Brazilian Metropolitan Regions Research Articles

Sustainable waste management solutions: Optimization of hybrid and gasification waste-to-energy plants

This study investigates an urban waste management model to integrate different energy generation technologies and waste processing routes in a megastructure with thermal, biological, and recyclable superstructures. The model was simulated for three metropolitan regions in Brazil, with waste transportation between existing landfills to improve energy generation efficiency and financial income. The gasification appears as a promising alternative to the originally modeled hybrid incineration configuration. Results suggest that the overall financial performance of plants benefits when the utilization of the thermal superstructure is restricted in smaller plants, with waste mass flow of less than 6 kg/s. Gasification is preferred for bigger plants, with paybacks of up to 11 years, net present value of 2 billion dollars, and an internal rate of return of 20.32 % in the most likely scenario without subsidies. The study shows significant increase in attractiveness by the utilization of waste-collecting taxes, for which a payback of 6 years was reached, demonstrating it as a financially interesting. The internal rate of return results confirms the economic feasibility of the business for scenarios with waste-collection taxes. Integrating gasification technology in municipal waste management into the megastructure model emerges as a promising approach for sustainable waste management and energy generation.

Is Having Urban Green Space in the Neighborhood Enough to Make a Difference? Insights for Healthier City Design.

Background: Prior research indicates that engagement with nature is associated with mental well-being; however, the impact of accessibility to urban green spaces (UGS) with suitable infrastructure for visitation and physical activities, like leisure or recreation, remains underexplored, particularly in developing countries. Purpose: This study delves into whether merely having green space in the neighborhood is sufficient to impact residents' mental health in Brazilian metropolitan regions. Method: Utilizing a cross-sectional survey, data were collected from 2136 participants. The analyzed variables included the intensity, duration, and frequency of nature engagement, suitability of UGS for visitation and physical activities, and mental well-being indicators measured by the DASS-21 scale. Multivariate statistical analyses and multiple regression models were employed to verify hypothetical relationships. Results and conclusions: Higher intensity, duration, and frequency of nature engagement in UGS were significantly associated with lower depression, anxiety, and stress scores. Notably, having urban UGS in the neighborhood alone was not enough to reduce mental health issues. Practical implications: The findings point out the need for urban planning policies that prioritize the development of high-quality, accessible green spaces to maximize mental well-being benefits. These insights could inform city designs that foster healthier urban environments. Future directions: Longitudinal studies are needed to establish causality between nature engagement and mental health improvements. Further research should incorporate objective measures of nature engagement and explore more aspects of green space quality, such as biodiversity and amenities.

Heat the road again! Twenty years of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) evolution and forcings in 21 tropical metropolitan regions in Brazil from remote sensing analyses

This study analysed the influence of urbanisation on the expansion of surface urban heat island intensities (SUHIIs) and the variability of biophysical parameters in twenty one major Brazilian Metropolitan Regions (MRs), from 2003 to 2022. We use land surface temperature (LST) data from MODIS sensors to continuously quantify the daytime and night-time SUHIIs. Spectral reflectance and re-analysis data were used to access the variability of Enhanced Vegetation Index-2 (EVI2), surface albedo (α), urban area (UA) growth, net surface radiation (Rn), and actual evapotranspiration (ET). The Mann-Kendall trend test was applied to all variables and their relationships with LST were investigated using statistical metrics. The results show that the SUHIIs were 60 % (1.64 °C) higher during the daytime than during the night, with significant growth trends throughout the studied period and more pronounced monthly seasonal variations in higher latitude MRs. The UAs are shown to be more influential on LST during the daytime, with the association of LST with EVI2 and α playing a fundamental role in regulating the urban climate. The results also demonstrate that increasing ET potentially mitigates LST, especially during the daytime. For the night-time, Rn is a stronger factor influencing LST, leading to the higher availability of sensible heat.

Complex multimorbidity in hemodialysis patients: Study in a metropolitan region in Brazil.

The objective of this article was to analyze the factors associated with complex multimorbidity (CMM) among hemodialysis patients in a metropolitan region in southeastern Brazil. To this end, a cross-sectional epidemiological survey was carried out with 1,024 individuals in the year 2019. CMM data were collected through the application of a questionnaire to hemodialysis patients. The binary logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) between independent variables and CMM. The prevalence of CMM was 81% and the results indicated that: living in cities with a low rate of general mortality (OR = 0.395, 95%CI = 0.179-0.870), being aged between 18 and 29 (OR = 0.402, 95%CI = 0.196-0.825), having an elementary education (OR = 0.536, 95%CI = 0.290-0.966) and assessing health as good/very good (OR = 0.446, 95%CI = 0.301-0.661) are factors that reduced the chances of having CMM, whereas a longer period of hemodialysis (OR = 1.779 and 95%CI = 1.057-2.997) increased the chances of CMM. The findings show that characteristics of the social and individual context are associated with CMM in hemodialysis patients, signaling the need for public health policies that include monitoring the complex multimorbidity condition among individuals undergoing hemodialysis treatment.

Socioeconomic, clinical and nutritional factors on interdialytic weight gain in haemodialysis users

Socioeconomic, clinical and nutritional factors on interdialytic weight gain in haemodialysis users

Changes in eating habits and lifestyle during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic across metropolitan regions in Brazil and Germany: A survey-based cross-sectional study.

COVID-19 caused profound societal changes to cope rapidly with the new circumstances. The food market changed its quantity, quality, form, and frequency dynamics. Consequently, food-eating habits and lifestyles like physical exercise likely experienced changes. An online-based survey was conducted between June 2020 and January 2021 in the metropolitan regions of Rhine Ruhr Metropolis (RRM), Greater São Paulo (GSP), other metropolitan regions in São Paulo state (oMRSP), other Brazilian metropolitan regions (oBRMR), and the remaining urban areas in both countries (oUA), representing different contexts of Brazil and Germany. We assessed self-reported changes in physical activity level, diet quality, self-reported eating habits, and buying groceries during the first year of the pandemic. In Germany, indoor and outdoor activities increased for 34% of the respondents, while in Brazil, there was a decrease in physical activity for 50% of the participants. The Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scored higher among Brazilians (16.8) than Germans (15.2) on a 0-29 HEI scale. Increased awareness of healthy and sustainable eating habits was observed in GSP (0.7), oMRSP (0.63), oBRMR (0.7), and oUA (0.68) on a scale from no change (0) to change (1). In RRM, an increase in convenience foods was noticed (0.86). Participants reported discomfort with food purchasing due to hygiene measures and avoided going to the supermarket (0.7 on average in Brazil and 0.58 for females using the same 0-1 scale). Also, food supply at the grocery shops was reported to be often unavailable and in lower quantities. A real-time assessment of self-reported changes in eating habits and lifestyle during the lockdown in 2020 in different contexts is insightful for rethinking strategies to improve conditions in the post-COVID-19 era and prepare for future pandemics.

PINK TAX: Why do women pay more than men for the same services? An exploratory study in the five largest metropolitan regions in Brazil

Resumo Evidências sobre a prática de preços mais elevados em produtos e serviços voltados ao público feminino, conhecida como pink tax, são observadas em diversos países no mundo. No Brasil, a literatura existente sobre o tema ainda é extremamente incipiente, além de focar sobretudo nos preços de produtos. Em primeiro lugar, o artigo faz uma revisão da literatura internacional e brasileira acerca do tema da pink tax. Na sequência, apresentamos os nossos próprios resultados de pesquisa. Investigamos a existência da pink tax nos serviços de lavanderia e salões de beleza das cinco maiores regiões metropolitanas do Brasil. O artigo também discute a relação entre gênero e espaço econômico, a natureza econômica da pink tax do ponto de vista da economia tradicional e o consumo feminino frente alguns estereótipos atribuídos às mulheres na contemporaneidade.

Determinants of family cultural consumption: Evidence for Brazilian metropolitan regions from a bivariate probit analysis

Resumo O presente artigo visa avaliar os fatores que estão associados ao consumo de bens e serviços culturais diretos fora do domicílio, considerando tal consumo como interligado ao consumo de outros bens e serviços culturais. A metodologia empregada engloba a aplicação de um modelo probit bivariado. Para tanto, são utilizados os dados da Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) de 2017-2018. No geral, os resultados obtidos para o modelo indicam que o consumo de bens e serviços culturais diretos fora do domicílio e o consumo de outros bens e serviços culturais são positivamente correlacionados, destacando a questão da desigualdade no consumo cultural devido a certas barreiras sociais (educação, renda, acesso a crédito, entre outros).

Repurposing urban air mobility infrastructure for sustainable transportation in metropolitan cities: A case study of vertiports in São Paulo, Brazil

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is an emerging transportation solution for large cities, utilizing electric aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (eVTOLs) capabilities, which operate within a network of vertiports and offer advantages such as reduced noise and emissions compared to traditional modes of transport. The objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of utilizing existing aerodrome and heliport infrastructure for UAM operations. The focus is on determining whether these locations can be repurposed to accommodate the requirements of UAM services. To achieve this, spatial analysis methods have been employed using Geographic Information Systems to investigate the São Paulo metropolitan region in Brazil, with a specific emphasis on access from São Paulo - Congonhas Airport. The results demonstrate that the existing infrastructure holds significant potential for improving urban mobility in the city. This research contributes valuable insights into the operational possibilities of utilizing existing infrastructure for UAM, paving the way for the implementation of sustainable and efficient urban transportation systems.

Bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in urban-rural interfaces: community structure associated with pathogen screening in São Paulo-the largest metropolitan region in Brazil.

Little is known about the influence of the urban environments on bat species 'ecology. The urbanization process potentially lead to critical ecological changes in bat communities' intra and interspecific pathogenic transmissions dynamics. To date, the monitoring of pathogens in bats in Brazil has only been done with bats found dead or alive in households, from rabies surveillance systems. The present work aimed to investigate how urbanization influenced bat richness, relative abundance and pathogen occurrence. Most captured bats were Phyllostomidae, especially Sturnira lilium, Artibeus lituratus, A. fimbriatus, Glossophaga soricina, and Platyrrhinus lineatus, among others. From preserved-rural towards urban areas the lesser the bat richness, the higher the relative abundance of the captured bats. Noise level, luminosity and relative humidity correlated with bat abundance. The proportion of genders, sexually active bats and their size (weight, right forearm length, and body condition index) were stable throughout the investigation. Still, the proportion of pregnant females was higher in Spring and the number of juveniles in Summer, evidencing the seasonality of reproduction. Several Enterobacteria were isolated, evidencing a significant role of bats in the circulation of pathogens of medical and veterinary interest. These results are crucial in the pursuit of a harmonious coexistence between humans, bats and domestic animals in areas with different levels of anthropization.

Examining heat inequity in a Brazilian metropolitan region

Urban heat islands (UHIs) are one of the major global issues that need to be addressed because of the negative effects that higher temperatures can cause to people and the environment, such as health issues and higher energy consumption. Within the literature on climate justice, specifically heat inequity, there are very few studies about Global South urban areas. Our study examines the spatial relationships between heat risk, urban form composition, and vulnerable social groups in Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR), in Brazil. We evaluated the spatial pattern of heat risk and concluded that the study area was experiencing UHIs in 2015. We estimated spatial regressions and found that the non-White population, low-income residents, and the elderly population were statistically significantly associated with heat risk. This case study indicates that even though Global South urban areas have the opposite spatial distribution of social groups (i.e., high-income residents living in the center and low-income living in the periphery) when compared to the Global North, areas where vulnerable social groups reside are experiencing similar inequities concerning the UHI effects in both South and North. Our case study exemplifies that climate justice is not taking place in BHMR, and specifically, heat inequity is being experienced by vulnerable social groups.

The effects of income shocks on female headship and poverty in Brazil

This paper analyzes the effects of income shocks on the households’ chances of becoming headed by women and its effects on the female-headed households’ poverty vulnerability in the Brazilian metropolitan regions. For that, the unemployment rate was used as an income shock, considering both positive and negative variations in the general economy and the sectors that mostly employ men and women. The results suggest that negative income shocks decrease female household headship, while positive ones cannot always increase them in the Brazilian metropolitan regions. Also, negative and positive income shocks make households headed by women more likely to be poor.

Urban air mobility (UAM) in the metropolitan region of São Paulo: Potential and threats

Purpose: The increase in congestion and pollution in large cities combined with the innovation of air transport technology (drones and vertical takeoff and electric propulsion vehicles – eVTOL) and with the advances in autonomous technology have stimulated this research on the potential of Urban Air Mobility – UAM as an alternative to improve mobility conditions in urban centers. In this research, the evaluation of the UAM's potential was carried out with a focus on the metropolitan region of São Paulo (RMSP), the largest metropolitan region in Brazil, with about 22 million inhabitants, and one of the ten most populous metropolitan regions in the world.Design/methodology/approach: In addition to evaluating challenges such as vehicle certification, infrastructure and ATM, an assessment of public acceptance of UAM (based on a survey) was carried out. The survey identified the perceptions of potential customers regarding the gains of the air mobility alternative, as well as the restrictions and fears in relation to the UAM. The opinion poll was carried out along the same lines as the work carried in Europe, allowing the comparison of results between the two markets.Findings: The main results highlighted the identification of the biggest problems for the implementation of UAM services in the metropolitan region of São Paulo, as well as the expectations and restrictions of customers, which will be important subsidies for the development of public policies to improve conditions mobility in the region.Originality/value: UAM is a new, disruptive mobility technology that can improve travel conditions in highly congested urban centers, such as the RMSP. The success of this new technology depends on understanding the challenges and opportunities, but mainly on the perception and expectations of potential customers.

Urban green spaces and social vulnerability in Brazilian metropolitan regions: Towards environmental justice

This study assesses the spatial correlation between urban green space and social vulnerability in five Brazilian metropolitan regions (MR), Distrito Federal, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Recife, and São Paulo, containing 20 % of the country’s urban population. The spatial correlation method used was exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) with the Moran index and local indicator space association (LISA). In the analyzed municipalities, the urban green spaces are not mostly concentrated in areas with better social indices. In four MR, the most representative scenario (in terms of area), was the high social vulnerability accompanied by a high number of urban green spaces. This scenario was observed in peri-urban zones in the analyzed MR. The Distrito Federal (containing the national capital, Brasilia) was the only one case where the concentration of green spaces appeared in the most socially privileged areas. Regarding the most representative scenario, the major problem is not the lack of urban green spaces but the absence of a policy for the implementation of complementary urban facilities in such green spaces. These policies are fundamental for turning urban green spaces into places for social interaction, landscape contemplation, leisure, and culture. Therefore, in the context of land use policies, when green spaces are included among the set of the urban facilities, they become promoters of environmental and spatial justice and can reduce inequality in cities.

Urban Green Spaces in Brazil: challenges and opportunities in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, urban green spaces were considered less prone to contagion, and thus people adopted them as alternative sites for improving mental health. The One Health concept advocated by health organizations worldwide supports the idea that the well-being of urban residents is strongly linked with physical activity in green areas. As the world grapples with the physical and mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, it becomes clearer that access to urban green spaces is a human rights issue. This study compared previously-mapped urban green spaces in five metropolitan regions in Brazil with the results of an extensive survey of municipal managers concerning possible increase in demand of population for green spaces. Urban green spaces of over 625 m2 were mapped in 117 municipalities, the total area of 4170 km2 representing 37.4% of the urban spaces analyzed in the five metropolitan regions. Out of these 117 municipalities, 49 had data available concerning demands of green spaces in the pandemic context. Overall, 20 municipalities (representing all five metropolitan regions) stated that there was an increase in visitation in urban green spaces, and 13 more indirectly suggested possible demands. When sustainability transitions are understood as geographical processes that happen in concrete places, urban green spaces then represent real locations where sustainable transitions can begin. The unequal distribution of these spaces also brings into consideration a social justice perspective, as well as aspects of public health that involve climate change resilience and epidemiological risk (SDG 11).

Characteristics associated with the consumption of in natura or minimally processed and ultra-processed foods in one Brazilian metropolitan region

This cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics associated with the consumption of in natura or minimally processed and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) by adolescents in the Metropolitan Region of Greater Vitória, in Espírito Santo, Brazil. The data were obtained between 2016 and 2017. Logistic regression was adopted for the multivariate analysis. A total of 2,285 adolescents aged between 15 and 19 participated in the study. Greater consumption of minimally processed foods was associated with the adolescent doing paid work (OR=1.27; 95%CI=1.04-1.56), a high family income (OR=1.5; 95%CI=1.10-2.17), and engagement in physical activity (OR=1.9; 95%CI=1.45-2.63). Having brown/black skin (OR=1.3; 95%CI=1.02-1.61) and the habit of eating while surfing the web (OR=1.4; 95%CI=1.02-1.88) increased the chances of consuming UPFs. Being enrolled in a private school and being in the third/fourth year of high school reduced UPF consumption by 41.7% and 37.2%, respectively. It is concluded that greater purchasing power and engagement in physical activity influenced the consumption of minimally processed foods. On the other hand, self-reporting as brown/black and internet use increased the chances of greater UPF consumption.

Influence of the Spatial Distribution of Jobs in Intervening Opportunities Models

This article analyzes the influence of spatial distribution of jobs, which represents intervening opportunities, in aggregated and disaggregated trip distribution models that generated eight origin–destination matrices. The observed trip matrix was obtained from the Urban Transport Master Plan (PDTU) of the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region in Brazil. The estimated matrices were calculated using the gravity, intervening opportunities and Naïve Bayes models, organized at two aggregation levels. These models’ performance was evaluated considering the aggregation level, the model approach adopted (aggregated or disaggregated), and the spatial distribution of the intervening opportunities. The results indicated that the intervening opportunities exert a positive influence on all models, under any level of zone size (subdistricts or neighborhoods). In the aggregate models, the variable “jobs” insertion improved the models’ performance when applied at a higher aggregation level (subdistricts). The best-case scenario showed a coefficient of determination (R2) equal to 0.8705, obtained in a disaggregated model with intervening opportunities applied in subdistricts.

Intermunicipal public consortia for solid waste in metropolitan regions in Brazil: contextual institutional factors of collective action

Resumo O trabalho tem o objetivo de mostrar fatores contextuais, a partir da Instititutional Collective Action (ICA), que influenciam a cooperação intermunicipal dos consórcios públicos intremunicipais de tratamento de resíduos nas Regiões Metropolitanas no Brasil. Os consórcios públicos intermunicipais na área de resíduos sólidos são importantes para a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (lei 12.305/2010). Com a agregação intermunicipal é possível a construção de aterros sanitários, algo que requer escala, e aí, as regiões metropolitanas, em tese, são aglomerações potenciais para este tipo de política. Para desenvolvimento do estudo foi utilizada a Análise Fatorial, e a Análise de Dados Multivariados, a partir do Escalonamento Multidimensional. O estudo conclui que os fatores influenciadores na criação de consórcios em regiões metropolitanas são: Características dos bens de transação, Características das Comunidades, Instituições Políticas e Estrutura das Relações Políticas.

Pandemic, inequality and poverty in Brazilian metropolitan regions

Resumo O artigo avalia o comportamento da desigualdade de renda e da pobreza no Brasil metropolitano durante a pandemia de Covid-19. O objetivo principal é analisar o papel desempenhado, entre 2019 e 2021, pelas políticas federais de transferência de renda – em especial o Auxílio Emergencial - no que diz respeito às variações no nível de desigualdade e de pobreza nas metrópoles brasileiras. Os dados são provenientes da Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios Contínua (PNADc – IBGE), em sua divulgação anual, e compreendem as vinte e duas principais regiões metropolitanas do país. Através de técnicas de decomposição, os resultados evidenciam em que medida as variações no rendimento do trabalho e nas políticas de transferência de renda explicam a evolução das desigualdades e da pobreza no período da pandemia.

Spatiotemporal Effect of Land Use on Water Quality in a Peri-Urban Watershed in a Brazilian Metropolitan Region: An Approach Considering GEP-Based Artificial Intelligence

The suppression of natural spaces due to urban sprawl and increases in built and agricultural environments has affected water resource quality, especially in areas with high population densities. Considering the advances in the Brazilian environmental legal framework, the present study aimed to verify whether land use has still affected water quality through a case study of a peri-urban watershed in a Brazilian metropolitan region. Analyses of physical–chemical indicators, collected at several sample points with various land-use parameters at different seasons of the year, were carried out based on an approach combining variance analysis and genetic programming. As a result, some statistically significant spatiotemporal effects on water quality associated with the land use, such as urban areas and thermotolerant coliform (R = −0.82, p < 0.01), mixed vegetation and dissolved oxygen (R = 0.80, p < 0.001), agriculture/pasture and biochemical oxygen demand (R = 0.40, p < 0.001), and sugarcane and turbidity (R = 0.65, p < 0.001), were verified. In turn, gene expression programming allowed for the computing of the importance of land-use typologies based on their capability to explain the variances of the water quality parameter. In conclusion, in spite of the advances in the Brazilian law, land use has still significantly affected water quality. Public policies and decisions are required to ensure effective compliance with legal guidelines.