Environmental Health Benefits Research Articles

Evaluation of environmental health benefits of China’s building energy conservation policies: an integrated assessment on national and provincial levels

This article evaluates the effect of energy conservation policies and carbon mitigation efforts on reducing health damage in China’s building sector, which has been long ignored. The study bases on both national and provincial levels. To evaluate the health damage effect, we use domestic data by region to ensure the reliability of the evaluation. Results show that in the co-control scenario, the GDP loss saved from health benefit in 2020, 2030, and 2050 is 0.13 %, 0.16 %, and 0.23 %, respectively, compared to reference scenario. At a provincial level, extra health benefit of 16, 16, 33, 25, and 23 RMB/person can be observed for Beijing, Heilongjiang, Guangdong, Henan, and Qinghai owing to energy conservation, even with the strictest end-of-pipe control measures. The results confirm the significant effect of energy conservation efforts on reducing the health damage in China’s building sector at both national and provincial levels.

Reducing meat consumption in the USA: a nationally representative survey of attitudes and behaviours.

Excess meat consumption, particularly of red and processed meats, is associated with nutritional and environmental health harms. While only a small portion of the population is vegetarian, surveys suggest many Americans may be reducing their meat consumption. To inform education campaigns, more information is needed about attitudes, perceptions, behaviours and foods eaten in meatless meals. A web-based survey administered in April 2015 assessed meat reduction behaviours, attitudes, what respondents ate in meatless meals and sociodemographic characteristics. Nationally representative, web-based survey in the USA. US adults (n 1112) selected from GfK Knowledgeworks' 50 000-member online panel. Survey weights were used to assure representativeness. Two-thirds reported reducing meat consumption in at least one category over three years, with reductions of red and processed meat most frequent. The most common reasons for reduction were cost and health; environment and animal welfare lagged. Non-meat reducers commonly agreed with statements suggesting that meat was healthy and 'belonged' in the diet. Vegetables were most often consumed 'always' in meatless meals, but cheese/dairy was also common. Reported meat reduction was most common among those aged 45-59 years and among those with lower incomes. The public and environmental health benefits of reducing meat consumption create a need for campaigns to raise awareness and contribute to motivation for change. These findings provide rich information to guide intervention development, both for the USA and other high-income countries that consume meat in high quantities.

Combined bacterial and mycorrhizal inocula improve tomato quality at reduced fertilization

Abstract Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) can positively affect plant nutrition and growth. Recent studies have also shown that rhizospheric microorganisms can result in improved fruit features. Aim of this work was to evaluate, in an industrial farming, the effects of three selected biostimulants (consisting of a mix of Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi), employed in conditions of reduced fertilization on yield, fruit quality and nutritional value. Tomato plants were inoculated with AM fungi and Pseudomonas sp. 19Fv1T or P. fluorescens C7, transplanted and grown in open field under conditions of reduced fertilization. The impact of the microorganisms on the fruit yield and nutritional value was assessed by measuring the production, fruit size and concentration of soluble sugars, organic acids, carotenoids and ascorbate. The size and biomass of tomato fruits were affected by the inocula. Sugar concentration was increased by the selected microorganisms. All the mixtures induced an enhancement of malic acid, while double colonization with AMF and PGPB increased β-carotene concentration in fruits if compared to controls. The results of the present study show that inoculation with soil microorganisms can help to drastically reduce the use of chemical fertilization, maintaining and, in some cases, even improving the tomato fruit yield and quality. This can lead to economical, environmental and human health benefits in relation to the increased sustainability.

Residual Inequity: Assessing the Unintended Consequences of New York City's Clean Heat Transition.

Energy policies and public health are intimately intertwined. In New York City, a series of policies, known as the Clean Heat Program (CHP), were designed to reduce air pollution by banning residual diesel fuel oils, #6 in 2015 and #4 by 2030. This measure is expected to yield environmental and public health benefits over time. While there is near-universal compliance with the #6 ban, a substantial number of buildings still use #4. In this paper, geographic analysis and qualitative interviews with stakeholders were used to interrogate the CHP’s policy implementation in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. A total of 1724 (53%) of all residential residual fuel burning buildings are located in this region. Stakeholders reflected mostly on the need for the program, and overall reactions to its execution. Major findings include that government partnerships with non-governmental organizations were effectively employed. However, weaknesses with the policy were also identified, including missed opportunities for more rapid transitions away from residual fuels, unsuccessful outreach efforts, cost-prohibitive conversion opportunities, and (the perception of) a volatile energy market for clean fuels. Ultimately, this analysis serves as a case study of a unique and innovative urban policy initiative to improve air quality and, consequently, public health.

Economic, human and environmental health benefits of replacing formaldehyde in the preservation of corpses

Formaldehyde has been prominent in preserving biological tissues since the nineteenth century. Despite being admittedly harmful to health and to the environment, it is still widely used. The Morphology Department of the University of Brasília - Brazil, applied the rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle and responsibility methodology to their activities in an effort to protect the health of laboratory workers and users, save resources and reduce damage to the environment. Here we evaluate the results obtained a decade after the implementation of this proposal (2005–2015). Formaldehyde was replaced by alcohol and glycerol solutions in corpse conservation. Over five thousand dollars in public funds that would have been destined to buying preserving substances were saved annually, and over a hundred thousand liters of water that would have been contaminated and thrown into the sewage system were spared. The environment used to implement the study was improved and anatomical parts kept for study had their lifespan extended. It is noteworthy that such simple adjustments could cause pronounced changes in laboratory activities. We would avoid contaminating billions of liters of water and it would be possible to save millions if similar practices were implemented in all educational institutions having similar routines.

The Influence of crime on active & sustainable travel: New geo-statistical methods and theories for understanding crime and mode choice

Abstract While several studies investigate the links between crime and travel behavior, little research examines the influence different types of crime or their location may have on active and sustainable travel choices. Furthermore, while travel is an inherently linear activity, most studies use coarse, zonal averages, likely missing key details important to pedestrians and bicyclists. In response, this study applies new geospatial measures and statistical methods to explore a number of interesting relationships between different crime types, their location, and their varying influence on green and healthy transit station access mode choices. Building on their previous work, the researchers uncover a complex set of relationships. Accordingly, this study suggests a new transportation research phenomena—the distinction between ‘property’ and ‘exposed’ modes. For example, property crimes appear to deter people from placing personal property at risk, such as parking a vehicle or a bicycle at a station, while violent crimes appear to significantly deter people from choosing to walk or bicycle, potentially exposing themselves to threats of personal injury. Our findings suggest that providing greater security for property modes at destinations (e.g. secure bicycle parking at stations), and personal safety for exposed modes (e.g. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design), may provide greater environmental and public health benefits than previously realized. This research infers important links between crime, policing, public health, and sustainability, informing a range of policy decisions, from urban design to police resource allocation. As most public policy and design strategies can take years to show results, this research helps guide crime intervention policies that may more quickly achieve important, health and sustainability goals.

Slum Upgrading and Health Equity.

Informal settlement upgrading is widely recognized for enhancing shelter and promoting economic development, yet its potential to improve health equity is usually overlooked. Almost one in seven people on the planet are expected to reside in urban informal settlements, or slums, by 2030. Slum upgrading is the process of delivering place-based environmental and social improvements to the urban poor, including land tenure, housing, infrastructure, employment, health services and political and social inclusion. The processes and products of slum upgrading can address multiple environmental determinants of health. This paper reviewed urban slum upgrading evaluations from cities across Asia, Africa and Latin America and found that few captured the multiple health benefits of upgrading. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focused on improving well-being for billions of city-dwellers, slum upgrading should be viewed as a key strategy to promote health, equitable development and reduce climate change vulnerabilities. We conclude with suggestions for how slum upgrading might more explicitly capture its health benefits, such as through the use of health impact assessment (HIA) and adopting an urban health in all policies (HiAP) framework. Urban slum upgrading must be more explicitly designed, implemented and evaluated to capture its multiple global environmental health benefits.

Rapid assessment framework for modeling stakeholder involvement in infrastructure development

There is increasing global interest in the adoption of sustainable wastewater systems due to the significant human and environmental health benefits of properly treating wastewater effluents prior to being discharged into surface waters and local communities. Research demonstrates that wastewater infrastructure is sustainable only when multiple stakeholder groups are involved. Here we draw on the principles of integrated environmental resources management and sociocultural analyses to develop a framework for rapidly assessing stakeholder involvement in a proposed centralized wastewater project in Placencia, Belize. We demonstrate this framework by analyzing survey responses to measure stakeholder involvement and discuss the model’s utility to inform groupings based on similarity in engagement. We employ Brainerd-Robinson similarity coefficients to rapidly assess stakeholders’ involvement and produce a consensus score. We then evaluate the goodness of fit between these scores and correspondence analysis scatterplots. We conclude that Brainerd-Robinson scores provide a rapid means for determining relevant groupings of stakeholders, particularly in resource-scarce settings. Nuanced stakeholder groupings can inform researchers, policy makers, development workers, and community organizations about ways in which individuals are engaging with a project, providing a way to target suitable initiatives to promote sustained involvement.

Biogas Stoves Reduce Firewood Use, Household Air Pollution, and Hospital Visits in Odisha, India

Traditional cooking using biomass is associated with ill health, local environmental degradation, and regional climate change. Clean stoves (liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biogas, and electric) are heralded as a solution, but few studies have demonstrated their environmental health benefits in field settings. We analyzed the impact of mainly biogas (as well as electric and LPG) stove use on social, environmental, and health outcomes in two districts in Odisha, India, where the Indian government has promoted household biogas. We established a cross-sectional observational cohort of 105 households that use either traditional mud stoves or improved cookstoves (ICS). Our multidisciplinary team conducted surveys, environmental air sampling, fuel weighing, and health measurements. We examined associations between traditional or improved stove use and primary outcomes, stratifying households by proximity to major industrial plants. ICS use was associated with 91% reduced use of firewood (p < 0.01), substantial time savings for primary cooks, a 72% reduction in PM2.5, a 78% reduction in PAH levels, and significant reductions in water-soluble organic carbon and nitrogen (p < 0.01) in household air samples. ICS use was associated with reduced time in the hospital with acute respiratory infection and reduced diastolic blood pressure but not with other health measurements. We find many significant gains from promoting rural biogas stoves in a context in which traditional stove use persists, although pollution levels in ICS households still remained above WHO guidelines.

Controlling tile drainage during the growing season in Eastern Canada to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria loading to surface water

Drainage water management such as controlled tile drainage (CTD) is one means to help meet pollution mitigation targets and boost crop yields. In this study, CTD was retrofit to existing tile drained fields in eastern Ontario, Canada (humid continental climate) to study water quality benefits. A suite of paired field systems were used to compare CTD tile drainage quality with conventional tile drainage quality for nine growing seasons (2005–2013), translating to 35 field-crop years. Field crops were corn, soybean and forage. For CTD fields, controlled tile drainage was employed only during the growing season (time period when comparisons were made) due to surface runoff/erosion and growing season length concerns associated with non-growing season flow control. Water quality targets in tile effluent included: nitrate, ammonium, total phosphorus, dissolved reactive phosphorus, and fecal indicator bacteria such as E. coli, and Enterococci. Respectively, there were 60, 51, 58, 66, 66, 76, and 25% reductions in above noted drainage water fluxes and water quality targets as a result of CTD (for all 35 field-crop years combined). Concurrent environmental and potential public health benefits of managing tile drainage during the growing season were demonstrated; moreover, over the course of the study, corn and soybean yields were significantly boosted by CTD.

The environmental and public health benefits of achieving high penetrations of solar energy in the United States

We estimate the environmental and public health benefits that may be realized if solar energy cost reductions continue until solar power is competitive across the U.S. without subsidies. Specifically, we model, from 2015 to 2050, solar power–induced reductions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, air pollutant emissions, and water usage. To find the incremental benefits of new solar deployment, we compare the difference between two scenarios, one where solar costs have fallen such that solar supplies 14% of the nation's electricity by 2030 and 27% by 2050, and a baseline scenario in which no solar is added after 2014. We monetize benefits, where credible methods exist to do so. We find that under these scenarios, solar power reduces GHG and air pollutants by ∼10%, from 2015 to 2050, providing a discounted present value of $56–$789 billion (central value of ∼$250 billion, equivalent to ∼2 ¢/kWh-solar) in climate benefits and $77–$298 billion (central value of $167 billion, or ∼1.4 ¢/kWh-solar) in air quality and public health benefits. The ranges reflect uncertainty within the literature about the marginal impact of emissions of GHG and air pollutants. Solar power is also found to reduce water withdrawals and consumption by 4% and 9%, respectively, including in many drought-prone states.

Resource allocation for mitigating regional air pollution–related mortality: A summertime case study for five cities in the United States

ABSTRACTAn important issue of regional air quality management is to allocate air quality management funds to maximize environmental and human health benefits. In this study, we use an innovative approach to tackle this air quality management issue. We develop an innovative resource allocation model that allows identification of air pollutant emission control strategies that maximize mortality avoidances subject to a resource constraint. We first present the development of the resource allocation model and then a case study to show how the model can be used to identify resource allocation strategies that maximize mortality avoidances for top five Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) (i.e., New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Philadelphia) in the continental United States collectively. Given budget constraints in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Act assessment, the results of the case study suggest that controls of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and primary carbon (PC) emissions from EPA Regions 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9 would have significant health benefits for the five selected cities collectively. Around 30,800 air pollution–related mortalities could be avoided during the selected 2-week summertime episode for the five cities collectively if the budget could be allocated based on the results of the resource allocation model. Although only five U.S. cities during a 2-week episode are considered in the case study, the resource allocation model can be used by decision-makers to plan air pollution mitigation strategies to achieve the most significant health benefits for other seasons and more cities over a region or the continental U.S.Implications: Effective allocations of air quality management resources are challenging and complicated, and it is desired to have a tool that can help decision-makers better allocate the funds to maximize health benefits of air pollution mitigation. An innovative resource allocation model developed in this study can help decision-makers identify the best resource allocation strategies for multiple cities collectively. The results of a case study suggest that controls of primary carbon and sulfur dioxides emissions would achieve the most significant health benefits for five selected cities collectively.

Environmental and health impacts of using food waste as animal feed: a comparative analysis of food waste management options

The disposal of food waste is a large environmental problem. In the United Kingdom (UK), approximately 15 million tonnes of food are wasted each year, mostly disposed of in landfill, via composting, or anaerobic digestion (AD). European Union (EU) guidelines state that food waste should preferentially be used as animal feed though for most food waste this practice is currently illegal, because of disease control concerns. Interest in the potential diversion of food waste for animal feed is however growing, with a number of East Asian states offering working examples of safe food waste recycling – based on tight regulation and rendering food waste safe through heat treatment. This study investigates the potential benefits of diverting food waste for pig feed in the UK. A hybrid, consequential life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to compare the environmental and health impacts of four technologies for food waste processing: two technologies of South Korean style-animal feed production (as a wet pig feed and a dry pig feed) were compared with two widespread UK disposal technologies: AD and composting. Results of 14 mid-point impact categories show that the processing of food waste as a wet pig feed and a dry pig feed have the best and second-best scores, respectively, for 13/14 and 12/14 environmental and health impacts. The low impact of food waste feed stems in large part from its substitution of conventional feed, the production of which has substantial environmental and health impacts. While the re-legalisation of the use of food waste as pig feed could offer environmental and public health benefits, this will require support from policy makers, the public, and the pig industry, as well as investment in separated food waste collection which currently occurs in only a minority of regions.

Development and Disease: A Study of Cancer Villages in China

The cancer-village phenomenon provides a focal point to examine worsening environmental health problems in China and raises critical questions for sustainability research and policy. This paper seeks to address various concerns relating to health and environment keeping in view the development trajectory of the state. The geopolitics of cancer and the geographical accountability are the main concerns of the research. The reasons for mushrooming of the ‘cancer villages’ and the approach of the government towards tackling it have been discussed. There are implications of the disease for the vulnerable sections of the society and recently there has been rise of civil society and NGOs advocating for better environmental measures and health benefits. Though government has started acknowledging the Cancer Villages, the problem is unlikely to lessen in the near future.

Cycling for Sustainable Transportation in Urban Ghana: Exploring Attitudes and Perceptions among Adults with Different Cycling Experience

&lt;p&gt;Attitudinal and perceptual factors are important determinants of bicycle use as a mode of transportation. Understanding how attitudes and perceptions vary across different population is critical for successful cycling promotion interventions. Drawing on research from the context of an African city, this paper examines attitudes and perceptions about utility cycling in the general population, and determines if there are differences in how males and females who have different cycling experience perceive cycling for commuting purposes. Using non-parametric test, the study found that attitudes and perceptions regarding the environmental, financial, exercise and potential health benefits of cycling for transportation were very positive generally, and slightly stronger in females who had never cycled before than in males in the same group. Cycling was also not perceived as the most comfortable, safe, easy, convenient and flexible mode of transportation suitable for long distance travel among the majority of the respondents. These perceptions and attitudes were pronounced in females in the sub-group of respondents who had never cycled before and those who cycled previously than in males in the same groups. Among frequent cyclists, males perceived cycling for commute as a less tiring activity than females. Moreover, cycling’s public image as a less prestigious mode of transport that could not be taken to important social events was prevalent among the respondents, although this perception was found to be stronger in males than in females who had not cycled before. The findings could inform tailored cycling promotion programmes within the general population and across specific groups.&lt;/p&gt;

Human and environmental health risks and benefits associated with use of urban stormwater

For stormwater harvesting to achieve its full potential in mitigating water scarcity problems and restoring stream health, it is necessary to evaluate the human and environmental health risks and benefits associated with it. Stormwater harbors large amounts of pollutants and has traditionally been viewed as a leading cause of water‐quality degradation of receiving waters. Harvesting stormwater for household use raises questions of human exposure to pollutants, especially human pathogens, which have the potential to cause large‐scale disease outbreaks. These issues are compounded by uncertainties relating to the performance of stormwater treatment technologies in pathogen removal. Quantitative microbial risk assessment provides an objective risk estimate based on scientific data and the best assumptions, which can be used to educate and instil confidence in stakeholders of the practice. Although limited, human health risk studies have positively supported the use of minimally treated rainwater and stormwater for some non‐potable applications. In addition to the well‐known benefit of preserving the stream hydrology and ecology, wetlands used for harvesting stormwater can also provide new habitats for wildlife that benefit environmental health. A fundamental change from viewing stormwater as waste to resource requires the coordinated efforts in research, education, and effective communication. WIREs Water 2015, 2:683–699. doi: 10.1002/wat2.1107This article is categorized under: Engineering Water &gt; Water, Health, and Sanitation

Initiative Aims to End Routine Flaring of Natural Gas

A new initiative to curtail the wasteful burning of natural gas associated with oil production could lead to significant environmental and public health benefits.

An Environmental Assessment of School Shade Tree Canopy and Implications for Sun Safety Policies: The Los Angeles Unified School District

In an effort to reforest school sites with limited resources, communities and non-profits have implemented projects on Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) school sites, often without thought for the best location, long-term maintenance, or appropriateness of the tree type. Although studies exist related to sun safety policies in schools, there has been little emphasis on the environmental public health benefits of trees in public schools. The LAUSD School Shade Tree Canopy Study was a response to this issue in which data was analyzed (a total of 33,729 trees in the LAUSD were mapped) regarding tree canopy coverage, pervious/impervious areas, and buildings for 509 elementary schools to assess urban forestry management issues and environmental injustices within communities of the district. The results of these analyses indicate that there is a wide range of school site size, tree canopy coverage as a percentage of school site size, tree canopy coverage as a percentage of play area, and percentage of unpaved surface play areas (e.g., (~20%) of the schools have both (0.0%) tree canopy coverage play areas and 100% paved surfaces). This finding alone has implications in how the LAUSD may implement sun safe polices which would aid in preventing skin cancer and other adverse health outcomes for students within the school district.

Is the future of meat palatable? Perceptions of in vitro meat as evidenced by online news comments.

To understand current public perceptions of in vitro meat (IVM) in light of its potential to be a more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional meat. A qualitative content analysis of the comments made on online news articles highlighting the development of IVM and the world's first IVM hamburger in August 2013. News article comment sections across seven US-based online news sources (The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Cable News Network and National Public Radio). Four hundred and sixty-two commenters who made eight hundred and fourteen publicly available online comments addressing IVM. Key themes in commenter perceptions of IVM included environmental and public health benefits, but also negative themes such as IVM's status as an unnatural and unappealing food. Overall, the tone of comments was more negative than positive. Findings suggest that while the environmental and public health motivations for developing and in turn consuming IVM resonate with some segments of the population, others find that reasoning both uncompelling and problematic. Concerns about IVM as an unnatural and risky product also appear to be a significant barrier to public acceptance of IVM. Supporters of IVM may wish to begin to develop a regulatory strategy for IVM to build public trust and explore messaging strategies that cast IVM as a new technology with benefits to individuals rather than primarily a solution to global challenges. Those in the public health nutrition field can make an important contribution to the emerging public discussion about IVM.

A Review of Spatial Variation of Allergenic Tree Pollen Within Cities

Urban trees provide a range of environmental and public health benefits. However, urban trees may also have an adverse effect on human health by increasing exposure to pollen. Many types of tree pollen are considered to be allergens and have been linked to various manifestations of allergic disease, including allergic sensitization, exacerbation of allergic rhinitis, and exacerbation of allergic asthma. An emerging body of literature suggests that the amount of pollen deposited annually varies widely over small spatial scales. While the health impacts of spatial variation in tree pollen within metropolitan areas could be large, the current literature has not been systematically reviewed. To fill this gap in knowledge, this review synthesizes existing evidence on how tree pollen is distributed on an intra-urban spatial scale. A better understanding of the spatial distribution of allergenic tree pollen within urban environments and its relation to health could inform increasingly common urban tree planting programs.