scholarly journals Health Impact Assessment: An Information Needs Assessment Across Sectors

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-26
Author(s):  
Wes Quattrone ◽  
Melissa Callaham ◽  
Stephen Brown ◽  
Tatiana Lin ◽  
Jamie Pina
Keyword(s):  
Information Needs ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
Professional Fields ◽  
The Impact

Background: Over the last decade, the number of health impact assessments (HIAs) conducted has increased. The information contained in these studies provides valuable guidance for stakeholders in many professional fields and industries, also known as sectors. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that practitioners across sectors have unmet information needs and are facing challenges accessing and using information. Methods: The research team conducted a series of focus groups to explore the information needs of practitioners across sectors and to identify challenges they face accessing this information. Participants were stratified by geographic location, sector affiliation, and level of expertise with HIAs. Results: Findings suggest that practitioners from all sectors can benefit from the integration of health-related information, and the information contained in HIAs, into their work. Reported information needs include baseline data, geocoded socio-demographic information, and granular local data. Participants indicated that they obtain information from their professional network, universities sponsoring research, and online resources. Information challenges include lack of data that match the size and the scope of the target area of interest, proprietary or pay-for-access sources, varying terminology for the same concepts across sectors, inadequate resources and HIA expertise for searching, and limited information on the impact of findings of prior completed HIAs. Discussion: Identifying and understanding the information needs of practitioners is essential to maximizing the use of existing and future HIAs. An interactive and comprehensive web-based repository system for HIAs may provide value and assist stakeholders in meeting these needs.

scholarly journals Valuing environmental health for informed policy-making

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 171-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vojtěch Máca ◽  
Jan Melichar ◽  
Milan Ščasný ◽  
Markéta Braun Kohlová
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Health ◽  
Policy Making ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
External Costs ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Geographic Coverage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Monetized environmental health impact assessments help to better evaluate the environmental burden of a wide range of economic activities. Apart from the limitations and uncertainties in physical and biological science used in such assessments, assumptions taken from economic valuation may also substantially influence subsequent policy-making considerations. Aim: This study attempts to demonstrate the impact of normative policy assumptions on quantified external costs using a case study of recently discussed variants of future coal mining and use of extracted coal in electricity and heat generation in the Czech Republic. Methods: A bottom-up impact-pathway approach is used for quantification of external costs. Several policy perspectives are elaborated for aggregating impacts that differ in geographic coverage and in how valuation of quantified impacts is adjusted in a particular perspective. Results: We find that the fraction of monetized external impacts taken into policy-making considerations may vary according to choice of decision perspective up to a factor of 10. Conclusion: At present there are virtually no hard rules for defining geographical boundaries or adjusting values for a summation of monetized environmental impacts. We, however, stress that any rigorous external cost assessment should, for instance in a separate calculation, take account of impacts occurring beyond country borders.

scholarly journals Expanding The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Health Impact Assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-49
Author(s):  
Lisa Yazel-Smith ◽  
Andrew Merkley ◽  
Robin Danek ◽  
Cynthia Stone
Keyword(s):  
Community Organizations ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
University Courses ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Safety Considerations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Additional Space

Background Health Impact Assessments (HIA) are a tool used to measure the effect of policies and/or projects that may influence the health of populations. As a way to increase HIA practitioners, university courses in HIA can benefit both students and community organizations by presenting real-world opportunities for students to conduct HIA while partnering with community organizations or policy makers.   Methods In order to conduct the rapid HIA to assess the Indiana Cultural Train (ICT) expansion, students in a graduate-level course conducted a five step HIA process of screening, scoping, assessment, recommendations and reporting, and monitoring and evaluating three potential trail expansion routes. Students examined local health data, conducted walkability assessments, and conducted seven key stakeholder interviews to gather data.   Results The results of data analysis show that the Riley Hospital Drive/Gateway Bridge is the best potential route for expansion due to safety considerations and the impact on the adjacent Ransom Place neighborhood. Six of the seven key informants were in favor of the expansion, with the two most cited reasons being additional space for exercise and recreation and the potential economic impact and connection to local businesses in the area.   Conclusions The expansion across the proposed Gateway Bridge would combat parking issues associated with expanding the trail through Ransom Place as well as be the safest way to approach the large intersections. With local residents’ concerns of gentrification and safety in mind, the ICT trail expansion could lead to increased health outcomes by offering additional space for exercise, recreation, and active transportation.

scholarly journals The critical parameters of the human health impact calculation            

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Baranovskaya ◽  
Alexandra Belyanovskaya ◽  
Bertrand Laratte ◽  
Elena Ageeva
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Environmental Fate ◽  
Meat Product ◽  
Impact Category ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
Local Data ◽  
Carcinogenic Effect ◽  
Human Health Impact ◽  
The Impact

<p>There are many LCA methods and models (e.g. CML 1992, Eco-Indicator 95, IMPACT 2002+, TRACI, USEtox, etc.), used to characterize environmental impacts. Only four LCIA methods include spatial dimension at different geographical levels: Impact World+, LC-IMPACT, EDIP 2003 and USEtox (Bratec et al., 2019). Among these, three (Impact World+, EDIP 2003 and USEtox) include a human health impact category: human toxicity. The USEtox model, recommended by the European Commission, has already proved its efficiency for the coupling of environmental and geochemical studies. The Characterization factors of the USEtox describe environmental fate (FF) of the chemicals, their non- and carcinogenic effect (EF), direct and the indirect exposure (XF). All these factors vary depends on the applicable area. However, despite all advantages of the model, its geographical customization is rather generic. This paper presents the utilization of the already published case study (Belyanovskaya et al., 2019: 2020) with the indirect human exposure factor modification. The investigation present the modified biotransfer factor of the metals (Cr, Zn, Sb, As, Ba) of the meat product calculated specifically for different location inside the area “Central Asia”. The paper extends already published results with local data of the city of Vladivostok (Russia).</p><p><strong>Acknowledgement</strong></p><p>The statistical data processing is supported by State program RF «Science». Project FSWW-0022-2020.</p><p>The impact assessment with the USEtox model is supported by the RSF grant (№ 20-64-47021).<strong> </strong></p>

The Impact of Different Validation Datasets on Air Quality Modeling Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 2672 (25) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haneen Khreis ◽  
Kees de Hoogh ◽  
Josias Zietsman ◽  
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Atmospheric Dispersion ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Validation Dataset ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Pollution Modeling ◽  
The Impact

Many studies rely on air pollution modeling such as land use regression (LUR) or atmospheric dispersion (AD) modeling in epidemiological and health impact assessments. Generally, these models are only validated using one validation dataset and their estimates at select receptor points are generalized to larger areas. The primary objective of this paper was to explore the effect of different validation datasets on the validation of air quality models. The secondary objective was to explore the effect of the model estimates’ spatial resolution on the models’ validity at different locations. Annual NOx and NO2 were generated using a LUR and an AD model. These estimates were validated against four measurement datasets, once when estimates were made at the exact locations of the validation points and once when estimates were made at the centroid of the 100m×100m grid in which the validation point fell. The validation results varied substantially based on the model and validation dataset used. The LUR models’ R2 ranged between 21% and 58%, based on the validation dataset. The AD models’ R2 ranged between 13% and 56% based on the validation dataset and the use of constant or varying background NOx. The validation results based on model estimates at the exact validation site locations were much better than those based on a 100m×100m grid. This paper demonstrated the value of validating modeled air quality against various datasets and suggested that the spatial resolution of the models’ estimates has a significant influence on the validity at the application point.

A REVIEW OF FINNISH SOCIAL AND HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

2004 ◽  
Vol 06 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
TAPANI KAUPPINEN ◽  
KIRSI NELIMARKKA
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Human Impact ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
Strategic Impact ◽  
Societal Changes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Impact

This article examines the ways in which Human Impact Assessment has been integrated into plans and programmes in Finland. The EIA Act requires that the impacts on humans should also be taken into account in assessment. The programmes reviewed have been selected from various sectors, including traffic, energy, forestry and land use. Some common features, strengths and development needs were revealed in the impact assessments. On the basis of this material, at least three procedural challenges to strategic impact assessment can be identified: the differentiation between impacts caused by the programme and other societal changes; the sufficient assessment of undesirable impacts; and the definition of concepts used in the programmes.

scholarly journals Population Dynamics and Air Pollution: The Impact of Demographics on Health Impact Assessment of Air Pollution

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esben Meulengracht Flachs ◽  
Jan Sørensen ◽  
Jakob Bønløkke ◽  
Henrik Brønnum-Hansen
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Life Years ◽  
Health Impact Assessments ◽  
Mortality Causes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Municipal Level

Objective. To explore how three different assumptions on demographics affect the health impact of Danish emitted air pollution in Denmark from 2005 to 2030, with health impact modeled from 2005 to 2050.Methods. Modeled air pollution from Danish sources was used as exposure in a newly developed health impact assessment model, which models four major diseases and mortality causes in addition to all-cause mortality. The modeling was at the municipal level, which divides the approximately 5.5 M residents in Denmark into 99 municipalities. Three sets of demographic assumptions were used: (1) a static year 2005 population, (2) morbidity and mortality fixed at the year 2005 level, or (3) an expected development.Results. The health impact of air pollution was estimated at 672,000, 290,000, and 280,000 lost life years depending on demographic assumptions and the corresponding social costs at 430.4 M€, 317.5 M€, and 261.6 M€ through the modeled years 2005–2050.Conclusion. The modeled health impact of air pollution differed widely with the demographic assumptions, and thus demographics and assumptions on demographics played a key role in making health impact assessments on air pollution.

Tourism Development in the South Pacific: The Cases of Nauru and Tuvalu

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Towner ◽  
Semisi Taumoepeau
Keyword(s):  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Tourism Development ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
South Pacific ◽  
The South ◽  
South Pacific Ocean ◽  
Economic Survival ◽  
Processing Centre ◽  
Remote Island ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Tuvalu and Nauru are isolated developing island nations located in the South Pacific Ocean. In contrast to the established larger Pacific destinations such as Fiji and Tahiti, the tourism industries on both Tuvalu and Nauru are in their infancy. Tourism development in these remote island nations faces a myriad of challenges which include a lack of infrastructure, environmental susceptibility, economic vulnerability, difficulties with access and considerable distances from major tourist markets. This paper reviews tourism on Tuvalu and Nauru and evaluates their current situation regarding potential tourism development through workshops with relevant stakeholders, surveys and subsequent SWOT analysis. The results of the paper outlined a large number of challenges faced by Tuvalu and Nauru due to their geographic location but also highlighted that both Islands possess fascinating and unique features that have the potential to attract niche tourism markets. A key finding of this paper is that the tourism stimulus or potential attraction can also be the chief threat to the islands’ economic survival hence the two edges of the sword. Further research is required to assess the effect of the withdrawal of the Refugee Processing Centre on Nauru’s economy and to evaluate the impact of climate change on Tuvalu’s society and potential adaption strategies.

DAMPAK PENGELOLAAN SAMPAH PADA KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT DI TPA

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilda Emilda
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
The People ◽  
Clean Environment ◽  
The Impact

The limitations of waste management in the Cipayung Landfill (TPA) causing a buildup of garbage up to more than 30 meters. This condition has a health impact on people in Cipayung Village. This study aims to analyze the impact of waste management at Cipayung Landfill on public health in Cipayung Village, Depok City. The research is descriptive qualitative. Data obtained by purposive sampling. Data was collected by interviews, observation and documentation. Based on interviews with 30 respondents, it was found that the most common diseases were diarrhea, then other types of stomach ailments, subsequent itching on the skin and coughing. This is presumably because the environmental conditions in the form of unhealthy air and water and clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS) have not become the habit of the people. The results indicated that there were no respondents who had implemented all of these criteria. In general respondents have implemented  3 criteria, namely maintaining hair hygiene, maintaining skin cleanliness, and maintaining hand hygiene. While maintaining clean water storage is the most often overlooked behavior. To minimize this health impact, improvements in waste management in Cipayung landfill are needed along with continuous socialization and education to develop PHBS habits and the importance of maintaining a clean environment.

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