Removal of fecal indicator organisms and parasites (fecal coliforms and helminth eggs) from municipal biologic sludge by anaerobic mesophilic and thermophilic digestion.

In this work, two egg-shaped, 5L-volume, anaerobic sludge digesters were used, one under mesophilic conditions (35 degrees C, M1), and the other under thermophilic conditions (55 degrees C, T1). Both digesters were fed with the purged sludge from an anaerobic treatment plant (start-up period) and from an activated sludge plant (stabilization period), treating municipal wastewaters. The purpose of the study was to establish the technical feasibility of the anaerobic thermophilic sludge treatment comparatively, during the stages of start-up and stabilization of the process, for removing pathogenic microorganisms and parasites efficiently. The results show that, in both stages, the anaerobic thermophilic digester presents higher efficiency on the removal of pathogens and parasites, than the mesophilic digester. Anaerobic thermophilic digestion is close to complying with the EPA (1998) limits for "Class A" type biosolids, referring to the number of parasitic helminth eggs (0.25 HELarval/gTS), and to the pathogen indicator fecal coliforms (< 1000 MPN/gTS). Therefore, the results show that thermophilic anaerobic digestion of biologic sludge may be considered as a suitable technology for the production of Class A biosolids, for further use in agriculture without restrictions.

[Secular trends in birth weight in the city of São Paulo, Brazil (1976-1998)]. / Tendência secular do peso ao nascer na cidade de São Paulo (1976-1998).

OBJECTIVE: Data from two household surveys on infant and child health status undertaken in the mid-80s and mid-90s, complemented with previous data collected from maternity hospitals records and more recent data provided by the state system on birth registries, allowed to characterize and analyse secular trends in birth weight in the city of S. Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: The household surveys included random samples of children under 5 years old (n = 1,016 children in 1984-85 and n = 1,280 children in 1995-96). A random sample of births that took place in the city's hospitals in the year of 1976 (n = 5,734) was drawn from the hospital records. Birth registries refer to children born in the city between 1993 and 1998 (around 200,000 per year). The study of the social distribution of birth weight took into account the per capita family income and maternal schooling. For the analysis of the determinants of secular trends, hierarchical causal models, multivariate regression analyses and calculations analogous to the ones used to assess population attributable risks were applied. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Birth weight distribution in S. Paulo city (an average of 3,160 g and 8.9% of the values < 2,500 g) is below the expected for optimum fetal growth conditions (average 3,400-3,500 g and 4-5% of the values < 2,500 g). The birth weight distribution did not change substantially along the study period (1976-1998). However, there are evidences of changes when different socioeconomic strata are considered separately. Among the lower strata trends have been positive and this seems to be due to increases in intrauterine growth as a result of an improvement in family's purchasing power, women's weight and height, prenatal care and, possibly, the reduction in smoking. Among the higher socioeconomic strata, birth weight trends have been negative apparently due to an increase in premature births of unknown origin.

Father's unemployment and adolescent's self-concept.

This study examined families in which fathers were affected by a steel mill shutdown, and tested hypotheses on the impact of unemployment on parent-child relations and adolescent self-concept. The hypotheses were tested by comparing convenience samples of three types of intact families with children between the ages of 12 and 18: continuously employed, unemployed with slight income loss, unemployed with significant income loss. As predicted, relationship with fathers were more negative when income loss was significant, but contrary to predictions, the relationship with mothers were not more positive, and adolescent self-concept was not directly affected by unemployment or income loss. However, a path analysis showed that income loss affected adolescent self-concept indirectly through its impact on parent-child relations.

[Health conditions for mothers and infants in Ceara. An assessment of the information system for mothers]. / As condicoes de saude de maes e criancas do Ceara (Avaliacao atraves de um sistema de informacoes de maternidades).

By surveying mothers who gave birth in maternity hospitals in the state of Ceara, Brazil, the author assesses health indicators in order to identify the risks pregnant women of different sub-populations undergo. "The conclusion was that a large proportion of the population lives in very unfavorable conditions, with poor access to education and without proper sanitation. Although exposed to greater risks, both overall and biological, the pregnant women in the study undergo fewer prenatal checks than those who have better social and sanitary conditions. This results in greater proportions of low weight stillborn children and in higher infant mortality rates." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[An increase in differential mortality by sex in the state of Sao Paulo]. / Aumento do diferencial por sexo da mortalidade no estado de Sao Paulo

"Historical data series from the vital registration system of the State of Sao Paulo are used to identify the age-groups where the increase of male surplus mortality has been most intense. In these age-groups, the evolution of the principal causes of death which account for this increase of the sex differential of mortality are analyzed over the past 40 years." The results show that despite a general decline in mortality, there has been an increase in mortality differentials by sex, particularly between ages 15 and 39. This is primarily due to a decrease in female deaths related to pregnancy and an increase in accidents and homicides among males. (summary in ENG)