The One Health Approach Applied to Chemistry Laboratories at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil: A Case Study

One Health emphasizes the relationships among human, animal, and environmental health. However, this concept is rarely used when assessing the impacts of academic laboratory activities. This case study evaluated some occupational and environmental risks in laboratories at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, focusing on noise from fume hoods and on hazardous waste segregation. Noise measurements in fume hoods revealed levels that exceeded the limits considered comfortable for human hearing; however, the results are in accordance with those allowed by national and international regulations. Waste segregation practices showed a predominance of biological waste over chemical waste, indicating possible inconsistencies in the employed classification criteria to segregate mixtures. The results highlight challenges in environmental education and laboratory-safety training at both undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as a need for updated regulations adapted to the academic context. Importantly, the UFCSPA has evolved in terms of biosafety with the creation of specific sectors to mitigate health and safety issues, also providing mandatory and elective courses for both undergraduate and graduate programs focusing on addressing specific institutional demands. In addition, the implementation of One Health principles in universities may strengthen sustainable practices, reduce occupational risks, and contribute to the achievement of global sustainable development goals.