Browsing by Author "Mendes, Ana"
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- Age-related dose deposition of particulate matter in human respiratory tract: findings from a birth cross-sectional study in PortugalPublication . Madureira, Joana; Slezakova, Klara; Costa, Carla; Silva, Ana Inês; Mendes, Ana; Pereira, Maria do Carmo; Teixeira, João PauloIndoor air pollution remains a great global concern. Particulate matter (PM), namely ultrafine particles (aerodynamic diameter smaller than 0.1 μm; UFP), is considered as one of the most health-relevant air pollutant for various subpopulations, one of which is children. Knowledge on the specific dose deposition of PM may provide a critical link for better understanding of the relationship between individual exposure and the respective health effects. Mathematical models have proven to be important tools for analysing PM dose deposition in the respiratory tract providing relevant data for health risk assessment, source apportionment of human lung burdens and control strategies purposes. This work aimed to estimate the deposition dose of different PM sizes at different age categories. Inhalation dosimetry estimations were carried out using the multiple-path particle dosimetry model (MPPD, v3.04). Age specific 5-lobe model with uniform expansion was adopted in the present study
- Aging, Living Environment, and Sustainability: What Should be Taken into Account?Publication . Grazuleviciute-Vileniske, Indre; Seduikyte, Lina; Teixeira-Gomes, Armanda; Mendes, Ana; Borodinecs, Anatolijs; Buzinskaite, Deimantehe aging population presents numerous challenges and the design and management of living environments are not an exception. This literature review and analysis brings together topics related to the living environment of the aging population and the concept of sustainability. The article presents the review of the existing design concepts that are applied to planning the environment for the elderly, including (i) design for all, (ii) universal design, and (iii) inclusive design. Furthermore, this review highlights the aspects of sustainability and the peculiarities of the aging population that should be taken into account in the design and management of their living environment. Key points related to sustainable aging are highlighted, and the possibility of complementing the existing design concepts with the concept of biophilic design is proposed in order to strengthen their social, psychological, and ecological aspects.
- Air pollution: a public health approach for PortugalPublication . Torres, Pedro; Ferreira, Joana; Monteiro, Alexandra; Costa, Solange; Pereira, Maria Carmo; Madureira, Joana; Mendes, Ana; Teixeira, João PauloAt the global level, several epidemiological studies have conclusively pointed out the associations between short-term exposure to air pollution and acute health effects, and long-term exposure with adverse health effects such as premature mortality from severe respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study intended to characterize exposures and their adverse health effects. Three independent sets of vectors were analyzed on a nationwide level and annual basis: air pollutant emissions, ambient air concentrations and health indicators of the period 2009 to 2015. The emissions analysis, for the studied pollutants, pointed out the main findings: (i) Lisbon Metropolitan Area presents the most problematic region with regard to the emissions of all the pollutants under study; (ii) the regions of the Alentejo and Algarve showed reduced emissions of the studied pollutants compared to other parts of the country; (iii) Northern regions PM10 concentrations decreased during the two years in analysis. Regarding the analysis of air quality, it was concluded that: (i) regarding ozone, concentration shown a decreasing trend throughout the country; (ii) nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter, concentrations demonstrated an increasing trend in most of the northern part of the country; (iii) the regions of Alentejo and Lisbon Metropolitan Area showed increasing trends for sulfur dioxide and fine particles for the evaluated period. Decreasing trends in mortality associated with cardiovascular and respiratory causes are found mainly in the Alentejo and Algarve regions. In comparison, the North, Central regions, as well as, Lisbon Metropolitan Area exhibited higher mortality values related to this health indicators.
- Análise do conforto térmico em estruturas residenciais para idosos em clima atlânticoPublication . Torres, Pedro; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Forcada, Nuria; Tejedor, Blanca; Neves, Maria Paula; Teixeira, João Paulo; Mendes, AnaA esperança média de vida da população mundial tem vindo a aumentar, incrementando a faixa etária acima dos 65 anos. Nesse sentido, determinados ser viços experimentam maior demanda em resposta às necessidades crescentes desta população, como é o caso dos ser viços de cuidados a longo prazo, nomeadamente, centros de dia (CD) e estruturas residenciais para idosos (ERPI). Neste âmbito de ser viços para a comunidade idosa, os parâmetros de qualidade e confor to são apresentados como fatores cruciais para o bem-estar dos utentes/residentes, sendo que o confor to térmico (CT) é um fator determinante na monitorização do bem-estar desta população. Para que os valores ótimos de CT sejam alcançados e mantidos nos edificados com esta tipologia de ser viços, elevados gastos energéticos são despendidos para retificar as condições estruturais dos edifícios. A fim de estruturar um modelo matemático viável que permita definir as características estruturais otimizadas na fase de construção e reabilitação dos edifícios para CD ou ERPI, torna-se necessário analisar o CT dos utentes e prever quais as condições térmicas aceitáveis ou preferenciais para esta população. Este estudo, ainda em curso e integrante do programa ConTerMa, analisa as variáveis de CT na zona climática continental atlântica, monitorizando 8 ERPI e CD situados em 5 concelhos da área metropolitana do Por to, e 5 ERPI e CD na área metropolitana de Barcelona, representativas do clima mediterrânico.
- Assessment of indoor air exposure at residential homes: Inhalation dose and lung deposition of PM10, PM2.5 and ultrafine particles among newborn children and their mothersPublication . Madureira, Joana; Slezakova, Klara; Silva, Ana Inês; Lage, Bruna; Mendes, Ana; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Maria Carmo; Teixeira, João Paulo; Costa, CarlaAccurate assessment of particulate matter (PM) dose and respiratory deposition is essential to better understand the risks of exposure to PM and, consequently, to develop the respective risk-control strategies. In homes, this is especially relevant in regards to ultrafine particles (UFP; <0.1 μm) which origin in these environments is mostly due to indoor sources. Thus, this study aimed to estimate inhalation doses for different PM mass/number size fractions (i.e., PM10, PM2.5 and UFP) in indoor air of residential homes and to quantify the deposition (total, regional and lobar) in human respiratory tract for both newborn children and mothers. Indoor real-time measurements of PM10, PM2.5 and UFP were conducted in 65 residential homes situated in Oporto metropolitan area (Portugal). Inhalation doses were estimated based on the physical characteristics of individual subjects and their activity patterns. The multi-path particle dosimetry model was used to quantify age-specific depositions in human respiratory tract. The results showed that 3-month old infants exhibited 4-fold higher inhalation doses than their mothers. PM10 were primarily deposited in the head region (87%), while PM2.5 and UFP depositions mainly occurred in the pulmonary area (39% and 43%, respectively). Subject age affected the pulmonary region and the total lung deposition; higher deposition being observed among the newborns. Similarly, lower lobes (left lobe: 37% and right lobe: 30%) received higher PM deposition than upper and middle lobes; right lobes lung are prone to be more susceptible to respiratory problems, since asymmetric deposition was observed. Considering that PM-related diseases occur at specific sites of respiratory system, quantification of site-specific particle deposition should be predicted in order to better evidence the respective health outcomes resulting from inhaled PM.
- Avaliação de idosos institucionalizados por espirometria e condensado brônquico do ar exalado: efeitos da exposição ambientalPublication . Belo, Joana; Carreiro-Martins, Pedro; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Palmeiro, Teresa; Caires, Iolanda; Alves, Marta; Nogueira, Susana; Aguiar, Fátima; Mendes, Ana; Cano, Manuela; Botelho, Maria A.; Neuparth, NunoNo estudo geriátrico dos efeitos na saúde da qualidade do ar interior em lares da 3.ª idade de Portugal (GERIA) foi estabelecido como objetivo principal de estudar os efeitos da qualidade do ar interior (IAQ) de equipamentos residenciais para pessoas idosos (ERPI) na saúde respiratória de idosos institucionalizados. Um total de 269 idosos responderam a um questionário elaborado pela equipa de investigadores do projeto GERIA, realizaram uma espirometria e a 150 idosos foi recolhida uma amostra de condensado brônquico exalado (EBC), para análise do respetivo pH e concentração de nitritos. Em relação aos dados sociodemográficos destaca se uma média de idade de 81,9±7,5 anos e uma maioria (70,6%) de idosos do sexo feminino. Relativamente aos resultados da espirometria, observou se que 14,5% apresentaram uma obstrução das vias aéreas. Os valores medianos das concentrações dos poluentes ambientais não revelaram uma concentração acima do referencial de segurança, porém foram observados valores máximos elevados e acima desse referencial. Da análise multivariada verificou se que cada incremento de 100 µg/m3 nos compostos orgânicos voláteis (TVOCS) se encontrava associado positiva mente a possibilidade acrescida dos idosos terem reportado infeção respiratória nos últimos três meses (=1.05; 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.09). Verificou se que o valor do pH diminuía com uma maior exposição a PM2,5 (= 0.04, 95%: 0.06 to 0.01e por cada aumento de 10 µg/m3). No que concerne à exposição a bactérias, verificou se que esta se associava positivamente à possibilidade dos idosos terem uma FVC diminuída (= 0,53, 95%: 0,87 a 0,20) e uma relação FEV1 /FVC aumentada (=0,22, 95%:0,08 a 0,37)
- Caracterização Experimental das Taxas de Renovação Horária em Residências para Pessoas IdosasPublication . Aelenei, Daniel; Nogueira, Susana; Viegas, João; Mendes, Ana; Cano, Manuela; Cerqueira, FábioÉ do conhecimento geral que a qualidade do ar interior influencia a qualidade de vida dos ocupantes dos edifícios e que pode ter implicações significativas no seu estado de saúde. As pessoas idosas constituem um grupo mais vulnerável que pode ser afectado quando exposto a um ambiente interior de menor qualidade. O projecto GERIA reúne uma equipa multidisciplinar que tem como objectivo principal estudar as possíveis associações entre as condições de ventilação existentes em estruturas residenciais para pessoas idosas (ERPI), a qualidade do ar interior (QAI) e a prevalência de doenças do foro respiratório nos residentes. Para alcançar este objectivo o projecto foi es-sencialmente desenvolvido em duas fases. Para avaliar as características construtivas e a saúde e a qualidade de vida dos residentes, na fase I, foi realizado um estudo preliminar em 21 ERPI no Porto e 33 em Lisboa recorrendo a inspecções visuais e questionários. Na fase II, a partir dos 54 considerados na fase I, foram seleccionados através duma análise de clus-ters um número de 4 ERPI no Porto e 18 em Lisboa onde foi avaliada novamente a saúde respiratória dos residentes em conjunto com a QAI e a qualidade da ventilação. O presente artigo pretende apresentar os primeiros resultados de uma campanha experi-mental realizada durante os meses de Fevereiro e Março de 2014 na fase II, com o objectivo de caracterizar as taxas de renovação horária em 15 ERPI, sendo 11 em Lisboa e 4 no Por-to. Na sequência do trabalho realizado, que consistiu em realizar medições com recurso ao método de gás traçador (técnica PFT) ao longo de períodos de tempo de duas semanas, fo-ram determinadas as taxas de renovação horária num número de quartos seleccionados que varia de 2 a 27, conforme a dimensão dos edifícios.
- Contaminação microbiológica do ar em lares da 3ª idade na cidade do Porto: Projeto GERIAPublication . Aguiar, Lívia; Mendes, Ana; Pereira, Cristiana; Neves, Maria Paula; Teixeira, João Paulo
- Environment and Health in Children Day Care CentresPublication . Neuparth, Nuno; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Aelenei, Daniel; Cano, Manuela; Paixão, Paulo; Viegas, João; Martins, Pedro; Araújo Martins, José; Leiria Pinto, Paula; Caires, Iolanda; Pedro, Catarina; Nogueira, Susana; Mendes, Ana; Aguiar, Fátima; Teixeira, João Paulo; Proença, Carmo; Piedade, Cátia; Santos, Madalena; Silvestre, Maria José; Brum, Laura; Nunes, Baltazar; Guiomar, Raquel; Curran, Martin D.; Carvalho, Ana; Marques, Teresa; Virella, Daniel; Alves, Marta; Marques, João; Rosado-Pinto, José; Neuparth, Nuno; Aelenei,Daniel; Caires, Iolanda; Teixeira, João Paulo; Viegas, João; Cano, Manuela; Pinto, Paula LeiriaThis project addresses a set of common clinical problems in the context of children attending day care centres. It is common sense that children get sick more often as soon as they start attending a day care centre on a daily basis and this is particularly true for some groups at risk, as wheezing infants and wheezing pre-school children. Concerning this, some questions remain unclear: 1. The role of indoor air quality - what is the health impact of indoor air environment (including indoor pollutants, house dust mite, temperature and humidity) in wheezing children? 2. The role of virus infections - We don’t know the real role of virus infections in respiratory conditions at day care centre level. There is a lack of information concerning how indoor air environment influence virus infections. 3. The role of building ventilation - what is the impact of building ventilation in the health of wheezing and non-wheezing children? How is ventilation affecting indoor air quality? How is ventilation of day care centres affected by the structure of the buildings? 4. Social impact of this study - what should be the recommendations to improve IAQ? What is new in this project is the collaboration of a health team (medical doctors and other health professionals) with environment specialists, mechanical, civil engineers, epidemiologists and statisticians.
- Environmental and ventilation assessment in Child Day Care Centers in Porto: the ENVIRH ProjectPublication . Mendes, Ana; Aelenei, Daniel; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Carreiro-Martins, Pedro; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Neves, Paula; Azevedo, Susana; Cano, Manuela; Proença, Carmo; Viegas, João; Silva, Susana; Mendes, Diana; Neuparth, Nuno; Teixeira, João PauloChildren attending day care centers (CDCC) have been reported to be more prone to infectious diseases when compared with those cared for at home, and are exposed to conditions that may increase the risk of allergies and asthma. Several studies revealed that consequences of poor ventilation conditions include high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and many other indoor pollutants commonly detected in schools. Nine child day care centers were selected randomly to participate in this study. Fifty-two classrooms were assessed for chemical, biological, physical, and allergen parameters in spring and winter seasons in these nine CDCC located in Porto, Portugal. Outdoor measurements were also conducted for comparison. Our results indicated that (i) particulate matter (PM10) median levels were above the national reference levels, both by classroom type and by season; (ii) TVOC kindergarten peak values may raise some concern; (iii) CO2 was present at high median and maximum levels during spring and winter assessment in both nurseries and kindergartens classrooms; (iv) total bacteria concentrations were 57- and 52-fold higher in the nursery and kindergarten than outdoors, respectively, for the spring season; (v) winter and spring median predicted mean vote (PMV)indices were between “neutral” (0) and “slightly cool” (≤ –1) in the thermal sensation scale for comfort situations (−2 to 2) for both types of classrooms; (vi) there were significant differences for both PMV and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) indices by season; and vii) CO2, total bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria were associated with low airflow rates. These data will help to evaluate the effectiveness of current building operation practices in child day care centers regarding indoor air quality and respiratory health.
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