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Ants of the genus Solenopsis are globally distributed, presenting high diversity and many generalist species. In South America, the dominant species is Solenopsis saevissima (Smith, 1855), commonly found nesting in grassy fields surrounding humanized areas. In spite of being so common, there has been no research evaluating the effect of human disturbances on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotype diversity in this species. In this context, we here characterized the mtDNA haplotype diversity in S. saevissima nests by highway roadsides, dust roads, and forest borders of Atlantic Forest, based on partial sequences of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Based on the facts that the species is a rapid colonizer of disturbed habitats, we specifically probed how the genetic diversity of native S. saevissima is impacted by highways and roads infrastructure expanding around the rainforest. Species diagnosis was established both by morphological characters and obtained mtDNA COI sequences. Overall, the species exhibited high haplotypes and nucleotide diversity, particularly around forest borders; though all haplotypes seemed closely related across the different habitats. We identified seven mitochondrial haplotypes (H1 to H7), where haplotype H1 was exclusively found in highway roadside nests, and H7 on dust roads; the remaining haplotypes were recorded from all habitats. Haplotype H1 was geographically isolated to the south of the Atlantic Forest, supporting previous suggestions that it acts as a biogeographical barrier. The pattern is suggestive of a recent species expansion, probably resulting from extensive habitat fragmentation. Taken together, our data demonstrates fire ant haplotypes prevailing in some anthropized habitats, characterizing how a native species lining the remnants of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest might be a concern for environmental conservation.

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In January 2021, oxygen supplies in the Amazon region's largest city were allowed to run out at the peak of the second wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, shocking the world as hospital patients expired for lack of this basic medical resource in Manaus, which during the first COVID-19 wave had become the world's first city to bury its dead in mass graves. Brazil's authorities used this tragedy to further a political agenda that implies enormous environmental and human-rights consequences. Transport of oxygen was used to promote building a road that, together with its planned side roads, would give deforesters access to much of what remains of Brazil's Amazon Forest. Here, we demonstrate that the logistical strategy adopted by the Jair Bolsonaro administration's Ministries of Health and Infrastructure to bring oxygen to Manaus was the worst possible choice, and the foreseeable delay in the arrival of oxygen cost hundreds of lives. Rather than sending trucks to carry oxygen on the nearly impassible Highway BR-319 during the rainy season, the most appropriate transport option was barges on the Madeira River. As oxygen supplies dwindled in Manaus, the families of wealthier COVID-19 victims scrambled to buy the few remaining cylinders at prices out of reach for those in poorer (and often ethnically distinct) economic strata. Ethnic health disparities are aggravated by both the direct consequences of the oxygen crisis and, on the longer term, by the consequences of the highway project that political use of the crisis materially advanced.

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Forecasting road flow has strong importance for both allowing authorities to guarantee safety conditions and traffic efficiency, as well as for road users to be able to plan their trips according to space and road occupation. In a summer resort, such as beaches near cities, traffic depends directly on weather conditions, variables that should be of great impact on the quality of forecasts. Will the use of a dataset with information on transit flows enhanced with meteorological information allow the construction of a precise traffic flow forecasting model, allowing predictions to be made in advance of the traffic flow in suitable time? The present work evaluates different machine learning methods, namely long short-term memory, autoregressive LSTM, and a convolutional neural network, and data attributes to predict traffic flows based on radar and meteorological sensor information. The models trained to predict the traffic flow have shown that weather conditions were essential for this forecast, and thus, these variables were employed in the evaluated deep-learning models. The results pointed out that it is possible to forecast the traffic flow at a reasonable error level for one-hour periods, and the CNN model presented the lowest prediction error values and consumed the least time to build its predictions.

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The objective of the present study was to investigate metal(loid)s in soils, in the trunk xylem sap and in the leaves of the Dipteryx alata plant located near the highway with high vehicle traffic in agricultural regions and near landfills, and to assess the transfer of metal(loid)s from soil to plant and possible health risk assessment. Trunk xylem sap, leaves and soil samples were collected at three sites near the highway. The analysis of trace elements was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP OES). In the three soil sampling sites far from the highway edge, 15 elements were quantified. The concentrations of elements in the soil presented in greater proportions in the distance of 5 m in relation to 20 and 35 m. The metal(loid)s content in the study soil was higher than in other countries. The concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, P, Se and Zn in the xylem sap were much higher than the leaves. The values of transfer factor of P, Mg and Mn from soil to the xylem sap and transfer factor of P from soil to leaf were greater than 1, indicating that the specie have a significant phytoremediation and phytoextraction potential. This plant has a tendency to accumulate As, Cd and Cr in its leaf tissues. The chronic hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were above 1 for adults and adolescents. It is concluded that the soil, the trunk xylem sap and leaves of this plant are contaminated by heavy metals. Ingestion of the trunk xylem sap of this plant can cause toxicity in humans if ingested in large quantities and in the long term; therefore, its consumption should be avoided.

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In drylands around the world, ephemeral lakes (playas) are common. Dry, wind-erodible playa sediments are potent local and regional sources of dust and PM10 (airborne particles with diameters less than 10 µm). Dust clouds often cause sudden and/or prolonged loss of visibility to travelers on downwind roadways. Lordsburg Playa, in southwestern New Mexico, USA is bisected by Interstate Highway 10. Dust storms emanating from the playa have been responsible for numerous visibility-related road closures (including 39 road closures between 2012 and 2019) causing major economic losses, in addition to well over a hundred dust-related vehicle crashes causing at least 41 lost lives in the last 53 years. In order to improve understanding of the surfaces responsible for the dust emissions, we investigated the critical wind friction velocity thresholds and the dust emissivities of surfaces representing areas typical of Lordsburg Playa's stream deltas, shorelines, and ephemerally flooded lakebed using a Portable In-Situ Wind ERosion Laboratory (PI-SWERL). Mean threshold friction velocities for PM10 entrainment ranged from less than 0.30 m s- 1 for areas in the delta and shoreline to greater than 0.55 m s- 1 for ephemerally flooded areas of the lakebed. Similarly, we quantified mean PM10 vertical flux rates ranging from less than 500 µg m- 2 s- 1 for ephemerally flooded areas of lakebed to nearly 25,000 µg m- 2 s- 1 for disturbed delta surfaces. The unlimited PM10 supply of the relatively coarse sediments along the western shoreline is problematic and indicates that this may be the source area for longer-term visibility reducing dust events and should be a focus area for dust mitigation efforts.

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Transportation policy and planning decisions, including decisions on new infrastructure and public transport improvements, affect local and global environmental conditions. This work studies the effect of increased road capacity on traffic-related emissions in Bogotá using a tool that couples a transportation model with emission factors from COPERT IV. We followed a parametric approach varying transport supply and demand, comparing three scenarios: a baseline scenario that represents the transportation system in Bogota in 2015; scenario 1 incorporates five highway capacity-enhancement projects in Bogotá and assumes insensitive travel demand; scenario 2 incorporates the new highway projects but assumes a demand increase of 13% in vehicle trips with private cars. Results include daily and annual values of traffic-related emissions of five air pollutant criteria: CO, NOx, PM10, SO2, and VOC for the baseline scenario, scenario 1, and scenario 2. We found a reduction in emissions after adding highway capacity and assuming inelastic demand (scenario 1). Scenario 1 results in a 15% reduction in PM10 emissions and a 10% reduction in NOx emissions. In contrast, results for scenario 2 suggest increased emissions for all air pollutant criteria (e.g., VOC and CO emissions increase by 21% and 22% compared with the baseline scenario). Therefore, new traffic demand would eliminate the emission savings observed in scenario 1 and could potentially further degrade air quality in Bogotá. While an exact estimate of induced demand that may result from highway expansion in Bogotá is not available, this analysis highlights that such projects could lead to an increase in emissions unless there is a combined effort to managing demand of private vehicle trips.

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Resumen Se presenta una ruta metodológica que permite la delimitación de Unidades de Paisaje, las cuales fueron determinadas a partir de la identificación e integración de los elementos naturales que las componen y de sus comportamientos y relacionamientos culturales dentro del territorio, ese conjunto de elementos permitirá darles una resignificación territorial, la cual da línea a nombrar cada unidad de paisaje de acuerdo a su contexto territorial presente.

Abstract It presents a methodological route, which allows the delimitation of units of landscape. These were determined by the identification and integration of the natural elements, which make them up, as well as their behaviors and cultural relations within the territory. This set of elements will allow them to give a territorial resignification, which allows to name each unit of landscape according to its current territorial context.

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The presence of metals in vehicle emissions is due to several factors, such as the composition of fuels and lubricating oils, the wear of engine components, and their use in catalytic converters. It is known that the soil near highways is greatly affected by heavy vehicle traffic, since the use of highways is of fundamental importance for the flow of goods and public transport, especially in Brazil, street transport being the main form of transport in the country. Considering the scenario described, the main objective of this study was to monitor the concentration of potentially toxic elements in surface soils located on the medians of the main access highways in the city of Campinas (SP-Brazil) and classify the soils through geoaccumulation index. Using SR-TXRF it was possible to detect and determine the concentrations of 5 elements of toxic-environmental interest (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb) and 11 natural soil composition elements (Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Rb, and Sr). To evaluate the influence of highway distance on elementary concentrations, ANOVA and Tukey statistical tests were applied. Nickel, Cu, and Zn showed a decrease in their concentrations moving away from the highway, indicating their relation with vehicular emissions. Applying principal components analysis (PCA), it was possible to identify four groups of the quantified elements: those mainly related to the soil itself, those produced by traffic of automotive vehicles, and those emitted by industrial activities.

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The growing number of cargo trucks on highway crashes in recent years due to the increase in freight movement in Chile motivates this study to identify the formation of persistent crash clusters on highway Ruta 5 (R5). Two spatial statistical methods (Moran's I and Getis-Ord Gi*) were used to determine whether crashes on this highway showed spatial clustering over time from a global and local perspective. Globally, recurrent crash clusters are spatially correlated on vertical curves and straight highway sections on northern R5 with different truck types and with the tractor-trailer units during rainy days on southern R5. The local spatial autocorrelation results suggest that the contributing causes related to the loss of control of the vehicle, the fatigue and imprudence of the driver, and crashes involving tractor units with trailer tend to cause persistent rollover crash clusters throughout R5. Overall, clustering of crash attributes with high values (i.e., hot spots) occurring on highway locations with vertical curves and on cloudy days predominated in the northern R5, and the largest number of recurrent hot spots occurred on sunny days along southern R5. A hot spot spatial co-occurrence analysis was further performed to identify the strong relationships between the studied crash attributes, and the crash and injury types as outcomes. The indication of high risk for the clustering of cargo trucks on highways crashes provides a basis for improving highway safety and reduce the associated social and economic costs.

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Resumo O artigo investiga os impactos socioambientais da construção da rodovia PA-458, que aterrou 26km de manguezal entre o município de Bragança e a praia de Ajuruteua, no nordeste do Pará. Com base em documentos oficiais, jornais, fotografias e relatos orais foram analisadas as representações de políticos, moradores e mariscadores de caranguejo sobre os significados da rodovia. Conclui-se que as autoridades desconsideraram os impactos ambientais causados no manguezal e no cotidiano dos mariscadores de caranguejo, que, mesmo avaliando a estrada como positiva, são confrontados com a escassez progressiva do crustáceo e com o aumento do número de atravessadores.

Abstract The article investigates the social and environmental impacts of construction of Highway PA-458, which turned 26km of mangrove swamp into a landfill between the municipality of Bragança and Ajuruteua beach in northeastern Pará. Working with official documents, newspapers, photographs, and oral accounts, it analyzes politicians', local residents', and crab harvesters' representations of the significance of the highway. It is concluded that officials have disregarded the environmental impact both on the mangrove swamps and on the daily lives of crab harvesters. While the latter may even view the road as positive, they have been confronted with a progressively dwindling crab population and a growing number of crab dealers.

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BACKGROUND: This paper sought to evaluate individual exposure to air pollution by quantifying the carbon in alveolar macrophages (AMs) and its relationship to lung function. We also examined the proximity of participants' residences to the Presidente Dutra highway (PDH) in adolescents with asthma from Taubaté, São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: This descriptive study examined fifty 13- to 14-year-old adolescents with asthma identified by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) in Taubaté. These adolescents underwent spirometry and sputum induction via the inhalation of 3% hypertonic saline (HSS). Sputum was collected after each nebulisation, and forced expiratory flow in one second (FEV1) was measured. The collected sputum was stored and transported to the laboratory; it was then processed and analysed for ultrafine particles (≤100nm). This analysis was correlated with the residence location and FEV1 of each adolescent. RESULTS: A total of 39 adolescents completed the study. The comparison of the carbon fraction within macrophages (CA/MA) showed no differences according to residence in relation to the PDH (p=0.758). After adjustment, a mixed linear model with FEV1 as the dependent variable and CA/MA, location, and evaluation condition as the predictors found that the interactions among the variables were not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of carbon present within the AMs of adolescents with asthma was not correlated with either lung function or residence location. Evaluations of the topography and local climatic conditions in Taubaté should be considered in future studies.

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Abstract Deforestation and road construction have inflicted negative effects on wildlife populations. To contribute to the comprehension and preservation of wildlife species, this study aimed to evaluate collared anteater presented to a reference center located in São Paulo state, Brazil. Furthermore, the locations where the animals were most frequently found were determined. Data on collared anteaters (Tamandua tetradactyla) examined at the Center for Medicine and Research in Wild Animals (CEMPAS) were evaluated retrospectively for a period of 13 years. A total of 46 collared anteaters was examined, comprised of 14 males, 10 females, and 22 without identifying information. On average, adult males weigh 4.41 kg while adult females weigh 4.95 kg. The most common admission circumstance was vehicular strikes (36.96%), followed by dog bites (21.74%); 23.91% were considered clinically healthy. Animal outcomes were 36.96% (n=17) reintroduced, 34.78% (n=16) fatalities, 15.22% (n=7) transferred to other institutions, and 6.52% (n=3) escaped from the enclosure; and 6.52% (n=3) presented no medical record information. The collared anteaters were found mainly in the municipal areas of Botucatu (21.73%), São Manuel (17.39%), Lençóis Paulista (6.52%), and Bauru (4.34%), with SP-300 being the main highway associated with the occurrences. In conclusion, the main cause of lesion in the collared anteaters evaluated in this study was vehicular strike that that led to death. However, including all collared anteaters at least half of them had a positive outcome.

Resumo O desmatamento e a construção de estradas têm promovido uma série de problemas à fauna. Visando contribuir com informações que podem ser usadas na compreensão e preservação das espécies, o trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar tamanduás-mirins atendidos em um centro de referência localizado no Estado de São Paulo, Brazil. Foram avaliados retrospectivamente dados referentes a tamanduás-mirins (Tamandua tetradactyla), que foram trazidos ao Centro de Medicina e Pesquisa em Animais Selvagens (CEMPAS), durante um período de 13 anos. De um total de 46 tamanduás-mirins atendidos, 14 foram machos e 10 foram fêmeas, e 22 não possuíam identificação quanto ao sexo. Em média, os machos adultos pesaram 4,41 kg, enquanto as fêmeas adultas pesaram 4,95 kg. Com relação à circunstância que levou ao atendimento, as mais importantes foram o atropelamento (36,96%) e a mordedura de cães (21,74%), sendo que 23,91% foram considerados clinicamente saudáveis. No tocante à evolução dos casos, 36,96% (n=17) foram reintroduzidos, 34.78% (n=16) foram a óbito, 15,22% (n=7) foram transferidos para outras instituições, 6,52% (n=3) evadiram do recinto e 6,52% (n=3) não há informação. Os animais foram provenientes principalmente dos municípios de Botucatu (21,73%), São Manuel (17,39%), Lençóis Paulista (6,52%) e Bauru (4,34%), sendo a SP-300 a principal rodovia relacionada as ocorrências. Foi possível concluir que dos tamanduás-mirins avaliados a principal causa de lesão foi o atropelamento, que teve por evolução o óbito; porém ao se incluir os tamanduás-mirins saudáveis e demais, ao menos metade evoluíram positivamente.

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Resumo Os andarilhos de estrada são indivíduos que percorrem longas distância pelas rodovias do país com um saco às costas ou puxando um carrinho de mão no qual carregam todos os seus pertences, sem destino certo ou trajetos preestabelecidos. Essa pesquisa teve por finalidade analisar o tratamento dado por uma concessionária de rodovias aos andarilhos dentro de suas políticas de gestão do trânsito e fluxo de pedestres pelos acostamentos. Foi realizada uma entrevista com o profissional responsável pela administração de uma importante rodovia paulista, posicionada num dos principais corredores de transporte do país e na qual são encontrados frequentemente os andarilhos. Os resultados indicaram que as estratégias de controle utilizadas pela concessionária de rodovia incluem ações de vigilância e medidas administrativas que, sob o efeito da sanção normalizadora, supervisionam e distribuem os andarilhos nesse espaço aberto e anônimo por onde circulam as multiplicidades.

Resumen Andariegos o caminantes de carretera son individuos que caminan largas distancias por las carreteras de Brasil, sin destino o trayectos preestablecidos, con una bolsa en la espalda o tirando de un carrito de mano donde llevan todas sus pertenencias. Esta investigación tuvo por finalidad analizar el tratamiento ofrecido por una concesionaria de carretera a los caminantes según sus políticas de gestión de tránsito y flujo de pedestre por los arcenes. Fue realizada una entrevista con el profesional responsable por la administración de una importante carretera en el estado de São Paulo, situada en uno de los principales corredores de transportes del país donde esos andariegos son vistos con frecuencia. Los resultados han indicado que las estrategias de control utilizadas por la concesionaria de carretera incluyen acciones de vigilancia y medidas administrativas que, bajo el efecto de la normalización, supervisan y distribuyen los caminantes en este espacio abierto y anónimo por donde circulan las multiplicidades.

Abstract The Brazilian highway wanderers are individuals who walk long distances through the country highways with a bag on their backs or pulling a wheelbarrow in which they carry all their belongings, with no defined destination or pre-established routes. This research aimed to analyze the treatment given by a highway concessionaire to the highway wanderers within their policies of traffic management and pedestrian transit along the roadsides. An interview was conducted with a professional who is responsible for the management of an important highway in São Paulo State, located in one of the main transport walkways where highway wanderers are often seen. The results indicated that the control strategies utilized by the highway concessionaire include vigilance actions and the administrative measures that, under the normalization effects, supervise and distribute the Brazilian highway wanderers in this open and anonymous space through which multiplicities circulate.

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Transmission of Paracoccidioides spp. fungi to humans is usually related to manipulation of soil. Rural workers are the most affected group. We report an outbreak of paracoccidioidomycosis after deforestation and massive earth removal during construction of a highway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Extensive environmental disturbances might be involved in fungal transmission.

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RESUMO: O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi realizar o mapeamento de áreas de risco a escorregamentos e a inundações em áreas marginais a uma importante rodovia do Estado de São Paulo. Sendo assim, um segundo objetivo do trabalho foi apresentar medidas geotécnicas de contenção aos processos mapeados. Para isso, as áreas de risco foram mapeadas a partir de visitas de campo e classificadas em quatro graus de risco (R1: baixo; R2: médio; R3: alto ou; R4: muito alto) utilizando fichas de cadastro que contemplam condicionantes naturais, antrópicos e evidências de instabilidade. Foram identificados oito setores de risco a escorregamentos (cinco com risco R2; dois com risco R3 e um com risco R4) e um setor de risco a inundação (R3). Este trabalho poderá contribuir no melhor monitoramento de impactos ambientais resultantes da construção de rodovias, sobretudo, resultantes do aparecimento de ocupações irregulares em áreas impróprias para a ocupação.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this paper was develop a landslide and flood risk map to areas located close to an important road in São Paulo state. Thus, the second objective was present geotechnical measures to mitigate the mapped processes. The risk areas were mapped from fieldwork and classified into four risk levels (R1: low; R2: medium; R3: high or; R4: very high) using registration forms that include natural constraints, anthropogenic processes and instability evidences. There were identified eight landslide risk areas (five were classified as a R2 risk, two were classified as a R3 risk and one were classified as a R4 risk) and one flood risk classified as a R3 risk. This paper can help monitoring the environmental impacts that may occur after the road construction, especially in the emergence of irregular settlements in unsuitable areas.

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Abstract The current study aimed to investigate the helminth parasites of a population of Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae) that occur in Atlantic Forest in the Southeastern region of Brazil. We necropsied 18 specimens of G. cuja, collected between January 2009 and May 2014, ran over victims on BR-040 highway, between the municipalities of Duque de Caxias, state of Rio de Janeiro and Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais, localities inserted in Atlantic rainforest Biome. A total of six species of helminths were identified: Dioctophyme renale, Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp., Strongyloides sp., Platynosomum illiciens, and Pachysentis gethi. Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp. and P. illiciens were recorded for the first time in this host. Data provided in the current study when compared to the previous reports of parasitism by helminths in G. cuja in Brazil demonstrate that this study is the most representative with this host species.

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a fauna de helmintos de uma população de Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae) que ocorre em uma região de Mata Atlântica na região Sudeste do Brasil. Foram necropsiados 18 espécimes de G. cuja, coletados entre Janeiro de 2009 e Maio de 2014, que foram mortos acidentalmente por atropelamentos na rodovia BR-040, entre os municípios de Duque de Caxias, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e Juiz de Fora, no Estado de Minas Gerais, localidades inseridas no Bioma Mata Atlântica. No total seis espécies de helmintos foram identificadas: Dioctophyme renale, Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp, Strongyloides sp, Platynosomum illiciens e Pachysentis gethi. Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp. e P. illiciens foram registradas pela primeira vez nesta espécie de hospedeiro. O estudo amplia a diversidade de helmintos conhecidos para o hospedeiro em questão. Os dados fornecidos no presente estudo quando comparados com os registros prévios de helmintos em G. cuja no Brasil demonstram que este estudo é o mais representativo com esta espécie de hospedeiro.

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Abstract The current study aimed to investigate the helminth parasites of a population of Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae) that occur in Atlantic Forest in the Southeastern region of Brazil. We necropsied 18 specimens of G. cuja, collected between January 2009 and May 2014, ran over victims on BR-040 highway, between the municipalities of Duque de Caxias, state of Rio de Janeiro and Juiz de Fora, state of Minas Gerais, localities inserted in Atlantic rainforest Biome. A total of six species of helminths were identified: Dioctophyme renale, Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp., Strongyloides sp., Platynosomum illiciens, and Pachysentis gethi. Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp. and P. illiciens were recorded for the first time in this host. Data provided in the current study when compared to the previous reports of parasitism by helminths in G. cuja in Brazil demonstrate that this study is the most representative with this host species.(AU)

Resumo O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a fauna de helmintos de uma população de Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae) que ocorre em uma região de Mata Atlântica na região Sudeste do Brasil. Foram necropsiados 18 espécimes de G. cuja, coletados entre Janeiro de 2009 e Maio de 2014, que foram mortos acidentalmente por atropelamentos na rodovia BR-040, entre os municípios de Duque de Caxias, no Estado do Rio de Janeiro e Juiz de Fora, no Estado de Minas Gerais, localidades inseridas no Bioma Mata Atlântica. No total seis espécies de helmintos foram identificadas: Dioctophyme renale, Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp, Strongyloides sp, Platynosomum illiciens e Pachysentis gethi. Molineus elegans, Physaloptera sp. e P. illiciens foram registradas pela primeira vez nesta espécie de hospedeiro. O estudo amplia a diversidade de helmintos conhecidos para o hospedeiro em questão. Os dados fornecidos no presente estudo quando comparados com os registros prévios de helmintos em G. cuja no Brasil demonstram que este estudo é o mais representativo com esta espécie de hospedeiro.(AU)

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BACKGROUND: The prevalence of allergic diseases is increasing. We evaluated temporal trends in the prevalence of asthma, rhinitis and eczema in adolescents (13-14 years) living in Taubaté, SP, Brazil (2005-2012) and assessed the relationship between these prevalences and the residential proximity to Presidente Dutra Highway (PDH, a heavily travelled highway). METHODS: This cross-sectional study of adolescents (N=1039) from public and private schools was evaluated using the standard questionnaire of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) plus a question about their place of residence in relation to PDH. The data obtained were compared to the 2005 data using a chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. An analysis by groups consisting of two phases (two-step cluster) was used to evaluate the effect of living near PDH. RESULTS: There was a lifetime increase in the prevalence of active asthma (15.3% vs. 20.4%, p=0.005) and physician-diagnosed asthma (6.8% vs. 9.2%, p=0.06) and a decrease in the symptoms of active rhinitis (36.6% vs. 18.5%) between 2005 and 2012. A high frequency of asthma and rhinitis (18.1% vs. 23.2%, respectively) was observed among adolescents living close or very close to PDH; furthermore, 85.6% of the adolescents without symptoms of asthma or rhinitis lived far from PDH. CONCLUSION: An increase in the prevalence of asthma and a decrease in the prevalence of rhinitis were observed during the studied period. Living near PDH was associated with higher rates of asthma, rhinitis, and eczema.

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A dataset of 294 monitored sites from six continents (Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America) was compiled and evaluated to characterize the occurrence and fate of heavy metals in eight traffic area categories (parking lots, bridges, and three types each of both roads and highways). In addition, site-specific (fixed and climatic) and method-specific (related to sample collection, preparation, and analysis) factors that influence the results of the studies are summarized. These factors should be considered in site descriptions, conducting monitoring programs, and implementing a database for further research. Historical trends for Pb show a sharp decrease during recent decades, and the median total Pb concentrations of the 21st century for North America and Europe are approximately 15 µg/L. No historical trend is detected for Zn. Zn concentrations are very variable in traffic area runoff compared with other heavy metals because of its presence in galvanized structures and crumbs of car tire rubber. Heavy metal runoff concentrations of parking lots differ widely according to their use (e.g., employee, supermarket, rest areas for trucks). Bridge deck runoff can contain high Zn concentrations from safety fences and galvanizing elements. Roads with more than 5000 vehicles per day are often more polluted than highways because of other site-specific factors such as traffic signals. Four relevant heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cd) can occur in the dissolved phase. Knowledge of metal partitioning is important to optimize stormwater treatment strategies and prevent toxic effects to organisms in receiving waters.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of wild animals found run over on the highway BR482 in the stretch between the cities Conselheiro Lafaiete and Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The average of run over was 0.010 animals/km traveled. The mammals represented the most hit, followed by birds, amphibians and reptiles. This work, pioneered in this region, presents the species most affected by the traffic in the highway BR482 and contributes to a preliminary assessment of the present fauna of this region and the anthropological impact along that stretch.

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