Environmental Health Conditions Research Articles

Role of local government in responding to environmental health challenges: a case study of Chungnam.

The purpose of this study is to introduce the establishment process, policy target, and projects for “Chungnam’s master plan on environmental health policy (2017-2020)” as the local government’s role in addressing local environmental health challenges. We first analyzed existing studies and social issues on the media related to “Chungnam’s master plan” to understand Chungnam’s environmental health status and discussed domestic and international policy trends and related plans. An environmental health perception questionnaire survey and a Delphi expert questionnaire survey were conducted among provincial residents to collect various actors’ opinions on Chungnam’s environmental health issues and policy. An expert advisory panel was launched, and a residents’ voice workshop and cities-and-guns-policy-suggestion workshop were held. The vision of Chungnam’s environmental health policy is minimizing environmental hazards. We finally selected “Pleasant environment, healthy people, happy Chungnam” to represent the will to shape a pleasant environment and prevent and manage health damages for a happy Chungnam. We selected five strategies based on status analysis and a review of domestic and international policy trends and related plans and identified 2 targets (policy objectives) to accomplish the strategies. The strategies to achieve the first target, “Leader in environmental health policy: Chungnam,” include ‘Empowering active provincial capabilities,’ ‘Setting up province-specific systems for environmental health surveys and research,’ and ‘Preventing and managing newly emerging pollutants.’ The strategies for the second target, “Everyone is healthy: Chungnam,” include ‘Relieving health inequalities among vulnerable regions and residents’ and ‘Enlarging the resident-friendly environmental health policy.’ We developed 29 projects in total, according to these strategies. The establishment of “Chungnam’s master plan” is highly valuable; we developed it through discussion involving diverse actors to address environmental health challenges together. It is necessary to continue to strengthen participation, communication, and cooperation among actors to develop an environmental health policy model for the future.

OPERATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRINCIPLES IN ASSESSMENT OF CAUSAL LINK BETWEEN HEALTH CONDITION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE EXPOSURE

A systematic review of the 22 published data available in both national and international scientific indexing systems, including the results of 2 our own researches showed that the common practice of establishing a causal link between the environmental hazardous substance exposure and public health condition often did not met the modern concepts of its evidence-based criteria. Current methodological, organizational and technical problems inhibitive proper collection and evidence interpretation of environmental pollution harmful effect on health condition were discussed, as well as noncritical use of a linear summation principle of adverse effects incidence of unidirectionally functioning actual substance in any level effect. The limitations and conditions under which such summation can be used if content of harmful substances in environmental objects is lower than corresponding MAC were given. Needs for further development of the approach of aggregated assessment of pollution negative effect on health were also specified. It is shown that the model can't be considered as evidence-based one if it is unable to provide reliable prediction of injury when risk environment is represented by a combination of different factors and conditions that do not meet stability criterion and association coherence.

Environmental Health and Safety Status of Schools: Case Study in Paveh City of Kermanshah Province

Environmental Health and Safety Status of Schools: Case Study in Paveh City of Kermanshah Province

Assess the environmental health status of macrophyte ecosystems using an oxidative stress biomarker. Case studies: The Gulf of Aqaba and the Lagoon of Venice

The aim of this work was to evaluate the implementation of the oxidative stress biomarker (LPO) for the assessment and monitoring of the ecological status of macrophyte in relation to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Gulf of Aqaba (Jordan) and the Lagoon of Venice (Italy). Results showed that the anthropic influences related to PTEs of the examined areas are evident. Moreover, changes in the LPO levels can precede significant changes in ecological health status of macrophyte ecosystems that can be used in the future as an early warning tool for the assessment and monitoring of polluted ecosystems worldwide.

Emerging grassroots resilience and flood responses in informal settlements in Accra, Ghana

In the last five decades, many informal communities in Accra, Ghana have suffered from annual flood hazards. Residents of these communities appear to have successfully resisted evictions by city authorities; survived flood hazards and poor environmental health conditions. These flood affected households continue to survive with increasing housing and population densities in the face of these annual floods. Are they becoming resilient? Have residents built adaptive capacities through learning experiences from previous flood occurrences and evictions attempts? What has produced and continued to shape their responses to flooding? What can be learned from this supposed grassroots resilience to inform flood management in urban Africa? Using case studies of three informal communities of Glefe, Agbogbloshie and Old Fadama, this paper explores the gradual and evolving adaptive capacities and social resilience to flood hazards among poor urban dwellers. The paper reveals the depth of understanding and embodied nature of flood experiences among affected slum dwellers and how these are gradually being transformed into adaptive capacities and shaping their responses. In the absence of efficient state flood interventions, there are emerging and enduring flood responses and adaptation practices shaped by residents’ social networks, political alliances and sense of place. These responses translates into continuous re-structuring of housing units, construction of communal drains, creation of local evacuation teams and safe havens. Urban policy contributions that can be learned from these emerging grassroots capacities for flood vulnerability management have been proposed.

Family members and health professionals’ perspectives on future life planning of ageing people with Down syndrome: a qualitative study

Objectives: To address the way in which primary caregivers of people over 45 with Down syndrome describe daily life activities and context and foresee their future.Methods: Thirteen family members and 15 health professionals participated to four focus groups. Meaningful concepts were identified and linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health using established linking rules.Results: A total of 258 relevant concepts were identified and linked to 75 categories of the classification: 38 were from activity and participation and 17 from environmental factors domains. The most commonly reported issues were mental functions (b117-intellectual functions and b152-emotional functions), community life activities (d910-community life and d920-recreation and leisure) and environmental factors (e310-support of immediate family, e355-support from health professionals and e555-associations and organizational services).Conclusions: Information on the daily life and health of ageing people with Down syndrome is important to plan social and health care interventions tailored to deal with problems that they may encounter in older age. Considering the interaction between health and environment and maintaining a continuity of daily routines were reported as the most relevant topics for managing daily lives of persons with Down syndrome in older ages.Implications for rehabilitationPay more attention to the interaction between environmental factors and health condition in ageing people with Down syndrome.Information about the life contest are important in order to plan present and future social–health care interventions.Future planning for people with Down syndrome is a great concern for family members.

Impact of workplace environment on health of leather factory workers

Background: The working environment and basic facilities available in the workplace have impact on physical and psychological health of leather workers. The objective was to study the effect of workplace environment on health of leather workers.Methods: A cross section study was carried out in eight permitted leather factories at rural area in Sripuram near Chromepet, Chennai. Using a pretested scheduled questionnaire, 230 workers were interviewed, their corresponding socio-demographic profile was collected and various health scores were recorded based on the general and physical examination. Scoring technique and student ‘t’ test was used to identify the correlation and degree of association between workplace environmental factors and health status of workers. Results: The scoring technique and correlation coefficient revealed an association between workplace health status and clinical symptoms (p<0.001), duration of work and clinical symptom scores (p=0.001), duration of work and workplace health (p<0.001), Workplace health status and occupation (t-test value 5.562, p<0.001), and facilities available and occupation (t value 3.758, p<0.001). Conclusions: The above results show the impact of workplace environment on the health status of workers and require adequate measure to improve the facilities and thereby the health status of workers.

Availability of environmental resources vs. health conditions and wellbeing of residents 60+ of rural areas

Availability of environmental resources vs. health conditions and wellbeing of residents 60+ of rural areas

Environmental health at La Chaparrala subbasin, Colombia 2015

To assess environmental health conditions at La Chaparrala subbasin, in the Andes Mountains of Colombia, during 2015. Descriptive cross-sectional study on sanitary and environmental conditions of the dwellings, as well as on immediate environment, and environmental health prejudices. A survey was applied to 117 families settled in the main axis of the creek. The physicochemical quality of the water was analyzed. Men were predominant as head of household, with an average of four people per house. 69 of the houses were in the urban area, while 48 were rural; the permanence was greater than 20 years for the first, and less than five years for the second. Most of the houses are owned with deeds, and 75 % of them had a connection to the aqueduct and 73 % to the sewer. The houses in the urban area were predominantly made of tile roof and tile floor, while rural houses were made of mud tile and concrete floor. Both types of construction had adobe walls. The water from the creek complied with the physicochemical parameters established in the technical regulation of the sector for drinking water and basic sanitation, and with resolution No. 2115 of 2007. Non-compliance was observed in turbidity and nitrite levels, and occurrences and concurrences on environmental health were found. The socio-demographic characteristics and environmental and health conditions of the dwellings and their surroundings are similar to those reported in Encuesta de Demografía y Salud 2010 (Demographic and Health Survey) and Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2007 (2007 National Health Survey). The creek may continue to be a source for human consumption with conventional treatment and environmental health directed to care and protect the environment, differing from the concept of World Health Organization (WHO).

The environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meat stored in fridges

ObjectiveTo investigate the environmental influences on the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meats on fridges. MethodsThe environmental health status was determined by reliable and valid researcher-made checklist. Then 264 samples were gathered in two phases (at the entrance and three months later) and examined for total bacteria count, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp. ResultsThe result revealed that the mean of total bacteria count, E. coli and S. aureus densities had significant differences in two steps on chicken and the red meat samples (P < 0.05). Among the environmental factors, sanitary status, temperature and personal hygiene had significant effects on total bacteria count and S. aureus densities in chicken samples (P < 0.05), and between wastewater and solid waste disposal with E. coli density in red meat samples (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe results implied that the bacteriological quality of red and chicken meat fluctuates with environmental status (especially temperature, sanitary status and personal hygiene). Regular control, improving of sanitary health, and staff training are necessary for elimination of bacterial contamination.

Vicissitudes of oxidative stress biomarkers in the estuarine crab Scylla serrata with reference to dry and wet weather conditions in Ennore estuary, Tamil Nadu, India

The primary objective of this study was to understand the impact of monsoon and summer seasons on the Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB's) and petroleum hydrocarbon compounds (PHC's) load in Ennore estuary and how the physiological response of estuarine Scylla serrata inhabiting in this estuary changed with reference to antioxidant defense. Seasonal levels of PCB's and PHC's were assessed in the water along with their bioaccumulation in gills, hemolymph, hepatopancreas and ovary of S. serrata. Concentration of PCB's and PHC's in water and their bioaccumulation was found to be higher in summer season when compared to monsoon season. Enzymic antioxidant assays [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)]; non-enzymic antioxidant assays [glutathione (GSH), vitamin C, vitamin E] and macromolecular alterations [membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO), and DNA Damage (strand breaks)] were assessed in the gills, hemolymph and hepatopancreas of S. serrata. There was a significant (p<0.05) upregulation in lipid peroxidation activity and DNA damage activity collected during the summer season when compared to the pre- and post-monsoon seasons. On the contrary, the enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants exhibited significant (p<0.05) down regulation in the gills, hemolymph, hepatopancreas and ovary of S. serrata. Oxidative stress biomarkers represented a significant (p<0.05) maximum in gills when compared to hemolymph and hepatopancreas of S. serrata. Present study provided scientific evidences of how the antioxidant defense status of S. serrata responded to PCB's and PAH's stress with reference to seasonal vicissitudes, which indirectly represented the environmental health conditions of the estuary.

A snapshot of environmental health conditions among indigenous baram communities at borneo, Sarawak

Background: This paper outlines the environmental health conditions arising from the synergistic effect of the rampant human activities (illegal logging and rapid expansion of oil palm plantations) that are exploiting the nature resources without proper planning. This led to the unsolved health problem caused by multifaceted of hazards among the remote indigenous Baram communities at Borneo, Sarawak. Methodology: This is an observational survey, which conducted in two phases, that is, June 2014 and January 2016. A random sampling of locations from the downstream and reservoir zones of the Baram River were selected for site surveillance. A total of 10 indigenous villages were visited and 3 main populations of affected indigenous people (Kayan, Kenyah, and Penan) were recruited for short interviews. Result: The result showed that at least 80% of the interviewed villagers held clear views on the identified environmental hazards; however, site surveillance to review the environmental health conditions of their living area showed that the health of the indigenous community is in the vulnerable and precarious conditions. Discussion and Conclusion: This observational survey provides insights of the current environmental health conditions among the remote aboriginal communities at Borneo Island. The data provides a detailed picture of the state of environmental health conditions and discuss the potential health consequences among the indigenous communities across Baram communities.

Environmental Impact of Shrimp Culture at Gwatr Culture Site in Chabahar, Sistan-Baluchestan Province

Present study carried out in Gwuatr shrimp culture Site and Gwatr Bay in east of Chabahar city, Sistan and Baluchestan province. In this project five stations including supply channel, drainage channel, valve outlet, estuary of Gwatr and the Gwatr Gulf were selected to determine physical and chemical factors such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus and total nitrogen and pH. Sampling conducted once during the shrimp culturing period and monthly at other times. The main objective of this study is surveying change in environmental condition because of biological and non-biological effluents of Gwatr shrimp culture site on coastal waters of Chabahar. We observed that there is a significant difference among chemical and physical factors between different stations (ANOVA, P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion although there was no thermal pollution in this site, but extending aquaculture activities increased the average of salinity and pH and pollutant in the drainage channels, so environmental health conditions needs to be controlled and monitored by the environmental experts, otherwise, present status may go to undesirable condition or state of emergency.

Health status of migrant population residing at urban field practice area, Mallasandra, Bangalore - A descriptive study.

Background Among the different special groups migrants occupy a prominent place. They are exposed to unhygienic environment both at home and work. They have been neglected while implementing national programmes or while calculating health indicators. And studies on their health status are limited.Objective This study was planned to determine the socio-demographicenvironmental factors and health status with utilization of health services among migrant population residing at Mallasandra.Methodology A Descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among migrant population residing in urban field practice area of a teaching medical college hospital Bengaluru. Details of socio demographic environmental factors and knowledgeutilization of available health services was collected using a semi structured questionnaire. The results were expressed in the form of descriptive statistics.Results A total of 27 families and 130 individuals were identified. They were living in an unhygienic environment but were apparently healthy. Being migrants it is difficult for them to have basic environmental facilities. They were ignorant of their health and also services provided through various national programmes. Only the maternal and immunization services were utilized probably because of ASHA workers.Conclusion Health of migrant population is often neglected. It is time to undertake programmes directed towards improvement of their environmental condition and health status and also to raise their awareness in this regard.

Innovative Policies on Air Pollution Control in China - A Case Study of the Relationship between Environmental Changes and Health Conditions in China

Innovative Policies on Air Pollution Control in China - A Case Study of the Relationship between Environmental Changes and Health Conditions in China

Human Life History Strategies.

Human life history (LH) strategies are theoretically regulated by developmental exposure to environmental cues that ancestrally predicted LH-relevant world states (e.g., risk of morbidity-mortality). Recent modeling work has raised the question of whether the association of childhood family factors with adult LH variation arises via (i) direct sampling of external environmental cues during development and/or (ii) calibration of LH strategies to internal somatic condition (i.e., health), which itself reflects exposure to variably favorable environments. The present research tested between these possibilities through three online surveys involving a total of over 26,000 participants. Participants completed questionnaires assessing components of self-reported environmental harshness (i.e., socioeconomic status, family neglect, and neighborhood crime), health status, and various LH-related psychological and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., mating strategies, paranoia, and anxiety), modeled as a unidimensional latent variable. Structural equation models suggested that exposure to harsh ecologies had direct effects on latent LH strategy as well as indirect effects on latent LH strategy mediated via health status. These findings suggest that human LH strategies may be calibrated to both external and internal cues and that such calibrational effects manifest in a wide range of psychological and behavioral phenotypes.

The Inequality of Environmental Health Awareness among Foreign Immigrants and Local Blue-Collar Workers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract Environmental health awareness programs play an important role in educating people to understand the environmental health conditions of one's working and/or living environment. Even though different environmental health awareness approaches have been conducted among communities for the past decades, the environmental health conditions in developing countries are still worrying. The objective of this study was to assess and understand the environmental health awareness among local and foreign blue-collar workers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The study recruited 60 foreign immigrants and 60 local blue-collar workers through simple random sampling around Kuala Lumpur. A face-to-face interview was conducted by using a validated questionnaire. Results showed that there were significant differences of environmental health awareness levels among local and foreign blue-collar workers (p < 0.05), except occupational safety and health. The blue-collar workers who live in areas where there are high concentrati...

우리나라 환경보건지표 개발현황과 전망

Objectives: This paper presents the current development progress of environmental health indicators (EHIs) in the Republic of Korea and discusses the utilization, limitations and prospects of EHIs. Methods: The development process and assessment criteria of EHIs were established based on the DPSEEA (Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action) framework with reference to that of the World Health Organization-Europe. In order to explore the applicability of EHIs, a case study was performed to compare the atmospheric environmental health status between the Republic of Korea and European region countries using six indicators. Results: Through the development process, 23 indicators in five areas including air quality, indoor air quality, climate change, chemicals, and water quality were developed, mostly using national statistical data. As a result of the case study comparing environmental health indicators in air quality between the Republic of Korea and Europe, it could be useful to understand the different situation of air pollution source, emission, exposure and health effects. Conclusion: In order for EHIs to compare environmental health status and be used as an environmental health policy development tool for vulnerable areas and related factors, it is necessary to develop further indicators for various issues other than air quality and conduct additional research on their interpretation and related implications, such as policy implementation effects.

환경보건지표를 이용한 지역 환경보건수준 평가 사례연구

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess environmental health status on a local scale using environmental health-related indicators. It demonstrated the possibility of using a structural equation model, a methodological approach to provide synthesized information. Methods: Eighteen indicators were selected from official statistical data published by local governments. Each environmental health-related indicator was classified according to the PSR (pressure-state-response) model. Aggregation methods were performed using principal component analysis and fuzzy sets. Results: The five principal components were classified through principal component analysis (PCA) and obtained eigenvalues >1.0 from the initial 18 indicators. The aggregated index was obtained by condensing the original information into two broad and simple categories through fuzzy sets. Conclusion: This could be useful in that the aggregation procedure may provide a basis for establishing environmental health policies and a decision-making process. However, the availability and quality of indicators, assessment of aggregation method bias, choice of weighted scores for indicators, and other factors should be examined in future studies.

Paper-Based, Hand-Drawn Free Chlorine Sensor with Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate).

The concentration of free chlorine used for disinfecting drinking water, recreational water, and food processing water is critical for environmental and human health conditions, and should be controlled within stipulated ranges. This report, for the first time, describes a paper-based electrochemical free chlorine sensor fabricated by hand-drawing. The electrical resistivity of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) chemoresistor increases when it is exposed to free chlorine in water due to oxidation reactions. Because the relative change of the electrical resistance represents the sensor's response, the sensor can be fabricated by hand-drawing with different shapes and dimensions. The fabrication steps are all at room temperature, require no instrumentation or equipment, and can be carried out by untrained personnel. The fabricated sensor is mechanically stable, reusable, has a wide sensing range, and can accurately measure free chlorine concentrations in real water samples. Therefore, the low-cost, hand-drawn free chlorine sensor is of great significance for water quality monitoring in less developed areas where fabrication facilities, analytical equipment, and trained personnel are limited, but the need for analytical devices is critical. In addition to the free chlorine sensor demonstrated in this study, other types of PEDOT:PSS-based sensors and electronic devices can be fabricated by the developed hand-drawing process.