International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Editorial

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39 pages, 1026 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Acknowledgement to Reviewers of IJERPH in 2017

by IJERPH Editorial Office

MDPI AG, St. Alban-Anlage 66, 4052 Basel, Switzerland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010118 - 11 Jan 2018

Viewed by 10000

Abstract

Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that IJERPH maintains high quality standards for its published papers [...] Full article

3 pages, 215 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Refugee Health: An Ongoing Commitment and Challenge

by Jimmy T. Efird^1,*

and Pollie Bith-Melander²

¹ Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle (UoN), Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

² Alternatives in Action, Oakland, CA 94610, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 131; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010131 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6478

Abstract

Refugees represent a diverse group of displaced individuals with unique health issues and disease risks. The obstacles facing this population have their origins in war, violence, oppression, exploitation, and fear of persecution. Regardless of country of origin, a common bond exists, with refugees [...] Read more.

Refugees represent a diverse group of displaced individuals with unique health issues and disease risks. The obstacles facing this population have their origins in war, violence, oppression, exploitation, and fear of persecution. Regardless of country of origin, a common bond exists, with refugees often confronting inadequate healthcare resources, xenophobia, discrimination, and a complex web of legal barriers in their new homelands. In many cases, the plight of refugees is multigenerational, manifesting as mental health issues, abuse, poverty, and family disruption. The health trajectory of refugees remains an ongoing commitment and challenge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Refugee Health)

3 pages, 220 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Social and Environmental Influences on Physical Activity Behaviours

by James Dollman

Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 169; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010169 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5959

Abstract

Physical activity promotion has met with limited success across a range of demographic indicators, largely due to our poor understanding of how drivers of physical activity behaviours vary by context and setting[...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social and Environmental Influences on Physical Activity Behaviours)

Research

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22 pages, 2706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bicycle Facilities That Address Safety, Crime, and Economic Development: Perceptions from Morelia, Mexico

by Inés Alveano-Aguerrebere¹, Francisco Javier Ayvar-Campos¹

, Maryam Farvid² and Anne Lusk^2,*

¹ Instituto de Investigaciones Económicas y Empresariales, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, 58040 Morelia, Mexico

² Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 655 Huntington Avenue, Building II Room 314, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010001 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 8340

Abstract

México is a developing nation and, in the city of Morelia, the concept of the bicyclist as a road user appeared only recently in the Municipal Traffic Regulations. Perhaps the right bicycle infrastructure could address safety, crime, and economic development. To identify the [...] Read more.

México is a developing nation and, in the city of Morelia, the concept of the bicyclist as a road user appeared only recently in the Municipal Traffic Regulations. Perhaps the right bicycle infrastructure could address safety, crime, and economic development. To identify the best infrastructure, six groups in Morelia ranked and commented on pictures of bicycle environments that exist in bicycle-friendly nations. Perceptions about bike paths, but only those with impossible-to-be-driven-over solid barriers, were associated with safety from crashes, lowering crime, and contributing to economic development. Shared use paths were associated with lowering the probability of car/bike crashes but lacked the potential to deter crime and foster the local economy. Joint bus and bike lanes were associated with lower safety because of the unwillingness by Mexican bus drivers to be courteous to bicyclists. Gender differences about crash risk biking in the road with the cars (6 best/0 worst scenario) were statistically significant (1.4 for male versus 0.69 for female; p < 0.001). For crashes, crime, and economic development, perceptions about bicycle infrastructure were different in this developing nation perhaps because policy, institutional context, and policing (ticketing for unlawful parking) are not the same as in a developed nation. Countries such as Mexico should consider building cycle tracks with solid barriers to address safety, crime, and economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation and Health)

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18 pages, 3497 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change and Health under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathway Framework

by Samuel Sellers^* and Kristie L. Ebi

Center for Health and the Global Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010003 - 21 Dec 2017

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 13495

Abstract

A growing body of literature addresses how climate change is likely to have substantial and generally adverse effects on population health and health systems around the world. These effects are likely to vary within and between countries and, importantly, will vary depending on [...] Read more.

A growing body of literature addresses how climate change is likely to have substantial and generally adverse effects on population health and health systems around the world. These effects are likely to vary within and between countries and, importantly, will vary depending on different socioeconomic development patterns. Transitioning to a more resilient and sustainable world to prepare for and manage the effects of climate change is likely to result in better health outcomes. Sustained fossil fuel development will likely result in continued high burdens of preventable conditions, such as undernutrition, malaria, and diarrheal diseases. Using a new set of socioeconomic development trajectories, the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), along with the World Health Organization’s Operational Framework for Building Climate Resilient Health Systems, we extend existing storylines to illustrate how various aspects of health systems are likely to be affected under each SSP. We also discuss the implications of our findings on how the burden of mortality and the achievement of health-related Sustainable Development Goal targets are likely to vary under different SSPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Impacts of Warming of 1.5 °C and 2 °C)

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16 pages, 3196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Care Model Design for E-Health: Integration of Point-of-Care Testing at Dutch General Practices

by Bart Verhees, Kees Van Kuijk and Lianne Simonse^*

Department Product Innovation Management, Faculty Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Landbergstraat 15, 2628 CE Delft, The Netherlands

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010004 - 21 Dec 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6268

Abstract

Point-of-care testing (POCT)—laboratory tests performed with new mobile devices and online technologies outside of the central laboratory—is rapidly outpacing the traditional laboratory test market, growing at a rate of 12 to 15% each year. POCT impacts the diagnostic process of care providers by [...] Read more.

Point-of-care testing (POCT)—laboratory tests performed with new mobile devices and online technologies outside of the central laboratory—is rapidly outpacing the traditional laboratory test market, growing at a rate of 12 to 15% each year. POCT impacts the diagnostic process of care providers by yielding high efficiency benefits in terms of turnaround time and related quality improvements in the reduction of errors. However, the implementation of this disruptive eHealth technology requires the integration and transformation of diagnostic services across the boundaries of healthcare organizations. Research has revealed both advantages and barriers of POCT implementations, yet to date, there is no business model for the integration of POCT within general practice. The aim of this article is to contribute with a design for a care model that enables the integration of POCT in primary healthcare. In this research, we used a design modelling toolkit for data collection at five general practices. Through an iterative design process, we modelled the actors and value transactions, and designed an optimized care model for the dynamic integration of POCTs into the GP’s network of care delivery. The care model design will have a direct bearing on improving the integration of POCT through the connectivity and norm guidelines between the general practice, the POC technology, and the diagnostic centre. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue eHealth: The Impact of Technology on Healthcare)

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12 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Telomere Length, Genetic Traits and Environmental/Occupational Exposures in Bladder Cancer Risk by Structural Equation Modelling

by Sofia Pavanello^1,*, Angela Carta^2,3, Giuseppe Mastrangelo¹, Manuela Campisi¹, Cecilia Arici^2,3

and Stefano Porru^3,4

¹ Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Unit of Occupational Medicine, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy

² Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Section of Public Health and Human Sciences, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy

³ University Research Center “Integrated Models for Prevention and Protection in Environmental and Occupational Health” (MISTRAL), University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy

⁴ Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Occupational Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010005 - 21 Dec 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4560

Abstract

Background: Telomere length (TL) maintenance plays an important role in bladder cancer (BC) and prognosis. However the manifold influence of everyday life exposures and genetic traits on leucocyte TL (LTL), is not fully elucidated. Methods: Within the framework of a hospital-based [...] Read more.

Background: Telomere length (TL) maintenance plays an important role in bladder cancer (BC) and prognosis. However the manifold influence of everyday life exposures and genetic traits on leucocyte TL (LTL), is not fully elucidated. Methods: Within the framework of a hospital-based case (n = 96)/control (n = 94) study (all Caucasian males), we investigated the extent to which LTL and BC risk were modulated by genetic polymorphisms and environmental and occupational exposures. Data on lifetime smoking, alcohol and coffee drinking, dietary habits and occupational exposures, pointing to aromatic amines (AAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were collected. Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis appraised this complex relationships. Results: The SEM analysis indicates negative direct links (p < 0.05) between LTL with age, DNA adducts, alcohol and NAT2, and positive ones with coffee, MPO and XRCC3; and between BC risk (p < 0.01) with cigarettes, cumulative exposure to AAs and coffee, while are negative with LTL and age. There was evidence of indirect effects (p < 0.05) on BC risk, probably via LTL reduction, by age and NAT2 (positive link), MPO and XRCC3 (negative link). Conclusions: Our study supports evidence that LTL attrition is a critical event in BC. The new finding that LTL erosion depends on some preventable everyday life exposures genetically modulated, opens new perspectives in BC prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Safety and Health)

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15 pages, 559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Demand for Long-Term Care Insurance in China

by Qun Wang¹, Yi Zhou², Xinrui Ding¹ and Xiaohua Ying^2,*

¹ Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China

² School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 6; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010006 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6784

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for long-term care insurance (LTCI) and to explore the determinants of demand for LTCI in China. We collected data from a household survey conducted in Qinghai and Zhejiang on a sample [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to estimate willingness to pay (WTP) for long-term care insurance (LTCI) and to explore the determinants of demand for LTCI in China. We collected data from a household survey conducted in Qinghai and Zhejiang on a sample of 1842 households. We relied on contingent valuation methods to elicit the demand for LTCI and random effects logistic regression to analyze the factors associated with the demand for LTCI. Complementarily, we used document analysis to compare the LTCI designed in this study and the current LTCI policies in the pilot cities. More than 90% of the respondents expressed their willingness to buy LTCI. The median WTP for LTCI was estimated at 370.14 RMB/year, accounting for 2.29% of average annual per capita disposable income. Price, age, education status, and income were significantly associated with demand for LTCI. Most pilot cities were found to mainly rely on Urban Employees Basic Medical Insurance funds as the financing source for LTCI. Considering that financing is one of the greatest challenges in the development of China’s LTCI, we suggest that policy makers consider individual contribution as an important and possible option as a source of financing for LTCI. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Economics)

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9 pages, 278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Personal, Psychosocial and Environmental Factors Related to Sick Building Syndrome in Official Employees of Taiwan

by Chung-Yen Lu¹

, Meng-Chuan Tsai¹, Chih-Hsin Muo², Yu-Hsien Kuo³, Fung-Chang Sung^2,4,*,† and Chin-Ching Wu^5,*,†

¹ Department of Sport and Health Management, Da-Yeh University, Changhua 51591, Taiwan

² Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan

³ Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan

⁴ Department of Health Services Administration, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan

⁵ Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 7; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010007 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 7292

Abstract

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of symptoms that can be attributed to exposure to specific building conditions. The present study recruited 389 participants aged 20–65 years from 87 offices of 16 institutions to examine if personal factors, work-related psychosocial stress, and [...] Read more.

Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of symptoms that can be attributed to exposure to specific building conditions. The present study recruited 389 participants aged 20–65 years from 87 offices of 16 institutions to examine if personal factors, work-related psychosocial stress, and work environments, were associated with five groups of SBS symptoms, including symptoms for eyes, upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract, skin, and non-specific systems. Indoor environmental conditions were monitored. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression (MLR) analyses and were reported as adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR). SBS symptoms for eyes were associated with older age, sensitivity to tobacco, and low indoor air flow. Upper respiratory symptoms were related to smoking, low social support, longer work days, and dry air. High indoor air flow was associated with reduced upper respiratory symptoms (aOR = 0.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.13–0.67). Lower respiratory symptoms were associated with high work pressure, longer work hours, chemical exposure, migraine, and exposure to new interior painting. Recent interior painting exposure was associated with a high estimated relative risk of low respiratory symptoms (aOR = 20.6; 95% CI = 2.96–143). Smoking, longer work days, low indoor air flow, indoor dryness, and volatile organics exposure, were associated with other non-specified symptoms including headache, tiredness, difficulty concentrating, anger, and dizziness. In conclusion, there are various SBS symptoms associated with different personal characteristics, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Psychosocial factors had stronger relationships with lower respiratory symptoms than with other types of SBS symptoms. Good ventilation could reduce risk factors and may relieve SBS symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Air Pollution and Health)

11 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption Property and Mechanism of Oxytetracycline onto Willow Residues

by Di Wang^1,2,3

, Haiyang Xu⁴, Shengke Yang^1,2,*, Wenke Wang^1,2 and Yanhua Wang^1,5,*

¹ Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China

² School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China

³ College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

⁴ Liaoning Zhongwang Group Co., Ltd., Liaoyang 111003, China

⁵ School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710054, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010008 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4707

Abstract

To elucidate the adsorption property and the mechanism of plant residues to reduce oxytetracycline (OTC), the adsorption of OTC onto raw willow roots (WR-R), stems (WS-R), leaves (WL-R), and adsorption onto desugared willow roots (WR-D), stems (WS-D), and leaves (WL-D) were investigated. The [...] Read more.

To elucidate the adsorption property and the mechanism of plant residues to reduce oxytetracycline (OTC), the adsorption of OTC onto raw willow roots (WR-R), stems (WS-R), leaves (WL-R), and adsorption onto desugared willow roots (WR-D), stems (WS-D), and leaves (WL-D) were investigated. The structural characterization was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectra, and an elemental analyzer. OTC adsorption onto the different tissues of willow residues was compared and correlated with their structures. The adsorption kinetics of OTC onto willow residues was found to follow the pseudo-first-order model. The isothermal adsorption process of OTC onto the different tissues of willow residues followed the Langmuir and Freundlich model and the process was also a spontaneous endothermic reaction, which was mainly physical adsorption. After the willow residues were desugared, the polarity decreased and the aromaticity increased, which explained why the adsorption amounts of the desugared willow residues were higher than those of the unmodified residues. These observations suggest that the raw and modified willow residues have great potential as adsorbents to remove organic pollutants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Environment Science and Health)

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14 pages, 1391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficacy of Natural Polymer Derivatives on Soil Physical Properties and Erosion on an Experimental Loess Hillslope

by Jun’e Liu^1,2, Zhanli Wang^3,4,* and Yuanyuan Li^3,4

¹ School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710019, China

² National Demonstration Center for Experimental Geography Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710019, China

³ State Key Laboratory of Soil Erosion and Dryland Farming on the Loess Plateau, Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China

⁴ Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Science and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling 712100, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 9; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010009 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4585

Abstract

Raindrops disperse large soil aggregates into smaller particles, which can clog soil pores, cause soil crusting, reduce rainfall infiltration and increase soil loss. It was found that natural polymer derivatives were effective in improving soil physical properties and decreasing soil erosion on an [...] Read more.

Raindrops disperse large soil aggregates into smaller particles, which can clog soil pores, cause soil crusting, reduce rainfall infiltration and increase soil loss. It was found that natural polymer derivatives were effective in improving soil physical properties and decreasing soil erosion on an experimental loess hillslope. This study investigated the effect of new natural polymer derivatives (Jag S and Jag C162) on soil properties, rainfall infiltration and sediment yield at four rates of sprayed polymers (0, 1, 3 and 5 g/m²), three rainfall intensities (1, 1.5 and 2 mm/min) and a slope gradient of 15° with a silt loam soil through simulated rain. The results showed that both Jag S and Jag C162 significantly increased the shear strength and improved the aggregates composition of the soil surface. The water-stable soil aggregates >0.25 mm increased from 9% to 50% with increasing rates of Jag S and Jag C162. Jag S and Jag C162 also effectively increased rainfall infiltration and final infiltration rate, and reduced erosion compared to controls without natural polymer derivatives added. However, higher rates of Jag S produced lower infiltration rates. Although both Jag S and Jag C162 effectively influenced soil physical properties and erosion, the effect of Jag C162 was more significant than that of Jag S. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Environment Science and Health)

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19 pages, 1968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Measurement of Scenic Spots Sustainable Capacity Based on PCA-Entropy TOPSIS: A Case Study from 30 Provinces, China

by Xuedong Liang¹, Canmian Liu² and Zhi Li^2,*

¹ The Economy and Enterprise Development Institute, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

² Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010010 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5712

Abstract

In connection with the sustainable development of scenic spots, this paper, with consideration of resource conditions, economic benefits, auxiliary industry scale and ecological environment, establishes a comprehensive measurement model of the sustainable capacity of scenic spots; optimizes the index system by principal components [...] Read more.

In connection with the sustainable development of scenic spots, this paper, with consideration of resource conditions, economic benefits, auxiliary industry scale and ecological environment, establishes a comprehensive measurement model of the sustainable capacity of scenic spots; optimizes the index system by principal components analysis to extract principal components; assigns the weight of principal components by entropy method; analyzes the sustainable capacity of scenic spots in each province of China comprehensively in combination with TOPSIS method and finally puts forward suggestions aid decision-making. According to the study, this method provides an effective reference for the study of the sustainable development of scenic spots and is very significant for considering the sustainable development of scenic spots and auxiliary industries to establish specific and scientific countermeasures for improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Environment, Green Operations and Sustainability)

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18 pages, 316 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Behavior Change Communication Campaigns to Promote Modern Cookstove Purchase and Use in Lower Middle Income Countries

by William Douglas Evans^1,*

, Michael Johnson², Kirstie Jagoe², Dana Charron², Bonnie N. Young², A. S. M. Mashiur Rahman³, Daniel Omolloh⁴ and Julie Ipe⁵

¹ Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA

² Berkeley Air Monitoring Group, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA

³ Micro Industries Development Assistance and Services (MIDAS), Dhaka 1209, Bangladesh

⁴ Eco Consultancy, Nairobi, Kenya

⁵ The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, Washington, DC 20006, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010011 - 22 Dec 2017

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6235

Abstract

Nearly three billion people worldwide burn solid fuels and kerosene in open fires and inefficient stoves to cook, light, and heat their homes. Cleaner-burning stoves reduce emissions and can have positive health, climate, and women’s empowerment benefits. This article reports on the protocol [...] Read more.

Nearly three billion people worldwide burn solid fuels and kerosene in open fires and inefficient stoves to cook, light, and heat their homes. Cleaner-burning stoves reduce emissions and can have positive health, climate, and women’s empowerment benefits. This article reports on the protocol and baseline data from the evaluation of four behavior change communication (BCC) campaigns carried out in lower to middle income countries aimed at promoting the sale and use of cleaner-burning stoves. Interventions implemented in Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria are using a range of BCC methods including mass media, digital media, outdoor advertising, and inter-personal communication. The mixed methods evaluation comprises three large-scale surveys: one pre-BCC and two follow-ups, along with smaller scale assessments of stove uptake and patterns of use. Baseline results revealed varying levels of awareness of previous promotions and positive attitudes and beliefs about modern (i.e., relatively clean-burning) cookstoves. Differences in cookstove preferences and behaviors by gender, socio-demographics, media use, and country/region were observed that may affect outcomes. Across all three countries, cost (lack of funds) a key perceived barrier to buying a cleaner-burning stove. Future multivariate analyses will examine potential dose-response effects of BCC on cookstove uptake and patterns of use. BCC campaigns have the potential to promote modern cookstoves at scale. More research on campaign effectiveness is needed, and on how to optimize messages and channels. This evaluation builds on a limited evidence base in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Hygiene)

15 pages, 655 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences between Dual Users and Switchers Center around Vaping Behavior and Its Experiences Rather than Beliefs and Attitudes

by Karolien Adriaens^1,*

, Dinska Van Gucht^1,2

and Frank Baeyens¹

¹ Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, KU Leuven—University Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

² Applied Psychology Unit, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Molenstraat 8, 2018 Antwerp, Belgium

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010012 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9581

Abstract

(1) Background: Many smokers completely switch to vaping (switchers), whereas others use e-cigarettes (e-cigs) alongside tobacco cigarettes (dual users). To the extent that dual users substantially lower the number of cigarettes, they will reduce health risks from smoking. However, from a medical point [...] Read more.

(1) Background: Many smokers completely switch to vaping (switchers), whereas others use e-cigarettes (e-cigs) alongside tobacco cigarettes (dual users). To the extent that dual users substantially lower the number of cigarettes, they will reduce health risks from smoking. However, from a medical point of view, exclusive vaping is preferable to dual use; (2) Methods: Using an online questionnaire we assessed behavioral, cognitive and attitudinal aspects of e-cig use in smoking and ex-smoking vapers; (3) Results: Our sample consisted of 19% dual users and 81% switchers. Before e-cig initiation, both groups smoked on average 22 cigarettes per day (CPD). After e-cig initiation, dual users decreased tobacco consumption by 82% and were low-to-moderately cigarette dependent. Both groups had been vaping for on average 22 months, were highly e-cig dependent, used state-of-the-art e-cigs, nicotine concentrations of 4–8 mg/mL and often flavors other than tobacco. Dual users used substantially less e-liquid per week than switchers but reported a similar number of puffs/day, experienced less e-cig efficacy, more practical problems, more negative and less positive consequences, and endorsed smoking reduction (rather than quitting) as a more important reason to start vaping. For both groups, e-cig risk perception was low and little stigmatization was experienced. Dual users preferred tobacco cigarettes in stressful situations and when rapid nicotine uptake is required. E-cigs were preferred where cigarettes are prohibited and to reduce second-hand smoke; (4) Conclusions: Differences between dual users and switchers center around variables proximal to the vaping behavior and its experienced effects rather than hinging on more general vaping-related beliefs and attitudes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electronic Cigarette Use and Public Health)

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16 pages, 1973 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Impact of Anomalous Noise Events on Road Traffic Noise Mapping in Urban and Suburban Environments

by Ferran Orga^*

, Francesc Alías

and Rosa Ma Alsina-Pagès

GTM-Grup de recerca en Tecnologies Mèdia, La Salle-Universitat Ramon Llull, C/Quatre Camins, 30, 08022 Barcelona, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010013 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5570

Abstract

Noise pollution is a critical factor affecting public health, the relationship between road traffic noise (RTN) and several diseases in urban areas being especially disturbing. The Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC and the CNOSSOS-EU framework are the main instruments of the European Union to [...] Read more.

Noise pollution is a critical factor affecting public health, the relationship between road traffic noise (RTN) and several diseases in urban areas being especially disturbing. The Environmental Noise Directive 2002/49/EC and the CNOSSOS-EU framework are the main instruments of the European Union to identify and combat noise pollution, requiring Member States to compose and publish noise maps and noise management action plans every five years. Nowadays, the noise maps are starting to be tailored by means of Wireless Acoustic Sensor Networks (WASN). In order to exclusively monitor the impact of RTN on the well-being of citizens through WASN-based approaches, those noise sources unrelated to RTN denoted as Anomalous Noise Events (ANEs) should be removed from the noise map generation. This paper introduces an analysis methodology considering both Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and duration of ANEs to evaluate their impact on the A-weighted equivalent RTN level calculation for different integration times. The experiments conducted on 9 h of real-life data from the WASN-based DYNAMAP project show that both individual high-impact events and aggregated medium-impact events bias significantly the equivalent noise levels of the RTN map, making any derived study about public health impact inaccurate. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)

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10 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oral Health Status and Behavior among Cancer Survivors in Korea Using Nationwide Survey

by Mi Ah Han

Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010014 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4340

Abstract

Cancer survivors remain at life-long risk of developing oral complications. This study investigated the oral health status and behavior among cancer survivors in comparison to subjects without a history of cancer using a nationwide survey. Cancer survivors and control subjects were selected from [...] Read more.

Cancer survivors remain at life-long risk of developing oral complications. This study investigated the oral health status and behavior among cancer survivors in comparison to subjects without a history of cancer using a nationwide survey. Cancer survivors and control subjects were selected from the sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013–2015). Survivors reported chewing (34.8%) and speaking difficulties (15.3%) resulting from oral health problems. More than 36% of survivors had periodontal disease and 15.9% needed dentures. In multiple logistic regression analysis, age, household income, education level, smoking status, cancer site, and current cancer status were associated with oral health status. Approximately 43.3% of cancer survivors brushed their teeth more than three times a day. In addition, 44.9% of survivors used secondary oral products, and 30.8% had been screened for oral health problems over the past year. Age, household income and education level were associated with oral health behavior. The oral health status and behavior excepting periodontal disease and the use of secondary oral products were not significantly different between cancer survivors and controls. Although oral health status of cancer survivors was not worse than that of controls, more than half of the survivors maintained unhealthy oral practices. Full article

10 pages, 2660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

1950MHz Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Radiation Inhibits Testosterone Secretion of Mouse Leydig Cells

by Yan-Yun Lin¹, Tao Wu¹, Jun-Ye Liu¹, Peng Gao¹, Kang-Chu Li², Qi-Yan Guo¹, Meng Yuan¹, Hai-Yang Lang¹, Li-Hua Zeng^1,* and Guo-Zhen Guo^1,*

¹ Department of Radiation Medicine, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road 169, Xi’an 710032, China

² Department of Radiation Biology, Faculty of Preventive Medicine, The Fourth Military Medical University, Changle West Road 169, Xi’an 710032, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010017 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6673

Abstract

More studies that are focused on the bioeffects of radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation that is generated from the communication devices, but there were few reports with confirmed results about the bioeffects of RF radiation on reproductive cells. To explore the effects of 1950 [...] Read more.

More studies that are focused on the bioeffects of radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation that is generated from the communication devices, but there were few reports with confirmed results about the bioeffects of RF radiation on reproductive cells. To explore the effects of 1950 MHz RF electromagnetic radiation (EMR) on mouse Leydig (TM3) cells. TM3 cells were irradiated or sham-irradiated continuously for 24 h by the specific absorption rate (SAR) 3 W/kg radiation. At 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days after irradiation, cell proliferation was detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method, cell cycle distribution, percentage of apoptosis, and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were examined by flow cytometry, Testosterone level was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) assay, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression level of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and P450scc in TM3 cells was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). After being irradiated for 24 h, cell proliferation obviously decreased and cell cycle distribution, secretion capacity of Testosterone, and P450scc mRNA level were reduced. While cell apoptosis, ROS, and StAR mRNA level did not change significantly. The current results indicated that 24 h of exposure at 1950 MHz 3 W/kg radiation could cause some adverse effects on TM3 cells proliferation and Testosterone secretion, further studies about the biological effects in the reproductive system that are induced by RF radiation are also needed. Full article

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12 pages, 1639 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Indigenous Infant Mortality by Age and Season of Birth, 1800–1899: Did Season of Birth Affect Children’s Chances for Survival?

by Lena Karlsson

Centre for Demographic and Ageing Research, Umeå University, Umeå 90187, Sweden

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 18; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010018 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4773

Abstract

This paper focuses on the influence of season of birth on infant mortality among the Sami and non-Sami populations in northern Sweden during the nineteenth century. The source material is a set of data files from the Demographic Data Base at Umeå University, [...] Read more.

This paper focuses on the influence of season of birth on infant mortality among the Sami and non-Sami populations in northern Sweden during the nineteenth century. The source material is a set of data files from the Demographic Data Base at Umeå University, making it possible to combine age at death (in days), month of death, and month of birth over the course of the entire century. Cox regression models reveal that for the first week of life, season of birth had no influence on the risk of mortality. For the Sami, the results showed that being born during winter was related to a higher risk of neonatal mortality, and being born during summer was related to a higher risk of mortality after six months of age. Furthermore, for the Sami, the neonatal mortality showed a U-shaped pattern with a minimum in June–August, whereas the corresponding pattern among the non-Sami was flatter. The findings shed light on vulnerability in two populations sharing the same environment, but diverging in terms of social, economic, and cultural factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indigenous Health and Wellbeing)

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13 pages, 1200 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Is There Any Relationship between Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D₃, Adipokine Profiles and Excessive Body Weight in Type 2 Diabetic Patients?

by Joanna Kocot^1,*, Piotr Dziemidok^2,3, Małgorzata Kiełczykowska¹, Jacek Kurzepa¹, Grzegorz Szcześniak² and Irena Musik¹

¹ Chair and Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland

² Diabetology Ward, Institute of Rural Health, Jaczewskiego 2, 20-090 Lublin, Poland

³ Institute of Public Health, Pope John Paul II State School of Higher Education, Sidorska 95/97, 21-500 Biała Podlaska, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010019 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3924

Abstract

A growing interest in the role of vitamin D in metabolic diseases led us to study the relationships between 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) and the profiles of selected adipokines in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. The study comprised 92 type 2 [...] Read more.

A growing interest in the role of vitamin D in metabolic diseases led us to study the relationships between 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ (25(OH)D₃) and the profiles of selected adipokines in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients. The study comprised 92 type 2 diabetics divided into quartiles regarding 25(OH)D₃ concentration. Each group was divided into male and female subgroups. All the studied patients had their anthropometric and biochemical parameters determined. Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ concentration was determined by HPLC, while the selected adipokines (leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin) by ELISA methods. The ratio of leptin to adiponectin (L/A) was calculated for all the patients. In 85.3% of diabetics a full (<20 ng/mL) or moderate (20–30 ng/mL) vitamin D deficit was found. Irrespective of sex, plasma leptin concentration decreased across increasing quartiles of 25(OH)D₃ level. In women, 25(OH)D₃ was negatively correlated with BMI, leptin level as well as L/A ratio, and positively with adiponectin concentration. In men, 25(OH)D₃ was positively correlated with HDL and negatively with systolic blood pressure (SBP), leptin level and L/A ratio. Considering all the patients, there ocurred a significant negative correlation between 25(OH)D₃ and SBP, BMI, WHR, TG, leptin and L/A ratio and positive ones between 25(OH)D₃ and both adiponectin and HDL. The results of the study support the existence of the relationship among vitamin D, obesity and leptin in type 2 diabetic patients. Full article

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15 pages, 1942 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Forecasting the Amount of Waste-Sewage Water Discharged into the Yangtze River Basin Based on the Optimal Fractional Order Grey Model

by Shuliang LI^1,*, Wei Meng¹ and Yufeng Xie²

¹ College of Business Planning, Chongqing Technology and Business University; Chongqing 400067, China

² Chongqing Key Laboratory of Electronic Commerce and Supply Chain System, Chongqing 400067, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010020 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4542

Abstract

With the rapid development of the Yangtze River economic belt, the amount of waste-sewage water discharged into the Yangtze River basin increases sharply year by year, which has impeded the sustainable development of the Yangtze River basin. The water security along the Yangtze [...] Read more.

With the rapid development of the Yangtze River economic belt, the amount of waste-sewage water discharged into the Yangtze River basin increases sharply year by year, which has impeded the sustainable development of the Yangtze River basin. The water security along the Yangtze River basin is very important for China, It is something aboutwater security of roughly one-third of China’s population and the sustainable development of the 19 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions among the Yangtze River basin. Therefore, a scientific prediction of the amount of waste-sewage water discharged into Yangtze River basin has a positive significance on sustainable development of industry belt along with Yangtze River basin. This paper builds the fractional DWSGM(1,1)(DWSGM(1,1) model is short for Discharge amount of Waste Sewage Grey Model for one order equation and one variable) model based on the fractional accumulating generation operator and fractional reducing operator, and calculates the optimal order of “r” by using particle swarm optimization(PSO)algorithm for solving the minimum average relative simulation error. Meanwhile, the simulation performance of DWSGM(1,1)model with the optimal fractional order is tested by comparing the simulation results of grey prediction models with different orders. Finally, the optimal fractional order DWSGM(1,1)grey model is applied to predict the amount of waste-sewage water discharged into the Yangtze River basin, and corresponding countermeasures and suggestions are put forward through analyzing and comparing the prediction results. This paper has positive significance on enriching the fractional order modeling method of the grey system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Models in Green Growth and Sustainable Development)

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12 pages, 1442 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Exposure to Ambient Fine Particulate Air Pollution in Utero as a Risk Factor for Child Stunting in Bangladesh

by Nihit Goyal^1,*

and David Canning^1,2

¹ Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore 259772, Singapore

² Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010022 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 9116

Abstract

Pregnant mothers in Bangladesh are exposed to very high and worsening levels of ambient air pollution. Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with low birth weight at much lower levels of exposure, leading us to suspect the potentially large effects [...] Read more.

Pregnant mothers in Bangladesh are exposed to very high and worsening levels of ambient air pollution. Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter has been associated with low birth weight at much lower levels of exposure, leading us to suspect the potentially large effects of air pollution on stunting in children in Bangladesh. We estimate the relationship between exposure to air pollution in utero and child stunting by pooling outcome data from four waves of the nationally representative Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey conducted between 2004 and 2014, and calculating children’s exposure to ambient fine particulate matter in utero using high resolution satellite data. We find significant increases in the relative risk of child stunting, wasting, and underweight with higher levels of in utero exposure to air pollution, after controlling for other factors that have been found to contribute to child anthropometric failure. We estimate the relative risk of stunting in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of exposure as 1.074 (95% confidence interval: 1.014–1.138), 1.150 (95% confidence interval: 1.069–1.237, and 1.132 (95% confidence interval: 1.031–1.243), respectively. Over half of all children in Bangladesh in our sample were exposed to an annual ambient fine particulate matter level in excess of 46 µg/m³; these children had a relative risk of stunting over 1.13 times that of children in the lowest quartile of exposure. Reducing air pollution in Bangladesh could significantly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal of reducing child stunting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Persistent Toxic Substances and Their Influence on Reproductive Health, Child Development, Adolescent Development, and Adult Health)

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15 pages, 2278 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation and Optimisation of Cross-Linked Enzyme Aggregates Using Native Isolate White Rot Fungi Trametes versicolor and Fomes fomentarius for the Decolourisation of Synthetic Dyes

by Martina Vršanská¹, Stanislava Voběrková¹, Ana María Jiménez Jiménez^1,2, Vladislav Strmiska¹ and Vojtěch Adam^1,2,*

¹ Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 61300 Brno, Czech Republic

² Central European Institute of Technology, Brno University of Technology, Technicka 3058/10, 61600 Brno, Czech Republic

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010023 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 71 | Viewed by 5866

Abstract

The key to obtaining an optimum performance of an enzyme is often a question of devising a suitable enzyme and optimisation of conditions for its immobilization. In this study, laccases from the native isolates of white rot fungi Fomes fomentarius and/or Trametes versicolor [...] Read more.

The key to obtaining an optimum performance of an enzyme is often a question of devising a suitable enzyme and optimisation of conditions for its immobilization. In this study, laccases from the native isolates of white rot fungi Fomes fomentarius and/or Trametes versicolor, obtained from Czech forests, were used. From these, cross-linked enzyme aggregates (CLEA) were prepared and characterised when the experimental conditions were optimized. Based on the optimization steps, saturated ammonium sulphate solution (75 wt.%) was used as the precipitating agent, and different concentrations of glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent were investigated. CLEA aggregates formed under the optimal conditions showed higher catalytic efficiency and stabilities (thermal, pH, and storage, against denaturation) as well as high reusability compared to free laccase for both fungal strains. The best concentration of glutaraldehyde seemed to be 50 mM and higher efficiency of cross-linking was observed at a low temperature 4 °C. An insignificant increase in optimum pH for CLEA laccases with respect to free laccases for both fungi was observed. The results show that the optimum temperature for both free laccase and CLEA laccase was 35 °C for T. versicolor and 30 °C for F. fomentarius. The CLEAs retained 80% of their initial activity for Trametes and 74% for Fomes after 70 days of cultivation. Prepared cross-linked enzyme aggregates were also investigated for their decolourisation activity on malachite green, bromothymol blue, and methyl red dyes. Immobilised CLEA laccase from Trametes versicolor showed 95% decolourisation potential and CLEA from Fomes fomentarius demonstrated 90% decolourisation efficiency within 10 h for all dyes used. These results suggest that these CLEAs have promising potential in dye decolourisation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)

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15 pages, 4256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Concept of Aided Phytostabilization of Contaminated Soils in Postindustrial Areas

by Maja Radziemska^1,*

, Eugeniusz Koda¹

, Ayla Bilgin² and Mgdalena D. Vaverková³

¹ Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, Warsaw 02-776, Poland

² Faculty of Engineering, Artvin Coruh University, Seyitler Campus, Artvin 08000, Turkey

³ Faculty of AgriSciences, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, Brno 613-00, Czech Republic

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010024 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 6983

Abstract

The experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of trace element immobilizing soil amendments, i.e., chalcedonite, dolomite, halloysite, and diatomite on the chemical characteristics of soil contaminated with Cr and the uptake of metals by plants. The study utilized analysis [...] Read more.

The experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the effects of trace element immobilizing soil amendments, i.e., chalcedonite, dolomite, halloysite, and diatomite on the chemical characteristics of soil contaminated with Cr and the uptake of metals by plants. The study utilized analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and Factor Analysis (FA). The content of trace elements in plants, pseudo-total and extracted by 0.01 M CaCl₂, were determined using the method of spectrophotometry. All of the investigated element contents in the tested parts of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) differed significantly in the case of applying amendments to the soil, as well as Cr contamination. The greatest average above-ground biomass was observed when halloysite and dolomite were amended to the soil. Halloysite caused significant increases of Cr concentrations in the roots. The obtained values of bioconcentration and translocation factors observed for halloysite treatment indicate the effectiveness of using Indian mustard in phytostabilization techniques. The addition of diatomite significantly increased soil pH. Halloysite and chalcedonite were shown to be the most effective and decreased the average Cr, Cu and Zn contents in soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Pollution and Remediation)

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14 pages, 479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diabetic Ketoacidosis Severity at Diagnosis and Glycaemic Control in the First Year of Childhood Onset Type 1 Diabetes—A Longitudinal Cohort Study

by Amal R. Khanolkar^1,2,*

, Rakesh Amin¹, David Taylor-Robinson³, Russell M. Viner¹, Justin Warner⁴, Evelien F. Gevers^5,6 and Terence Stephenson¹

¹ GOS Institute of Child Health, University College London (UCL), 30 Guildford Street, London WC1 1EH, UK

² Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden

³ Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, London L69 3BX, UK

⁴ Department of Child Health, Children’s Hospital for Wales, Cardiff CF14 4XW, UK

⁵ Centre for Endocrinology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University London, London EV1M 6BQ, UK

⁶ Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Barts Health NHS Trust—Royal London Children’s Hospital, London E1 1BB, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010026 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6076

Abstract

It is unclear whether diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) severity at diagnosis affects the natural history of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We analysed associations between DKA severity at diagnosis and glycaemic control during the first year post-diagnosis. We followed 341 children with T1D, <19 years [...] Read more.

It is unclear whether diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) severity at diagnosis affects the natural history of type 1 diabetes (T1D). We analysed associations between DKA severity at diagnosis and glycaemic control during the first year post-diagnosis. We followed 341 children with T1D, <19 years (64% non-white) attending paediatric diabetes clinics in East London. Data were extracted from routine medical registers. Subjects were categorized with normal, mild, moderate, or severe DKA. Linear mixed-effects modelling was used to assess differences in longitudinal HbA1_c trajectories (glycaemic control) during 12 months post-diagnosis (1288 HbA1_c data-points) based on DKA, adjusting for sex, age, ethnicity, SES (Socioeconomic Status) and treatment type. Females (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.4) and younger age, 0–6 vs. 13–18 years (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.5–5.6) had increased risk for DKA at diagnosis. Moderate or severe DKA was associated with higher HbA1_c at diagnosis (adjusted estimates 8 mmol/mol, 2–14, and 10 mmol/mol, 4–15, respectively, compared to normal DKA). Differences in HbA1_c trajectories by DKA were no longer apparent at six months post-diagnosis. All subjects experienced a steep decrease in HbA1_c during the first three months followed by a gradual increase. While, DKA severity was not associated with glycaemic control at 12 months post-diagnosis, age at diagnosis, ethnicity, gender, and treatment type were significantly associated. For example, Black and mixed ethnicity children had increased risk for poor glycaemic control compared to White children (adjusted RRR 5.4, 95% CI 1.7–17.3 and RRR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–6.0, respectively). DKA severity at diagnosis is associated with higher initial HbA1_c but not glycaemic control from six months post-diagnosis. Age at diagnosis, ethnicity, gender, and insulin pump are associated with glycaemic control at one year post-diagnosis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Causes and Impacts of Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Conditions)

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11 pages, 626 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Exposure to Ambient Air Particulates and Metabolic Syndrome Components in a Saudi Arabian Population

by Magdy Shamy^1,*, Mansour Alghamdi¹, Mamdouh I. Khoder^1,2, Abdullah M. Mohorjy³, Alser A. Alkhatim¹, Abdulrahman K. Alkhalaf⁴, Jason Brocato⁵, Lung Chi Chen⁵, George D. Thurston⁵, Chris C. Lim⁵ and Max Costa⁵

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

² Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

³ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

⁴ Department of Meteorology, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

⁵ Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10987, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010027 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5169

Abstract

Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to particulates may be a factor in the etiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this novel study, we investigated the relationship between particulate levels and prevalence of MetS component abnormalities (hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity) in a recruited cohort [...] Read more.

Recent epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to particulates may be a factor in the etiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS). In this novel study, we investigated the relationship between particulate levels and prevalence of MetS component abnormalities (hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity) in a recruited cohort (N = 2025) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. We observed significant associations between a 10 μg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 and increased risks for MetS (Risk Ratio (RR): 1.12; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.06–1.19), hyperglycemia (RR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03–1.14), and hypertension (RR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.04–1.14). PM_2.5 from soil/road dust was found to be associated with hyperglycemia (RR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.06–1.19) and hypertension (RR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.05–1.18), while PM_2.5 from traffic was associated with hyperglycemia (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05–1.71). We did not observe any health associations with source-specific mass exposures. Our findings suggest that exposure to specific elemental components of PM_2.5, especially Ni, may contribute to the development of cardiometabolic disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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10 pages, 489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mortality Rate Associated with Admission Hyperglycemia in Traumatic Femoral Fracture Patients Is Greater Than Non-Diabetic Normoglycemic Patients but Not Diabetic Normoglycemic Patients

by Cheng-Shyuan Rau^1,†, Shao-Chun Wu^2,†

, Yi-Chun Chen³, Peng-Chen Chien³, Hsiao-Yun Hsieh³, Pao-Jen Kuo³ and Ching-Hua Hsieh^3,*

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan

² Department of Anesthesiology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan

³ Department of Plastic Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010028 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4213

Abstract

Background: Admission hyperglycemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. However, admission hyperglycemia is not only associated with stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) but also with diabetic hyperglycemia (DH); furthermore, patients with normoglycemia may not only have non-diabetic normoglycemia (NDN) but also [...] Read more.

Background: Admission hyperglycemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in trauma patients. However, admission hyperglycemia is not only associated with stress-induced hyperglycemia (SIH) but also with diabetic hyperglycemia (DH); furthermore, patients with normoglycemia may not only have non-diabetic normoglycemia (NDN) but also have a possibility of diabetic normoglycemia (DN), with the diabetes under control. This study aimed to assess the effects of SIH and DH on the mortality outcomes of traumatic femoral fracture patients with NDN and DN. Methods: Admission hyperglycemia was diagnosed as a serum glucose ≥200 mg/dL upon arrival at the emergency department. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was determined by patient history and/or admission HbA1c ≥ 6.5%. DH and SIH were diagnosed by admission hyperglycemia in patients with and without DM. DN and NDN were determined by absence of admission hyperglycemia in patients with and without DM. These patients were allocated into four groups: SIH (n = 75), DH (n = 280), DN (n = 309), and NDN (n = 1326), with detailed information retracted from the Trauma Registry System at a level I trauma center between 1 January 2009, and 31 December 2016. Patients with incomplete registered data were excluded. The adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality were estimated through a stepwise model selection of a multiple regression model that was adjusted by controlling the cofounding variables such age, sex, co-morbidities, and Injury Severity Score. Results: Compared to NDN, a 9.8-fold (95% CI 1.54–62.05; p = 0.016) and a 5.8-fold (95% CI 1.46–22.67; p = 0.012) increase in the adjusted mortality odds ratio of patients with SIH and DH, respectively, were found in this study. In addition, the adjusted odds of mortality between SIH (AOR = 0.3; 95% CI 0.03–2.99; p = 0.302) as well as DH patients (AOR = 0.6; 95% CI 0.20–1.89; p = 0.394) and DN patients had no significant difference. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that SIH and DH patients with traumatic femoral fractures had higher mortality when compared with NDN patients, but not when compared with DN patients, with or without adjustment of the differences in patient’s age, sex, co-morbidities, and injury severity. Full article

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16 pages, 350 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stimulating Parenting Practices in Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Mexican Communities

by Heather A. Knauer^*

, Emily J. Ozer, William Dow and Lia C. H. Fernald

School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010029 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6374

Abstract

Parenting may be influenced by ethnicity; marginalization; education; and poverty. A critical but unexamined question is how these factors may interact to compromise or support parenting practices in ethnic minority communities. This analysis examined associations between mothers’ stimulating parenting practices and a range [...] Read more.

Parenting may be influenced by ethnicity; marginalization; education; and poverty. A critical but unexamined question is how these factors may interact to compromise or support parenting practices in ethnic minority communities. This analysis examined associations between mothers’ stimulating parenting practices and a range of child-level (age; sex; and cognitive and socio-emotional development); household-level (indigenous ethnicity; poverty; and parental education); and community-level (economic marginalization and majority indigenous population) variables among 1893 children ages 4–18 months in poor; rural communities in Mexico. We also explored modifiers of associations between living in an indigenous community and parenting. Key findings were that stimulating parenting was negatively associated with living in an indigenous community or family self-identification as indigenous (β = −4.25; SE (Standard Error) = 0.98; β = −1.58; SE = 0.83 respectively). However; living in an indigenous community was associated with significantly more stimulating parenting among indigenous families than living in a non-indigenous community (β = 2.96; SE = 1.25). Maternal education was positively associated with stimulating parenting only in indigenous communities; and household crowding was negatively associated with stimulating parenting only in non-indigenous communities. Mothers’ parenting practices were not associated with child sex; father’s residential status; education; or community marginalization. Our findings demonstrate that despite greater community marginalization; living in an indigenous community is protective for stimulating parenting practices of indigenous mothers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indigenous Health and Wellbeing)

11 pages, 292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional Regulation in Young Adults with Internet Gaming Disorder

by Ju-Yu Yen^1,2, Yi-Chun Yeh^1,3,4, Peng-Wei Wang^1,4, Tai-Ling Liu^3,4, Yun-Yu Chen¹ and Chih-Hung Ko^1,3,4,5,*

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan

² Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 801, Taiwan

³ Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan

⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 807, Taiwan

⁵ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Hsiao-Kang Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City 812, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010030 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 96 | Viewed by 15983

Abstract

People diagnosed with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) have been frequently reported to experience depression, anxiety, and hostility. Emotional regulation contributes to these mood symptoms. This study evaluated emotional regulation in subjects with IGD and examined relationships between emotional regulation, depression, anxiety, and hostility [...] Read more.

People diagnosed with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) have been frequently reported to experience depression, anxiety, and hostility. Emotional regulation contributes to these mood symptoms. This study evaluated emotional regulation in subjects with IGD and examined relationships between emotional regulation, depression, anxiety, and hostility in young adults with IGD. We recruited 87 people with IGD and a control group of 87 people without a history of IGD. All participants underwent a diagnostic interview based on the IGD criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and they completed a questionnaire on emotional regulation, depression, anxiety, and hostility. We found that subjects with IGD were less likely to practice cognitive reappraisal and were more likely to suppress their emotions. Linear regression revealed the higher cognitive reappraisal and lower expressive suppression associated with depression, anxiety, and hostility among subjects with IGD. The emotional regulation strategies that characterize those with IGD could be contributing factors to the depression and hostility tendencies of these people. When treating patients with IGD, in addition to providing appropriate interventions to relieve depression and hostility, practitioners should effectively assess emotional regulation strategies and provide emotional regulation therapy to prevent a vicious cycle of negative emotions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internet and Mobile Phone Addiction: Health and Educational Effects)

16 pages, 354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contact to Nature Benefits Health: Mixed Effectiveness of Different Mechanisms

by Mathias Hofmann^1,2,*

, Christopher Young¹, Tina M. Binz³, Markus R. Baumgartner³ and Nicole Bauer¹

¹ Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL, Economics and Social Sciences, Social Sciences in Landscape Research, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland

² Media Centre, Technische Universität Dresden, 01069 Dresden, Germany

³ Center for Forensic Hair Analytics, University of Zürich, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010031 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 9710

Abstract

How can urban nature contribute to the reduction of chronic stress? We twice measured the concentration of the “stress hormone” cortisol in the hair of 85 volunteer gardeners (six months apart), relating cortisol level change to (self-reported) characteristics of their recreational activities. Both [...] Read more.

How can urban nature contribute to the reduction of chronic stress? We twice measured the concentration of the “stress hormone” cortisol in the hair of 85 volunteer gardeners (six months apart), relating cortisol level change to (self-reported) characteristics of their recreational activities. Both time spent in nature and physical activity led to decreases in cortisol, while time spent being idle led to an increase. At high levels of present stressors, however, the relationship for time spent in nature and for idleness was reversed. Time spent with social interaction had no effect on cortisol levels. Our results indicate that physical activity is an effective means of mitigating the negative effects of chronic stress. The results regarding the time spent in nature and time spent being idle are less conclusive, suggesting the need for more research. We conclude that if chronic stress cannot be abolished by eradicating its sources, public health may take to measures to reduce it—providing urban nature being one effective possibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Health)

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32 pages, 1085 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environment-Aware Production Scheduling for Paint Shops in Automobile Manufacturing: A Multi-Objective Optimization Approach

by Rui Zhang

School of Economics and Management, Xiamen University of Technology, Xiamen 361024, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010032 - 25 Dec 2017

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6284

Abstract

The traditional way of scheduling production processes often focuses on profit-driven goals (such as cycle time or material cost) while tending to overlook the negative impacts of manufacturing activities on the environment in the form of carbon emissions and other undesirable by-products. To [...] Read more.

The traditional way of scheduling production processes often focuses on profit-driven goals (such as cycle time or material cost) while tending to overlook the negative impacts of manufacturing activities on the environment in the form of carbon emissions and other undesirable by-products. To bridge the gap, this paper investigates an environment-aware production scheduling problem that arises from a typical paint shop in the automobile manufacturing industry. In the studied problem, an objective function is defined to minimize the emission of chemical pollutants caused by the cleaning of painting devices which must be performed each time before a color change occurs. Meanwhile, minimization of due date violations in the downstream assembly shop is also considered because the two shops are interrelated and connected by a limited-capacity buffer. First, we have developed a mixed-integer programming formulation to describe this bi-objective optimization problem. Then, to solve problems of practical size, we have proposed a novel multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm characterized by problem-specific improvement strategies. A branch-and-bound algorithm is designed for accurately assessing the most promising solutions. Finally, extensive computational experiments have shown that the proposed MOPSO is able to match the solution quality of an exact solver on small instances and outperform two state-of-the-art multi-objective optimizers in literature on large instances with up to 200 cars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Environment, Green Operations and Sustainability)

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17 pages, 575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling the Transmission Dynamics and Control of Mumps in Mainland China

by Yong Li^1,2,†,‡, Xianning Liu^1,*,‡

and Lianwen Wang^3,‡

¹ Key Laboratory of Eco-Environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Mathematics and Statistics, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China

² School of Information and Mathematics, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China

³ Department of Mathematics, Hubei University for Nationalities, Enshi 445000, China

^† Current address: No. 1 Nanhuan Road, Jingzhou 434023, China.

^‡ These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010033 - 26 Dec 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 8104

Abstract

Mumps is a common childhood viral disease and children have been vaccinated throughout the world since 1967. The incidence of mumps has increased with more than 300,000 young people infected with mumps annually in mainland China since 2005. Therefore, we designed and analyzed [...] Read more.

Mumps is a common childhood viral disease and children have been vaccinated throughout the world since 1967. The incidence of mumps has increased with more than 300,000 young people infected with mumps annually in mainland China since 2005. Therefore, we designed and analyzed long-term mumps surveillance data in an SVEILR (susceptible–vaccinated–exposed–severely infectious–mildly infectious–recovered) dynamic transmission model with optimized parameter values to describe the dynamics of mumps infections in China. There were 18.02% of mumps infected young adults seeking medical advice. The vaccine coverage has been insufficient in China. Young adults with frequent contact and mild infection were identified as a major driver of mumps epidemics. The reproduction number of mumps was determined 4.28 in China. Sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number and the endemic equilibrium was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of mumps control measures. We propose to increase the vaccine coverage and make two doses of MMR (Measles, mumps and rubella) vaccines freely available in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

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14 pages, 3276 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison Study on the Estimation of the Spatial Distribution of Regional Soil Metal(loid)s Pollution Based on Kriging Interpolation and BP Neural Network

by Zhenyi Jia

, Shenglu Zhou^*, Quanlong Su, Haomin Yi and Junxiao Wang

School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010034 - 26 Dec 2017

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5362

Abstract

Soil pollution by metal(loid)s resulting from rapid economic development is a major concern. Accurately estimating the spatial distribution of soil metal(loid) pollution has great significance in preventing and controlling soil pollution. In this study, 126 topsoil samples were collected in Kunshan City and [...] Read more.

Soil pollution by metal(loid)s resulting from rapid economic development is a major concern. Accurately estimating the spatial distribution of soil metal(loid) pollution has great significance in preventing and controlling soil pollution. In this study, 126 topsoil samples were collected in Kunshan City and the geo-accumulation index was selected as a pollution index. We used Kriging interpolation and BP neural network methods to estimate the spatial distribution of arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) pollution in the study area. Additionally, we introduced a cross-validation method to measure the errors of the estimation results by the two interpolation methods and discussed the accuracy of the information contained in the estimation results. The conclusions are as follows: data distribution characteristics, spatial variability, and mean square errors (MSE) of the different methods showed large differences. Estimation results from BP neural network models have a higher accuracy, the MSE of As and Cd are 0.0661 and 0.1743, respectively. However, the interpolation results show significant skewed distribution, and spatial autocorrelation is strong. Using Kriging interpolation, the MSE of As and Cd are 0.0804 and 0.2983, respectively. The estimation results have poorer accuracy. Combining the two methods can improve the accuracy of the Kriging interpolation and more comprehensively represent the spatial distribution characteristics of metal(loid)s in regional soil. The study may provide a scientific basis and technical support for the regulation of soil metal(loid) pollution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Soil Pollution and Remediation)

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11 pages, 1611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Aerobic Biodegradation Characteristic of Different Water-Soluble Azo Dyes

by Shixiong Sheng, Bo Liu^*, Xiangyu Hou, Bing Wu, Fang Yao, Xinchun Ding and Lin Huang

State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010035 - 26 Dec 2017

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4620

Abstract

This study investigated the biodegradation performance and characteristics of Sudan I and Acid Orange 7 (AO7) to improve the biological dye removal efficiency in wastewater and optimize the treatment process. The dyes with different water-solubility and similar molecular structure were biologically treated under [...] Read more.

This study investigated the biodegradation performance and characteristics of Sudan I and Acid Orange 7 (AO7) to improve the biological dye removal efficiency in wastewater and optimize the treatment process. The dyes with different water-solubility and similar molecular structure were biologically treated under aerobic condition in parallel continuous-flow mixed stirred reactors. The biophase analysis using microscopic examination suggested that the removal process of the two azo dyes is different. Removal of Sudan I was through biosorption, since it easily assembled and adsorbed on the surface of zoogloea due to its insolubility, while AO7 was biodegraded incompletely and bioconverted, the AO7 molecule was decomposed to benzene series and inorganic ions, since it could reach the interior area of zoogloea due to the low oxidation-reduction potential conditions and corresponding anaerobic microorganisms. The transformation of NH₃-N, SO₄²⁻ together with the presence of tryptophan-like components confirm that AO7 can be decomposed to non-toxic products in an aerobic bioreactor. This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of biosorption or biodegradation mechanisms for the treatment of different azo dyes in wastewater. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remediation and Analysis of Soil, Air, and Water Pollution)

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22 pages, 786 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Assessment and Implication of Human Exposure to Road Dust Heavy Metals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

by Ibrahim I. Shabbaj¹, Mansour A. Alghamdi^1,*, Magdy Shamy¹, Salwa K. Hassan²

, Musaab M. Alsharif³ and Mamdouh I. Khoder¹

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80208, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

² Air Pollution Department, National Research Centre, El Behooth Str., 12622 Dokki, Giza , Egypt

³ Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010036 - 26 Dec 2017

Cited by 119 | Viewed by 7901

Abstract

Data dealing with the assessment of heavy metal pollution in road dusts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and its implication to human health risk of human exposure to heavy metals, are scarce. Road dusts were collected from five different functional areas (traffic areas (TA), [...] Read more.

Data dealing with the assessment of heavy metal pollution in road dusts in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and its implication to human health risk of human exposure to heavy metals, are scarce. Road dusts were collected from five different functional areas (traffic areas (TA), parking areas (PA), residential areas (RA), mixed residential commercial areas (MCRA) and suburban areas (SA)) in Jeddah and one in a rural area (RUA) in Hada Al Sham. We aimed to measure the pollution levels of heavy metals and estimate their health risk of human exposure applying risk assessment models described by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Using geo-accumulation index (I_geo), the pollution level of heavy metals in urban road dusts was in the following order Cd > As > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > V > Mn > Co > Fe. Urban road dust was found to be moderately to heavily contaminated with As, Pb and Zn, and heavily to extremely contaminated with Cd. Calculation of enrichment factor (EF) revealed that heavy metals in TA had the highest values compared to that of the other functional areas. Cd, As, Pb, Zn and Cu were severely enriched, while Mn, V, Co, Ni and Cr were moderately enriched. Fe was considered as a natural element and consequently excluded. The concentrations of heavy metals in road dusts of functional areas were in the following order: TA > PA > MCRA > SA > RA > RUA. The study revealed that both children and adults in all studied areas having health quotient (HQ) < 1 are at negligible non-carcinogenic risk. The only exception was for children exposed to As in TA. They had an ingestion health quotient (HQ_ing) 1.18 and a health index (HI) 1.19. The most prominent exposure route was ingestion. The cancer risk for children and adults from exposure to Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, and Cr was found to be negligible (≤1 × 10⁻⁶). Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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11 pages, 840 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Survey of Naturally-Occurring Steroid Hormones in Raw Milk and the Associated Health Risks in Tangshan City, Hebei Province, China

by Xueyin Qu^1,2,3,†, Chuanyou Su^1,2,†, Nan Zheng^1,2,*, Songli Li^1,2, Lu Meng^1,2 and Jiaqi Wang^1,2

¹ Ministry of Agriculture-Laboratory of Quality and Safety Risk Assessment for Dairy Products (Beijing), Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

² State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China

³ College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, No. 4, the North Road, Shihezi 832002, China

^† These authors contributed equally to the work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010038 - 26 Dec 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5240

Abstract

In recent years, high levels of hormone residue in food, capable of damaging the health of consumers, have been recorded frequently. In this study, 195 raw milk samples were obtained from Tangshan City, China, and the concentrations of 22 steroid hormones were measured [...] Read more.

In recent years, high levels of hormone residue in food, capable of damaging the health of consumers, have been recorded frequently. In this study, 195 raw milk samples were obtained from Tangshan City, China, and the concentrations of 22 steroid hormones were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Cortisol was detected in 12.5% of raw milk samples (mean 0.61 µg/kg; range: <limit of quantification (LOQ)–0.94 µg/kg). Progesterone was detected in 85.9% of raw milk samples (mean 5.12 µg/kg; range: <LOQ–9.04 µg/kg). The concentration of cortisol present in milk was lower than the maximum residue limit defined in Japan (10 µg/kg). Children aged between one and five years were expected to be the at-risk population when exposed to detectable steroid hormone concentrations. Based on the mean and maximum concentrations of progesterone detected in milk, the contribution was 0.85% and 0.9%, and 1.48% and 1.6% of the acceptable daily intake for boys and girls, respectively. These results imply that the concentrations of steroid hormones present in raw milk should not present a health risk for young children. Full article

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15 pages, 1015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimating the Causal Impact of Proximity to Gold and Copper Mines on Respiratory Diseases in Chilean Children: An Application of Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation

by Ronald Herrera^1,2,*, Ursula Berger², Ondine S. Von Ehrenstein³, Iván Díaz⁴, Stella Huber¹, Daniel Moraga Muñoz⁵ and Katja Radon¹

¹ Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology and NetTeaching Unit, Institute for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital Munich (Ludwig Maximilians University), 80336 Munich, Germany

² Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology-IBE, Ludwig Maximilians University, 81377 Munich, Germany

³ Departments of Community Health Sciences and Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90025, USA

⁴ Department of Biostatistics Bloomberg, School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA

⁵ Medicine School, Science Faculty, Tarapaca University, Past Staff Catholic University of the North, Coquimbo 1781421, Chile

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010039 - 27 Dec 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5631

Abstract

In a town located in a desert area of Northern Chile, gold and copper open-pit mining is carried out involving explosive processes. These processes are associated with increased dust exposure, which might affect children’s respiratory health. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the causal [...] Read more.

In a town located in a desert area of Northern Chile, gold and copper open-pit mining is carried out involving explosive processes. These processes are associated with increased dust exposure, which might affect children’s respiratory health. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the causal attributable risk of living close to the mines on asthma or allergic rhinoconjunctivitis risk burden in children. Data on the prevalence of respiratory diseases and potential confounders were available from a cross-sectional survey carried out in 2009 among 288 (response:

69 %

) children living in the community. The proximity of the children’s home addresses to the local gold and copper mine was calculated using geographical positioning systems. We applied targeted maximum likelihood estimation to obtain the causal attributable risk (CAR) for asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis and both outcomes combined. Children living more than the first quartile away from the mines were used as the unexposed group. Based on the estimated CAR, a hypothetical intervention in which all children lived at least one quartile away from the copper mine would decrease the risk of rhinoconjunctivitis by

4.7

percentage points (CAR:

- 4.7

;

95 %

confidence interval (

95 %

CI):

- 8.4

;

- 0.11

); and

4.2

percentage points (CAR:

- 4.2

;

95 %

CI:

- 7.9

;

- 0.05

) for both outcomes combined. Overall, our results suggest that a hypothetical intervention intended to increase the distance between the place of residence of the highest exposed children would reduce the prevalence of respiratory disease in the community by around four percentage points. This approach could help local policymakers in the development of efficient public health strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Children’s Environmental Health)

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11 pages, 312 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Factors for Internet Gaming Disorder: Psychological Factors and Internet Gaming Characteristics

by Mi Jung Rho^1,2,†

, Hyeseon Lee^3,†, Taek-Ho Lee³, Hyun Cho^4,5, Dong Jin Jung^5,6

, Dai-Jin Kim^5,6,*,‡ and In Young Choi^1,2,*,‡

¹ Department of Medical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea

² Catholic Institute for Healthcare Management and Graduate School of Healthcare Management and Policy, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea

³ Department of Industrial & Management Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, Korea

⁴ Department of Psychology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

⁵ Addiction Research Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea

⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea

^† Both authors contributed equally to this work.

^‡ Both corresponding authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010040 - 27 Dec 2017

Cited by 138 | Viewed by 15984

Abstract

Background: Understanding the risk factors associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is important to predict and diagnose the condition. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors that predict IGD based on psychological factors and Internet gaming characteristics; Methods: [...] Read more.

Background: Understanding the risk factors associated with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) is important to predict and diagnose the condition. The purpose of this study is to identify risk factors that predict IGD based on psychological factors and Internet gaming characteristics; Methods: Online surveys were conducted between 26 November and 26 December 2014. There were 3568 Korean Internet game users among a total of 5003 respondents. We identified 481 IGD gamers and 3087 normal Internet gamers, based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM-5) criteria. Logistic regression analysis was applied to identify significant risk factors for IGD; Results: The following eight risk factors were found to be significantly associated with IGD: functional and dysfunctional impulsivity (odds ratio: 1.138), belief self-control (1.034), anxiety (1.086), pursuit of desired appetitive goals (1.105), money spent on gaming (1.005), weekday game time (1.081), offline community meeting attendance (2.060), and game community membership (1.393; p < 0.05 for all eight risk factors); Conclusions: These risk factors allow for the prediction and diagnosis of IGD. In the future, these risk factors could also be used to inform clinical services for IGD diagnosis and treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internet and Mobile Phone Addiction: Health and Educational Effects)

11 pages, 6715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selection of a Very Active Microbial Community for the Coupled Treatment of Tetramethylammonium Hydroxide and Photoresist in Aqueous Solutions

by Giulio Moretti¹, Federica Matteucci¹, Matteo Saraullo²

, Francesco Vegliò²

and Maddalena Del Gallo^1,*

¹ Department of Life, Health, and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy

² Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010041 - 27 Dec 2017

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4369

Abstract

Aerobic treatment of wastewater containing Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and photoresist was investigated using a lab scale reactor inoculated with activated sludge coming from urban wastewater treatment that never received TMAH before. The consumption of TMAH was monitored by liquid ion chromatography. Biodiversity indices [...] Read more.

Aerobic treatment of wastewater containing Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) and photoresist was investigated using a lab scale reactor inoculated with activated sludge coming from urban wastewater treatment that never received TMAH before. The consumption of TMAH was monitored by liquid ion chromatography. Biodiversity indices were calculated from Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) bands distribution and used to estimate changes in community composition related to adaptation to the new feeding compound. The first week of adaptation was crucial, and it was analyzed in detail: many organisms died, and the microbial community suffered a great shock. TMAH levels remained constant through the first four days, and then suddenly dropped to undetectable, and at the same time NH₄⁺ increased. When the community showed complete adaptation, predominant groups of bacteria were obtained by the Illumina sequencing of 16s rDNA amplicons, to provide insights on ecology of the adapted community, focusing on the main actors of TMAH abatement. Richness of species (Rr) peaks suggest that the development of TMAH-consuming bacteria leads to persistent consortia that maintain toxicity resistance over time. This showed adaptation and changes of the population to the different feeding conditions, and it opens new perspectives in the in situ treatment of these important residues of industrial processes without relying on external processing plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microbiological Evaluation of Wastewater Treatment)

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12 pages, 613 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biomarkers for Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis and Lung Ventilation Function in Chinese Occupational Refractory Ceramic Fibers-Exposed Workers

by Xiaojun Zhu¹

, Yishuo Gu², Wenjun Ma², Panjun Gao², Mengxuan Liu¹, Pei Xiao¹, Hongfei Wang¹, Juan Chen² and Tao Li^1,*

¹ National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, No. 29 Nanwei Road, Xicheng District, Beijing 100050, China

² Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 42; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010042 - 27 Dec 2017

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4439

Abstract

Refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs) can cause adverse health effects on workers’ respiratory system, yet no proper biomarkers have been used to detect early pulmonary injury of RCFs-exposed workers. This study assessed the levels of two biomarkers that are related to respiratory injury in [...] Read more.

Refractory ceramic fibers (RCFs) can cause adverse health effects on workers’ respiratory system, yet no proper biomarkers have been used to detect early pulmonary injury of RCFs-exposed workers. This study assessed the levels of two biomarkers that are related to respiratory injury in RCFs-exposed workers, and explored their relations with lung function. The exposure levels of total dust and respirable fibers were measured simultaneously in RCFs factories. The levels of TGF-β1 and ceruloplasmin (CP) increased with the RCFs exposure level (p < 0.05), and significantly increased in workers with high exposure level (1.21 ± 0.49 ng/mL, 115.25 ± 32.44 U/L) when compared with the control group (0.99 ± 0.29 ng/mL, 97.90 ± 35.01 U/L) (p < 0.05). The levels of FVC and FEV₁ were significantly decreased in RCFs exposure group (p < 0.05). Negative relations were found between the concentrations of CP and FVC (B = −0.423, p = 0.025), or FEV₁ (B = −0.494, p = 0.014). The concentration of TGF-β1 (B = 0.103, p = 0.001) and CP (B = 8.027, p = 0.007) were associated with respirable fiber exposure level. Occupational exposure to RCFs can impair lung ventilation function and may have the potential to cause pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. TGF-β1 and CP might be used as sensitive and noninvasive biomarkers to detect lung injury in occupational RCFs-exposed workers. Respirable fiber concentration can better reflect occupational RCFs exposure and related respiratory injuries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Safety and Health)

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15 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contamination of Tea and Tea Infusion with Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

by Alicja Zachara^1,2, Dorota Gałkowska¹ and Lesław Juszczak^1,*

¹ Department of Food Analysis and Evaluation of Food Quality, Faculty of Food Technology, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Balicka 122, 30-149 Krakow, Poland

² Laboratory of Food Hygiene and Nutrition, Voivodeship Sanitary-Epidemiological Station in Rzeszow, Wierzbowa 16, 35-959 Rzeszow, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010045 - 28 Dec 2017

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 6106

Abstract

The aim of this work was to validate the method of determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e., benzo(a)pyrene and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene in different types of tea, as well as to assess the transfer of these contaminants from [...] Read more.

The aim of this work was to validate the method of determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e., benzo(a)pyrene and sum of benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and chrysene in different types of tea, as well as to assess the transfer of these contaminants from tea to tea infusion. The research materials were popular types of black, green, red and white tea. Quantitative and qualitative determination of PAHs was performed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with fluorimetric detection (HPLC-FLD). The samples were prepared by QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged and Safe) technique followed by cleaning-up by dispersion solid-phase extraction (d-SPE). Values of limit of detection and limit of quantification obtained in the validation of the method were lower than the respective maximum values given in Commission Regulation (EU) No. 836/2011. The level of contamination of popular teas commercially available on the Polish market with PAHs is similar to that of teas available in other countries, with a very large variation in the concentration of each of the compounds. The highest benzo(a)pyrene and Σ4PAHs contents (209 ± 42 μg/kg and 756 ± 151 μg/kg, respectively) were found for black tea leaves. The transfer of Σ4PAHs from black tea to tea infusions was 0.48%, while it was 1.55–1.72% for red, white and green teas. Full article

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10 pages, 309 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surveillance of Environmental and Procedural Measures of Infection Control in the Operating Theatre Setting

by Laura Dallolio^1,*

, Alessandra Raggi¹, Tiziana Sanna¹, Magda Mazzetti², Alessandra Orsi³, Angela Zanni³, Patrizia Farruggia³ and Erica Leoni¹

¹ Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, via S. Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy

² Unit of Hygiene, Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Local Health Authority of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy

³ Unit of Hygiene and Quality of Residential Services, Local Health Authority of Bologna, Bellaria Hospital, via Altura 3, 40139 Bologna, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010046 - 28 Dec 2017

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 8370

Abstract

The microbiological contamination of operating theatres and the lack of adherence to best practices by surgical staff represent some of the factors affecting Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). The aim of the present study was to assess the microbiological quality of operating settings and [...] Read more.

The microbiological contamination of operating theatres and the lack of adherence to best practices by surgical staff represent some of the factors affecting Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). The aim of the present study was to assess the microbiological quality of operating settings and the staff compliance to the SSI evidence-based control measures. Ten operating rooms were examined for microbiological contamination of air and surfaces, after cleaning procedures, in “at rest” conditions. Furthermore, 10 surgical operations were monitored to assess staff compliance to the recommended practices. None of the air samples exceeded microbiological reference standards and only six of the 200 surface samples (3.0%) were slightly above recommended levels. Potentially pathogenic bacteria and moulds were never detected. Staff compliance to best practices varied depending on the type of behaviour investigated and the role of the operator. The major not compliant behaviours were: pre-operative skin antisepsis, crowding of the operating room and hand hygiene of the anaesthetist. The good environmental microbiological quality observed is indicative of the efficacy of the cleaning-sanitization procedures adopted. The major critical point was staff compliance to recommended practices. Awareness campaigns are therefore necessary, aimed at improving the organisation of work so as to facilitate compliance to operative protocols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)

12 pages, 3111 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Risk of Bacillary Dysentery and Sensitivity to Meteorological Factors in Hunan Province, China

by Chengdong Xu^1,*

, Gexin Xiao^2,*, Jinfeng Wang^1,3, Xiangxue Zhang^1,4 and Jinjun Liang⁵

¹ State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

² China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Beijing 100022, China

³ Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and Application, Nanjing 210023, China

⁴ The School of Earth Science and Resources, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China

⁵ Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha 410005, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010047 - 29 Dec 2017

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5341

Abstract

Bacillary dysentery remains a public health concern in the world. Hunan Province is one of the provinces having the highest risk of bacillary dysentery in China, however, the spatial-temporal distribution, variation of bacillary dysentery and sensitivity to meteorological factors in there are unclear. [...] Read more.

Bacillary dysentery remains a public health concern in the world. Hunan Province is one of the provinces having the highest risk of bacillary dysentery in China, however, the spatial-temporal distribution, variation of bacillary dysentery and sensitivity to meteorological factors in there are unclear. In this paper, a Bayesian space-time hierarchical model (BSTHM) was used to detect space-time variation, and effects of meteorological factors between 2010 and 2015. The risk of bacillary dysentery showed apparent spatial-temporal heterogeneity. The highest risk occurred in the summer season. Economically undeveloped mountainous areas in the west and south of the province had the highest incidence rates. Twenty three (18.9%) and 20 (16.4%) counties were identified as hot and cold spots, respectively. Among the hotspots, 11 counties (47.8%) exhibited a rapidly decreasing trend, suggesting they may become low-risk areas in the future. Of the cold spot counties, six (30%) showed a slowly decreasing trend, and may have a higher risk in the future. Among meteorological factors, air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed all played a significant role in the spatial-temporal distribution of bacillary dysentery risk. These findings can contribute to the implementation of an early warning system for controlling and preventing bacillary dysentery. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

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28 pages, 2295 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Vulnerability of People to Damaging Hydrogeological Events in the Calabria Region (Southern Italy)

by Olga Petrucci^1,*

, Paola Salvati², Luigi Aceto¹, Cinzia Bianchi², Angela Aurora Pasqua¹, Mauro Rossi²

and Fausto Guzzetti²

¹ CNR IRPI (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica), via Madonna Alta 126, I-06128 Perugia, Italy

² CNR IRPI (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica), via Madonna Alta 126, I-06128 Perugia, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010048 - 29 Dec 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5070

Abstract

Background: Damaging Hydrogeological Events (DHEs) are severe weather periods during which floods, landslides, lightning, windstorms, hail or storm surges can harm people. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency/intensity of DHEs and, consequently, the potential harm to people. Method: We investigated the [...] Read more.

Background: Damaging Hydrogeological Events (DHEs) are severe weather periods during which floods, landslides, lightning, windstorms, hail or storm surges can harm people. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency/intensity of DHEs and, consequently, the potential harm to people. Method: We investigated the impacts of DHEs on people in Calabria (Italy) over 37 years (1980–2016). Data on 7288 people physically affected by DHEs were gathered from the systematic analysis of regional newspapers and collected in the database named PEOPLE. The damage was codified in three severity levels as follows: fatalities (people who were killed), injured (people who suffered physical harm) and involved (people who were present at the place where an accident occurred but survived and were not harmed). During the study period, we recorded 68 fatalities, 566 injured and 6654 people involved in the events. Results: Males were more frequently killed, injured and involved than females, and females who suffered fatalities were older than males who suffered fatalities, perhaps indicating that younger females tended to be more cautious than same-aged males, while older females showed an intrinsic greater vulnerability. Involved people were younger than injured people and fatalities, suggesting that younger people show greater promptness in reacting to dangerous situations. Floods caused the majority of the fatalities, injured and involved people, followed by landslides. Lightning was the most dangerous phenomenon, and it affected a relatively low number of people, killing 11.63% of them and causing injuries to 37.2%. Fatalities and injuries mainly occurred outdoors, largely along roads. In contrast, people indoors, essentially in public or private buildings, were more frequently involved without suffering harm. Being “dragged by water/mud” and “surrounded by water/mud”, respectively, represented the two extremes of dynamic dangerousness. The dragging effect of rapid-flowing water totally or partially obstructed the attempts of people to save their lives. In contrast, people surrounded by steady water/mud encountered difficulties but ultimately could survive. Conclusions: The study outcomes can be used in informational campaigns to increase risk awareness among both administrators and citizens and to improve community resilience, particularly in promoting self-protective behaviors and avoiding the underestimation of hazardous situations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Hazards and Public Health: A Systems Approach)

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16 pages, 654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Interprofessional Relationships from Nurses’ Perspective on the Decision-Making Capacity of Patients in a Clinical Setting

by Jesús Molina-Mula^1,*

, Julia Gallo-Estrada¹ and Catalina Perelló-Campaner²

¹ Nursing and Physiotherapy Department, University of Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

² Emergency Care Service 061, 07014 Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010049 - 29 Dec 2017

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 7871

Abstract

Interprofessional relationships may impact the decision making of patients in a clinical setting. The objective of this study was to analyse the decision-making capabilities of patients from nurses’ perspectives of interprofessional relationships using Foucauldian ethics. This qualitative study was based on poststructuralist Foucault [...] Read more.

Interprofessional relationships may impact the decision making of patients in a clinical setting. The objective of this study was to analyse the decision-making capabilities of patients from nurses’ perspectives of interprofessional relationships using Foucauldian ethics. This qualitative study was based on poststructuralist Foucault references with in-depth interviews of nurses working in internal medicine and specialties in a general hospital. The patients constantly appeared in the definition of teamwork, but also as a passive element used by every professional to communicate with others. Nurses continue modelling a type of patient passivity, or what Foucault called passive subjectivity in relation to oneself, because the patient is guided and directed to take charge of a truth provided by professionals. Nurses must break the rigid design of sections or professional skills, and adopt a model of teamwork that meets the needs of the patient and increases their decision-making power. The quality of care will increase to the extent that professionals establish a relationship of equality with the patient, allowing the patient to make real decisions about their care. An egalitarian model of teamwork is beneficial to the patient, abandoning the idea of a team where the patient and family are constantly excluded from decisions about their care. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthcare Quality and Patient Satisfaction)

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9 pages, 516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimating the Excess Mortality Risk during Two Red Alert Periods in Beijing, China

by Weilin Zeng^1,†, Lingling Lang^1,†, Yue Li², Lingchuan Guo¹, Hualiang Lin³, Yonghui Zhang⁴, Tao Liu¹

, Jianpeng Xiao¹, Xing Li¹, Yanjun Xu⁵, Xiaojun Xu⁵, Lauren D. Arnold⁶, Erik J. Nelson⁷, Zhengmin Qian^6,* and Wenjun Ma^1,*

¹ Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 511430, China

² Jiangxi Medical School of Nanchang University, No. 461, Nanchang 330006, China

³ Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China

⁴ Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 511430, China

⁵ Institute of Chronic Non-Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 511430, China

⁶ College for Public Health and Social Justice, Department of Epidemiology & Biostastics, Saint Louis University, Salus Center/Room 473, 3545 Lafayette Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63104, USA

⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010050 - 29 Dec 2017

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4602

Abstract

The magnitude of excess mortality risk due to exposures to heavy air pollution during the red alert periods in Beijing remains unknown. A health impact assessment tool combined with the PM_2.5-mortality relationship was applied to estimate the number of excess deaths [...] Read more.

The magnitude of excess mortality risk due to exposures to heavy air pollution during the red alert periods in Beijing remains unknown. A health impact assessment tool combined with the PM_2.5-mortality relationship was applied to estimate the number of excess deaths due to high air pollution exposure during two red alert periods in Beijing, China in December 2015. Daily PM_2.5 concentration increased from 80.2 µg/m³ to 159.8 µg/m³ during the first red alert period and from 61.9 µg/m³ to 226 µg/m³ during the second period in 2015 when compared to daily PM_2.5 concentrations during the same calendar date of 2013 and 2014. It was estimated that 26 to 42 excessive deaths (including 14 to 34 cardiovascular deaths, and four to 16 respiratory deaths) occurred during the first period, and 40 to 65 excessive deaths (22 to 53 cardiovascular deaths, and six to 13 respiratory deaths) occurred during the second period. The results show that heavy smog may have substantially increased the mortality risk in Beijing, suggesting more stringent air pollution controlling measures should be implemented to protect the public health. Full article

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9 pages, 1603 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Land Use and Point Source Pollution on Water Quality in a Developed Region: A Case Study in Shunde, China

by Wenjing Bo^1,2, Xiaoke Wang^1,2,*

, Qianqian Zhang³, Yi Xiao¹ and Zhiyun Ouyang¹

¹ State Key Laboratory for Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haidian District, Beijing 100085, China

² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

³ Institute of Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Shijiazhuang 050061, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010051 - 30 Dec 2017

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4531

Abstract

To design and implement policy to manage water quality, it is important to investigate land use and possible sources of pollution. In this study, using Pearson regression analysis, redundancy analysis and multiple regression analysis, we assess the influence of land use and point [...] Read more.

To design and implement policy to manage water quality, it is important to investigate land use and possible sources of pollution. In this study, using Pearson regression analysis, redundancy analysis and multiple regression analysis, we assess the influence of land use and point sources on water quality in the river system in Shunde district in 2000 and 2010. The results show that water quality was related positively with water surface but negatively with impervious and urban greening area. Additionally, water quality was related negatively to point source emissions of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄-N). The total explanatory power of spatial variation of water quality was improved from 43.4% to 60.0% in 2000 and from 31.3% to 57.8% in 2010, respectively, when the influence of point sources was added into redundancy analysis between water quality and land use. Thus, both land use management and point source pollution control should be considered for improving river water quality. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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8 pages, 536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotic Resistance of Acinetobacter spp. Isolates from the River Danube: Susceptibility Stays High

by Clemens Kittinger¹, Alexander Kirschner^2,3, Michaela Lipp¹, Rita Baumert¹, Franz Mascher¹, Andreas H. Farnleitner^3,4,5 and Gernot E. Zarfel^1,*

¹ Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstraße 2, 8010 Graz, Austria

² Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology, Water Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria

³ Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria

⁴ Institute of Chemical Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Ecology, Vienna University of Technology, 1060 Vienna, Austria

⁵ Karl Landsteiner University for Health Sciences, 3500 Krems, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 52; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010052 - 30 Dec 2017

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6480

Abstract

Acinetobacter spp. occur naturally in many different habitats, including food, soil, and surface waters. In clinical settings, Acinetobacter poses an increasing health problem, causing infections with limited to no antibiotic therapeutic options left. The presence of human generated multidrug resistant strains is well [...] Read more.

Acinetobacter spp. occur naturally in many different habitats, including food, soil, and surface waters. In clinical settings, Acinetobacter poses an increasing health problem, causing infections with limited to no antibiotic therapeutic options left. The presence of human generated multidrug resistant strains is well documented but the extent to how widely they are distributed within the Acinetobacter population is unknown. In this study, Acinetobacter spp. were isolated from water samples at 14 sites of the whole course of the river Danube. Susceptibility testing was carried out for 14 clinically relevant antibiotics from six different antibiotic classes. Isolates showing a carbapenem resistance phenotype were screened with PCR and sequencing for the underlying resistance mechanism of carbapenem resistance. From the Danube river water, 262 Acinetobacter were isolated, the most common species was Acinetobacter baumannii with 135 isolates. Carbapenem and multiresistant isolates were rare but one isolate could be found which was only susceptible to colistin. The genetic background of carbapenem resistance was mostly based on typical Acinetobacter OXA enzymes but also on VIM-2. The population of Acinetobacter (baumannii and non-baumannii) revealed a significant proportion of human-generated antibiotic resistance and multiresistance, but the majority of the isolates stayed susceptible to most of the tested antibiotics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobials and Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment)

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15 pages, 1264 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Associated with Maintaining the Mental Health of Employees after the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Findings from Companies Located in the Evacuation Area

by Masatsugu Orui^1,*

, Yuriko Suzuki^1,2

, Aya Goto^1,3 and Seiji Yasumura¹

¹ Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

² Department of Adult Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health, Tokyo 187-8553, Japan

³ Center for Integrated Science and Humanities & International Community health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010053 - 31 Dec 2017

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5312

Abstract

After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima on 11 March 2011, some businesses were permitted to continue operating even though they were located in the evacuation area designated by the Japanese government. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the mental [...] Read more.

After the nuclear disaster in Fukushima on 11 March 2011, some businesses were permitted to continue operating even though they were located in the evacuation area designated by the Japanese government. The aim of this study was to examine differences in the mental health status, workplace, living environment, and lifestyle of employees in the evacuation and non-evacuation areas. We also investigated factors related to their mental health status. Data for this cross-sectional study were collected from the questionnaire responses of 647 employees at three medium-sized manufacturing companies in the evacuation and non-evacuation areas. Through a cross-tabulation analysis, employees who worked at companies in the evacuation areas showed an increase in the duration of overtime work, work burden, and commute time, and had experienced separation from family members due to the radiation disaster and perceived radiation risks. The results of a multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that, even in a harsh workplace and living environment, being younger, participating regularly in physical activity, having a social network (Lubben Social Network Scale-6 ≤ 12), laughing frequently, and feeling satisfied with one’s workplace and domestic life were significantly associated with maintaining a healthy mental health status after the disaster. These findings are applicable for workers’ health management measures after disasters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Preparedness for and Response to Nuclear Disasters)

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13 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Favourable Perceptions of Electronic Cigarettes Relative to Cigarettes and the Associations with Susceptibility to Electronic Cigarette Use in Hong Kong Chinese Adolescents

by Lok Tung Leung¹, Sai Yin Ho^1,*

, Jianjiu Chen¹, Man Ping Wang²

and Tai Hing Lam¹

¹ School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

² School of Nursing, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010054 - 1 Jan 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4906

Abstract

We investigated favourable perceptions of electronic cigarettes (ECs) relative to cigarettes and their associations with EC use susceptibility in adolescents. Hong Kong Chinese Secondary 1–6 (U.S. grade 7–12) students (n = 40,202) were surveyed in 2014/2015 on EC use, cigarette smoking, favourable [...] Read more.

We investigated favourable perceptions of electronic cigarettes (ECs) relative to cigarettes and their associations with EC use susceptibility in adolescents. Hong Kong Chinese Secondary 1–6 (U.S. grade 7–12) students (n = 40,202) were surveyed in 2014/2015 on EC use, cigarette smoking, favourable perceptions of ECs relative to cigarettes, EC use susceptibility, family smoking, and socio-demographic characteristics. Cox regression yielded adjusted prevalence ratios (APRs) of EC use susceptibility in never users, excluding those unaware of ECs. In all students, 8.9% were ever EC users, 47.2% reported favourable perceptions of ECs relative to cigarettes, such as less likely to cause accidents (25.2%) and less harmful to users (24.5%), and 28.9% did not know ECs. Among never EC users who were aware of ECs (n = 24,663), EC use susceptibility was associated with each of the favourable perceptions, especially greater attractiveness (APR 2.84, 95% CI 2.53–3.19), and better parental (2.75, 2.41–3.15) and school acceptability (2.56, 2.15–3.05). An increased number of favourable perceptions of ECs relative to cigarettes was associated more strongly with the susceptibility (p for trend < 0.001). Our findings inform strategies to reduce unwarranted favourable perceptions and prevent adolescent EC use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

18 pages, 4031 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of SCM with Bayesian B-Spline to Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Hypertension in China

by Zirong Ye^1,2,†, Li Xu^3,†, Zi Zhou^1,2, Yafei Wu^1,2 and Ya Fang^1,2,*

¹ State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang’an Nan Road, Xiang’an District, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China

² Key Laboratory of Health Technology Assessment of Fujian Province University, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiang’an Nan Road, Xiang’an District, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China

³ Department of Statistics, School of Economics and Trade, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work and should be considered co-first authors.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010055 - 2 Jan 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4277

Abstract

Most previous research on the disparities of hypertension risk has neither simultaneously explored the spatio-temporal disparities nor considered the spatial information contained in the samples, thus the estimated results may be unreliable. Our study was based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey [...] Read more.

Most previous research on the disparities of hypertension risk has neither simultaneously explored the spatio-temporal disparities nor considered the spatial information contained in the samples, thus the estimated results may be unreliable. Our study was based on the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), including residents over 12 years old in seven provinces from 1991 to 2011. Bayesian B-spline was used in the extended shared component model (SCM) for fitting temporal-related variation to explore spatio-temporal distribution in the odds ratio (OR) of hypertension, reveal gender variation, and explore latent risk factors. Our results revealed that the prevalence of hypertension increased from 14.09% in 1991 to 32.37% in 2011, with men experiencing a more obvious change than women. From a spatial perspective, a standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) remaining at a high level was found in Henan and Shandong for both men and women. Meanwhile, before 1997, the temporal distribution of hypertension risk for both men and women remained low. After that, notably since 2004, the OR of hypertension in each province increased to a relatively high level, especially in Northern China. Notably, the OR of hypertension in Shandong and Jiangsu, which was over 1.2, continuously stood out after 2004 for males, while that in Shandong and Guangxi was relatively high for females. The findings suggested that obvious spatial–temporal patterns for hypertension exist in the regions under research and this pattern was quite different between men and women. Full article

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14 pages, 983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Development Evaluation of Economic Zones in China

by Wei Liu²

, Hong-Bo Shi², Zhe Zhang³, Sang-Bing Tsai^1,*

, Yuming Zhai^4,*, Quan Chen^1,* and Jiangtao Wang¹

¹ Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan 528402, China

² School of Economics and Management, Harbin Institute of Technology, Weihai 264209, China

³ Department of Urban Planning, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia

⁴ School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010056 - 2 Jan 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 7768

Abstract

After the Chinese reform and opening up, the construction of economic zones, such as Special Economic Zones, Hi-tech Zones and Bonded Zones, has played an irreplaceable role in China’s economic development. Currently, against the background of Chinese economic transition, research on development evaluation [...] Read more.

After the Chinese reform and opening up, the construction of economic zones, such as Special Economic Zones, Hi-tech Zones and Bonded Zones, has played an irreplaceable role in China’s economic development. Currently, against the background of Chinese economic transition, research on development evaluation of economic zones has become popular and necessary. Similar research usually focuses on one specific field, and the methods that are used to evaluate it are simple. This research aims to analyse the development evaluation of zones by synthesis. A new hybrid multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) model that combines the DEMATEL technique and the DANP method is proposed. After establishing the evaluation criterion system and acquiring data, the influential weights of dimensions and criteria can be calculated, which will be a guide for forming measures of development. Shandong Peninsula Blue Economic Zone is used in the empirical case analysis. The results show that Transportation Conditions, Industrial Structure and Business Climate are the main influencing criteria and measures based on these criteria are proposed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Environment, Green Operations and Sustainability)

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10 pages, 486 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Nutritional Status of Infants Living in Arsenic-Contaminated Areas in Bangladesh and Its Association with Arsenic Exposure

by Abul Hasnat Milton^1,*, John Attia¹

, Mohammad Alauddin², Mark McEvoy¹, Patrick McElduff¹, Sumaira Hussain¹, Ayesha Akhter³, Shahnaz Akter⁴, M. Munirul Islam⁵, AM Shamsir Ahmed⁵, Vasu Iyengar^3,6,7 and Md Rafiqul Islam^1,3,6,7

¹ Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics (CCEB), School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health, The University of Newcastle, Kookaburra Close, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia

² Department of Chemistry, Wagner College, 1 Campus Road, Staten Island, NY 10301, USA

³ Goulburn Valley Health, Graham Street, Shepparton, VIC 3630, Australia

⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Child and Mother Health, Matuail, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

⁵ International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh

⁶ Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne, Graham Street, Shepparton, VIC 3630, Australia

⁷ School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, VIC 3125, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010057 - 2 Jan 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4973

Abstract

Data is scarce on early life exposure to arsenic and its association with malnutrition during infancy. This study followed the nutritional status of a cohort of 120 infants from birth to 9 months of age in an arsenic contaminated area in Bangladesh. Anthropometric [...] Read more.

Data is scarce on early life exposure to arsenic and its association with malnutrition during infancy. This study followed the nutritional status of a cohort of 120 infants from birth to 9 months of age in an arsenic contaminated area in Bangladesh. Anthropometric data was collected at 3, 6 and 9 months of the infant’s age for nutritional assessment whereas arsenic exposure level was assessed via tube well drinking water arsenic concentration at the initiation of the study. Weight and height measurements were converted to Z-scores of weight for age (WAZ-underweight), height for age (HAZ-stunting), weight for height (WHZ-wasting) for children by comparing with WHO growth standard. Arsenic exposure levels were categorized as <50 μg/L and ≥50 μg/L. Stunting rates (<−2 SD) were 10% at 3 months and 44% at both 6 and 9 months. Wasting rates (<−2 SD) were 23.3% at 3 months and underweight rates (<−2 SD) were 25% and 10% at 3 and 6 months of age, respectively. There was a significant association of stunting with household drinking water arsenic exposure ≥50 μg/L at age of 9 months (p = 0.009). Except for stunting at 9 months of age, we did not find any significant changes in other nutritional indices over time or with levels of household arsenic exposure in this study. Our study suggests no association between household arsenic exposure and under-nutrition during infancy; with limiting factors being small sample size and short follow-up. Difference in stunting at 9 months by arsenic exposure at ≥50 μg/L might be a statistical incongruity. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to establish any association. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Contamination, Bioavailability and Public Health)

17 pages, 365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Gambling in the Media Related to Screens: Immersion as a Predictor of Excessive Use?

by Jean-Jacques Rémond^* and Lucia Romo^*

Psychology Department, Laboratory EA CLIPSYD 4430, Paris Nanterre University, 92000 Nanterre, France

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010058 - 2 Jan 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5888

Abstract

This study investigates the intricacies between the player interface proposed by the screens, (in particular on smartphone applications or in video games) and gambling. Recent research indicates connections between “immersion” and excessive screen practice. We want to understand the causal-effects between online gambling [...] Read more.

This study investigates the intricacies between the player interface proposed by the screens, (in particular on smartphone applications or in video games) and gambling. Recent research indicates connections between “immersion” and excessive screen practice. We want to understand the causal-effects between online gambling and the “immersion” variable and understand their relationship and its contingencies. This article empirically investigates whether and how it is possible to observe immersion with its sub-dimensions in gambling on different screens. The objective of this study was to analyze: (1) the costs and benefits associated with gambling practice on screens (2) the link between gambling practice and screen practice (video game, Internet, mobile screen); (3) to observe the propensity to immersion for individuals practicing gambling on screens; and (4) to examine the comorbidities and cognitive factors associated with the practice of gambling on screen. A total of 432 adults (212 men, 220 women), recruited from Ile-de-France (France), responded to a battery of questionnaires. Our study suggests that immersion variables make it possible to understand the cognitive participation of individuals towards screens in general, the practice of gambling on screens and the excessive practice of screens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internet and Mobile Phone Addiction: Health and Educational Effects)

13 pages, 699 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Environmental Stressors and Supports

by Kristen G. Williams¹, Kayla T. Patel¹, Julie M. Stausmire^2,*, Christy Bridges¹

, Mary W. Mathis³ and Jennifer L. Barkin^1,*

¹ School of Medicine, Mercer University, 1550 College Street, Macon, GA 31207, USA

² Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center, Academic Research Coordinator, 2222 Cherry St. Suite 1300 MOB 2, Toledo, OH 43608, USA

³ College of Health Professions, Mercer University, 3001 Mercer University Drive, Atlanta, GA 31404, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010060 - 3 Jan 2018

Cited by 84 | Viewed by 13307

Abstract

The relationship between maternal mental health and infant development has been established in the literature. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a particularly challenging environment for new mothers as several natural processes are disrupted. The objective of this study is to elucidate [...] Read more.

The relationship between maternal mental health and infant development has been established in the literature. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is a particularly challenging environment for new mothers as several natural processes are disrupted. The objective of this study is to elucidate protective factors and environmental deficits associated with the NICU. The experiences of forty-six (n = 46) mothers of infants admitted to a Level III NICU in the Midwestern United States, who responded to a related open-ended question, were analyzed thematically. Five themes related to the NICU environment emerged as being either stressful or helpful: (1) amount and quality of communication with medical staff, (2) bedside manner of medical staff, (3) feeling alienated from infant’s care, (4) support from other NICU mothers and families, and (5) NICU Physical Environment and Regulations. There is a need for medical staff training on awareness, communication, empathy, and other behaviors that might improve maternal (and parental) experiences in the NICU. The physical environment, including rules and regulations of the NICU, should be reexamined with family comfort in mind in addition to the clinical care of the infant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

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16 pages, 566 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Emergence and Unfolding of Telemonitoring Practices in Different Healthcare Organizations

by Jannie Kristine Bang Christensen

Department of Sociology and Social Work, Center of Organization, Management and Administration, Aalborg University, Kroghstraede 7, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010061 - 3 Jan 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5304

Abstract

Telemonitoring, a sub-category of telemedicine, is promoted as a solution to meet the challenges in Western healthcare systems in terms of an increasing population of people with chronic conditions and fragmentation issues. Recent findings from large-scale telemonitoring programs reveal that these promises are [...] Read more.

Telemonitoring, a sub-category of telemedicine, is promoted as a solution to meet the challenges in Western healthcare systems in terms of an increasing population of people with chronic conditions and fragmentation issues. Recent findings from large-scale telemonitoring programs reveal that these promises are difficult to meet in complex real-life settings which may be explained by concentrating on the practices that emerge when telemonitoring is used to treat patients with chronic conditions. This paper explores the emergence and unfolding of telemonitoring practices in relation to a large-scale, inter-organizational home telemonitoring program which involved 5 local health centers, 10 district nurse units, four hospitals, and 225 general practice clinics in Denmark. Twenty-eight interviews and 28 h of observations of health professionals and administrative staff were conducted over a 12-month period from 2014 to 2015. This study’s findings reveal how telemonitoring practices emerged and unfolded differently among various healthcare organizations. This study suggests that the emergence and unfolding of novel practices is the result of complex interplay between existing work practices, alterations of core tasks, inscriptions in the technology, and the power to either adopt or ignore such novel practices. The study enhances our understanding of how novel technology like telemonitoring impacts various types of healthcare organizations when implemented in a complex inter-organizational context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue eHealth: The Impact of Technology on Healthcare)

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11 pages, 459 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study on Low-Carbon: Human Resources Performance Evaluation

by Quan Chen¹, Sang-Bing Tsai^1,2,*, Yuming Zhai^3,*

, Jie Zhou^4,*, Jian Yu^5,6,*, Li-Chung Chang¹, Guodong Li², Yuxiang Zheng^7,* and Jiangtao Wang^1,*

¹ Zhongshan Institute, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Zhongshan 528400, China

² Economics and Management College, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China

³ School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China

⁴ College of Tourism and Service Management, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China

⁵ Business School, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China

⁶ Research Center for Environment and Sustainable Development of the China Civil Aviation, Civil Aviation University of China, Tianjin 300300, China

⁷ School of Economics & Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010062 - 3 Jan 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5582

Abstract

Low-carbon logistics meets the requirements of a low-carbon economy and is the most effective operating model for logistic development to achieve sustainability by coping with severe energy consumption and global warming. Low-carbon logistics aims to reduce carbon intensity rather than simply reduce energy [...] Read more.

Low-carbon logistics meets the requirements of a low-carbon economy and is the most effective operating model for logistic development to achieve sustainability by coping with severe energy consumption and global warming. Low-carbon logistics aims to reduce carbon intensity rather than simply reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Human resources are an important part of the great competition in the logistics market and significantly affect the operations of enterprises. Performance evaluations of human resources are particularly important for low-carbon logistics enterprises with scarce talents. Such evaluations in these enterprises are of great significance for their strategic development. This study constructed a human resource performance evaluation system to assess non-managerial employees’ low-carbon job capacity, job performance, and job attitude in the low-carbon logistics sector. The case study results revealed that the investigated company enjoyed initial success after having promoted low-carbon concepts and values to its non-managerial employees, and the success was demonstrated by excellent performance in its employees’ job attitude and knowledge. This study adopts the AHP method to reasonably determine an indicator system of performance evaluation and its weight to avoid certain human-caused bias. This study not only fills the gap in the related literature, but can also be applied to industrial practice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Environment, Green Operations and Sustainability)

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9 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Safety Knowledge, Attitudes and Behavior among Dairy Plant Workers in Beijing, Northern China

by Yan Chen^1,*

, Hua Ji², Li-Jun Chen^3,*, Rong Jiang³ and Yong-Ning Wu^1,*

¹ Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment of Ministry of Health, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100021, China

² Food College, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China

³ National Engineering Research Center for Maternal and Infant Dairy Health, Yinghai, Daxing District, Beijing 100163, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010063 - 3 Jan 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4859

Abstract

The safety of milk and dairy products has always been one of the focuses of consumers, the food industry and regulatory agencies. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the food safety knowledge, attitudes and behavior of dairy plant workers. [...] Read more.

The safety of milk and dairy products has always been one of the focuses of consumers, the food industry and regulatory agencies. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the food safety knowledge, attitudes and behavior of dairy plant workers. A cross-sectional survey was performed between May and August 2015 in three dairy plants in Beijing, northern China. A total of 194 dairy plant workers were interviewed to collect information on food safety knowledge, attitudes and self-reported behavior. The 194 dairy plant workers interviewed showed a sufficient level of knowledge (mean score 34 on a scale from 0–58), perfect attitudes (mean score 17 on a scale from 0–18), and perfect behavior (mean score 38 on a scale from 8–40). Only 39% of workers correctly determined specific pathogens or diseases that could be conveyed through milk and dairy products. 24% of workers knew the correct method of washing hands. A significant positive association was observed between attitudes and knowledge (p < 0.001) as well as behavior (p < 0.01). Education level was positively and significantly associated with food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behavior (p < 0.05). Workers in dairy enterprises in northern China have relatively low levels of knowledge, yet satisfactory attitudes and behavior. The knowledge of microbial food hazards and hand hygiene remains an issue that needs to be emphasized in future training programs. Education level is a determinant of attitudes and behavior with regard to the proper handling of milk and dairy products. Full article

11 pages, 594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Well Designs to Improve Access to Safe and Clean Water in Rural Tanzania

by Aminata Kilungo^1,*, Linda Powers², Nathan Arnold³, Kelli Whelan³, Kurt Paterson⁴

and Dale Young⁵

¹ Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, Health Promotion Sciences Department, The University of Arizona, 1295 N Martin Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

² Electrical and Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, The University of Arizona, 1230 E. Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

³ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 801 Dow Building, Houghton, MI 49931, USA

⁴ Department of Engineering, James Madison University, 801 Carrier Dr., Harrisonburg, VA 22807, USA

⁵ Maji Safi kwa Afya Bora Ifakara (MSABI), Kilosa Road 65, Morogoro 284, Tanzania

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010064 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6003

Abstract

The objective of this study was to examine three well designs: drilled wells (20–30 m deep), closed dug wells (>5 m deep), and hand-dug open wells (<5 m deep), to determine the water quality for improving access to safe and clean water in [...] Read more.

The objective of this study was to examine three well designs: drilled wells (20–30 m deep), closed dug wells (>5 m deep), and hand-dug open wells (<5 m deep), to determine the water quality for improving access to safe and clean water in rural communities. Heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli (E. coli) and turbidity, were used to assess the water quality of 97 wells. Additionally, the study looked at the microflora diversity of the water, focusing on potential pathogens using outgrowth, PCR, and genome sequencing for 10 wells. Concentrations of TC for the open dug wells (4 × 10⁴ CFU/100 mL) were higher than the drilled (2 × 10³ CFU/100 mL) and closed dug wells (3 × 10³ CFU/100 mL). E. coli concentration for drilled and closed dug wells was <22 MPN (most probable number)/100 mL, but higher for open wells (>154 MPN/100 mL). The drilled well turbidity (11 NTU) was within the standard deviation of the closed well (28 NTU) compared to open dug wells (49 NTU). Drilled and closed wells had similar microbial diversity. There were no significant differences between drilled and closed dug wells. The covering and lining of hand-dug wells should be considered as an alternative to improve access to safe and clean water in rural communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

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13 pages, 919 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Systematic Screening for Occupational Exposures in Lung Cancer Patients: A Prospective French Cohort

by Olivia Pérol^1,*, Barbara Charbotel^2,3, Lionel Perrier⁴

, Sandrine Bonnand⁵, Elodie Belladame¹, Virginie Avrillon⁶, Paul Rebattu⁶, Frédéric Gomez⁷, Géraldine Lauridant⁸, Maurice Pérol⁶ and Beatrice Fervers^1,9

¹ Département Cancer et Environnement, Centre Léon Bérard, 69373 Lyon CEDEX 08, France

² Université Lyon 1, UMRESTTE (Unité Mixte IFSTTAR/UCBL), 69373 Lyon CEDEX 03, France

³ Hospices Civils de Lyon, Service des Maladies Professionnelles, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, 69495 Pierre Bénite, France

⁴ Université Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, GATE L-SE UMR 5824, F-69008 Lyon, France

⁵ Département Interdisciplinaire de soins de Support du Patient en Oncologie, Service Social, Centre Léon Bérard, 69373 Lyon CEDEX 08, France

⁶ Département d’Oncologie Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, 69373 Lyon CEDEX 08, France

⁷ Département d’Information Médicale, Centre Léon Bérard, 69373 Lyon CEDEX 08, France

⁸ Département d’Oncologie Médicale, Centre Oscar Lambret, 59000 Lille, France

⁹ Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, UMR INSERM 1052-CNRS 5286, F-69008 Lyon, France

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010065 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4438

Abstract

Occupational lung cancers are under-reported and under-compensated worldwide. We assessed systematic screening for occupational exposure to carcinogens combining a self-administered questionnaire and an occupational consultation to improve the detection of occupational lung cancers and their compensation. Social deprivation and the costs of this [...] Read more.

Occupational lung cancers are under-reported and under-compensated worldwide. We assessed systematic screening for occupational exposure to carcinogens combining a self-administered questionnaire and an occupational consultation to improve the detection of occupational lung cancers and their compensation. Social deprivation and the costs of this investigation were estimated. Patients with lung cancer received a self-administered questionnaire to collect their job history, potential exposure to carcinogens and deprivation. A physician assessed the questionnaire and recommended an occupational consultation if necessary. During the consultation, a physician assessed if the lung cancer was work-related and, if it was, delivered a medical certificate to claim for compensation. Over 18 months, 440 patients received the self-administered questionnaire: 234 returned a completed questionnaire and a consultation was required for 120 patients. Compensation was judged possible for 41 patients. Among the 35 medical certificates delivered, 19 patients received compensation. Nearly half the patients (46%) were assessed as socially deprived and these patients took significantly longer to return the questionnaire compared with those who were not deprived. The mean cost of the process was €62.65 per patient. Our results showed a systematic self-administered questionnaire can be used to identify patients potentially exposed to carcinogens and to improve compensation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Safety and Health)

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23 pages, 1296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Assessment for Children Exposed to Arsenic on Baseball Fields with Contaminated Fill Material

by Alesia C. Ferguson¹, Jennifer C. Black², Isaac B. Sims¹, Jennifer N. Welday², Samir M. Elmir³, Kendra F. Goff⁴, J. Mark Higginbotham⁴ and Helena M. Solo-Gabriele^2,*

¹ Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA

² Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA

³ Florida Department of Health at Miami-Dade County, Miami, FL 33056, USA

⁴ Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL 32399, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 67; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010067 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4571

Abstract

Children can be exposed to arsenic through play areas which may have contaminated fill material from historic land use. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the risk to children who play and/or spend time at baseball fields with soils shown [...] Read more.

Children can be exposed to arsenic through play areas which may have contaminated fill material from historic land use. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the risk to children who play and/or spend time at baseball fields with soils shown to have arsenic above background levels. Arsenic in soils at the study sites located in Miami, FL, USA showed distinct distributions between infield, outfield, and areas adjacent to the fields. Using best estimates of exposure factors for children baseball scenarios, results show that non-cancer risks depend most heavily upon the age of the person and the arsenic exposure level. For extreme exposure scenarios evaluated in this study, children from 1 to 2 years were at highest risk for non-cancer effects (Hazard Quotient, HQ > 2.4), and risks were higher for children exhibiting pica (HQ > 9.7) which shows the importance of testing fill for land use where children may play. At the study sites, concentration levels of arsenic resulted in a range of computed cancer risks that differed by a factor of 10. In these sites, the child’s play position also affected risk. Outfield players, with a lifetime exposure to these arsenic levels, could have 10 times more increased chance of experiencing cancers associated with arsenic (i.e., lung, bladder, skin) in comparison to infielders. The distinct concentration distributions observed between these portions of the baseball fields emphasize the need to delineate contaminated areas in public property where citizens may spend more free time. This study also showed a need for more tools to improve the risk estimates for child play activities. For instance, more refined measurements of exposure factors for intake (e.g., inhalation rates under rigorous play activities, hand to mouth rates), exposure frequency (i.e., time spent in various activities) and other exposure factors (e.g., soil particulate emission rates at baseball play fields) can help pinpoint risk on baseball fields where arsenic levels may be a concern. Full article

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10 pages, 817 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Self-Medication Practice and Associated Factors among Residents in Wuhan, China

by Xiaosheng Lei^1,*, Heng Jiang^2,3,*, Chaojie Liu⁴, Adamm Ferrier⁴ and Janette Mugavin²

¹ School of Management, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China

² Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia

³ Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia

⁴ Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010068 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 80 | Viewed by 13244

Abstract

Background: This study aims to examine the prevalence and predictors associated with self-medication, and related consequences in Wuhan, China. Methods: Two-hundred-sixty residents were interviewed from randomly selected four districts of Wuhan, China. A modified version of Anderson’s health behavioral model was used in [...] Read more.

Background: This study aims to examine the prevalence and predictors associated with self-medication, and related consequences in Wuhan, China. Methods: Two-hundred-sixty residents were interviewed from randomly selected four districts of Wuhan, China. A modified version of Anderson’s health behavioral model was used in the survey to collect information of self-medication behavior. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to measure correlates of the prevalence of self-medication. Results: Nearly half of the respondents would select self-medication, and 39.1% would see a doctor if they felt sick. The most common self-medicated illnesses were cold and cough, cardiovascular disease and gastrointestinal disease. The main reasons for self-medication were that the illness was not severe (enough) to see the doctor (45%); the patient did not think that the trouble of seeing a doctor was worth the effort (23%); the patient had no time to see the doctor (12%), and the patient did not want to pay high medical costs (15%). Logistic regression results suggested that respondents tended to select self-medication if the illness was minor or short-term (less than seven days). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that more strict regulation on over-the-counter medicines may be required to reduce health risks related to self-medication. Targeted health education on the risks of self-medication should be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Health Behavior and Public Health)

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16 pages, 1565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamic Impact of Online Word-of-Mouth and Advertising on Supply Chain Performance

by Jian Feng and Bin Liu^*

School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Maritime University, Shanghai 201306, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010069 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6165

Abstract

Cooperative (co-op) advertising investments benefit brand goodwill and further improve supply chain performance. Meanwhile, online word-of-mouth (OWOM) can also play an important role in supply chain performance. On the basis of co-op advertising, this paper considers a single supply chain structure led by [...] Read more.

Cooperative (co-op) advertising investments benefit brand goodwill and further improve supply chain performance. Meanwhile, online word-of-mouth (OWOM) can also play an important role in supply chain performance. On the basis of co-op advertising, this paper considers a single supply chain structure led by a manufacturer and examines a fundamental issue concerning the impact of OWOM on supply chain performance. Firstly, by the method of differential game, this paper analyzes the dynamic impact of OWOM and advertising on supply chain performance (i.e., brand goodwill, sales, and profits) under three different supply chain decisions (i.e., only advertising, and manufacturers with and without sharing cost of OWOM with retailers). We compare and analyze the optimal strategies of advertising and OWOM under the above different supply chain decisions. Secondly, the system dynamics model is established to reflect the dynamic impact of OWOM and advertising on supply chain performance. Finally, three supply chain decisions under two scenarios, strong brand and weak brand, are analyzed through the system dynamics simulation. The results show that the input of OWOM can enhance brand goodwill and improve earnings. It further promotes the OWOM reputation and improves the supply chain performance if manufacturers share the cost of OWOM with retailers. Then, in order to eliminate the retailers from word-of-mouth fraud and establish a fair competition mechanism, the third parties (i.e., regulators or e-commerce platforms) should take appropriate punitive measures against retailers. Furthermore, the effect of OWOM on supply chain performance under a strong brand differed from those under a weak brand. Last but not least, if OWOM is improved, there would be more remarkable performance for the weak brand than that for the strong brand in the supply chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Models in Green Growth and Sustainable Development)

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15 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implicit Messages Regarding Unhealthy Foodstuffs in Chinese Television Advertisements: Increasing the Risk of Obesity

by Angela Chang^1,*, Peter J. Schulz²

, Tony Schirato¹ and Brian J. Hall^3,4

¹ Department of Communication, University of Macau, E21, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China

² Institute of Communication and Health, Lugano University, Switzerland, Ex Laboratorio, Office 010 (Level 0), Via Buffi 13, 6904 Lugano, Switzerland

³ Department of Psychology, University of Macau, E21, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China

⁴ Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010070 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5364

Abstract

Previous studies indicated that television (TV) advertising is associated with higher rates of obesity. The rate of obesity and overweight continues to rise in mainland China, bringing into question whether TV advertising to young audiences might be partly to blame. This study investigated [...] Read more.

Previous studies indicated that television (TV) advertising is associated with higher rates of obesity. The rate of obesity and overweight continues to rise in mainland China, bringing into question whether TV advertising to young audiences might be partly to blame. This study investigated messaging delivered through TV advertisements regarding healthy and unhealthy foodstuffs. A total of 42 major food brands and 480 advertisements were analysed for content in this study. The results showed that the majority of TV spots advertised products with poor nutritional content and had a potential to mislead audiences concerning products’ actual nutritional value. The tactics of repetition and appeals of premium offerings on food brands have a potential to influence the purchase intentions. Additional qualitative observation involving the social bond, social context and cultural factors pertaining to mood alterations were highlighted. The discussion addressed product attributes reflected by culture and the implicit messages of marketing claims may increase the risk of obesity. Thus, public health policymakers and researchers were encouraged to act urgently to evaluate the obesity risks of unhealthy food advertised in the media and to support healthy foods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

11 pages, 305 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Protracted Exposure to Radiation on Liver Injury: A Cohort Study of Industrial Radiographers in Xinjiang, China

by Qing Sun^†, Weiming Mao^†, Haiyue Jiang, Xiaoyue Zhang, Jing Xiao and Yulong Lian^*

¹ Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Nantong University, Se Yuan Road, No. 8, Nantong 226019, China

^† These authors contribute equally to this paper.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010071 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3322

Abstract

Background: At present, a large number of studies indicate that high dose ionizing radiation exposure is an important risk factor for liver damage. Whether protracted exposure to low external doses of ionizing radiation could induce liver injury is unclear. The aim of this [...] Read more.

Background: At present, a large number of studies indicate that high dose ionizing radiation exposure is an important risk factor for liver damage. Whether protracted exposure to low external doses of ionizing radiation could induce liver injury is unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the risk of liver injury following protracted exposure to occupational radiation compared to a group of unexposed workers. Methods: A three-year cohort study was initiated in Xinjiang, China in 2010 and included 508 industrial radiographers and 2156 unexposed workers. The incidence of liver injury was assessed clinically based on the evaluation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. Logistic regression was used to examine whether radiation is a risk factor for liver injury. Results: Compared with the unexposed group, protracted radiation exposure was found to be a risk factor for liver injury. Sex, age at baseline and alcohol consumption were not associated with liver injury. However, hypertension was a risk factor for liver injury. The association between cumulative recorded radiation dose and liver injury was not found in this study. Conclusions: These findings indicate that protracted exposure to radiation is a risk factor for liver injury. Full article

10 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes towards Potential New Tobacco Control Regulations among U.S. Adults

by Allison M. Schmidt^1,*, Sarah D. Kowitt¹, Allison E. Myers^1,2 and Adam O. Goldstein^3,4

¹ Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

² Counter Tools, Carrboro, NC 27510, USA

³ Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

⁴ Department of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010072 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7215

Abstract

Favorable attitudes towards tobacco control policies can facilitate their implementation and success. We examined attitudes toward four potential U.S. Federal tobacco regulations (banning menthol from cigarettes, reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes, banning candy and fruit flavored electronic cigarettes, and banning candy and fruit [...] Read more.

Favorable attitudes towards tobacco control policies can facilitate their implementation and success. We examined attitudes toward four potential U.S. Federal tobacco regulations (banning menthol from cigarettes, reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes, banning candy and fruit flavored electronic cigarettes, and banning candy and fruit flavored little cigars and cigarillos) and associations with individual and state variables. A nationally representative phone survey of 4337 adults assessed attitudes toward potential policies. Weighted logistic regression was used to assess relationships between attitudes and demographic factors, smoking behavior, beliefs about the government (knowledge, trust, and credibility), exposure to tobacco control campaigns, and state variables from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System. Most respondents supported three out of four policies. Respondents that were female, non-white, Latino, living below the poverty line, had less than high school education, were of older age, did not smoke, had higher trust in government, and were exposed to national tobacco control campaigns had higher odds of expressing favorable attitudes toward potential new tobacco regulations than did their counterparts. No state-level effects were found. While differences in attitudes were observed by individual demographic characteristics, behaviors, and beliefs, a majority of participants supported most of the potential new tobacco regulations surveyed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Evaluation of New Tobacco Control Interventions)

12 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Workaholism as a Mediator between Work-Related Stressors and Health Outcomes

by Cecilie Schou Andreassen^1,*, Ståle Pallesen² and Torbjørn Torsheim²

¹ Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway

² Department of Psychosocial Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010073 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 67 | Viewed by 10651

Abstract

It is currently unknown if unfavorable working conditions, reflected by the demand–control–support model and the effort–reward imbalance model, directly influence health or if the effects may be mediated by work-related attitudes and behaviors such as workaholism. In the present study, 988 employees (55.6% [...] Read more.

It is currently unknown if unfavorable working conditions, reflected by the demand–control–support model and the effort–reward imbalance model, directly influence health or if the effects may be mediated by work-related attitudes and behaviors such as workaholism. In the present study, 988 employees (55.6% males, mean age 36.09, SD = 9.23) from a large consultant firm participated in a cross-sectional survey assessing work variables such as job demands, job control, social support, effort, reward, and overcommitment. Workaholism was also assessed together with eight different health-related outcomes. Although direct effects of the work stressors on health were found on most health outcomes, the work-related stressors were overall strongly related to workaholism (R² = 0.522), which, in turn, was positively related to four (anxiety/insomnia, somatic symptoms, emotional exhaustion, and social dysfunction) of the eight outcome variables. Of a total of 40 relationships between work-related stressors and health outcomes, workaholism fully mediated three of these, and partly mediated 12. Overall, the study suggests that the effects of work-related stressors on health in many cases may be mediated by workaholism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases)

9 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Living with Smoker(s) and Smoking Cessation in Chinese Adult Smokers: Cross-Sectional and Prospective Evidence from Hong Kong Population Health Survey

by Zhi-Ming Mai¹, Sai-Yin Ho¹

, Man-Ping Wang²

, Lai-Ming Ho¹ and Tai-Hing Lam^1,*

¹ School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

² School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010074 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4686

Abstract

Background: Results on the environmental influence on unassisted quitting are scarce. We investigated the associations of living with smoker(s) with quitting in Chinese adult smokers. Methods: We examined both cross-sectional and prospective data in the Hong Kong Population Health Survey recruited [...] Read more.

Background: Results on the environmental influence on unassisted quitting are scarce. We investigated the associations of living with smoker(s) with quitting in Chinese adult smokers. Methods: We examined both cross-sectional and prospective data in the Hong Kong Population Health Survey recruited participants in 2003/04, and followed up to 2006. Unconditional logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratios (AORs) of (i) planning to quit, (ii) ex-smoking (cross-sectional), and quitting (prospective) for living with smoker(s). 1679 ever smokers aged 18+ years at baseline, and 323 of them who were successfully followed-up were included in the cross-sectional, and prospective analysis. Results: At baseline, living with smoker(s) was significantly associated with lower odds of planning to quit in current smokers (AOR 0.41, 95% CI 0.25–0.68), and lower odds of ex-smoking (AOR 0.45, 95% CI 0.34–0.58), particularly if the smoker(s) smoked inside home (AOR 0.35, 95% CI 0.26–0.47). Prospectively, living with smoker(s) non-significantly predicted lower odds of new quitting (AOR 0.48, 95% CI 0.13–1.78). Conclusions: Our study has provided the first evidence in a Chinese general population that living with smoker(s) is an important barrier against smoking cessation. To boost quit rate in nonusers of smoking cessation services, smoking at home should be banned, especially for populations living in crowed urban environments that are typical of economically developed cities in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Exposure and Effects)

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34 pages, 3418 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Community Engaged Cumulative Risk Assessment of Exposure to Inorganic Well Water Contaminants, Crow Reservation, Montana

by Margaret J. Eggers^1,2,*

, John T. Doyle^2,3, Myra J. Lefthand², Sara L. Young², Anita L. Moore-Nall⁴, Larry Kindness², Roberta Other Medicine^2,5, Timothy E. Ford⁶, Eric Dietrich¹, Albert E. Parker^1,7, Joseph H. Hoover⁸ and Anne K. Camper^1,2,9

¹ Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

² Crow Environmental Health Steering Committee, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA

³ Crow Water Quality Project, P.O. Box 370, Little Big Horn College, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA

⁴ Department of Earth Sciences, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173480, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

⁵ Environmental Health Department, Crow/Northern Cheyenne Indian Health Service Hospital, Crow Agency, MT 59022, USA

⁶ School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 N. Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003, USA

⁷ Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

⁸ Health Sciences Center, MSC09 5360, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

⁹ College of Engineering, Montana State University, P.O. Box 173980, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010076 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 10433

Abstract

An estimated 11 million people in the US have home wells with unsafe levels of hazardous metals and nitrate. The national scope of the health risk from consuming this water has not been assessed as home wells are largely unregulated and data on [...] Read more.

An estimated 11 million people in the US have home wells with unsafe levels of hazardous metals and nitrate. The national scope of the health risk from consuming this water has not been assessed as home wells are largely unregulated and data on well water treatment and consumption are lacking. Here, we assessed health risks from consumption of contaminated well water on the Crow Reservation by conducting a community-engaged, cumulative risk assessment. Well water testing, surveys and interviews were used to collect data on contaminant concentrations, water treatment methods, well water consumption, and well and septic system protection and maintenance practices. Additive Hazard Index calculations show that the water in more than 39% of wells is unsafe due to uranium, manganese, nitrate, zinc and/or arsenic. Most families’ financial resources are limited, and 95% of participants do not employ water treatment technologies. Despite widespread high total dissolved solids, poor taste and odor, 80% of families consume their well water. Lack of environmental health literacy about well water safety, pre-existing health conditions and limited environmental enforcement also contribute to vulnerability. Ensuring access to safe drinking water and providing accompanying education are urgent public health priorities for Crow and other rural US families with low environmental health literacy and limited financial resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Environmental Health Equity: Great Expectations)

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11 pages, 2266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Demographic and Mental Health Profile of Admitted Cases of Self-Inflicted Harm in the US Population

by Chris Hanuscin¹, Golara Zahmatkesh¹, Anaheed Shirazi¹, Deyu Pan¹, Senait Teklehaimanot² and Shahrzad Bazargan-Hejazi^1,3,*

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA

² Department of Family Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA

³ David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010077 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4008

Abstract

Self-inflicted harm (SIH) has a substantial lifetime prevalence, it is associated with tremendous costs, and its rate is increasing on a national scale. To examine the characteristics of those admitted for SIH in the US and to investigate the factors that potentially modify [...] Read more.

Self-inflicted harm (SIH) has a substantial lifetime prevalence, it is associated with tremendous costs, and its rate is increasing on a national scale. To examine the characteristics of those admitted for SIH in the US and to investigate the factors that potentially modify the methods used for SIH. This was a retrospective analysis of admitted cases of SIH including suicide attempts between 2007 and 2012 using the National Trauma Data Bank. We included a total of 204,633 cases admitted for SIH. Our participants were 75.1% males. Those aged 15–24 (21%), 25–34 (22%), 35–44 (19%), 45–54 (19%), and 55–64 (10%) years comprised the largest age groups among our cases—70.8%, 11.5%, 11.1%, and 6.6% were, respectively, Caucasians, Hispanics, Blacks, and Asian/Others. Analyses of the SIH methods revealed that Blacks were less likely to self-poison [Odds Ratio (OR): 0.78] compared to Whites, whereas individuals with psychiatric disorders or substance abuse carried 2.5 and 2.0-fold higher risk, respectively. Blacks were also less likely to use anoxic methods (OR: 0.69), whereas patients with psychiatric disorders or substance abuse carried 1.5-fold higher risk. Being Black, Hispanic, and Asian (OR: 0.58, 0.55, and 0.55, respectively) as well as having psychiatric disorders (OR: 0.80) were associated with lower risks of using firearms, whereas its risk was increased with increasing age. Blacks (OR: 0.77) were less likely to cut or pierce in contrast to Hispanics (OR: 1.4), Asians/Others (OR: 1.29), and those with psychiatric disorders (2.5-fold higher risk) or drug abuse (2-fold higher risk). Blacks (OR: 1.11), Hispanics (OR: 1.13), and Asians/Others (OR: 1.57) were more likely to jump from high places, whereas those with substance abuse were less likely (OR: 0.77). Among patients admitted for SIH, males, those aged 15–64 years, and Whites comprised the largest sex, age, and racial/ethnic groups, respectively. We also found that several factors including race/ethnicity, gender, age, and having concurrent psychiatric or drug abuse disorders can potentially influence the methods used for SIH. Full article

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10 pages, 2405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

On the Simulation-Based Reliability of Complex Emergency Logistics Networks in Post-Accident Rescues

by Wei Wang¹

, Li Huang² and Xuedong Liang^3,*

¹ College of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

² School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China

³ Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010079 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4921

Abstract

This paper investigates the reliability of complex emergency logistics networks, as reliability is crucial to reducing environmental and public health losses in post-accident emergency rescues. Such networks’ statistical characteristics are analyzed first. After the connected reliability and evaluation indices for complex emergency logistics [...] Read more.

This paper investigates the reliability of complex emergency logistics networks, as reliability is crucial to reducing environmental and public health losses in post-accident emergency rescues. Such networks’ statistical characteristics are analyzed first. After the connected reliability and evaluation indices for complex emergency logistics networks are effectively defined, simulation analyses of network reliability are conducted under two different attack modes using a particular emergency logistics network as an example. The simulation analyses obtain the varying trends in emergency supply times and the ratio of effective nodes and validates the effects of network characteristics and different types of attacks on network reliability. The results demonstrate that this emergency logistics network is both a small-world and a scale-free network. When facing random attacks, the emergency logistics network steadily changes, whereas it is very fragile when facing selective attacks. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the protection of supply nodes and nodes with high connectivity. The simulation method provides a new tool for studying emergency logistics networks and a reference for similar studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Models in Green Growth and Sustainable Development)

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13 pages, 2153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Fractions in Marginalized Roma versus Majority Population

by Beáta Hubková^1,*

, Gabriel Bódy², Jana Mašlanková¹

, Anna Birková¹, Eugen Frišman³, Vladimír Kraus⁴ and Mária Mareková^1,*

¹ Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Faculty of Medicine, Trieda SNP 1, 04011 Košice, Slovakia

² Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice Faculty of Medicine, Trieda SNP 1, 04011 Košice, Slovakia; present address: Medirex a.s., Magnezitárska 2/C, 04011 Košice, Slovakia

³ Department of Burns and Reconstructive Surgery, 1st Private Hospital Kosice-Saca, Lúčna 512/55, 04015 Košice-Šaca, Slovakia

⁴ Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Louis Pasteur University Hospital, Rastislavova 785/43, 04001 Košice, Slovakia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010081 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4459

Abstract

The trend of modern clinical biochemistry is to emphasize the composition and the quality of lipoproteins over their quantity. The serum lipoprotein fractions and subfractions were analyzed by the Lipoprint Lipoprotein Subfractions Testing System, the parameters of lipid profile, as total cholesterol (TC), [...] Read more.

The trend of modern clinical biochemistry is to emphasize the composition and the quality of lipoproteins over their quantity. The serum lipoprotein fractions and subfractions were analyzed by the Lipoprint Lipoprotein Subfractions Testing System, the parameters of lipid profile, as total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triacylglycerides (TAG) were determined by an automated selective biochemical analyzer. Our results showed a significantly lower concentration of cholesterol in the LDL fractions 1 and 2 and in the HDL fractions 8 to 10 in Roma compared to the majority population. The most significant differences between Roma and the majority population when considering body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio and the index of central obesity were in very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoproteins, fraction A (IDL-A) and LDL-2. The last two listed were significantly higher in the majority population. VLDL was significantly higher in overweight or obese Roma men and in Roma men with central obesity compared to men from the majority population, as well as in Roma women with normal weight and physiological waist-to-hip ratio compared to the women from majority population. Our study is among the first describing the distribution of lipoprotein subfractions in different ethnic groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Roma Health)

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10 pages, 1048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trajectories of Emotional Symptoms and Peer Relationship Problems in Children after Nuclear Disaster: Evidence from the Fukushima Health Management Survey

by Misari Oe^1,*

, Masaharu Maeda^2,3, Tetsuya Ohira^2,4

, Shuntaro Itagaki⁵, Mayumi Harigane²

, Yuriko Suzuki⁶

, Hirooki Yabe⁵, Seiji Yasumura^2,7

, Kenji Kamiya² and Hitoshi Ohto²

¹ Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kurume University, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan

² Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

³ Department of Disaster Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

⁴ Department of Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

⁵ Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

⁶ Department of Adult Mental Health, National Institute of Mental Health, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira 187-8553, Japan

⁷ Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010082 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5811

Abstract

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, which occurred in March 2011, is having long-term effects on children. We planned this study to describe the trajectories of emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems in children and to examine potential risks and protective factors [...] Read more.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, which occurred in March 2011, is having long-term effects on children. We planned this study to describe the trajectories of emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems in children and to examine potential risks and protective factors over the 35 months following the accident. The sample was 11,791 children in the first to sixth elementary grades. We identified four patterns for emotional symptoms and three patterns for peer relationship problems, using group-based trajectory modelling. For emotional symptoms, female gender, experience of tsunami and nuclear plant accident, out-of-prefecture evacuees, and insufficient physical activity were associated with the very severe trajectory. In contrast, for peer relationship problems, male gender, experience of nuclear plant accident, and insufficient physical activity were associated with the very severe trajectory. Different factors might be related to the very severe trajectories of emotional symptoms and peer relationship problems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Preparedness for and Response to Nuclear Disasters)

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16 pages, 827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Smoking Ban on Passive Smoke Exposure in Pregnant Non-Smokers in the Southeastern United States

by Julia C. Schechter^1,*, Bernard F. Fuemmeler², Cathrine Hoyo³, Susan K. Murphy⁴, Junfeng (Jim) Zhang⁵ and Scott H. Kollins¹

¹ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, 2608 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27705, USA

² Health Behavior and Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University, PO Box 980430, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

³ Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7633, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA

⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 91012, Durham, NC 27708, USA

⁵ Nicholas School of the Environment & Duke Global Health Institute, 308 Research Drive, Durham, NC 27701, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010083 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9790

Abstract

Prenatal passive smoke exposure raises risk for negative birth outcomes. Legislation regulating public smoking has been shown to impact exposure levels, though fewer studies involving pregnant women have been conducted within the U.S. where bans are inconsistent across regions. This study examined the [...] Read more.

Prenatal passive smoke exposure raises risk for negative birth outcomes. Legislation regulating public smoking has been shown to impact exposure levels, though fewer studies involving pregnant women have been conducted within the U.S. where bans are inconsistent across regions. This study examined the effect of a ban enacted in the southeastern U.S. on pregnant women’s cotinine levels. Additional analyses compared self-reported exposure to cotinine and identified characteristics associated with passive exposure. Pregnant women (N = 851) were recruited prospectively between 2005 and 2011 in North Carolina. Sociodemographic and health data were collected via surveys; maternal blood samples were assayed for cotinine. Among non-active smokers who provided self-report data regarding passive exposure (N = 503), 20% were inconsistent with corresponding cotinine. Among all non-smokers (N = 668), being unmarried, African American, and less educated were each associated with greater passive exposure. Controlling for covariates, mean cotinine was higher prior to the ban compared to after, F(1, 640) = 24.65, p < 0.001. Results suggest that banning smoking in public spaces may reduce passive smoke exposure for non-smoking pregnant women. These data are some of the first to examine the impact of legislation on passive smoke exposure in pregnant women within the U.S. using a biomarker and can inform policy in regions lacking comprehensive smoke-free legislation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maternal and Child Health 2018)

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19 pages, 1488 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighborhood Perceptions and Cumulative Impacts of Low Level Chronic Exposure to Fine Particular Matter (PM_2.5) on Cardiopulmonary Health

by Kristen M. C. Malecki^1,*

, Amy A. Schultz¹ and Rachel S. Bergmans²

¹ Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 610 N. Walnut Street, Madison, WI 53726, USA

² Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010084 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5428

Abstract

Adverse perceptions of neighborhood safety, aesthetics and quality including access to resources can induce stress and may make individuals more sensitive to cardiopulmonary effects of air pollution exposure. Few studies have examined neighborhood perceptions as important and modifiable non-chemical stressors of the built [...] Read more.

Adverse perceptions of neighborhood safety, aesthetics and quality including access to resources can induce stress and may make individuals more sensitive to cardiopulmonary effects of air pollution exposure. Few studies have examined neighborhood perceptions as important and modifiable non-chemical stressors of the built environment that may exacerbate effects of air pollution on cardiopulmonary health outcomes, particularly among general population based cohorts. This study examined associations between low-level chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) and cardiopulmonary health, and the potential mediating or modifying effects of adverse neighborhood perceptions. Using data from the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), 2230 non-asthmatic adults age 21–74 were included in the analyses. The overall goals of this study were to assess if individuals who experience stress from neighborhood environments in which they live were more sensitive to low levels of fine particular matter (PM_2.5 μg/m³). Demographic predictors of air pollution exposure included younger age, non-White race, lower education and middle class income. After adjustments, objective lung function measures (FEV1 and FEV1 to FVC ratio) were the only cardiopulmonary health indicators significantly associated with chronic three-year annual averages of PM_2.5. Among all non-asthmatics, a ten unit increase in estimated three year annual average PM_2.5 exposure was significantly associated with lower forced expiratory volume (L) in one second FEV1 (β = −0.40 μg/L; 95% CI −0.45, −0.06). Among all individuals, adverse perceptions of the neighborhood built environment did not appear to statistically moderate or mediate associations. However, stratified analysis did reveal significant associations between PM_2.5 and lung function (FEV1) only among individuals with negative perceptions and increased reports of neighborhood stressors. These findings included individuals who felt their neighborhoods were poorly maintained (β = −0.82; 95% CI −1.35, −0.28), experienced stress from crime (β = −0.45; 95% CI −0.94, 0.04) or reported neighborhood is not well maintained (β = −1.13, CI −2.04, −0.24). These significant associations were similar for FEV1 to FVC ratio. Multi-pronged approaches addressing both neighborhood built environment aesthetics and air pollution regulation may be necessary to protect vulnerable and susceptible individuals and reduce persistent inequalities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Determinants of Health Inequities and Prevention)

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16 pages, 2440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) Pollution at a Rural Industrial Wasteland in an Abandoned Metallurgy Factory in North China

by Zheng Sun

and Jiajun Chen^*

Key Laboratory for Water and Sediment Sciences of Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 85; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010085 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 6261

Abstract

The potential toxic elements (PTEs) pollution problems in many rural industrial wastelands have been observed to be conspicuous. Therefore, 40 top soil samples were collected from the wasteland of a typical rural metallurgy factory in Baoding, China. The total concentrations of six key [...] Read more.

The potential toxic elements (PTEs) pollution problems in many rural industrial wastelands have been observed to be conspicuous. Therefore, 40 top soil samples were collected from the wasteland of a typical rural metallurgy factory in Baoding, China. The total concentrations of six key PTEs were measured. The soil properties and speciation of the PTEs were also identified. Extremely high concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn were observed in the surface soils. Using the PTEs concentration in the top soils of the rural industrial wasteland, the following indices of pollution were calculated: the pollution load index (PLI), the geo-accumulation Index (I_geo), the risk assessment code (RAC), and the health risk assessment (HRA). The analysis of the PLI and I_geo indicated that site #1 was relatively clean, while sites #2 and #3 were heavily polluted. The results of the RAC showed that PTEs in top soils at sites #2 and #3 were significantly increased (p < 0.05) for Cd and Zn. The HRA indicated that both As and Pb presented non-carcinogenic risks to children and adults at sites #2 and #3. Our findings can be a reference for risk prevention of industrially abandoned land in rural China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Environmental Risk Assessment)

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17 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Location–Routing Problem for Cold Chain Logistics Considering Carbon Footprint

by Songyi Wang¹

, Fengming Tao^1,2,* and Yuhe Shi³

¹ College of Mechanical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

² School of Economics and Business Administration, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China

³ School of Transportation and Logistics, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 86; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010086 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 151 | Viewed by 13207

Abstract

In order to solve the optimization problem of logistics distribution system for fresh food, this paper provides a low-carbon and environmental protection point of view, based on the characteristics of perishable products, and combines with the overall optimization idea of cold chain logistics [...] Read more.

In order to solve the optimization problem of logistics distribution system for fresh food, this paper provides a low-carbon and environmental protection point of view, based on the characteristics of perishable products, and combines with the overall optimization idea of cold chain logistics distribution network, where the green and low-carbon location–routing problem (LRP) model in cold chain logistics is developed with the minimum total costs as the objective function, which includes carbon emission costs. A hybrid genetic algorithm with heuristic rules is designed to solve the model, and an example is used to verify the effectiveness of the algorithm. Furthermore, the simulation results obtained by a practical numerical example show the applicability of the model while provide green and environmentally friendly location-distribution schemes for the cold chain logistics enterprise. Finally, carbon tax policies are introduced to analyze the impact of carbon tax on the total costs and carbon emissions, which proves that carbon tax policy can effectively reduce carbon dioxide emissions in cold chain logistics network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Models in Green Growth and Sustainable Development)

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8 pages, 803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing U.S. Injury Death Estimates from GBD 2015 and CDC WONDER

by Yue Wu¹

, Xunjie Cheng², Peishan Ning², Peixia Cheng², David C. Schwebel³

and Guoqing Hu^2,*

¹ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, China

² Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, China

³ Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010087 - 7 Jan 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4651

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine consistency in injury death statistics from the United States CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) with those from GBD 2015 estimates. Methods: Differences in deaths and the percent [...] Read more.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine consistency in injury death statistics from the United States CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) with those from GBD 2015 estimates. Methods: Differences in deaths and the percent difference in deaths between GBD 2015 and CDC WONDER were assessed, as were changes in deaths between 2000 and 2015 for the two datasets. Results: From 2000 to 2015, GBD 2015 estimates for the U.S. injury deaths were somewhat higher than CDC WONDER estimates in most categories, with the exception of deaths from falls and from forces of nature, war, and legal intervention in 2015. Encouragingly, the difference in total injury deaths between the two data sources narrowed from 44,897 (percent difference in deaths = 41%) in 2000 to 34,877 (percent difference in deaths = 25%) in 2015. Differences in deaths and percent difference in deaths between the two data sources varied greatly across injury cause and over the assessment years. The two data sources present consistent changes in direction from 2000 to 2015 for all injury causes except for forces of nature, war, and legal intervention, and adverse effects of medical treatment. Conclusions: We conclude that further studies are warranted to interpret the inconsistencies in data and develop estimation approaches that increase the consistency of the two datasets. Full article

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13 pages, 478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Annual Direct Medical Costs of Diabetic Foot Disease in Brazil: A Cost of Illness Study

by Cristiana M. Toscano^1,*

, Tatiana H. Sugita¹

, Michelle Q. M. Rosa²

, Hermelinda C. Pedrosa³

, Roger Dos S. Rosa⁴

and Luciana R. Bahia²

¹ Collective Health Department, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás 74605-050, Brazil

² Internal Medicine Department, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20551-030, Brazil

³ Regional Hospital of Taguatinga, Brasilia 72120-970, Brazil

⁴ Social Medicine Department, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-003, Brazil

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010089 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 8988

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the annual costs for the treatment of diabetic foot disease (DFD) in Brazil. We conducted a cost-of-illness study of DFD in 2014, while considering the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (SUS) perspective. Direct medical costs of [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to estimate the annual costs for the treatment of diabetic foot disease (DFD) in Brazil. We conducted a cost-of-illness study of DFD in 2014, while considering the Brazilian Public Healthcare System (SUS) perspective. Direct medical costs of outpatient management and inpatient care were considered. For outpatient costs, a panel of experts was convened from which utilization of healthcare services for the management of DFD was obtained. When considering the range of syndromes included in the DFD spectrum, we developed four well-defined hypothetical DFD cases: (1) peripheral neuropathy without ulcer, (2) non-infected foot ulcer, (3) infected foot ulcer, and (4) clinical management of amputated patients. Quantities of each healthcare service was then multiplied by their respective unit costs obtained from national price listings. We then developed a decision analytic tree to estimate nationwide costs of DFD in Brazil, while taking into the account the estimated cost per case and considering epidemiologic parameters obtained from a national survey, secondary data, and the literature. For inpatient care, ICD10 codes related to DFD were identified and costs of hospitalizations due to osteomyelitis, amputations, and other selected DFD related conditions were obtained from a nationwide hospitalization database. Direct medical costs of DFD in Brazil was estimated considering the 2014 purchasing power parity (PPP) (1 Int$ = 1.748 BRL). We estimated that the annual direct medical costs of DFD in 2014 was Int$ 361 million, which denotes 0.31% of public health expenses for this period. Of the total, Int$ 27.7 million (13%) was for inpatient, and Int$ 333.5 million (87%) for outpatient care. Despite using different methodologies to estimate outpatient and inpatient costs related to DFD, this is the first study to assess the overall economic burden of DFD in Brazil, while considering all of its syndromes and both outpatients and inpatients. Although we have various reasons to believe that the hospital costs are underestimated, the estimated DFD burden is significant. As such, public health preventive strategies to reduce DFD related morbidity and mortality and costs are of utmost importance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economic Causes and Impacts of Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Conditions)

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10 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Characteristics of Refractive Errors in a Population of Adults in the Central Region of Poland

by Michal S. Nowak^1,*

, Piotr Jurowski², Andrzej Grzybowski³ and Janusz Smigielski⁴

¹ Provisus Eye Clinic, 112 Redzinska str., 42-209 Czestochowa, Poland

² Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, 113 Zeromskiego str., 90-549 Lodz, Poland

³ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Warmia and Mazury, 30 Warszawska str., 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland

⁴ Department of Statistics, State University of Applied Science in Konin, 1 Przyjazni str., 65-510 Konin, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010090 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5793

Abstract

Background: To investigate the distribution of refractive errors and their characteristics in older adults from a Polish population. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study. A total of 1107 men and women were interviewed and underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations, 998 [...] Read more.

Background: To investigate the distribution of refractive errors and their characteristics in older adults from a Polish population. Methods: The study design was a cross-sectional study. A total of 1107 men and women were interviewed and underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations, 998 subjects underwent refraction. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent (SER) refraction ≤−0.5 dioptres (D) and hyperopia was defined as SER ≥+0.5 dioptres (D). Results: Among those who were refracted the distribution of myopia and hyperopia was 24.1% (95% CI 21.4–26.7) and 37.5% (95% CI 34.5–40.5), respectively. Myopia decreased from 28.7% in subjects aged 35–59 years to 19.3% in those aged 60 years or older and hyperopia increased from 21.8% at 35–59 years of age to 53.3% in subjects aged ≥60 years. Multiple regression analysis showed decreasing age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.00), female gender (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.18–2.95) and presence of cataract (OR 2.40, 95% CI 1.24–4.63) were independent risk factors associated with myopia. Conclusions: The distribution of refractive errors found in our study is similar to those reported in other Caucasian populations and differs from Asian populations. Myopia was positively associated with younger age, female gender and presence of cataract. Full article

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12 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change Risk Perception in Taiwan: Correlation with Individual and Societal Factors

by Yingying Sun¹ and Ziqiang Han^1,2,*

¹ Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610200, China

² Center for Crisis Management Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010091 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 68 | Viewed by 10559

Abstract

This study differentiates the risk perception and influencing factors of climate change along the dimensions of global severity and personal threat. Using the 2013 Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSGS) data (N = 2001) as a representative sample of adults from Taiwan, we investigated [...] Read more.

This study differentiates the risk perception and influencing factors of climate change along the dimensions of global severity and personal threat. Using the 2013 Taiwan Social Change Survey (TSGS) data (N = 2001) as a representative sample of adults from Taiwan, we investigated the influencing factors of the risk perceptions of climate change in these two dimensions (global severity and personal threat). Logistic regression models were used to examine the correlations of individual factors (gender, age, education, climate-related disaster experience and risk awareness, marital status, employment status, household income, and perceived social status) and societal factors (religion, organizational embeddedness, and political affiliations) with the above two dimensions. The results demonstrate that climate-related disaster experience has no significant impact on either the perception of global severity or the perception of personal impact. However, climate-related risk awareness (regarding typhoons, in particular) is positively associated with both dimensions of the perceived risks of climate change. With higher education, individuals are more concerned about global severity than personal threat. Regarding societal factors, the supporters of political parties have higher risk perceptions of climate change than people who have no party affiliation. Religious believers have higher risk perceptions of personal threat than non-religious people. This paper ends with a discussion about the effectiveness of efforts to enhance risk perception of climate change with regard to global severity and personal threat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change and Health: An Interdisciplinary Perspective)

11 pages, 318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Problematic Smartphone Use, Deep and Surface Approaches to Learning, and Social Media Use in Lectures

by Dmitri Rozgonjuk^1,2,*, Kristiina Saal¹ and Karin Täht¹

¹ Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu 50409, Estonia

² Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010092 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 76 | Viewed by 17137

Abstract

Several studies have shown that problematic smartphone use (PSU) is related to detrimental outcomes, such as worse psychological well-being, higher cognitive distraction, and poorer academic outcomes. In addition, many studies have shown that PSU is strongly related to social media use. Despite this, [...] Read more.

Several studies have shown that problematic smartphone use (PSU) is related to detrimental outcomes, such as worse psychological well-being, higher cognitive distraction, and poorer academic outcomes. In addition, many studies have shown that PSU is strongly related to social media use. Despite this, the relationships between PSU, as well as the frequency of social media use in lectures, and different approaches to learning have not been previously studied. In our study, we hypothesized that both PSU and the frequency of social media use in lectures are negatively correlated with a deep approach to learning (defined as learning for understanding) and positively correlated with a surface approach to learning (defined as superficial learning). The study participants were 415 Estonian university students aged 19–46 years (78.8% females; age M = 23.37, SD = 4.19); the effective sample comprised 405 participants aged 19–46 years (79.0% females; age M = 23.33, SD = 4.21). In addition to basic socio-demographics, participants were asked about the frequency of their social media use in lectures, and they filled out the Estonian Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale and the Estonian Revised Study Process Questionnaire. Bivariate correlation analysis showed that PSU and the frequency of social media use in lectures were negatively correlated with a deep approach to learning and positively correlated with a surface approach to learning. Mediation analysis showed that social media use in lectures completely mediates the relationship between PSU and approaches to learning. These results indicate that the frequency of social media use in lectures might explain the relationships between poorer academic outcomes and PSU. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internet and Mobile Phone Addiction: Health and Educational Effects)

12 pages, 712 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Blood Lead Levels and Risk Factors for Lead Exposure in a Pediatric Population in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

by Deborah Havens^1,2,*, Minh Hong Pham³, Catherine J. Karr¹ and William E. Daniell¹

¹ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

² Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK

³ Children’s Hospital #2, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010093 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6246

Abstract

Although lead recycling activities are a known risk factor for elevated blood levels in South East Asia, little is known regarding the prevalence of and risk factors for elevated blood lead levels (BLL) among the general pediatric population in Vietnam. This study is [...] Read more.

Although lead recycling activities are a known risk factor for elevated blood levels in South East Asia, little is known regarding the prevalence of and risk factors for elevated blood lead levels (BLL) among the general pediatric population in Vietnam. This study is a cross-sectional evaluation of 311 children from Children’s Hospital #2 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Capillary blood lead testing was performed using the LeadCare II. Mean BLLs were 4.97 μg/dL (Standard Deviation (SD) 5.50), with 7% of the participants having levels greater than 10 μg/dL. Living in Bing Duong province (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.4–5.6.1) or the Dong Nai province (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0–5.1) and having an age greater than 12 months (OR 6.0, 95% CI 3.1–11.8) were associated with higher BLLs. The prevalence of elevated BLLs in Vietnam is consistent with other SE Asian countries. Mean BLLs in Ho Chi Minh City are markedly less than those seen in a separate study of children living near lead recycling activities. Additional evaluation is necessary to better detail potential risk factors if screening is to be implemented within Vietnam. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Children’s Environmental Health)

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13 pages, 1153 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predictors of a Change and Correlation in Activities of Daily Living after Hip Fracture in Elderly Patients in a Community Hospital in Poland: A Six-Month Prospective Cohort Study

by Maria Ganczak^1,*, Krzysztof Chrobrowski² and Marcin Korzeń³

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Management, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, Zolnierska 48, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland

² Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology Ward, Multidisciplinary District Hospital, Dekerta 1, 66-400 Gorzów Wlkp, Poland

³ Department of Methods of Artificial Intelligence and Applied Mathematics, Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology, West Pomeranian University of Technology Szczecin, Zolnierska 46, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010095 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5451

Abstract

Objectives: The consequences of hip fractures (HFs) in elderly persons include a deterioration in functional capacity to perform activities that enable independent living. Since prior research into this issue in Central Europe is rather scant, this study sought to assess the change in [...] Read more.

Objectives: The consequences of hip fractures (HFs) in elderly persons include a deterioration in functional capacity to perform activities that enable independent living. Since prior research into this issue in Central Europe is rather scant, this study sought to assess the change in activities and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/IADL) after HF surgery among Polish patients, to study predictors of regaining pre-fracture functional status three and six months later, and to evaluate the correlation between ADL and IADL limitations over time. Methods: A prospective study was conducted between 2011 and 2013 in a tertiary hospital in Western Poland. ADL/IADL were evaluated using the Katz index and Lawton scale, respectively. Results: About half (50.8%) of 120 patients (mean age 80.1 ± SD 7.59) had cognitive impairment (CI). Patients with CI were older (p = 0.002) and had lower scores for pre-fracture ADL/IADL (p = 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). Six months after HF, 33.3% of patients failed to return to their pre-fracture ADL and 62.5% failed to return to pre-fracture IADL; 20% of those who could walk before HF were unable to walk after six months. The pre-fracture Spearman correlation coefficient between ADL and IADL summary scores was 0.46; it increased to 0.70 at three months after HF surgery and 0.77 at six months (p < 0.0001). Regaining ADL after six months was more likely in patients with pre-fracture intact intellectual function and independence in pre-fracture ADL; regaining IADL, in younger patients and those with higher pre-fracture IADL scores. Conclusions: Impairment in functional performance is common after HF surgery. ADL and IADL were strongly correlated in these patients, with this increasing over time. Functional outcomes after HF were more dependent on patient characteristics than treatment-related factors. Therefore, more emphasis should be directed towards the pre-fracture period and, in particular, maintaining cognitive function and preserving functional capacity in older persons at high risk of HF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

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13 pages, 555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Age and Hearing Impairment on Work Performance during Long Working Hours

by Verena Wagner-Hartl^1,2,*

, Nina R. Grossi^1,3 and K. Wolfgang Kallus¹

¹ Department of Psychology, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria

² Faculty Industrial Technologies, Campus Tuttlingen, Furtwangen University, 78532 Tuttlingen, Germany

³ Department of Work Organizational and Media Psychology, Johannes Kepler University Linz, 4040 Linz, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010098 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6270

Abstract

Based on demographic prognoses, it must be assumed that a greater number of older workers will be found in the future labor market. How to deal with their possible age-related impairments of sensory functions, like hearing impairment and work performance during extended working [...] Read more.

Based on demographic prognoses, it must be assumed that a greater number of older workers will be found in the future labor market. How to deal with their possible age-related impairments of sensory functions, like hearing impairment and work performance during extended working time, has not been addressed explicitly until now. The study addresses this interplay. The study was performed on two consecutive days after normal working hours. The 55 participants had to “work” in the study at least three additional hours to simulate a situation of long working hours. The tested measures for (job) performance were: general attention, long-term selective attention, concentration, and reaction time. All of the investigated variables were taken at both days of the study (2 × 2 × 2 repeated measurement design). The results show effects for age, the interaction of hearing impairment and time of measurement, and effects of the measurement time. Older participants reacted slower than younger participants did. Furthermore, younger participants reacted more frequently in a correct way. Hearing impairment seems to have a negative impact especially on measures of false reactions, and therefore especially on measurement time 1. The results can be interpreted in a way that hearing-impaired participants are able to compensate their deficits over time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Safety and Health)

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21 pages, 12269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial and Seasonal Dynamics of Water Environmental Capacity in Mountainous Rivers of the Southeastern Coast, China

by Qiankun Liu¹

, Jingang Jiang¹, Changwei Jing^2,* and Jiaguo Qi^3,*

¹ Ocean Colleage, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 310058, China

² School of Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310018, China

³ Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010099 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4452

Abstract

The south-east littoral is one of the most populous and developed regions in China suffering from serious water pollution problems, and the Xian-Jiang Basin in the mid of this region is among the most polluted watersheds. Critical information is needed but lacking for [...] Read more.

The south-east littoral is one of the most populous and developed regions in China suffering from serious water pollution problems, and the Xian-Jiang Basin in the mid of this region is among the most polluted watersheds. Critical information is needed but lacking for improved pollution control and water quality assessment, among which water environmental capacity (WEC) is the most important variable but is difficult to calculate. In this study, a one-dimensional water quality model combined with a matrix calculation algorithm was first developed and calibrated with in-situ observations in the Xian-Jiang basin. Then, the model was applied to analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of WEC of the entire basin. The results indicated that, in 2015, the total pollutant discharges into the river reached 6719.68 t/yr, 488.12 t/yr, and 128.57 t/yr for COD, NH₃-N and TP, respectively. The spatial pattern suggested a strong correlation between these water contaminants and industrial enterprises, residential areas, and land-use types in the basin. Furthermore, it was noticed that there was a significant seasonal pattern in WEC that the dry season pollution is much greater than that in the plum season, while that in the typhoon season appears to be the weakest among all seasons. The WEC differed significantly among the 24 sub-basins during the dry season but varied to a smaller extent in other seasons, suggesting differential complex spatial-temporal dependency of the WEC. Full article

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12 pages, 463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying Dietary Patterns Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment in Older Korean Adults Using Reduced Rank Regression

by Dayeon Shin¹

, Kyung Won Lee²

, Mi-Hye Kim³, Hung Ju Kim⁴, Yun Sook An⁴ and Hae-Kyung Chung^3,*

¹ Department of Public Health, Food Studies and Nutrition, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA

² Division of Epidemiology and Health Index, Center for Genome Science, Korea National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju-si 28160, Korea

³ Department of Food and Nutrition, Hoseo University, Asan, Chungnam 31499, Korea

⁴ Department of Social Welfare, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 100; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010100 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5583

Abstract

Diet plays a crucial role in cognitive function. Few studies have examined the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive functions of older adults in the Korean population. This study aimed to identify the effect of dietary patterns on the risk of mild cognitive [...] Read more.

Diet plays a crucial role in cognitive function. Few studies have examined the relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive functions of older adults in the Korean population. This study aimed to identify the effect of dietary patterns on the risk of mild cognitive impairment. A total of 239 participants, including 88 men and 151 women, aged 65 years and older were selected from health centers in the district of Seoul, Gyeonggi province, and Incheon, in Korea. Dietary patterns were determined using Reduced Rank Regression (RRR) methods with responses regarding vitamin B6, vitamin C, and iron intakes, based on both a one-day 24-h recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Cognitive function was assessed using the Korean-Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between dietary pattern score and the risk of mild cognitive impairment. A total of 20 (8%) out of the 239 participants had mild cognitive impairment. Three dietary patterns were identified: seafood and vegetables, high meat, and bread, ham, and alcohol. Among the three dietary patterns, the older adult population who adhered to the seafood and vegetables pattern, characterized by high intake of seafood, vegetables, fruits, bread, snacks, soy products, beans, chicken, pork, ham, egg, and milk had a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to those who did not (adjusted odds ratios 0.06, 95% confidence interval 0.01–0.72) after controlling for gender, supplementation, education, history of dementia, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), and duration of sleep. The other two dietary patterns were not significantly associated with the risk of mild cognitive impairment. In conclusion, high consumption of fruits, vegetables, seafood, and protein foods was significantly associated with reduced mild cognitive impairment in older Korean adults. These results can contribute to the establishment of dietary guidelines targeting older Korean adults to reduce mild cognitive impairments. Future prospective cohort studies are warranted to examine the effect of the seafood and vegetable dietary pattern on reducing mild cognitive impairment to prove the cause–effect relationship between dietary patterns and cognitive function. Full article

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12 pages, 4508 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption Behavior and Mechanism for the Uptake of Fluoride Ions by Reed Residues

by Rong Song^1,2, Shengke Yang^1,2, Haiyang Xu³, Zongzhou Wang^1,2, Yangyang Chen^1,2 and Yanhua Wang^4,*

¹ Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China

² School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710054, China

³ Liaoning Zhongwang Group Co., Ltd., Liaoyang 111003, China

⁴ School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710054, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010101 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4803

Abstract

The adsorption behavior and mechanism for the uptake of fluoride ions by untreated and desugared reed residues (roots, stems and leaves) were studied through adsorption experiments, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and surface area analysis. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of untreated [...] Read more.

The adsorption behavior and mechanism for the uptake of fluoride ions by untreated and desugared reed residues (roots, stems and leaves) were studied through adsorption experiments, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and surface area analysis. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of untreated and desugared reeds followed the order: desugared roots 2136 mg/kg > desugared leaves 1825 mg/kg > desugared stems 1551 mg/kg > untreated roots 191 mg/kg > untreated stems 175 mg/kg > untreated leaves 150 mg/kg, so adsorption capacity of desugared reeds was larger than that of the untreated reeds. The adsorption kinetic of fluoride ions followed a pseudo-first-order model. A Langmuir model could be used to fit the isothermal adsorption process which was a spontaneous endothermic reaction involving mainly physical adsorption. The ΔG for the uptake of fluoride by the desugared reeds was more negative, so the degree of spontaneity was higher than for the use of the untreated reeds. After samples were desugared, the specific surface area and aromaticity of the reed increased, while the polarity and hydrophilicity decreased, which explained the adsorption amount of desugared reed was higher than that of the untreated. This study enriches techniques and methods of removing fluoride ions from water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Proceedings of 2nd International Symposium on Environment Science and Health)

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11 pages, 946 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Preventive Effect of Residential Green Space on Infantile Atopic Dermatitis Associated with Prenatal Air Pollution Exposure

by Ji-Young Lee¹, Dirga Kumar Lamichhane², Myeongjee Lee¹, Shinhee Ye¹, Jung-Hyun Kwon³, Myung-Sook Park⁴

, Hwan-Cheol Kim², Jong-Han Leem², Yun-Chul Hong⁵, Yangho Kim⁶, Mina Ha⁷

and Eunhee Ha^1,*

¹ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Korea

² Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea

³ Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

⁴ Taean Environmental Health Center, Taean 32144, Korea

⁵ Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 02841, Korea

⁶ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Ulsan University Hospital, College of Medicine, University of Ulsan, Ulsan 44033, Korea

⁷ Department of Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010102 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 7136

Abstract

Few birth cohort studies have examined the role of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in the development of infantile atopic dermatitis (AD), but none have investigated the role of preventive factors such as green spaces. The aim of this study was to investigate whether [...] Read more.

Few birth cohort studies have examined the role of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) in the development of infantile atopic dermatitis (AD), but none have investigated the role of preventive factors such as green spaces. The aim of this study was to investigate whether exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM₁₀) during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of development of AD in 6-month-old children and also to examine how this association changes with residential green space. This study used prospective data from 659 participants of the Mothers and Children’s Environmental Health study. Subjects were geocoded to their residential addresses and matched with air pollution data modeled using land-use regression. Information on infantile AD was obtained by using a questionnaire administered to the parents or guardians of the children. The association between infantile AD and exposure to NO₂ and PM₁₀ was determined using logistic regression models. We assessed the effects of residential green spaces using stratified analyses and by entering product terms into the logistic regression models. The risk of infantile AD significantly increased with an increase in air pollution exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 1.219 (1.023–1.452) per 10 μg/m³ increase in PM₁₀ and 1.353 (1.027–1.782) per 10 ppb increase in NO₂. An increase in the green space within 200 m of residence was associated with a decreased risk of AD (OR = 0.996, 95% CI: 0.993–0.999). The stratified analysis of residential green space revealed stronger associations between infantile AD and PM₁₀ and NO₂ exposure during the first trimester in the areas in the lower tertiles of green space. This study indicated that exposure to TRAP during the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with infantile AD. Less residential green space may intensify the association between TRAP exposure and infantile AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maternal and Child Health 2018)

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16 pages, 307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Qualitative Study of HR/OHS Stress Interventions in Australian Universities

by Silvia Pignata^1,2,*

, Anthony H. Winefield^1,3, Carolyn M. Boyd² and Chris Provis⁴

¹ Asia Pacific Centre for Work, Health and Safety, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

² School of Engineering, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

³ School of Psychology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

⁴ School of Management, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010103 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6452

Abstract

To enhance the understanding of psychosocial factors and extend research on work stress interventions, we investigated the key human resource (HR)/occupational health and safety (OHS) stress interventions implemented at five Australian universities over a three-year period. Five senior HR Directors completed an online [...] Read more.

To enhance the understanding of psychosocial factors and extend research on work stress interventions, we investigated the key human resource (HR)/occupational health and safety (OHS) stress interventions implemented at five Australian universities over a three-year period. Five senior HR Directors completed an online survey to identify the intervention strategies taken at their university in order to reduce stress and enhance employee well-being and morale. We also explored the types of individual-, organization-, and individual/organization-directed interventions that were implemented, and the strategies that were prioritized at each university. Across universities, the dominant interventions were strategies that aimed to balance the social exchange in the work contract between employee-organization with an emphasis on initiatives to: enhance training, career development and promotional opportunities; improve remuneration and recognition practices; and to enhance the fairness of organizational policies and procedures. Strategies to improve work-life balance were also prominent. The interventions implemented were predominantly proactive (primary) strategies focused at the organizational level and aimed at eliminating or reducing or altering work stressors. The findings contribute to the improved management of people at work by identifying university-specific HR/OHS initiatives, specifically leadership development and management skills programs which were identified as priorities at three universities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases)

25 pages, 8445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Secretory Response of Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells on Exposure to Mineral Fibers

by Violetta Borelli^*, Elisa Trevisan, Vita Francesca and Giuliano Zabucchi

Department of Life Science University of Trieste, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010104 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5797

Abstract

Background: Exposure to mineral fibers is of substantial relevance to human health. A key event in exposure is the interaction with inflammatory cells and the subsequent generation of pro-inflammatory factors. Mast cells (MCs) have been shown to interact with titanium oxide (TiO₂ [...] Read more.

Background: Exposure to mineral fibers is of substantial relevance to human health. A key event in exposure is the interaction with inflammatory cells and the subsequent generation of pro-inflammatory factors. Mast cells (MCs) have been shown to interact with titanium oxide (TiO₂) and asbestos fibers. In this study, we compared the response of rat peritoneal MCs challenged with the asbestos crocidolite and nanowires of TiO₂ to that induced by wollastonite employed as a control fiber. Methods: Rat peritoneal MCs (RPMCs), isolated from peritoneal lavage, were incubated in the presence of mineral fibers. The quantities of secreted enzymes were evaluated together with the activity of fiber-associated enzymes. The ultrastructural morphology of fiber-interacting RPMCs was analyzed with electron microscopy. Results: Asbestos and TiO₂ stimulate MC secretion. Secreted enzymes bind to fibers and exhibit higher activity. TiO₂ and wollastonite bind and improve enzyme activity, but to a lesser degree than crocidolite. Conclusions: (1) Mineral fibers are able to stimulate the mast cell secretory process by both active (during membrane interaction) and/or passive (during membrane penetration) interaction; (2) fibers can be found to be associated with secreted enzymes—this process appears to create long-lasting pro-inflammatory environments and may represent the active contribution of MCs in maintaining the inflammatory process; (3) MCs and their enzymes should be considered as a therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of asbestos-induced lung inflammation; and (4) MCs can contribute to the inflammatory effect associated with selected engineered nanomaterials, such as TiO₂ nanoparticles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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18 pages, 919 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Modeling Unobserved Heterogeneity in Susceptibility to Ambient Benzo[a]pyrene Concentration among Children with Allergic Asthma Using an Unsupervised Learning Algorithm

by Daniel Fernández^1,2

, Radim J. Sram³, Miroslav Dostal³, Anna Pastorkova³, Hans Gmuender⁴ and Hyunok Choi^5,*

¹ Research and Development Unit, Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, CIBERSAM, Dr. Antoni Pujadas, 42, Sant Boi de Llobregat, 08830 Barcelona, Spain

² School of Mathematics and Statistics, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand

³ Department of Genetic Ecotoxicology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, v.v.i., Vídeňská 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic

⁴ Genedata AG, Margarethenstrasse 38, CH-4053 Basel, Switzerland

⁵ Departments of Environmental Health Sciences, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics State University of New York at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010106 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4463

Abstract

Current studies of gene × air pollution interaction typically seek to identify unknown heritability of common complex illnesses arising from variability in the host’s susceptibility to environmental pollutants of interest. Accordingly, a single component generalized linear models are often used to model the [...] Read more.

Current studies of gene × air pollution interaction typically seek to identify unknown heritability of common complex illnesses arising from variability in the host’s susceptibility to environmental pollutants of interest. Accordingly, a single component generalized linear models are often used to model the risk posed by an environmental exposure variable of interest in relation to a priori determined DNA variants. However, reducing the phenotypic heterogeneity may further optimize such approach, primarily represented by the modeled DNA variants. Here, we reduce phenotypic heterogeneity of asthma severity, and also identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with phenotype subgroups. Specifically, we first apply an unsupervised learning algorithm method and a non-parametric regression to find a biclustering structure of children according to their allergy and asthma severity. We then identify a set of SNPs most closely correlated with each sub-group. We subsequently fit a logistic regression model for each group against the healthy controls using benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) as a representative airborne carcinogen. Application of such approach in a case-control data set shows that SNP clustering may help to partly explain heterogeneity in children’s asthma susceptibility in relation to ambient B[a]P concentration with greater efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Chemical Mixture at Low Concentration and Children’s Health)

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14 pages, 292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Parents’ Perspectives on Family Sexuality Communication from Middle School to High School

by Jennifer M. Grossman^*, Lisa J. Jenkins and Amanda M. Richer

Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010107 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 10927

Abstract

Parents’ conversations with teens about sex and relationships can play a critical role in improving teenage reproductive health by reducing teens’ risky sexual behavior. However, little is known about how teen-parent communication changes from early to middle adolescence and how parents can tailor [...] Read more.

Parents’ conversations with teens about sex and relationships can play a critical role in improving teenage reproductive health by reducing teens’ risky sexual behavior. However, little is known about how teen-parent communication changes from early to middle adolescence and how parents can tailor their communication to address their teens’ changing development and experiences during these periods. In this longitudinal qualitative study, U.S. parents (N = 23) participated in interviews when their teens were in early adolescence, then again when the teens were in middle adolescence. Participants were largely mothers and were from diverse racial/ethnic and educational backgrounds. Thematic analysis was used to assess continuity and change in parents’ perceptions of teen-parent communication. Findings showed that many parents adapted their conversations with their teens about sex and relationships as teens developed. Once teens had entered high school, more parents described feeling comfortable with their conversations. However, parents also more often reported that their teens responded negatively to the communication in high school than they had in middle school. These findings may help parents to anticipate their own as well as their teens’ responses to family conversations about sex at different developmental time points and to strategize how to effectively talk with their teens about sex and relationships to improve their teens’ overall reproductive health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teenage Reproductive Health: Pregnancy, Contraception, Unsafe Abortion, Fertility)

8 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Preliminary Analyses Showed Short-Term Mental Health Improvements after a Single-Day Manager Training

by Elena Boysen^1,*, Birgitta Schiller², Kathrin Mörtl², Harald Gündel¹ and Michael Hölzer³

¹ Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany

² Department of Psychotherapy Science, Sigmund Freud University Vienna, 1020 Vienna, Austria

³ Sonnenberg Klinik GgmbH, 70597 Stuttgart, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010108 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4115

Abstract

Psychosocial working conditions attract more and more attention when it comes to mental health in the workplace. Trying to support managers to deal with their own as well as their employees’ psychological risk factors, we conducted a specific manager training. Within this investigation, [...] Read more.

Psychosocial working conditions attract more and more attention when it comes to mental health in the workplace. Trying to support managers to deal with their own as well as their employees’ psychological risk factors, we conducted a specific manager training. Within this investigation, we wanted to learn about the training’s effects and acceptance. A single-day manager training was provided in a large industrial company in Germany. The participants were asked to fill out questionnaires regarding their own physical and mental health condition as well as their working situation. Questionnaires were distributed at baseline, 3-month, and 12-month follow-up. At this point of time the investigation is still ongoing. The current article focuses on short-term preliminary effects. Analyses only included participants that already completed baseline and three months follow-up. Preliminary results from three-month follow-up survey (n = 33, nmale = 30, Mage = 47.5) indicated positive changes in the manager’s mental health condition measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire for depression (PHQ-9: Mt1 = 3.82, Mt2 = 3.15). Training managers about common mental disorders and risk factors at the workplace within a single-day workshop seems to promote positive effects on their own mental health. Especially working with the managers on their own early stress symptoms might have been an important element. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Safety and Health)

19 pages, 4479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community Characteristics and Leaf Stoichiometric Traits of Desert Ecosystems Regulated by Precipitation and Soil in an Arid Area of China

by Xiaolong Zhang^1,2

, Tianyu Guan^1,2, Jihua Zhou^1,2, Wentao Cai^1,2, Nannan Gao^1,2, Hui Du¹, Lianhe Jiang¹, Liming Lai¹ and Yuanrun Zheng^1,*

¹ Key Laboratory of Plant Resources, West China Subalpine Botanical Garden, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093, China

² College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010109 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4775

Abstract

Precipitation is a key environmental factor determining plant community structure and function. Knowledge of how community characteristics and leaf stoichiometric traits respond to variation in precipitation is crucial for assessing the effects of global changes on terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we measured [...] Read more.

Precipitation is a key environmental factor determining plant community structure and function. Knowledge of how community characteristics and leaf stoichiometric traits respond to variation in precipitation is crucial for assessing the effects of global changes on terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we measured community characteristics, leaf stoichiometric traits, and soil properties along a precipitation gradient (35–209 mm) in a desert ecosystem of Northwest China to explore the drivers of these factors. With increasing precipitation, species richness, aboveground biomass, community coverage, foliage projective cover (FPC), and leaf area index (LAI) all significantly increased, while community height decreased. The hyperarid desert plants were characterized by lower leaf carbon (C) and nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) levels, and stable N and P, and these parameters did not change significantly with precipitation. The growth of desert plants was limited more by N than P. Soil properties, rather than precipitation, were the main drivers of desert plant leaf stoichiometric traits, whereas precipitation made the biggest contribution to vegetation structure and function. These results test the importance of precipitation in regulating plant community structure and composition together with soil properties, and provide further insights into the adaptive strategy of communities at regional scale in response to global climate change. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)

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14 pages, 327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

STI Knowledge in Berlin Adolescents

by Frederik Tilmann Von Rosen^1,2,*,†

, Antonella Juline Von Rosen^1,2,†, Falk Müller-Riemenschneider^1,3, Inken Damberg² and Peter Tinnemann^1,4

¹ Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics, 10117 Berlin, Germany

² Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany

³ Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117549, Singapore

⁴ Akademie für Öffentliches Gesundheitswesen, 40472 Düsseldorf, Germany

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010110 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 7330

Abstract

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a significant threat to individual and public health. They disproportionately affect adolescents and young adults. In a cross-sectional study, we assessed self-rated and factual STI knowledge in a sample of 9th graders in 13 secondary schools in Berlin, [...] Read more.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a significant threat to individual and public health. They disproportionately affect adolescents and young adults. In a cross-sectional study, we assessed self-rated and factual STI knowledge in a sample of 9th graders in 13 secondary schools in Berlin, Germany. Differences by age, gender, migrant background, and school type were quantified using bivariate and multivariable analyses. A total of 1177 students in 61 classes participated. The mean age was 14.6 (SD = 0.7), 47.5% were female, and 52.9% had at least one immigrant parent. Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was widespread, but other STIs were less known. For example, 46.2% had never heard of chlamydia, 10.8% knew of the HPV vaccination, and only 2.2% were aware that no cure exists for HPV infection. While boys were more likely to describe their knowledge as good, there was no general gender superiority in factual knowledge. Children of immigrants and students in the least academic schools had lower knowledge overall. Our results show that despite their particular risk to contract an STI, adolescents suffer from suboptimal levels of knowledge on STIs beyond HIV. Urgent efforts needed to improve adolescent STI knowledge in order to improve the uptake of primary and secondary prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Teenage Reproductive Health: Pregnancy, Contraception, Unsafe Abortion, Fertility)

16 pages, 1080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

CRP Genotypes Predict Increased Risk to Co-Present with Low Vitamin D and Elevated CRP in a Group of Healthy Black South African Women

by Pieter H. Myburgh^1,*

, G. Wayne Towers², Iolanthé M. Kruger²

and Cornelie Nienaber-Rousseau¹

¹ Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, North-West University, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom 2520, North West Province, South Africa

² Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research (AUTHeR), North-West University, 11 Hoffman Street, Potchefstroom 2520, North West Province, South Africa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010111 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5029

Abstract

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are independently associated with adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although an inverse association between these factors has been described, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We postulate that environment–gene interactions, through which [...] Read more.

Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations are independently associated with adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Although an inverse association between these factors has been described, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We postulate that environment–gene interactions, through which 25(OH)D interacts with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the CRP gene, modulate CRP; that certain CRP genotypes predispose individuals to a co-phenotype of low 25(OH)D and elevated CRP concentrations; and that this co-phenotype is associated with higher CVD risk. Twelve CRP SNPs were genotyped, and both 25(OH)D and CRP were quantified, in 505 black South African women. Alarmingly, 66% and 60% of the women presented with deficient/insufficient 25(OH)D and elevated CRP concentrations, respectively. CRP concentrations were higher in individuals with lower 25(OH)D concentrations. However, no 25(OH)D–CRP genotype interactions were evident. Several genotypes were associated with an altered risk of presenting with the co-phenotype, indicating a genetic predisposition. Women presenting with this co-phenotype had higher blood pressure and increased anthropometric measures, which may predispose them to develop CVD. We recommend increasing vitamin D fortification and supplementation efforts to reduce inflammation among black women with vitamin D deficiency, thereby possibly curbing diseases contingent on the co-phenotype described here. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Health Behavior and Public Health)

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16 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incidence, Microbiological Profile and Risk Factors of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Intensive Care Units: A 10 Year Observation in a Provincial Hospital in Southern Poland

by Małgorzata Kołpa¹, Marta Wałaszek¹, Agnieszka Gniadek^2,*

, Zdzisław Wolak¹ and Wiesław Dobroś¹

¹ The Institute of Health Sciences, State Higher Vocational School in Tarnów, ul. Mickiewicza 8, 33-100 Tarnów, Poland

² Department of Nursing Management and Epidemiology Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, ul. Kopernika 25, 31-501 Kraków, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 112; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010112 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 7580

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occurring in patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) are serious complications in the treatment process. Aetiological factors of these infections can have an impact on treatment effects, treatment duration and mortality. The aim of the study was to [...] Read more.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occurring in patients treated in an intensive care unit (ICU) are serious complications in the treatment process. Aetiological factors of these infections can have an impact on treatment effects, treatment duration and mortality. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and microbiological profile of HAIs in patients hospitalized in an ICU over a span of 10 years. The active surveillance method was used to detect HAIs in adult patients who spent over 48 h in a general ICU ward located in southern Poland between 2007 and 2016. The study was conducted in compliance with the methodology recommended by the Healthcare-associated Infections Surveillance Network (HAI-Net) of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). During the 10 years of the study, 1849 patients hospitalized in an ICU for a total of 17,599 days acquired 510 with overall HAIs rates of 27.6% and 29.0% infections per 1000 ICU days. Intubation-associated pneumonia (IAP) posed the greatest risk (15.2 per 1000 ventilator days), followed by CLA-BSI (8.0 per 1000 catheter days) and CA-UTI (3.0 per 1000 catheter days). The most common isolated microorganism was Acinetobacter baumannii (25%) followed by Coagulaase-negativ staphylococci (15%), Escherichia coli (9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (7%), Candida albicans (6%). Acinetobacter baumannii in 87% and were classified as extensive-drug resistant (XDR). In summary, in ICU patients pneumonia and bloodstream infections were the most frequently found. Acinetobacter baumannii strains were most often isolated from clinical materials taken from HAI patients and showed resistance to many groups of antibiotics. A trend of increasing resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii to carbapenems was observed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

11 pages, 1379 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heart Rate Variability Frequency Domain Alterations among Healthy Nurses Exposed to Prolonged Work Stress

by Rossana Borchini^1,2, Giovanni Veronesi¹

, Matteo Bonzini³

, Francesco Gianfagna^1,4, Oriana Dashi⁵ and Marco Mario Ferrario^1,2,*

¹ Research Centre in Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (EPIMED), Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via O Rossi 9-Pad Rossi-1 Piano, 21100 Varese, Italy

² Medicina del Lavoro, Preventiva e Tossicologia, ASST dei Sette laghi di Varese, 21100 Varese, Italy

³ Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy

⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo NEUROMED, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy

⁵ School of Specialization in Occupational Medicine, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 113; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010113 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 6140

Abstract

The deregulation of the autonomic nervous system assessed through the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a promising pathway linking work stress and cardiovascular diseases. We aim to investigate the associations between HRV High Frequency (HF) and Low Frequency (LF) powers and work [...] Read more.

The deregulation of the autonomic nervous system assessed through the heart rate variability (HRV) analysis is a promising pathway linking work stress and cardiovascular diseases. We aim to investigate the associations between HRV High Frequency (HF) and Low Frequency (LF) powers and work stress in a sample of 36 healthy nurses. Perceived work stress was assessed twice one year apart, using the Job Content and Effort Reward Imbalance questionnaires. This allows to classify nurses in three exposure groups: “prolonged high stress” (PHS), “recent high stress” (RHS) and “stable low stress” (SLS). A 24-h ECG monitoring was later performed during a working day (WD) and a subsequent resting day (RD). Statistically significantly lower (p < 0.02) HF and LF means were found in PHS and RHS nurses during the working periods. In the subsequent resting periods, HF means showed increases over time in the RHS (beta = +0.41, p < 0.05), but not in PHS nurses. LF means did not show any substantial increases in the resting periods, in the PHS group with geometric means lower when compared to SLS, in the non-working and resting periods. Our study evidences that both prolonged and recent perceived high work stress were associated with a reduction of HF and LF powers during work. In addition, prolonged stress was associated with a lack of recovery during not-working and resting periods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases)

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15 pages, 15781 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Ground Monitored PM_2.5 Concentrations in China in Recent Years

by Junming Li^1,2

, Xiulan Han^1,*, Xiao Li¹, Jianping Yang¹ and Xuejiao Li¹

¹ School of Statistics, Shanxi University of Finance & Economics, 696 Wucheng Road, Taiyuan 030006, China

² LREIS, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Datun Road 11A, Beijing 10010, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 114; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010114 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4618

Abstract

This paper firstly explores the space-time evolution of city-level

{PM}_{2.5}

concentrations showed a very significant seasonal cycle type fluctuation during the period between 13 May 2014 and 30 May 2017. The period from October to April following each year was a heavy [...] Read more.

This paper firstly explores the space-time evolution of city-level

{PM}_{2.5}

concentrations showed a very significant seasonal cycle type fluctuation during the period between 13 May 2014 and 30 May 2017. The period from October to April following each year was a heavy pollution period, whereas the phase from April to October of the current year was part of a light pollution period. The average monthly

{PM}_{2.5}

concentrations in mainland China based on ground monitoring, employing a descriptive statistics method and a Bayesian spatiotemporal hierarchy model. Daily and weekly average

{PM}_{2.5}

concentrations in 338 cities in mainland China presented no significant spatial difference during the severe pollution period but a large spatial difference during light pollution periods. The severe

{PM}_{2.5}

pollution areas were mainly distributed in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei urban agglomeration in the North China Plain during the beginning of each autumn-winter season (September), spreading to the Northeast Plains after October, then later continuing to spread to other cities in mainland China, eventually covering most cities.

{PM}_{2.5}

pollution in China appeared to be a cyclic characteristic of first spreading and then centralizing in the space in two spring-summer seasons, and showed an obvious process of first diffusing then transferring to shrinkage alternation during the spring-summer season of 2015, but showed no obvious diffusion during the spring-summer season of 2016, maintaining a stable spatial structure after the shrinkage in June, as well as being more concentrated. The heavily polluted areas are continuously and steadily concentrated in East China, Central China and Xinjiang Province. Full article

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14 pages, 688 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibiting the Physiological Stress Effects of a Sustained Attention Task on Shoulder Muscle Activity

by Fiona Wixted^1,*, Cliona O’Riordan² and Leonard O’Sullivan¹

¹ School of Design & Health Research Institute, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland

² Department of Clinical Therapies, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX Limerick, Ireland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010115 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5011

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate if a breathing technique could counteract the effects of hyperventilation due to a sustained attention task on shoulder muscle activity. Background: The trend towards higher levels of automation in industry is increasing. Consequently, manufacturing [...] Read more.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate if a breathing technique could counteract the effects of hyperventilation due to a sustained attention task on shoulder muscle activity. Background: The trend towards higher levels of automation in industry is increasing. Consequently, manufacturing operators often monitor automated process for long periods of their work shift. Prolonged monitoring work requires sustained attention, which is a cognitive process that humans are typically poor at and find stressful. As sustained attention becomes an increasing requirement of manufacturing operators’ job content, the resulting stress experienced could contribute to the onset of many health problems, including work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs). Methods: The SART attention test was completed by a group of participants before and after a breathing intervention exercise. The effects of the abdominal breathing intervention on breathing rate, upper trapezius muscle activity and end-tidal CO₂ were evaluated. Results: The breathing intervention reduced the moderation effect of end-tidal CO₂ on upper trapezius muscle activity. Conclusions: Abdominal breathing could be a useful technique in reducing the effects of sustained attention work on muscular activity. Application: This research can be applied to highly-automated manufacturing industries, where prolonged monitoring of work is widespread and could, in its role as a stressor, be a potential contributor to WRMSDs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases)

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16 pages, 4055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biointeractions of Herbicide Atrazine with Human Serum Albumin: UV-Vis, Fluorescence and Circular Dichroism Approaches

by Meiqing Zhu

, Lijun Wang, Yu Wang, Jie Zhou, Jie Ding, Wei Li, Yue Xin, Shisuo Fan, Zhen Wang and Yi Wang^*

Key Laboratory of Agri-Food Safety of Anhui Province, School of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 116; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010116 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 95 | Viewed by 8172

Abstract

The herbicide atrazine is widely used across the globe, which is a great concern. To investigate its potential toxicity in the human body, human serum albumin (HSA) was selected as a model protein. The interaction between atrazine and HSA was investigated using steady-state [...] Read more.

The herbicide atrazine is widely used across the globe, which is a great concern. To investigate its potential toxicity in the human body, human serum albumin (HSA) was selected as a model protein. The interaction between atrazine and HSA was investigated using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The intrinsic fluorescence of HSA was quenched by the atrazine through a static quenching mechanism. Fluorescence spectra at two excitation wavelengths (280 and 295 nm) showed that the fluorescence quenched in HSA was mainly contributed to by tryptophan residues. In addition, the atrazine bound to HSA, which induced changes in the conformation and secondary structure of HSA and caused an energy transfer. Thermodynamic parameters revealed that this binding is spontaneous. Moreover, electrostatic interactions play a major role in the combination of atrazine and HSA. One atrazine molecule can only bind to one HSA molecule to form a complex, and the atrazine molecule is bound at site II (subdomain IIIA) of HSA. This study furthers the understanding of the potential effects posed by atrazine on humans at the molecular level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Pesticides Exposure)

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16 pages, 2445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Residual Inequity: Assessing the Unintended Consequences of New York City’s Clean Heat Transition

by Daniel Carrión^1,*, W. Victoria Lee¹ and Diana Hernández²

¹ Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street—11th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA

² Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street—9th Floor, New York, NY 10032, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010117 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7737

Abstract

Energy policies and public health are intimately intertwined. In New York City, a series of policies, known as the Clean Heat Program (CHP), were designed to reduce air pollution by banning residual diesel fuel oils, #6 in 2015 and #4 by 2030. This [...] Read more.

Energy policies and public health are intimately intertwined. In New York City, a series of policies, known as the Clean Heat Program (CHP), were designed to reduce air pollution by banning residual diesel fuel oils, #6 in 2015 and #4 by 2030. This measure is expected to yield environmental and public health benefits over time. While there is near-universal compliance with the #6 ban, a substantial number of buildings still use #4. In this paper, geographic analysis and qualitative interviews with stakeholders were used to interrogate the CHP’s policy implementation in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx. A total of 1724 (53%) of all residential residual fuel burning buildings are located in this region. Stakeholders reflected mostly on the need for the program, and overall reactions to its execution. Major findings include that government partnerships with non-governmental organizations were effectively employed. However, weaknesses with the policy were also identified, including missed opportunities for more rapid transitions away from residual fuels, unsuccessful outreach efforts, cost-prohibitive conversion opportunities, and (the perception of) a volatile energy market for clean fuels. Ultimately, this analysis serves as a case study of a unique and innovative urban policy initiative to improve air quality and, consequently, public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Justice Research: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Topics)

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13 pages, 1520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Controlled Release Urea on the Dynamics of Nitrate, Ammonium, and Its Nitrogen Release in Black Soils of Northeast China

by Xin Tong, Xueqin He, Hongwei Duan, Lujia Han and Guangqun Huang^*

Laboratory of Biomass & Bioprocessing Engineering, College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, (East Campus), Beijing 100083, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 119; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010119 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5397

Abstract

Controlled release urea (CRU) is considered to enhance crop yields while alleviating negative environmental problems caused by the hazardous gas emissions that are associated with high concentrations of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in black soils. Short-term [...] Read more.

Controlled release urea (CRU) is considered to enhance crop yields while alleviating negative environmental problems caused by the hazardous gas emissions that are associated with high concentrations of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) in black soils. Short-term effects of sulfur-coated urea (SCU) and polyurethane-coated urea (PCU), compared with conventional urea, on NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ in black soils were studied through the buried bag experiment conducted in an artificial climate chamber. We also investigated nitrogen (N) release kinetics of CRU and correlations between the cumulative N release rate and concentrations of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺. CRU can reduce concentrations of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺, and PCU was more effective in maintaining lower soil NO₃⁻/NH₄⁺ ratios than SCU and U. Parabolic equation could describe the kinetics of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ treated with PCU. The Elovich equation could describe the kinetics of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ treated with SCU. The binary linear regression model was established to predict N release from PCU because of significant correlations between the cumulative N release rate and concentrations of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺. These results provided a methodology and data support for characterizing and predicting the N release from PCU in black soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)

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10 pages, 500 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Association between Fetal Adipokines and Child Behavioral Problems at Preschool Age: The Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children’s Health

by Machiko Minatoya

, Sachiko Itoh, Atsuko Araki

, Naomi Tamura

, Keiko Yamazaki

, Chihiro Miyashita and Reiko Kishi^*

Hokkaido University Center for Environmental and Health Sciences, Kita 12, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010120 - 11 Jan 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5612

Abstract

Studies have suggested associations between maternal obesity and mental health problems of their children. However, the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. A possible mechanism can be via inflammatory states and the other possible mechanism is metabolic hormone-induced programming. Cross-talk between adipokines, including inflammatory [...] Read more.

Studies have suggested associations between maternal obesity and mental health problems of their children. However, the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. A possible mechanism can be via inflammatory states and the other possible mechanism is metabolic hormone-induced programming. Cross-talk between adipokines, including inflammatory cytokines and metabolic hormones secreted from adipose tissue and the central nervous system needs to be further investigated to elucidate the mechanism. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between fetal adipokine levels and child behavioral problems at preschool age. Cord blood adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels were measured and child behavioral problems were assessed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at preschool age. Logistic regression models adjusted by related maternal factors were performed to examine the association between cord blood adipokines and child behavioral problems. Three hundred and sixty-one children were included in the final analysis. A significant association between decreased hyperactivity/inattention and increased leptin was found (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: 0.06–0.89). Cord blood adiponectin, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were not associated with child behavioral problems. Our findings suggested that cord blood adipokines, particularly, leptin level, may be a predictor of hyperactivity/inattention problems at preschool age. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maternal and Child Health 2018)

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13 pages, 1999 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Emission Effects Related to Drivers’ Compliance Rates for Cooperative Vehicle-Infrastructure System at Signalized Intersections

by Ruohua Liao¹, Xumei Chen^1,*

, Lei Yu² and Xiaofei Sun³

¹ MOE Key Laboratory for Urban Transportation Complex Systems Theory and Technology, School of Traffic and Transportation, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China

² College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX 77004, USA

³ Beijing Capital International Airport Co., Ltd., Beijing 100621, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 122; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010122 - 12 Jan 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5373

Abstract

Unknown remaining time of signal phase at a signalized intersection generally results in extra accelerations and decelerations that increase variations of operating conditions and thus emissions. A cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system can reduce unnecessary speed changes by establishing communications between vehicles and the signal [...] Read more.

Unknown remaining time of signal phase at a signalized intersection generally results in extra accelerations and decelerations that increase variations of operating conditions and thus emissions. A cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system can reduce unnecessary speed changes by establishing communications between vehicles and the signal infrastructure. However, the environmental benefits largely depend on drivers’ compliance behaviors. To quantify the effects of drivers’ compliance rates on emissions, this study applied VISSIM 5.20 (Planung Transport Verkehr AG, Karlsruhe, Germany) to develop a simulation model for a signalized intersection, in which light duty vehicles were equipped with a cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system. A vehicle-specific power (VSP)-based model was used to estimate emissions. Based on simulation data, the effects of different compliance rates on VSP distributions, emission factors, and total emissions were analyzed. The results show the higher compliance rate decreases the proportion of VSP bin = 0, which means that the frequencies of braking and idling were lower and light duty vehicles ran more smoothly at the intersection if more light duty vehicles complied with the cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system, and emission factors for light duty vehicles decreased significantly as the compliance rate increased. The case study shows higher total emission reductions were observed with higher compliance rate for all of CO₂, NO_x, HC, and CO emissions. CO₂ was reduced most significantly, decreased by 16% and 22% with compliance rates of 0.3 and 0.7, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Environment, Green Operations and Sustainability)

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15 pages, 310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Association between Infant Hepatitis B Vaccine Exposure in Boys and the Risk of Adverse Effects as Measured by Receipt of Special Education Services

by David A. Geier^1,2, Janet K. Kern^1,2,3,*, Kristin G. Homme⁴ and Mark R. Geier^1,2

¹ Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA

² CoMeD, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA

³ Council for Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (CONEM), US Autism Research Group, Allen, TX 75013, USA

⁴ International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, Champions Gate, FL 33896, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010123 - 12 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 11853

Abstract

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that between 1990–2005 the number of children receiving special education services (SES) rose significantly, and then, from 2004–2012, the number declined significantly. This coincided with the introduction of Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine in 1991, and the [...] Read more.

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that between 1990–2005 the number of children receiving special education services (SES) rose significantly, and then, from 2004–2012, the number declined significantly. This coincided with the introduction of Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine in 1991, and the subsequent introduction of Thimerosal-reduced hepatitis B vaccine in the early 2000s. This study examined the potential relationship between infant exposure to mercury from three doses of Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine and the risk of boys being adversely affected (as measured by receipt of SES). This cross-sectional study examined 1192 boys (weighted n = 24,537,123) 7–8 years of age (born: 1994–2007) from the combined 2001–2014 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES). Survey logistic regression modeling revealed that an exposed population receiving three doses of infant Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine (weighted n = 11,186,579), in comparison to an unexposed population (weighted n = 704,254), were at an increased risk of receipt of SES. This association was robust (crude odds ratio = 10.143, p = 0.0232), even when considering covariates, such as race and socioeconomic status (adjusted odds ratio = 9.234, p = 0.0259). Survey frequency modeling revealed that receipt of SES for the population that was exposed to three doses of Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine in infancy (12.91%) was significantly higher than the unexposed population (1.44%) (prevalence ratio = 8.96, p = 0.006, prevalence attributable rate = 0.1147). Despite the limitation of this cross-sectional study not being able to ascribe a direct cause-and-effect relationship between exposure and outcome, it is estimated that an additional 1.2 million boys received SES with excess education costs of about United States (US) $180 billion associated with exposure to Thimerosal-containing hepatitis B vaccine. By contrast, exposure to Thimerosal-reduced hepatitis B vaccine was not associated with an increased risk of receiving SES. Therefore, routine childhood vaccination is important to reduce the morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases, but every effort should be made to eliminate Thimerosal from all vaccines. Full article

17 pages, 525 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Radiological Countermeasures on Subjective Well-Being and Radiation Anxiety after the 2011 Disaster: The Fukushima Health Management Survey

by Michio Murakami^1,2,*, Yoshitake Takebayashi^1,2

, Yoshihito Takeda³, Akiko Sato⁴, Yasumasa Igarashi⁵, Kazumi Sano⁶, Tetsuo Yasutaka⁷, Wataru Naito⁸, Sumire Hirota⁹, Aya Goto^1,10, Tetsuya Ohira^1,11

, Seiji Yasumura^1,12

and Koichi Tanigawa¹

¹ Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima Health Management Survey, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

² Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

³ Graduate School of Environment and Information Sciences, Yokohama National University, 79-7 Tokiwadai, Hodogaya, Yokohama 240-8501, Japan

⁴ United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability, 5-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan

⁵ Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8571, Japan

⁶ Center for Material Cycles and Waste Management Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan

⁷ Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8567, Japan

⁸ Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 16-1, Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan

⁹ Faculty of Informatics, Tokyo City University, 3-3-1, Ushikubonishi, Tsuzuki, Yokohama, Kanagawa 224-8551, Japan

¹⁰ Center for Integrated Science and Humanities & International Community Health, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

¹¹ Department of Epidemiology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

¹² Department of Public Health, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010124 - 12 Jan 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6906

Abstract

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011, concerns about radiation exposure and decline in subjective well-being have been reported. To tackle these problems, various countermeasures in relation to radiation have been implemented. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the effects [...] Read more.

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011, concerns about radiation exposure and decline in subjective well-being have been reported. To tackle these problems, various countermeasures in relation to radiation have been implemented. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the effects of radiological countermeasures on subjective well-being (e.g., satisfaction with life (SWL) and emotional well-being) and radiation anxiety, through a questionnaire survey targeting Fukushima residents (N = 1023). Propensity scores matching was applied to evaluate significant effects of radiological countermeasures on subjective well-being and radiation anxiety. Among the radiological countermeasures, thyroid examination, whole body counter, and air dose monitoring showed the highest proportions of participation, utilization, and useful evaluation, suggesting a high degree of public attention focused on these countermeasures. The basic survey was associated with significant increases in SWL and self-rated health (SH). Thyroid examination was significantly associated with not only a reduction in radiation anxiety but also an increase of emotional stress, suggesting the importance of careful design of system and detailed communication. Food inspection was associated with deterioration in SH. Those who utilized explanatory meetings showed increases in sadness, worry, and radiation anxiety, indicating that additional attention is required of the experts and authorities involved in explanatory meetings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Public Health Preparedness for and Response to Nuclear Disasters)

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16 pages, 1867 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contamination and Risk Assessment of Estrogens in Livestock Manure: A Case Study in Jiangsu Province, China

by Pengcheng Xu¹, Xian Zhou¹, Defu Xu², Yanbing Xiang¹, Wanting Ling^1,* and Mindong Chen^2,*

¹ Institute of Organic Contaminant Control and Soil Remediation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China

² Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Environment Monitoring and Pollution Control (AEMPC), Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanjing 210044, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 125; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010125 - 12 Jan 2018

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 6073

Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence and contamination risk of estrogens in livestock manure in Jiangsu Province, China. Four estrogens—estriol (E3), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), bisphenol A (BPA), and 17α-ethinyloestradiol (EE2)—were detected in livestock manure from hens, ducks, swine, and cows. The respective mean concentrations of [...] Read more.

This study investigated the occurrence and contamination risk of estrogens in livestock manure in Jiangsu Province, China. Four estrogens—estriol (E3), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), bisphenol A (BPA), and 17α-ethinyloestradiol (EE2)—were detected in livestock manure from hens, ducks, swine, and cows. The respective mean concentrations of each estrogen found in these manures were 289.8, 334.1, 330.3, and 33.7 μg/kg for E3; 38.6, 10.9, 52.9, and 38.8 μg/kg for 17β-E2; 63.6, 48.7, 51.9, and 11.7 μg/kg for BPA; and 14.3, 11.3, 25.1, and 21.8 μg/kg for EE2. Estrogens were most frequently detected at high concentrations in the manure of finishing pigs, followed by the manure of growing pigs and piglets. Estrogens can be partially degraded after banking up for seven days; yet, great quantities of estrogens remain in livestock manure. The total estradiol equivalent quantity (EEQ_t) estimated to be present in aquatic environments but originating from livestock waste was 10.5 ng/L, which was greater than the hazard baseline value (1 ng/L) and also higher than the proposed lowest observable effect concentration (10 ng/L) of E2 in aquatic environments. The results of our study demonstrate that livestock waste is an important source of estrogens, which may potentially affect the hormonal metabolism of aquatic organisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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11 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Safety of the Neighborhood Environment and Physical Activity in Czech and Polish Adolescents

by Josef Mitáš^1,*

, Krzysztof Sas-Nowosielski², Dorota Groffik²

and Karel Frömel^1,2

¹ Institute of Active Lifestyle, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacký University, 77111 Olomouc, Czech Republic

² Department of Physical Education, Academy of Physical Education, 40065 Katowice, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010126 - 12 Jan 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5886

Abstract

(1) Background: An increase in or at least the sustainment of walking activities across a wide section of the population is a crucial health-related task for Central and East European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between [...] Read more.

(1) Background: An increase in or at least the sustainment of walking activities across a wide section of the population is a crucial health-related task for Central and East European countries. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between adolescents’ walking activities and various levels of perceived safety of the built environment in differing socio-demographic backgrounds of Poland and the Czech Republic. Furthermore, we aimed to determine major moderators affecting the walking habits of adolescents in areas with different levels of walkability. (2) Methods: The surveys were conducted during the 2008–2009 and 2013–2014 school years in 24 Polish and 35 Czech secondary schools, with a sample of 2001 adolescents. All participants completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire–Long Form and the NEWS–Abbreviated. Selected students took part in objective weekly monitoring of physical activity (PA). (3) Results: Boys and girls who perceived their neighborhood environment as the safest were significantly more likely to meet the recommendations for leisure-time walking. Adolescents from the safest environment achieved 11,024 steps/day on average, while those from the least safe environment achieved 9686 steps/day. (4) Conclusions: A safe neighborhood environment significantly predicts walking activities among girls. Environmental safety improvement can support the active transport and better use of leisure time PA. Full article

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11 pages, 947 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Work Characteristics Are Related to European Workers’ Psychological Well-Being. A Comparison of Two Age Groups

by Laura Lorente^1,*, Núria Tordera¹ and José María Peiró²

¹ IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

² IVIE & IDOCAL, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 127; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010127 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5630

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the mechanisms through which work characteristics are related to psychological well-being, exploring the mediational role of work meaningfulness and job satisfaction, and investigating differences in the patterns of relationships between two age groups. The sample was composed of [...] Read more.

This study aimed to analyze the mechanisms through which work characteristics are related to psychological well-being, exploring the mediational role of work meaningfulness and job satisfaction, and investigating differences in the patterns of relationships between two age groups. The sample was composed of 36,896 workers from the 5th European Working Conditions Survey. Structural equation modeling analyses and multiple group analyses were performed. The results revealed a parallel mediational model, in which work meaningfulness and general job satisfaction mediate the relationships between work characteristics and well-being. Additionally, job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between meaningfulness and well-being. These results were confirmed in both age groups (under 55 years old and older workers), but age moderates the relationships between social support and the mediating variables and the relationships between the mediating variables and general well-being. The present study uncovers significant pathways through which time pressure, decision latitude, and social support are related to psychological well-being, depicting an important step in better understanding how and when work characteristics are related to positive outcomes. It provides important clues for promoting psychosocial health at work at the European level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Workplace Health Promotion 2018)

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21 pages, 2836 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Atmospheric Environment Vulnerability Cause Analysis for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Metropolitan Region

by Yang Zhang

, Jing Shen and Yu Li^*

Resources and Environmental Research Academy, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 128; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010128 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4247

Abstract

Assessing and quantifying atmospheric vulnerability is a key issue in urban environmental protection and management. This paper integrated the Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy synthesis evaluation and Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis into an Exposure-Sensitivity-Adaptive capacity (ESA) framework to quantitatively assess atmospheric [...] Read more.

Assessing and quantifying atmospheric vulnerability is a key issue in urban environmental protection and management. This paper integrated the Analytical hierarchy process (AHP), fuzzy synthesis evaluation and Geographic Information System (GIS) spatial analysis into an Exposure-Sensitivity-Adaptive capacity (ESA) framework to quantitatively assess atmospheric environment vulnerability in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region with spatial and temporal comparisons. The elaboration of the relationships between atmospheric environment vulnerability and indices of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity supports enable analysis of the atmospheric environment vulnerability. Our findings indicate that the atmospheric environment vulnerability of 13 cities in the BTH region exhibits obvious spatial heterogeneity, which is caused by regional diversity in exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity indices. The results of atmospheric environment vulnerability assessment and the cause analysis can provide guidance to pick out key control regions and recognize vulnerable indicators for study sites. The framework developed in this paper can also be replicated at different spatial and temporal scales using context-specific datasets to support environmental management. Full article

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15 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mental Health and Drivers of Need in Emergent and Non-Emergent Emergency Department (ED) Use: Do Living Location and Non-Emergent Care Sources Matter?

by Moira C. McManus¹, Robert J. Cramer^1,*

, Maureen Boshier¹, Muge Akpinar-Elci¹ and Bonnie Van Lunen²

¹ Community and Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University; Norfolk, VA 757-683-4259, USA

² Physical Therapy and Athletic Training, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University; Norfolk, VA 757-683-4519, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010129 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5088

Abstract

Emergency department (ED) utilization has increased due to factors such as admissions for mental health conditions, including suicide and self-harm. We investigate direct and moderating influences on non-emergent ED utilization through the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Through logistic regression, we examined [...] Read more.

Emergency department (ED) utilization has increased due to factors such as admissions for mental health conditions, including suicide and self-harm. We investigate direct and moderating influences on non-emergent ED utilization through the Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Through logistic regression, we examined correlates of ED use via 2014 New York State Department of Health Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System outpatient data. Consistent with the primary hypothesis, mental health admissions were associated with emergent use across models, with only a slight decrease in effect size in rural living locations. Concerning moderating effects, Spanish/Hispanic origin was associated with increased likelihood for emergent ED use in the rural living location model, and non-emergent ED use for the no non-emergent source model. ‘Other’ ethnic origin increased the likelihood of emergent ED use for rural living location and no non-emergent source models. The findings reveal ‘need’, including mental health admissions, as the largest driver for ED use. This may be due to mental healthcare access, or patients with mental health emergencies being transported via first responders to the ED, as in the case of suicide, self-harm, manic episodes or psychotic episodes. Further educating ED staff on this patient population through gatekeeper training may ensure patients receive the best treatment and aid in driving access to mental healthcare delivery changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

11 pages, 696 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short Vacation Improves Stress-Level and Well-Being in German-Speaking Middle-Managers—A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Cornelia Blank^1,*

, Katharina Gatterer¹, Veronika Leichtfried¹, Doris Pollhammer¹, Maria Mair-Raggautz¹, Stefan Duschek², Egon Humpeler³ and Wolfgang Schobersberger^1,4

¹ Department of Psychology and Medical Sciences, Institute of Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, UMIT, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria

² Department of Psychology and Medical Sciences, Institute of Psychology, UMIT, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria

³ IHS Forschungsinstitut für Urlaubs- und Freizeitmedizin Sowie Gesundheitstourimsus, 6900 Bregenz, Austria

⁴ Institute of Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine & Health Tourism, Tirol Kliniken GmbH, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010130 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 39009

Abstract

Stress in the work place has a detrimental effect on people’s health. Sufficient recovery is necessary to counteract severe chronic negative load reactions. Previous research has shown that vacationing for at least seven consecutive days provided an efficient recovery strategy. Yet, thus far, [...] Read more.

Stress in the work place has a detrimental effect on people’s health. Sufficient recovery is necessary to counteract severe chronic negative load reactions. Previous research has shown that vacationing for at least seven consecutive days provided an efficient recovery strategy. Yet, thus far, the effects of short vacations and the mode of vacation (whether at home or in a new environment) have rarely been studied. We investigated the immediate and long-term effects of a short vacation (four nights) on well-being and perceived stress and whether the mode of vacation impacted on these results. Data was obtained from 40 middle managers (67.5% men and 32.5% women). The intervention group (n = 20) spent a short vacation in a hotel outside their usual environment. The control group (n = 20) spent their vacation at home. Results indicated that one single short-term vacation, independent of the mode, has large, positive and immediate effects on perceived stress, recovery, strain, and well-being. Strain levels decreased to a greater extent in the intervention group compared to the control group. The effects can still be detected at 30 days (recovery) and 45 days (well-being and strain) post-vacation. Encouraging middle management employees to take short vacations seems to be an efficient health promotion strategy; environmental effects seem to play a minor role. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

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15 pages, 646 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating Effect of Service Encounter, Value, and Satisfaction on Word of Mouth: An Outpatient Service Context

by Li-Chun Hsu

Department of Cultural Resources and Leisure Industries, National Taitung University, 369, Sec. 2, University Rd., Taitung 95092, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010132 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7301

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships among service encounter, service value, patient satisfaction, and word-of-mouth (WOM) intention from the viewpoint of interactive marketing. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey. A total of 372 questionnaires were obtained and 350 of these questionnaires were valid [...] Read more.

This study investigates the relationships among service encounter, service value, patient satisfaction, and word-of-mouth (WOM) intention from the viewpoint of interactive marketing. Data were collected using a questionnaire survey. A total of 372 questionnaires were obtained and 350 of these questionnaires were valid (94.09%), and a structural equation model was used to analyze the data. This study proposed seven hypotheses, and five of the seven hypotheses were supported. Service encounters indirectly affect their patient WOM through service value and satisfaction. Therefore, service value and satisfaction play a crucial mediating role in linking service encounters and WOM. This study determined WOM intentions in an outpatient service context and provides crucial business implications for teaching hospitals to enable them to improve their service quality and achieve a sustainable operation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality of Patient-Centered Care)

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22 pages, 1064 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Tea Leaves and Potential Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study from Puan County, Guizhou Province, China

by Jian Zhang¹

, Ruidong Yang^1,*, Rong Chen², Yishu Peng¹, Xuefeng Wen³ and Lei Gao¹

¹ College of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China

² College of Mining, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China

³ College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010133 - 13 Jan 2018

Cited by 140 | Viewed by 9272

Abstract

This study features a survey of the concentrations of aluminum (Al) and heavy metals (Mn, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in tea leaves and the corresponding cultivation soils (0–30 cm), carried out in Puan County (Guizhou Province, China). The [...] Read more.

This study features a survey of the concentrations of aluminum (Al) and heavy metals (Mn, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn) in tea leaves and the corresponding cultivation soils (0–30 cm), carried out in Puan County (Guizhou Province, China). The average concentrations of Al, Mn, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn in the soil were 106 × 10³, 214, 20.9, 0.09, 0.12, 17.5, 121, 27.8, 131.2, and 64 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. The heavy metals’ pollution indexes in the soil can be ranked as follows: Cu > Cr > Hg > As > Ni > Zn > Pb > Mn > Cd. The soil was moderately polluted by Cu because of the high geochemical background value of Cu in the area. The potential environment risk index (RI) showed that 7.69% out of the total sample sites were within the moderate level. Moreover, the ranges of Al, Mn, Pb, Cd, Hg, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn concentrations in young tea leaves were 250–660, 194–1130, 0.107–0.400, 0.012–0.092, 0.014–0.085, 0.073–0.456, 0.33–1.26, 6.33–14.90, 14.90–26.10, and 35.8–50.3 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. While in mature tea leaves, they were 4300–10,400, 536–4610, 0.560–1.265, 0.040–0.087, 0.043–0.089, 0.189–0.453, 0.69–2.91, 3.43–14.20, 6.17–16.25, and 9.1–20.0 mg·kg⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, the concentrations of Pb, Cu, As, Hg, Cd, and Cr in young tea leaves and mature tea leaves were all lower than the standard limit values (5.0, 30, 2.0, 0.3, 1.0, and 5.0 mg·kg⁻¹ for Pb, Cu, As, Hg, Cd, and Cr, respectively) in China. Besides, the accumulation ability of tea leaves to Mn was the strongest, and the average bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Mn in mature tea leaves was 12.5. In addition, the average target hazard quotients (THQ) were all less than one for the young tea leaves and the average aggregate risk hazard index (HI) to adults was 0.272, indicating that there was not a potential health risk for adults through the consumption of the infusions brewed by young tea leaves. However, for mature tea leaves, the percentage which HI values were above one was 38.46%, and the risk to adults via the consumption of mature tea infusions were mainly contributed by Mn and Al. Full article

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14 pages, 558 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Counselling in a Stationary Health Care Setting Affect the Attendance in a Standardised Sports Club Programme? Process Evaluation of a Quasi-Experimental Study

by Sylvia Titze^1,*

, Christian Lackinger², Lena Grossschaedl³, Albert Strehn⁴, Thomas E. Dorner⁵, Josef Niebauer⁶

and Wolfgang Schebesch-Ruf¹

¹ Institute of Sport Science, University of Graz, Mozartgasse 14, 8010 Graz, Austria

² Department of Health Promotion and Prevention, SPORTUNION Österreich, Falkestrasse 1, 1010 Vienna, Austria

³ Social Insurance Authority for Business, Regional Office Styria, Körblergasse 115, 8010 Graz, Austria

⁴ Competence Center Health Promotion, Social Insurance Authority for Business, Osterwiese 2, 7000 Eisenstadt, Austria

⁵ Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Centre for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15/1, 1090 Vienna, Austria

⁶ Institute of Sports Medicine, Prevention and Rehabilitation and Research Institute of Molecular Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Lindhofstrasse 20, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 134; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010134 - 14 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3985

Abstract

Actions in partnership across sectors is one principle for the promotion of health behaviours. The objective of this study was to describe the participation in a sports club-based exercise programme—named JACKPOT—following an intervention in a health care setting. Focus was given to the [...] Read more.

Actions in partnership across sectors is one principle for the promotion of health behaviours. The objective of this study was to describe the participation in a sports club-based exercise programme—named JACKPOT—following an intervention in a health care setting. Focus was given to the recruitment into JACKPOT, the attendance level, and whether the different programme elements were implemented as intented. The practicability of the project was also retrospectively rated. Participants were 238 inactive people (50% women) between 30 and 65 years of age who attended a health resort. Of these, 77% were assigned to the intervention group (IG). The recruitment into the 12 JACKPOT sessions and the attendance levels were recorded via attendance lists. The implementation of the intervention standards was assessed with structured interviews and participatory observation. The Pragmatic Explanatory Continuum Indicator Summary (PRECIS)-2 tool served to rate the practicability of the project. Almost 50% of the IG subjects attended JACKPOT sessions at least once and 54% of the attenders visited ≥75% of the 12 sessions. Some of the programme elements were not delivered fully. The process evaluation results showed that the project worked in a real-world setting, and also uncovered potential reasons such as incomplete information delivery for the moderate recruitment and attendance level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Behavior, Chronic Disease and Health Promotion)

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12 pages, 281 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Exploring Positive Survivorship Experiences of Indigenous Australian Cancer Patients

by Laura Tam¹, Gail Garvey², Judith Meiklejohn³, Jennifer Martin^1,4, Jon Adams⁵, Euan Walpole⁶, Michael Fay^4,7

and Patricia Valery^1,2,3,*

¹ School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia

² Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia

³ QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia

⁴ School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

⁵ Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia

⁶ Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia

⁷ Genesis Cancer Care, Newcastle, NSW 2290, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010135 - 15 Jan 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5499

Abstract

Amongst Indigenous Australians, “cancer” has negative connotations that detrimentally impact upon access to cancer care services. Barriers to accessing cancer services amongst Indigenous Australians are widely reported. In contrast, factors that facilitate this cohort to successfully navigate cancer care services (“enablers”) are scarcely [...] Read more.

Amongst Indigenous Australians, “cancer” has negative connotations that detrimentally impact upon access to cancer care services. Barriers to accessing cancer services amongst Indigenous Australians are widely reported. In contrast, factors that facilitate this cohort to successfully navigate cancer care services (“enablers”) are scarcely reported in the literature. Through qualitative interviews, this article examines factors that assist Indigenous Australians to have positive cancer experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve adult Indigenous oncology patients recruited from a tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia during 2012–2014. Data generated from the interviews were independently reviewed by two researchers via inductive thematic analytical processes. Discussions followed by consensus on the major categories allowed conclusions to be drawn on potential enablers. Two major categories of enablers were identified by the researchers: resilience and communication. Individual’s intrinsic strength, their coping strategies, and receipt of support improved participant’s resilience and consequently supported a positive experience. Communication methods and an effective patient-provider relationship facilitated positive experiences for participants. Despite potential barriers to access of care for Indigenous cancer patients, participants in the study demonstrated that it was still possible to focus on the positive aspects of their cancer experiences. Many participants explained how cancer changed their outlook on life, often for the better, with many feeling empowered as they progressed through their cancer diagnosis and treatment processes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indigenous Health and Wellbeing)

7 pages, 505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Asbestos Consumption in Mongolia: 1996–2014

by Naransukh Damiran^1,*

and Arthur Frank²

¹ Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia

² Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010136 - 15 Jan 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5677

Abstract

Asbestos is still used in Mongolia in the energy and construction sectors, among others. However, limited data is available on asbestos consumption and asbestos-related disease in Mongolia. The purpose of this paper is to present the available information on the importation of asbestos [...] Read more.

Asbestos is still used in Mongolia in the energy and construction sectors, among others. However, limited data is available on asbestos consumption and asbestos-related disease in Mongolia. The purpose of this paper is to present the available information on the importation of asbestos into Mongolia. We used data on annual asbestos imports between 1996 and 2014 from Mongolian Customs Statistics and the National Council on Toxic and Hazardous Substances Affairs. The uses of this material are also presented with respect to chrysotile alone. Most asbestos is used for construction. Mongolia started using asbestos in the energy and construction industries as thermal insulation in 1961. Asbestos is still allowed for use in Mongolia under the Law on Toxic and Hazards Substances. There are no asbestos mines in Mongolia, and the manufacture of asbestos-containing materials does not take place there. Thus, asbestos is mainly imported from China and Russia. Mongolia used 44,422 metric tons of asbestos-containing materials between 1996 and 2014. In Mongolia, with the current use of asbestos, there will be a continuing risk of developing asbestos-related diseases from past use, and proper oversight of asbestos-involving activities and the safe removal and disposal of asbestos must be considered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Contaminants VS. Legacy Pollutants: Their Impacts on the Environmental Integrity and Public Health)

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10 pages, 687 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Long-Term Follow-Up of the Efficacy of Nature-Based Therapy for Adults Suffering from Stress-Related Illnesses on Levels of Healthcare Consumption and Sick-Leave Absence: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Sus Sola Corazon^*, Patrik Karlsson Nyed, Ulrik Sidenius, Dorthe Varning Poulsen

and Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter

Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010137 - 15 Jan 2018

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 8644

Abstract

Stress-related illnesses are a growing health problem in the Western world; which also has economic significance for society. As a consequence; there is a growing demand for effective treatments. The study investigates the long-term efficacy of the Nacadia^® nature-based therapy (NNBT) by [...] Read more.

Stress-related illnesses are a growing health problem in the Western world; which also has economic significance for society. As a consequence; there is a growing demand for effective treatments. The study investigates the long-term efficacy of the Nacadia^® nature-based therapy (NNBT) by comparing it to the efficacy of a validated cognitive behavioral therapy, called STreSS. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial in which 84 participants are randomly allocated between the treatments. Long-term efficacy is investigated through data extracts from the national database of Statistics Denmark on the sick leave and the health-care consumption. The results show that both the NNBT and the STreSS lead to a significant decrease in number of contacts with a general practitioner in the period from twelve months prior to treatment to twelve months after treatment; and, a significant decrease in long-term sick leave from the month prior to treatment to twelve months after treatment. The positive long-term effects provide validation for the NNBT as an efficient treatment of stress-related illnesses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases)

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18 pages, 2325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community-Based Health and Exposure Study around Urban Oil Developments in South Los Angeles

by Bhavna Shamasunder^1,*, Ashley Collier-Oxandale², Jessica Blickley³, James Sadd⁴, Marissa Chan¹, Sandy Navarro⁵, Michael Hannigan⁶ and Nicole J. Wong⁷

¹ Urban and Environmental Policy Department, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314, USA

² Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0427, USA

³ Center for Digital Liberal Arts, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314, USA

⁴ Geology Department, Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314, USA

⁵ Esperanza Community Housing, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA

⁶ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0427, USA

⁷ Redeemer Community Partnership, Los Angeles, CA 90018, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 138; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010138 - 15 Jan 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 17317

Abstract

Oilfield-adjacent communities often report symptoms such as headaches and/or asthma. Yet, little data exists on health experiences and exposures in urban environments with oil and gas development. In partnership with Promotoras de Salud (community health workers), we gathered household surveys nearby two oil [...] Read more.

Oilfield-adjacent communities often report symptoms such as headaches and/or asthma. Yet, little data exists on health experiences and exposures in urban environments with oil and gas development. In partnership with Promotoras de Salud (community health workers), we gathered household surveys nearby two oil production sites in Los Angeles. We tested the capacity of low-cost sensors for localized exposure estimates. Bilingual surveys of 205 randomly sampled residences were collected within two 1500 ft. buffer areas (West Adams and University Park) surrounding oil development sites. We used a one-sample proportion test, comparing overall rates from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) of Service Planning Area 6 (SPA6) and Los Angeles County for variables of interest such as asthma. Field calibrated low-cost sensors recorded methane emissions. Physician diagnosed asthma rates were reported to be higher within both buffers than in SPA6 or LA County. Asthma prevalence in West Adams but not University Park was significantly higher than in Los Angeles County. Respondents with diagnosed asthma reported rates of emergency room visits in the previous 12 months similar to SPA6. 45% of respondents were unaware of oil development; 63% of residents would not know how to contact local regulatory authorities. Residents often seek information about their health and site-related activities. Low-cost sensors may be useful in highlighting differences between sites or recording larger emission events and can provide localized data alongside resident-reported symptoms. Regulatory officials should help clarify information to the community on methods for reporting health symptoms. Our community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership supports efforts to answer community questions as residents seek a safety buffer between sensitive land uses and active oil development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Justice Research: Contemporary Issues and Emerging Topics)

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13 pages, 8098 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trypsin Binding with Copper Ions Scavenges Superoxide: Molecular Dynamics-Based Mechanism Investigation

by Xin Li^1,2,*, Yongliang Zhong¹ and Chunyan Zhao³

¹ College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China

² Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Activities and Stress Adaptations, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

³ School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 139; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010139 - 15 Jan 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4814

Abstract

Trypsin is a serine protease, which has been proved to be a novel superoxide scavenger. The burst of superoxide induced by polychlorinated biphenyls can be impeded by trypsin in both wild type and sod knockout mutants of Escherichia coli. The experimental results [...] Read more.

Trypsin is a serine protease, which has been proved to be a novel superoxide scavenger. The burst of superoxide induced by polychlorinated biphenyls can be impeded by trypsin in both wild type and sod knockout mutants of Escherichia coli. The experimental results demonstrated that the activities of superoxide scavenging of trypsin were significantly accelerated by Cu ions. Also, with the addition of Cu ions, a new β-sheet (β7) transited from a random coil in the Cu(II)-trypsin (TP) system, which was favorable for the formation of more contacts with other sheets of trypsin. Residue–residue network analysis and the porcupine plots proved that the Cu ion in trypsin strengthened some native interactions among residues, which ultimately resulted in much greater stability of the Cu(II)-TP system. Moreover, compact and stable trypsin structures with Cu ions might be responsible for significantly provoking the activity of superoxide scavenging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endocrine Disruptors Leading to Obesity and Related Diseases)

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12 pages, 4000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Classic and Interval Analytical Hierarchy Process Methodologies for Measuring Area-Level Deprivation to Analyze Health Inequalities

by Pablo Cabrera-Barona^1,2,* and Omid Ghorbanzadeh¹

¹ Department of Geoinformatics—Z_GIS, University of Salzburg, Schillerstraße 30, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

² Instituto de Altos Estudios Nacionales, Av. Amazonas N37-271 y Villalengua, Quito 170507, Ecuador

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 140; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010140 - 16 Jan 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 5602

Abstract

Deprivation indices are useful measures to study health inequalities. Different techniques are commonly applied to construct deprivation indices, including multi-criteria decision methods such as the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The multi-criteria deprivation index for the city of Quito is an index in which [...] Read more.

Deprivation indices are useful measures to study health inequalities. Different techniques are commonly applied to construct deprivation indices, including multi-criteria decision methods such as the analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The multi-criteria deprivation index for the city of Quito is an index in which indicators are weighted by applying the AHP. In this research, a variation of this index is introduced that is calculated using interval AHP methodology. Both indices are compared by applying logistic generalized linear models and multilevel models, considering self-reported health as the dependent variable and deprivation and self-reported quality of life as the independent variables. The obtained results show that the multi-criteria deprivation index for the city of Quito is a meaningful measure to assess neighborhood effects on self-reported health and that the alternative deprivation index using the interval AHP methodology more thoroughly represents the local knowledge of experts and stakeholders. These differences could support decision makers in improving health planning and in tackling health inequalities in more deprived areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Achieving Environmental Health Equity: Great Expectations)

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12 pages, 467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Few Sex Differences in Hospitalized Suicide Attempters Aged 70 and Above

by Stefan Wiktorsson^1,*, Therese Rydberg Sterner²

, Madeleine Mellqvist Fässberg², Ingmar Skoog², Anne Ingeborg Berg³, Paul Duberstein⁴

, Kimberly Van Orden⁴ and Margda Waern¹

¹ Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Gothenburg, Blå Stråket 15, SU/Sahlgrenska, 413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden

² Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department of Psychiatry, University of Gothenburg, Wallinsgatan 6, SU/Sahlgrenska, 431 41 Mölndal, Sweden

³ Institute of Psychology, University of Gothenburg, Haraldsgatan 1, 413 14 Gothenburg, Sweden

⁴ University of Rochester Medical Center, 300 Crittenden Blvd, Box Psych, Rochester, NY 14642, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010141 - 16 Jan 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 6221

Abstract

Relatively little research attention has been paid to sex issues in late life suicidal behaviour. The aim was to compare clinical characteristics of women and men aged 70+ who were hospitalized after a suicide attempt. We hypothesized higher depression and anxiety scores in [...] Read more.

Relatively little research attention has been paid to sex issues in late life suicidal behaviour. The aim was to compare clinical characteristics of women and men aged 70+ who were hospitalized after a suicide attempt. We hypothesized higher depression and anxiety scores in women, and we expected to find that men would more often attribute the attempt to health problems and compromised autonomy. Participants (56 women and 47 men, mean age 80) were interviewed by a psychologist. In addition to psychiatric and somatic health assessments, participants responded to an open-ended question concerning attributions of the attempt. There were no sex differences in depression and anxiety. Forty-five percent of the men and 14% of the women had a history of substance use disorder (p = 0.02). At least one serious physical disability was noted in 60.7% of the women and 53.2% of the men (p = 0.55). Proportions attributing their attempt to somatic illness did not differ (women, 14.5% vs. men 17.4%, p = 0.79), and similar proportions attributed the attempt to reduced autonomy (women, 21.8% vs. men, 26.1%, p = 0.64). We found strikingly similar figures for depression scores, functional disability and attributions for attempting suicide in older men and women. Larger studies are needed in diverse settings as sex differences might be influenced by cultural context. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Suicide Research)

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16 pages, 556 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Problematic Smartphone Use: Investigating Contemporary Experiences Using a Convergent Design

by Daria J. Kuss^1,*

, Lydia Harkin¹, Eiman Kanjo²

and Joel Billieux^3,4

¹ International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK

² Computing and Technology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK

³ Addictive and Compulsive Behaviour Lab., Institute for Health and Behaviour, Integrative Research Unit on Social and Individual Development (INSIDE), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, L-4365 Luxembourg, Luxembourg

⁴ Addiction Division, Department of Mental Health and Psychiatry, University Hospitals of Geneva, 44041 Geneva, Switzerland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010142 - 16 Jan 2018

Cited by 85 | Viewed by 16162

Abstract

Internet-enabled smartphones are increasingly ubiquitous in the Western world. Research suggests a number of problems can result from mobile phone overuse, including dependence, dangerous and prohibited use. For over a decade, this has been measured by the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPU-Q). [...] Read more.

Internet-enabled smartphones are increasingly ubiquitous in the Western world. Research suggests a number of problems can result from mobile phone overuse, including dependence, dangerous and prohibited use. For over a decade, this has been measured by the Problematic Mobile Phone Use Questionnaire (PMPU-Q). Given the rapid developments in mobile technologies, changes of use patterns and possible problematic and addictive use, the aim of the present study was to investigate and validate an updated contemporary version of the PMPU-Q (PMPU-Q-R). A mixed methods convergent design was employed, including a psychometric survey (N = 512) alongside qualitative focus groups (N = 21), to elicit experiences and perceptions of problematic smartphone use. The results suggest the PMPU-Q-R factor structure can be updated to include smartphone dependence, dangerous driving, and antisocial smartphone use factors. Theories of problematic mobile phone use require consideration of the ubiquity and indispensability of smartphones in the present day and age, particularly regarding use whilst driving and in social interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Internet and Mobile Phone Addiction: Health and Educational Effects)

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15 pages, 363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Factors in the Inuit Population of Nunavut: A Comparative Study of People Who Died by Suicide, People Who Attempted Suicide, and People Who Never Attempted Suicide

by Véronique Beaudoin¹, Monique Séguin^1,2,*, Nadia Chawky², William Affleck¹, Eduardo Chachamovich³ and Gustavo Turecki³

¹ Department of Psychoeducation and Psychology, Université du Québec en Outaouais, Gatineau, QC J8X 3X7, Canada

² Mood Disorders and Related Disorders, McGill Group on Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute & Québec Network on Suicide, Montreal, QC H4H 1R3, Canada

³ McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Department of Psychiatry, Douglas Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010144 - 16 Jan 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 6885

Abstract

Epidemiological data shows an alarming prevalence of suicide in Aboriginal populations around the world. In Canada, the highest rates are found in Inuit communities. In this article, we present the findings of a secondary analysis conducted with data previously collected as part of [...] Read more.

Epidemiological data shows an alarming prevalence of suicide in Aboriginal populations around the world. In Canada, the highest rates are found in Inuit communities. In this article, we present the findings of a secondary analysis conducted with data previously collected as part of a larger study of psychological autopsies conducted in Nunavut, Canada. The objective of this secondary analysis was to identify protective factors in the Inuit population of Nunavut by comparing people who died by suicide, people from the general population who attempted suicide, and people from the general population who never attempted suicide. This case-control study included 90 participants, with 30 participants in each group who were paired by birth date, sex, and community. Content analysis was first conducted on the clinical vignettes from the initial study in order to codify the presence of protective variables. Then, inferential analyses were conducted to highlight differences between each group in regards to protection. Findings demonstrated that (a) people with no suicide attempt have more protective variables throughout their lifespan than people who died by suicide and those with suicide attempts within the environmental, social, and individual dimensions; (b) people with suicide attempts significantly differ from the two other groups in regards to the use of services; and (c) protective factors that stem from the environmental dimension show the greatest difference between the three groups, being significantly more present in the group with no suicide attempt. Considering these findings, interventions could focus on enhancing environmental stability in Inuit communities as a suicide prevention strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Suicide Research)

10 pages, 841 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of a New International Classification of Health Interventions for Capturing Information on Health Interventions Relevant to People with Disabilities

by Nicola Fortune^1,*

, Richard Madden¹ and Ann-Helene Almborg^2,3

¹ National Centre for Classification in Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia

² National Board of Health and Welfare, SE-10630 Stockholm, Sweden

³ Nordic WHO Family of International Classifications Collaborating Centre, Directorate for E-Health, NO-0130 Oslo, Norway

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 145; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010145 - 17 Jan 2018

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6610

Abstract

Development of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) is currently underway. Once finalised, ICHI will provide a standard basis for collecting, aggregating, analysing, and comparing data on health interventions across all sectors of the health system. In this paper, [...] Read more.

Development of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Health Interventions (ICHI) is currently underway. Once finalised, ICHI will provide a standard basis for collecting, aggregating, analysing, and comparing data on health interventions across all sectors of the health system. In this paper, we introduce the classification, describing its underlying tri-axial structure, organisation and content. We then discuss the potential value of ICHI for capturing information on met and unmet need for health interventions relevant to people with a disability, with a particular focus on interventions to support functioning and health promotion interventions. Early experiences of use of the Swedish National Classification of Social Care Interventions and Activities, which is based closely on ICHI, illustrate the value of a standard classification to support practice and collect statistical data. Testing of the ICHI beta version in a wide range of countries and contexts is now needed so that improvements can be made before it is finalised. Input from those with an interest in the health of people with disabilities and health promotion more broadly is welcomed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion Interventions for People with Disabilities)

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15 pages, 1330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Sustainable Development Assessment of Reservoir Resettlement Based on a BP Neural Network

by Li Huang^1,2, Jian Huang^1,3 and Wei Wang^4,*

¹ National Research Center for Resettlement (NRCR), Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China

² School of Public Administration, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China

³ Business School, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China

⁴ College of Harbor, Coastal and Offshore Engineering, Hohai University, 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010146 - 18 Jan 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 5577

Abstract

Resettlement affects not only the resettlers’ production activities and life but also, directly or indirectly, the normal operation of power stations, the sustainable development of the resettlers, and regional social stability. Therefore, a scientific evaluation index system for the sustainable development of reservoir [...] Read more.

Resettlement affects not only the resettlers’ production activities and life but also, directly or indirectly, the normal operation of power stations, the sustainable development of the resettlers, and regional social stability. Therefore, a scientific evaluation index system for the sustainable development of reservoir resettlement must be established that fits Chinese national conditions and not only promotes reservoir resettlement research but also improves resettlement practice. This essay builds an evaluation index system for resettlers’ sustainable development based on a back-propagation (BP) neural network, which can be adopted in China, taking the resettlement necessitated by step hydropower stations along the Wujiang River cascade as an example. The assessment results show that the resettlement caused by step power stations along the Wujiang River is sustainable, and this evaluation supports the conclusion that national policies and regulations, which are undergoing constant improvement, and resettlement has increasingly improved. The results provide a reference for hydropower reservoir resettlement in developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Decision Models in Green Growth and Sustainable Development)

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12 pages, 297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigating the Associations between Ethnic Networks, Community Social Capital, and Physical Health among Marriage Migrants in Korea

by Harris Hyun-soo Kim

Department of Sociology, Ewha Womans University, Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-750, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010147 - 17 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4420

Abstract

This study examines factors associated with the physical health of Korea’s growing immigrant population. Specifically, it focuses on the associations between ethnic networks, community social capital, and self-rated health (SRH) among female marriage migrants. For empirical testing, secondary analysis of a large nationally [...] Read more.

This study examines factors associated with the physical health of Korea’s growing immigrant population. Specifically, it focuses on the associations between ethnic networks, community social capital, and self-rated health (SRH) among female marriage migrants. For empirical testing, secondary analysis of a large nationally representative sample (NSMF 2009) is conducted. Given the clustered data structure (individuals nested in communities), a series of two-level random intercepts and slopes models are fitted to probe the relationships between SRH and interpersonal (bonding and bridging) networks among foreign-born wives in Korea. In addition to direct effects, cross-level interaction effects are investigated using hierarchical linear modeling. While adjusting for confounders, bridging (inter-ethnic) networks are significantly linked with better health. Bonding (co-ethnic) networks, to the contrary, are negatively associated with immigrant health. Net of individual-level covariates, living in a commuijnity with more aggregate bridging social capital is positively linked with health. Community-level bonding social capital, however, is not a significant predictor. Lastly, two cross-level interaction terms are found. First, the positive relationship between bridging network and health is stronger in residential contexts with more aggregate bridging social capital. Second, it is weaker in communities with more aggregate bonding social capital. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Determinants of Health Inequities and Prevention)

12 pages, 7101 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sidewalk Landscape Structure and Thermal Conditions for Child and Adult Pedestrians

by Young-Jae Kim^1,*

, Chanam Lee² and Jun-Hyun Kim³

¹ Department of Forest Resources and Landscape Architecture, Yeungnam University, 280 Daehak-Ro, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea

² Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, USA

³ Landscape Architecture Program, School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University, 552 W Circle Drive, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 148; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010148 - 18 Jan 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6410

Abstract

Walking is being promoted for health and transportation purposes across all climatic regions in the US and beyond. Despite this, an uncomfortable microclimate condition along sidewalks is one of the major deterrents of walking, and more empirical research is needed to determine the [...] Read more.

Walking is being promoted for health and transportation purposes across all climatic regions in the US and beyond. Despite this, an uncomfortable microclimate condition along sidewalks is one of the major deterrents of walking, and more empirical research is needed to determine the risks of heat exposure to pedestrians while walking. This study examined the effect of street trees and grass along sidewalks on air temperatures. A series of thermal images were taken at the average heights of adults and children in the US to objectively measure the air temperatures of 10 sidewalk segments in College Station, TX, USA. After controlling the other key physical environmental conditions, sidewalks with more trees or wider grass buffer areas had lower air temperatures than those with less vegetation. Children were exposed to higher temperatures due to the greater exposure or proximity to the pavement surface, which tends to have higher radiant heat. Multivariate regression analysis suggested that the configuration of trees and grass buffers along the sidewalks helped to promote pleasant thermal conditions and reduced the differences in ambient air temperatures measured at child and adult heights. This study suggests that street trees and vegetated ground help reduce the air temperatures, leading to more thermally comfortable environments for both child and adult pedestrians in warm climates. The thermal implications of street landscape require further attention by researchers and policy makers that are interested in promoting outdoor walking. Full article

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16 pages, 9759 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences between Outdoor and Indoor Sound Levels for Open, Tilted, and Closed Windows

by Barbara Locher^1,†, André Piquerez², Manuel Habermacher³, Martina Ragettli^2,4, Martin Röösli^2,4

, Mark Brink⁵

, Christian Cajochen⁶, Danielle Vienneau^2,4

, Maria Foraster^2,4, Uwe Müller⁷ and Jean Marc Wunderli^1,*

¹ Empa, Laboratory for Acoustics/Noise Control, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 8600 Dubendorf, Switzerland

² Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, Switzerland

³ n-Sphere AG, 8045 Zürich, Switzerland

⁴ Centre for Chronobiology, University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland

⁵ Federal Office for the Environment, 3003 Bern, Switzerland

⁶ Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland

⁷ Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Institut für Luft- und Raumfahrtmedizin, 51147 Köln, Germany

^† Current address: Müller-BBM Schweiz AG, 4123 Allschwil, Switzerland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 149; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010149 - 18 Jan 2018

Cited by 81 | Viewed by 9491

Abstract

Noise exposure prediction models for health effect studies normally estimate free field exposure levels outside. However, to assess the noise exposure inside dwellings, an estimate of indoor sound levels is necessary. To date, little field data is available about the difference between indoor [...] Read more.

Noise exposure prediction models for health effect studies normally estimate free field exposure levels outside. However, to assess the noise exposure inside dwellings, an estimate of indoor sound levels is necessary. To date, little field data is available about the difference between indoor and outdoor noise levels and factors affecting the damping of outside noise. This is a major cause of uncertainty in indoor noise exposure prediction and may lead to exposure misclassification in health assessments. This study aims to determine sound level differences between the indoors and the outdoors for different window positions and how this sound damping is related to building characteristics. For this purpose, measurements were carried out at home in a sample of 102 Swiss residents exposed to road traffic noise. Sound pressure level recordings were performed outdoors and indoors, in the living room and in the bedroom. Three scenarios—of open, tilted, and closed windows—were recorded for three minutes each. For each situation, data on additional parameters such as the orientation towards the source, floor, and room, as well as sound insulation characteristics were collected. On that basis, linear regression models were established. The median outdoor–indoor sound level differences were of 10 dB(A) for open, 16 dB(A) for tilted, and 28 dB(A) for closed windows. For open and tilted windows, the most relevant parameters affecting the outdoor–indoor differences were the position of the window, the type and volume of the room, and the age of the building. For closed windows, the relevant parameters were the sound level outside, the material of the window frame, the existence of window gaskets, and the number of windows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Indoor Environmental Quality)

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11 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Transportation Attitudes and Health Behavior Change: Evaluation of a Brief Stage-Targeted Video Intervention

by Norbert Mundorf^1,*, Colleen A. Redding² and Andrea L. Paiva²

¹ Department of Communication Studies, Harrington School of Communication and Media, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

² Cancer Prevention Research Center, Department of Psychology, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 150; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010150 - 18 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6860

Abstract

Promoting physical activity and sustainable transportation is essential in the face of rising health care costs, obesity rates, and other public health threats resulting from lack of physical activity. Targeted communications can encourage distinct population segments to adopt active and sustainable transportation modes. [...] Read more.

Promoting physical activity and sustainable transportation is essential in the face of rising health care costs, obesity rates, and other public health threats resulting from lack of physical activity. Targeted communications can encourage distinct population segments to adopt active and sustainable transportation modes. Our work is designed to promote the health, social, and environmental benefits of sustainable/active transportation (ST) using the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM), which has been successfully applied to a range of health, and more recently, sustainability behaviors. Earlier, measurement development confirmed both the structure of ST pros and cons and efficacy measures as well as the relationship between these constructs and ST stages of change, replicating results found for many other behaviors. The present paper discusses a brief pre-post video pilot intervention study designed for precontemplators and contemplators (N = 604) that was well received, effective in moving respondents towards increased readiness for ST behavior change, and improving some ST attitudes, significantly reducing the cons of ST. This research program shows that a brief stage-targeted behavior change video can increase readiness and reduce the cons for healthy transportation choices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Transportation and Health)

10 pages, 277 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Knowledge and Attitudes of General Practitioners and Sexual Health Care Professionals Regarding Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Young Men Who Have Sex with Men

by Samuel W. D. Merriel^1,*

, Carrie Flannagan², Joanna M. Kesten^3,4,5, Gilla K. Shapiro⁶, Tom Nadarzynski⁷ and Gillian Prue⁸

¹ Centre for Academic Primary Care, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK

² Institute of Nursing and Health Research, Londonderry BT52 1SA, UK

³ Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK

⁴ The National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Evaluation of Interventions, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PS, UK

⁵ The National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care West (NIHR CLAHRC West), University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol BS1 2NT, UK

⁶ Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada

⁷ Department of Psychology, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK

⁸ School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queens University, Belfast BT7 1NN, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 151; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010151 - 18 Jan 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6135

Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) may be at higher risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. Healthcare professionals’ recommendations can affect HPV vaccination uptake. Since 2016, MSM up to 45 years have been offered HPV vaccination at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in [...] Read more.

Men who have sex with men (MSM) may be at higher risk for human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers. Healthcare professionals’ recommendations can affect HPV vaccination uptake. Since 2016, MSM up to 45 years have been offered HPV vaccination at genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics in a pilot programme, and primary care was recommended as a setting for opportunistic vaccination. Vaccination prior to potential exposure to the virus (i.e., sexual debut) is likely to be most efficacious, therefore a focus on young MSM (YMSM) is important. This study aimed to explore and compare the knowledge and attitudes of UK General Practitioners (GPs) and sexual healthcare professionals (SHCPs) regarding HPV vaccination for YMSM (age 16–24). A cross-sectional study using an online questionnaire examined 38 GPs and 49 SHCPs, including 59 (67.82%) females with a mean age of 40.71 years. Twenty-two participants (20 SHCPs, p < 0.001) had vaccinated a YMSM patient against HPV. GPs lack of time (25/38, 65.79%) and SHCP staff availability (27/49, 55.10%) were the main reported factors preventing YMSM HPV vaccination. GPs were less likely than SHCPs to believe there was sufficient evidence for vaccinating YMSM (OR = 0.02, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.47); less likely to have skills to identify YMSM who may benefit from vaccination (OR = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.01, 0.15); and less confident recommending YMSM vaccination (OR = 0.01, 95% CI = 0.00, 0.01). GPs appear to have different knowledge, attitudes, and skills regarding YMSM HPV vaccination when compared to SHCPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interventions and Approaches to Optimize Immunization Coverage Across the Lifespan)

21 pages, 1396 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seeing Context through Metaphor: Using Communications Research to Bring a Social Determinants Perspective to Public Thinking about Child Abuse and Neglect

by Nathaniel Kendall-Taylor^1,* and Kate Stanley²

¹ The FrameWorks Institute, 1333 H St NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA

² The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, Weston House, 42 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3NH, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010152 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 9758

Abstract

Human beings think in metaphor and reason through analogy. The metaphors through which we think influence how we understand and feel about social issues as well as the actions that we see as appropriate and important. Metaphors can be used to increase understanding [...] Read more.

Human beings think in metaphor and reason through analogy. The metaphors through which we think influence how we understand and feel about social issues as well as the actions that we see as appropriate and important. Metaphors can be used to increase understanding of how issues work and increase the salience of a given issue, build support for programs and policies necessary to address the issue, and instigate demand for change and civic action. In this paper, we use a mixed methods research design, including brief qualitative interviews, experimental surveys, and focus groups, to test the ability of different metaphors to influence public understanding of the social determinants of child abuse and neglect in the UK. We find one metaphor in particular that improves people’s understanding of the social causes of child maltreatment and increases support for structural solutions. This metaphor can be used to build support for preventative public health solutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Health Needs of Vulnerable Children: Challenges and Solutions)

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13 pages, 1761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

High Proportions of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter spp. Isolates in a District in Western India: A Four-Year Antibiotic Susceptibility Study of Clinical Isolates

by Ingvild Odsbu^1,*,†

, Smita Khedkar^2,†, Uday Khedkar², Sandeep S. Nerkar^1,3, Ashok J. Tamhankar^1,3

and Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg¹

¹ Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden

² Bac-Test Laboratory, College Road, Nashik 422005, Maharashtra, India

³ Indian Initiative for Management of Antibiotic Resistance, Department of Environmental Medicine, R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain 456006, India

^† Contributed equally.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010153 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5941

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the proportions of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter spp. isolates from the district of Nashik in Western India during the period from 2011–2014. Antibacterial susceptibility testing of isolates from inpatients and outpatients was performed using Kirby–Bauer disc [...] Read more.

The purpose of the study was to determine the proportions of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter spp. isolates from the district of Nashik in Western India during the period from 2011–2014. Antibacterial susceptibility testing of isolates from inpatients and outpatients was performed using Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method to determine inhibitory zone diameters. Proportions of non-susceptible isolates were calculated from the antibacterial susceptibility data. MDR was defined as an isolate being non-susceptible to at least one antibacterial agent in at least three antibacterial categories. The change in proportions of MDR isolates; extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates; and non-susceptible isolates to specific antibacterial categories over calendar time was investigated by logistic regression. The proportions of MDR and ESBL-producing isolates ranged from 89.4% to 95.9% and from 87.9% to 94.0%; respectively. The proportions of non-susceptible isolates to aminoglycosides; carbapenems; antipseudomonal penicillins/β-lactamase inhibitors; cephalosporins; folate pathway inhibitors; or penicillins/β-lactamase inhibitors exceeded 77.5%. Proportions of fluoroquinolone and tetracycline non-susceptible isolates ranged from 65.3% to 83.3% and from 71.3% to 75.9%; respectively. No changes in trends were observed over time; except for a decreasing trend in fluoroquinolone non-susceptible isolates (OR = 0.75 (95% CI, 0.62–0.91)). Significantly higher proportions of non-susceptible; MDR and ESBL-producing isolates were found among isolates from the respiratory system compared to isolates from all other specimen types (p < 0.05). High proportions of MDR Acinetobacter spp. isolates were observed in the period from 2011–2014. Antimicrobial stewardship programmes are needed to prevent the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Full article

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8 pages, 504 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Brief Report: Lead Levels in Selected Electronic Cigarettes from Canada and the United States

by Zachary R. Dunbar, Ananth Das, Richard J. O’Connor, Maciej L. Goniewicz

, Binnian Wei and Mark J. Travers^*

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Health Behavior, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010154 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9037

Abstract

Few published studies have investigated the presence of lead in the e-liquid of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Lead inhalation is associated with increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and other diseases. This study used a novel application of graphite furnace technology to [...] Read more.

Few published studies have investigated the presence of lead in the e-liquid of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Lead inhalation is associated with increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and other diseases. This study used a novel application of graphite furnace technology to compare the concentration of lead between e-liquids of different packaging and product designs using e-liquids that are or were commercially available in the United States and Canada. Eleven nicotine-free disposable ENDS devices and 12 bottled refill solutions that contained nicotine were purchased from retailers in Canada and the United States between 2015 and 2017. E-liquids extracted from the disposable products and individual containers were analyzed for lead content by graphite furnace using atomic absorption detection. The lead concentration of open-wick ENDS devices ranged from 25.2 ppb to 838.4 ppb, with a standard deviation of 187.4 ppb. None of the bottled e-liquids contained quantifiable levels of lead. This study found that quantifiable levels of lead are present in certain disposable e-cigarette devices, and there is evidence from this study that the design of ENDS devices may contribute to lead exposure. These findings suggest that lead testing should be incorporated into future chemical analyses of ENDS devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Heavy Metals and Health)

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15 pages, 1635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends in Resistance to Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporins and Carbapenems among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. Isolates in a District in Western India during 2004–2014

by Ingvild Odsbu^1,*,†

, Smita Khedkar^2,†, Frida Lind¹, Uday Khedkar², Sandeep S. Nerkar^1,3, Nicola Orsini¹, Ashok J. Tamhankar^1,3

and Cecilia Stålsby Lundborg¹

¹ Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden

² Bac-Test Laboratory, College Road, Nashik 422005, Maharashtra, India

³ Indian Initiative for Management of Antibiotic Resistance, Department of Environmental Medicine, R.D. Gardi Medical College, Ujjain 456006, India

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010155 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5454

Abstract

Surveillance data on the level of resistant bacteria is needed to inform strategies to reduce the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the non-susceptibility trends to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella [...] Read more.

Surveillance data on the level of resistant bacteria is needed to inform strategies to reduce the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to determine the non-susceptibility trends to extended-spectrum cephalosporins and carbapenems among Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates from the district of Nashik in Western India during the period 2004–2014. Antibacterial susceptibility testing of clinical isolates was performed using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method to determine inhibitory zone diameters. The change in proportions of non-susceptible bacteria over calendar time was investigated with spline transformations in a logistic regression model. For the extended-spectrum cephalosporins, the proportions of non-susceptible E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates were above 78.4% and 84.9% throughout the study period, respectively. E. coli and Klebsiella spp. isolates exhibited carbapenem non-susceptibility levels as high as 76.9% and 84.1% respectively. The proportions of extended-spectrum betalactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates ranged from 38.3–85.9% in E. coli and from 45.1–93.1% in Klebsiella spp. Significantly higher proportions of non-susceptible and ESBL-producing isolates were found among isolates from inpatients compared to isolates from outpatients for both E. coli and Klebsiella spp. (p < 0.050). The high proportions of non-susceptible isolates observed show that there is great need to focus on optimal use of antibiotics to reduce the development of antibiotic resistance. Full article

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12 pages, 307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

School Contextual Features of Social Disorder and Mental Health Complaints—A Multilevel Analysis of Swedish Sixth-Grade Students

by Bitte Modin^1,*, Stephanie Plenty^2,3, Sara B. Låftman¹, Malin Bergström¹, Marie Berlin^4,5, Per A. Gustafsson⁶

and Anders Hjern¹

¹ Centre for Health Equity Studies (CHESS), Stockholm University/Karolinska Institutet, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

² Institute for Futures Studies (IFFS), SE-111 31 Stockholm, Sweden

³ Swedish Institute for Social Research, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

⁴ National Board of Health and Welfare, SE-106 30 Stockholm, Sweden

⁵ Department of Sociology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

⁶ Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine (IKE) and Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), Linköping University, SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 156; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010156 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6136

Abstract

This study addressed school-contextual features of social disorder in relation to sixth-grade students’ experiences of bullying victimization and mental health complaints. It investigated, firstly, whether the school’s concentrations of behavioural problems were associated with individual students’ likelihood of being bullied, and secondly, whether [...] Read more.

This study addressed school-contextual features of social disorder in relation to sixth-grade students’ experiences of bullying victimization and mental health complaints. It investigated, firstly, whether the school’s concentrations of behavioural problems were associated with individual students’ likelihood of being bullied, and secondly, whether the school’s concentrations of behavioural problems and bullying victimization predicted students’ emotional and psychosomatic health complaints. The data were derived from the Swedish National Survey of Mental Health among Children and Young People, carried out among sixth-grade students (approximately 12–13 years old) in Sweden in 2009. The analyses were based on information from 59,510 students distributed across 1999 schools. The statistical method used was multilevel modelling. While students’ own behavioural problems were associated with an elevated risk of being bullied, attending a school with a higher concentration of students with behavioural problems also increased the likelihood of being bullied. Attending a school with higher levels of bullying victimization and behavioural problems predicted more emotional and psychosomatic complaints, even when adjusting for their individual level analogues. The findings indicate that school-level features of social disorder influence bullying victimization and mental health complaints among students. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Youth Violence as a Public Health Issue)

13 pages, 480 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Restricted Social Engagement among Adults Living with Chronic Conditions

by Kayla P. Meek¹, Caroline D. Bergeron^2,3

, Samuel D. Towne^3,4,5, SangNam Ahn^3,6

, Marcia G. Ory^3,4 and Matthew Lee Smith^1,3,4,*

¹ College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA

² Bexar County Community Health Collaborative, San Antonio, TX 78212, USA

³ Center for Population Health and Aging, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA

⁴ School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA

⁵ Southwest Rural Health Research Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA

⁶ School of Public Health, The University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010158 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 8409

Abstract

Background: Social engagement is key to health and quality of life. Little is known about social engagement patterns of middle-aged and older adults who live with one or more chronic illnesses. This study investigated social engagement restrictions among middle-aged and older adults [...] Read more.

Background: Social engagement is key to health and quality of life. Little is known about social engagement patterns of middle-aged and older adults who live with one or more chronic illnesses. This study investigated social engagement restrictions among middle-aged and older adults with chronic conditions and factors associated with these restrictions. Methods: Cross-sectional representative data from the National Council on Aging Chronic Care Survey were examined for relationships between social engagement restrictions and chronic conditions, health status, support, quality of life implications, self-care barriers, caregiving, and demographics. Associations were tested using bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression. Results: Participants were 793 middle-aged (age 44–64) and older adults (age 65+) with one or more chronic conditions. Factors associated with social engagement restrictions included having higher education, receiving care, having more physician visits and hospitalizations, being disabled, being unemployed, and having higher Emotional and Physical Problems Scale scores. Conclusions: Findings reveal the prevalence of social engagement restrictions among middle-aged and older adults with chronic conditions. Results highlight the importance of promoting research, assessments, and interventions to increase social engagement among this aging population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Aging and Public Health)

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9 pages, 758 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Work Related Stress and Health Related Quality of Life: The Impact of Socio-Demographic Variables. A Cross Sectional Study in a Region of Central Italy

by Giuseppe La Torre^1,*, Cristina Sestili¹, Alice Mannocci¹

, Alessandra Sinopoli¹, Massimiliano De Paolis¹, Sara De Francesco¹, Laura Rapaccini¹, Marco Barone¹, Valentina Iodice¹, Bruno Lojodice¹, Sabina Sernia¹, Simone De Sio²

, Angela Del Cimmuto¹ and Maria De Giusti¹

¹ Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

² Research Unit of Occupational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010159 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9236

Abstract

The aim of this work is investigate relationship between health-related quality of life and work-related stress and the impact of gender, education level, and age on this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted among workers of various setting in Rome and Frosinone. Work-related [...] Read more.

The aim of this work is investigate relationship between health-related quality of life and work-related stress and the impact of gender, education level, and age on this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted among workers of various setting in Rome and Frosinone. Work-related stress was measured with a demand–control questionnaire and health-related functioning by SF (short form)-12 health survey. There were 611 participants. Men reported high mental composite summary (MCS) and physical composite summary (PCS). In multivariate analysis age, gender (p < 0.001) and job demand (0.045) predicted low PCS. Low MCS predicted poor PCS. Job demand and educational level resulted negatively associated with MCS. In an analysis stratified for age, gender, and educational level, gender and age resulted effect modifier for MCS, gender and education level for PCS. In women increase of decision latitude predict (p = 0.001) an increase in MCS; a low job demand predict high MCS in male (p ≤ 0.001). In younger workers, a lower level of job demand predicted high MCS (<0.001). For PCS, gender and education level resulted effect modifier. In women, high decision latitude predicted higher PCS (p = 0.001) and lower level of job demand results in higher PCS (p ≤ 0.001). Higher educational level resulted predictor of low PCS. Management of risk about work-related stress should consider socio-demographic factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Workplace Health Promotion 2018)

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12 pages, 2502 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Ambient Air Particles Increases the Risk of Mental Disorder: Findings from a Natural Experiment in Beijing

by Zhen Jia^1,†, Yongjie Wei^2,*,†, Xiaoqian Li², Lixin Yang², Huijie Liu², Chen Guo², Lulu Zhang², Nannan Li², Shaojuan Guo², Yan Qian² and Zhigang Li^2,*

¹ Beijing Institutes of Life Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100000, China

² Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment and Environmental Standards Institute, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100000, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 160; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010160 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 6789

Abstract

Epidemiology studies indicated that air pollution has been associated with adverse neurological effects in human. Moreover, the secretion of glucocorticoid (GC) affects the mood regulation, and the negative feedback of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (GR) inhibits the GC secretion. Meanwhile, the over secretion of [...] Read more.

Epidemiology studies indicated that air pollution has been associated with adverse neurological effects in human. Moreover, the secretion of glucocorticoid (GC) affects the mood regulation, and the negative feedback of hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (GR) inhibits the GC secretion. Meanwhile, the over secretion of GC can interfere the immune system and induce neurotoxicity. In the present study, the human test showed that the secretion of the cortisol in plasma was elevated after exposure in heavy air pollution. In the mouse model, we found that breathing the highly polluted air resulted in the negative responses of the mood-related behavioral tests and morphology of hippocampus, as well as the over secretion of GC in plasma, down regulation of GR, and up-regulation of cytokine and chemokine in the hippocampus. When considering the interrelated trends between the hippocampal GR, inflammatory factors, and plasmatic GC, we speculated that PM_2.5 exposure could lead to the increased secretion of GC in plasma by decreasing the expression of GR in hippocampus, which activated the inflammation response, and finally induced neurotoxicity, suggesting that PM_2.5 exposure negatively affects mood regulation. When combined with the results of the human test, it indicated that exposure to ambient air particles increased the risk of mental disorder. Full article

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12 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Fixed-Dose Combination Antiretroviral Drugs Adherence among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women on Option B Treatment in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

by Shandir Ramlagan^1,2,*, Karl Peltzer^1,3

, Robert A. C. Ruiter², Nicole A. Barylski⁴, Stephen M. Weiss⁴ and Sibusiso Sifunda^1,2

¹ HIV/Aids, STI and TB Unit, Human Sciences Research Council, Private Bag X41, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

² Department of Work & Social Psychology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands

³ Department of Research and Innovation, University of Limpopo, Sovenga 0727, South Africa

⁴ Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1400 NW 10th Ave, Miami, FL 33136, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 161; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010161 - 20 Jan 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6022

Abstract

The possibility for all babies to be born and remain HIV-negative for the first year of life is achievable in South Africa. HIV-positive mothers’ adherence to their antiretroviral medication is one of the crucial factors to achieve this target. Cross-sectional data were collected [...] Read more.

The possibility for all babies to be born and remain HIV-negative for the first year of life is achievable in South Africa. HIV-positive mothers’ adherence to their antiretroviral medication is one of the crucial factors to achieve this target. Cross-sectional data were collected at 12 community health centres, over 12 months (2014–2015), from 673 HIV-positive women, less than 6 months pregnant, attending antenatal care, and on Option B treatment. Adherence measures included the Adults AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AACTG) four-day measure, as well as the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) seven-day measure. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regressions are presented. 78.8% of respondents were adherent on AACTG, while 68.8% reported VAS adherence. Bivariate analyses for increased adherence show significant associations with older age, less/no alcohol usage, disclosure of HIV status, higher HIV knowledge, no desire to avoid ARV side effects, low stigma, and low depression. AACTG showed a negative association with intimate partner violence. Multivariable logistic regression on AACTG and VAS adherence rates resulted in unique contributions to increased adherence of older age, less/no alcohol usage, higher HIV knowledge, lack of depression, and non-disclosure. Programs targeting closer side effect monitoring, HIV disclosure, pre-natal depression, alcohol intake, and HIV knowledge need consideration. Full article

10 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Examining Public Perceptions about Lead in School Drinking Water: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Twitter Response to an Environmental Health Hazard

by Christine C. Ekenga^1,*

, Cora-Ann McElwain¹ and Nadav Sprague²

¹ Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA

² Gateway to the Great Outdoors, Chicago, IL 60613, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010162 - 20 Jan 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 6565

Abstract

Exposure to lead has long been a community health concern in St. Louis, Missouri. The objective of this study was to examine public response to reports of elevated lead levels in school drinking water in St. Louis, Missouri via Twitter, a microblogging platform [...] Read more.

Exposure to lead has long been a community health concern in St. Louis, Missouri. The objective of this study was to examine public response to reports of elevated lead levels in school drinking water in St. Louis, Missouri via Twitter, a microblogging platform with over 320 million active users. We used a mixed-methods design to examine Twitter user status updates, known as “tweets,” from 18 August to 31 December 2016. The number of tweets each day was recorded, and Twitter users were classified into five user types (General Public, Journalist/News, Health Professional/Academic, Politician/Government Official, and Non-Governmental Organization). A total of 492 tweets were identified during the study period. The majority of discourse on Twitter occurred during the two-week period after initial media reports and was driven by members of the General Public. Thematic analysis of tweets revealed four themes: Information Sharing, Health Concerns, Sociodemographic Disparities, and Outrage. Twitter users characterized lead in school drinking water as an issue of environmental inequity. The findings of this study provide evidence that social media platforms can be utilized as valuable tools for public health researchers and practitioners to gauge public sentiment about environmental health issues, identify emerging community concerns, and inform future communication and research strategies regarding environmental health hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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13 pages, 358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Implications of Combined Exposure to Household Air Pollution and HIV on Neurocognition in Children

by Megan K. Suter¹, Catherine J. Karr^1,2,3, Grace C. John-Stewart^1,2,4, Laurén A. Gómez⁴, Hellen Moraa⁵, Duke Nyatika⁵, Dalton Wamalwa⁵, Michael Paulsen³, Christopher D. Simpson³, Niloufar Ghodsian³, Michael J. Boivin⁶

, Paul Bangirana⁷

and Sarah Benki-Nugent^4,*

¹ Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

² Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

³ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

⁴ Department of Global Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA 98104, USA

⁵ Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Nairobi, Nairobi 30197, Kenya

⁶ Department of Psychiatry, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA

⁷ Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala 7062, Uganda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 163; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010163 - 20 Jan 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7316

Abstract

Air pollution exposure and HIV infection can each cause neurocognitive insult in children. The purpose of this study was to test whether children with combined high air pollution exposure and perinatal HIV infection have even greater risk of neurocognitive impairment. This was a [...] Read more.

Air pollution exposure and HIV infection can each cause neurocognitive insult in children. The purpose of this study was to test whether children with combined high air pollution exposure and perinatal HIV infection have even greater risk of neurocognitive impairment. This was a cross-sectional study of HIV-uninfected unexposed (HUU) and HIV-infected children and their caregivers in Nairobi, Kenya. We used a detailed neuropsychological battery to evaluate neurocognitive functioning in several domains. We measured caregiver 24-h personal CO exposure as a proxy for child CO exposure and child urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a biomarker for exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Median 24-h caregiver CO exposure was 6.1 and 3.7 ppm for 45 HIV-infected (mean age 6.6 years) and 49 HUU (mean age 6.7 years), respectively; 48.5% of HIV-infected and 38.6% of HUU had caregiver 24-h CO levels exceeding the WHO recommended level. Median 1-OHP exposure was 0.6 and 0.7 µmol/mol creatinine among HIV-infected and HUU children, respectively. HIV-infected children with high urinary 1-OHP (exceeding 0.68 µmol/mol creatinine) had significantly lower global cognition (p = 0.04), delayed memory (p = 0.01), and attention scores (p = 0.003). Among HUU children, urinary 1-OHP and caregiver 24-h caregiver CO were not significantly associated with neurocognitive function. Our findings suggest that combined chronic exposure to air pollutants and perinatal HIV infection may be associated with poorer neurocognitive outcomes. High prevalence of air pollution exposure highlights the need to reduce these exposures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Children’s Environmental Health)

7 pages, 923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fate of Fecal Indicators in Resource-Oriented Sanitation Systems Using Nitrifying Bio-Treatment

by Shervin Hashemi¹

, Mooyoung Han^1,* and Eun Namkung²

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea

² Institute of Construction and Environmental Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 164; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010164 - 20 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3984

Abstract

Hygienic fecal treatment in resource-oriented sanitation (ROS) systems is an important concern. Although the addition of nitrifying microorganisms is a sustainable fecal treatment method in ROS systems, it is essential to examine the cleanliness of this method. In this study, we investigated the [...] Read more.

Hygienic fecal treatment in resource-oriented sanitation (ROS) systems is an important concern. Although the addition of nitrifying microorganisms is a sustainable fecal treatment method in ROS systems, it is essential to examine the cleanliness of this method. In this study, we investigated the fate of fecal indicators in source-separated fecal samples through tracking Escherichia coli and total coliforms. The effects of adding different amounts of Nitrosomonas europaea bio-seed, along with a constant amount of Nitrobacter winogradskyi bio-seed, were studied. In intact feces samples, the pathogen population underwent an initial increase, followed by a slight decrease, and eventually became constant. Although the addition of nitrifying microorganisms initially enhanced the pathogen growth rate, it caused the reduction process to become more efficient in the long-term. In addition to a constant concentration of 10,000 cells of N. winogradskyi per 1 g feces, a minimum amount of 3000 and 7000 cells of N. europaea per 1 g feces could completely remove E. coli and total coliforms, respectively, in less than 25 days. Increasing the amount of bio-seeds added can further reduce the time required for total pathogen removal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)

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8 pages, 261 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Feasibility of e-Health Interventions on Smoking Cessation among Vietnamese Active Internet Users

by Bach Xuan Tran^1,2,3,*,†, Xuan Thanh Thi Le^1,*,†, Phuong Ngoc Nguyen¹, Quynh Ngoc Hoang Le⁴, Hue Thi Mai¹, Huong Lan Thi Nguyen⁵, Huong Thi Le¹, Tung Thanh Tran⁵, Carl A. Latkin²

, Melvyn W.B. Zhang⁶ and Roger C.M. Ho⁷

¹ Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

² Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

³ Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

⁴ Faculty of Pharmacy, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam

⁵ Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang 550000, Vietnam

⁶ Biomedical Global Institute of Healthcare Research & Technology (BIGHEART), National University of Singapore 117599, Singapore

⁷ Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 165; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010165 - 20 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7336

Abstract

Introduction: Although e-health interventions are widely implemented as a supportive measure to smoking cessation, there is a lack of evidence in the feasibility of its application among Vietnamese youths, which is considered to be one of the most frequent internet using populations. This [...] Read more.

Introduction: Although e-health interventions are widely implemented as a supportive measure to smoking cessation, there is a lack of evidence in the feasibility of its application among Vietnamese youths, which is considered to be one of the most frequent internet using populations. This study assessed the quitting attempts among smokers and their preference and willingness to pay for smartphone-based cessation supporting applications in a sample of active internet users approached. Methods: A total of 1082 participants were recruited for the online-based survey from August to October 2015 in Vietnam. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, health information seeking behaviors on the internet, smoking status, quitting attempts and willingness to pay for smartphone-based cessation supporting applications were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the associated factors with current smoking and willingness to pay for the smoking cessation application. Results: About 11% of participants were current smokers while 73.4% had attempted to quit smoking. Only 26.8% of the individuals indicated that they were willing to utilize a smartphone application to assist them in quitting. Participants who were male, had partners/spouse and lived at other places were more likely to smoke cigarette. Meanwhile, people who spent 50–70% of their online time to read health information were less likely to smoke. Results also show that living with family and never sharing health information on the internet were negatively associated with a participant’s willingness to pay for the smartphone application. Meanwhile, people who highly trusted health information were more likely to be willing to pay for the application. Conclusions: This prevalence of smoking and associated factors can provide potential indicators for creating several public health interventions in the new environment with the increasing development of information technology. This study implies that in order to expand the coverage of smoking cessation interventions, we recommend the integration of e-health interventions with clinical- or telephone-based conventional models by providing smartphone applications and information on the internet from reliable sources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue eHealth: The Impact of Technology on Healthcare)

12 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organizational and Occupational Stressors, Their Consequences and Coping Strategies: A Questionnaire Survey among Italian Patrol Police Officers

by Daniela Acquadro Maran^1,*

, Massimo Zedda¹ and Antonella Varetto²

¹ Department of Psychology, Università di Torino, Via Verdi, 10, 10124 Torino, Italy

² Città della Salute e della Scienza, Corso Bramante, 88, 10126 Torino, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010166 - 21 Jan 2018

Cited by 37 | Viewed by 8442

Abstract

Background: Traditionally, workers employed in police forces have been found to be exposed to a high risk of distress. Several studies reported that the main stressors were associated more with organizational aspects, whilst other researchers underlined that the main stressor were associated [...] Read more.

Background: Traditionally, workers employed in police forces have been found to be exposed to a high risk of distress. Several studies reported that the main stressors were associated more with organizational aspects, whilst other researchers underlined that the main stressor were associated more with operational issues. The aim of this research was to investigate operational and organizational stressors, their consequences also in terms of anxiety and the coping strategies adopted. Methods: We compared Patrol Police Officers working in the Operational Service (Outdoor Patrol Officers) and those in the Interior Department (Indoor Patrol Officers) in the same Municipal Police force. Results: The results revealed that both Outdoor Patrol Officers and Interior Patrol Officers suffered from organizational and occupational stressor. Outdoor Patrol Officers appeared more willing to use different coping strategies, whereas Indoor Patrol Officers used avoidance strategies. This allows Outdoor Patrol Officers to explore new responses and approaches to deal with situations which—owing to the type of work—it is impossible to change. Outdoor Patrol Officers appeared better equipped to change their attitude to work than Indoor Patrol Officers. Conclusion: Interventions on both organizational and operational stressors would improve the quality of Patrol Police Officers’ working life and have positive repercussions on the service offered to the general public. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stress and Health)

9 pages, 624 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Muscle Mass and Outdoor Environmental Factors on Appetite and Satiety Feeling in Young Japanese Women

by Masahiro Okada

Department of Food and Dietetics, Hiroshima Bunka Gakuen Two-Year College, 3-5-1 Nagatsukanishi, Asaminami-ku, Hiroshima 731-0136, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 167; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010167 - 21 Jan 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 6491

Abstract

Research on the influence of relationships among satiety, muscle mass, and outdoor environmental factors is sparse. In this work the relationships among satiety feeling, body composition, and outdoor environmental factors on eating in healthy young Japanese women are investigated. Fifty three (53) women [...] Read more.

Research on the influence of relationships among satiety, muscle mass, and outdoor environmental factors is sparse. In this work the relationships among satiety feeling, body composition, and outdoor environmental factors on eating in healthy young Japanese women are investigated. Fifty three (53) women were examined over an approximately 2-year period. All participants ate the same lunch; feelings of satiety and body composition were measured before and immediately after lunch. Satiety was assessed using a visual analog scale. Outdoor environmental factors were recorded at the time of measurement. Results showed that satiety before lunch decreased with increased muscle mass and decreased humidity (p < 0.05). The Δ satiety increased on eating with increased outdoor temperature (p < 0.05). The Δ satiety with high outdoor temperature was significantly greater than with low outdoor temperature (p = 0.005). Decreased muscle mass more influenced Δ satiety with respect to outdoor temperature than increased muscle mass (p = 0.007). The results suggest that increased muscle mass and decreased humidity increase hunger (unlike satiety) before eating. The findings also show that outdoor temperature clearly influences the magnitude of satiety on eating. Increasing muscle mass may be useful for satiety control at various outdoor temperatures in young women. Full article

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18 pages, 628 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenic Methylation Capacity and Metabolic Syndrome in the 2013–2014 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)

by Clare Pace¹, Julie Smith-Gagen² and Jeff Angermann^2,*

¹ Department of Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA

² School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 168; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010168 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5531

Abstract

Arsenic methylation capacity is associated with metabolic syndrome and its components among highly exposed populations. However, this association has not been investigated in low to moderately exposed populations. Therefore, we investigated arsenic methylation capacity in relation to the clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome [...] Read more.

Arsenic methylation capacity is associated with metabolic syndrome and its components among highly exposed populations. However, this association has not been investigated in low to moderately exposed populations. Therefore, we investigated arsenic methylation capacity in relation to the clinical diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in a low arsenic exposure population. Additionally, we compared arsenic methylation patterns present in our sample to those of more highly exposed populations. Using logistic regression models adjusted for relevant biological and lifestyle covariates, we report no association between increased arsenic methylation and metabolic syndrome in a population in which arsenic is regulated at 10 ppb in drinking water. However, we cannot rule out the possibility of a positive association between arsenic methylation and metabolic syndrome in a subsample of women with normal body mass index (BMI). To our knowledge this is the first investigation of arsenic methylation capacity with respect to metabolic syndrome in a low exposure population. We also report that methylation patterns in our sample are similar to those found in highly exposed populations. Additionally, we report that gender and BMI significantly modify the effect of arsenic methylation on metabolic syndrome. Future studies should evaluate the effectiveness of arsenic policy enforcement on subclinical biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Contamination, Bioavailability and Public Health)

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16 pages, 3831 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Mortality Burden of Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer Attributable to Injection Drug Use, 1990–2016: An Age-Period-Cohort and Spatial Autocorrelation Analysis

by Jin Yang¹

, Yunquan Zhang¹

, Lisha Luo¹

, Runtang Meng¹

and Chuanhua Yu^1,2,*

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health Sciences, Wuhan University, 185 Donghu Road, Wuhan 430071, China

² Global Health Institute, Wuhan University, 8 Donghunan Road, Wuhan 430072, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010170 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7634

Abstract

We analyzed the temporal and spatial variations in mortality burden of cirrhosis and liver cancer attributable to injection drug use (IDU) from 1990 to 2016. Mortality data of IDU-attributable cirrhosis and IDU-attributable liver cancer on the global and national scales from 1990 to [...] Read more.

We analyzed the temporal and spatial variations in mortality burden of cirrhosis and liver cancer attributable to injection drug use (IDU) from 1990 to 2016. Mortality data of IDU-attributable cirrhosis and IDU-attributable liver cancer on the global and national scales from 1990 to 2016 were collected from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) studies. Age-period-cohort (APC) model analysis was used to analyze the global mortality trends of target disease, and spatial autocorrelation analysis based on Geographic Information System was applied to illustrate the clusters of the most epidemic countries. Globally, from 1990 to 2015, mortality rates (age-standardized, per 100,000) of IDU-attributable cirrhosis increased continually from 1.5 to 1.9, while from 0.4 to 0.9 for IDU-attributable liver cancer. The APC model analysis indicated that the increases of mortality were mainly driven by period effects, with the mortality risk increasing by 6.82-fold for IDU-attributable cirrhosis and 3.08-fold for IDU-attributable liver cancer. The spatial analysis suggested that IDU-attributable cirrhosis mortality were geographically clustered from 1990 to 2016, and hot spots were mainly located in less well developed countries of Latin America, East and Central Europe and Central Asia. Our study provides epidemiological evidence for global interventions against advanced liver disease among injection drug users (IDUs). Full article

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16 pages, 1255 KiB

Open AccessArticle

West Nile Virus and Usutu Virus Monitoring of Wild Birds in Germany

by Friederike Michel¹, Dominik Fischer²

, Martin Eiden¹

, Christine Fast¹, Maximilian Reuschel³

, Kerstin Müller⁴, Monika Rinder⁵

, Sylvia Urbaniak⁶, Florian Brandes⁷, Rebekka Schwehn⁸, Renke Lühken⁹

, Martin H. Groschup¹

and Ute Ziegler^1,*

¹ Friedrich-Loeffler Insitut (FLI), Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Südufer 10, D-17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany

² Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Frankfurter Straße 91, D-35392 Giessen, Germany

³ Clinic for Small Mammals, Reptiles and Birds, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, D-30559 Hannover, Germany

⁴ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Small Animal Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19 b, D-14163 Berlin, Germany

⁵ Clinic for Birds, Small Mammals, Reptiles and Ornamental Fish, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Sonnenstraße 18, D-85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany

⁶ Birds of Prey Rehab Center Rhineland (Greifvogelhilfe Rheinland), Roermonder Straße 34, D-41379 Brüggen, Germany

⁷ Wildtier-und Artenschutzstation, Hohe Warte 1, D-31553 Sachsenhagen, Germany

⁸ Seehundstation Nationalpark-Haus Norden-Norddeich, Dörper Weg 24, D-26506 Norden, Germany

⁹ Bernhard-Nocht-Institute for Tropical Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Hemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Bernhardt-Nocht Straße 74, D-20359 Hamburg, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010171 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 8819

Abstract

By systematically setting up a unique nation-wide wild bird surveillance network, we monitored migratory and resident birds for zoonotic arthropod-borne virus infections, such as the flaviviruses West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV). More than 1900 wild bird blood samples, from 20 [...] Read more.

By systematically setting up a unique nation-wide wild bird surveillance network, we monitored migratory and resident birds for zoonotic arthropod-borne virus infections, such as the flaviviruses West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV). More than 1900 wild bird blood samples, from 20 orders and 136 different bird species, were collected between 2014 and 2016. Samples were investigated by WNV and USUV-specific real-time polymerase chain reactions as well as by differentiating virus neutralization tests. Dead bird surveillance data, obtained from organ investigations in 2016, were also included. WNV-specific RNA was not detected, whereas four wild bird blood samples tested positive for USUV-specific RNA. Additionally, 73 USUV-positive birds were detected in the 2016 dead bird surveillance. WNV neutralizing antibodies were predominantly found in long-distance, partial and short-distance migrants, while USUV neutralizing antibodies were mainly detected in resident wild bird species, preferentially with low seroprevalences. To date, WNV-specific RNA has neither been detected in wild birds, nor in mosquitoes, thus, we conclude that WNV is not yet present in Germany. Continued wild bird and mosquito monitoring studies are essential to detect the incursion of zoonotic viruses and to allow risk assessments for zoonotic pathogens. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) Research, Management and Response)

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18 pages, 5832 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Groundwater Pollution Sources Apportionment in the Ghaen Plain, Iran

by Mohammad Reza Vesali Naseh¹

, Roohollah Noori^2,*

, Ronny Berndtsson³

, Jan Adamowski⁴

and Elaheh Sadatipour²

¹ Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Arak University, Arak 38156-879, Iran

² Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate Faculty of Environment, University of Tehran, 14155-6135 Tehran, Iran

³ Department of Water Resources Engineering & Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden

⁴ Department of Bioresource Engineering, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010172 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 51 | Viewed by 6823

Abstract

Although Iran’s Ghaen Plain provides saffron to much of the world, no regional groundwater quality (GQ) assessment has yet been undertaken. Given the region’s potential for saltwater intrusion and heavy metal contamination, it is important to assess the GQ and determine its main [...] Read more.

Although Iran’s Ghaen Plain provides saffron to much of the world, no regional groundwater quality (GQ) assessment has yet been undertaken. Given the region’s potential for saltwater intrusion and heavy metal contamination, it is important to assess the GQ and determine its main probable source of pollution (MPSP). Such knowledge would allow for informed mitigation or elimination of the potential adverse health effects of this groundwater through its use as drinking water, or indirectly as a result of the consumption of groundwater-irrigated crops. Total dissolved solids, sodium, and chloride in the water of the majority of 16 wells sampled within the region exceeded World Health Organization and Iranian permissible standards for drinking water. The groundwater proved to only be suitable for irrigating salt tolerant crops under good drainage conditions. Due to the precipitation of calcium carbonate in the water supply facilities, the water from all wells was deemed unsuitable for industrial purposes. Heavy metal pollution and contamination indices showed no groundwater contamination. Analysis of ionic ratios and the application of principal components analysis indicated the MPSP to be saltwater intrusion, with the geology subtending the plain, and to a lesser extent, anthropogenic activities. Reducing groundwater withdrawals, particularly those for agricultural production by using high performance irrigation methods could reduce saltwater intrusion and improve GQ in the Ghaen Plain. Full article

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16 pages, 347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Number of Heat Wave Deaths by Diagnosis, Sex, Age Groups, and Area, in Slovenia, 2015 vs. 2003

by Simona Perčič^1,*, Andreja Kukec², Tanja Cegnar³ and Ana Hojs¹

¹ Centre for Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health Slovenia, Zaloška 29, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

² Department for Public Health, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

³ Slovenian Environment Agency, Vojkova cesta 1b, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010173 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8130

Abstract

Background: Number of deaths increases during periods of elevated heat. Objectives: To examine whether differences in heat-related deaths between 2003 and 2015 occurred in Slovenia. Materials and Methods: We estimated relative risks for deaths for the observed diagnoses, sex, age, [...] Read more.

Background: Number of deaths increases during periods of elevated heat. Objectives: To examine whether differences in heat-related deaths between 2003 and 2015 occurred in Slovenia. Materials and Methods: We estimated relative risks for deaths for the observed diagnoses, sex, age, and area, as well as 95% confidence intervals and excess deaths associated with heat waves occurring in 2015 and 2003. For comparison between 2015 and 2003, we calculated relative risks ratio and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Statistically significant in 2015 were the following: age group 75+, all causes of deaths (RR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.00–1.22); all population, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.01–1.30) and age group 75+, diseases of circulatory system (RR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.34). Statistically significant in 2003 were the following: female, age group 5–74, circulatory system diseases (RR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.08–2.62). Discussion: Comparison between 2015 and 2003, all, circulatory system diseases (RRR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.01–1.55); male, circulatory system diseases (RRR = 1.85, 95% CI 1.41–2.43); all, age group 75+ circulatory system diseases (RRR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.07–1.69); male, age group 75+, circulatory system diseases (RRR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.03–2.25) and female, age group 75+, circulatory system diseases (RRR = 1.43, 95% CI 1.08–1.89). Conclusions: Public health efforts are urgent and should address circulatory system causes and old age groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Impacts of Warming of 1.5 °C and 2 °C)

12 pages, 536 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparedness of Health Care Professionals for Delivering Sexual and Reproductive Health Care to Refugee and Migrant Women: A Mixed Methods Study

by Zelalem B. Mengesha^1,*, Janette Perz¹, Tinashe Dune^1,2

and Jane Ussher¹

¹ Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia

² School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010174 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 11316

Abstract

Past research suggests that factors related to health care professionals’ (HCPs) knowledge, training and competency can contribute to the underutilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care by refugee and migrant women. The aim of this study was to examine the perceived preparedness [...] Read more.

Past research suggests that factors related to health care professionals’ (HCPs) knowledge, training and competency can contribute to the underutilisation of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care by refugee and migrant women. The aim of this study was to examine the perceived preparedness of HCPs in relation to their knowledge, confidence and training needs when it comes to consulting refugee and migrant women seeking SRH care in Australia. A sequential mixed methods design, comprising an online survey with 79 HCPs (45.6% nurses, 30.3% general practitioners (GPs), 16.5% health promotion officers, and 7.6% allied health professionals) and semi-structured interviews with 21 HCPs, was utilised. HCPs recognised refugee and migrant women’s SRH as a complex issue that requires unique skills for the delivery of optimal care. However, they reported a lack of training (59.4% of nurses, 50% of GPs, and 38.6% of health promotion officers) and knowledge (27.8% of nurses, 20.8% of GPs, and 30.8% of health promotion officers) in addressing refugee and migrant women’s SRH. The majority of participants (88.9% of nurses, 75% of GPs, and 76% of health promotion officers) demonstrated willingness to engage with further training in refugee and migrant women’s SRH. The implications of the findings are argued regarding the need to train HCPs in culturally sensitive care and include the SRH of refugee and migrant women in university and professional development curricula in meeting the needs of this growing and vulnerable group of women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Refugee, Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health)

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12 pages, 511 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Association of Food Consumption Scores, Body Shape Index, and Hypertension in a Seven-Year Follow-Up among Indonesian Adults: A Longitudinal Study

by Emyr Reisha Isaura¹

, Yang-Ching Chen^1,2

and Shwu-Huey Yang^1,3,*

¹ School of Nutrition and Health Sciences, College of Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11041, Taiwan

² Department of Family Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, ZhongXing Branch, Taipei 10341, Taiwan

³ Nutrition Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11041, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 175; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010175 - 22 Jan 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6932

Abstract

Aims: The concept of food security and its association with chronic diseases are both well-established. During the years within the scope of the study, there was a significant increase in the body shape index (ABSI) of Indonesian adults. This study tested the [...] Read more.

Aims: The concept of food security and its association with chronic diseases are both well-established. During the years within the scope of the study, there was a significant increase in the body shape index (ABSI) of Indonesian adults. This study tested the hypothesis that the association between food security and chronic diseases is mediated, in part, by ABSI. Methods: Data was obtained from 2156 Indonesian adults using the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) in 2007 and 2014. Longitudinal study participants were interviewed face-to-face for dietary intake data using the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Food security, a concept developed by the World Food Programme (WFP), was calculated based on a food consumption score analysis using the FFQ. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) and a Sobel–Goodman test were used to test the hypothesis in this study. Results: The food consumption score was negatively associated with ABSI. It was also negatively associated with systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001). In a formal mediation analysis, ABSI significantly mediated the pathway between the food consumption score and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The effect of food security on hypertension is mediated through body shape. Strategies to improve the prevention of hypertension among adults may need to take the ABSI and food security, along with nutrition education, into account. Full article

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Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

15 pages, 514 KiB

Open AccessReview

Water Quality and Brain Function

by Stephen C. Bondy^1,*

and Arezoo Campbell²

¹ Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617-1830, USA

² Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA 91766-1854, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010002 - 21 Dec 2017

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 7481

Abstract

In the United States, regulations are in place to ensure the quality of drinking water. Such precautions are intended to safeguard the health of the population. However, regulatory guidelines may at times fail to achieve their purpose. This may be due to lack [...] Read more.

In the United States, regulations are in place to ensure the quality of drinking water. Such precautions are intended to safeguard the health of the population. However, regulatory guidelines may at times fail to achieve their purpose. This may be due to lack of sufficient data regarding the health hazards of chronic low dose exposure to contaminants or the introduction of new substances that pose a health hazard risk that has yet to be identified. In this review, examples of different sources of contaminants in drinking water will be discussed, followed by an evaluation of some select individual toxicants with known adverse neurological impact. The ability of mixtures to potentially cause additive, synergistic, or antagonistic neurotoxic responses will be briefly addressed. The last section of the review will provide examples of select mechanisms by which different classes of contaminants may lead to neurological impairments. The main objective of this review is to bring to light the importance of considering trace amounts of chemicals in the drinking water and potential brain abnormalities. There is continued need for toxicology studies to better understand negative consequences of trace amounts of toxins and although it is beyond the scope of this brief overview it is hoped that the review will underscore the paucity of studies focused on determining how long-term exposure to minute levels of contaminants in drinking water may pose a significant health hazard. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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12 pages, 814 KiB

Open AccessReview

Child Nutritional Status in the Changing Socioeconomic Region of the Northern Amazon, Brazil

by Mônica P. L. Cunha^1,2,*, Rejane C. Marques³ and José G. Dórea²

¹ Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho CEP 76801-059, RO, Brasil

² Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasilia, Brasília CEP 70919-970, DF, Brasil

³ Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Campus Macaé, Rio de Janeiro CEP 27930-560, RJ, Brasil

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010015 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5415

Abstract

The living conditions (i.e., socioeconomic, healthcare-related, nutritional, and environmental) to which children are exposed may influence their ability to reach their optimal growth potential. This review focuses on the relationship between the nutritional status of children under five years of age and social [...] Read more.

The living conditions (i.e., socioeconomic, healthcare-related, nutritional, and environmental) to which children are exposed may influence their ability to reach their optimal growth potential. This review focuses on the relationship between the nutritional status of children under five years of age and social and environmental factors in Northern Brazil. Children living in this region have limited access to healthcare and face precarious socioeconomic and environmental conditions. This analysis was based on data from national health surveys, the consolidated food, nutrition surveillance system (SISVAN), and indicators of the DPSEEA (driving force, pressure, state, exposures, health effects, and actions) framework. The northern region has the worst living conditions in the country, and children under five years of age have significant height-for-age, weight-for-age, and weight-for-height deficits. Concomitantly, the prevalence of children who are overweight has increased significantly, although it remains lower than that in more developed Brazilian regions. Insufficient and/or inadequate dietary practices and early exposure to unfavorable living conditions are risk factors for nutritional deviations. Further advances in public health policies that consider regional characteristics, particularly in the north, where progress has been slower, are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Determinants of Health Inequities and Prevention)

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15 pages, 322 KiB

Open AccessReview

Infant Feeding Beliefs, Attitudes, Knowledge and Practices of Chinese Immigrant Mothers: An Integrative Review of the Literature

by Ana Cristina Lindsay^1,2,*, Qun Le¹ and Mary L. Greaney³

¹ Department of Exercise and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA

² Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA

³ Health Studies and Department of Kinesiology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010021 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 8434

Abstract

Chinese are a fast-growing immigrant population group in several parts of the world (e.g., Australia, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, United States). Research evidence suggests that compared to non-Hispanic whites, individuals of Asian-origin including Chinese are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and [...] Read more.

Chinese are a fast-growing immigrant population group in several parts of the world (e.g., Australia, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, United States). Research evidence suggests that compared to non-Hispanic whites, individuals of Asian-origin including Chinese are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes at a lower body mass index (BMI). These risks may be possibly due to genetic differences in body composition and metabolic responses. Despite the increasing numbers of Chinese children growing up in immigrant families and the increasing prevalence of obesity among Chinese, little research has been focused on children of Chinese immigrant families. This integrative review synthesizes the evidence on infant feeding beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and practices of Chinese immigrant mothers; highlights limitations of available research; and offers suggestions for future research. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched four electronic academic/research databases (CINAHL, Medline, PsycINFO, and PubMed) to identify peer-reviewed, full-text papers published in English between January 2000 and September 2017. Only studies with mothers 18+ years old of normally developing infants were included. Of the 797 citations identified, 15 full-text papers were retrieved and 11 studies (8 cross-sectional studies, 3 qualitative studies) met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Reviewed studies revealed high initiation rates of breastfeeding, but sharp declines in breastfeeding rates by six months of age. In addition, reviewed studies revealed that the concomitantly use of breast milk and formula, and the early introduction of solid foods were common. Finally, reviewed studies identified several familial and socio-cultural influences on infant feeding beliefs and practices that may increase risk of overweight and obesity during infancy and early childhood among Chinese children of immigrant families. Nonetheless, as only 11 studies were identified and because the majority of studies (n = 8) were conducted in Australia, additional research including longitudinal studies, and studies conducted in countries with large Chinese immigrant population are needed to further identify and understand influences on Chinese immigrant mothers’ beliefs, attitudes, and practices related to infant feeding that may increase risk of child overweight and obesity. This information is needed to develop interventions tailored to the beliefs and needs of this fast-growing immigrant group and aimed at promoting healthy infant feeding practices to prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Refugee, Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health)

17 pages, 1856 KiB

Open AccessReview

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals Mediated through Binding Androgen Receptor Are Associated with Diabetes Mellitus

by Sugunadevi Sakkiah¹, Tony Wang², Wen Zou¹, Yuping Wang¹, Bohu Pan¹, Weida Tong¹ and Huixiao Hong^1,*

¹ National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR 72079, USA

² Department of Biology, Arkansas University, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010025 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7416

Abstract

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can mimic natural hormone to interact with receptors in the endocrine system and thus disrupt the functions of the endocrine system, raising concerns on the public health. In addition to disruption of the endocrine system, some EDCs have been [...] Read more.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can mimic natural hormone to interact with receptors in the endocrine system and thus disrupt the functions of the endocrine system, raising concerns on the public health. In addition to disruption of the endocrine system, some EDCs have been found associated with many diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, infertility, asthma, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. EDCs that binding androgen receptor have been reported associated with diabetes mellitus in in vitro, animal, and clinical studies. In this review, we summarize the structural basis and interactions between androgen receptor and EDCs as well as the associations of various types of diabetes mellitus with the EDCs mediated through androgen receptor binding. We also discuss the perspective research for further understanding the impact and mechanisms of EDCs on the risk of diabetes mellitus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Endocrine Disruptors Leading to Obesity and Related Diseases)

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20 pages, 698 KiB

Open AccessReview

Occupational Exposure to Solar Radiation at Different Latitudes and Pterygium: A Systematic Review of the Last 10 Years of Scientific Literature

by Alberto Modenese^*

and Fabriziomaria Gobba

Department of Biomedical, Metabolical and Neurosciences, University of Modena & Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010037 - 26 Dec 2017

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 8110

Abstract

Pterygium is a chronic eye disease: among its recognized risk factors there is long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The Sun is the main source of UV exposure: according to the World Health Organization, the Population Attributable Fraction of pterygium due to solar [...] Read more.

Pterygium is a chronic eye disease: among its recognized risk factors there is long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The Sun is the main source of UV exposure: according to the World Health Organization, the Population Attributable Fraction of pterygium due to solar radiation (SR) is 42–74%. Outdoor work can deeply influence the eye exposure to solar UV rays, but, despite this, pterygium is currently not adequately considered as a possible occupational disease in this working category, at least in Europe. For this reason, we performed a systematic review of the scientific literature published in the last ten years (2008–2017) considering the role of outdoor work as a risk factor for pterygium, in order to give new support for the prevention of this UV related disease in workers. We identified 29 relevant papers. Our results show that pterygium prevalence highly increased with latitude and mean annual UV index, and outdoor work is one of the most relevant risk factors, as well as age and male sex, both in high risk and in moderate risk World areas considering the environmental UV levels. Accordingly, pterygium occurring in outdoor workers should be considered an occupational disease. Moreover, our findings clearly support the need of further research on more effective prevention of the occupational risk related to long-term solar radiation exposure of the eye. Full article

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13 pages, 549 KiB

Open AccessReview

Disparities in Non-Fatal Health Outcomes in Pediatric General Trauma Studies

by Shanthi Ameratunga^1,*

, Jacqueline Ramke¹, Nicki Jackson², Sandar Tin Tin¹ and Belinda Gabbe^3,4

¹ Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand

² Alcohol Healthwatch, Office Park Building Level 1, 27 Gillies Ave, Auckland 1023, New Zealand

³ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Level 3, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004, Australia

⁴ Farr Institute, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010043 - 27 Dec 2017

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4667

Abstract

When prevention efforts fail, injured children require high-quality health services to support their recovery. Disparities in non-fatal injury outcomes, an indicator of health-care quality, have received minimal attention. We evaluated the extent to which general trauma follow-up studies published in the peer-reviewed scientific [...] Read more.

When prevention efforts fail, injured children require high-quality health services to support their recovery. Disparities in non-fatal injury outcomes, an indicator of health-care quality, have received minimal attention. We evaluated the extent to which general trauma follow-up studies published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature provide evidence of socially patterned inequities in health, functional or disability outcomes ≥4 weeks after childhood injuries. Using a systematic search, we identified 27 eligible cohort studies from 13 high-income countries. We examined the extent to which the reported health outcomes varied across the PROGRESS criteria: place of residence, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender/sex, religion, socio-economic status, and social capital. The available evidence on differential outcomes is limited as many studies were compromised by selection or retention biases that reduced the participation of children from demographic groups at increased risk of adverse outcomes, or the analyses mainly focused on variations in outcomes by sex. Given the limited research evidence, we recommend greater attention to systematic collection and reporting of non-fatal injury outcomes disaggregated by socio-demographic indicators in order to identify disparities where these exist and inform equity-focused interventions promoting the recovery of injured children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Injury Prevention 2017)

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45 pages, 2985 KiB

Open AccessReview

Arsenic Uptake, Toxicity, Detoxification, and Speciation in Plants: Physiological, Biochemical, and Molecular Aspects

by Ghulam Abbas¹, Behzad Murtaza¹, Irshad Bibi^2,3, Muhammad Shahid^1,*, Nabeel Khan Niazi^2,3,4,*, Muhammad Imran Khan²

, Muhammad Amjad¹, Munawar Hussain² and Natasha¹

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari-61100, Pakistan

² Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan

³ MARUM and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, D-28359 Bremen, Germany

⁴ Southern Cross GeoScience, Southern Cross University, Lismore 2480, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010059 - 2 Jan 2018

Cited by 703 | Viewed by 27635

Abstract

Environmental contamination with arsenic (As) is a global environmental, agricultural and health issue due to the highly toxic and carcinogenic nature of As. Exposure of plants to As, even at very low concentration, can cause many morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes. The recent [...] Read more.

Environmental contamination with arsenic (As) is a global environmental, agricultural and health issue due to the highly toxic and carcinogenic nature of As. Exposure of plants to As, even at very low concentration, can cause many morphological, physiological, and biochemical changes. The recent research on As in the soil-plant system indicates that As toxicity to plants varies with its speciation in plants (e.g., arsenite, As(III); arsenate, As(V)), with the type of plant species, and with other soil factors controlling As accumulation in plants. Various plant species have different mechanisms of As(III) or As(V) uptake, toxicity, and detoxification. This review briefly describes the sources and global extent of As contamination and As speciation in soil. We discuss different mechanisms responsible for As(III) and As(V) uptake, toxicity, and detoxification in plants, at physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. This review highlights the importance of the As-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as their damaging impacts on plants at biochemical, genetic, and molecular levels. The role of different enzymatic (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, and ascorbate peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (salicylic acid, proline, phytochelatins, glutathione, nitric oxide, and phosphorous) substances under As(III/V) stress have been delineated via conceptual models showing As translocation and toxicity pathways in plant species. Significantly, this review addresses the current, albeit partially understood, emerging aspects on (i) As-induced physiological, biochemical, and genotoxic mechanisms and responses in plants and (ii) the roles of different molecules in modulation of As-induced toxicities in plants. We also provide insight on some important research gaps that need to be filled to advance our scientific understanding in this area of research on As in soil-plant systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Arsenic Contamination, Bioavailability and Public Health)

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30 pages, 397 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Human Exposure Potential from Propylene Releases to the Environment

by David A. Morgott

Pennsport Consulting, LLC, 1 Christian Street, Unit#21, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 66; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010066 - 4 Jan 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5027

Abstract

A detailed literature search was performed to assess the sources, magnitudes and extent of human inhalation exposure to propylene. Exposure evaluations were performed at both the community and occupational levels for those living or working in different environments. The results revealed a multitude [...] Read more.

A detailed literature search was performed to assess the sources, magnitudes and extent of human inhalation exposure to propylene. Exposure evaluations were performed at both the community and occupational levels for those living or working in different environments. The results revealed a multitude of pyrogenic, biogenic and anthropogenic emission sources. Pyrogenic sources, including biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion, appear to be the primary contributors to atmospheric propylene. Despite a very short atmospheric lifetime, measurable levels could be detected in highly remote locations as a result of biogenic release. The indoor/outdoor ratio for propylene has been shown to range from about 2 to 3 in non-smoking homes, which indicates that residential sources may be the largest contributor to the overall exposure for those not occupationally exposed. In homes where smoking takes place, the levels may be up to thirty times higher than non-smoking residences. Atmospheric levels in most rural regions are typically below 2 ppbv, whereas the values in urban levels are much more variable ranging as high as 10 ppbv. Somewhat elevated propylene exposures may also occur in the workplace; especially for firefighters or refinery plant operators who may encounter levels up to about 10 ppmv. Full article

12 pages, 935 KiB

Open AccessReview

Safety Assessment of Electronic Cigarettes and Their Relationship with Cardiovascular Disease

by Guangwei Zhang^1,2,†, Zhangli Wang^1,†

, Kai Zhang¹, Rui Hou¹, Chunli Xing¹, Qi Yu¹ and Enqi Liu^1,2,*

¹ Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ischemic Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Public Health & College of Clinical Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, No.1 Xinwang Road, Xi’an 710021, China

² Laboratory Animal Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010075 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 11898

Abstract

Smoking leads to the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. Most importantly, it is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular atherosclerosis. In recent years, electronic cigarettes have become a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes, since modern micro-electronic techniques provide the possibility [...] Read more.

Smoking leads to the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. Most importantly, it is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular atherosclerosis. In recent years, electronic cigarettes have become a popular alternative to traditional cigarettes, since modern micro-electronic techniques provide the possibility of simulating the process of traditional smoking. Additionally, it is convenient and fashionable. Nevertheless, comments about the safety of electronic cigarettes remain controversial. Although the research about electronic cigarettes increased exponentially, there has been no systematic study of its safety. The aim of the current study is to review the literature reports about the safety of electronic cigarettes, and to understand their hazards and disadvantages. It was found that most of the current research about electronic cigarettes comprises short-term and in vitro studies. There are few reports of in vivo and long-term studies. Notably, the level of harmful components such as volatile organic compounds, tobacco-specific nitrosamines and heavy metals in electronic cigarettes are even higher than in traditional cigarettes. Therefore, the harm of electronic cigarettes should not be underestimated. In conclusion, the question of whether electronic cigarettes are a safe and sufficient substitute for traditional smoking needs further investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Nexus of Drug Abuse and Cardiovascular Disease)

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25 pages, 1012 KiB

Open AccessReview

Environmental Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review

by Tashi Dendup^1,*, Xiaoqi Feng^1,2, Stephanie Clingan¹ and Thomas Astell-Burt^1,2,*

¹ Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), School of Health and Society, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia

² Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010078 - 5 Jan 2018

Cited by 319 | Viewed by 46340

Abstract

Different elements of the environment have been posited to influence type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This systematic review summarizes evidence on the environmental determinants of T2DM identified in four databases. It proposes a theoretical framework illustrating the link between environment and T2DM, and [...] Read more.

Different elements of the environment have been posited to influence type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This systematic review summarizes evidence on the environmental determinants of T2DM identified in four databases. It proposes a theoretical framework illustrating the link between environment and T2DM, and briefly discusses some methodological challenges and potential solutions, and opportunities for future research. Walkability, air pollution, food and physical activity environment and roadways proximity were the most common environmental characteristics studied. Of the more than 200 reported and extracted relationships assessed in 60 studies, 82 showed significant association in the expected direction. In general, higher levels of walkability and green space were associated with lower T2DM risk, while increased levels of noise and air pollution were associated with greater risk. Current evidence is limited in terms of volume and study quality prohibiting causal inferences. However, the evidence suggests that environmental characteristics may influence T2DM prevention, and also provides a reasonable basis for further investigation with better quality data and longitudinal studies with policy-relevant environmental measures. This pursuit of better evidence is critical to support health-orientated urban design and city planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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9 pages, 1146 KiB

Open AccessReview

Revitalising Silver Nitrate for Caries Management

by Sherry Shiqian Gao¹

, Irene Shuping Zhao¹, Steve Duffin², Duangporn Duangthip¹, Edward Chin Man Lo¹

and Chun Hung Chu^1,*

¹ Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

² General Dentist, Shoreview Dental, LLC, Keizer, 97303 OR, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010080 - 6 Jan 2018

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 22652

Abstract

Silver nitrate has been adopted for medical use as a disinfectant for eye disease and burned wounds. In dentistry, it is an active ingredient of Howe’s solution used to prevent and arrest dental caries. While medical use of silver nitrate as a disinfectant [...] Read more.

Silver nitrate has been adopted for medical use as a disinfectant for eye disease and burned wounds. In dentistry, it is an active ingredient of Howe’s solution used to prevent and arrest dental caries. While medical use of silver nitrate as a disinfectant became subsidiary with the discovery of antibiotics, its use in caries treatment also diminished with the use of fluoride in caries prevention. Since then, fluoride agents, particularly sodium fluoride, have gained popularity in caries prevention. However, caries is an infection caused by cariogenic bacteria, which demineralise enamel and dentine. Caries can progress and cause pulpal infection, but its progression can be halted through remineralisation. Sodium fluoride promotes remineralisation and silver nitrate has a profound antimicrobial effect. Hence, silver nitrate solution has been reintroduced for use with sodium fluoride varnish to arrest caries as a medical model strategy of caries management. Although the treatment permanently stains caries lesions black, this treatment protocol is simple, painless, non-invasive, and low-cost. It is well accepted by many clinicians and patients and therefore appears to be a promising strategy for caries control, particularly for young children, the elderly, and patients with severe caries risk or special needs. Full article

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16 pages, 932 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of Load Carriage on Measures of Power and Agility in Tactical Occupations: A Critical Review

by Aaron Joseph¹, Amy Wiley¹, Robin Orr^2,*

, Benjamin Schram²

and J. Jay Dawes³

¹ Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia

² Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Gold Coast, QLD 4229, Australia

³ Department of Health Science, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, CO 80918, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010088 - 7 Jan 2018

Cited by 62 | Viewed by 6984

Abstract

The current literature suggests that load carriage can impact on a tactical officer’s mobility, and that survival in the field may rely on the officer’s mobility. The ability for humans to generate power and agility is critical for performance of the high-intensity movements [...] Read more.

The current literature suggests that load carriage can impact on a tactical officer’s mobility, and that survival in the field may rely on the officer’s mobility. The ability for humans to generate power and agility is critical for performance of the high-intensity movements required in the field of duty. The aims of this review were to critically examine the literature investigating the impacts of load carriage on measures of power and agility and to synthesize the findings. The authors completed a search of the literature using key search terms in four databases. After relevant studies were located using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, the studies were critically appraised using the Downs and Black Checklist and relevant data were extracted and tabled. Fourteen studies were deemed relevant for this review, ranging in percentage quality scores from 42.85% to 71.43%. Outcome measures used in these studies to indicate levels of power and agility included short-distance sprints, vertical jumps, and agility runs, among others. Performance of both power and agility was shown to decrease when tactical load was added to the participants. This suggests that the increase in weight carried by tactical officers may put this population at risk of injury or fatality in the line of duty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Occupational Safety and Health)

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17 pages, 637 KiB

Open AccessReview

Screaming Body and Silent Healthcare Providers: A Case Study with a Childhood Sexual Abuse Survivor

by Sigrun Sigurdardottir^* and Sigridur Halldorsdottir

School of Health Sciences, University of Akureyri, 600 Akureyri, Iceland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010094 - 8 Jan 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 15325

Abstract

Stressful early life experiences cause immune dysregulation across the lifespan. Despite the fact that studies have identified childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors as a particularly vulnerable group, only a few attempts have been made to study their lived-experience of the physical health consequences [...] Read more.

Stressful early life experiences cause immune dysregulation across the lifespan. Despite the fact that studies have identified childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivors as a particularly vulnerable group, only a few attempts have been made to study their lived-experience of the physical health consequences of CSA. The aim of this study was to explore a female CSA survivor’s lived-experience of the physical health consequences of CSA and how she experienced the reactions of healthcare providers. Seven interviews were conducted with this 40-year-old woman, Anne, using a phenomenological research approach. Anne was still a young child (two to three years old) when her father started to rape her. Since her childhood, she has experienced complex and widespread physical health consequences such as repeated vaginal and abdominal infections, widespread and chronic pain, sleeping problems, digestive problems, chronic back problems, fibromyalgia, musculoskeletal problems, repeated urinary tract infections, cervical dysplasia, inflammation of the Fallopian tubes, menorrhagia, endometrial hyperplasia, chlamydia, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancies, uterus problems, severe adhesions, and ovarian cancer. Anne disclosed her CSA experience to several healthcare providers but they were silent and failed to provide trauma-informed care. Anne’s situation, albeit unique, might reflect similar problems in other female CSA survivors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Child Sexual Abuse: Environmental Issues in Disclosure, Effects and Responses)

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18 pages, 3630 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

The Zika Virus Epidemic in Brazil: From Discovery to Future Implications

by Rachel Lowe^1,2,3,*

, Christovam Barcellos⁴, Patrícia Brasil⁵

, Oswaldo G. Cruz⁶, Nildimar Alves Honório^7,8, Hannah Kuper⁹ and Marilia Sá Carvalho⁶

¹ Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK

² Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK

³ Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGLOBAL), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

⁴ Institute of Health Communication and Information, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Avenida Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil

⁵ Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Avenida Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil

⁶ Scientific Computation Program, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Avenida Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil

⁷ Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Avenida Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil

⁸ Núcleo Operacional Sentinela de Mosquitos Vetores-Nosmove/Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro 21045-900, Brazil

⁹ International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 96; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010096 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 280 | Viewed by 24704

Abstract

The first confirmed case of Zika virus infection in the Americas was reported in Northeast Brazil in May 2015, although phylogenetic studies indicate virus introduction as early as 2013. Zika rapidly spread across Brazil and to more than 50 other countries and territories [...] Read more.

The first confirmed case of Zika virus infection in the Americas was reported in Northeast Brazil in May 2015, although phylogenetic studies indicate virus introduction as early as 2013. Zika rapidly spread across Brazil and to more than 50 other countries and territories on the American continent. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is thought to be the principal vector responsible for the widespread transmission of the virus. However, sexual transmission has also been reported. The explosively emerging epidemic has had diverse impacts on population health, coinciding with cases of Guillain–Barré Syndrome and an unexpected epidemic of newborns with microcephaly and other neurological impairments. This led to Brazil declaring a national public health emergency in November 2015, followed by a similar decision by the World Health Organization three months later. While dengue virus serotypes took several decades to spread across Brazil, the Zika virus epidemic diffused within months, extending beyond the area of permanent dengue transmission, which is bound by a climatic barrier in the south and low population density areas in the north. This rapid spread was probably due to a combination of factors, including a massive susceptible population, climatic conditions conducive for the mosquito vector, alternative non-vector transmission, and a highly mobile population. The epidemic has since subsided, but many unanswered questions remain. In this article, we provide an overview of the discovery of Zika virus in Brazil, including its emergence and spread, epidemiological surveillance, vector and non-vector transmission routes, clinical complications, and socio-economic impacts. We discuss gaps in the knowledge and the challenges ahead to anticipate, prevent, and control emerging and re-emerging epidemics of arboviruses in Brazil and worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Epidemics of Zika? Implications for Public Health)

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12 pages, 954 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Heavy Environmental Pressure in Campania and Other Italian Regions: A Short Review of Available Evidence

by Alfredo Mazza^1,2,*, Prisco Piscitelli^3,4,*, Andrea Falco^3,4, Maria Lucia Santoro⁴, Manuela Colangelo⁴, Giovanni Imbriani⁴, Adele Idolo⁵

, Antonella De Donno⁵

, Leopoldo Iannuzzi⁶

and Annamaria Colao⁷

¹ General Hospital Sarno, Local Health Authority ASL SA, 84087 Sarno (Salerno), Italy

² National Research Council (CNR), ISC, 00185 Rome, Italy

³ Southern Italy Medical Institute (IOS), Medicina Futura Research, 80100 Naples, Italy

⁴ Euro Mediterranean Scientific Biomedical Institute, 72100 Brindisi, Italy

⁵ Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy

⁶ National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, 80100 Naples, Italy

⁷ School of Medicine, University “Federico II”, 80100 Naples, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 105; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010105 - 10 Jan 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5122

Abstract

The area of Naples and Campania region, in Italy, are experiencing the dramatic consequences of diffuse and illegal waste dumping, resulting in possible threats to human health. This area has been referred to as the “Land of Fires” because of the common practice [...] Read more.

The area of Naples and Campania region, in Italy, are experiencing the dramatic consequences of diffuse and illegal waste dumping, resulting in possible threats to human health. This area has been referred to as the “Land of Fires” because of the common practice of waste burning. International interest in the Campania “waste emergency” has triggered several epidemiological studies. This article is aimed at highlighting the body of evidence available concerning human and environmental contamination in the Campania region, and considers the possible lack of comparable knowledge about the situation in other areas suffering from high environmental pollution. We analyzed the results of studies addressing environmental pollution and population health in the Campania region, starting from the most recent reviews on this topic, and compared their findings with those concerning other regions. We reviewed 18 studies of epidemiological/cancer surveillance and human or animal biomonitoring. These studies show worrying results, which could be considered comparable to those available for other Italian areas impacted by heavy industrial activities. The release of environmental contaminants associated with waste incineration and waste disposal in landfills poses a risk to public health, as shown by a number of studies (although not conclusively). The current knowledge available for the Campania region is better than that available for other areas which are facing similar problems due to anthropic activities, including illegal waste trafficking. Thus, Naples and Campania could represent a valuable setting to develop general models for studies of environmental and human contamination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Carcinogens)

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11 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessReview

Socioeconomic Inequalities in the Use of Healthcare Services: Comparison between the Roma and General Populations in Spain

by Daniel La Parra-Casado^1,*

, Paola A. Mosquera²

, Carmen Vives-Cases^3,4

and Miguel San Sebastian^2,5

¹ Department of Sociology 2, Alicante University, 03690 Alicante, Spain

² Epidemiology and Global Health, Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden

³ Department of Community Nursing, Preventive Medicine and Public Health and History of Science, Alicante University, 03690 Alicante, Spain

⁴ CIBER of Epidemiology and Public Health, Av. Monforte de Lemos, 3-5. Pabellón 11. Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain

⁵ Department of Nursing I, University of the Basque Country, 48940 Bilbao, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010121 - 12 Jan 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5526

Abstract

This paper explores whether the principles of horizontal and vertical equity in healthcare are met by the Spanish national health system in the case of the Roma and general populations. The 2011/2012 Spanish National Health Survey (n = 21,650) and the 2014 [...] Read more.

This paper explores whether the principles of horizontal and vertical equity in healthcare are met by the Spanish national health system in the case of the Roma and general populations. The 2011/2012 Spanish National Health Survey (n = 21,650) and the 2014 National Health Survey of the Spanish Roma Population (n = 1167) were analyzed. Use of healthcare services was measured in terms of visits to a general practitioner (GP), visits to an emergency department, and hospitalizations. Healthcare need was measured using (a) self-rated health and (b) the reported number of chronic diseases. The Roma reported worse self-rated health and a higher prevalence of chronic diseases. A redistributive effect (increased healthcare service use among Roma and those in lower socio-economic classes) was found for hospitalizations and emergency visits. This effect was also observed in GP visits for women, but not for men. Vertical inequity was observed in the general population but not in the Roma population for GP visits. The results suggest the existence of horizontal inequity in the use of GP services (Roma women), emergency department visits (Roma and general population), and hospitalizations (Roma population) and of vertical inequity in the use of GP services among the general population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Roma Health)

16 pages, 1237 KiB

Open AccessReview

by Xaver Baur^1,2

¹ European Society for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, EOM, Berlin, Germany

² Emeritus, Institute for Occupational and Maritime Medicine, University of Hamburg, D-20246 Hamburg, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010143 - 16 Jan 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8205

Abstract

There was some limited use of asbestos at end of the 19th century in industrialized countries including Germany, but its consumption dramatically increased after World War II. The increase in use and exposure was followed by the discovery of high numbers of asbestos-related [...] Read more.

There was some limited use of asbestos at end of the 19th century in industrialized countries including Germany, but its consumption dramatically increased after World War II. The increase in use and exposure was followed by the discovery of high numbers of asbestos-related diseases with a mean latency period of about 38 years in Germany. The strong socio-political pressure from the asbestos industry, its affiliated scientists and physicians has successfully hindered regulatory measures and an asbestos ban for many years; a restrictive stance that is still being unravelled in compensation litigation. This national experience is compared with the situation in other industrialized countries and against the backdrop of the constant efforts of the WHO to eliminate asbestos-related diseases worldwide. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Panorama of National Experiences in Public Health Actions to Ban Asbestos)

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12 pages, 1377 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: A Systematic Review on Patients’ Non-Attendance

by Rahima Muhammad Kashim^*, Paul Newton

and Omorogieva Ojo

Department of Adult Nursing and Paramedic Sciences, Faculty of Education and Health, University of Greenwich, Avery Hill Campus, Southwood Site, London SE9 2UG, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010157 - 19 Jan 2018

Cited by 106 | Viewed by 12773

Abstract

Diabetic Retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes, that can go undetected and unnoticed until irreversible damage and even blindness has occurred. Effective screening for diabetic retinopathy has been proven to reduce the risk of sight loss. The National Health Service (NHS) which [...] Read more.

Diabetic Retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes, that can go undetected and unnoticed until irreversible damage and even blindness has occurred. Effective screening for diabetic retinopathy has been proven to reduce the risk of sight loss. The National Health Service (NHS) which provides healthcare for all UK citizens, implemented systematic retinal screening for diabetic retinopathy in England in 2003, with the aim of identifying and treating all patients with sight threatening retinopathy. Crucial to this is patients partaking in the programme. Therefore, increasing screening uptake has been a major focus of the programme. This review explores the views of people living with diabetes who do not attend retinal screening, their characteristics, concerns, experiences of retinal screening and their understanding of the risks of diabetic retinopathy. All studies that satisfied the study inclusion criteria on ‘patients’ non-attendance at retinal screening’, between 2003 to 2017 were included after extensive database search. A total of 16 studies were included in the review. Findings showed that socio-economic deprivation was a major risk factor for non-attendance, about 11.5–13.4% of the screened population had sight threatening retinopathy (STDR), repeated nonattendance was linked to sight threatening diabetic retinopathy, and that certain factors, could be barriers or incentives for screening uptake. Some of those factors are modifiable whilst others are not. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Health Care and Diabetes)

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17 pages, 333 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Pollution from Fossil-Fuel Combustion is the Leading Environmental Threat to Global Pediatric Health and Equity: Solutions Exist

by Frederica Perera

Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 16; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010016 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 947 | Viewed by 51326

Abstract

Fossil-fuel combustion by-products are the world’s most significant threat to children’s health and future and are major contributors to global inequality and environmental injustice. The emissions include a myriad of toxic air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is the most [...] Read more.

Fossil-fuel combustion by-products are the world’s most significant threat to children’s health and future and are major contributors to global inequality and environmental injustice. The emissions include a myriad of toxic air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is the most important human-produced climate-altering greenhouse gas. Synergies between air pollution and climate change can magnify the harm to children. Impacts include impairment of cognitive and behavioral development, respiratory illness, and other chronic diseases—all of which may be “seeded“ in utero and affect health and functioning immediately and over the life course. By impairing children’s health, ability to learn, and potential to contribute to society, pollution and climate change cause children to become less resilient and the communities they live in to become less equitable. The developing fetus and young child are disproportionately affected by these exposures because of their immature defense mechanisms and rapid development, especially those in low- and middle-income countries where poverty and lack of resources compound the effects. No country is spared, however: even high-income countries, especially low-income communities and communities of color within them, are experiencing impacts of fossil fuel-related pollution, climate change and resultant widening inequality and environmental injustice. Global pediatric health is at a tipping point, with catastrophic consequences in the absence of bold action. Fortunately, technologies and interventions are at hand to reduce and prevent pollution and climate change, with large economic benefits documented or predicted. All cultures and communities share a concern for the health and well-being of present and future children: this shared value provides a politically powerful lever for action. The purpose of this commentary is to briefly review the data on the health impacts of fossil-fuel pollution, highlighting the neurodevelopmental impacts, and to briefly describe available means to achieve a low-carbon economy, and some examples of interventions that have benefited health and the economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Children’s Environmental Health)

7 pages, 258 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Trauma and Pain in Family-Orientated Societies

by Jan Ilhan Kizilhan^1,2,3

¹ Mental Health and Addiction, Co-operative State University Baden-Württemberg, Schramberger Str. 26, 78054 Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany

² Institute for Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology, University of Duhok, 42001 Duhok, Irak

³ Department of Transcultural Psychosomatic, MediClin-Klinik am Vogelsang Donaueschingen, 78166 Donaueschingen, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010044 - 28 Dec 2017

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5157

Abstract

People from family-oriented societies in particular, in addition to having a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffer from chronic pain and physical complaints. Such people have a different understanding of physical illness and pain and, compared to patients from western societies, have different ideas [...] Read more.

People from family-oriented societies in particular, in addition to having a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) suffer from chronic pain and physical complaints. Such people have a different understanding of physical illness and pain and, compared to patients from western societies, have different ideas on healing, even when confronted with the therapist. Hitherto, these factors have not been sufficiently taken into account in modern, multi-module therapy approaches. Trauma can be perceived via pain and physical complaints, whereby the pain is not restricted to one part of the body but is seen as covering the body as a whole. Therefore, in the treatment and above all in the patient-therapist relationship, it is necessary to understand what importance is attached to the perceived pain in relation to the trauma. The afflicted body expresses the trauma in the shape of its further-reaching consequences such as the patient’s social, collective, economic and cultural sensitivity. Therefore, for the effective treatment of trauma and chronic pain, it is necessary to use a multi-modal, interdisciplinary, and culture-sensitive approach when treating patients from traditional cultural backgrounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Refugee, Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health)

12 pages, 446 KiB

Open AccessProtocol

Evaluation and Implementation of a Proactive Telephone Smoking Cessation Counseling for Parents: A Study Protocol of an Effectiveness Implementation Hybrid Design

by Tessa Scheffers-van Schayck^1,2,*, Roy Otten^3,4, Rutger Engels^1,2 and Marloes Kleinjan^1,5,*

¹ Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands

² Department of Psychology, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands

³ Department of Research and Development, Pluryn, P.O. Box 53, 6500 AB Nijmegen, The Netherlands

⁴ ASU REACH Institute, Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, P.O. Box 876005, Tempe, AZ 85287-6005, USA

⁵ Department of Cultural Diversity & Youth, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80140, 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(1), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010097 - 9 Jan 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6354

Abstract

Detrimental health consequences of smoking for both parents and children stress the importance for parents to quit. A Dutch efficacy trial supported the efficacy of proactive telephone counseling on parents. Still, how this program would function in “real world” conditions and how parents [...] Read more.

Detrimental health consequences of smoking for both parents and children stress the importance for parents to quit. A Dutch efficacy trial supported the efficacy of proactive telephone counseling on parents. Still, how this program would function in “real world” conditions and how parents could be optimally reached is unclear. Therefore, this study will use an innovative method to examine the recruitment success of two implementation approaches (i.e., via a healthcare approach and a mass media approach) to test the (cost)effectiveness of the program. A two-arm randomized controlled trial and an implementation study (i.e., process evaluation) are conducted. Parents (N = 158) will be randomly assigned to the intervention (i.e., telephone counseling) or control conditions (i.e., self-help brochure). Primary outcome measure is 7-day point prevalence abstinence at three months post-intervention. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are used for the process evaluation. We expect that parents in the intervention condition have higher cessation rates than parents in the control condition. We also expect that the recruitment of parents via (youth) health care services is a more promising implementation approach compared to mass media. Results will have implications for the effectiveness of a proactive telephone counseling and provide directions for its successful implementation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Evaluation of New Tobacco Control Interventions)

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, Volume 15, Issue 1 (January 2018) – 175 articles

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