Contrasting environmental conditions precluded lower availability of Antarctic krill affecting breeding chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic Peninsula.

Dramatic decreases of chinstrap penguin populations across the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) are thought to be influenced by climate-driven changes affecting its main prey, the Antarctic krill, however, empirical evidence supporting such hypotheses are scarce. By coupling data on breeding chinstrap penguins, environmental remote sensing and estimates of krill acoustic density, we were able to demonstrate that penguins substantially increased their foraging effort in a year of low krill availability, with consequent reduction in breeding success. A winter of low sea ice cover followed by a summer/spring with stronger wind and lower marine productivity explained the lower and deeper krill availability. Our results highlight the importance of environmental variability on penguin populations, as variability is expected to increase under climate change, affecting foraging behaviour responses.

Anthropogenic debris in an Antarctic Specially Protected Area in the maritime Antarctic.

Antarctic Specially Protected Areas (ASPAs) provide the strongest environmental protection in Antarctica. However, they are not immune from anthropogenic pollution of marine or terrestrial origin. We document anthropogenic debris within ASPA No. 133 Harmony Point, Nelson Island, recovering 1544 items between November 2019 and January 2020. The majority (82.6 %) were found close to a national operator-constructed refuge and were smaller than 5 cm. Larger items (up to 300 cm) were present on beaches and plateaus. Charcoal and rubber were the most abundant items around the refuge and plastic and metal were the most abundant items on beaches and plateaus. Debris items likely arriving in the area by marine transportation (e.g. plastic) are of concern due to both risk of ingestion and their degradation leading to the release of hazardous chemicals. Such pollution contravenes the terms of the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty and other regionally applicable regulations.

Salt intake and blood pressure in the University of Asuncion-Paraguay youths: a preliminary study / O consumo de sal e sua relacão com a pressão arterial em jovens da Universidade de Assunção-Paraguai: estudo preliminar

INTRODUCTION: High salt intake is a major risk factor related to many cardiovascular and renal diseases. World Action on Salt and Health is a newly formed coalition of heath professionals whose goal is to implement changes in salt consumption in their respective countries for the goal of reducing blood pressure. In the same vein, we have decided to study the amount of salt intake in Paraguay to determine if a relationship exists between salt intake and blood pressure. OBJECTIVE: A preliminary study was undertaken to determine salt intake in Paraguay and its relationship with blood pressure, in order to implement a national program to combat hypertension. METHODS: Cross-sectional, observational study of 72 students from various universities in Asuncion (age range 22-30 years). Sodium excretion in 24-hour urine samples and blood pressure were measured. Assuming a steady state, urinary sodium excretion was converted into grams of salt ingested per day. RESULTS: Only 7% of the 72 participants had a salt intake less than the recommended maximum of 5 g/day. Forty-six percent had a blood pressure between 120-139 mmHg and 3% had stage 1 hypertension. There was no significant relationship between sodium excretion and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Salt intake and blood pressure were found to be significantly elevated in young adults in Paraguay and argues for the importance of instituting a national campaign to reduce salt intake in this society.

INTRODUÇÃO: O elevado consumo de sal é um importante fator de risco relacionado a muitas doenças cardiovasculares e renais. A Ação Mundial sobre Sal e Saúde (WASH) é uma coalizão recém-formada de profissionais de saúde, cujo objetivo é modificar o consumo de sal em seus respectivos países com a finalidade de reduzir os valores de pressão arterial. Neste contexto, decidimos estudar a quantidade de ingestão de sal no Paraguai para determinar se existe uma relação entre a ingestão de sal e valores de pressão arterial. OBJETIVO: Um estudo preliminar foi realizado para determinar o consumo de sal no Paraguai e sua relação com a pressão arterial, a fim de implementar um programa nacional para combater a hipertensão. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, observacional de 72 estudantes de várias universidades de Assunção (faixa etária 22-30 anos). Excreção de sódio em amostras de urina de 24 horas e valores de pressão arterial foram medidos. Assumindo um estado de equilíbrio, a excreção urinária de sódio foi convertida em gramas de sal ingeridos por dia. RESULTADOS: Apenas 7% dos 72 participantes tinham uma ingestão de sal menor ao máximo recomendado de 5g/dia. Quarenta e seis por cento tinham uma pressão arterial entre 120-139 mmHg e 3% tinham hipertensão estágio 1. Não houve relação significativa entre a excreção de sódio e pressão arterial. CONCLUSÃO: O consumo de sal e valores de pressão arterial encontrados foram significativamente elevados em adultos jovens do Paraguai, e defende-se a importância de se instituir uma campanha nacional para reduzir a ingestão de sal na sociedade.