Human Health Impact Research Articles

UNDERSTANDING THE DYNAMICS OF ENVIRONMENT, PANCHMAHABHUTA AND HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY IN AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that encompasses personal, preventive, and social health. The term 'environment' denotes all external factors—both living and non-living, material and non-material—that surround humans. Some of these elements, both living and non-living, impact human health. Non-living components, known as abiotic elements, include water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air. Abiotic elements such as water (Jala), land (Earth), sunlight (Teja), Air (Vayu), Space (Aakash) are referred to as Pancha - Mahabhuta. Correlation between these five MahaBhuta and human beings is scientifically explained by the principle of LokaPurusha Samya Siddhanta. According to the principle of Loka-Purusha Samya Siddhanta, there is a fundamental similarity between the universe and the human body. Both living and nonliving matter are composed of the Panchamahabhuta. A balanced state of environmental components is crucial for maintaining human health. Imbalances caused by excessive, insufficient, or improper indulgence in these sensory experiences, wrong actions (karma) and seasonal variations due to time are the fundamental causes of disease. Ayurveda give importance of mental, physical wellbeing while describing health. In this article role of Panchamahabhuta in maintaining measures of health and to face health challenges due to climatic variations are discussed.

The Long-Term Human Capital and Health Impacts of a Pollution Reduction Programme

The Long-Term Human Capital and Health Impacts of a Pollution Reduction Programme

Phosphate dynamics: From plant physiology to human health and environmental impact

Phosphate dynamics: From plant physiology to human health and environmental impact

Update on tick-borne pathogens detection methods within ticks

Ticks are known vectors of various pathogens, including bacteria, parasites and viruses, that impact both animal and human health. Improving knowledge of the distribution of tick-borne pathogens, combined with their early detection in ticks, are essential steps to fight against tick-borne diseases and mitigate their impacts. Here we give an overview of what are the common methods of pathogen detection in tick samples, including recent developments concerning how to handle tick samples, get access to tick-borne pathogens by chemical or physical disruption of the ticks, and methods used for the RNA/DNA extraction steps. Furthermore, we discuss promising tools that are developed for other sample types such as serum or blood to detect tick-borne pathogens, and those that could be used in the future for tick samples.

Human Health Impacts of Wildland Fire

Human Health Impacts of Wildland Fire

Human Health Impacts of Perfluoroalkyl Substances, Micro- and Nanoplastics Contamination of Drinking Water

PFAS are organic compounds made up of carbon and fluorine atoms, often characterized by a carbon backbone with fluorine atoms attached. The key feature is the presence of perfluoroalkyl groups, where all hydrogen atoms on the carbon chain are replaced by fluorine atoms. PFAS are considered persistent and bioaccumulative, meaning they do not break down easily in the environment and can accumulate in organisms over time. Long-term exposure to PFAS has been associated with potential health risks, including liver damage, immune system effects, developmental issues, and an increased risk of certain cancers. Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) pose significant environmental and potential health risks. They can be ingested by humans on consumption of contaminated water potentially causing harm. MNPs have been found in drinking water sources, soil, and aquatic life including fish, shellfish, and plankton. These particles can accumulate in the tissues of plants and animals and can enter the human food chain. Due to these environmental and health concerns, efforts are being made to regulate and reduce the use of PFAS in various applications, reduce plastic pollution, improve waste management, and develop sustainable alternatives to mitigate the impacts of MNPs on the environment and human health.

COVID-19 perturbation on US air quality and human health impact assessment.

The COVID-19 stay-at-home orders issued in the United States caused significant reductions in traffic and economic activities. To understand the pandemic's perturbations on US emissions and impacts on urban air quality, we developed near-real-time bottom-up emission inventories based on publicly available energy and economic datasets, simulated the emission changes in a chemical transport model, and evaluated air quality impacts against various observations. The COVID-19 pandemic affected US emissions across broad-based energy and economic sectors and the impacts persisted to 2021. Compared with 2019 business-as-usual emission scenario, COVID-19 perturbations resulted in annual decreases of 10-15% in emissions of ozone (O3) and fine particle (PM2.5) gas-phase precursors, which are about two to four times larger than long-term annual trends during 2010-2019. While significant COVID-induced reductions in transportation and industrial activities, particularly in April-June 2020, resulted in overall national decreases in air pollutants, meteorological variability across the nation led to local increases or decreases of air pollutants, and mixed air quality changes across the United States between 2019 and 2020. Over a full year (April 2020 to March 2021), COVID-induced emission reductions led to 3-4% decreases in national population-weighted annual fourth maximum of daily maximum 8-h average O3 and annual PM2.5. Assuming these emission reductions could be maintained in the future, the result would be a 4-5% decrease in premature mortality attributable to ambient air pollution, suggesting that continued efforts to mitigate gaseous pollutants from anthropogenic sources can further protect human health from air pollution in the future.

Preservatives in Canned Meat and Their Potential Human Health Concerns: A Review

Preservatives are the most popular food enhancers for preserving food freshness and extending its shelf life. Preservatives are frequently added to processed foods, so they are crucial to ensuring that the food remains fresh for a longer period of time. Several types of food preservatives are available currently some are manufactured while others occur naturally. Meat is one of the most important types of food that is disposed to chemical or enzymatic damage, especially after its manufacture as a result of the breakdown of fats, proteins and carbohydrates, which in turn causes the emergence of undesirable and unhealthy changes in smell, flavor and texture, making it unsuitable for human consumption. Among the substances allowed to be used as preservatives for canned meat are sodium acetates, nitrites, nitrates, sorbates, and sulphites. The current review aims to summarize the most important preservatives used in canned meat and indicate their potential negative impact human health.

Are Adult Mosquito Control Products (Adulticides) Harmful? A Review of the Potential Human Health Impacts from Exposure to Naled and Dichlorvos (DDVP)

We performed a thorough systematic review of published literature to determine potential links between human health impacts and naled, a registered adult mosquito control product (adulticide), and its major degradate, dichlorvos (DDVP). A search query was performed on 8 September 2023, capturing all articles published up to that date on the Scopus and PubMed databases. Inclusion criteria were the presence of either pesticide and a measured or modeled human health outcome or risk. The search string resulted in 382 articles; however, 354 articles were excluded, resulting in only 28 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The studies that directly relate to aerosolized ultra-low volume (ULV) mosquito control applications did not report any associated deleterious human health outcomes. Results from the reviewed papers displayed no negative health effects or led to inconclusive results. No studies showed adverse health effects from aerial ULV applications for mosquito management. Our findings are congruent with the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations that aerial applications of naled, following label parameters, do not pose an adverse risk exposure to humans, wildlife, and the environment.

Near-field exposures and human health impacts for organic chemicals in interior paints: A high-throughput screening

Interior paints contain organic chemicals that might be harmful to painters and building residents. This study aims to develop a high-throughput approach to screen near-field human exposures and health impacts related to organic chemicals in interior paints. We developed mass balance models for both water- and solvent-based paints, predicting emissions during wet and dry phases. We then screened exposures and risks, focusing on Sri Lanka where residential houses are frequently repainted. These models accurately predict paint drying time and indoor air concentrations of organic chemicals. Exposures of both painter and household resident were estimated for 65 organic chemicals in water-based and 26 in solvent-based paints, considering 12 solvents. Chemicals of concerns (CoCs) were identified, and maximum acceptable chemical contents (MACs) were calculated. Water-based paints generally pose lower health risks than solvent-based paints but might contain biocides of high concern. The total human health impact of one painting event on all household adults ranges from 1.5 × 10-3 to 2.1 × 10-2 DALYs for solvent-based paints, and from 4.1 × 10-4 to 9.5 × 10-3 DALYs for water-based paints. The present approach is a promising way to support the formulation of safer paint, and is integrated in the USEtox scientific consensus model for use in life cycle assessment, chemical substitution and risk screening.

Deep eutectic solvents as a green alternative for trace element analysis in food and beverage samples: Recent advances and challenges

Metals and metalloids have different effects on human health even at trace levels. Some of them are essential for living organisms while others can be toxic. Therefore, the determination of trace elements in food and beverage is highly important to understand their impact in human health. A new generation of solvents named deep eutectic solvents (DES) has emerged as a green alternative for trace element analysis, owing to their low toxicity, biodegradability, and high extraction capacity. In recent years, the application of DES in extraction techniques for trace element analysis in food and beverage samples has increased significantly. This review summarizes recent advances and challenges on the application of DES to develop microextraction techniques useful for the analysis of samples with complex matrices. The importance of the use of biodegradable substances instead of classic organic solvents, which are toxic, volatile, and flammable in methods for elemental analysis with a positive environmental impact is also highlighted. Finally, conclusions and future challenges arising from the use of DES in microextraction techniques are discussed.

Influence of Internet use on Chinese residents’ health: The mediating role of health knowledge

Information and communication technology development and the digital economy impact human health. The mechanisms of how Internet use affects health outcomes through proximal factors such as health knowledge have not been adequately investigated in China. Therefore, through the China Health and Nutrition Survey database, this study aimed to verify whether Internet use could influence residents' health status by affecting health knowledge levels. We applied Probit regression and mediating models to achieve this goal. This paper provides direct evidence that Internet use may impact individuals' physical health through health knowledge mechanisms. Our study could provide insight into the use of the Internet and its impact on individual human health. In addition, the investigations and findings of this paper could further inspire policy measures with practical implications, such as Internet regulation, Internet policy interventions, and Internet infrastructure development.

Irish surface water response to the 2018 drought

Intense weather events are projected to increase as a consequence of climate change. The summer 2018 drought in Europe impacted human health, ecosystems, and economic prosperity. Even locations with an abundance of fresh water, like Ireland, faced water restrictions due to depleted supplies. To characterize the effect of the 2018 drought on Irish rivers, we collected surface water samples from rivers across the island at the drought onset and termination. We analyzed samples for stable water isotopes δ18O and δ2H and calculated the fraction of evaporation from river groundwater and precipitation inflow (E/I) of rivers. We extended river δ18O and δ2H analysis to 2020 for rivers in two catchments, Corrib and Shannon, to investigate how Irish river systems respond to high precipitation events, and the role of loughs (lakes) in the system. River δ18O and δ2H values showed progressive depletion from west to east in response to precipitation depletion from airmasses arriving off the Atlantic Ocean. From onset to termination of the 2018 drought, river δ18O and δ2H values were enriched and the calculated E/I value increased for most rivers. D-excess were negatively correlated with E/I value, providing support for E/I calculations. Extended analysis of loughs along the Corrib and Shannon river systems showed that lough Corrib consistently induced isotopic enrichment, while loughs in the Shannon catchment inconsistently caused isotopic enrichment. Both systems exert control over river isotopic composition in hydrologic extremes. Findings promote additional research in hydrologic patterns in response to increasing frequency of floods and droughts.

How Can Climate Change Impact Human Health via Food Security? A Bibliometric Analysis

Global climate change, induced by anthropogenic causes, has severe consequences for Earth and its inhabitants. With the consequences already visible around the globe, one of them is the impact on food security. The lack of food security has serious impacts on health, especially in vulnerable populations who highly depend on a nutritious diet for a healthy life. The following research aims to assess the current research status of climate change, food security and health. In this context, the interlinkage of the three key concepts is analyzed, as well as the related health consequences. To achieve the aims of this research, a bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer, (version 1.6.16) including 453 papers. The data were retrieved from the Scopus database on 10 November 2022. Bibliometric analysis can illustrate emerging and key topic areas using keywords and co-occurrence analysis; hence, it is an adequate method to meet the listed research aims. Five different clusters have been derived from the analysis, each representing a different perspective on interlinkage. From the different clusters, the main consequences of climate change on food security could be derived, such as a decrease in crop yields, less availability of fish and livestock, or food contamination through mycotoxins. These can cause serious health implications, predominantly increasing the rate of malnutrition globally. The work showed the importance of action to prevent the consequences of climate change in relation to food security and health nexus. To do so, adaptation strategies are needed that consider the interdisciplinary scope of the problem, building sustainable measures that benefit each concept.

Quantum chemical study on the catalytic debromination mechanism of brominated epoxy resins

The study employed Density Functional Theory (DFT) to investigate the catalytic debromination mechanism of brominated epoxy resins (BERs) by iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) catalysts. By introducing electric field (EF), intramolecular electron transfer and polarization effects on BERs debromination were explored and experimentally validated. Results indicated that the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of the C-Br bond was 312.27 kJ/mol without catalysis, while with Fe, Cu, and EF, it was 114.47 kJ/mol, 94.85 kJ/mol, and 292.59 kJ/mol, respectively, enhancing reactivity. EF parallel to the C-Br bond and oriented toward the C atom, altered electrostatic potential and dipole moment around C-Br bond, leading to 68.60% and 50.19% increment in electronic contribution difference and molecule polarity, respectively, thereby reducing the C-Br BDE. Fe and Cu facilitated electron transfers with BERs, inducing reactions between their negative electrostatic potentials and Br's positive potential, changing electron sharing, resulting in 19.87% and 12.11% increase in polarity, respectively, and further BDE reduction. Structural modifications by the EF and catalysts also intensified van der Waals forces with bromine atoms and decreased spatial hindrance, collectively making C-Br bond breakage easier. Experiments revealed the EF enhanced BERs' debromination efficiency but hindered Fe/Cu's catalysis at lower temperatures.

AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF AN ORC-BASED EXHAUST HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM FOR APPLICATION IN VEHICLES

The paper presents the study performed to assess the environmental consequences of a proposed organic Rankine cycle-based exhaust heat recovery system for application in vehicles. A life-cycle assessment of fifteen (15) midpoints and two (2) endpoint levels was performed using the SimaPro database to determine the potential environmental consequences of the main parts of the proposed system resulting from the various raw materials used in these parts. The performance results of the organic Rankine cycle-based exhaust heat recovery system show that it can generate up to 3.10 kW of net power output from the engine exhaust, which otherwise is released into the environment as waste heat, with a thermal efficiency of 6.36%. The life-cycle assessment results show that the presence of steel in these components is responsible for the majority of these environmental consequences. The evaporator showed the highest impact potential, with values ranging from 37% in marine eutrophication to 72% in ionizing radiation. From the two (2) endpoint impact assessments, it is clear that the pump has the maximum human health impact potential of 0.0138 DALY, with the condenser having the lowest contribution of 0.0005 DALY. The evaporator and condenser contribute 2297.25 PDF.m2.yr and 158.30 PDF.m2.yr ecosystem quality impact potentials, respectively, as the highest and lowest. Therefore, the organic Rankine cycle-based exhaust heat recovery system has relatively little impact potential on climate change threats, with a value of 1.37E-03 kgCO2.

The Impact Of Human Capital Quality, Public Health, Education Quality, And Public Services On Governance, All Of Which Have Implications For Community Well-Being

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of human resource quality, public health, education quality, and public services on governance, which has an impact on community welfare. A random sampling approach was used to randomly select 330 respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data. SEM-PLS with structural equation modelling (SEM) was used for data analysis. Based on the findings of the study, the quality of human resources, public health, quality of education, public services, and governance all have a significant impact on community welfare. These five research variables are prioritised for improvement. The quality of human resources, public health, education, and public services show useful results, which can be a solution to welfare problems to achieve good governance, as long as they are within the framework of improving community welfare and not exploiting them for other personal gains. This research also shows the importance of the Muara Enim Regency government in preventing corrupt practices, especially since corrupt practices have a significant impact on people's welfare, because they not only make administrative procedures slow, expensive, and inefficient, but also divert resources to local governments. The Muara Enim Regency Government is expected to be able to equip its people with quality human resources, health services, public education, and public services, resulting in superior governance. This research also proposes that the Muara Enim Regency Government be more successful in making policies to stay on track and improve the human development index.

Environmental sustainability and healthiness of nursing homes meals: an exploratory study from Italy

Abstract Background The food sector is responsible for more than the 30% of the total greenhouse gases emissions (GHGE), one of the leading causes of global warming. The adoption of healthy and sustainable food models has been identified as one of the possible effective interventions to face this challenge. In this regard, the healthcare sector's food chain is underinvestigated, with a lack of a global and comprehensive approach. Specifically, no research has been conducted yet in nursing homes. The aim of our study is to evaluate the environmental impact of the menu among residents of an Italian 130-beds nursing home, and to assess their adherence to the Planetary Health Diet (PHD), a dietary framework conceived by the EAT-Lancet Commission aimed to promote both human and environmental health. Methods We assessed a random sample of 20,000 combinations of servings. For each of them we estimated the Carbon Foodprint (CF) and the adherence to PHD using the life cycle assessment methodology and the Modified EAT-Lancet Diet Score, respectively. Threshold was set to 2.027 KgCO2eq/day for CF and to 23 for PHD adherence. Afterwards, we evaluated the composition of the menus and estimated the CF of each day with relative permutations given by the possibility of the different choices of dishes. Results We found a substantial variability of both CF and PHD adherence among permutations, with only a small proportion of them reaching the benchmarks. Furthermore, we found a negative association between CF and PHD adherence, with healthier menus generating less CO2eq emissions. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first study specifically assessing the environmental impact of food in a nursing home. The observed variability suggests the possibility of improving the proposed menus, with a potential beneficial impact on both human and environmental health. Further studies are needed, to deeply explore the current situation and the strategies for improvements on this topic. Key messages • Despite the relevance of the topic, this is the first study assessing both the environmental and health aspects of meals served in a nursing home. • We found that healthier servings had a lower environmental impact, suggesting the possibility to improve menus with a beneficial impact for both human and environmental health.

10.A. Round table: Food marketing regulation and civil society mobilisation

Abstract For over 20 years, the EU has struggled to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing even though food marketing has been identified as an important contributor to unhealthy food environments and diet-related diseases. Overall, political will has been insufficient to implement the WHO recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children in Europe. In particular, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive - the main EU legislative instrument intended to serve this purpose - contains major gaps, and its limited scope has promoted the shifts of marketing investment from regulated to unregulated programmes and media, leaving children insufficiently protected from exposure to unhealthy food marketing. Moreover, and perhaps even more fundamentally, the Audiovisual Media Services Directive relies primarily on the establishment of public-private partnerships and the adoption of industry codes of conduct, even though it is increasingly established that such regulatory mechanisms are not suitable to achieve the objective they pursue. This lack of political will to effectively regulate food marketing to protect children from its harmful impact is all the more striking if one considers the growing recognition in Europe and beyond that food marketing should be envisaged not only as a global health issue but also as a major child rights concern. Various Council Presidency Conclusions (e.g. Malta in 2017, Bulgaria in 2018) and the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child (2021) all call on the EU to protect the right of the child to good nutrition through the regulation of, among others, food marketing. The need to address food marketing is further reinforced by the various actions that are ongoing in the EU, including the Best ReMaP joint action, and the forthcoming adoption by the WHO of a Guideline on policies to protect children from the harmful impact of food marketing. This one-hour workshop proposes to discuss how the renewed mobilisation of civil society organisations across Europe, working closely with the academic community, can use this framing of food marketing as both a public health and a human rights concern. In particular, it will reflect on the human rights arguments that can be used to promote better health for all. Two short presentations will consider specifically the role that 1) human rights and health impact assessments, and 2) the best interest of the child principle can play in promoting healthier food environments. It will then reflect specifically on the ongoing Food Marketing Initiative, which over 20 pan-EU federations of public health, consumer and children's rights organisations are leading. A panel discussion with several of the organisations involved in this Initiative will reflect on the landmark moments of this Initiative to date, and how it has helped to foster new thinking in this policy area which is crucial to promote healthier food environments for all. Key messages • Envisaging food marketing as a child rights issue offers new, potentially powerful arguments to ensure that children are better protected from its harmful impact. • New forms of civil society mobilisation can urge the EU and its Member States to act in light of existing evidence with a view to promoting healthier, more sustainable food environments for all. Speakers/Panelists Eleanor Brooks University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK Amandine Garde Law & Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, Liverpool, UK Alba Gil European Public Health Alliance, Brussels, Belgium Dorota Sienkiewicz EuroHealthNet, Brussels, Belgium Emma Calvert BEUC, Brussels, Belgium

From lowland plains to the Altiplano: The impacts of regional transport of wildfire smoke on the air quality of Bolivian cities

Wildfires emerged as a global concern in recent decades, because they deteriorate the air quality in urban centres situated downwind, impact human health, ecosystems and regional climate. In this study, we assessed the air quality of Bolivia's three largest metropolitan areas during the period 2017–2019 by analysing in situ criteria air pollutant data (PM10, O3 and NOx) coupled with satellite (aerosol optical depth AOD and total CO column), fire foci data, and airmass backward trajectories. The Bolivian lowland plains were highly impacted by smoke transported from the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. Due to its proximity to the fire foci, Santa Cruz was the most affected city, where PM10, CO and AOD increased between 1.3- and 3.9-fold in September (maximum fire activity) compared to April (lowest fire activity). In Cochabamba and La Paz-El Alto, the impacts of wildfires on AOD and CO were lower (15–16% increase). A case study of regional smoke in September 2019 using Cochabamba as an example revealed that: i) airmass trajectories passed over regions with high fire radiative power density in southern Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina; ii) the advection of wildfire smoke caused unusual episodes of enhanced nocturnal O3 concentrations (20–45 μg/m3) over a four-day pollution event. The results indicated that local sources (e.g., motorised traffic, brick kilns and dust resuspension) largely contributed to deteriorate the air quality, particularly in the dry months, surpassing the World Health Organization recommendations for PM10, in La Paz-El Alto and Cochabamba. We highlight the need of international cooperation among South American countries to combat fire practices in the region, given the transboundary nature of the biomass burning plumes. Moreover, it is crucial to implement local measures aimed at tackling local air pollution sources, especially in a changing climate in which drier conditions can favour the onset and propagation of wildfires and accumulation of air pollutants.