scholarly journals Old and New Threats—Trace Metals and Fluoride Contamination in Soils at Defunct Smithy Sites

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michał Kupiec ◽  
Paweł Pieńkowski ◽  
Beata Bosiacka ◽  
Izabela Gutowska ◽  
Patrycja Kupnicka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Trace Metals ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Chemical Plants ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Metal Production ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Contamination Levels ◽  
Housing Estates ◽  
Public Health And Safety

The aim of this study was to investigate soil contamination with trace elements and fluoride at sites in Szczecin (NW Poland) where economic activity was historically associated with the use of trace metals. As the Polish legislation does not recognize the lasting impact of historical pollution on soils, land developers are not obliged to determine soil pollution in the new residential areas, including parks and playgrounds for children. Therefore, in this study, at the locations of defunct metalwork enterprises (smithies, foundries, chemical plants, and small metal production plants), which were closed down after World War II, we determined lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and cobalt (Co) levels in the soil. In addition, we also determined fluoride (F) levels due to the contemporary fluoride pollution in the area generated by a large chemical plant with a post-production phosphogypsum waste landfill and a power plant complex. Our results show that soil at the sites of now-defunct smithies can still act as a significant source of trace metals. Pb concentration in the surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (20–40 cm) layers exceeded concentration thresholds for soils with first-degree pollution. The concentrations of Zn and Cu also exceeded their natural background limits. Furthermore, our research indicates an increased concentration of fluoride in surface layers of the soil; however, not exceeding the fluoride content threshold. These observations have important consequences for public health and safety because, presently, the studied sites function as housing estates and other public facilities. Therefore, contaminated soil at these sites may pose a threat to the health of local residents and should be closely monitored for trace metal contamination levels.

The Nature Cure

2019 ◽  
pp. 79-100
Author(s):  
John Macdonald ◽  
Charles Branas ◽  
Robert Stokes
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Open Space ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Open Spaces ◽  
Space Planning ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Mere Presence ◽  
Human Desire ◽  
Public Health And Safety

This chapter looks at interventions for land and open spaces and their impact on public health and safety. Abandoned, vacant, and neglected land is of great and growing concern in many cities. The chapter considers recent efforts to address this sort of land-based blight and how planners can partner with scientists to implement and evaluate land-remediation and zoning strategies to best improve public health and safety. In many ways, these changes represent the innate human desire for nature and green spaces. Without action from planners and landscape architects, such natural spaces would not exist in many of the cities. The chapter then showcases several studies that provide evidence that the mere presence of green spaces have healing and calming effects, an effect that occurs even if residents do not actively use these spaces. Indeed, there have been myriad efforts over the past decade or so by cities to revisit and reinvigorate their green and open-space planning efforts. Much of this effort has been to insert managed green spaces into smaller parcels and equitably distribute them across neighborhoods that lack access to larger green spaces. This pocket-park movement has economic drivers but, in some cities, also seeks to leverage the likely health benefits to local residents.

Oil Spills and Safety – Community Outreach and Education in Oil Spill Response

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 877-883
Author(s):  
Scott McCreery ◽  
Michael Myers ◽  
Anita White
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oil Spill ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Community Outreach ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Oil Spill Response ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Public Health And Safety

ABSTRACT In the summer of 2001, an oil spill into the Strait of Georgia occurred from a tank vessel docked at the BP Cherry Point Refinery. The resultant sheen impacted approximately three miles of pristine beach. While the spill volume was relatively small, odors from the spill of mixed slop materials were strong enough to prompt several residents to evacuate their homes. In response to this experience, the BP Cherry Point Refinery developed a community outreach program focused on educating local residents about the nature of oil spills, including oil spill response and issues of public health and safety. Rooted in both research and past experience with risk communication, this approach provides a model for engaging local communities in educational efforts to ensure public health and safety in the event of a spill, and for addressing public perceptions regarding response effectiveness.

VENDING SANITATION AND SAFETY-A CURRENT REPORT1

1969 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 474-476
Author(s):  
David E. Hartley
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
World War Ii ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Full Time ◽  
The Public ◽  
Food And Beverages ◽  
Vending Machines ◽  
External Training ◽  
Public Health And Safety

While the automatic vending of food and beverages—and non-food merchandise—has been a part of The American scene since the late 1880's, problems of public health and safety did not enter the picture until the end of World War II when the first hot beverage vending machine went on location. In 1947, the vending industry and health officials first came together to discuss the development of uniform national standards for vending machines and vending operators. In 1957, after necessary research and preparation, The Public Health Service published The Vending of Food and Beverages—A Recommended Ordinance and Code. In the same year, the industry launched a full-time public health and safety program, guided by a nationally-constituted Health-Industry Council. The progress in sanitation and safety made as a result of cooperative industry and agency efforts over the past 12 years is discussed in terms of vending legislation, internal and external training, machine standardization and testing, and research. Concluding, a review of current problems in such matters as microwave safety, copper poisoning safeguards, temperature controls, icemaker design, and commissary layout is made, together with a “crystal ball” look at the future.

scholarly journals The modernization of public spaces in problematic residential areas exemplified on selected projects and realizations in the Bronowice district of Lublin

1970 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-97
Author(s):  
Kamila Boguszewska ◽  
Natalia Przesmycka
Keyword(s):  
World War Ii ◽  
Public Space ◽  
Public Spaces ◽  
Design Stage ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Process Implementation ◽  
Processing Plants ◽  
Real Estate Prices ◽  
The Unemployed ◽  
Housing Estates

Tatary and Bronowice are considered to be the most dangerous and problematic districts of Lublin. The problems are exacerbated by the changing age structure of the residents – “ageing” and a high percentage of the unemployed, caused by the collapse of industry in Lublin after 1989 (URSUS), which was the main sector of employment for the residents of these districts. Apart from the problems typical for all housing estates from the communist era, e.g. lack of parking spaces, there is vandalism, alcoholism and low material status of the residents. The development of the Tatary district after World War II was connected with the industrial district (among industrial plants, the biggest employer was the Fabryka Samochodów Ciężarowych (Heavy Goods Vehicle Factory) established in 1951, there was a slaughterhouse, and now – meat processing plants. Housing estates built within the Tatary district in 1950−1972 (ZOR Tatary and Motor) and Bronowice (ZOR Bronowice I 1954−1956 and Bronowice II and III 1956−1969) were characterised by a large share of green and recreational areas dedicated to various users. After several decades of lack of investment and with changing lifestyles and users’ needs, these spaces are among the most neglected in Lublin. Currently works related to the improvement of infrastructure in these housing estates are being undertaken such as: replacement of street lights, sidewalks, etc. District councils are working intensively to raise funds for the most urgent needs, but they are not always well thought out or designed in an appropriate way. The problem is the lack of models and often duplication of functional and aesthetic schemes, not always appropriate to the area. The modernization of public spaces is one of the elements of revitalisation processes, in which the involvement of future users at the design stage is a necessary element. Good public spaces increase the sense of security, comfort of living and even contribute to the increase in real estate prices. This paper presents the problems posed by the design process, implementation and functioning of selected public spaces in Tatary and Bronowice districts of Lublin where community participation played a crucial role. The article presents issues related to the design, implementation and functioning of selected public spaces in the Bronowice district, where social participation was an important factor. Challenges of public space modernization in problematic residential areas are exemplified on selected projects and realizations in the Bronowice district of the city of Lublin.

scholarly journals The Fine Line: Rural Justice, Public Health and Safety, and the Coronavirus Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 000276422110031
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sherman ◽  
Jennifer Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Criminal Activity ◽  
Personal Liberty ◽  
Local Law Enforcement ◽  
Local Law ◽  
Sheriff's Department ◽  
Public Health And Safety

In this article, we provide an early glimpse into how the issues of public health and safety played out in the rural United States during the coronavirus pandemic, focusing on Washington State. We utilize a combination of news articles and press releases, sheriff’s department Facebook posts, publicly available jail data, courtroom observations, in-depth interviews with those who have been held in rural jails, and interviews with rural law enforcement staff to explore this theme. As elected officials, rural sheriffs are beholden to populations that include many who are suspicious of science, liberal agendas, and anything that might threaten what they see as individual freedom. At the same time, they expect local law enforcement to employ punitive measures to control perceived criminal activity in their communities. These communities are often tightly knit, cohesive, and isolated, with high levels of social support both for community members and local leaders, including sheriffs and law enforcement. This complex social context often puts rural sheriffs and law enforcement officers in difficult positions. Given the multiple cross-pressures that rural justice systems faced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we explore the circumstances in which they attempted to protect and advocate for the health and safety of both their incarcerated and their nonincarcerated populations. We find that certain characteristics of rural communities both help and hinder local law enforcement in efforts to combat the virus, but these characteristics typically favor informal norms of social control to govern community health. Thus, rural sheriff’s departments repeatedly chose strategies that limited their abilities to protect populations from the disease, in favor of appearing tough on crime and supportive of personal liberty.

scholarly journals The Use of Bacteriophages in the Poultry Industry

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 872 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Żbikowska ◽  
Monika Michalczuk ◽  
Beata Dolka
Keyword(s):  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Resistance ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Poultry Production ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Food Contact Surfaces ◽  
Public Health And Safety

The emergence of multidrug-resistant infections and antibiotic failures have raised concerns over human and veterinary medicine worldwide. Poultry production has had to confront the problems of an alarming increase in bacterial resistance, including zoonotic pathogens. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis have been the most frequently reported human foodborne diseases linked to poultry. This situation has strongly stimulated a renewal of scientists’ interest in bacteriophages (phages) since the beginning of the 21st century. Bacteriophages are the viruses of bacteria. They are abundant in nature, and accompany bacteria in each environment they colonize, including human microbiota. In this review, we focused on the use of bacteriophages as therapeutic agents to treat infections and reduce counts of pathogenic bacteria in poultry, as biocontrol agents to eliminate foodborne pathogens on/in food, and also as disinfectants to reduce contamination on food-contact surfaces or poultry carcasses in industrial conditions. Most of the phage-based products are targeted against the main foodborne pathogens, such as Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens. Phages are currently addressed at all stages of the poultry production "from farm to fork", however, their implementation into live birds and food products still provokes discussions especially in the context of the current legal framework, limitations, as well as public health and safety.

Leveraging blockchain based decentralized apps for the Tokyo Olympics amid the COVID-19 pandemic

First Monday ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rishi Sabarigirisan ◽  
Aditi Biswas ◽  
Ridhi Rohatgi ◽  
Shyam KC ◽  
Shekhar Shukla
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Strategic Objectives ◽  
Crowd Management ◽  
Blockchain Technology ◽  
Smooth Contact ◽  
Public Health And Safety

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced a cloud of uncertainty over the mega sports event, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. Cancelling or re-scheduling the event could have serious repercussions on the economic, social and environmental well-being for the involved stakeholders. Thus, it becomes critical to conduct events of this magnitude by adopting appropriate public health measures. In this research, we primarily focus on two main premises relative to public health and safety, contact tracing and crowd management. We explore and evaluate the usability of blockchain based decentralized apps in crowd management and contact tracing for the Tokyo Olympics using value-focused thinking (VFT). A VFT framework aids in narrowing fundamental and strategic objectives that need to be addressed for smooth contact tracing and crowd management by understanding stakeholder viewpoints. We established an equivalence of the objectives identified through VFT with blockchain technology properties. Further, we also present a conceptual ideation of contact tracing and crowd management through blockchain based decentralized apps for the Tokyo Olympics. This work could potentially assist decision-makers, researchers and stakeholders involved in organizing the Tokyo Olympics in understanding and analysing the utility of blockchain based decentralized apps for crowd management and contact tracing.

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