Resumo A morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas infecciosas ainda representa um grave problema de saúde no Brasil e está altamente relacionada a fatores como condições climáticas, ambientais e de vida da população. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a associação das taxas de internações por doenças diarreicas infecciosas na população do município de Rio Branco/AC com a precipitação, o nível do rio, a umidade e a temperatura, entre os anos de 2000 e 2013. Os dados foram extraídos do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS, do Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e da Agência Nacional das Águas. Foram ajustados modelos múltiplos de regressão de Poisson e binomial negativa. Os resultados mostram que existe uma associação positiva entre as internações por doenças diarreicas infecciosas e o nível do Rio Acre (RT:1,07; IC95%:1,04 a 1,1); houve um decréscimo de 14% nestas taxas de internações entre os anos de 2000 e 2013 (RT:0,86; IC95%:0,85 a 0,87); o grupo mais vulnerável pertence à faixa etária de menores de 1 ano de vida. Este estudo mostrou a vulnerabilidade de uma cidade na Amazônia quanto à variabilidade climática e a respectiva influência epidemiológica na incidência de internações por doenças diarreicas infecciosas.

Abstract Morbimortality due to infectious diarrheal diseases still is a serious health issue in Brazil and is highly related to factors such as weather, environment, and people’s life conditions. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between hospitalization rates due to infectious diarrheal diseases among the population of the municipality of Rio Branco (AC), Brazil and precipitation, river level, humidity and temperature between 2000 and 2013. Data were retrieved from the Hospital Information System of the SUS (Unified Health System), the National Institute of Meteorology and the National Water Agency. Multiple Poisson and negative binomial regression models were adjusted. Results showed that there is a positive association between hospitalization due to infectious diarrheal diseases and the level of the Acre river (RR: 1.07; CI 95%: 1.04 to 1.1); these hospitalization rates fell 14% between 2000 and 2013 (RR: 0.86; CI 95%: 0.85 to 0.87). The most vulnerable group was the age group of less than 1 year of age. This study showed the vulnerability of an Amazonian city to climate variability and its respective epidemiological influence on the incidence of hospitalizations due to infectious diarrheal diseases.

Resumo A morbimortalidade por doenças diarreicas infecciosas ainda representa um grave problema de saúde no Brasil e está altamente relacionada a fatores como condições climáticas, ambientais e de vida da população. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a associação das taxas de internações por doenças diarreicas infecciosas na população do município de Rio Branco/AC com a precipitação, o nível do rio, a umidade e a temperatura, entre os anos de 2000 e 2013. Os dados foram extraídos do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS, do Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e da Agência Nacional das Águas. Foram ajustados modelos múltiplos de regressão de Poisson e binomial negativa. Os resultados mostram que existe uma associação positiva entre as internações por doenças diarreicas infecciosas e o nível do Rio Acre (RT:1,07; IC95%:1,04 a 1,1); houve um decréscimo de 14% nestas taxas de internações entre os anos de 2000 e 2013 (RT:0,86; IC95%:0,85 a 0,87); o grupo mais vulnerável pertence à faixa etária de menores de 1 ano de vida. Este estudo mostrou a vulnerabilidade de uma cidade na Amazônia quanto à variabilidade climática e a respectiva influência epidemiológica na incidência de internações por doenças diarreicas infecciosas.

Abstract Morbimortality due to infectious diarrheal diseases still is a serious health issue in Brazil and is highly related to factors such as weather, environment, and people’s life conditions. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between hospitalization rates due to infectious diarrheal diseases among the population of the municipality of Rio Branco (AC), Brazil and precipitation, river level, humidity and temperature between 2000 and 2013. Data were retrieved from the Hospital Information System of the SUS (Unified Health System), the National Institute of Meteorology and the National Water Agency. Multiple Poisson and negative binomial regression models were adjusted. Results showed that there is a positive association between hospitalization due to infectious diarrheal diseases and the level of the Acre river (RR: 1.07; CI 95%: 1.04 to 1.1); these hospitalization rates fell 14% between 2000 and 2013 (RR: 0.86; CI 95%: 0.85 to 0.87). The most vulnerable group was the age group of less than 1 year of age. This study showed the vulnerability of an Amazonian city to climate variability and its respective epidemiological influence on the incidence of hospitalizations due to infectious diarrheal diseases.

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical and mineralogical composition of suspended sediments from the Acre River, located in the Purus Basin, upper Amazon basin, a region associated with the Fitzcarrald Arch. The elemental and mineralogical compositions of the sediments were assessed by using mass and atomic spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. A total of 46 samples were collected between 2008 and 2011 from four sites in the study area during wet and dry seasons. The suspended sediments contained feldspar, kaolinite, illite and quartz as well as the elements Hg, Zn, V, Ti, Si, Pb, Ni, Na, Mn, Mg, K, Fe, Cu, Cr, Cd, Ca, Al, S, and P in different proportions that were associated with the various weathering reactions linked to physical, chemical and biological processes in the region. The obtained results represent the first set of values and relationships regarding the mineralogy and chemical identification of the suspended sediments in the Acre River and can be used as a reference for the geochemical characteristics of the Purus Basin. Such regional studies will become increasingly necessary to observe the impacts of climate change and human activities on the suspended sediment load and composition of the Amazon River.

Objective: to determine the influence of air pollutants on the rainwater. Methods: use of wet deposition in a long-term study conducted in the state of Acre, in Western Amazon, from 2005 to 2010. One hundred and eightyfive rainy events were monitored to determine the pH value, the electrical conductivity and the concentration of total organic carbon. The atmospheric aerosol load was measured by solar photometry whereas the water vapors, temperature, winds and rains were monitored to observe weather conditions. Results: the pollutant concentration, depending on the aerosol optical depth, varied from very high values of 3 and 4 during the dry season, to very low values of about 0.08 during the rainy season. Twenty five percent of rainfalls were acidic with pH ranging 3 to 4.7, being 5.4 the average value. The electrical conductivity values were generally lower than 10 µS cm-1. The total organic carbon reached relatively high values of 20 to 30 mg L-1. Conclusions: in the dry season, the forest fires are responsible for high degree of air pollution, but the situation changes in the rainy season when the environment is clean because of the wet deposition. During the dry season, the air aerosol load increases 40 times if compared to the environmental conditions in the dry season. Therefore, more efficient control measures are needed to stop environmental degradation in the Amazon as well as a systematic monitoring of the air pollution for the benefit of human health and other forms of life.

Objetivo: determinar la influencia de contaminantes atmosféricos sobre el agua de lluvia. Métodos: utilización de la deposición húmeda en un estudio de largo plazo, realizado en el Estado de Acre, Amazonia Occidental, 2005-2010. Se monitorearon 185 eventos de lluvia, se determinó en ellos el pH, la conductividad eléctrica y la concentración de carbono orgánico total. Se monitoreó la carga de aerosoles atmosféricos mediante fotometría solar y las condiciones meteorológicas a través de mediciones del vapor de agua, temperatura, vientos y lluvias en su comportamiento estacional. Resultados: la concentración de contaminantes según la profundidad óptica de aerosoles varió desde valores muy altos, entre 3 y 4 durante la seca, hasta valores muy bajos, aproximadamente de 0,08, durante la estación lluviosa. El 25 % de las lluvias fue ácida con pH entre 3 y 4,7 y un promedio de 5,4. Los valores de conductividad eléctrica generalmente fueron inferiores a 10 µS cm-1. El carbono orgánico total alcanzó valores relativamente altos, entre 20 y 30 mg L-1. Conclusiones: durante la seca los incendios forestales responden por la alta contaminación de la atmósfera, que queda limpia durante la estación lluviosa por efecto de la deposición húmeda. Durante la seca la carga de aerosoles atmosféricos aumenta en más de 40 veces, en comparación con el estado de la atmósfera en la estación lluviosa. Son necesarias medidas más eficientes de control de la degradación ambiental en la Amazonia y de monitoreo sistemático de la contaminación de su atmósfera, en beneficio de la salud humana y de otras formas de vida.

Objective: to determine the influence of air pollutants on the rainwater. Methods: use of wet deposition in a long-term study conducted in the state of Acre, in Western Amazon, from 2005 to 2010. One hundred and eightyfive rainy events were monitored to determine the pH value, the electrical conductivity and the concentration of total organic carbon. The atmospheric aerosol load was measured by solar photometry whereas the water vapors, temperature, winds and rains were monitored to observe weather conditions. Results: the pollutant concentration, depending on the aerosol optical depth, varied from very high values of 3 and 4 during the dry season, to very low values of about 0.08 during the rainy season. Twenty five percent of rainfalls were acidic with pH ranging 3 to 4.7, being 5.4 the average value. The electrical conductivity values were generally lower than 10 µS cm-1. The total organic carbon reached relatively high values of 20 to 30 mg L-1. Conclusions: in the dry season, the forest fires are responsible for high degree of air pollution, but the situation changes in the rainy season when the environment is clean because of the wet deposition. During the dry season, the air aerosol load increases 40 times if compared to the environmental conditions in the dry season. Therefore, more efficient control measures are needed to stop environmental degradation in the Amazon as well as a systematic monitoring of the air pollution for the benefit of human health and other forms of life.

Objetivo: determinar la influencia de contaminantes atmosféricos sobre el agua de lluvia. Métodos: utilización de la deposición húmeda en un estudio de largo plazo, realizado en el Estado de Acre, Amazonia Occidental, 2005-2010. Se monitorearon 185 eventos de lluvia, se determinó en ellos el pH, la conductividad eléctrica y la concentración de carbono orgánico total. Se monitoreó la carga de aerosoles atmosféricos mediante fotometría solar y las condiciones meteorológicas a través de mediciones del vapor de agua, temperatura, vientos y lluvias en su comportamiento estacional. Resultados: la concentración de contaminantes según la profundidad óptica de aerosoles varió desde valores muy altos, entre 3 y 4 durante la seca, hasta valores muy bajos, aproximadamente de 0,08, durante la estación lluviosa. El 25 % de las lluvias fue ácida con pH entre 3 y 4,7 y un promedio de 5,4. Los valores de conductividad eléctrica generalmente fueron inferiores a 10 µS cm-1. El carbono orgánico total alcanzó valores relativamente altos, entre 20 y 30 mg L-1. Conclusiones: durante la seca los incendios forestales responden por la alta contaminación de la atmósfera, que queda limpia durante la estación lluviosa por efecto de la deposición húmeda. Durante la seca la carga de aerosoles atmosféricos aumenta en más de 40 veces, en comparación con el estado de la atmósfera en la estación lluviosa. Son necesarias medidas más eficientes de control de la degradación ambiental en la Amazonia y de monitoreo sistemático de la contaminación de su atmósfera, en beneficio de la salud humana y de otras formas de vida.

A poluição atmosférica é um importante problema de saúde pública, principalmente na Amazônia e grandes cidades brasileiras. Em setembro de 2005, observou-se elevada concentração de fumaça em Rio Branco, Acre, devido às queimadas. Para avaliar a relação entre a concentração diária de particulate matter < 2,5 µm (PM2,5) e o número de atendimentos diários de emergência por doença respiratória (DR), desenvolveu-se estudo ecológico. A concentração de PM2,5 ultrapassou o limite de qualidade do ar durante 23 dias. Observou-se maior incidência de DR em crianças < 10 anos e correlação positiva entre a concentração de PM2,5 e atendimentos por asma.

Air pollution is a major public health problem in the Amazon forest and in large Brazilian cities. During September of 2005, high concentrations of smoke from biomass burning were observed in the city of Rio Branco. An ecological study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between daily concentrations of particulate matter < 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and the number of respiratory disease (RD)-related emergency room visits. Daily PM2.5 concentrations exceeded recommended air quality limits on 23 days. The incidence of RDs was higher among children < 10 years of age. There was a significant positive correlation between PM2.5 concentrations and asthma emergency room visits.

The Acre population living in the East and the North suffers the effect of high smoke concentrations in the air due to forest biomass burning. This pollution is against the set standards on the air quality. Every year, during the dry season from June to September, smoke causes diseases and discomfort that are affecting the population. With the objective of studying this impact, the air quality was measured by means of three independent methods, namely, nephelometry, aethalometer and solar radiometry; and also observations on the impact of the air quality on health based on the administration of a survey to a random sample of 50 people, who lived in the surrounding areas of Rio Branco city. The general objective was to find out how high smoke concentrations affected that population's health; particularly in the dry season in 2005. As a consequence, practically 100% of poor inhabitants suffered from refractory and occular diseases caused by air pollution resulting from forest biomass burnings in the Amazons region.

La población de Acre, en su parte este y norte, sufre el efecto derivado de las altas concentraciones de humo en el aire debido a las quemadas de la biomasa forestal. Esta polución viola las normas establecidas sobre calidad del aire. De junio a septiembre de cada año, durante la estación de seca, el humo ocasiona enfermedades y malestares en la población. Para estudiar este efecto se realizaron mediciones de la calidad del aire mediante tres métodos independientes: nefelometría, aetalometría y radiometría solar; y observaciones de su impacto sobre la salud, a partir de la aplicación de una encuesta a una muestra aleatoria de cincuenta individuos, moradores de áreas periféricas de la ciudad de Rio Branco. Se encontró que prácticamente el 100 % de los habitantes pobres padecen de enfermedades respiratorias y oculares como consecuencia de la polución del aire, ocasionada por las quemadas forestales en la Amazonia, particularmente durante la seca de 2005.