Levels of persistent organic pollutants and residual pattern of DDTs in small cetaceans from the coast of Sao Paulo, Brazil

The State of Sao Paulo is the most developed area in Brazil and was impacted by persistent organic pollutants for several decades. This study investigated organochlorines in five species of small cetaceans (Pontoporia blainvillei, Stenella frontalis, Sotalia guianensis, Tursiops truncatus and Steno bredanensis) found dead along the coast of Sao Paulo between 1997 and 2003. DDTs (15.9 mu g g(-1) lipid: mean for all pooled individuals) and PCBs (8.08 mu g g(-1)) exhibited the highest concentrations in the animals, reflecting large amounts formerly used in Brazil. Lower levels of mirex (0.149 mu g g(-1)), HCB (0.051 mu g g(-1)), CHLs (0.008 mu g g(-1)) and HCHs (0.007 mu g g(-1)) were detected in all species. Residual pattern of DDTs in dolphins suggests that o,p`-DDT is more recalcitrant than p,p`-DDT in the body of the animals and/or the environment. In contrast to p,p`-DDT, residues of o,p`-DDT seem to be preferentially converted into o,p`-DDD rather than op-DDE. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Urban Air Pollutants are Significant Risk Factors for Asthma and Pneumonia in Children: The Influence of Location on the Measurement of Pollutants

Background: Air pollution is associated with a substantial burden on human health; however, the most important pollutants may vary with location. Proper monitoring is necessary to determine the effect of these pollutants on respiratory health. Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the role of outdoor, indoor and personal exposure to combustion-related pollutants NO2 and O-3 on respiratory health of children in a non-affluent urban area of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: Levels of NO2 and O-3 were continuously measured in outdoor and indoor air, as well as personal exposure, for 30 days using passive measurement monitors. Respiratory health was assessed with a Brazilian version of the ISAAC questionnaire. Results: Complete data were available from 64 children, aged 6-10 years. Respiratory morbidity was high, with 43 (67.2%) reporting having had wheezing at any time, 27 (42.2%) wheezing in the last month, 17 (26.6%) asthma at any time and 21(32.8%) pneumonia at any time. Correlations between levels of NO2 and O-3 measured in the three locations evaluated were poor. Levels of NO2 in indoor air and personal exposure to O-3 were independently associated with asthma (both cases P=.02), pneumonia (O-3, P=.02) and wheezing at any time (both cases P<.01). No associations were seen between outdoor NO2 and O-3 and respiratory health. Conclusions: Exposure to higher levels of NO2 and O-3 was associated with increased risk for asthma and pneumonia in children. Nonetheless, the place where the pollutants are measured influences the results. The measurements taken in indoor and personal exposure were the most accurate. (C) 2012 SEPAR. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.

The association between low alcohol use and traffic risk behaviors among Brazilian college students

Although there are a large number of studies focused on binge drinking and traffic risk behaviors (TRB), little is known regarding low levels of alcohol consumption and its association to TRB. The aim of this cross-sectional study is to examine the association of low to moderate alcohol intake pattern and TRB in college students in Brazil. 7037 students from a National representative sample were selected under rigorous inclusion criteria. All study participants voluntarily fulfilled a structured, anonymous, and self-questionnaire regarding alcohol and drug use, social-demographic data, and TRB. Alcohol was assessed according to the average number of alcoholic units consumed on standard occasions over the past 12 months. The associations between alcohol intake and TRB were summarized with odds ratio and their confidence interval obtained from logistic regression. Compared with abstainers students who consumed only one alcohol unit had the risk of being a passenger in a car driven by a drunk driver increased by almost four times, students who reported using five or more units were increased by almost five times the risk of being involved in a car crash. Compared with students who consumed one alcohol unit, the risk of driving under the influence of alcohol increased four times in students using three alcohol units. Age group, use of illicit drugs, employment status, gender, and marital status significantly influenced occurrence of TRB among college students. Our study highlights the potential detrimental effects of low and moderate pattern of alcohol consumption and its relation to riding with an intoxicated driver and other TRB. These data suggest that targeted interventions should be implemented in order to prevent negative consequences due to alcohol use in this population. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved,

RISK FOR INJURIES AMONG MOTORCYCLISTS INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC INCIDENTS

The objective of this study was to identify, among motorcyclists involved in traffic incidents, the factors associated with risk of injuries. In 2004, in the city of Maringa-PR, it was determined that there were a total of 2,362 motorcyclists involved in traffic incidents, according to records from the local Military Police. Multivariate analysis was applied to identify the factors associated with the presence of injury. A significantly higher probability of injury was observed among motorcyclists involved in collisions (odds Ratio = 11.19) and falls (odds Ratio = 3.81); the estimated odds ratio for females was close to four, and those involved in incidents including up to two vehicles were 2.63 times more likely to have injuries. Women involved in motorcycle falls and collisions with up to two vehicles stood out as a high-risk group for injuries.

Tráfego veicular e mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório em homens adultos

OBJETIVO: Analisar a associação entre indicadores de exposição à poluição por tráfego veicular e mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório em homens adultos. MÉTODOS: Foram analisadas informações sobre vias e volume de tráfego no ano de 2007 fornecidas pela companhia de engenharia de tráfego local. Mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório no ano de 2005 entre homens ≥ 40 anos foram obtidas do registro de mortalidade do Programa de Aprimoramento de Informações de Mortalidade do Município de São Paulo, SP. Dados socioeconômicos do Censo 2000 e informações sobre a localização dos serviços de saúde também foram coletados. A exposição foi avaliada pela densidade de vias e volume de tráfego para cada distrito administrativo. Foi calculada regressão (α = 5%) entre esses indicadores de exposição e as taxas de mortalidade padronizadas, ajustando os modelos para variáveis socioeconômicas, número de serviços de saúde nos distritos e autocorrelação espacial. RESULTADOS: A correlação entre densidade de vias e volume de tráfego foi modesta (r² = 0,28). Os distritos do centro apresentaram os maiores valores de densidade de vias. O modelo de regressão espacial de densidade de vias indicou associação com mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório (p = 0,017). Não se observou associação no modelo de volume de tráfego. Em ambos os modelos – vias e volume de tráfego (veículos leves/pesados) – a variável socioeconômica foi estatisticamente signifi cante. CONCLUSÕES: A associação entre mortalidade por doenças do aparelho circulatório e densidade de vias converge com a literatura e encoraja a realização de mais estudos epidemiológicos em nível individual e com métodos mais acurados de avaliação da exposição.

Influence of urban activities on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in precipitation: Distribution, sources and depositional flux in a developing metropolis, Fortaleza, Brazil

We measured polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in bulk precipitation in the Fortaleza metropolitan area, Ceara, Brazil, for the first time. Because little information is available concerning PAHs in tropical climatic regions, we assessed their spatial distribution and possible sources and the influence of urban activities on the depositional fluxes of PAHs in bulk precipitation. The concentrations of individual and total PAHs (Sigma(PAHs)) in bulk precipitation ranged from undetectable to 133.9 ng.L-1 and from 202.6 to 674.8 ng.L-1, respectively. The plume of highest concentrations was most intense in a zone with heavy automobile traffic and favorable topography for the concentration of emitted pollutants. The depositional fluxes of PAHs in bulk precipitation calculated in this study (undetectable to 0.87 mu g.m(-2).month(-1)) are 4 to 27 times smaller than those reported from tourist sites and industrial and urban areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Diagnostic ratio analyses of PAH samples showed that the major source of emissions is gasoline exhaust, with a small percentage originating from diesel fuel. Contributions from coal and wood combustion were also found. Major economic activities appear to contribute to pollutant emissions. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Levels of selected persistent organic pollutants in blood from delivering women in seven selected areas of Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Persistent organic pollutants (POPS) present in the living environment are thought to have detrimental health effects on the population, with pregnant women and the developing foetus being at highest risk. We report on the levels of selected POPs in maternal blood of 155 delivering women residing in seven regions within the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The following selected POPs were measured in the maternal whole blood: 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners (IUPAC Nos. 99, 101, 118, 138, 153, 156, 163, 170, 180, 183, 187, 194); dichlordiphenyltrichloroethane p,p'-DDT, diphenyldichloroethylene p,p'-DDE and other pesticides such as hexachlorocyclohexanes (alpha-HCH, beta-HCH, gamma-HCH), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), chlordane derivatives cis-chlordane, trans-chlordane. oxy-chlordane, cis-nonachlor and trans-nonachlor. Statistical comparisons between regions were performed only on compounds having concentrations above LOD in 70% of the samples. PCB118 congener was found to be highest in the industrial site (mean 4.97 ng/g lipids); PCB138 congener concentration was highest in the Urban 3 site (mean 4.27 ng/g lipids) and congener PCB153 was highest in the industrial and Urban 3 sites with mean concentration of 7.2 ng/g lipids and 5.89 ng/g lipids respectively. Large differences in levels of p,p'-DDE between regions were observed with the Urban 3 and industrial sites having the highest concentrations of 645 ng/g lipids and 417 ng/g lipids, respectively; beta-HCH was found to be highest in the Rural 1 site; the gamma-HCH in Rural 1 and industrial; the HCB in the Rural 1 and industrial sites and oxy-chlordane and t-NC in the Rural 2 sites. An association between levels of some contaminants and maternal age and parity was also found. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.