Browsing by Author "Lage, Joana"
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- Bioburden in sleeping environments from Portuguese dwellingsPublication . Viegas, Carla; Dias, Marta; Monteiro, Ana; Faria, Tiago; Lage, Joana; Carolino, Elisabete; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Gomes, Anita Q.; Almeida, Susana Marta; Verde, Sandra Cabo; Belo, Joana; Canha, NunoA wider characterization of indoor air quality during sleep is still lacking in the literature. This study intends to assess bioburden before and after sleeping periods in Portuguese dwellings through active methods (air sampling) coupled with passive methods, such as electrostatic dust cloths (EDC); and investigate associations between before and after sleeping and bioburden. In addition, and driven by the lack of information regarding fungi azole-resistance in Portuguese dwellings, a screening with supplemented media was also performed. The most prevalent genera of airborne bacteria identified in the indoor air of the bedrooms were Micrococcus (41%), Staphylococcus (15%) and Neisseria (9%). The major indoor bacterial species isolated in all ten studied bedrooms were Micrococcus luteus (30%), Staphylococcus aureus (13%) and Micrococcus varians (11%). Our results highlight that our bodies are the source of the majority of the bacteria found in the indoor air of our homes. Regarding air fungal contamination, Chrysosporium spp. presented the highest prevalence both in after the sleeping period (40.8%) and before the sleeping period (28.8%) followed by Penicillium spp. (23.47% morning; 23.6% night) and Chrysonilia spp. (12.4% morning; 20.3% night). Several Aspergillus sections were identified in air and EDC samples. However, none of the fungal species/strains (Aspergillus sections Fumigati, Flavi, Nidulantes and Circumdati) were amplified by qPCR in the analyzed EDC. The correlations observed suggest reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs of some fungal species found in sleeping environments. Toxigenic fungal species and indicators of harmful fungal contamination were observed in sleeping environments.
- Compliance of indoor air quality during sleep with legislation and guidelines: a case study of Lisbon dwellingsPublication . Canha, Nuno; Alves, Ana Carolina; Marta, Catarina Simão; Lage, Joana; Belo, Joana; Faria, Tiago; Cabo-Verde, Sandra; Viegas, Carla; Alves, Célia; Almeida, Susana MartaThis study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the indoor air quality during the sleeping period of 10 couples at Lisbon dwellings, using a multi-pollutant approach, and to understand how the compliance with legislation and guidelines was to assure good indoor air quality. The assessment of indoor air quality was conducted in the cold season using real-time monitors during the sleeping period for comfort parameters (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollutants (carbon dioxide - CO2, carbon monoxide - CO, formaldehyde - CH2O, total volatile organic compounds - VOCs, and particulate matter - PM2.5 and PM10), together with an active sampling of bioaerosols (fungi and bacteria) before and after the sleeping period. Lower compliance (less than 50% of the cases) with the Portuguese legislation was found for temperature, CO2 (3440 ± 1610 mg m-3), VOCs (1.79 ± 0.99 mg m-3), and both bioaerosol types. In 70% of the cases, PM2.5 (15.3 ± 9.1 μg m-3) exceeded the WHO guideline of 10 μg m-3. All bedrooms presented air change rates above the recommended minimum value of 0.7 h-1, highlighting that good indoor air quality during sleep is not guaranteed.
- Insomnia and sleep apnea: would indoor environment change the picture?Publication . Belo, Joana; Araújo Gonçalves, Sara; Gonçalves, Sara; Lage, Joana; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Carolino, Elisabete; Mendez, Sergio; Canha, Nuno; Cruz, Miguel Meira eIntroduction: Sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, impacting several dimensions from cognitive impairment to cardiometabolic risk. Yet, many individuals struggle with sleep-related issues such as sleep apnea, and insomnia, often without realizing that the indoor environment may be a contributing factor. The present data concerns the preliminary results from one of the tasks of the HypnosAirStudy (www.hypnosair.com) and it aims to describe the prevalence of insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OAS), and self-perceived indoor air quality, in a sample of Portuguese adults.
- Integration of biomonitoring and instrumental techniques to assess the air quality in an industrial area located in the coastal of Central Asturias, SpainPublication . Almeida, Susana Marta; Lage, Joana; Freitas, Maria do Carmo; Pedro, Ana Isabel; Ribeiro, Tiago; Silva, Alexandra Viana; Canha, Nuno; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Sitoe, TimóteoThroughout the world, epidemiological studies were established to examine the relationship between air pollution and mortality rates and adverse respiratory health effects. However, despite the years of discussion the correlation between adverse health effects and atmospheric pollution remains controversial, partly because these studies are frequently restricted to small and well-monitored areas. Monitoring air pollution is complex due to the large spatial and temporal variations of pollution phenomena, the high costs of recording instruments, and the low sampling density of a purely instrumental approach. Therefore, together with the traditional instrumental monitoring, bioindication techniques allow for the mapping of pollution effects over wide areas with a high sampling density. In this study, instrumental and biomonitoring techniques were integrated to support an epidemiological study that will be developed in an industrial area located in Gijon in the coastal of central Asturias, Spain. Three main objectives were proposed to (i) analyze temporal patterns of PM10 concentrations in order to apportion emissions sources, (ii) investigate spatial patterns of lichen conductivity to identify the impact of the studied industrial area in air quality, and (iii) establish relationships amongst lichen conductivity with some site-specific characteristics. Samples of the epiphytic lichen Parmelia sulcata were transplanted in a grid of 18 by 20 km with an industrial area in the center. Lichens were exposed for a 5-mo period starting in April 2010. After exposure, lichen samples were soaked in 18-MΩ water aimed at determination of water electrical conductivity and, consequently, lichen vitality and cell damage. A marked decreasing gradient of lichens conductivity relative to distance from the emitting sources was observed. Transplants from a sampling site proximal to the industrial area reached values 10-fold higher than levels far from it. This finding showed that lichens reacted physiologically in the polluted industrial area as evidenced by increased conductivity correlated to contamination level. The integration of temporal PM10 measurements and analysis of wind direction corroborated the importance of this industrialized region for air quality measurements and identified the relevance of traffic for the urban area.
- A methodology to empower citizens towards a low-carbon economy: the potential of schools and sustainability indicatorsPublication . Lizana, Jesus; Manteigas, Vítor; Chacartegui, Ricardo; Lage, Joana; Becerra, Jose A.; Blondeau, Patrice; Rato, Ricardo; Silva, Filipe; Gamarra, Ana R.; Herrera, Israel; Gomes, Margarida; Fernandez, Amaia; Berthier, Celine; Gonçalves, Karla; Alexandre, Jose L.; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Almeida, Susana MartaEnvironmental empowering to control resource consumption and environmental impacts is critical to engage citizens to adopt more sustainable habits. This study demonstrates the potential benefits of innovative approaches based on sustainability indicators towards a low-carbon economy. A methodology to measure and promote sustainability in schools has been proposed and evaluated, aiming at showing the environmental performance and informing of potential environmental savings. The methodology, titled ClimACT, has two main purposes: measuring the environmental performance of schools through a school sustainability index based on measurable indicators in the areas of transport, procurement, green spaces, indoor air quality, energy, water and waste; and encouraging students, teachers and families towards an energy-efficient and low-carbon pathway through a structural procedure based on roles, activities and progress evaluation. The approach, applied to 39 pilot schools from Portugal, Spain, France and Gibraltar, achieved promising and encouraging results. All schools deployed the methodology successfully, achieving measurable environmental benefits in 95% of cases, with an average improvement of 10% in the global performance of schools after one year. Moreover, the 5112 surveys applied to school communities, before and after the methodology implementation, highlighted how the sustainable indicators had a significant influence on the daily lives of families, leading to improvements of their behaviour, with an average increase of 20% in indicators regarding good practices in transport, energy, water, waste and citizenship. The environmental empowering through measurable indicators is a step forward a low-carbon economy. This methodology is open and adaptable to all sectors and requirements.
- Mobility patterns of scholar communities in Southwestern European countriesPublication . Lage, Joana; d’Espiney, Ana; Canha, Nuno; Manteigas, Vítor; Alexandre, José Luís; Gonçalves, Karla; Chacartegui, Ricardo; Lizana, Jesus; Lechón, Yolanda; Gamarra, Ana Rosa; Fernandez, Amaia; Blondeau, Patrice; Gomes, Margarida; Almeida, Susana MartaThe present study aimed to provide an in-depth assessment of the commuting patterns of scholar communities of southwestern European countries and to identify measures to improve their sustainable performance regarding mobility. The adopted methodology characterized the mobility pattern of students as a sustainability indicator and the availability of related infrastructures and local public transport networks. Data were gathered by qualitative (behavioral questionnaires) and quantitative (technical audits) approaches, based on measurable indicators (key performance indicators and scores (ranging between 0–5)). Overall, French schools showed the best sustainable performance regarding mobility (2.0) and Gibraltar had the lowest (1.2). The existence of bike parking and electric car charging points were the main weaknesses founds (with their related mean scores being 0.6 and 0.2, respectively). The score associated with annual CO2 emissions due to students’ mobility had the best performance, where all countries managed to obtain an average of 3.1. The global score, which assessed the sustainable performance of scholar communities regarding mobility, had a mean value of 1.5 for all studied countries, which highlights the potential for improvement of the studied schools, mainly targeting the public transport network optimization and the enhancement of scholar infrastructures concerning bicycle parking and electric cars.
- Self-perception of indoor air quality during sleep: preliminary findings from HypnosAir studyPublication . Araújo Gonçalves, Sara; Belo, Joana; Lage, Joana; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Carolino, Elisabete; Mendez, Sergio; Cruz, Miguel Meira e; Canha, NunoIntroduction: Building occupants' comfort and health have been enhanced by Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). This concept has drawn increased attention in recent decades from the international scientific community, political institutions, and environmental governance. Additionally, the traditional methods for assessing indoor air quality(IAQ)are intended to reduce and control indoor air pollutants without considering the individual perceptions of occupants. Therefore, it is important to have an integrated approach that incorporates both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Furthermore, the HypnosAir study aims to investigate the environmental elements that influence sleep quality and assess the contribution that the sleeping environment plays in the daily integrated human exposure to air pollution.
- Self-perception of sleep quality and indoor air quality: preliminary findings from HypnosAir studyPublication . Espingardeiro, Cláudia; Ricardo, Mariana; Satiro, Francisco; Gonçalves, Sara; Fonseca, Virgínia; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Carolino, Elisabete; Mendez, Sergio; Meira e Cruz, Miguel; Lage, Joana; Canha, Nuno; Belo, JoanaSleep plays an important role in essential body functions, individuals’ welfare, health, and daily productivity. Sleep structure is vulnerable to several features that include both pathophysiology processes and environmental influences. Typically, sleeping environments are characterized by low ventilation rates, leading to pollutant accumulation. Adding to this, the breathing zone is very close to potential sources of pollutants, such as the mattresses and bed sheets. This study aims to describe and characterize the sleep and sleep environment perception of the Portuguese population.
- Será que o ar que respiramos enquanto dormimos condiciona a qualidade do nosso sono?Publication . Canha, Nuno; Lage, Joana; Belo, Joana; Picado, Mariana; Faria, Tiago; Cruz, Miguel Meira; Macedo, Paula; Cabo Verde, Sandra; Viegas, Carla; Alves, Célia; Almeida, Susana MartaEste estudo avaliou a qualidade do ar interior durante o sono de 9 casais voluntários da zona da grande Lisboa (Portugal), numa abordagem de multi‐poluentes. Em simultâneo, o sono foi avaliado através da realização de um estudo poligráfico. Valores médios de CO2 e COVs acima dos estabelecidos pela legislação Portuguesa foram encontrados, sendo que ainda se verificaram excedências pontuais para outros parâmetros, como PM2.5, bactérias e fungos. A avaliação de potenciais associações entre a qualidade do ar que se respira enquanto se dorme e os parâmetros do sono revelou associações fracas entre parâmetros da qualidade do ar e indicadores cardiovasculares e respiratórios da resposta autónoma durante o sono e a estrutura do sono, que podem ter influência na qualidade do mesmo.
- Sleep and indoor air quality: an exploratory polysomnographic evaluation of potential associationsPublication . Belo, Joana; Meira e Cruz, Miguel; Viegas, Carla; Lage, Joana; Almeida, Susana Marta; Cabo Verde, Sandra; Alves, Célia; Canha, NunoThis exploratory pilot study examines the potential impact of indoor environmental exposures on sleep quality, with a particular focus on a comprehensive characterization of indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters and their association with sleep architecture assessed through polysomnography. The study was conducted during the cold seasons of 2016 and 2017 with a small sample of 10 subjects from the urban area of Lisbon, Portugal. Polysomnography was performed over two consecutive weeknights, while IAQ monitoring took place over three consecutive nights using typical real-time instruments. Additionally, bioburden was assessed in each bedroom before and after the sleep period using active methods. The analysis was based on correlations between the environmental parameters and the sleep data from these 10 subjects. Parametric and non-parametric statistics were employed to examine potential associations, with a significance level set at α = 0.05. The findings showed that higher bedroom temperatures during sleep were associated with a decrease in REM sleep. Both minimum and mean heart rates (HR) increased with higher levels of CO and CO2, while post-sleep bacteria levels were linked to a decrease in maximum HR. Fungal levels in the bedrooms were associated with a reduction in NREM2, and higher formaldehyde exposure was found to increase REM sleep latency. Exposure to PM2.5 negatively impacted NREM1, RDI, and snoring, while PM10 levels were negatively correlated with WASO and RDI. Although these findings provide a preliminary baseline, they are based on a small sample and may not be representative, highlighting the need for future studies to confirm the effects of various IAQ parameters on sleep quality in a larger and more diverse population.