Spread of SARS-CoV-2 through Latin America and the Caribbean region: A look from its economic conditions, climate and air pollution indicators.

We have evaluated the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region by means of a correlation between climate and air pollution indicators, namely, average temperature, minimum temperature, maximum temperature, rainfall, average relative humidity, wind speed, and air pollution indicators PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 with the COVID-19 daily new cases and deaths. The study focuses in the following LAC cities: Mexico City (Mexico), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Bogotá (Colombia), Guayaquil (Ecuador), Manaus (Brazil), Lima (Perú), Santiago (Chile), São Paulo (Brazil) and Buenos Aires (Argentina). The results show that average temperature, minimum temperature, and air quality were significantly associated with the spread of COVID-19 in LAC. Additionally, humidity, wind speed and rainfall showed a significant relationship with daily cases, total cases and mortality for various cities. Income inequality and poverty levels were also considered as a variable for qualitative analysis. Our findings suggest that and income inequality and poverty levels in the cities analyzed were related to the spread of COVID-19 positive and negative, respectively. These results might help decision-makers to design future strategies to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in LAC and around the world.

Identifying patterns and sources of anthropogenic trace metals in the Argentine Central Andes by using snow samples and an atmospheric dispersion model.

This study presents the first local measurements of metals in snow from the Argentine Central Andes. Cu, Pb and Zn were selected as specific tracers of anthropogenic local emission sources in the study area. Snow samples were collected during winter (2014, 2015 and 2016) at two sites with different characteristics: Punta de Vacas and Vallecitos. The samples were analyzed by ICP-MS, and the average concentrations found were 1.4 µg L-1 (Cu), 2.2 µg L-1 (Pb) and 14.2 µg L-1 (Zn) in the snow samples from Vallecitos, and 5.3 µg L-1 (Cu), 2.6 µg L-1 (Pb) and 24.0 µg L-1 (Zn) in the snow samples from Punta de Vacas. These data and the snowfall amount in each sampling site were statistically analyzed. Results suggested that the levels of metals in the snow are influenced not only by the atmospheric concentrations, but also by the amount of precipitated snow. Additionally, an atmospheric dispersion model, CALPUFF, was applied in the study area to determine the origin of the studied metals and to understand the spatial distribution pattern of the concentrations found. Results showed that the metal atmospheric loads in the study area originated from local sources, especially vehicular traffic and mining. This work represents an important contribution to the knowledge and preservation of the local Andean cryosphere, and it could be used as an input to develop protection policies in the area through the combination of different and complementary tools for the evaluation of air quality.

Dataset supporting the estimation and analysis of high spatial resolution inventories of atmospheric emissions from several sectors in Argentina.

This data article provides an extensive and complete description of the high spatial resolution inventory (HSRI) estimation shown in the article "High resolution inventory of atmospheric emissions from livestock production, agriculture, and biomass burning sectors of Argentina" Puliafito et al. [1], and its comparison with several sectors in Argentina. The dataset provided are high-resolution inventories (0.025° × 0.025° lat/long) for CO2, CH4, N2O and another 8 species from livestock, biomass burning, agriculture and another 12 sectors (based on 2016 year). In addition, we also provide the database for 2014 using the same methodology. The dataset presented are necessary to improve input inventories for air quality models. Also, they are better to inform and guide the stakeholders, in making decisions related to environmental protection and health promotion, as well as assessing the environmental performance in terms of atmospheric emissions of an activity, sector or region in Argentina.

Effects of traffic noise exposure on corticosterone, glutathione and tonic immobility in chicks of a precocial bird.

Repeated exposure to traffic noise may be perceived as a succession of stressors, and therefore, noisy urban environments could lead to a state of chronic stress. In developing animals, glucocorticoids can have organizational effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in addition to the classic activation effects, so evaluating the effect of traffic noise during development is urgently needed. To our knowledge, to date six studies have investigated the effects of traffic noise on baseline corticosterone (CORT) and/or the stress response in birds during development; however, these studies were performed in nestling (altricial species), where confounding factors (e.g. communication between nestlings and parents) could mask the real impact of traffic noise on stress. In this study, we evaluated the effect of traffic noise (traffic noise group vs. rural noise group) on baseline levels of CORT and stress responses in chicks of a precocial bird species, the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). Because CORT can also decrease glutathione (GSH) levels (antioxidant and neurotransmitter/modulator), secondly by means of path analysis we investigated whether the strength of the association between CORT levels, GSH levels and tonic immobility (TI) varied in relation to treatment. We observed (i) similar baseline levels of CORT in both groups, (ii) a trend toward higher stress response in the traffic noise group (P = 0.08), (iii) similar TI duration in both groups, (iv) higher GSH levels in the traffic noise group and (v) differences in the strength and sign of the associations in relation to the treatment (traffic vs. rural). We conclude that the acoustic environment perceived during development has implications for physiology and behaviour; as more research is done on this topic, the need for sustainable urban planning will become clearer.

[Analysis on risk factors associated with birth defects in newborns in the area of the Matanza-Riachuelo river basin.] / Análisis de factores de riesgo asociados con anomalías congénitas en recién nacidos de la zona de la cuenca del río Matanza-Riachuelo.

Introducción: en la cuenca Matanza-Riachuelo viven aproximadamente 4.885.000 habitantes y es uno de los sitios más contaminados de Argentina. Este estudio evaluó factores de riesgo asociados a anomalías congénitas (AC) y bajo peso al nacimiento. Métodos: se realizó un estudio caso-control en tres hospitales de la cuenca pertenecientes la Red Nacional de Anomalías Congénitas (RENAC) durante un año. Se evaluó asociación de bajo peso y AC, con variables socioeconómicas; reproductivas; distancia de la vivienda durante la gestación a industrias y a cursos de agua. Resultados: la prevalencia de anomalías congénitas en recién nacidos fue de 1,93% (IC 95%: 1,64 - 2,25). Los factores de riesgo asociados a AC fueron enfermedades maternas agudas y consumo de medicamentos. Los casos presentaron peso y edad gestacional significativamente más bajos y mayor edad materna. No se encontró asociación entre bajo peso o prevalencia de AC con distancia de la vivienda durante el embarazo a industrias ni a los cursos de agua. Conclusión principal: este estudio es la primera investigación en el área de las AC con datos georreferenciados en nuestro país y ha mostrado la factibilidad de efectuar este tipo de investigaciones para evaluar factores de riesgo en la RENAC. Futuras investigaciones orientadas a evaluar AC específicas deberían realizarse a fin de corroborar los resultados del presente estudio.

Introducción: en la cuenca Matanza-Riachuelo viven aproximadamente 4.885.000 habitantes y es uno de los sitios más contaminados de Argentina. Este estudio evaluó factores de riesgo asociados a anomalías congénitas (AC) y bajo peso al nacimiento. Métodos: se realizó un estudio caso-control en tres hospitales de la cuenca pertenecientes la Red Nacional de Anomalías Congénitas (RENAC) durante un año. Se evaluó asociación de bajo peso y AC, con variables socioeconómicas; reproductivas; distancia de la vivienda durante la gestación a industrias y a cursos de agua. Resultados: la prevalencia de anomalías congénitas en recién nacidos fue de 1,93% (IC 95%: 1,64 - 2,25). Los factores de riesgo asociados a AC fueron enfermedades maternas agudas y consumo de medicamentos. Los casos presentaron peso y edad gestacional significativamente más bajos y mayor edad materna. No se encontró asociación entre bajo peso o prevalencia de AC con distancia de la vivienda durante el embarazo a industrias ni a los cursos de agua. Conclusión: este estudio es la primera investigación en el área de las AC con datos georreferenciados en nuestro país y ha mostrado la factibilidad de efectuar este tipo de investigaciones para evaluar factores de riesgo en la RENAC. Futuras investigaciones orientadas a evaluar AC específicas deberían realizarse a fin de corroborar los resultados del presente estudio.

Osteoporosis relacionada con la enfermedad periodontal / Osteoporosis associated with periodontal disease

La periodontitis y la osteoporosis son dos enfermedades que se encuentran en la parte sustancial en ambos géneros, tanto femenino como masculino a nivel mundial. Estas dos enfermedades se caracterizan por el aumento de la intensidad a medida que la edad avanza. La osteopenia, junto a la osteoporosis da como resultado la reducción de los huesos, debido a un desbalance entre la reabsorción y formación ósea, donde la reabsorción tiende a incrementar. La periodontitis se define como una inflamación de los tejidos de soporte de los dientes siguiendo un progreso destructivo que conduce a la perdida de ligamento periodontal y hueso alveolar. El objetivo del estudio es investigar la relación de problemas periodontales con osteoporosis y compararlo con problemas periodontales en lo que no intervenga ninguna enfermedad.