scholarly journals Strategic noise mapping in Athens International Airport: A tool for balanced approach & health effects evaluation

Noise Mapping ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-98
Author(s):  
Konstantinos Vogiatzis ◽  
Dimitrios Dimitriou ◽  
Georgia Gerolymatou ◽  
Aristeidis Konstantinidis
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Aircraft Noise ◽  
World Health ◽  
Analysis Tool ◽  
Noise Mapping ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
European Directive ◽  
International Airport

AbstractAthens International Airport (A.I.A) is the first major transportation infrastructure in Greece with the participation of the private sector, a pioneer international Public-Private Partnership. Environmental protection is a priority, and AIA, is committed to protect the environment and preventing or lessening negative impacts, through a comprehensive Environmental Policy and Procedures. Within this framework, AIA has already carried out the study for Strategic Noise Map (SNM) and the Noise Action Plan (NAP) for the Aircraft Noise. According to the European Directive 49/2002 the study should be repeated every 5 years. This research article focuses on the comparative study for the latest SNMs 2017 & 2019 (ECAC Doc.29) and for 2019 (executed by the new methodology CNOSSOS-GR), for the respective traffic data 2016 & 2018, and presents the results of the acoustic model in order to create the Strategic Noise Maps for Lden & Lnight indicators. With a view to implementing the legislation, an analysis of aircraft mix for every year (except helicopters, military and other specific flights) was carried out in accordance with the categorisation provided for in the relevant recommendation of the Committee of 6 August 2003 and the European Commission adopted Directive 2015/996. The potential health effects were further analyzed using the World Health Organization (WHO’s) Disability Adjusted Life Year’s (DALY’s) metrics for aircraft noise in relation to the exposure of the population based on the results of alternative comparative Strategic Noise Maps. The aim of the study is to show how the combination of both the implementation of the European Directive 2002/49 and 2015/996 and the DALY approach is an analysis tool for the evaluation of the acoustic environment. As we can observe in the results, the overall findings are significantly lower in the case of SNM 2019 (executed by the new methodology CNOSSOS-GR) than in the others.

scholarly journals Assessing Health Effects and Soundscape Analysis as New Mitigation Actions Concerning the Aircraft Noise Impact in Small- and Middle-Size Urban Areas in Greece

Environments ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia Gerolymatou ◽  
Nicolas Rémy ◽  
Konstantinos Vogiatzis ◽  
Vassiliki Zafiropoulou
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Environmental Noise ◽  
Aircraft Noise ◽  
Population Exposure ◽  
Noise Mapping ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
International Airport ◽  
Disability Adjusted Life ◽  
The Impact

In 2013 and 2014, two main International Airports in Greece were evaluated through the European directive on noise environment 2002/49/EC: “Nikos Kazantzakis” International Airport of Heraklion Crete and “Ioannis—Kapodistrias” International Airport in Corfu, both located in highly touristic areas of Greece. Acoustic measurement’s campaign, environmental noise mapping simulations and population exposure to noise were implemented in order to produce a complete Strategic Noise Map. Correlated to this acoustic approach, a comprehensive interview campaign and a detailed soundscape analysis were also conducted in both airports’ adjacent areas (Alikarnassos district in Heraklion and the peninsula of Canoni in Corfu City) in order to understand the impact of aircraft movements on both local residents and tourists, and analyze the perception of the soundscapes. A similar evaluation was also executed in order to assess possible health effects by using the WHO’s DALY’s (Disability Adjusted Life Year) metrics for environmental noise in relation to the exposure of the population. This paper presents the main results of these representative case studies, attempting a combined assessment of both health effects and soundscape characteristics to be used as evaluation tools towards the management and the rehabilitation acoustic environment characterized mainly by aircraft noise in touristic areas.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Aircraft Noise Levels, Annoyance, and Health Effects in an Urban Area in Oman

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Amoatey ◽  
Issa Al-Harthy ◽  
Khalifa Al-Jabri ◽  
Abdullah Al-Mamun ◽  
Mahad Said Baawain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
General Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Noise Exposure ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Aircraft Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
Exposure Levels

Abstract This study aimed at investigating aircraft noise exposure levels, their annoyance, and potential health effects among communities living within airport catchment areas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both field measurements and an online survey approach were used to investigate aircraft noise exposure levels, annoyance, and general health effects among residents living near Muscat International Airport (MCT) in Muscat, Oman amid COVID-19 period. The study found a drastic decline in aircraft noise levels due to the introduction of COVID-19 intervention measures such as lock-downs, social distancing, and closure of airports. In June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic average daily aircraft noise levels of LAeq (39.9 dB(A)) and Lmax (49.7 dB(A)) was observed compared to the previous year (April-May 2019) of 58.5 and 76.8 dB(A), indicating aircraft noise reductions level of 32% and 35%, respectively. The results of the online social survey among 187 participants showed that most (58.8%) of the respondents did not feel that the level of noise produced by aircraft causes annoyance. During the day, the vast majority of the interviewees did not complain of any annoyance during the morning (45.5%), afternoon (39.6%), and evening (31%) with only < 4% of residents having reported a very high degree of annoyance of during COVID-19 pandemic period. Very few people (17%) did complain of experiencing general health problems while 29% did not know of any potential health effects that could be attributed to aircraft noise exposures. These findings support the need sustainable mitigation of aircraft noise in order to help improve health.

scholarly journals Health effects of electromagnetic fields on children

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 422-428
Author(s):  
Jin-Hwa Moon
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Electromagnetic Fields ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Base Stations ◽  
World Health ◽  
Smart Devices ◽  
International Agency ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Low Frequencies

In today’s world, most children are exposed to various manmade electromagnetic fields (EMFs). EMFs are electromagnetic waves less than 300 GHz. A developing child’s brain is vulnerable to electromagnetic radiation; thus, their caregivers’ concerns about the health effects of EMFs are increasing. EMF exposure is divided into 2 categories: extremely low frequencies (ELFs; 3–3,000 Hz), involving high-voltage transmission lines and in-house wiring; and radiofrequencies (RFs; 30 kHz to 300 GHz), involving mobile phones, smart devices, base stations, WiFi, and 5G technologies. The biological effects of EMFs on humans include stimulation, thermal, and nonthermal, the latter of which is the least known. Among the various health issues related to EMFs, the most important issue is human carcinogenicity. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC’s) evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, ELFs and RFs were evaluated as possible human carcinogens (Group 2B). However, the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) view of EMFs remains undetermined. This article reviews the current knowledge of EMF exposure on humans, specifically children. EMF exposure sources, biological effects, current WHO and IARC opinions on carcinogenicity, and effects of EMF exposures on children will be discussed. As well-controlled EMF experiments in children are nearly impossible, scientific knowledge should be interpreted objectively. Precautionary approaches are recommended for children until the potential health effects of EMF are confirmed.

scholarly journals Characterization of urban wastewater treatment plant effluent from Tokyo using metagenomics and β-lactam-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsuyoshi Sekizuka ◽  
Kentaro Itokawa ◽  
Rina Tanaka ◽  
Masanori Hashino ◽  
Koji Yatsu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
One Health ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Tokyo Bay ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
The One

Abstract Background: The World Health Organization has endorsed a global action plan on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which calls upon all nations to adopt mitigation strategies based on the one-health approach. In particular, environmental factors to evaluate their potential risk for promoting the evolution of AMR have not been sufficiently characterized, yet. Instead of the limited nosocomial AMR surveillance, sewage AMR surveillance could highlight a broader picture of the global burden of AMR, including local-specific features, such as urban-, suburban-, industrial-, or agricultural-based, based on the One-Health approach.Methods: We characterized environmental AMR burden in effluents of eight wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) around the Tama River and Tokyo Bay by metagenomic analysis of AMR genes (ARGs) and heavy metal resistance genes and whole-genome sequencing of AMR bacteria (ARB) isolates.Results: We found that seasonal features of ARGs eluted from WWTPs and sul1 and qacE (or qacE∆1), which are the main contributors of class 1 integron, were rich genetic factors as baseline ARG pollutants. In addition, aadA6 and msr(E) were predominant ARGs against aminoglycoside and macrolide resistance, respectively. Among the detected ARB isolates, complete genome sequencing demonstrated that E. coli O16:H5-ST131-fimH41 producing CTX-M-27 exhibited marked genome clonality with clinical isolates from several countries. Complete plasmid sequences highlighted that ARG distribution was involved in plasmid replicon and its bacterial hosts.Conclusions: Here, we provide a baseline for investigating environmental AMR dissemination and the possibility of using metagenomics for comprehensive AMR surveillance in sewage. This study demonstrated that AMR monitoring could uncover the actual status of the effluents from WWTP and would suggest how we should conduct further studies to reduce the related AMR burden to prevent it from becoming a potential health risk.

The EPA Guidance Project: Guidance for Mental Healthcare in Europe

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (01) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
I. Großimlinghaus ◽  
J. Zielasek ◽  
W. Gaebel
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
World Health ◽  
Post Graduate Training ◽  
Health Organization

Summary Background: The development of guidelines is an important and common method to assure and improve quality in mental healthcare in European countries. While guidelines have to fulfill predefined criteria such as methodological accuracy of evidence retrieval and assessment, and stakeholder involvement, the development of guidance was not standardized yet. Aim: In 2008, the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) initiated the EPA Guidance project in order to provide guidance in the field of European psychiatry and related fields for topics that are not dealt with by guideline developers – for instance due to lack of evidence or lack of funding. The first three series of EPA Guidance deal with diverse topics that are relevant to European mental healthcare, such as quality assurance for mental health services, post-graduate training in mental healthcare, trust in mental health services and mental health promotion. Results: EPA Guidance recommendations address current and future challenges for European psychiatry. They are developed in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) European Mental Health Action Plan.

scholarly journals Diagnostics and monitoring tools for noncommunicable diseases: a missing component in the global response

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Bernabé-Ortiz ◽  
Jessica H. Zafra-Tanaka ◽  
Miguel Moscoso-Porras ◽  
Rangarajan Sampath ◽  
Beatrice Vetter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health System ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Noncommunicable Disease ◽  
World Health ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Monitoring Tools

AbstractA key component of any health system is the capacity to accurately diagnose individuals. One of the six building blocks of a health system as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) includes diagnostic tools. The WHO’s Noncommunicable Disease Global Action Plan includes addressing the lack of diagnostics for noncommunicable diseases, through multi-stakeholder collaborations to develop new technologies that are affordable, safe, effective and quality controlled, and improving laboratory and diagnostic capacity and human resources. Many challenges exist beyond price and availability for the current tools included in the Package of Essential Noncommunicable Disease Interventions (PEN) for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. These include temperature stability, adaptability to various settings (e.g. at high altitude), need for training in order to perform and interpret the test, the need for maintenance and calibration, and for Blood Glucose Meters non-compatible meters and test strips. To date the issues surrounding access to diagnostic and monitoring tools for noncommunicable diseases have not been addressed in much detail. The aim of this Commentary is to present the current landscape and challenges with regards to guidance from the WHO on diagnostic tools using the WHO REASSURED criteria, which define a set of key characteristics for diagnostic tests and tools. These criteria have been used for communicable diseases, but so far have not been used for noncommunicable diseases. Diagnostic tools have played an important role in addressing many communicable diseases, such as HIV, TB and neglected tropical diseases. Clearly more attention with regards to diagnostics for noncommunicable diseases as a key component of the health system is needed.

scholarly journals Vaccination Coverage for Routine Vaccines and Herd Immunity Levels against Measles and Pertussis in the World in 2019

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 256
Author(s):  
Pedro Plans-Rubió
Keyword(s):  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
World Health ◽  
Immunization Programs ◽  
National Immunization ◽  
The World ◽  
Measles Vaccination ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Health Organization

In 2012, the World Health Organization (WHO) established the Global Vaccine Action Plan with the objective to promote essential vaccinations in all countries and achieve at least 90% vaccination coverage for all routine vaccines by 2020. The study assessed the mean percentages of vaccination coverage in 2019 for 13 routine vaccines, vaccination coverage variation from 2015 to 2019, and herd immunity levels against measles and pertussis in 2019 in countries and regions of WHO. In 2019, the mean percentages of vaccination coverage were lower than 90% for 10 (78.9%) routine vaccines. The mean percentages of vaccination coverage also decreased from 2015 to 2019 for six (46.2%) routine vaccines. The prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced measles immunity in the target measles vaccination population was 88.1%, and the prevalence of individuals with vaccine-induced pertussis immunity in the target pertussis vaccination population was 81.1%. Herd immunity against measles viruses with Ro = 18 was established in 63 (32.5%) countries but not established in any region. Herd immunity against pertussis agents was not established in any country and in any region of WHO. National immunization programs must be improved to achieve ≥90% vaccination coverage in all countries and regions. Likewise, it is necessary to achieve ≥95% vaccination coverage with two doses of measles vaccines and three doses of pertussis vaccines in all countries and regions.

Effects of Increased Noise Levels by Supersonic Aircraft on Annoyance Levels and Time Estimations

1980 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 563-569
Author(s):  
John A. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Aircraft Noise ◽  
Noise Levels ◽  
Supersonic Aircraft ◽  
International Airport

Several tests designed to assess the effects of increased noise levels created by the Concorde supersonic aircraft were administered to 48 residents living around Dulles International Airport and 31 persons not living near an airport. Results of a pretest questionnaire and lack of significant changes in annoyance levels and time estimations indicate that, while airport-area residents may be more conscious of aircraft noise, changes in the perceived intensities of sounds may not occur.

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