184 documents found, page 1 of 19
Oxidation of small aromatic compounds in rainwater by UV/H2O2: optimization by ...
Ferreira, Mónica P. S.; Santos, Patrícia S. M.; Duarte, Armando C.The presence of aromatic compounds in rainwater is a matter of concern, mainly when the use of rainwater in buildings is intended. The present work aimed to assess the oxidation of a mixture of small aromatic compounds (benzoic, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic and syringic acids) in rainwater by the UV/H2O2 process, and the possibility of its optimization by the response surface methodology. The extent of oxidation was as...
A One Health perspective of the impacts of microplastics on animal, human and e...
Prata, Joana C.; da Costa, João P.; Lopes, Isabel; Andrady, Anthony L.; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, TeresaMicroplastics contamination is widespread in the environment leading to the exposure of both humans and other biota. While most studies overemphasize direct toxicity of microplastics, particle concentrations, characteristics and exposure conditions being used in these assays needs to be taken into consideration. For instance, toxicity assays that use concentrations over 100,000 times higher than those expected ...
An urgent call to think globally and act locally on landfill disposable plastic...
Patrício Silva, Ana L.; Prata, Joana C.; Duarte, Armando C.; Barcelò, Damià; Rocha-Santos, TeresaLandfilling and illegal waste disposal have risen to deal with the COVID-19 potentially infectious waste, particularly in developing countries, which aggravates plastic pollution and inherent environmental threats to human and animal health. It is estimated that 3.5 million metric tonnes of masks (equivalent to 601 TIR containers) have been landfilled worldwide in the first year, with the potential to increase ...
Selection of microplastics by Nile Red staining increases environmental sample ...
Prata, Joana C.; da Costa, João P.; Fernandes, António José Silva; da Costa, Florinda Mendes; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, TeresaNile Red staining enables visual identification and quantification of fluorescent particles as a proxy to microplastics at low cost and high throughput, including those of small sizes (≥2 μm), when preceded by proper natural organic matter removal, but providing no chemical characterization. On the other hand, micro-spectroscopy methods allow chemical characterization of particles based on their spectra, essent...
Microplastics and fibers from three areas under different anthropogenic pressur...
Prata, Joana C.; Godoy, Veronica; da Costa, João P.; Calero, Monica; Martín-Lara, M. A.; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, TeresaSources contributing to specific concentration of microplastics and fibers are still not completely understood. This study aimed at assessing the concentrations of microplastics (2-5000 μm) and fibers (18-5667 μm) in three areas of distinct influences in the Douro river, Porto, Portugal: (i) a countryside area; (ii) a wastewater treatment effluent release zone; and (iii) an area in proximity to a boat dock and ...
Dissolution of Ag nanoparticles in agricultural soils and effects on soil exoen...
Cruz, Nuno C.; Farto, Márcia; Mourinha, Clarisse; Tavares, Daniela; Duarte, Armando C.; Trindade, Tito; Pereira, Eduarda; Romkens, Paul F.A.M.To assess environmental risks related to the mobility and toxicity of AgNPs, the chemical availability of AgNPs and polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (PVP-AgNPs) in three agricultural soils was quantified in a pot experiment. Porewater collection and soil extractions with 0.01 M CaCl2, 0.4 M Glycine (pH 1.5) and 0.05 M NH4-EDTA were performed. The effect on soil exoenzyme activities was also assessed. Porewater...
Effects of spatial and seasonal factors on the characteristics and carbonyl ind...
Prata, Joana C.; Reis, Vanessa; Paço, Ana; Martins, Patrícia; Cruz, Ana; Costa, João P. da; Duarte, Armando C.; Rocha-Santos, TeresaCoastal environments are highly contaminated with plastics of various sizes. In order to understand the distribution and factors influencing (micro)plastics contamination in the environment, sampling of a sandy beach in Costa Nova, Aveiro, Portugal, was conducted by collecting plastic particles and sediments for density separation in transects from the mean low tide line to the dunes, during wet and dry seasons...
Assessing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in atmospheric and aquatic envir...
Simões, Eliana F. C.; Almeida, Antoine S.; Duarte, Armando C.; Duarte, Regina M. B. O.Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) play a crucial role in biotic and abiotic processes. In the atmosphere, ROS/RNS are usually associated with air pollution. The ability of certain air particulate matter constituents to influence the formation and cycling of ROS/RNS at the atmosphere-biosphere-hydrosphere interfaces is important for the observed linkages between atmospheric aerosols and adverse ...
Exploring water-soluble organic aerosols structures in urban atmosphere using a...
Duarte, Regina M. B. O.; Pu Duan; Jingdong Mao; Wenying Chu; Duarte, Armando C.; Schmidt-Rohr, KlausWater-soluble organic matter (WSOM) in air particles has profound effects on climate and human health. At the heart of this environmental significance of WSOM lies a complex set of compounds, of which a major fraction still often remains undeciphered. Yet, not all environmental problems require delving into the molecular-level identification of WSOM constituents. Understanding the contribution of different func...
An easy method for processing and identification of natural and synthetic micro...
Prata, Joana C.; Castro, Joana L.; da Costa, João P.; Duarte, Armando C.; Cerqueira, Mário; Rocha-Santos, TeresaMicroplastics and microfibers can contaminate every matrix, including in the atmosphere, thus leading to incidental inhalation. However, concentrations of airborne synthetic particle in indoor and outdoor environments are not well understood due to the complexities of sampling, sample processing and identification. This work aims at producing a simple protocol to determine the concentrations of airborne micropl...