Identification of daily environmental noise patterns in two different urban sites in Santiago, Chile / Análisis de ruido ambiental en Santiago, Chile

Background: Environmental noise can cause auditory and non-auditory adverse effects. Aim: To identify daily environmental noise patterns in two urban sites of Metropolitan Santiago. Material and Methods: Continuous measurements of environmental noise in two sites of Metropolitan Santiago were analyzed by means of hierarchical cluster analysis. One site was a main street with heavy traffic and the second was a street from a neighborhood with intense nocturnal activity. The first phase of analysis consisted of clustering noise profiles with similar shapes according to the average linkage method, with correlation as the similarity measure. The second phase grouped the profiles with similar shapes into sub-clusters that also had similar absolute noise levels, using the complete linkage method, with absolute distance as the similarity measure. Results: Two noise patterns were identified for the first site, one for weekdays (Monday to Friday) and another for weekends (Saturday and Sunday). For the second site five different patterns were identified (Monday to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Also different patterns appeared for summer compared to the rest of the year. The noise levels of both sites were high. Conclusions: The detected noise levels can be annoying, cause sleep disturbances and increase the risk for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, among other effects.

Antecedentes: El ruido ambiental puede tener efectos adversos auditivos y no auditivos. Objetivo: Identificar patrones diarios de ruido ambiental en dos sectores urbanos de Santiago, Chile. Material y Métodos: Se analizaron mediciones continuas de ruido ambiental realizadas en dos emplazamientos urbanos de Santiago, Chile, mediante análisis de cluster jerárquico. Los dos lugares fueron una avenida principal con alto tráfico vehicular y una calle en un barrio con intensa actividad nocturna. La primera fase del análisis agrupó perfiles de ruido con formas similares de acuerdo al método de vinculación promedio, usando la correlación como medida de similitud. La segunda fase agrupó los perfiles con formas similares en subclusters que también tuvieran niveles de ruido similares, usando el método de vinculación completa, con la distancia absoluta como medida de similitud. Resultados: Se identificaron dos patrones para el primer emplazamiento, uno para días de semana (lunes a viernes) y otro para fines de semana (sábado y domingo). Para el segundo emplazamiento se identificaron cinco patrones diferentes (lunes a miércoles, jueves, viernes, sábado, y domingo), así como patrones distintos para el verano en comparación con el resto del año. Los niveles de ruido en ambos lugares fueron altos. Conclusiones: Los niveles de ruido detectados podrían producir molestias, perturbación del sueño, incremento de riesgo de hipertensión y enfermedades cardiovasculares, entre otros efectos.

Identification of daily environmental noise patterns in two different urban sites in Santiago, Chile.

BACKGROUND: Environmental noise can cause auditory and non-auditory adverse effects. AIM: To identify daily environmental noise patterns in two urban sites of Metropolitan Santiago. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Continuous measurements of environmental noise in two sites of Metropolitan Santiago were analyzed by means of hierarchical cluster analysis. One site was a main street with heavy traffic and the second was a street from a neighborhood with intense nocturnal activity. The first phase of analysis consisted of clustering noise profiles with similar shapes according to the average linkage method, with correlation as the similarity measure. The second phase grouped the profiles with similar shapes into sub-clusters that also had similar absolute noise levels, using the complete linkage method, with absolute distance as the similarity measure. RESULTS: Two noise patterns were identified for the first site, one for weekdays (Monday to Friday) and another for weekends (Saturday and Sunday). For the second site five different patterns were identified (Monday to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday). Also different patterns appeared for summer compared to the rest of the year. The noise levels of both sites were high. CONCLUSIONS: The detected noise levels can be annoying, cause sleep disturbances and increase the risk for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, among other effects.

Trace element contents in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in urban school microenvironments near a contaminated beach with mine tailings, Chañaral, Chile.

Air quality in schools is an important public health issue because children spend a considerable part of their daily life in classrooms. Particulate size and chemical composition has been associated with negative health effects. We studied levels of trace element concentrations in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in indoor versus outdoor school settings from six schools in Chañaral, a coastal city with a beach severely polluted with mine tailings. Concentrations of trace elements were measured on two consecutive days during the summer and winter of 2012 and 2013 and determined using X-ray fluorescence. Source apportionment and element enrichment were measured using principal components analysis and enrichment factors. Trace elements were higher in indoor school spaces, especially in classrooms compared with outdoor environments. The most abundant elements were Na, Cl, S, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Ti, and Si, associated with earth's crust. Conversely, an extremely high enrichment factor was determined for Cu, Zn, Ni and Cr; heavy metals associated with systemic and carcinogenic risk effects, whose probably origin sources are industrial and mining activities. These results suggest that the main source of trace elements in PM2.5 from these school microenvironments is a mixture of dust contaminated with mine tailings and marine aerosols. Policymakers should prioritize environmental management changes to minimize further environmental damage and its direct impact on the health of children exposed.

[Food insecurity among elderly people in 15 districts of the Great Santiago area; an unresolved issue]. / Inseguridad alimentaria en adultos mayores en 15 comunas del Gran Santiago; un tema pendiente.

INTRODUCTION: To experience food insecurity determines negative consequences regarding nutrition, health and general wellness among older adults and their families. In Chile it practically doesn't exist any information related to it, despite this matter represents a major public health issue in other countries in the region. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of food insecurity and it's relation with socio-demographic, economic and nutritional factors among older adults residing in medium-low and low-income status districts, in the Great Santiago area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study in 344 older adults, between 65 and 74 year-old; a socioeconomic, demographic, nutritional and food-insecurity survey at the homes (HFIAS). A prevalence of food insecurity and it relation with the independent variables was determined, by means of multi-variety logistic regression models. RESULTS: The 40.4% of the sample presented food insecurity (95% IC 35.2-45.6%), predominantly of the mild type, with a higher proportion of women, at the limit of the statistic significance. The probability of perceiving food insecurity was significantly associated to low family income (OR 4.2 IC 2.1-8.6), with a greater number of members in the home (OR 2.4), malnutrition by deficit and/or excess (OR 2.0), not to be the owner of the house (OR 2.0), and low individual income (OR 1.8). CONCLUSIONS: There exists a high prevalence of food insecurity among this population, which is associated with socio-demographic, economic and nutritional status. The food security represents an important public health and nutritional issue in the country, which needs to be investigated further.

Introducción: Experimentar inseguridad alimentaria determina consecuencias negativas en la nutrición, salud y bienestar general de los adultos mayores y sus familias. En Chile prácticamente no existe información al respecto, a pesar de ser un importante problema de salud pública en otros países de la región. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de inseguridad alimentaria y su relación con factores sociodemográficos, económicos y nutricionales en Adultos Mayores residentes en comunas del nivel socioeconómico medio-bajo y bajo del Gran Santiago. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal en 344 adultos mayores de 65 a 74 años; encuesta socioeconómica, demográfica, nutricional y de inseguridad alimentaria en el hogar (HFIAS). Se determinó prevalencia de inseguridad alimentaria y su relación con las variables independientes por modelos de regresión logística multivariados. Resultados: El 40,4% de muestra presentaba inseguridad alimentaria (95% IC 35,2-45,6%), predominantemente de tipo leve, con una proporción mayor en mujeres, en el límite de la significación estadística. La probabilidad de percibir inseguridad alimentaria se asoció significativamente con bajos ingresos familiares (OR 4,2 IC 2,1-8,6), con mayor número de personas en el hogar (OR 2,4), malnutrición por déficit o exceso (OR 2,0), no ser propietario de la vivienda (OR 2,0) y menores ingresos personales (OR 1,8). Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de inseguridad alimentaria en esta población, la que se asocia con variables sociodemográficas, económicas y nutricionales. La seguridad alimentaria es un importante tema de salud pública y nutrición en el país, que debe ser investigado en mayor profundidad.

Inseguridad alimentaria en adultos mayores en 15 comunas del gran Santiago; un tema pendiente / Food insecurity among elderly people in 15 districts of the Great Santiago area; an unresolved issue

Introducción: Experimentar inseguridad alimentaria determina consecuencias negativas en la nutrición, salud y bienestar general de los adultos mayores y sus familias. En Chile prácticamente no existe información al respecto, a pesar de ser un importante problema de salud pública en otros países de la región. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de inseguridad alimentaria y su relación con factores sociodemográficos, económicos y nutricionales en Adultos Mayores residentes en comunas del nivel socioeconómico medio-bajo y bajo del Gran Santiago. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional transversal en 344 adultos mayores de 65 a 74 años; encuesta socioeconómica, demográfica, nutricional y de inseguridad alimentaria en el hogar (HFIAS). Se determinó prevalencia de inseguridad alimentaria y su relación con las variables independientes por modelos de regresión logística multivariados. Resultados: El 40,4% de muestra presentaba inseguridad alimentaria (95% IC 35,2-45,6%), predominantemente de tipo leve, con una proporción mayor en mujeres, en el límite de la significación estadística. La probabilidad de percibir inseguridad alimentaria se asoció significativamente con bajos ingresos familiares (OR 4,2 IC 2,1-8,6), con mayor número de personas en el hogar (OR 2,4), malnutrición por déficit o exceso (OR 2,0), no ser propietario de la vivienda (OR 2,0) y menores ingresos personales (OR 1,8). Conclusiones: Existe una alta prevalencia de inseguridad alimentaria en esta población, la que se asocia con variables sociodemográficas, económicas y nutricionales. La seguridad alimentaria es un importante tema de salud pública y nutrición en el país, que debe ser investigado en mayor profundidad (AU)

INTRODUCTION: To experience food insecurity determines negative consequences regarding nutrition, health and general wellness among older adults and their families. In Chile it practically doesn't exist any information related to it, despite this matter represents a major public health issue in other countries in the region. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of food insecurity and it's relation with socio-demographic, economic and nutritional factors among older adults residing in medium-low and low-income status districts, in the Great Santiago area. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study in 344 older adults, between 65 and 74 year-old; a socioeconomic, demographic, nutritional and food-insecurity survey at the homes (HFIAS). A prevalence of food insecurity and it relation with the independent variables was determined, by means of multi-variety logistic regression models. RESULTS: The 40.4% of the sample presented food insecurity (95% IC 35.2-45.6%), predominantly of the mild type, with a higher proportion of women, at the limit of the statistic significance. The probability of perceiving food insecurity was significantly associated to low family income (OR 4.2 IC 2.1-8.6), with a greater number of members in the home (OR 2.4), malnutrition by deficit and/or excess (OR 2.0), not to be the owner of the house (OR 2.0), and low individual income (OR 1.8).CONCLUSIONS: There exists a high prevalence of food insecurity among this population, which is associated with socio-demographic, economic and nutritional status. The food security represents an important public health and nutritional issue in the country, which needs to be investigated further (AU)