Pas d'enregistrements
Marta Tacão
2022
A farm-to-fork analysis of vegetables microbiological risks at Estarreja municipality: setting up a monitoring program for household farms
Microbiological contamination in domestic productions represents a high danger for consumers’ health since there is no quality control. What is produced goes from farm to fork, with higher risks associated with produce usually eaten raw. As consequence of the industrialization for the last 50 years, Estarreja area became one of the most polluted in Portugal. Hence, the putative contamination of soil and water may question food security of vegetables grown in this region.
Ana Rita Silva
2022
TERRA - Climate change impacTs in EstaRRejA region
Although great efforts have been made over the last years, climate change continues to impact our planet. According to IPCC predictions, atmospheric CO2 levels and mean temperature are expected to continue rising jointly with the frequency/intensity/duration of extreme weather events (e.g., droughts and floods). The impact of climate change may be exacerbated in metal(loid)-contaminated areas, such as the Estarreja municipality, where ecosystems have been under stress for decades. TERRA aims to understand the effects of climate change alterations on the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, using contaminated soils from Estarreja. For that, extreme climate events/predicted climate change scenarios (including changes in combined climate factors according to IPCC) will be simulated to evaluate their effects on the ecotoxicity in terrestrial and aquatic inhabitants. Moreover, soil/water properties, e.g. pH, metal(loid) content, soil organic carbon, will be evaluated to establish the link between soil/water properties and effects under changing climate factors. Considering that extreme climate events have been reported in the last years in Portugal, the project intends to understand the dynamics behind contamination in this region after these events, by evaluating contamination level in Estarreja region five years later (by comparing with previous works). TERRA will provide crucial data for Portugal and worldwide regarding the consequences of climate changes in contaminated areas. The present project will also promote an easy and active communication with the society, with the final aim of increasing awareness about climate change and its environmental impacts.
Renata Tavares
2020
Reproduction@Estarreja: is female reproductive potential at risk?
Exposure to toxicants generated from (or used in) industrial processes has contributed towards the decrease of female fertility and reproductive potential worldwide. Considering the increased risk of exposure in the modern world due to industrial growth, it is crucial the assessment of the reproductive potential of women living in an industrial-related area, particularly if there is already a history of local contamination.
Anabela Cachada
2020
SSTemWater – Sources and Short-term TEMporal evolution of GroundWATER contamination in Estarreja region
The Estarreja Chemical Complex (ECC), composed essentially by chemical plants that produce, among others, aniline, nitrobenzene, PVC, isocyanide polymers of aromatic base and polystyrene polymers for thermal isolation, has been pointed as a major threat to the environment and to public health in the region. For decades, the different ECC industries disposed off solid wastes directly on the permeable sands without containment, and untreated liquid effluents were discharged directly on streams connected to the coastal lagoon. Due to the geological features (unconsolidated detritic sedimentary rocks) of this region, that allows the contaminant’s dispersion, there is a high vulnerability of the aquifer to environmental hazards. Although waste management practices improved significantly in the last years, there are still signs of groundwater contamination. Indeed, previous studies indicate that the ECC is a vulnerable area due to the presence of multiple pressures (agriculture, industry and urban activities) and hotspots of organic and inorganic contaminants were already identified. However, there is a space-temporal variation of these hotspots that was not yet fully understood and it is not clear yet how contaminants are reaching the aquifer. Thus, this project aims at understand the dynamics behind the groundwater contamination and the processes that result in specific hotspots, and consequently identify sources and pathways of contaminants. Moreover, since some of the contaminants previously identified are classified as carcinogenic and highly toxic, the potential risks to the environment and human health will be also evaluated.
Anabela Cachada
2019
@10 years - Ten years of OHM: data compilation for a holistic environmental and human health risk assessment
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.
Ruth Pereira
2016
INV-AVEIRO - The influence of contamination in the metabolic activity of INVertebrates from Ria de AVEIRO
During decades effluents from the Estarreja Chemical Complex were directly discharged in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon through a system of ditches. “Esteiro de Estarreja” was the main channel receiving effluents rich in aromatic based and chlorine compounds and in toxic elements such as As, Hg, Pb and Zn. Consequently, most of the discharged contaminants are settled in the “Esteiro de Estarreja” channel, as well as in the inner basin where this channel discharges, the Laranjo Basin.
Olga Ameixa
2016
PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SALINE SOILS USING SALICORNIA RAMOSSISIMA (Acronym: RESTORE)
Baixo Vouga Lagunar (BVL) is an area with a strong and balanced relationship between man, land and water, recognized by its high biological diversity. However, the impact of human activity (e.g. changes in the system hydrology) combined with climate change (e.g. sea level rise), have already affected BVL, wherein areas are currently flooded by tides, and soils affected by surface saline intrusion. The conclusion of the dike, foreseen in a short term, is fundamental to save still existing agricultural areas and to reclaim flooded areas. However, it is necessary to remediate these soils from salt contamination in order to return them back to agriculture. In this context, we propose to conduct an innovative and multidisciplinary project, linking the team scientific knowledge on agriculture and soils, environmental chemistry and salt marsh ecology, in combination with local farmer’s knowledge. This proposal will integrate two of the topics proposed by OHM-Estarreja: Evolution of the Relations Between Society and Environment and Evolution of Biodiversity. We propose, to evaluate the potential of the autochthonous halophyte Salicornia ramosissima to remediate the BVL salt contaminated soils. Apart from having a phytoremediation capacity, S. ramosissima is currently considered a gourmet plant with high market demand as a green fashionable vegetable, dished up in fine restaurants all over the world. Hence, it can be grown as a cash crop and be an alternative in salinized soils for farmers in the region. RESTORE project can also serve as showcase for other coastal areas under treat due to salt contamination.
Anabela Cachada
2016
SOILgenoMIC - How the contamination of irrigation water ends up in impacts on the genomic diversity and functions of the soil microbial community?
Soil is a vital resource responsible by multiple ecosystem services, crucial for the wellbeing and sustainability of human populations. Only in the last decades, faced with the level of degradation of soils within its territory, the European Commission has recognized the importance of soil functions. Indeed, it is now accepted that the maintenance of soil quality is vital for the European economic competitiveness. For centuries human activities have negatively affected soil functions, for example, through point/diffuse contamination. Estarreja is known for its large chemical complex, and several studies and projects were performed in the region to evaluate the presence of contaminants in groundwater, soil and biota. Some hotspots of contamination (both organic and inorganic) were identified in groundwater, which is used to irrigate farmlands. The cycling of contaminants between soils and aquifers may progressively affect the diversity and key specialized functions of the soil microbial community, especially important in agricultural soils.
Nuno Durães
2015
AgrInfluence - The influence of agriculture practices on contaminant’s mobility
Pore waters are very specific solutions, generally with high concentrations due to the greater residence time than percolation waters, which promote a high water-soil interaction. For this reason these solutions are the transference medium for excellence of inorganic and organic compounds between soils and plants. In this sense, the study of pore waters can give valuable information about the mobility and bioavailabitity of contaminants for plants.
In this project we propose to study the influence of the agriculture practices in the contaminants mobilization, focusing in pilot contaminated areas of Estarreja, and using pore waters as a medium to study these processes, hoping to contribute with valuable information to improve de quality of agriculture practices in the reduction of contaminant’s exposure.
