Santa Cruz De Tenerife Research Articles

Mortality due to haematological cancer in cities close to petroleum refineries in Spain

Controversy exists as to whether working or living in the vicinity of a petroleum refinery (RF) increases the risk of haematological cancer (HC). The European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register obliges petroleum refineries to notify their emissions of toxic substances which include carcinogenic substances. Our objective is to determine if living in the proximity of an RF is associated with a greater risk of mortality due to HC in the census tracts (CTs) of the Spanish cities of Bilbao, Cartagena, Castellón, La Coruña, Huelva, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This is an ecological study of mortality in the years 1996-2007 which includes 968 CTs with 1,263,371 inhabitants. Exposure has been measured as the distance from the centroid of each CT to the RF. The Besag-York-Mollié autoregressive spatial model has been fitted by R-INLA to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95 % credible intervals (95 % CrI) for distance in quintiles. The most distant quintile has been taken as the reference. A total of 2,574 persons died of HC. The distances from the CTs to RFs ranged from 0.5 to 22.5 km (median = 7.6 km). All of the RRs for the quintiles of distances in Huelva were greater than 1. Statistically significant excess risk was shown in Cartagena in the nearest CT (1.8 to 6.8 km; RR = 1.43, 95 % CrI 1.02 to 2.02). Radial effects have not been detected between the CT of residence and the petroleum RF in mortality due to HC in any of the cities.

A comparative study on the ultrafine particle episodes induced by vehicle exhaust: A crude oil refinery and ship emissions

A study on the contribution of vehicle exhausts, ships and an oil refinery emission to the ambient air concentration of ultrafine particles (UFPs) is presented. It is based on a data set of particle number coarser than 2.5nm (N), black carbon (BC), gaseous pollutants (NOx, SO2, CO and O3), PM2.5 and PM10 measured from 2008 to 2010 in the ambient air of Santa Cruz de Tenerife City, where a previous study found an association between hospitalizations due to heart failure and exposure to UFPs in the ambient air. The observed relationship between N, BC and gaseous pollutants allowed segregating UFP concentrations in a set of components linked to each source. It was found that vehicle exhausts contribute to the background of UFPs, whereas high UFP episodes were due to the emissions of the refinery and ships. The concentration of UFP linked to vehicle exhaust emissions maximized in the morning (07:00–09:00 GMT, 5000–25,000cm−3=25th–75th percentile), whereas those linked to ship (15,000–45,000cm−3) and refinery (25,000–95,000cm−3) emissions maximized in the 10:00–17:00 GMT period due to the effects of meteorology and photochemistry. It was found that the UFP concentrations were more sensitive to the fresh emissions of the three sources than PM2.5, which was mostly linked to aged fine particles (0.1–1μm) of the urban background. BC was the better tracer of vehicle exhaust emissions. It was concluded that the simultaneous monitoring of UFP, BC and PM2.5 is a suitable strategy of tracing aerosol pollutants of different nature (fresh vs. aged) and from different sources.

The Izaña BSRN station

The BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Network) is a project of the Radiation Panel from the Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment (GEWEX) under the umbrella of the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP). Since March 2009 the Izana Atmospheric Observatory belongs to the BSRN network. The Izana Observatory is a Global Atmospheric Watch station. It is a high mountain station, located at Tenerife Island (2.367 m. above sea level). The measurements recorded in this station are sent on a monthly basic to the BSRN database are: global, direct, diffuse, longwave downward, net, UV-A, UV-B radiation and the data obtained with rawinsondes launched daily from the Santa Cruz de Tenerife station, located 30 km from the Izana station. In this work we focused on the study of the global, direct and diffuse radiation measurements, performed at the Izana Observatory during 2009. The results show a high quality of BSRN measurements. Although Izana is a high mountain station there are 357 days with valid measurements for 2009. A 99% of the measurements are within the limits recommended by the BSRN. Furthermore there is a very good agreement between the measurements and the simulated values with the radiative transfer model LibRadtran using a sample set of 129 days with cloud free sky conditions. The daily values of the global and direct radiation show a RMSE lower than 2%, while the diffuse radiation shows a RMSE of about 10%.

Cocaine use during pregnancy assessed by hair analysis in a Canary Islands cohort.

BackgroundDrug use during pregnancy is difficult to ascertain, and maternal reports are likely to be inaccurate. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of illicit drug use among pregnant women by using maternal hair analysis.MethodsA toxicological analysis of hair was used to detect chronic recreational drug use during pregnancy. In 2007, 347 mother-infant dyads were included from the Hospital La Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). Data on socioeconomic characteristics and on substance misuse during pregnancy were collected using a structured questionnaire. Drugs of abuse: opiates, cocaine, cannabinoids and amphetamines were detected in maternal hair by immunoassay followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for confirmation and quantitation.ResultsHair analysis revealed 2.6% positivity for cocaine and its metabolites. Use of cocaine during pregnancy was associated with unusual behaviour with potentially harmful effects on the baby.ConclusionsThe results of the study demonstrate significant cocaine use by pregnant women in Canary Islands. The data should be used for the purpose of preventive health and policy strategies aimed to detect and possibly to avoid in the future prenatal exposure to drugs of abuse.

Prevalencia de violencia de género en atención primaria de Santa Cruz de Tenerife

ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of domestic violence (DV) in adult women attending Primary Care medical consultations, to determine the associated factors, and family physician involvement in its detection. Material and methodsWe performed a cross-sectional analytical study in two urban health districts of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands. A consecutive sample of women aged 18 or older, whether or not they had a current partner were selected.. The Bradley questionnaire, which is validated (26 items) and assesses physical, psychological and sexual violence was used anonymously. Demographic characteristics, and those related to the couple, health history, presence of anxiety and depression (Goldberg scale) were recorded. ResultsA total of 299 women were interviewed, and 154 women recognised some kind of abuse at least once in their life (51.5%, 95% CI: 40%-62%). Psychological violence was the most mentioned (n=153; 99.35%), followed by physical (n=39; 25.32%) and sexual violence was stated by 12 women (7.79%). Domestic violence was associated with: younger age, less time in a previous relationship, lack of social support (OR=2.18, P=.019), presence of probable anxiety (OR=1.77, P=.015) and probable depression (OR=1.58, P=.049). After multivariate analysis the association persisted with the length of time of the relationship with previous partner (OR=0.998; P<.0001) and the presence of probable anxiety (OR=1.79; P=.024). Early detection of domestic violence was recorded in the medical records of 111 women (37.1%; 95% CI: 36.90-37.23). ConclusionsAs in other studies, DV is associated with mental disorders, and there is a need for greater involvement by family physicians to detect this prevalent problem in our clinics.

Analysis of Phenotypic Characteristics and Exposure to UV Radiation in a Group of Patients With Cutaneous Melanoma

Background Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and is caused by a combination of endogenous and exogenous risk factors. Here were describe the clinical and anatomical characteristics of melanoma along with the endogenous and exogenous risk factors in 120 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma in a health care area of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain. Patients and methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken in patients diagnosed with melanoma between January 1999 and July 2005 in the health care area served by Hospital Universitario de Canarias. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, phenotype, sun exposure, sun protection, and actinic damage. Results Melanoma was most commonly diagnosed in women (62.5%) and lesions were most frequently located on the trunk. The most frequent tumor subtype was superficial spreading melanoma (63.3%) and 51.5% of patients were classified as having skin phototype II. Intermittent sun exposure was reported by 81.8% of patients and 50% had a moderate cumulative sun exposure (50-120 h/y). Multiple melanomas were present in 3.3% of patients. In 43% of patients, the time to diagnosis of melanoma was more than 24 months. Conclusions A substantial percentage of melanomas were associated with actinic damage. Differences were observed in the level of sun exposure according to melanoma subtype. The most common causes for concern were growth and color changes in the lesion, and a substantial number of patients waited for some time between observing these changes and consulting a doctor.

Spanish (de)queísmo

In Spanish, standard sentences such as Pienso que no vendrá ‘I think s/he will not come’ and No se acordó de que tenía que ir ‘S/he forgot s/he had to go’ can alternate respectively with non-standard sentences as Pienso de que no vendrá (dequeísmo) and No se acordó ø que tenía que ir (queísmo). In order to explain both syntactic processes scholars have proposed different hypotheses: psycholinguistic, functional, social and psychosocial. The aim of this research is to analyse the validity of the functional hypothesis (this is, the possibility that the de/ø alternation conveys a semantic and/or pragmatic meaning) on a corpus recorded in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands). With the purpose of verifying such hypothesis, four variables have been analysed: the verb person of the main clause, the verb tense of the main clause, the source, direction and distance of the information (evidence), and the syntactic structure.

Estudio de las características fenotípicas y exposición a radiación ultravioleta en pacientes diagnosticados de melanoma cutáneo

Background Melanoma is the most serious type of skin cancer and is caused by a combination of endogenous and exogenous risk factors. Here were describe the clinical and anatomical characteristics of melanoma along with the endogenous and exogenous risk factors in 120 patients diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma in a health care area of the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain. Patients and methods A descriptive, cross-sectional study was undertaken in patients diagnosed with melanoma between January 1999 and July 2005 in the health care area served by Hospital Universitario de Canarias. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, phenotype, sun exposure, sun protection, and actinic damage. Results Melanoma was most commonly diagnosed in women (62.5%) and lesions were most frequently located on the trunk. The most frequent tumor subtype was superficial spreading melanoma (63.3%) and 51.5% of patients were classified as having skin phototype II. Intermittent sun exposure was reported by 81.8% of patients and 50% had a moderate cumulative sun exposure (50-120 h/y). Multiple melanomas were present in 3.3% of patients. In 43% of patients, the time to diagnosis of melanoma was more than 24 months. Conclusions A substantial percentage of melanomas were associated with actinic damage. Differences were observed in the level of sun exposure according to melanoma subtype. The most common causes for concern were growth and color changes in the lesion, and a substantial number of patients waited for some time between observing these changes and consulting a doctor.

Synergetic monitoring of Saharan dust plumes and potential impact on surface: a case study of dust transport from Canary Islands to Iberian Peninsula

Abstract. The synergetic use of meteorological information, remote sensing both ground-based active (lidar) and passive (sun-photometry) techniques together with backtrajectory analysis and in-situ measurements is devoted to the characterization of dust intrusions. A case study of air masses advected from the Saharan region to the Canary Islands and the Iberian Peninsula, located relatively close and far away from the dust sources, respectively, was considered for this purpose. The observations were performed over three Spanish geographically strategic stations within the dust-influenced area along a common dust plume pathway monitored from 11 to 19 of March 2008. A 4-day long dust event (13–16 March) over the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Observatory (SCO), and a linked short 1-day dust episode (14 March) in the Southern Iberian Peninsula over the Atmospheric Sounding Station "El Arenosillo" (ARN) and the Granada station (GRA) were detected. Meteorological conditions favoured the dust plume transport over the area under study. Backtrajectory analysis clearly revealed the Saharan region as the source of the dust intrusion. Under the Saharan air masses influence, AERONET Aerosol Optical Depth at 500 nm (AOD500) ranged from 0.3 to 0.6 and Ångström Exponent at 440/675 nm wavelength pair (AE440/675) was lower than 0.5, indicating a high loading and predominance of coarse particles during those dusty events. Lidar observations characterized their vertical layering structure, identifying different aerosol contributions depending on altitude. In particular, the 3-km height dust layer transported from the Saharan region and observed over SCO site was later on detected at ARN and GRA stations. No significant differences were found in the lidar (extinction-to-backscatter) ratio (LR) estimation for that dust plume over all stations when a suitable aerosol scenario for lidar data retrieval is selected. Lidar-retrieved LR values of 60–70 sr were obtained during the main dust episodes. These similar LR values found in all the stations suggest that dust properties were kept nearly unchanged in the course of its medium-range transport. In addition, the potential impact on surface of that Saharan dust intrusion over the Iberian Peninsula was evaluated by means of ground-level in-situ measurements for particle deposition assessment together with backtrajectory analysis. However, no connection between those dust plumes and the particle sedimentation registered at ground level is found. Differences on particle deposition processes observed in both Southern Iberian Peninsula sites are due to the particular dust transport pattern occurred over each station. Discrepancies between columnar-integrated and ground-level in-situ measurements show a clear dependence on height of the dust particle size distribution. Then, further vertical size-resolved observations are needed for evaluation of the impact on surface of the Saharan dust arrival to the Iberian Peninsula.

Paleoparasitologic, paleogenetic and paleobotanic analysis of XVIII century coprolites from the church La Concepción in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

We present the results of a paleoparasitologic, paleogenetic and paleobotanic analysis of coprolites recovered during the excavation of the church La Concepción in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Coprolites (n = 4) were rehydrated and a multidisciplinary analysis was conducted. The paleobotanic analysis showed numerous silicates, seeds and fruits of the family Moraceae. In the paleoparasitologic study, Ascaris sp. eggs (n = 344) were identified. The paleogenetic results confirmed the Ascaris sp. infection as well as the European origin of human remains. These findings contribute to our knowledge of ancient helminthes infections and are the first paleoparasitological record of Ascaris sp. infection in Spain.

Reversible Lactic Acidosis and Electrocardiographic Changes in a Neurosurgical Patient During Propofol Anesthesia

Reversible Lactic Acidosis and Electrocardiographic Changes in a Neurosurgical Patient During Propofol Anesthesia

Study of the air quality in industrial areas of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) by active biomonitoring with Pseudoscleropodium purum

A biomonitoring technique with terrestrial moss transplants (50 sampling sites in a regular grid) was used in an area of the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, close to an oil refinery and to an area of dense road traffic for a period of 2 months. The concentration of metals and metalloids (As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb and V) and 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined. The density distribution was represented, the enrichment factors calculated and multifactorial analysis applied. In addition, contamination maps were elaborated on the basis of the bioconcentration obtained, and after confirming the existence of spatial structure, the response surfaces were represented. The results showed very high levels of contamination by Ni and V in the study area, with similar dispersal patterns observed for both. The concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and PAHs were lower. Active biomonitoring with terrestrial mosses was found to be a suitable technique for implementing inexpensive environmental monitoring programmes in urban and industrialized areas.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound in therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest survivors

Hospiten-Rambla Hospital, Unit of Neurosonology and Cerebral Hemodynamics, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

Source areas and long-range transport of pollen from continental land to Tenerife (Canary Islands)

The Canary Islands, due to their geographical position, constitute an adequate site for the study of long-range pollen transport from the surrounding land masses. In this study, we analyzed airborne pollen counts at two sites: Santa Cruz de Tenerife (SCO), at sea level corresponding to the marine boundary layer (MBL), and Izaña at 2,367m.a.s.l. corresponding to the free troposphere (FT), for the years 2006 and 2007. We used three approaches to describe pollen transport: (1) a classification of provenances with an ANOVA test to describe pollen count differences between sectors; (2) a study of special events of high pollen concentrations, taking into consideration the corresponding meteorological synoptic pattern responsible for transport and back trajectories; and (3) a source-receptor model applied to a selection of the pollen taxa to show pollen source areas. Our results indicate several extra-regional pollen transport episodes to Tenerife. The main provenances were: (1) the Mediterranean region, especially the southern Iberian Peninsula and Morocco, through the trade winds in the MBL. These episodes were characterized by the presence of pollen from trees (Casuarina, Olea, Quercus perennial and deciduous types) mixed with pollen from herbs (Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae and Poaceae wild type). (2) The Saharan sector, through transport at the MBL level carrying pollen principally from herbs (Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Cyperaceae and Poaceae wild type) and, in one case, Casuarina pollen, uplifted to the free troposphere. And (3) the Sahel, characterized by low pollen concentrations of Arecaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Cyperaceae and Poaceae wild type in sporadic episodes. This research shows that sporadic events of long-range pollen transport need to be taken into consideration in Tenerife as possible responsible agents in respiratory allergy episodes. In particular, it is estimated that 89-97% of annual counts of the highly allergenous Olea originates from extra-regional sources in southern Iberia and northern Africa.

Air pollution and mortality in the Canary Islands: a time-series analysis

BackgroundThe island factor of the cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, along with their proximity to Africa and their meteorology, create a particular setting that influences the air quality of these cities and provides researchers an opportunity to analyze the acute effects of air-pollutants on daily mortality.MethodsFrom 2000 to 2004, the relationship between daily changes in PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NO2, CO, and ozone levels and daily total mortality and mortality due to respiratory and heart diseases were assessed using Generalized Additive Poisson models controlled for potential confounders. The lag effect (up to five days) as well as the concurrent and previous day averages and distributed lag models were all estimated. Single and two pollutant models were also constructed.ResultsDaily levels of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 were found to be associated with an increase in respiratory mortality in Santa Cruz de Tenerife and with increased heart disease mortality in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, thus indicating an association between daily ozone levels and mortality from heart diseases. The effects spread over five successive days. SO2 was the only air pollutant significantly related with total mortality (lag 0).ConclusionsThere is a short-term association between current exposure levels to air pollution and mortality (total as well as that due specifically to heart and respiratory diseases) in both cities. Risk coefficients were higher for respiratory and cardiovascular mortality, showing a delayed effect over several days.

Trace Element Concentrations in Raillietina micracantha in Comparison to Its Definitive Host, the Feral Pigeon Columba livia in Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Archipelago, Spain)

The use of systems involving bird parasites as bioindicators of environmental pollution has been scarcely studied in comparison to other models involving fish and rodent parasites, which have been demonstrated as particularly adequate due to their bioaccumulation capacities. The present study evaluated the accumulation of nine trace elements in the cestode Raillietina micracantha and in its host Columba livia collected from the densely populated city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). Samples (kidney, liver, pectoral muscle, feathers, and R. micracantha) of 27 infected C. livia were selected for trace element analysis by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Element levels in pigeon tissues revealed some degree of pollution in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, particularly by Pb and Zn. Pb and Mn mean concentrations were higher in R. micracantha than in the pigeon's soft tissues, with subsequent high bioaccumulation factors for Pb (kidney = 15.38, liver = 10.38, muscle = 79.83) and Mn (kidney = 6.81, liver = 7.52, muscle = 19.89, feathers = 6.11), among others. The negative relations detected for As concentrations between liver and R. micracantha emphasize a possible role of the cestode in As detoxification in host tissues. Considering the obtained bioaccumulation factors, the system R. micracantha/C. livia is proposed as another promising bioindicator system to evaluate environmental toxic element exposure, particularly Pb and Mn, in areas where pollution levels are still relatively low and where both common species are present.

Spatial distribution of employment opportunities in the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The analysis of spatial mismatches in access to employment remains a very important area of labour market literature. A particular case is that of the mismatches in urban labor markets, which can result in substantial differences in the employment opportunities available in city centre and suburbs. This study examines the spatial mismatches present in the labour market of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. To that end, the results of a survey taken in 2003-2004 with a sample of 2000 city residents were reviewed. Results confirm the importance of transport policy for city residents; they suggest that public transport linking the different districts to the city centre should be reviewed.

El riesgo de inundaciones y la vulnerabilidad en áreas urbanas. Análisis de casos en España

Torrential rains-floods hazard is the most damaging in Spain considering historic consequences. There are some supporting examples; i.e. the tragedy in Biescas (Huesca) in 1996 or the one in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 2002.There are contingency plans derived from the emergency system of Proteccion Civil (Civil Defence), but this support does not avoid the high vulnerability of urban and tourist localities. This article analyzes, through specific examples, why this hazard continuously causes accidents/damages with substantial losses in humans and goods specially in urban localities where sometimes, some elements contribute to reinforce to the negative consequences of floods.

Caracterización del ambiente atmosférico en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria y Santa Cruz de Tenerife: 2000 a 2004

The island factor in the cities of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, their meteorology and the proximity to the African Continent that originates the natural particulate matter transport over the islands, cause some specific features in their air quality. The aim of this paper is to characterize the air pollution from 2000 to 2004 as exposure indicator of both cities inhabitants. 24 hour daily average variables of PM10, PM2,5, NO2, SO2 and O3 , 8 hours daily maxima moving averages of O3 y CO and 1 hour maxima of SO2, NO2, O3, CO, PM10 y PM2,5 were calculated. Daily levels of coarse particles were obtained subtracting PM2,5 from PM10. African dust events were identified. In Sta. Cruz de Tf daily means of SO2 (14.0 microg/m(3)N) and ozone levels (44.4 microg/m(3)N ) were higher than Las Palmas de GC levels (8.0 y 28.3 microg/m(3)N). Daily means of NO2 in Las Palmas de GC: 45.8 microg/m(3)N where higher than Sta. Cruz de Tf levels: 30.3 microg/m(3)N. Due to African dust outbreaks, some days in both cities exceeded 600 microg/m(3) of PM10 and 200 of PM2.5 24-h average. The air quality patterns were characterized by very high levels of African dust outbreaks that affect all PM size fractions. Different O3 seasonality exists respect European cities in addition to an urban-industrial ambient air in Sta. Cruz de TF and clearly urban in Las Palmas de GC. These results have to be considered in order to lay the foundations to suitable surveillance systems, analyse the potential impact on the Canary Islands citizens health and to get conclusions.

Influence of sea breeze circulation and road traffic emissions on the relationship between particle number, black carbon, PM1, PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 concentrations in a coastal city

The physical characterisation of metrics representative of ambient air particle concentration is becoming a topic of great interest for urban air quality monitoring and human exposure assessment. In this article, the influence of sea breeze circulation and primary road traffic emissions on the relationship between the urban aerosol number (N3, particles >3 nm), black carbon <10 μm (BC), PM1, PM2.5, PM2.5–10 (PM x) concentrations was studied in a coastal city (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands). The daily cycles of sea and mountain breezes (inland during daylight and seaward at night) and road traffic emissions exerted a great, and well differentiated, influence on the BC, N3 and PM x concentrations. In this scenario, the following major aerosol features were observed: (1) fresh vehicle exhaust emissions resulted in high BC and N3 concentrations, in such a way that these two metrics increased when the “road traffic intensity (vehicles h −1)/wind speed” ratio increased, (2) PM1 and PM2.5 levels were lower during daylight (due to inland entry of relatively clean marine air masses) than at night (due to the seaward drainage airflow resulting in the transport of aged particulate pollutants from the city), (3) although N3 and BC concentrations exhibited a significant correlation during the whole study period, the N3/BC ratio experienced a daily evolution with a maximum during daylight. Thus, high N3 concentrations associated with high N3/BC ratios and high solar irradiance conditions were recorded during the daylight inland breeze period due to an enhancement of processes favouring new particle formation. Data analysis points out that this enhancement in the new particle formation processes is strongly related to the nucleation of photo-oxidized vapours under the relatively low PM x (and consequently low aerosol surface area) concentrations prompted by the inland entry of clean marine air due to the daylight breeze blowing. The results obtained show that, in addition to the vehicle exhaust emissions, new particle formation in coastal urban areas due to photo-oxidation processes may significantly contribute to the ultrafine particle concentration.