Additional Health Risks Research Articles

Study Protocol of Predictive Dynamics of Microbiological Contamination of Groundwater in the Earth Critical Zone and Impact on Human Health (DY.MI.CR.ON Project)

Groundwater is one of the major sources of water supply for human needs. But anthropic activities such as agriculture are causing significant volume depletion and quality deterioration, favoring microbial contamination that has a negative impact on human health. The geological characteristics of the ground can influence the transport of microorganisms, especially if made of permeable rock. Furthermore, irrigation with untreated or partially treated wastewater can represent an additional health risk due to the potential transmission of pathogens to food. The aim of our research is to provide an interdisciplinary perspective on this issue by integrating hygienic, geological, and agronomic skills. Water samplings are scheduled seasonally by four monitoring campaigns in five sampling points placed in two Southern Italy regions, Apulia (one point at the outlet and two wells near the wastewater plant at Carpignano Salentino, Lecce province, Italy) and Sicily (two wells at Scicli and Pozzallo, Ragusa province, Italy) Laboratory experiments of microorganism transport in permeable rocks will be carried out under saturated and unsaturated conditions. A mathematical model of transport through porous media will be implemented and validated with laboratory measurements. The model will be used to develop a monitoring tool to control sites in Apulia and Sicily where periodic cultural and molecular detection of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoa will also be taken. In addition, an analysis of the microbiological contamination of herbaceous crops due to the use of low-quality water will be conducted to assess the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA). The project will provide methodological tools to evaluate anthropogenic pressures and their impact on environmental matrices. The results will allow these pressures to be modulated to minimize environmental and agri-food microbiological contamination and protect public health.

Alignment of Air Pollution Exposure Inequality Metrics with Environmental Justice and Equity Goals in the United States.

A growing literature within the field of air pollution exposure assessment addresses the issue of environmental justice. Leveraging the increasing availability of exposure datasets with broad spatial coverage and high spatial resolution, a number of works have assessed inequalities in exposure across racial/ethnic and other socioeconomic groupings. However, environmental justice research presents the additional need to evaluate exposure inequity-inequality that is systematic, unfair, and avoidable-which may be framed in several ways. We discuss these framings and describe inequality and inequity conclusions provided from several contrasting approaches drawn from recent work. We recommend that future work addressing environmental justice interventions include complementary "Exposure-driven" and "Socially weighted" metrics, taking an intersectional view of areas and social groups that are both disproportionately impacted by pollution and are impacted by additional health risks resulting from structural racism and consider implications for environmental justice beyond distributional equity.

Are Foods with Protein Claims Healthy? A Study of the Spanish Market.

Foods with protein claims (PCs) targeted at the general population are increasingly sought after by consumers because they think they are healthy. However, they may contain other nutrients that pose a health risk. Therefore, the aim of this work was to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of foods with PC and compare them with those without these claims. The Spanish Food Database, BADALI, was used for this purpose. We studied 4325 processed foods of 12 different types. Thirteen percent had PCs and more than half of them were fortified with proteins (60.4%). Plant proteins were added more frequently than animal proteins. Protein values were higher in foods with PCs, particularly in those that were fortified. Differences in other nutrients were also observed depending on the food type. The healthiness of foods was assessed using the Pan American Health Organization Nutrient Profile Model and 90.8% of those bearing PCs were classified as "less healthy". More than 50% were high in fat or high in sodium; around one in four were high in free sugar or saturated fat and one in five had sweeteners. Foods with PCs had 13.1% more "less healthy" items than those without PCs. The proportion of items high in fat or high in sodium were also larger and more of them had sweeteners. In contrast, the proportion of foods high in free sugar and high in saturated fat was lower among those with PCs. Therefore, the perception that foods with PCs are healthy is incorrect, and consuming them may pose an additional health risk.

Potentially toxic elements contamination and health risk assessment of coastal sediments in Betoya Bay, Morocco.

This study investigated the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) contamination of Betoya Bay surface sediments to assess the degree of pollution and identify the source of these contaminants. Average PTE levels as mg/kg in Betoya Bay are ranked in descending order as Zn (22.68) > Cr (8.64) > Pb (7.24) > Ni (6.82) > As (6.62) > Cu (5.78) > Co (2.45) > Cd (0.20). The sampling sites show an increase in PTEs at station 5, probably due to runoff from the wadi, and at the first station, where fishing activity is particularly intense. At all stations throughout the year, PTE levels were unpolluted as evaluated by the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the pollution load index (PLI). Almost all PTEs showed a "low contamination factor" according to the contamination factor index (CF). As assessed by the contamination degree (CD), all PTE levels at all stations and seasons were "low contamination degree". The ecological risk indices (Eir and RI) indicated low to moderate ecological risk. In line with sediment quality requirements, the M-ERM-Q calculation suggests there is only a 9% chance that this particular combination of metals poses a threat. The non-carcinogenic health risk assessment showed that beach sand in the study area is entirely safe, presenting no additional health risk to children or adults. However, the carcinogenic risk showed a low to moderate carcinogenic risk for adults and a moderate to high carcinogenic risk for children. In addition, statistical analysis revealed that all PTEs are likely to have common sources, which may be related to the geology of the area.

A systematic review of the toxic potential of parabens in fish.

Parabens are the most prevalent ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products (PCPs). They are colorless and tasteless and exhibit good stability when combined with other components. Because of these unique physicochemical properties, they are extensively used as antimicrobial and antifungal agents. Their release into the aquatic ecosystem poses potential threats to aquatic organisms, including fish. We conducted an electronic search in PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) using the search term parabens and fish and sorted 93 articles consisting of methyl paraben (MTP), ethyl paraben (ETP), propyl paraben (PPP), butyl paraben (BTP), and benzyl paraben (BNP) in several fish species. Furthermore, we confined our search to six fish species (common carp, Cyprinus carpio; fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas; Japanese medaka, Oryzias latipes; rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss; Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus; and zebrafish, Danio rerio) and four common parabens (MTP, ETP, PPP, and BTP) and sorted 48 articles for review. Our search indicates that among all six fish, zebrafish was the most studied fish and the MTP was the most tested paraben in fish. Moreover, depending on the alkyl chain length and linearity, long-chained parabens were more toxic than the parabens with short chains. Parabens can be considered endocrine disruptors (EDs), targeting estrogen-androgen-thyroid-steroidogenesis (EATS) pathways, blocking the development and growth of gametes, and causing intergenerational toxicity to impact the viability of offspring/larvae. Paraben exposure can also induce behavioral changes and nervous system disorders in fish. Although the USEPA and EU limit the use of parabens in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, their prolonged persistence in the environment may pose an additional health risk to humans.

Dynamic evolution of particulate and gaseous emissions for typical residential coal combustion

Residential coal combustion still accounts for half of the heating energy consumption in many developing countries. The dynamic variation during the combustion process importantly determines the combustion facility design and appropriate air quality assessment, which was omitted in conventional studies. This study investigated the emissions of particulate and gaseous pollutants during the combustion process for typical coal types using online monitoring. During the first pyrolysis stage with temperature climbing, the organic aerosols (OA) and gases reached peak concentration. The second fierce combustion stage had the highest temperature and produced the highest cumulative emissions, particularly a substantial amount of black carbon for coals with higher volatile content. Using higher-quality coals will undoubtedly reduce PM emissions, by a factor of 10 from bituminous to anthracite coal. However, more ultrafine particles (d < 0.1 μm) from cleaner coal may pose additional health risks. Anthracite and honeycomb coal had approximately twice the energy content and emitted more CO2 per unit mass of fuel and had more persistent SO2 emissions throughout the burnout stage. The oxygenation of OA and organic gases remained increased during combustion, suggesting the pyrolysis products underwent oxidation before being emitted. The investigation of the coal combustion process suggests the importance of reducing volatiles to control PM emissions, but the potential negative synergistic effects between PM reduction and increased carbon emissions should also be considered.

Can the THC concentration predict the number of patients with cannabis-related diagnoses?

The use of high-potency cannabis products is associated with an increased risk of mental disorders. This study investigates whether the rising THC concentration in Germany is associated with an increase in cannabis-related diagnoses. The number of insured persons with at least one cannabis-related ICD-10 F12 diagnosis (e.g., harmful use, dependence) in outpatient care was provided by statutory health insurance funds between 2009 and 2021. The dependent variable is the ratio of (a) the number of insured persons with at least one F12 diagnosis to (b) all insured persons who have used cannabis in the last year. Information on THC concentration in cannabis flower was provided by law enforcement agencies. Using generalised mixed linear models, the dependent variable was predicted by the median THC concentration in cannabis flower. The regression results show that an increase in THC concentration by one percentage point is significantly associated with an increase in the proportion of diagnoses (women: +0.17; men: +0.42). THC concentration positively predicted the proportion of diagnoses in all 16 federal states for men and in 15 federal states for women. Compared to low-potency products, using high-potency products may pose additional health risks, which may be particularly pronounced in men. Acknowledging the limitations of the ecological study design and uncertainties inherent to the analysed data, further investigations on the sex-specific impact of THC exposure are required. Limiting the THC concentration in cannabis products and closely monitoring THC consumption in the population appears necessary.

Design and rationale for a randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a lifestyle physical activity intervention for people with HIV and engaged in unhealthy drinking

BackgroundAmong people living with HIV (PLWH), unhealthy drinking presents an increased risk for negative outcomes. Physical inactivity and sedentariness raise additional health risks. Despite evidence that physical activity (PA) is associated with improved physical and mental functioning and reduced alcohol cravings, there have been no PA studies conducted with PLWH engaged in unhealthy drinking. We describe a study protocol of a remote lifestyle physical activity (LPA) intervention to increase PA and reduce alcohol consumption among PLWH. MethodsUsing online advertisements, 220 low-active PLWH engaged in unhealthy drinking will be recruited and randomized nationwide. After providing informed consent and completing a baseline interview, participants will receive a Fitbit. Participants will complete 15 days of ecologic momentary assessment through a phone application and up to 15 days of Fitbit wear time. Following this period, participants will be randomly assigned to a Fitbit-only control condition or a LPA and Fitbit intervention condition. Health counselors meet with control participants once (and have 6 subsequent brief check ins on Fibit use) and with intervention participants 7 times for PA counseling over a 12-week period. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at 3- and 6-months post-randomization. We hypothesize that individuals in the LPA and Fitbit condition will have lower rates of alcohol consumption and higher rates of PA at 6-month follow-up. ConclusionThe randomized controlled trial described in this paper investigates remote methods to influence multimorbidity among PLWH using a LPA approach for increasing PA and reducing alcohol consumption.

Exploring the biosynthetic possibilities of hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers from bromophenols in Prorocentrum donghaiense: Implications for bioremediation

Bromophenols has been proven to synthesize hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs), which may pose additional environmental and health risks in the process of bioremediation. In this study, the removal of 2,4-dibromophenol (2,4-DBP) and 2,4,6-tribromophenol (2,4,6-TBP) and the biosynthetic of OH-PBDEs by Prorocentrum donghaiense were explored. The removal efficiencies of 2,4-DBP and 2,4,6-TBP ranged from 32.71% to 76.89% and 31.15%–78.12%, respectively. Low concentrations of 2,4-DBP stimulated algal growth, while high concentrations were inhibitory. Furthermore, exposure to 10.00 mg L−1 2,4-DBP resulted in the detection of 2′-hydroxy-2,3′,4,5′-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (2′–OH–BDE-68) within P. donghaiense. In contrast, increasing concentrations of 2,4,6-TBP considerably inhibited P. donghaiense growth, with 4′-hydroxy-2,3′,4,5′,6-pentabromodiphenyl ether (4′–OH–BDE-121) detected within P. donghaiense under 5.00 mg L−1 2,4,6-TBP. Metabolomic analysis further revealed that the synthesized OH-PBDEs exhibited higher toxicity than their precursors and identified the oxidative coupling as a key biosynthetic mechanism. These findings confirm the capacity of P. donghaiense to remove bromophenols and biosynthesize OH-PBDEs from bromophenols, offering valuable insights into formulating algal bioremediation to mitigate bromophenol contamination.

A Survey on Additional Health Risk Factors for Heroin Users Presenting in Emergency Department (ED) of Chesterfield, North Derbyshire

A Survey on Additional Health Risk Factors for Heroin Users Presenting in Emergency Department (ED) of Chesterfield, North Derbyshire

How do fish consume microplastics? An experimental study on accumulation pattern using Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

The aim of this study was to investigate microplastic (MP) exposure by Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in laboratory conditions. A total of 150 tilapia fishes were equally distributed randomly in 15 different glass tanks with five experimental conditions. Observed results depicted that the presence of MPs in different organs was mainly accumulated from the fish feed rather than externally added MPs in the culture tanks. It was also revealed that the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) was found to be the most susceptible to MPs accumulation followed by gills and muscles in order. However, muscle contained the least size of MPs followed by GITs and gills. A statistical test showed significant correlations among the average length and weight of fish with MP exposure. A filamentous shape was found to be dominant in both GITs and gills while fragment shape was dominant in muscles. FTIR results revealed a total of 12 different polymers in the fish of which two polymers (polyvinyl alcohol and ethylene vinyl acetate) were not detected in the feed-only tanks. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were found to be dominant polymers in all the experimental GIT, gills, and muscle organs. FESEM results indicated the presence of different textures including cracks, edges, flakes, scratches, grooves, and adhering particles. EDX results exhibited the presence of Na, Si, K, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd in the analyzed samples that may pose additional health risks. Thus, this study could act as baseline data for laboratory-based studies of aquaculture species in future research.

On the impact of climate change on urban microclimate, thermal comfort, and human health: Multiscale numerical simulations

Climate change is expected to aggravate urban microclimatic conditions and have adverse effects on human morbidity and mortality. However, there is limited knowledge on the impact of climate change on urban microclimate and human health for actual urban areas. In this study, we investigate the impact of climate change on urban microclimate and pedestrian thermal comfort within a complex district in Nicosia, Cyprus. Two climatic scenarios are considered: (i) current scenario based on meteorological conditions derived from field measurements performed in 2010, and (ii) future scenario for which meteorological conditions of 2050 are based on downscaled Regional Climate Models (RCMs). URANS CFD simulations are performed for the period of 9–10 July with a 1-h time-step. The results show that by 2050, the maximum air temperature at the pedestrian height of the case study area can increase by 2.3 °C which can increase heat-related mortality by more than 240 %. The UTCI is expected to significantly increase especially in the afternoon hours with up to a 4.3 °C increase at 20:00. The “very strong heat stress” conditions (UTCI: 38–46 °C) are expected to prevail for a longer period during the day, increasing from 3.3 to 6.6 h. In addition, the “extreme heat stress” conditions (UTCI: >46 °C) are expected to apply in parts of the area. This prolonged exposure to heat stress can incite additional health risks.

Urban stormwater green infrastructure: Evaluating the public health service role of bioretention using microbial source tracking and bacterial community analyses

Bioretention cells (BRCs) control stormwater flow on-site during precipitation, reducing runoff and improving water quality through chemical, physical, and biological processes. While BRCs are effective in these aspects, they provide habitats for wildlife and may face microbial hazards from fecal shedding, posing a potential threat to human health and the nearby environment. However, limited knowledge exists regarding the ability to control microbial hazards (e.g., beyond using typical indicator bacteria) through stormwater biofiltration. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to characterize changes in the bacterial community of urban stormwater undergoing bioretention treatment, with the goal of assessing the public health implications of these green infrastructure solutions. Samples from BRC inflow and outflow in Columbus, Ohio, were collected post-heavy storms from October 2021 to March 2022. Conventional culture-based E. coli monitoring and microbial source tracking (MST) were conducted to identify major fecal contamination extent and its sources (i.e., human, canine, avian, and ruminant). Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) was utilized to quantify the level of host-associated fecal contamination in addition to three antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs): tetracycline resistance gene (tetQ), sulfonamide resistance gene (sul1), and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase resistance gene (blaKPC). Subsequently, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was conducted to characterize bacterial community differences between stormwater BRC inflow and outflow. Untreated urban stormwater reflects anthropogenic contamination, suggesting it as a potential source of contamination to waterbodies and urban environments. When comparing inlet and outlet BRC samples, urban stormwater treated via biofiltration did not increase microbial hazards, and changes in bacterial taxa and alpha diversity were negligible. Beta diversity results reveal a significant shift in bacterial community structure, while simultaneously enhancing the water quality (i.e., reduction of metals, total suspended solids, total nitrogen) of urban stormwater. Significant correlations were found between the bacterial community diversity of urban stormwater with fecal contamination (e.g. dog) and ARG (sul1), rainfall intensity, and water quality (hardness, total phosphorous). The study concludes that bioretention technology can sustainably maintain urban microbial water quality without posing additional public health risks, making it a viable green infrastructure solution for heavy rainfall events exacerbated by climate change.

Pneumococcal and Influenza Vaccination Coverage in Patients with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review.

Background/Objectives: As heart failure (HF) patients face increased vulnerability to respiratory infections, optimizing pneumococcal and influenza vaccination coverage becomes pivotal for mitigating additional health risks and reducing hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality rates within this population. In this specific subpopulation of patients, vaccination coverage for pneumococcal and influenza holds heightened significance compared to other vaccines due to their susceptibility to respiratory infections, which can exacerbate existing cardiovascular conditions and lead to severe complications or even death. However, despite the recognized benefits, vaccination coverage among HF patients remains below expectations. The aim of the present systematic review was to assess the vaccination coverage for influenza and pneumococcus in HF patients from 2005 to 2023 and the vaccination's effects on survival and hospitalizations. Methods: The authors developed the protocol of the review in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, and the search was performed in databases including PubMed and Scopus. After the initial search, 851 studies were found in PubMed Library and 1961 in Scopus (total of 2812 studies). Results: After the initial evaluation, 23 publications were finally included in the analysis. The total study population consisted of 6,093,497 participants. Regarding the influenza vaccine, vaccination coverage ranged from low rates of 2.5% to very high rates of 97%, while the respective pneumococcal vaccination coverage ranged from 20% to 84.6%. Most studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of vaccination on survival and hospitalizations. Conclusions: The present systematic review study showed a wide variety of vaccination coverage among patients with heart failure.

Illegal products containing selective androgen receptor modulators purchased online from Italy: health risks for consumers.

Selective androgen receptor modulators (SARMs) are small synthetic drug molecules that are still not approved as medicine in Europe or the United States but are sold on illegal websites to improve sport performance, particularly bodybuilding. To address the quality issues of illegal SARM products and their increasing diffusion in Italy with their potential health risks for consumers. Web-based tools were used to investigate retail websites, trending searches, and information exchange via social media. Thirteen SARM products, purchased on retail websites accessible from Italy, were subject to visual inspection and chemical analysis by mass spectrometry and quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance. The primary outcome was demonstration of additional health risks due to the illicit presence of other active ingredients, contamination, and misdosage in SARM products sold on the internet. The secondary outcome was to show the increasing trend of interest in Italy for these products. Most websites reported misleading information; specifically, the statement "for research only" was reported notwithstanding indications on dosage and training phases. The trending search showed that interest toward SARMs increased in Italy in the last years. The use of these products is clearly encouraged by the emerging phenomenon of "broscience" as revealed in socials. Visual inspection evidenced nonconform labeling. Qualitative analysis confirmed the presence of the stated SARM in about 70% of samples. In 23% of samples, the expected SARM was not detected but a different one instead, and in 1 sample, no SARMs were detected. Other undeclared pharmaceutical substances (tamoxifen, clomifene, testosterone, epimethandienone, tadalafil) were measured in 30% of samples. The copresence of >1 active substance was observed in >60% of samples. Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance data showed nonuniform content ranging from 30% to 90% of the label claim. The use of SARMs, in the presence of unexpected life-threatening reactions in persons using the products to increase sport performance, should be assessed. This investigation involved an integrated approach to study SARM products and related sociologic aspects. The main shortcomings are the limited number of samples and retail websites in the clear web investigated. SARMs sold online as food supplement-like products represent a health hazard due to the presence of unapproved and undeclared active substances. The presence of contaminants clearly indicates the absence of good manufacturing practices in the production, which increases the health risks.

Unraveling the complexities: Impacts of energy burden on the built environment challenges among assistance-dependent populations in the United Kingdom

The intricate relationship between energy burden (EB) and indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is vital for human well-being within the built environment. While previous studies have focused on vulnerable groups, individuals with health concerns have received limited attention. This interdisciplinary study delves into the disparities and cumulative impacts of EB, the built environment, and social demographics, with a particular focus on assistance-dependent populations (ADPs). Based on 2588 online respondents in the U.K. during the COVID-19 pandemic, our research unveils significant relationships between EB, heating insecurity, and perceived thermal discomfort. ADPs reported an average EB of 5.5% and poorer housing quality than their counterparts, with inadequate temperatures emerging as a primary concern. The correlation analysis highlights a strong connection between the perception of thermal discomfort and energy-saving behaviors. We also explored the interactions of EB, homeownership, and assistance-dependent status to uncover concentrated disadvantages in housing issues and identified vulnerable groups. Notably, irrespective of their EB, ADPs face more challenges than non-ADPs, highlighting the greater predictive significance of assistance-dependent status over EB. Moreover, our findings suggest that assistance-dependent renters constitute the most vulnerable group. Considering that ADPs already contend with preexisting physical illnesses, the revelation that they are more prone to experiencing higher EB and residing in inferior conditions is of utmost importance. It underscores the urgency of mitigating these additional health risks and ensuring the availability of a healthy and safe living environment for vulnerable demographics, thereby advancing the goal of equity within the built environment for overall well-being.

The effects of COVID-19 pandemic on women’s access to maternal health and family planning services in Egypt: an exploratory study in two governorates

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has been noted to decrease access to maternal health and family planning services globally. However, evidence from the Middle East and North Africa region is very scarce and limited. We qualitatively explored women’s experiences in accessing maternal health and family planning services during the COVID-19 lockdown months in the two Egyptian governorates of Port Said and Souhag.MethodsUsing a case study design, semi-structured phone interviews were conducted with a total of 40 women aged 18–35 years from Port Said and Souhag governorates in Egypt. Interviews explored women’s experiences in accessing maternal health and family planning services during COVID-19 lockdown months, their coping strategies, and impact of challenges and/or coping strategies on participants and their families. The collected data was analyzed manually using qualitative thematic analysis.ResultsMany participants were unable to access maternal health and family planning services during COVID-19 lockdown due to fear of contracting the virus, closure of health facilities, changing service hours, family planning method or drug stock-outs, and/or financial constraints. The above challenges in accessing services along with coping strategies that some women and their families used exposed women to additional health risks, including unintended pregnancies, and posed several social, emotional, and financial burdens to many.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures undermined women’s access to maternal and family planning services and interfered with their ability to achieve their reproductive goals. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations to ensure access to maternal and family planning services at times of crisis. Those recommendations include: (1) adapting reliable guidelines from humanitarian settings, (2) providing adequate guidance to healthcare providers and the public to tackle fears and misinformation, (3) making self-care products available such as oral contraceptive pills, vaginal rings and self- administered injectables, (4) involving other health professionals in the provision of maternal and family planning services through task-sharing/shifting, (5) expanding the use of telemedicine and/or digital health services especially to those living in remote areas and (6) raising policymakers’ awareness of the centrality of reproductive rights and the importance of protecting them at all times.

Are the New Kawasaki-like Syndromes in the Children Associated with COVID-19?

COVID-19 pandemic is severe acute respiratory syndrome is still ongoing since December in almost every countries and cities. This syndrome was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China than first case was seen in Thailand and many COVID-19 cases are detected in all populations, and most of them recovered and age, comorbidities, gender, of COVID-19 deaths and the severity of the infection were changed according to the patients’ additional health risk parameters. Elderly population and people with chronic diseases have been categorized as major risk group, however some COVID-19 positive children have showed Kawasaki disease-like syndromes such as hyper-inflammatory state according to the current state same as adult patients infected by COVID-19. We suggested that glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency can make some children more vulnerable against COVID-19 infection same as adults, since this virus attacks hemoglobin and heme metabolism leading to the increased hemolysis and impaired oxygen transport to the tissues. G6PD deficiency is most affects males. Thus, possible correlation between COVID-19 infection and Kawasaki disease like syndromes in the especially male children should be further investigated and maybe children may be categorized as risk group in the future.

THE CONCEPT OF ISLAMIC SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN HUMAN CIVILIZATION: PERCEPTIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS MITIGATION

The world today is living with the repercussions of numerous problems, which have become the focus of discussion for research centres, countries, and international organizations. These issues are a result of what is known as the phenomenon of global warming, where environmental disasters have increased, global problems have multiplied, and are becoming more exacerbated day by day in climate changes and an unprecedented rise in global temperatures. All global environmental indicators point to accelerated turning points in environmental climate changes worldwide. However, this precise depiction of the climate change issue is not clear enough for the majority of people globally, especially in North Africa and the Mediterranean region. It is today one of the most prominent and dangerous environmental problems of the era, threatening all forms of life on Earth. Reports indicate that we have reached what is referred to as the saturation point, meaning the physical-biological capacity threshold of the Earth system. We are no longer maintaining stability and are approaching critical tipping points. (Rockstrom, J. 2023. Safe and just Earth system boundaries. Nature Article) This, in turn, poses a significant threat to life systems and stability on Earth, exacerbating issues of social, economic, and ethical inequality. As this problem has evolved into a daily struggle, we experience it due to excess in everything, from natural resource depletion to corruption in all its forms. This includes severe food shortages, unprecedented temperature rises, additional health risks, and an increase in the number of climate change victims in North Africa, the Mediterranean region, and developing countries. (Hzami, A., &amp; Heggy, E. 2021. Alarming coastal vulnerability of the deltaic and sandy beaches of North Africa. Nature Article) Despite many regions where most Muslims live being highly susceptible to climate change, and despite Islam often assuming and attributing significant religious, social, ethical, and spiritual importance in these regions, numerous studies and research have attempted to find solutions to the issue of climate change. However, few Western studies in the humanities and social sciences have explored the relationship between the concept of social justice and sustainability, with a material understanding of human well-being in this worldly life. It is through this understanding that we have arrived at our current state today. Given that Islam places significant importance to the social and human aspects in understanding sustainability, the research aims to be the link between Islamic social justice and global climate change. Considering the risks faced in the Islamic world and the challenges in this area, the researcher sees this issue as the focal point of the study. The role of the study is to connect human civilization and the concept of Islamic sustainable development to the concept of comprehensive justice for the climate change issue, taking into account the holistic relationship and connection between heaven and earth, religion and the world, modernity, and ethics within the framework of (the concept of social justice in Islam).

Metal pollution status and health risk assessment of beach sediments along the Mersin coast, Turkey

In the present study, the ecological risk assessment of metal contamination in beach sediments along the Mersin coast was determined using the metal contents of beach sediments in Mersin, Kızkalesi, Susanoğlu and Taşucu region obtained between 2006 and 2009. Furthermore, the potential health risk assessment for ingestion and dermal contact pathways of adults and children was determined. Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals showed that there is no pollution in the beach sediments for the metals Cu, Pb and Zn for the all studied coasts. However, the high ecological risk indices calculated in this study strongly suggested an apparent Cd, Cr and Ni pollution in the studied beach sediments due to natural and anthropogenic contamination. Study findings indicated the HI values were greater than 1 for the metal Cr. The TCR values were higher than 1.00E-04 for the metals Cr and Ni calculated for adults, and for the metal Cu, Cr and Ni calculated for children, respectively. All these findings showed that there is a high carcinogenic risk for adults and children resident in the Mersin province from carcinogenic Cr and Ni whilst the studied coasts have additional health risks to children from carcinogenic Cu.