Gestão municipal das pragas urbanas. O caso de Madrid

Citizens’ reports of sightings of undesirable animals are a common component of pest control programmes in a city. For this reason, local authorities tend to develop procedures for the capture and analysis of the resulting data sets based on these reported sightings. These procedures in turn contribute to the development of other initiatives aimed at improving public health conditions. The study presented here focuses on the methodology designed and implemented by the Madrid City Council for controlling and managing the presence of urban pests.The long experience (over 100 years) of the City Council and its commitment to the incorporation of new technologies have allowed a number of important lessons to be learnt in pest control and management, which may be useful as a guide and model for cities where public health services have not yet incorporated these methods.La gestión de avisos por plagas es un componente habitual de los programas de control de plagas en una ciudad por lo que los gestores municipales de estas actividades normalmente desarrollan procedimientos para la captación, la atención y la explotación de los datos resultantes, lo que ayuda con otras actuaciones en paralelo, a mejorar la calidad de la Salud Pública.El estudio que aquí presentamos aborda la metodología diseñada y puesta en funcionamiento por el Ayuntamiento de Madrid para controlar y gestionar la presencia de plagas en la ciudad. La larga experiencia (más de 100 años) del Ayuntamiento y su apuesta por la incorporación de tecnologías novedosas en el control y gestión de plagas, ha permitido extraer una serie de lecciones aprendidas que pretende servir de guía y modelo para ciudades en donde los servicios de salud pública no hayan aun incorporado estos métodos.Os anúncios para a gestão de pragas é um componente comum nos programas de controlo de pragas nas cidades, por isso, os gestores municipais dessas atividades costumam desenvolver procedimentos para a coleta, cuidado e exploração dos dados obtidos, o que ajuda com outras ações em paralelo, a melhorar a qualidade da saúde pública.No presente estudo apresentamos a metodologia desenvolvida e posta em operação pela Câmara Municipal de Madrid para o controlo e gestão da presença de pragas na cidade. A Câmara Municipal de Madrid com a incorporação de novas tecnologias para o controlo e gestão de pragas, permitiu chegar a uma série de lições aprendidas que poderão ser de guia e modelo para as cidades onde os serviços de saúde pública ainda não incorporaram esses métodos de gestão de pragas

Methodological approaches to the study of cancer risk in the vicinity of pollution sources: the experience of a population-based case–control study of childhood cancer

Background: Environmental exposures are related to the risk of some types of cancer, and children are the most vulnerable group of people. This study seeks to present the methodological approaches used in the papers of our group about risk of childhood cancers in the vicinity of pollution sources (industrial and urban sites). A populationbased case–control study of incident childhood cancers in Spain and their relationship with residential proximity to industrial and urban areas was designed. Two methodological approaches using mixed multiple unconditional logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confdence intervals (95% CIs) were developed: (a) “near vs. far” analysis, where possible excess risks of cancers in children living near (“near”) versus those living far (“far”) from industrial and urban areas were assessed; and (b) “risk gradient” analysis, where the risk gradient in the vicinity of industries was assessed. For each one of the two approaches, three strategies of analysis were implemented: “joint”, “stratifed”, and “individualized” analysis. Incident cases were obtained from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Cancer (between 1996 and 2011). Results: Applying this methodology, associations between proximity (≤2 km) to specifc industrial and urban zones and risk (OR; 95% CI) of leukemias (1.31; 1.04–1.65 for industrial areas, and 1.28; 1.00–1.53 for urban areas), neuroblastoma (2.12; 1.18–3.83 for both industrial and urban areas), and renal (2.02; 1.16–3.52 for industrial areas) and bone (4.02; 1.73–9.34 for urban areas) tumors have been suggested. Conclusions: The two methodological approaches were used as a very useful and fexible tool to analyze the excess risk of childhood cancers in the vicinity of industrial and urban areas, which can be extrapolated and generalized to other cancers and chronic diseases, and adapted to other types of pollution sources

Identificação e mapeamento de fatores de risco na proliferação do rato de esgoto (Rattus norvegicus) nas áreas urbanas

With the aim of providing a deeper insight into the potential risks derived from the close cohabitation of people and rats in cities, the objectives of the present study focused on the identification and mapping of factors contributing to the proliferation of urban pests.The methodology was supported by an extensive literature review about causal factors, the experience of officials and experts working in the field, and analysis of the spatial distribution of the previously identified factors.Brainstorming sessions, together with a survey among experts and officials, provided the basis for weighting factors. Data about these factors were implemented on a GIS, which in turn constituted the basis for the spatial analysis and mapping of such factors.Con el objetivo de proporcionar una visión más profunda de los riesgos potenciales derivados de la interrelación de las propias personas y de las ratas en las ciudades, los objetivos del estudio que se presenta se centran en la identificación y cartografíado de los factores que contribuyen a la proliferación de plagas urbanas.La metodología se basó en una extensa revisión bibliográfica acerca de los factores predisponentes/causales, en la experiencia de los profesionales y expertos involucrados en la gestión de plagas y en el análisis de la distribución espacial de los factores previamente identificados.Sesiones de tormenta de ideas, así como una encuesta entre expertos y profesionales constituyeron la base para la ponderación de los factores. Estos factores fueron georreferenciados e integrados en un sistema de información geográfica (SIG), que a su vez constituyó la base para el análisis espacial y cartografía de tales factores.Com intuito de proporcionar uma visão mais profunda sobre os riscos potenciais decorrentes na coexistência das próprias pessoas e dos ratos nas cidades, os objetivos do presente estudo incidem na identificação e mapeamento dos fatores que contribuem para a proliferação das pragas urbanas.A metodologia foi baseada numa extensa revisão da literatura sobre os fatores predisponentes/causais, na experiência dos profissionais e especialistas na gestão de pragas e na análise da distribuição espacial dos fatores identificados.Sessões de brainstorming, bem como uma pesquisa entre os especialistas e profissionais formaram a base para a ponderação dos fatores. Esses fatores foram georreferenciados e integrados num SIG, que serviu de base para a análise espacial e mapeamento dos mesmos

Childhood leukaemia risk and residential proximity to busy roads

BACKGROUND: Current evidence suggests that childhood leukaemia can be associated with residential traffic exposure; nevertheless, more results are needed to support this conclusion. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the possible effects of residential proximity to road traffic on childhood leukaemia, taking into account traffic density, road proximity and the type of leukaemia (acute lymphoid leukaemia or acute myeloid leukaemia). METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study of childhood leukaemia in Spain, covering the period 1990-2011. It included 1061 incidence cases gathered from the Spanish National Childhood Cancer Registry and those Autonomous Regions with 100% coverage, and 6447 controls, individually matched by year of birth, sex and autonomous region of residence. Distances were computed from the respective participant's residential locations to the different types of roads and four different buffers. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs), were calculated for four different categories of distance to roads. RESULTS: Cases of childhood leukaemia had more than three-fold increased odds of living at <50 m of the busiest motorways compared to controls (OR = 2.90; 95%CI = 1.30-6.49). The estimates for acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL) were slightly higher (OR = 2.95; 95%CI = 1.22-7.14), while estimates for cases with the same address at birth and at diagnosis were lower (OR = 2.40; 95%CI = 0.70-8.30). CONCLUSIONS: Our study agrees with the literature and furnishes some evidence that living near a busy motorway could be a risk factor for childhood leukaemia.This study was funded by Spain's Health Research Fund, Spain (Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria - FIS 12/01416 and FIS CP11/00112), Carlos III Health Institute, Spain Grand EPY 1344/16 and Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer, Spain (Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) – EVP-1178/14). This article presents independent research. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Carlos III Institute of Health.S

Residential proximity to environmental pollution sources and risk of rare tumors in children

Background: Few epidemiologic studies have explored risk factors for rare tumors in children, and the role of environmental factors needs to be assessed. Objectives: To ascertain the effect of residential proximity to both industrial and urban areas on childhood cancer risk, taking industrial groups into account. Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study of five childhood cancers in Spain (retinoblastoma, hepatic tumors, soft tissue sarcomas, germ cell tumors, and other epithelial neoplasms/melanomas), including 557 incident cases from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Tumors (period 1996-2011), and 3342 controls individually matched by year of birth, sex, and region of residence. Distances were computed from the residences to the 1271 industries and the 30 urban areas with ≥75,000 inhabitants located in the study area. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for categories of distance to industrial and urban pollution sources were calculated, with adjustment for matching variables and socioeconomic confounders. Results: Children living near industrial and urban areas as a whole showed no excess risk for any of the tumors analyzed. However, isolated statistical associations (OR; 95%CI) were found between retinoblastoma and proximity to industries involved in glass and mineral fibers (2.49; 1.01-6.12 at 3km) and organic chemical industries (2.54; 1.10-5.90 at 2km). Moreover, soft tissue sarcomas registered the lower risks in the environs of industries as a whole (0.59; 0.38-0.93 at 4km). Conclusions: We have found isolated statistical associations between retinoblastoma and proximity to industries involved in glass and mineral fibers and organic chemical industries.This study was funded by Spain's Health Research Fund (Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria - FIS 12/01416) and Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) – EVP-1178/14).N

Risk factors for central nervous system tumors in children: New findings from a case-control study

Background: Central nervous system tumors (CNS) are the most frequent solid tumor in children. Causes of CNS tumors are mainly unknown and only 5% of the cases can be explained by genetic predisposition. We studied the effects of environmental exposure on the incidence of CNS tumors in children by subtype, according to exposure to industrial and/or urban environment, exposure to crops and according to socio-economic status of the child. Methods: We carried out a population-based case-control study of CNS tumors in Spain, covering 714 incident cases collected from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Tumors (period 1996–2011) and 4284 controls, individually matched by year of birth, sex, and autonomous region of residence. We built a covariate to approximate the exposure to industrial and/or urban environment and a covariate for the exposure to crops (GCI) using the coordinates of the home addresses of the children. We used the 2001 Census to obtain information about socio-economic status (SES). We fitted logistic regression models to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Results: The results for all CNS tumors showed an excess risk (OR = 1.37; 95%CI = 1.09–1.73) for SES, i.e., children living in the least deprived areas had 37% more risk of CNS tumor than children living in the most deprived areas. For GCI, an increase of 10% in crop surface in the 1-km buffer around the residence implied an increase of 22% in the OR (OR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.15–1.29). Children living in the intersection of industrial and urban areas could have a greater risk of CNS tumors than children who live outside these areas (OR = 1.20; 95%CI = 0.82–1.77). Living in urban areas (OR = 0.90; 95%CI = 0.65–1.24) or industrial areas (OR = 0.96; 95%CI = 0.81–1.77) did not seem to increase the risk for all CNS tumors together. By subtype, Astrocytomas, Intracranial and intraspinal embryonal tumors, and other gliomas showed similar results. Conclusion: Our results suggest that higher socioeconomic status and exposure to crops could increase the risk of CNS tumors in children

Childhood leukemia and residential proximity to industrial and urban sites

BACKGROUND: Few risk factors for the childhood leukemia are well established. While a small fraction of cases of childhood leukemia might be partially attributable to some diseases or ionizing radiation exposure, the role of industrial and urban pollution also needs to be assessed. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the possible effect of residential proximity to both industrial and urban areas on childhood leukemia, taking into account industrial groups and toxic substances released. METHODS: We conducted a population-based case-control study of childhood leukemia in Spain, covering 638 incident cases gathered from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Tumors and for those Autonomous Regions with 100% coverage (period 1990-2011), and 13,188 controls, individually matched by year of birth, sex, and autonomous region of residence. Distances were computed from the respective subject's residences to the 1068 industries and the 157 urban areas with ≥10,000 inhabitants, located in the study area. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for categories of distance to industrial and urban pollution sources were calculated, with adjustment for matching variables. RESULTS: Excess risk of childhood leukemia was observed for children living near (≤2.5 km) industries (OR=1.31; 95%CI=1.03-1.67) - particularly glass and mineral fibers (OR=2.42; 95%CI=1.49-3.92), surface treatment using organic solvents (OR=1.87; 95%CI=1.24-2.83), galvanization (OR=1.86; 95%CI=1.07-3.21), production and processing of metals (OR=1.69; 95%CI=1.22-2.34), and surface treatment of metals (OR=1.62; 95%CI=1.22-2.15) - , and urban areas (OR=1.36; 95%CI=1.02-1.80). CONCLUSIONS: Our study furnishes some evidence that living in the proximity of industrial and urban sites may be a risk factor for childhood leukemia.This study was funded by Spain’s Health Research Fund (Fondode Investigación Sanitaria–FIS 12/01416 and FIS CP11/00112).S

Association between residential proximity to environmental pollution sources and childhood renal tumors

FI=3.835 (año 2016), Q1Background: Few risk factors for childhood renal tumors are well established. While a small fraction of cases might be attributable to susceptibility genes and congenital anomalies, the role of environmental factors needs to be assessed. Objectives: To explore the possible association between residential proximity to environmental pollution sources (industrial and urban areas, and agricultural crops) and childhood renal cancer, taking into account industrial groups and toxic substances released. Methods: We conducted a population-based case-control study of childhood renal cancer in Spain, including 213 incident cases gathered from the Spanish Registry of Childhood Tumors (period 1996-2011), and 1278 controls individually matched by year of birth, sex, and region of residence. Distances were computed from the respective subject's residences to the 1271 industries, the 30 urban areas with ≥75,000 inhabitants, and the agricultural crops located in the study area. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for categories of distance to pollution sources were calculated, with adjustment for matching variables and socioeconomic confounders. Results: Excess risk (OR; 95%CI) of childhood renal tumors was observed for children living near (≤2.5km) industrial installations as a whole (1.97; 1.13-3.42) - particularly glass and mineral fibers (2.69; 1.19-6.08), galvanization (2.66; 1.14-6.22), hazardous waste (2.59; 1.25-5.37), ceramic (2.35; 1.06-5.21), surface treatment of metals (2.25; 1.24-4.08), organic chemical industry (2.22; 1.15-4.26), food and beverage sector (2.19; 1.18-4.07), urban and waste-water treatment plants (2.14; 1.07-4.30), and production and processing of metals (1.98; 1.03-3.82) -, and in the proximity of agricultural crops (3.16; 1.54-8.89 for children with percentage of crop surface ≥24.35% in a 1-km buffer around their residences). Conclusions: Our study provides some epidemiological evidence that living near certain industrial areas and agricultural crops may be a risk factor for childhood renal cancer.This study was funded by Spain's Health Research Fund (Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria - FIS 12/01416 and FIS CP11/00112).N

Somatic and germline analysis of a familial Rothmund-Thomson syndrome in two siblings with osteosarcoma

Rothmund–Thomson syndrome (RTS) is characterized by a rash that begins in the first few months of life and eventually develops into poikiloderma. Associated symptoms are alterations in the teeth, sparse hair, thin eyebrows, lack of eyelashes, low stature, bone abnormalities, hematological illnesses, gastrointestinal disease, malnutrition, cataracts, and predisposition to cancer, principally to bone tumors and skin cancer. Diagnostic certitude is provided by a genetic study involving detection of pathogenic variants of the RECQL4 gene. We hereby present a familiar case of RTS in two siblings from a Portuguese family, both diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Genomic analysis (203 genes) of both tumors as well as germline analysis of the RECQL4 gene, thus confirming the syndrome in the family, have been performed. The relevance of clinical recognition of the hallmarks of the disease and thus early diagnosis with early intervention is highlighted