HEALTH RISKS OF POLISH FIREFIGHTERS RELATED TO THEIR SERVICE – LITERATURE NARRATIVE REVIEW

This paper revisits and reiterates the needs, purposes and requirements of biodosimetric assays for long-term dose and health risk assessments. While the most crucial need for biodosimetric assays is to guide medical response for radiation accidents, the value of such techniques for improving our understanding of radiation health risk by supporting epidemiological (long-term health risk) studies is significant. As new cohorts of exposed persons are identified and new health risk studies are undertaken with the hopes that studying the exposed will result in a deeper understanding of radiation risk, the value of reliable dose reconstruction is underscored. The ultimate application of biodosimetry in long-term health risk studies would be to completely replace model-based dose reconstruction-a complex suite of methods for retrospectively estimating dose that is commonly fraught with large uncertainties due to the absence of important exposure-related information, as well as imperfect models. While biodosimetry could potentially supplant model-based doses, there are numerous limitations of presently available techniques that constrain their widespread application in health risk research, including limited ability to assess doses received far in the past, high cost, great inter-individual variability, invasiveness, higher than preferred detection limits and the inability to assess internal dose (for the most part). These limitations prevent the extensive application of biodosimetry to large cohorts and should be considered a challenge to researchers to develop new and more flexible techniques that meet the demands of long-term health risk research. Events in recent years, e.g. the Fukushima reactor accident and the increased threat of nuclear terrorism, underscore that any event that results in significant radiation exposures of a group of people will also produce a much larger population, exposed at lower levels, but that likewise needs (or demands) an exposure assessment. Hence, the needs for retrospective dose estimation are likely to be greater in the future. The value of biodosimetry can be considerably enhanced with the development of new or improved methods, particularly with suitability for application at long periods of time after exposure.

De novo tumours after liver transplantation in adults. What is the actual risk?

Evidence of Health Risks from Occupational Sitting: Where Do We Stand?

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with a significantly increased risk for later cardiovascular disease. This risk is mediated by the interval development of hypertension and insulin resistance. These are preventable and/or modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease if affected people engage in preventive efforts. This study explores knowledge, perceptions, barriers and motivators regarding cardiovascular preventive health engagement among people with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and clinicians who care for them. Qualitative study using an editing approach. A tertiary referral centre in Salt Lake City, Utah. Postpartum people who had a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy with their recent pregnancy (~1 month ago) and clinicians who practise obstetrics and/or primary care. Semi-structured interviews of patients conducted approximately 1 month postpartum explored: (1) knowledge and understanding regarding long-term health risks after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, (2) actual and preferred sources and settings for learning about their health and (3) barriers and motivators to engaging in lifestyle modification. Semi-structured interviews of clinicians explored: (1) knowledge and understanding regarding long-term health risks after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, (2) actual and preferred settings for providing preventive health education and resources and (3) barriers and motivators to engaging with patients regarding preventive health after a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Recruitment continued until thematic saturation was reached for each group. A thematic analysis was performed using an editing approach. N/A for this qualitative study. Sixteen patients and fourteen clinicians were recruited and interviewed. Patients were unaware of long-term health risks related to their hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and were interested in learning about it from their healthcare provider. Although they were interested in learning about how to reduce their health risks, patients cited several barriers to engagement in lifestyle change and health screenings, including lack of time and other necessary resources. Clinicians expressed a preference for providing preventive health education in the outpatient postpartum setting, although they listed loss to follow-up after delivery as a major barrier. Clinicians only discussed long-term health risks for those patients who remained hypertensive at their postpartum follow-up visit. In general, women's health providers (OB/GYN physicians and midwives) considered cardiovascular prevention to be beyond their scope of practice, even those who provide well-woman care outside of pregnancy. Postpartum patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are unaware of their long-term health risks and want to learn about them. They prefer to learn about these risks by discussing them with their healthcare provider. Regardless of speciality, clinicians who discuss long-term health after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy generally do so only for those patients who remain hypertensive at their postpartum follow-up visit, but loss to follow-up is considered a major barrier. Engaging with patients and clinicians as stakeholders will be essential to develop effective, patient-centred interventions promoting cardiovascular health after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that can capitalise on motivators and overcome barriers.

Attitudes of women toward hormone therapy and prevention of heart disease

Background: Seaweed cultivation in marine environments offers ecological and economic benefits, but the increasing presence of microplastics poses risks. This review explores cultivation techniques and the impact of microplastic pollution on seaweed growth, nutrient absorption, and health. Methods: Literature was sourced from Google Scholar and academic databases using keywords related to seaweed cultivation and microplastic pollution, focusing on peer-reviewed articles, books, and credible reports from the past decade. Studies were selected based on methodological rigor, relevance, and source credibility. The literature was synthesized to highlight key patterns, trends, and knowledge gaps on the impact of microplastic pollution on seaweed farming. Results: Seaweed aquaculture provides food, biofuel, pharmaceuticals, and environmental benefits, varying cultivation methods by species, environment, and product. Despite growing demand, microplastic pollution threatens seaweed farming and marine ecosystems. This study explores seaweed’s role in microplastic retention, its potential as a bioindicator, and its broader impact on marine health. Urgent action is needed to address plastic and microplastic emissions and mitigate long-term environmental and health risks. Conclusions: Seaweed aquaculture provides food, biofuel, and ecological benefits. However, microplastic pollution threatens its sustainability. Immediate action is required to address plastic pollution, as it poses long-term risks to marine ecosystems and human health. Governments are increasingly focusing on mitigation measures to address these pressing issues.

Study on the health hazards and risk assessment of the use of fossil fuel electricity generators in suburb of Port Harcourt, Nigeria was carried out. The results showed that the concentrations of the metals varied greatly among the vegetable species and locations. It was observed that the vegetables (Telfairia occidentalis and Talinum triangulare) cultivated less than 15m away from fossil fuel generator after analysis showed some level of trace metals concentration. The variation in metal concentrations in the vegetables can be attributed to the metal concentrations in soils. The concentration of the metals in the edible vegetables studied ranged from 0.90 ± 0.01 to 3.20 ± 0.001, Pb; 0.08 ± 0.001 to 0.11 ± 0.01, Cd; 53.10 ± 0.002 to 106.30 ± 0.02, Fe; and 0.40 ± 0.002 to 1.60 ± 0.02, Zn. The difference in the concentration of the metals in the various vegetable can be attributed to the different concentration of the metals in the soils and also the direction at which the vegetation was located. The CDI values of iron for adult and children were all above oral reference dose (RfD) (0.007mg/kg/day). The hazard quotient (HQ) values of the metals in all the stations were greater than 1 except Zn and Cu for children. Lead, Iron, Cadmium and Chromium exceeded 1 for both adult and children while in In all the stations, HQ values were generally high for children, thereby making people living around the area more vulnerable. The high HQ values recorded in this study were as result of high CDI values of the metals involved. These metals pose long term health risk to the land users. All the hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were well above 1. The long-term health risk is high and the non-carcinogenic adverse effect is not negligible. Health risk assessment for all the sites considered showed that cumulative effect of some of the heavy metal studied, as indicated by the hazard index (HI), calls for concern.

Position statement: Reducing fatigue associated with sleep deficiency and work hours in nurses

Estrogenic ovulatory dysfunction or functional female hyperandrogenism: an argument to discard the term polycystic ovary syndrome

CoVID-19 vs. epilepsy: It is time to move, act, and encourage physical exercise

A liver for a kidney: Ethics of trans-organ paired exchange.

The True Meaning of Financial Neutrality in Organ Donation

Epidemiology of hepatitis B in Europe and worldwide.

Not all women diagnosed with PCOS share the same cardiovascular risk profiles

A variant in the fibrillin-3 gene is associated with TGF-β and inhibin B levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome