Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre

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Publications

Study around the Barroso mine (Portugal): Baseline levels of lithium for assessing future exposure and risks from Li mining activity

Publication . Jesus, Susana; Ventura, Marta; Assunção, Ricardo; Gueifão, Sandra; Delgado, Inês; Rego, Andreia; Ribeiro, Mariana; Martins, Marta; Neves, Orquídia; Coelho, Inês

The energetic green transition is increasing the demand for lithium (Li) exploitation. However, the Li supply faces challenges like limited reserves and environmental concerns. This pioneer study aims to characterize the Li concentrations in the region around the Barroso mine, in Portugal, by collecting and analyzing samples of cabbage, potato, drinking and irrigation water and soil from two nearby sites, and performing a preliminary exposure and risk assessment of local populations. Li levels ranged between 20 and 589 μg/kg in cabbages (n = 23), 2.3–21 μg/kg in potatoes (n =21), 1.1–5.9 μg/L in drinking water (n =10), 1.1–15 μg/L in irrigation water (n =23) and 35–121 mg/kg in soils (n =23). Significant differences in Li content between sampling sites were observed only for cabbage samples. The risk assessment revealed that none of the participants exceeded the provisional reference dose (p-RfD) (2 μg/kg bw/day), with a hazard quotient (HQ) <1, suggesting no health concerns for the population. It is expected that the studied area will be affected by the future expansion of the mine concession, thus this pioneer study is crucial for future research as it establishes a initial database for evaluating the potential impact of mining activity on the environment and the population’s exposure to Li.

2024-06-17Journal article

Open access

Studying iodine intake of Portuguese children school meals

Publication . Delgado, Inês; Ventura, Marta; Gueifão, Sandra; Assunção, Ricardo; Coelho, Inês; Bento, Alexandra; Silva, José Armando L.; Castanheira, Isabel

Iodine is an essential trace element, and its nutritional importance is well established. The iodine content of school meals of Portuguese children aged between 6 and 10 years (collected in the metropolitan area of Lisbon) was analyzed by ICP-MS. The samples were cooked with and without iodized salt and additionally some complementary foods were purchased as supplements to the main meals or to the other meal along the day. The results report six meals per day and they suggest that at least one main meals (lunch or dinner) prepared with iodized salt is enough to reach the recommended daily iodine intake (AI), 90 μg/day, not exceeding the tolerable upper intake (UL) level of 300 μg/day. When both main meals are cooked without iodized salt, 11 % of the hypotheses present an iodine content less than 90 μg/day. However, when lunch and dinner are prepared with iodized salt, 1 % exceeds the value of the UL. The food groups with the highest levels of iodine are daily products and fish. These results presuppose a balanced diet without any dietary restrictions. So, for ideological or medical reasons, special attention must be paid to diets with some limitations, such as vegetarian, lactose or high content of proteins free diets.

2022-11-24Journal article

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Diversity of microorganisms in Hyalomma aegyptium collected from spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia

Publication . Norte, Ana Cláudia; Harris, David James; Silveira, Diogo; Nunes, Carolina Saramago; Núncio, Maria Sofia; Martínez, Eva Graciá; Giménez, Andrés; de Sousa, Rita; Lopes de Carvalho, Isabel; Perera, Ana

Ticks carry a diverse community of microorganisms including non-pathogenic symbionts, commensals, and pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, protozoans, and fungi. The assessment of tick-borne microorganisms (TBM) in tortoises and their ticks is essential to understand their eco-epidemiology, and to map and monitor potential pathogens to humans and other animals. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of microorganisms found in ticks collected from the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) in North Africa and Anatolia. Ticks feeding on wild T. graeca were collected, and pathogens were screened by polymerase chain reaction using group-specific primers. In total, 131 adult Hyalomma aegyptium ticks were collected from 92 T. graeca in Morocco (n = 48), Tunisia (n = 2), Algeria (n = 70), and Turkey (n = 11). Bacteria and protozoa detected included Hemolivia mauritanica (22.9%), Midichloria mitochondrii (11.4%), relapsing-fever borreliae (8.4%), Ehrlichia spp. (7.6%), Rickettsia spp. (3.4%), Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.9%), Francisella spp. (0.9%), and Wolbachia spp. (0.8%). The characterization of Rickettsia included R. sibirica mongolitimonae (Algeria), R. aeschlimannii (Turkey), and R.africae (Morocco). Hemolivia mauritanica and Ehrlichia spp. prevalence varied significantly with the sampling region/country. We did not detect significant associations in microorganism presence within ticks, nor between microorganism presence and tick mitochondrial DNA haplogroups. This is the first report of Francisella persica-like, relapsing fever borreliae, M. mitochondrii, and Wolbachia spp. in H. aegyptium ticks collected from wild hosts from the South and Eastern Mediterranean region, and of R. sibirica mongolitimonae and R. africae in H. aegyptium from Algeria and Morocco, respectively. Given that T. graeca is a common species in commercial and non-commercial pet trade, the evaluation of the role of this species and its ticks as hosts for TBM is particularly relevant for public health.

2022-07Journal article

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Physicochemical properties of iodine and selenium biofortified Sparus aurata and Cyprinus carpio during frozen storage

Publication . Barbosa, Vera; Camacho, Carolina; Oliveira, Helena; Anacleto, Patrícia; Maulvault, Ana Luisa; Delgado, Inês; Ventura, Marta; Dias, Jorge; Ribeiro, Laura; Pousão-Ferreira, Pedro; Eljasik, Piotr; Panicz, Remigiusz; Sobczak, Małgorzata; Tsampa, Kalliopi; Karydas, Andreas; Nunes, Maria Leonor; Carvalho, Maria Luísa; Martins, Marta; Marques, António

Fish biofortification with natural ingredients like iodine-rich macroalgae and selenized-yeast is an excellent strategy to enhance the nutritional quality of farmed fish. This study aimed to assess the effect of frozen storage during 12-months on physicochemical quality of biofortified seabream (Sparus aurata) and carp (Cyprinus carpio). Frozen storage reduced iodine content in biofortified seabream fillets (17%), as well as selenium content in biofortified carp fillets (24%). Yet, biofortified fillets still presented enhanced iodine and selenium contents at the end of the storage period. Increased lipid oxidation (3.45 mg MDA kg-1 for seabream and 2.41 mg MDA kg-1 for carp) and decreased water holding capacity (23-29% for seabream and 14-23% for carp) was observed during storage, whereas major changes in colour and texture occurred after 45 days (seabream) and 225 days (carp) of storage. In general, biofortified fish fillets maintained their nutritional value and quality after 360 days of frozen storage.

2022-12-15Journal article

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The occurrence of inorganic contaminants in ‘tronchuda’ cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. costata DC.) after large forest fires in Portugal

Publication . Ventura, Marta; Cavaco, H.; Delgado, Inês; Coelho, Inês; Gueifão, Sandra; Martins, M.; Costa, M.H.; Matos, A.; Castanheira, Isabel

European Mediterranean countries have been affected by unhealthy pollutants released by wildfire smoke. This work aims to determine the inorganic elements, present in the vegetable widely consumed by the rural population, provided by burned areas. Two groups composed the sampling plan; group one before forest fires and group two after forest fires under three campaigns: 1) immediately after forest fires; 2) after rainfall; 3) during springtime. ICP-MS analysed all the samples to evaluate the contents of As, Br, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Se, Sr, and Zn. The amounts of trace elements founded were the following Pb < Cd < Co < As < Cr < Se < Zn < Br < Sr. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis evidenced 4 clusters; the first with the highest contents of Cr and Pb, the second cluster was marked by the highest amounts of As, and Br, higher values of Se characterised the third cluster, and the fourth cluster presented the highest values of Zn and Cd. The contents of contaminants in group one is not a matter of concern. The results obtained in group two identified a hazard, decreasing one year after the fires and maintaining these patterns afterwards. Occurrence data from local foods is a pioneer to study the impact of forest fires on human health through food consumption.

2021-04-19Journal article

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