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Publication
Potential human exposure pathways in a contaminated estuarine environment：a case study in Sado
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Background: The Sado River Estuary, located in Portugal on the Setúbal peninsula, have been shown to be contaminated and can lead to potential serious acute and chronic health effects on local human populations that have documented intense local fishing and agricultural activity. Methods: An epidemiological comparative study of two population, one exposed to the Sado estuary and another unexposed to this estuary was implemented. Questionnare data was on health status (diagnosed illnesses, use of medications), health determinants (tobacco, alcohol consumption), use of health care (medical appointments and hospitalization), reproductive history and potential routes of professional and leisure exposure and contamination was compared between of individuals living in an exposed small village (Carrasqueira) by the Sado estuary waters, and a sample of another similar population living in another estuarine area more that 2km away (Vila Nova de Mil Fontes- VNMF). Results: Data was collected from a total of 202 participants from all ages. Professions like fishers and agricultures are more likely to have higher risks of exposure to estuary river contaminants (directly or indirectly) and were more common in Carrasqueira. Past and actual leisure activities with higher probability of exposure were also more frequent in the estuary exposed village of Carrasqueira. Overall analysis of health data, showed a higher proportion of respondents that declared to have a chronic disease, confirmed by a medical doctor, in Carrasqueira than in VNMF location. In the reproductive history, a higher proportion of Miscarriages (<20 Weeks), Fetal Deaths and pregnancies with abnormal outcomes was found in the exposed village of Carrasqueira. Discussion and conclusions: The small dimension of the exposed population, may have limited the full risk assessment and quantification but allowed some preliminary conclusions. These first results suggest that ongoing multivariate analysis, considering others variables not included in this paper, namely dietary habits, may conduct to more robust results.
Description
Artigo com base no trabalho apresentado oralmente em: EPPH 2012 - International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Public Health
Keywords
Estuarine Sedimentary environment Epidemiology Health Effect Contamination Determinantes da Saúde e da Doença
Pedagogical Context
Citation
In: 2012 International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Public Health: proceeding. Shanghai: Scientific Research Publishing, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-61896-022-1
Publisher
Scientific Research Publishing