International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

20 pages, 748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the Free Swimming Programme in a Local Community in the South East of England: Giving with One Hand, Taking Away with the Other

by Themis Kokolakakis^1,*, Athanasios Sakis Pappous² and Steve Meadows²

¹ Sport Industry Research Centre (SIRC), Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK

² School of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Kent, Chatham ME4 4AG, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4461-4480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404461 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 7216

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the introduction of the Free Swimming Programme (FSP) in a local community (not identified to preserve anonymity) in the South East of England. The question has been approached in a variety of [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the introduction of the Free Swimming Programme (FSP) in a local community (not identified to preserve anonymity) in the South East of England. The question has been approached in a variety of ways: by using primary quantitative data from leisure centres and logistic regressions based on the Active People Survey (APS). Problems are identified related to the introduction of the FSP in this community and suggestions are made for future policy. A brief examination of swimming participation in England enables researchers to place this community into a national context. The problems and policies of sport organisation developed in this community are not dissimilar to a more general application reflecting the English experience; in this sense it is anticipated that the findings will enable managers of sport organisations, along with public health policy makers, to focus more effectively on raising sport participation. The unique selling points of this article are the examination of FSP for adult participants, the local analysis of junior and senior participation, and the overall assessment of the policy based on APS. Full article

22 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rehabilitation Living Lab in the Mall Community of Practice: Learning Together to Improve Rehabilitation, Participation and Social Inclusion for People Living with Disabilities

by Barbara Mazer^1,2,*, Dahlia Kairy^3,4

, Andréanne Guindon⁵, Michel Girard⁶, Bonnie Swaine^4,7, Eva Kehayia^1,2 and Delphine Labbé⁷

¹ Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Jewish Rehabilitation Hospital, 3205 Place Alton Goldbloom, Laval, Quebec H7V 1R2, Canada

² School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Promenade Sir William Osler, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Y5, Canada

³ Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Gingras-Lindsay Rehabilitation Institute of Montreal, 6300 Darlington Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3S 2J4, Canada

⁴ School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, 7077 Parc Avenue, Montreal, Quebec H3N 1X7, Canada

⁵ Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Constance-Lethbridge Rehabilitation Centre, 7005 De Maisonneuve O. Boulevard, Montreal, Quebec H4B 1T3, Canada

⁶ Chemin du Vieux-Moulin 64, Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot (Québec), J7V 8P6, Canada

⁷ Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Lucie-Bruneau Rehabilitation Centre , 2275 Laurier East, Montreal, Quebec, H2H 2N8, Canada

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4439-4460; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404439 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7288

Abstract

Communities of practice (CoP) can facilitate collaboration between people who share a common interest, but do not usually work together. A CoP was initiated and developed including stakeholders from clinical, research, community and governmental backgrounds involved in a large multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial project: [...] Read more.

Communities of practice (CoP) can facilitate collaboration between people who share a common interest, but do not usually work together. A CoP was initiated and developed including stakeholders from clinical, research, community and governmental backgrounds involved in a large multidisciplinary and multi-sectorial project: the Rehabilitation Living Lab in a Mall (RehabMaLL). This study aimed to evaluate the structure, process and outcomes of this CoP. A single case-study, using mixed-methods, evaluated the RehabMaLL CoP initiative after one year, based on Donabedian’s conceptual evaluation model. Forty-three participants took part in the RehabMaLL CoP with 60.5% (n = 26) participating at least once on the online platform where 234 comments were posted. Four in-person meetings were held. Members expressed satisfaction regarding the opportunity to share knowledge with people from diverse backgrounds and the usefulness of the CoP for the RehabMaLL project. Collaboration led to concrete outcomes, such as a sensitization activity and a research project. Common challenges included lack of time and difficulty finding common objectives. A CoP can be a useful strategy to facilitate knowledge sharing on disability issues. Future research is necessary to determine strategies of increasing knowledge creation between members. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disability and Public Health)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

BMI, Overweight Status and Obesity Adjusted by Various Factors in All Age Groups in the Population of a City in Northeastern Brazil

by Raquel Patrícia Ataíde Lima^1,*, Danielle De Carvalho Pereira¹, Rafaella Cristhine Pordeus Luna¹, Maria Da Conceição Rodrigues Gonçalves², Roberto Teixeira De Lima², Malaquias Batista Filho³, Rosália Gouveia Filizola², Ronei Marcos De Moraes⁴, Luiza Sonia Rios Asciutti⁵ and Maria José de Carvalho Costa²

¹ Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Center for Health Sciences/NIESN—Interdisciplinary Studies in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Paraíba, Castelo Branco, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil

² Postgraduate Program in Nutrition, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, 58059-900, Brazil

³ Postgraduate Program in Mother and Child Health (IMIP), Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira—IMIP, Board of Research, Boa Vista, Recife, PE 50070-550, Brazil

⁴ Postgraduate Program in Decision Models and Health, Department of Statistics, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB 58051-000, Brazil

⁵ Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Nutrition, João Pessoa, PB 58010-000, Brazil

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4422-4438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404422 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6379

Abstract

Objective: In Brazil, demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological changes over time have led to a transition in nutritional standards, resulting in a gradual reduction of malnutrition and an increased prevalence of overweight and obese individuals, similar to the situation in developed countries in [...] Read more.

Objective: In Brazil, demographic, socioeconomic and epidemiological changes over time have led to a transition in nutritional standards, resulting in a gradual reduction of malnutrition and an increased prevalence of overweight and obese individuals, similar to the situation in developed countries in previous decades. This study assessed the body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of an overweight status and obesity, adjusted for various factors, in a population in northeastern Brazil including all age groups. Methods: This is a cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study using single sampling procedure composed of levels. Given the heterogeneity of the variable “income” and the relationship between income, prevalence of diseases and nutrition, a stratified sampling on blocks in the first level was used. In this, city districts were classified by income into 10 strata, according to information obtained from IBGE. A systematic sampling was applied on randomly selected blocks in order to choose the residences that would be part of the sample (second level), including 1165 participants from all age groups. Results and Discussion: The prevalence of an overweight status or obesity was adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle variables. When the Chi-square test was applied, a relationship was observed between the prevalence of an overweight status or obesity and the age group, gender, educational level and income of the participants. Regarding lifestyle parameters, only smoking was associated with the prevalence of an overweight status or obesity, in both adults and in the total sample. The results for the following groups were significant (p < 0.05): the age group from 20 to 59 years, when the individual presented an educational level greater than or equal to high school; and the age group ≥ 60 years, when the individual was female. It is noteworthy that educational level and being female were significant in adjusting for the total population as major factors influencing an increased BMI, followed by the variables physical activity and family income. Conclusions: The adjusted results justify the adoption of intervention and prevention policies to combat these clinical conditions for the study population as a whole, particularly directed toward adults with higher education level as well as elderly females. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 4189 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Early Exposure to Intermediate-Frequency Magnetic Fields Alters Brain Biomarkers without Histopathological Changes in Adult Mice

by Tin-Tin Win-Shwe^1,*, Shin Ohtani², Akira Ushiyama² and Naoki Kunugita²

¹ Center for Environmental Health Sciences, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan

² Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako City, Saitama 351-0197, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4406-4421; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404406 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6621

Abstract

Recently we have reported that intermediate-frequency magnetic field (IF-MF) exposure transiently altered the mRNA expression levels of memory function-related genes in the hippocampi of adult male mice. However, the effects of IF-MF exposure during brain development on neurological biomarkers have not yet been [...] Read more.

Recently we have reported that intermediate-frequency magnetic field (IF-MF) exposure transiently altered the mRNA expression levels of memory function-related genes in the hippocampi of adult male mice. However, the effects of IF-MF exposure during brain development on neurological biomarkers have not yet been clarified. In the present study, we investigated the effect of IF-MF exposure during development on neurological and immunological markers in the mouse hippocampus in 3- and 7-week-old male mice. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were exposed to IF-MF (21 kHz, 3.8 mT) for one hour per day from organogenesis period day 7 to 17. At adolescence, some IF-MF-exposed mice were further divided into exposure, recovery, and sham-exposure groups. The adolescent-exposure groups were exposed again to IF-MF from postnatal day 27 to 48. The expression of mRNA in the hippocampi was examined using a real-time RT-PCR method, and microglia activation was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. The expression levels of NR1 and NR2B as well as transcription factors (CaMKIV, CREB1), inflammatory mediators (COX2, IL-1 b,TNF-α), and the oxidative stress marker heme-oxygenase (HO)-1 were significantly increased in the IF-MF-exposed mice, compared with the control group, in the 7-week-old mice, but not in the 3-week-old mice. Microglia activation was not different between the control and other groups. This study provides the first evidence that early exposure to IF-MF reversibly affects the NMDA receptor, its related signaling pathways, and inflammatory mediators in the hippocampus of young adult mice; these changes are transient and recover after termination of exposure without histopathological changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electromagnetic Fields and Health)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 661 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolated Diastolic Hypertension Associated Risk Factors among Chinese in Anhui Province, China

by Yanchun Wang^1,2, Fengjun Xing¹, Rongjuan Liu¹, Li Liu¹, Yu Zhu¹, Yufeng Wen^1,*, Wenjie Sun^3,4,* and Ziwei Song⁴

¹ School of Public Health, Wannan Medical College, Wuhu 241002, China

² The Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Yiwu 322000, China

³ School of Food Science, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Zhongshan 528458, China

⁴ School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4395-4405; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404395 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6765

Abstract

Objective: To explore potential risk factors of isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) among young and middle-aged Chinese. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 338 subjects, aged 25 years and above, using random sampling technique. There were 68 cases of IDH, 46 cases [...] Read more.

Objective: To explore potential risk factors of isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) among young and middle-aged Chinese. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 338 subjects, aged 25 years and above, using random sampling technique. There were 68 cases of IDH, 46 cases of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), 89 cases of systolic and diastolic hypertension (SDH), and 135 of subjects with normal blood pressure. Cases and controls were matched on sex by frequency matching. Demographic characteristics, blood pressure and other relevant information were collected. Results: Compared with controls, patients with IDH and ISH had significant higher level of triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, blood glucose and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05); while patients with SDH had significantly higher level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose and BMI (p < 0.05). Linear mixed effects model showed that drinking tea, family history of hypertension (FHH), higher blood glucose, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein were related with elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p < 0.01); HFH, blood glucose, creatinine and BMI have positive effect on systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Drinking tea, FHH, high levels of triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, blood glucose and BMI are associated with IDH among young and middle-aged Chinese. Full article

15 pages, 560 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Investigation into the Lifestyle, Health Habits and Risk Factors of Young Adults

by Yahya Al-Nakeeb^1,*, Mark Lyons², Lorna J. Dodd³ and Anwar Al-Nuaim⁴

¹ College of Education, Qatar University, Doha 2713, Qatar

² Biomechanics Research Unit, Department of Physical Education & Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland

³ Department of Psychology and Counselling, Newman University, Birmingham, B32 3NT, UK

⁴ Department of Physical Education, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4380-4394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404380 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 14621

Abstract

This project examined the lifestyle, health habits and risk factors of young adults at Qatar University. It explored the clustering and differences in dietary habits, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) amongst male and female students, both Qatari and non-Qatari. Seven [...] Read more.

This project examined the lifestyle, health habits and risk factors of young adults at Qatar University. It explored the clustering and differences in dietary habits, body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) amongst male and female students, both Qatari and non-Qatari. Seven hundred thirty two students aged 18–25 years completed a self-reported questionnaire and an objective measure of BMI. Males and females had a high prevalence of being overweight and obesity and low levels of PA, according to well-established international standards. Three clusters were identified based on the students’ lifestyle and dietary habits. Cluster 1 (high risk factors) included those who engaged the least in healthy dietary practices and consumed the most unhealthy foods, participated in less PA and had the highest BMI. Cluster 2 (moderate risk factors) included those with considerably more habits falling into the moderate category, engagement in the most PA, the least TV and computer viewing time and had the lowest BMI. Cluster 3 (low risk factors) included those who engaged the most with the four healthy dietary practices, the least with the four unhealthy dietary practices and participated in moderate PA per week. This project provides valuable data that could be used by policy makers to address issues concerning student’s health. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

26 pages, 814 KiB

Open AccessReview

Mental Health Benefits of Long-Term Exposure to Residential Green and Blue Spaces: A Systematic Review

by Mireia Gascon^1,2,3,4,*, Margarita Triguero-Mas^2,3, David Martínez^2,3, Payam Dadvand^2,3, Joan Forns^2,3,4, Antoni Plasència¹ and Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen^2,3

¹ ISGlobal, Barcelona Ctr. Int. Health Res. (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona 08036, Spain

² Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL). Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

³ CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Barcelona 08036, Spain

⁴ Department of Genes and Environment, Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0403, Norway

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4354-4379; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404354 - 22 Apr 2015

Cited by 900 | Viewed by 55245

Abstract

Many studies conducted during the last decade suggest the mental health benefits of green and blue spaces. We aimed to systematically review the available literature on the long-term mental health benefits of residential green and blue spaces by including studies that used standardized [...] Read more.

Many studies conducted during the last decade suggest the mental health benefits of green and blue spaces. We aimed to systematically review the available literature on the long-term mental health benefits of residential green and blue spaces by including studies that used standardized tools or objective measures of both the exposures and the outcomes of interest. We followed the PRISMA statement guidelines for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analysis. In total 28 studies were included in the systematic review. We found limited evidence for a causal relationship between surrounding greenness and mental health in adults, whereas the evidence was inadequate in children. The evidence was also inadequate for the other exposures evaluated (access to green spaces, quality of green spaces, and blue spaces) in both adults and children. The main limitation was the limited number of studies, together with the heterogeneity regarding exposure assessment. Given the increase in mental health problems and the current rapid urbanization worldwide, results of the present systematic review should be taken into account in future urban planning. However, further research is needed to provide more consistent evidence and more detailed information on the mechanisms and the characteristics of the green and blue spaces that promote better mental health. We provide recommendations for future studies in order to provide consistent and evidence-based recommendations for policy makers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green-Blue Space and Health: Advances in Methods, Technologies and Applications)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 850 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Repetitive Daily Point of Choice Prompts and Occupational Sit-Stand Transfers, Concentration and Neuromuscular Performance in Office Workers: An RCT

by Lars Donath^*, Oliver Faude, Yannick Schefer, Ralf Roth and Lukas Zahner

Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, 4052 Basel, Switzerland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4340-4353; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404340 - 20 Apr 2015

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 9461

Abstract

Objective: Prolonged office sitting time adversely affects neuromuscular and cardiovascular health parameters. As a consequence, the present study investigated the effects of prompting the use of height-adjustable working desk (HAWD) on occupational sitting and standing time, neuromuscular outcomes and concentration in office workers. [...] Read more.

Objective: Prolonged office sitting time adversely affects neuromuscular and cardiovascular health parameters. As a consequence, the present study investigated the effects of prompting the use of height-adjustable working desk (HAWD) on occupational sitting and standing time, neuromuscular outcomes and concentration in office workers. Methods: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) with parallel group design was conducted. Thirty-eight office workers were supplied with HAWDs and randomly assigned (Strata: physical activity (PA), BMI, gender, workload) to a prompt (INT) or non-prompt (CON) group. INT received three daily screen-based prompts within 12 weeks. CON was only instructed once concerning the benefits of using HAWDs prior to the start of the study. Sitting and standing times were objectively assessed as primary outcomes for one entire working week using the ActiGraph wGT3X-BT at baseline (pre), after 6 (mid) and 12 weeks (post). Concentration (d2-test), postural sway during upright stance (under single, dual and triple task) and lower limb strength endurance (heel-rise) were collected as secondary outcomes. Results: With large but not statistically significant within group effects from pre to post, INT increased weekly standing time at work by 9% (p = 0.22, d = 0.8) representing an increase from 7.2 h (4.8) to 9.7 (6.6) h (p = 0.07). Concentration and neuromuscular performance did not change from pre to post testing (0.23 < p < 0.95; 0.001 < η_p² < 0.05). Conclusion: Low-frequent and low cost screen-based point of choice prompts (3 per day within 12 weeks) already result in notable increases of occupational standing time of approx. daily 30 min. These stimuli, however, did not relevantly affect neuromuscular outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity and Public Health-)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Traditional Healing, Biomedicine and the Treatment of HIV/AIDS: Contrasting South African and Native American Experiences

by Adrian Flint

School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies (SPAIS), University of Bristol, 11 Priory Road, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4321-4339; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404321 - 20 Apr 2015

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 9407

Abstract

Traditional healing remains an important aspect of many people’s engagement with healthcare and, in this, responses to the treatment of HIV/AIDS are no different. However, given the gravity of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, there has been much debate as to the value of [...] Read more.

Traditional healing remains an important aspect of many people’s engagement with healthcare and, in this, responses to the treatment of HIV/AIDS are no different. However, given the gravity of the global HIV/AIDS pandemic, there has been much debate as to the value of traditional healing in this respect. Accordingly, this paper explores the extent to which meaningful accommodation between the biomedical and traditional sectors is possible (and/or even desirable). It does this through a consideration of Native American and South African experiences, looking at how the respective groups, in which medical pluralism is common, have addressed the issue of HIV/AIDS. The paper points to the importance of developing “culturally appropriate” forms of treatment that emphasise complementary rather than adversarial engagement between the traditional and biomedical systems and how policymakers can best facilitate this. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue HIV/AIDS: Social Perspectives)

15 pages, 1063 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Auditory Recognition of Familiar and Unfamiliar Subjects with Wind Turbine Noise

by Luigi Maffei¹

, Massimiliano Masullo^1,*

, Maria Di Gabriele¹, Nefta-Eleftheria P. Votsi², John D. Pantis² and Vincenzo Paolo Senese³

¹ Department of Architecture and industrial Design "L.Vanvitelli", Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Via San Lorenzo, 81031 Aversa (CE), Italy

² Department of Ecology, School of Biology, Aristotle University, U.P. Box 119, Thessaloniki postal code 54124, Greece

³ Department of Psychology, Seconda Università degli Studi di Napoli, Viale Ellittico 31, 81100 Caserta, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4306-4320; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404306 - 17 Apr 2015

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7002

Abstract

Considering the wide growth of the wind turbine market over the last decade as well as their increasing power size, more and more potential conflicts have arisen in society due to the noise radiated by these plants. Our goal was to determine whether [...] Read more.

Considering the wide growth of the wind turbine market over the last decade as well as their increasing power size, more and more potential conflicts have arisen in society due to the noise radiated by these plants. Our goal was to determine whether the annoyance caused by wind farms is related to aspects other than noise. To accomplish this, an auditory experiment on the recognition of wind turbine noise was conducted to people with long experience of wind turbine noise exposure and to people with no previous experience to this type of noise source. Our findings demonstrated that the trend of the auditory recognition is the same for the two examined groups, as far as the increase of the distance and the decrease of the values of sound equivalent levels and loudness are concerned. Significant differences between the two groups were observed as the distance increases. People with wind turbine noise experience showed a higher tendency to report false alarms than people without experience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sound and Health related Quality of Life)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

GIS Analysis of Changes in Ecological Vulnerability Using a SPCA Model in the Loess Plateau of Northern Shaanxi, China

by Kang Hou, Xuxiang Li^* and Jing Zhang

School of Human Settlements and Civil Engineering, Xi'an Jiao tong University, Xi'an, 710049, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4292-4305; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404292 - 17 Apr 2015

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 6805

Abstract

Changes in ecological vulnerability were analyzed for Northern Shaanxi, China using a geographic information system (GIS). An evaluation model was developed using a spatial principal component analysis (SPCA) model containing land use, soil erosion, topography, climate, vegetation and social economy variables. Using this [...] Read more.

Changes in ecological vulnerability were analyzed for Northern Shaanxi, China using a geographic information system (GIS). An evaluation model was developed using a spatial principal component analysis (SPCA) model containing land use, soil erosion, topography, climate, vegetation and social economy variables. Using this model, an ecological vulnerability index was computed for the research region. Using natural breaks classification (NBC), the evaluation results were divided into five types: potential, slight, light, medium and heavy. The results indicate that there is greater than average optimism about the conditions of the study region, and the ecological vulnerability index (EVI) of the southern eight counties is lower than that of the northern twelve counties. From 1997 to 2011, the ecological vulnerability index gradually decreased, which means that environmental security was gradually enhanced, although there are still some places that have gradually deteriorated over the past 15 years. In the study area, government and economic factors and precipitation are the main reasons for the changes in ecological vulnerability. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1122 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Longitudinal Study of Long-Term Change in Contamination Hazards and Shallow Well Quality in Two Neighbourhoods of Kisumu, Kenya

by Joseph Okotto-Okotto¹, Lorna Okotto^2,†, Heather Price^3,†, Steve Pedley^4,† and Jim Wright^3,*

¹ Victoria Institute for Research on Environment and Development (VIRED), International Rabuour Environment and Development Centre, Kisumu-Nairobi Road, P.O. Box 6423-40103, Kisumu, Kenya

² School of Spatial Planning and Natural Resource Management, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Bondo (Main) Campus, P.O. Box 210-40601, Bondo, Kenya

³ Geography and Environment, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

⁴ Robens Centre for Public and Environmental Health, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4275-4291; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404275 - 17 Apr 2015

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8441

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation and many urban residents use groundwater where piped supplies are intermittent or unavailable. This study aimed to investigate long-term changes in groundwater contamination hazards and hand-dug well water quality in two informal settlements in Kisumu city, Kenya. [...] Read more.

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation and many urban residents use groundwater where piped supplies are intermittent or unavailable. This study aimed to investigate long-term changes in groundwater contamination hazards and hand-dug well water quality in two informal settlements in Kisumu city, Kenya. Buildings, pit latrines, and wells were mapped in 1999 and 2013–2014. Sanitary risk inspection and water quality testing were conducted at 51 hand-dug wells in 2002 to 2004 and 2014. Pit latrine density increased between 1999 and 2014, whilst sanitary risk scores for wells increased between 2002 to 2004 and 2014 (n = 37, Z = −1.98, p = 0.048). Nitrate levels dropped from 2004 to 2014 (n = 14, Z = −3.296, p = 0.001), but multivariate analysis suggested high rainfall in 2004 could account for this. Thermotolerant coliform counts dropped between 2004 and 2014, with this reduction significant in one settlement. Hand-dug wells had thus remained an important source of domestic water between 1999 and 2014, but contamination risks increased over this period. Water quality trends were complex, but nitrate levels were related to both sanitary risks and rainfall. Given widespread groundwater use by the urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa, the study protocol could be further refined to monitor contamination in hand-dug wells in similar settings. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining the Link Between Public Transit Use and Active Commuting

by Melissa Bopp^1,*, Vikash V. Gayah² and Matthew E. Campbell¹

¹ Department of Kinesiology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4256-4274; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404256 - 17 Apr 2015

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 7360

Abstract

Background: An established relationship exists between public transportation (PT) use and physical activity. However, there is limited literature that examines the link between PT use and active commuting (AC) behavior. This study examines this link to determine if PT users commute more [...] Read more.

Background: An established relationship exists between public transportation (PT) use and physical activity. However, there is limited literature that examines the link between PT use and active commuting (AC) behavior. This study examines this link to determine if PT users commute more by active modes. Methods: A volunteer, convenience sample of adults (n = 748) completed an online survey about AC/PT patterns, demographic, psychosocial, community and environmental factors. t-test compared differences between PT riders and non-PT riders. Binary logistic regression analyses examined the effect of multiple factors on AC and a full logistic regression model was conducted to examine AC. Results: Non-PT riders (n = 596) reported less AC than PT riders. There were several significant relationships with AC for demographic, interpersonal, worksite, community and environmental factors when considering PT use. The logistic multivariate analysis for included age, number of children and perceived distance to work as negative predictors and PT use, feelings of bad weather and lack of on-street bike lanes as a barrier to AC, perceived behavioral control and spouse AC were positive predictors. Conclusions: This study revealed the complex relationship between AC and PT use. Further research should investigate how AC and public transit use are related. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transport Impacts on Public Health)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 2221 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Elucidation of a Physiological Adjustment Effect in a Forest Environment: A Pilot Study

by Chorong Song, Harumi Ikei^†

and Yoshifumi Miyazaki^*

¹ Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University, Kashiwa-no-ha 6-2-1, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-0882, Japan

^† Current Address: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 1 Matsunosato, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4247-4255; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404247 - 17 Apr 2015

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 7869

Abstract

There is a significant positive relationship between exposure to forest environments and physical and mental health. However, there are individual differences within these responses, and this phenomenon has posed questions in various fields. Here, we show that the physiological effect of a forest [...] Read more.

There is a significant positive relationship between exposure to forest environments and physical and mental health. However, there are individual differences within these responses, and this phenomenon has posed questions in various fields. Here, we show that the physiological effect of a forest environment can differ depending on a subject’s initial values and that forests have a physiological adjustment effect close to an appropriate level. Subjects with high initial blood pressure and pulse rate showed a decrease in these values after walking in a forested area, whereas those with low initial values showed an increase. There was no physiological adjustment effect observed in an urban area; thus, these effects are specific to a forest environment. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Enterococcus Species Isolated from Hospital and Domestic Wastewater Effluents in Alice, Eastern Cape Province of South Africa

by Benson Chuks Iweriebor^1,2,*, Sisipho Gaqavu^1,2, Larry Chikwelu Obi³, Uchechukwu U. Nwodo^1,2 and Anthony I. Okoh^1,2

¹ SA-MRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare,1 King Williams Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa

² Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Fort Hare, 1 King Williams Town Road, Alice 5700, South Africa

³ Academic and Research Division, University of Fort Hare, King Williams Road, Alice 5700 Eastern Cape, South Africa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4231-4246; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404231 - 16 Apr 2015

Cited by 72 | Viewed by 9222

Abstract

Background: Antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms are on the increase worldwide and are responsible for substantial cases of therapeutic failures. Resistance of species of Enterococcus to antibiotics is linked to their ability to acquire and disseminate antimicrobial resistance determinants in nature, and wastewater treatment [...] Read more.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance in microorganisms are on the increase worldwide and are responsible for substantial cases of therapeutic failures. Resistance of species of Enterococcus to antibiotics is linked to their ability to acquire and disseminate antimicrobial resistance determinants in nature, and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered to be one of the main reservoirs of such antibiotic resistant bacteria. We therefore determined the antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles of some common Enterococcus spp that are known to be associated with human infections that were recovered from hospital wastewater and final effluent of the receiving wastewater treatment plant in Alice, Eastern Cape. Methods: Wastewater samples were simultaneously collected from two sites (Victoria hospital and final effluents of a municipal WWTP) in Alice at about one to two weeks interval during the months of July and August 2014. Samples were screened for the isolation of enterococci using standard microbiological methods. The isolates were profiled molecularly after targeted generic identification and speciation for the presence of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Results: Out of 66 presumptive isolates, 62 were confirmed to belong to the Enterococcus genusof which 30 were identified to be E. faecalis and 15 E. durans. The remaining isolates were not identified by the primers used in the screening procedure. Out of the six virulence genes that were targeted only three of them; ace, efaA, and gelE were detected. There was a very high phenotypic multiple resistance among the isolates and these were confirmed by genetic analyses. Conclusions: Analyses of the results obtained indicated that hospital wastewater may be one of the sources of antibiotic resistant bacteria to the receiving WWTP. Also, findings revealed that the final effluent discharged into the environment was contaminated with multi-resistant enterococci species thus posing a health hazard to the receiving aquatic environment as these could eventually be transmitted to humans and animals that are exposed to it. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Isolation and Characterization of Polyacrylamide-Degrading Bacteria from Dewatered Sludge

by Feng Yu¹, Ruimin Fu¹, Yun Xie² and Wuling Chen^1,*

¹ College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an 710021, China

² Test Department, Northwest Maternal and Child Hospital, Xi'an 710061, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4214-4230; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404214 - 16 Apr 2015

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 11903

Abstract

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a water-soluble polymer that is widely used as a flocculant in sewage treatment. The accumulation of PAM affects the formation of dewatered sludge and potentially produces hazardous monomers. In the present study, the bacterial strain HI47 was isolated from dewatered [...] Read more.

Polyacrylamide (PAM) is a water-soluble polymer that is widely used as a flocculant in sewage treatment. The accumulation of PAM affects the formation of dewatered sludge and potentially produces hazardous monomers. In the present study, the bacterial strain HI47 was isolated from dewatered sludge. This strain could metabolize PAM as its sole nutrient source and was subsequently identified as Pseudomonas putida. The efficiency of PAM degradation was 31.1% in 7 days and exceeded 45% under optimum culture condition (pH 7.2, 39 °C and 100 rpm). The addition of yeast extract and glucose improved the bacterial growth and PAM degradation. The degraded PAM samples were analyzed by gel-filtration chromatography, Fourier transform infrared and high-performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that high-molecular-weight PAM was partly cleaved to small molecular oligomer derivatives and part of the amide groups of PAM had been converted to carboxyl groups. The biodegradation did not accumulate acrylamide monomers. Based on the SDS-PAGE and N-terminal sequencing results, the PAM amide groups were converted into carboxyl groups by a PAM-induced extracellular enzyme from the aliphatic amidase family. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hazardous Waste and Human Health-2015)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emissions of Escherichia coli Carrying Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Resistance from Pig Farms to the Surrounding Environment

by Lili Gao^1,2,3,†, Yeke Tan^4,†, Xiaodan Zhang^1,2,3,†, Jiaqing Hu¹, Zengmin Miao⁵, Liangmeng Wei^1,2,3 and Tongjie Chai^1,2,3,*

¹ College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an 271000, Shandong, China

² Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin Shandong Province, Tai'an 271000, Shandong, China

³ Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention of Shandong Province, Tai'an 271000, Shandong, China

⁴ Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an 271000, Shandong, China

⁵ College of Life Sciences, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an 271000, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4203-4213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404203 - 16 Apr 2015

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6434

Abstract

The dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) from food-producing animals to the surrounding environment has attracted much attention. To determine the emissions of ESBL-producing E. coli from pig farms to the surrounding environment, fecal and environmental samples from [...] Read more.

The dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) from food-producing animals to the surrounding environment has attracted much attention. To determine the emissions of ESBL-producing E. coli from pig farms to the surrounding environment, fecal and environmental samples from six pig farms were collected. In total, 119 ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from feces, air samples, water, sludge and soil samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing showed that the ESBL-producing isolates were resistant to multiple antibiotics and isolates of different origin within the same farm showed similar resistance phenotypes. Both CTX-M and TEM ESBL-encoding genes were detected in these isolates. CTX-M-14 and CTX-M-15 were the predominant ESBL genes identified. ESBL producers from feces and environmental samples within the same farm carried similar CTX-M types. The results indicated that the ESBL-producing E. coli carrying multidrug resistance could readily disseminate to the surrounding environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hazardous Waste and Human Health-2015)

18 pages, 683 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Living in a Care Home on the Health and Wellbeing of Spinal Cord Injured People

by Brett Smith^* and Nick Caddick

Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leciestershire, LE11 3TU, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4185-4202; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404185 - 15 Apr 2015

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7478

Abstract

In the UK, 20% of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) are discharged from rehabilitation into an elderly care home. Despite this, and knowledge that the home is central to health and wellbeing, little research has examined the impact of being in care [...] Read more.

In the UK, 20% of people with spinal cord injury (SCI) are discharged from rehabilitation into an elderly care home. Despite this, and knowledge that the home is central to health and wellbeing, little research has examined the impact of being in care homes on the health and wellbeing of people with SCI. The purpose of this study was to address this gap. Twenty adults who lived in care homes or had done so recently for over two years were interviewed in-depth. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Analyses revealed that living in a care home environment severely damages quality of life, physical health and psychological wellbeing in the short and long-term. Reasons why quality of life, health, and wellbeing were damaged are identified. These included a lack of freedom, control, and flexibility, inability to participate in community life, inability to sustain relationships, safety problems, restricted participation in work and leisure time physical activity, lack of meaning, self-expression, and a future, loneliness, difficulties with the re-housing process, depression, and suicidal thoughts and actions. It is concluded that for people with SCI, the care home environment violates social dignity, is oppressive, and denies human rights. Implications for housing and health care policies are also offered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disability and Public Health)

15 pages, 1395 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incorporation of Spatial Interactions in Location Networks to Identify Critical Geo-Referenced Routes for Assessing Disease Control Measures on a Large-Scale Campus

by Tzai-Hung Wen^* and Wei Chien Benny Chin

Department of Geography, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4170-4184; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404170 - 14 Apr 2015

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 7037

Abstract

Respiratory diseases mainly spread through interpersonal contact. Class suspension is the most direct strategy to prevent the spread of disease through elementary or secondary schools by blocking the contact network. However, as university students usually attend courses in different buildings, the daily contact [...] Read more.

Respiratory diseases mainly spread through interpersonal contact. Class suspension is the most direct strategy to prevent the spread of disease through elementary or secondary schools by blocking the contact network. However, as university students usually attend courses in different buildings, the daily contact patterns on a university campus are complicated, and once disease clusters have occurred, suspending classes is far from an efficient strategy to control disease spread. The purpose of this study is to propose a methodological framework for generating campus location networks from a routine administration database, analyzing the community structure of the network, and identifying the critical links and nodes for blocking respiratory disease transmission. The data comes from the student enrollment records of a major comprehensive university in Taiwan. We combined the social network analysis and spatial interaction model to establish a geo-referenced community structure among the classroom buildings. We also identified the critical links among the communities that were acting as contact bridges and explored the changes in the location network after the sequential removal of the high-risk buildings. Instead of conducting a questionnaire survey, the study established a standard procedure for constructing a location network on a large-scale campus from a routine curriculum database. We also present how a location network structure at a campus could function to target the high-risk buildings as the bridges connecting communities for blocking disease transmission. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Proceedings from 2014 Global Land Project (GLP) Asia Conference)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CHRNA3 rs6495308 Genotype as an Effect Modifier of the Association between Daily Cigarette Consumption and Hypertension in Chinese Male Smokers

by Xiao-Ying Wu¹, Shan-Yu Zhou², Zhong-Zheng Niu¹, Tao Liu³

, Chuan-Bo Xie⁴ and Wei-Qing Chen^1,*

¹ Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China

² Guangdong Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China

³ Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China

⁴ Division of Behavioral Medicine, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, NY 14228, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4156-4169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404156 - 14 Apr 2015

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5709

Abstract

Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for hypertension. However, the effects on hypertension of the interaction between smoking and the genotype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene are unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotype [...] Read more.

Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for hypertension. However, the effects on hypertension of the interaction between smoking and the genotype of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor gene are unclear. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotype affects the association between daily cigarette consumption and hypertension. We recruited 947 male smokers in southern China and used a questionnaire administered in face to face interviews to obtain information on their socio-demographic characteristics and smoking behavior. Blood samples were collected to test for CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotype variations. Three blood-pressure measurements were taken for each participant, and the average values recorded. We found that, compared with light smoking (<15 cigarettes per day), heavy smoking (≥15 cigarettes per day) yielded a greater risk of hypertension. We also observed that the interaction between daily cigarette consumption and the CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotype may affect hypertension. Heavy smokers with the homozygous mutant CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotype exhibited a significantly greater risk of hypertension than light smokers with wild-type CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotypes. The positive interaction between heavy smoking and the homozygous mutant CHRNA3 rs6495308 genotype was found to affect the likelihood of hypertension in Chinese male smokers. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined Effects of Nonylphenol and Bisphenol A on the Human Prostate Epithelial Cell Line RWPE-1

by Weidong Gan^1,2,3,†, Ming Zhou^4,†, Zou Xiang⁵, Xiaodong Han^2,3 and Dongmei Li^2,3,*

¹ Department of Urology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China

² Immunology and Reproductive Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

³ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China

⁴ Department of Urology, Yangzhou First People's Hospital, Yangzhou 225000, China

⁵ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Mucosal Immunobiology and Vaccine Research Center, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg 405 30, Sweden

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4141-4155; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404141 - 14 Apr 2015

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6860

Abstract

The xenoestrogens nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) are regarded as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which have widespread occurrence in our daily life. In the present study, the purpose was to analyze the combined effects of NP and BPA on the human prostate [...] Read more.

The xenoestrogens nonylphenol (NP) and bisphenol A (BPA) are regarded as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which have widespread occurrence in our daily life. In the present study, the purpose was to analyze the combined effects of NP and BPA on the human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 using two mathematical models based on the Loewe additivity (LA) theory and the Bliss independence (BI) theory. RWPE-1 cells were treated with NP (0.01–100 µM) and BPA (1–5000 µM) in either a single or a combined format. A cell viability assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage rate assay were employed as endpoints. As predicted by the two models and based on the cell viability assay, significant synergism between NP and BPA were observed. However, based on the LDH assay, the trends were reversed. Given that environmental contaminants are frequently encountered simultaneously, these data indicated that there were potential interactions between NP and BPA, and the combined effects of the chemical mixture might be stronger than the additive values of individual chemicals combined, which should be taken into consideration for the risk assessment of EDCs. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 340 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Temporal Variations in Physico-Chemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Mvudi River, South Africa

by Joshua N. Edokpayi^1,*

, John O. Odiyo¹, Titus A.M. Msagati²

and Natasha Potgieter³

¹ Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa

² College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit, Florida Science Campus, University of South Africa, Roodepoort 1709, Johannesburg, South Africa

³ Department of Microbiology, University of Venda, Private Bag X5050, Thohoyandou 0950, South Africa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4128-4140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404128 - 14 Apr 2015

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 7128

Abstract

Surface water has been a source of domestic water due to shortage of potable water in most rural areas. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of contamination of Mvudi River in South Africa by measuring turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, [...] Read more.

Surface water has been a source of domestic water due to shortage of potable water in most rural areas. This study was carried out to evaluate the level of contamination of Mvudi River in South Africa by measuring turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), pH, concentrations of nitrate, fluoride, chloride, and sulphate. E. coli and Enterococci were analysed using membrane filtration technique. Average pH, EC and Turbidity values were in the range of 7.2–7.7, 10.5–16.1 mS/m and 1.3–437.5 NTU, respectively. The mean concentrations of fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulphate for both the wet and the dry seasons were 0.11 mg/L and 0.27 mg/L, 9.35 mg/L and 14.82 mg/L, 3.25 mg/L and 6.87 mg/L, 3.24 mg/L and 0.70 mg/L, respectively. E. coli and Enterococci counts for both the wet and the dry seasons were 4.81 × 10³ (log = 3.68) and 5.22 × 10³ (log = 3.72), 3.4 × 10³ (log = 3.53) and 1.22 × 10³ (log = 3.09), per 100 mL of water, respectively. The count of E. coli for both seasons did not vary significantly (p > 0.05) but Enterococci count varied significantly (p < 0.001). All the physico-chemical parameters obtained were within the recommended guidelines of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry of South Africa and the World Health Organization for domestic and recreational water use for both seasons except turbidity and nitrates. The microbiological parameters exceeded the established guidelines. Mvudi River is contaminated with faecal organisms and should not be used for domestic purposes without proper treatment so as to mitigate the threat it poses to public health. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functioning and Disability Analysis of Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury by Using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0

by Chia-Ying Kuo^1,2, Tsan-Hon Liou^3,4,5

, Kwang-Hwa Chang^3,6, Wen-Chou Chi⁷, Reuben Escorpizo^8,9, Chia-Feng Yen¹⁰, Hua-Fang Liao^11,12, Hung-Yi Chiou¹, Wen-Ta Chiu^1,*,† and Jo-Ting Tsai^13,†

¹ School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan

² Office of Medical Affairs, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan

³ Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan

⁴ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan

⁵ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan

⁶ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan

⁷ School of Occupational Therapy, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung City 40201 Taiwan

⁸ Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05401, USA

⁹ Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil 6207, Switzerland

¹⁰ Department of Public Health, Tzu Chi University, Hualien City 97004, Taiwan

¹¹ Chinese Association of Early Intervention Profession for Children with Developmental Delays, Hualien City 97064, Taiwan

¹² School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10055, Taiwan

¹³ Radiation Oncology Department, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561,Taiwan

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Show full affiliation list Hide full affiliation list

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4116-4127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404116 - 14 Apr 2015

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 8823

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries (SCI) patients’ function and disability by using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0); and to clarify the factors that contribute to disability. We [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study is to compare traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries (SCI) patients’ function and disability by using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0); and to clarify the factors that contribute to disability. We analyzed data available between September 2012 and August 2013 from Taiwan’s national disability registry which is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) framework. Of the 2664 cases selected for the study, 1316 pertained to TBI and 1348 to SCI. A larger percentage of patients with TBI compared with those with SCI exhibited poor cognition, self-care, relationships, life activities, and participation in society (all p < 0.001). Age, sex, injury type, socioeconomic status, place of residence, and severity of impairment were determined as factors that independently contribute to disability (all p < 0.05). The WHODAS 2.0 is a generic assessment instrument which is appropriate for assessing the complex and multifaceted disability associated with TBI and SCI. Further studies are needed to validate the WHODAS 2.0 for TBI and SCI from a multidisciplinary perspective. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 929 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occupational Exposure of Diesel Station Workers to BTEX Compounds at a Bus Depot

by Raeesa Moolla^*, Christopher J. Curtis and Jasper Knight

School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3 WITS, Gauteng 2050, South Africa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4101-4115; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404101 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 9590

Abstract

Diesel fuel is known to emit pollutants that have a negative impact on environmental and human health. In developing countries like South Africa, attendants are employed to pump fuel for customers at service stations. Attendants refuel vehicles with various octane unleaded fuel, lead-replacement [...] Read more.

Diesel fuel is known to emit pollutants that have a negative impact on environmental and human health. In developing countries like South Africa, attendants are employed to pump fuel for customers at service stations. Attendants refuel vehicles with various octane unleaded fuel, lead-replacement petrol and diesel fuel, on a daily basis. Attendants are at risk to adverse health effects associated with the inhalation of volatile organic compounds released from these fuels. The pollutants released include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), which are significant due to their high level of toxicity. In this study, a risk assessment of BTEX was conducted at a diesel service station for public buses. Using Radiello passive samplers, it was found that benzene concentrations were above recommended international standards. Due to poor ventilation and high exposure duration, the average benzene concentration over the sampling campaign exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency’s chronic inhalation exposure reference concentration. Lifetime cancer risk estimation showed that on average there is a 3.78 × 10⁻⁴ cancer risk, corresponding to an average chronic daily intake of 1.38 × 10⁻³ mg/kg/day of benzene exposure. Additionally, there were incidences where individuals were at potential hazard risk of benzene and toluene that may pose non-carcinogenic effects to employees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cumulative and Integrated Health Impact Assessment)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 987 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community-Based Research as a Mechanism to Reduce Environmental Health Disparities in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

by Cynthia Agumanu McOliver^1,*, Anne K. Camper^2,†, John T. Doyle^3,†, Margaret J. Eggers^4,†, Tim E. Ford^5,†, Mary Ann Lila^6,†

, James Berner^7,†, Larry Campbell^8,† and Jamie Donatuto^9,†

¹ Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Research, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460, USA

² College of Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

³ Apsaalooke Water and Wastewater Authority, Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee/Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA

⁴ Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

⁵ School of Health Professions, Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601, USA

⁶ Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, N.C. Research Campus, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA

⁷ Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, 3900 Ambassador Drive, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA

⁸ Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, 11430 Moorage Way, La Conner, WA 98257, USA

⁹ Environmental Health Analyst, Department of Social Services, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, 17337 Reservation Road, La Conner, WA 98257, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4076-4100; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404076 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 15663

Abstract

Racial and ethnic minority communities, including American Indian and Alaska Natives, have been disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and contamination. This includes siting and location of point sources of pollution, legacies of contamination of drinking and recreational water, and mining, military and agricultural [...] Read more.

Racial and ethnic minority communities, including American Indian and Alaska Natives, have been disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and contamination. This includes siting and location of point sources of pollution, legacies of contamination of drinking and recreational water, and mining, military and agricultural impacts. As a result, both quantity and quality of culturally important subsistence resources are diminished, contributing to poor nutrition and obesity, and overall reductions in quality of life and life expectancy. Climate change is adding to these impacts on Native American communities, variably causing drought, increased flooding and forced relocation affecting tribal water resources, traditional foods, forests and forest resources, and tribal health. This article will highlight several extramural research projects supported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Science to Achieve Results (STAR) tribal environmental research grants as a mechanism to address the environmental health inequities and disparities faced by tribal communities. The tribal research portfolio has focused on addressing tribal environmental health risks through community based participatory research. Specifically, the STAR research program was developed under the premise that tribal populations may be at an increased risk for environmentally-induced diseases as a result of unique subsistence and traditional practices of the tribes and Alaska Native villages, community activities, occupations and customs, and/or environmental releases that significantly and disproportionately impact tribal lands. Through a series of case studies, this article will demonstrate how grantees—tribal community leaders and members and academic collaborators—have been addressing these complex environmental concerns by developing capacity, expertise and tools through community-engaged research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eliminating Health Disparities to Achieve Health Equity)

▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Care Workers’ Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Tobacco Use in Economically Disadvantaged Dominican Republic Communities

by Michael G. Prucha¹, Susan G. Fisher², Scott McIntosh¹, John C. Grable³, Heather Holderness¹, Kelly Thevenet-Morrison¹, Zahíra Quiñones De Monegro⁴, José Javier Sánchez⁴, Arisleyda Bautista⁵, Sergio Díaz⁶ and Deborah J. Ossip^1,*

¹ Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester, Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

² Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA

³ Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

⁴ Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, Santiago, Dominican Republic

⁵ Centro de Atención Primaria Juan XXIII, Santiago, Dominican Republic

⁶ Hospital Regional Universitario José María Cabral y Báez, Santiago, Dominican Republic

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4060-4075; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404060 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6945

Abstract

Tobacco use is increasing globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries like the Dominican Republic (DR) where data have been lacking. Health care worker (HCW) interventions improve quit rates; asking patients about tobacco use at each visit is an evidence-based first step. This [...] Read more.

Tobacco use is increasing globally, particularly in low and middle-income countries like the Dominican Republic (DR) where data have been lacking. Health care worker (HCW) interventions improve quit rates; asking patients about tobacco use at each visit is an evidence-based first step. This study provides the first quantitative examination of knowledge, attitudes and practices of DR HCWs regarding tobacco use. All HCWs (N = 153) in 7 economically disadvantaged DR communities were targeted with anonymous surveys. Approximately 70% (N = 107) completed the primary outcome item, asking about tobacco use at each encounter. Despite >85% strongly agreeing that they should ask about tobacco use at each encounter, only 48.6% reported doing so. While most (94.39%) strongly agreed that smoking is harmful, knowledge of specific health consequences varied from 98.13% for lung cancer to 41.12% for otitis media. Few received training in tobacco intervention (38.32%). Exploratory analyses revealed that always asking even if patients are healthy, strongly agreeing that tobacco causes cardiac disease, and always advising smoke-free homes were associated with always asking. Overall, results demonstrate a disconnect between HCW belief and practice. Though most agreed that always asking about tobacco was important, fewer than half did so. Gaps in HCW knowledge and practices suggest a need for education and policy/infrastructure support. To our knowledge, this is the first reported survey of DR HCWs regarding tobacco, and provides a foundation for future tobacco control in the DR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tobacco Control)

13 pages, 1176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emergency Hospital Visits in Association with Volcanic Ash, Dust Storms and Other Sources of Ambient Particles: A Time-Series Study in Reykjavík, Iceland

by Hanne Krage Carlsen^1,2,*, Thorarinn Gislason^3,4, Bertil Forsberg², Kadri Meister², Throstur Thorsteinsson^5,6, Thorsteinn Jóhannsson⁷, Ragnhildur Finnbjornsdottir¹ and Anna Oudin²

¹ Centre of Public Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Stapi v/Hringbraut, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

² Unit of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden

³ Department of Respiratory Medicine and Sleep, Landspítali University Hospital-Fossvogur, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland

⁴ Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Iceland, Vatnsmýrarvegi 16, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

⁵ Unit of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

⁶ Institute of Earth Sciences, School of Engineering and Natural Sciences, University of Iceland, Sturlugata 7, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

⁷ Environmental Agency of Iceland, Suðurlandsbraut 24, 108 Reykjavík, Iceland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4047-4059; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404047 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 7273

Abstract

Volcanic ash contributed significantly to particulate matter (PM) in Iceland following the eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Grímsvötn 2011. This study aimed to investigate the association between different PM sources and emergency hospital visits for cardiorespiratory causes from 2007 to 2012. Indicators of [...] Read more.

Volcanic ash contributed significantly to particulate matter (PM) in Iceland following the eruptions in Eyjafjallajökull 2010 and Grímsvötn 2011. This study aimed to investigate the association between different PM sources and emergency hospital visits for cardiorespiratory causes from 2007 to 2012. Indicators of PM₁₀ sources; “volcanic ash”, “dust storms”, or “other sources” (traffic, fireworks, and re-suspension) on days when PM₁₀ exceeded the daily air quality guideline value of 50 µg/m³ were entered into generalized additive models, adjusted for weather, time trend and co-pollutants. The average number of daily emergency hospital visits was 10.5. PM₁₀exceeded the air quality guideline value 115 out of 2191 days; 20 days due to volcanic ash, 14 due to dust storms (two days had both dust storm and ash contribution) and 83 due to other sources. High PM₁₀ levels from volcanic ash tended to be significantly associated with the emergency hospital visits; estimates ranged from 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.6, 9.2%) per day of exposure in unadjusted models to 7.3% (95% CI: −0.4, 15.5%) in adjusted models. Dust storms were not consistently associated with daily emergency hospital visits and other sources tended to show a negative association. We found some evidence indicating that volcanic ash particles were more harmful than particles from other sources, but the results were inconclusive and should be interpreted with caution. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 692 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Characterisation of the Coarse and Fine Particulate Matter in the Environment of an Underground Railway System: Cytotoxic Effects and Oxidative Stress—A Preliminary Study

by Anna Maria Spagnolo, Gianluca Ottria, Fernanda Perdelli and Maria Luisa Cristina^*

Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy Via Pastore, 1-16132 Genoa, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4031-4046; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404031 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5688

Abstract

Background: Exposure to the particulate matter produced in underground railway systems is arousing increasing scientific interest because of its health effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the airborne concentrations of PM₁₀ and three sub-fractions of PM_2.5in [...] Read more.

Background: Exposure to the particulate matter produced in underground railway systems is arousing increasing scientific interest because of its health effects. The aim of our study was to evaluate the airborne concentrations of PM₁₀ and three sub-fractions of PM_2.5in an underground railway system environment in proximity to platforms and in underground commercial areas within the system, and to compare these with the outdoor airborne concentrations. We also evaluated the metal components, the cytotoxic properties of the various fractions of particulate matter (PM) and their capacity to induce oxidative stress. Method: We collected the coarse fraction (5–10 µm) and the fine fractions (1–2.5 µm; 0.5–1 µm; 0.25–0.5 µm). Chemical characterisation was determined by means of spectrometry. Cytotoxicity and oxidative stress were evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) assessment. Results: The concentrations of both PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 proved to be similar at the three sampling sites. Iron and other transition metals displayed a greater concentration at the subway platform than at the other two sites. The 2.5–10 µm and 1–2.5 µm fractions of PM from all three sampling sites determined a greater increase in ROS; the intensity of oxidative stress progressively declined as particle diameter diminished. Moreover, ROS concentrations were correlated with the concentrations of some transition metals, namely Mn, Cr, Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ni and Mo. All particulate matter fractions displayed lower or similar ROS values between platform level and the outdoor air. Conclusions: The present study revealed that the underground railway environment at platform level, although containing higher concentrations of some particularly reactive metallic species, did not display higher cytotoxicity and oxidative stress levels than the outdoor air. Full article

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 680 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Physical and Perceptual Responses to Exergames in Chinese Children

by Patrick W. C. Lau¹, Yan Liang¹, Erica Y. Lau², Choung-Rak Choi^3,*, Chang-Gyun Kim⁴ and Myung-Soo Shin³

¹ Department of Physical Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

² Department of Exercise Science, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA

³ Sports Management, Division of Sport Science, College of Science and Technology, Konkuk University, ASI KR KS001, Chungju, Korea

⁴ Division of Sports Science, College of Arts and Design, Gachon University, ASI KR KS009, Seongnam, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 4018-4030; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120404018 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 7346

Abstract

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to examine whether exergames could help children reach the recommendations for PA and cardiorespiratory fitness regarding exercise intensity. Differences in perceived physical exertion, EE, VO₂, and HR between normal weight (NW) and [...] Read more.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to examine whether exergames could help children reach the recommendations for PA and cardiorespiratory fitness regarding exercise intensity. Differences in perceived physical exertion, EE, VO₂, and HR between normal weight (NW) and overweight (OW) children participating in exergames were also examined. Methods: Twenty-one children (age: 10.45 ± 0.88) were assessed for EE, VO₂ and HR during rest, in a maximal treadmill test, and while playing different exergames. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) (category range: 0 to 10) were also measured during exergaming. Three types of exergames were examined: running, table tennis, and dancing. These games were either performed on a Chinese game console, I-Dong, or another well-developed Western game console (Sony PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii). Results: Exergaming resulted in EE (kcal/min) from 2.05–5.14, VO₂(mL/kg/min) from 9.98–25.54, and HR (beats per minute) from 98.05–149.66. Children reported RPE ranging from 1.29 to 5.29. The Chinese exergame, I-Dong Running, was the only game in which children reached a moderate intensity and met the recommended minimum VO₂reserve (50%) for cardiorespiratory fitness. Conclusion: Exergames could provide alternative opportunities to enhance children’s physical activity. They could be used as light-to-moderate PA, and with exergames, children can even reach the recommended intensity for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory fitness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Childhood Obesity: Novel Approaches to a Global Problem)

25 pages, 756 KiB

Open AccessReview

Exposure to Indoor Pollutants and Wheeze and Asthma Development during Early Childhood

by Evridiki Patelarou^1,*, Nikolaos Tzanakis² and Frank J. Kelly³

¹ Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King's College London, London SE18WA, UK

² Department of Thoracic Medicine, Medical School, University of Crete, Heraklion 71414, Greece

³ MRC-PHE Centre for Environment and Health, NIHR Environmental Hazards Health Protection Research Unit, King's College London, London SE19NH, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 3993-4017; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120403993 - 13 Apr 2015

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 8359

Abstract

Background: This review aimed to summarize existing epidemiological evidence of the association between quantitative estimates of indoor air pollution with early childhood respiratory disease. Methods: We carried out a systematic literature search of peer-reviewed epidemiological studies undertaken in “westernized” countries that have assessed [...] Read more.

Background: This review aimed to summarize existing epidemiological evidence of the association between quantitative estimates of indoor air pollution with early childhood respiratory disease. Methods: We carried out a systematic literature search of peer-reviewed epidemiological studies undertaken in “westernized” countries that have assessed exposure to indoor pollutants and asthma and wheeze from infancy up to the age of 5. Results: The search, between January 2004 and February 2014 yielded 1840 studies for consideration. Following application of eligibility criteria to titles and abstracts 22 independent studies were deemed relevant for further review. Two additional studies were next identified through examination of the references’ lists of these studies. Of these 24 selected studies, 16 adopted a prospective cohort design and 8 were case-control studies. Fourteen studies assessed exposure to bio-aerosols, 8 studies assessed exposure to specific air chemicals and two studies assessed exposure to bio-aerosols and air chemicals. Furthermore, 11 studies examined the association of exposure with asthma and 16 with wheeze. Findings indicate that existing studies have reported contradictory effects of indoor pollutants levels and occurrence of asthma/wheeze. Conclusion: Additional research to establish causality and evaluate interventions to prevent disease onset is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality: Exposures and Occupant Health)

▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, Volume 12, Issue 4 (April 2015) – 67 articles , Pages 3406-4480

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI