Ciência e saúde: desafios ao patrimônio mundial / Science and health: challenges facing World Heritage

Resumo Desde a aprovação, em 1972, da Convenção para a Proteção do Patrimônio Mundial, a Unesco - agência das Nações Unidas para a educação, ciência e cultura - avalia as candidaturas e atualiza a Lista do Patrimônio Mundial. Em sua procura de ampliar o espectro de tipos de patrimônio reconhecidos como de valor universal excepcional, na perspectiva de reconhecimento da diversidade humana e de sua produção sociocultural, a Unesco vem incorporando novas categorias e temas. Pretende-se avaliar os resultados alcançados pela Unesco em sua indicação de bens mundiais, à luz das diferenças regionais e de possíveis lacunas de reconhecimento da diversidade cultural, do cotidiano e da produção humana, como o patrimônio cultural relativo às ciências e à saúde.

Abstract Since 1972, when the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage was adopted, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has assessed applications and added properties to its World Heritage List. In a quest to broaden the scope of heritage of outstanding universal value, giving due recognition to human diversity and sociocultural expression, UNESCO has introduced new categories and topics. The results it has attained in its listing of heritage sites are evaluated in the light of regional differences and potential gaps in the recognition of cultural diversity and everyday human activities and production as health and scientific heritage.

Enfoque químico del deterioro y biodeterioro de rocas calcáreas conformantes de monumentos patrimoniales de importancia histórica y cultural / Cheical standpoiintabout deterioration and biodeterioration of callcareous rocks that make part of cultural heritage moumments

Los monumentos pétreos declarados como patrimonio histórico son deteriorados a través del tiempo por efecto de agentes físicos, químicos y medioambientales. Estos últimos dependen en gran medida de la ubicación geográfica del inmueble, dichos agentes son: el régimen de vientos que desgasta la roca erosionándola; temporadas de lluvia que al contener sales disueltas causan corrosión por reacciones químicas de estas con la matriz del material calcáreo solubilizando el carbonato de calcio el cual es su principal componente; radiación solar durante todo el año causante de decoloramiento; humedad que permite el establecimiento de formas de vida. Las actividades antropogénicas que no son amigables con el ambiente son otro factor determinante, las emisiones de gases vehiculares por ejemplo, deterioran en gran medida los monumentos de piedra antiguos por ser agentes ácidos altamente corrosivos. Se crean así las condiciones para el establecimiento y proliferación de organismos vivos en la piedra tales como bacterias, algas, hongos, líquenes y plantas que por ser invasivos y colonizadores causan biodeterioro. Dado que los metabolismos de estas especies involucran el consumo de sustratos químicos orgánicos e inorgánicos presentes en la roca, son otro factor que va en detrimento de la estabilidad, durabilidad, y apariencia estética de la misma.

Stony monuments declared as cultural world heritage are deteriorated through the years because of physical, chemical and environmental agents which depend largely on their geographic location. Among these agents are: gust of, winds that wear away the stone eroding it; rainy seasons which bring dissolved salts and cause corrosion because of their chemical reaction with the calcareous material matrix which solubilizes calcium carbonate which is their main component; because of solar radiation all through the year stones lose their color; high humidity allows plants and living forms to grow. Anthropogenic activities which are not environmentally friendly are other important factor: vehicle gas emissions, for example, deteriorate greatly old stone monuments because they are highly corrosive acids. This way, optimal conditions are created for fungi, algae, bacteria, lichens and plants which are invasive and colonizing to live on the stone surface and cause biodeterioration. Since metabolisms of these species involve consumption of inorganic substrates that are present in the stones, they become another factor affecting monument's durability, stability, and aesthetic appearance.

Batimetría de la plataforma insular alrededor de la Isla del Coco, Costa Rica / The bathymetry of the insular platgorm aroubd Coco's Island, Costa Rica

The bathymetry of Coco's Island (UNESCO Natural and Cultural World Patrimony), located approximately 500 km from the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, is not well known. It has a high marine biodiversity and also represents a meeting site for many species traveling throughout the Pacific Ocean. The insular shelf is irregular in extension and also in bathymetric features. The northeast limit is defined by the 109.8-128.1 m contours (60-70 fathoms) while the 183 m contour (100 fathoms) practically defines the rest of the island, from which the depth gradient is steep. The maximum extension is to the northeast with a longitude of 13 km. In this context the present limits of the marine park (5 km), are insufficient to protect the whole insular shelf. Current regulation should be modified to prevent fishing activities less than 15 km from the Island.