quality of organic matter (enrichment in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids), pollution caused by metals, and mineralogical data are studied in an attempt to identify indicators of adaptability to environmental stress. In particular, concentrations of selected metals in the surficial sediment are investigated to assess environmental pollution levels that are further synthetically parameterised by the Pollution Load Index (PLI). The PLI variations allowed the identification of five main polluted areas. Concentrations of metals were also analysed in three extracted phases to evaluate their possible mobility, bioavailability and toxicity in the surficial sediment. Polluted sediment in the form of both organic matter and metals can be found in the most confined zones. Whereas enrichment in organic matter and related biopolymers causes an increase in foraminifera density, pollution by metals leads to a decline in foraminiferal abundance and diversity in those zones. The first situation may be justified by the existence of opportunistic species (with high reproduction rate) that can live in low oxic conditions. The second is explained by the sensitivity of some species to pressure caused by metals. The quality of the organic matter found in these places and the option of a different food source should also explain the tolerance of several species to pollution caused by metals, despite their low reproductive rate in the most polluted areas. In this study, species that are sensitive and tolerant to organic matter and metal enrichment are identified, as is the differential sensitivity/tolerance of some species to metals enrichment.CNPq [401803/2010-4]; [PEst-OE/CTE/UI4035/2014]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An evaluation of trace metal distribution, enrichment factors and risk in sediments of a coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)

This paper describes a sediment survey undertaken to unravel patterns of distribution and dispersion of trace metals in an Iberian Peninsula northwestern coastal lagoon (Ria de Aveiro). Cadmium, lead, chromium, copper and zinc were analyzed in bottom sediments. Geochemical normalization is performed and two different regression models for each metal versus aluminum are tested and compared using the respective enrichment factors (EF), an estimation of the relative importance of anthropogenic contributions to the studied sediments. Mean sediment quality guideline quotients (mSQGQ) are used to evaluate sediment quality and associated potential risk to biota with effects range low as empirical sediment quality guideline (SQG) in the basis for mSQGQ calculation. Additionally, the geoaccumulation index is calculated to compare studied sediment levels to global baseline levels. The application of SQGs revealed insufficient characterization capability, especially when contrasted to EF calculated from the regression methods. These pointed a mildly enriched system with localized "hot spot" areas. Therefore, it can be considered that bottom sediments in the Ria de Aveiro system are in their majority unpolluted, zinc being the only metal of concern, presenting enrichment in all four main channels. The major rivers outlets (Caster, Antuã, and Vouga) constitute point sources, thus presenting potential risk for biota. Yet, the strong tidal influence creates a damping effect by efficiently redistributing sediment bound metals