Echinacea purpurea Fractions Represent Promising Plant-Based Anti-Inflammatory Formulations.

Echinacea purpurea is traditionally used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we investigated the anti-inflammatory capacity of E. purpurea dichloromethanolic (DE) and ethanolic extracts obtained from flowers and roots (R). To identify the class of compounds responsible for the strongest bioactivity, the extracts were fractionated into phenol/carboxylic acid (F1) and alkylamide fraction (F2). The chemical fingerprint of bioactive compounds in the fractions was evaluated by LC-HRMS. E. purpurea extracts and fractions significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 6 and/or tumor necrosis factor) and reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated primary human monocyte-derived macrophages. Dichloromethanolic extract obtained from roots (DE-R) demonstrated the strongest anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, fractions exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity than whole extract. Indeed, alkylamides must be the main compounds responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts; thus, the fractions presenting high content of these compounds presented greater bioactivity. It was demonstrated that alkylamides exert their anti-inflammatory activity through the downregulation of the phosphorylation of p38, ERK 1/2, STAT 3, and/or NF-κB signaling pathways, and/or downregulation of cyclooxygenase 2 expression. E. purpurea extracts and fractions, mainly DE-R-F2, are promising and powerful plant-based anti-inflammatory formulations that can be further used as a basis for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

On the Bioactivity of Echinacea purpurea Extracts to Modulate the Production of Inflammatory Mediators.

Inflammatory diseases are the focus of several clinical studies, due to limitations and serious side effects of available therapies. Plant-based drugs (e.g., salicylic acid, morphine) have become landmarks in the pharmaceutical field. Therefore, we investigated the immunomodulatory effects of flowers, leaves, and roots from Echinacea purpurea. Ethanolic (EE) and dichloromethanolic extracts (DE) were obtained using the Accelerated Solvent Extractor and aqueous extracts (AE) were prepared under stirring. Their chemical fingerprint was evaluated by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). The pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as the reduction in intracellular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), of the different extracts were evaluated using non-stimulated and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Interestingly, AE were able to stimulate macrophages to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor -TNF-α, interleukin -IL-1ß, and IL-6), and to generate ROS/RNS. Conversely, under an inflammatory scenario, all extracts reduced the amount of pro-inflammatory mediators. DE, alkylamides-enriched extracts, showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, E. purpurea extracts demonstrated generally a more robust anti-inflammatory activity than clinically used anti-inflammatory drugs (dexamethasone, diclofenac, salicylic acid, and celecoxib). Therefore, E. purpurea extracts may be used to develop new effective therapeutic formulations for disorders in which the immune system is either overactive or impaired.

The Potential of Cistus salviifolius L. to Phytostabilize Gossan Mine Wastes Amended with Ash and Organic Residues.

The São Domingos mine is within the Iberian Pyrite Belt, a mining district with large concentrations of polymetallic massive sulfide deposits. Mine waste heaps are considered extreme environments, since they contain high total concentrations of potentially hazardous elements (PHE), which contribute to inhibiting the development of most plants. Autochthonous plant species, such as Cistus salviifolius L., are able to grow naturally in this degraded environment, and may contribute to minimizing the negative chemical impacts and improving the landscape quality. However, the environmental rehabilitation processes associated with the development of these plants (phytostabilization) are very slow, so the use of materials/wastes to improve some physicochemical properties of the matrix is necessary in order to speed up the process. This work studied the effectiveness of the phytostabilization with C. salviifolius of gossan mine wastes from the mine of São Domingos amended with organic and inorganic wastes in order to construct Technosols. The mine wastes have an acid pH (≈3.5), high total concentrations of PHE and low concentrations of organic C and available nutrients. The best vegetative development occurred without visible signs of toxicity in the Technosols containing a mixture of agriculture residues. These treatments allowed the improvement of the soil-plant system providing a better plant cover and improved several chemical properties of mine wastes, helping to speed up the environmental rehabilitation.

Use of combined tools for effectiveness evaluation of tailings rehabilitated with designed Technosol.

Soil and water characteristics and biogeochemical processes can be improved by the application of an integrated technology based on circular economy: designed Technosol. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the superficial application of a designed Technosol, with andic and eutrophic properties, on the rehabilitation of sulfide tailings of a uranium mine (Fé mining area, Spain) was the aim of this study. After 20 months of the Technosol application, the tailing rehabilitation status (Rehabilitated tailing) was compared to a non-rehabilitated tailing (Tailing). To assess the rehabilitation of these systems, several properties were analyzed: chemical characteristics of the materials and their leachates, soil enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, ß-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and urease), basal respiration and several plant endpoints from direct and indirect bioassays and pot experiment using Lolium perennse L. and Trifolium pratense L.. Potentially toxic concentrations of Co, Mn and Ni were identified in both available fraction and leachates, pointing out the serious environmental risk posed by the tailing. The improvement of overall physicochemical properties in the rehabilitated tailing materials (e.g., decrease of the hazardous element concentrations in leachates and available fraction, and improvement of the fertility and structure) allowed a quick plant cover with pasture species and provided a suitable habitat for active microbial community (evaluated by increasing dehydrogenase activity and basal respiration). This improvement in the rehabilitated tailing contributed to a significant decrease in the ecotoxicological risk and the spread of hazardous elements. The field application of this specific Technosol was a promising and lasting solution for rehabilitation of this type of tailings.

Desarrollo de materiales educativos para pacientes crónicos y familiares / Development of educational materials for chronic patients and families

Un nivel bajo de alfabetización puede dificultar la comprensión de la información necesaria para tomar decisiones apropiadas en relación con la propia salud. Esta situación está relacionada con una peor adherencia a los tratamientos, un peor estado de bienestar y una mortalidad más elevada, sobre todo en personas de edad avanzada. Resulta esencial que la información pueda ser comprendida por el paciente y su familia. Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar las recomendaciones internacionales existentes para el diseño y la elaboración de materiales o recursos educativos para pacientes crónicos y familiares. Se describen aspectos metodológicos que engloban la inclusión de los pacientes en distintos puntos durante el proceso de desarrollo del material, la adaptación del formato y el contenido al nivel de comprensión del paciente, así como su participación en una prueba piloto antes de la publicación de los mismos. Los materiales educativos que se han elaborado con la colaboración de los pacientes resultan más adaptados a su contexto y promueven cambios positivos en su salud

Low literacy can difficult the use of information needed to take appropriate decisions in healthcare. This situation is associated with poorer treatment adherence, lower health outcomes and higher mortality among the population and, specifically, the elderly. It is essential that information can be understood by patients and families. This article aims to present the existing international recommendations for the design and development of educational materials and resources to chronic patients and families. This process encompasses the involvement of patients at various levels during the development process of the materials, the adaptation of the format and content to the level of understanding of the patient as well as their participation in the evaluation process. Educational materials that have been developed in collaboration with patients are more adapted to their context and promote positive changes in their health

Rehabilitation of mining areas through integrated biotechnological approach: Technosols derived from organic/inorganic wastes and autochthonous plant development.

In order to restore the plant cover, improve ecosystem services and decrease the environmental risk of two mine wastes (gossan and sulfide-rich wastes), an integrated biotechnology was tested at long-term and greenhouse conditions. This integrated biotechnology involves the natural isolation of sulfide-rich wastes through an alkaline barrier, covered by designed Technosols (both of them derived from mining and agro-industrial wastes) and a plant cover with Lavandula pedunculata and Cistus ladanifer. Technosols allowed significant germination (L. pendunculata: 16-18%; C. ladanifer: 5-11%) and biomass production of both species (g FW/pot; Roots: 16.3-30.9, Shoots: 41.2-76.4 depending on species and Technosol). In the control was reached the lowest germination (<3%) and seedlings died after 40 days, so the improvement of the chemical characteristics of the surface layer, i.e. the implementation of the designed Technosols, is essential to ensure good vegetative development. No visual symptoms of nutritional deficiency and phytotoxicity neither element concentrations above hazardous levels for domestic animals intake were observed in those plants species. The alkaline barrier's components stabilise the sulfide-rich wastes by decreasing the oxidation and capillary rise of acid solutions that are rich in metals/metalloids. The limestone gravel showed, in some places, a thin layer of salts from alunite-jarosite group and metal-oxyhydroxides. As an outcome, the biotechnology was efficient and sustainable allowing the combined rehabilitation of both mine wastes at long-term.

Biochar as low-cost sorbent of volatile fuel organic compounds: potential application to water remediation.

Pyrolysis of waste materials to produce biochar is an excellent and suitable alternative supporting a circular bio-based economy. One of the properties attributed to biochar is the capacity for sorbing organic contaminants, which is determined by its composition and physicochemical characteristics. In this study, the capacity of waste-derived biochar to retain volatile fuel organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and fuel oxygenates (FO)) from artificially contaminated water was assessed using batch-based sorption experiments. Additionally, the sorption isotherms were established. The results showed significant differences between BTEX and FO sorption on biochar, being the most hydrophobic and non-polar contaminants those showing the highest retention. Furthermore, the sorption process reflected a multilayer behaviour and a relatively high sorption capacity of the biochar materials. Langmuir and Freundlich models were adequate to describe the experimental results and to detect general differences in the sorption behaviour of volatile fuel organic compounds. It was also observed that the feedstock material and biochar pyrolysis conditions had a significant influence in the sorption process. The highest sorption capacity was found in biochars produced at high temperature (> 400 °C) and thus rich in aromatic C, such as eucalyptus and corn cob biochars. Overall, waste-derived biochar offers a viable alternative to be used in the remediation of volatile fuel organic compounds from water due to its high sorption capacity.

Characterization and fingerprinting of soil and groundwater contamination sources around a fuel distribution station in Galicia (NW Spain).

Soil and groundwater contamination around a fuel distribution station in Tomiño (NW Spain) was evaluated. For this purpose, top and subsoil (up to 6.4 m) and groundwater were sampled around the station, approximately in a 60-m radius. Samples were analysed by HS-SPME-GC-MS to identify and quantify volatile fuel organic compounds (VFOC) (MTBE, ETBE and BTEX) and diesel range organics (DRO). Analysis and fingerprinting data suggested that the contamination of soil and groundwater was provoked by a fuel leak from underground storage tanks. This was reflected by hydrocarbon indices and principal component analysis, which discriminated a direct source of contamination of the subsoil samples around the station. The contaminants probably migrated from tank nearby soils to surrounding soils and leached to groundwater, following a SW direction. Irrigation with contaminated groundwater provoked a severe contamination of topsoils, which were enriched with the lightest components of gasoline and diesel. Fingerprinting also revealed the continuity of the leak, reflected by the presence of volatiles in some samples, which principally appeared in fresh leaks. MTBE was detected in a very high concentration in groundwater samples (up to 690 µg L(-1)), but it was not detected in fresh gasoline. This also evidenced an old source of contamination, probably starting in the mid-1990s, when the use of MTBE in gasoline was regulated.

Influence of feedstock on the copper removal capacity of waste-derived biochars.

Biochar samples were generated by low temperature pyrolysis of different types of waste. The physicochemical characteristics of the different types of biochar affected the copper retention capacity, by determining the main mechanism involved. The capacity of the biochar to retain copper present in solution depended on the size of the inorganic fraction and varied in the following order: rice biochar>chicken manure biochar>olive mill waste biochar>acacia biochar>eucalyptus biochar>corn cob biochar. The distribution of copper between the forms bound to solid biochar, dissolved organic matter and free organic matter in solution also depended on the starting material. However, the effect of pH on the adsorption capacity was independent of the nature of the starting material, and the copper retention of all types of biochar increased with pH.

Geochemical speciation and dynamic of copper in tropical semi-arid soils exposed to metal-bearing mine wastes.

The potentially hazardous effects of rock wastes disposed at open pit in three different areas (Pr: Ore processing; Wr: Waste rock and Bd: Border) of an abandoned copper mine were evaluated in this study, with emphasis on acid drainage generation, metal contamination and copper geochemical dynamics in soils. Samples of waste rock were analyzed by Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy with microanalysis (SEM-EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Soil samples were analyzed to determine the total metal contents (XRF), mineralogy (XRD), pH (H2O and H2O2), organic and inorganic carbon, % of total N, S and P, particle size, and a sequential extraction procedure was used to identify the different copper fractions. As a result of the prevalence of carbonates over sulphides in the wastes, the soil pH remained close to neutral, with absence of acid mine drainage. The geochemical interaction between these mineral phases seems to be the main mechanism to release Cu(2)(+) ions. Total Cu in soils from the Pr area reached 11,180mg.kg(-1), while in Wr and Bd areas the values reached, on average, 4683 and 1086mg.kg(-1), respectively, indicating a very high level of soil contamination. In the Pr and Wr, the Cu was mainly associated with carbonates and amorphous iron oxides. In the Bd areas, the presence of vegetation has influenced the geochemical behavior of copper by increasing the dissolution of carbonates, affecting the buffer capacity of soils against sulphide oxidation, reducing the pH levels and enhancing the proportion of exchangeable and organic bound Cu. The present findings show that the use of plants or organic amendments in mine sites with high concentration of Cu carbonate-containing wastes should be viewed with caution, as the practice may enhance the mobilization of copper to the environment due to an increase in the rate of carbonates dissolution.

Evaluation of chemical parameters and ecotoxicity of a soil developed on gossan following application of polyacrylates and growth of Spergularia purpurea.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical characteristics and ecotoxicity of a mine soil developed on gossan materials and amended with hydrophilic polyacrylate polymers after a growth cycle of Spergularia purpurea. Different acute bioassays (Daphnia magna immobilization; microalgae growth inhibition; germination and growth of lettuce and oat) were carried out with simulated leachates, pore water and soil samples. The germination and growth of native shrubs (Cistus ladanifer and Lavandula sampaioana) were also evaluated in the lysimeters where S. purpurea had grown. The soil had high total concentrations (g/kg) of Al (3.50-8.60), As (2.55-2.73), Cu (0.13-0.91) and Pb (4.48-6.16). However, the percentages of elements in aqueous extracts (simulating leachates, pore water, and the conditions of the rhizosphere soil) were small when compared to their total soil concentrations (less than 9% except for Na in leachates). Growth of S. purpurea and other natural colonization of plant species (Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae families) improved chemical characteristics but the application of the polyacrylate polymers contributed to a further improvement of soil quality. However, this was not sufficient to ensure the growth of a large number of shrubs despite a great germination rate. Among the several species used on the ecotoxicological assessment, the D. magna test was the only bioassay that showed a clear toxicity of soil leachates, suggesting the importance of using several ecotoxicological tests to assess the environmental risk of soil contamination and its rehabilitation. Although the studied soil can be considered contaminated taking into account the total soil concentrations of Al, As, Cu and Pb, the low concentrations of the same chemical elements in extractable solutions, that simulated the fractions really available for organisms, did not demonstrate a substantial toxic effects in the organisms and, consequently, negative impact on the environment.

Different patterns by age-group and gender of socioeconomic inequalities in smoking in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence on socioeconomic inequalities in smoking from low- and middle-income countries has shown some inconsistency between countries. We have studied the socioeconomic inequalities in current smoking, ever smoking, and smoking cessation in Colombia by age-group and gender. METHODS: Sixty thousand, three hundred and forty-nine Colombian men and women aged 12-69 years were selected at random from the results of a national survey. We used Pearson's chi-square and Robust Poisson regression analyses to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios between smoking behaviors and 2 indicators of socioeconomic position; individuals' educational level and household socioeconomic stratum. RESULTS: In men aged 45-69 years, higher socioeconomic stratum and higher education were associated with a lower rate of current smoking (PR = 0.49 [95% CI, 0.32-0.73] and PR = 0.64 [95% CI, 0.47-0.86], respectively), a history of smoking (PR = 0.67 [95% CI, 0.53-0.85] and PR = 0.75 [95% CI, 0.63-0.90], respectively), or a higher rate of smoking cessation (PR = 1.37 [95% CI, 1.09-1.72] and PR = 0.18 [95% CI, 0.99-1.72], respectively). In men aged 18-44 years, higher education was associated with lower odds of current and history of smoking (PR = 0.75 [95% CI, 0.61-0.92 and PR = 0.81 [95% CI, 0.67-0.98], respectively). Results in women and adolescents were mixed. CONCLUSIONS: In Colombia, the overall declining prevalence of smoking in men seems to be accompanied by a narrowing of smoking inequalities in successive birth cohorts, suggesting a favorable evolution of the tobacco epidemic. Further research will be required to identify factors that have contributed these optimal circumstances in tobacco control.

Niveles de alcohol en sangre y somnolencia en conductores estudiados en simuladores: un metaanálisis / Blood alcohol concentration and somnolence among drivers studied in simulators: a meta-analysis

Introducción: Los accidentes de tránsito ocasionados por conductores que se encuentran bajo el efecto del alcohol constituyen una de las principales causas de accidentalidad y mortalidad vial. Ante este problema, surge la necesidad de definir límites en cuanto al nivel de alcoholemia a partir del cual se pone en riesgo el estado de vigilia necesaria para la conducción. Objetivos: Determinar las concentraciones mínimas de alcohol en sangre con las que se altera el estado de vigilia o se genera algún grado de somnolencia que pone en riesgo la habilidad y la destreza al conducir. Métodos: Metanálisis de la literatura sobre los artículos publicados entre 1999 y 2009 que evaluaron la conducción en simuladores después de la ingesta de diferentes grados de alcohol y en los que se midió la somnolencia que estos grados producen en los conductores. Resultados: Se produce mayor somnolencia en los conductores que están bajo efecto de alcohol. Las diferencias medias estandarizadas (SMD) fueron de 0,81 (IC 95%: 0,54-1,09) para personas con niveles de concentraciones de alcohol en sangre (BAC) menores a 0,05 y de SMD = 1,16 (IC 95 %: 0,93-1,4) para las personas con niveles de BAC mayores a 0,05. En todas las escalas utilizadas para medir somnolencia se corroboró el efecto del alcohol. Conclusiones: En todos los desenlaces se evidenció que, independientemente de la cantidad de alcohol en la sangre (niveles mayores y menores de BAC = 0,05), la ingesta de alcohol está asociada con mayor somnolencia...

Introduction: Traffic accidents caused by drivers under the influence of alcohol are a major cause of road accidents and mortality. Faced with this problem, defining the limit of alcohol levels from which wakefulness for the purpose of driving is jeopardized is critical. Objectives: To determine the minimum concentration of alcohol in blood that alters wakefulness or generates some degree of drowsiness that compromises driving ability and skill. Method: Meta-analysis. Systematic review of eight databases, limited to publications between 1999 and 2009 in which the assessment was made through simulators and blood alcohol concentrations were measured. Results: In all the subgroups studied it was clear that people with some intake of alcohol tend to have some degree of drowsiness compared with those with a blood alcohol level of 0. Standardized mean differences in sleepiness were high. This means there was a great difference between those with blood alcohol concentrations and those without. Conclusions: In all outcomes it was evident that regardless of the amount of alcohol in blood, alcohol intake provoked in the drivers a tendency towards sleepiness. We observed that most simulator studies tend to favor zero alcohol intake while driving because of the high degree of drowsiness that occurs...

Leaching of potential hazardous elements of coal cleaning rejects.

The geochemical characteristics of coal cleaning rejects (CCR) in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, were investigated. Around 3.5 million ton/year of coal waste are dumped in Santa Catarina State. Coal beneficiation by froth flotation results in large amounts of CCR composed of coaly and mineral matter, the latter characterised by the occurrence of sulphide minerals and a broad array of leachable elements. The total and leachable contents of more than 60 elements were analysed. Atmospheric exposure promotes sulphide oxidation that releases substantial sulphate loads as well as Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, Cl- and Al3+. The metals with the most severe discharges were Zn, Cu, Mn, Co, Ni and Cd. Most trace pollutants in the CCR displayed a marked pH-dependent solubility, being immobile in near-neutral samples. The results highlight the complex interactions among mineral matter solubility, pH and the leaching of potentially hazardous elements.

Coal cleaning residues and Fe-minerals implications.

In the present investigation, a study was undertaken to understand the origin of Fe-minerals presents in Brazilian coal mining and to understand the environmental implication and the chemical heterogeneity in the study area. Coal cleaning residue samples rich in clays, quartz, sulphides, carbonates, sulphates, etc. were sampled from Lauro Muller, Urussanga, Treviso, Siderópolis, and Criciúma cities in the Santa Catarina State and a total of 19 samples were collected and Mössbauer, XRD, SEM/EDX, and TEM analyses were conducted on the samples. The major Fe-minerals identified are represented by the major minerals chlorite, hematite, illite, and pyrite, while the minor minerals include, ankerite, chalcopyrite, goethite, hematite, jarosite, maghemite, magnetie, marcasite, melanterite, natrojarosite, oligonite, pyrrhotite, rozenite, schwertmannite, siderite, and sideronatrile. Pyrite is relatively abundant in some cases, making up to around 10% of the mineral matter in several samples. The sulphates minerals such as jarosite and others, probably represent oxidation products of pyrite, developed during exposure or storage.

Niveles de alcohol en la sangre y desviación de la línea en conductores estudiados en simuladores: un metaanálisis / Blood alcohol concentration and deviation from the line among drivers studied in simulators: a meta-analysis

Introducción: Conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol aumenta el riesgo de sufrir accidentes de tránsito y la tasa de accidentalidad vial tiende a incrementarse. Sin embargo, no es claro en qué grado la presencia de alcohol en la sangre logra desviar al conductor de su carril. Objetivos: Determinar las concentraciones mínimas de alcohol en la sangre que se deben alcanzar para alterar la habilidad de conducción en las personas y definir qué habilidades se ven afectadas con mayor rapidez en la desviación del carril. Método: Revisión sistemática de la literatura en ocho bases de datos. Se limitó a publicaciones de los últimos diez años (1999-2009) y a artículos en los que se hizo la evaluación a través de simuladores y donde se midieron las concentraciones de alcohol en la sangre. Resultados: De todos los subgrupos estudiados es evidente que las personas con algún consumo de alcohol tienden a desviarse más de la línea que las personas que no lo han consumido. Entre los conductores que presentaron alcohol en la sangre, sólo se encontró una pequeña diferencia entre las desviaciones de la línea de aquellos con cifras mayores o menores a 0,05 (0,65 vs. 0,78). Conclusiones: En todos los desenlaces se evidenció que, independientemente de la cantidad de alcohol en la sangre, el haber consumido hace que el conductor tienda a desviarse de su carril. En términos generales se puede decir que la desviación de la línea se convierte en una medida muy sensible al consumo de alcohol...

Introduction: Driving under the influence of alcohol increases the risk of traffic accidents and road accident. However, it is not clear to what extent the presence of alcohol in the blood can divert a driver of the lane. Objectives: To determine the minimum concentration of alcohol in the blood that must be reached to alter the driving ability in people and define what skills are affected more quickly in the deviation of the lane test. Method: Systematic review of the literature in eight databases, limited to publications of the last ten years (1999-2009) and articles in which the assessment was made through simulators and concentrations of alcohol in the blood were measured. Results: Of all the subgroups studied, it is clear that persons with any alcohol consumption tend to drift over the line more than people who have not consumed. Among the drivers who had alcohol in the blood, there was only a slight difference between the deviations from the line of those with levels greater or less than 0.05 (0.65 vs. 0.78). Conclusions: In all the endpoints was demonstrated that, regardless of the amount of alcohol in the blood, a driver with any alcohol use tend to deviate from the lane. Overall we can say that the deviation of the line becomes a very sensitive evidence of alcohol use...

Niveles de alcohol en sangre y riesgo de accidentalidad vial: revisión sistemática de la literatura / Concentrations of alcohol in the blood and risk of road accidents: a systematic review of the literature

Introducción: La accidentalidad vial debe una importante cuota al alcohol. El alcohol no sólo altera la capacidad para conducir y reaccionar al tráfico, sino que incrementa los riesgos de daños a otros pasajeros y a otros vehículos, los daños en propiedades, las pérdidas en horas laborables, la calidad de vida y las reparaciones. Método: Revisión sistemática de la literatura para evaluar los estudios descriptivos y experimentales que miden el impacto del consumo, la efectividad de las diferentes medidas de limitación al consumo y las alteraciones producidas por el alcohol en el conductor. Resultados: Los accidentes de tráfico asociados con el alcohol (ATRA) son la causa aislada más importante de muertes relacionadas con alcohol en muchos países. Cada aumento de 0,02% en las concentraciones de alcohol duplica el riesgo de un accidente fatal. La mayoría de accidentes en Colombia ocurren en áreas urbanas (75%) y el 53,3% de los muertos son peatones. Se ha mostrado que, adicionalmente, la educación tiene un impacto enorme en la prevención de accidentes. Conclusiones: Para reducir la accidentalidad relacionada con el alcohol es claro que las restricciones legales tienen impacto, así como los programas de educación e información. Debe generalizarse el concepto de alteración en la capacidad para conducir de manera segura y debe pedirse a las autoridades que busquen implementar los conceptos de limitación legal a la conducción bajo efectos del alcohol...

Introduction: Alcohol consumption plays an important role in road accidents. Alcohol not only alters the ability to drive and react to traffic, but it also increases the driver’s riskof injuries and death, the risk of injuries to other passengers and pedestrians, increases damages to other vehicles and properties, quality of life, losses of labor hours. Method: Systematic review of literature to descriptive and experimental studies were evaluated for impact of alcohol consumption, for effectiveness of different strategies to reduce driving under the influence, and for effects of alcohol on driving performance. Results: Road accidents associated with driving under the influence are the isolated most important cause of deaths related to alcohol in m ny countries. For each increase in 0.02% in Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) the risk of a fatal accident duplicates. Most of the accidents in Colombia occur in the cities (75%) and 53.3% of deaths occur in pedestrians. It has been shown that education offers additional benefits. Conclusions: It is clear now that legal restrictions in the use of alcohol while driving produce reduction in road accidents, even more if accompanied by information and education programs. The knowledge of driving abilities impairment associated with alcohol consumption should be generalized, and the authorities asked to implement legal limits to driving under the effects of alcohol...

Sulphur partitioning in sediments and biodeposits below mussel rafts in the Ria de Arousa (Galicia, NW Spain).

Forty four core samples were analyzed to determine sediment particle size, total organic carbon (TOC), total inorganic carbon (TIC), total nitrogen and total sulphur. Sequential extraction of S was also carried out, differentiating AVS (acid volatile sulphide), elemental S, organic S and pyrite S. The results obtained show that the presence of mussel rafts causes intense changes in the physicochemical composition and properties of the sea floor in the Ria de Arousa. The percentage of silt and clay, TOC, TIC and total N were significantly higher in the biodeposit than in the sediment. In contrast, there were no differences between the biodeposit and the sediment in terms of pH (8.0-8.7) and redox potential. The sediment and biodeposit were always anoxic, with values of redox potentials below -100 mV. In accordance with these conditions, the dominant fraction of S was pyrite S (FeS(2)). The AVS fraction and elemental S were present at low concentrations, except in the uppermost part of each core. Pyrite was relatively stable when the biodeposit and sediment were maintained in suspension for 8 days in oxic sea water; unlike the AVS fraction, which disappeared within a few hours.

Eutrophication trends in forest soils in Galicia (NW Spain) caused by the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen compounds.

We calculated the sensitivity of Galician forest soils to eutrophication caused by atmospheric deposition of nitrogen compounds, using the Simple Mass Balance (SMB) method as described by [Posch, M., de Vries, W., Hettelingh, J.-P., 1995. Critical loads of sulphur and nitrogen. In: Posch, M., de Smet, P.A.M., Hettelingh, J.-P., Downing, R.J. Calculation and Mapping of Critical Thresholds in Europe. Status Report 1995, Coordination Center for Effects, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands, pp. 31-42]. Deposition values were used to calculate critical loads exceedance. Galician natural forest ecosystems can support nitrogen deposition loads of more than 10 kg Nha (-1) yr (-1). The lowest critical loads (approximately 10 kg Nha (-1) yr (-1)) mainly occurred in forest stands in the interior zone, while highest critical load values (approximately 68 kg Nha (-1) yr (-1)) were observed in eucalyptus stands at low altitudes in the littoral area. Exceedances based on N deposition levels, calculated from data recorded in 2001, occurred in 40% of the forest soils, showing the need to control N emissions in these areas to prevent possible eutrophication of soils and waters. Analysis of rainfall bulk composition revealed that ammonium, probably derived from agricultural and cattle activities, was the main compound responsible for N deposition in Galicia.