scholarly journals Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos as a Result of Consumption and Use in Poland

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (14) ◽  
pp. 2611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Krówczyńska ◽  
Ewa Wilk
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Environmental Exposure ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Industrial Area ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Asbestos Fibre ◽  
Asbestos Cement ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Exposure Methods

Asbestos is harmful to human health; exposure to asbestos causes a wide range of asbestos-related diseases. Aim: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is unique to occupational and environmental asbestos exposure. Methods: Environmental asbestos exposure was examined in relation to asbestos use and manufacturing, the quantity of the asbestos-containing products still in use, the concentrations of asbestos fibres in the air and the number of MM cases diagnosed each year per county. Results: The correlation coefficient of the measurements of the asbestos fibre concentrations in the air and the quantity of asbestos-cement products in use is high and amounts to 0.68. Meanwhile, the correlation coefficient of the measurements of asbestos fibre concentrations in air and MM morbidity rate resulting from environmental exposure calculated for particular counties in provinces is low and amounts to 0.37. The highest MM morbidity rate was observed for Małopolskie and Śląskie, a typical industrial area of Poland. Conclusions: There are MM cases which are still attributable to occupational asbestos exposure, although MM cases resulting from environmental exposure to asbestos have an increased MM risk. Poland is among those countries with a low MM incidence rate, which seems to be an underestimation of environmental asbestos exposure. As long as asbestos-cement products are used in the environment, actions should be undertaken to protect public health.

scholarly journals Asbestos Exposure and the Mesothelioma Incidence in Poland

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 1741 ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Krówczyńska ◽  
Ewa Wilk
Keyword(s):  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Eastern European ◽  
Manufacturing Plants ◽  
Asbestos Cement ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Random Forest Models ◽  
Administrative Units ◽  
Eastern European Countries

Asbestos is carcinogenic to humans; the exposure to asbestos causes a wide range of diseases. Aim: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is unique for asbestos exposure. Methods: Based on the physical inventory of asbestos-cement roofing, the social-economic situation of communes, the proximity of asbestos manufacturing plants, the land use data referring to the surface of the built-up area, and the historical data on the annexations, the amount of asbestos-containing products in use was estimated by computing best Random Forest models. Per capita asbestos use is an indicator to compare the state of asbestos use among countries. MM cases in the local administrative units (provinces) were tested by the application of Moran’s I and Getis and Ord statistic. Results: The total amount of asbestos roofing in Poland was estimated at 738,068,000 m2 (8.2 million tons). In total there were 28 plants in Poland located in 11 provinces throughout the country. The amount of asbestos-cement roofing in use is correlated primarily with the measurements of asbestos concentration fibers (rs = 0.597). MM raw morbidity rate was calculated, stratified by province, and classified into five groups with respect to incidence. Hotspots of MM cases are in the southern part of Poland. Conclusions: MM cases are concentrated in the same geographical areas, which may indicate an increasing impact of environmental exposure. The results of the local and global autocorrelation clearly indicate a statistically significant relationship between incidences of MM in provinces. Poland and other Eastern European countries are among countries with low MM incidence rate. Detailed investigation is desirable since the current MM morbidity rate in Poland seems to be underestimated.

scholarly journals Spatial analysis of asbestos exposure and occupational health care in Poland during the period 2004-2013

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Krówczyńska ◽  
Ewa Wilk
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Occupational Health Care ◽  
Asbestos Fibre ◽  
National Programme ◽  
Manufacturing Plants ◽  
Current State ◽  
Asbestos Cement ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Asbestos Abatement

Asbestos is carcinogenic to humans and exposure to this substance can cause a wide range of diseases. In Poland 1997, a statutory ban was introduced on the production, use and marketing of products containing asbestos. The National Programme for Asbestos Abatement for 2009-2032 includes scheduled activities considering asbestos exposure assessment and health protection. As there are several data sources for asbestos exposure in Poland, which are not linked, the aim of this study was to gather and order them developing a PostgreSQL database, an open-source, objectrelational system. The data gathered combines the following information: the quantity of asbestos-cement products in use, details of asbestos manufacturing plants, the results of the measurements of asbestos fibre concentrations in the air and cases of asbestos-related diseases. The relational database was then used to develop a spatial analysis of asbestos monitoring and exposure in Poland to demonstrate the current state of realisation of the National Asbestos Abatement Programme in the country for 2009-2032 with the use of geoinformation techniques. The use of a database on health aspects of occupational and environmental asbestos exposure was also proposed in Asbestos, Asbestosis, and Cancer: Helsinki Criteria update 2014.

scholarly journals Asbestos in Poland: Occupational health problems

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neonila Szeszenia-Dąbrowska ◽  
Beata Świątkowska ◽  
Zuzanna Szubert ◽  
Urszula Wilczyńska
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Exposure Limits ◽  
Medical Care System ◽  
Asbestos Fibre ◽  
Processing Plants

AbstractThe presentation addresses current problems of health risk and health effects associated with exposure to asbestos, including data on historical exposure and on currently valid occupational exposure limits. The quantity and types of the raw material used for the production of various asbestos products have also been discussed in relation to the particular types of asbestos-induced occupational diseases. The authors describe the medical care system for former asbestos workers and those currently exposed during removal of asbestos-containing products. The national system for medical certification of occupational asbestos-related diseases and the compensation procedure have been outlined as well. According to the parliamentary Act of 1997, importing, manufacture and sale of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials are prohibited in Poland. Thus, the assessment of asbestos exposure and the monitoring of health conditions of workers at asbestos-processing plants have become irrelevant. However, the delayed health effects attributable to past exposure continue to be the matter of concern for public health. Likewise, the environmental pollution from asbestos waste landfills in the vicinity of asbestos-processing plants (where high levels of asbestos fibre in ambient air have been recorded) will continue to be a serious public health problem. Presently, two programmes aimed at minimising the adverse effects of asbestos on population health are underway. One of them is the governmental programme for “Elimination of asbestos and asbestos-containing products used in Poland, 2002–2032”. The programme was updated in 2009 to cover the workers contracted to perform demolition works and provide protective covers to asbestos waste landfills. This will be the exposed group who need prophylactic health care. The other is a programme of prophylactic examinations for former asbestos workers and is referred to as the AMIANTUS programme. Both programmes have been briefly described.

Malignant mesothelioma in 91 danish women: The environmental asbestos exposure.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8560-8560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasiliki Panou ◽  
Mogens Vyberg ◽  
Christos Meristoudis ◽  
Øyvind Omland ◽  
Ulla Møller Weinreich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Environmental Exposure ◽  
Malignant Mesothelioma ◽  
Patient Information ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Populated Area ◽  
Asbestos Worker ◽  
Asbestos Cement

8560 Background: Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is an asbestos-related malignancy that presents mainly in the pleura (MPM) and peritoneum (MAM). In a densely populated area of Aalborg city in North Jutland, Denmark, a large Eternit asbestos factory that was active for 60 years until 1986 and two shipyards were situated. The Region of North Jutland, Denmark has a high mm incidence in women of 1.0/100,000. Methods: From 1974-2015, 101 histological and cytological samples of women diagnosed with mm in Aalborg University Hospital were identified re-evaluated by modern immunohistochemistry. Patient information regarding asbestos exposure was retrieved from medical records and selected Danish registries. Asbestos exposure was classified as primary for asbestos workers; domestic, for women living with an asbestos worker; environmental, when living or working within 10.000 meters from an asbestos emitting location; unknown, where no source of asbestos exposure could be identified. Results: Clinical and histopathological mm diagnosis was certain for 91 women. Potential asbestos exposure is summarized in Table 1. The employment of the women and their relatives include work at the asbestos cement factory, shipyard, construction, laboratory, pipe factory, electrician and insulator. The women with domestic and combined domestic and environmental (secondary) exposure to asbestos were most prone to develop MPM rather than MAM while women primary exposed to asbestos developed MAM rather than MPM (p=0.016). Conclusions: This study showed that the vast majority (64%) of the women diagnosed with mm had documented non-occupational asbestos exposure and almost 1/5 had a sole environmental exposure, by living in proximity to asbestos industry. Environmental asbestos exposure is a serious risk factor for mm in women. Primary asbestos exposure, inferring more intense exposure through occupation, may predispose to peritoneal mesothelioma in women. [Table: see text]

scholarly journals A Gender Specific Educational Pilot Program to Improve Women's Awareness About Heart Disease and Their Risk

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debra Campo
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Rhode Island ◽  
Assisted Living ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Morbidity Rate ◽  
Dramatic Improvement ◽  
Cardiovascular Risks ◽  
Wide Range

<p>Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women in the U.S. While public health campaigns have made great progress improving women's awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death, most women do not understand the magnitude of cardiovascular risks. Some women are not aware that heart disease is the greatest threat to their health and to the health of their loved ones (Thanavaro, Moore, Anthony, Narsavage, & Delicath, 2006). Women continue to have longer delays in seeking medical treatment and have a higher mortality/morbidity rate when compared to men. Disparities also continue to persist among racial/ethnic and lower socio-economic groups {Christian, Rosamond, White, & Mosca, 2007).The purpose of this pilot educational program was to increase women's knowledge and awareness about heart disease, its risk factors, and personal risk by empowering them with the knowledge to choose healthier lifestyles for themselves and their family. The program targeted women over the age of eighteen and the accessible population for this health promotion program was the female staff at an assisted living community located in Northern Rhode Island and their guest. The program consisted of four educational interventions delivered once a week for four weeks. While attending all sessions was encouraged, it was not mandatory. Although attendance was small, the results from pre and post tests demonstrated that a small, nurse led intervention led to dramatic improvement in knowledge level of all participants. The Advanced Practice Public Health Nurse {APPHN) plays a key role in the fight against CVD. As diabetes, obesity, and life expectancy continue to rise, a competent workforce will be needed to educate and promote the cardiac health of the population. As specialists in community health nursing, APPHN's practice in a variety of settings and are uniquely positioned to have a wide range of influence, making them a key force in meeting this challenge.</p>

Occupational and Environmental Health

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Practical Experience ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Practical Case ◽  
Environmental Sciences ◽  
Wide Range

This thoroughly updated seventh edition is a comprehensive, clearly written, and practical textbook that includes information on both occupational health and environmental health, providing the necessary foundation for recognizing and preventing work-related and environmentally induced diseases and injuries. National and international experts share their knowledge and practical experience in addressing a wide range of issues and evolving challenges in their fields. A multidisciplinary approach makes this an ideal textbook for students and practitioners in public health, occupational and environmental medicine, occupational health nursing, epidemiology, toxicology, occupational and environmental hygiene, safety, ergonomics, environmental sciences, and other fields. Comprehensive coverage provides a clear understanding of occupational and environmental health and its relationships to public health, environmental sciences, and government policy. Practical case studies demonstrate how to apply the basic principles of occupational and environmental health to real-world challenges. Numerous tables, graphs, and photographs reinforce key concepts. Annotated Further Reading sections at the end of chapters provide avenues for obtaining further infomation. This new edition of the book is thoroughly updated and also contains new chapters on climate change, children’s environmental health, liver disorders, kidney disorders, and a global perspective on occupational health and safety.

An Overview of Ethics and Environmental Health

2019 ◽  
pp. 697-703
Author(s):  
David B. Resnik
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Environmental Health ◽  
Environmental Ethics ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Biomedical Ethics ◽  
Public Health Ethics ◽  
Social Utility ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Health Ethics ◽  
Wide Range

This chapter provides an overview of the ethics of environmental health, and it introduces five chapters in the related section of The Oxford Handbook of Public Health Ethics. A wide range of ethical issues arises in managing the relationship between human health and the environment, including regulation of toxic substances, air and water pollution, waste management, agriculture, the built environment, occupational health, energy production and use, environmental justice, population control, and climate change. The values at stake in environmental health ethics include those usually mentioned in ethical debates in biomedicine and public health, such as autonomy, social utility, and justice, as well as values that address environmental concerns, such as animal welfare, stewardship of biological resources, and sustainability. Environmental health ethics, therefore, stands at the crossroads of several disciplines, including public health ethics, environmental ethics, biomedical ethics, and business ethics.

Exclusive Breastfeeding Moderates the Association Between Prenatal and Postpartum Depression

2021 ◽  
pp. 089033442199105
Author(s):  
Bárbara Figueiredo ◽  
Tiago Miguel Pinto ◽  
Raquel Costa
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Postpartum Depression ◽  
Exclusive Breastfeeding ◽  
Maternal Mental Health ◽  
Prenatal Depression ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
Public Health Services ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal

Background Exclusive breastfeeding has a wide range of benefits for maternal health. However, the benefit of exclusive breastfeeding for maternal mental health needs to be further explored. Research Aim To determine the moderating role of exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months on the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Methods This study had a prospective, longitudinal, and comparative design with two groups and three assessment waves. The sample comprised 334 participants (70 depressed and 264 non-depressed) recruited at public health services in northern Portugal. Participants completed a measure of depression symptoms between the second and the third trimester of pregnancy and between 3 and 6 months, and a measure of breastfeeding status at 3 months. Results Exclusive breastfeeding at 3 months moderated the association between prenatal and postpartum depression. Participants with prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed fewer symptoms of depression and lower rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants with prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Participants without prenatal depression who were exclusively breastfeeding at 3 months showed similar depression symptoms and similar rates of depression between 3 and 6 months postpartum, compared to participants without prenatal depression who were not exclusively breastfeeding. Conclusion Exclusive breastfeeding has a potential protective influence on postpartum depression among women with prenatal depression. Public health policies targeting women with prenatal depression should be implemented and include practices to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding in order to enhance women’s exclusive breastfeeding and mental health.

scholarly journals Asbestos Exposure Level and the Carcinogenic Risk Due to Corrugated Asbestos-Cement Slate Roofs in Korea

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (13) ◽  
pp. 6925
Author(s):  
Eun-Soo Lee ◽  
Young-Ki Kim
Keyword(s):  
Asbestos Exposure ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Pooled Analysis ◽  
Carcinogenic Risk ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Exposure Level ◽  
Lifetime Cancer Risk ◽  
Indoor Exposure ◽  
Asbestos Cement ◽  
Environmental Causes

Asbestos-cement slate roofs are one of the most common environmental causes of asbestos exposure. However, few studies have examined residential asbestos-cement slate-related exposure and its effects on human health. This study was performed to evaluate cumulative asbestos exposure levels and to calculate the Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) of residents of asbestos-cement slate-roofed houses. We reviewed previous Korean literature to estimate the concentration of airborne asbestos from asbestos-cement slate roofed buildings. Finally, eight studies were selected, and a pooled analysis was performed. The results derived from the pooled analysis were combined with the data from a health impact survey conducted from 2009 to 2016 at the Environmental Health Center for Asbestos (EHCA) of the Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital, and a carcinogenic risk assessment was performed. As a result, the representative value of the indoor exposure concentration related to asbestos-cement slate was found to be 0.0032 f/cc on average, and the representative value of the exposure related to occupational asbestos-cement slate dismantling and demolition was found to be 0.0034 f/cc. In addition, the ELCR of asbestos-cement slate related indoor exposure and occupational dismantling and demolition was found to be of medium risk, and the ELCR of residential dismantling and demolition of asbestos-cement slate was less than 10−6, indicating that the risk was low. Since there is no threshold for carcinogenicity related to asbestos, this should not be ignored even if the risk appears low, and it would be reasonable to calculate the carcinogenic risk based on total lifetime exposure. More studies on asbestos exposure scenarios and the scope of similar exposure groups through additional data collection and further analysis of risk are needed.

scholarly journals Natural Experiment on Trade and Investment Liberalization and Soft Drink Consumption

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Tcholakov
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
International Trade ◽  
Natural Experiment ◽  
Soft Drink ◽  
Trade Agreement ◽  
P Value ◽  
Soft Drink Consumption ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Globalization is recognized to as a contributing factor to a health harming environment through a variety of mechanisms including through changes in food systems and food availability. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption is linked to obesity and diabetes and its regulation is a key priority for public health. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is an international trade agreement between 11 countries. Methods This project uses of natural experiment methods to predict the impact of the entry into force of the CPTPP on SSB consumption. These methods allow quantitative inferences to be drawn in the situations where the exposure is not randomly assigned. Soft drink consumption data was collected from the Euromonitor database for 80 countries from all regions. This data was used to estimate the effect of agreements similar to the TPP. Results Eleven country trade agreement pairs were identified. In 5 cases out of the 11, the exposed country had a higher soft drink consumption at five years after the trade agreement. The effect of the trade agreement exposure for an average country in the sample in a trade agreement was found to be 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01-1.18; p-value: 0.03) after adjusting for GDP and the involvement of the US. In 7 of the 11 member-countries soft drink consumption is expected to increase yielding an average increase of 9.0% in those countries; the changes did not yield statistically significant differences in others. Conclusions This projected extended the use of synthetic methods to the projection of future effects of policy implementation. While it showed that there may be increasing trend of SSB consumption in certain scenarios, this could not be generalized to all cases. This illustrates the wide range of effects of international trade liberalization and highlights that national policy probably plays a strong modulating role on the impact that it has on local food environments. Key messages Globalization can lead to health harming environments and its impacts should further be studied by public health professionals and researchers. Many global policies have the potential to lead to significant health impacts but are negotiated without involving public health experts.

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