Estimating the generation of household e-waste in municipalities using primary data from surveys: A case study of Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil.

Estimating the generation of Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) in municipalities is relevant for the adequate planning of take-back systems. However, current WEEE estimation studies have focused primarily at the country level, and relied mostly on secondary data from literature, especially when adopting discrete average lifespans for each type of appliance. This paper aims at developing and applying a WEEE estimation method in a Brazilian city, by obtaining primary data that reflects the differences in WEEE generation among the various social and economic profiles in the city. A survey with a stratified sample was carried out to collect representative data from each city Zone. Results show that lifespan distributions are most desirable for WEEE estimation studies than discrete averages, and that the lifespan profiles in the city are considerably different than previous values adopted in other Brazilian studies. Results also show significant variations of lifespan profiles for different types of WEEE among the different Zones of the city, which reflect the social and economic differences.

Comparative lifecycle assessment of alternatives for waste management in Rio de Janeiro - Investigating the influence of an attributional or consequential approach.

The environmental impacts from three management alternatives for organic fraction of municipal solid waste were compared using lifecycle assessment methodology. The alternatives (sanitary landfill, selective collection of organic waste for anaerobic digestion and anaerobic digestion after post-separation of organic waste) were modelled applying an attributional as well as consequential approach, in parallel with the aim of identifying if and how these approaches can affect results and conclusions. The marginal processes identified in the consequential modelling were in general associated with higher environmental impacts than average processes modelled with an attributional approach. As all investigated waste management alternatives result in net-substitution of energy and in some cases also materials, the consequential modelling resulted in lower absolute environmental impacts in five of the seven environmental impact categories assessed in the study. In three of these, the chosen modelling approach can alter the hierarchy between compared waste management alternatives. This indicates a risk of underestimating potential benefits from efficient energy recovery from waste when applying attributional modelling in contexts in which electricity provision historically has been dominated by technologies presenting rather low environmental impacts, but where projections point at increasing impacts from electricity provision in coming years. Thus, in the present case study, the chosen approach affects both absolute and relative results from the comparison. However, results were largely related to the processes identified as affected by investigated changes, and not merely the chosen modelling approach. The processes actually affected by future choices between different waste management alternatives are intrinsically uncertain. The study demonstrates the benefits of applying different assumptions regarding the processes affected by investigated choices - both for provision of energy and materials substituted by waste management processes in consequential LCA modelling, in order to present outcomes that are relevant as decision support within the waste management sector.

Input respiratory impedance in mice: comparison between the flow-based and the wavetube method to perform the forced oscillation technique.

Objective and approach: In this study, we estimated the constant phase model (CPM) parameters from the respiratory impedance of male BALB/c mice by performing the forced oscillation technique (FOT) in a control group (n = 8) and in a murine model of asthma (OVA) (n = 10). Then, we compared the results obtained by two different methods, using a commercial equipment (flexiVent-flexiWare 7.X; SCIREQ, Montreal, Canada) (FXV) and a wavetube method equipment (Sly et al 2003 J. Appl. Physiol. 94 1460-6) (WVT). We believe that the results from different methods may not be comparable. First, we compared the results performing a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the resistance, elastance and tissue damping. MAIN RESULTS: We found statistically significant differences in all CPM parameters, except for resistance, when comparing Control and OVA groups. When comparing devices, we found statistically significant differences in resistance, while differences in elastance were not observed. For tissue damping, the results from WVT were observed to be higher than those from FXV. Finally, when comparing the relative variation between the CPM parameters of the Control and OVA groups in both devices, no significant differences were observed for all parameters. SIGNIFICANCE: We then conclude that this assessment can compensate the effect of using different cannulas. Furthermore, tissue damping differences between groups can be compensated, since bronchoconstrictors were not used. Therefore, we believe that relative variations in the results between groups can be a comparing parameter when using different equipment without bronchoconstrictor administration.

Bacterial extract (OM-85) with human-equivalent doses does not inhibit the development of asthma in a murine model.

BACKGROUND: OM-85 is an immunostimulant bacterial lysate, which has been proven effective in reducing the number of lower airways infections. We investigated the efficacy of the bacterial lysate OM-85 in the primary prevention of a murine model of asthma. METHODS: In the first phase of our study the animals received doses of 0.5µg, 5µg and 50µg of OM-85 through gavage for five days (days -10 to -6 of the protocol), 10 days prior to starting the sensitisation with ovalbumin (OVA), in order to evaluate the results of dose-response protocols. A single dose (5µg) was then chosen in order to verify in detail the effect of OM-85 on the pulmonary allergic response. Total/differential cells count and cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ) from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), OVA-specific IgE levels from serum, lung function and lung histopathological analysis were evaluated. RESULTS: OM-85 did not reduce pulmonary eosinophilic response, regardless of the dose used. In the phase protocol using 5µg/animal of OM-85, no difference was shown among the groups studied, including total cell and eosinophil counts in BALF, serum OVA-specific IgE, lung histopathologic findings and lung resistance. However, OM-85 decreased IL-5 and IL-13 levels in BALF. CONCLUSIONS: OM-85, administered in early life in mice in human-equivalent doses, does not inhibit the development of allergic pulmonary response in mice.

Extracellular DNA traps in bronchoalveolar fluid from a murine eosinophilic pulmonary response.

Asthma is associated with a loss of the structural integrity of airway epithelium and dysfunction of the physical barrier, which protects airways from external harmful factors. Granulocyte activation causes the formation of extracellular traps, releasing web-like structures of DNA and proteins, being important to kill pathogens extracellularly. We investigated whether eosinophils infiltrating airways in an experimental model of asthma would induce eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue. We showed that an ovalbumin (OVA) asthma protocol presented a significant increase in eosinophil counts with increased extracellular DNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid as well as in lung tissue, confirming the presence of DNA traps colocalized with eosinophil peroxidase. EETs formation was reversed by DNase treatment. With these approaches, we demonstrated for the first time that OVA-challenged mice release extracellular DNA traps, which could aggravate pulmonary dysfunction.

Sensitisation to aeroallergens in Brazilian adolescents living at the periphery of large subtropical urban centres.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the sensitization to aeroallergens determined by skin prick test (SPT) in Brazilian adolescents, and to correlate its positivity with the diagnosis of asthma and/or rhinitis based on the written questionnaire (WQ) of ISAAC phase III study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 996 adolescents (387 boys) were selected by systematic samples. A standard allergen extracts panel (positive/negative control, D pteronyssinus [Dpt], P americana [Pa], B germanica [Bg], dog, cat, fungal and grass mix) was used and its positivity compared with positive responses to asthma, rhinitis or both. RESULTS: Positive SPT to at least one allergen was observed in 466 adolescents (46.8 %), with sensitisation to Dpt in 79.1 %. Positivity to more than one allergen occurred in 232 students (49.8 %). The frequency of positive SPTs was significantly higher among adolescents with asthma (OR = 2.16), rhinitis (OR = 1.69), and asthma and rhinitis (OR = 2.03). Positive SPT to four or more allergens were higher among asthmatics (OR = 2.6) and among adolescents with asthma and rhinitis (OR = 3). CONCLUSIONS: A high sensitisation rate to aeroallergens was observed, significantly higher among those with asthma, rhinitis or a combination of both, especially in multiple sensitisations.

[Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) breeding in Bromeliaceae in the outskirts of an urban area of the city of São Paulo, Brazil]. / Encontro de Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse) em Bromeliaceae na periferia de São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Larvae of Aedes albopictus from a plant of the Bromeliaceae family on the outskirts of S. Paulo, SP, Brazil, were collected. This occurrence sheds new light on the attempt to determine the potential of this plants as a breeding site for this mosquito in Brazil.

Esclerose lateral amiotrófica: variante distal dos membros inferiores; apresentaçäo de três casos / Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: distal variant of the lower extremities; report of 3 cases

Os autores apresentam três casos de pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica, variante de patrikios, chamando a atençäo para a importância do diagnóstico diferencial desta com as neuropatias periféricas