Environmental and occupational health on the Navajo Nation: a scoping review

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharly Coombs ◽  
Darrah K. Sleeth ◽  
Rachael M. Jones

Abstract A scoping review was performed to answer: what environmental health concerns have been associated with adverse health outcomes in the Navajo Nation? The review focused on occupational and ambient environmental exposures associated with human industrial activities. The search strategy was implemented in PubMed, and two investigators screened the retrieved literature. Thirteen studies were included for review. Data were extracted using the matrix method. Six studies described associations between work in uranium mining and cancer. Six studies focused on environmental exposures to uranium mine waste and other metals, with outcomes that included biological markers, kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension, and adverse birth outcomes. One study explored occupational exposure to Sin Nombre Virus and infection. Most research has focused on the health effects of uranium, where occupational exposures occurred among miners and environmental exposures are a legacy of uranium mining and milling. Gaps exist with respect to health outcomes associated with current occupations and the psychosocial impact of environmental hazards. Other environmental exposures and hazards are known to exist on the Navajo Nation, which may warrant epidemiologic research.

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-36
Author(s):  
Animesh Gupta ◽  
Soumya K. Inamadar ◽  
Ashish Goel

Geriatric syndromes consist of common clinical conditions affecting the elderly population. They lead to multiple, interacting medical and social deficits that increase the risk of adverse health outcomes, including dependence, institutionalization and also death. Research over the last few decades, in this area of medicine, has led to evolution of newer syndromes that pose a greater challenge to the physician. The present review aims to provide a synopsis of some of the newer syndromes like frailty, osteosarcopenia, sleep disorders and oropharyngeal dysphagia that have emerged in geriatric literature in recent times.


1987 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 559-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas P. Hynes ◽  
Randy M. Schmidt ◽  
Tim Meadley ◽  
Neill A. Thompson

Abstract Data are provided on the release of 5 radionuclides, 17 metals and 7 major ions from a uranium mining operation in northern Saskatchewan. The downstream concentration of these contaminants is documented, and the point of “no discernible impact” is determined. Sediments in a downstream lake are monitored for uranium and molybdenum, and the post-release fate of these metals is discussed.


Author(s):  
Vanessa Puig-Barrachina ◽  
Pol Giró ◽  
Lucía Artazcoz ◽  
Xavier Bartoll ◽  
Imma Cortés-Franch ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Maria Florencia Heber ◽  
Grażyna Ewa Ptak

Abstract Background The increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases places a substantial burden on human health throughout the world. It is believed that predisposition to metabolic disease starts early in life, a period of great susceptibility to epigenetic reprogramming due to environmental insults. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), i.e., treatments for infertility, may affect embryo development, resulting in multiple adverse health outcomes in postnatal life. The most frequently observed alteration in ART pregnancies is impaired placental nutrient transfer. Moreover, consequent intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight followed by catch-up growth can all predict future obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic metabolic diseases. Scope of the review In this review, we have focused on evidence of adverse metabolic alterations associated with ART, which can contribute to the development of chronic adult-onset diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Due to high phenotypic plasticity, ART pregnancies can produce both offspring with adverse health outcomes, as well as healthy individuals. We further discuss the sex-specific and age-dependent metabolic alterations reflected in ART offspring, and how the degree of interference of a given ART procedure (from mild to more severe manipulation of the egg) affects the occurrence and degree of offspring alterations. Major conclusions Over the last few years, studies have reported signs of cardiometabolic alterations in ART offspring that are detectable at a young age but that do not appear to constitute a high risk of disease and morbidity per se. These abnormal phenotypes could be early indicators of the development of chronic diseases, including metabolic syndrome, in adulthood. The early detection of metabolic alterations could contribute to preventing the onset of disease in adulthood. Such early interventions may counteract the risk factors and improve the long-term health of the individual.


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