GIAS ONGOING Nº 3 - JANEIRO 2016
Editorial In this issue:
A new challenge was accepted! Our newsletter will be written in English from now on
Editorial
1
Achievement
1 2
One of us! New members in GIAS Highlighted Curiosities ONGOING projects Scientific outputs
For this first newsletter of the year I would like to use a statement from the author Gary W. Miller in his recent publication entitled Young investigators in toxicology: is there a crisis? “Those that retain their enthusiasm for the science are much more resilient, and ultimately
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Case study
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The photo
2016 that results from our ongoing research and international collaborations.
2 4 5
National and international network Future Events
to reach a bigger audience within the scientific community. This is a new challenge for
more successful.” Well, in GIAS we believe this is true!
Susana Viegas (GIAS Coordinator)
Achievement Project Keywords: The
Dust
Portuguese
Conditions
(ACT)
Authority
for
Working
(http://www.act.gov.pt/)
funded the project “Occupational exposure to
Fungi
dust, fungi and mycotoxins and health effects in
Mycotoxins
the production of bread and cookies”, in
Occupational exposure Bread and cookies production
exposure to the risk factors;
Viegas). The project goals are:
related with exposure to aflatoxin B1;
Completion
of
educational
and
informative manuals that intend to clarify employees and workers about
Characterization
of
exposure
to
particles, fungi and mycotoxins;
Identification on genetic polymorphisms that can influence the health effects
58 575, 33 euros. The project will be coordinated by the GIAS coordinator (Susana
Study of health effects related with
Identification of tasks with higher exposure;
the risk factors and the prevention and protection measures.
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GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
One of us! Tania Becker-Algeri – PhD student in Food
(“Doutorado sanduiche”), under the co-
Engineering and Science – Grant Holder of
supervision of Dr. Susana Viegas from
“Doutorado sanduiche” from CNPq (Conselho
ESTeSL, a project that has been approved by
Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e
CNPq. In this project, the research is focused
Tecnológico, Brasil).
on the contamination of milk samples by food
Aflotoxin M1 and B1. More specifically, it
contamination by mycotoxins during her
addresses the influence of milk fermentation
graduated studies in Dairy Technology at
by lactic acid bacteria in bioavailability,
“Universidade
toxicity, genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of
Tania
Tania Becker-Algeri Aluna de Doutoramento em Engenharia e Ciência de Alimentos - Bolseira do CNPq
started
her
studies
Tecnológica
in
Federal
do
Paraná” – UTFPR – Brasil. In these studies, she
mycotoxins.
evaluated the incidence of Aflotoxin M1 as
Since 2010, Tânia has participated in
well as antibiotic residues in milk samples
research
destined to human consumption.
contamination
During her master studies in Food Engineering
(mycotoxins) approved and funded
and Science, developmed at “Universidade
federal and state entities. She has published
Federal do Rio Grande – FURG – Brasil” she
in a number of reputable journals and
became an expert in methods used to detect
presented her work on these topics in several
and quantify mycotoxins in food, namely in
national and international meetings. She
high performance liquid chromatography
collaborates as a reviewer of international
(HPLC). She also evaluated the effect of
journals and participates in events related
temperature treatment at the contamination
with the filed of “food”.
levels by Fumonisin B1 in rice samples
Her main research interest is the search for
destined to human consumption, in its natural
toxic compounds in food and the potential
form as well as after cooking and digestion.
damage they might cause in humans upon
Tania is currently doing her PhD in the field
ingestion. She intends to conclude her PhD in
of Food Engineering and Science by FURG, in
this field and pursue her research objectives
collaboration
with a post-doctoral training.
with
UTFPR
and
ESTeSL
projects by
related fungi
with
and
food
chemical by
New Members in GIAS We welcome the new members of our group: Ana Margarida Costa, Ana Monteiro, Carla Lança, Liliana Aranha and Hugo Osório! Their expertise will be of upmost value to our research
projects.
All
of
them
were
challenged to answer the following question:
Ana Margarida Costa
“Why GIAS?” and here is their opinion:
Ana Margarida Costa (AC FM, ESTeSL) “The motivation to join GIAS is based on personal and professional interests and I am mostly interested in participating in GIAS projet “Occupational exposure to cytotoxic drugs”, fitting both the objectives and research lines of this group. In particular, I would be interested in studying the risk
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GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
New Members in GIAS
Ana Monteiro
factors that may jeopardize human health
promote research with colleagues from
(patient
professionals),
ESTeSL and other institutions, whit the
establishing cause-effect relationships and
engagement of students. My expertise lies in
prevention of disease in populations.
the
Regarding the Group's activity plan, I hope to
microparticulate delivery systems for mucosal
contribute to the three areas: research,
immunization purposes, focused on passive
teaching and service to the community. I
immunization against tuberculosis, both in
consider it is a privilege to join this group
humans and cattle.
that, although young, has shown to be very
Taking
dynamic, with several completed projects,
research fields, I think my work with vaccines
other ongoing and numerous publications on
and tuberculosis prevention in human and
the main lines of research that the group
cattle
offers.
Environment Health (PEH) and Occupational
Ana Monteiro (AC SA, ESTeSL)
Health
and
health
To me it makes perfect sense to be part of GIAS, not only for the areas covered/ under
Carla Lança Liliana Aranha
study but also for the members that belong to the group, as we share the same interests! In fact I have already participated in research
of
into
can
the
development
consideration
be
(OE),
framed whereas
experience
in
Pharmacy
contribution
in
different
for
instance,
involving,
GIAS'
in
of
main
Public
my
and
broader
enables research the
my work
chemical
monitoring of drugs and other substances in relevant media.
projects with this team before I integrated
Hugo Osório (INSA)
GIAS, so this is a way to formalize this
My decision to become member of GIAS was
partnership. From GIAS I hope a lasting and
based on the interest to introduce in the
reciprocal relationship of knowledge sharing.
scope of GIAS the assessment and control of
Carla Lança (AC ORT, ESTeSL)
vector arthropods, and those environmental
This was a great opportunity to join a team and do collaborative research. No researcher is able to work alone and this group has different individuals with potentiality to explore and merge different areas of knowledge. I hope to do a good work and help GIAS disseminating research results in the best way I can. Liliana Aranha (AC FM, ESTeSL) I am delighted to integrate GIAS. The idea of my participation is to contribute with the developed work during my PhD and to
Hugo Osório
field
factors that can potentially affect their distribution and role as vectors of disease. This is a multidisciplinary field of science, which
requires
collaborative
efforts
to
develop projects and come up with ideas, as also
researchers
with
multidisciplinary
valences that I'm sure to find in the GIAS. Briefly, I'm expecting to develop new projects and ideas in collaboration with GIAS in the field of medical entomology concerning public health and environmental quality.
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GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
Highlighted Scientific paper published by GIAS members with an enlarged international network
Beach sand and the po-
Two GIAS members (Carla Viegas e Raquel Sabino) had the opportunity to be part of an
tential for infectious dis-
enlarged international network to write a scientific paper with the following goal “In an effort to
ease transmission: Ob-
provide specific recommendations for sand sampling programs, we outline published guidelines for
servations
beach monitoring programs, which are currently focused exclusively on measuring microbial levels in
mendations
and
recom-
water. We also provide background on spatial distribution and temporal characteristics of microbes in sand, as these factors influence sampling programs.” In this same paper 28 co-authores were engaged belonging to 7 different countries (Portugal, United States, United Kingdom, Holland, Slovenia, Canada and Israel). Regarding Portugal there were 10 different academic and governmental entities to join. ESTES-IPL (Carla Viegas) and Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge (Raquel Sabino) were 2 of these 10 entities. The press release of this paper was followed in some countries considering the relevance of the topic: Press Release in Germany
Press Release at Miami University
Press Release at ESTeSL
GIAS members in an article at Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK 11 agost 2015
Two GIAS researchers won grants Mateus dos Santos won the best student award from Environmental Health Undergarduated Course Grant (the last one on the right)
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GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
Vanessa Mateus has won a scholarship for her PhD
Workshop about GIAS: the present and the future GIAS presented some of the ongoing projects during a Workshop prepared for the VII Encontro Nacional das Ciências e Tecnologias (http:// sites.estesl.ipl.pt/vii-encts/), held in Lisbon School of Health Technologies (www.estesl.ipl.pt) during the days 12, 13 and 14 of November.
It was an excellent experience and future workshops will be prepared shortly!!
The workshop aim was to present the projects and the scientific outputs obtained until now promoting in this way discussion. It was also our intention to let the audience know what are the main areas of research and the partnerships that have already be accomplished.
Curiosities Undergraduate Environmental Health trainee Since
September
until
the
December
Orlando Neves was in GIAS doing his internship to finish his last year as an undergraduate
student
in
Environmental
Health Course. He was engaged in several projects participating in several activities including field (sampling and measuring environmental parameters) and also bench work (samples inoculation, slides preparation
for
fungal
identification,
among
others
activities). “The internship in GIAS was a great opportunity for my personal and professional life. This was an experience where I could put into practice some knowledge and learn at the same time new skills and develop appropriate working methods.” Orlando Neves
Orlando Neves
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GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
OnGoing Projects:
Microbiome assessment in optical shops
The project started in July 2015 and its main
contribution of our national network namely
goal is to make the assessment of fungal and
Sandra
bacteria burden and to characterize the
Tecnológico e Nuclear, Instituto Superior
contribution
Técnico from Lisbon University
of
several
environmental
Cabo-Verde
from
Campus
parameters such particle matter to this contamination. Currently there are no data regarding fungal and bacteria contamination in optical shops
Slit lamp biomicroscope sampled in the assessed optical shops
and this lack of information has been hindering the application of preventive measures. This project was possible due not only to several GIAS researchers (Ana Monteiro, Carla Lança, Mateus dos Santos, Raquel Sabino, Susana Viegas), but also to the
Scientific Outputs — 2015
Scientific Outputs 2015
For 2016 the aim is to keep increasing
the
publication
numbers, focusing in articles in international peer-review journals with higher impact factor journals.
Articles in international peerreview journals Articles in national peer-review journals Papers in international proceedings Books
Grupo de Investigação em Ambiente e Saúde (GIAS) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th quarter quarter quarter quarter 2
Posters in international congress
4
2
4
1
1
2
5 1
4
1
1
2
2
2
2
6
1
2
3
6
2
5
9
16
Posters in national congress Total
11 0
Book Chapters Oral presentations in international congress Oral presentations in national congress
3
Total
0 12
13
16
11
52
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GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
National and international network AMBERGO, Lda have been a valuable
contaminated settings (focus on Projects
partner not only providing the aerosol
Ongoing Newsletter nº1)
monitor TSI® DustTrak II model 8532 to perform several occupational exposure assessments, but also giving an excelente tecnhical support that allow us to potentiate our research. Many projects have been enhanced due to this partnership, increasing the outputs from occupational exposure to fungi and particulate matter in highly
Case Study A research project related with occupational
ESTeSL-IPL
exposure assessment to cytostatic drugs was
assessment with a lower cost allowing the
started in 2010 funded by Portuguese
contamination monitoring of the workplaces
Authority for Working Conditions. Lisbon
surfaces
School of Health Technology (ESTeSL-IPL) and
information
Escola
two
management. We hope in this way to give an
institutions that developed this study. The aim
important contribute to reduce occupational
of the project was to assess workers exposure
exposure to the targeted chemical agentes.
Nacional Pública
were
the
by knowing the surfaces contamination with cytostatic drugs and for that an analytical method
was
determination
developed
to
do
of
3
different
cyclophosphamide,
5-
fluorouracil
the drugs: and
paclitaxel. The method implied the use of HPLC-DAD equipment and ESTeSL-IPL was the first institution having this method implemented. Until then, when Hospitals intended to do this assessment, they had to contact a foreign institution to do the analytical procedure. This involves time and high costs and probably this was the main reason for most Portuguese hospitals do not having ensured proper monitoring of this exposure. Nowadays,
can
and for
provide
this
providing risk
the
exposure
needed
assessment
and
GIAS ONGOING
Pรกgina 8
Nยบ3 JANEIRO 2016
Future Events
ICOEH2016 http://conferenceoeh.com/
ECMM Educational Symposium on Ecology and Mycology https://www.ecmm.info/news/updated-program-ecmm-educationalsymposium-on-ecology-mycology-14-16-feb-2016_20_43.html
7th Advances Against Aspergillosis: http:// www.advancesagainstaspergillosis.org/2016/index.htm
SHO2016 http://www.sposho.pt/sho2016/
38th Mycotoxin Workshop http://www.mycotoxin-workshop.de/ index.php
ICOETox 2016 http://www.icoetox2016.com/
ISES 2016 http://ises2016.org/
ICEH2016 - 18th International Conference on Environment and Health https://www.waset.org/conference/2016/07/zurich/ICEH
Página 9 GIAS ONGOING Nº3 JANEIRO 2016
The photo
Incubated air plate from a swine industry from fungal burden assessment intervention
Until the next issue in June 2016
Editorial GIAS ONGOING - biannual - nº3 Newsletter of the Environment and Health Investigation Group Email: susana.viegas@estesl.ipl.pt; investigação@estesl.ipl.pt Site: http://www.estesl.ipl.pt/investigacao/grupos-deinvestigacao/grupo-de-investigacao-em-ambiente-esaude-gias
Editorial Staff: Carla Viegas Maria da Luz Antunes Susana Viegas Márcia Meneses Mateus dos Santos Tiago Faria Anita Gomes Design: Paula Seguro de Carvalho
ESTeSL Address: Av. D. João II Lote 4.69.01 1990 - 096 Lisboa Telef: (351) 218 980 400 Email: estesl@estesl.ipl.pt Site: www.estesl.ipl.pt