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- Polluted Rivers—A Case Study in Porto, PortugalPublication . Lemos, Patrícia; Silva, Paulo; Sousa, Cátia A.; Duarte, Abel J.; A. Sousa, Cátia; Duarte, Abel J.; Sierra, José Ramón Arévalo; Karydis, Michael; Azzaro, MaurizioRiver contamination by microorganisms, or another chemical source, poses a serious threat to both the environment and public health. Taking immediate and appropriate actions is essential to mitigate the contamination and prevent further spread. As such, regular monitoring of these pollution agents is essential to act in time and control its minor extension. However, there is a lack of commitment to this emergent concern and respective actions around the world. This work aims to study the contamination of a Portuguese river (Tinto River) within Porto city (a highly populated urban area) regarding the total aerobic microorganisms, coliforms, and Enterococcus (as colony-forming units (CFUs) using specific solid culture media) and total organic matter (TOC). Different locations were considered along the Tinto River course (i.e., 14 locations within 11 km) and samples were collected on distinct days throughout September 2022. The overall results showed microbial contamination of aerobic microorganisms (up to 2 × 105 CFU/100 mL), total coliforms (up to 7 × 104 CFU/100 mL), Escherichia coli (up to 9 × 103 CFU/100 mL), and Enterococcus (up to 8 × 103 CFU/100 mL). The results also surpassed the maximum recommended values (MRVs) described in Portuguese decree-law no. 236/98 for irrigation waters. Moreover, TOC was found in a range of 4.54 mg/L to 57.2 mg/L. This work highlights the dangerous microbial contamination and higher amount of organic matter than would be expected for a surface water resource.
- Aquaponics for food production – a sustainable vertical garden at School of Engineering of PortoPublication . Brandão, Roque; A. Sousa, Cátia; Duarte, Abel J.The greatest increase in the worldwide human population will rise concerns about the sustainability of cities and soils, climatic changes and food access or security. Furthermore, in the present day, many urban areas around the world are grappling with challenges related to their food supply infrastructure. Urban agriculture can play a crucial role for impoverished households by enhancing food security and generating income. Nevertheless, traditional agriculture contributes to soil erosion and soil and groundwater pollution. Additionally, climate change disrupts animal life cycles and leads to species extinction, significantly reducing the availability of food for humans and other organisms. For this reason, aquaponics holds promise as a method for integrating urban agriculture for plant cultivation and safe fish production. This project aims to develop and install an optimized aquaponics system at the School of Engineering, Polytechnic of Porto (ISEP). This vertical garden was created using two tanks with circa 2,000 liters of water for fish and spans three floors, featuring three flower boxes and over 120 positions for growing vegetables. Furthermore, in conjunction with this project, pedagogical activities were developed, involving students from various ISEP courses, including Bioresources, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Informatics Engineering. This project highlights a successful implementation of a soil-less vertical garden in urban buildings, embraced by ISEP, enabling the complete integration of nature into urban environments and promoting greener and more sustainable cities.