The Environment as a Patient: A Content Analysis of Canadian Nursing Organizations and Regulatory Bodies Policies on Environmental Health

Background Individual, community, and societal health is impacted by the environment, specifically by air, water and soil pollution, and climate change. Poor environmental conditions have been associated with many illness exacerbations. Although global nursing organizations have increased their environmental health focus, evidence is lacking that Canadian nurse leaders and organizations are similarly invested. Purpose The purpose of this analysis was to explore the policies of Canadian nursing regulatory bodies and associations on nursing practice specific to environmental health. Methods A content analysis of nursing focused position statements and competency documents was conducted to assess Canadian nursing policies in environmental health. Publicly available position statements and competency documents regarding health and the environment were retrieved from Canadian nursing regulatory colleges and nursing associations, the Canadian Nursing Associations, and the International Council of Nurses. All documents were coded inductively and thematically analyzed. Results In total, 22 documents were retrieved which consisted of 11 policy statements from nursing associations and 11 competency documents from nursing regulators and national associations. Four themes were generated: collaboration, language of engagement, nursing actions, and social justice. Conclusion There is a gap between nursing policies and competencies directing nursing action related to the health of the environment across Canada. There is an opportunity to improve eco-literacy within the nursing profession, undergraduate education and to produce nursing research on environmental health.

End-of-life tire management: a critical review

Environmental and social awareness are the key elements of the sustainable tire industry. End-of-life tire (ELT) waste flow is an important environmental problem worldwide since it produces severe air, water, and soil pollution issues. Significant advancements have been made in ELT management in the last few years. As a result, ELTs should not only be regarded as waste but also as a source of environmentally friendly materials. Besides, sound ELT management has vital importance for circular economy and sustainable development. Over the last decade, ELT management has attracted many researchers and practitioners. Unfortunately, a comprehensive review of the ELT management area is still missing. This study presents the first critical review of the whole ELT management area. It aims to present an extensive content analysis overview of state-of-the-art research, provide its critical analysis, highlight major gaps, and propose the most significant research directions. A total of 151 peer-reviewed studies published in the journals between 2010–2020 are collected, analyzed, categorized, and critically reviewed. This review study redounds comprehensive insights, a valuable source of references, and major opportunities for researchers and practitioners interested in not only ELT material flow but also the whole waste management area. Graphical abstract

Improving Health through Green Deal and Climate Pact (motivation for WB Region)

The WB Green Agenda (WB GA) aims to implement the GD principles in this region and has defined five priority areas: climate, energy, mobility; circular economy, pollution reduction, sustainable agricultural and food production, and biodiversity. Some of the WB GA goals are strongly related to health: e.g. the continent's carbon neutrality by 2050, the ambitious climate policy, the reform of energy and transport sectors. The launch of the EU CP is an important opportunity for the WB to promote action in this area. For instance, promoting energy efficiency and supporting building renovation are directly related to the quality of life and hygiene of housing. Reduction or cancellation of coal subsidies as well as the region's withdrawal from the use of coal is of great importance for reducing externalities. In the WB, citizens are concerned about their health due to air, water and soil pollution and their reduction is in the common interest. To that end, it is necessary, inter alia, to: ratify the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution and its protocols in each of the WB economies; to implement air quality strategies; and to strengthen air quality monitoring systems (and network accreditation). Appropriate processes are needed to reduce water and soil pollution, as well as to ensure the transformation of the agricultural sector. It is also necessary to harmonize the agricultural and food sector with EU standards for food safety, plant and animal health and environmental protection. To achieve the WB GA goals it is important to develop policy strategies based on the most up-to-date scientific studies for this region (JRC, 2020). On the basis of the analysis presented in this study we conclude that the processes associated with the GD and the CP will be of benefit for both individual and public health in the EU and in the WB.

Sustainable construction management practices in a Brazilian medium-sized city

The construction industry has a great impact on the environment worldwide. The diffusion of sustainability concepts has led the industry to improve environmental performance in building projects. This paper aims to identify sustainable practicesadopted by managers in the construction industryin a medium-sized city in Brazil. An online surveywith17 questions regarding knowledgeand application of environmental sustainability strategies in project design and construction management was applied to managersin the industry. The sample considered 20 construction companies, members of the city’s Civil Construction Union. Results show that, despite being aware of sustainability principles and their importance, only 30% of the companies apply at least one strategy related to waste management, waste production, sound, visual, water and soil pollution and energy and water consumption. This paper may contribute to the development of strategies to encourage sustainability in the construction sector.

Special Issue on “Green Catalysts: Application to Waste and Groundwater Treatment”

Water and soil pollution are among the most critical global problems due to population growth, industrial development, and associated resource consumption [...]

Urboekological Situation and Regional Analysis of Population Health In Uzbekistan

With the intensification of the urbanization process, the nosogeographic situation in different regions, population morbidity, types of diseases occurring among them, especially the nervous system and mental disorders, malignant tumors, allergic diseases are more characteristic of highly urbanized areas. This article covers issues related to the development of cities and the consequences of population growth, factors affecting the urban environment, problems related to public health. The amount of toxic gases emitted into the atmosphere in Uzbekistan was also analyzed. The health of mothers is extremely important in the health of the next generation, that is why the authors have developed a system of factors that affect maternal and child health. Analysis and study of regional aspects of these problems is one of the main tasks of medical geography. In medical geographical research, the analysis of regions in terms of nosogeographic situation is of great importance. Analyzes show that the deterioration of the environment, man's unlimited domination of nature, the deterioration of the ecological situation, as well as the spread of related diseases on earth pose new challenges to medical geography, which studies the causes and patterns. The rapid development of science and technology, the steady increase in human impact on nature and consequently, a number of negative changes in the natural environment have a significant impact on human health. The acceleration of the process of urbanization which in turn causes problems such: as air, water and soil pollution.

THE IMPACT OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES ON ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

The usefulness of critical infrastructure is identified by the goods produced and services provided to society, with great efforts, including the protection of the environment and human health. In this article, the impact of critical infrastructures on the environment is examined from the perspective of environmental factors. Thus, the impact of critical infrastructures on the main environmental factors is examined from the perspective of air, water and soil pollution. Nowadays, the effects of environmental factors, including those produced by critical infrastructure, were seen most strongly in both climate change and the human health. This shows a series of chain reaction effects on nature, plants, animals and people around the world. The endeavor of several states and relevant organizations consists in the considerable effort to mitigate these effects.