DSA - Documentos de orientação técnica
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- Guidelines on recreational water quality. Volume 1: coastal and fresh watersPublication . World Health OrganizationExecutive summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on recreational water quality: volume 1 – coastal and fresh waters aims to protect public health by ensuring that the quality of recreational waters is safely managed. These guidelines update substantial content from the 2003 WHO Guidelines for safe recreational water environments: volume 1 – coastal and fresh waters and its 2009 addendum. Key changes are: • emphasis on preventive risk management through site-specific recreational water safety plans at the centre of a water safety framework (Fig. 0.1); and • an exclusive focus on water quality, meaning that hazards that are not related to water quality (drowning; exposure to sun, heat and cold; and dangerous aquatic organisms) are outside the scope of this guideline. References to relevant guidance, including other WHO guidelines, on these topics have been added. Water quality management for swimming pools and spas is addressed in the WHO Guidelines for safe recreational water environments: volume 2 – swimming pools and spas. Use of coastal, estuarine and freshwater recreational water environments has significant benefits for health and well-being, including rest, relaxation, exercise, cultural and religious practices, and aesthetic pleasure. It also provides substantial local, regional and national economic benefits from tourism. However, recreational water environments contain potential hazards, which must be weighed against the benefits. These guidelines focus on water quality management for coastal and freshwater environments. Recreational water sites are ecosystems that support a range of aquatic organisms, including fish and shellfish, insects and birds. Some of these organisms can be nuisances during recreational use of the site, or may even cause injury and health hazards to humans. Protecting human health may need to be balanced against environmental protection targets. Application of these guidelines therefore needs to consider targets and measures for the protection of coastal and aquatic ecosystems. These guidelines are mainly aimed at national and local authorities, and other entities with an obligation to exercise due diligence relating to the safety of recreational water sites. They may be implemented in conjunction with measures for environmental protection of recreational water use sites. Unless otherwise noted, the guidelines apply to the general population participating in all types of recreational water use entailing direct water contact, inhalation of sea spray and beach use. Immunocompromised individuals should seek medical advice on their individual ability to tolerate exposure to surface recreational waters. The guidelines: • describe the current state of knowledge about the possible adverse health impacts of recreational use of coastal, estuarine and freshwater environments; and • set out recommendations for setting national health-based targets; conducting risk assessments; and putting in place management approaches to identify, monitor and control these hazards, and associated public health surveillance and communication. Core recommendations for implementation by national authorities and personnel responsible for implementation of recreational water safety plans (RWSP) are summarized below. The summary also includes management advice for each type of risk, including indicators, guideline values and information on system assessment, monitoring and management communications relevant for RWSPs. In-depth scientific rationale, supporting data and case studies are in Chapters 1–9.
- Minutes of the sand meeting during the USEPA beach conference 2016Publication . Brandão, João; Whitman, Richard; Solo-Gabriele, Helena MIntroduction to the document: Before the US EPA Recreational Beaches Conference of April 2016 in New Orleans there was a series of email exchanges in beachnet; comparing the sand/microbe hydrodynamics of difference regions of the world and their influence on fecal indicator bacteria levels. As a follow-up of the mail exchange, a live meeting took place during the conference, divided in an introductory meeting (13th April) and a general discussion meeting (14th April). The Minutes of these meetings were joined together this document. Its first section corresponds to the general discussion meeting and the second to the introductory meeting. Abstract: The goal of the meeting was to draw upon researcher experiences from all regions around the world to develop a consensus conceptual model that would explain the impacts of sand dynamics on FIB levels in both sand and water. With this consensus model, statements could be made about the impacts of climate change on microbe levels at the water/sand interface. The meeting was structured with three presentations followed by a focus on developing two consensus statements: one focused on the influence of sand dynamics on FIB levels and another focused on climate change impacts. The three presentations at the beginning of the meeting were given by Kevan Yamahara, Alan Piggot and Laura Vogel. Consensus Statement #1: Hydrometerological trends impact sand dynamics. Consensus Statement #2: The geomorphological and hydrometerological conditions affect FIB dynamics in sands.
- Metodologia de avaliação da qualidade do ar interior em edifícios de comércio e serviços no âmbito da Portaria 353-A/2013 (versão QAI_1.0)Publication . Jardim, Dília; Diegues, Paulo; Santiago, Anabela; Matias, Paula; Reis, Vanda; Matos, João; Anacleto, Teresa; Cano, Manuela; Nogueira, Ana; Capucho, Mário; Gomes, Paulo; Francisco, SusanaÂmbito da aplicação: A Portaria 353-A/2013, de 4 de dezembro, relativa à ventilação e qualidade do ar interior (QAI), determina que a fiscalização da QAI, em grandes edifícios de comércio e serviços, deva ser efetuada pela Inspeção Geral do Ambiente e Ordenamento do Território (IGAMAOT) e de acordo com metodologia a estabelecer pela Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente (APA) e pela Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS). Os operadores dos edifícios de comércio e serviços que voluntariamente pretendam proceder à avaliação da QAI nas suas instalações, para que a mesma releve para efeitos de fiscalização, devem recorrer a laboratórios que apliquem a metodologia ora estabelecida. Os laboratórios que efetuem avaliação no contexto da fiscalização devem utilizar os métodos de referência ou equivalentes e demonstrar a implementação de programas de controlo e garantia de qualidade relativas às metodologias de amostragem e medição, de acordo com as normas nacionais e internacionais na matéria. O normativo ora em implementação enquadra-se na abordagem de que nas sociedades atuais, os cidadãos permanecem a maior parte do seu tempo em ambientes interiores tornando-se imperativo tornar estes espaços saudáveis. Efetivamente, o aumento do número de casos de doenças, tais como a asma e as alergias, e a existência de condições deficientes na qualidade do interior dos edifícios são uma realidade que importa corrigir com vista à melhoria da qualidade de vida dos cidadãos. Neste contexto e face às condições climatéricas do nosso país, a ventilação natural deve ser promovida no âmbito da eficiência energética e de racionalização de custos operacionais de funcionamento do edifício, sem descurar os parâmetros de conforto, o nível de ocupação dos espaços e os graus de contaminação do ar pelas atividades exercidas. Nesta metodologia apresenta-se alguma diferenciação de critérios na amostragem e verificação de conformidade em função do tipo de ventilação existente no edifício. Salienta-se ainda que o presente documento complementa os métodos de amostragem e de ensaio descritos nos referenciais normativos indicados na bibliografia, ou aqueles que os venham a substituir.