scholarly journals Perceptions of Flower Farm Workers on the Health Effects of Chemicals Exposures around Bahir Dar Town, Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
pp. 36-46
Author(s):  
Teshome Gizachew Belay ◽  
Tamirat Tefera Negash
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
T Test ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Bahir Dar ◽  
Chemical Exposures ◽  
Impact Mitigation ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
Male Workers

Aims: Explore the perceptions of flower farms workers towards the health effects of chemical exposures. Perception is the views, attitudes and opinions of workers. Study Design: Descriptive survey, using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Place and Duration of the Study: Tana Flora, Bahir Dar Farm and Tal Flowers, between November 2018 and June 2019. Methodology: Statistical analyses were done using 302 sample workers (80 male and 222 female; age ranges 15-65 years) at 95% confidence interval employing stratified random sampling techniques via proportional sample selection, and a response rate of 95.6%. Independent sample t-test with the assumption of equal variance (the Leven’s t-test) was used to analyze the existence of significant perception differences among female and male workers, and workers labour divisions. Qualitative data was obtained through structured interviews from farms managers (3); regional Environmental, Forest and Wildlife Protection Development Authority (EFWPDA) officials (3) and field observations that supplemented the quantitatively analyzed data. Results: Leven’s t-test showed the computed p-values were less than the preset significance level (0.05) for the majority of health impacts of chemical exposures. Significant perception differences were observed among male and female workers and workers of different labour divisions (production vs. protection; pack house vs. protection) towards health impacts: skin rush, appetite loss, stomach cancer, birth defects, reproductive system damage, dizziness and impaired sight. Males perceived in a better way than females since farms gave special focus to male workers in the protection section 27(8.9%) and they engaged using the required health protective gears. Further, in flower farms, most of the proposed health impact mitigation measures were poorly implemented. Conclusion: Workers perception differences were occurred due to a particular attention to male workers in protection labour division; hence the regional EFWPDA should do the proper supervision and follow up for effective implementation of health impact mitigation measures.

scholarly journals Perspectives on the Health Effects of Hurricanes: A Review and Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2756
Author(s):  
Samantha L. Waddell ◽  
Dushyantha T. Jayaweera ◽  
Mehdi Mirsaeidi ◽  
John C. Beier ◽  
Naresh Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Environmental Stressors ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Biochemical Characteristics ◽  
Hurricane Impact

Hurricanes are devastating natural disasters which dramatically modify the physical landscape and alter the socio-physical and biochemical characteristics of the environment, thus exposing the affected communities to new environmental stressors, which persist for weeks to months after the hurricane. This paper has three aims. First, it conceptualizes potential direct and indirect health effects of hurricanes and provides an overview of factors that exacerbate the health effects of hurricanes. Second, it summarizes the literature on the health impact of hurricanes. Finally, it examines the time lag between the hurricane (landfall) and the occurrence of diseases. Two major findings emerge from this paper. Hurricanes are shown to cause and exacerbate multiple diseases, and most adverse health impacts peak within six months following hurricanes. However, chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and mental disorders, continue to occur for years following the hurricane impact.

scholarly journals The Health Impacts of Hazardous Chemical Exposures among Child Labourers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5496
Author(s):  
Natasha B. Scott ◽  
Nicola S. Pocock
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Chemical Exposure ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Poor Growth ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Chemical Exposures ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Of 218 million working children worldwide, many are suspected to be exposed to hazardous chemicals. This review aims to synthesize reported evidence over the last two decades on chemical exposure and adverse health consequences in children labourers in low- and middle-income Countries (LMIC). Included studies investigated health outcomes related to chemical exposures among child labourers aged 5–18 in LMIC. Twenty-three papers were selected for review, focusing on pesticides (n = 5), solvents (n = 3), metals (n = 13) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (n = 2). Adverse health effects identified among child labourers included abnormal biomarkers, for example elevated blood and urine chemical concentrations, neurobehavioural deficits and neurological symptoms, mental health issues, oxidative stress and DNA damage, poor growth, asthma, and hypothyroidism. Workplace exposure to chemicals has pernicious health effects on child labourers. Large research gaps exist, in particular for long-term health impacts through chronic conditions and diseases with long latencies. A sizeable disease burden in later life is likely to be directly attributable to chemicals exposures. We urge national and international agencies concerned with child labour and occupational health, to prioritize research and interventions aiming to reduce noxious chemical exposures in workplaces where children are likely to be present.

scholarly journals Knowledge and Perceptions of the Health Impacts of Climate Change Among Canadians

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Cameron ◽  
Nora Casson ◽  
Ian Mauro ◽  
Karl Friesen-Hughes ◽  
Rhéa Rocque
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Climate Impacts ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Survey Knowledge ◽  
Climate Change And Health ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Abstract Background At a time of intersecting public health crises of COVID-19 and climate change, understanding public perceptions of the health risks of climate change is critical to inform risk communication and support the adoption of adaptive behaviours. In Canada, very few studies have explored public understandings and perceptions of climate impacts on health. Methods This study addresses this gap through a nationally-representative survey of Canadians (n=3,014) to explore public perceptions and awareness regarding the link between climate change and health in Canada. The 116-question survey measured awareness of the link between climate change and health, affective assessment of climate health impacts, unprompted knowledge of climate health impacts, and concern about a range of impacts. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to test for differences in median values among sociodemographic groups. The survey also measured baseline climate opinion, which was used to segment the public into different audiences through a latent class analysis.Results Three climate opinion classes were identified in the sample (disengaged, concerned, and alarmed) and perceptions of climate health impacts were compared across these classes and other sociodemographic variables. Approximately half (53%) of respondents have considerable awareness of the link between climate change and health, and even more (61%) perceive climate change as bad for health. The majority of respondents (58%) can name one or more health impact without prompting. Concern about health impacts of climate change is highest among the alarmed and lowest among the disengaged, as compared to concerns about other categories of climate impacts such as economic. Across the survey, knowledge and concern are highest for water- and food-related health impacts.Conclusions The differential knowledge, awareness, and concern of climate health impacts across segments of the Canadian population can inform targeted communication and engagement to build broader support for adaptation and mitigation measures.

scholarly journals A qualitative evaluation of Southwark Council’s public health response to mitigating the mental health impact of the 2017 London bridge and borough market terror attack

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Jumbe ◽  
Adrienne Milner ◽  
Megan Clinch ◽  
Jonathan Kennedy ◽  
Richard J. Pinder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Needs ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Terror Attack ◽  
Terror Attacks ◽  
Physical Injuries ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Health Response

Abstract Background Over recent years there have been several major terror attacks in cities across Europe. These attacks result in deaths, physical injuries, and pose long-term threats to mental health and wellbeing of large populations. Although psychologists have completed important work on mental health responses to disaster exposure including terrorist attacks, the mental health impacts of such attacks have been comparatively less examined in academic literature than the acute health response to physical injuries. This paper reflects on Southwark Council’s pioneering public mental health response to the June 2017 terror attack at London Bridge and Borough Market. It aims to explore perceptions of the mental health impact of the incident by those living and working in the borough. Methods A rapid qualitative evaluation informed by the logic underpinning Southwark Council’s response was conducted. Seven formative interviews were undertaken with individuals involved in the response planning and/or delivery, enabling the evaluation team to establish the response’s theoretical basis. Subsequently, nineteen semi-structured interviews with consenting Council employees, residents, business owners, and workers from the Borough were conducted to understand perceived mental health impacts of the attack and the success of the Council response. Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was undertaken to evaluate the extent to which the response was implemented successfully. Results Participants reported feeling the attack had a wide-reaching negative impact on the mental health of residents, those working in the borough and visitors who witnessed the attack. Delivering the response was a challenge and response visibility within the community was limited. Participants suggested a comprehensive systematic approach to health needs assessment informed by knowledge and relationships of key Council workers and community stakeholders is imperative when responding to terrorist incidents. Improved communication and working relationships between statutory organisations and community stakeholders would ensure community groups are better supported. Prioritising mental health needs of terror attack responders to mitigate persisting negative impacts was highlighted. Conclusions This article highlights a potential public health approach and need for developing robust practical guidance in the aftermath of terror attacks. This approach has already influenced the response to the Christchurch mosque shooting in 2019.

scholarly journals Curcumin and Its Potential Impact on Microbiota

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 2004
Author(s):  
Marzena Jabczyk ◽  
Justyna Nowak ◽  
Bartosz Hudzik ◽  
Barbara Zubelewicz-Szkodzińska
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activity ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Profile ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Poor Solubility ◽  
Potential Impact ◽  
Bidirectional Interactions

Curcumin is one of the most frequently researched herbal substances; however, it has been reported to have a poor bioavailability and fast metabolism, which has led to doubts about its effectiveness. Curcumin has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and has demonstrated favorable health effects. Nevertheless, well-reported in vivo pharmacological activities of curcumin are limited by its poor solubility, bioavailability, and pharmacokinetic profile. The bidirectional interactions between curcumin and gut microbiota play key roles in understanding the ambiguity between the bioavailability and biological activity of curcumin, including its wider health impact.

scholarly journals Extreme heat in India and anthropogenic climate change

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 365-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geert Jan van Oldenborgh ◽  
Sjoukje Philip ◽  
Sarah Kew ◽  
Michiel van Weele ◽  
Peter Uhe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Global Warming ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Decadal Variability ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Heat Index ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Surface Cooling

Abstract. On 19 May 2016 the afternoon temperature reached 51.0 °C in Phalodi in the northwest of India – a new record for the highest observed maximum temperature in India. The previous year, a widely reported very lethal heat wave occurred in the southeast, in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, killing thousands of people. In both cases it was widely assumed that the probability and severity of heat waves in India are increasing due to global warming, as they do in other parts of the world. However, we do not find positive trends in the highest maximum temperature of the year in most of India since the 1970s (except spurious trends due to missing data). Decadal variability cannot explain this, but both increased air pollution with aerosols blocking sunlight and increased irrigation leading to evaporative cooling have counteracted the effect of greenhouse gases up to now. Current climate models do not represent these processes well and hence cannot be used to attribute heat waves in this area. The health effects of heat are often described better by a combination of temperature and humidity, such as a heat index or wet bulb temperature. Due to the increase in humidity from irrigation and higher sea surface temperatures (SSTs), these indices have increased over the last decades even when extreme temperatures have not. The extreme air pollution also exacerbates the health impacts of heat. From these factors it follows that, from a health impact point of view, the severity of heat waves has increased in India. For the next decades we expect the trend due to global warming to continue but the surface cooling effect of aerosols to diminish as air quality controls are implemented. The expansion of irrigation will likely continue, though at a slower pace, mitigating this trend somewhat. Humidity will probably continue to rise. The combination will result in a strong rise in the temperature of heat waves. The high humidity will make health effects worse, whereas decreased air pollution would decrease the impacts.

scholarly journals Health and Economic Impacts Assessment of O3 Exposure in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11646
Author(s):  
José Texcalac-Sangrador ◽  
Magali Hurtado-Díaz ◽  
Eunice Félix-Arellano ◽  
Carlos Guerrero-López ◽  
Horacio Riojas-Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Economic Valuation ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Ambient Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Uncertainty Interval ◽  
Avoidable Deaths

Health effects related to exposure to air pollution such as ozone (O3) have been documented. The World Health Organization has recommended the use of the Sum of O3 Means Over 35 ppb (SOMO35) to perform Health Impact Assessments (HIA) for long-term exposure to O3. We estimated the avoidable mortality associated with long-term exposure to tropospheric O3 in 14 cities in Mexico using information for 2015. The economic valuation of avoidable deaths related to SOMO35 exposure was performed using the willingness to pay (WTP) and human capital (HC) approaches. We estimated that 627 deaths (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 227–1051) from respiratory diseases associated with the exposure to O3 would have been avoided in people over 30 years in the study area, which confirms the public health impacts of ambient air pollution. The avoidable deaths account for almost 1400 million USD under the WTP approach, whilst the HC method yielded a lost productivity estimate of 29.7 million USD due to premature deaths. Our findings represent the first evidence of the health impacts of O3 exposure in Mexico, using SOMO35 metrics.

scholarly journals Health Impact Assessment and City Council Policy: Identifying Opportunities to Address Local Social Determinants of Health & Place-Health Relationships, 10 Years Later

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Petteway ◽  
Shannon Cosgrove
Keyword(s):  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Health Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
City Council ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Baltimore City ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Health Related

Background: Health Impact Assessment (HIA) can be used to assess any type of policy/program related to social determinants (SDH).  However, local public health departments (LHDs) have been slow to adopt formal use of HIA in efforts to address local SDH, even with growing evidence linking SDH and place-health relationships. Ten years ago we completed a review of Baltimore City Council policies to advance this conversation within the LHD. Our goal here is to revisit this review and, again, outline a process by which LHDs can: a) monitor local policies in regard to SDH and b) identify opportunities for potential HIA use. Methods:  We reviewed all policies introduced into Baltimore City Council in calendar years 2008 and 2009. We reviewed each policy to identify those with potential health impacts. We then categorized these policies as: a) “explicitly health-related” or b) “related to SDH.” We then tabulated the number and sub-types of these policies that were referred for LHD review. Results: We identified and reviewed 597 total policies. 89 policies (15%) were identified as “explicitly health-related,” 34 (38%) of which were referred for LHD review. 208 policies (35%) were identified as “related to SDH,” 13 (6%) of which were reviewed. Overall, 297 (50%) policies were identified as having potential health impacts, 47 (16%) of which were reviewed. Conclusion: This work represents a potentially replicable process to identify HIA opportunities, and potential launch point for health-in-all-policies efforts. In Baltimore, it facilitated dialogue with Baltimore City officials and led to the LHD’s first HIA grant.

Assessing health impacts

2020 ◽  
pp. 54-65
Author(s):  
Margaret Douglas ◽  
Ben Cave
Keyword(s):  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact Assessment ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Impacts

By reading this chapter, you will become familiar with: the definition and purpose of health impact assessment (HIA); concepts and values that underpin?HIA; the stages of an HIA process; methods used in?HIA; experiences of?HIA.

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