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- Assessing environmental and pandemic influences on mortality through seasonal time series modelsPublication . Simões, João; Bernardo, Alexandra; Gonçalves, Luísa Lima; Brito, JoséUnderstanding the interplay between air pollution, climate variables, and mortality is essential for developing evidence-based public health policies and mitigating environmental health risks. Seasonal mortality patterns, particularly winter peaks, are often associated with increased air pollution and low temperatures. However, understanding the combined associations of these factors, especially under global disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic, poses a challenge for public health research and policy. This study shows that the monthly number of deaths from all-natural causes in Portugal from 2010 to 2022 exhibits a pronounced seasonal pattern, with winter mortality about 19 % higher than the annual mean. In the same period, air pollutant concentrations show clear seasonality, with NO2 (+24 %) and PM10 (+12 %) peaking in winter, while minimum temperatures fall about 42 % below the mean. Conversely, ozone exposure (SOMO35) reaches highest levels in summer, reflecting distinct seasonal burden. Using Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average models with Predictor Variables (SARIMAX), the analysis identifies complex and lagged associations: PM10 exhibits a delayed effect at four months, while NO2 is associated with immediate increases on mortality. Temperature acts as a nonlinear and oscillatory predictor, with both acute effects and delayed cold-related risks over several months. The findings indicate that pandemic-related mortality disrupted typical seasonal patterns and hindered the detectability of subtler environmental effects. Comparing models that include or exclude COVID-19 mortality reveals clearer environmental associations in the non-COVID model, highlighting the value of distinguishing acute shocks from long-term conditions. Overall, the results underscore the need for stricter air quality standards during colder months and for adaptive public health strategies that consider cumulative and lagged environmental effects. While this study focused on adults aged 30 years and older, the findings suggest that older adults, individuals with chronic respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, and those in disadvantaged settings may be more susceptible to environmental stressors.
- Assessment of air pollution and mortality in Portugal using AirQ+ and the effects of COVID-19 on their relationshipPublication . Simões, João; Bernardo, Alexandra; Gonçalves, Luísa Lima; Brito, JoséThis study uses the World Health Organization’s AirQ+ model to assess the relationship between air pollution and mortality in Portugal from 2010 to 2021, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. By integrating AirQ+ with Linear Mixed Models, we analyzed long-term air pollution data and its health effects. Results indicate a significant decrease in NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions and reduced transportation emissions. Conversely, O3 exposure slightly increased. The model estimates over 5000 annual deaths from NO2 and PM2.5 exposure and over 139 annual deaths from O3-related respiratory diseases for 2010–2021. Despite limitations like the need for better assessment of pollutant mixtures and climatic variables, the study shows a decrease in NO2-related disease burden during the pandemic. These trends reflect anomalies in mortality and pollution data rather than policy improvements. The study underscores the utility of AirQ+ in guiding public health strategies and tracking progress toward the 2030 Agenda, offering insights into reducing mortality and morbidity through decreased air pollutant exposure and highlighting the need for sustained, multidimensional pollution reduction efforts.
- Black soldier fly - an invaluable weapon in the war for the sustainability of the agrarian economy and defense of the environmentPublication . Menino, Regina; Murta, DanielThe growing demographic pressure, worldwide, has been alerting our planet, in an increasingly alarming way, to a progressive food deficit and a growing degradation of the quality of the environment; thus, the urgent need for new alternatives for agricultural production (among others) has been revealing the potential of insects in the two aspects mentioned above. In this context, the black soldier fly has revealed an invaluable potential for the biological composting of the remnants of agricultural production, with the triple objective of eliminating potentially polluting products, producing food for livestock farming and producing organic fertilizers capable of competing with chemical fertilizers, without the harmful effects of the latter, and with a high potential for the sustainability of the productivity of agricultural soils. The present communication, based on the advances that scientific experimentation has shown in this area, intends to highlight the high potential of this dipteran in the desideratum in question, particularly in the context of a circular economy.
- Contributions of health psychology to climate change : a reviewPublication . Castro, Elisa Kern de; Reis, MartaClimate change poses a significant threat to human health, necessitating interdisciplinary approaches to mitigate its effects. Health psychology, with its focus on behavior change and well-being, is uniquely positioned to contribute to climate action. This review examines how health psychology can address climate-related challenges, emphasizing psychological responses to environmental stressors, behavior modification strategies, and public health interventions. The findings indicate that climate change functions as a psychological stressor, contributing to anxiety, depression, and eco-distress. Additionally, behavioral science insights are underutilized in climate governance, despite their potential to drive sustainable actions. Health psychology can enhance climate adaptation by promoting pro-environmental behaviors, fostering resilience, and integrating psychological well-being into policy frameworks. However, barriers such as limited interdisciplinary collaboration and insufficient emphasis on systemic change hinder progress. To maximize impact, health psychologists must engage in climate governance, advocate for policy integration, and address both individual and collective behavior change. Future research should explore the intersection of mental health, climate resilience, and behavior adaptation to develop comprehensive strategies for tackling climate change. This review underscores the urgent need for health psychology to play a more active role in shaping climate policy and fostering sustainable, health-promoting behaviors.