Free of plastic bags

AbstractThe increase of fertility performance in sows is one of the biggest achievements in pig production over the last 30 years. Nevertheless, pig farms using artificial insemination (AI) repeatedly experienced in recent year’s fertility problems with dramatic consequences due to toxic compounds from plastic semen bags. In particular, bisphenol A diglycidyl-ether (BADGE) present in multilayer plastic bags can leach into the semen and could affect the functionality of the spermatozoa. Former studies could not find any alterations in spermatozoa based on the exposure to BADGE. The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of BADGE on boar spermatozoa using an extended panel of spermatological methods. In spring 2019, a large drop in farrowing rates from 92.6 ± 2.3% to 63.7 ± 11.1% in four sow farms in Croatia was detected. In migration studies, BADGE could be identified as a causal toxic compound and leached into the extended semen in concentration of 0.37 ± 0.05 mg/L. Detailed spermatological studies showed that significant predictors for effects on spermatozoa were different levels of motility and kinematic data after a prolonged storage time, thermo-resistance test (prolonged incubation time), mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity and fluidity. No serious effects were observed for sperm morphology and DNA fragmentation. These results provide new insights into the development of a new quality assurance concept for a detailed spermatological examination during testing of plastic materials for boar semen preservation. It could be shown that boar spermatozoa are an excellent biosensor to detect potential toxicity and fertility-relevant compounds.

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Considerations, benefits and unintended consequences of banning plastic shopping bags for environmental sustainability: A systematic literature review

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x211003965 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 0734242X2110039

Author(s):

Asphat Muposhi ◽

Mercy Mpinganjira ◽

Marius Wait

Keyword(s):

Literature Review ◽

Systematic Literature Review ◽

Environmental Sustainability ◽

Self Regulation ◽

Policy Option ◽

Unintended Consequences ◽

Transient Nature ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Plastic Bag ◽

Foamed Plastics

Although the ban on plastic bags is gaining in prominence as a policy option to manage plastic bag litter, there are mixed views on its rationale and effectiveness. This study employs a systematic literature review to understand considerations, benefits and unintended consequences of banning plastic bags. The review’s results pointed to the limited success of a plastic bag ban owing to lack of suitable alternatives, limited state capacity to monitor and enforce the ban, thriving black market, structural and instrumental power of the plastic industry. The power of the industry was manifested by the covert practice of deflecting accountability to consumers by focusing on business-oriented solutions, including an inclination towards self-regulation. The findings of this study underscored the need for a global treaty to address the transient nature of plastic bag litter and moving away from the symbolic gesture of targeting only plastic shopping bags but considering the environmental impact of all forms of plastic such as straws, foamed plastics, plastic bottles and caps. There is a general consensus in literature that the end of plastic shopping bags is not nigh due to their utilitarian benefits. This study therefore recommends the promotion of a circular economy focusing on ecological modernisation, sustainable plastic bag manufacturing and recovery strategies such as recycling as a long-term strategy. A significant strand of literature reviewed also recommends the adoption of community-driven approaches such as voluntary initiatives as opposed to a plastic bag ban as they proved to be effective in promoting environmental citizenship behaviours in countries such as Finland.

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Assessment of Hygienic Practices in Beef Cattle Slaughterhouses and Retail Shops in Bishoftu, Ethiopia: Implications for Public Health

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052729 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2729

Author(s):

Fanta D. Gutema ◽

Getahun E. Agga ◽

Reta D. Abdi ◽

Alemnesh Jufare ◽

Luc Duchateau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Control Systems ◽

Hot Water ◽

Cold Chain ◽

Vertical Position ◽

Good Practices ◽

Face To Face ◽

The Public ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Cleaning Equipment ◽

Trained Staff

Understanding the potential drivers of microbial meat contamination along the entire meat supply chain is needed to identify targets for interventions to reduce the number of meatborne bacterial outbreaks. We assessed the hygienic practices in cattle slaughterhouses (28 employees) and retail shops (127 employees) through face-to-face interviews and direct personal observations. At the slaughterhouses, stunning, de-hiding and evisceration in vertical position, carcass washing and separate storage of offal were the identified good practices. Lack of hot water baths, absence of a chilling room, infrequent hand washing, insufficiently trained staff and irregular medical check-up were practices that lead to unhygienic handling of carcasses. At the retail shops, cleaning equipment using soap and hot water (81%), storing unsold meat in refrigerators (92%), concrete floors and white painted walls and ceilings were good practices. Adjacently displaying offal and meat (39%), lack of a cold chain, wrapping meat with plastic bags and newspapers, using a plastic or wooden cutting board (57%), infrequent washing of equipment and floors, and inadequately trained employees were practices that could result in unhygienic handling of beef. Our study identified unhygienic practices both at the slaughterhouses and retail shops that can predispose the public to meatborne infections, which could be improved through training and implementation of quality control systems.

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Effectiveness of intervention on behaviour change against use of non-biodegradable plastic bags: a systematic review

Discover Sustainability ◽

10.1007/s43621-021-00015-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Gbadebo Collins Adeyanju ◽

Teslin Maria Augustine ◽

Stefan Volkmann ◽

Usman Adetunji Oyebamiji ◽

Sonia Ran ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behaviour Change ◽

Methodological Quality ◽

Journal Articles ◽

Inclusion Criteria ◽

Government Regulations ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

Regulatory Strategy ◽

Plastic Bag ◽

Single Use ◽

Biological Decomposition

AbstractThe devastating impacts that bio-degradable products such as plastic bags are having on human health, wildlife, and the environment is enormous, especially single-use once. Single-use plastics are non-biodegradable products and does not undergo biological decomposition nor degenerate. This review examines various government regulations targeted at changing behaviour against plastic bags consumption and their effectiveness. Following a rigorous search in 13 databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Springer Nature, etc. only 17 peer-reviewed journal articles that are published between 2000 and 2019 and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Each study’s methodological quality was assessed using the GRADE system, and data were extracted using a uniquely designed form. The results revealed that regulations based solely on the thickness of plastic bags does not reduce plastic bags consumption. However, regulations focused on banning ‘single-use’ plastic bag usage, imposing higher taxes and levies on consumers, significantly reduce plastic bags consumption. Overall, the latter is considered the most effective. Also, the results show that attitude, perception and behaviour change toward bio-degradable products or climate-friendly behaviour can be significantly influenced by public policy or regulations. Although the behaviour seems short-lived in some countries, therefore further studies need to probe on why. Also, the absence of a national regulatory strategy in North America reduced the inclusion of studies from the region, hence need for more research focusing on sub-national regulations.

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Microplastics formation based on degradation characteristics of beached plastic bags

Marine Pollution Bulletin ◽

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112470 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 169 ◽

pp. 112470

Author(s):

P. Tziourrou ◽

S. Kordella ◽

Y. Ardali ◽

G. Papatheodorou ◽

H.K. Karapanagioti

Keyword(s):

Plastic Bags

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#37: Clinical Characterization of the Cases Relating to the Outbreak of Clostridioides difficile, in a Third-level Hospital in Mexico City: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Relay

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society ◽

10.1093/jpids/piaa170.050 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S16-S16

Author(s):

Ortiz Samuel ◽

Martínez María Elena ◽

Morayta Ramírez A

Keyword(s):

Antibiotic Use ◽

Clinical Findings ◽

Prevention Measures ◽

Clostridioides Difficile ◽

Young Infants ◽

Plastic Bags ◽

History Of ◽

Initial Episode ◽

Group Sex ◽

Healthcare Associated

Abstract Background Clostridioides difficile is an important cause of healthcare-associated infections. The epidemiology of C. difficile infection (CDI) in children has changed over the past few decades. There is now a higher incidence in hospitalized children, and there has been an emergence of community-onset infection. Neonates and young infants have high rates of colonization but rarely have symptoms. The well-known risk factor for CDI in children age 2 years or older is antibiotic use. Inflammatory bowel disease and cancer are associated with increased incidence and severity of CDI. Vancomycin or fidaxomicin is recommended for an initial episode of CDI. In environments where access to Vancomycin or Fidaxomycin is limited, it is suggested to use metronidazole for an initial episode of nonsevere CDI only. Methods A series of cases were carried out, in a study period from March to May 2018, total cases 8; the age group, sex, basic diagnosis, clinical findings, diagnostic method, and outcome in hospitalized patients in the Pediatric division of the “CMN 20 de Noviembre, ISSSTE” were described, where there is a total of 377 Sensitive beds, and 53 beds in the pediatric area of which 30 are not sensitive. Results We analyzed 8 cases of diarrhea with identification of C. difficile, in a period of 3 months, where there was a total of 148 admissions to the division of Pediatrics (100%) and presented a prevalence of 0.05% of the total income. Of those 8 cases reported, 37.5% were women and 62.5% men; The age fluctuated between 6 months and 18 years. All children had associated comorbidities. The frequency and type of comorbidities were Cancer 87.5% (Leukemias and Solid Tumors) and Neurological 12.5% (Arterial Malformation and Neurological Sequelae). The main symptom that occurred was mucous diarrhea in 100% of patients, abdominal pain in 25% and evacuation with blood in 12.5% of cases. All had a history of prior treatment with 100% broad-spectrum antibiotics, in a period of less than one month. All were treated with metronidazole (100%) and all presented clinical improvement, without complications; Similarly, all were diagnosed by PCR for toxin B (100%). The attributable risk of presenting Clostridioides disease in patients with Leukemia is 0.11. Conclusions Patients with Leukemia were the most affected during the C. difficile outbreak, of which 11 out of 100 of these patients are at risk of presenting C. difficile disease. The most important thing in these cases is prevention. Therefore, specific prevention measures were implemented to reduce the possibility of future outbreaks, such as handwashing with chlorexidine, contact isolation, handwashing every time there is contact with the patient, use of gloves when performing procedures, insulation of bedding in plastic bags and training of health personnel.

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