Radiological impact of ship-breaking operations and container depot explosions on Sitakunda coast, Chattogram, Bangladesh: implications for public health

Supermarkets have been described as having unprecedented and disproportionate power in the food system. This scoping review synthesized the literature that describes the position and power of supermarkets in the Australian food system, and the implications for public health. A systematic search of peer-reviewed and grey literature identified 68 documents that described supermarket power. Implications for public health were also recorded. Data revealed that supermarkets hold a powerful position in the Australian food system, acting as the primary gatekeepers. Supermarkets have obtained instrumental, structural and discursive power from many sources that overlap and reinforce each other. Few positive public health impacts of supermarket power were identified, providing many opportunities for improvement in the domains of food governance, the food system and public health nutrition. There is very little public health research examining the impact of supermarket power in Australia. More research is needed, and examination of supermarket own brands is of particular importance owing to their pivotal role as a source of power and their potential to improve public health outcomes, such as obesity.

This study assesses the activity concentrations of the radionuclides 238U, 232Th, and 40K in soil samples collected from Wolaita Sodo town, located in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' (SNNP) Region, Ethiopia. A gamma-ray spectrometer equipped with a NaI(Tl) detector was used for the measurements. The concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K varied from 3.25 ± 1.5 to 13.84 ± 2.2 Bq.kg−1, 0.4 ± 0.9 to 85.12 ± 3.4 Bq.kg−1, and 34.43 ± 2.7 to 748.07 ± 5.9 Bq.kg−1, respectively. The average activity concentrations were 7.83 ± 1.9 Bq.kg−1, 40.74 ± 2.7 Bq.kg−1, and 161.63 ± 3.9 Bq.kg−1 for 238U, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. The average radium equivalent activity was 192.25 Bq.kg−1, well below the recommended safety limit of 370 Bq.kg−1. The average gamma dose rate, and annual effective dose rate were 35.68 nGy.h−1, and 0.18 mSv.y−1, respectively. The internal and external indexes are below the recommended limit set by UNSCEAR and ICRP. However, the estimated excess lifetime cancer risk and indoor radon concentrations are slightly higher. Despite this, the overall radiological impact on the environment and public health in the study area remains negligible. This study provides valuable baseline data for radiation protection and informs urban and environmental policy in the region.

Borehole water plays a critical role in providing drinking water in Effurun, Delta State, Nigeria. However, concerns about potential contamination from both natural and anthropogenic sources necessitate regular groundwater quality assessments. This study evaluates the hydrochemical properties of borehole water to ensure public health safety and to understand the groundwater's suitability for consumption. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of borehole water in Effurun by analyzing major ions, trace metals, and other hydrochemical parameters, and to compare the findings with WHO and NSDWQ drinking water standards. Ten borehole water samples were collected from various locations across Effurun. Hydrochemical analyses were conducted to measure cations (calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium), anions (chloride, bicarbonate, sulfate, nitrate), and trace metals (lead, copper, zinc, manganese). Statistical analysis and spatial mapping were employed to evaluate the distribution of ion concentrations and identify areas of concern. Calcium levels in the boreholes ranged from 29.95 mg/L to 64.50 mg/L, while magnesium levels were more consistent, ranging between 9.50 mg/L and 14.20 mg/L. Sodium and potassium showed moderate correlations with calcium. Chloride levels varied widely, indicating potential contamination from seawater intrusion or industrial discharge. Elevated sulfate and nitrate concentrations pointed to agricultural runoff. Trace metals, particularly lead, exceeded safety limits, with lead concentrations ranging from 0.092 mg/L to 0.127 mg/L, posing significant health risks. Spatial analysis revealed varying ion concentrations across Effurun, with higher calcium and magnesium levels near water bodies, suggesting local geology's influence. The central area exhibited moderate ion concentrations, while the southeastern region had the highest calcium levels, possibly due to geological formations rich in calcium or human activities. The study highlights diverse hydrochemical characteristics of Effurun's borehole water, with some areas showing contamination beyond acceptable limits. Regular monitoring is essential to ensure safe drinking water and address potential health risks. The findings stress the need for improved water resource management and contamination control. This study provides a comprehensive spatial analysis of groundwater quality in Effurun, identifying specific areas at risk of contamination and offering data-driven recommendations for public health and sustainable water management.

Cultivation of paddy rice for human consumption is a dominant agricultural activity throughout Asia. High levels of mercury (Hg) in rice grain pose a potential threat to human health, although the extent of risk is dependent on the chemical speciation of Hg inside the grain. We have investigated the speciation and localization of Hg in three fractions of rice grain (hull, bran, and white rice) collected from a Hg-contaminated region in China. On a mass basis, the majority of inorganic mercury (IHg) in a rice grain is found in hull and bran. However, the majority of the more toxic species methyl mercury (MeHg) is found in edible white rice. Our data show that during grain processing, most of the IHg (∼78%) is eliminated, but the majority of the MeHg remains in the food product (∼80%). Synchrotron radiation microscopic X-ray fluorescence (SR-μXRF) mapping shows strong localization of Hg at the surface of brown rice grains, corresponding to the pericarp and aleurone layer. We infer that this Hg is predominantly IHg absorbed from the atmosphere. Based on X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) data we propose that IHg in bran is primarily bound to cysteine, and is associated with phytochelatins. Consequently, IHg is largely immobile and restricted to the outer layers of rice grain. MeHg in bran is primarily bound to cysteine and is associated with proteins. However, this MeHg-cysteine association behaves like a mobile nutrient and is actively transported to the endosperm during seed ripening. Concentration of MeHg-cysteine in white rice has implications for public health. There is growing evidence for Hg contamination of rice throughout Asia due to point and diffuse sources of Hg pollution. The magnitude of the associated risk must be quantified through better understanding of the localization and speciation of mercury in rice. Our work makes an effort to contribute to this understanding.

This study evaluates heavy metal contamination in fish and its associated health risks, focusing on the implications for global public health. Fish samples were analyzed using advanced techniques, including Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) with a hydride generator for arsenic, and a mercury analyzer. Results revealed significant contamination levels, with arsenic concentrations ranging from 0.9 ± 0.1 to 3.2 ± 0.2 mg/kg (mean: 2.24 ± 0.76 mg/kg), exceeding the WHO limit of 2 mg/kg in 75% of samples. Mercury concentrations (mean: 1.4917 mg/kg) surpassed the WHO limit of 0.5 mg/kg in all samples, while cadmium levels sometimes exceeded permissible limits. Statistical analysis indicated substantial variability in metal concentrations among samples, supported by Principal Component Analysis and Pearson’s correlation, identifying distinct pollution patterns and sources. Health risk assessments showed significant non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, particularly for children. Arsenic, chromium, and mercury presented hazard quotients exceeding safe thresholds, with cumulative hazard indices confirming elevated risks (HI = 14.5 for adults, 44.1 for children). The findings suggest the pressing need for global strategies to monitor and manage heavy metal pollution in aquatic ecosystems.

Particulate matter emissions near active copper smelters and mine tailings in the southwestern United States pose a potential threat to nearby environments owing to toxic species that can be inhaled and deposited in various regions of the body depending on the composition and size of the particles, which are linked by particle hygroscopic properties. This study reports the first simultaneous measurements of size-resolved chemical and hygroscopic properties of particles next to an active copper smelter and mine tailings by the towns of Hayden and Winkelman in southern Arizona. Size-resolved particulate matter samples were examined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, ion chromatography, and a humidified tandem differential mobility analyzer. Aerosol particles collected at the measurement site are enriched in metals and metalloids (e.g., arsenic, lead, and cadmium) and water-uptake measurements of aqueous extracts of collected samples indicate that the particle diameter range of particles most enriched with these species (0.18-0.55 μm) overlaps with the most hygroscopic mode at a relative humidity of 90% (0.10-0.32 μm). These measurements have implications for public health, microphysical effects of aerosols, and regional impacts owing to the transport and deposition of contaminated aerosol particles.

Global scale-up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is an unprecedented public health achievement. With planned efforts of expanded ART access including earlier treatment initiation and the use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for prophylaxis, increasing levels of HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) are expected.Several factors may lead to selection and transmission of significant HIVDR in LMICs, which will lead to decreased population-level efficacy of standard first- and second-line ART regimens. These factors include low genetic barrier of some ARVs to resistance development, drug-drug interactions, inappropriate prescribing practices, interruption of drug supply, poor retention in care and lack of routine viral load monitoring.To maximize long-term effectiveness of available ARVs, policy makers and programme managers in LMICs should routinely monitor programme factors associated with emergence and transmission of HIVDR and implement routine HIVDR surveillance following standardized methods. When surveillance results suggest the need for action, specific public health interventions must be taken to adjust ART programme functioning to minimize further emergence and transmission of HIVDR.In this paper, we review ARV drug, HIV, patient and programme-related determinants of HIVDR. Additionally, we summarize the World Health Orgnization's global HIVDR surveillance and prevention strategy and describe resulting public health and policy implications.

Environmental and health risks posed by radionuclides in quarry pit soils are of great concern in environmental health monitoring. The current investigation was aimed at determining the natural radionuclide activity concentration (in Bq kg–1) of the understudied quarry pit granules used as construction materials. The collection and preparation of pit soil samples from Abeokuta quarry sites were done using standard methods, analysis of radiological parameters was carried out using hyperpure germanium (HPGe) spectrometer. Specific activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were measured. The values obtained were greater than the world weighted average of 35, 30, and 400 Bq kg–1 for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. The absorbed dose, the annual effective dose, and the radium equivalent were calculated and demonstrated significant values. The radionuclide content of the samples is relatively high and the use of pit soils as a building material, therefore, raises radiological concerns for dwellers in this area and requires periodic monitoring and undergoing a radiation protection program.

Livestock, especially cattle, play a paramount role in agriculture production systems, particularly in poor countries throughout the world. Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) have an important impact on livestock and agriculture production in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors review the most common methods used for the control of ticks and TBDs. Special emphasis is given to the direct application of acaricides to the host animals. The possible environmental and public health adverse effects (i.e., risks for the workers, residues in the environment and in food products of animal origin) are mentioned. The authors present two case studies, describing different field experiences in controlling ticks in two African countries. In Zambia (Southern Africa), a strategic dipping regime was used to control Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks, vectors of theileriosis, a deadly disease affecting cattle in the traditional livestock sector in Southern Province. The dipping regime adopted allowed to reduce the tick challenge and cattle mortally rate and, at the same time, to employ less acaricide as compared to the intensive dipping used so far, without disrupting the building-up of enzootic stability. In Burkina Faso (West Africa), where dipping was never used for tick control, an acaricide footbath was employed as an alternative method to the traditional technique used locally (portable manual sprayers). This was developed from field observations on the invasion/attachment process of the Amblyomma variegatum ticks – vector of cowdriosis – on the animal hosts, leading to a control method aimed to kill ticks temporarily attached to the interdigital areas before their permanent attachment to the predilection sites. This innovative method has been overall accepted by the local farmers. It has the advantage of greatly reducing costs of treatments and has a minimal environmental impact, making footbath a sustainable and replicable method, adoptable also in other West African countries. Although the two methods described, developed in very different contexts, are not comparable – if public health and environmental implications are taken into account, if a balance among efficacy of the control method(s), cost-effectiveness and sustainability is reached – a way forward for the implementation of a One Health strategy can be set.

Overdiagnosis is the diagnosis of an abnormality that bears no substantial health hazard and no benefit for patients to be aware of. Resulting mainly from the use of increasingly sensitive screening and diagnostic tests, as well as broadened definitions of conditions requiring an intervention, overdiagnosis is a growing but still largely misunderstood public health issue. Fear of missing a diagnosis or of litigation, financial incentives or patient’s need of reassurance are further causes of overdiagnosis. The main consequence of overdiagnosis is overtreatment. Treating an overdiagnosed condition bears no benefit but can cause harms and generates costs. Overtreatment also diverts health professionals from caring for those most severely ill. Recognition of overdiagnosis due to screening is challenging since it is rarely identifiable at the individual level and difficult to quantify precisely at the population level. Overdiagnosis exists even for screening of proven efficacy and efficiency. Measures to reduce overdiagnosis due to screening include heightened sensitization of health professionals and patients, active surveillance and deferred treatment until early signs of disease progression and prognosis estimation through biomarkers (including molecular) profiling. Targeted screening and balanced information on its risk and benefits would also help limit overdiagnosis. Research is needed to assess the public health burden and implications of overdiagnosis due to screening activity.

This pioneering study investigates the levels of naturally occurring radioactive materials in soil collected from the vicinity of Srikail gas field, Bangladesh, utilizing a high purity germanium (HPGe) detector. Forty soil samples were systematically collected from concentric circles around the gas well, with approximate radii of 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 m. The activity concentrations of ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, and ⁴⁰K ranged from 12–27, 24–45, and 255–480 Bq/kg, respectively, with most values aligning with global averages of 35, 35 and 400 Bq/kg respectively. Notably, two samples showed the presence of artificial radioactivity (¹³⁷Cs). All the radiological hazard indices are well within the recommended safety limits. However, this study emphasizes the need to establish baseline data for the soon-to-be-commissioned Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and its nearby areas. It also highlights the importance of regular monitoring to detect any future changes in radioactivity levels that might come from natural processes or human activities.

Background and Aim:Hospital effluents are a major source of environmental contaminants, harboring pathogenic bacteria, toxic trace metals, and high organic loads. This study aimed to evaluate the bacteriological and physicochemical profiles of wastewater discharged from three coastal hospitals in Oran, Algeria, and to assess the associated public and livestock health risks under the One Health approach.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2023 to February 2024, involving monthly sampling at three hospitals and one drainage collector. Twenty-six composite samples were collected at three peak daily intervals. Bacteriological analysis targeted Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. using selective media, membrane filtration, and biochemical confirmation. Physicochemical parameters, including biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and conductivity, were analyzed using standard American Public Health Association methods. Trace metals (lead [Pb], cadmium, nickel, copper [Cu], zinc) were quantified through atomic absorption spectrometry.Results:All effluents contained pathogenic bacteria, with peak concentrations of E. coli (up to 34.5 × 106 colony-forming units [CFU]/100 mL), S. aureus (up to 4.5 × 106 CFU/100 mL), and persistent Salmonella spp. detected primarily in warmer seasons. All S. aureus and Salmonella isolates exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics. Physicochemical assessment revealed elevated BOD5 (190 mg/L–398 mg/L), COD (200 mg/L–590 mg/L), and COD/BOD5 ratios <2.5, indicating high organic pollution with partial biodegradability. Trace metal concentrations, particularly Pb and Cu, exceeded the World Health Organization discharge guidelines in all samples. Contaminant levels were highest in summer, correlating with increased hospital activity and temperature.Conclusion:Untreated hospital wastewater in Oran poses a serious threat to public and environmental health. The presence of multidrug-resistant bacteria and toxic metals highlights the urgent need for dedicated hospital wastewater treatment infrastructure. Grazing livestock and marine ecosystems exposed to these effluents are at risk of bioaccumulation and infection. Regulatory enforcement, routine monitoring, and the implementation of sustainable green hospital plans are essential to safeguard health under the One Health paradigm.

Camel health management has implications for public health and camel product trade. After liberalization of the veterinary service, current camel health management in the arid and semi-arid lands (ASALS) of Kenya and its implications for public health is not known. This study investigated camel health management and its implications on zoonoses and food safety in Isiolo County, Kenya. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to 150 households, 15 agro-veterinary shops, 15 community-based animal health workers (CBAHWs) and 10 veterinary officers to collect information on camel health management. The main occupation and source of household income for the pastoral communities is camel-keeping (45.3%). Pastoralists self-medicate camels and other livestock (45.8%), which can lead to between over-dosing, under-dosing or wrong drug use. The CBAHWs, traditional animal health service providers (TAHSPs), government veterinary officers and private veterinary officers play a minimum role. Private veterinary services have not taken root in the ASALs. The sources of knowledge and information on the veterinary drug to use are experience (57.4%), non-governmental organizations (NGO) (41.1%) or CBAHWs (32.1%). The majority of pastoralists (72.5%) do not keep camel or other livestock treatment records. The constraints in purchasing veterinary drugs are expensive drugs, accessibility to drugs and availability of money. Pastoralists refer to veterinary drugs by their brand names but not by active ingredients. As reported by pastoralists, focus group discussion and key informant interviews, antibiotics used were adamycine (33.3%), ampicilline (26.7%), penicillin (14.4%), tetracycline (12.2%), amoxylin (11.1%) and penstrip (2.2%). The common camel diseases were trypanosomiasis, brucellosis, mastitis, diarrhoea, worm infestation, camel pox and tuberculosis. The public health risk factors were the presence of veterinary drug residues in camel products and development of resistant zoonotic organisms/diseases. It was concluded that current camel health management has serious implications for public health and food safety, and hence the camel product trade.

Background: Many people now want or need to work longer due to increased life expectancy. In some countries statutory retirement ages deny older people free access to the labour market. It has been hypothesised that exclusion from employment may have negative effects on the mental health of older people. The global financial crisis has forced some countries to propose increasing the retirement age but the implications of this for population health are unclear. This paper reviews the evidence for the mental health impacts of working beyond retirement, and discusses the implications for future public health and welfare policy. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted of studies that examined the effect of working or volunteering beyond traditional retirement ages on mental health outcomes. Results: Of the ten studies that met the inclusion criteria, none showed a negative impact of working beyond retirement age on mental health. Four studies showed that post-retirement working has a statistically significant positive effect on a range of mental health outcomes. Discussion: This review suggests that working beyond traditional retirement ages may be beneficial for mental health in some populations. The mechanisms by which this occurs are complex but are likely to be mediated by the maintenance of productive societal roles, continued income and social support. The benefits of post-retirement employment are unlikely to be universal as such factors will have varying effects depending on individual lifestyle, self-esteem and socioeconomic status. Although our research shows that allowing older people free access to the employment market may have important health benefits, flexible retirement strategies are needed to ensure that any national policy to increase statutory retirement age does not increase health and social inequalities in the elderly.

Public health laws have significant impact to improve public's health and essential to achieving the sustainable development goals. Human Rights legislation and advancing the Right to Health approaches are seen as key to tackling social determinants of health and widening health inequalities. Health law is not just the work of lawyers, legislators and enforcers. There is growing expectations and need for public health practitioners and leaders to understand local and international legal systems and obligations and their critical role in improving and protecting the public's health, and to work in strategic partnership to improve population health through law and policy. Yet such issues are often neglected in educational and training programmes in public health and their practical implications poorly understood and appreciated by practitioners. The purpose of this workshop is to highlight the nature and key role of law in improving public's health in practice, and to share the work by NHS Scotland and Wales in considering human rights and right to health approaches in their day to day to day activities and projects in public health. It will highlight practical issues and ideas in advancing the political goal of public health law reform and getting the right to health approaches into day to day practice and activities. This will include options to include educational and training activities for the public health workforce, including its practical inclusion in public health curriculum. It will share case study of the innovative and powerful “Wellbeing of Future Generations Act” in Wales and its implications for public's health and practice. The panel for the workshop will be senior expert experienced public health legal scholars, practitioners and policy makers who will briefly share their expert perspectives on the issue and the projects. One of the elements of the roundtable workshop will be to reflect and consult with the participants around their experience and insights in considering public law and right to health approaches in their practice and the needs, opportunities and barriers to engage more systematically in strategic partnerships and activities around better understanding and use of public health law to protect and improve public's health and the training and educational needs to advance the agenda. Key messages Strengthening public health laws and advancing right to health approaches are vital to improving public’s health and tackling health inequalities. There is need to build capacity and competency of public health leaders and practitioners around public health law and strategic partnerships to improve population health.