Plastic waste remains a major challenge for sustainable polymer science, requiring solutions that align with circular economy principles. This review provides a structured critical synthesis of comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) studies on waste management strategies, including mechanical recycling (MR), chemical recycling (CR), pyrolysis (PY), energy recovery (ER), incineration (IN), and landfill disposal (LF). Results show that MR was most frequently associated with lower impacts for clean polymer streams, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70% relative to virgin production. CR and PY were often reported as relevant options for mixed or contaminated plastics, though they remain energy-intensive with global warming potentials 30–50% higher than MR. ER and IN reduce volumes but often offset benefits through additional emissions, while LF was frequently ranked among the least favorable options. Beyond benchmarking, we identify persistent methodological gaps across LCAs, including variable system boundaries, omission of microplastic impacts, and limited techno-economic integration. Notably, 88% of studies emphasize global warming, whereas fewer than 50% address eutrophication or human health, constraining comparability and policy relevance. By consolidating fragmented evidence across waste streams and treatment routes, this review maps recurring methodological patterns and environmental trends relevant to future LCA studies and plastic waste management strategies.
This study presents an expansion and update of the taxonomic composition of Late Pleistocene mammal fauna collected in Toca Fria Cave, located in the municipality of Iuiú, Bahia, Brazil. The studied material consists of several bones attributed to 13 taxa, distributed in the orders Carnivora (Cerdocyon thous and Arctotherium wingei), Folivora (Nothrotherium maquinense, Eremotherium laurillardi, Valgipes bucklandi, Catonyx cuvieri, and Glossotherium phoenesis), Cingulata (Pampatheridae and Glyptodontidae), Proboscidea (cf. Notiomastodon platensis), Notoungulata (Toxodon platensis), and Artiodactyla (Mazama sp. and Blastocerus dichotomus). The occurrence of B. dichotomus represents a significant historical record for the genus, which currently has a reduced and fragmented geographic distribution and is not found in the Iuiú region. We also presented radiocarbon dates for A. wingei, B. dichotomus, and G. phoenesis. These analyses suggest that A. wingei lived between 39,208 and 39,637 cal yr BP, B. dichotomus between 30,017 and 30,275 cal yr BP, and G. phoenesis between 34,845 and 35,849 cal yr BP. Isotopic analyses of the recovered materials indicated the presence of at least two habitats for the Late Pleistocene of Iuiú: a low-density forested site and a drier open savanna environment associated with the present-day Cerrado/Caatinga biomes, given that most of the animals were living in an ecotone between these environments. Within the period analyzed the mean annual temperature varied between 20.5 °C and 22.3 °C, while the average precipitation values ranged from 925 to 1180 mm per year.
Brazil hosts exceptional geological diversity and ranks among the world’s leading producers and exporters of ornamental stones. Despite this competitive position, up to 83 Successful global and Brazilian cases demonstrate the techno-economic feasibility of stone-waste valorization. Circular pathways for ornamental-stone waste are systematically reviewed. Construction and agriculture show high reuse potential and scalability. Chemical safety is critical for agricultural applications. Brazil has strong potential to lead circular stone systems globally. Quarry reuse supports cultural, educational, and geotourism outcomes. Scaling requires policy incentives, technical standards, and industry capacity building.
The objective of this study was to isolate and select bacteria from soils with previous cassava wastewater deposition, aiming to identify strains capable of promoting vegetative growth of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Eight soil samples were collected near cassava flour processing facilities in Vitória da Conquista – Bahia and cultured on Burks and FAM media. Fifty-five bacterial isolates were obtained and evaluated for morphological characteristics, population density, calcium phosphate solubilization, sodium chloride tolerance, and ability to promote cowpea growth. Bacterial densities ranged from 2.31 × 10¹ to 2.15 × 10⁶ cells g⁻¹ soil in Burks medium and from 2.31 × 10¹ to 1.49 × 10⁵ cells g⁻¹ soil in FAM medium. Among the 55 isolates obtained, four were able to nodulate cowpea, and 27 tolerated NaCl concentrations up to 30 g L⁻¹. High bacterial densities were observed in both media, with most isolates showing rapid growth and low to moderate phosphate solubilization. Isolates tolerant to up to 30 g L⁻¹ NaCl were detected. Strains from the genera Bacillus and Paraburkholderia both widely reported as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) were identified. Some non-nodulating isolates enhanced root length and dry weight, while nodulating strains UFRB BA72C2-1, UFRB FA34C2-2, UFRB FA51B1, and UFLA 03-164T were effective in nodulation and vegetative growth promotion.
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of male hair loss, is primarily driven by genetic predisposition and androgen activity. Emerging evidence suggests that AGA is associated with metabolic dysfunction and sleep disorders, but their contribution to its pathogenesis remains unclear. To examine the hormonal, metabolic, and sleep profiles of adult men with self-reported AGA and their potential relevance as risk factors for this condition. This cross-sectional study used data from the 4th Edition of the São Paulo Epidemiological Sleep Study (EPISONO 2018). Participants self-reported AGA, completed sleep questionnaires, underwent polysomnography, and provided blood samples for laboratory measures. A first analysis of all included men was performed, followed by a propensity score matching (PSM), which was applied to match AGA and non-AGA groups by age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. Of the 769 EPISONO participants, 317 were men and 307 answered the AGA question with 64 reporting AGA and 243 classified as non-AGA. Before PSM, the AGA group was older (p = 0.010) and presented higher triglycerides (p = 0.015), lower HDL cholesterol (p = 0.041), lower total (p = 0.025) and free testosterone (p = 0.011), and higher prevalence of diabetes (p = 0.043), metabolic syndrome (p = 0.012), and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA; p = 0.041). Subjective sleep measures did not differ between groups. After PSM, 64 matched pairs were analyzed. All anthropometric, hormonal, metabolic, and sleep measures became comparable between groups and the association with OSA no longer persisted. Across univariate and multivariable logistic regression models, before and after PSM, triglycerides remained the only factor associated with AGA (p = 0.039). This study reinforces the link between AGA and lipid metabolism, with elevated triglycerides as a predictor, highlighting the importance of metabolic screening in men with AGA while supporting further investigation of lipid-related mechanisms.
