Maria McCann paints a dark picture of masculinity and its effects in her novel As Meat Loves Salt (2001). The violent Jacob Cullen struggles with his masculinity as he faces the intricacies of religion, sexuality and politics in the midst of the English Civil War where he falls in love with fellow soldier Christopher Ferris. By using R.W. Connell and James Messerschmidt’s framework for the hierarchy of masculinities, I explore masculinities on local, regional and global levels and emphasized femininity in a close reading of McCann’s novel. My aim is not only to analyse the masculinities of the novel but also to use the framework to redefine toxic masculinity in order to make it a useable concept when analysing masculinities in literature. I redefine toxic masculinity because it lacks a clear definition anchored in an established framework used to study masculinity that does not see masculinity as inherently toxic. I believe that anchoring it to Connell and Messerschmidt’s framework will make it a useable concept. Due to the novel’s relationship to the Bible, I will use masculinity studies done on David and Jesus from the Bible to compare and reveal similarities with the masculinities in the novel, how they appear on the local, regional and global levels in the novel and its effects. I draw parallels between the love story in As Meat Loves Salt to the love story of David and Jonathan in the Bible by using queer readings of David and Jonathan in order to explore how masculinity affects the relationships and how the novel uses these two love stories as a study of toxic masculinity and how it relates it to hegemonic masculinity.

The exploitation of metallic sulfide ores produces vast quantities of fine-grained wastes hosting potentially toxic elements (PTEs). There are concerns that, if improperly disposed of and managed, waste mineral particles can behave as vectors that disperse PTEs via aeolian and fluvial transport, subsequently contaminating soils and crops used to support human populations. The importance of these particles, as sources and influencers of PTE biogeochemistry in productive soils, has received limited research. Long-term (365 d) batch incubation experiments, field weathering experiments and phytoavailability trials, were performed to establish the rate, patterns and factors limiting PTE (Cd, As, Hg) release from grains of sphalerite (Zn(Fe,Cd)S), arsenopyrite (FeAsS) and cinnabar (HgS) into soil matrices (0.1 % mineral:soil m/m), and the bioavailability of the liberated PTEs to important food crops (Tricitum aestivum, wheat and Oryza sativa, rice). All three of the ores underwent chemical weathering in oxic agricultural soils of both temperate and sub-tropical provenance, during which nonessential PTEs (cadmium, mercury, arsenic) were released in bioavailable forms, at rates relevant to agricultural production. Sphalerite weathered at a rate of 0.6 to 1.2 % a-1 (Cd basis) in the experimental soils, releasing 0.5 to 1 μmol Cd g-1 ZnS a-1 into the soil matrix. Cinnabar weathering reached a maximum of 12.0 – 13.5 % (Hg basis) after 90 days exposure in oxic soils, whereas arsenopyrite weathering was rapid and extensive, reaching 56 to 66 % (S basis) after 180 days. The PTE concentrations accumulated in edible grains of wheat and rice grown in the sulfide-contaminated soils were higher than international food safety limits by factors of 8 (Cd in rice), 10 – 30 (Hg in wheat and rice) and 8 – 12 (As in wheat and rice). The primary geochemical factors controlling PTE release and bioavailability were solid-phase associations (i.e. PTEs complexed by clays, metal oxyhydroxides and organic matter) and the precipitation of secondary mineral phases. Weathering arsenopyrite grains were passivated from further oxidation by secondary iron-arsenate phases, which also co-precipitated arsenic liberated from the ore. Secondary phase formation was identified as the cause of decreasing extractable Hg (liberated from cinnabar) after mercury release from cinnabar peaked (≤ 90 days exposure). For sphalerite, the evidence indicates that secondary sulfide phases formed under flooded (sulfate-reducing) soil conditions (paddy rice), limited the bioavailability of cadmium previously liberated under oxic conditions. These key findings demonstrate a potential human health hazard relating to the dispersal of PTE-hosting sulfide ore particles produced by mining activities into soils supporting human populations via crop contamination. This work also highlights differences in ore geochemistry, showing the need for additional research on different ore minerals and their alteration products.

The legacy of historical trauma continues to plague Indigenous populations throughout the world. This theoretical dissertation describes how biology (neurodevelopment, neurobiology and endocrinology) and culture (inter-generationally learned behaviors) are intricately intertwined in the development of dysfunctional coping behaviors that contribute to stress-related chronic diseases (heart disease, obesity, type II diabetes mellitus, depression, neurodegenerative disorders and memory impairment) in some individuals. The primary impact of the many episodes of historically traumatic genocide has been post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the onset of dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis). PTSD has had a profound impact on relationships and behaviors, while dysregulation of the HPA-axis is associated with pathophysiology. It is well documented that historical trauma has caused a cultural disconnect from traditional wellness and healing practices. Despite incredible resiliency, the result of this legacy has been a genesis of intergenerational, dysfunctional, coping strategies that have become subtly engrained in a viscous cycle of self-perpetuating, self-inflicting, dysfunctional behaviors that have been carried forward into the next generation as "toxic stress" - in the form of childhood abuse, domestic violence, interpersonal violence, and substance abuse. With time, the association to the initial traumatic assault erodes, leaving behind, collectively, a fragmented society that, in many places, has become the basis for a "cultural crisis". The approach presented in this dissertation is founded upon: 1) cultural acquisition theories that describe how existing cultural constructs and traditions are internalized by children and repeated throughout a life-time into the next generation; and 2) understanding the interaction of the autonomic nervous system (specifically, the HPA-axis and its activation by stress) and the neocortex, the basis for higher psychological processes associated with learning and cultural acquisition. This dissertation offers an explanation for the continued impact of historically traumatic events on the contemporary health and wellness of American Indian and Alaska Native people. It is hoped that this approach leads to specific intervention and prevention measures that are culturally relevant in addressing pathophysiology, cognitive-behavioral issues and the collective cultural changes that have ensued as a result of historical trauma.

Atmospheric aerosols are a highly relevant component of the climate system affecting atmospheric radiative transfer and the hydrological cycle. As opposed to other key atmospheric constituents with climatic relevance, atmospheric aerosol particles are highly heterogeneous in time and space with respect to their size, concentration, chemical composition and physical properties. Many aspects of their life cycle are not understood, making them difficult to represent in climate models and hard to control as a pollutant. Aerosol-cloud interactions in particular are infamous as a major source of uncertainty in future climate predictions. Field measurements are an important source of information for the modeling community and can lead to a better understanding of chemical and microphysical processes. In this study, field data from urban, marine, and arid settings are analyzed and the impact of meteorological conditions on the evolution of aerosol particles while in the atmosphere is investigated. Particular attention is given to organic aerosols, which are a poorly understood component of atmospheric aerosols. Local wind characteristics, solar radiation, relative humidity and the presence or absence of clouds and fog are found to be crucial factors in the transport and chemical evolution of aerosol particles. Organic aerosols in particular are found to be heavily impacted by processes in the liquid phase (cloud droplets and aerosol water). The reported measurements serve to improve the process-level understanding of aerosol evolution in different environments and to inform the modeling community by providing realistic values for input parameters and validation of model calculations.

<p style="text-align: justify;">Ispitivan je sadrţaj toksiĉnih elemenata (Pb, Cd, As i Hg) kao i esencijalnih elemenata (Cu, Zn, Fe i Mn) u odabranim uzorcima poljoprivrednog zemlji&scaron;ta na razliĉitim udaljenostima od frekventnih saobraćajnica, kao i u celom zrnu p&scaron;enice i njegovim delovima (mekinje i bra&scaron;no), primenom ICP masene spektrometrije. Analiza korelacije, ANOVA, analiza glavnih komponenata (PCA) i post-hoc Tukey&#39;s HSD testovi su upotrebljeni za statistiĉku evaluaciju dobijenih rezultata. U okviru svakog primenjenog eksperimentalnog metoda, sadrţaja toksiĉnih elemenata u uzorcima zrna p&scaron;enice je Tukey testovima pokazao znaĉajnu razliku na nivou znaĉaja p&lt;0.05, 95% granice pouzdanosti.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ANOVA i F-test za Mn (F=3000.6), su pokazali da je kod njega varijansa veća u odnosu na ostale elemente, &scaron;to znaĉi da se uzorci na razliĉitim lokacijama znaĉajno razlikuju zbog uticaja tog Mn. Za Fe i Zn F je1609.0 i 2773.4 respektivno &scaron;to znaĉi da su analize za Mn, Fe i Zn taĉnije u poreĊenju sa drugim upotrebljenim analizama. Prema ANOVI i F-testu na p&lt;0.01 nivou, 95% granice pouzdanosti uraĊenom za sadrţaj toksiĉnih elemenata u zemlji&scaron;tu, utvrĊeno je da je Mn (F=78640.0) uticajnija varijabla za konaĉni rezultat, a zatim slede Zn (F=2885.4) ili Fe (F=2699.02).<br />Pirsonovom tabelom je utvrĊena korelacije hemijskih elemenata u zrnu p&scaron;enice u odnosu na sardţaj ispitivanih elemenata u zemlji&scaron;tu. UtvrĊeno je da sadrţaj Cd dobro koreli&scaron;e izmeĊu p&scaron;enice i zemlji&scaron;ta (0,494), &scaron;to ukazuje da se taj element unosi u p&scaron;enicu iz zemlji&scaron;ta. Pekarski proizvodi se konzumiraju svakodnevno i zbog toga su pogodni za korigovanje nedostataka vlakana u hrani. Kao sirovina bogata prehrambenim vlaknima u proizvodnji hleba i peciva koriste se p&scaron;eniĉne mekinje, pa je neophodno praćenje sadrţaja toksiĉnih elemenata kako u bra&scaron;nu tako i u mekinjama. To će omogućiti proizvodnju bezbedne hrane i spreĉiti da ovi elementi ulaze u lanac ishrane.</p> / <p>The research of content of toxic elements (Pb, Cd, As and Hg) and essential elements (Zn, Cu, Fe and Mn) in selected samples of roadside soils, as well as in the wheat grain, wheat flour and bran using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Correlation analysis, ANOVA, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and post-hoc Tukey&#39;s HSD tests were applied for statistical evaluation of obtained results.<br />The Tukey‟s tests have been evaluated for comparison between toxic elements content in wheat kernel samples within each of used experimental methods, and statistically significant difference has been found in almost all samples, at significance level, p&lt;0.05, 95% confidence limit. ANOVA test and F-test for Mn content (F=3000.6) showed a more influential varianble in comparison with other elements, meaning that samples taken in different locations differ significantly due to Mn influence. As for Fe and Zn, F is 1609.0 and 2773.4 respectively. These findings confirm that Mn, Fe and Zn assays are more accurate compared to other applied assays. According to ANOVA and F-test at p&lt;0.01 level, 95% confidence limit used for toxic elements content analysis in soil, it was found that Mn content (F=78640.0) was a more influential variable for final result, followed by Zn (F=2885.4) or Fe (F=2699.02). Pearson table shows correlation between chemical elements in wheat grain compared to the content of analyzed elements in soil. It was found that there is correlation between Cd content in wheat and soil (0,494), which indicates that this element entered the wheat via the soil. The results show that the concentrations of tested elements are the highest n peripheral parts of the grain, i.e. in the bran, which is especially significant for production of bread with added bran. Pastry products are consumed on a daily basis, which makes them suitable to compensate for fiber deficiency in food. Being rich in dietary fibers, wheat bran is used in bread and pastry production; therefore, monitoring of the content of toxic elements in both flour and bran is required to ensure production of safe and healthy food and to prevent them from entering the food chain.</p>

Compartment syndrome is a rare but a well-documented complication in patients with trauma-induced group A streptococcus infection. Here, we present a case of a male who developed compartment syndrome on the left lower extremity after an injury inoculated by group A streptococcus on the right lower extremity. The patient was resuscitated with antibiotics, urgent fasciotomy, and immunoglobulin. The patient was eventually transferred to a burn center for further care.

Nas últimas décadas o crescimento industrial decorrente do desenvolvimento tecnológico e outras atividades consideradas indispensáveis à vida humana, estão gerando graves problemas ambientais, que está despertando uma preocupação a nível mundial. Dentre os vários contaminantes os metais tóxicos têm recebido atenção especial, pela sua persistência ao ingressar nos ecossistemas acumulando-se por toda a cadeia alimentar, uma vez que são extremamente tóxicos, mesmo em quantidades muito baixas. No Brasil, a legislação ambiental vigente já estabelece normas bastante rigorosas no que diz respeito ao descarte de águas contaminadas por metais tóxicos. Para que o tratamento deste tipo de efluentes seja feito adequadamente, e para que possam ser impostos limites máximos cada vez mais compatíveis com a sustentabilidade da vida moderna, torna-se relevante a preocupação com novas tecnologias mais eficientes e econômicas que permitam a remoção de metais tóxicos do ambiente contaminado. Hoje o tratamento do ambiente contaminado é realizado empregandose tecnologias convencionais baseadas em princípios físico-químicos, as quais estão sendo consideradas ineficientes e economicamente inviáveis. Alternativamente, uma nova tecnologia, a biorremediação, vem ganhando cada vez mais importância, devido às vantagens que oferece: simplicidade, eficiência e baixo custo. Para isto é necessário ser avaliada a utilização de microorganismos resistentes e eficazes na remoção do metal, pois, nesta fase são necessários que sejam selecionados organismos com características favoráveis ao processo. Dentro deste contexto, a proposta desse projeto foi isolar e caracterizar micro-organismos de uma área de mineração, avaliando os mecanismos e estratégias para o seu uso na remediação de áreas contaminadas a fim de otimizar a sua capacidade de adsorver íons de metais tóxicos, com vistas à utilização destas bactérias para a biossorção de efluentes de mineração. Foram isoladas e identificadas 105 cepas resistentes a cobre, destas 12 cepas foram capazes de crescer à 7.5 mM de cobre. Experimentos de adsorção com metais tóxicos (Cu, Cd e Ni) mostraram que tais cepas são promissoras na ampliação de tecnologias para uma mineração menos impactante, como a exploração de fontes de metais em baixa concentração, transformando o resíduo em fonte de extração economicamente viável e ambientalmente favorável. / Recently, technological development has been resulted in an industrial growth and has been creating serious environmental problems as concern worldwide. Toxic metals have received special attention among many others contaminants, because their persistence in ecosystems and their capability of accumulation throughout the food chain (even in low amounts). Environmental legislation in Brazil has very strict standards regarding discharge of toxic metals contaminated water. For a successful treatment of such effluents, it is relevant to concern about new technologies more efficient and economics to allow the removal of metals heavy from contaminated environment. Today the treatment of contaminated area is carried out conventional technologies based on physicochemical principles, which are inefficient and uneconomical. Alternatively, a new technology, called bioremediation, is being more important due to the advantages it offers: simplicity, efficiency and low cost. Bioremediation may be a viable alternative for areas contaminated by toxic metals. It\'s needed to evaluate the use of resistant and effective microorganisms in removing the metal, because it\'s required to be selected organisms with favorable characteristics for the process. In this context, the aim of this project is isolating and characterizing microorganisms from a mining area, evaluating the mechanisms and strategies for using in the remediation of contaminated areas, in order to optimize its adsorb heavy metal ions ability and use these bacteria for bioremediation of mining effluents. This work isolated and identified 105 strains resistant to copper, 12 of them were able to grow up to 7.5 mM copper, adsorption experiments with toxic metals (Cu, Cd and Ni) showed that these strains are promising in expanding technologies for sustainable mining, such as the exploitation of low concentration metal sources, turning waste into economically viable mining and environmentally friendly.

No Brasil acidentes por peixes peçonhentos como Thalassophryne nattereri, Cathorops spixii, Scorpaena plumieri e Potamotrygon gr orbygnyi vêm sendo relatados. O quadro clínico é caracterizado por efeitos locais e sistêmicos. Para esses acidentes não existe tratamento adequado e eficiente. A soroterapia é um eficiente tratamento para reverter os efeitos causados por venenos. Diante disso nosso objetivo é a obtenção de um soro poliespecifico através da junção de soros monoespecificos produzidos em camundongos e avaliar a sua capacidade de neutralização das atividades tóxicas induzidas pelos principais peixes peçonhentos brasileiros. As alterações induzidas na microcirculação foram abolidas na pré-incubação e no tratamento imediato, somente dano em fibra muscular induzido pelo C. spixii exigiu soro na proporção 1:2. Obtivemos o controle parcial da nocicepção e edema. O efeito sistêmico foi eficientemente neutralizado. Nossos dados nos permitem sugerir o uso de soro poliespecífico nos envenenamentos causados pelos peixes T. nattereri, S. plumieri, C. spixii e P. gr orbygnyi. / Envenoming induced by venomous fish represents a great cost brazilian communities. Victims develop local and systemic symptoms. The most frequent founded are Thalassophryne nattereri, Cathorops spixii, Scorpaena plumieri and Potamotrygon gr orbygnyi. The anti-inflammatory drugs used are not efficient. After the accident, the passive transfer of heterologous specific antibodies allows that immediate toxic effect can be neutralized in the victims. The aim of this work was to produce in mice polyspecific antivenom and evaluation the neutralization of the main toxic effects induced by the brazilian venomous fish. The effects induced in microcirculation were abolished by the polyspecific antiserum, except for the effects caused by C. spixii in muscular fibers where was necessary a proportion of 1:2. The polyspecific antiserum controlled the edematogenic and nociceptive activities and the airway inflammation.These data allow us to suggest the use of polyspecific antiserum in the treatment of the pathological effects provoked by the most frequent brazilian venomous fish.

O fluoroacetato de sódio (FAS), também conhecido como \"composto 1080\", foi um raticida amplamente utilizado no combate de roedores a partir da década de 40, mas que teve seu uso proibido em diversos países, incluindo o Brasil, devido a sua alta toxicidade e ausência de tratamento efetivo nas intoxicações. A despeito deste fato, diversos casos de intoxicação ainda são registrados em seres humanos e animais, em virtude de seu uso ilícito como raticida doméstico ou adição em iscas nas intoxicações criminosas. O FAS, na natureza, pode ser encontrado, também, em algumas plantas tóxicas de grande importância no Brasil, como a Palicourea marcgravii, e possivelmente seja o princípio ativo tóxico de outras plantas de relevância, como a Mascagnia rigida. Neste sentido, este trabalho objetivou o estudo dos aspectos clínicos e anatomopatológicos encontrados nas intoxicações provocadas pelo FAS, em ratos, comparando estes com os encontrados nas intoxicações por extrato aquoso da M. rígida. Também foram comparadas metodologias analíticas para identificação deste agente tóxico utilizando cromatografia em camada delgada (CCD) e cromatografia de alta eficiência (CLAE) com dois tipos de detectores o de UV e o de Condutividade Iônica. Para tanto, quatro grupos contendo seis ratos Wistar, machos, receberam em dose única por via oral 7,0 mg/kg de FAS ou água destilada ou ainda 1,6 ou 3,2 g/kg de extrato aquoso de M. rígida, sendo avaliados os sinais clínicos apresentados por estes animais. Após eutanásia foram coletados fragmentos de cérebro, coração, fígado, rins, pulmão, intestino e baço para exame histopatológico. Tanto os animais que receberam FAS como os que receberam extrato aquoso de M. rígida apresentaram sintomatologia similar com presença de prostração, desconforto respiratório, tremores, pêlos arrepiados, cromodacriorreia, convulsão tônica e tônico-clônica. Na necropsia destes animais não foram observadas alterações macroscópicas, contudo alterações histopatológicas significativas foram encontradas no cérebro, miocárdio, fígado e rins. Os estudos das análise toxicológicas utilizando as três técnicas cromatográficas mostraram que os resultados obtidos na CCD foram adequados para detecção de FAS nas concentrações acima de 1,0 &mu;g do padrão puro e as análises das duas plantas estudadas apresentaram resultados positivos para FAS. As técnicas utilizando CLAE, com dois diferentes detectores, mostraram que quando se utiliza detector de UV o limite de detecção é de 3,75 &mu;g injetado ou de 75 &mu;g/mL e foi possível, também, detectar a presença de FAS nas duas plantas estudadas, porém a técnica não se apresentou adequada para a detecção de intoxicação em tecido animal. O detector de condutividade iônica mostrou limite de detecção de 0,30 &mu;g/mL, isto é, o mais sensível entre os três métodos estudados, e portanto o mais adequado para diagnóstico de intoxicação em tecido animal; no entanto, para identificação do FAS na M. rigida este método não se mostrou adequado devido a interferentes no extrato aquoso e no soro de animais intoxicados. / Sodium fluoroacetate (SFA), also known as \"compound 1080,\" was a rodenticide widely used in the 1940s, but its use was banned in several countries, including Brazil, for its high toxicity and lack of an effective treatment in poisoning. Despite this fact, several cases of poisoning are still registered in humans and animals, because of their misuse as baits, in addition to criminal poisoning. SFA, in the form of natural molecules, can be found in some toxic plants of great importance in Brazil, such as Palicourea marcgravii, and possibly is the active principle of other plants of relevance, such as Mascagnia rigid. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical and pathological findings in poisoning caused by the SFA in rats, and compare them with those found in poisoning by the aqueous extract of M. rigid. Moreover, we compared analytical methods for identifying this toxic agent using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) employing two types of detectors: ultraviolet (UV) and ionic conductivity. Therefore, four groups containing six male Wistar rats each, received a single oral dose of 7.0 mg / kg of SFA, an equal volume of distilled water, or 1.6 or 3.2 g / kg of an aqueous extract of M. rigid, and the clinical signs displayed by these animals were evaluated. After euthanasia fragments of brain, heart, liver, kidney, lung, intestine and spleen were collected for histological examination. Both the animals that received SFA and those who received the aqueous extract of M. rigid showed similar symptoms, including prostration, respiratory distress, tremors, shivering, and tonic or tonic-clonic seizures. At necropsy, these animals did not display macroscopic changes. Nevertheless, significant histopathological changes were found in the brain, heart, liver and kidneys. Toxicological analysis using the three chromatographic techniques described above showed that the results obtained in the TLC were suitable for detection of SFA at concentrations above 1.0 &mu;g of pure standard, and analysis of the two plants mentioned showed positive results for SFA. The techniques using HPLC with two different detectors showed that when using the UV detector, the detection limit is of 3.75 &mu;g (injected) or 75 &mu;g / mL, and SFA could also be detected by these methods in the two plants studied, but the technique does not seem suitable for the detection of intoxication in animal tissue samples. The ionic conductivity detector showed a detection limit of 0.30 &mu;g/ mL, therefore the most sensitive of the three methods studied, and hence is the most appropriate for diagnosis of poisoning in animal tissue; however, for the identification of SFA in the M. rigid, this method was not appropriate due to a putative interference in the aqueous extract.

Introdução: Dioxinas, furanos e bifenilas policloradas são poluentes tóxicos para a saúde humana incluindo riscos de incidência de cânceres, efeitos de neurodesenvolvimento, lesões dérmicas, cloroacne. Estes compostos são poluentes orgânicos persistentes (POPs) que podem ser transportados de longas distâncias da fonte de emissão e se bioacumular em ecossistemas. A atmosfera poluída foi recentemente classificada como carcinogênica para os seres humanos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde, mostrando a importância de sua caracterização, principalmente para compostos tóxicos. Entretanto, técnica de coleta ativa tem custo elevado para POPs, e existem poucos estudos de calibração que validem a substituição. Objetivos: Avaliar a toxicidade equivalente da atmosfera por dioxinas, furanos e bifenilas cloradas, utilizando técnicas de coleta ativa e passiva, e verificar gradiente de concentração nos ambientes urbano, urbano/industrial e de background. Método: Amostras de ar foram coletadas, utilizando coletores ativos e passivos, durante dois períodos consecutivos de quatro meses: de setembro a dezembro de 2014 (período 1) e de maio a agosto de 2015 (período 2) em três cidades de São Paulo, SP, em ambientes urbano, urbano/industrial e de background. Todas as amostras foram extraídas com solução de tolueno:acetona (9:1) em Soxhlet por 24 h e padrões marcados (13C12-PCDD/Fs e 13C12-PCBs) foram adicionados em cada amostra antes do processo de extração. Os extratos foram purificados em coluna de sílica mista (40 por cento H2SO4 e 10 por cento AgNO3) seguida por coluna de alumina. O procedimento analítico foi realizado utilizando HRGC/HRMS (High Resolution Gas Chromatograph/High Resolution Mass Spectrometer) operando em ionização de impacto de elétrons com energia de 35 eV no modo SIM (Select Ion Monitoring) e resolução de 10.000. Resultados mostraram que: (1) existe variação sazonal para concentrações de PCDD/Fs no ar entre os períodos 1 e 2 (p=0,03), enquanto as concentrações de dl-PCBs não foram estatisticamente diferentes nestes períodos (p=0,52); (2) existe gradiente de concentração de PCDD/Fs e dl- PCBs que aumenta na seguinte ordem: background<urbano<urbano/industrial, porém não foi encontrada diferença significante entre as concentrações dos locais urbano e urbano/industrial para as amostras da coleta ativa; (3) as concentrações de PCDD/Fs e dl-PCBs das amostras do coletor ativo variaram de 9,34 a 221 fg TEQ/m³ no período 1, e entre 7,76 a 453 fg TEQ/m³ no período 2; nas amostras dos coletores passivos estas concentrações variaram de 6,11 a 32,2 fg TEQ/m³ no período 1, e entre 48,6 e 298 fg TEQ/m³ no período 2; (4) a estimativa da taxa de coleta utilizando duas abordagens diferentes mostrou discrepâncias. Conclusões: Os resultados dos coletores ativos e passivos estão em boa concordância em termos de tendências espacial e temporal, assim como os perfis de congêneres e grupos homólogos, a coleta passiva com disco de PUF mostrou-se como uma técnica adequada para determinação de PCDD/Fs e dl-PCBs / Introduction: Dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls are toxic pollutants for human health including risks of cancer incidence, neurodevelopmental effects, dermal lesions, chloracne. These compounds are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that can be transported to long distances from the emission source and they are bioaccumulated in ecosystems. Recently, the outdoor air pollution were classified as carcinogenic to humans by the World Health Organization, showing the importance of its characterization for toxic compounds. However, active air monitoring has a high cost for POPs, and there is a few calibration studies which support that substitution. Objective: To assess the equivalent toxicity of the atmosphere regarding the measurement of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls, using active and passive air samplers, and to evatuate the contrasting concentrations at urban, urban/industrial and background sites. Method: Air samples were collected, using active and passive samplers, over two consecutive periods of four months: from September to December 2014 (period 1) and from May to August 2015 (period 2) at three cities in São Paulo, SP, covering urban, urban/industrial and background sites. All samples were extracted with toluene:acetone (9:1) in a Soxhlet apparatus for 24 hours and surrogate standards (13C12-PCDD/F and 13C12-PCBs) were spiked on each sample media prior to extraction procedure. The extracts were purified on an silica column (40 per cent H2SO4 and 10 per cent AgNO3) followed by an alumina column. The analytical procedure was carried out using HRGC/HRMS (High Resolution Gas Chromatograph/High Resolution Mass Spectrometer) operating in electron impact ionization with an energy of 35 eV in SIM (selected ion monitoring) mode and 10.000 resolution power. Results show that (1) there are seasonal variations for PCDD/F concentrations in air between period 1 and 2 (p=0.03), whereas dl-PCB levels were not statistically different (p=0.52) in those periods. (2) PCDD/F and dl-PCB air levels are in the following order: background <urban <urban/industrial for both active and passive samplers; (3) PCDD/F and dl-PCB concentrations in active air samples ranged from 9.34 to 221 fg TEQ/m³ in period 1, and between 7.76 and 453 fg TEQ/m³ in period 2; in the passive air samples, these concentrations ranged from 6.11 to 32.2 fg TEQ/m³ in period 1, and between 48.6 and 298 fg TEQ/m³ in period 2; (4) the estimation of sampling rate using two approachs for PCDD/Fs showed differences. Conclusions: Passive and active air sampling results are in good agreement in spatial terms and temporal trends, as are the congener and homologue profiles, showing that passive air sampling of PUF disk is a powerful sampler for PCDD/F and dl-PCB measurements