Environmental Public Policy Research Articles

Abstract 16458: Long-Term Exposure to Air Pollutants and the Risk of Hypertension: Insights From the Korean Genome Epidemiologic Survey Project

Introduction: The specific relationship between long-term exposure to air pollutants and the risk of HTN requires further investigation. This study aims to assess the association between AP and HTN occurrence and examine whether the effects differ between individuals with and without HTN in a long-term perspective. Hypothesis: Based on the previous research linking AP to cardiovascular diseases, we hypothesize that long-term exposure to air pollutants is associated with an increased risk of developing HTN. Methods: This study used modeled AP data linked with Korean Genome Epidemiologic Survey (KoGES) cohort data based on participant addresses. Among the 77,048 participants who completed the follow-up, 23,935 subjects had HTN at the baseline, while 53,113 subjects were non-hypertensive. AP exposure concentrations were evaluated using the 1-year and 3-year averages prior to the follow-up date and the average of the entire follow-up period. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the relationship between HTN and air pollutants in the non-hypertensive group. Results: The analysis revealed that non-hypertensive subjects exposed to air pollutants had an increased risk of developing HTN, with the exception of O 3 . Notably, particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5 ) exposure demonstrated a gradual increase in HTN risk based on the duration of exposure (Odds Ratio [OR] 1.024, 1-year; OR 1.030, 3-year; OR 1.041, average survey period.) These findings suggest that prolonged exposure to high concentrations of PM 2.5 is associated with an elevated risk of HTN. Chronic exposure to other gaseous AP components were also similarly associated with higher risk of development of HTN. Conclusions: This study highlights the detrimental association of long-term exposure to air pollutants on the risk of HTN. Managing blood pressure in those exposed to high AP levels, even if not hypertensive is important also with a perspective of public health and environmental policies.

Factors of influences in legal reserve areas in the brazilian Amazon

This work aims to analyze future trends through influence factors on the areas of Legal Reserve (RL). The modeling of the data was using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) based on Multiple Linear Regression analysis (RML) using a time series 2003-20023 between variables generating explanatory factors of future influences the area RL. The results of the coefficient of determination (R²) showed 60%, demonstrating the existence of a relationship between the independent variables X1 to X25 with the variables A_RL response and analysis of variance with F = 76.519 with significance value of 0.000, indicating that ANOVA rejects the event there is no regression. Thus each factor of influence or explanatory acted in association with the variables and produced a RML equation with the response variable A_RL = 3.277 to 0.207 (p-0.023) use of traditional land - 0.346 (p-0.000) income / credit + 0 , 43 (p-0.000) occupation time + 2.007 (p-0.000) Hand effective work + 0.109 education (p-0.230 ** not significant) - 0.727 (p-0.000) area - 0.207 (p-0.024) agroecological practices + 0.343 (p-0.000) ownership. We conclude that most of the factors was significant indicating the need for improving the socioeconomic nature of factors, mainly the education, income / credit and titration which resulted in the adoption of more appropriate environmental conservation public policies combined with agricultural production more sustainable.

Advancing Sustainable Bio-Waste Management through Law and Policy: How Co-Creation Can Help Pursue Fair Environmental Public Policies in the European Context

Alongside production and consumption, bio-waste management is central to the food systems debate. To achieve sustainable food systems—an essential component of the Sustainable Development Goals and the world they envision—public authorities must address the shortage of current bio-waste-management policies and strive towards a new paradigm of bio-waste management, where environmental justice primarily informs policy design and decision making. In order to achieve fair environmental policies, particularly in the context of food systems and bio-waste management, it is essential to understand what drives public policy in these matters. In the present review, we seek to contribute by closing a gap in the literature by proposing a set of bio-waste-management drivers in the European context. Moreover, we focus on the “policy and legislation” driver, hoping to examine its main components and understand both their limitations and the opportunities they provide. Finally, we explore the role that co-creation can play as a facilitator of a public-governance paradigm that promotes sustainable development.

Regional innovation networks & high-growth entrepreneurship

We investigate the influence of regional innovation networks (RINs) on high-growth entrepreneurship within the framework of the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship (KSTE). While previous studies have separately examined RINs' role in knowledge diffusion and the geographical characteristics of high-growth firms, the connection between these two areas remains unexplored. To address this gap, we develop a conceptual model that highlights the positive impact of RINs on high-growth entrepreneurship, moderated by regional entrepreneurial capital. Using a unique longitudinal dataset at the metropolitan statistical area (MSA) level, we employ two-way fixed effects and instrumental variables regressions to analyze the data. Our findings support the conceptual model, revealing that robust RINs facilitate high-growth entrepreneurship. Additionally, we conduct post-hoc exploratory analyses to investigate potential moderating factors, including the influence of the public policy environment.

Environmental citizenship: liberalism, cosmopolitanism and sustainability

The debate about the concept of environmental citizenship in the literature of the Social Sciences is currently marked by a conceptual dispute. Against this background, the text develops a critique of the concept of liberal environmental citizenship, using the concept of cosmopolitan environmental citizenship as the basis for this critique. The text examines the meaning of the concept of liberal environmental citizenship and then compares it to the cosmopolitan interpretation of the concept. Unlike other works that address these issues, this text allows us, among other things, to examine the connections between liberal environmental citizenship and national liberalism. Through this analysis, we hope to clarify some of the limitations that affect the concept of environmental citizenship, while exploring the possibilities that the cosmopolitan perspective offers for our understanding of the concept of environmental citizenship. Examining the concept of environmental citizenship proves to be fundamental to the analysis of environmental public policy, where the pursuit of sustainability is generally viewed as a process of public participation. This is particularly evident in areas such as environmental education, where environmental citizenship is generally seen as an essential dimension that constitutes it.

The impact of residential and non-residential environments on non-communicable disease in Ghanaian cities: The role of gender

Uncertainties around exposures in non-residential contexts complicate the understanding of neighborhood environments and health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) partly due to limited research on where people spend their day and how those spaces impact their health. The goal of this study, therefore, was to examine the relationship between time spent in/outside residential neighborhoods, length of stay in neighborhood and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) status and whether the relationship differs by gender. We used cross-sectional data from three Ghanaian cities and applied multilevel analysis. At the general level, we did not observe any significant difference between where people spend their day and NCDs status. After aggregating the data by gender, however, we found that men who spent some time outside their residential neighborhood in a typical week were about 2 times likely to be diagnosed with NCDs compared to those who spend the entire week in their residential neighborhoods. This relationship, however, was not statistically significant for women. On the other hand, longer stay in current neighborhood was associated with women's likelihood of being diagnosed with NCDs. These findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of neighborhood environments and NCD outcomes and offer directions for public health and environmental policy.

Emerging Technologies for Preventing the ‘New’ Dementia: Ambiguous Optimism in the Canadian Context

ABSTRACT Experts’ views on the use of mostly digital technologies for dementia prevention are characterized by a simultaneity of “gerontechnological optimism” and skeptical hesitancy. Despite the hope for progress in dementia prevention through preventive technologies, experts also point to the complexity of prevention, the importance of environmental factors and public health policies, and the danger of an excessive focus on individual interventions. Without questioning the positive impact such technologies can have on many people, we claim that the experts’ ambiguity reveals a deeper concern, a kind of “cruel optimism” that is based on a fantasy of “supported autonomy”.

Formation of a territory: the production process of the urban space of São Bernardo do Campo/SP

This article presents some aspects that guided the dynamics of the process of urban occupation of the protection spaces in the springs of the Billings Dam. In this region, the connection between the accelerated process of industrialization, disorderly urbanization, and the increase in population concentration over the years, devoid of adequate actions of planning and territorial ordering, contributed to the intensification of socio-spatial inequalities sustained by a pattern of exploitation and dilapidation of uses and degradation of ecosystems. From this framework, it analysed the occupation of the urban territory of São Bernardo do Campo, especially about the influence of industrialization, disorderly urbanization, and occupation of environmentally fragile areas, as well as sought to contextualize the need for new mechanisms of territorial planning and management to mitigate and reverse the high levels of biophysical vulnerability existing in the fragile spaces of protection of water sources. The approach adopted involved the analysis of data and information from various sources, such as previous studies, technical reports, municipal plans, and other relevant publications. It is hoped that the results found can subsidize the development of new studies, as well as contribute to the formulation of urban and environmental public policies.

Evaluating the temporal patterns of land use and precipitation under desertification in the semi-arid region of Brazil

The desertification process directly influences agricultural production and the maintenance of terrestrial life. Despite being an important agricultural centre, Brazil's semi-arid region is experiencing significant desertification. However, the relationship between land management and climate in this process is still poorly understood. This research was conducted in areas predominantly covered by the Caatinga Formation (62.2%), as well as agropastoral and pasture areas (29.9%). Our primary objective was to assess the land use change trajectories and land occupation patterns in the region while also analysing how vegetation and precipitation temporal patterns have changed from 1985 to 2019. The trends in vegetation and precipitation were evaluated using the Mann-Kendall test. Land use and occupation patterns were analysed using segmented regression and Monte Carlo simulation for future forecasting in the period 2020–240 under different scenarios (pessimistic, conservative, and optimistic). The Mann-Kendall test indicated that the precipitation trends were not statistically significant. However, the normalized vegetation index (NDVI) exhibited a significant trend in areas near the São Francisco River, an important agricultural area. Land use and occupation showed breakpoints from 1990 onwards for most classes. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrated that the Caatinga Formation will likely to remain the predominant vegetation class in the region for the next 21 years in all predicted scenarios. Agropastoral and pasture classes are projected to increase by 8% and 3%, respectively, while the area covered by native vegetation is expected to decrease by 7.5%. Furthermore, the predictions showed a decline in the rivers and lakes class, which may result in significant economic and social problems. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the impacts of land use change in the Brazilian semi-arid region and provide science-based information for environmental public policies.

Potential pension fund losses should not deter high-income countries from bold climate action

Gregor Semieniuk (PhD, Economics, New School for Social Research) is Assistant Research Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He researches the political economy of rapid, policy-induced structural change required for the transition to a low-carbon economy. Gregor has published widely on this topic, won grants to study it, and regularly speaks to policy and academic audiences, most recently testifying on stranded fossil-fuel assets before the US Senate Committee on the Budget. Previously, Gregor was on the faculty at SOAS University of London and University of Sussex, and he is an Honorary Professor at University College London. Lucas Chancel is an Associate Professor of Economics at Sciences Po and co-director of the World Inequality Lab at the Paris School of Economics, as well as a Visiting Associate Professor at Harvard. He is the author of dozens of research articles and book chapters on global inequality and environmental issues. He coordinates and edits the World Inequality Reports, which present the latest data on global economic and environmental inequality. His work has attracted media and policy attention worldwide and his book, “Unsustainable inequalities” (Harvard University Press, 2020), featured in the Financial Times and Nature’s best books of the year. Eulalie Saïsset is a specialist in environmental public policies and resulting inequalities. She is a graduate engineer from Mines Paris where she focused on the sociological and political dimensions of the environmental transition. She also holds a master’s degree in public policy and development economics from the Paris School of Economics, where her dissertation focused on the redistributive aspects of stranding fossil fuel assets. Eulalie previously worked at the World Bank in Washington DC as a transport consultant for the Africa region. She also carried out the analysis of European industrial decarbonization policies at the think-tank La Fabrique de l’Industrie. Philip B. Holden completed his DPhil in computational modeling of X-ray lasers in 1991, after which he held research positions in the University of York, Université Paris-Sud, and the Czech Institute of Physics. He then spent 10 years in the finance sector, designing and modeling approximately $2 billion of “big ticket” asset financings. He returned to academia via an MSc in Quaternary Science from the University of London (RHUL/UCL) and joined the Open University in 2007. Phil’s main focus now is the development of computationally efficient Earth system models, with particular focus on interdisciplinary applications and integrated assessment. Dr. Jean-Francois Mercure is Senior Climate Economist at the World Bank and Associate Professor in Climate Policy at the Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter, UK. His research focuses on developing theory, models, and methods for public policy appraisal in climate policy, and for assessing the effectiveness and socio-economic impacts of diverse types of low-carbon, energy, and other climate policies. He also develops methods to understand and assess climate-related financial risks. He co-leads two major programs at the World Bank on analytical tool development and capacity development for finance ministries. Neil R. Edwards is Professor of Earth System Science and University Lead for Sustainability Research at The Open University, UK. After studying mathematics at Cambridge and Leeds Universities, Neil became deeply involved with the early development of comprehensive Earth system models in the 1990s, playing a key role in developing the grid-enabled integrated Earth system (GENIE) framework and related models. Through GENIE, he contributed to the multi-millennial climate projections of the fourth and fifth IPCC assessment reports and has published extensively on climate dynamics, integrated assessment and climate impact modeling, and uncertainty quantification. He has published over 100 refereed papers.

Association between ambient air pollutant interaction with kidney function in a large Taiwanese population study.

The associations and interactions between kidney function and other air pollutants remain poorly defined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate associations among air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) with a diameter ≤ 2.5μm (PM2.5), PM10 (PM with a diameter ≤ 10μm), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3) with kidney function, and explore interactions among these air pollutants on kidney function. We used the Taiwan Air Quality Monitoring and Taiwan Biobank databases to derive data on community-dwelling individuals in Taiwan and daily air pollution levels, respectively. We enrolled 26,032 participants. Multivariable analysis showed that high levels of PM2.5, PM10, O3 (all p < 0.001), and SO2 (p = 0.001) and low levels of CO, NO (both p < 0.001), and NOx (p = 0.047) were significantly correlated with low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). With regard to negative effects, the interactions between PM2.5 and PM10 (p < 0.001), PM2.5 and PM10 (p < 0.001), PM2.5 and SO2, PM10 and O3 (both p = 0.025), PM10 and SO2 (p = 0.001), and O3 and SO2 (p < 0.001) on eGFR were significantly negatively. High PM10, PM2.5, O3, and SO2 were associated with a low eGFR, whereas high CO, NO, and NOx were associated with a high eGFR. Furthermore, negative interactions between PM2.5 and PM10, O3 and SO2, PM10 and O3, PM2.5 and SO2, and PM10 and SO2 on eGFR were observed. The findings of this study have important implications for public health and environmental policy. Specifically, the results of this study may be useful in individuals and organizations to take action to reduce air pollution and promote public health.

Challenges for the Adoption of Electric Vehicles in Thailand: Potential Impacts, Barriers, and Public Policy Recommendations

The impacts of electric vehicles (EVs) to the current transportation and logistics system are an emerging topic that has recently garnered public interest in many countries. Several developing countries that rely on the large amount of production in automobiles manufacturing are preparing to adopt national strategies to mitigate the negative impacts from the shift toward electric vehicles. In addition, the restructuring of the transportation system and traffic regulations to prepare for the integration of electric vehicles into the current transportation model is also an important concern for policy-makers. The study of potential impacts and barriers regarding the adoption of EVs would provide better insights that could aid the implementation of public policy. The topics that will be discussed here are both from technological standpoints such as differences in the general properties of EVs in comparison to internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs), and social and environmental standpoints which are predicted to be pivotal drivers for their adoption. These features are collectively analyzed to aid the relating implementation of industrial, transportation, and environmental public policies. Moreover, additional policy recommendations for the situation in Thailand are proposed based on this discussion. It is concluded that extensive public policy framework for the adoption of EVs and the development of EVs manufacturing industry is essential for developing countries with less technological readiness to effectively integrate this new type of vehicular technology into its industrial and transportation economy.

The impact of global changes in near-term climate forcers on East Africa’s climate

Climate change and air pollution are two interconnected daunting environmental challenges of the twenty-first century. Globally, stringent public health and environmental policies are set to mitigate the emissions of near-term climate forcers (NTCFs) because they double as air pollutants. While the global climate impact of NTCF mitigation has been investigated using coarse resolution climate models, the fine scale regional climate impacts over East Africa are not fully known. This study presents the first 2021–2055 downscaled model results of two future scenarios which both have increasing greenhouse gas emissions but with weak (SSP3-7.0) versus strong (SSP3-7.0_lowNTCF) levels of air quality control. NTCF mitigation is defined here as SSP3-7.0_lowNTCF–SSP3-7.0. The results reveal that NTCF mitigation could cause an increase in annual mean surface temperature ranging from 0.005 to 0.01 °C decade−1 over parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia. It could also cause an increase in annual mean precipitation ranging from 0.1 to 1 mm month−1 decade−1 over parts of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and Ethiopia. Majority of the precipitation increase is projected to occur during the MAM season. On the other hand, Zambia, Malawi and southern Tanzania could also experience a decrease in annual mean precipitation by up to 0.5 mm month−1 decade−1. Majority of this decrease is projected to occur during the DJF season. These findings suggest that pursuing NTCF mitigation alone while ignoring greenhouse gas emissions will cause additional climate change over East Africa. Mitigating both of them concurrently would be a better policy option.

Automated neural network forecast of PM2.5 concentration

Abstract Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) is a major contributor to air pollution and its exposure has substantial health consequences. As a result, precise prediction of PM2.5 concentrations is required in order to establish emission reduction strategies for air quality management. The article presents an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model to forecast PM2.5 levels in a particular region. The model uses data such as air temperature, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, suspended particles, rainfall, relative humidity, sulfur dioxide, wind direction and wind speed to predict PM2.5 concentrations in the air accurately. The model’s efficacy is evaluated using statistical measures such as the Coefficient of Determination, the Root Mean Squared Error and the Mean Absolute Error. The study results indicate that the ANN model outperforms more traditional statistical models, with R2 values of 0.987, which is higher than the values achieved by the Linear Regression and Decision Tree Regressor models, which are 0.88 and 0.89 respectively. The study’s findings have significant implications for public health and environmental policy, as they can provide more accurate and rapid statistics on air quality. The ability to forecast PM2.5 concentrations can help policymakers and health professionals take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of air pollution on public health.

Exploring the gap between refugee-background communities' needs and existing community-based physical activity programs in Australia.

Physical activity programs run by local government, public health and not-for-profit sectors are a key public health strategy for improving rates of physical activity within local communities. However, these programs are underutilized. This is especially the case among members of refugee-background communities whose participation could have far-ranging and multilevel benefits. To explore how greater engagement among refugee-background communities with these programs could be fostered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, a qualitative study was undertaken from the perspectives of both community-based physical activity program providers and agencies involved in delivering services to refugee-background communities. This study involved a series of semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of personnel from agencies that work with individuals and families from refugee-background communities and organizations that provide low-cost or no-cost physical activity programs and initiatives. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to interpret meaning from these data. Three themes relating to how participation in community-based physical activity programs could be improved among refugee-background communities were identified: improving cultural safety through intersectoral collaboration; confronting constraints imposed by the broader public health policy environment; and building capacity and empowering the community to diversify the sector. The findings highlight the importance of localized, deep-level intersectoral collaborations in bridging the gap between the health and social care needs of refugee-background communities and existing physical activity programs. However, a range of systems-produced barriers to the creation of such collaborations must be addressed to enable local actors to help mitigate and address the systemic exclusion of marginalized populations from participation in broader society.

Implications of Extractivism and Environmental Pollution in Mapuche Territories of the Araucania Region.

Chile is facing an environmental crisis and the territory of the Mapuche people is no exception. This is largely due to extractivism, which refers to the massive extraction and exploitation of natural resources in an indiscriminate manner. The objective of this study was to reveal the implications of extractivism and environmental pollution in Mapuche territories in the Araucanía region. The methodology used was qualitative, based on constructivist grounded theory. In-depth interviews and participant observation were used to collect data. The participants were 46 kimeltuchefes. The main results revealed extensive monocultures of non-native trees: pine and eucalyptus, which consume large amounts of water. They also revealed environmental pollution and indiscriminate forestry extractivism related to these trees, which generate soil degradation and water pollution. These consequences reduce biodiversity and disturb the ngenh (spiritual beings and protectors of nature). They also affect the Mapuche's agricultural activities and, in turn, their health and subsistence. In addition, non-native tree monocultures, environmental pollution and forestry extractivism transgress the az mapu (Mapuche code of ethics and behaviour), which disturbs the ethical, moral and spiritual relationship between the Mapuche and nature. They also have negative implications for the küme mogen (good living of the Mapuche), since they violate the balance and harmony between the Mapuche and all living beings, elements and spiritual beings that are part of nature. This also violates the reciprocity between the Mapuche and nature. It was concluded that there have been violations of the human rights of the Mapuche people, given that they are exposed to harmful environmental conditions that put their health and subsistence at considerable risk. In this sense, the Mapuche are experiencing a spiritual, physical, cognitive, attitudinal, affective and material imbalance. Ultimately, the state of Chile must generate intercultural environmental public and educational policies aimed at generating environmental awareness and creating actions to solve environmental problems in order to protect Mapuche and non-Mapuche territories.

Organization–government relationships in sub-Saharan Africa: the emerging public affairs industry in Kenya

PurposeThis paper offers grounded insights on organization–government relationships, or the practice of public affairs, in Kenya.Design/methodology/approachIn-depth interviews were conducted with senior Kenyan practitioners. Interviewees represent national corporations, multinational corporations with offices in Kenya, consulting agencies, parastatal intergovernmental organizations, national government and county governments.FindingsResults suggest Kenyan public affairs is centered on relationship management, research and intelligence gathering, risk management and strategic communication. Second, while lobbying is a tactic, it is not synonymous with the broader scope of public affairs strategy. Third, the absence of educational training, a professional body to oversee the profession and the perception of public affairs as “bribery” are threats to the profession's growth.Research limitations/implicationsFindings should not be interpreted to represent “Africa's public affairs industry,” rather a snapshot of the profession contextualized in Kenya.Practical implicationsKenya needs a professional body to manage the public affairs profession at a national level. It also needs an established curriculum in its higher education environment. Lastly, as one of the fastest growing markets in the world, understanding the public policy environment will benefit multinational organizations looking to expand and operate in Kenya.Originality/valueThis study contributes diverse and inclusive insights on the practice of public affairs in a leading economic and political actor in sub-Saharan Africa. It also expands organization–public relationship theory to articulate engagement with governmental stakeholders.

Analysing the Potential of Performing Last-Mile Bicycle Deliveries: The Perspective of Brazilian Logistics Operators

Knowledge about the perception of stakeholders regarding the effectiveness of last-mile bicycle deliveries is essential to promote solutions at a local and national level. However, their use is an incipient solution in the Brazilian context. This paper aims to analyse the potential of performing last-mile bicycle deliveries according to the perspective of Brazilian logistics operators. First, the variables that affect the decision of logistic operators to adopt bicycles were captured using the theory of planned behaviour. Later, the intention of behaviour was measured by estimating an ordered logistic regression. The results showed that environmental awareness, public policies and weather conditions negatively influence the intention of logistics operators to perform last-mile bicycle deliveries in Brazil. However, these variables are more cultural than operational, and could be changed by awareness of the importance of performing last-mile bicycle deliveries to promote sustainable cities. Additionally, the findings could encourage the development of sustainable freight policies from private companies to achieve sustainable future transportation.

Short-term association between ambient air pollution and cardio-respiratory mortality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Several epidemiological studies have reported associations between ambient air pollution and mortality. However, relatively few studies have investigated this relationship in Brazil using individual-level data. To estimate the short-term association between exposure to particulate matter <10 μm (PM10) and ozone (O3), and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2012 and 2017. We used a time-stratified case-crossover study design with individual-level mortality data. Our sample included 76,798 deaths from cardiovascular diseases and 36,071 deaths from respiratory diseases. Individual exposure to air pollutants was estimated by the inverse distance weighting method. We used data from seven monitoring stations for PM10 (24-hour mean), eight stations for O3 (8-hour max), 13 stations for air temperature (24-hour mean), and 12 humidity stations (24-hour mean). We estimated the mortality effects of PM10 and O3 over a 3-day lag using conditional logistic regression models combined with distributed lag non-linear models. The models were adjusted for daily mean temperature and daily mean absolute humidity. Effect estimates were presented as odds ratios (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) associated with a 10 μg/m3 increase in each pollutant exposure. No consistent associations were observed for both pollutant and mortality outcome. The cumulative OR of PM10 exposure was 1.01 (95% CI 0.99-1.02) for respiratory mortality and 1.00 (95% CI 0.99-1.01) for cardiovascular mortality. For O3 exposure, we also found no evidence of increased mortality for cardiovascular (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01) or respiratory diseases (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-1.00). Our findings were similar across age and gender subgroups, and different model specifications. We found no consistent associations between the PM10 and O3 concentrations observed in our study and cardio-respiratory mortality. Future studies need to explore more refined exposure assessment methods to improve health risk estimates and the planning and evaluation of public health and environmental policies.

Environmental Governance in India: A Case Study of Plachimada, Kerala

Governments often provide space for operation to multinational companies (MNCs), but the state does not assess the impact these companies have on the area and its people. Such ill-informed decisions often cause environmental damages. Environmental governance connects the public policies, environment, and people. This article discusses the case of Plachimada, Kerala, India, which witnessed the establishment of a soft-drink bottling plant by Coca-Cola Beverages Ltd. With the commencement of operation, the near-by areas started experiencing conditions which were never felt before the advent of the soft-drink giant. The article will be highlighting the struggles of Adivasis through broad terms of environmental governance, human rights, public policy, and corporate social responsibility.