http://hdl.handle.net/10174/29500 2026-07-31T17:55:32Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41772 Title: Environmental status of TBT pollution in the Portuguese coastline: insights into persistence and regulatory implementation challenges Authors: Galante-Oliveira, S; Coelho, S; Pereira, D; Oliveira, I B; Laranjeiro, F; Sousa, Ana Catarina; Potes, ML; Batista, R; Fillmann, G; Barroso, CM Abstract: This study constitutes the most comprehensive assessment of imposex along the Portuguese coast. It is based on a 22-year biomonitoring program using Nucella lapillus and Tritia reticulata, comparing new measurements from 2022 with historical data collected at the same locations. Since the EU ban on organotin (OT) antifouling (AF) systems in 2003, the intensity of imposex and OT tissue concentrations have declined in both species; however, in 2022, imposex remained widespread, with moderate to high levels still recorded in several areas. N. lapillus met the OSPAR Ecological Quality Objective (EcoQO) at all sampled sites, whereas T. reticulata failed to meet this target at 44% of the locations. This contrast reflects species distribution: T. reticulata inhabits a broader range of habitats, including more contaminated areas, making it a more effective bioindicator of OT pollution along the entire coast. Despite OT-based AF systems being banned on small vessels in 1993 by the Directive 89/677/EEC – nearly three decades before the current survey – and banned on all vessels in 2003 by the Regulation (EC) No. 782/2003, TBT continues to cause imposex, particularly in areas dominated by small-boat activity. These findings indicate spatially heterogeneous recovery patterns and suggest that vessel-size-dependent management and monitoring frameworks may influence post-ban environmental outcomes. Strengthened monitoring strategies targeting small-vessel-dominated areas may therefore support more effective long-term recovery. 2026-03-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41607 Title: Editorial: The interplay of stress, health, and well-being: unraveling the psychological and physiological processes, volume II Authors: Candeias, Adelinda; Galindo, Edgar; Reschke, Konrad; Bidzan, Mariola; Stueck, Marcus Abstract: The increasing complexity of modern life has amplified the impact of stress on health and wellbeing, making it one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Stress, whether acute or chronic, has profound effects on physical health, mental resilience, wellbeing and overall quality of life. Following the success of the first volume, this second installment of The interplay of stress, health, and well-being: unraveling the psychological and physiological processes, volume II continues the exploration of the dynamic relationships among these factors. By integrating insights from psychology, neuroscience, physiology, and public health, this volume presents novel research aimed at understanding the mechanisms through which stress affects individuals and how targeted interventions can mitigate its negative consequences. This volume collectively represents over 35,000 views, until the moment, demonstrating the growing academic and clinical interest in the topic. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41553 Title: Mercury and Blood Pressure Levels in Inhabitants from a Highly Industrialized Region in Northern Portugal Authors: Pastorinho, M Ramiro; Barros, R; Valente, JV; Gonçalves, D; Taborda-Barata, L; Sousa, Ana Catarina Abstract: Objective: Estarreja is a highly industrialized municipality in NW Portugal, well known for its historical mercury contamination. Mercury exposure is a serious risk to human health (cf. Minamata Disease), and due to its widespread occurrence and persistency, it is recognized as a priority substance. Amongst the myriad deleterious effects of mercury on human health, hypertension has only recently gained attention. The aim of this work was to evaluate the levels of mercury in matched dust and hair samples from inhabitants of Estarreja; and to study possible associations between hypertension and mercury. Methods: House dust and hair samples from the residents of Estarreja were collected, together with systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure measurements. Mercury levels were analyzed by CV-AAS. Results: Levels of mercury in dust (93–9100 ng/g) were, on average, higher than those in hair (624–4535 ng/g). No statistically significant association between dust and hair could be established (Spearman Rank Order Correlation, p=0.199), reinforcing that dust is not the major exposure pathway to this toxicant. Twentyeight per cent of the participants were hypertensive. No statistically significant differences in mercury levels between the hypertensive and normal group were found (One-tailed P-value=0.444). No significant associations between SBP (p=0.826) or DBP (p=0.695) and hair mercury levels were obtained. Conclusions: Overall, 72% exhibited levels higher than the acceptable dose set by the USEPA (1000 ng/g), and 44% of individuals exhibited hair mercury levels higher than the WHO acceptable dose (2000 ng/g). 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10174/41552 Title: An optimized method for the preliminary detection of Microplastics in the Indoor Environment Authors: Valente, J; Pastorinho, Manuel; Sousa, Ana Catarina Abstract: Objective: Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles with sizes between 100 nm and 5 mm, regarded as emerging contaminants and responsible for multiple deleterious effects on human health. Due to MPs ubiquity, humans are continuously exposed. However, exposure dosimetry is very rarely performed, particularly for the indoor environment. This work describes a simple protocol to evaluate the presence of MPs in the indoor environment. Methods: Passive dust samples were collected in two divisions (kitchen and bedroom) of the same house during one-week periods. Active dust samples were retrieved from the vacuum cleaner bag. Different methods for the extraction of MPs were tested, including the combination of density separation with sodium chloride and digestion with hydrogen peroxide. Since no standard protocol for MPs quantification in dust samples was available, the amount of dust to be used in the analysis was also optimized. The MPs were then visualized and identified by confocal microscopy after Nile Red staining. Results: For passive samples, only the oxidative digestion of the lipids content with H2O2 is necessary. For active samples, it is necessary to perform a density separation with NaCl prior to oxidative digestion. Overall, the results from the passive dust samples revealed that the bedroom exhibited a higher number of fibers than the kitchen and that the highest fluorescence intensity was also registered in the bedroom samples. Concerning the active samples, the optimization of the amount of dust to be analyzed indicated that a minimum of 0.5 g of the 63 µm dust fraction should be used. Conclusions: Nile Red visualization technique proved to be efficient in MPs detection and quantification. However, it cannot discern the composition of different MPs present in a sample. Hence, this technique should be used as a preliminary approach to confirm the existence/non-existence of MPs. 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z