PM/PM ratios in southernmost Brazilian cities and its relation with economic contexts and meteorological factors.

The PM/PM ratio is a metric used to distinguish the primary sources of particulate matter (PM) within a given environment. Higher ratios often indicate significant contributions from anthropogenic sources, while smaller ratios suggest a substantial influence from natural origins. However, various contextual factors can influence this ratio.

A study protocol for a randomized clinical trial on exposure and effects of pesticides consumption - the PEST-EXPO Brazil study.

Randomized clinical trials are considered the gold standard for studies with dietary interventions, which is mainly due to the fact that they can establish causal relationships between food exposure and body composition measures or biomarkers. The aim of this study was to describe the details of a double-blind, randomized, clinical trial protocol to identify, characterize and evaluate the effects of human dietary exposure to pesticide residues in food. Specific aspects of planning (development of a research question, determination of objectives, selection of participants, randomization and blinding) and performance (recruitment of participants, measures to improve adherence, data collection, follow-up and evaluation of results) are addressed in this study.

Frequencies of micronuclei in buccal cells and their spatial distribution in a population living in proximity to coal mining areas in southern Brazil.

The extraction and burning of coal release genotoxic pollutants, and understanding the relationship between genetic damage and the spatial distribution of residences in coal-using regions is crucial. The study aimed to conduct a spatial analysis of genotoxic damage through the of micronuclei (MNs) number and their proximity to coal mining/burning in the largest coal exploration region in Brazil. In this study, the detection of genotoxic damage was performed using the MN assay in oral cells of residents exposed to coal mining activities.

Bioaccumulation of metals in Spartina alterniflora salt marshes in the estuary of the World's Largest Choked Lagoon.

Salt marshes are capable of mitigating metal pollution in coastal environments, yet the efficacy of this remediation is contingent upon various environmental factors and the plant species involved. This study investigates the influence of different anthropogenic activities, including industrial, urban, recreational (in an insular area), and dredging operations, on the bioaccumulation of eight metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) within Spartina alterniflora Loisel. in the Patos Lagoon estuary, Brazil.

Human health risk assessment of metals in soil samples of a Brazilian city with a historic contamination complex.

Rio Grande is a city located on a narrow industrialized and urbanized Brazilian peninsula, characterized by wetlands. Due to population growth, numerous urban backfilled regions were built to expand the territorial area of the city. Currently, more than 60% of the central area of the city comes from the grounding of wetlands.

Health impacts of PM-bound metals and PAHs in a medium-sized Brazilian city.

Rio Grande is a medium-sized industrial city located in the extreme south of Brazil, and previous studies in this city have shown contamination by metal(loids) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water, soil, and sediment and in the atmosphere. In Brazil, the incorporation of PM monitoring in environmental legislation is recent (2018) and, like other developing countries, the number of studies is still small. This study aimed to investigate the levels of PM in the industrial and urban area of Rio Grande, to determine the concentration of metal(loid)s As, Cd, Cu, and Pb and of 16 PAHs in the samples of PM, to perform the health risk assessment for these contaminants and the health impact assessment for two possible scenarios of reduction of PM levels.

Trends in pneumoconiosis in Brazil, 1979-2019.

Background: Pneumoconiosis is a lung disease related to exposure to dust in the workplace. The disease can induce irreversible damage to health, especially in lung tissue, and can cause progressive and permanent physical disabilities.

Aims: This study evaluated the temporal and spatial distribution of mortality rates (1979-2019) and hospital admissions (1995-2019) for pneumoconiosis in Brazil.

Multiple exposure pathways and health risk assessment of potentially harmful elements for children and adults living in a coal region in Brazil.

Energy generated by coal can contaminate the environment by releasing toxic elements, including metals. The human health risk assessment (HHRA) associated with geographic information system (GIS) tools can assist the management of contaminated areas, such as coal mining areas. The objective of the study was to carry out the assessment and spatialization of the risk to human health of potentially hazards elements (PHEs) in the soil for children and adults, from multiple exposure routes (oral, inhalation and dermal) in the Candiota mines, largest coal mining region of Brazil.

Human health risk assessment of metals and anions in surface water from a mineral coal region in Brazil.

Coal mining releases high concentration elements to the environment, which can be deposited in surface water, causing several human health problems. Candiota mine in the south of Brazil is the largest coal reserves in the country, representing approximately 40% of total national coal reserves. Therefore, the present study aimed to estimate the chronic daily dose and the non-carcinogenic risk index for metals and anions in surface waters of Candiota Region, using the USEPA protocols for Human Health Risk Assessment.

Ecotoxicity of triclosan in soil: an approach using different species.

Triclosan is an antimicrobial agent widely used in personal care products and an emerging contaminant with potential to have harmful effects to edaphic organisms. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of exposure to triclosan on the microbiota, plants, and edaphic animals using isolated bioassays and a microcosm scale representation (multispecies system). Among the isolated bioassays, the phytotoxicity test with Lactuca sativa, avoidance test with Eisenia andrei, and acute toxicity with E.

Bioassays for the evaluation of reclaimed opencast coal mining areas.

This study aimed to use bioassays (single and multispecies) with organisms from different trophic levels to assess soil quality in reclaimed coal mining areas. Soil samples were collected from four sites: two sites with recent reclaim processes (one using topsoil and other using clayey soil), an natural attenuation site, and a control soil. The evaluated parameters were divided into (1) ecotoxicological tests (avoidance test with Eisenia andrei (earthworms) and Armadillidium vulgare (isopods); germination test with Sinapis alba seeds (mustard); reproduction tests with Folsomia candida (collembolans); bacterial toxicity test); (2) population and community assessments (a fungal count; microbial community analysis using Biolog EcoPlates); (3) microcosms scale evaluation (the MS-3 multispecies system); and (4) chemical analysis (soil parameters, soil metal, and cations and anions in soil leachate).

Health risk assessment in urban parks soils contaminated by metals, Rio Grande city (Brazil) case study.

Soils and artificial surfaces of urban parks can be contaminated by toxic substances and offer risk to the human health, especially to children. Rio Grande city, southern Brazil, is a peculiar site from the point of view of environmental contamination, since the current levels of contamination reflect an accumulation of different polluting sources started in the 18th century up to the urban and industrial sources of the present. The history of Hg contamination refers to the use of Hg salts in textile activities in the 18th century and the consequent use of contaminated sediments to land urban areas.

Multiple exposure pathways and health risk assessment of selenium for children in a coal mining area.

Selenium (Se) presents a dual role to human body, harmful or beneficial, depending on its concentration. The exposure to this element has been associated to coal mining. Health risk assessment allows estimating and evaluating the risks that environmental hazards pose to vulnerable groups of populations.

Multimarker approach to assess the exposure of the wild rodent Calomys laucha to a simulated crude oil spill.

A mysterious oil spill occurred in the ocean near Brazil in 2019, which affected coastal areas in northeastern Brazil. When oil pollution occurs in coastal zones, organisms such as small mammals can suffer deleterious effects to their health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of exposure to contaminated sandy soil with different crude oil concentrations in males of the species Calomys laucha.

Distribution of pesticides in agricultural and urban soils of Brazil: a critical review.

The extensive use of pesticides leads to soil contamination and is harmful to environmental health. Brazil is considered the world's largest consumer of pesticides; however, there is no published review of the distribution and concentration of pesticides in the Brazilian soils. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the occurrence of pesticide residues in Brazilian soils through a systematic review of the data obtained from the official records of government agencies and scientific literature.

Distribution of potentially harmful elements in soils around a large coal-fired power plant.

An understanding of the spatial distribution and contribution of a power plant to local soil contamination is important for the planning of soil use and prioritizing remedial actions for public safety. Consequently, the aim of this study was to map the spatial distribution of potentially hazardous elements (PHEs; Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, Cd, As, and Se) in soils around a large (796 MW) coal-fired power plant in Brazil. For the purpose, 33 soil samples were collected in the area within a radius of approximately 17.

Aerobic Swim Training Restores Aortic Endothelial Function by Decreasing Superoxide Levels in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Objective:: We aimed to determine whether aerobic training decreases superoxide levels, increases nitric oxide levels, and improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Methods:: Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were distributed into 2 groups: sedentary (SHRsd and WKYsd, n=10 each) and swimming-trained (SHRtr, n=10 and WKYtr, n=10, respectively). The trained group participated in training sessions 5 days/week for 1 h/day with an additional work load of 4% of the animal's body weight.

Loss of strength capacity is associated with mortality, but resistance exercise training promotes only modest effects during cachexia progression.

Aims: Resistance exercise training (RET) has been adopted as non-pharmacological anti-catabolic strategy. However, the role of RET to counteract cancer cachexia is still speculative. This study aimed to verify whether short-term RET would counteract skeletal muscle wasting in a severe cancer cachexia rat model.

NADPH oxidase hyperactivity induces plantaris atrophy in heart failure rats.

Background: Skeletal muscle wasting is associated with poor prognosis and increased mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Glycolytic muscles are more susceptible to catabolic wasting than oxidative ones. This is particularly important in HF since glycolytic muscle wasting is associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Aerobic exercise training improves Ca2+ handling and redox status of skeletal muscle in mice.

Exercise training is known to promote relevant changes in the properties of skeletal muscle contractility toward powerful fibers. However, there are few studies showing the effect of a well-established exercise training protocol on Ca(2+) handling and redox status in skeletal muscles with different fiber-type compositions. We have previously standardized a valid and reliable protocol to improve endurance exercise capacity in mice based on maximal lactate steady-state workload (MLSSw).