Biometrical Letters Vol. 49(1), 2012, pp. 57-66
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PROFILE ANALYSIS OF MOTHERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONTAMINANTS EXPOSURE IN THE ALGARVE REGION: APPLICATION OF THE HJ-BIPLOT METHOD A. Serafim1, R. Company1, B. Lopes1, N. Silva2, E. Castela2, M.J. Bebianno1, G. Castela2 1University of Algarve, CIMA, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal, aserafim@ualg.pt 2University of Algarve, CIEO,Faculty of Economy, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal |
The HJ-BIPLOT method developed by Galindo (1986) was applied in order to identify and categorize mothers vulnerable to environmental contamination in the Algarve region (South Portugal). The application of the BIPLOT method allowed to recognize the most important exposure routes for contamination, showing that work place, diet and smoking habits seem the most significant factors contributing to maternal and foetal exposure vulnerability.
HJ-BIPLOT method, contamination exposure routes, profile analysis
