Atmospheric particle-bound polycyclic aromatic compounds over two distinct sites in Pakistan: Characteristics, sources and health risk assessment.

Much attention is drawn to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as an air pollutant due to their toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Therefore, to understand the levels, seasonality, sources and potential health risk of PAHs in two distinct geographical locations at Karachi and Mardan in Pakistan, total suspended particle (TSP) samples were collected for over one year period. The average total PAH concentrations were 31.5 ± 24.4 and 199 ± 229 ng/m3 in Karachi and Mardan, respectively. The significantly lower concentration in Karachi was attributed to diffusion and dilution of the PAHs by the influence of clean air mass from the Arabian sea and high temperature, enhancing the volatilization of the particle phase PAHs to the gas phase. Conversely, the higher concentration (~6 times) in Mardan was due to large influence from local and regional emission sources. A clear seasonality was observed at both the sites, with the higher values in winter and post-monsoon due to higher emissions and less scavenging, and lower values during monsoon season due to the dilution effect. Diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis indicated that PAHs in both sites originated from traffic and mixed combustion sources (fossil fuels and biomass). The average total BaP equivalent concentrations (BaPeq) in Karachi and Mardan were 3.26 and 34 ng/m3, respectively, which were much higher than the WHO guideline of 1 ng/m3. The average estimates of incremental lifetime cancer risk from exposure to airborne BaPeq via inhalation indicated a risk to human health from atmospheric PAHs at both sites.

Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in three environmental components from a tropical estuary in Northeast Brazil.

The evaluation of occurrence, risk quotient (RQ), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), and sources of PAH was conducted in Sergipe-Poxim estuarine system. PAH distribution that ranged from 7.1 to 30.9 ng L-1 (surface water, SW), 5.4 to 19.5 ng g-1 (sediment, S), and 4.3 to 18.1 ng g-1 (oyster, O), characterized the environment with low contamination; 2-3 (SW), 5-6 (S), and 4 (O) PAH rings accounted for 54.5%, 68.7%, and 87.7%, respectively, along with naphthalene (SW), dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (S), and pyrene (O) as the prevailing compounds. PCA suggested the predominance of particular groups related to SW (LMW-PAH), S (HMW-PAH), and O (pyrene and fluoranthene). Furthermore, one sample of O presented a high PAH bioavailability as shown through the BAF, with emphasis on pyrene (BAF = 26.8). The RQ showed a low to moderate range in SW and S; hence, in-depth information about the possible toxic effect in organisms of this region is required.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in superficial water from a tropical estuarine system: Distribution, seasonal variations, sources and ecological risk assessment.

This study aimed to evaluate the PAH distribution, sources, seasonal variations and ecological risk assessment in superficial water from the Japaratuba River, Brazil. PAH concentrations ranged from 4 to 119ngL-1. It was observed that the PAH total concentrations and profiles showed significant differences when comparing the dry season (summer) with the rainy season (winter). Furthermore, most of the PAH originated from pyrogenic sources in the winter, whereas a mixture of sources was observed in the summer. PAH concentration levels found in this study were considered lower than those obtained in other estuarine systems. Ecological risk assessment was determined for individual PAH, based on the risk quotient (RQ) to evaluate the risk of aquatic biota's exposure to PAH. Results suggested that the Japaratuba River has achieved a moderate degree of ecological risk for high molecular weight, showing the importance of identifying these carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds in aquatic systems.

Nutritional status and food consumption of health residents of a public institution of Maceió-AL / Estado nutricional e consumo alimentar de residentes em saúde de uma instituição pública de Maceió-AL

The objective of this study was to characterize the food consumption and nutritional status of health residents of a publicinstitution in Maceió-AL and to evaluate their association. This is a cross-sectional study carried out in the period fromaugust to December 2016, with 58 health professionals, aged between 23 and 41 years, of both sexes, enrolled in theMultiprofessional Health Residency program of the Alagoas State University of Health Sciences, between 2014 and 2016.Socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, food consumption and antecedent clinical data were collected.Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 21.0. There were no overweight and no risk associated with metabolicchanges. Adequate eating habits were identified with a varied diet. Overweight individuals had lower butter ingestion andhigher use of sweetener (p<0.05). Eating habits are influenced by several factors, including the fact that they are healthprofessionals. It is necessary to approach educational strategies about healthy eating among overweight individuals inorder to stimulate them to achieve adequate weight(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar o consumo alimentar e o estado nutricional de residentes em saúde de umainstituição pública de Maceió-AL e avaliar a sua associação. Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado no período deagosto a dezembro de 2016, com 58 profissionais de saúde, com idade entre 23 e 41 anos, de ambos os sexos, ingressosna Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde da Universidade Estadual de Ciências da Saúde de Alagoas, entre 2014 e2016. Foram coletados dados socioeconômicos, demográficos, antropométricos, de estilo de vida, de consumo alimentare antecedentes clínicos. A análise estatística foi realizada através do programa SPSS 21.0. Verificou-se maioria semexcesso de peso e sem risco associado a alterações metabólicas. Identificou-se hábitos alimentares adequados com umaalimentação variada. Os indivíduos com excesso de peso apresentaram menor ingestão de manteiga e maior utilização deadoçante do que aqueles sem excesso de peso com p < 0,05. Torna-se necessária a abordagem de estratégias educativassobre alimentação saudável junto aos indivíduos com excesso de peso, a fim de estimulá-los à obtenção do peso adequado(AU)