Frequencies of micronuclei in buccal cells and their spatial distribution in a population living in proximity to coal mining areas in southern Brazil.

The extraction and burning of coal release genotoxic pollutants, and understanding the relationship between genetic damage and the spatial distribution of residences in coal-using regions is crucial. The study aimed to conduct a spatial analysis of genotoxic damage through the of micronuclei (MNs) number and their proximity to coal mining/burning in the largest coal exploration region in Brazil. In this study, the detection of genotoxic damage was performed using the MN assay in oral cells of residents exposed to coal mining activities. Spatial analysis was conducted using QGIS 3.28.10 based on information obtained from a questionnaire administered to the population. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out to assess the influence of the distance from residential areas to polluting sources on the number of MNs found. Additionally, Spearman's correlation was performed to identify the strength and direction of the association between the frequency of MNs and each of the polluting sources. A total of 147 MNs were quantified among all participants in the coal mining region. Notably, residents living within 2 km and 10 km of pollution sources exhibited the highest prevalence of MNs. The analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between closer proximity to pollution sources and increased MN frequency, underscoring the spatial relationship between these sources and genotoxic damage. Environmental pollutants from anthropogenic sources present a major health risk, potentially leading to irreversible damage. The spatial analysis in this study highlights the importance of targeted public policies. These policies should aim for a sustainable balance between economic development and public health, promoting effective measures to mitigate environmental impacts and protect community health.

Health risk assessment in urban parks soils contaminated by metals, Rio Grande city (Brazil) case study.

Soils and artificial surfaces of urban parks can be contaminated by toxic substances and offer risk to the human health, especially to children. Rio Grande city, southern Brazil, is a peculiar site from the point of view of environmental contamination, since the current levels of contamination reflect an accumulation of different polluting sources started in the 18th century up to the urban and industrial sources of the present. The history of Hg contamination refers to the use of Hg salts in textile activities in the 18th century and the consequent use of contaminated sediments to land urban areas. The current contamination involves metals such as Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn is related to the high degree of urbanization in the city, as well as the petrochemical and fertilizer industry. The study aimed to achieve a human health risk assessment of urban parks soils, specifically for Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. To carry out the risk assessment using the USEPA model, three urban parks with a history of contamination were studied, using different soil exposure pathways (oral, dermal and inhalation) in the carcinogenic (Ni and Pb) and non-carcinogenic (Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) scenarios for children and adults. The non-carcinogenic risk of Pb was found in the three urban parks studied, for children and Hg in two urban parks. Pb and Ni showed no carcinogenic risk. Even so, the high non-carcinogenic risk of Hg and Pb showed that the contamination of the past and the present are found in the urban parks of Rio Grande city, putting the health of children who use these collective spaces at risk.