School environments are potential exposure scenarios to bioaerosols. Breading such contaminants can contribute to the development of respiratory infection. Most studies performed in schools regarding air quality focus on children’s health, neglecting the personal exposure of teachers and school staff. This study aims to provide a first insight into the personal exposure of teachers and school staff to bacteria ...
Poultry production intensification might influence microbial development. Concerning fungal assessment, despite the limited number of studies, several fungi have already been found in poultry pavilions. Occupational health specialists frequently overlook worker safety and biological risk assessment due to a lack of systematic knowledge regarding the agents involved. Consequently, workers, exposed to organic dus...
Azole fungicides are commonly used in sawmills to protect wood against the wood-destroying basidiomycete fungi. Azole-resistant Aspergillus section Fumigati has previously been identified in these environments. Here we aimed to establish a sampling protocol to efficiently isolate Aspergillus section Fumigati in woodworking environments. The sampling campaign was conducted between December 2022 and November 2023...
This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of indoor and outdoor air quality within a home improvement and gardening store chain in northeastern Portugal. In December 2021 and January 2022, two multipollutant systems were installed in the store and outdoors to assess air quality. Continuous monitoring included particulate matter below 10 µm (PM10), CO2, and comfort parameters. PM10 samples were collected us...
Introduction: Wood industry workers face health risks due to exposure to microorganisms and their metabolites. This study aimed to characterize seasonal microbial contamination, antifungal resistance, mycotoxins, cytotoxicity, and particulate matter in Portuguese carpentries, to reduce exposure and promote safe working conditions. Methods: Conducted in six carpentries in Lisbon, Portugal, the sampling strategy ...
This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of indoor and outdoor air quality within a home improvement and gardening store chain in northeastern Portugal. In December 2021 and January 2022, two multipollutant systems were installed in the store and outdoors to assess air quality. Continuous monitoring included particulate matter below 10 μm (PM10), CO2 and comfort parameters. PM10 samples were collected usi...
Biosafety measures are essential for maintaining animal health and workplace safety in poultry production. Poultry farm environments favor fungal growth, yet information on fungal contamination and associated health risks remains scarce. This study aimed to assess fungal and mycotoxin contamination in poultry pavilions (PP) during the poultries' growth cycle. Sampling was conducted during winter in 14 PP, Portu...
The occurrence of mycotoxins in poultry feeds is a primary problem worldwide due to their carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic effects. This secondary metabolite generated by fungi can compromise animals' health and productivity. Monitoring mycotoxin exposure is crucial, as fungi are not reliable indicators of mycotoxin presence. This is partly because mycotoxins can remain in the environment long after the ...
ABSTRACT: Nuclear fusion is a promising energy source. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor aims to study the feasibility of tokamak-type reactors and test technologies and materials for commercial use. One major challenge is developing materials for the reactor's divertor, which supports high thermal flux. Tungsten was chosen as the plasma-facing material, while a CuCrZr alloy will be used in t...
ABSTRACT: The search for advanced materials has been growing, and high entropy alloys (HEAs) are emerging as promising candidates for application in the fusion domain. This work investigates the effect of Cr on the FeTaTiW medium entropy alloy to form (CrFeTaTi)70W30 high entropy alloy, comparing the experimental production and characterization with the simulation (molecular dynamics and hybrid molecular dynami...