Projets de recherche
99 résultats
Porteur: Sofia Bento
Coporteurs: Christelle Gramaglia
Disciplines:
AnthropologieHydrologieSociologieMots clés:
expérimentation collaborativerecherche-actionrisquesincertitudessantéenvironnementRésumé:
Le projet AGORARISK propose une recherche-action destinée à favoriser le dialogue entre chercheurs, citoyens et agents de l’Etat autour des incertitudes et des risques environnementaux et sanitaires sur le Complexe Chimique d'Estarreja. Plus précisément, il vise à comprendre les conditions de possibilité de dialogue et de travail en commun entre mondes différents pour expérimenter et coproduire des outils susceptibles de réduire le clivage existant entre savoirs scientifiques et savoirs citoyens. La région d'Estarreja a fait l’objet de nombreuses études, mais des recherches récentes ont mis en évidence des lacunes importantes en matière de communication à propos des risques. Les situations de débat avec la population impliquant élus, scientifiques et agents de l’Etat sont rares. Les conséquences sont des tensions et une perte de confiance. Alors que côté scientifique, des données sont bien disponibles puisque plusieurs équipes nationales et internationales de chercheurs s’intéressent aux problèmes de contamination à Estarreja. Nous désirons œuvrer à faciliter le rapprochement des différents acteurs locaux qui vivent avec la pollution au quotidien en créant de façon expérimentale les conditions d’un dialogue sur les incertitudes et les risques de contamination. L’implication des populations est une dimension urgente dans ce contexte précis et ne peut exister qu’à travers de nouvelles formes d’organisation du débat adaptées au contexte sociohistorique. Notre projet propose une approche expérimentale participative de façon à encourager les chercheurs à travailler avec les acteurs locaux et à inciter les populations à découvrir le monde de la recherche sous un nouveau regard.
Participants:
Christelle Gramaglia, Cristina Larrea-Killinger, Katrin Erdlenbruch, Lucia Fernandes, Teresa CONDESSO DE MELOPorteur: Ruth Pereira
Coporteurs: Anabela Cachada, Carla Patinha, Nuno Durães
Disciplines:
BiologieChimieMots clés:
Soil Reference ValuesPotential Toxic ElementsRisk AssessmentRésumé:
Soil Reference Values (SRV) for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are of utmost importance for the first tier of risk assessment of contaminated sites. The Portuguese Environmental Agency has recently proposed SRV for soil, based on their used, but the type of soil was not taken into account. However, and giving the role of soil properties on the mobility and bioavailability of contaminants it is widely recognized that SRV should be defined for different types of natural soils, or at least, they should allow readjustments based in the content of organic matter and clay of the target soil. In this context, to refine the ability of predicting the risks of contaminants affecting the soils, nearby the Estarreja Chemical Complex (ECC), this project aims to derive SRV for the main PTEs of concern in the area (As, Pb and Cu), by using a reference regosol, which is the particular type of soil that can be found in the area. This reference regosol will be the deliverable that will increase the afterlife duration of the project, as it will be useful for the future derivation of SRV for other PTEs, including organic contaminants.
Participants:
Anabela Cachada, Carla Patinha, Nuno Durães, Ruth Pereira, Verónica NogueiraPorteur: Patrícia Santos
Disciplines:
ChimieHydrologieSante publiqueMots clés:
RainwaterPAHsinorganic contaminantssource assessmentenvironment riskhuman riskRésumé:
The atmospheric pollution in Estarreja is a matter of concern, and its impacts on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, as well as on human health, are still unknown. A previous project studied the chemical composition of rainwater in Estarreja and identified that local rainwater contains some contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals, with higher content at the industrial area than at a nearby background site, suggesting that industrial area may be a focus of contaminant emissions. The present project intends to evaluate whether five years later the industrial activities in Estarreja continues contributing for the emission of contaminants into the atmosphere, namely PAHs, metals and ionic constituents, which are then removed by precipitation. Thus, rainwater samples will be collected during one year simultaneously in different sites at the industrial area, and in an industrial background. The results from this study will be important to understand the sources of contamination in the industrial area of Estarreja, and to evaluate space-time changes, as well as the impacts of the contaminants on the environment and human beings (since rainwater is a way of availability of freshwater). In addition, the results will contribute to adopt strategies to reduce emissions of air pollutants, and to mitigate adverse effects to the environment and human health.
Participants:
Armando Duarte, Mário Cerqueira, Anabela Cachada, Gabriela SantosPorteur: Heliana Teixeira
Coporteurs: Ana I. Lillebø, Ana I. Sousa, Pedro Coelho, Ana Genua-Olmedo
Mots clés:
EelgrassLocal ExtinctionsPassive RestorationStakeholder ConflictsParticipatory ApproachesRésumé:
The eelgrass Zostera marina L. once covered large areas in the Ria de Aveiro coastal but is reported locally extinct since 2010. A recent discovery of a new patch of Z. marina, locally known as “Fita”, reinitiates the history of local extinction-recolonisation episodes for this emblematic species in Ria de Aveiro Natura 2000 coastal lagoon. The FITA project proposes five passive restoration actions to bring together local stakeholders and protect the new population from eminent stressors in the short-term. FITA will gather knowledge on the local population dynamics and species features, for improving conservation in the mid-term. Finally, it will promote participatory approaches for reducing conflicts and promote sustainable use of space and natural resources in the long-term. FITA goal is to trigger action towards the protection and restoration of this vulnerable species, considered a priority habitat under EU Habitats Directive.
Participants:
Heliana Teixeira, Ana I. Lillebø, Ana I. Sousa, João Pedro Martins Coelho, Ana Genua-OlmedoPorteur: Fabienne Wateau
Coporteurs: Daniela Figueiredo, Johnny Reis, Carmem Giongo
Disciplines:
AnthropologieBiologieEcologieHistoirePsychologieSante publiqueSocio-anthropologieMots clés:
Anthropologie socialesensibilisation environnementaleparticipation citoyennepopulationsécolerestitutionprotection civileRésumé:
Ce projet s'inscrit dans la thématique 1 : Évolution des rapports entre société et environnement, sous le volet Recherche participative : modifications des comportements et perception de l'information disponible en matière d'environnement. Il propose une recherche interdisciplinaire menée en interaction avec la population d'Estarreja et repose sur trois volets : des ateliers d’expériences de mesures avec des adolescents dans le cadre de leur cours de biologie à l’école ; des réunions de sensibilisation à l’environnement et à la sécurité avec des acteurs de la protection civile ; et des entretiens avec des habitants utilisateurs de la terre et de l’eau, dont certaines personnes âgées aux pratiques inscrites dans le temps long sur l’espace considéré. L’objectif est un enregistrement des savoirs et pratiques concernant les usages et les connaissances en matière d’environnement, sur un support audio, vidéo et photographique, en vue du montage d’un film pouvant être présenté à la population.
Participants:
Daniela FIGUEIREDO, Johnny REIS, Carmem GIONGOPorteur: Daniela Figueiredo
Coporteurs: Carina Lopes, Renato Mendes, Nuno Vaz, João Dias
Disciplines:
BiogeographieGeoreferencementGeospatialisationMots clés:
EstarrejaAgricultural land useRemote sensingLandsatNDVINDWIRésumé:
Agriculture is still a key sector for the local economy at Estarreja region, which has been suffering from several environmental pressures over the past decades. A strong heritage related to the released untreated effluents from industrial activity before the nineties is still present in many of the fields used for agriculture, with persistently high levels of contamination. Additionally, the region is also under the permanent threat of fluvial flooding and of saline intrusion, which is expected to intensify in the future as a consequence of the intensification of extreme weather events (floods and droughts) and mean sea level rise induced by Climate Change, hindering crop yields and severely affecting the local agriculture-based economy. The AGREST project aims to make a spatiotemporal perspective of the agricultural use of the land during the past 35 years at Estarreja region, using Earth Observation data based on Landsat records. Information on the occurrence of river floods, droughts, episodes of saltwater intrusion and discharge of untreated industrial effluents will also be retrieved and related to impacts on crop production. Awareness actions for farmers presenting free available remote sensing applications for crop management will be carried out.
Participants:
Carina Lopes, Renato Mendes, Nuno Vaz, João DiasPorteur: Renata Tavares
Disciplines:
BiologieMedecineSante publiqueMots clés:
INDUSTRIAL EXPOSUREHEAVY METALSSPERM QUALITY AND FUNCTIONMALE (IN)FERTILITYMALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHPUBLIC HEALTHRésumé:
Exposure to toxicants originated from (or used in) industrial processes has shown to contribute towards the global decrease of male fertility and reproductive health status. Considering that the risk of exposure in the modern world is increasing due to industrial growth, it became imperative to assess the sperm quality and function and overall reproductive health status of populations living in an industrial-related area, particularly if there is already a history of local contamination. To this extent, the city of Estarreja encloses the second largest chemical complex in Portugal and contamination of heavy metals has been reported. The present pilot study, therefore, intends to use a representative sample of Estarreja’s adult population and unveil the male reproductive phenotype signature induced by these toxicants. Importantly, parameters of sperm quality as concentration, motility and morphology will be evaluated along with more accurate functional indicators of sperm fertilizing ability such as mitochondrial function, chromatin/DNA integrity, acrosome status and viability, often disregarded in this type of studies. Furthermore, the function of accessory sex organs will be determined in seminal plasma given their importance in seminal fluid production and sperm maturation. A representative sample of adult men from the Center region of Portugal will be used as control group.
Participants:
Maria Inês Alfaiate, Ana Paula Sousa, Teresa Almeida-Santos, João Ramalho-SantosPorteur: Alda Marques
Coporteurs: Patrícia Rebelo
Disciplines:
MedecineSante publiqueMots clés:
CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASESCOMMUNITY-RESPONSEPHYSICAL ACTIVITYRésumé:
COATIVAR capitalizes on PRISMA where patients with chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) and their families had access to a 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Although unquestionable benefits were obtained, they were then left with no community-response, adapted to their condition, to maintain such benefits. COATIVAR will be a community-response to maintain patients with CRD and their families integrated and active in the region of Estarreja. People with CRD are less active than their healthy peers and this inactivity is related to worse prognosis. Thus, encouraging patients to adopt a more active lifestyle is a major but highly challenging goal. Interventions adapted to the local context, using existing social support and community structures are the most successful. Estarreja has already in place a complex of sports and leisure activities. COATIVAR will work with the city council of Estarreja to adapt the existing resources to integrate and maintain these patients and families safely active.
Participants:
Patrícia Rebelo, Sara Miranda, Célia Freitas, Sara Almeida, Luísa Pereira, Cristiana SantosPorteur: Iola Duarte
Coporteurs: Célia Alves, Catarina Almeida, Bruno Neves, Luís Mendes, Tiago Adrega, José António Santos
Disciplines:
BiochimieEcologie de la santeMedecineMots clés:
Atherosclerosisparticulate mattermonocytes and macrophagesimmunometabolismphytochemicals and nutraceuticalsRésumé:
Exposure to airborne fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. ATHEROFIT aims at preventing and/or attenuating air pollution-mediated atherosclerosis via phytochemical-based metabolic immunomodulation. Samples of PM2.5 will be collected at Estarreja air quality station using reference gravimetric samplers. This will provide validated measurements of atmospheric PM2.5 levels and of their temporal/seasonal variations. Then, the atherogenic potential of PM2.5 will be assessed upon their in vitro incubation with primary human innate immune cells, namely blood monocytes/macrophages, which are key players in vessel wall inflammation and atherosclerosis. This will improve current understanding of PM2.5 effects on the cells inflammatory, metabolic and functional states and will reveal novel anti-atherogenic metabolic targets. Finally, selected phytochemicals acting on those targets will be screened for their ability to prevent/revert PM2.5-induced atherogenic effects. This is expected to reinforce the link between cardiovascular health and plant-derived natural compounds, typically abundant in fruits, vegetables and legumes, as well as to support the future development of atheroprotective phytochemicals as nutraceutical supplements. Overall, ATHEROFIT is expected to generate knowledge and to implement actions that, on the one hand, will increase public awareness on the health risks of air pollution and, on the other hand, will contribute for improving the cardiovascular health and well-being of susceptible populations living in highly industrialized areas like Estarreja. A multidisciplinary team of CHBV cardiologists and UA academic researchers with expertise in various areas such as environmental sciences, immunology and metabolism, has been assembled to conduct this work.
Participants:
Célia Alves, Catarina Almeida, Bruno Neves, Luís Mendes, Tiago Adrega, José António SantosPorteur: Anabela Cachada
Coporteurs: Carla Patinha, Ruth Pereira
Disciplines:
BiologieChimieEcologieGeospatialisationMots clés:
CONTAMINATIONPOTENTIAL RISKSDATA COLLECTIONRISK ASSESSMENT ANALYSISRésumé:
Estarreja is known for its chemical complex, and several studies were performed in the region to evaluate the presence of contaminants in environmental matrices. Some hotspots of contamination were identified, nevertheless, the real dimension of the problem, i.e. the spatial distribution of organic and inorganic contaminants and the potential risks to the environment and human health, is not well understood. Indeed, despite decades of research and almost ten years after the OHM-Estarreja creation, it is still not clear if we are dealing with a contamination or with a real pollution problem. The reason why this issue was not yet clarified is related with the complexity of the problem (several matrices, types of contaminants and land uses; legacy of the past vs recent contamination) and because most of the studies are focused on a specific question and the data are scattered. In this context, a risk assessment analysis, is the best available tool to clearly understand the problem and to identify knowledge gaps. Thus, this study aims at collect and integrate existing data to understand the spatial distribution of contaminants, identify areas and contaminants of concern, the receptors and the ecosystem services at risk. As a final output it is intended to obtain a conceptual model that will support decisions regarding the management of this area as well as implementation of an analysis, monitoring or a remediation program. This will contribute for focusing the management of future OHM funds for achieving the ambitious goal of mitigating Estarreja environmental legacy.
Participants:
Carla Patinha, Ruth PereiraPorteur: Hugo Vieira
Coporteurs: Sizenando Abreu, Fernando Morgado
Disciplines:
ChimieClimatologieHydrologieMots clés:
MercuryMercury remobilizationSuspended particulate matterMercury transportDelft3D modelRia de AveiroExtreme eventsdredging activitiesClimate ChangeRésumé:
An important issue today is to understand in what extent cycling of mercury in the future may be altered in regard to Climate Change. Predictions imply that most of the parameters that determine the global mercury cycle today will change. Laranjo bay (Ria de Aveiro) received, during five decades, a large amount of mercury from a highly contaminated chlor-alkali plant effluent discharge from the industrial Estarreja complex. Due to natural remediation processes, in which layers of less contaminated particles overlap with contaminated sediment, most of the mercury released to the lagoon has been trapped in the deeper layers of sediments. Natural and extreme events, Climate Change, or man-made events (dredging activities of the outlet channel will be conducted in the lagoon) can play an important role in the mercury distribution in Ria de Aveiro, since they may promote the remobilization from the deeper layers of sediment to the water column. Under the extreme events and Climate Change scenarios, detailed information on mercury remobilization and transport in Ria de Aveiro is critical to understand the environmental cycling of mercury and relevant for the development of cost-efficient strategies towards reducing the negative impacts of this metal. This study will provide valuable information on the remobilization and transport of mercury from the historically most contaminated area towards adjacent areas of the lagoon, not only through field monitoring but also through modelling, in a Climate Change scenario (four distinct hydrodynamic scenarios), in order to build a prediction procedure contributing to mitigate future disturbances.
Participants:
Sizenando Abreu, Fernando Morgado, João DiasPorteur: Elisabete Figueiredo
Coporteurs: Sandra Valente
Disciplines:
SociologieMots clés:
Content AnalysisEnvironmental Risk from Industral activitiesIndustry workRésumé:
In 2015 we proposed a project to OHMI – Estarreja titled A Fábrica e a Vida – Narrativas e Imagens dos trabalhadores do Complexo Químico de Estarreja em torno do trabalho nas fábricas, da sua complementaridade com outras atividades e do risco ambiental», within which 30 in-depth interviews or life stories to current and former workers of the Estarreja Chemical Complex (CQE) were registered. Those life stories constitute a rich patrimony, not only to CQE itself, but also to Estarreja Municipality, as they convey the workers’ narratives about their life trajectories, about the nature of work in the factories, about environmental and health risk perceptions, as well as about the complementary activities. The evidence gathered from these Life Stories also helps to understand the population adaptation strategies regarding the territorial transformations (economic, environmental, demographic and social) induced by the creation and functioning of CQE. Therefore, through the narratives gathered, it is possible to rebuild the collective history and memory of Estarreja population and territory in their relationship with the CQE which, since 1952, constitutes a strong and relevant identity feature both for the territory and the population. The analysis of the interviews reveals extremely interesting aspects about the transformations of CQE, work and life during the last four or five decades, which are worthwhile to be disclosed to a wider public, in order to preserve this rich and important cultural patrimony and to disseminate the memories on the ‘factory and the life’. The disclosure and dissemination of those narratives is also a way of paying tribute to the main protagonists of the relationship between the factories, the territory and the daily life: the workers of CQE.
Participants:
Elisabete Figueiredo, Sandra Valente, Diogo Soares da SilvaPorteur: Jean-Philippe Bedell
Disciplines:
BiochimieBiologieChimieEcologieMots clés:
alternance séchage/humidificationécosystèmes anthropisésmatière organiquemobilité environnementalepolluants organiquesRésumé:
Dans ces écosystèmes « artificiels », ou issu de la gestion et de la contamination humaine, nommé ici comme des anthropoécosystèmes, la biodisponibilité et le transfert aux organismes vivants est un enjeu de compréhension du risque liés à ces milieux. Il a été démontré la présence de contaminants organiques, et étudié l’évaluation du transfert de polluants organiques, vers les plantes et les vers de terre. La caractérisation physico-chimiques des matrices étudiées a permis d’évaluer cette biodisponibilité mais peu de choses ont abordé la matière organique (MO) présente et son rôle vis-à-vis des polluants et de leurs mobilités environnementales. La dégradation de la matière organique par les invertébrés et les microorganismes du sol est un processus fondamental qui détermine des fonctions importantes du sol, telles que la disponibilité d’éléments nutritifs, mais aussi de polluants. Cette MO modifie physiquement, chimiquement le biotope de ces sols et donc de l’ensemble des interactions avec les polluants qui sont présents. L’hypothèse est que ces molécules hydrophobes peuvent être fixées ou transportées (voire biodisponibles ou bioaccessibles) par la MO ou des substances issues de cette MO et de son évolution. Ce transport « facilité » ou « spécifique » va donner lieu à une dispersion et donc une mobilité environnementale (notamment vers la biocénose) qui sera à relier à la qualité biologique du sol et qui peut être modifiée (en pire ou en mieux) notamment dans le cadre de perturbation physique comme l’alternance de période de sécheresse et d’humidification suite aux pluies.
Participants:
Claudia COELHO, Susete MARTINS DIAS, Myriam HAMMADA, Mathieu GAUTIER, Manuela INACIO, Renata FERREIRAPorteur: Jean-Philippe Bedell
Disciplines:
BiochimieBiologieEcologieMots clés:
anthroposolsactivités biologiquesmatière organiquemobilité environnementalepolluants organiquesRésumé:
Le sol est un compartiment environnemental qui est soumis à des activités anthropiques qui peuvent lui apporter de nombreux contaminants. Plusieurs travaux ont réalisé des mesures de contaminants dans les sols, et les eaux et dans certaines plantes, évalué la modification de l’occupation de sols, et la caractérisation de la microflore bactérienne dans ces sols anthropisés d’Estarreja. Cependant, la mobilité environnementale des polluants peut être liée à différents facteurs environnementaux (physiques, chimiques et biologiques). Ainsi, certains paramètres physico-chimiques des matrices ont été étudiés pour évaluer cette biodisponibilité mais peu de choses ont abordé la matière organique (MO) présente (notamment via la litière et sa MO morte), sa typologie et son rôle vis-à-vis des polluants et de leurs mobilités environnementales. La dégradation de la matière organique par les invertébrés et les microorganismes du sol est un processus qui détermine des fonctions du sol, telles que la disponibilité d’éléments nutritifs, mais aussi de polluants. De plus, la décomposition de la litière végétale fournit des habitats et de la nourriture à une grande diversité d’organismes qui concourent à la biodiversité et délivrent des services écosystémiques. Le projet proposé a pour objectif d’explorer les fonctions ou services écosystémiques de ces milieux anthropisés en relation avec l’acquisition de certaines caractéristiques de ces sols comme la matière organique (MO) présente (pédogénèse...) mais aussi en terme de biodiversité (indice « qualité » de sols ; vers de terre ; relevés floristiques…) et d’activités biologiques notamment en lien avec la dégradation de la MO (litière de végétaux morts).
Participants:
Claudia COELHO, Susete MARTINS DIAS, Myriam HAMMADA, Manuela INACIO, Renata FERREIRAPorteur: María Nazaret González Alcaraz
Coporteurs: Susana Loureiro, Isabel Henriques
Disciplines:
BiologieEcologiePedologieMots clés:
Climate changeAir temperatureSoil moistureSoil microbiotaMultiple stressorsAnthropogenic-degraded ecosystemsRésumé:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts increasing air temperatures and decreasing soil moisture content, the soils being among the most affected components of terrestrial ecosystems, especially in anthropogenic-contaminated areas. Soil microorganisms are key players in terrestrial ecosystem functions and services, quickly responding to environmental stresses. MICROCLIM aims to assess how microbial populations of agricultural soils affected by the contamination derived from the Estarreja Chemical Complex may be affected under the current global warming perspective, by using changes at structural and functional level. The specific objectives are: 1) assessing structural and functional changes in microbial populations of contaminated agricultural soils induced by single climate factors (soil moisture content and air temperature and their relation to changes in soil chemical and physicochemical parameters, and 2) assessing structural and functional changes in microbial populations of contaminated agricultural soils under different climate change scenarios, simulated by climate factors combinations (soil moisture content and air temperature), and their relation to changes in soil chemical and physicochemical parameters. Climate factors ranges will be established based on the emission scenarios predicted by the IPCC by 2100. The project will rely on changes in soil microbial populations at structural (bacterial community phylogenetic composition) and functional (microbial metabolic activity) level and their relation to key soil parameters (pH, organic matter, metal(loi) availability). MICROCLIM will improve the capacity to predict the consequences of global warming in soil microbiota from anthropogenic-contaminated soils, which, in turn, will enable a better preservation and sustainability of soil ecosystem functions and services.