Urban agriculture is gaining recognition for its potential contributions to environmental resilience and climate change adaptation,providing advantages such as urban greening,reduced heat island effects,and decreased ...Urban agriculture is gaining recognition for its potential contributions to environmental resilience and climate change adaptation,providing advantages such as urban greening,reduced heat island effects,and decreased air pollution.Moreover,it indirectly supports communities during weather events and natural disasters,ensuring food security and fostering community cohesion.However,concerns about planetary health risks persist in highly urbanized and climate-affected areas.Employing electronic databases such as Web of Science and PubMed and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines,we identified 55 relevant papers to comprehend the planetary health risks associated with urban agriculture,The literature review identified five distinct health risks related to urban agriculture:(1)trace metal risks in urban farms;(2)health risks associated with wastewater irrigation;(3)zoonotic risks;(4)other health risks;and(5)social and economic risks.The study highlights that urban agriculture,while emphasizing environmental benefits,particularly raises concerns about trace metal bioaccumulation in soil and vegetables,posing health risks for populations.Other well studied risks included wastewater irrigation and backyard livestock farming.The main limitations in the available literature were in studying infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance associated with urban agriculture.展开更多
Artisanal gold mining,a labor-intensive and antiquated technique,is a growing industry and the source of income for rural communities all over the world.However,artisanal gold mining has potential negative and long-te...Artisanal gold mining,a labor-intensive and antiquated technique,is a growing industry and the source of income for rural communities all over the world.However,artisanal gold mining has potential negative and long-term effects on economy,environment,and society.This study collected soil samples from 16 sample points including a control point to examine the pollution degrees and spatial distribution of heavy metals,as well as ecological and health risks associated with heavy metal pollution in the Ijero-Ekiti mining site,Nigeria.Geographical Information System(GIS)and remote sensing technologies were used to identify regions with high concentrations of heavy metals and assess the environmental impact of gold mining activities.The results show that the mean heavy metal concentrations of 16 soil pointa are 8.94(±5.97)mg/kg for As,0.18(±0.54)mg/kg for Cd,0.11(±1.06)mg/kg for Co,14.32(±3.43)mg/kg for Cr,6.89(±0.64)mg/kg for Cu,48.92(±11.77)mg/kg for Fe,135.81(±30.75)mg/kg for Mn,5.92(±0.96)mg/kg for Ni,5.72(±1.66)mg/kg for Pb,and 13.94(±1.38)mg/kg for Zn.The study reveals that heavy metal concentration in soils follows the order of Mn>Fe>Cr>Zn>As>Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd.An analysis of soil samples indicates that 3 principal components(PCs)account for 70.008%of the total variance and there are strong positive correlations between various pairs of heavy metals.The total potential ecological risk index(309.599)in the study area is high.Non-carcinogenic risk suggests that there may be long-term health impacts on people who work in the mining areas due to chronic exposure to the environment.Based on the study,the hazard index of carcinogenic health risks associated with heavy metals through ingestion is 520.00×10^(–4).Dermal contact from As and Cr also increases the risk of cancer,with the highest hazard index value of 18.40×10^(–4).The lowest exposure pathway,with the hazard index value of 0.68×10^(–4),indicates that the inhalation of heavy metals has a comparatively low risk of cancer.This study recommends the formulation of policies to monitor the Ijero-Ekiti mining site and other regions in Nigeria where indiscriminate artisanal gold mining activities exist.展开更多
This study investigated the groundwater quality and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in the Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from hand...This study investigated the groundwater quality and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in the Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells in the market area and analyzed for physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the groundwater quality was poor, with high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead, and chromium. The health index (HI) for children and adults was above the tolerable threshold levels, indicating a potential health risk to the population. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the sources of metals in groundwater, and the results showed that informal e-waste processing was a significant source of contamination. The study highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the potential health risks associated with informal e-waste processing and ensure public health and environmental safety.展开更多
The Tongon mine, the largest gold mine in C?te d’Ivoire, has been in operation since April 2010. However, to our knowledge to date, no study has been conducted on metallic contamination in suspended particulate matte...The Tongon mine, the largest gold mine in C?te d’Ivoire, has been in operation since April 2010. However, to our knowledge to date, no study has been conducted on metallic contamination in suspended particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>) where there is a lack of information on the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk to human health associated with the exposure of populations in the Tongon area to these pollutants. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the level of contamination of PM<sub>10</sub>;PM<sub>2.5</sub> by heavy metals and their impact on the health of populations exposed to these pollutants in the Tongon gold mine area. The sampling and measurement of suspended particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>) were done using a MiniVol TAS passive air sampler. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (Nex ION 2000 ICP-MS, USA). The results indicate that the average concentrations of suspended particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub>) obtained are all above the recommended exposure limits. In addition, among the heavy metals contained in the suspended particles, the concentrations of arsenic and nickel are high and all above the standard limit values. The assessment of the health risks related to the inhalation of PM<sub>10</sub> particles reveals that their inhalation over a long period could cause a carcinogenic risk.展开更多
In the department of Zouan-Hounien, gold mining is booming. This activity, marked by the excavation of rocks and the use of chemicals such as mercury, is likely to contaminate the region’s groundwater resources and e...In the department of Zouan-Hounien, gold mining is booming. This activity, marked by the excavation of rocks and the use of chemicals such as mercury, is likely to contaminate the region’s groundwater resources and expose populations to serious diseases. This study aims to assess the health risks associated with the consumption of this water by the population. To this end, 72 groundwater samples were taken in eight (08) villages of the department at the rate of forty-six (46) well water samples and twenty-six (26) borehole water samples. A total of twenty-twenty-three wells and thirteen boreholes were sampled during two campaigns. An atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) was used to determine the concentrations of metallic trace elements (MTEs), such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), and iron (Fe) in the different samples. The daily exposure doses for oral ingestion (CDIing) and skin contact (Expderm) were calculated. The non-carcinogenic (HQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) were estimated. The results show that the mean concentrations of Fe, Pb, Hg, As and Cd are respectively 2233.48 > 3.10 > 0.60 > 1.18 > 0.08 μg<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>L<sup>-1</sup> in the wells and 2427.94 > 4.08 > 1.27 > 1.76 > 0.08 μg<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>L<sup>-1</sup> in boreholes. Evaluating the risks to human health reveals that the mean values of hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) for all the elements in the wells and boreholes are lower than 1 and 10<sup>-4</sup> respectively in children and adults for oral and dermal exposure. However, at the oral exposure level, 9 wells and 6 boreholes recorded HQ and CR above the define<span>d critical limits. These values indicate that the occurrence of non-cancero</span>us and cancerous diseases in populations consuming these waters by contamination with mercury and arsenic is not excluded. Dermal exposure to MTEs also poses no potential health risk to the population.展开更多
This study aimed to estimate arsenic(As)and iron(Fe)content in tubewell water(n=58)in primary educational institutions and subsequently assess the health risks to school-going children.Results described that the As co...This study aimed to estimate arsenic(As)and iron(Fe)content in tubewell water(n=58)in primary educational institutions and subsequently assess the health risks to school-going children.Results described that the As concentration ranged between 0.002 and 0.994 mg L^(-1)with an average value of 0.044 mg L^(-1);which exceeded the World Health Organization(WHO)provisional guideline value of 0.01 mg L^(-1).Similarly,the Fe content varied from 0.05 to 10 mg L^(-1)averaging to 2.84 mg L^(-1).Samples of 55.17%contained a greater As concentration than0.01 mg L^(-1)and 18.97%greater than Bangladesh drinking water quality(BDWQ)standard of 0.05 mg L^(-1),respectively.Meanwhile,75.86%of samples contained a higher Fe concentration than the maximum Bangladesh permissible limit of 1 mg L^(-1).Health risk assessment indicated that girls are more vulnerable than boys are.The average hazard quotients(HQs)for As intake through drinking water were 6.01±17.85 and 7.41±22.03 for boys and girls,respectively,implying non-carcinogenic health risks to both genders.The HQs for Fe intake were less than threshold value of 1 indicating no health issues may arise from Fe intake alone.However,consumption of As and Fe may trigger health risks to students as indicated by the hazard index(HI),which was higher than 1.The average cancer risk(CR)values for both boys(0.0027±0.008)and girls(0.0033±0.0099)exceeded the threshold limit of 10-6-10-4,suggesting a possibility of lifetime cancer risks to the school-going children.Consequently,school authorities should find alternative ways to ensure safe drinking water for school-going children to avoid possible cancer and non-cancer health risks through consumption of As-poisoning water.展开更多
Urban truck farming in developing countries appears of great importance to overcome unemployment and poverty. However, the quality of wastewater used for such activity could expose populations to waterborne diseases. ...Urban truck farming in developing countries appears of great importance to overcome unemployment and poverty. However, the quality of wastewater used for such activity could expose populations to waterborne diseases. The microbial quality of wastewaters used for truck farming in Ouagadougou city, was examined for the presence of bacterial and parasitological fecal indicators during the dry-hot season (May) and the wet season (July) in 2012. The wastewaters of three water reservoirs and two canals intensively used for truck farming were analyzed throughout the study. These indicators were also monitored in waste stabilization ponds during wastewater treatment in 3 plants of the city. For all the selected sampling sites, the concentrations of microbial indicators in water were significantly higher in the dry-hot season compared to the wet one (p - 53,800 CFU/100ml for Escherichia coli, 8200 - 108,400 CFU/100ml for fecal coliforms, 650 - 45,000 CFU/100ml) for fecal streptococcus, and 0 - 2.4 eggs/l for helminthes during the study periods. For wastewater under treatment in waste stabilization ponds, significant microbial concentration drops (p 0.0001) in the range of 82% - 100%, 78% - 98%, 60% - 100% and 82% - 88%, respectively were recorded between the anaerobic and the maturation ponds. The later results highlighted that improving the refining performances of the waste stabilization ponds technology could help decreasing health risks related to wastewater reuse in urban agriculture for a sustainable development of cities in developing countries.展开更多
Objective Airborne microbial communities include a significant number of uncultured and poorly characterized bacteria.No effective method currently exists to evaluate the health risks of such complex bacterial populat...Objective Airborne microbial communities include a significant number of uncultured and poorly characterized bacteria.No effective method currently exists to evaluate the health risks of such complex bacterial populations,particularly for pneumonia.Methods We developed a method to evaluate risks from airborne microorganisms,guided by the principle that closer evolutionary relationships reflect similar biological characteristics,and thus used16 S rDNA sequences of 10 common pneumonia-related bacterial pathogens.We calculated a risk of breath-related(Rbr)index of airborne bacterial communities and verified effectiveness with artificial flora and a clinical project.Results We suggested applying Rbr80 to evaluate the health risks of airborne bacterial communities that comprise 80% of dominant operational taxonomic units(OTUs).The feasibility of Rbr80 was confirmed by artificial flora and by pneumonia data from a hospital.A high Rbr80 value indicated a high risk of pneumonia from airborne bacterial communities.Conclusion Rbr80 is an effective index to evaluate the pneumonia-associated risk from airborne bacteria.Values of Rbr80 greater than 15.40 are considered high risk.展开更多
Gas stations are important emissions source of benzene (C6H6), toluene (C7H8), ethylbenzene (C8H10), and ortho, meta and para-xylene (C8H10)—better known by the acronym BTEX. The objective of this study was to determ...Gas stations are important emissions source of benzene (C6H6), toluene (C7H8), ethylbenzene (C8H10), and ortho, meta and para-xylene (C8H10)—better known by the acronym BTEX. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of BTEX compounds in the ambient air of ten gas stations in the cities of Salvador and Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil and evaluate the health risks to workers. Passive samplers diffusive of the Radiello?, containing activated carbon as adsorbent, were used. The samplers were exposed for 8 h and then the analytes were recovered by chemical desorption with CS2 and determined by GC-FID. The BTEX concentrations found in the ambient air of gas stations ranged from 46.72 - 435.43 μg·m?3 for benzene;25.54 - 342.46 μg·m?3 for toluene, 7.10 - 30.07 μg·m?3 for ethylbenzene, 9.36 - 89.73 μg·m?3 for m, p-xylene and 9.79 - 52.29 μg·m?3 for o-xylene. The concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes found in gas stations were lower than the limits recommended by the US NIOSH and NR-15 of the Ministry of Labour of Brazil;however, it should be considered the risks due to chronic exposure of workers. Benzene concentrations in three gas stations were above the exposure limit recommended by NIOSH (3.20 × 102 μg·m?3). Samplings were also held outdoors at 250 m of two gas stations. The total concentrations of the BTEX compounds were equal to 24.97 and 35.51 μg·m?3, and benzene concentrations were about 3 - 4 times higher than the annual pattern of 5.0 μg·m?3 established by Union European, as tolerance limit for outside areas. These data confirm that the next areas of gas stations are subject to the effects of volatilization of these compounds. Additionally, the values found in the 10 gas stations for the cancer risk ranged from 4.06 × 10?5 - 3.78 × 10?4 (mean of 1.82 × 10?4) for workers exposed to benzene for 30 years (acceptable limit equal 1.00 × 10?6). The cancer risk is very high, because the values found are about 40 - 378 times above the acceptable limit and reinforce the need to adopt urgent measures to reduce or eliminate exposure of workers to the BTEX compounds. The average non-cancer risk to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes was 1.84, 5.76 × 10?3, 4.59 × 10?3 and 1.37 × 10?1, respectively (acceptable limit 1). Only to benzene the average value of this risk is above 1, showing that workers are likely the adverse effects health due to exposure to benzene.展开更多
The intake of heavy metals through food consumption is a food safety problem that severely impacts the health of consumers, so information about food intake and heavy metal concentrations in food products is required ...The intake of heavy metals through food consumption is a food safety problem that severely impacts the health of consumers, so information about food intake and heavy metal concentrations in food products is required to estimate the potential risk to the health of the population. The main purpose of this study was to estimate the potential risks to human health from exposure to Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn through the intake of Malus domestica Golden Delicious consumed in the Mexican southeast, considering the age group and gender. The concentration of each of the metals was quantified by spectrometry of atomic absorption (AAE) and the daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk indices through the consumption of apple: health risk index (HRI), total health risk index (THRI), target hazard coefficient (THQ) and the probability of carcinogenic risk (CR) were estimated. The concentrations of the metals analyzed in the apple samples showed the following decreasing order: Zn ≥ Ni ≥ Cu ≥ Pb ≥ Cd. The DIM values showed the following decreasing order: child > young adult > adoescent > elders. The health risk assessments (HRI, THRI, THQ and CR) obtained from the samples of Golden Delicious apples are located within the acceptable and/or tolerable limits, however, the increase in the intake of heavy metals through consumption of apples from establishments in the study area or the consumption of various foods contaminated with heavy metals may increase the health risk potential of consumers. For this reason, it is recommended to carry out studies on the concentration of heavy metals in food products, mainly those of greater popular consumption, to guarantee food security of the population.展开更多
The concentrations of twenty five heavy metals adsorbed to fine fraction of particulate matter, PM2.5 (d ≤ 2.5 μm) have been experimentally analysed at a sampling site located at the kerbside along a National Highwa...The concentrations of twenty five heavy metals adsorbed to fine fraction of particulate matter, PM2.5 (d ≤ 2.5 μm) have been experimentally analysed at a sampling site located at the kerbside along a National Highway in Delhi city, India. The sampling has been carried out for 12-hour using Ecotech Intruments, APM550. The PM2.5 has been collected on PTFE filter papers for the winter season. Later, the filter papers have been analysed for various heavy metal concentrations using ED-XRF. It has been observed that the metals concentrations are in this trend: Si > K > S > Ca = Fe > Zn = Pb > Br. it is observed that Si has high co-relation with Ca, Fe and K, which may be due to crustal origin of all three elements;while S, Br and Pb may be from vehicular exhaust emissions and/or abrasions due to brake and tyre wear. The potential health risks associated with different carcinogenic heavy metals have also been calculated. One of the health risk indicators, the excess cancer risk (ECR), is found to be in the order as As > Cd > Pb > Cr > Ni.展开更多
<strong>Objective:</strong> The e-waste recycling is increasing worldwide, yet there remain outstanding environmental and occupational health concerns. Most research conducted on e-waste recycling has focu...<strong>Objective:</strong> The e-waste recycling is increasing worldwide, yet there remain outstanding environmental and occupational health concerns. Most research conducted on e-waste recycling has focused on only few countries (e.g., China, Ghana), thus there is a need to increase understanding of e-waste workers’ (recyclers’) knowledge and practices in other locations, that is purpose of this study. <strong>Methods:</strong> In a cross-sectional study conducted in Cotonou, Benin, 45 e-waste recyclers were interviewed from September to November 2018. Survey data was collected concerning their demographics, professional practices, and knowledge of occupational and environmental risks associated with e-waste recycling.<strong> Results:</strong> Most participants reported the following methods of material recovery of electronic items in declining orders: dismantling (97.8%) > sorting (91.1%) > incinerating (88.9%). Only 44.2% of the recyclers reported wearing ≥ 1 piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). More than 90% of e-waste workers noted that they disposed the e-waste in natural sites. About half, 46.7% believed that e-waste can pollute water and 71.1% considered that it can pollute air and soil. Recyclers reported several diseases including respiratory (67.4%), heart (62.8%), eye (65.1%), kidney (41.9%) and cancers (30.2%) could be linked to their work, respectively. Interestingly, we also found associations between the number of electronic items dismantled per month and self-report symptoms from the e-waste recyclers such as finding blood in urine and stool, wounds, dizziness, and itchy skin. Our results also indicated associations between the number of hours worked per day and blood in urine, dizziness, itchy skin and airway obstruction. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>To our knowledge this is the first study to interview e-waste workers in Benin. Doing this increase understanding of their work practices and knowledge to help inform intervention and prevention activities.展开更多
With the rapid development of livestock and poultry breeding industries,pollution problems caused by the discharge of wastewater and manure have become increasingly severe.However,studies on the impacts of this pollut...With the rapid development of livestock and poultry breeding industries,pollution problems caused by the discharge of wastewater and manure have become increasingly severe.However,studies on the impacts of this pollution on rural residents'health are lacking.Based on data from the Peking University's China Family Panel Studies in 2010 and 2014,this paper uses a cross-sectional and panel data probit model to estimate the probability of breeding industry development in rural areas increasing the health risks of local villagers.First,the study found that the more households engaged in breeding in the region or the larger the scale of regional breeding,the higher the health risks to local villagers,particularly in areas where pigs are raised.Second,compared with individual farming,the greater the proportion of large-scale farming,the higher the health risks to villagers.Third,the development of the breeding industry seldom includes the ecological recycling of wastes and fails to reduce the use of local pesticides and fertilizers,thereby increasing the health risks to villagers.Therefore,this paper argues that providing technology to process breeding industry waste and establish an organic industrial production chain will be crucial to reducing the impact of breeding industry pollution on human health.展开更多
Background: The Ethiopian flower industry is growing fast with successful diversification of export products under greenhouse structures. Higher temperatures in the greenhouses pose a serious threat to the health of w...Background: The Ethiopian flower industry is growing fast with successful diversification of export products under greenhouse structures. Higher temperatures in the greenhouses pose a serious threat to the health of workers and add to the risk of occupational heat stress. Excessive heat in workplace settings also reduces work capacity and labour productivity. This study aims to investigate the level of heat exposure, and workers’ and managers’ perceptions and behavioural responses towards extreme heat exposure in a warming climate. Methods: We used the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measured in representative greenhouses to capture the heat exposure during hotter and cooler seasons following ISO 7243 (generally risk of heat stress occurs when WBGT exceeds 26°C). A comparative cross-sectional study design with a stratified sampling method was used to assess occupational heat stress and workers’ perceptions of the impact of heat on their health and productivity in six different floriculture greenhouses in Ethiopia representing three different agro-ecologies and products. A questionnaire survey was conducted (30 managers/supervisors and 305 workers;76.1% female) to capture perceptions on heat exposures, symptoms of potential health impacts, productivity losses and coping mechanisms. Results: Heat exposure varied across different agroecologies, product types and greenhouse materials with a median WBGT Index of 25.5°C and a range from 18.1°C to 31.5°C. The impact of heat stress also varied across different employment sectors and geographical regions. Overall, workers in cut-flower greenhouses are exposed to higher than recommended WBGT Index (26°C) for 3 - 6 working hours daily. 65% of the managers reported that heat stress has a significant impact on the workers’ labour productivity, but do not have guidance about working in hot conditions. Workers reported more heat-related health issues and reduced productivity, especially in the mid-altitude greenhouses. About 50% of the workers reported that heat exposure decreased work productivity during hot hours. Sweating, exhaustion, heat-rashes, dehydration, crumps, nausea and headache were self-reported health issues. Labour productivity losses ranged from no loss to 19.5% in the mid- and low-altitudes. Conclusions and Recommendations: Excessive workplace heat in the greenhouses is both an occupational health hazard and detrimental to productivity in the floriculture industry. However, the level of understanding and actions on the ground regarding occupational heat stress are low. The code of conduct in place now does not consider the occupational heat stress issues. Multiple actions (engineering, management, training and policy-related recommendations) have to be implemented by Ethiopian Horticultural Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA) and farm owners to mitigate heat stress and loss of productivity. Designing and implementing these heat prevention strategies and incorporating them into the code of conduct is in the interests of both employers and employees.展开更多
In 12th February 2008 UN launched IYPE,and some of the missions were;to demonstrate the great potential of Earth Sciences in the building of a safer, wealthier and safer society,as the Earth and Life are origins of di...In 12th February 2008 UN launched IYPE,and some of the missions were;to demonstrate the great potential of Earth Sciences in the building of a safer, wealthier and safer society,as the Earth and Life are origins of diversity.Currently we experience human activities posing impacts such as climate variability and huge diseases burden due to exploring of Geo resources.The paper describes potential health risks such as ionizing radiation,Geo hazards,chemicals展开更多
Objective The present study aims to investigate the concentrations of Hg and its aspects methyl mercury(Me-Hg)and inorganic mercury(I-Hg)in the biological samples(BSs)of fluorescent lamp industries workers(FLIWs).Meth...Objective The present study aims to investigate the concentrations of Hg and its aspects methyl mercury(Me-Hg)and inorganic mercury(I-Hg)in the biological samples(BSs)of fluorescent lamp industries workers(FLIWs).Methodology Different BSs including red blood cells(RBCs),plasma,urine,hair and nails were collected from the workers exposed to Hg and unexposed persons were selected as control group to measure both the T-Hg concentration as well as its species in different biological samples through quantitative analysis.Health data was collected through questionnaire survey.Results The mean concentrations of T-Hg(31.9μg/L),Me-Hg(27.7μg/L),and I-Hg(5.36μg/L)in RBCs were found significantly(P<0.001)higher among the workers(n=40)as compared to the control group(n=40).Similarly the mean Hg concentrations in plasma,urine,hair and nails were also significantly higher among the workers than the control group.The statistical relation between Hg concentration and demographic characteristics observed that workers experience and fish consumption has increased the Hg concentration while age,weight and smoking found no significant effect on Hg concentration in the BSs.Conclusion The study observed that the workers were highly exposed to high concentration of Hg and they are at a high health risk.展开更多
More than half of the world population lives in the cities and around one billion in poor urban areas.These numbers are projected to increase,while Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest rate of informal se...More than half of the world population lives in the cities and around one billion in poor urban areas.These numbers are projected to increase,while Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest rate of informal settlements due his rapid urbanization.The urban informal settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa house everyday health risks.These risks have considerable cumulative impacts on the wellbeing and health of the urban vulnerable group.Despite the public health consequences of urbanization and the increase of informal settlements number in African cities,there is a paucity in data about the risks at small scale and the vulnerability in poor urban areas.Through the database search engine of MEDLINE,WHO Library and Information Networks for Knowledge and website of Urban Africa Risk Knowledge;from information of the existing literature,this paper tried to analyse the everyday health risks,and vulnerabilities in urban informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa region.A search combining keywords associated with health risks and informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa were used to identify the relevant documents,and this search yielded 86 articles,of which 15 met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis.The risks of communicable diseases due to inadequate sanitation have been the most frequent subjects of study.Informal settlers in Sub-Saharan Africa face everyday health risks arising from lack of clean water,adequate sanitation,and life in overcrowding houses.Consequently,there is a burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases,undernourishment and injuries.The most vulnerable group is children under five with a high rate of mortality.Everyday health risks in urban informal settlements must be taken into account for a better understanding of the full spectrum of urban risks.This is essential in the establishment of efficient public health policies and intervention in urban areas.展开更多
The tannery industry in Hazaribag,which is one of the most polluted areas in Dhaka City,produces a huge quantity of wastes every day.Without treatment,these are discharged into the Buriganga River and pollute the surr...The tannery industry in Hazaribag,which is one of the most polluted areas in Dhaka City,produces a huge quantity of wastes every day.Without treatment,these are discharged into the Buriganga River and pollute the surrounding environment.This article examines the impacts of tannery wastes on workers'health and the environment in that particular area.As part of the methodology,a semi-structured interview was conducted in order to obtain quantitative data and 112 respondents were interviewed using purposive sampling.The findings of the study indicate that tannery wastes affect the environment severely,causing ecological imbalance and the spreading of different kinds of fatal and contagious disease among the tannery workers and other individuals.Moreover,the current waste management system of the Hazaribag tannery industries is very suspect due to outdated technology,defective drainage systems,lack of financial input,and the exploitative attitude of their owners.The findings also indicate that tannery workers are unaware of the effects of tannery waste as they choose not to wear personal protective equipment in the workplace.This empirical study helps policy makers implement appropriate measures to raise awareness,among both owners and workers,that can influence changes in the public's attitude and reduce environmental pollution to a great extent.Although considerable research has been undertaken focusing on tannery waste impact assessment,less attention has been paid to the issue of workers'health.Therefore,both governments and policy makers can benefit from the findings of this study.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate micmbial quality and associated health risks of raw milk marketed in the Tanga region of Tanzania.Methods:A microbial quality assessment of marketed raw milk was undertaken by evaluating 59 sampl...Objective:To evaluate micmbial quality and associated health risks of raw milk marketed in the Tanga region of Tanzania.Methods:A microbial quality assessment of marketed raw milk was undertaken by evaluating 59 samples of milk from selling points(collecting centres =15),bicycle boys(12) and kiosks/restaurants(32) in Tanga city during April-May 2005.Quality and milkborne hazards were assessed using a combination of tests in order to quantify the occurrence of Brucellosis(milk ring test),Escherichia coli(E.coli) O157:H7(culture),the coliforra bacteria as well as standard plate count(SPC).Specific gravity(SG) determination was used as an indicator of adulteration.Results:The mean coliform plate count(c.f.u/mL) of milk handled by bicycle boys(4.2×10~6) was significantly higher than that handled by collecting centres(3.0×10~6) and kiosk/ restaurants(1.4× 10~6),respectively(P 【 0.05).Of the 59 milk samples collected,33(56%) were Brucella milk ring test(MRT)-positive and 78%and 17%of the samples graded satisfactorily based on SG and coliform plate counts as prescribed by East African Community standards for raw milk.There was no verocytotoxigenic E.coli(VTEC) O157:H7 in any of the milk samples collected and analysed during the present study.Conclusions:It can be concluded that raw market milk in the study area is of poor bacteriological quality and hazardous for human consumption. This highlights the need to implement good hygiene practices and effective monitoring from production through the delivery chain to the consumer.Further studies are needed for detection of toxins that are produced by E.coli,other pathogenic spore forming bacteria(Bacillus spp.and Clostridium spp.) and other harmful microorganisms.展开更多
The magnitude of diabetes mellitus(DM)has increased in recent decades,where the number of cases and the proportion of the disease have been gradually increasing over the past few decades.The chronic complications of D...The magnitude of diabetes mellitus(DM)has increased in recent decades,where the number of cases and the proportion of the disease have been gradually increasing over the past few decades.The chronic complications of DM affect many organ systems and account for the majority of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.The prevalence of type 1 DM(T1DM)is increasing globally,and it has a very significant burden on countries and at an individual level.T1DM is a chronic illness that requires ongoing medical care and patient self-management to prevent complications.This study aims to discuss the health benefits of physical activity(PA)in T1DM patients.The present review article was performed following a comprehensive literature search.The search was conducted using the following electronic databases:“Cochrane Library”,Web of Science,PubMed,HINARI,EMBASE,Google for grey literature,Scopus,African journals Online,and Google Scholar for articles published up to June 21,2021.The present review focused on the effects of PA on many outcomes such as blood glucose(BG)control,physical fitness,endothelial function,insulin sensitivity,well-being,the body defense system,blood lipid profile,insulin resistance,cardiovascular diseases(CVDs),insulin requirements,blood pressure(BP),and mortality.It was found that many studies recommended the use of PA for the effective management of T1DM.PA is a component of comprehensive lifestyle modifications,which is a significant approach for the management of T1DM.It provides several health benefits,such as improving BG control,physical fitness,endothelial function,insulin sensitivity,well-being,and the body defense system.Besides this,it reduces the blood lipid profile,insulin resistance,CVDs,insulin requirements,BP,and mortality.Overall,PA has significant and essential protective effects against the health risks associated with T1DM.Even though PA has several health benefits for patients with T1DM,these patients are not well engaged in PA due to barriers such as a fear of exercise-induced hypoglycemia in particular.However,several effective strategies have been identified to control exercise-induced hypoglycemia in these patients.Finally,the present review concludes that PA should be recommended for the management of patients with T1DM due to its significant health benefits and protective effects against associated health risks. Italso provides suggestions for the future direction of research in this field.展开更多
文摘Urban agriculture is gaining recognition for its potential contributions to environmental resilience and climate change adaptation,providing advantages such as urban greening,reduced heat island effects,and decreased air pollution.Moreover,it indirectly supports communities during weather events and natural disasters,ensuring food security and fostering community cohesion.However,concerns about planetary health risks persist in highly urbanized and climate-affected areas.Employing electronic databases such as Web of Science and PubMed and adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines,we identified 55 relevant papers to comprehend the planetary health risks associated with urban agriculture,The literature review identified five distinct health risks related to urban agriculture:(1)trace metal risks in urban farms;(2)health risks associated with wastewater irrigation;(3)zoonotic risks;(4)other health risks;and(5)social and economic risks.The study highlights that urban agriculture,while emphasizing environmental benefits,particularly raises concerns about trace metal bioaccumulation in soil and vegetables,posing health risks for populations.Other well studied risks included wastewater irrigation and backyard livestock farming.The main limitations in the available literature were in studying infectious diseases and antibiotic resistance associated with urban agriculture.
文摘Artisanal gold mining,a labor-intensive and antiquated technique,is a growing industry and the source of income for rural communities all over the world.However,artisanal gold mining has potential negative and long-term effects on economy,environment,and society.This study collected soil samples from 16 sample points including a control point to examine the pollution degrees and spatial distribution of heavy metals,as well as ecological and health risks associated with heavy metal pollution in the Ijero-Ekiti mining site,Nigeria.Geographical Information System(GIS)and remote sensing technologies were used to identify regions with high concentrations of heavy metals and assess the environmental impact of gold mining activities.The results show that the mean heavy metal concentrations of 16 soil pointa are 8.94(±5.97)mg/kg for As,0.18(±0.54)mg/kg for Cd,0.11(±1.06)mg/kg for Co,14.32(±3.43)mg/kg for Cr,6.89(±0.64)mg/kg for Cu,48.92(±11.77)mg/kg for Fe,135.81(±30.75)mg/kg for Mn,5.92(±0.96)mg/kg for Ni,5.72(±1.66)mg/kg for Pb,and 13.94(±1.38)mg/kg for Zn.The study reveals that heavy metal concentration in soils follows the order of Mn>Fe>Cr>Zn>As>Cu>Ni>Pb>Co>Cd.An analysis of soil samples indicates that 3 principal components(PCs)account for 70.008%of the total variance and there are strong positive correlations between various pairs of heavy metals.The total potential ecological risk index(309.599)in the study area is high.Non-carcinogenic risk suggests that there may be long-term health impacts on people who work in the mining areas due to chronic exposure to the environment.Based on the study,the hazard index of carcinogenic health risks associated with heavy metals through ingestion is 520.00×10^(–4).Dermal contact from As and Cr also increases the risk of cancer,with the highest hazard index value of 18.40×10^(–4).The lowest exposure pathway,with the hazard index value of 0.68×10^(–4),indicates that the inhalation of heavy metals has a comparatively low risk of cancer.This study recommends the formulation of policies to monitor the Ijero-Ekiti mining site and other regions in Nigeria where indiscriminate artisanal gold mining activities exist.
文摘This study investigated the groundwater quality and health risks associated with informal e-waste processing in the Alaba International Market in Lagos, Nigeria. Twenty-two groundwater samples were collected from hand-dug wells in the market area and analyzed for physicochemical properties and heavy metal concentrations. The results showed that the groundwater quality was poor, with high levels of heavy metals, including cadmium, lead, and chromium. The health index (HI) for children and adults was above the tolerable threshold levels, indicating a potential health risk to the population. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the sources of metals in groundwater, and the results showed that informal e-waste processing was a significant source of contamination. The study highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate the potential health risks associated with informal e-waste processing and ensure public health and environmental safety.
文摘The Tongon mine, the largest gold mine in C?te d’Ivoire, has been in operation since April 2010. However, to our knowledge to date, no study has been conducted on metallic contamination in suspended particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>) where there is a lack of information on the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk to human health associated with the exposure of populations in the Tongon area to these pollutants. The general objective of this study is to evaluate the level of contamination of PM<sub>10</sub>;PM<sub>2.5</sub> by heavy metals and their impact on the health of populations exposed to these pollutants in the Tongon gold mine area. The sampling and measurement of suspended particulate matter (PM<sub>10</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub>) were done using a MiniVol TAS passive air sampler. Heavy metal concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (Nex ION 2000 ICP-MS, USA). The results indicate that the average concentrations of suspended particles (PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub>) obtained are all above the recommended exposure limits. In addition, among the heavy metals contained in the suspended particles, the concentrations of arsenic and nickel are high and all above the standard limit values. The assessment of the health risks related to the inhalation of PM<sub>10</sub> particles reveals that their inhalation over a long period could cause a carcinogenic risk.
文摘In the department of Zouan-Hounien, gold mining is booming. This activity, marked by the excavation of rocks and the use of chemicals such as mercury, is likely to contaminate the region’s groundwater resources and expose populations to serious diseases. This study aims to assess the health risks associated with the consumption of this water by the population. To this end, 72 groundwater samples were taken in eight (08) villages of the department at the rate of forty-six (46) well water samples and twenty-six (26) borehole water samples. A total of twenty-twenty-three wells and thirteen boreholes were sampled during two campaigns. An atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) was used to determine the concentrations of metallic trace elements (MTEs), such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), Arsenic (As), and iron (Fe) in the different samples. The daily exposure doses for oral ingestion (CDIing) and skin contact (Expderm) were calculated. The non-carcinogenic (HQ) and carcinogenic risks (CR) were estimated. The results show that the mean concentrations of Fe, Pb, Hg, As and Cd are respectively 2233.48 > 3.10 > 0.60 > 1.18 > 0.08 μg<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>L<sup>-1</sup> in the wells and 2427.94 > 4.08 > 1.27 > 1.76 > 0.08 μg<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:-apple-system, " font-size:16px;white-space:normal;background-color:#f7f7f7;"="">·</span>L<sup>-1</sup> in boreholes. Evaluating the risks to human health reveals that the mean values of hazard quotient (HQ) and cancer risk (CR) for all the elements in the wells and boreholes are lower than 1 and 10<sup>-4</sup> respectively in children and adults for oral and dermal exposure. However, at the oral exposure level, 9 wells and 6 boreholes recorded HQ and CR above the define<span>d critical limits. These values indicate that the occurrence of non-cancero</span>us and cancerous diseases in populations consuming these waters by contamination with mercury and arsenic is not excluded. Dermal exposure to MTEs also poses no potential health risk to the population.
文摘This study aimed to estimate arsenic(As)and iron(Fe)content in tubewell water(n=58)in primary educational institutions and subsequently assess the health risks to school-going children.Results described that the As concentration ranged between 0.002 and 0.994 mg L^(-1)with an average value of 0.044 mg L^(-1);which exceeded the World Health Organization(WHO)provisional guideline value of 0.01 mg L^(-1).Similarly,the Fe content varied from 0.05 to 10 mg L^(-1)averaging to 2.84 mg L^(-1).Samples of 55.17%contained a greater As concentration than0.01 mg L^(-1)and 18.97%greater than Bangladesh drinking water quality(BDWQ)standard of 0.05 mg L^(-1),respectively.Meanwhile,75.86%of samples contained a higher Fe concentration than the maximum Bangladesh permissible limit of 1 mg L^(-1).Health risk assessment indicated that girls are more vulnerable than boys are.The average hazard quotients(HQs)for As intake through drinking water were 6.01±17.85 and 7.41±22.03 for boys and girls,respectively,implying non-carcinogenic health risks to both genders.The HQs for Fe intake were less than threshold value of 1 indicating no health issues may arise from Fe intake alone.However,consumption of As and Fe may trigger health risks to students as indicated by the hazard index(HI),which was higher than 1.The average cancer risk(CR)values for both boys(0.0027±0.008)and girls(0.0033±0.0099)exceeded the threshold limit of 10-6-10-4,suggesting a possibility of lifetime cancer risks to the school-going children.Consequently,school authorities should find alternative ways to ensure safe drinking water for school-going children to avoid possible cancer and non-cancer health risks through consumption of As-poisoning water.
基金ISP-SUEDE/RA-BIOTECH,PACER-UEMOA/RA-BIO-TECH,National Office of Water and Sanitation(ONEA)and CNRST/IRSS,for financial and technical supports
文摘Urban truck farming in developing countries appears of great importance to overcome unemployment and poverty. However, the quality of wastewater used for such activity could expose populations to waterborne diseases. The microbial quality of wastewaters used for truck farming in Ouagadougou city, was examined for the presence of bacterial and parasitological fecal indicators during the dry-hot season (May) and the wet season (July) in 2012. The wastewaters of three water reservoirs and two canals intensively used for truck farming were analyzed throughout the study. These indicators were also monitored in waste stabilization ponds during wastewater treatment in 3 plants of the city. For all the selected sampling sites, the concentrations of microbial indicators in water were significantly higher in the dry-hot season compared to the wet one (p - 53,800 CFU/100ml for Escherichia coli, 8200 - 108,400 CFU/100ml for fecal coliforms, 650 - 45,000 CFU/100ml) for fecal streptococcus, and 0 - 2.4 eggs/l for helminthes during the study periods. For wastewater under treatment in waste stabilization ponds, significant microbial concentration drops (p 0.0001) in the range of 82% - 100%, 78% - 98%, 60% - 100% and 82% - 88%, respectively were recorded between the anaerobic and the maturation ponds. The later results highlighted that improving the refining performances of the waste stabilization ponds technology could help decreasing health risks related to wastewater reuse in urban agriculture for a sustainable development of cities in developing countries.
基金supported by the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Science[CIFMS,2018-I2M-1-001]the National Key R&D Program of China[2017YFC0702800]+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China[82070103]the Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund[2016ZX310037]。
文摘Objective Airborne microbial communities include a significant number of uncultured and poorly characterized bacteria.No effective method currently exists to evaluate the health risks of such complex bacterial populations,particularly for pneumonia.Methods We developed a method to evaluate risks from airborne microorganisms,guided by the principle that closer evolutionary relationships reflect similar biological characteristics,and thus used16 S rDNA sequences of 10 common pneumonia-related bacterial pathogens.We calculated a risk of breath-related(Rbr)index of airborne bacterial communities and verified effectiveness with artificial flora and a clinical project.Results We suggested applying Rbr80 to evaluate the health risks of airborne bacterial communities that comprise 80% of dominant operational taxonomic units(OTUs).The feasibility of Rbr80 was confirmed by artificial flora and by pneumonia data from a hospital.A high Rbr80 value indicated a high risk of pneumonia from airborne bacterial communities.Conclusion Rbr80 is an effective index to evaluate the pneumonia-associated risk from airborne bacteria.Values of Rbr80 greater than 15.40 are considered high risk.
文摘Gas stations are important emissions source of benzene (C6H6), toluene (C7H8), ethylbenzene (C8H10), and ortho, meta and para-xylene (C8H10)—better known by the acronym BTEX. The objective of this study was to determine the concentrations of BTEX compounds in the ambient air of ten gas stations in the cities of Salvador and Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil and evaluate the health risks to workers. Passive samplers diffusive of the Radiello?, containing activated carbon as adsorbent, were used. The samplers were exposed for 8 h and then the analytes were recovered by chemical desorption with CS2 and determined by GC-FID. The BTEX concentrations found in the ambient air of gas stations ranged from 46.72 - 435.43 μg·m?3 for benzene;25.54 - 342.46 μg·m?3 for toluene, 7.10 - 30.07 μg·m?3 for ethylbenzene, 9.36 - 89.73 μg·m?3 for m, p-xylene and 9.79 - 52.29 μg·m?3 for o-xylene. The concentrations of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes found in gas stations were lower than the limits recommended by the US NIOSH and NR-15 of the Ministry of Labour of Brazil;however, it should be considered the risks due to chronic exposure of workers. Benzene concentrations in three gas stations were above the exposure limit recommended by NIOSH (3.20 × 102 μg·m?3). Samplings were also held outdoors at 250 m of two gas stations. The total concentrations of the BTEX compounds were equal to 24.97 and 35.51 μg·m?3, and benzene concentrations were about 3 - 4 times higher than the annual pattern of 5.0 μg·m?3 established by Union European, as tolerance limit for outside areas. These data confirm that the next areas of gas stations are subject to the effects of volatilization of these compounds. Additionally, the values found in the 10 gas stations for the cancer risk ranged from 4.06 × 10?5 - 3.78 × 10?4 (mean of 1.82 × 10?4) for workers exposed to benzene for 30 years (acceptable limit equal 1.00 × 10?6). The cancer risk is very high, because the values found are about 40 - 378 times above the acceptable limit and reinforce the need to adopt urgent measures to reduce or eliminate exposure of workers to the BTEX compounds. The average non-cancer risk to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes was 1.84, 5.76 × 10?3, 4.59 × 10?3 and 1.37 × 10?1, respectively (acceptable limit 1). Only to benzene the average value of this risk is above 1, showing that workers are likely the adverse effects health due to exposure to benzene.
文摘The intake of heavy metals through food consumption is a food safety problem that severely impacts the health of consumers, so information about food intake and heavy metal concentrations in food products is required to estimate the potential risk to the health of the population. The main purpose of this study was to estimate the potential risks to human health from exposure to Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn through the intake of Malus domestica Golden Delicious consumed in the Mexican southeast, considering the age group and gender. The concentration of each of the metals was quantified by spectrometry of atomic absorption (AAE) and the daily intake of metals (DIM) and health risk indices through the consumption of apple: health risk index (HRI), total health risk index (THRI), target hazard coefficient (THQ) and the probability of carcinogenic risk (CR) were estimated. The concentrations of the metals analyzed in the apple samples showed the following decreasing order: Zn ≥ Ni ≥ Cu ≥ Pb ≥ Cd. The DIM values showed the following decreasing order: child > young adult > adoescent > elders. The health risk assessments (HRI, THRI, THQ and CR) obtained from the samples of Golden Delicious apples are located within the acceptable and/or tolerable limits, however, the increase in the intake of heavy metals through consumption of apples from establishments in the study area or the consumption of various foods contaminated with heavy metals may increase the health risk potential of consumers. For this reason, it is recommended to carry out studies on the concentration of heavy metals in food products, mainly those of greater popular consumption, to guarantee food security of the population.
文摘The concentrations of twenty five heavy metals adsorbed to fine fraction of particulate matter, PM2.5 (d ≤ 2.5 μm) have been experimentally analysed at a sampling site located at the kerbside along a National Highway in Delhi city, India. The sampling has been carried out for 12-hour using Ecotech Intruments, APM550. The PM2.5 has been collected on PTFE filter papers for the winter season. Later, the filter papers have been analysed for various heavy metal concentrations using ED-XRF. It has been observed that the metals concentrations are in this trend: Si > K > S > Ca = Fe > Zn = Pb > Br. it is observed that Si has high co-relation with Ca, Fe and K, which may be due to crustal origin of all three elements;while S, Br and Pb may be from vehicular exhaust emissions and/or abrasions due to brake and tyre wear. The potential health risks associated with different carcinogenic heavy metals have also been calculated. One of the health risk indicators, the excess cancer risk (ECR), is found to be in the order as As > Cd > Pb > Cr > Ni.
文摘<strong>Objective:</strong> The e-waste recycling is increasing worldwide, yet there remain outstanding environmental and occupational health concerns. Most research conducted on e-waste recycling has focused on only few countries (e.g., China, Ghana), thus there is a need to increase understanding of e-waste workers’ (recyclers’) knowledge and practices in other locations, that is purpose of this study. <strong>Methods:</strong> In a cross-sectional study conducted in Cotonou, Benin, 45 e-waste recyclers were interviewed from September to November 2018. Survey data was collected concerning their demographics, professional practices, and knowledge of occupational and environmental risks associated with e-waste recycling.<strong> Results:</strong> Most participants reported the following methods of material recovery of electronic items in declining orders: dismantling (97.8%) > sorting (91.1%) > incinerating (88.9%). Only 44.2% of the recyclers reported wearing ≥ 1 piece of personal protective equipment (PPE). More than 90% of e-waste workers noted that they disposed the e-waste in natural sites. About half, 46.7% believed that e-waste can pollute water and 71.1% considered that it can pollute air and soil. Recyclers reported several diseases including respiratory (67.4%), heart (62.8%), eye (65.1%), kidney (41.9%) and cancers (30.2%) could be linked to their work, respectively. Interestingly, we also found associations between the number of electronic items dismantled per month and self-report symptoms from the e-waste recyclers such as finding blood in urine and stool, wounds, dizziness, and itchy skin. Our results also indicated associations between the number of hours worked per day and blood in urine, dizziness, itchy skin and airway obstruction. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>To our knowledge this is the first study to interview e-waste workers in Benin. Doing this increase understanding of their work practices and knowledge to help inform intervention and prevention activities.
基金the financial support from the Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy,Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs,China[Grant number.2017014]National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.71973037).
文摘With the rapid development of livestock and poultry breeding industries,pollution problems caused by the discharge of wastewater and manure have become increasingly severe.However,studies on the impacts of this pollution on rural residents'health are lacking.Based on data from the Peking University's China Family Panel Studies in 2010 and 2014,this paper uses a cross-sectional and panel data probit model to estimate the probability of breeding industry development in rural areas increasing the health risks of local villagers.First,the study found that the more households engaged in breeding in the region or the larger the scale of regional breeding,the higher the health risks to local villagers,particularly in areas where pigs are raised.Second,compared with individual farming,the greater the proportion of large-scale farming,the higher the health risks to villagers.Third,the development of the breeding industry seldom includes the ecological recycling of wastes and fails to reduce the use of local pesticides and fertilizers,thereby increasing the health risks to villagers.Therefore,this paper argues that providing technology to process breeding industry waste and establish an organic industrial production chain will be crucial to reducing the impact of breeding industry pollution on human health.
文摘Background: The Ethiopian flower industry is growing fast with successful diversification of export products under greenhouse structures. Higher temperatures in the greenhouses pose a serious threat to the health of workers and add to the risk of occupational heat stress. Excessive heat in workplace settings also reduces work capacity and labour productivity. This study aims to investigate the level of heat exposure, and workers’ and managers’ perceptions and behavioural responses towards extreme heat exposure in a warming climate. Methods: We used the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measured in representative greenhouses to capture the heat exposure during hotter and cooler seasons following ISO 7243 (generally risk of heat stress occurs when WBGT exceeds 26°C). A comparative cross-sectional study design with a stratified sampling method was used to assess occupational heat stress and workers’ perceptions of the impact of heat on their health and productivity in six different floriculture greenhouses in Ethiopia representing three different agro-ecologies and products. A questionnaire survey was conducted (30 managers/supervisors and 305 workers;76.1% female) to capture perceptions on heat exposures, symptoms of potential health impacts, productivity losses and coping mechanisms. Results: Heat exposure varied across different agroecologies, product types and greenhouse materials with a median WBGT Index of 25.5°C and a range from 18.1°C to 31.5°C. The impact of heat stress also varied across different employment sectors and geographical regions. Overall, workers in cut-flower greenhouses are exposed to higher than recommended WBGT Index (26°C) for 3 - 6 working hours daily. 65% of the managers reported that heat stress has a significant impact on the workers’ labour productivity, but do not have guidance about working in hot conditions. Workers reported more heat-related health issues and reduced productivity, especially in the mid-altitude greenhouses. About 50% of the workers reported that heat exposure decreased work productivity during hot hours. Sweating, exhaustion, heat-rashes, dehydration, crumps, nausea and headache were self-reported health issues. Labour productivity losses ranged from no loss to 19.5% in the mid- and low-altitudes. Conclusions and Recommendations: Excessive workplace heat in the greenhouses is both an occupational health hazard and detrimental to productivity in the floriculture industry. However, the level of understanding and actions on the ground regarding occupational heat stress are low. The code of conduct in place now does not consider the occupational heat stress issues. Multiple actions (engineering, management, training and policy-related recommendations) have to be implemented by Ethiopian Horticultural Producers and Exporters Association (EHPEA) and farm owners to mitigate heat stress and loss of productivity. Designing and implementing these heat prevention strategies and incorporating them into the code of conduct is in the interests of both employers and employees.
文摘In 12th February 2008 UN launched IYPE,and some of the missions were;to demonstrate the great potential of Earth Sciences in the building of a safer, wealthier and safer society,as the Earth and Life are origins of diversity.Currently we experience human activities posing impacts such as climate variability and huge diseases burden due to exploring of Geo resources.The paper describes potential health risks such as ionizing radiation,Geo hazards,chemicals
文摘Objective The present study aims to investigate the concentrations of Hg and its aspects methyl mercury(Me-Hg)and inorganic mercury(I-Hg)in the biological samples(BSs)of fluorescent lamp industries workers(FLIWs).Methodology Different BSs including red blood cells(RBCs),plasma,urine,hair and nails were collected from the workers exposed to Hg and unexposed persons were selected as control group to measure both the T-Hg concentration as well as its species in different biological samples through quantitative analysis.Health data was collected through questionnaire survey.Results The mean concentrations of T-Hg(31.9μg/L),Me-Hg(27.7μg/L),and I-Hg(5.36μg/L)in RBCs were found significantly(P<0.001)higher among the workers(n=40)as compared to the control group(n=40).Similarly the mean Hg concentrations in plasma,urine,hair and nails were also significantly higher among the workers than the control group.The statistical relation between Hg concentration and demographic characteristics observed that workers experience and fish consumption has increased the Hg concentration while age,weight and smoking found no significant effect on Hg concentration in the BSs.Conclusion The study observed that the workers were highly exposed to high concentration of Hg and they are at a high health risk.
文摘More than half of the world population lives in the cities and around one billion in poor urban areas.These numbers are projected to increase,while Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest rate of informal settlements due his rapid urbanization.The urban informal settlements of Sub-Saharan Africa house everyday health risks.These risks have considerable cumulative impacts on the wellbeing and health of the urban vulnerable group.Despite the public health consequences of urbanization and the increase of informal settlements number in African cities,there is a paucity in data about the risks at small scale and the vulnerability in poor urban areas.Through the database search engine of MEDLINE,WHO Library and Information Networks for Knowledge and website of Urban Africa Risk Knowledge;from information of the existing literature,this paper tried to analyse the everyday health risks,and vulnerabilities in urban informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa region.A search combining keywords associated with health risks and informal settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa were used to identify the relevant documents,and this search yielded 86 articles,of which 15 met the criteria for inclusion in the analysis.The risks of communicable diseases due to inadequate sanitation have been the most frequent subjects of study.Informal settlers in Sub-Saharan Africa face everyday health risks arising from lack of clean water,adequate sanitation,and life in overcrowding houses.Consequently,there is a burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases,undernourishment and injuries.The most vulnerable group is children under five with a high rate of mortality.Everyday health risks in urban informal settlements must be taken into account for a better understanding of the full spectrum of urban risks.This is essential in the establishment of efficient public health policies and intervention in urban areas.
文摘The tannery industry in Hazaribag,which is one of the most polluted areas in Dhaka City,produces a huge quantity of wastes every day.Without treatment,these are discharged into the Buriganga River and pollute the surrounding environment.This article examines the impacts of tannery wastes on workers'health and the environment in that particular area.As part of the methodology,a semi-structured interview was conducted in order to obtain quantitative data and 112 respondents were interviewed using purposive sampling.The findings of the study indicate that tannery wastes affect the environment severely,causing ecological imbalance and the spreading of different kinds of fatal and contagious disease among the tannery workers and other individuals.Moreover,the current waste management system of the Hazaribag tannery industries is very suspect due to outdated technology,defective drainage systems,lack of financial input,and the exploitative attitude of their owners.The findings also indicate that tannery workers are unaware of the effects of tannery waste as they choose not to wear personal protective equipment in the workplace.This empirical study helps policy makers implement appropriate measures to raise awareness,among both owners and workers,that can influence changes in the public's attitude and reduce environmental pollution to a great extent.Although considerable research has been undertaken focusing on tannery waste impact assessment,less attention has been paid to the issue of workers'health.Therefore,both governments and policy makers can benefit from the findings of this study.
文摘Objective:To evaluate micmbial quality and associated health risks of raw milk marketed in the Tanga region of Tanzania.Methods:A microbial quality assessment of marketed raw milk was undertaken by evaluating 59 samples of milk from selling points(collecting centres =15),bicycle boys(12) and kiosks/restaurants(32) in Tanga city during April-May 2005.Quality and milkborne hazards were assessed using a combination of tests in order to quantify the occurrence of Brucellosis(milk ring test),Escherichia coli(E.coli) O157:H7(culture),the coliforra bacteria as well as standard plate count(SPC).Specific gravity(SG) determination was used as an indicator of adulteration.Results:The mean coliform plate count(c.f.u/mL) of milk handled by bicycle boys(4.2×10~6) was significantly higher than that handled by collecting centres(3.0×10~6) and kiosk/ restaurants(1.4× 10~6),respectively(P 【 0.05).Of the 59 milk samples collected,33(56%) were Brucella milk ring test(MRT)-positive and 78%and 17%of the samples graded satisfactorily based on SG and coliform plate counts as prescribed by East African Community standards for raw milk.There was no verocytotoxigenic E.coli(VTEC) O157:H7 in any of the milk samples collected and analysed during the present study.Conclusions:It can be concluded that raw market milk in the study area is of poor bacteriological quality and hazardous for human consumption. This highlights the need to implement good hygiene practices and effective monitoring from production through the delivery chain to the consumer.Further studies are needed for detection of toxins that are produced by E.coli,other pathogenic spore forming bacteria(Bacillus spp.and Clostridium spp.) and other harmful microorganisms.
文摘The magnitude of diabetes mellitus(DM)has increased in recent decades,where the number of cases and the proportion of the disease have been gradually increasing over the past few decades.The chronic complications of DM affect many organ systems and account for the majority of morbidity and mortality associated with the disease.The prevalence of type 1 DM(T1DM)is increasing globally,and it has a very significant burden on countries and at an individual level.T1DM is a chronic illness that requires ongoing medical care and patient self-management to prevent complications.This study aims to discuss the health benefits of physical activity(PA)in T1DM patients.The present review article was performed following a comprehensive literature search.The search was conducted using the following electronic databases:“Cochrane Library”,Web of Science,PubMed,HINARI,EMBASE,Google for grey literature,Scopus,African journals Online,and Google Scholar for articles published up to June 21,2021.The present review focused on the effects of PA on many outcomes such as blood glucose(BG)control,physical fitness,endothelial function,insulin sensitivity,well-being,the body defense system,blood lipid profile,insulin resistance,cardiovascular diseases(CVDs),insulin requirements,blood pressure(BP),and mortality.It was found that many studies recommended the use of PA for the effective management of T1DM.PA is a component of comprehensive lifestyle modifications,which is a significant approach for the management of T1DM.It provides several health benefits,such as improving BG control,physical fitness,endothelial function,insulin sensitivity,well-being,and the body defense system.Besides this,it reduces the blood lipid profile,insulin resistance,CVDs,insulin requirements,BP,and mortality.Overall,PA has significant and essential protective effects against the health risks associated with T1DM.Even though PA has several health benefits for patients with T1DM,these patients are not well engaged in PA due to barriers such as a fear of exercise-induced hypoglycemia in particular.However,several effective strategies have been identified to control exercise-induced hypoglycemia in these patients.Finally,the present review concludes that PA should be recommended for the management of patients with T1DM due to its significant health benefits and protective effects against associated health risks. Italso provides suggestions for the future direction of research in this field.
