Environmental Health Insights最新文献

Beef is considered favorable environments for the growth of bacteria. This study aimed to assess the bacteriological quality of beef and contact surfaces, and to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella in abattoirs and butcher shops in eastern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2024 and January 2025 on 128 beef and 196 contact surface samples. Raw beef (250 g) was purchased from each abattoir and butchery. Beef contact swab samples (100 cm²/contact surfaces) were collected via swab collection kits. Aerobic bacterial, Enterobacteriaceae, and coliform counts as well as Salmonella detection, were analyzed according to ISO standard techniques. In Haramaya town abattoir, the total mean aerobic bacterial count in the meat samples was 7.84 ± 0.60 log CFU/g. A significant proportion of the beef samples examined in Jigjiga, were classified as unacceptable. In Harar abattoir, the mean coliform load of knife swab samples classified as unacceptable (6.10 ± 0.38 log CFU/cm²) was significantly greater than that of surface swab samples. In Dire Dawa city, the mean aerobic bacterial load on cutting board swab samples from butcher shops (9.39 ± 0.91 log CFU/cm²) was significantly higher than that on hand swab samples Among the 324 beef and contact surface samples, 57 were Salmonella positive, with an overall prevalence of 17.6%. Salmonella prevalence was significantly higher (P = .034) in abattoir samples (22.7%) than in butcher samples (13.7%), suggesting that the contamination may mainly originate from the meat source or during flaying, evisceration, and cutting. In conclusion, significant bacterial loads, on beef and contact surface samples, along with the significant prevalence of Salmonella, pose a substantial risk of spoilage and foodborne illness to consumers. We recommend practical interventions such as hygiene regulations and training on sanitation practices to reduce the bacterial load on beef and contact surfaces and safeguard public health along with future detailed research focus on characterizing Salmonella.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) exposure and liver injury biomarkers in the adult population of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study used cross-sectional design and collected urine and blood samples from 417 adult participants. Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) levels in the urine were analyzed using Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (MP-AES) while aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the serum were analyzed using COBAS 6000 automated clinical chemistry analyzer. The association between liver injury biomarkers and exposure to heavy metals was anlysed using multivariable binary logistic regression model. The findings indicate that Cr levels ranged from 12.8 to 476.7 µg/g creatinine (25th-95th percentile), while Pb levels varied from 9.5 to 80.4 µg/g creatinine (25th-95th percentile). Elevated levels of ALP, ALT and AST above the reference range were observed in 14.9%, 4.6% and 8.9% of the study participants, respectively. In addition, elevated level of AST showed a significant positive association with Cr exposure in the third and fourth quartiles showing higher odds ratio (of 5.12 and 8.83 respectively. Similarly, the elevated ALT levels were significantly associated with Pb in the third and fourth quartile (P < .05). However, there was no significant association between elevated levels of ALP and heavy metal exposure. This study observed a strong association between Cr and AST as well as between Pb and ALT. These findings highlight the potential health risks associated with heavy metal exposure and suggest the need for further investigation into the public health impacts and clinical implications of heavy metal risks in Addis Ababa city.

Background: Open defecation (OD) is the act of disposing human feces in open spaces and is a known risk factor for transmission of pathogens through environmental pollution, hence causing fecal oral diseases. Approximately 419 million people globally are practicing OD and 5.6 million people in Kenya. The study investigated the influence of socioeconomic factors on open defecation and fecal oral diseases.

Methods: Stratified random sampling was used to select 204 participants from 8 administrative units (strata). Quantitative data was collected using a standardized semi-structured questionnaire and qualitative data through conducting Key Informants Interviews and Focus Group Discussions.

Results: 53% and 30% of respondents attributed OD to lack of education on WASH and low monthly income respectively. Pearson Chi-square tests showed a significant association between family size and OD (P < .05) and a strong association between occupation, monthly income and education (P < .001). Endemic fecal oral diseases include amoebiasis, diarrhea and typhoid with an occurrence of 64%, 35%, and 1% respectively. Diarrhea had a prevalence of 222 per 10 000 persons, amoebiasis at 399 per 10 000 persons and typhoid at 5 per 10 000 persons. These results are consistent with those from related studies that link OD to prevalence of fecal-oral diseases.

Conclusion and recommendations: Socioeconomic factors influence practice of OD which in turn increases the prevalence of fecal oral diseases. In order to end OD, public health stakeholders should intensify health education and promotion on the negative health impacts of OD and also employ Community Led Total Sanitation interventions.

This study aimed to develop an effective forecasting model for daily average PM_2.5 concentration using a multilayer perceptron (MLP) neural network. The model was applied to 3 air quality monitoring stations in Mashhad, Iran-Sajjad, Torogh, and Vila-representing different urban land use types. A separate network was trained for each station. The optimal network architecture was determined by tuning the number of neurons in the hidden layer, using input variables such as the previous day's meteorological parameters (wind speed, temperature, precipitation, solar radiation, and relative humidity), PM_2.5 concentration, and temporal indicators (day of the week and month). Data standardization and early stopping were used to enhance generalization. The model performed best at Sajjad station, with an R ² of .79 and MAE of 5.54 µg/m³. Performance at Torogh was acceptable, while Vila showed weaker results. The model detected PM_2.5 exceedance events with a true positive rate of 66% to 74% and a false alarm rate as low as 0.18 at Sajjad. Differences in topography, pollution sources, and microclimate conditions influenced spatial variability in accuracy. These findings suggest that MLP neural networks are effective tools for daily air pollution prediction and can support localized early warning systems.

Introduction: Noroviruses are significant contributors to acute gastroenteritis (AGE), accounting for 16% to 18% of AGE cases globally and resulting in an estimated 685 million illnesses and 210 000 deaths annually. Most fatalities occur in low-resource countries, particularly among young children and the elderly. Despite bearing the highest burden, low-resource countries often have limited data due to underreporting and inadequate surveillance systems. This systematic review aimed to assess the prevalence and genotype distribution of norovirus in Ghana, synthesising existing research to identify gaps and inform effective prevention strategies. Understanding the impact of norovirus in Ghana is vital for targeted interventions and enhancing public health responses, especially with advancing vaccine development.

Method: This systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Google Scholar search engine using predefined search terms. Descriptive statistics and proportional meta-analysis utilising a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval were employed in the data analysis. The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) tool was used to evaluate the quality of reporting in the eligible studies.

Result: This study analysed data from 7 articles, comprising a total of 3562 samples, with 722 confirmed norovirus-positive cases. Meta-analysis using a random-effects model revealed an overall prevalence of 14.8% (95% CI: 7.0%-22.6%). Genotype II was identified as the predominant genotype.

Conclusion: This review and meta-analysis confirms that human norovirus is a significant public health burden in Ghana, particularly among children under five. However, the true burden is likely underestimated due to limited and geographically constrained surveillance. These findings emphasise the need for strengthened, systematic national surveillance and further research to fully define the epidemiology of norovirus in Ghana, which is essential for guiding effective evidence-based control interventions. It is also important to implement robust hygiene promotion measures to curb the transmission of norovirus in Ghana.

Background: Antibiotic pollution in aquatic environments is a growing global concern, posing risks to ecosystem health and human well-being. The African continent faces increasing challenges in addressing this issue, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the current state of research and regional trends.

Aim: This review synthesizes evidence on the occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in aquatic environments in the African continent, assessing concentration levels and evaluating the potential environmental and microbial risks using predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs).

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 1, 2015, and November 13, 2024, reporting antibiotic concentrations in surface water, groundwater, drinking water, and wastewater from countries within the African continent.

Results: The review encompassed 19 studies reporting antibiotic concentrations in aquatic environments from 8 African countries, with the majority being conducted in South Africa. Surface water was the most frequently sampled environment. Twenty-six antibiotics from various classes were identified, with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim being the most frequently detected. Surface water and wastewater exhibited the highest numbers of antibiotics. Antibiotic concentrations fluctuated over time, peaking in 2020 and 2021. Wastewater had the highest concentrations, with norfloxacin levels reaching up to 433.0000 µg/L, while drinking water had the lowest concentrations. In many instances, detected concentrations surpassed PNEC-ENV and PNEC-MIC values, indicating potential environmental and microbial risks.

Conclusion: This review underscores the threatening high concentrations levels of antibiotic in African aquatic environments, particularly in wastewater and surface waters. The presence and levels of some antibiotics exceeding the PNEC thresholds raises concerns because they can foster the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic-polluted groundwater and drinking water highlight the urgent need for robust water management and treatment optimization to safeguard human health.

Background: Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is an increasingly predominant source of air pollution in North Carolina (NC). Several executive orders have sought to address TRAP and prevent potential health effects from this source of exposure. In January 2022, NC Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order 246 (EO 246), which directed the North Carolina Department of Transportation to develop the North Carolina Clean Transportation Plan with considerations for environmental justice (EJ) and equity, in addition to establishing new goals for reduction of greenhouse gases in North Carolina and prioritizing EJ activities.

Method: The purpose of this manuscript is to support implementation of clean transportation policies in North Carolina. It summarizes the current evidence on health and climate impacts of TRAP and documents the potential health benefits of implementing the clean transportation policies, especially if applied equitably to benefit communities with the greatest need.

Results: There is a strong body of evidence demonstrating the deleterious impacts of TRAP exposure on many health outcomes. Throughout the United States, including in North Carolina, TRAP exposure disproportionately impacts communities of color and low income communities.

Conclusions: Based on the strong public health evidence that TRAP exposure causes diseases and mortality and contributes to health disparities as well as the projected reductions in TRAP burden, particularly in near-road communities, we recommend implementation of clean transportation policies with an emphasis on equity.

There has been growing recognition of the importance of engaging communities in environmental health research. Among the various methods of community-engaged research, one approach is to work with community ambassadors - people who are active and well connected in their communities - to facilitate scientists' interactions with community members. Drawing on our own experiences as community ambassadors in the WellHome Study, an investigation of indoor air quality in West London, UK, we offer 3 key insights to scientists interested in this model of community-engaged research. We argue, first, that community ambassadors can help scientists build trust and engage research participants. Second, we note the value of fully integrating community ambassadors into a project team and present suggestions for how this may be accomplished. Third, we underscore the importance of remunerating community ambassadors and the need for careful reflection on the amount and form of compensation. While much has been written about the advantages and challenges of community-engaged research, this commentary brings the voice of community members to the fore of these discussions. It highlights how the community ambassador model can bring mutual benefits, furthering research goals while also providing a meaningful experience for community members.

Introduction: Hand hygiene is a cornerstone of infection prevention; however, the water and infrastructure used for handwashing can themselves become sources of microbial contamination. This study assessed the water quality and sanitary conditions of hand hygiene facilities in public and private hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Methods: A laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June 2025 in 10 hospitals. Forty samples were collected, including 20 tap water samples and 20 swab samples from tap handles. A sanitary survey evaluated water supply and hand hygiene stations, with onsite physicochemical measurements, and targeted microbial analyses performed. Data were recorded in an Excel spreadsheet and analyzed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, with significance defined at P < .05.

Results: The sanitary survey showed that 62.5% of hospitals had continuous running water, with 75% of water systems free from leaks. Handwashing stations were accessible in 55% of facilities, primarily hand-operated (67.5%), followed by elbow-operated (25%) and foot-operated (7.5%). Maintenance deficiencies were noted in 37.5% of stations, with soap available at only 55%. Hand drying materials were present in 12.5% of hospitals, and only 45% of facilities reported regular cleaning of handwashing stations. Physicochemical water quality parameters were generally within acceptable limits. Microbiological analysis revealed high contamination: Escherichia coli was detected in 66.7% of all samples, found on 100% of tap handles compared to 31.6% of water samples (P < .001). Other pathogens included Staphylococcus aureus (55%), Klebsiella (52.5%), Shigella (50%), and Salmonella (50%), all significantly prevalent on swabs than water samples (P < .001), with no significant difference by hospital ownership.

Conclusion: The study found significant microbial contamination in handwashing infrastructure. To reduce risks, facilities should install non-hand-operated stations, enhance routine cleaning and disinfection, and ensure proper maintenance. Regular water quality monitoring and infection control training are essential.

Introduction: The inadequate enforcement and compliance with sanitary regulations and the lack of sanitary regulation resources at street food vending sites may result in the risk of food contamination and outbreaks of foodborne diseases. This study aimed to assess the enforcement and compliance with sanitary regulations at street food vending sites in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Method: A cross-sectional survey research design was used for this study, in which data was collected from 600 street food vending sites in various towns in different senatorial zones in Oyo State, Nigeria. Street food vendors who were available and willing to participate in the study were then sampled conveniently. A structured sanitary compliance checklist was used for data collection at street food vending sites from 2023 to 2024.

Results: Most street food vendors were female (89.7%) and above the age of 46. The vast majority of street food vending sites (75.7%) had low compliance with food safety regulations, 12.5% had moderate compliance, and 11.8% had high compliance. 85.7% of the street food vending sites had not been inspected by the authorities. Regarding enforcement of sanitary requirements by health inspectors, 85.7% of street vended facilities had not been inspected.

Conclusion: The enforcement and compliance with sanitary requirements at street food vending sites were found to be low and therefore, the sanitary conditions and food safety practices at these sites cannot be guaranteed. A positive correlation exists between sanitary compliance and the enforcement of sanitary requirements at street food vending sites. It is recommended that municipal authorities register all the street food vending sites, to enable effective monitoring in ensuring that food safety regulations are implemented at street food vending sites.