Browsing by Author "Camacho, Irene"
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- Aeromicologia de Lisboa e a sua relação com os fatores meteorológicosPublication . Ferro, Raquel; Nunes, Carlos; Caeiro, Elsa; Camacho, Irene; Paiva, Miguel; Morais-Almeida, MárioIntrodução: Os esporos de fungos como o Cladosporium e a Alternaria presentes em ambientes outdoor são responsáveis pelo desencadeamento de reações alérgicas. Assim sendo, o estudo aeromicológico de uma zona geográfica é importante. Objetivos: Identificar e quantificar os tipos de esporos de fungos presentes na atmosfera de Lisboa e analisar a influência dos fatores meteorológicos nas suas concentrações, de modo a conhecer a sua variação sazonal. Metodologia: Analisaram -se os dados das monitorizações da estação de Lisboa da Rede Portuguesa de Aerobiologia (RPA) de esporos de fungos, de 1 de janeiro a 31 de dezembro de 2013. Usou -se um captador Burkard Seven Day Volumetric Spore -trap® e um sistema de leitura ao microscópio ótico com uma ampliação de 400x. A influência dos fatores meteorológicos sobre as concentrações dos esporos foi avaliada pela análise da correlação de Spearman. Resultados: Coletaram -se 657 922 esporos de fungos com uma concentração média diária de 1803 esporos de fungos/m3. Os tipos de esporos de fungos mais abundantes foram: Cladosporium cladosporoide (53,6 %), Amanita (8,8 %), Ustilago (4,3 %), Leptosphaeria (4,2 %), Coprinus (4,0 %) Cladosporium herbarum (3,7 %), Mycospharella (3,4 %), Boletus (2,1 %), Aspergillus -Penicillium (1,8 %), Agaricus (1,4 %) e Alternaria (1,1 %). As concentrações mais elevadas de esporos de fungos registaram -se entre o final da primavera e o outono. Em outubro obteve -se o índice mais elevado, 172 507 de esporos de fungos/m3. A temperatura média apresenta uma correlação positiva com as concentrações de conídios, com os esporos totais e uma correlação negativa com os níveis de ascósporos. A humidade relativa e a precipitação apresentaram um efeito positivo com os ascósporos, mas negativo com os fungos anamórficos, mixomicetos e esporos totais. Os basidiósporos apresentaram correlação positiva apenas com a precipitação. A velocidade média do vento foi estatisticamente negativa com os fungos anamórficos e basidiósporos e com os esporos totais. Conclusões: O estudo permitiu caracterizar a distribuição intra -anual dos esporos fúngicos em Lisboa, facilitando o planeamento de estudos para avaliação de sensibilização alérgica e seu eventual impacto clínico.
- Airborne Alternaria and Cladosporium fungal spores in Europe: Forecasting possibilities and relationships with meteorological parametersPublication . Grinn-Gofroń, Agnieszka; Nowosad, Jakub; Bosiacka, Beata; Camacho, Irene; Pashley, Catherine; Belmonte, Jordina; De Linares, Concepción; Ianovici, Nicoleta; Manzano, Jose María Maya; Sadyś, Magdalena; Skjøth, Carsten; Rodinkova, Victoria; Tormo-Molina, Rafael; Vokou, Despoina; Fernández-Rodríguez, Santiago; Damialis, AthanasiosAirborne fungal spores are prevalent components of bioaerosols with a large impact on ecology, economy and health. Their major socioeconomic effects could be reduced by accurate and timely prediction of airborne spore concentrations. The main aim of this study was to create and evaluate models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations based on data on a continental scale. Additional goals included assessment of the level of generalization of the models spatially and description of the main meteorological factors influencing fungal spore concentrations. Aerobiological monitoring was carried out at 18 sites in six countries across Europe over 3 to 21 years depending on site. Quantile random forest modelling was used to predict spore concentrations. Generalization of the Alternaria and Cladosporium models was tested using (i) one model for all the sites, (ii) models for groups of sites, and (iii) models for individual sites. The study revealed the possibility of reliable prediction of fungal spore levels using gridded meteorological data. The classification models also showed the capacity for providing larger scale predictions of fungal spore concentrations. Regression models were distinctly less accurate than classification models due to several factors, including measurement errors and distinct day-to-day changes of concentrations. Temperature and vapour pressure proved to be the most important variables in the regression and classification models of Alternaria and Cladosporium spore concentrations. Accurate and operational daily-scale predictive models of bioaerosol abundances contribute to the assessment and evaluation of relevant exposure and consequently more timely and efficient management of phytopathogenic and of human allergic diseases.
- Airborne pollen calendar of Portugal: a 15-year survey (2002–2017)Publication . Camacho, Irene; Caeiro, Elsa; Nunes, Carlos; Morais-Almeida, MárioData about the occurrence of airborne pollen enables the creation of pollen calendars with an approximation of flowering periods for the most common allergenic plant species in a specific area. The aim of this work is to provide pollen calendar for each of the seven monitoring regions of Portugal based on 15 years of airborne sampling, in order to chart the seasonal behaviour of the main allergenic pollen types.
- The allergenic potential of green urban areas in the Macaronesian islands: the case of Funchal City (Madeira)Publication . Camacho, Irene; Macías-de-la-Rosa, Álvaro; Camacho, Roberto; Agnieszka Grinn-Gofroń; Cariñanos, PalomaPublic gardens are elements that constitute the urban green infrastructure. Such units provide ecosystem services that are becoming a key concern in urban planning strategies. In this survey the allergenic potential of two public gardens in Funchal, a city exhibiting sub tropical and Mediterranean climatic features, was assessed. Different allergenic risk scenarios were considered, and the Allergenicity Indexes recalculated. Results show that the Municipal Garden exhibits an IUGZA (Index of Urban Green Zone Allergenicity) of 0,39 and Santa Catarina Park an IUGZA of 0,16, which are considered spaces of moderate and low allergenicity level, respectively. Among the tested scenarios that could aggravate the IUGZA values, the worst would be an extension of the pollen season for all species. This might represent an issue considering the overall trend towards an earlier start and later end of the pollen season from important allergenic plants in Europe. The assessment of the IUGZA should include all plant biotypes of an urban green area in subtropical regions as they allow us to infer more precisely on the real risk population is exposed to. It seems that increasing species diversity can improve the allergenic indexes, but novel invasive species should be studied to assess their allergenicity level.
- Exploring the potentialities of an improved ultrasound-assisted quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe-based extraction technique combined with ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection for determination of Zearalenone in cerealsPublication . Porto-Figueira, Priscilla; Camacho, Irene; Câmara, José S.Zearalenone (ZEA), a secondary metabolite from Fusarium graminearum fungi that invade crops and grow during blooming in moist cool field conditions, is a nonsteroidal oestrogen, biologically very potent, although hardly toxic. Different analytical methods, among which a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) strategy, combined with or liquid chromatography, have been proposed for ZEA determination in foods. However, this extraction procedure has the disadvantage of using large amount of organic solvents, partitioning salts and sample volume, which limits the technique application on the fields where the sample amount is critical. Therefore in this work an improved sample preparation step based on the original QuEChERS (O-QuEChERS) approach, the μ-QuEChERS, combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analysis with fluorescence detection (FLR) is proposed for the sensitive and high-throughput quantification of ZEA in cereals. The proposed analytical strategy, μ-QuEChERSUSAE, uses up to 32 times lower amounts of partitioning salts, lower sample amount and lower extraction solvents, in comparison with O-QuEChERS technique. The performance of the analytical approach was assessed by studying the selectivity, specificity, limits of detection and quantification, linear dynamic range, matrix effect and precision. Good linearity (r(2)>0.99) was achieved for ZEA, and limits of detection (LOD=3.4μgkg(-1)) and limits of quantification (LOQ=4.7μgkg(-1)) were found below the tolerance levels set by European Commission. Good recoveries were obtained with different spiked concentrations, ranged from 80.2% to 109.7%, with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 5.0%. The comparison of the analytical performance of the proposed μ-QuEChERSUSAE with O-QuEChERS showed the powerful ability of the proposed strategy since it gives comparable results but using lower amounts of sample, partitioning salts and volume of the organic solvent, revealing of great potential and improvement of the proposed method.
- Influence of outdoor air pollution on cardiovascular diseases in Madeira (Portugal)Publication . Camacho, Irene; Camacho, Jaime; Camacho, Roberto; Góis, André; Nóbrega, VítorPrevious studies suggest that human exposure to atmospheric pollution can trigger cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed at assessing the influence of short-term exposure to atmospheric pollution in the occurrence of CVD and mortality in Madeira. A single-centre retrospective study was conducted during 2005–2011. Air pollutant data and meteorological parameters were gathered. Daily admissions at the emergency service due to CVD and markers levels for cardiac function were obtained from a public hospital. Exploratory and correlation analysis of all variables were performed, and the CVD relative risk (RR) of hospital admissions and mortality was calculated. During the study, mean annual concentrations of the air pollutants varied greatly, with NOx and O3 showing the highest annual average concentrations. Two hundred ten thousand five hundred forty patients were admitted at the emergency service, 74% of them due to cardiovascular causes. Hospital admissions were positively correlated with PM2.5, and SO2. A positive and significant association between PM2.5 with creatine kinase myocardial band and B-type natriuretic peptides markers was found, whilst SO2 was positively associated with Creatine kinase myocardial band. The RR seemed to increased with PM2.5 and NOx exposure. Traffic-related pollutants were weakly but statistically associated to hospital admissions due to CVD and mortality. PM2.5 and SO2 were related with higher hospital admissions which in turn seemed to increase the serum markers. The risk of mortality was mainly associated with O3 and average air temperature. Adults and elders seem to be more susceptible to atmospheric pollutants, particularly in the winter.
- Madeira-a tourist destination for asthma sufferersPublication . Camacho, Irene; Grinn-Gofroń, Agnieszka; Camacho, Roberto; Berenguer, Pedro; Sadyś, MagdalenaMadeira Island is a famous tourist destination due to its natural and climatic values. Taking into account optimal weather conditions, flora richness and access to various substrates facilitating fungal growth, we hypothesised a very high risk of elevated fungal spore and pollen grain concentrations in the air of Funchal, the capital of Madeira. Concentration levels of the most allergenic taxa were measured from 2003 to 2009, using a 7-day volumetric air sampler, followed by microscopy analysis. Dependence of bioaerosols on the weather conditions and land use were assessed using spatial and statistical tools. Obtained results were re-visited by a comparison with hospital admission data recorded at the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital in Funchal. Our results showed that despite propitious climatic conditions, overall pollen grain and fungal spore concentrations in the air were very low and did not exceed any clinically established threshold values. Pollen and spore peak concentrations also did not match with asthma outbreaks in the winter. Identification of places that are "free" from biological air pollution over the summer, such as Madeira Island, is very important from the allergic point of view.
- Monitorização de esporos de fungos em Lisboa, 2014 -2016Publication . Ferro, Raquel; Nunes, Carlos; Camacho, Irene; Paiva, Miguel; Morais Almeida, MárioObjetivo: Avaliar a distribuição dos esporos de fungos potencialmente alergizantes em Lisboa no triénio 2014 -2016, caracterizar a sua prevalência na atmosfera e estudar a influência dos fatores meteorológicos nas suas concentrações. Métodos: Monitorizaram -se os esporos de fungos presentes no ar atmosférico de Lisboa entre 1 de janeiro de 2014 e 31 de dezembro de 2016. A amostragem foi efetuada através um captador Burkard Seven Day Volumetric Spore -trap®. Para identificação e quantificação de esporos de fungos recorreu -se a um sistema de leitura ao microscópio ótico baseado na análise de uma linha longitudinal ao centro da lâmina com uma ampliação de 600x. A influência dos factores meteorológicos sobre as concentrações dos esporos foi realizada pela análise da correlação de Spearman. Resultados: Neste estudo obteve -se uma concentração média diária de 3118 esporos/m3 de ar. A concentração anual total de esporos de fungos de 2014 foi a mais elevada (1 258 580 esporos/m3 de ar). Os tipos de esporos com maior prevalência na atmosfera de Lisboa foram Cladosporium cladosporoides (48,2%), Coprinus (4,5%), Leptosphaeria (2,5%), Agaricus (2,0%), Cladosporium herbarum (1,9%), Ustilago (1,5%) e Alternaria (1,2%). As concentrações mais elevadas registaram -se nos meses de verão e outono. Constatou -se um claro efeito dos parâmetros meteorológicos sobre as concentrações dos esporos de fungos. A temperatura média apresentou uma correlação positiva com a concentração total de esporos Cladosporium, Alternaria e Ustilago e negativa com Coprinus, Agaricus e Leptosphaeria. A humidade relativa e a precipitação, relacionadas com a concentração total de esporos fúngicos, tiveram um efeito positivo significativo sobre os níveis de Coprinus, Agaricus e Leptosphaeria, apresentando uma correlação negativa com os níveis de Cladosporium, Alternaria e Ustilago. Conclusão: Este estudo permitiu conhecer o tipo e a distribuição dos esporos de fungos presentes na atmosfera de Lisboa. Verificou -se uma tendência sazonal semelhante nos três anos estudados. Os níveis de esporos de fungos mais elevados foram registados no verão e no outono. O género Cladosporium representou 50% do total dos esporos coletados. A variação dos parâmetros meteorológicos influencia, claramente, as concentrações dos esporos de fungos. A temperatura média foi o fator que exerceu maior influência nos níveis de esporos.
- Occurrence of Puccinia spp. spores in Madeira Island and their phytopathological importancePublication . Camacho, Irene; Leça, Rubina; Sardinha, Duarte; Camacho, Roberto; Sadyś, MagdalenaThe genus Puccinia represents rust infections, which are responsible for great productivity losses in crops of commercial and ornamental plants worldwide. This work is aimed at determining the occurrence of Puccinia spp. spores in Madeira Island in order to infer the exposure risks from a phytopathological point of view. A phytopathological analysis was performed in 203 local plant samples between January 2003 and December 2012. During the same period the airborne concentrations of rust spores were monitored following well-established guidelines. Aerobiological data was compared with meteorological records. Based on macro and microscopic analyses, five species of rusts were identified: P. horiana, P. buxi, P. porri, P. pelargoniizonalis, and P. sorghi, and they were found mostly in spring and summer. A total of 20 samples out of 203 analysed plants (9.8%), were infected with Puccinia spores, i.e., P. horiana (5.9%), P. buxi (1.47%), P. porri and P. pelargonii-zonalis (0.98%), and P. sorghi (0.5%). During the studied period Puccinia spores attained an annual average concentration of 126 spores m−3 and most of them were recorded between March and October. Meteorological factors were determinant in fluctuations in spore concentration. Relative humidity was the parameter that favoured the biggest release and dispersal of the rust spores, whereas rainfall revealed a significant negative effect. Rusts do not represent an important plant pathogen in Madeira Island, as shown by the low infection frequencies and levels of airborne spore concentrations.
- The impact of urban and forest fires on the airborne fungal spore aerobiologyPublication . Camacho, Irene; Góis, André; Camacho, Roberto; Nóbrega, Vítor; FernandezThe occurrence of airborne fungal spores is driven by several biogeographic and climatic factors. In addition, the occurrence of fires near fungal ecosystems seems to play an important role on the aerobiology of fungal spores. Wildfires are prevalent throughout the world and particularly so in several South European countries with Mediterranean climate. The present survey aimed at analysing the impact of urban and forest fires on the airborne fungal spore content of Madeira Island. Data suggest that after a fire occurrence, the concentration of fungal spores tends to increase in the air, peaking on the 10th day after a fire event. It is likely that fire-induced convections promote release of fungal spores from their natural habitat and that the soil heating conditions could trigger the germination of fungi colonizing post-fire plant residues and soil. It is also possible that the registered low precipitation and wind intensity could help increase the concentration of fungal spores in the atmosphere during 1–2 weeks. These findings need further research, not only at a regional but also at a larger scale, in order to clarify the specific impact of fires on such biological particles and the possible consequences on public health.