Health Dangers Research Articles

The Nurses Climate Challenge: A National Campaign to Engage 5,000 Health Professionals Around Climate Change.

Climate change poses significant threats to human health and worsens existing inequities. The health sector is a significant contributor to climate change, making up approximately 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Yet most nurses do not learn about the health dangers of climate change in their education or in practice, and therefore are ill-equipped to lead action on climate change. When educated about climate change, nurses can effectively lead climate adaptation and mitigation strategies aimed at creating healthier populations. As the most trusted professionals and making up 40% of the health-care workforce, nurses have the potential to impact behavior change and launch a movement around climate solutions. Health Care Without Harm and the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments partnered on the "Nurses Climate Challenge" with the aim of nurses educating 5,000 health professionals on climate and health. In the Nurses Climate Challenge, nurses register as Nurse Climate Champions and gain access to online resources to plan and host educational sessions about climate change. After educating, Nurse Climate Champions return to the online platform to track their progress. Within 10 months, over 540 Nurse Climate Champions from 6 continents, 16 countries, and 42 U.S. states registered for access to the resources. To date, the champions have educated over 5,250 colleagues and students about climate and health. Based on early metrics, this model of education and engagement around climate action may be applicable for other disciplines in health care and beyond.

First polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) monitoring in seawater, surface sediments and marine fish communities of the Persian Gulf: Distribution, levels, congener profile and health risk assessment

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that, due to their high toxicity, lipophilic property and widespread dispersal in the global environment, present a danger for human health and ecological systems. Although the inventory and use of PCBs are extensively reported worldwide, the status of PCBs in Iran is still unknown. In this study, the concentrations of PCBs were determined in the environmental matrices and in five commercially important fish species from Larak coral Island, Persian Gulf, Iran, in winter and summer 2015. A positive correlation was found among PCBs levels and congeners profiles in seawater (0.97–3.10 ng L−1), surface sediments (2.95–7.95 ng g−1dw) and fish samples (7.20–90.19 ng g−1dw), indicating fish as suitable bioindicator of environmental PCBs contamination. In all matrices, a high contribution of light and medium chlorinated congeners was detected in both seasons. In fish, the higher PCBs levels were found for both sexes in both seasons in liver and kidney than other tissues (skin, gonad, muscle) due to their high lipid content and PCBs lipophilicity. More importantly, the risks for human health associated with fish consumption were also evaluated, and it was found that all the toxicity indices measured for PCBs were within the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit of food consumption. However, it is highly recommended to inform the local population about potential risks attributable to dietary incorporation of locally caught fish, and establish a surveillance monitoring programme on PCBs in this region.

Ewolucja regulacji wyrobów tytoniowych w prawie polskim

The evolution of the regulation of tobacco products in Polish lawAdministrative law plays a key role in regulating matters related to tobacco products. It regulates the competences of various administrative organs, issues of informing consumers about health dangers of using tobacco products as well as where tobacco products can be used. When regulating tobacco products, matters of health are taken into account, but the legislator also has to find compromises between the rights and interests of various groups. We should, for example, notice how much the companies making tobacco products influence legislature. Polish regulations of tobacco products — just like in many other countries — to a large degreereflect technological, scientific and social changes.

Socio-economic Analysis of the Tobacco Sector of Cameroon: Perceptions, Impact and Prospects

La version francaise de cet article peut etre consultee a: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3387015 The need for a decent, concerted and sustainable development remains an apparently elusive goal of man. It is in cognisance of this and more, that government regulations and policies target the nurturing and enhancement of the proliferation and sustainability of companies and other sources of employment and poverty alleviation. Unfortunately, this economic progress could come along with a high social cost; and verily, the cost-benefit analysis of both the economic and social impact is usually given only a cursory consideration. A unique example to consider this mixed blessing is the case of the tobacco industry: significantly contributes to socio-economic development; and yet health dangers and other devastating costs. Like in other countries, the presence of the Tobacco industry in Cameroon undermines the development goals with deadly products, bad business practice, destructive environmental practices and shocking labor standards. The main objective of this study is to analyze the social and economic perceptions, impacts and prospects of the tobacco industry in Cameroon. This is done within the context of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Health promotion model was used as the theoretical foundation for a proper understanding of the perceptions that accompany and nourish socio-economic impact of the tobacco industry. The study used a mixed research method, involving both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Consistent with these, it followed an in-depth interview or a case study design, and a survey questionnaire design respectively. Using a mix of criterion and random sampling techniques, the study secured 525 respondents from the population, from which 435 were retained after data screening and validation. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected using primary and secondary sources including data sets, documentation and questionnaires. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel. The quantitative analysis included descriptive statistics, contingency table analysis based on the respondent characteristics, inferential statistical analysis using the chi-square test for independence, and finally the linear regression econometric model. The qualitative approach employed the thematic content analysis for the data analysis. The major findings were as follows: the laxity of the restrictions is actually significantly associated to the frequency of consumption of tobacco products; the regulatory policies significantly impact the tobacco sector; and the tobacco industry significantly contributes to the growth of the Cameroonian economy. One inimitable contribution of this study is the fact that the socio-economic approach to the question of impact of the tobacco industry gives a unique entry point into the role this industry in the apparently elusive nature of sustainable development. Based on this, recommendations were made towards policy, practice and research; the bottom-line being that any initiative must take acute cognisance of the susceptibility of various population demographics to the drivers of tobacco consumption; and also, that the control measures were perceive to be inadequate, ineffective and inappropriate given the circumstances.

The case of the ‘Spurious Drugs Kingpin’: shifting pills in Chennai, India

ABSTRACTThis paper recounts the tale of a ‘Spurious Drugs Kingpin’ and his scandalous business empire of relabelling and recirculating expired medicines in the south Indian city of Chennai. At the time the story broke, in the first half of 2010, questions of drug safety dominated media headlines and public discussion. However, a closer investigation suggests a more complicated picture. While relabelling expired medicines was certainly a crime, it is far from clear if their relabelling and subsequent redistribution constituted a public health danger. If actually existing unsafe drugs did not fuel this drug safety scandal, what did? I argue this case illuminates two things: (1) the illusory nature of certainties about drug safety and (2) how ambiguity about the safety of expired drugs facilitates policing not of relations within the pharmacological world, but instead of social and economic relations. This episode matters because it illuminates how, within apparent attempts to police the safety of circulation of drugs, drugs themselves are neither subject nor object, but instead the ground upon which market battles are waged.

MonitorApp: a web tool to analyze and visualize pollution data detected by an electronic nose

The analysis of air quality data may reveal the quality of life and can prevent dangers for the citizen health. Assuming that some chemical compounds in the air produce a bad smell, people may detect that something is going wrong acting as sensors that alerts potential risks. This work presents a visual analytics approach to support air quality experts in the analysis of data produced by electronic nose devices. The approach consists in setting workflows to manage and transform raw data offering clustering and visualization techniques to analyze such information. The analysis is supported by calendar, map and line graph visualization techniques also maneuvering the clustering attributes. The interactive map is used to show the position of monitoring stations in order to support making hypothesis related to the data source locations.

Three-dimensional Patterning of Engineered Biofilms with a Do-it-yourself Bioprinter.

Biofilms are aggregates of bacteria embedded in a self-produced spatially-patterned extracellular matrix. Bacteria within a biofilm develop enhanced antibiotic resistance, which poses potential health dangers, but can also be beneficial for environmental applications such as purification of drinking water. The further development of anti-bacterial therapeutics and biofilm-inspired applications will require the development of reproducible, engineerable methods for biofilm creation. Recently, a novel method of biofilm preparation using a modified three-dimensional (3D) printer with a bacterial ink has been developed. This article describes the steps necessary to build this efficient, low-cost 3D bioprinter that offers multiple applications in bacterially-induced materials processing. The protocol begins with an adapted commercial 3D printer in which the extruder has been replaced with a bio-ink dispenser connected to a syringe pump system enabling a controllable, continuous flow of bio-ink. To develop a bio-ink suitable for biofilm printing, engineered Escherichia coli bacteria were suspended in a solution of alginate, so that they solidify in contact with a surface containing calcium. The inclusion of an inducer chemical within the printing substrate drives expression of biofilm proteins within the printed bio-ink. This method enables 3D printing of various spatial patterns composed of discrete layers of printed biofilms. Such spatially-controlled biofilms can serve as model systems and can find applications in multiple fields that have a wide-ranging impact on society, including antibiotic resistance prevention or drinking water purification, among others.

Five-Year Data on Pollen Monitoring, Distribution and Health Impact of Allergenic Plants in Bucharest and the Southeastern Region of Romania.

Background and objectives: Respiratory allergies induced by allergenic pollen represent an important public health problem with increasing prevalence and severity in Europe. Romania has no aerobiology network and pollen measurements have been done for about ten years in the west region only. Materials and Methods: We established the first pollen monitoring center in the capital of Bucharest in 2013, based on collaboration with the Réseau National de Surveillance Aérobiologique (RNSA) from France. The aim of our paper is to present results from five years of pollen monitoring in the city center of Bucharest and preliminary data on distribution and health impact of some allergenic plants, mainly Ambrosia artemisiifolia, which is considered a real danger for the public health. Results: Our data show a significant atmospheric amount and a longer season than previously considered of grass (Gramineae) pollen and short period with a high level of Ambrosia pollen, while tree pollen looks less important in this area. The plant distribution data provided by specialists and information from affected persons showed the wide and increasing spread of Ambrosia in Bucharest and other cities from the south region. Preliminary health data from allergists confirmed that the number of patients with allergies to Ambrosia pollen is increasing from one year to another and almost all patients describe a high urban exposure from their living or working place. Conclusions: We consider that the recently implemented Law 62/2018 against Ambrosia may help reduce weed distribution and the atmospheric pollen load, but a more complex and coordinated strategy for controlling urban vegetation and reducing biologic pollution is needed.

Health Risk Assessment of Different Heavy Metals Dissolved in Drinking Water.

Water pollution is a major threat to public health worldwide. The health risks of ingesting trace elements in drinking water were assessed in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Eight trace elements were measured in drinking water, using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and compared with permissible limits established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak EPA). In addition, health risk indicators such as the chronic daily intake (CDI) and the health risk index (HRI) were calculated. Our results showed that the concentrations of chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), and manganese (Mn) were 2593, 1306, and 695 ng/g, respectively, in Lahore and Jhang, while the concentrations of arsenic (As) in Lahore, Vehari, Multan, and Jhang were 51, 50.4, 24, and 22 ng/g, respectively, which were higher than the permissible limits suggested by the WHO. The values of CDI were found to be in the order of Cr > Ni > Mn > Cu > As > Pb > Co > Cd. Similarly, the health risk index (HRI) values exceeded the safe limits (>1) in many cities (eg, Cr and Ni in Lahore and As in Vehari, Jhang, Lahore, and Multan). The aforementioned analysis shows that consumption of trace element-contaminated water poses an emerging health danger to the populations of these localities. Furthermore, inter-metal correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) showed that both anthropogenic and geologic activities were primary sources of drinking water contamination in the investigated areas.

Impact of traffic densities on indoor air quality

In the last few decades air pollution in general and indoor air pollution in particular represents a danger for the human health. The impact of traffic density on indoor air quality was evaluated. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were estimated in 30 homes during the winter and summer seasons of 2016. The results showed that the impact of traffic on indoor concentration was evident in moderate and high traffic areas. PM10 recorded the highest values in winter while both NO2 and SO2 were slightly higher in the summer for all the studied areas. PM10 is one of the most commonly used criteria for determining air quality indices (AQI). Among the different studied sites, the highest traffic density showed the worst air quality (AQI>395). The other sites showed very poor air quality (AQI>224) which showed that these areas were also polluted. In winter, the levels of indoor bacteria at all sites were lower than the threshold value (TLV), 50 CFU/m3 according to the WHO, but the opposite was observed in the summer. It was also found that the counts of indoor Gram-negative bacteria were less numerous than Gram-positive bacteria. The quality index for each individually studied site and AQI in this region of Cairo was higher than the allowable value of the air quality standard set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Egyptian Ministry of Environment.

CHROMATOGRAPHIC MASS-SPECTROMETRIC STUDY OF VOLATILE EMISSIONS OF ETHER-BEARING PLANTS FOR CHEMICAL SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF THEIR USE IN ENCLOSED SPACES

Issues of improving the environment are now among the most important for the population of large administrative and industrial cities. Improving the quality of the environment and creating comfortable living conditions for people using environmentally friendly methods is the one of most up-to-date directions in environmental health. Improving the quality of the internal environment of the premises involves the use of various modern technical life support systems to regulate parameters of the environment. However, existing methods of cleaning and air conditioning of public and industrial premises not only fail to provide the required quality of cleaning, but also can often lead to the appearance of toxic substances, promote deionization of air and deterioration of its quality according to by biological indices. Both to clean and improve the air and give it the properties that are favorable for the life-activity of a person, phytodesign methods are used. The most popular in the gardening of interiors are tropical, subtropical and aromatic plants. Their application is due to their release in the process of vital activity in the environment of biologically active substances - phytoncides, which can improve the air composition, reduce the number of bacteria, fungi, viruses and have a therapeutic effect. Chromatographic-mass-spectrometric studies of the composition of volatile organic components of ether-bearing plants of phytocomposites, when used for artificial illumination of phytolamps with narrow spectral red and blue light, have shown that 26 organic compounds have been identified in the composition of volatile discharges of phytomodule plants grown under natural illumination. The greatest contribution to the component composition of the mixture was made by saturated hydrocarbons (36%). The contribution of oxygen-containing compounds, including phenols, was 13%, aldehydes and cyclic non-aromatic hydrocarbons -12 and 11% respectively. Despite the usefulness of additional artificial lighting for plants, an increase in the amount of substances has been established with the formation of new compounds and an increase in the total content of the identified substances. There was an increase in the content of toxic phenol (by 14 times), benzaldehyde (by 10 times) and acetophenone (by 7 times). The most hygienic significance was the group of terpenic hydrocarbons, which belongs to the group of readily convertible substances, as well as groups of oxygen-containing compounds (aldehydes, ketones, phenols, ethers), which belong to the naturally occurring entities of the toxic and dangerous groups of chemicals. More than 50% of the identified compounds did not have hygienic standards, it is not possible to assess their danger or safety for human health. The use of ether-bearing plants in closed rooms requires the chemical-analytical control of the composition of volatile emissions and the establishment of optimal conditions (saturation of plants in the room, room volume, the presence of conditioning or ozonizing units, temperature regime, humidity, etc.) in order to provide the chemical safety for human health.

Bioaccumulation of Cadmium and Lead in the Muscle Tissue of <i>Mullus barbatus</i> in Skikda and Jijel Bays Eastern Algeria

The bays of Skikda and Jijel present an ecosystem of great biological diversity and a significant economic interest (fishing and trading ports, industrial zones and tourism). They are threatened by the inputs of industrial effluents that are loaded with different substances, especially heavy metals. These pollutants have the distinction of being toxic and non-biodegradable, they accumulate in the different levels of the food chain which represents a danger for human health. The present work aimed to evaluate the impact of metal pollution in both bays via the study of the bioaccumulation of heavy metals namely, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in red mullet Mullusbarbatus Linnaeus, 1758. Forty two (42) fish samples were obtained from 4 sites, 2 from bays of Skikda and 2 from bays of Jijel. After preparation, lyophilisation and mineralisation, samples were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) for detection of Cd and Pb concentrations in µg/g of dry weights. Lead has reached the values of 141.666±5.238 and 89±3.464 µg/g in Skikda sites and 20±1.527 and 10±0.577 µg/g in Jijel sites, while Cd has reached 0.76±0.023 and 0.3±0.011 µg/g in Skikda, with lowest values in Jijel 0.116±0.008 and 0.1±0.005 µg/g. The highest levels were recorded in the areas that are subject to anthropogenic pollution, namely the port areas and the oil industry (Skikda bays). While the low concentrations were found in less polluted areas like Jijel bays. The results obtained in this study are alarming and reflect significant level of pollution especially in the bays of Skikda. Preventive and remedial measures and awareness raising are needed.

Bioaccumulation of Cadmium and Lead in the Muscle Tissue of <i>Mullus barbatus</i> in Skikda and Jijel Bays Eastern Algeria

The bays of Skikda and Jijel present an ecosystem of great biological diversity and a significant economic interest (fishing and trading ports, industrial zones and tourism). They are threatened by the inputs of industrial effluents that are loaded with different substances, especially heavy metals. These pollutants have the distinction of being toxic and non-biodegradable, they accumulate in the different levels of the food chain which represents a danger for human health. The present work aimed to evaluate the impact of metal pollution in both bays via the study of the bioaccumulation of heavy metals namely, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in red mulletMullusbarbatusLinnaeus, 1758. Forty two (42) fish samples were obtained from 4 sites, 2 from bays of Skikda and 2 from bays of Jijel. After preparation, lyophilisation and mineralisation, samples were analysed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) for detection of Cd and Pb concentrations in µg/g of dry weights. Lead has reached the values of 141.666±5.238 and 89±3.464 µg/g in Skikda sites and 20±1.527 and 10±0.577 µg/g in Jijel sites, while Cd has reached 0.76±0.023 and 0.3±0.011 µg/g in Skikda, with lowest values in Jijel 0.116±0.008 and 0.1±0.005 µg/g. The highest levels were recorded in the areas that are subject to anthropogenic pollution, namely the port areas and the oil industry (Skikda bays). While the low concentrations were found in less polluted areas like Jijel bays. The results obtained in this study are alarming and reflect significant level of pollution especially in the bays of Skikda. Preventive and remedial measures and awareness raising are needed.

Remediation of acid mine drainage-impacted water by vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides): A multiscale long-term study

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is an acidic discharge from mining sites that contains elevated levels of metals and sulfate (SO42−). AMD can inflict health and environmental dangers through metal toxicity and physical stress. Current methods for AMD treatment, including chemical or passive biological treatments, are often non-sustainable owing to expense, require continuous maintenance, or are unsuitable for prolonged treatment. Our ultimate goal is to develop a cost efficient and sustainable floating treatment wetland system using vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides). Year-long large- and small-scale hydroponic experiments were used to determine the effectiveness of vetiver for treating AMD-impacted waters from the Tab-Simco mine site in southern Illinois. For the large-scale mesocosmic study, vetiver rafts were suspended in 100-gallon containers. Water quality was monitored by chemical analysis of samples every 28 days and at the end of the experiment (364 days); plant health was monitored by measuring changes in biomass and recording visual changes in root and shoot coloration and morphology. There was higher net removal of Fe (81%) and Pb (81%) with lower removal of Ni (38%), Zn (35%), SO42− (28%), Mn (27%), Cr (21%), Al (11%) and Cu (8.0%). Metals were mainly localized on the root surface as Fe plaques, whereas Mn and Zn showed greater translocation from root to shoot. Furthermore, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure showed that vetiver biomass was not hazardous waste as a result of metal accumulation. From the small-scale experiment, there was near complete removal of SO42− (91%) and metals (90–100%) with the exception of Pb (15%) and Cu (0.0%). These experiments demonstrate that vetiver can effectively remediate AMD-impacted waters over an extended period of time.

Considering ecologically sustainable packaging during decision-making while buying food products

Modern production of packaging is characterized by great choice of packaging materials and the shape of the packaging. There is almost no product on the market that does not have highlighted symbols that should give information about the product and the packaging. Although most consumers pay attention to the symbols, a certain number never checks them, because they consider them irrelevant. The paper investigates consumer perception of the importance of green packaging of food products. A primary research on the sample of 115 respondents has been carried out investigating respondents’ behaviour while making the choice on food product packaging. The findings suggest that concern for the environment and less danger for health are two major motives for buying food products in ecologically sustainable packaging. The respondents think that wood and paper have least influence on the environment, while plastic and glass harm the environment the most.

Groundwater flow patterns in the Obagi oil fields of south-south Nigeria

This study was an attempt to decipher groundwater flow patterns and the factors that affect it in the Obagi oil fields of south-south Nigeria. In this study, head, position and geological data were obtained from 13 hand dug wells tapping the water table and the Sombreiro and the Orashi Rivers, while water quality data was generated through groundwater sampling and analysis using standard methods. This study discovered a hidden channel system, a reversed recharge system for the Sombreiro River system with serious local groundwater quality implications. Groundwater flow in the study area has components of regional, intermediate and local flow systems, while movement is controlled by topography; recharge; a groundwater channel system running NW-SE through the middle of the study area and a system of wetlands in the Omoku and Erema areas. These wetlands which are used as sinks are also major recharge areas for the groundwater system in the study area thereby posing public health dangers. Also the dumping of industrial and domestic wastes in the wetlands may be limiting the capacity of these wetlands as sinks and purification plants for the natural hydro-geopollution cycle.

Groundwater flow patterns in the Obagi oil fields of south-south Nigeria

This study was an attempt to decipher groundwater flow patterns and the factors that affect it in the Obagi oil fields of south-south Nigeria. In this study, head, position and geological data were obtained from 13 hand dug wells tapping the water table and the Sombreiro and the Orashi Rivers, while water quality data was generated through groundwater sampling and analysis using standard methods. This study discovered a hidden channel system, a reversed recharge system for the Sombreiro River system with serious local groundwater quality implications. Groundwater flow in the study area has components of regional, intermediate and local flow systems, while movement is controlled by topography; recharge; a groundwater channel system running NW-SE through the middle of the study area and a system of wetlands in the Omoku and Erema areas. These wetlands which are used as sinks are also major recharge areas for the groundwater system in the study area thereby posing public health dangers. Also the dumping of industrial and domestic wastes in the wetlands may be limiting the capacity of these wetlands as sinks and purification plants for the natural hydro-geopollution cycle.

Environmental Risk for the Freshwater Ecosystem of the Yenisei River with Consequences for Human Health Risks

The long-term monitoring of the state of the freshwater ecosystem of the River Yenisei revealed the statistically reliable content of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Cd, Cu, U, etc.) in the water, bottom sediments, phyto- and zoo-plankton, and muscle mass of commercial fish (benthos eaters, predators and herbivorous fish) consuming different types of food. The values of the indices of the ecological state of the Yenisei River were estimated to vary from 2.38 to 2.85. The total index of risk for the water, considering the reference doses, amounts to 0.16 for the water, and to 0.47 for the flesh of commercial fish. The total index of risk for the population consuming freshwater and fish from the Yenisei River amounts to IR=0.63. The obtained value of the index is, in general, of no danger for the population health. Though the carcinogenic substances were not accurately revealed, non-carcinogenic substances were estimated to the level of non-threshold risks. The non-threshold risks of non-carcinogenic substances was found 0.017, far lower than permissible limit 0.050. The ratio of reflectory-olfactory effects and total non-carcinogenic risk was found, respectively, 0.01 and 0.34. The integrated indictor was 0.35, which did not exceed the regulatory level (II≤1). Conclusively, the risks associated to various analyzed indicators did not exceed the permissible levels and did not require additional measures of monitoring the water quality.

Potential health dangers of new invasive species similar to indigenous plants that are used as food or medicine--an example from Bangladesh

About 20,000 herbal products are currently available on the global market, and medicinal plants’ annual trade turnover is approximately US $ 4 billion in the United States alone. Centella asiatica (L.) Urb, (Indian Pennywort) has been widely used from the wild (also cultivated and marketed in Bangladesh, China, Southeast Asia, India, Sri Lanka), the leaves eaten as a component of mixed green vegetable, pot herb and is also an important item in the traditional medicine systems. In Bangladesh it is widely used as a health food and in the folk and traditional system of medicine for improving memory and for the treatment of a variety of ailments. Market surveys have detected two different species, C, erecta and C. verticillata, wrongly identified as the exotic species, Indian Pennywort because of their morphological similarity. Comparison of taxonomic and pharmaceutical characteristics among these species indicated a wide difference and this misidentification might pose a health risk to the consumers, the edibility and safety of the two exotic species being unknown. Public health nutritionists need to work with experts in plant taxonomy to identify and attempt to reduce the risk of invasive species of plants that may be poisonous and are similar in appearance to indigenous plants that are used for food or medicine.

The Dangers of Health and Safety: Marijuana Legalization as Frontier Capitalism

In this article I explore how the legalization of marijuana in North America involves the racialized class appropriation of diverse material, social and cultural capitals borne of black-market marijuana production and distribution. This process is facilitated by a conceptual dichotomy that grants the public either a U.S.-driven “war on drugs” or a state-organized corporate marijuana sector that favors highly capitalized interests, omitting the option of simple decriminalization. I study how this false dichotomy is normalized by politicians, entrepreneurs, and lay consumers by way of two interrelated strategies: The traditional vendor is constructed as “violent” whereas the legal one is “safe,” and the legalized marijuana product of “safe” corporate oligarchs is also made “safe” by its discursive and institutional association with medicine, purity, and “healing,” whereas the product of traditional suppliers remains “polluted” and “dangerous.” In the final analysis, we remember that health itself is a political, class-making device, brought to inaugurate class rights, responsibilities, and the respectability of some at the expense of others. Synthesizing ethnographic analysis, historical inquiry, political economic theories of capitalist appropriation, social science literatures on public health, and medical anthropology, this article suggests that persons enthusiastic for legalization confuse consumer desire with a commitment to social justice when they suggest that state-controlled legalized marijuana, in the context of neoliberal capitalism, represents an anti-imperialist social good. Social scientists are invited to remain vigilant about their potential complicity in the racialized class-making politics of public health in its intersection with shifting marijuana laws.