Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Ana Paula"
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- An epidemiological approach to characterise the human exposure pathways in a contaminated estuarine environmentPublication . Machado, Ausenda; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Paixão, Eleonora; Caeiro, Sandra; Dias, Carlos MatiasThis study's aim was to develop and implement an integrative epidemiologic cross-sectional study that allows identifying and characterising exposure pathways of populations living and working on the shores of a contaminated estuarine environment. Population residing in Carrasqueira, located on the Sado estuary with known contaminated areas was compared to another population on a noncontaminated estuary (Vila Nova de Mil Fontes - VNMF), considered a nonexposed population. Simple random samples of individuals were selected in each study population from the National Health Service Lists: 140 individuals were selected in Carrasqueira and 219 in VNMF. Participation rates were higher in the exposed group (62.5%, n=102 in Carrasqueira and 48.3%, n=100 individuals in VNMF). The same structured questionnaire was used in both populations, including questions on occupational activities, leisure activities, consumption of food (including fish and mollusks from the estuary) and use of water for human intake and agriculture. Results showed that a significantly higher proportion of Carrasqueira participants reported doing tasks in their job that promote direct (48.8% vs 1.2% in VNMF, p-value<0.001) or indirect (30% vs 11.9% in VNMF, p-value=0.004) contact with water from the estuary. Regarding seafood consumption, the exposed population of Carrasqueira had a higher frequency of consumption of cuttlefish (23.5% vs 9% in VNMF, p-value=0.007), sole (22.5% vs 4% in VNMF, p-value<0.001) and clams (18.6% vs 5.0 in VNMF, p-value=0.004). The comparative study design, with exposed and nonexposed populations living on the shores of two different estuaries allowed us to confirm the hypothesis of a higher risk of contamination from the contaminated estuarine environment. The study design and the selection of both populations were adequate for this type of epidemiologic study of potential routes of human contamination in a mixture of contaminated estuarine environment and can be used in other estuarine areas with similar environmental risk.
- Environmental exposure to toxicants mixtures from a multi-purpose estuary: perspectives for a biomonitoring study in PortugalPublication . Silva, Maria João; Pinto, Miguel; Costa, Pedro M.; Louro, Henriqueta; Castanheira, Isabel; Machado, Ausenda; Dias, Carlos; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Martinho, AP; Costa, MH; Caeiro, Sandra; Lavinha, JoaoThis work was focused on a multi-purpose estuarine environment (river Sado estuary, SW Portugal) around which a number of activities (e.g., fishing, farming, heavy industry, tourism and recreational activities) coexist with urban centres with a total of about 200 000 inhabitants. Based on previous knowledge of the hazardous chemicals within the ecosystem and their potential toxicity to benthic species, this project intended to evaluate the impact of estuarine contaminants on the human and ecosystem health. An integrative methodology based on epidemiological, analytical and biological data and comprising several lines of evidence, namely, human contamination pathways, human health effects, consumption of local produce, estuarine sediments, wells and soils contamination, effects on commercial benthic organisms, and genotoxic potential of sediments, was used. The epidemiological survey confirmed the occurrence of direct and indirect (through food chain) exposure of the local population to estuarine contaminants. Furthermore, the complex mixture of contaminants (e.g., metals, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) trapped in the estuary sediments was toxic to human liver cells exposed in vitro, causing cell death, oxidative stress and genotoxic effects that might constitute a risk factor for the development of chronic-degenerative diseases, on the long term. Finally, the integration of data from several endpoints indicated that the estuary is moderately impacted by toxicants that affect also the aquatic biota. Nevertheless, the human health risk can only be correctly assessed through a biomonitoring study including the quantification of contaminants (or metabolites) in biological fluids as well as biomarkers of early biological effects (e.g., biochemical, genetic and omics-based endpoints) and genetic susceptibility in the target population. Data should be supported by a detailed survey to assess the impact of the contaminated seafood and local farm products consumption on human health and, particularly, on metabolic diseases or cancer development.
- Local farming quality and food composition : The case of Carrasqueira Village, PortugalPublication . Castanheira, Isabel; Coelho, Inês; Gueifão, Sandra; Saraiva, Marina; Martinho, Ana Paula; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Caeiro, SandraThe Sado estuary, located in the West Coast of Portugal, is partially classified as a natural reserve, but is threatened by many sources of anthropogenic pressure and runoff from agriculture grounds, originating a moderately contaminated estuary in some hot-spot areas. The small fishermen community of the Carrasqueira Village is located on the south margin of the Sado Estuary where previous epidemiological studies confirmed several human exposure routes to Sado estuary contaminants namely trough occupation, water and food consumption. The aim of this work is to evaluate the contamination and mineral profile from local farming as an important food intake of the Carrasqueira community. Another population VNMF, established near a pristine estuary, (the Mira Estuary) was surveyed as reference. According to a food frequency questionnaire conducted in the exposure population, the most frequent vegetables are tomato, lettuce, cabbage and potatoes. Samples of these vegetables, as well as soil and water were collected from three backyards in each population and analysed by ICP-MS and ICP-OES . Contents in phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, cadmium ,lead, were evaluated. The obtained results show that tomatoes and lettuces grown in Carrasqueira farms present the highest content of copper (676±6.45 µg.kg-1 and 255±3.62 µg.kg-1 respectively). Trace amounts of selenium were detected in vegetables from different farms (5-9 µg.kg-1). The highest amount of zinc was found in lettuce grown in Carrasqueira 2 (4604±30.74 µg.kg-1). The lowest content of strontium was found in lettuce grown in VNMF (559±21.38 µg.kg-1). In all analysed samples the observed values for cadmium and lead were below levels set by European legislation. The results show that nutritional quality of local farming vegetables near pollution sources should be accessed taking into account not only nutrients but also contaminants analysis for food safety.