São Paulo urban heat islands have a higher incidence of dengue than other urban areas

Urban heat islands are characterized by high land surface temperature, low humidity, and poor vegetation, and considered to favor the transmission of the mosquito-borne dengue fever that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. We analyzed the recorded dengue incidence in Sao Paulo city, Brazil, in 2010-2011, in terms of multiple environmental and socioeconomic variables. Geographical information systems, thermal remote sensing images, and census data were used to classify city areas according to land surface temper- ature, vegetation cover, population density, socioeconomic status, and housing standards. Of the 7415 dengue cases, a majority (93.1%) mapped to areas with land surface temperature >28 ◦ C. The dengue incidence rate (cases per 100,000 inhabitants) was low (3.2 cases) in high vegetation cover areas, but high (72.3 cases) in low vegetation cover areas where the land surface temperature was 29 ± 2 ◦ C. Interestingly, a multiple cluster analysis phenogram showed more dengue cases clustered in areas of land surface temperature >32 ◦ C, than in areas characterized as low socioeconomic zones, high population density areas, or slum-like areas. In laboratory experiments, A. aegypti mosquito larval development, blood feeding, and oviposition associated positively with temperatures of 28-32 ◦ C, indicating these temperatures to be favorable for dengue transmission. Thus, among all the variables studied, dengue incidence was most affected by the temperature.

São Paulo urban heat islands have a higher incidence of dengue than other urban areas.

Urban heat islands are characterized by high land surface temperature, low humidity, and poor vegetation, and considered to favor the transmission of the mosquito-borne dengue fever that is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. We analyzed the recorded dengue incidence in Sao Paulo city, Brazil, in 2010-2011, in terms of multiple environmental and socioeconomic variables. Geographical information systems, thermal remote sensing images, and census data were used to classify city areas according to land surface temperature, vegetation cover, population density, socioeconomic status, and housing standards. Of the 7415 dengue cases, a majority (93.1%) mapped to areas with land surface temperature >28°C. The dengue incidence rate (cases per 100,000 inhabitants) was low (3.2 cases) in high vegetation cover areas, but high (72.3 cases) in low vegetation cover areas where the land surface temperature was 29±2°C. Interestingly, a multiple cluster analysis phenogram showed more dengue cases clustered in areas of land surface temperature >32°C, than in areas characterized as low socioeconomic zones, high population density areas, or slum-like areas. In laboratory experiments, A. aegypti mosquito larval development, blood feeding, and oviposition associated positively with temperatures of 28-32°C, indicating these temperatures to be favorable for dengue transmission. Thus, among all the variables studied, dengue incidence was most affected by the temperature.

Leucemia e residência próxima a postos de combustíveis: estudo exploratório na Cidade de São Paulo / Leukemia and Residence near to Gas stations: An Exploratory Study in São Paulo

Hidrocarbonetos aromáticos são encontrados naturalmente no ambiente, emesmo em baixas concentrações, exibem propriedades mutagênicas e/oupró-carcinogênicas para os seres humanos. O benzeno ocorre naturalmenteno petróleo bruto e como conseqüência, é um componente da gasolina.Também é formado durante a combustão incompleta de combustíveis fósseis(derivados de petróleo, carvão, e, em menor medida, madeira). Alémdisso, é um intermediário comercialmente importantes na fabricação demuitos produtos químicos.Apesar das emissões provenientes da gasolina e da indústria petroquímica,as quais são as principais fontes de benzeno para o ar ambiente, há umavasta gama de potenciais fontes deste composto, ainda que em baixas concentrações,dentro das residências. Por exemplo, materiais de construção ecertos materiais de decoração podem conter concentrações residuais debenzeno. Outras fontes potenciais residenciais incluem a fumaça do tabaco,as tintas e removedores de tintas, fogões a lenha, calefação, etc.Por ser volátil, a inalação é a via de exposição mais comum para a população,mas o benzeno também penetra rapidamente pela pele e pode contaminara água e alimentos, resultando em vias de exposição dérmica e por ingestão...