Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Ana Paula"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 18
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- An epidemiological approach to characterise the human exposure pathways in a contaminated estuarine environmentPublication . Machado, Ausenda; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Paixão, Eleonora; Caeiro, Sandra; Dias, Carlos MatiasThis study's aim was to develop and implement an integrative epidemiologic cross-sectional study that allows identifying and characterising exposure pathways of populations living and working on the shores of a contaminated estuarine environment. Population residing in Carrasqueira, located on the Sado estuary with known contaminated areas was compared to another population on a noncontaminated estuary (Vila Nova de Mil Fontes - VNMF), considered a nonexposed population. Simple random samples of individuals were selected in each study population from the National Health Service Lists: 140 individuals were selected in Carrasqueira and 219 in VNMF. Participation rates were higher in the exposed group (62.5%, n=102 in Carrasqueira and 48.3%, n=100 individuals in VNMF). The same structured questionnaire was used in both populations, including questions on occupational activities, leisure activities, consumption of food (including fish and mollusks from the estuary) and use of water for human intake and agriculture. Results showed that a significantly higher proportion of Carrasqueira participants reported doing tasks in their job that promote direct (48.8% vs 1.2% in VNMF, p-value<0.001) or indirect (30% vs 11.9% in VNMF, p-value=0.004) contact with water from the estuary. Regarding seafood consumption, the exposed population of Carrasqueira had a higher frequency of consumption of cuttlefish (23.5% vs 9% in VNMF, p-value=0.007), sole (22.5% vs 4% in VNMF, p-value<0.001) and clams (18.6% vs 5.0 in VNMF, p-value=0.004). The comparative study design, with exposed and nonexposed populations living on the shores of two different estuaries allowed us to confirm the hypothesis of a higher risk of contamination from the contaminated estuarine environment. The study design and the selection of both populations were adequate for this type of epidemiologic study of potential routes of human contamination in a mixture of contaminated estuarine environment and can be used in other estuarine areas with similar environmental risk.
- Ciências do consumo alimentar : nutrição e envelhecimentoPublication . Fernandes, Ana Paula; Caixeiro, Vanda; Antunes, Ana PaulaPrograma apresentado pela professora Ana Paula Vaz Fernandes, docente da Universidade Aberta, sobre nutrição e o envelhecimento saudável.
- Co-processing of hazardous waste: the perception of workers regarding sustainability and health issues in a Brazilian cement companyPublication . Guimarães, André Gomes; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Ramos, Maria do Rosário; Martinho, Ana PaulaThe practise of co-processing has been growing and is used to address socioeconomic, environmental, and energy issues. However, the uncertainties related to potential negative impacts on public health and the environment represent one of the major concerns of the competent authorities and scientific community. This research aims to assess the perception of workers in a cement plant in Brazil about sustainability (environmental, economic, social) and health issues related to the practise of co-processing, such as: pollution, conditions and safety of work, the environment, individual and collective health, employment opportunities, capacity building and training offered by the company, waste co-processing, public transparency, and active participation of the population in decision-making. A survey was conducted in a cement plant in Brazil using a questionnaire distributed to 50 workers, representing about 17% of a medium sized industry. The unit was chosen for its accessibility, as well as the fact that it is one of the 37 Brazilian industries that performs the task of co-processing and is not yet well known. Purposive sampling was used to include all workers whose work activities are directly linked to co-processing (16 workers), along with 34 representing all other plant sectors; in addition, seniority must be at least two years, and the worker must live in local communities or in surrounding cities. The results indicate positive perspectives toward most questions, except in the aspects related to the local population's knowledge about the practise of co-processing and those related to the population's participation in the decision-making processes: these aspects were both viewed negatively. The findings show that the perceptions of internal stakeholders (workers) of the cement industry are valuable in assessing the aspects related to co-processing, health risks, and environmental protection. The state environmental agencies must have the technical capacity to ensure that cement companies practise co-processing without endangering the health of workers and populations living near the industries as well as while preserving environmental conditions. The cement industry will be able to further reduce the environmental footprint of its operations and products in their final application and guarantee the safety of the workers and populations living near the industry through expertise and know-how. Sustainable cement production relies on well-educated and well-trained workers with highly efficient training programs and the creation of a supportive environment for workers; integrated pollution prevention and control with environmental management is a necessity in order to mitigate the negative effects. Populations living near the cement plant should have access to information on the environment and activities which pose danger, as well as the opportunity to participate in decision-making.
- Comunicação para a sustentabilidade através de websites: um estudo em instituições de ensino superior internacionaisPublication . Pinheiro, Ted; Mapar, Mahsa; Pereira, Pedro; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Caeiro, Sandra
- COVID-19 e estilo de vida saudávelPublication . Fernandes, Ana Paula
- Environmental risk assessment in a contaminated estuary: an integrated weight of evidence approach as a decision support toolPublication . Caeiro, Sandra; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Martinho, Ana Paula; Costa, P. M.; Silva, M. J.; Lavinha, J.; Dias, Carlos Matias; Machado, A.; Castanheira, I.; Costa, Maria HelenaEnvironmental risk assessment of complex ecosystems such as estuaries is a challenge, where innovative and integrated approaches are needed. The present work aimed at developing an innovative integrative methodology to evaluate in an impacted estuary (the Sado, in Portugal, was taken as case study), the adverse effects onto both ecosystem and human health. For the purpose, new standardized lines of evidence based on multiple quantitative data were integrated into a weight of evidence according to a best expert judgment approach. The best professional judgment for a weight of evidence approach in the present study was based on the following lines of evidence: i) human contamination pathways; ii) human health effects: chronic disease; iii) human health effects: reproductive health; iv) human health effects: health care; v) human exposure through consumption of local agriculture produce; vi) exposure to contaminated of water wells and agriculture soils; vii) contamination of the estuarine sedimentary environment (metal and organic contaminants); viii) effects on benthic organisms with commercial value; and ix) genotoxic potential of sediments. Each line of evidence was then ordinally ranked by levels of ecological or human health risk, according to a tabular decision matrix and expert judgment. Fifteen experts scored two fishing areas of the Sado estuary and a control estuarine area, in a scale of increasing environmental risk and management actions to be taken. The integrated assessment allowed concluding that the estuary should not be regarded as impacted by a specific toxicant, such as metals and organic compounds hitherto measured, but by the cumulative risk of a complex mixture of contaminants. The proven adverse effects on species with commercial value may be used to witness the environmental quality of the estuarine ecosystem. This method argues in favor of expert judgment and qualitative assessment as a decision support tool to the integrative management of estuaries. Namely it allows communicating environmental risk and proposing mitigation measures to local authorities and population under a holistic perspective as an alternative to narrow single line of evidence approaches, which is mandatory to understand cause and effect relationships in complex areas like estuaries.
- Epidemiological risk perceptions of people living close to open dumps in Nampula, Mozambique: a case study controlPublication . Tocoloa, Alexandre; Martinho, Ana Paula; Fernandes, Ana PaulaWhile the municipal solid waste management systems (MSW) dominated by the informal sector makes positive contributions to the environment, they are also characterised by inadequate service delivery, low waste recovery, operational inefficiencies and inadequate waste disposal. The presence, of municipal solid waste poses a threat to public health and the environment if not managed properly. Tocoloa, Martinho and Vaz-Fernandes focus on the detrimental impact of the MSW in Nampula city, in Mozambique, where populations live near open dumps with open burning. There chapter aims to analyze the perceptions about the effects on health and on the environment of these populations that live close to MSW dumps in the city of Nampula. Employing an epidemiological questionnaire to individuals residing in four different geographical areas, they find that the exposed populations may suffer some illnesses and injuries from living closer to the MSW but showed lack of awareness about it. The fact that waste collection is undifferentiated and the different types of MSW are all placed in these locations, it is expected that in addition to contamination by different vectors (mosquitoes, rats and domestic animals) that can cause different tropical diseases in these populations, other contaminants such as heavy metals and persistent organic compounds cannot be excluded. As uncontrolled waste burning is reported, these populations may also be exposed to dioxins and furans. These results point to the issues related to environmental justice and unequal exposure to the environmentally detrimental impact of a MSW dominated by the informal sector.
- Guia ser sustentável: sugestões para viver de forma sustentável no campus …e fora dele...Publication . Mapar, Mahsa; Fernandes, Ana Paula; Martinho, Ana Paula; Ferreira, Célia; Simão, João; Trindade, Jorge; Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Caeiro, SandraEste guia é um recurso sobre como viver, trabalhar e estudar de forma sustentável na Universidade Aberta. Inclui cinco secções sendo que cada uma se centra numa área de ação da sustentabilidade, com conselhos importantes que pode realizar enquanto estiver no campus, em casa ou no trabalho, e elaboradas com base em no compromisso da UAb com a sustentabilidade.
- Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável: PessoasPublication . Fernandes, Ana Paula; Pereira, PedroRecurso educativo "Pessoas", um dos cinco Ps dos Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável na Agenda 2030 da ONU. Legendado em português.
- Perceptions of populations and technicians in waste management in Nampula, MozambiquePublication . Tocoloa, Alexandre; Martinho, Ana Paula; Fernandes, Ana PaulaUrban solid waste management systems (MSW) in developing countries are characterized by inadequate service delivery, low waste recovery, operational inefficiencies and inadequate waste disposal. The presence of urban solid waste poses a threat to public health and the environment if not managed properly. In Nampula city, in Mozambique, peri-urban popula-tions live near open dumps with open burning. The present study aims to analyze the implica-tions and perceptions about the effects on health and on the environment of these populations that lives close to MSW dumps in the city of Nampula. A mixed survey was used with data col-lection instruments: an epidemiological questionnaire and interview guides. The common ques-tions of these two tolls were analyzed and compare the perception of the population with the perception of health and environmental technicians of the municipality of Nampula.