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This work assessed firefighters’ exposure to particulate matter (PM) in non-fire work settings during pre-fire season, as a baseline for the respective occupational exposure characterization. Indoor and outdoor air sampling was conducted for two weeks in pre-fire season of 2021 in seven fire corporations (FC1-FC7) in north of Portugal. PM fractions (PM2.5, PM10) were continuously monitored concurrently in indoors (living rooms, rest areas, truck bays) and outdoors. The results showed low levels of pollution. Indoor PM10 was between 2 and 205 μg m–3 (mean 10 μg m–3); PM2.5 were 2—115 μg m–3 (8.5 μg m–3). Both indoor PM fractions were highly and significantly correlated (rs = 0.959–0.997). PM2.5 accounted for 85% of indoor PM; indoor to outdoor ratios (I/O) of PM2.5 ranged between 1.4 and 3.0, thus emphasizing the contribution of indoor emission sources for fine fraction. Outdoor PM10 were 2–6 times higher than indoors (6–894 μg m–3; mean 21 μg m–3); and 2–9 times higher for PM2.5 (5 – 169 μg m–3; 5 μg m–3). Outdoor PM were moderately correlated (rs = 0.584 – 0.878), most likely due to meteorological conditions. Coarse particles contributed the majority of ambient PM10 and accounted for 79%. This work was financially supported by PCIF/SSO/0017/2018 by FCT-MCTES through national funds. Additional supports include projects LA/P/0045/2020 (ALiCE), UIDB/00511/2020—UIDP/00511/2020 (LEPABE), UIDB/00690/2020 (CIMO), UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020 (REQUIMTE), and FCT fellowship SFRH/BPD/115/112/2016, and PhD grant UI/BD/150783/2020. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

The use of molecular techniques has shown that hybridization and introgression have significant impacts in evolution, by means of transfer of genetic variation and formation of hybrid species. In this paper we use mitochondrial and nuclear sequence data to investigate the evolutionary history, levels of genetic diversity and population differentiation of a rare and endangered fish species. Our results suggest that a hybrid origin scenario of Chondrostoma olisiponensis is a likely explanation for the shared genetic and morphological traits with Iberochondrostoma and Achondrostoma ? Pseudochondrostoma. The basal positioning of C. olisiponensis alleles in all loci analyzed indicates that hybridization events occurred before differentiation within each of these groups, most likely during Middle–Late Miocene. Originally described as C. olisiponensis, we suggest that this species should be placed in the genus Iberochondrostoma to avoid confusion with ‘real’ central European Chondrostoma and to (partially) reflect its evolutionary history. Analyses of levels of genetic diversity and patterns of population subdivision show that populations of the rare Iberochondrostoma olisiponensis are differentiated (high and significant uST and FST) and genetically depauperate (very low S, p, and h). I. olisiponensis is simultaneously imperiled by small population sizes and contemporary bidirectional hybridization with another critically endangered sympatric species (Iberochondrostoma lusitanicum). Urgent ex-situ conservation measures involving supportive breeding of I. olisiponensis are needed to preserve present genetic variation and eventually increase in situ population sizes, along with further studies focused on different life history and behavioral characteristics of this highly endangered species. FCT - Pluriannual Program UI&D 331/94 and 329/2011