Higher education plays an important role in all aspects of sustainability.Infusing climate change and sustainability into the curriculum is important to prepare future health-care professionals for climate change and ...Higher education plays an important role in all aspects of sustainability.Infusing climate change and sustainability into the curriculum is important to prepare future health-care professionals for climate change and sustainability actions to build resilient health systems.In this study,we evaluated the preparedness,knowledge,and perception regarding climate change and its impact on human health among Indian nursing students.A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 644 undergraduate nursing students studying in three institutes in the southern,northern,and western parts of India.We used a structured online questionnaire with established validity and reliability to collect data.The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 software.The results showed that more than half of the students reported experiencing excessive increase(362;56.2%)and decrease(374;58.1%)in temperature in recent years.Though more than three quarters of the students(494;76.7%)accepted the general truth that climate change is mainly caused by human activities,only less than half of the students(309;48.0%)perceived the impact of climate change to be high.Three quarters of the students(483;75.0%)had a high level of knowledge regarding climate change.The students who had a high level of knowledge about climate change exerted a high perceived impact of climate change(χ^(2)=75.47;P<0.01).More than half of the students(50.9%)felt that they needed information about climate change to be included in the nursing curriculum,and only one sixth of the students(16.1%)were highly confident about engaging in climate change-related conversation with patients.Most of the students who participated in the study had basic knowledge about climate change and its impact on human health.However,there is an observed gap between knowledge and their preparedness and confidence to engage in climate change actions.Hence,we propose to strengthen the nursing curriculum by integrating various curricular and co-curricular activities related to climate change,so that future nurses are empowered to become climate change advocates.展开更多
Ground-level ozone(O_(3)) aff ects vegetation and threatens environmental health when levels exceed critical values,above which adverse eff ects are expected.Cyprus is expected to be a hotspot for O_(3)concentrations ...Ground-level ozone(O_(3)) aff ects vegetation and threatens environmental health when levels exceed critical values,above which adverse eff ects are expected.Cyprus is expected to be a hotspot for O_(3)concentrations due to its unique position in the eastern Mediterranean,receiving air masses from Europe,African,and Asian continents,and experiencing a warm Mediterranean climate.In Cyprus,the spatiotemporal features of O_(3) are poorly understood and the potential risks for forest health have not been explored.We evaluated O_(3) and nitrogen oxides(NO and NO 2)at four regional background stations at different altitudes over 2014−2016.O_(3) risks to vegetation and human health were estimated by calculating accumulated O_(3)exposure over a threshold of 40 nmol mol^(−1)(AOT40)and cumulative exposure to mixing ratios above 35 nmol mol^(−1)(SOMO35)indices.The data reveal that mean O_(3)concentrations follow a seasonal pattern,with higher levels in spring(51.8 nmol mol^(−1))and summer(53.2 nmol mol^(−1))and lower levels in autumn(46.9 nmol mol^(−1))and winter(43.3 nmol mol^(−1)).The highest mean O_(3)exposure(59.5 nmol mol^(−1)) in summer occurred at the high elevation station Mt.Troodos(1819 m a.s.l.).Increasing(decreasing)altitudinal gradients were found for O_(3)(NO x),driven by summer–winter diff erences.The diurnal patterns of O_(3) showed little variation.Only at the lowest altitude O_(3) displayed a typical O_(3) diurnal pattern,with hourly diff erences smaller than 15 nmol mol^(−1).Accumulated O_(3) exposures at all stations and in all years exceeded the European Union’s limits for the protection of vegetation,with average values of 3-month(limit:3000 nmol mol^(−1)h)and 6-month(limit:5000 nmol mol^(−1)h)AOT40 for crops and forests of 16,564 and 31,836 nmol mol^(−1)h,respectively.O_(3) exposures were considerably high for human health,with an average SOMO35 value of 7270 nmol mol^(−1) days across stations and years.The results indicate that O_(3) is a major environmental and public health issue in Cyprus,and policies must be adopted to mitigate O_(3) precursor emissions at local and regional scales.展开更多
Chifeng is a concentrated mining area for non-ferrous metal minerals,as well as a key prevention and control area for heavyduty enterprises.This situation necessitates an efective ecological and human health risk asse...Chifeng is a concentrated mining area for non-ferrous metal minerals,as well as a key prevention and control area for heavyduty enterprises.This situation necessitates an efective ecological and human health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s driven by the wide distribution of metal ore processing,mining,and smelting factories in Hexigten Banner and Bairin Left Banner.We conducted surveys to assess the levels of heavy metal(loid)s(Cr,As,Pb,Cd,and Hg)in the topsoil and groundwater of the areas.The results indicated that the concentrations of As,Cd,and Pb in partial soil samples exceeded the environmental quality standards of Grade II.Based on contamination assessments,such as geoaccumulation indices and pollution indices,we inferred that Cd,Pb,and As were primary pollutants in topsoil.Potential ecological risks when considered as part of the average risk indices(RI)are up to 1626.40 and 2818.76,respectively,in the two areas.Comparative analysis revealed that Cd posed a very high potential ecological risk,followed by As.Moreover,the evaluation showed that the three exposure pathways of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk followed a descending order:inhalation>ingestion>dermal contact,except for Pb.Arsenic in topsoil posed a potential non-carcinogenic risk to human health,while there were no adverse efects of As in groundwater.In addition,the average total carcinogenic risk for As in the two areas,as well as the risk of Pb in the topsoil of Bairin Left Banner and all the fve heavy metal(loid)s in groundwater,exceeded human tolerance.Pb–Zn mines caused higher human health risks.In addition,the tandem contamination of heavy metal(loid)s in soil and groundwater was not obvious.This research study provides a basis for pollution remediation to control heavy industry-induced ecological and health risks of heavy metal(loid)s.展开更多
Clean drinking water is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Despite significant progress in the water purification technology,many regions still lack access to clean water.This paper provides a rev...Clean drinking water is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Despite significant progress in the water purification technology,many regions still lack access to clean water.This paper provides a review of selected water contaminants and their impacts on human health.The World Health Organization(WHO)guidelines and regional standards for key contaminants were used to characterise water quality in the European Union and UK.The concept of safe drinking water was explained based on the non-observed adverse effect level,threshold concentrations for toxic chemicals,and their total daily intake.Various techniques for monitoring water contaminants and the drinking water standards from five different countries,including the UK,USA,Canada,Pakistan and India,were compared to WHO recommended guidelines.The literature on actual water quality in these regions and its potential health impacts was also discussed.Finally,the role of public water suppliers in identifying and monitoring drinking water contaminants in selected developed countries was presented as a potential guideline for developing countries.This review emphasised the need for a comprehensive understanding of water quality and its impacts on human health to ensure access to clean drinking water worldwide.展开更多
The paper briefly discusses the relationship between chronic diseases and gut health,and points out that an imbalance of intestinal microflora and an inadequate intake of dietary fiber are two important causes of chro...The paper briefly discusses the relationship between chronic diseases and gut health,and points out that an imbalance of intestinal microflora and an inadequate intake of dietary fiber are two important causes of chronic diseases.This paper also summarizes the research status of probiotic fermented fruit and vegetables,and discusses the main achievements of our group in this field and future developments of the related industry.The application of fermentation technology to fruit and vegetable processing and the development of a series of probiotic fermented fruit and vegetable products not only increase the added value of fruit and vegetables,but also organically combine probiotics and their active metabolites with prebiotics(dietary fiber,etc.),thereby promoting intestinal health as well as preventing and relieving chronic diseases.Fermentation technology provides a new approach to the study of the effect of probiotics on human health,and will have a revolutionary influence on probiotic application and on the fruit and vegetable processing industry.Thus,fruit and vegetable fermentation technology has excellent market potential.展开更多
Dietary fiber(DF)is believed to provide important health benefits and it has become a research hotspot.DF exists in most natural foods,including fruits(16.74%-91.24%),vegetables(6.53%-85.19%),grains(9.76%-69.20%)and s...Dietary fiber(DF)is believed to provide important health benefits and it has become a research hotspot.DF exists in most natural foods,including fruits(16.74%-91.24%),vegetables(6.53%-85.19%),grains(9.76%-69.20%)and so on.DF has different physicochemical properties such as water holding capacity(WHC)(2.01-25.03 g/g),water swelling capacity(WSC)(0.95-23.90 mL/g),oil holding capacity(OHC)(0.65-29.00 g/g),glucose adsorption capacity(GAC)(0.17-4.65 mmol/g),cholesterol adsorption capacity(CAC)(0.03-37.10 mg/g)and viscosity,which make it exhibits different physiological functions such as reducing the risk of obesity,diabetes,cancer,and intestinal diseases.On the basis of consulting related databases,the physicochemical properties of DF and its derived physiological functions are reviewed.It is found that DF has effect on the prevention and treatment of obesity due to good WHC,WSC,OHC and CAC.Good GAC can relieve the symptoms of diabetes.The physicochemical properties of WHC and WSC can reduce the risk of cancer.The WHC,WSC and viscosity are beneficial to intestinal health.展开更多
The human body loading with arsenic(As)through rice consumption is a global health concern.There is a crucial need to limit As build-up in rice,either by remediating As accumulation in soils or reducing As levels in i...The human body loading with arsenic(As)through rice consumption is a global health concern.There is a crucial need to limit As build-up in rice,either by remediating As accumulation in soils or reducing As levels in irrigation water.Several conventional approaches have been utilized to alleviate the As accumulation in rice.However,except for some irrigation practices,those approaches success and the adoption rate are not remarkable.This review presents human health risks posed due to consumption of As contaminated rice,evaluates different biomarkers for tracing As loading in the human body,and discusses the latest advancement in As reducing technologies emphasizing the application of seed priming,nanotechnology,and biochar application for limiting As loading in rice grains.We also evaluate different irrigation techniques to reduce As accumulation in rice.Altering water management regimes significantly reduces grain As accumulation.Bio-and nano-priming of rice seeds improve germination and minimize As translocation in rice tissues by protecting cell membrane,building pool around seed coat,methylation and volatilization,or quenching harmful effects of reactive oxygen species.Nanoparticle application in the form of nano-adsorbents or nano-fertilizers facilitates nano-remediation of As through the formation of Fe plaque or sorption or oxidation process.Incorporating biochar in the rice fields significantly reduces As through immobilization,physical adsorption,or surface complexation.In conclusion,As content in cooked rice depends on irrigation source and raw rice As level.展开更多
Although chemical control of pests increases crop production, it brings a lot of damage to environment and human health. There exist a number of alternative methods that are not so harmful to environment and human hea...Although chemical control of pests increases crop production, it brings a lot of damage to environment and human health. There exist a number of alternative methods that are not so harmful to environment and human health. However, whether and how much in extent these technologies adopted are plausible depends on the comparison of benefit-cost between chemical control and the alternative control methods (such as Integrated Pest Management, IPM) and farmers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for envirorment and human health. Using contingent valuation method (CVM), the author investigates farmers' WTP for environment and human health, recognizes the factors influencing WTP, and accordingly points out the importance of pest control technology extension and government regulation of pesticides.展开更多
This study aims to investigate the mechanisms and health risks of fluoride enrichment in groundwater in the Loess Plateau,China.By taking Dali County,Shaanxi Province,China as an example,this study obtains the followi...This study aims to investigate the mechanisms and health risks of fluoride enrichment in groundwater in the Loess Plateau,China.By taking Dali County,Shaanxi Province,China as an example,this study obtains the following results through field investigation and the analyses of water,soil,and crop samples.(1)The groundwater can be divided into two major types,namely the Quaternary pore-fissure water and Karst water.The Karst area and sandy area have high-quality groundwater and serve as the target areas for optional water supply.The groundwater in the study area is slightly alkaline and highly saline.Meanwhile,high-fluoride groundwater is mainly distributed in the loess and river alluvial plains in the depression area of the Guanzhong Basin and the discharge areas of the groundwater,with the highest fluoride concentration exceeding seven times the national standard.(2)Fluoride in groundwater mainly originates from a natural source and human activities.The natural source refers to the fluoride-bearing minerals in rocks and soil,and the fluoride from this source is mainly controlled by natural factors such as climate,geologic setting,pH,specific hydrochemical environment,ion exchange,and mineral saturation.Human activities in modern life can be further divided into industrial and agricultural sources primarily.(3)The health risks of fluoride contamination are very high in the Loess Plateau,especially for children compared to adults.Meanwhile,the risks of fluoride exposure through food intake are higher than those through drinking water intake.The authors suggest selecting target areas to improve water supply and ensure the safety of drinking water in the study area.Besides,it is necessary to plant crops with low fluoride content or cash crops and to conduct groundwater treatment to reduce the fluoride concentration in drinking water.These results will provide a theoretical basis for safe water supply in the faulted basin areas in the Loess Plateau.展开更多
The complexity of multi-dimensional climate, environmental and human health information complicates bringing together scientists, civil society, and decision makers to provide adequate mitigation and adaptation option...The complexity of multi-dimensional climate, environmental and human health information complicates bringing together scientists, civil society, and decision makers to provide adequate mitigation and adaptation options for the consequences of global environmental change. To provide an effective pathway to conciliate (integrate) these datasets, we present PULSE-Brazil as the Platform for Understanding Long-term Sustainability of Ecosystems and human health. The overarching aim of this paper is to focus on two study cases in the Brazilian state of Acre, 1) analyzing recent socio-environmental disasters such as the impacts of droughts and consequent increases in fire detections on the incidence of respiratory diseases, and 2) evaluating the impacts of temperature increases in combination with rainfall seasonality upon the incidence of Dengue fever. Based on data available in PULSE-Brazil platform, we also aim to provide insights on the consequences of future climate variability on ecosystems and human health. Finally, we provide a discussion on the collaborative process between scientists and policymakers that defined the PULSE-Brazil platform specifications and datasets and propose a conceptual pathway for promoting the interaction between science and policy during the process of producing a tool that allows the understating of climate-relate processes. Our results clearly demonstrated that ecosystems are under increased fire risk in the future that will, in turn, affect the health of human populations. Moreover, humans are also exposed to critical Dengue fever outbreaks with the projected increase in minimum temperatures. Therefore, minimizing the impacts of these potentially ascending socio-environmental problems is the first step for adapting to a changing climate in the Amazon region. We expect that PULSE-Brazil will serve not only as a technical tool for supporting governance, management, mitigation and long-term adaptation plans for climate impacts and natural disasters, but also will take advantage of its graphical capabilities to be an instructive vehicle that facilitates information flow for societal governance.展开更多
Information on rare earth elements(REEs)in soils and plants of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is very limited.Therefore,in this study,we performed field sampling to explore the geochemical signatures and human health risk ...Information on rare earth elements(REEs)in soils and plants of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is very limited.Therefore,in this study,we performed field sampling to explore the geochemical signatures and human health risk of REEs in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.A total of 127 soil samples and 127 plant samples were collected from the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to acquire the geochemical signatures and related human health risks of REEs.The mean total concentrations of REEs in soils and plants of the study area reached 178.55 and 10.06 mg/kg,respectively.The light REEs in soils and plants accounted for 76%and 77%of the total REEs,respectively.REEs showed significantly homogenous distribution in soils but inhomogeneous distribution in plants of the study area.Characteristic parameters indicated that light REEs were enriched and fractionated significantly,while heavy REEs were moderately fractionated in soils and plants.REEs in soils and plants showed significantly negative Europium anomaly.Cerium showed slightly positive anomaly in plants and slight anomaly in soils.The normalized distribution patterns of REEs were generally similar in the analyzed soils and the corresponding plants of the study area.The average bio-concentration factor of REEs ranged from 0.0478(Scandium)to 0.0604(Europium),confirming a small accumulation of REEs by plants.Health risks caused by REEs in soils and plants were negligible,while risks for adults were lower than those for children.This study provides important information on REEs in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.展开更多
The energy substances(mainly carbohydrates and fats)are the basis and guarantee of life activity,especially the oxidative phosphorylation for energy supply.However,excessive absorption and accumulation of these substa...The energy substances(mainly carbohydrates and fats)are the basis and guarantee of life activity,especially the oxidative phosphorylation for energy supply.However,excessive absorption and accumulation of these substances can lead to metabolic diseases such as obesity,hyperlipidemia,diabetes,and cancers.A large amount of studies demonstrate that G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)play a key role in identification and absorption of energy substances,and the signaling network of nerves,immune,and endocrine regulates their storage and utilization.The gastrointestinal mucus layer not only identifies these substances through identification in diet components but also transfers immune,metabolic,and endocrine signals of hormones,cytokines,and chemokines by promoting interactions between receptors and ligands.These signaling molecules are transferred to corresponding organs,tissues,and cells by the circulatory system,and cell activity is regulated by amplifying of cell signals that constitute the wireless communication network among cells in the body.Absorption,accumulation,and utilization of energy substances in the body obey the law of energy conservation.Energy is stored in the form of fat,and meets the demand of body via two coupled mechanisms:catabolism and oxidative phosphorylation.Under normal physiological conditions,fat consumption involves ketone body metabolism through the circulatory system and glucose consumption requires blood lactic acid cycle.Accumulation of excessive energy leads to the abnormal activation of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),thus promoting the excretion of glucose or glycogen in the form of blood glucose and urine glucose.Alternatively,the body cancels the intercellular contact inhibition and promotes cell proliferation to induce carcinogenesis,which can induce the consumption of large amounts of glucose.Intercellular communication is performed by signaling molecules via sensing,absorption,accumulation,and utilization of energy substances,and anabolism and catabolism are controlled by the central metabolic pathway.Therefore,slower catabolism will result in longer life expectancy,whereas faster catabolism results in shorter life expectancy.Energy substances in diet influence the balance between energy and metabolism in the body through the sensing function of the gastrointestinal system at two levels:cellular communication network and metabolic network.The present review of studies aims to strengthen our knowledge on cellular communication and metabolic networks to offer a dietary guidance on the metabolism and communication role of various foods.展开更多
Tropical rainforests face serious threats of land-use conversion and increasing pressure of resource use and Kakamega forest was no exception.The forest was a biodiversity-rich unique ecosystem and supports high popul...Tropical rainforests face serious threats of land-use conversion and increasing pressure of resource use and Kakamega forest was no exception.The forest was a biodiversity-rich unique ecosystem and supports high population.Poverty,prevalence of diseases and rising modern healthcare costs had increased dependence on herbal medicines from the forest.However,the effect of collecting medicinal plant materials and the related disturbances that contributed to habitat and biodiversity loss remained a little investigated.This paper examined the effect of ill human health on health of and Kakamega forest,western Kenya.A sample of 250 out of 2,100 households within 5-km distance around the forest was studied.A household questionnaire,observation schedule,digital camera and secondary literature were used to gather information.The study found a weak inverse relationship between usage of herbal medicine and health of and Kakamega forest.Also,binary logistic regression revealed that the health of the forest worsened with increased use of herbal medicine(at p<0.01 level)as demonstrated by debarking ceteris paribus.Thus,herbal therapy reduced the forest biodiversity population size and density.Understanding effects of harvesting herbal materials on the forest was critical for drawing up conservation priorities,and incentives which balance human and forest ecosystem health.展开更多
Biogenic volatile organic compounds(BVOCs)have positive impact on environmental ecology and human physical and mental health.In this paper,the collection methods and components analysis,dynamic release mechanism,ecolo...Biogenic volatile organic compounds(BVOCs)have positive impact on environmental ecology and human physical and mental health.In this paper,the collection methods and components analysis,dynamic release mechanism,ecological function and the impact on human health of BVOCs were summarized.The purpose of this paper is to provide reference and suggestions for further study on the infl uence mechanism of BVOCs on human health,and to provide a theoretical basis for its application in landscape environment.展开更多
Water is important for life and its elements are very useful for human body to some extent. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a very effective method in minimizing the concentrations of some elements in drinking water treatment...Water is important for life and its elements are very useful for human body to some extent. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a very effective method in minimizing the concentrations of some elements in drinking water treatment. Therefore, the goal of this study is to measure the concentrations of some important parameters for human body and the role of Reverse Osmosis (RO) method in the local drinking water treatment stations in minimizing these constituents. This goal was achieved by comparing the effluent of five local drinking water treatment stations that depends on Reverse Osmosis as a primary treatment for the water produced from the Al-Diwaniyah water treatment plant. These parameters are PH, EC, TDS, Ca, Mg, and TH. Therefore, samples were collected and tested in Al-Qadisiyah Environmental Authority for these local drinking water treatment stations for seven weeks, in order to compare the effluent with the minimum concentrations required for human body according to the health studies and guide lines. The results show that all the drinking waters produced by these stations were below the WHO and Iraq standards. The concentrations of Calcium were in the range from 5.3 to 25 mg/l, while the concentrations of magnesium were in the range from 9.5 to 18.2 mg/l. Therefore, drinking water produced from RO stations should be remineralised to increase the concentrations of necessary constituents in order to minimize the risk of the potential influence of low level concentrations containing calcium carbonate or by adding calcium compounds to the water.展开更多
The first International Conference on Environment and Human Health Systems Engineering was held on July 8,2017 in Northwestern Polytechnical University(NPU),Xi’an.This conference was jointly held by the School of Lif...The first International Conference on Environment and Human Health Systems Engineering was held on July 8,2017 in Northwestern Polytechnical University(NPU),Xi’an.This conference was jointly held by the School of Life Sciences of NPU,the Office of International Cooperation of NPU and the China Aerospace Academy of Systems Science and Engineering(CAASSE).Experts and scientists from Pakistan universities and institutes展开更多
In recent times, there are two kinds of completely opposite viewpoints about the impacts of nitrate on human health. To further objectively understand the effects of nitrate on human health, both of harmfulness and po...In recent times, there are two kinds of completely opposite viewpoints about the impacts of nitrate on human health. To further objectively understand the effects of nitrate on human health, both of harmfulness and possible benefits of nitrate to human body, it is discussed in this review from the aspects of nitrate accumulation in vegetables, the source of nitrate ingested into human body, and the transformation of nitrate in human body, as well as the pathogenesis and physiological functions of nitrate metabolism.展开更多
This study reviews the impacts of climate change on human health and presents corresponding adaptation strategies in South China.The daily mean surface air temperatures above or below 26.4 C increase the death risk fo...This study reviews the impacts of climate change on human health and presents corresponding adaptation strategies in South China.The daily mean surface air temperatures above or below 26.4 C increase the death risk for the people in Guangzhou,especially the elderly are vulnerable to variations in temperature.Heat waves can cause insomnia,fatigue,clinical exacerbation,or death from heatstroke etc.,while cold spells show increases in patients with fractures.During a cold spell period,the rates of both on-site emergency rescues and non-implementable rescues increase,and the risk of non-accidental deaths and respiratory disease deaths significantly rise as well.Both time series of hazy days and ozone concentrations have significant positive correlations with the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases.Both malaria and dengue fever reach higher altitudes and mountainous areas due to climate warming.Climate change is likely to bring stronger heat waves in the future,thereby increasing heat wave-related illnesses and deaths,particularly in the metropolitan areas of the Pearl River Delta.The projected increase of continuous cold days in Guangdong province and parts of northern Guangxi province will afect residents’health in the future.The rising temperature exaggerates ozone pollution,but it is not clear whether climate change is aggravating or mitigating haze pollution.The transmission potential of malaria in South China will increase by 39%–140%and the transmission season will extend by 1–2 months with an air temperature increase of 1–2 C.By 2050,most areas in Hainan province are projected to convert from non-endemic dengue into endemic dengue areas.The aging population will cause more vulnerable people.To mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on human health,sound and scientific adaptation strategies must be adopted in advance,such as strengthening the surveillance of epidemic diseases in potential transmission areas,conducting timely weather forecasting for human health,evaluating health vulnerability to climate change,improving environmental and health education,and strengthening hazard management and the cooperation between meteorological and health departments.展开更多
文摘Higher education plays an important role in all aspects of sustainability.Infusing climate change and sustainability into the curriculum is important to prepare future health-care professionals for climate change and sustainability actions to build resilient health systems.In this study,we evaluated the preparedness,knowledge,and perception regarding climate change and its impact on human health among Indian nursing students.A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 644 undergraduate nursing students studying in three institutes in the southern,northern,and western parts of India.We used a structured online questionnaire with established validity and reliability to collect data.The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 software.The results showed that more than half of the students reported experiencing excessive increase(362;56.2%)and decrease(374;58.1%)in temperature in recent years.Though more than three quarters of the students(494;76.7%)accepted the general truth that climate change is mainly caused by human activities,only less than half of the students(309;48.0%)perceived the impact of climate change to be high.Three quarters of the students(483;75.0%)had a high level of knowledge regarding climate change.The students who had a high level of knowledge about climate change exerted a high perceived impact of climate change(χ^(2)=75.47;P<0.01).More than half of the students(50.9%)felt that they needed information about climate change to be included in the nursing curriculum,and only one sixth of the students(16.1%)were highly confident about engaging in climate change-related conversation with patients.Most of the students who participated in the study had basic knowledge about climate change and its impact on human health.However,there is an observed gap between knowledge and their preparedness and confidence to engage in climate change actions.Hence,we propose to strengthen the nursing curriculum by integrating various curricular and co-curricular activities related to climate change,so that future nurses are empowered to become climate change advocates.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)(No.4210070867)the Foreign Young Talents Fund of the National Ministry of Science and Technology,China(No.31950410547)+1 种基金The Startup Foundation for Introducing Talent of Nanjing University of Information Science&Technology(NUIST),Nanjing,China(No.003080)the Jiangsu Distinguished Professor program of the People’s Government of Jiangsu Province,China.
文摘Ground-level ozone(O_(3)) aff ects vegetation and threatens environmental health when levels exceed critical values,above which adverse eff ects are expected.Cyprus is expected to be a hotspot for O_(3)concentrations due to its unique position in the eastern Mediterranean,receiving air masses from Europe,African,and Asian continents,and experiencing a warm Mediterranean climate.In Cyprus,the spatiotemporal features of O_(3) are poorly understood and the potential risks for forest health have not been explored.We evaluated O_(3) and nitrogen oxides(NO and NO 2)at four regional background stations at different altitudes over 2014−2016.O_(3) risks to vegetation and human health were estimated by calculating accumulated O_(3)exposure over a threshold of 40 nmol mol^(−1)(AOT40)and cumulative exposure to mixing ratios above 35 nmol mol^(−1)(SOMO35)indices.The data reveal that mean O_(3)concentrations follow a seasonal pattern,with higher levels in spring(51.8 nmol mol^(−1))and summer(53.2 nmol mol^(−1))and lower levels in autumn(46.9 nmol mol^(−1))and winter(43.3 nmol mol^(−1)).The highest mean O_(3)exposure(59.5 nmol mol^(−1)) in summer occurred at the high elevation station Mt.Troodos(1819 m a.s.l.).Increasing(decreasing)altitudinal gradients were found for O_(3)(NO x),driven by summer–winter diff erences.The diurnal patterns of O_(3) showed little variation.Only at the lowest altitude O_(3) displayed a typical O_(3) diurnal pattern,with hourly diff erences smaller than 15 nmol mol^(−1).Accumulated O_(3) exposures at all stations and in all years exceeded the European Union’s limits for the protection of vegetation,with average values of 3-month(limit:3000 nmol mol^(−1)h)and 6-month(limit:5000 nmol mol^(−1)h)AOT40 for crops and forests of 16,564 and 31,836 nmol mol^(−1)h,respectively.O_(3) exposures were considerably high for human health,with an average SOMO35 value of 7270 nmol mol^(−1) days across stations and years.The results indicate that O_(3) is a major environmental and public health issue in Cyprus,and policies must be adopted to mitigate O_(3) precursor emissions at local and regional scales.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42072284,No.42027801,No.41877186)the National Key R&D Program of China(2021YFC2902004)+1 种基金the Major Science and Technology Projects of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(2020ZD0020-4)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2022YQSH01,2020YJSSH01,2021YJSSH01)。
文摘Chifeng is a concentrated mining area for non-ferrous metal minerals,as well as a key prevention and control area for heavyduty enterprises.This situation necessitates an efective ecological and human health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s driven by the wide distribution of metal ore processing,mining,and smelting factories in Hexigten Banner and Bairin Left Banner.We conducted surveys to assess the levels of heavy metal(loid)s(Cr,As,Pb,Cd,and Hg)in the topsoil and groundwater of the areas.The results indicated that the concentrations of As,Cd,and Pb in partial soil samples exceeded the environmental quality standards of Grade II.Based on contamination assessments,such as geoaccumulation indices and pollution indices,we inferred that Cd,Pb,and As were primary pollutants in topsoil.Potential ecological risks when considered as part of the average risk indices(RI)are up to 1626.40 and 2818.76,respectively,in the two areas.Comparative analysis revealed that Cd posed a very high potential ecological risk,followed by As.Moreover,the evaluation showed that the three exposure pathways of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk followed a descending order:inhalation>ingestion>dermal contact,except for Pb.Arsenic in topsoil posed a potential non-carcinogenic risk to human health,while there were no adverse efects of As in groundwater.In addition,the average total carcinogenic risk for As in the two areas,as well as the risk of Pb in the topsoil of Bairin Left Banner and all the fve heavy metal(loid)s in groundwater,exceeded human tolerance.Pb–Zn mines caused higher human health risks.In addition,the tandem contamination of heavy metal(loid)s in soil and groundwater was not obvious.This research study provides a basis for pollution remediation to control heavy industry-induced ecological and health risks of heavy metal(loid)s.
文摘Clean drinking water is one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Despite significant progress in the water purification technology,many regions still lack access to clean water.This paper provides a review of selected water contaminants and their impacts on human health.The World Health Organization(WHO)guidelines and regional standards for key contaminants were used to characterise water quality in the European Union and UK.The concept of safe drinking water was explained based on the non-observed adverse effect level,threshold concentrations for toxic chemicals,and their total daily intake.Various techniques for monitoring water contaminants and the drinking water standards from five different countries,including the UK,USA,Canada,Pakistan and India,were compared to WHO recommended guidelines.The literature on actual water quality in these regions and its potential health impacts was also discussed.Finally,the role of public water suppliers in identifying and monitoring drinking water contaminants in selected developed countries was presented as a potential guideline for developing countries.This review emphasised the need for a comprehensive understanding of water quality and its impacts on human health to ensure access to clean drinking water worldwide.
基金Financial support from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFD0400705-2,2017YFD0400503-3)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31560449 and 31760457)the Jiangxi Provincial Key Research and Development Project(20165ABC28004)are gratefully acknowledged.
文摘The paper briefly discusses the relationship between chronic diseases and gut health,and points out that an imbalance of intestinal microflora and an inadequate intake of dietary fiber are two important causes of chronic diseases.This paper also summarizes the research status of probiotic fermented fruit and vegetables,and discusses the main achievements of our group in this field and future developments of the related industry.The application of fermentation technology to fruit and vegetable processing and the development of a series of probiotic fermented fruit and vegetable products not only increase the added value of fruit and vegetables,but also organically combine probiotics and their active metabolites with prebiotics(dietary fiber,etc.),thereby promoting intestinal health as well as preventing and relieving chronic diseases.Fermentation technology provides a new approach to the study of the effect of probiotics on human health,and will have a revolutionary influence on probiotic application and on the fruit and vegetable processing industry.Thus,fruit and vegetable fermentation technology has excellent market potential.
基金supported by China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA(CARS-04).
文摘Dietary fiber(DF)is believed to provide important health benefits and it has become a research hotspot.DF exists in most natural foods,including fruits(16.74%-91.24%),vegetables(6.53%-85.19%),grains(9.76%-69.20%)and so on.DF has different physicochemical properties such as water holding capacity(WHC)(2.01-25.03 g/g),water swelling capacity(WSC)(0.95-23.90 mL/g),oil holding capacity(OHC)(0.65-29.00 g/g),glucose adsorption capacity(GAC)(0.17-4.65 mmol/g),cholesterol adsorption capacity(CAC)(0.03-37.10 mg/g)and viscosity,which make it exhibits different physiological functions such as reducing the risk of obesity,diabetes,cancer,and intestinal diseases.On the basis of consulting related databases,the physicochemical properties of DF and its derived physiological functions are reviewed.It is found that DF has effect on the prevention and treatment of obesity due to good WHC,WSC,OHC and CAC.Good GAC can relieve the symptoms of diabetes.The physicochemical properties of WHC and WSC can reduce the risk of cancer.The WHC,WSC and viscosity are beneficial to intestinal health.
基金the Seed Funding Grant(Grant No.RG53/19-20R)General Research Fund Proposal(Grant No.RG21/2020-2021R)+1 种基金Dean’s Research Fund(Grant No.IRS-10-2020)Department of Science and Environmental Studies Grant for Collaborative Research Project of the Education University of Hong Kong,China(Grant No.04487).
文摘The human body loading with arsenic(As)through rice consumption is a global health concern.There is a crucial need to limit As build-up in rice,either by remediating As accumulation in soils or reducing As levels in irrigation water.Several conventional approaches have been utilized to alleviate the As accumulation in rice.However,except for some irrigation practices,those approaches success and the adoption rate are not remarkable.This review presents human health risks posed due to consumption of As contaminated rice,evaluates different biomarkers for tracing As loading in the human body,and discusses the latest advancement in As reducing technologies emphasizing the application of seed priming,nanotechnology,and biochar application for limiting As loading in rice grains.We also evaluate different irrigation techniques to reduce As accumulation in rice.Altering water management regimes significantly reduces grain As accumulation.Bio-and nano-priming of rice seeds improve germination and minimize As translocation in rice tissues by protecting cell membrane,building pool around seed coat,methylation and volatilization,or quenching harmful effects of reactive oxygen species.Nanoparticle application in the form of nano-adsorbents or nano-fertilizers facilitates nano-remediation of As through the formation of Fe plaque or sorption or oxidation process.Incorporating biochar in the rice fields significantly reduces As through immobilization,physical adsorption,or surface complexation.In conclusion,As content in cooked rice depends on irrigation source and raw rice As level.
基金This research is funded by Natural Science Fund of China. No. 70203001
文摘Although chemical control of pests increases crop production, it brings a lot of damage to environment and human health. There exist a number of alternative methods that are not so harmful to environment and human health. However, whether and how much in extent these technologies adopted are plausible depends on the comparison of benefit-cost between chemical control and the alternative control methods (such as Integrated Pest Management, IPM) and farmers' willingness-to-pay (WTP) for envirorment and human health. Using contingent valuation method (CVM), the author investigates farmers' WTP for environment and human health, recognizes the factors influencing WTP, and accordingly points out the importance of pest control technology extension and government regulation of pesticides.
基金This study was funded by the survey projects initiated by the China Geological Survey(DD20189220,DD20211317,and 1212010634713).
文摘This study aims to investigate the mechanisms and health risks of fluoride enrichment in groundwater in the Loess Plateau,China.By taking Dali County,Shaanxi Province,China as an example,this study obtains the following results through field investigation and the analyses of water,soil,and crop samples.(1)The groundwater can be divided into two major types,namely the Quaternary pore-fissure water and Karst water.The Karst area and sandy area have high-quality groundwater and serve as the target areas for optional water supply.The groundwater in the study area is slightly alkaline and highly saline.Meanwhile,high-fluoride groundwater is mainly distributed in the loess and river alluvial plains in the depression area of the Guanzhong Basin and the discharge areas of the groundwater,with the highest fluoride concentration exceeding seven times the national standard.(2)Fluoride in groundwater mainly originates from a natural source and human activities.The natural source refers to the fluoride-bearing minerals in rocks and soil,and the fluoride from this source is mainly controlled by natural factors such as climate,geologic setting,pH,specific hydrochemical environment,ion exchange,and mineral saturation.Human activities in modern life can be further divided into industrial and agricultural sources primarily.(3)The health risks of fluoride contamination are very high in the Loess Plateau,especially for children compared to adults.Meanwhile,the risks of fluoride exposure through food intake are higher than those through drinking water intake.The authors suggest selecting target areas to improve water supply and ensure the safety of drinking water in the study area.Besides,it is necessary to plant crops with low fluoride content or cash crops and to conduct groundwater treatment to reduce the fluoride concentration in drinking water.These results will provide a theoretical basis for safe water supply in the faulted basin areas in the Loess Plateau.
文摘The complexity of multi-dimensional climate, environmental and human health information complicates bringing together scientists, civil society, and decision makers to provide adequate mitigation and adaptation options for the consequences of global environmental change. To provide an effective pathway to conciliate (integrate) these datasets, we present PULSE-Brazil as the Platform for Understanding Long-term Sustainability of Ecosystems and human health. The overarching aim of this paper is to focus on two study cases in the Brazilian state of Acre, 1) analyzing recent socio-environmental disasters such as the impacts of droughts and consequent increases in fire detections on the incidence of respiratory diseases, and 2) evaluating the impacts of temperature increases in combination with rainfall seasonality upon the incidence of Dengue fever. Based on data available in PULSE-Brazil platform, we also aim to provide insights on the consequences of future climate variability on ecosystems and human health. Finally, we provide a discussion on the collaborative process between scientists and policymakers that defined the PULSE-Brazil platform specifications and datasets and propose a conceptual pathway for promoting the interaction between science and policy during the process of producing a tool that allows the understating of climate-relate processes. Our results clearly demonstrated that ecosystems are under increased fire risk in the future that will, in turn, affect the health of human populations. Moreover, humans are also exposed to critical Dengue fever outbreaks with the projected increase in minimum temperatures. Therefore, minimizing the impacts of these potentially ascending socio-environmental problems is the first step for adapting to a changing climate in the Amazon region. We expect that PULSE-Brazil will serve not only as a technical tool for supporting governance, management, mitigation and long-term adaptation plans for climate impacts and natural disasters, but also will take advantage of its graphical capabilities to be an instructive vehicle that facilitates information flow for societal governance.
基金the One Hundred Talents Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Y610061033)the Kunlun Talent Action Plan of Qinghai Province,China(E140WX42)+2 种基金the Science and Technology Plan Protect of Qinghai Province,China(2021-ZJ-T07)the Taishan Scholar Program of Shandong Province,China(tsqn201812116)the Two-Hundred Talents Plan of Yantai City of Shandong Province,China。
文摘Information on rare earth elements(REEs)in soils and plants of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is very limited.Therefore,in this study,we performed field sampling to explore the geochemical signatures and human health risk of REEs in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China.A total of 127 soil samples and 127 plant samples were collected from the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to acquire the geochemical signatures and related human health risks of REEs.The mean total concentrations of REEs in soils and plants of the study area reached 178.55 and 10.06 mg/kg,respectively.The light REEs in soils and plants accounted for 76%and 77%of the total REEs,respectively.REEs showed significantly homogenous distribution in soils but inhomogeneous distribution in plants of the study area.Characteristic parameters indicated that light REEs were enriched and fractionated significantly,while heavy REEs were moderately fractionated in soils and plants.REEs in soils and plants showed significantly negative Europium anomaly.Cerium showed slightly positive anomaly in plants and slight anomaly in soils.The normalized distribution patterns of REEs were generally similar in the analyzed soils and the corresponding plants of the study area.The average bio-concentration factor of REEs ranged from 0.0478(Scandium)to 0.0604(Europium),confirming a small accumulation of REEs by plants.Health risks caused by REEs in soils and plants were negligible,while risks for adults were lower than those for children.This study provides important information on REEs in soils and plants of the northeastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
文摘The energy substances(mainly carbohydrates and fats)are the basis and guarantee of life activity,especially the oxidative phosphorylation for energy supply.However,excessive absorption and accumulation of these substances can lead to metabolic diseases such as obesity,hyperlipidemia,diabetes,and cancers.A large amount of studies demonstrate that G protein-coupled receptors(GPCRs)play a key role in identification and absorption of energy substances,and the signaling network of nerves,immune,and endocrine regulates their storage and utilization.The gastrointestinal mucus layer not only identifies these substances through identification in diet components but also transfers immune,metabolic,and endocrine signals of hormones,cytokines,and chemokines by promoting interactions between receptors and ligands.These signaling molecules are transferred to corresponding organs,tissues,and cells by the circulatory system,and cell activity is regulated by amplifying of cell signals that constitute the wireless communication network among cells in the body.Absorption,accumulation,and utilization of energy substances in the body obey the law of energy conservation.Energy is stored in the form of fat,and meets the demand of body via two coupled mechanisms:catabolism and oxidative phosphorylation.Under normal physiological conditions,fat consumption involves ketone body metabolism through the circulatory system and glucose consumption requires blood lactic acid cycle.Accumulation of excessive energy leads to the abnormal activation of mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),thus promoting the excretion of glucose or glycogen in the form of blood glucose and urine glucose.Alternatively,the body cancels the intercellular contact inhibition and promotes cell proliferation to induce carcinogenesis,which can induce the consumption of large amounts of glucose.Intercellular communication is performed by signaling molecules via sensing,absorption,accumulation,and utilization of energy substances,and anabolism and catabolism are controlled by the central metabolic pathway.Therefore,slower catabolism will result in longer life expectancy,whereas faster catabolism results in shorter life expectancy.Energy substances in diet influence the balance between energy and metabolism in the body through the sensing function of the gastrointestinal system at two levels:cellular communication network and metabolic network.The present review of studies aims to strengthen our knowledge on cellular communication and metabolic networks to offer a dietary guidance on the metabolism and communication role of various foods.
文摘Tropical rainforests face serious threats of land-use conversion and increasing pressure of resource use and Kakamega forest was no exception.The forest was a biodiversity-rich unique ecosystem and supports high population.Poverty,prevalence of diseases and rising modern healthcare costs had increased dependence on herbal medicines from the forest.However,the effect of collecting medicinal plant materials and the related disturbances that contributed to habitat and biodiversity loss remained a little investigated.This paper examined the effect of ill human health on health of and Kakamega forest,western Kenya.A sample of 250 out of 2,100 households within 5-km distance around the forest was studied.A household questionnaire,observation schedule,digital camera and secondary literature were used to gather information.The study found a weak inverse relationship between usage of herbal medicine and health of and Kakamega forest.Also,binary logistic regression revealed that the health of the forest worsened with increased use of herbal medicine(at p<0.01 level)as demonstrated by debarking ceteris paribus.Thus,herbal therapy reduced the forest biodiversity population size and density.Understanding effects of harvesting herbal materials on the forest was critical for drawing up conservation priorities,and incentives which balance human and forest ecosystem health.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(31600573)Science and Technology Innovation Guidance Project of Zhaoqing City(201904031601)Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Health and Resource Utilization(2020B121201014).
文摘Biogenic volatile organic compounds(BVOCs)have positive impact on environmental ecology and human physical and mental health.In this paper,the collection methods and components analysis,dynamic release mechanism,ecological function and the impact on human health of BVOCs were summarized.The purpose of this paper is to provide reference and suggestions for further study on the infl uence mechanism of BVOCs on human health,and to provide a theoretical basis for its application in landscape environment.
文摘Water is important for life and its elements are very useful for human body to some extent. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is a very effective method in minimizing the concentrations of some elements in drinking water treatment. Therefore, the goal of this study is to measure the concentrations of some important parameters for human body and the role of Reverse Osmosis (RO) method in the local drinking water treatment stations in minimizing these constituents. This goal was achieved by comparing the effluent of five local drinking water treatment stations that depends on Reverse Osmosis as a primary treatment for the water produced from the Al-Diwaniyah water treatment plant. These parameters are PH, EC, TDS, Ca, Mg, and TH. Therefore, samples were collected and tested in Al-Qadisiyah Environmental Authority for these local drinking water treatment stations for seven weeks, in order to compare the effluent with the minimum concentrations required for human body according to the health studies and guide lines. The results show that all the drinking waters produced by these stations were below the WHO and Iraq standards. The concentrations of Calcium were in the range from 5.3 to 25 mg/l, while the concentrations of magnesium were in the range from 9.5 to 18.2 mg/l. Therefore, drinking water produced from RO stations should be remineralised to increase the concentrations of necessary constituents in order to minimize the risk of the potential influence of low level concentrations containing calcium carbonate or by adding calcium compounds to the water.
文摘The first International Conference on Environment and Human Health Systems Engineering was held on July 8,2017 in Northwestern Polytechnical University(NPU),Xi’an.This conference was jointly held by the School of Life Sciences of NPU,the Office of International Cooperation of NPU and the China Aerospace Academy of Systems Science and Engineering(CAASSE).Experts and scientists from Pakistan universities and institutes
基金the Program for Changjiang Schlors and Innovative Research Team in University, China （IRT0536） the National Basic Research Program of China （973 Program, 2002CB410806）+1 种基金 the National Natural Science Foundation of China （NSFC, 30571083） the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China （Z303465）.
文摘In recent times, there are two kinds of completely opposite viewpoints about the impacts of nitrate on human health. To further objectively understand the effects of nitrate on human health, both of harmfulness and possible benefits of nitrate to human body, it is discussed in this review from the aspects of nitrate accumulation in vegetables, the source of nitrate ingested into human body, and the transformation of nitrate in human body, as well as the pathogenesis and physiological functions of nitrate metabolism.
基金supported by National Science and Technology Major Project(No2009 ZX 05039-003,2009 ZX 05039-004,2011ZX05060-005)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No 2010CB428801-1)state-owned land resources investigation(1212010430351)
基金supported by the Special Climate Change Research Program of China Meteorological Ad-ministration(No.CCSF-09-11 and CCSF201307)by the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guang-dong province(No.2011A030200021)
文摘This study reviews the impacts of climate change on human health and presents corresponding adaptation strategies in South China.The daily mean surface air temperatures above or below 26.4 C increase the death risk for the people in Guangzhou,especially the elderly are vulnerable to variations in temperature.Heat waves can cause insomnia,fatigue,clinical exacerbation,or death from heatstroke etc.,while cold spells show increases in patients with fractures.During a cold spell period,the rates of both on-site emergency rescues and non-implementable rescues increase,and the risk of non-accidental deaths and respiratory disease deaths significantly rise as well.Both time series of hazy days and ozone concentrations have significant positive correlations with the number of patients with cardiovascular diseases.Both malaria and dengue fever reach higher altitudes and mountainous areas due to climate warming.Climate change is likely to bring stronger heat waves in the future,thereby increasing heat wave-related illnesses and deaths,particularly in the metropolitan areas of the Pearl River Delta.The projected increase of continuous cold days in Guangdong province and parts of northern Guangxi province will afect residents’health in the future.The rising temperature exaggerates ozone pollution,but it is not clear whether climate change is aggravating or mitigating haze pollution.The transmission potential of malaria in South China will increase by 39%–140%and the transmission season will extend by 1–2 months with an air temperature increase of 1–2 C.By 2050,most areas in Hainan province are projected to convert from non-endemic dengue into endemic dengue areas.The aging population will cause more vulnerable people.To mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on human health,sound and scientific adaptation strategies must be adopted in advance,such as strengthening the surveillance of epidemic diseases in potential transmission areas,conducting timely weather forecasting for human health,evaluating health vulnerability to climate change,improving environmental and health education,and strengthening hazard management and the cooperation between meteorological and health departments.
