International Journal of Environmental Health Research最新文献

This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the relationship between the COVID-19 burnout levels of nurses and their holistic nursing competence. The data were collected from 468 nurses working in a hospital between 1 August 2021-9 September 2021 by using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the COVID-19 Burnout Scale(BCV-19S), the Holistic Nursing Competence Scale(HNCS). The mean scores on the total BCV-19S and HNCS were 36.36(9.51) and 194.27(35.71),respectively. It was found that the mean score on the total BCV-19S was significantly higher in nurses worked ≥ 51 hours a week on average, worked in the COVID-19 pandemic unit (p < 0.05). The mean score of nurses who worked ≤ 40 hours a week on average on the total HNCS was significantly higher (p < 0.05). In this study, it was determined that nurses' COVID-19 burnout levels and holistic nursing competence were high. Nurses' COVID-19 burnout levels positively affected their holistic nursing competence.

The study aimed to evaluate University Students' diet quality and sustainable eating behaviors, with the intention of developing strategies to promote healthy eating habits. We questioned the sociodemographic characteristics and general eating habits of the students. We administered Mediterranean diet quality scale (KIDMED) and Behaviors Scale Towards Sustainable Nutrition (BSTSN) to 300 Turkish students. We found that 163 of the students' diet quality was moderate level. KIDMED score positively correlated with the BSTSN score (r=0.306, p<0.001). When higher night eating habits predicted lower diet quality (β=-0.117, p=0.038), higher main meals and sustainable eating behavior predicted higher diet quality (β=0.145, p=0.009 and β=0.258, p<0.001, respectively). The results indicate that students generally have moderate diet quality, which sustainable eating behaviors can enhance. Night eating habits and dietary patterns impact diet quality, highlighting the importance of meal planning. To promote healthy eating, universities should incorporate sustainability into curricula and provide supportive facilities.

This study explored the link between park size and crime risk in Alabama, analyzing 564 parks across 73 cities with populations over 10,000. Park dimensions were measured using Google Earth Pro, and crime data, covering violent and property crimes, were sourced from Applied Geographic Solutions. Additional data on population density, mental health prevalence, social vulnerability, and alcohol expenditure (indicative of affluence) were obtained from the U.S. Census Bureau, CDC, and ESRI. A multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative association between park size and crime risk, meaning that larger park sizes tended to have lower crime rates. Key covariates-mental health, social vulnerability, and alcohol spending- were also significantly related to crime rates. Our findings have policy implications for local governments and community organizations seeking to reduce crime rates.

Several coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) were built in South Africa, mainly in the central Mpumalanga Province, due to an increase in the demand for Eskom, the national power utility, to keep up with socio-economic growth. The CFPPs, of which 90% are owned by Eskom, generate a significant share of the country's electricity but contribute to the air pollution experienced in the country. The paper discusses sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter of size less than 10 micrometre (μm) in diameter (PM10), using data from 2014 to 2018. The statistics revealed higher PM10 concentrations during winter than in summer and spring at the Kriel and Komati sites; associated with the higher contribution of domestic burning. The study's results could influence legislation and policies and help to understand the source of poor ambient air quality by assessing the three pollutants within the area of the selected power plants.

This study focused on using Stipagrostis plumosa for phytoremediation to eliminate total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and heavy metals (HMs) like cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and nickel (Ni) from oil-contaminated soil. Conducted over six months at a field-scale without artificial pollutants, soil samples were analyzed using gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC‒MS) for TPHs and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP‒OES) for HMs. Results after six months revealed that plots with plants had significantly higher average removal percentages for TPHs (61.45%), Cd (39.4%), Cr (46.1%), Pb (41.5%), and Ni (44.2%) compared to the control group (p <0.05). Increased microbial respiration and bacteria populations in planted plots indicated enhanced soil microbial growth. Kinetic rate models aligned well with the first-order kinetic rate model for all pollutants (R² >0.9). Overall, the study demonstrates that S. plumosa can effectively reduce TPHs and HMs in oil-contaminated soil, making it a promising option for pollutant absorption.

Research on geographic and socioeconomic disparities of NO₂ attributed mortality burden is limited. This study aims to quantify the geographic and socioeconomic differences in the association between long-term exposure to NO₂ and mortality burden in China. We estimated the all-cause mortality burden of adults over 16 years old attributable to NO₂ exposure above 10 µg/m³ for 231 Chinese cities from 2015 to 2019, and geographic and socioeconomic differences . Attributed fraction (AF), attributed deaths (AD), attributed mortality rate (AMR) and total value of statistical life lost (VSL) were used as the mortality burden measurements. Between 2015 and 2019, we estimated 1356.3 thousand deaths (95% CI: 513.7-2050.7) attributed to NO₂ exposure above 10 µg/m³ per year and VSL of 958.2 billion USD (95% CI: 362.9-1448.8). Cities in the northern region, cities with high levels of GDP per capita (PGDP) and urbanization suffered the highest mortality burden and corresponding economic loss. Consequently, significant geographic and socioeconomic disparities of NO₂ attributed mortality burden exist across cities in China.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between individual and combined phthalate metabolites and body composition in children and adolescents using data from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Single-exposure analysis indicated that most phthalate metabolites were negatively correlated with areal bone mineral density (aBMD). Quantile g-computation demonstrated a negative relationship between the mixture of phthalate metabolites and aBMD, which was confirmed by the Bayesian kernel machine regression model. Sex-stratified analysis revealed that mono-butyl phthalate (MBP) was negatively correlated with aBMD, and MBP, mono-ethyl phthalate (MEP), and mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP) were negatively linked to lean mass in males but not in females. The results did not differ according to developmental stages (childhood vs. adolescence). Our findings indicate that phthalate metabolites may affect the body composition in children and adolescents, particularly aBMD. Certain phthalate metabolites seem to be sex-specific, with males showing higher sensitivity than females.

This study investigated the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils extracted from Daucus biseriatus collected from the Algerian Sahara. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified 57 compounds, constituting 97.09% of the oils, with myristicin (23.88%), methylogenol (22.60%), elemicin (7.86%), and δ-cadiene (6.91%) as the main constituents. The oils exhibited significant antimicrobial activity, notably against Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and M. luteus, with inhibition zones up to 27 mm. Antioxidant activity was tested using ABTS and linoleic acid methods, yielding IC50 values of >800 µg/mL and 29.62 ± 3.28 µg/mL, respectively. The oils also showed moderate inhibition of Alzheimer's-related enzymes, acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, with IC50 values >800 µg/mL. Docking studies revealed myristicin as the most potent inhibitor of the LPS transporter (LptE). This pioneering research is the first to report on the essential oils of this plant.      .

Manganese is essential for adequate feto-maternal health; however, an inverted U-shaped relation has been found between maternal manganese status and pregnancy complications. This systematic review summarizes the effect of maternal manganese exposure and perinatal health. We adopted a systematic approach to retrieve the recent literature. After applying the inclusion/exclusion criterion, a total of 20 studies were included in this review. Results found a non-significant relationship between maternal manganese exposure and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), while only three studies reported the association between higher manganese levels and risk of preterm birth. Also, inconsistent results were found regarding higher manganese status and risk of low birth weight. This review reported no association between higher maternal manganese status andrisk of GDM. Nevertheless, the paucity of literature related to small for gestational age and pre-eclampsia prohibits a conclusion. Further studies are required for evaluation of environmental manganese exposure and maternal manganese status.

Swimming pools and jacuzzis can pose significant public health risks as potential sources of infections. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and concentration of microbiological indicators in recreational water facilities in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, focusing on their hygiene status before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Between January 2018 and December 2022, 1114 water samples were analyzed by the regional Water Hygiene Laboratory at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, using standardized ISO methods. Jacuzzis exhibited the highest microbial contamination, particularly for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19.7%), while indoor adult pools showed the lowest. Overall, P. aeruginosa was found in 12.4% of samples, with the highest concentrations in jacuzzis (median: 30 CFU/100 ml). Significant seasonal variations were identified in the prevalence of total microbial flora (p < 0.001) and total coliforms (p = 0.03), as well as in the concentration of residual chlorine (p = 0.023). During the COVID-19 pandemic, microbial prevalence decreased across facilities. We concluded a strong compliance with Greek and international microbiological standards. The decline in microbial prevalence overtime likely reflects the impact of the strict hygiene measures implemented during the pandemic. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining rigorous hygiene practices to protect public health.