Rare earth elements, U and Th in tunnel dusts of São Paulo city, Brazil

São Paulo is one of the most populated cities in the world, with about 20 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, more than 12 million motor vehicles and intense industrial activity. Given its importance as a major urban center in South America and the lack of information concerning urban dust composition, the present study aimed to determine rare earth elements (REEs), U and Th mass fractions in tunnel dust, collected in the Jânio Quadros Tunnel, and to assess their possible sources. The study of REEs distribution in urban environments has become of interest over the last decades, due to the increasing industrial use of these elements. The REEs, that are as common as the most familiar metals, are found in metallurgical additives, fluid cracking catalysts and automobile converter catalysts, among other applications. In this study, which employed Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) as analytical technique, the mass fractions of eight REEs were determined and normalized to the chondrite concentration values. The results showed that major concentrations were found for light REEs, following the sequence Ce > La > Nd > Sm > Yb > Eu > Tb > Lu. The pattern of the results pointed to a natural origin for these elements. Regarding U and Th concentrations, the results varied between 1.0 – 9.4 µg g-1 and 3.3 – 35.9 µg g-1, respectively. Since there is almost no information about the concentration of these elements in this kind of matrix in São Paulo city, these data are important to support further investigations.

Download Full-text

Detection of rare-earth elements using fiddler crabs Leptuca leptodactyla (Crustacea: Ocypodidae) as bioindicators in mangroves on the coast of São Paulo, Brazil

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139787 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 738 ◽

pp. 139787 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bruna Lavezzo ◽

Angela Kinoshita ◽

Ana Maria G. Figueiredo ◽

Mayara Maezano Faita Pinheiro ◽

William Santana

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Fiddler Crabs

Download Full-text

Trace and some rare earth elements distribution in a sediment profile from Jurumirim Reservoir, São Paulo State, Brazil: total content and extracted phases

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry ◽

10.1007/s10967-016-4785-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 309 (1) ◽

pp. 439-451 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

R. L. Franklin ◽

S. A. Silva ◽

D. I. T. Fávaro ◽

W. Luiz-Silva

Keyword(s):

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Total Content ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Sediment Profile ◽

Paulo State ◽

São Paulo State ◽

Rare Earth Elements Distribution

Download Full-text

Assessing Diversity, Plasmodium Infection and Blood Meal Sources in Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) from a Brazilian Zoological Park with Avian Malaria Transmission

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12030215 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 215

Author(s):

Lilian de Oliveira Guimarães ◽

Roseli França Simões ◽

Carolina Romeiro Fernandes Chagas ◽

Regiane Maria Tironi de Menezes ◽

Fabiana Santos Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Meal ◽

Avian Malaria ◽

Mosquito Species ◽

Plasmodium Species ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Malaria Parasites ◽

Ecological Relationships ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Avian Malaria Parasites

Avian malaria parasites are widespread parasites transmitted by Culicidae insects belonging to different genera. Even though several studies have been conducted recently, there is still a lack of information about potential vectors of Plasmodium parasites, especially in Neotropical regions. Former studies with free-living and captive animals in São Paulo Zoo showed the presence of several Plasmodium and Haemoproteus species. In 2015, a pilot study was conducted at the zoo to collect mosquitoes in order to find out (i) which species of Culicidae are present in the study area, (ii) what are their blood meal sources, and (iii) to which Plasmodium species might they be potential vectors. Mosquitoes were morphologically and molecularly identified. Blood meal source and haemosporidian DNA were identified using molecular protocols. A total of 25 Culicidae species were identified, and 6 of them were positive for Plasmodium/Haemoproteus DNA. Ten mosquito species had their source of blood meal identified, which were mainly birds, including some species that were positive for haemosporidian parasites in the former study mentioned. This study allowed us to expand the list of potential vectors of avian malaria parasites and to improve our knowledge of the evolutionary and ecological relationships between the highly diverse communities of birds, parasites, and vectors present at São Paulo Zoo.

Download Full-text

Cerebrovascular diseases mortality in the elderly in the state of São Paulo

10.5327/1516-3180.417 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Isaac Rêgo Purificação ◽

Allêh Kauãn Santos Nogueira ◽

Matheus Araújo de Souza ◽

Camila de Almeida Costa Alencar ◽

Sancha Mohana Brito Goes Rios

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

The Elderly ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Primary Objective ◽

The State ◽

São Paulo ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Lack Of Information

Background: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) is the world 2nd death cause and the main cause of disability. Nevertheless, there is a lack of information regarding the mortality profile for this etiology in the last decade. Objective and Methods: Using prospectively collected data available in TabNet (DataSUS) platform, a descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. The primary objective is to access the demographic information most associated with DCV mortality in individuals older than 50 years-old, in São Paulo (SP), from 2010 to 2019. Results: The highest mortality in the state of SP was in 2019 (16,945 deaths), according to the growing trend; in the 2010-2019 period, the annual mean by city of deaths (± standard deviation [SD]) was 14,885 (± 1,341). During these years, the number of deaths was higher in the municipality of São Paulo (57,013; 31%). The annual mean deaths (± SD) in the capital and in the interior cities were, respectively: 4,684 (± 269) and 31 (± 58). The age groups from 70 to 79 years and over 80 years were the most affected. Caucasian race represents 71% of deaths. Individuals with 1 to 3 years of school were more affected (38%). The ratio of male deaths to female deaths was 1.02. Conclusion: In the last decade, there was an increasing mortality by CVD among the elderly population, and the city of São Paulo leads the number of cases.

Download Full-text

Migrant entrepreneurship, value-creation practices and urban transformation in São Paulo, Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Turismo ◽

10.7784/rbtur.v13i1.1538 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 141-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter Lugosi ◽

Thiago Allis

Keyword(s):

Sao Paulo ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Urban Transformation ◽

Future Research ◽

São Paulo ◽

Cultural Goods ◽

Specific Knowledge ◽

Related Services ◽

Cultural Spaces ◽

Specific Food

This paper examines the entrepreneurial practices of migrants, including refugees, establishing and operating businesses providing food, hospitality, leisure, tourism and events-related services and experiences. Drawing on empirical data gathered in São Paulo, Brazil, the study conceptualises how migrants create cultural ‘goods’ (encompassing material objects, services and experiences), which have been subjected to valuation processes. The paper considers the practices through which migrants mobilise identities, histories, and culturally-specific knowledge as resources in constructing experiential propositions. Moreover, we distinguish between five sets of practices: objectification of self; aestheticisation of otherness; authentication of place-specific food experiences; constructing hospitality venues as cultural spaces; and vitrine-ing (creating platforms for showcasing migrant talent). We discuss the potential consequences of these practices for migrants, consumers, urban environments and their residents, and identify avenues for future research.

Download Full-text

Concepções de professores do ensino superior sobre surdocegueira: estudo exploratório com quatro docentes

Revista Brasileira de Estudos Pedagógicos ◽

10.24109/2176-6681.rbep.88i220.739 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 88 (220) ◽

Author(s):

Elcie Masini ◽

Célia Teodoro ◽

Lucélia Noronha ◽

Rosana B. Ferraz

Keyword(s):

Private University ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

São Paulo ◽

Master Program ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

History Of

Investigação realizada em uma das disciplinas do Programa de Mestrado em Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento da Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, em São Paulo. São apresentadas definições, tipos de surdocegueira, características das pessoas com essa deficiência, um breve delineamento histórico do atendimento ao surdocego no exterior e no Brasil e quadro etiológico. Para alcançar o objetivo de identificar o que alguns professores dos cursos de Psicologia e de Pedagogia de uma universidade particular na cidade de São Paulo sabem sobre surdocegueira foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas. A análise dos dados evidenciou o desconhecimento sobre surdocegueira e sobre o significado dessa deficiência, bem como sobre a literatura específica e, como conseqüência, a ausência de informações a esse respeito aos alunos dos cursos de Pedagogia e Psicologia. Palavras-chave: surdocegueira; concepções de docentes; informações a alunos. Abstract This investigation happened during studies in the Master Program Distúrbios do Desenvolvimento at Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, in São Paulo. Definitions, types, features of deafblindness and a brief history of deafblindness in and outside Brazil and etiological table are presented. The goal to identify what some teachers of Psychology and Pedagogy courses at a private university, in São Paulo city, know about deafblindness was approached by semi-tructured interview. The analyses of data made clear how little they knew about deafblindness, about the meaning of this deficiency, and about the literature specific to this subject and, consequently, their lack of information about it for use in Psychology and Pedagogy courses. Keywords: deafblindness; conceptions of teachers; students information.

Download Full-text

The City of São Paulo's Environmental Quota: A Policy to Embrace Urban Environmental Services and Green Infrastructure Inequalities in the Global South

Frontiers in Sustainable Cities ◽

10.3389/frsc.2021.685875 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Paulo Mantey Domingues Caetano ◽

Hélia Maria Santa Bárbara Pereira ◽

Lara Cavalcanti Ribeiro Figueiredo ◽

Patrícia Marra Sepe ◽

Leandro Luiz Giatti

Keyword(s):

Green Infrastructure ◽

Municipal Government ◽

Global South ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Urban Environments ◽

Environmental Services ◽

São Paulo ◽

Theoretical Frameworks ◽

Wide Range ◽

The City

In 2013 the urban authority for São Paulo city, Brazil, was interested in incorporating environmental aspects into the urban licensing process of diverse urban developments. To overcome concepts related simply to soil sealing, the initiative gave rise to a wide range of principles associated with environmental services and the consideration that green areas in this megacity are unequally distributed. Given the costs involved in analyzing each case and the legal uncertainty among entrepreneurs, it has become a tradition in Brazil for authorities in charge of urban licensing to follow general regulations rather than case-by-case studies, except in high-impact developments. In response, the São Paulo municipal government developed during the period from 2013 to 2016 a governing instrument to deal with these issues, known as the Environmental Quota (EQ). For that, the following guiding principles were established: (a) it should have a solid theoretical basis, with incentives for consistent public participation; (b) it should be flexible in such a way that it can provide a general framework within which a project designer can make decisions, rather than a set of rigidly determined solutions; and (c) it should consider inequalities in the availability of urban green infrastructure throughout the city. This paper will first detail the political-institutional context in which the EQ and its guidelines were established and implemented, then provide a general overview of the tool and the theoretical frameworks within which it was developed, and, finally, discuss the complex social decision-making process of its legal constraints. Moreover, it analyzes the implementation and application of the EQ to examine its effectiveness and how it relates to the city's gentrification. Furthermore, it is considered the replicability potential of the EQ to expand both the supply and distribution of green infrastructure and environmental services throughout the urban environment and, thus, contribute toward mitigating the intricate problems of urban environments in the Global South.

Download Full-text

Noise pollution generated by motor vehicles at different times on Avenue Paulista, municipality of São Paulo / SP

Revista Nacional de Gerenciamento de Cidades ◽

10.17271/2318847297120212917 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (71) ◽

Author(s):

Antonio Celso de Souza Junior ◽

João Alexandre Paschoalin Filho

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Noise Pollution ◽

Sao Paulo ◽

Motor Vehicles ◽

São Paulo ◽

Technical Standards ◽

Irreversible Damage ◽

The Road ◽

Resources Exploitation

Cities have shown high rates of population growth since the beginning of the twentieth century (at a greater intensity when compared to their development), which puts pressure on the environment intensifying the need of natural resources exploitation, as well as creating infrastructure problems. Among the impacts caused by the high densification of the population, noise pollution caused mainly by motor vehicles can be highlighted. This kind of urban impact, often ignored by the population and government, in addition to reducing people's quality of life and depreciating urban areas, can cause irreversible damage to public health. In this regard, this research brings, through measurements "in loco", the generation of noise by motor vehicles, in one of the main roads of the city of São Paulo. In addition to the data obtained, this research also analyzes them in the light of recommendations for technical standards and resolutions aimed at noise control. Through the analyzes conducted, it was found that the noise due to traffic, which is subject to the population that occupies (permanently or transiently) the surroundings of the road in studies, is above the recommended levels. In addition to momentary discomfort, the noise levels obtained have the potential to cause damage to the health of the population, such as hearing loss, attention deviations and even psychological problems. Therefore, it is hoped that this research will help to foster the debate about the impacts of noise pollution on the urban environment and the need for measures to be taken by municipal managers.

Download Full-text