Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2016-09-15"
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- Assessment of health benefits related to air quality improvement strategies in urban areas: An Impact Pathway ApproachPublication . Silveira, Carlos; Roebeling, Peter; Lopes, Myriam; Ferreira, Joana; Costa, Solange; Teixeira, João Paulo; Borrego, Carlos; Miranda, Ana I.Air pollution is, increasingly, a concern to our society given the threats to human health and the environment. Concerted actions to improve air quality have been taken at different levels, such as through the development of Air Quality Plans (AQPs). However, air quality impacts associated with the implementation of abatement measures included in AQPs are often neglected. In order to identify the major gaps and strengths in current knowledge, a literature review has been performed on existing methodologies to estimate air pollution-related health impacts and subsequent external costs. Based on this review, the Impact Pathway Approach was adopted and applied within the context of the MAPLIA research project to assess the health impacts and benefits (or avoided external costs) derived from improvements in air quality. Seven emission abatement scenarios, based on individual and combined abatement measures, were tested for the major activity sectors (traffic, residential and industrial combustion and production processes) of a Portuguese urban area (Grande Porto) with severe particular matter (PM10) air pollution problems. Results revealed a strong positive correlation between population density and health benefits obtained from the assessed reduction scenarios. As a consequence, potential health benefits from reduction scenarios are largest in densely populated areas with high anthropic activity and, thus, where air pollution problems are most alarming. Implementation of all measures resulted in a reduction in PM10 emissions by almost 8%, improving air quality by about 1% and contributing to a benefit of 8.8 million V/year for the entire study domain. The introduction of PM10 reduction technologies in industrial units was the most beneficial abatement measure. This study intends to contribute to policy support for decision-making on air quality management.
- Project on genetic and epigenetic effects of maternal environmental exposure to tobacco smoke in newborns (2016-2020)Publication . Costa Pereira, Cristiana; Costa, CarlaPrenatal tobacco smoke exposure in early pregnancy may have important and lasting effects on DNA methylation and consequently influence gene expression and disease phenotypes across the life course. Given the scarcity of studies regarding the genotoxic potential of tobacco smoke during pregnancy and the lack of information regarding the transplacental transfer of different compounds present in tobacco smoke, this project aims to assess DNA damage and some specific epigenetic alterations in newborns resulting from in utero exposure to tobacco smoke using both a descriptive and analytical approach.
- Atividade física na população portuguesa em 2014: adesão às recomendações da OMSPublication . Santos, Joana; Sousa-Uva, Mafalda; Antunes, Liliana; Dias, Carlos MatiasEstá bem documentado que a Atividade Física (AF) pode melhorar a saúde dos indivíduos, pelo que pode desempenhar um papel fundamental em programas de saúde pública. Contudo, a extensão de benefícios em saúde depende de fatores como o nível de intensidade e frequência com que é realizada. Segundo a OMS, ganhos adicionais em saúde podem ocorrer de uma prática de 150 minutos de atividade moderada ou 75 de atividade intensa, ou ambos, ao longo da semana. Assim, é de interesse caracterizar a população que, apesar de fisicamente ativa, não atinge os níveis de AF recomendados. Esta informação permitirá ajustar programas de saúde pública a esta população.