Journal of Health and Pollution最新文献

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a deep global impact, not only from a social and economic perspective, but also with regard to human health and the environment. To restrict transmission of the virus, the Indian government enforced a complete nationwide lockdown except for essential services and supplies in phases from 25 March to 31 May 2020. Ambient air quality in and around New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities of world, was also impacted during this period.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess and understand the impact of four different lockdown phases (LD1, LD2, LD3 and LD4) on five air pollutants (particulate matter (PM) PM_2.5, PM₁₀, nitrogen oxide (NO_x), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone (O₃)) compared to before lockdown (BLD) at 13 air monitoring stations in and around New Delhi.

Methods: Secondary data on five criteria pollutants for 13 monitoring stations in and around New Delhi for the period 1 March to 31 May 2020 was accessed from the Central Pollution Control Bard, New Delhi. Data were statistically analyzed across lockdown phases, meteorological variables, and prevailing air sources around the monitoring stations.

Results: Pollutant concentrations decreased during LD1 compared to BLD except for O₃ at all stations. PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ remained either close to or higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) due to prevailing high-speed winds. During lockdown phases, NO₂ decreased, whereas O₃ consistently increased at all stations. This was a paradoxical situation as O₃ is formed via photochemical reactions among NO_x and volatile organic compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two principal components (PC1 and PC2) which explained up to 80% of cumulative variance in data. PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and NO₂ were associated with PC1, whereas PC2 had loadings of either O₃ only or O₃ and SO₂ depending upon monitoring station.

Conclusions: The present study found that air pollutants decreased during lockdown phases, but these decreases were specific to the site(s) and pollutant(s). The decrease in pollutant concentrations during lockdown could not be attributed completely to lockdown conditions as the planetary boundary layer increased two-fold during lockdown compared to the BLD phase. Such restrictions could be applied in the future to control air pollution but should be approached with caution.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic and persistent toxic chemicals with a high potential to bioaccumulate in human tissue. There is no existing literature on workers' perceptions and occupational cancer risk due to exposure to PCBs in Ethiopia.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess workers' perceptions of occupational health and safety measures of PCB management and to evaluate the cancer risk posed by PCBs to workers handling these chemicals in Ethiopia.

Methods: A total of 264 questionnaires were administered to workers at the study area to obtain information about PCB management. A mathematical model adopted from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was used to assess the potential cancer risk of people working in PCB-contaminated areas.

Results: The results showed that the majority of the workers had little knowledge of safe PCB management practices. Furthermore, 82.6% had not received training on chemical management and occupational health and safety protocols. The association between respondents' responses on the impact of PCBs to the use of personal protective equipment was statistically significant (p <0.005). Accidental ingestion, dermal contact and inhalation exposure pathways were considered in assessing the cancer risk of people working in these areas. The estimated cancer risk for PCBs via dermal contact was higher than for the accidental ingestion and inhalation pathways. The health risk associated with dermal contact was 73.8-times higher than the inhalation exposure route. Workers at the oil tanker and oil barrel area and swampy site are at higher risk of cancer via dermal contact at the 95th centile (879 and 2316 workers per million due to PCB exposure, respectively). However, there is very low cancer risk at the staff residence and garden area via the inhalation route.

Conclusions: Training programs would help improve the knowledge of workers in the area of occupational health and safety of chemical handling. Further studies on PCBs in the exposed workers will provide information on their blood sera PCB levels and consequently identify potential health impacts.

Participant consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: Ethics approval was obtained from the Research Ethics Review Committee of Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Particulate matter (PM) air pollution is an important environmental health risk factor. Although some studies have shown PM to be associated with obesity and hypertension, very few studies have assessed the association of indoor PM specifically with obesity and blood pressure measures in children with respect to seasonal variation.

Objectives: The present study investigated the relationship of PM with obesity and blood pressure variables in children across the winter and summer seasons.

Methods: A comparative descriptive approach was adopted and school children from 10-14 years of age from selected rural and urban localities of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were assessed in winter and summer. Anthropometric measurements were taken, including height, weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and total fat mass (TFM), while blood pressure variables including systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured. Indoor air PM concentrations were measured in the classrooms in the presence of children.

Results: The prevalence of obesity and hypertension in children were 13.4% and 5.1% in winter and 12.9% and 1.0% in summer, respectively. High blood pressure was more prevalent in children in rural areas, while the prevalence of obesity in children was higher in urban areas. Particulate matter was significantly (p<0.05) higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. Obese children in summer had a greater than 3-fold association (AOR: 3.681, p=0.005) with 4th interquartile range (IQR) of PM5 and a greater than 3- and 4-fold association (AOR: 3.08; 4.407; p<0.05) with 2nd and 4th IQR of PM10, respectively, than their overweight, normal weight or underweight counterparts. High blood pressure was not associated (p< 0.05) with PM.

Conclusions: High concentrations of indoor PM were positively associated with obesity in children in summer, particularly among rural children. This association could be accounted for by location and seasonal differences.

Participant consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: Ethics approval was obtained from the Health Sciences Ethics Committee of Walter Sisulu University, South Africa (Ref No: CHI011SCHU01).

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Noncommunicable chronic diseases are associated with multiple risks factors and negative outcomes that are long-lasting and difficult to treat. Some populations may be at greater risk because of their socioeconomic status, lack of healthcare, environment, and poor work and living conditions. Informal waste pickers may experience higher levels of chronic diseases and often do not have access to care to manage symptoms.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to understand the prevalence of chronic diseases in waste pickers, along with perceived associated risks and available treatments.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, using interviews with 24 waste pickers who worked at Estrutural dumpsite in Brasilia, Brazil which was historically the second largest open-air dumpsite in the world.

Results: Participants believed their commonly experienced chronic diseases were a result of working in the open-air dumpsite. Chronic diseases commonly noted in the interviews included hypertension, chronic pain, respiratory disease, diabetes, and kidney problems. Participants discussed self-medication or prescribed medication used to treat their conditions. Most participants had varying beliefs regarding prevention strategies to reduce disease; some ideas for prevention focused on religion, fate, and God when discussing outcomes related to illnesses. When answering questions regarding ideal working conditions to help prevent diseases, participants responded by expressing a desire for protective gear (e.g. PPE) which could help mitigate hazards associated with the dump.

Conclusions: Recyclable collectors were aware of occupational hazards to which they were exposed and associated noncommunicable chronic diseases but lacked education on the importance of preventive measures and access to healthcare services. The findings of the present study confirm the need to strengthen intersectoral actions to protect and uphold the health rights of this vulnerable population.

Participant consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: This study was approved by the Research and Ethics Committee of the Health School of Brasília University under Opinion n. 1.517.670/2016.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: The production of solid waste continues to increase as the population and standard of living increases. In addition, changes in living conditions can induce significant variation in the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of waste.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of the lockdown period on the generation of solid waste produced in the city of Marrakech.

Methods: The tonnage of household waste, construction and demolition waste and green waste was collected from the landfill and an analysis was made during the lockdown period in 2020 in comparison with the same period in 2019.

Results: The analysis of solid waste tonnage in 2019 and 2020 showed that the lockdown had a significant impact on the various wastes; with a 27.61% decrease for household waste, 6.27% decrease in the case of green waste, and 57.40% decrease for construction and demolition waste.

Discussion: The degree to which the tonnage of household waste decreased depended on the standard of living in each district which was defined by housing type. The tonnage of construction and demolition waste was influenced by the halt in construction activity in the city.

Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that the tonnage of household waste and demolition and construction waste decreased during the lockdown period.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Different fractions of metals, of varying origin and reactivity, are present in sediments of forest soil. Forest ecosystems are privileged sites for the deposition of persistent organic pollutants carried by the atmosphere.

Objectives: The present study describes the current state of metallic contamination around the Hafir forest, located southwest of Tlemcen, Algeria, based on analysis of total sediment mineralization and the speciation of each metal to examine the effects of emissions due to road traffic.

Methods: The distribution and migration of ten heavy metals were studied, including cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and silver (Ag), and four major elements: potassium (K), sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and calcium (Ca) in the superficial horizon of forest soil (0-20 cm) at different road distances (0-1700 m), in two sampling campaigns in the dry and wet seasons around the Hafir forest, Algeria.

Results: Bioavailability appears to be relatively low due to the small amount of metals present in the carbonate fraction and the alkaline pH. The impact of road traffic was observed in the variability of the concentrations of several trace elements in forest soil, such as Co, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Ag, Cd. They were generally observed at very high levels along the roadside due to dry atmospheric deposition.

Conclusions: The high levels of metals in the carbonate, reducible and residual phases indicate a direct influence on the environment stemming from road traffic near the forest as well as contamination from rainfall in the area.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: There are frequent reports of unsafe pesticide use in many parts of Africa. Ethiopia is the second most populous nation in Africa with around 80% of the population still depending on agriculture which intensively uses pesticides. A number of studies have examined pesticide-related health and environmental risks in Ethiopia. However, most of these studies have been small in scale and it is therefore challenging to get a general overview of the extent of health risks and level of environmental contamination in the country.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to synthesize and summarize contemporary knowledge on pesticide-related risks and relevant gaps in Ethiopia.

Methods: An electronic database search and gathering of grey literature were done to collect information on the risks of pesticide use in Ethiopia. The electronic search was conducted using MEDLINE (via PubMed) without any publication date or language specifications. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) checklist was used as guide in the creation of this review.

Discussion: A synthesis of the reviewed studies showed evidence of health risks due to occupational pesticide exposure, surface water pollution with pesticides that could cause chronic health risks to the public, evidence of pesticide contamination of the environment (e.g., soil organisms, fish, bee colonies and wildlife) and local as well as international consumer risks due to pesticide residues in food items. In addition, there have been frequent reports of health and environmental hazards in association with cut-flower farms. There is also evidence of direct use of DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) on food crops and detection of DDT residues in surface water, soil and human breast milk. Those reported risks might be due to lack of knowledge among farm workers, negligence of farm owners, absence of post-registration monitoring systems and poor implementation of both national and international regulations in Ethiopia due to poor institutional capacity.

Conclusions: The health and environmental risks of inappropriate use of pesticides requires action by all concerned bodies. Improved institutional arrangements for enforcement of regulations, awareness and further intervention studies could lessen the high risks of pesticide misuse.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: The rapid growth of urban populations has led to a dramatic increase in urban waste generation with environmental and public health problems associated with water contamination, emission of toxic and noxious fumes, soil contamination and introduction of disease vector populations.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess solid waste disposal practices and challenges of solid waste management in Woldia town, northeastern Ethiopia.

Methods: A descriptive research design was employed, using a survey method and naturalistic observational methods. A total of 236 households were surveyed, including waste collectors and cleaners, waste pickers, and 20 students and ten teachers from Woldia secondary and preparatory schools. A purposive sampling technique (made up of municipal officers, scavengers (waste pickers), waste collectors and cleaners and a simple random sampling technique (of teachers, students and kebeles of the study area) was employed, then proportional allocation was made for each randomly selected kebeles based on population size to determine the sample. Finally, survey questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion and observation were used as data collecting tools. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were also employed.

Results: The current study revealed that educational status (AOR = 10.92, 95% CI = (3.12-38.27)), occupational status (AOR = 8.08, 95% CI = (2.08-31.31)), monthly income (AOR = 5.72, 95% CI = (1.55-21.13)), and age (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI = (1.04-6.19)) were found to be the major factors associated with solid waste management practices. Additionally, shortage of storage materials, lack of alternative waste disposal options, household attitudes, and lack of awareness were the major challenges for low performance of solid waste management practices of the local government and households. The focus group individuals and interviewed participants indicated that solid waste management practices were poor.

Conclusions: The present study revealed that solid waste management practices in Woldia town remain inadequate. Therefore, efforts by the municipality and other stakeholders are needed to mitigate the problem of waste management and disposal practices.

Participant consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: The study was approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Review committee (IRERC) of Woldia University.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Inappropriate use and application of pesticides in Ethiopia pose a major threat to the health of farmers and the environment.

Objective: The present study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of small-scale vegetable farmers towards the use of pesticides in Ethiopia along the Lake Ziway watershed.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving a total of 210 farmers randomly selected during a period of pesticide application from a purposively selected village located in the immediate vicinity of Lake Ziway, Ethiopia. Data were generated through structured in-depth interviews and on-site observations on farms. A Chi-square test was applied to evaluate whether the collected data and their probable associations were significant.

Results: World Health Organization (WHO) class II pesticides (moderately toxic) were the most frequently used pesticides in the study area. There was no reported use of WHO classes 1a and 1b and banned or restricted pesticides such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and endosulfan. Most (92%) farmers reported indiscriminately disposing of empty containers in the field, while 86.7% applied the leftover pesticides to other crops. More than 90% of small-scale farmers did not use any personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling pesticides. About 95% of farmers had poor knowledge regarding pesticides. A significant association (p < 0.001) was observed between the knowledge of farmers and their practices related to pesticides.

Conclusions: Generally, the knowledge of small-scale farmers on pesticides was poor. Moreover, the inappropriate disposal of pesticides and pesticide containers poses a risk to the environment. The findings of the present study underline the need to train farmers concerning the safe and proper use of pesticides to mitigate hazards to human health and the environment.

Participant consent: Obtained.

Ethics approval: The study was granted an exemption from requiring ethics approval from the Hawassa University College of Natural and Computational Science, Research and Review Committee.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Background: Protecting the health of citizens is a central aim of sustainable development plans, due to the effect of health on social and economic development. However, studies show that environment-related diseases adversely affect the health status of a people, and this situation is worse for African countries. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets have included reducing environment-related deaths since 2015. However, there is a lack of empirical findings focused on the effects of environmental quality on life expectancy in Africa.

Objectives: The present study examined the impact of environmental quality on life expectancy in 24 African countries.

Methods: Time-series data ranging from 2000 to 2016 was used and the panel autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)-dynamic fixed effect (DFE) model was employed to analyze the data.

Results: The results confirmed that, in the long run, improvements in environmental quality significantly increased life expectancy in the studied African countries during the study period. A unit increment in environmental performance index (EPI) and ecosystem vitality (EV) increased the life expectancy of Africans by 0.137 and 0.1417 years, respectively.

Conclusions: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first empirical (econometric) study using a broad measurement (indicator) of environmental quality to investigate its impact on life expectancy in African countries. The study recommends that the introduction of environmentally friendly economies (like renewable energy, land, water, and waste management), legal, socio-economic, demographic, and technological measures are essential to reduce environmental pollution and improve life expectancy in Africa.

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests.