International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Editorial

3 pages, 248 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Burden of Injuries in Bangladesh: A Population-Based Assessment

by Priyanka Agrawal

and Adnan A. Hyder^*

Department of International Health, International Injury Research Unit, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030409 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3954

Abstract

Injuries claim over 5 million lives, with more than 90% of those occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICS) [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection A Million Person Household Survey: Understanding the Burden of Injuries in Bangladesh)

4 pages, 234 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Ageing, Health and Equity—Broad Perspectives Are Needed to Understand and Tackle Health Challenges of Ageing Societies

by Hajo Zeeb^1,2,*

, Heinz Rothgang^2,3 and Ingrid Darmann-Finck^2,4

¹ Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, 28359 Bremen, Germany

² Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany

³ SOCIUM—Research Center on Inequality and Social Policy, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany

⁴ Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research (IPP), University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030457 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4111

Abstract

Demographic change and the evolving demands on healthcare systems, especially in the provision of healthcare and long-term care for a growing number of older people, are among the greatest social challenges of the next decades.[...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Key Issues in Current Health Research: Ageing–Health–Equity)

3 pages, 229 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases

by Johannes Siegrist^1,* and Jian Li²

¹ Senior Professorship on Work Stress Research, Life Science Centre, University of Düsseldorf, Merowingerplatz 1a, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

² Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030536 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4604

Abstract

In modern societies, major changes have occurred in the world of work and employment in the recent past.
Full article

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

4 pages, 234 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Sustainable Transportation and Health

by Norbert Mundorf^1,*, Colleen A. Redding^2,* and Songtao Bao³

¹ Communication Studies, University Transportation Center, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

² Cancer Prevention Research Center, Psychology Department, College of Health Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA

³ Department of English, School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai 201209, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030542 - 18 Mar 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5455

Abstract

We are experiencing a shift in thinking about Transportation and Mobility, which makes this Special Issue on Sustainable Transportation and Health in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health especially timely.[...] Full article

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

Research

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13 pages, 3060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Content of Heavy Metal in the Dust of Leisure Squares and Its Health Risk Assessment—A Case Study of Yanta District in Xi’an

by Tianjie Shao^1,2,*, Lihuan Pan¹, Zhiqing Chen^1,*, Ruiyuan Wang¹, Wenjing Li¹, Qing Qin¹ and Yuran He¹

¹ School of Geography and tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China

² SNNU-JSU Joint Research Center for Nanoenvironment Science and Health, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710062, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030394 - 25 Feb 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4830

Abstract

Taking Yanta District in Xi’an as the research object, the present study measures the contents of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), and Chromium (Cr) in dust samples and further assesses the health risk of heavy metals intake through dust based [...] Read more.

Taking Yanta District in Xi’an as the research object, the present study measures the contents of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Copper (Cu), Nickel (Ni), and Chromium (Cr) in dust samples and further assesses the health risk of heavy metals intake through dust based on the assessment method of human exposure risk proposed by U.S. EPA, with an aim to investigate the content of heavy metal in the dust of leisure squares and its exposure risk. As the results indicate, the average contents of five heavy metals are obviously higher than the soil background value in Shaanxi Province. Therefore, Cd, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Cr are obviously enriched in urban surface dust in Shaanxi Province, due to the influence of human activities. In addition, it can also be found that the non-carcinogen exposure risk in children is significantly higher than that in adults with the risk values of these five heavy metals all one order of magnitude higher than those of adults. Irrespective of whether addressing the results for children or adults, the non-carcinogen exposure doses of five heavy metals are sorted as Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Cd. According to the present situation, for a child, the total non-carcinogenic risk values of five heavy metals have exceeded the safety limit in 11 of the 20 leisure squares in Yanta District of Xi’an. That means the leisure squares are no longer suitable for physical and recreational activities. For the five heavy metals, the average non-carcinogenic risk value of Cr is largest, and causes the largest threat to health in Yanta District, Xi’an. The carcinogenic exposure doses of the heavy metals Cr, Cd, and Ni are very low in respiratory pathways and there is no carcinogenic health risk. In general, the Cr content in dust in domestic cities is higher than that of foreign cities; however, the Pb content is much lower. Full article

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

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12 pages, 4098 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epidemiological Characteristics and Space-Time Analysis of the 2015 Dengue Outbreak in the Metropolitan Region of Tainan City, Taiwan

by Ting-Wu Chuang^1,*

, Ka-Chon Ng², Thi Luong Nguyen³ and Luis Fernando Chaves^4,5

¹ Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, No. 250, Wuxing Street, Xinyi District, Taipei 11031, Taiwan

² College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10607, Taiwan

³ College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan

⁴ Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (INCIENSA), Apartado Postal 4-2250, Tres Ríos, Cartago, Costa Rica

⁵ Programa de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (PIET), Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Apartado Postal 304-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030396 - 26 Feb 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 6203

Abstract

The metropolitan region of Tainan City in southern Taiwan experienced a dengue outbreak in 2015. This manuscript describes basic epidemiological features of this outbreak and uses spatial and temporal analysis tools to understand the spread of dengue during the outbreak. The analysis found [...] Read more.

The metropolitan region of Tainan City in southern Taiwan experienced a dengue outbreak in 2015. This manuscript describes basic epidemiological features of this outbreak and uses spatial and temporal analysis tools to understand the spread of dengue during the outbreak. The analysis found that, independently of gender, dengue incidence rate increased with age, and proportionally affected more males below the age of 40 years but females above the age of 40 years. A spatial scan statistic was applied to detect clusters of disease transmission. The scan statistic found that dengue spread in a north-south diffusion direction, which is across the North, West-Central and South districts of Tainan City. Spatial regression models were used to quantify factors associated with transmission. This analysis indicated that neighborhoods with high proportions of residential area (or low wetland cover) were associated with dengue transmission. However, these association patterns were non-linear. The findings presented here can help Taiwanese public health agencies to understand the fundamental epidemiological characteristics and diffusion patterns of the 2015 dengue outbreak in Tainan City. This type of information is fundamental for policy making to prevent future uncontrolled dengue outbreaks, given that results from this study suggest that control interventions should be emphasized in the North and West-Central districts of Tainan city, in areas with a moderate percentage of residential land cover. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Infectious Diseases)

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16 pages, 581 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Stress-Preventive Management Competencies, Psychosocial Work Environments, and Affective Well-Being: A Multilevel, Multisource Investigation

by Stefano Toderi^*

and Cristian Balducci

Department of Psychology, University of Bologna, Viale Berti Pichat 5, 40126 Bologna, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030397 - 26 Feb 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6573

Abstract

The Management Competencies for Preventing and Reducing Stress at Work framework represents one of the few tailored models of leadership for work stress prevention purposes, but it has never been empirically evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supervisors’ stress-preventive [...] Read more.

The Management Competencies for Preventing and Reducing Stress at Work framework represents one of the few tailored models of leadership for work stress prevention purposes, but it has never been empirically evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supervisors’ stress-preventive management competencies, as measured by the Stress Management Competencies Indicator Tool (SMCIT), are related to employees’ affective well-being through psychosocial work environmental factors. To this end, multilevel structural equation modelling (MSEM) was developed and tested, including data provided by both supervisors and employees. Supervisors (n = 84) self-assessed their stress-preventive management competencies (i.e., being respectful and responsible, managing and communicating existing and future work, reasoning and managing difficult situations, and managing the individual within the team) with a previously validated reduced version of the SMCIT. The supervised employees (n = 584) rated job content (e.g., job demands) and work context (e.g., role clarity) psychosocial factors and their job-related affective well-being. Supervisors’ job-related affective well-being was also included in the tested model. The results revealed that the stress-preventive competencies factor was related to employees’ affective well-being through the psychosocial work environment only when the latter was operationalized by means of contextual work factors. Supervisors’ affective well-being was related to their stress-preventive competencies, but it was not related to employees’ affective well-being. We discuss the implications of the results obtained. Full article

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

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12 pages, 455 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Cost of Inadequate Sleep among On-Call Workers in Australia: A Workplace Perspective

by Grace E. Vincent^1,*,†

, Irina Kinchin^1,2,†

, Sally A. Ferguson¹ and Sarah M. Jay¹

¹ School for Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Adelaide 5034, Australia

² The Cairns Institute, James Cook University, Cairns 4870, Australia

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030398 - 26 Feb 2018

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 7025

Abstract

On-call or stand-by is becoming an increasingly prevalent form of work scheduling. However, on-call arrangements are typically utilised when workloads are low, for example at night, which can result in inadequate sleep. It is a matter of concern that on-call work is associated [...] Read more.

On-call or stand-by is becoming an increasingly prevalent form of work scheduling. However, on-call arrangements are typically utilised when workloads are low, for example at night, which can result in inadequate sleep. It is a matter of concern that on-call work is associated with an increased risk of workplace injury. This study sought to determine the economic cost of injury due to inadequate sleep in Australian on-call workers. The prevalence of inadequate sleep among on-call workers was determined using an online survey, and economic costs were estimated using a previously validated costing methodology. Two-thirds of the sample (66%) reported obtaining inadequate sleep on weekdays (work days) and over 80% reported inadequate sleep while on-call. The resulting cost of injury is estimated at $2.25 billion per year ($1.71–2.73 billion). This equates to $1222 per person per incident involving a short-term absence from work; $2.53 million per incident classified as full incapacity, and $1.78 million for each fatality. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to quantify the economic cost of workplace injury due to inadequate sleep in on-call workers. Well-rested employees are critical to safe and productive workplace operations. Therefore, it is in the interest of both employers and governments to prioritise and invest far more into the management of inadequate sleep in industries which utilise on-call work arrangements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Health)

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12 pages, 5548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation between Changes in Local Earth’s Magnetic Field and Cases of Acute Myocardial Infarction

by Gediminas Jaruševičius^1,2, Tautvydas Rugelis³, Rollin McCraty⁴, Mantas Landauskas⁵, Kristina Berškienė⁶ and Alfonsas Vainoras^2,6,*

¹ Department of Cardiology, Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kauno klinikos, Kaunas 50161, Lithuania

² Cardiology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas 44307, Lithuania

³ Academy of Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas 44307, Lithuania

⁴ HeartMath Institute, Boulder Creek, CA 95006, USA

⁵ Department of Mathematical Modelling, Kaunas University of Technology, Kaunas 51368, Lithuania

⁶ Sport Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas 47181, Lithuania

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030399 - 26 Feb 2018

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7360

Abstract

The impact of changes in the geomagnetic field on the human body remains the subject of studies across the world, yet there is no consensus. Current studies are observing effects that require further work by researchers in order to find out the mechanisms [...] Read more.

The impact of changes in the geomagnetic field on the human body remains the subject of studies across the world, yet there is no consensus. Current studies are observing effects that require further work by researchers in order to find out the mechanisms that would allow a proper assessment of the correlations between the Earth‘s magnetic field variations and changes in human organisms. The main purpose of this study was to investigate possible correlations between the strength of time-varying aspects of the local Earth’s magnetic field and incidence of myocardial infarctions. Study participants included 435 males and 268 females who had diagnosis of myocardial infarction during the period of 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 and attended the Department of Cardiology at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LUHS), Kauno klinikos. Time varying magnetic field data was collected at the magnetometer site located in Lithuania. After mathematical analysis, the results support the hypothesis that the Earth’s magnetic field has a relationship between the number of acute myocardial infarction with ST segment elevation (STEMI) cases per week and the average weekly geomagnetic field strength in different frequency ranges. Correlations varied in different age groups as well as in males and females, which may indicate diverse organism sensitivity to the Earth’s magnetic field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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10 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Electronic Cigarette Use Predict Abstinence from Conventional Cigarettes among Smokers in Hong Kong?

by Socrates Yong-da Wu¹

, Man Ping Wang^1,*

, William H. Li¹, Antonio C. Kwong², Vienna W. Lai² and Tai Hing Lam³

¹ School of Nursing, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

² Hong Kong Council on Smoking and Health, Hong Kong, China

³ School of Public Health, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030400 - 26 Feb 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4209

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effects of ever use of electronic cigarettes (ECs), many of which lack nicotine, on abstinence from convention cigarettes among Hong Kong adult smokers. Methods: We collected data from 956 daily smokers in 2014–2015 regarding ever EC use and smoking [...] Read more.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of ever use of electronic cigarettes (ECs), many of which lack nicotine, on abstinence from convention cigarettes among Hong Kong adult smokers. Methods: We collected data from 956 daily smokers in 2014–2015 regarding ever EC use and smoking behaviors at baseline, any and past 30-day EC use at the 3-month follow-up. Outcomes measured at 6 months included past 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA), biochemically validated quitting, smoking reduction (≥50% from baseline) and cessation attempt. Logistic regression yielded adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for quitting in relation to EC use, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and smoking profile. Complete case, missing observation as smoking and propensity score analyses were conducted. Results: By complete case, ever EC use at baseline did not predict self-reported PPA (AOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.57–1.73), biochemically validated quitting (AOR 1.22, 95% CI 0.64–2.34), cessation attempt (AOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.48–1.14), or smoking reduction (AOR 0.89, 95% CI 0.54–1.47). EC use during the first 3 months did not predict quitting (AOR 1.02, 95% CI 0.22–4.71). Similar results were observed for missing observations as smoking and propensity score analyses. Conclusions: Any use of ECs, many of which lack nicotine, did not predict smoking abstinence among Hong Kong adult smokers. Full article

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

15 pages, 535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Heat Stress Relief Measures among the Australian Labour Force

by Kerstin K. Zander^1,*, Supriya Mathew¹ and Stephen T. Garnett²

¹ Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia

² Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030401 - 26 Feb 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5265

Abstract

Australia experiences frequent heat waves and generally high average temperatures throughout the continent with substantial impacts on human health and the economy. People adapt to heat by adopting various relief measures in their daily lives including changing their behaviour. Many labour intensive outdoor [...] Read more.

Australia experiences frequent heat waves and generally high average temperatures throughout the continent with substantial impacts on human health and the economy. People adapt to heat by adopting various relief measures in their daily lives including changing their behaviour. Many labour intensive outdoor industries implement standards for heat stress management for their workforce. However, little is known about how people cope with heat at their workplaces apart from studies targeting some specific industries where labourers are exposed to extreme heat. Here, we analysed responses from 1719 people in the Australian labour force to self-reported heat stress and associated coping mechanisms. Three quarters of respondents experienced heat stress at their workplace with fatigue and headache being the two most frequently stated symptoms. Almost all of those who were affected by heat would hydrate (88%), 67% would cool, and 44% would rest as a strategy for coping with heat. About 10% intended to change their jobs because of heat stress in the workplace. We found differences in heat relief measures across gender, education, health, level of physical intensity of job, and time spent working outside. People working in jobs that were not very demanding physically were more likely to choose cooling down as a relief measure, while those in labour intensive jobs and jobs that required considerable time outside were more likely to rest. This has potential consequences for their productivity and work schedules. Heat affects work in Australia in many types of industry with impact dependent on workforce acclimatisation, yet public awareness and work relief plans are often limited to outdoor and labour intensive industries. Industries and various levels of government in all sectors need to implement standards for heat management specific to climate zones to help people cope better with high temperatures as well as plan strategies in anticipation of projected temperature increases. Full article

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12 pages, 2363 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Text Structuring Method for Chinese Medical Text Based on Temporal Information

by Runtong Zhang

, Fuzhi Chu, Donghua Chen and Xiaopu Shang^*

Department of Information Management, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 402; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030402 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3928

Abstract

Chinese Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) contains a large number of complex medical free text which includes a variety of information, such as temporal information, patients’ symptoms and laboratory data. However, as an important knowledge base, these unstructured text data in EMR are hard [...] Read more.

Chinese Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) contains a large number of complex medical free text which includes a variety of information, such as temporal information, patients’ symptoms and laboratory data. However, as an important knowledge base, these unstructured text data in EMR are hard to process directly by computer to support further medical research. This paper proposes a novel text structuring method to extract knowledge from EMR texts and reorganize them in chronological order according to the temporal information in the text. By implementing some entropy-based algorithms as contrast, experiments evaluate the performance of the proposed method, which indicates the new method can significantly reduce the complexity of EMR text. This work is significant in structuring the EMR free text into temporal-structured data for further medical analysis. Full article

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

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16 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prolonged Screen Viewing Times and Sociodemographic Factors among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Survey in China

by Xianglong Xu^1,2,3,†

, Dengyuan Liu^1,2,3,†, Yunshuang Rao^1,2,3, Huan Zeng^1,2,3, Fan Zhang^1,2,3, Lu Wang^1,2,3, Yaojie Xie⁴, Manoj Sharma⁵ and Yong Zhao^1,2,3,*

¹ School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China

² Research Center for Medicine and Social Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China

³ Collaborative Innovation Center of Social Risks Governance in Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China

⁴ School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China

⁵ Department of Behavioral and Environmental Health, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS 39213, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030403 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3662

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of prolonged television, computer, and mobile phone viewing times and examined related sociodemographic factors among Chinese pregnant women. Methods: In this study, a cross-sectional survey was implemented among 2400 Chinese pregnant women in 16 hospitals [...] Read more.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of prolonged television, computer, and mobile phone viewing times and examined related sociodemographic factors among Chinese pregnant women. Methods: In this study, a cross-sectional survey was implemented among 2400 Chinese pregnant women in 16 hospitals of 5 provinces from June to August in 2015, and the response rate of 97.76%. We excluded women with serious complications and cognitive disorders. The women were asked about their television, computer, and mobile phone viewing during pregnancy. Prolonged television watching or computer viewing was defined as spending more than two hours on television or computer viewing per day. Prolonged mobile phone viewing was watching more than one hour on mobile phone per day. Results: Among 2345 pregnant women, about 25.1% reported prolonged television viewing, 20.6% reported prolonged computer viewing, and 62.6% reported prolonged mobile phone viewing. Pregnant women with long mobile phone viewing times were likely have long TV (Estimate = 0.080, Standard Error (SE) = 0.016, p < 0.001) and computer viewing times (Estimate = 0.053, SE = 0.022, p = 0.015). Pregnant women with long TV (Estimate = 0.134, SE = 0.027, p < 0.001) and long computer viewing times (Estimate = 0.049, SE = 0.020, p = 0.015) were likely have long mobile phone viewing times. Pregnant women with long TV viewing times were less likely to have long computer viewing times (Estimate = −0.032, SE = 0.015, p = 0.035), and pregnant women with long computer viewing times were less likely have long TV viewing times (Estimate = −0.059, SE = 0.028, p = 0.035). Pregnant women in their second pregnancy had lower prolonged computer viewing times than those in their first pregnancy (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.56, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.42–0.74). Pregnant women in their second pregnancy were more likely have longer prolonged mobile phone viewing times than those in their first pregnancy (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01–1.55). Conclusions: The high prevalence rate of prolonged TV, computer, and mobile phone viewing times was common for pregnant women in their first and second pregnancy. This study preliminarily explored the relationship between sociodemographic factors and prolonged screen time to provide some indication for future interventions related to decreasing screen-viewing times during pregnancy in China. Full article

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

27 pages, 26625 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Geographical Information System Based Approach for Integrated Strategies of Tick Surveillance and Control in the Peri-Urban Natural Reserve of Monte Pellegrino (Palermo, Southern Italy)

by Alessandra Torina

, Valeria Blanda

, Marcellocalogero Blanda, Michelangelo Auteri^*, Francesco La Russa, Salvatore Scimeca, Rosalia D’Agostino, Rosaria Disclafani, Sara Villari

, Vittoria Currò and Santo Caracappa

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia “A.Mirri”, Via G. Marinuzzi 3, 90100 Palermo, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030404 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4745

Abstract

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are bloodsucking arthropods involved in pathogen transmission in animals and humans. Tick activity depends on various ecological factors such as vegetation, hosts, and temperature. The aim of this study was to analyse the spatial/temporal distribution of ticks in six sites [...] Read more.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) are bloodsucking arthropods involved in pathogen transmission in animals and humans. Tick activity depends on various ecological factors such as vegetation, hosts, and temperature. The aim of this study was to analyse the spatial/temporal distribution of ticks in six sites within a peri-urban area of Palermo (Natural Reserve of Monte Pellegrino) and correlate it with field data using Geographical Information System (GIS) data. A total of 3092 ticks were gathered via dragging method from June 2012 to May 2014. The species collected were: Ixodes ventalloi (46.09%), Hyalomma lusitanicum (19.99%), Rhipicephalus sanguineus (17.34%), Rhipicephalus pusillus (16.11%), Haemaphisalis sulcata (0.36%), Dermacentor marginatus (0.10%), and Rhipicephalus turanicus (0.03%). GIS analysis revealed environmental characteristics of each site, and abundance of each tick species was analysed in relation to time (monthly trend) and space (site-specific abundance). A relevant presence of I. ventalloi in site 2 and H. lusitanicum in site 5 was observed, suggesting the possible exposure of animals and humans to tick-borne pathogens. Our study shows the importance of surveillance of ticks in peri-urban areas and the useful implementation of GIS analysis in vector ecology; studies on temporal and spatial distribution of ticks correlated to GIS-based ecological analysis represent an integrated strategy for decision support in public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Together in the Fight against Arthropod-Borne Diseases: A One Health Perspective)

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20 pages, 10376 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Using Individual GPS Trajectories to Explore Foodscape Exposure: A Case Study in Beijing Metropolitan Area

by Qiujun Wei

, Jiangfeng She^*

, Shuhua Zhang and Jinsong Ma

Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030405 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5401

Abstract

With the growing interest in studying the characteristics of people’s access to the food environment and its influence upon individual health, there has been a focus on assessing individual food exposure based on GPS trajectories. However, existing studies have largely focused on the [...] Read more.

With the growing interest in studying the characteristics of people’s access to the food environment and its influence upon individual health, there has been a focus on assessing individual food exposure based on GPS trajectories. However, existing studies have largely focused on the overall activity space using short-period trajectories, which ignores the complexity of human movements and the heterogeneity of the spaces that are experienced by the individual over daily life schedules. In this study, we propose a novel framework to extract the exposure areas consisting of the localized activity spaces around daily life centers and non-motorized commuting routes from long-term GPS trajectories. The newly proposed framework is individual-specific and can incorporate the internal heterogeneity of individual activities (spatial extent, stay duration, and timing) in different places as well as the dynamics of the context. A pilot study of the GeoLife dataset suggests that there are significant variations in the magnitude as well as the composition of the food environment in different parts of the individual exposure area, and residential environment is not representative of the overall foodscape exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Mobility, Spatiotemporal Context, and Environmental Health: Recent Advances in Approaches and Methods)

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13 pages, 1968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Assessment of Temperature-Related Mortality in Finland

by Reija Ruuhela^*, Otto Hyvärinen and Kirsti Jylhä

Finnish Meteorological Institute, P.O. Box 503, FI-00101 Helsinki, Finland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 406; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030406 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7388

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess regional differences in temperature–mortality relationships across 21 hospital districts in Finland. The temperature dependence of the daily number of all-cause, all-aged deaths during 2000–2014 was studied in each hospital district by using daily mean temperatures, [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to assess regional differences in temperature–mortality relationships across 21 hospital districts in Finland. The temperature dependence of the daily number of all-cause, all-aged deaths during 2000–2014 was studied in each hospital district by using daily mean temperatures, spatially averaged across each hospital district, to describe exposure to heat stress and cold stress. The relationships were modelled using distributed lag non-linear models (DLNM). In a simple model version, no delayed impacts of heat and cold on mortality were taken into account, whereas a more complex version included delayed impacts up to 25 days. A meta-analysis with selected climatic and sociodemographic covariates was conducted to study differences in the relationships between hospital districts. A pooled mortality-temperature relationship was produced to describe the average relationship in Finland. The simple DLNM model version without lag gave U-shaped dependencies of mortality on temperature almost without exception. The outputs of the model version with a 25-day lag were also U-shaped in most hospital districts. According to the meta-analysis, the differences in the temperature-mortality relationships between hospital districts were not statistically significant on the absolute temperature scale, meaning that the pooled mortality–temperature relationship can be applied to the whole country. However, on a relative temperature scale, heterogeneity was found, and the meta-regression suggested that morbidity index and population in the hospital districts might explain some of this heterogeneity. The pooled estimate for the relative risk (RR) of mortality at a daily mean temperature of 24 °C was 1.16 (95% CI 1.12–1.20) with reference at 14 °C, which is the minimum mortality temperature (MMT) of the pooled relationship. On the cold side, the RR at a daily mean temperature of −20 °C was 1.14 (95% CI 1.12–1.16). On a relative scale of daily mean temperature, the MMT was found at the 79th percentile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Climate Change)

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14 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resilience of an Earthquake-Stricken Rural Community in Southwest China: Correlation with Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts

by Ke Cui¹, Ziqiang Han^2,3,*

and Dongming Wang⁴

¹ School of Public Administration, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

² Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610207, China

³ Center for Crisis Management Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

⁴ National Disaster Reduction Center, Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, Beijing 100124, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030407 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 83 | Viewed by 9100

Abstract

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities have given growing attention to building community resilience, but the effects of such efforts on community resilience are still under-investigated, especially in China where the concept of community resilience has only just emerged. Using the Communities Advancing Resilience [...] Read more.

Disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities have given growing attention to building community resilience, but the effects of such efforts on community resilience are still under-investigated, especially in China where the concept of community resilience has only just emerged. Using the Communities Advancing Resilience Toolkit Assessment Survey, data on self-perceived community resilience were collected in 2017 from a post-disaster Chinese rural community in Yingxiu Town, which was the epicenter of the Wenchuan earthquake (Magnitude = 8.0) in the year 2008. Linear regression analyses were conducted to explore the correlations between residents’ DRR behaviors and perceived community resilience with the control of their socio-demographic characteristics including age, ethnicity, gender, education, income level, employment status and marital status. Results indicate that residents who volunteered for DRR activities, received geological disaster education, participated in evacuation drills, and reported higher income levels had a perception of higher community resilience. Practice research is suggested to help clarify the cause and effect of DRR work on the enhancement of community resilience to disasters in China and abroad. Attention is also called to the development of a Chinese indigenous community resilience concept and assessment instrument. Full article

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

9 pages, 327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Toxoplasma gondii in the Roma and Non-Roma Inhabitants of Slovakia: A Cross-Sectional Seroprevalence Study

by Daniela Antolová¹

, Martin Janičko²

, Monika Halánová²

, Peter Jarčuška², Andrea Madarasová Gecková²

, Ingrid Babinská², Zuzana Kalinová², Daniel Pella², Mária Mareková², Eduard Veseliny^2,* and HepaMeta Team^†

¹ Department of Parasitic Diseases, Institute of Parasitology SAS, Hlinkova 3, 040 01 Košice, Slovakia

² Faculty of Medicine, P. J. Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 040 11 Košice, Slovakia

^† HepaMeta Team members are listed in Appendix A

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 408; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030408 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4257

Abstract

The lifestyle, health and social status of the Roma are generally below the standards characteristic for the non-Roma population. This study aimed to find out the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the population of Roma living in segregated settlements [...] Read more.

The lifestyle, health and social status of the Roma are generally below the standards characteristic for the non-Roma population. This study aimed to find out the seropositivity to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) in the population of Roma living in segregated settlements and to compare it with the prevalence of antibodies in the non-Roma population from the catchment area of eastern Slovakia. The seroprevalence of antibodies to T. gondii was significantly higher in the Roma group (45.0%) than in non-Roma inhabitants (24.1%). A statistically significant difference was also recorded between the two non-Roma groups in the study, 30.4% of those from the catchment area and 19.7% from the non-catchment area were seropositive. Univariate logistic regression confirmed poverty and higher age to be significant risk factors influencing the seropositivity to T. gondii. Of the clinical symptoms analyzed in the study, only muscle and back pain were associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The close contact of Roma with an environment contaminated by different infectious agents and the insufficient hygiene, lower level of education, poverty, lack of water and household equipment and high number of domestic animals increase the risk of infectious diseases in the Roma settlements and subsequently the spread of communicable diseases at the national or even international level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Roma Health)

17 pages, 2427 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dramatic Reduction in Diarrhoeal Diseases through Implementation of Cost-Effective Household Drinking Water Treatment Systems in Makwane Village, Limpopo Province, South Africa

by Resoketswe Charlotte Moropeng^*

, Phumudzo Budeli, Lizzy Mpenyana-Monyatsi and Maggy Ndombo Benteke Momba^*

Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences, Arcadia Campus, Tshwane University of Technology, P/B X 680, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 410; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030410 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6894

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to implement cost-effective household water treatment systems in every household of Makwane Village for the reduction of diarrhoeal diseases. These household water treatment systems were constructed with locally available materials and consisted of the biosand zeolite-silver [...] Read more.

The main purpose of this study was to implement cost-effective household water treatment systems in every household of Makwane Village for the reduction of diarrhoeal diseases. These household water treatment systems were constructed with locally available materials and consisted of the biosand zeolite-silver impregnated granular clay filters and the silver-impregnated porous pot filters. During the study period (April 2015 to September 2015), the entire village had 88 households with a population size of 480. Prior to the implementation, a survey was conducted and results revealed that 75% (360/480) of the Makwane residents suffered from diarrhoeal disease and the majority of the cases were reported in children that were less than five years of age. Out of the 480 participants, 372 (77.5%) from 70 households accepted the installation of the systems (intervention group) and 108 (25.5%) from 18 households were reluctant to use the systems (the control group). To date, in the intervention group, only 3.8% (14/372) of participants reported cases of diarrhoea. In the control group, 57.4% (62/108) participants reported cases of diarrhoea and most of the episodes of diarrhoea were reported in children of less than five years old (85%), followed by the group aged ≥56 years (75%). The findings of the current study unequivocally demonstrated that the BSZ-SICG and SIPP filters were able to reduce the incidence of diarrhoea by 96.2%. These findings further demonstrate the importance of household water treatment systems (HWTS) interventions in rural areas to bring about meaningful reductions in diarrhoeal diseases by providing safe potable water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drinking Water Quality and Human Health)

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17 pages, 548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Health Behaviors and Personal Values of Childless Women, Pregnant Women and Women Who Recently Delivered

by Grzegorz Józef Nowicki^1,*

, Patrycja Misztal-Okońska², Barbara Ślusarska¹

, Ewa Rudnicka-Drożak³, Magdalena Młynarska² and Artur Czekierdowski⁴

¹ Department of Family Medicine and Community Nursing, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 6 Str., PL-20-081 Lublin, Poland

² Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 6 Str., PL-20-081 Lublin, Poland

³ Department of Family Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Langiewicza 6A Str., PL-20-032 Lublin, Poland

⁴ Department of Gynecological Oncology and Gynecology, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica 16 Str., PL-20-081 Lublin, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030411 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5342

Abstract

Preconception lifestyle modifications and reduction of several known risk factors may have an influence on future pregnancy outcomes. The aim of the study was to analyze health behaviors and personal values as well as to assess the relationship between these factors in women [...] Read more.

Preconception lifestyle modifications and reduction of several known risk factors may have an influence on future pregnancy outcomes. The aim of the study was to analyze health behaviors and personal values as well as to assess the relationship between these factors in women without children, in pregnant women and in women who had already delivered babies. The questionnaire survey included the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI), the Personal Value List (PVL) and sociodemographic data and was conducted in 538 women. These women were divided into three groups: women who had recently delivered (n = 235), pregnant women (n = 121) and childless women (n = 182). Pregnant women demonstrated a significantly higher level of declared health behaviors, and also, they rated higher on the subscales values “positive mental attitude” and “health practices”, in comparison to women who had recently delivered and to childless women. In all tested groups, the highest rated personal value was “a successful family life”, while the most appreciated symbol of happiness was “love and friendship”. Our results suggest that the system of values and the perception of happiness symbols may influence women’s health behaviors. Positioning “health” in the hierarchy of personal values as the most important one may facilitate the introduction of healthy behaviors. This, in turn, could reduce several adverse pregnancy outcomes that are potentially modifiable with changing preconception health attitudes. Our results also identify several unanswered questions and highlight areas where new research is needed. Full article

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

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12 pages, 331 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Individual and School Correlates of Adolescent Leisure Time Physical Activity in Quebec, Canada

by José Massougbodji^1,2, Alexandre Lebel^2,3 and Philippe De Wals^1,2,*

¹ Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

² Evaluation Platform on Obesity Prevention, Quebec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada

³ Graduate School of Land Management and Regional Planning, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1K 9E5, Canada

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030412 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3804

Abstract

Background: Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) correlates have been mostly studied in relation to adolescents’ home neighbourhoods, but not so much in relation to the environment of their schools’ neighbourhoods. We sought to investigate how objective environmental measures of the schools’ vicinity [...] Read more.

Background: Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) correlates have been mostly studied in relation to adolescents’ home neighbourhoods, but not so much in relation to the environment of their schools’ neighbourhoods. We sought to investigate how objective environmental measures of the schools’ vicinity are related to adolescents’ self-reported LTPA. Methods: Individual data from the Quebec High School Students Health Survey (QHSSHS) were matched with schools’ socioeconomic indicators, as well as geographic information system-based indicators of their built environments. Self-reported levels of LTPA during the school year were assessed according to intensity, frequency and index of energy expenditure. Associations per gender between covariates and LTPA were estimated using ordinal multilevel regression with multiple imputations. Results: Boys (21% of which were highly active) were more active than girls (16% of which were highly active) (p ≤ 0.01). The incremental variance between schools explained by the contextual variables in the final models was higher among girls (7.8%) than boys (2.8%). The number of parks or green spaces within 750 m around their schools was positively associated with student LTPA in both genders. Conclusions: The promotion of parks around schools seems to be an avenue to be strengthened. Full article

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

13 pages, 653 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Valuing a Lifestyle Intervention for Middle Eastern Immigrants at Risk of Diabetes

by Sanjib Saha^1,*

, Ulf-G. Gerdtham^1,2,3

, Faiza Siddiqui^2,4 and Louise Bennet²

¹ Health Economics Unit, Department of Clinical Science (Malmö), Lund University, Medicon Village, Scheelevägen 2, SE-22381 Lund, Sweden

² Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Skåne University Hospital, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden

³ Department of Economics, Lund University, SE-22363 Lund, Sweden

⁴ Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, SE-20502 Malmö, Sweden

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030413 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4150

Abstract

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) techniques are increasingly being used in the healthcare sector for assessing the value of interventions. The objective of this study was to estimate WTP and its predictors in a randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention exclusively targeting Middle Eastern immigrants [...] Read more.

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) techniques are increasingly being used in the healthcare sector for assessing the value of interventions. The objective of this study was to estimate WTP and its predictors in a randomized controlled trial of a lifestyle intervention exclusively targeting Middle Eastern immigrants living in Malmö, Sweden, who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes. We used the contingent valuation method to evaluate WTP. The questionnaire was designed following the payment-scale approach, and administered at the end of the trial, giving an ex-post perspective. We performed logistic regression and linear regression techniques to identify the factors associated with zero WTP value and positive WTP values. The intervention group had significantly higher average WTP than the control group (216 SEK vs. 127 SEK; p = 0.035; 1 U.S.$ = 8.52 SEK, 2015 price year) per month. The regression models demonstrated that being in the intervention group, acculturation, and self-employment were significant factors associated with positive WTP values. Male participants and lower-educated participants had a significantly higher likelihood of zero WTP. In this era of increased migration, our findings can help policy makers to take informed decisions to implement lifestyle interventions for immigrant populations. Full article

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13 pages, 2959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Supported Nanocomposite as Drug Carrier System for Controlled Delivery of Ondansetron

by Gaurav Sharma^1,2,3,*, Mu. Naushad^4,*

, Bharti Thakur³, Amit Kumar^1,2,3, Poonam Negi⁵

, Reena Saini⁶, Anterpreet Chahal⁶, Ashok Kumar⁷, Florian J. Stadler¹

and U.M.H. Aqil⁸

¹ Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Polymer Science and Technology, Guangdong Research Center for Interfacial Engineering of Functional Materials, Nanshan District Key Lab for Biopolymers and Safety Evaluation, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China

² Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China

³ School of Chemistry, Shoolini University, Solan 173212, India

⁴ Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Bld.#5, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

⁵ School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan 173212, India

⁶ School of Applied Science and Biotechnology, Shoolini University, Solan 173212, India

⁷ Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan 173234, India

⁸ School of Public Health, 3rd Floor, SRM Medical College and Research, Centre, Kattankulathur 603211, India

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030414 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4812

Abstract

Sodium dodecyl sulphate-supported iron silicophosphate (SDS/FeSP) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by the co-precipitation method. The SDS/FeSP nanocomposite was investigated as a drug carrier for ondansetron. The cumulative drug release of ondansetron was observed at various pH values for different time intervals, i.e., from [...] Read more.

Sodium dodecyl sulphate-supported iron silicophosphate (SDS/FeSP) nanocomposite was successfully fabricated by the co-precipitation method. The SDS/FeSP nanocomposite was investigated as a drug carrier for ondansetron. The cumulative drug release of ondansetron was observed at various pH values for different time intervals, i.e., from 20 min to 48 h. A ranking of the drug release was observed at different pHs; pH 2.2 > saline (pH 5.5) > pH 7.4 > pH 9.4 > distilled water. Maximum release of encapsulated drug was found to be about 45.38% at pH 2.2. The cell viability tests of SDS/FeSP nanocomposite concluded that SDS/FeSP nanocomposite was non-cytotoxic in nature. Full article

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

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10 pages, 314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Predicting Circulatory Diseases from Psychosocial Safety Climate: A Prospective Cohort Study from Australia

by Harry Becher¹, Maureen F. Dollard^1,2,*, Peter Smith^3,4,5 and Jian Li⁶

¹ Asia Pacific Centre for Work Health and Safety, A WHO Collaborating Centre in Occupational Health, University of South Australia, Magill Campus, St Bernards Road, Magill, Adelaide, SA 5072, Australia

² Division of Psychiatry and Applied Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK

³ Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada

⁴ Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3M7, Canada

⁵ Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia

⁶ Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Centre for Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 415; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030415 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4480

Abstract

Circulatory diseases (CDs) (including myocardial infarction, angina, stroke or hypertension) are among the leading causes of death in the world. In this paper, we explore for the first time the impact of a specific aspect of organizational climate, Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC), on [...] Read more.

Circulatory diseases (CDs) (including myocardial infarction, angina, stroke or hypertension) are among the leading causes of death in the world. In this paper, we explore for the first time the impact of a specific aspect of organizational climate, Psychosocial Safety Climate (PSC), on CDs. We used two waves of interview data from Australia, with an average lag of 5 years (excluding baseline CDs, final n = 1223). Logistic regression was conducted to estimate the prospective associations between PSC at baseline on incident CDs at follow-up. It was found that participants in low PSC environments were 59% more likely to develop new CD than those in high PSC environments. Logistic regression showed that high PSC at baseline predicts lower CD risk at follow-up (OR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.00) and this risk remained unchanged even after additional adjustment for known job design risk factors (effort reward imbalance and job strain). These results suggest that PSC is an independent risk factor for CDs in Australia. Beyond job design this study implicates organizational climate and prevailing management values regarding worker psychological health as the genesis of CDs. Full article

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

12 pages, 2173 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biotoxicity of TiO₂ Nanoparticles on Raphidocelis subcapitata Microalgae Exemplified by Membrane Deformation

by Merve Ozkaleli and Ayca Erdem^*

Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Akdeniz University, Antalya 07058, Turkey

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030416 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 5536

Abstract

TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), which are mainly used in consumer products (mostly cosmetics), have been found to cause ecotoxic effects in the aquatic environment. The green algae Raphidocelis subcapitata, as a representative of primary producers of the freshwater ecosystem, has been frequently [...] Read more.

TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), which are mainly used in consumer products (mostly cosmetics), have been found to cause ecotoxic effects in the aquatic environment. The green algae Raphidocelis subcapitata, as a representative of primary producers of the freshwater ecosystem, has been frequently used to study the effects of metal oxide NPs. An ecotoxicity study was conducted herein to investigate the effects of TiO₂ NPs on survival and membrane deformation of algal cells. Five different concentrations of nano-TiO₂ particles (1, 10, 50, 100 and 500 mg/L) were prepared in synthetic surface water samples with five different water quality characteristics (pH 6.4–8.4, hardness 10–320 mg CaCO₃/L, ionic strength 0.2–8 mM, and alkalinity 10–245 mg CaCO₃/L). Results showed a significant increase in the hydrodynamic diameter of NPs with respect to both NP concentrations and ionic content of the test system. A soft synthetic freshwater system at pH 7.3 ± 0.2 appeared to provide the most effective water type, with more than 95% algal mortality observed at 50, 100 and 500 mg/L NP concentrations. At high exposure concentrations, increased malondialdehyde formations were observed. Moreover, due to membrane deformation, TEM images correlated the uptake of the NPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-Bio Interactions: Nanomedicine and Nanotoxicology)

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12 pages, 3140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Sexual Dimorphism on Trauma Patterns and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with a High-Risk Score of the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asians: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

by Chien-En Tang¹

, Hang-Tsung Liu², Pao-Jen Kuo³, Yi-Chun Chen³, Shiun-Yuan Hsu³, Chih-Che Lin^1,† and Ching-Hua Hsieh^3,*,†

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

² Department of Trauma Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan

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

^† These authors contributed equally to this paper.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030418 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3912

Abstract

The Osteoporosis Self-assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA) is a validated index based on age and weight to predict the risk of osteoporosis in women. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the impact of sexual dimorphism on the trauma patterns and the clinical [...] Read more.

The Osteoporosis Self-assessment Tool for Asians (OSTA) is a validated index based on age and weight to predict the risk of osteoporosis in women. This cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the impact of sexual dimorphism on the trauma patterns and the clinical outcomes of patients with high-risk OSTA scores. Trauma data of patients with high-risk OSTA scores between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2015 were retrieved from the trauma registry system of a level I trauma center. A total of 2248 patients including 1585 women and 663 men were included in this study. In-hospital mortality was assessed as the primary outcome in the propensity score-matched analyses of the female and male patients, which were created in a 1:1 ratio under the adjustment of potential confounders, including age, co-morbidity, mechanism and injury-severity score (ISS). Female patients with a high-risk OSTA score had significantly lower mortality rates than their male counterparts. Among the propensity score-matched population, female patients had lower odds of having cerebral contusion and pneumothorax, but higher odds of presenting with radial, ulnar and femoral fractures than male patients. In addition, the female patients still had significantly lower odds of mortality (odds ratio (OR), 0.5; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.29–0.90; p = 0.019) than the male patients. However, no significant differences were noted in the length of stay (LOS) in hospital, intensive-care unit (ICU) admission, and LOS in the ICU between the sexes. Female patients with high-risk OSTA scores showed different injury patterns and significantly lower mortality rates than their male counterparts, even after controlling for potential confounding factors. Full article

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11 pages, 1505 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The National and Regional Prevalence Rates of Disability, Type, of Disability and Severity in Saudi Arabia—Analysis of 2016 Demographic Survey Data

by Saad M. Bindawas^*,†

and Vishal Vennu^†

¹ Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, Riyadh-11433, Saudi Arabia

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 419; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030419 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 65 | Viewed by 6642

Abstract

The prevalence of disability varies between countries ranging from less than 1% to up to 30% in some countries, thus, the estimated global disability prevalence is about 15%. However, it is unknown what the current estimate of disability and its types and severity [...] Read more.

The prevalence of disability varies between countries ranging from less than 1% to up to 30% in some countries, thus, the estimated global disability prevalence is about 15%. However, it is unknown what the current estimate of disability and its types and severity are in Saudi Arabia. Thus, the objective of this study is to estimate national and regional prevalence rates of any disability, types of disability, and their severity among Saudi populations. Data on disability status were extracted from the national demographic survey conducted in 2016 as reported by the General Authority for Statistics, Saudi Arabia (N = 20,064,970). Prevalence rates per a population of 100,000 of any disability, type of disability, and its severity were calculated at the national level and in all 13 regions. Out of 20,064,970 Saudi citizens surveyed, 667,280 citizens reported disabilities, accounting for a prevalence rate of 3326 per a population of 100,000 (3.3%). Individuals aged 60 years and above (11,014) and males (3818) had a higher prevalence rate of disability compared with females (2813). The Tabuk region has the highest rate of reported disability, at 4.3%. The prevalence rates of extreme disabilities in mobility and sight were higher in Madinah (57,343) and Northern border (41,236) regions, respectively. In Saudi Arabia, more than half a million Saudi citizens (1 out of every 30 individuals) reported the presence of disability during the year 2016. A higher prevalence rate of disability was seen among those aged 60 years and above, and males. Targeted efforts are required at the national and regional levels to expand and improve rehabilitation and social services for all people with disabilities. Full article

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12 pages, 349 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Food Insecurity in Homeless Families in the Paris Region (France): Results from the ENFAMS Survey

by Judith Martin-Fernandez¹, Sandrine Lioret², Cécile Vuillermoz¹, Pierre Chauvin¹

and Stéphanie Vandentorren^1,3,4,*

¹ INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Department of Social Epidemiology, 75012 Paris, France

² INSERM, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics, Early Life Research on Later Health (EARoH) Team, 75004 Paris, France

³ Santé Publique France, French National Public Health Agency, 94410 Saint-Maurice, France

⁴ Observatoire du Samusocial de Paris, 75012 Paris, France

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030420 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5890

Abstract

The number of families living in shelters in the Paris region (France) has increased by a factor of three in 10 years. In 2013, a survey was performed on homeless families in order to characterize their living conditions, their health needs, and the [...] Read more.

The number of families living in shelters in the Paris region (France) has increased by a factor of three in 10 years. In 2013, a survey was performed on homeless families in order to characterize their living conditions, their health needs, and the developmental problems in children. This probability survey was conducted in 17 languages among 801 homeless families sheltered in emergency centers for asylum-seekers, emergency housing centers, social rehabilitation centers, and social hotels in the Paris region. Among the 772 families that provided data on food security only 14.0% were with food security, whereas 43.3% were with low food security and 9.8% with very low food security (a situation where children are also affected). Stratified multivariate robust Poisson models showed that some characteristics are associated with a higher risk of food insecurity and/or of falling into very low food security, such as residential instability, single parenthood, having more than three children, depressive symptoms, housing in social hostels, and difficult access to cheap or free food locally. Given the wealth of the Paris region, resources and programs should be concentrated on improving the living situation of this vulnerable population. It needs better detection of these families, a closer social follow-up, and an increase in food aid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Health Care for Homeless People in Various Contexts)

9 pages, 454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Global Evidence on the Association between Cigarette Graphic Warning Labels and Cigarette Smoking Prevalence and Consumption

by Anh Ngo¹, Kai-Wen Cheng^2,*, Ce Shang²

, Jidong Huang³ and Frank J. Chaloupka^2,4

¹ Department of Economics, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

² Institute for Health Research and Policy, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

³ School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA

⁴ Division of Health Policy and Administration, School of Public Health, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60608, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 421; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030421 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 8504

Abstract

Background: In 2011, the courts ruled in favor of tobacco companies in preventing the implementation of graphic warning labels (GWLs) in the US, stating that FDA had not established the effectiveness of GWLs in reducing smoking. Methods: Data came from various [...] Read more.

Background: In 2011, the courts ruled in favor of tobacco companies in preventing the implementation of graphic warning labels (GWLs) in the US, stating that FDA had not established the effectiveness of GWLs in reducing smoking. Methods: Data came from various sources: the WHO MPOWER package (GWLs, MPOWER policy measures, cigarette prices), Euromonitor International (smoking prevalence, cigarette consumption), and the World Bank database (countries’ demographic characteristics). The datasets were aggregated and linked using country and year identifiers. Fractional logit regressions and OLS regressions were applied to examine the associations between GWLs and smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption, controlling for MPOWER policy scores, cigarette prices, GDP per capita, unemployment, population aged 15–64 (%), aged 65 and over (%), year indicators, and country fixed effects. Results: GWLs were associated with a 0.9–3 percentage point decrease in adult smoking prevalence and were significantly associated with a reduction of 230–287 sticks in per capita cigarette consumption, compared to countries without GWLs. However, the association between GWLs and cigarette consumption became statistically insignificant once country indicators were included in the models. Conclusions: The implementation of GWLs may be associated with reduced cigarette smoking. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reducing Exposure to Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke)

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10 pages, 409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Suicidal Ideation among the Chinese Elderly and Its Correlates: A Comparison between the Rural and Urban Populations

by Jianwen Wei¹

, Jie Zhang^2,3,*

, Yuping Deng², Long Sun⁴

and Ping Guo^5,†

¹ School of Sociology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China

² Central University of Finance and Economics School of Social Development, Beijing 100081, China

³ State University of New York Buffalo State Department of Sociology, Buffalo, NY 14222, USA

⁴ Shandong University School of Public Health Center for Suicide Prevention Research, Jinan 250012, China

⁵ China Research Center on Aging, Beijing 100054, China

^† The co-author Ping Guo passed away in 2015.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 422; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030422 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5144

Abstract

Background: As China is going through a profound aging process, the mental health of the elderly is becoming an issue. As in many other societies, the elderly in China is a population at high risk of suicide; Methods: Data for the study were [...] Read more.

Background: As China is going through a profound aging process, the mental health of the elderly is becoming an issue. As in many other societies, the elderly in China is a population at high risk of suicide; Methods: Data for the study were taken from the Sample Survey of the Aged Population in Urban/Rural China (SSAPUR) accomplished in 2010 by the China Ministry of Civil Affairs. The valid sample for this study was composed of 18,683 individuals, including 9416 urban residents and 9267 rural residents both aged 60 or more years; Results: Logistic regression analyses showed that household income and expenditure, the number of children, chronic diseases, disability of daily living, depression, the frequency of visiting neighbors and having friends or relatives who can help or not had remarkable effects on the suicidal ideation among urban and rural old people. Gender, education, political affiliation, marital status and self-rated health status did not work on the dependent variable. However, some risk factors for suicidal ideation among the Chinese elderly were different between rural and urban regions; Conclusions: We should take different measures when facing the different groups of the elderly. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Suicide Risk and Mental Disorders)

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17 pages, 7642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental and Numerical Modeling of Aerosol Delivery for Preterm Infants

by Iñigo Aramendia^1,*

, Unai Fernandez-Gamiz¹

, Alberto Lopez-Arraiza², Carmen Rey-Santano³, Victoria Mielgo³, Francisco Jose Basterretxea⁴, Javier Sancho¹ and Miguel Angel Gomez-Solaetxe²

¹ Nuclear Engineering and Fluid Mechanics Department, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 01006 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, Spain

² Department of Nautical Science and Marine Systems, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48013 Portugalete, Bizkaia, Spain

³ Animal Research Unit, BioCruces Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain

⁴ Department of Physical Chemistry, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030423 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4099

Abstract

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) represents one of the major causes of mortality among preterm infants, and the best approach to treat it is an open research issue. The use of perfluorocarbons (PFC) along with non-invasive respiratory support techniques has proven the usefulness of [...] Read more.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) represents one of the major causes of mortality among preterm infants, and the best approach to treat it is an open research issue. The use of perfluorocarbons (PFC) along with non-invasive respiratory support techniques has proven the usefulness of PFC as a complementary substance to achieve a more homogeneous surfactant distribution. The aim of this work was to study the inhaled particles generated by means of an intracorporeal inhalation catheter, evaluating the size and mass distribution of different PFC aerosols. In this article, we discuss different experiments with the PFC perfluorodecalin (PFD) and FC75 with a driving pressure of 4–5 bar, evaluating properties such as the aerodynamic diameter (D_a), since its value is directly linked to particle deposition in the lung. Furthermore, we develop a numerical model with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. The computational results showed an accurate prediction of the airflow axial velocity at different downstream positions when compared with the data gathered from the real experiments. The numerical validation of the cumulative mass distribution for PFD particles also confirmed a closer match with the experimental data measured at the optimal distance of 60 mm from the catheter tip. In the case of FC75, the cumulative mass fraction for particles above 10 µm was considerable higher with a driving pressure of 5 bar. These numerical models could be a helpful tool to assist parametric studies of new non-invasive devices for the treatment of RDS in preterm infants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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14 pages, 338 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epidemiological Study on Metal Pollution of Ningbo in China

by Zhou Li^1,†, Hong Su^1,†, Li Wang^2,†, Danbiao Hu³, Lijun Zhang⁴, Jian Fang⁵, Micong Jin², Samuel Selorm Fiati Kenston¹

, Xin Song¹, Hongbo Shi², Jinshun Zhao^1,*

and Guochuan Mao^2,*

¹ Department of Preventative Medicine, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Medicine School of Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo 315211, China

² Ningbo Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Ningbo 315010, China

³ Ninghai Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Ninghai 315600, China

⁴ Jiangdong District Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo 315040, China

⁵ Zhenhai District Maternal and Child Health Family Planning Center, Ningbo 315200, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 424; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030424 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4615

Abstract

Background: In order to search for effective control and prevention measures, the status of metal pollution in Ningbo, China was investigated. Methods: Nine of the most common contaminating metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium [...] Read more.

Background: In order to search for effective control and prevention measures, the status of metal pollution in Ningbo, China was investigated. Methods: Nine of the most common contaminating metals including lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and mercury (Hg) in samples of vegetables, rice, soil, irrigation water, and human hair were detected using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Three different districts including industrial, suburban and rural areas in Ningbo were studied through a stratified random sample method. Results: (1) Among all of the detected vegetable samples, Cd exceeded the standard limit rates in industrial, suburban and rural areas as high as 43.9%, 27.5% and 5.0%, respectively; indicating the severity of Cd pollution in Ningbo. (2) The pollution index (PI) of Cd and Zn in soil (1.069, 1.584, respectively) suggests that soil is slightly polluted by Cd and Zn. Among all samples, metal contamination levels in soil were all relatively high. (3) A positive correlation was found between the concentrations of Pb, Cd and Cu in vegetables and soil; Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni in vegetables and irrigation water, as well as, Cu and Ni in rice and irrigation water; and, (4) Higher Pb and Cd concentrations were found in student scalp hair in both industrial and suburban areas compared to rural areas. (5) Hg and Pb that are found in human scalp hair may be more easily absorbed from food than any of the other metals. Conclusions: In general, certain harmful metal pollutions were detected in both industrial and suburban areas of Ningbo in China. Full article

10 pages, 1602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Ambient Air Pollution on Daily Hospital Visits for Various Respiratory Diseases and the Relevant Medical Expenditures in Shanghai, China

by Hao Zhang¹, Yue Niu², Yili Yao¹, Renjie Chen^2,3,*, Xianghong Zhou^1,* and Haidong Kan²

¹ Department of Public Administration, School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Tongji Building A, 1500 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China

² Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Key Lab of Public Health Safety of the Ministry of Education, Fudan University, P.O. Box 249, 130 Dong-An Road, Shanghai 200032, China

³ Shanghai Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health, Shanghai 200030, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030425 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 5859

Abstract

The evidence concerning the acute effects of ambient air pollution on various respiratory diseases was limited in China, and the attributable medical expenditures were largely unknown. From 2013 to 2015, we collected data on the daily visits to the emergency- and outpatient-department for [...] Read more.

The evidence concerning the acute effects of ambient air pollution on various respiratory diseases was limited in China, and the attributable medical expenditures were largely unknown. From 2013 to 2015, we collected data on the daily visits to the emergency- and outpatient-department for five main respiratory diseases and their medical expenditures in Shanghai, China. We used the overdispersed generalized additive model together with distributed lag models to fit the associations of criteria air pollutants with hospital visits, and used the linear models to fit the associations with medical expenditures. Generally, we observed significant increments in emergency visits (8.81–17.26%) and corresponding expenditures (0.33–25.81%) for pediatric respiratory diseases, upper respiratory infection (URI), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for an interquartile range increase of air pollutant concentrations over four lag days. As a comparison, there were significant but smaller increments in outpatient visits (1.36–4.52%) and expenditures (1.38–3.18%) for pediatric respiratory diseases and upper respiratory infection (URI). No meaningful changes were observed for asthma and lower respiratory infection. Our study suggested that short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution may induce the occurrences or exacerbation of pediatric respiratory diseases, URI, and COPD, leading to considerable medical expenditures upon the patients. Full article

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18 pages, 814 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Evaluation of the Quebec Healthy Enterprise Standard: Effect on Adverse Psychosocial Work Factors and Psychological Distress

by Marie-Claude Letellier^1,2, Caroline S. Duchaine^1,3, Karine Aubé^1,3,*

, Denis Talbot^1,3

, Marie-Michèle Mantha-Bélisle², Hélène Sultan-Taïeb⁴, France St-Hilaire⁵, Caroline Biron⁶, Michel Vézina² and Chantal Brisson^1,3,*

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

² Institut National de santé Publique du Québec, Quebec City, QC G1V 5B3, Canada

³ Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Unit, CHU de Quebec Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1S 4L8, Canada

⁴ School of Management Sciences, University of Quebec in Montréal, Montreal, QC H2X 3X2, Canada

⁵ Management School, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada

⁶ Faculty of Administration Sciences, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 426; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030426 - 28 Feb 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6370

Abstract

Adverse psychosocial work factors are recognized as a significant source of psychological distress, resulting in a considerable socioeconomic burden. The impact of occupational health standards that aim to reduce these adverse work factors, such as the Quebec Healthy Enterprise Standard (QHES), is of [...] Read more.

Adverse psychosocial work factors are recognized as a significant source of psychological distress, resulting in a considerable socioeconomic burden. The impact of occupational health standards that aim to reduce these adverse work factors, such as the Quebec Healthy Enterprise Standard (QHES), is of great interest for public health. The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, the effect of QHES interventions targeting adverse psychosocial work factors on the prevalence of these factors and of psychological distress among ten Quebec organizations. These outcomes were assessed by questionnaire using validated instruments before (T1, n = 2849) and 2–3 years following (T2, n = 2560) QHES implementation. Beneficial effects of interventions were observed for two adverse psychosocial work factors: low rewards (ratio of prevalence ratios (PRs) = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66–0.91) and low social support at work (ratio of PRs = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.77–1.03). Moreover, beneficial effects of interventions were also observed on the prevalence of high psychological distress (ratio of PRs = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.75–0.998). Psychosocial interventions implemented in the context of this standard improved the psychosocial work environment and had beneficial effects on workers’ mental health. Full article

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

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16 pages, 1037 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Interoperable System toward Cardiac Risk Stratification from ECG Monitoring

by Cristina Soguero-Ruiz^1,*

, Inmaculada Mora-Jiménez¹, Javier Ramos-López¹, Teresa Quintanilla Fernández², Antonio García-García³, Daniel Díez-Mazuela⁴, Arcadi García-Alberola⁵ and José Luis Rojo-Álvarez^1,6

¹ Department of Signal Theory and Communications and Telematics Systems and Computing, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28942 Madrid, Spain

² Department of Signal Theory and Communications, Carlos III University, 28912 Madrid, Spain

³ Niño Jesús Hospital, 28009 Madrid, Spain

⁴ Doce de Octubre Hospital, 28041 Madrid, Spain

⁵ Unit of Arrhythmias, University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, 30120 Murcia, Spain

⁶ Center for Computational Simulation, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Boadilla, 28223 Madrid, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030428 - 1 Mar 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4158

Abstract

Many indices have been proposed for cardiovascular risk stratification from electrocardiogram signal processing, still with limited use in clinical practice. We created a system integrating the clinical definition of cardiac risk subdomains from ECGs and the use of diverse signal processing techniques. Three [...] Read more.

Many indices have been proposed for cardiovascular risk stratification from electrocardiogram signal processing, still with limited use in clinical practice. We created a system integrating the clinical definition of cardiac risk subdomains from ECGs and the use of diverse signal processing techniques. Three subdomains were defined from the joint analysis of the technical and clinical viewpoints. One subdomain was devoted to demographic and clinical data. The other two subdomains were intended to obtain widely defined risk indices from ECG monitoring: a simple-domain (heart rate turbulence (HRT)), and a complex-domain (heart rate variability (HRV)). Data provided by the three subdomains allowed for the generation of alerts with different intensity and nature, as well as for the grouping and scrutinization of patients according to the established processing and risk-thresholding criteria. The implemented system was tested by connecting data from real-world in-hospital electronic health records and ECG monitoring by considering standards for syntactic (HL7 messages) and semantic interoperability (archetypes based on CEN/ISO EN13606 and SNOMED-CT). The system was able to provide risk indices and to generate alerts in the health records to support decision-making. Overall, the system allows for the agile interaction of research and clinical practice in the Holter-ECG-based cardiac risk domain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Health Economics)

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14 pages, 2814 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Airway Responses Induced in a Mouse Model by the Gas and Particulate Fractions of Gasoline Direct Injection Engine Exhaust

by Caitlin L. Maikawa^1,†, Naomi Zimmerman², Manuel Ramos³, Mittal Shah⁴

, James S. Wallace³ and Krystal J. Godri Pollitt^1,*

¹ Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, 686 North Pleasant Street, Goessmann Laboratory Room 175, Amherst, MA 01003, USA

² Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada

³ Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G8, Canada

⁴ Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University College London, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore HA7 4LP, UK

^† Present address: Materials Science & Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 429; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030429 - 1 Mar 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4814

Abstract

Diesel exhaust has been associated with asthma, but its response to other engine emissions is not clear. The increasing prevalence of vehicles with gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines motivated this study, and the objective was to evaluate pulmonary responses induced by acute exposure [...] Read more.

Diesel exhaust has been associated with asthma, but its response to other engine emissions is not clear. The increasing prevalence of vehicles with gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines motivated this study, and the objective was to evaluate pulmonary responses induced by acute exposure to GDI engine exhaust in an allergic asthma murine model. Mice were sensitized with an allergen to induce airway hyperresponsiveness or treated with saline (non-allergic group). Animals were challenged for 2-h to exhaust from a laboratory GDI engine operated at conditions equivalent to a highway cruise. Exhaust was filtered to assess responses induced by the particulate and gas fractions. Short-term exposure to particulate matter from GDI engine exhaust induced upregulation of genes related to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolism (Cyp1b1) and inflammation (TNFα) in the lungs of non-allergic mice. High molecular weight PAHs dominated the particulate fraction of the exhaust, and this response was therefore likely attributable to the presence of these PAHs. The particle fraction of GDI engine exhaust further contributed to enhanced methacholine responsiveness in the central and peripheral tissues in animals with airway hyperresponsiveness. As GDI engines gain prevalence in the vehicle fleet, understanding the health impacts of their emissions becomes increasingly important. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transportation-Related Air Pollution and Human Health)

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11 pages, 313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Disparities in the Relationship of Neighborhood Greenness to Mental Health Outcomes in 249,405 U.S. Medicare Beneficiaries

by Scott C. Brown^1,2,*, Tatiana Perrino¹, Joanna Lombard^1,2, Kefeng Wang^1,3, Matthew Toro⁴, Tatjana Rundek^1,3, Carolina Marinovic Gutierrez³, Chuanhui Dong³, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk², Maria I. Nardi⁵, Jack Kardys⁵ and José Szapocznik^1,2

¹ Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Soffer Clinical Research Center Room 1065, Miami, FL 33136, USA

² University of Miami School of Architecture, 1223 Dickinson Drive, Building 48 Room 320G, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA

³ Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1120 NW 14th Street, Soffer Clinical Research Center Room 1348, Miami, FL 33136, USA

⁴ ASU Library, Map and Geospatial Hub, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA

⁵ Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (MDPROS), 275 NW 2nd Street, Hickman Building, 3rd floor, Miami, FL 33128, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 430; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030430 - 1 Mar 2018

Cited by 109 | Viewed by 12710

Abstract

Prior studies suggest that exposure to the natural environment may be important for optimal mental health. The present study examines the association between block-level greenness (vegetative presence) and mental health outcomes, in a population-based sample of 249,405 U.S. Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years [...] Read more.

Prior studies suggest that exposure to the natural environment may be important for optimal mental health. The present study examines the association between block-level greenness (vegetative presence) and mental health outcomes, in a population-based sample of 249,405 U.S. Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 years living in Miami-Dade County, Florida, USA, whose location did not change from 2010 to 2011. Multilevel analyses examined relationships between greenness, as measured by mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index from satellite imagery at the Census block level, and each of two mental health outcomes; Alzheimer’s disease and depression, respectively, after statistically adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, and neighborhood income level of the individuals. Higher block-level greenness was linked to better mental health outcomes: There was a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease (by 18%) and depression (by 28%) for beneficiaries living in blocks that were 1 SD above the mean for greenness, as compared to blocks that were 1 SD below the mean. Planned post-hoc analyses revealed that higher levels of greenness were associated with even greater mental health benefits in low-income neighborhoods: An increase in greenness from 1 SD below to 1 SD above the mean was associated with 37% lower odds of depression in low-income neighborhoods, compared to 27% and 21% lower odds of depression in medium- and high-income neighborhoods, respectively. Greenness may be effective in promoting mental health in older adults, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, possibly as a result of the increased opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, or stress mitigation. Full article

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

24 pages, 10602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study of Chronic Diseases in the United States: A Visual Analytics Approach to Public Health

by Wullianallur Raghupathi¹ and Viju Raghupathi^2,*

¹ Gabelli School of Business, Fordham University, New York, NY 10023, USA

² Koppelman School of Business, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030431 - 1 Mar 2018

Cited by 408 | Viewed by 38983

Abstract

In this research we explore the current state of chronic diseases in the United States, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and applying visualization and descriptive analytics techniques. Five main categories of variables are studied, namely chronic disease conditions, [...] Read more.

In this research we explore the current state of chronic diseases in the United States, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and applying visualization and descriptive analytics techniques. Five main categories of variables are studied, namely chronic disease conditions, behavioral health, mental health, demographics, and overarching conditions. These are analyzed in the context of regions and states within the U.S. to discover possible correlations between variables in several categories. There are widespread variations in the prevalence of diverse chronic diseases, the number of hospitalizations for specific diseases, and the diagnosis and mortality rates for different states. Identifying such correlations is fundamental to developing insights that will help in the creation of targeted management, mitigation, and preventive policies, ultimately minimizing the risks and costs of chronic diseases. As the population ages and individuals suffer from multiple conditions, or comorbidity, it is imperative that the various stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), policy makers, health providers, and society as a whole, address these adverse effects in a timely and efficient manner. Full article

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14 pages, 334 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Violent and Non-Violent Criminal Behavior among Young Chinese Drug Users: A Mixed Methods Study

by Liu Liu^1,*

, Wing Hong Chui²

and Ye Chen¹

¹ School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Nanjing University, No. 163, Xianlin Avenue, Qixia District, Nanjing 210023, China

² Department of Applied Social Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030432 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6174

Abstract

Young drug users are found to be increasingly involved in criminal justice issues. This exploratory and descriptive study aims to analyze the criminal behaviors among young Chinese drug users through a mixed methods research design. Quantitative analysis indicates that young drug users with [...] Read more.

Young drug users are found to be increasingly involved in criminal justice issues. This exploratory and descriptive study aims to analyze the criminal behaviors among young Chinese drug users through a mixed methods research design. Quantitative analysis indicates that young drug users with and without a history of criminality show significant differences in terms of several features. Male drug users, particularly, those who are older, with religious beliefs, and initiated into drug use at younger age were most likely to commit crimes. Among drug users with criminal experiences, those who committed crimes prior to drug initiation have a greater likelihood of committing violent crimes. Furthermore, young drug users with severe depression are more likely to commit crimes, especially violent ones. Qualitative analysis further illustrates that young male drug users often get involved in criminal conduct of the youth gang nature with propensity for engaging in violent crimes as compared to their female counterparts who are more likely to turn into drug dealers and traffickers, in addition to engaging in larceny. The research findings are consistent with developmental theories and “victim to offender cycle”. Integrated mental health and substance use services are suggested for crime prevention among young Chinese drug users. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Youth Violence as a Public Health Issue)

15 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empathy Variation in General Practice: A Survey among General Practitioners in Denmark

by Justin A. Charles^1,2

, Peder Ahnfeldt-Mollerup², Jens Søndergaard² and Troels Kristensen^3,*

¹ Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, NY 11794, USA

² Research Unit of General Practice, Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløws Vej 9, DK-5000 Odense C, Denmark

³ COHERE, Department of Public Health & Research Unit of General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense C, Denmark

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 433; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030433 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 10197

Abstract

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that high levels of physician empathy may be correlated with improved patient health outcomes and high physician job satisfaction. Knowledge about variation in empathy and related general practitioner (GP) characteristics may allow for a more informed approach [...] Read more.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that high levels of physician empathy may be correlated with improved patient health outcomes and high physician job satisfaction. Knowledge about variation in empathy and related general practitioner (GP) characteristics may allow for a more informed approach to improve empathy among GPs. Objective: Our objective is to measure and analyze variation in physician empathy and its association with GP demographic, professional, and job satisfaction characteristics. Methods: 464 Danish GPs responded to a survey containing the Danish version of the Jefferson Scale of Empathy for Health Professionals (JSE-HP) and questions related to their demographic, professional and job satisfaction characteristics. Descriptive statistics and a quantile plot of the ordered empathy scores were used to describe empathy variation. In addition, random-effect logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the association between empathy levels and the included GP characteristics. Results: Empathy scores were negatively skewed with a mean score of 117.9 and a standard deviation of 10.1 within a range from 99 (p5) to 135 (p95). GPs aged 45–54 years and GPs who are not employed outside of their practice were less likely to have high empathy scores (≥120). Neither gender, nor length of time since specialization, length of time in current practice, practice type, practice location, or job satisfaction was associated with odds of having high physician empathy. However, odds of having a high empathy score were higher for GPs who stated that the physician-patient relationship and interaction with colleagues has a high contribution to job satisfaction compared to the reference groups (low and medium contribution of these factors). This was also the trend for GPs who stated a high contribution to job satisfaction from intellectual stimulation. In contrast, high contribution of economic profit and prestige did not contribute to increased odds of having a high empathy score. Conclusions: Albeit generally high, we observed substantial variation in physician empathy levels among this population of Danish GPs. This variation is positively associated with values of interpersonal relationships and interaction with colleagues, and negatively associated with middle age (45–54 years) and lack of outside employment. There is room to increase GP physician empathy via educational and organizational interventions, and consequently, to improve healthcare quality and outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality of Patient-Centered Care)

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13 pages, 1519 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Performance of a Self-Flocculating Microalga Chlorococcum sp. GD in Wastewater with Different Ammonia Concentrations

by Junping Lv¹, Xuechun Wang¹, Wei Liu¹, Jia Feng¹, Qi Liu¹, Fangru Nan¹, Xiaoyan Jiao² and Shulian Xie^1,*

¹ School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China

² Institute of Agricultural Environment and Resource, Shanxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Taiyuan 030031, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030434 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5279

Abstract

The performance of a self-flocculating microalga Chlorococcum sp. GD on the flocculation, growth, and lipid accumulation in wastewater with different ammonia nitrogen concentrations was investigated. It was revealed that relative high ammonia nitrogen concentration (20–50 mg·L⁻¹) was beneficial to the flocculation [...] Read more.

The performance of a self-flocculating microalga Chlorococcum sp. GD on the flocculation, growth, and lipid accumulation in wastewater with different ammonia nitrogen concentrations was investigated. It was revealed that relative high ammonia nitrogen concentration (20–50 mg·L⁻¹) was beneficial to the flocculation of Chlorococcum sp. GD, and the highest flocculating efficiency was up to 84.4%. It was also found that the highest flocculating efficiency occurred in the middle of the culture (4–5 days) regardless of initial ammonia concentration in wastewater. It was speculated that high flocculating efficiency was likely related to the production of extracellular proteins. 20 mg·L⁻¹ of ammonia was found to be a preferred concentration for both biomass production and lipid accumulation. 92.8% COD, 98.8% ammonia, and 69.4% phosphorus were removed when Chlorococcum sp. GD was cultivated in wastewater with 20 mg·L⁻¹ ammonia. The novelty and significance of the investigation was the integration of flocculation, biomass production, wastewater treatment, and lipid accumulation, simultaneously, which made Chlorococcum sp. GD a potential candidate for wastewater treatment and biodiesel production if harvested in wastewater with suitable ammonia nitrogen concentration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Treatment)

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9 pages, 722 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incidence and Characteristics of Cataract Surgery in Poland, during 2010–2015

by Michał S. Nowak^1,2,*

, Iwona Grabska-Liberek³, Katarzyna Michalska-Małecka⁴

, Andrzej Grzybowski^5,6, Milena Kozioł⁷

, Wojciech Niemczyk⁷, Barbara Więckowska⁸ and Jacek P. Szaflik⁹

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

² Saint Family Hospital Medical Center, 19 Wigury str., 90-302 Lodz, Poland

³ Department of Ophthalmology, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 231 Czerniakowska str., 01-416 Warsaw, Poland

⁴ Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, 35 Ceglana str., 40-952 Katowice, Poland

⁵ Department of Ophthalmology, University of Warmia and Mazury, 30 Warszawska str., 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland

⁶ Institute for Research in Ophthalmology, Foundation for Ophthalmology Development, Gorczyczewskiego 2/3, 60-554 Poznan, Poland

⁷ Department of Analyses and Strategy, Polish Ministry of Health, 15 Miodowa str., 00-952 Warsaw, Poland

⁸ Department of Social Insurance, Warsaw School of Economics, 162 Niepodleglosci Ave., 00-001 Warsaw, Poland

⁹ Department of Ophthalmology, SPKSO Ophthalmic Hospital, Medical University of Warsaw, 13 Sierakowskiego str., 03-709 Warsaw, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030435 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4698

Abstract

Background: To assess the incidence and characteristic of cataract surgery in Poland from 2010 to 2015 and to interpret these findings. Patients and methods: Data from all patients who underwent cataract surgery alone or in combined procedures in Poland between January 2010 and [...] Read more.

Background: To assess the incidence and characteristic of cataract surgery in Poland from 2010 to 2015 and to interpret these findings. Patients and methods: Data from all patients who underwent cataract surgery alone or in combined procedures in Poland between January 2010 and December 2015 were evaluated. Patient data were from the national database of hospitalizations maintained by National Health Fund. Data on the population of Poland were obtained from Central Statistical Office of Poland. Results: In total, 1,218,777 cataract extractions (alone or combined with other procedures) were performed in 1,081,345 patients during 2010–2015. Overall, the incidence of cataract surgery increased from 5.22/1000 person-years in 2010 to 6.17/1000 person-years in 2015. Phacoemulsification was performed in 97.46% of cataract extractions, and 3.02% of cataract extractions were combined procedures. The rate of one-day procedures increased from 28.3% in 2010 to 43.1% in 2015. The probability of second-eye surgery 12 months after the first-eye surgery increased from 44% in 2010 to 73% in 2015 (log-rank test p < 0.0001). Conclusion: In Poland, from 2010 to 2015, the total incidence of cataract surgery, the number of people who underwent surgery, and the number of one-day cataract surgeries increased significantly. Full article

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14 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Grey Language Hesitant Fuzzy Group Decision Making Method Based on Kernel and Grey Scale

by Qingsheng Li^*

, Yuzhu Diao, Zaiwu Gong

and Aqin Hu

School of Business, Linyi University, Linyi 276000, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 436; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030436 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3705

Abstract

Based on grey language multi-attribute group decision making, a kernel and grey scale scoring function is put forward according to the definition of grey language and the meaning of the kernel and grey scale. The function introduces grey scale into the decision-making method [...] Read more.

Based on grey language multi-attribute group decision making, a kernel and grey scale scoring function is put forward according to the definition of grey language and the meaning of the kernel and grey scale. The function introduces grey scale into the decision-making method to avoid information distortion. This method is applied to the grey language hesitant fuzzy group decision making, and the grey correlation degree is used to sort the schemes. The effectiveness and practicability of the decision-making method are further verified by the industry chain sustainable development ability evaluation example of a circular economy. Moreover, its simplicity and feasibility are verified by comparing it with the traditional grey language decision-making method and the grey language hesitant fuzzy weighted arithmetic averaging (

G L H W A A

) operator integration method after determining the index weight based on the grey correlation. Full article

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

22 pages, 6275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Arsenic Concentration in the Surface Water of a Former Mining Area: The La Junta Creek, Baja California Sur, Mexico

by Jobst Wurl^1,*

, Miguel Imaz Lamadrid¹

, Lía Mendez-Rodriguez²

and Baudilio Acosta Vargas²

¹ Departamento Académico de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur, Carretera al sur Km 5.5, La Paz 23080, Mexico

² Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste S. C. (Cibnor) Mar Bermejo 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita, La Paz 23096, Mexico

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030437 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5939

Abstract

The mining activity in the San Antonio-El Triunfo district, located in a mountainous region at 60 km southeast of La Paz, occured for more than 250 years and left behind severe contamination of soils and riverbed sediments which led to elevated concentrations of [...] Read more.

The mining activity in the San Antonio-El Triunfo district, located in a mountainous region at 60 km southeast of La Paz, occured for more than 250 years and left behind severe contamination of soils and riverbed sediments which led to elevated concentrations of arsenic and other trace elements in the surface- and groundwater of the region. Although the main mining activity ended around 1911, contamination is still beeing distributed, especially from left behind tailings and mine waste piles. The contamination levels in the groundwater have been reported in several studies, but there is little information available on the surface water quality, and especially the temporal variation. In this study, we analyzed the surface water of the La Junta creek, in the southern part of the San Antonio-El Triunfo mining district. The working hypothesis was that by means of a spatial analysis of surface water and shallow groundwater, in combination with the temporal observation of the concentrations in runoff water, the effects of different sources of arsenic (natural geogene anomalies, due to historic mining activity, and hydrothermal related impact) in the La Junta creek can be recognized. This present study revealed that historic mining activity caused a mojor impact of arsenic but less contamination was observed than in the northern part of the district and elevated arsenic concentrations in stream water generally occurred during times of low streamflow. Full article

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

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10 pages, 279 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Crisis Resource Management in the Delivery Room: Development of Behavioral Markers for Team Performance in Emergency Simulation

by Fabrizio Bracco^1,2,*

, Gabriele De Tonetti³, Michele Masini^1,2

, Marcello Passarelli⁴

, Francesca Geretto⁵ and Danilo Celleno⁶

¹ Department of Education Science, University of Genoa, 16128, Italy

² Valorizzazione Innovazione Empowerment s.r.l., Spinoff of the University of Genoa, 16129, Italy

³ High Intensive Care Department, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Giannina Gaslini Children’s Research Hospital, 16147, Italy

⁴ National Research Council of Italy, 16149, Italy

⁵ Department of Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, 16128, Italy

⁶ Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Department, M.G. Vannini Hospital, Rome, 00177, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030439 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5389

Abstract

Human factors are the most relevant issues contributing to adverse events in obstetrics. Specific training of Crisis Resource Management (CRM) skills (i.e., problem solving and team management, resource allocation, awareness of environment, and dynamic decision-making) is now widespread and is often based on [...] Read more.

Human factors are the most relevant issues contributing to adverse events in obstetrics. Specific training of Crisis Resource Management (CRM) skills (i.e., problem solving and team management, resource allocation, awareness of environment, and dynamic decision-making) is now widespread and is often based on High Fidelity Simulation. In order to be used as a guideline in simulated scenarios, CRM skills need to be mapped to specific and observable behavioral markers. For this purpose, we developed a set of observable behaviors related to the main elements of CRM in the delivery room. The observational tool was then adopted in a two-days seminar on obstetric hemorrhage where teams working in obstetric wards of six Italian hospitals took part in simulations. The tool was used as a guide for the debriefing and as a peer-to-peer feedback. It was then rated for its usefulness in facilitating the reflection upon one’s own behavior, its ease of use, and its usefulness for the peer-to-peer feedback. The ratings were positive, with a median of 4 on a 5-point scale. The CRM observational tool has therefore been well-received and presents a promising level of inter-rater agreement. We believe the tool could have value in facilitating debriefing and in the peer-to-peer feedback. Full article

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

11 pages, 2572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxicity of Beauveria bassiana-28 Mycelial Extracts on Larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae)

by Perumal Vivekanandhan¹

, Thangaraj Kavitha¹, Sengodan Karthi², Sengottayan Senthil-Nathan^2,*

and Muthugoundar Subramanian Shivakumar¹

¹ Molecular Entomology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences, Periyar University, Salem 636 011, Tamil Nadu, India

² Division of Biopesticides and Environmental Toxicology, Sri Paramakalyani Centre for Excellence in Environmental Sciences, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Alwarkurichi, Tirunelveli 627 412, Tamil Nadu, India

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 440; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030440 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 69 | Viewed by 8201

Abstract

Microbial-based pest control is an attractive alternative to chemical insecticides. The present study sought to evaluate the toxicity of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana-28 ethyl acetate extracts on different larval stages and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. B. bassiana-28 ethyl acetate [...] Read more.

Microbial-based pest control is an attractive alternative to chemical insecticides. The present study sought to evaluate the toxicity of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana-28 ethyl acetate extracts on different larval stages and pupae of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes. B. bassiana-28 ethyl acetate mycelial extracts produced mosquitocidal activity against larvae and pupae which was comparable to that of the commercial insecticide B. bassiana-22 extract. The LC₅₀ (lethal concentration that kills 50% of the exposed larvae) values of B. bassiana-28 extracts for 1st to 4th instar larvae and pupae were 11.538, 6.953, 5.841, 3.581 and 9.041 mg/L respectively. Our results show that B. bassiana-28 ethyl acetate mycelial extract has strong insecticidal activity against larval and pupal stages of Cx. quinquefasciatus. Fourier transform infrared spectrum study of B. bassiana-28 extract shows peaks at 3226.91; 2927.94; 1593.13; 1404.18; 1224.18; 1247.94; 1078.21; 1018.41; 229.69; and 871.82 cm⁻¹. Major spectral peaks were observed at 3226.91 cm^−1, assigned to N–H stretching, 2927.94 cm⁻¹ assigned to C–H bonding and 1595.13 cm⁻¹ assigned to C–O stretching. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry studies of B. bassiana-28 ethyl acetate crude extract showed presence of six major compounds viz. N-hexadecanoic acids (13.6040%); Z,Z-9,12 octadecadienic acid (33.74%); 9-eicosyne (10.832%); heptacosane (5.148%); tetrateracontane (5.801%); and 7 hexyleicosane (5.723%). Histology of mosquito midgut tissue shows tissue lysis as a result of B.bassiana-28 extract exposure. The study shows that bioactive molecules obtained from B. bassiana-28 mycelial extract has insecticidal properties and can be used as alternative for mosquito control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Together in the Fight against Arthropod-Borne Diseases: A One Health Perspective)

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12 pages, 3164 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Feasibility Study of Ammonia Recovery from Coking Wastewater by Coupled Operation of a Membrane Contactor and Membrane Distillation

by Po-Hsun Lin^1,*

, Ren-Yang Horng², Shu-Fang Hsu², Shiao-Shing Chen³ and Chia-Hua Ho²

¹ Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, Ming Chi University of Technology, No. 84 Gungjuan Rd., Taishan Dist., New Taipei City 24301, Taiwan

² Material and Chemical Research Laboratories, Industrial Technology Research Institute, 321 Sec. 2, Kuang Fu Rd., Hsinchu 300, Taiwan

³ Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, No.1, Sec. 3, Chung Hsiao E. Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 441; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030441 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 6764

Abstract

More than 80% of ammonia (NH₃) in the steel manufacturing process wastewater is contributed from the coking wastewater, which is usually treated by biological processes. However, the NH₃ in the coking wastewater is typically too high for biological treatment due [...] Read more.

More than 80% of ammonia (NH₃) in the steel manufacturing process wastewater is contributed from the coking wastewater, which is usually treated by biological processes. However, the NH₃ in the coking wastewater is typically too high for biological treatment due to its inhibitory concentration. Therefore, a two-stage process including a hollow fiber membrane contactor (HFMC) and a modified membrane distillation (MD) system was developed and applied to reduce and recover NH₃ from coking wastewater. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate different membrane materials, receiving solutions, and operation parameters for the system, remove NH₃ from the coking wastewater to less than 300 mg N/L, which is amenable to the biological process, and recover ammonia solution for reuse. As a result, the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) HFMC using sulfuric acid as a receiving solution can achieve a maximum NH₃-N transmembrane flux of 1.67 g N/m²·h at pH of 11.5 and reduce NH₃ in the coking wastewater to less than 300 mg N/L. The NH₃ in the converted ammonium sulfate ((NH₄)₂SO₄) was then recovered by the modified MD using ice water as the receiving solution to produce ≥3% of ammonia solution for reuse. 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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16 pages, 674 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Driving Factors of Construction Industrialization Development in China

by Xiaer Xiahou¹, Jingfeng Yuan¹, Yan Liu²

, Yuchun Tang¹ and Qiming Li^1,*

¹ Department of Construction Management and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China

² Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030442 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 6596

Abstract

Construction industrialization (CI) has been adopted worldwide because of its potential benefits. However, current research shows the incentives for adopting CI may differ in different regions. While the promotion of CI in China is still at the initial stage, a systematical analysis of [...] Read more.

Construction industrialization (CI) has been adopted worldwide because of its potential benefits. However, current research shows the incentives for adopting CI may differ in different regions. While the promotion of CI in China is still at the initial stage, a systematical analysis of the driving factors would help decision makers get a comprehensive understanding of CI development and select proper strategies to promote CI. This research combines qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the construction industrialization driving factors (CIDFs) in China. The grounded theory method (GTM) was employed to explore CI concepts among 182 CI-related articles published in 10 top-tier journals from 2000 to 2017. A total of 15 CIDFs were identified, including one suggested by professionals during a pre-test questionnaire survey. The analysis showed that the development of CI in China is pushed by macrodevelopment and pulled by the government and is also a self-driven process. The major driving factors for CI adoption in China are the transformation and upgrade of the conventional construction industry and the solution of development dilemmas. Our study also suggests that pilot programs are, currently, the most effective method to promote CI in China and to accumulate experience so to gain recognition by the society. This research is also of value for CI promotion in other developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Practice of Sustainable Built Environment in the Context of Developing Countries)

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14 pages, 2097 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Hygiene and Health: Who Do Mothers in Vanuatu Communicate with about Health?

by Karen File¹, Thomas Valente² and Mary-Louise McLaws^1,*

¹ School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney 2033, Australia

² Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Prevention Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030443 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 5452

Abstract

Health information-seeking behaviour of mothers with children five years of age and younger in Vanuatu was examined using the structural properties of social networks. Data were collected from a rural village from two islands and an urban settlement in the capital, Port Vila, [...] Read more.

Health information-seeking behaviour of mothers with children five years of age and younger in Vanuatu was examined using the structural properties of social networks. Data were collected from a rural village from two islands and an urban settlement in the capital, Port Vila, by face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Sociometric data on the structure of the network, the characteristics of key informants, and associations with outside sources of health information were analysed as interpersonal predictors of health promotion and behavior change. Rural mothers preferred the health advice of biomedical practitioners for diarrheal disease over traditional custom practitioners. Interpersonal connections were restricted in the urban mother network indicating that mothers were merely acquaintances or do not seek health advice from each other. Our findings suggest that biomedical practitioners are the best option for diffusing health and hygiene information for rural and urban mothers. Traditional healers and paraprofessionals could be strategically used to complete the missing links in network connectedness to optimally spread new information. The novel use of cross-sectional social network data can create a baseline evaluation to purposefully frame a health intervention. Our study provided a unique explanation of how network analysis offers insight into how key players can be identified and the circumstances in which they are likely to be able to influence hygiene practices of their peers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Social Networks and Health)

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17 pages, 1999 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Harmful Cyanobacterial Material Production in the North Han River (South Korea): Genetic Potential and Temperature-Dependent Properties

by Keonhee Kim, Chaehong Park, Youngdae Yoon and Soon-Jin Hwang^*

Department of Environmental Health Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030444 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5897

Abstract

Cyanobacteria synthesize various harmful materials, including off-flavor substances and toxins, that are regarded as potential socio-economic and environmental hazards in freshwater systems, however, their production is still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the potential and properties of harmful materials produced [...] Read more.

Cyanobacteria synthesize various harmful materials, including off-flavor substances and toxins, that are regarded as potential socio-economic and environmental hazards in freshwater systems, however, their production is still not well understood. In this study, we investigated the potential and properties of harmful materials produced by cyanobacteria, depending on temperature, and undertook a phylogenetic analysis of cyanobacteria present in the North Han River (South Korea). Production potentials were evaluated using gene-specific probes, and the harmful material production properties of strains showing positive potentials were further characterized at different temperatures in the range 15 to 30 °C. We identified six cyanobacterial strains based on 16S rDNA analysis: two morphological types (coiled and straight type) of Dolichospermum circinale, Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Oscillatoria limosa, Planktothricoides raciborskii, Pseudanabaena mucicola, and Microcystis aeruginosa. We confirmed that cyanobacterial strains showing harmful material production potential produced the corresponding harmful material, and their production properties varied with temperature. Total harmful material production was maximal at 20~25 °C, a temperature range optimal for cell growth. However, harmful material productivity was highest at 15 °C. These results indicate that the expression of genes related to synthesis of harmful materials can vary depending on environmental conditions, resulting in variable harmful material production, even within the same cyanobacterial strains. Full article

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

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24 pages, 1194 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Decision-Making Method with Grey Multi-Source Heterogeneous Data and Its Application in Green Supplier Selection

by Huifang Sun^1,*

, Yaoguo Dang¹ and Wenxin Mao²

¹ College of Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 211106, China

² School of Economics and Management, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 446; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030446 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 4710

Abstract

In view of the multi-attribute decision-making problem that the attribute values are grey multi-source heterogeneous data, a decision-making method based on kernel and greyness degree is proposed. The definitions of kernel and greyness degree of an extended grey number in a grey multi-source [...] Read more.

In view of the multi-attribute decision-making problem that the attribute values are grey multi-source heterogeneous data, a decision-making method based on kernel and greyness degree is proposed. The definitions of kernel and greyness degree of an extended grey number in a grey multi-source heterogeneous data sequence are given. On this basis, we construct the kernel vector and greyness degree vector of the sequence to whiten the multi-source heterogeneous information, then a grey relational bi-directional projection ranking method is presented. Considering the multi-attribute multi-level decision structure and the causalities between attributes in decision-making problem, the HG-DEMATEL method is proposed to determine the hierarchical attribute weights. A green supplier selection example is provided to demonstrate the rationality and validity of the proposed method. Full article

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

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14 pages, 967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Depression, Suicidal Behaviour, and Mental Disorders in Older Aboriginal Australians

by Yu-Tang Shen^1,*, Kylie Radford^2,3,*, Gail Daylight², Robert Cumming⁴, Tony G. A. Broe^2,3 and Brian Draper^2,3,*

¹ St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia

² Neurosciences Research Australia, Randwick, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia

³ Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia

⁴ School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 447; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030447 - 4 Mar 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 13809

Abstract

Aboriginal Australians experience higher levels of psychological distress, which may develop from the long-term sequelae of social determinants and adversities in early and mid-life. There is little evidence available on the impact of these on the mental health of older Aboriginal Australians. This [...] Read more.

Aboriginal Australians experience higher levels of psychological distress, which may develop from the long-term sequelae of social determinants and adversities in early and mid-life. There is little evidence available on the impact of these on the mental health of older Aboriginal Australians. This study enrolled 336 Aboriginal Australian participants over 60 years from 5 major urban and regional areas in NSW, utilizing a structured interview on social determinants, and life-time history of physical and mental conditions; current psychosocial determinants and mental health. Univariate and multivariate analyses were utilized to examine the link between these determinants and current depressive scores and suicidality. There was a high rate of life-time depression (33.3%), current late-life depression (18.1%), and suicidal ideation (11.1%). Risk factors strongly associated with late-life depression included sleep disturbances, a history of suicidal behaviour, suicidal ideation in late-life and living in a regional location. This study supports certain historical and psychosocial factors predicting later depression in old age, and highlights areas to target for prevention strategies. Full article

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

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18 pages, 1478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Processing Technology Selection for Municipal Sewage Treatment Based on a Multi-Objective Decision Model under Uncertainty

by Xudong Chen¹, Zhongwen Xu², Liming Yao^2,*

and Ning Ma²

¹ College of Management Science, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, China

² Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 448; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030448 - 5 Mar 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5732

Abstract

This study considers the two factors of environmental protection and economic benefits to address municipal sewage treatment. Based on considerations regarding the sewage treatment plant construction site, processing technology, capital investment, operation costs, water pollutant emissions, water quality and other indicators, we establish [...] Read more.

This study considers the two factors of environmental protection and economic benefits to address municipal sewage treatment. Based on considerations regarding the sewage treatment plant construction site, processing technology, capital investment, operation costs, water pollutant emissions, water quality and other indicators, we establish a general multi-objective decision model for optimizing municipal sewage treatment plant construction. Using the construction of a sewage treatment plant in a suburb of Chengdu as an example, this paper tests the general model of multi-objective decision-making for the sewage treatment plant construction by implementing a genetic algorithm. The results show the applicability and effectiveness of the multi-objective decision model for the sewage treatment plant. This paper provides decision and technical support for the optimization of municipal sewage treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Treatment)

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14 pages, 310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of the Social and Natural Environment on Preschool-Age Children Weight

by Inga Petraviciene^1,*, Regina Grazuleviciene¹

, Sandra Andrusaityte¹

, Audrius Dedele¹ and Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen²

¹ Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, K. Donelaicio str. 58, 44248 Kaunas, Lithuania

² Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Dr. Aiguader, 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030449 - 5 Mar 2018

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 8211

Abstract

Background: The complex impact of environmental and social factors on preschool children being overweight/obese is unclear. We examined the associations between the levels of green space exposure and the risk of being overweight/obese for 4–6 year-old children and assessed the impact of maternal [...] Read more.

Background: The complex impact of environmental and social factors on preschool children being overweight/obese is unclear. We examined the associations between the levels of green space exposure and the risk of being overweight/obese for 4–6 year-old children and assessed the impact of maternal education on these associations. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1489 mother-child pairs living in Kaunas, Lithuania, in 2012–2013. We assessed children overweight/obesity by standardized questionnaires using international body mass index cut-off points, and the level of greenness exposures by satellite-derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of each child’s home and by the distance to a nearest city park. The maternal education was used as the SES indicator. We used logistic regression models to investigate the strength of the associations. Results: Children from families with poorer maternal education, pathological mother-child relations and smoking mothers, and living in areas with less greenness exposure (NDVI-100 m), had significantly higher odds ratios of being overweight/obese. Lower maternal education and distance to a city park modified the effect of greenness cover level exposure on the risk of children being overweight/obese. Conclusions: Higher greenness exposure in the residential settings has beneficial effects on children’s physical development. The green spaces exposures for psychosocial stress management is recommended as a measure to prevent overweight/obesity among children. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Environment and Health: The Effect of Socio-Cultural Context on Health Effects of Natural Environments)

11 pages, 292 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Demonstrating Impact: Lessons Learned from the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council’s AOD-Our-Way Program

by Kimberly Cartwright^1,*, Dennis Gray¹

and Eddie Fewings²

¹ National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, 7 Parker Place Technology Park, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia

² Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council, 55 Russell St, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 450; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030450 - 5 Mar 2018

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4270

Abstract

In this paper, we describe the innovative way in which the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council uses “clicker technology” to gather data to report on the key performance indicators of its “AOD-our-way” program, and how, with the subsequent combination of those data [...] Read more.

In this paper, we describe the innovative way in which the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council uses “clicker technology” to gather data to report on the key performance indicators of its “AOD-our-way” program, and how, with the subsequent combination of those data with other performance measures, it was possible to go beyond the initial evaluation. The paper also illustrates how the application of survey research methods could further enable enhanced reporting of program outcomes and impacts in an Indigenous context where Indigenous community controlled organisations want to build the evidence base for the issues they care about and ultimately drive their own research agendas. Full article

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

11 pages, 1130 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Use of Media Reporting Recommendations by the World Health Organization in Suicide News Published in the Most Influential Media Sources in China, 2003–2015

by Xin Chu^1,†, Xingyi Zhang^1,†, Peixia Cheng¹, David C. Schwebel²

and Guoqing Hu^1,*

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China

² Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030451 - 5 Mar 2018

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 9252

Abstract

Public media reports about suicide are likely to influence the population’s suicidal attempts and completed suicides. Irresponsible reports might trigger copycat suicidal behaviors, while responsible reports may help reduce suicide rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) released recommendations to encourage responsible suicide reports [...] Read more.

Public media reports about suicide are likely to influence the population’s suicidal attempts and completed suicides. Irresponsible reports might trigger copycat suicidal behaviors, while responsible reports may help reduce suicide rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) released recommendations to encourage responsible suicide reports in 2008. However, little is known about whether these recommendations are reflected in the suicide news for most countries, including China. In this study, we assessed the responsibility of suicide stories published in the most influential newspaper and Internet media sources in China from 2003 to 2015, using the media reporting recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO). In total, 3965 and 1836 eligible stories from newspaper and Internet-based media, respectively, were included in the study. Newspapers and Internet-based media performed similarly in applying WHO recommendations to report suicide news. Three recommendations were applied in over 88% of suicide stories. However, four recommendations were seldom applied, including offering information about where to seek help and linking the suicide event to mental disorders. Government and the journalism industry should work together to improve media reporting of news about suicide in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Suicide Risk and Mental Disorders)

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14 pages, 3967 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Removal and Biodegradation of 17β-Estradiol and Diethylstilbestrol by the Freshwater Microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata

by Weijie Liu^1,2,†

, Qi Chen^1,2,†, Ning He³

, Kaifeng Sun⁴, Dong Sun^1,2, Xiaoqing Wu⁴ and Shunshan Duan^1,2,*

¹ Institute of Hydrobiology, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China

² Key Laboratory of Aquatic Eutrophication and Control of Harmful Algal Blooms, Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Guangzhou 510632, China

³ Collage of Life Science and Resources and Environment, Yichun University, Yichun 336000, China

⁴ Research Center of Offshore Marine Environment, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, MEP, Guangzhou 510655, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 452; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030452 - 5 Mar 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5629

Abstract

Natural steroidal and synthetic non-steroidal estrogens such as 17β-estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) have been found in natural water, which can potentially endanger public health and aquatic ecosystems. The removal and biodegradation of E2 and DES by Raphidocelis subcapitata were studied in bacteria-free [...] Read more.

Natural steroidal and synthetic non-steroidal estrogens such as 17β-estradiol (E2) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) have been found in natural water, which can potentially endanger public health and aquatic ecosystems. The removal and biodegradation of E2 and DES by Raphidocelis subcapitata were studied in bacteria-free cultures exposed to single and mixture treatments at different concentrations for 96 h. The results showed that R. subcapitata exhibited a rapid and strong ability to remove E2 and DES in both single and mixture treatments by biodegradation. At the end of 96 h, the removal percentage of single E2 and DES achieved 82.0%, 80.4%, 74.6% and 89.9%, 73.4%, 54.1% in 0.1, 0.5, and 1.5 mg·L⁻¹, respectively. With the exception of the 0.1 mg·L⁻¹ treatment at 96 h, the removal capacity of E2 was more efficient than that of DES by R. subcapitata. Furthermore, the removal percentage of mixture E2 and DES achieved 88.5%, 82.9%, 84.3% and 87.2%, 71.8%, 51.1% in 0.1, 0.5, and 1.5 mg·L⁻¹, respectively. The removal percentage of mixed E2 was significantly higher than that of the single E2. The presence of DES could accelerate the removal of E2 from the mixture treatments in equal concentrations. In addition, the removal was mainly attributed to the biodegradation or biotransformation process by the microalgae cells rather than simple sorption and accumulation in the cells. The microalgae R. subcapitata demonstrated a high capability for the removal of the E2 and DES indicating future prospects for its application. 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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11 pages, 631 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Community Readiness for the Promotion of Physical Activity in Older Adults—A Cross-Sectional Comparison of Rural and Urban Communities

by Dirk Gansefort^1,*

, Tilman Brand¹, Christina Princk¹ and Hajo Zeeb^1,2

¹ Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology—BIPS, Achterstr. 30, 28359 Bremen, Germany

² Research Focus Health Sciences Bremen, University of Bremen, 28359 Bremen, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030453 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6852

Abstract

Communities can play an important role in delivering public health programs to older adults, but they differ in the provision of local structures and resources. The community readiness (CR) approach applies a stage model of change to the community level and analyzes structures [...] Read more.

Communities can play an important role in delivering public health programs to older adults, but they differ in the provision of local structures and resources. The community readiness (CR) approach applies a stage model of change to the community level and analyzes structures and the degree of willingness to take action on a health issue. This study compared the CR regarding the promotion of physical activity as part of healthy ageing for older adults among urban and rural communities in North-West Germany. A cross-sectional CR assessment with key respondents in 23 municipalities (11 urban and 12 rural communities) was conducted using a semi-structured interview. Interviews were scored across the five CR dimensions and global CR score was calculated (scores between 1 = no awareness and 9 = professionalization). Wilcoxon rank-sum test and hierarchical regression models were used to compare urban and rural communities. In total, 118 interviews were conducted (response rate 69.8%). On average, the communities showed moderate CR scores (4.9 ± 0.3; Range: 4.3–5.4; preplanning or preparation phase). The global CR score was slightly higher in rural than in urban communities (regression coefficient = 0.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.02–0.59). The rural communities showed significantly higher CR scores in the ‘Knowledge of efforts’ dimension (0.70, 95% CI: 0.26–1.14) and in the ‘Knowledge of the issue’ (0.37, 95% CI: 0.04–0.70). Rural communities display a slightly higher CR level than urban communities. In the next step, targeted capacity building activities will be initiated among communities with low CR levels. Full article

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

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13 pages, 5357 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Metalloid and Metal Contamination in Soils from Hainan, China

by Xiangjun Liao^1,†, Chao Zhang^2,3,†, Guangyi Sun^2,3,*

, Zhonggen Li², Lihai Shang², Yangrong Fu⁴, Yusheng He⁴ and Yi Yang⁴

¹ Geological Bureau of Hainan Province, Haikou 570206, China

² State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, China

³ University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

⁴ Hainan Institute of Geological Survey, Haikou 570206, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030454 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5463

Abstract

The characterization of the concentrations and sources of metals and metalloids in soils is necessary to establish quality standards on a regional level and to assess the potential threat of metals to food safety and human health. A total of 8713 soil samples [...] Read more.

The characterization of the concentrations and sources of metals and metalloids in soils is necessary to establish quality standards on a regional level and to assess the potential threat of metals to food safety and human health. A total of 8713 soil samples throughout Hainan Island, China were collected at a density of one sample per 4 km², and concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn were analyzed. The geometric mean values of the elements were 2.17, 0.60, 26.5, 9.43, 0.033, 8.74, 22.2, 0.26, and 39.6 mg·· kg⁻¹ for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn, respectively, significantly lower than the background values of Chinese soils with the exception of Se. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that multiple anthropogenic sources regulated the elemental compositions of the Hainan environment. Coal combustion and mining are important anthropogenic sources of metals for Hainan. The geochemical maps of elements in Hainan soils were produced using the Geographic Information System (GIS) method, and several hot-spot areas were identified. The ecological impact of As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Ni, and Zn pollution to the soils was extremely “low”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Environmental Risk Assessment)

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17 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to Suicide in High Schools: Impact on Serious Suicidal Ideation/Behavior, Depression, Maladaptive Coping Strategies, and Attitudes toward Help-Seeking

by Madelyn S. Gould^1,*, Alison M. Lake², Marjorie Kleinman², Hanga Galfalvy³, Saba Chowdhury² and Alison Madnick²

¹ Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Medical Center and The New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 72, New York, NY 10032, USA

² Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The New York State Psychiatric Institute, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 72, New York, NY 10032, USA

³ Departments of Psychiatry and Biostatistics, Columbia University Medical Center, 722 West 168 Street, New York, NY 10032, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030455 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 10560

Abstract

Adolescents’ exposure to a peer’s suicide has been found to be associated with, as well as to predict, suicidal ideation and behavior. Although postvention efforts tend to be school-based, little is known about the impact of a schoolmate’s suicide on the school’s student [...] Read more.

Adolescents’ exposure to a peer’s suicide has been found to be associated with, as well as to predict, suicidal ideation and behavior. Although postvention efforts tend to be school-based, little is known about the impact of a schoolmate’s suicide on the school’s student population overall. The present study seeks to determine whether there is excess psychological morbidity among students in a school where a schoolmate has died by suicide, and whether students’ attitudes about coping and help-seeking strategies are more or less problematic in such schools. Students in twelve high schools in Suffolk and Westchester counties in New York State—2865 students at six schools where a student had died by suicide within the past six months, and 2419 students at six schools where no suicide had occurred within the current students’ tenure—completed an assessment of their suicidal ideation and behavior, depressive symptoms, coping and help-seeking attitudes, stressful life events, and friendship with suicide decedent (if applicable). No excess morbidity (i.e., serious suicidal ideation/behavior and depression) was evident among the general student population after a schoolmate’s death by suicide; however, the risk of serious suicidal ideation/behavior was elevated among students at exposed schools who had concomitant negative life events. There was a significant relationship between friendship with the decedent and morbidity, in that students who were friends, but not close friends, of the decedents had the greatest odds of serious suicidal ideation/behavior. Overall, students in exposed schools had more adaptive attitudes toward help-seeking; but this was not true of the decedents’ friends or students with concomitant negative life events. The implications of the findings for postvention strategies are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Suicide Research)

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9 pages, 283 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Emerging Workforce of International University Student Workers: Injury Experience in an Australian University

by Yahya Thamrin^1,2

, Dino Pisaniello^2,*, Cally Guerin³ and Paul Rothmore²

¹ Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Faculty of Public Health, Hasanuddin University, Makassar 90245, Indonesia

² School of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia

³ Faculty of Arts, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 456; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030456 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4682

Abstract

International university students are a growing section of the workforce and are thought to be at greater risk of injury. Qualitative studies have highlighted vulnerabilities, but there is a shortage of quantitative research exploring the injury experience and associated risk factors of this [...] Read more.

International university students are a growing section of the workforce and are thought to be at greater risk of injury. Qualitative studies have highlighted vulnerabilities, but there is a shortage of quantitative research exploring the injury experience and associated risk factors of this emerging issue. In this study, a total of 466 university student workers across a range of study programs in a single Australian university completed an online survey, with questions relating to their background, working experience, training and injury experience. Risk factors for injury were explored in a multivariate statistical model. More than half had not received any safety training before they started work, and 10% reported having had a work injury. About half of these injuries occurred after training. Statistically significant risk factors for injury included working more than 20 h per week (adjusted odds ratio 2.20 (95% CI 1.03–4.71) and lack of confidence in discussing safety issues (AOR 2.17; 95% CI 1.13–4.16). The findings suggest the need for a more engaging and effective approach to safety education and a limit on working hours. This situation is a moral challenge for universities, in that they are effectively sponsoring young workers in the community. It is recommended that longitudinal studies of international student workers be conducted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health)

11 pages, 668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Impulsivity and Internet Gaming Disorder in Young Adults: Mediating Effects of Interpersonal Relationships and Depression

by Hyera Ryu¹, Ji-Yoon Lee¹, Aruem Choi¹, Sunyoung Park¹, Dai-Jin Kim² and Jung-Seok Choi^1,3,*

¹ Department of Psychiatry, SMG-SMU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Korea

² Department of Psychiatry, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea

³ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030458 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 82 | Viewed by 11467

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore relationships between impulsivity, interpersonal relationships, depression, and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms. Methods: A total of 118 young adults participated in this study: 67 IGD patients who met five or more of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for [...] Read more.

Background: This study aimed to explore relationships between impulsivity, interpersonal relationships, depression, and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) symptoms. Methods: A total of 118 young adults participated in this study: 67 IGD patients who met five or more of the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for IGD and 56 healthy controls. We administered questionnaires to assess IGD symptoms (Young’s Internet Addiction Test; Y-IAT), impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; BIS-11), interpersonal relationship (Relationship Change Scale; RCS), and depression (Beck Depression Inventory; BDI). We used PROCESS macro in SPSS to perform mediation analysis. Results: IGD symptom was positively related to depression and impulsivity, and negatively related to the quality of interpersonal relationships. Mediation analysis revealed full mediation effects of interpersonal relationships and depression on the association between impulsivity and IGD symptoms in the IGD group. Specifically, even after adjusting for gender as a covariate, high impulsivity was associated with greater difficulty with interpersonal relationships; which further affected depression and increased the risk of IGD. Conclusions: These results demonstrate the importance of early intervention in IGD patients, particularly in young adults with high impulsivity. When intervening in adults’ IGD, we should consider not only individual factors (e.g., depression) but also socioenvironmental factors (e.g., interpersonal relationships). Full article

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

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9 pages, 433 KiB

Open AccessArticle

What Can We Learn about Workplace Heat Stress Management from a Safety Regulator Complaints Database?

by Alana Hansen¹, Dino Pisaniello^1,*, Blesson Varghese¹, Shelley Rowett², Scott Hanson-Easey¹, Peng Bi¹ and Monika Nitschke³

¹ School of Public Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia

² SafeWork SA, Government of South Australia, 33 Richmond Road, Keswick, SA 5035, Australia

³ Department for Health and Ageing, Government of South Australia, 11 Hindmarsh Square, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030459 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5997

Abstract

Heat exposure can be a health hazard for many Australian workers in both outdoor and indoor situations. With many heat-related incidents left unreported, it is often difficult to determine the underlying causal factors. This study aims to provide insights into perceptions of potentially [...] Read more.

Heat exposure can be a health hazard for many Australian workers in both outdoor and indoor situations. With many heat-related incidents left unreported, it is often difficult to determine the underlying causal factors. This study aims to provide insights into perceptions of potentially unsafe or uncomfortably hot working conditions that can affect occupational health and safety using information provided by the public and workers to the safety regulator in South Australia (SafeWork SA). Details of complaints regarding heat exposure to the regulator’s “Help Centre” were assembled in a dataset and the textual data analysed thematically. The findings showed that the majority of calls relate to indoor work environments such as kitchens, factories, and warehouses. The main themes identified were work environment, health effects, and organisational issues. Impacts of hot working conditions ranged from discomfort to serious heat-related illnesses. Poor management practices and inflexibility of supervisors featured strongly amongst callers’ concerns. With temperatures predicted to increase and energy prices escalating, this timely study, using naturalistic data, highlights accounts of hot working conditions that can compromise workers’ health and safety and the need for suitable measures to prevent heat stress. These could include risk assessments to assess the likelihood of heat stress in workplaces where excessively hot conditions prevail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health)

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10 pages, 284 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socio-Economic Disparities in Attitude and Preference for Menu Labels among Vietnamese Restaurant Customers

by Long Hoang Nguyen^1,2, Bach Xuan Tran^2,3,4,*

, Huong Lan Thi Nguyen⁵, Huong Thi Le², Hoa Thi Do², Anh Kim Dang², Cuong Tat Nguyen⁵, Carl A. Latkin³

, Melvyn W. B. Zhang⁶ and Roger C. M. Ho⁷

¹ School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

² Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

³ Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

⁴ Vietnam Young Physicians’ Association, Hanoi 100000, 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, Singapore 117599, Singapore

⁷ Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030460 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4980

Abstract

Calories and nutrition labeling on restaurant menus are powerful policy interventions to reduce the burden of obesity epidemic. However, the success of this policy requires an assurance of equal benefits among customers with different characteristics, especially people at a higher risk of poor [...] Read more.

Calories and nutrition labeling on restaurant menus are powerful policy interventions to reduce the burden of obesity epidemic. However, the success of this policy requires an assurance of equal benefits among customers with different characteristics, especially people at a higher risk of poor health outcomes and eating habits. This study examined the sociodemographic disparities in the attitude and preference for calories and nutrition labeling on menus among customers in various food facilities. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1746 customers of food facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam, who were recruited by using a multistage sampling method. Socio-economic characteristics, attitudes regarding the necessity and preferences for calories, and nutrition labeling on menus were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine the associated factors with attitudes and preferences. Results show that most of the sample understood the necessity to have calories and nutrition labeling (59.8%), and 71.8% preferred to have calories and nutrition labeling. People who often visited food facilities (Odd Ratio (OR) = 1.36; 95% confident interval (CI) = 1.06–1.74) and had higher education and were more likely to understand the necessity of calories and nutrition labeling. Factors such as being homemakers, often going to dine-in restaurants, and perceiving that labeling was unnecessary were negatively associated with preferences for calories and nutrition labeling. The results of this study encourage policymakers to implement calories and nutrition labeling in the future. Health education interventions to improve knowledge and attitude as regards calories and nutrition labeling on menus are important, particularly for males, less-educated individuals, and high-income people. Full article

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

15 pages, 5896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of GF-1 and HJ-1 Data to Derive the Optimal Scale for Monitoring Heavy Metal Stress in Rice

by Dongmin Wang and Xiangnan Liu^*

School of Information Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Beijing 100083, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030461 - 6 Mar 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4062

Abstract

Remote sensing can actively monitor heavy metal contamination in crops, but with the increase of satellite sensors, the optimal scale for monitoring heavy metal stress in rice is still unknown. This study focused on identifying the optimal scale by comparing the ability to [...] Read more.

Remote sensing can actively monitor heavy metal contamination in crops, but with the increase of satellite sensors, the optimal scale for monitoring heavy metal stress in rice is still unknown. This study focused on identifying the optimal scale by comparing the ability to detect heavy metal stress in rice at various spatial scales. The 2 m, 8 m, and 16 m resolution GF-1 (China) data and the 30 m resolution HJ-1 (China) data were used to invert leaf area index (LAI). The LAI was the input parameter of the World Food Studies (WOFOST) model, and we obtained the dry weight of storage organs (WSO) and dry weight of roots (WRT) through the assimilation method; then, the mass ratio of rice storage organs and roots (SORMR) was calculated. Through the comparative analysis of SORMR at each spatial scale of data, we determined the optimal scale to monitor heavy metal stress in rice. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) SORMR could accurately and effectively monitor heavy metal stress; (2) the 8 m and 16 m images from GF-1 were suitable for monitoring heavy metal stress in rice; (3) 16 m was considered the optimal scale to assess heavy metal stress in rice. Full article

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

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11 pages, 477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Occupational Accidents in Underground and Surface Mining in Spain Using Data-Mining Techniques

by Lluís Sanmiquel^1,*, Marc Bascompta¹

, Josep M. Rossell², Hernán Francisco Anticoi³

and Eduard Guash³

¹ ICL Chair in Sustainable Mining, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

² Department of Mathematics, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

³ Department of Mining Engineering, Industrial and ICT, Polytechnic University of Catalonia, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 462; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030462 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 59 | Viewed by 8496

Abstract

An analysis of occupational accidents in the mining sector was conducted using the data from the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Safety between 2005 and 2015, and data-mining techniques were applied. Data was processed with the software Weka. Two scenarios were chosen [...] Read more.

An analysis of occupational accidents in the mining sector was conducted using the data from the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Safety between 2005 and 2015, and data-mining techniques were applied. Data was processed with the software Weka. Two scenarios were chosen from the accidents database: surface and underground mining. The most important variables involved in occupational accidents and their association rules were determined. These rules are composed of several predictor variables that cause accidents, defining its characteristics and context. This study exposes the 20 most important association rules in the sector—either surface or underground mining—based on the statistical confidence levels of each rule as obtained by Weka. The outcomes display the most typical immediate causes, along with the percentage of accidents with a basis in each association rule. The most important immediate cause is body movement with physical effort or overexertion, and the type of accident is physical effort or overexertion. On the other hand, the second most important immediate cause and type of accident are different between the two scenarios. Data-mining techniques were chosen as a useful tool to find out the root cause of the accidents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Workplace Health Promotion 2018)

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13 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Association of Food Preferences and Self-Reported Psychological Well-Being among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Contemporary China-Results from the China Health and Nutrition Survey

by Yen-Han Lee^1,*, Mack Shelley², Ching-Ti Liu³ and Yen-Chang Chang^4,*

¹ Department of Applied Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

² Department of Political Science, Department of Statistics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA

³ Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, USA

⁴ Center for General Education, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030463 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5052

Abstract

China has undergone rapid social transitions within the last few decades. However, mental health issues, challenges to psychological well-being, and poor dietary choices have gradually surfaced. These health concerns are related to the rapid growth of the aging population and of the fast-paced [...] Read more.

China has undergone rapid social transitions within the last few decades. However, mental health issues, challenges to psychological well-being, and poor dietary choices have gradually surfaced. These health concerns are related to the rapid growth of the aging population and of the fast-paced industrialized society. Nevertheless, there is little knowledge about food preferences and psychological well-being measurements in contemporary China. Applying the 2011 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) with a cross-sectional study design (n = 7970), we conducted multinomial logistic regression models to investigate the associations of food preferences, including fast food, salty snacks, fruits, vegetables, and sweetened beverages, with psychological well-being among Chinese middle-aged and older adults (age ≥ 45). Food preferences are mostly associated with psychological well-being (p < 0.05). However, respondents’ preferences regarding fast food, salty snacks, and sweetened beverages are associated not only with poorer psychological health status, but also with positive psychological well-being. We speculate that Chinese older adults may consume Westernized fast food and salty snacks as pleasure to the palate due to the recent Westernization in modern China. We also provide practical implications of results from this preliminary study. Full article

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

13 pages, 1598 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Neighborhood Variation of Sustainable Urban Morphological Characteristics

by Poh-Chin Lai¹

, Si Chen^2,*, Chien-Tat Low¹

, Ester Cerin³

, Robert Stimson^4,5 and Pui Yun Paulina Wong⁶

¹ Department of Geography, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

² Department of Environment, Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

³ Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia

⁴ School of Geography, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia

⁵ School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, Brisbane St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia

⁶ Science Unit, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030465 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 5881

Abstract

Compact cities and their urban forms have implications on sustainable city development because of high density urban settlement, increased accessibility, and a balanced land use mix. This paper uses quantitative means of understanding urban morphological characteristics with reference to the differing qualities of [...] Read more.

Compact cities and their urban forms have implications on sustainable city development because of high density urban settlement, increased accessibility, and a balanced land use mix. This paper uses quantitative means of understanding urban morphological characteristics with reference to the differing qualities of the urban form (i.e., street patterns, building volumes, land uses and greenery). The results, based on 89 neighborhood communities of Hong Kong, show varying degrees of regional differences in the urban built form supported by numerical statistics and graphical illustrations. This paper offers empirical evidence on some morphological characteristics that can be estimated objectively using modern geospatial technologies and applied universally to inform urban planning. However, more studies linking these quantifiable measures of the physical form with sustainable urban living are needed to account for human comfort in the totality of environmental, social, and economic responsibilities. Full article

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27 pages, 5861 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wetlands and Malaria in the Amazon: Guidelines for the Use of Synthetic Aperture Radar Remote-Sensing

by Thibault Catry^1,*, Zhichao Li², Emmanuel Roux¹, Vincent Herbreteau^1,3

, Helen Gurgel⁴

, Morgan Mangeas⁵

, Frédérique Seyler¹

and Nadine Dessay¹

¹ ESPACE-DEV, UMR 228 IRD/UM/UR/UG/UA, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 34093 Montpellier, France

² Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

³ ESPACE-DEV, UMR 228 IRD/UM/UR/UG/UA, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), SEAS-OI, 97410 La Réunion, France

⁴ Department of Geography (GEA), University of Brasília (UnB), Brasília 70910-900, Brazil

⁵ ESPACE-DEV, UMR 228 IRD/UM/UR/UG/UA, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), 98848 Nouvelle-Calédonie, France

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 468; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030468 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 7255

Abstract

The prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, are important health issues in tropical areas. Malaria transmission is a multi-scale process strongly controlled by environmental factors, and the use of remote-sensing data is suitable for the characterization of its spatial and [...] Read more.

The prevention and control of mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, are important health issues in tropical areas. Malaria transmission is a multi-scale process strongly controlled by environmental factors, and the use of remote-sensing data is suitable for the characterization of its spatial and temporal dynamics. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is well-adapted to tropical areas, since it is capable of imaging independent of light and weather conditions. In this study, we highlight the contribution of SAR sensors in the assessment of the relationship between vectors, malaria and the environment in the Amazon region. More specifically, we focus on the SAR-based characterization of potential breeding sites of mosquito larvae, such as man-made water collections and natural wetlands, providing guidelines for the use of SAR capabilities and techniques in order to optimize vector control and malaria surveillance. In light of these guidelines, we propose a framework for the production of spatialized indicators and malaria risk maps based on the combination of SAR, entomological and epidemiological data to support malaria risk prevention and control actions in the field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria Epidemiology and Control: Current Situation and Perspectives)

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18 pages, 6055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Water Bacterial and Fungal Community Compositions Associated with Urban Lakes, Xi’an, China

by Haihan Zhang^1,2,*, Yue Wang^1,2, Shengnan Chen^1,2, Zhenfang Zhao^1,2, Ji Feng^1,2, Zhonghui Zhang^1,2, Kuanyu Lu^1,2 and Jingyu Jia^1,2

¹ School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China

² Institute of Environmental Microbial Technology, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an 710055, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 469; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030469 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 48 | Viewed by 5949

Abstract

Urban lakes play a vital role in the sustainable development of urbanized areas. In this freshwater ecosystem, massive microbial communities can drive the recycling of nutrients and regulate the water quality. However, water bacterial and fungal communities in the urban lakes are not [...] Read more.

Urban lakes play a vital role in the sustainable development of urbanized areas. In this freshwater ecosystem, massive microbial communities can drive the recycling of nutrients and regulate the water quality. However, water bacterial and fungal communities in the urban lakes are not well understood. In the present work, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was combined with community level physiological profiles (CLPPs) and Illumina Miseq sequence techniques to determine the diversity and composition of the water bacterial and fungal community in three urban lakes, namely Xingqing lake (LX), Geming lake (LG) and Lianhu lake (LL), located in Xi’an City (Shaanxi Province, China). The results showed that these three lakes were eutrophic water bodies. The highest total nitrogen (TN) was observed in LL, with a value of 12.1 mg/L, which is 2 times higher than that of LG. The permanganate index (COD_Mn) concentrations were 21.6 mg/L, 35.4 mg/L and 28.8 mg/L in LG, LL and LX, respectively (p < 0.01). Based on the CLPPs test, the results demonstrated that water bacterial communities in the LL and LX urban lakes had higher carbon source utilization ability. A total of 62,742 and 55,346 high quality reads were grouped into 894 and 305 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) for bacterial and fungal communities, respectively. Water bacterial and fungal community was distributed across 14 and 6 phyla. The most common phyla were Proteobacteriaand Cyanobacteria. Cryptomycota was particularly dominant in LL, while Chytridiomycota and Entomophthormycota were the most abundant fungal phyla, accounting for 95% of the population in the LL and 56% in the LG. Heat map and redundancy analysis (RDA) highlighted the dramatic differences of water bacterial communities among three urban lakes. Meanwhile, the profiles of fungal communities were significantly correlated with the water quality parameters (e.g., COD_Mn and total nitrogen, TN). Several microbes (Legionella sp. and Streptococcus sp.) related to human diseases, such as infectious diseases, were also found. The results from this study provides useful information related to the water quality and microbial community compositions harbored in the aquatic ecosystems of urban lakes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystem Health)

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17 pages, 1110 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The NLS-Based Nonlinear Grey Multivariate Model for Forecasting Pollutant Emissions in China

by Ling-Ling Pei¹, Qin Li^2,* and Zheng-Xin Wang²

¹ School of Business Administration, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China

² School of Economics, Zhejiang University of Finance & Economics, Hangzhou 310018, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 471; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030471 - 8 Mar 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4909

Abstract

The relationship between pollutant discharge and economic growth has been a major research focus in environmental economics. To accurately estimate the nonlinear change law of China’s pollutant discharge with economic growth, this study establishes a transformed nonlinear grey multivariable (TNGM (1, N)) [...] Read more.

The relationship between pollutant discharge and economic growth has been a major research focus in environmental economics. To accurately estimate the nonlinear change law of China’s pollutant discharge with economic growth, this study establishes a transformed nonlinear grey multivariable (TNGM (1, N)) model based on the nonlinear least square (NLS) method. The Gauss–Seidel iterative algorithm was used to solve the parameters of the TNGM (1, N) model based on the NLS basic principle. This algorithm improves the precision of the model by continuous iteration and constantly approximating the optimal regression coefficient of the nonlinear model. In our empirical analysis, the traditional grey multivariate model GM (1, N) and the NLS-based TNGM (1, N) models were respectively adopted to forecast and analyze the relationship among wastewater discharge per capita (WDPC), and per capita emissions of SO₂ and dust, alongside GDP per capita in China during the period 1996–2015. Results indicated that the NLS algorithm is able to effectively help the grey multivariable model identify the nonlinear relationship between pollutant discharge and economic growth. The results show that the NLS-based TNGM (1, N) model presents greater precision when forecasting WDPC, SO₂ emissions and dust emissions per capita, compared to the traditional GM (1, N) model; WDPC indicates a growing tendency aligned with the growth of GDP, while the per capita emissions of SO₂ and dust reduce accordingly. Full article

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

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18 pages, 1932 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Individual and Neighborhood Stressors, Air Pollution and Cardiovascular Disease

by Marnie F. Hazlehurst^1,*, Paula S. Nurius² and Anjum Hajat³

¹ Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

² School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

³ Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030472 - 8 Mar 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6523

Abstract

Psychosocial and environmental stress exposures across the life course have been shown to be relevant in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Assessing more than one stressor from different domains (e.g., individual and neighborhood) and across the life course moves us towards a [...] Read more.

Psychosocial and environmental stress exposures across the life course have been shown to be relevant in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Assessing more than one stressor from different domains (e.g., individual and neighborhood) and across the life course moves us towards a more integrated picture of how stress affects health and well-being. Furthermore, these individual and neighborhood psychosocial stressors act on biologic pathways, including immune function and inflammatory response, which are also impacted by ubiquitous environmental exposures such as air pollution. The objective of this study is to evaluate the interaction between psychosocial stressors, at both the individual and neighborhood level, and air pollution on CVD. This study used data from the 2009–2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) from Washington State. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) measured at the individual level, and neighborhood deprivation index (NDI) measured at the zip code level, were the psychosocial stressors of interest. Exposures to three air pollutants—particulate matter (both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)—were also calculated at the zip code level. Outcome measures included several self-reported CVD-related health conditions. Both multiplicative and additive interaction quantified using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), were evaluated. This study included 32,151 participants in 502 unique zip codes. Multiplicative and positive additive interactions were observed between ACEs and PM₁₀ for diabetes, in models adjusted for NDI. The prevalence of diabetes was 1.58 (95% CI: 1.40, 1.79) times higher among those with both high ACEs and high PM₁₀ compared to those with low ACEs and low PM₁₀ (p-value = 0.04 for interaction on the multiplicative scale). Interaction was also observed between neighborhood-level stressors (NDI) and air pollution (NO₂) for the stroke and diabetes outcomes on both multiplicative and additive scales. Modest interaction was observed between NDI and air pollution, supporting prior literature on the importance of neighborhood-level stressors in cardiovascular health and reinforcing the importance of NDI on air pollution health effects. ACEs may exert health effects through selection into disadvantaged neighborhoods and more work is needed to understand the accumulation of risk in multiple domains across the life course. Full article

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19 pages, 1784 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling Pediatric Body Mass Index and Neighborhood Environment at Different Spatial Scales

by Lauren P. Grant¹, Chris Gennings², Edmond P. Wickham³, Derek Chapman⁴, Shumei Sun¹ and David C. Wheeler^1,*

¹ Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

² Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA

³ Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

⁴ Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030473 - 8 Mar 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3852

Abstract

In public health research, it has been well established that geographic location plays an important role in influencing health outcomes. In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on the impact of neighborhood or contextual factors as potential risk factors for childhood [...] Read more.

In public health research, it has been well established that geographic location plays an important role in influencing health outcomes. In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on the impact of neighborhood or contextual factors as potential risk factors for childhood obesity. Some neighborhood factors relevant to childhood obesity include access to food sources, access to recreational facilities, neighborhood safety, and socioeconomic status (SES) variables. It is common for neighborhood or area-level variables to be available at multiple spatial scales (SS) or geographic units, such as the census block group and census tract, and selection of the spatial scale for area-level variables can be considered as a model selection problem. In this paper, we model the variation in body mass index (BMI) in a study of pediatric patients of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center, while considering the selection of spatial scale for a set of neighborhood-level variables available at multiple spatial scales using four recently proposed spatial scale selection algorithms: SS forward stepwise regression, SS incremental forward stagewise regression, SS least angle regression (LARS), and SS lasso. For pediatric BMI, we found evidence of significant positive associations with visit age and black race at the individual level, percent Hispanic white at the census block group level, percent Hispanic black at the census tract level, and percent vacant housing at the census tract level. We also found significant negative associations with population density at the census tract level, median household income at the census tract level, percent renter at the census tract level, and exercise equipment expenditures at the census block group level. The SS algorithms selected covariates at different spatial scales, producing better goodness-of-fit in comparison to traditional models, where all area-level covariates were modeled at the same scale. These findings underscore the importance of considering spatial scale when performing model selection. Full article

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13 pages, 2479 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Optimization Study on Listening Experiments to Improve the Comparability of Annoyance Ratings of Noise Samples from Different Experimental Sample Sets

by Guoqing Di^*, Kuanguang Lu and Xiaofan Shi

College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, No. 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030474 - 8 Mar 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3493

Abstract

Annoyance ratings obtained from listening experiments are widely used in studies on health effect of environmental noise. In listening experiments, participants usually give the annoyance rating of each noise sample according to its relative annoyance degree among all samples in the experimental sample [...] Read more.

Annoyance ratings obtained from listening experiments are widely used in studies on health effect of environmental noise. In listening experiments, participants usually give the annoyance rating of each noise sample according to its relative annoyance degree among all samples in the experimental sample set if there are no reference sound samples, which leads to poor comparability between experimental results obtained from different experimental sample sets. To solve this problem, this study proposed to add several pink noise samples with certain loudness levels into experimental sample sets as reference sound samples. On this basis, the standard curve between logarithmic mean annoyance and loudness level of pink noise was used to calibrate the experimental results and the calibration procedures were described in detail. Furthermore, as a case study, six different types of noise sample sets were selected to conduct listening experiments using this method to examine the applicability of it. Results showed that the differences in the annoyance ratings of each identical noise sample from different experimental sample sets were markedly decreased after calibration. The determination coefficient (R²) of linear fitting functions between psychoacoustic annoyance (PA) and mean annoyance (MA) of noise samples from different experimental sample sets increased obviously after calibration. The case study indicated that the method above is applicable to calibrating annoyance ratings obtained from different types of noise sample sets. After calibration, the comparability of annoyance ratings of noise samples from different experimental sample sets can be distinctly improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Noise-Related Annoyance)

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13 pages, 903 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Problematic Use of the Internet and Smartphones in University Students: 2006–2017

by Xavier Carbonell^1,*

, Andrés Chamarro^2,3

, Ursula Oberst¹

, Beatriz Rodrigo¹ and Mariona Prades¹

¹ FPCEE Blanquerna, Universitat Ramon Llull, 08022 Barcelona, Spain

² Departamento de Psicología, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193 Barcelona, Spain

³ Serra Hunter Program, Generalitat de Catalunya, 08029 Barcelona, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030475 - 8 Mar 2018

Cited by 178 | Viewed by 19203

Abstract

It has been more than a decade since a concern about the addictive use of the Internet and mobile phones was first expressed, and its possible inclusion into the lists of mental disorders has recently become a popular topic of scientific discussion. Thus, [...] Read more.

It has been more than a decade since a concern about the addictive use of the Internet and mobile phones was first expressed, and its possible inclusion into the lists of mental disorders has recently become a popular topic of scientific discussion. Thus, it seems to be a fitting moment to investigate the prevalence of this issue over time. The aim of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of the perception of problematic Internet and smartphone use in young people over the period 2006–2017. To this end, a questionnaire on Internet use habits and two questionnaires on the negative consequences of Internet and smartphone use were administered to a sample of 792 university students. The scores were then compared with the results of former studies that had used these questionnaires. The perception of problematic Internet and mobile phone use has increased over the last decade, social networks are considered responsible for this increase, and females are perceived to be more affected than males. The current study shows how strong smartphone and Internet addiction and social media overlap. Participants from 2017 report higher negative consequences of both Internet and mobile phone use than those from 2006, but long-term observations show a decrease in problematic use after a sharp increase in 2013. We conclude that the diagnosis of technological addictions is influenced by both time and social and culture changes. Full article

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

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8 pages, 1042 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pilot-Scale Hydrolysis-Aerobic Treatment for Actual Municipal Wastewater: Performance and Microbial Community Analysis

by Xiao Bian, Hui Gong^*

and Kaijun Wang^*

State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030477 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4668

Abstract

Low-energy cost wastewater treatment is required to change its current energy-intensive status. Although promising, the direct anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater treatment faces challenges such as low organic content and low temperature, which require further development. The hydrolysis-aerobic system investigated in this study [...] Read more.

Low-energy cost wastewater treatment is required to change its current energy-intensive status. Although promising, the direct anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater treatment faces challenges such as low organic content and low temperature, which require further development. The hydrolysis-aerobic system investigated in this study utilized the two well-proven processes of hydrolysis and aerobic oxidation. These have the advantages of efficient COD removal and biodegradability improvement with limited energy cost due to their avoidance of aeration. A pilot-scale hydrolysis-aerobic system was built for performance evaluation with actual municipal wastewater as feed. Results indicated that as high as 39–47% COD removal was achieved with a maximum COD load of 1.10 kg/m³·d. The dominant bacteria phyla included Proteobacteria (36.0%), Planctomycetes (15.4%), Chloroflexi (9.7%), Bacteroidetes (7.7%), Firmicutes (4.4%), Acidobacteria (2.5%), Actinobacteria (1.8%) and Synergistetes (1.3%), while the dominant genera included Thauera (3.42%) and Dechloromonas (3.04%). The absence of methanogens indicates that the microbial community was perfectly retained in the hydrolysis stage instead of in the methane-producing stage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Municipal Wastewater Treatment)

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11 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multiresistant Bacteria Isolated from Activated Sludge in Austria

by Herbert Galler¹

, Gebhard Feierl¹, Christian Petternel², Franz F. Reinthaler¹, Doris Haas¹, Juliana Habib¹, Clemens Kittinger¹, Josefa Luxner¹ and Gernot Zarfel^1,*

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

² Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics and Microbiology, Klinikum-Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 479; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030479 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 5748

Abstract

Wastewater contains different kinds of contaminants, including antibiotics and bacterial isolates with human-generated antibiotic resistances. In industrialized countries most of the wastewater is processed in wastewater treatment plants which do not only include commercial wastewater, but also wastewater from hospitals. Three multiresistant pathogens—extended [...] Read more.

Wastewater contains different kinds of contaminants, including antibiotics and bacterial isolates with human-generated antibiotic resistances. In industrialized countries most of the wastewater is processed in wastewater treatment plants which do not only include commercial wastewater, but also wastewater from hospitals. Three multiresistant pathogens—extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-harbouring Enterobacteriaceae (Gram negative bacilli), methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE)—were chosen for screening in a state of the art wastewater treatment plant in Austria. Over an investigation period of six months all three multiresistant pathogens could be isolated from activated sludge. ESBL was the most common resistance mechanism, which was found in different species of Enterobacteriaceae, and in one Aeromonas spp. Sequencing of ESBL genes revealed the dominance of genes encoding members of CTX-M β-lactamases family and a gene encoding for PER-1 ESBL was detected for the first time in Austria. MRSA and VRE could be isolated sporadically, including one EMRSA-15 isolate. Whereas ESBL is well documented as a surface water contaminant, reports of MRSA and VRE are rare. The results of this study show that these three multiresistant phenotypes were present in activated sludge, as well as species and genes which were not reported before in the region. The ESBL-harbouring Gram negative bacilli were most common. Full article

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

13 pages, 300 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Internet Use and Psychological Well-Being at Advanced Age: Evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging

by David Quintana^*,†

, Alejandro Cervantes

, Yago Sáez and Pedro Isasi

¹ Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, 28911 Madrid, Spain

^† Current address: Department of Computer Science, Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Av. de la Universidad 30, Leganés, 28911 Madrid, Spain.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 480; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030480 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 8034

Abstract

This work explores the connection between psychological well-being and Internet use in older adults. The study is based on a sample of 2314 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. The subjects, aged 50 years and older, were interviewed every two years [...] Read more.

This work explores the connection between psychological well-being and Internet use in older adults. The study is based on a sample of 2314 participants in the English Longitudinal Study of Aging. The subjects, aged 50 years and older, were interviewed every two years over the 2006–2007 to 2014–2015 period. The connection between the use of Internet/Email and the main dimensions of psychological well-being (evaluative, hedonic and eudaimonic) was analyzed by means of three generalized estimating equation models that were fitted on 2-year lagged repeated measurements. The outcome variables, the scores on three well-being scales, were explained in terms of Internet/Email use, controlling for covariates that included health and socioeconomic indicators. The results support the existence of a direct relationship between Internet/Email use and psychological well-being. The connection between the main predictor and the score of the participants on the scale used to measure the eudaimonic aspect was positive and statistically significant at conventional levels (p-value: 0.015). However, the relevance of digital literacy on the evaluative and the hedonic components could not be confirmed (p-values for evaluative and hedonic dimensions were 0.078 and 0.192, respectively). Full article

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

17 pages, 1120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reanalysis of Epidemiological Investigation of Cancer Risk among People Residing near Nuclear Power Plants in South Korea

by Jeong-Min Kim¹, Myoung-Hee Kim², Young-Su Ju³, Seung-sik Hwang⁴

, Mina Ha⁵, Bong-Kyu Kim⁶, Kyung Ehi Zoh⁶ and Domyung Paek^6,7,*

¹ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Cheongju Medical Center, Cheongju 28547, Korea

² People’s Health Institute, Seoul 07004, Korea

³ Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Korea

⁴ Department of Public Health Science, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea

⁵ Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan 31116, Korea

⁶ Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea

⁷ Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 481; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030481 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 10896

Abstract

Background: A 20-year follow-up study on cancer incidence among people living near nuclear power plants in South Korea ended in 2011 with a finding of significantly, but inconsistently, elevated thyroid cancer risk for females. Reanalysis of the original study was carried out [...] Read more.

Background: A 20-year follow-up study on cancer incidence among people living near nuclear power plants in South Korea ended in 2011 with a finding of significantly, but inconsistently, elevated thyroid cancer risk for females. Reanalysis of the original study was carried out to examine the dose–response relationship further, and to investigate any evidence of detection bias. Methods: In addition to replicating the original Cox proportional hazards models, nested case-control analysis was carried out for all subjects and for four different birth cohorts to examine the effects of excluding participants with pre-existing cancer history at enrollment. The potential for detection bias was investigated using the records of medical utilization and voluntary health checks of comparison groups. Results: The overall risk profile of the total sample was similar to that of the original study. However, in the stratified analysis of four birth cohorts, the cancer risk among people living near nuclear power plants became higher in younger birth cohorts. This was especially true for thyroid cancers of females (hazard ratio (HR) 3.38) and males (HR 1.74), female breast cancers (HR 2.24), and radiation-related cancers (HR 1.59 for males, HR 1.77 for females), but not for radiation-insensitive cancers (HR 0.59 for males, HR 0.98 for females). Based on medical records and health check reports, we found no differences between comparison groups that could have led to detection bias. Conclusions: The overall results suggest elevated risk of radiation-related cancers among residents living near nuclear power plants, controlling for the selective survival effect. This is further supported by the lack of evidence of detection bias and by records of environmental exposure from radiation waste discharge. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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30 pages, 13040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) Simulation of PM₁₀ Dispersion Caused by Rail Transit Construction Activity: A Real Urban Street Canyon Model

by Yang Wang^1,*, Ying Zhou¹, Jian Zuo² and Raufdeen Rameezdeen³

¹ School of Civil Engineering, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China

² School of Architecture & Built Environment, Entrepreneurship, Commercialization and Innovation Centre (ECIC), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia

³ School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia; Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 482; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030482 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 6337

Abstract

Particle emissions derived from construction activities have a significant impact on the local air quality, while the canyon effect with reduced natural ventilation contributes to the highest particulate pollution in urban environments. This study attempted to examine the effect of PM₁₀ emissions [...] Read more.

Particle emissions derived from construction activities have a significant impact on the local air quality, while the canyon effect with reduced natural ventilation contributes to the highest particulate pollution in urban environments. This study attempted to examine the effect of PM₁₀ emissions derived from the construction of a rail transit system in an urban street canyon. Using a 3D computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model based on a real street canyon with different height ratios, this study formulates the impact of height ratio and wind directions on the dispersion and concentration of PM₁₀. The results indicate that parallel flow would cause the concentration of PM₁₀ at the end of the street canyons in all height ratios, and the trends in horizontal, vertical and lateral planes in all street canyons are similar. While in the condition of perpendicular flow, double-eddy circulations occur and lead to the concentration of PM₁₀ in the middle part of the street canyon and leeward of backwind buildings in all height ratios. Furthermore, perpendicular flow will cause the concentration of PM₁₀ to increase if the upwind buildings are higher than the backwind ones. This study also shows that the dispersion of PM₁₀ is strongly associated with wind direction in and the height ratios of the street canyons. Certain measures could, therefore, be taken to prevent the impact on people in terms of the PM₁₀ concentration and the heights of street canyons identified in this research. Potential mitigation strategies are suggested, include measurements below 4 m according to governmental regulations, dust shields, and atomized water. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Practice of Sustainable Built Environment in the Context of Developing Countries)

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15 pages, 2897 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Use of Iodine-131 to Tellurium-132 Ratios for Assessing the Relationships between Human Inhaled Radioactivity and Environmental Monitoring after the Accident in Fukushima

by Koji Uchiyama^1,2,3,*

, Masami Miyashita⁴, Yoshinobu Tanishima⁴, Shigenobu Maeda⁵

, Hitoshi Sato⁶, Jun Yoshikawa⁴, Shuji Watanabe⁴, Masamichi Shibata⁴, Shuji Ohhira¹ and Gen Kobashi⁷

¹ Laboratory of International Environmental Health, Center for International Cooperation, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun 321-0293, Tochigi, Japan

² Laboratory of International Epidemiology, Center for International Cooperation, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun 321-0293, Tochigi, Japan

³ Technical Division, Anzai Medical Co., Ltd., 3-9-15 Nishishinagawa, Shinagawa, Tokyo 141-0033, Japan

⁴ Department of Radiology, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, 2-8-1 Yotsui, Fukui-shi 910-8526, Fukui, Japan

⁵ Emergency Medicine, Fukui Prefectural Hospital, 2-8-1 Yotsui, Fukui-shi 910-8526, Fukui, Japan

⁶ Department of Radiological Sciences, Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, 4669-2 Ami, Ami-machi, Inashiki-gun 300-0394, Ibaraki, Japan

⁷ Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu-machi, Shimotsuga-gun 321-0293, Tochigi, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030483 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5892

Abstract

Significant differences in findings were seen between the intake amounts of iodine-131 that were derived from direct measurements and the estimated intake from environmental monitoring data at the Fukushima accident. To clarify these discrepancies, we have investigated the iodine-131 and tellurium-132 body burdens [...] Read more.

Significant differences in findings were seen between the intake amounts of iodine-131 that were derived from direct measurements and the estimated intake from environmental monitoring data at the Fukushima accident. To clarify these discrepancies, we have investigated the iodine-131 and tellurium-132 body burdens of five human subjects, who after being exposed to a radioactive plume, underwent 21.5 h whole body counter measurements at Fukui Prefectural Hospital, so clear intake scenario and thyroid counter measurement data were available. To determine the iodine-131 and tellurium-132 body burdens, we introduced a new method of whole body counter calibration composed of a self-consistent approach with the time-dependent correction efficiency factors concept. The ratios of iodine-131 to tellurium-132, ranging from 0.96 ± 0.05 to 2.29 ± 0.38, were consistent with results of the environmental measurements. The 24 h iodine uptake values ranging from 12.1–16.0% were within euthyroid range in Japanese people. These results suggest, even if the relatively low thyroid iodine uptake in the Japanese population was taken into consideration, that there is no doubt about the consistency between direct measurements and environmental monitoring data. Adequate intake scenario is suggested to be principally important to estimate the inhaled radioactivity in areas in or around nuclear accidents. Full article

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

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16 pages, 1201 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationships among Safety Climate, Safety Behavior, and Safety Outcomes for Ethnic Minority Construction Workers

by Sainan Lyu^1,2,*, Carol K. H. Hon²

, Albert P. C. Chan¹, Francis K. W. Wong¹ and Arshad Ali Javed³

¹ Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 181 Chatham Rd. South, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

² School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Gardens Point, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

³ School of Economics and Finance, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 484; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030484 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 123 | Viewed by 12251

Abstract

In many countries, it is common practice to attract and employ ethnic minority (EM) or migrant workers in the construction industry. This primarily occurs in order to alleviate the labor shortage caused by an aging workforce with a lack of new entrants. Statistics [...] Read more.

In many countries, it is common practice to attract and employ ethnic minority (EM) or migrant workers in the construction industry. This primarily occurs in order to alleviate the labor shortage caused by an aging workforce with a lack of new entrants. Statistics show that EM construction workers are more likely to have occupational fatal and nonfatal injuries than their local counterparts; however, the mechanism underlying accidents and injuries in this vulnerable population has been rarely examined. This study aims to investigate relationships among safety climate, safety behavior, and safety outcomes for EM construction workers. To this end, a theoretical research model was developed based on a comprehensive review of the current literature. In total, 289 valid questionnaires were collected face-to-face from 223 Nepalese construction workers and 56 Pakistani construction workers working on 15 construction sites in Hong Kong. Structural equation modelling was employed to validate the constructs and test the hypothesized model. Results show that there were significant positive relationships between safety climate and safety behaviors, and significant negative relationships between safety behaviors and safety outcomes for EM construction workers. This research contributes to the literature regarding EM workers by providing empirical evidence of the mechanisms by which safety climate affects safety behaviors and outcomes. It also provides insights in order to help the key stakeholders formulate safety strategies for EM workers in many areas where numerous EM workers are employed, such as in the U.S., the UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and the Middle East. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Safety, Health, and Wellbeing in Construction)

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18 pages, 1126 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Accidents of Electrical and Mechanical Works for Public Sector Projects in Hong Kong

by Francis K. W. Wong¹, Albert P. C. Chan¹, Andy K. D. Wong¹, Carol K. H. Hon²

and Tracy N. Y. Choi^1,*

¹ Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China

² School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St., Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 485; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030485 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7361

Abstract

A study on electrical and mechanical (E&M) works-related accidents for public sector projects provided the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the causes of accidents by analyzing the circumstances of all E&M works accidents. The research aims to examine accidents of E&M [...] Read more.

A study on electrical and mechanical (E&M) works-related accidents for public sector projects provided the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the causes of accidents by analyzing the circumstances of all E&M works accidents. The research aims to examine accidents of E&M works which happened in public sector projects. A total of 421 E&M works-related accidents in the “Public Works Programme Construction Site Safety and Environmental Statistics” (PCSES) system were extracted for analysis. Two-step cluster analysis was conducted to classify the E&M accidents into different groups. The results identified three E&M accidents groups: (1) electricians with over 15 years of experience were prone to ‘fall of person from height’; (2) electricians with zero to five years of experience were prone to ‘slip, trip or fall on same level’; (3) air-conditioning workers with zero to five years of experience were prone to multiple types of accidents. Practical measures were recommended for each specific cluster group to avoid recurrence of similar accidents. The accident analysis would be vital for industry practitioners to enhance the safety performance of public sector projects. This study contributes to filling the knowledge gap of how and why E&M accidents occur and promulgating preventive measures for E&M accidents which have been under researched. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Safety, Health, and Wellbeing in Construction)

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13 pages, 1902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variation in Environmental Vibrio cholerae in an Estuary in Southern Coastal Ecuador

by Sadie J. Ryan^1,2,*

, Anna M. Stewart-Ibarra³, Eunice Ordóñez-Enireb⁴

, Winnie Chu⁵, Julia L. Finkelstein⁵, Christine A. King⁶, Luis E. Escobar^3,7, Christina Lupone³, Froilan Heras³, Erica Tauzer³, Egan Waggoner³, Tyler G. James^1,2

, Washington B. Cárdenas⁴

and Mark Polhemus³

¹ Quantitative Disease Ecology and Conservation Lab, Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610 USA

² Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA

³ Center for Global Health and Translational Science, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA

⁴ Laboratorio para Investigaciones Biomédicas, FCV, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, Guayaquil 090101, Ecuador

⁵ Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

⁶ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA

⁷ Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030486 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6123

Abstract

Cholera emergence is strongly linked to local environmental and ecological context. The 1991–2004 pandemic emerged in Perú and spread north into Ecuador’s El Oro province, making this a key site for potential re-emergence. Machala, El Oro, is a port city of 250,000 inhabitants, [...] Read more.

Cholera emergence is strongly linked to local environmental and ecological context. The 1991–2004 pandemic emerged in Perú and spread north into Ecuador’s El Oro province, making this a key site for potential re-emergence. Machala, El Oro, is a port city of 250,000 inhabitants, near the Peruvian border. Many livelihoods depend on the estuarine system, from fishing for subsistence and trade, to domestic water use. In 2014, we conducted biweekly sampling for 10 months in five estuarine locations, across a gradient of human use, and ranging from inland to ocean. We measured water-specific environmental variables implicated in cholera growth and persistence: pH, temperature, salinity, and algal concentration, and evaluated samples in five months for pathogenic and non-pathogenic Vibrio cholerae, by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We found environmental persistence of pandemic strains O1 and O139, but no evidence for toxigenic strains. Vibrio cholerae presence was coupled to algal and salinity concentration, and sites exhibited considerable seasonal and spatial heterogeneity. This study indicates that environmental conditions in Machala are optimal for cholera re-emergence, with risk peaking during September, and higher risk near urban periphery low-income communities. This highlights a need for surveillance of this coupled cholera–estuarine system to anticipate potential future cholera outbreaks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

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12 pages, 3280 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A National County-Level Assessment of U.S. Nursing Facility Characteristics Associated with Long-Term Exposure to Traffic Pollution in Older Adults

by Yi Wang^1,*

, Hao Fan¹

, Rudy Banerjee², Anne M. Weaver¹ and Michael Weiner^3,4,5

¹ Department of Environmental Health Science, Indiana University Fairbanks, School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

² Department of Geography, School of Liberal Arts, Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

³ Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

⁴ Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

⁵ Center for Health Information and Communication, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service CIN 13-416, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 487; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030487 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3998

Abstract

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution increases disease risk in older adults. Nursing facilities located near major roadways potentially expose older adults to traffic pollution. No studies, however, have described the association between nursing facilities and traffic pollution. We obtained data on facility- [...] Read more.

Long-term exposure to ambient air pollution increases disease risk in older adults. Nursing facilities located near major roadways potentially expose older adults to traffic pollution. No studies, however, have described the association between nursing facilities and traffic pollution. We obtained data on facility- and census-tract-level characteristics of 15,706 U.S. facilities from the Medicare Nursing Home Compare datasets. We calculated distance to major roadways and traffic density for each facility. In the contiguous U.S. (as of 2014), 345,792 older adults, about 27% of residents in non-hospital facilities, lived within 150 m major roadways (A1 or A2) in 3876 (28% of sampled) facilities. Nationally, for-profit facilities, high-occupancy facilities, and facilities in census tracts with higher percentages of minorities were more likely to have higher exposure to traffic. Counties in Virginia, New York City, and Rhode Island have the highest percent of residents and facilities near major roads. Nationally, over one-quarter of sampled facilities are located near major roadways. Attributes potentially associated with higher exposure to traffic included “for-profit” and “higher minority census tract”. Proximity to major roadways may be an important factor to consider in siting nursing facilities. Our results inform potential intervention strategy at both county and facility level. Full article

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19 pages, 2907 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Food Sources of Energy and Macronutrient Intakes among Infants from 6 to 12 Months of Age: The Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) Study

by Shan-Xuan Lim^1,2,†, Jia-Ying Toh^1,†

, Linde Van Lee¹

, Wee-Meng Han³, Lynette Pei-Chi Shek^1,4,5, Kok-Hian Tan^6,7

, Fabian Yap^7,8,9, Keith M. Godfrey¹⁰

, Yap-Seng Chong^1,11 and Mary Foong-Fong Chong^1,12,13,*

¹ Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore 117609, Singapore

² Food Science and Technology Programme, Department of Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore

³ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore

⁴ Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore

⁵ Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children’s Medical Institute, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074, Singapore

⁶ Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore 229899, Singapore

⁷ Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore

⁸ Department of Paediatrics, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore

⁹ Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Experimental Medicine Building, Nanyang Drive, Singapore 636921, Singapore

¹⁰ MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit & NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre, University of Southampton & University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK

¹¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore

¹² Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, 12 Science Drive 2, Singapore 117549, Singapore

¹³ Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Centre for Translational Medicine, Medical Drive #07-02, MD 6 Building, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore 117599, Singapore

^† Both authors contributed equally to this work.

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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030488 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6296

Abstract

Adequate nutrition during complementary feeding is important for the growth, development and well-being of children. We aim to examine the energy and macronutrient intake composition and their main food sources in a mother–offspring cohort study in Singapore. The diets of infants were assessed [...] Read more.

Adequate nutrition during complementary feeding is important for the growth, development and well-being of children. We aim to examine the energy and macronutrient intake composition and their main food sources in a mother–offspring cohort study in Singapore. The diets of infants were assessed by 24 h dietary recalls or food diaries collected from mothers when their offspring were 6 (n = 760), 9 (n = 893) and 12 (n = 907) months of age. Food sources of energy and macronutrients were determined using the population proportion methodology. Energy intakes per day (kcal; mean (standard deviation, SD)) of these infants were 640 (158) at 6 months, 675 (173) at 9 months, and 761 (208) at 12 months. Infant formula, breastmilk and infant cereals were the top three food sources of energy and macronutrient intakes in infants through the period 6 to 12 months. Other main energy and carbohydrate sources at 9 and 12 months of age were rice porridge, infant biscuits and fresh fruits, while fish, red meat and eggs were the other main protein and total fat sources. Breast-fed and mixed-fed infants had a more varied diet as compared to formula-fed infants. Formula-fed infants had consistently higher protein and lower total fat consumption compared to those who were breastfed. An understanding of these main food sources during complementary feeding can inform local dietary recommendations and policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition in the First 1000 Days)

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9 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Frailty Leads to the Development of Physical Frailty among Physically Non-Frail Adults: A Four-Year Follow-Up Longitudinal Cohort Study

by Hyuma Makizako^1,2,*, Hiroyuki Shimada², Takehiko Doi², Kota Tsutsumimoto², Ryo Hotta², Sho Nakakubo², Keitaro Makino² and Sangyoon Lee²

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan

² Department of Preventive Gerontology, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi 474-8511, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 490; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030490 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 185 | Viewed by 9917

Abstract

Social frailty domains may play an important role in preventing physical decline and disability. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of social frailty as a risk factor for the future development of physical frailty among community-dwelling older adults who [...] Read more.

Social frailty domains may play an important role in preventing physical decline and disability. The aim of this study is to examine the impact of social frailty as a risk factor for the future development of physical frailty among community-dwelling older adults who are not yet physically frail. A total of 1226 physically non-frail older adults were analyzed to provide a baseline. Participants completed a longitudinal assessment of their physical frailty 48 months later. Their baseline social frailty was determined based on their responses to five questions, which identified participants who went out less frequently, rarely visited friends, felt less like helping friends or family, lived alone and did not talk to another person every day. Participants with none of these characteristics were considered not to be socially frail; those with one characteristic were considered socially pre-frail; and those with two or more characteristics were considered socially frail. At the four-year follow-up assessment, 24 participants (2.0%) had developed physical frailty and 440 (35.9%) had developed physical pre-frailty. The rates of developing physical frailty and pre-frailty were 1.6% and 34.2%, respectively, in the socially non-frail group; 2.4% and 38.8%, respectively, in the socially pre-frail group; and 6.8% and 54.5%, respectively, in the socially frail group. Participants classified as socially frail at the baseline had an increased risk of developing physical frailty, compared with participants who were not socially frail (OR = 3.93, 95% CI = 1.02–15.15). Participants who were socially frail at the baseline also had an increased risk of developing physical pre-frailty (OR = 2.50, 95% CI = 1.30–4.80). Among independent community-dwelling older adults who are not physically frail, those who are socially frail may be at greater risk of developing physical frailty in the near future. Social frailty may precede (and lead to the development of) physical frailty. Full article

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8 pages, 301 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Copycats in Pilot Aircraft-Assisted Suicides after the Germanwings Incident

by Tanja Laukkala^1,†

, Alpo Vuorio^2,*,†, Robert Bor^3,4, Bruce Budowle^5,6, Pooshan Navathe⁷, Eero Pukkala⁸ and Antti Sajantila⁹

¹ Mehiläinen Kielotie Health Centre, Vantaa 01300, Finland

² Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki and Mehiläinen Airport Health Centre, Lentäjäntie 1 E, 01530 Vantaa, Finland

³ Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London NW3 2QG, UK

⁴ Centre for Aviation Psychology, London NW3 1ND, UK

⁵ Center for Human Identification, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA

⁶ Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research (CEGMR), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21577, Saudi Arabia

⁷ The Maitland Hospital, Maitland 2320, Australia

⁸ Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tampere, 33100 Tampere, Finland

⁹ Department of Forensic Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014 Helsinki, Finland

^† These authors contribute equally to this work

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030491 - 11 Mar 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7650

Abstract

Aircraft-assisted pilot suicide is a rare but serious phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pilot aircraft-assisted suicide risks, i.e., a copycat effect, in the U.S. and Germany after the Germanwings 2015 incident in the French Alps. Aircraft-assisted pilot [...] Read more.

Aircraft-assisted pilot suicide is a rare but serious phenomenon. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in pilot aircraft-assisted suicide risks, i.e., a copycat effect, in the U.S. and Germany after the Germanwings 2015 incident in the French Alps. Aircraft-assisted pilot suicides were searched in the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident investigation database and in the German Bundestelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung (BFU) Reports of Investigation database five years before and two years after the deliberate crash of the Germanwings flight into the French Alps in 2015. The relative risk (RR) of the aircraft-assisted pilot suicides was calculated. Two years after the incident, three out of 454 (0.66%) fatal incidents were aircraft-assisted suicides compared with six out of 1292 (0.46%) in the prior five years in the NTSB database. There were no aircraft-assisted pilot suicides in the German database during the two years after or five years prior to the Germanwings crash. The relative aircraft-assisted pilot suicide risk for the U.S. was 1.4 (95% CI 0.3–4.2) which was not statistically significant. Six of the pilots who died by suicide had told someone of their suicidal intentions. We consider changes in the rate to be within a normal variation. Responsible media coverage of aircraft incidents is important due to the large amount of publicity that these events attract. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Suicide Research)

15 pages, 1542 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Burden of COPD Morbidity Attributable to the Interaction between Ambient Air Pollution and Temperature in Chengdu, China

by Hang Qiu^1,†

, Kun Tan^2,3,†, Feiyu Long⁴, Liya Wang^1,*, Haiyan Yu^1,5,6, Ren Deng^2,3,*, Hu Long^2,3, Yanlong Zhang⁷ and Jingping Pan^2,3

¹ Health Big Data Research Institute, Big Data Research Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China

² Health and Family Planning Information Center of Sichuan Province, Chengdu 610041, China

³ Sichuan Health Information Association, Chengdu 610041, China

⁴ School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China

⁵ School of Economics and Management, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing 400065, China

⁶ Department of Statistics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-2111, USA

⁷ Chengdu Shulianyikang Technology Co., Ltd., Chengdu 610041, China

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 492; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030492 - 11 Mar 2018

Cited by 102 | Viewed by 9217

Abstract

Evidence on the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) morbidity attributable to the interaction between ambient air pollution and temperature has been limited. This study aimed to examine the modification effect of temperature on the association of ambient air pollutants (including particulate [...] Read more.

Evidence on the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) morbidity attributable to the interaction between ambient air pollution and temperature has been limited. This study aimed to examine the modification effect of temperature on the association of ambient air pollutants (including particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM₁₀) and <2.5 μm (PM_2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O₃)) with risk of hospital admissions (HAs) for COPD, as well as the associated morbidity burden in urban areas of Chengdu, China, from 2015 to 2016. Based on the generalized additive model (GAM) with quasi-Poisson link, bivariate response surface model and stratification parametric model were developed to investigate the potential interactions between ambient air pollution and temperature on COPD HAs. We found consistent interactions between ambient air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀ and SO₂) and low temperature on COPD HAs, demonstrated by the stronger associations between ambient air pollutants and COPD HAs at low temperatures than at moderate temperatures. Subgroup analyses showed that the elderly (≥80 years) and males were more vulnerable to this interaction. The joint effect of PM and low temperature had the greatest impact on COPD morbidity burden. Using WHO air quality guidelines as reference concentration, about 17.30% (95% CI: 12.39%, 22.19%) and 14.72% (95% CI: 10.38%, 19.06%) of COPD HAs were attributable to PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exposures on low temperature days, respectively. Our findings suggested that low temperature significantly enhanced the effects of PM and SO₂ on COPD HAs in urban Chengdu, resulting in increased morbidity burden. This evidence has important implications for developing interventions to reduce the risk effect of COPD morbidity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Climate Change, Extreme Temperatures, Air Pollution, and Health)

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19 pages, 1557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Policy Guidelines for Effective Inclusion and Reintegration of People with Chronic Diseases in the Workplace: National and European Perspectives

by Anastasia Vlachou^1,*, Panayiota Stavroussi¹, Olga Roka¹, Evdokia Vasilou¹, Dimitra Papadimitriou¹, Chiara Scaratti², Asel Kadyrbaeva³, Klemens Fheodoroff⁴

, Valentina Brecelj⁵, Olga Svestkova⁶, Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk⁷, Jon Erik Finnvold⁸, Sonja Gruber⁹ and Matilde Leonardi²

¹ Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, Argonafton-Filellinon Str., 38221 Volos, Greece

² Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit, Foundation IRCCS Neurological Institute “Carlo Besta”, Via Celoria 11, 20133 Milan, Italy

³ European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD), Rue du Commerce 72, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

⁴ Gailtal Klinik—Neurologische Rehabilitation, 9620 Hermagor, Austria

⁵ Development Centre for Vocational Rehabilitation, University Rehabilitation Institute, Ljubljana 1000, Slovenia

⁶ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1st Faculty of Medicine Charles University and Vseobecna Fakultni Nemocnice V Praze, 12808 Praha, Czech Republic

⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 31-008 Krakow, Poland

⁸ Norwegian Social Research, OsloMet—Oslo Metropolitan University, Postboks 4 St. Olavs plass, 0130 Oslo, Norway

⁹ Department of Disability and Diversity Studies, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 493; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030493 - 11 Mar 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5387

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim [...] Read more.

The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases among the European working age population, as well as the implications for the individual and societal level, underline the need for policy guidelines targeting the effective inclusion of persons with chronic diseases in the workplace. The aim of the present paper was to explore the perspectives of European and National-level stakeholders on existing strategies for work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases, and to provide policy guidelines. A highly-structured interview protocol was distributed to 58 National level stakeholders (policy makers, professionals and employers) from seven European countries. Additionally, 20 European organizations concerned with health-related issues and employment completed an online survey. The findings reveal that employment-related challenges remain largely unaddressed. Both national and European stakeholders considered the existing legislative frameworks inadequate and appraised the co-ordination for the implementation of employment re-integration policies as ineffective. Policies targeting at work re-integration of persons with chronic diseases at European and national level should focus on consistent cooperation among all key stakeholders, awareness raising to staff and management, dissemination of effective strategies, developing research and evaluation standards and establishing monitoring systems on inclusive labour markets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Workplaces, Employment and Chronic Conditions in Europe: Answering the Hidden Emergency with Innovative Strategies)

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15 pages, 2245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential of Cassia alata L. Coupled with Biochar for Heavy Metal Stabilization in Multi-Metal Mine Tailings

by Lige Huang¹, Yuanyuan Li¹, Man Zhao¹, Yuanqing Chao^1,2,3, Rongliang Qiu^1,2,3, Yanhua Yang^1,2 and Shizhong Wang^1,2,3,*

¹ School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

² Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Guangzhou 510275, China

³ Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil Remediation, Guangzhou 510275, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030494 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 47 | Viewed by 6190

Abstract

To explore the effect of different biochars on Cassia alata L. growth and heavy metal immobilization in multi-metal mine tailings, a 100-day pot experiment was conducted. Three biochars derived from Hibiscus cannabinus core (HB), sewage sludge (SB) and chicken manure (MB), were added [...] Read more.

To explore the effect of different biochars on Cassia alata L. growth and heavy metal immobilization in multi-metal mine tailings, a 100-day pot experiment was conducted. Three biochars derived from Hibiscus cannabinus core (HB), sewage sludge (SB) and chicken manure (MB), were added to mine tailings at rates of 0.4%, 1% and 3% (w/w). The results showed that the root biomass, shoot biomass, plant height and root length were 1.2–2.8, 1.7–3.2, 1–1.5 and 1.6–3.3 times of those in the control group, respectively. Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd and As contents in the shoot decreased by 63.9–89.5%, 46.9–66.0%, 32.7–62.4%, 40.4–76.4% and 54.9–77.5%, respectively. The biochar significantly increased the pH and decreased the mild acid-soluble Pb and Cu concentrations in the mine tailings. Specifically, SB immobilized Pb and Cu better than MB and HB did, although it did not immobilize As, Zn or Cd. Meanwhile, more attention should be paid to the potential As release as the biochar application rate increases. In conclusion, Cassia alata L. coupled with 3% of SB could be an effective measure for restoring multi-metal mine tailings. This study herein provided a promising ecological restoration technique for future practice of heavy metal stabilization in mine tailings. Full article

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

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12 pages, 1927 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Geochemical Assessment and Spatial Analysis of Heavy Metals in the Surface Sediments in the Eastern Beibu Gulf: A Reflection on the Industrial Development of the South China Coast

by Fajin Chen^1,2

, Jing Lin^3,4, Bihua Qian^4,5, Zhai Wu⁴, Peng Huang^2,4, Kai Chen⁶, Tianyao Li⁴ and Minggang Cai^4,6,*

¹ Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Coastal Ocean Variation and Disaster Prediction, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China

² College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China

³ Third Institution of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China

⁴ College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China

⁵ Marine Environment and Fishery Monitoring Station of Quanzhou, Quanzhou 362000, China

⁶ Coastal and Ocean Management Institute, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030496 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 55 | Viewed by 6398

Abstract

The Beibu Gulf (also named the Gulf of Tonkin), located in the northwest of the South China Sea, is representative of a bay suffering from turbulence and contamination associated with rapid industrialization and urbanization. In this study, we aim to provide the novel [...] Read more.

The Beibu Gulf (also named the Gulf of Tonkin), located in the northwest of the South China Sea, is representative of a bay suffering from turbulence and contamination associated with rapid industrialization and urbanization. In this study, we aim to provide the novel baseline levels of heavy metals for the research area. Concentrations of five heavy metals (i.e., Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Cr) were determined in surface sediments from 35 sites in the eastern Beibu Gulf. The heavy metal content varied from 6.72 to 25.95 mg/kg for Cu, 16.99 to 57.98 mg/kg for Pb, 73.15 to 112.25 mg/kg for Zn, 0.03 to 0.12 mg/kg for Cd, and 20.69 to 56.47 mg/kg for Cr, respectively. With respect to the Chinese sediment quality criteria, sediments in the eastern Beibu Gulf have not been significantly affected by coastal metal pollutions. The results deduced from the geoaccumulation index (I_geo) showed that the study area has been slightly polluted by Pb, which might be caused by non-point sources. Relatively high concentrations of Cu, Pb and Cd were found around the coastal areas of Guangxi province, the Leizhou Peninsula and the northwest coast of Hainan Island, whereas the highest concentrations of Zn and Cr were found on the northwest coast of Hainan Island. Spatial distribution patterns of the heavy metals showed that bioavailable fractions of Pb were higher than in the residual fractions, while Cu and Cd concentrations in exchangeable and carbonate fractions were relatively higher than those in the bioavailable fractions. Hierarchical clustering analysis suggested that the sampling stations could be separated into three groups with different geographical distributions. Accompanying their similar spatial distribution in the study area, significant correlation coefficients among Cu, Cd and Pb were also found, indicating that these three metals might have had similar sources. Overall, the results indicated that the distribution of these heavy metals in the surface sediments collected from the Beibu Gulf was complex. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Environmental Risk Assessment)

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12 pages, 751 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Work Environment, Stress, and Driving Anger: A Structural Equation Model for Predicting Traffic Sanctions of Public Transport Drivers

by Luis Montoro¹, Sergio Useche^2,*

, Francisco Alonso²

and Boris Cendales³

¹ FACTHUM Lab (Human Factor and Road Safety) Research Group, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain

² DATS (Development and Advising in Traffic Safety) Research Group, Faculty of Psychology, INTRAS (Research Institute on Traffic and Road Safety), University of Valencia, 46022 Valencia, Spain

³ Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, El Bosque University, Bogotá 110121, Colombia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 497; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030497 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 103 | Viewed by 10475

Abstract

Public transport is an effective and sustainable alternative to private vehicle usage, also helping to reduce the environmental impact of driving. However, the work environment of public transport operators is full of adverse conditions, which, together with their high mileage, may increase the [...] Read more.

Public transport is an effective and sustainable alternative to private vehicle usage, also helping to reduce the environmental impact of driving. However, the work environment of public transport operators is full of adverse conditions, which, together with their high mileage, may increase the occurrence of negative safety outcomes such as traffic accidents, often preceded by risky road behaviors enhanced by stress, anger, and difficult operating conditions. The aims of this study were, first, to determine the association between work-related psychosocial factors and individual characteristics of public transport drivers and the rate of traffic sanctions they are subject to; and second, to assess the mediation of driving anger in this relationship. A sample of professional drivers (57.4% city bus, 17.6% taxi, and 25% inter-urban bus male operators) was used for this cross-sectional study, responding to a five-section survey including demographic data and driving-related factors, psychosocial work factors including job stress, driving stress, risk predisposition, and driving anger. The results of this study showed significant associations between work-related factors: measures of stress and self-reported rates of traffic fines. Second, it was found that driving anger mediates the associations between driving stress, risk predisposition, and traffic sanctions; and partially mediates the association between driving experience, hourly intensity, and job stress. This study supports the idea that traffic penalties reported by public transport rates are preceded by work-related, personality, and other individual factors that, when combined with driving anger, enhance the occurrence of road misbehavior that may affect overall road safety. Full article

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

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10 pages, 286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Respiratory Health Symptoms among Schoolchildren in Relation to Possible Food-Related Risk and Protective Factors

by Caradee Y. Wright^1,2,*

, Vusumuzi Nkosi^2,3

and Janine Wichmann³

¹ Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

² Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg 2094, South Africa

³ School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030502 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3891

Abstract

Respiratory health outcomes are among the top five causes of child morbidity and mortality around the world. We aimed to investigate possible food-related risk and protective factors for respiratory health outcomes in children. Structured questionnaires completed by primary caregivers of 10-year old children [...] Read more.

Respiratory health outcomes are among the top five causes of child morbidity and mortality around the world. We aimed to investigate possible food-related risk and protective factors for respiratory health outcomes in children. Structured questionnaires completed by primary caregivers of 10-year old children were used to collect information on demographics, socio-economic status, house characteristics and child respiratory health status. Upper (URIs) and Lower (LRIs) respiratory illnesses comprised hay fever, and wheezing, asthma and bronchitis, respectively. Eight hundred questionnaires were distributed, 648 retrieved and 420 completed in full (52.5% response rate). The hay fever 6-month prevalence was 22.4% and wheezing had the highest 6-month prevalence among the LRIs (13.8%). The majority of children ate vegetables (75.5%), fruit (69.3%) and chicken or fish (81.7%) regularly. Nearly half of the children (45.5%) regularly ate processed food. Eating processed food regularly was statistical significantly associated with wheeze (Adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.65; 95% CI: 1.38–5.08), hay fever (OR = 1.62; 95% CI: 1.09–2.64) and bronchitis (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.06–2.56). The study found an association between regular consumption of processed foods and wheeze, hay fever and bronchitis among 10 year old children. The regular consumption of processed food plays a role in adverse respiratory health effects among children and healthy eating is emphasized. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

8 pages, 271 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prioritizing Type of Industry through Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure to Dimethylformamide in the Workplace

by Junghyun Lee, Miran Hahm, Da-An Huh and Sang-Hoon Byeon^*

Department of Health Science, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 503; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030503 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4076

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to classify hazards at an industrial level and evaluate the exposure risks of workers exposed to dimethylformamide (DMF) used as a solvent in the workplace and to determine industries that need priority measures in managing DMF exposure. [...] Read more.

The purpose of this study was to classify hazards at an industrial level and evaluate the exposure risks of workers exposed to dimethylformamide (DMF) used as a solvent in the workplace and to determine industries that need priority measures in managing DMF exposure. We calculated hazard quotients at an industrial level. The exposure data of DMF in the workplace were obtained from the work environment monitoring program provided by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The evaluation was conducted on textile manufacturing, leather manufacturing, chemical manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and rubber manufacturing industries, which have many unit work sites handling DMF. The highest central tendency exposure and reasonable maximum exposure were 2.13 and 18.66 mg/m³ for the rubber product manufacturing industry, respectively. A total of 63.8% of workplaces in the textile manufacturing sector had a hazard quotient higher than 1. The highest risk for exposure to DMF is in the rubber and plastic manufacturing industry, and the lowest risk was in the medical materials and pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. Based on this study, effective management of DMF exposure could be achieved by establishing priority management measures for the textile and rubber and plastic product industries. Full article

9 pages, 614 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Maternal Residential Proximity to Major Roadways and Pediatric Embryonal Tumors in Offspring

by Shwetha V. Kumar¹, Philip J. Lupo², Lisa A. Pompeii¹ and Heather E. Danysh^2,*

¹ Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1200 Pressler Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA

² Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030505 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3979

Abstract

The environmental determinants of pediatric embryonal tumors remain unclear. Because of the growing concern over the impact of exposures to traffic-related air pollution on pediatric cancer, we conducted a population-based study evaluating the impact of maternal residential proximity to major roadways on the [...] Read more.

The environmental determinants of pediatric embryonal tumors remain unclear. Because of the growing concern over the impact of exposures to traffic-related air pollution on pediatric cancer, we conducted a population-based study evaluating the impact of maternal residential proximity to major roadways on the risk of pediatric embryonal tumors in offspring. We identified children diagnosed with neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, retinoblastoma, or hepatoblastoma at <5 years of age from the Texas Cancer Registry and selected unaffected controls from birth certificates. Two residential proximity measures were used: (1) distance to the nearest major roadway, and (2) within 500 m of a major roadway. Logistic regression was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each proximity measure on pediatric embryonal tumors. The odds of an embryonal tumor were increased in children born to mothers living within 500 m of a major roadway (aOR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.54). This was consistent for most tumor subtypes, with the strongest associations observed for unilateral retinoblastoma (aOR = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.28, 5.15, for every kilometer closer the mother lived to the nearest major roadway). These findings contribute to the growing evidence that traffic-related air pollution may increase risk for certain pediatric tumors. Full article

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

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9 pages, 1931 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Acute Stress and Anxiety in Medical Residents on the Emergency Department Duty

by Joaquín M. González-Cabrera¹

, María Fernández-Prada², Concepción Iribar^3,4, Rogelio Molina-Ruano⁵, María Salinero-Bachiller³ and José M. Peinado^3,4,*

¹ Faculty of Education, Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, 26006 Logroño, Spain

² Department of Preventive Medicine, Central Hospital of Asturias, 33006 Oviedo, Spain

³ Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Immunology 3, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain

⁴ Institute of Neuroscience “Federico Olóriz”, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain

⁵ Emergency Department, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, 18014 Granada, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 506; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030506 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5884

Abstract

The objectives of this longitudinal study were to compare salivary cortisol release patterns in medical residents and their self-perceived anxiety levels between a regular working day and a day when on call in the emergency department (ED-duty day) and to determine any differences [...] Read more.

The objectives of this longitudinal study were to compare salivary cortisol release patterns in medical residents and their self-perceived anxiety levels between a regular working day and a day when on call in the emergency department (ED-duty day) and to determine any differences in cortisol release pattern as a function of years of residency or sex. The study included 35 residents (physicians-in-training) of the Granada University Hospital, Granada, Spain. Acute stress was measured on a regular working day and an ED-duty day, evaluating anxiety-state with the Spanish version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Physiological stress assessment was based on salivary cortisol levels. Cortisol release concentrations were higher on an ED-duty day than on a regular working day, with a significantly increased area under the curve (AUC) (p < 0.006). This difference slightly attenuated with longer residency experience. No gender difference in anxiety levels was observed (p < 0.001). According to these findings, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and anxiety levels of medical residents are higher on an ED-duty day than on a regular working day. Full article

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

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14 pages, 2362 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Regional Vulnerability to Disasters by People of Ishikawa, Japan: A Cross Sectional Study Using National Health Insurance Data

by Makoto Fujiu^1,*, Yuma Morisaki², Junichi Takayama¹, Kiyoko Yanagihara³, Tatsuya Nishino¹, Masahiko Sagae⁴ and Kohei Hirako⁵

¹ Faculty of Environmental Design, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

² Division of Environmental Design, Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

³ Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-0942, Japan

⁴ Faculty of Economics and Management, Institute of Human and Social Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

⁵ Organization of Frontier Science and Innovation, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa 920-1192, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030507 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4058

Abstract

The 2013 Partial Amendment of the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Law mandated that a roster of vulnerable persons during disasters be created, and further development of evacuation support is expected. In this study, the number of vulnerable people living in target analytical areas are [...] Read more.

The 2013 Partial Amendment of the Disaster Countermeasures Basic Law mandated that a roster of vulnerable persons during disasters be created, and further development of evacuation support is expected. In this study, the number of vulnerable people living in target analytical areas are identified in terms of neighborhood units by using the National Health Insurance Database to create a realistic and efficient evacuation support plan. Later, after considering the “vulnerability” of an area to earthquake disaster damage, a quantitative evaluation of the state of the disaster is performed using a principle component analysis that further divided the analytical target areas into neighborhood units to make a detailed determination of the number of disaster-vulnerable persons, the severity of the disaster, etc. The results of the disaster evaluation performed after considering the vulnerability of an area are that 628 disaster-vulnerable persons live in areas with a relatively higher disaster evaluation value. Full article

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19 pages, 2114 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Internalized Transphobia, Resilience, and Mental Health: Applying the Psychological Mediation Framework to Italian Transgender Individuals

by Cristiano Scandurra^1,*

, Vincenzo Bochicchio²

, Anna Lisa Amodeo³, Concetta Esposito³, Paolo Valerio¹, Nelson Mauro Maldonato¹, Dario Bacchini³ and Roberto Vitelli¹

¹ Department of Neurosciences and Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Napoli, Italy

² Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy

³ Department of Humanistic Studies, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Napoli, Italy

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030508 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 100 | Viewed by 12644

Abstract

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people are a highly-stigmatized population. For this reason, they might internalize society’s normative gender attitudes and develop negative mental health outcomes. As an extension of the minority stress model, the psychological mediation framework sheds light on psychological processes [...] Read more.

Transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) people are a highly-stigmatized population. For this reason, they might internalize society’s normative gender attitudes and develop negative mental health outcomes. As an extension of the minority stress model, the psychological mediation framework sheds light on psychological processes through which anti-transgender discrimination might affect mental health. Within this framework, the current study aimed at assessing in 149 TGNC Italian individuals the role of internalized transphobia as a mediator between anti-transgender discrimination and mental health, considering resilience as the individual-level coping mechanism buffering this relationship. The results suggest that both indicators of internalized transphobia (i.e., shame and alienation) mediate the relationship between anti-transgender discrimination and depression, while only alienation mediates the relationship between anti-transgender discrimination and anxiety. Furthermore, the results suggest that the indirect relation between anti-transgender discrimination and anxiety through alienation is conditional on low and moderate levels of resilience. Findings have important implications for clinical practice and psycho-social interventions to reduce stigma and stress caused by interpersonal and individual stigma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breakthroughs in LGBT Health Research)

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16 pages, 7968 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Case Study of Airborne Pathogen Dispersion Patterns in Emergency Departments with Different Ventilation and Partition Conditions

by Chang Heon Cheong^1,* and Seonhye Lee^2,*

¹ Department of Architectural Engineering, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju 52725, Korea

² Department of Nursing, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju 52725, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 510; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030510 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4773

Abstract

The prevention of airborne infections in emergency departments is a very important issue. This study investigated the effects of architectural features on airborne pathogen dispersion in emergency departments by using a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation tool. The study included three architectural features [...] Read more.

The prevention of airborne infections in emergency departments is a very important issue. This study investigated the effects of architectural features on airborne pathogen dispersion in emergency departments by using a CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation tool. The study included three architectural features as the major variables: increased ventilation rate, inlet and outlet diffuser positions, and partitions between beds. The most effective method for preventing pathogen dispersion and reducing the pathogen concentration was found to be increasing the ventilation rate. Installing partitions between the beds and changing the ventilation system’s inlet and outlet diffuser positions contributed only minimally to reducing the concentration of airborne pathogens. Full article

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11 pages, 1636 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Social Network Analysis as a Methodological Approach to Explore Health Systems: A Case Study Exploring Support among Senior Managers/Executives in a Hospital Network

by Aoife De Brún^*

and Eilish McAuliffe

School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030511 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 10147

Abstract

Health systems research recognizes the complexity of healthcare, and the interacting and interdependent nature of components of a health system. To better understand such systems, innovative methods are required to depict and analyze their structures. This paper describes social network analysis as a [...] Read more.

Health systems research recognizes the complexity of healthcare, and the interacting and interdependent nature of components of a health system. To better understand such systems, innovative methods are required to depict and analyze their structures. This paper describes social network analysis as a methodology to depict, diagnose, and evaluate health systems and networks therein. Social network analysis is a set of techniques to map, measure, and analyze social relationships between people, teams, and organizations. Through use of a case study exploring support relationships among senior managers in a newly established hospital group, this paper illustrates some of the commonly used network- and node-level metrics in social network analysis, and demonstrates the value of these maps and metrics to understand systems. Network analysis offers a valuable approach to health systems and services researchers as it offers a means to depict activity relevant to network questions of interest, to identify opinion leaders, influencers, clusters in the network, and those individuals serving as bridgers across clusters. The strengths and limitations inherent in the method are discussed, and the applications of social network analysis in health services research are explored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Systems and Services)

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13 pages, 570 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Focus on Chronic Exposure for Deriving Drinking Water Guidance Underestimates Potential Risk to Infants

by Helen Goeden

Minnesota Department of Health, St. Paul, MN 55164-0975, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030512 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5306

Abstract

In 2007, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) developed new risk assessment methods for deriving human health-based water guidance (HBG) that incorporated the assessment of multiple exposure durations and life stages. The methodology is based on US Environmental Protection Agency recommendations for protecting [...] Read more.

In 2007, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) developed new risk assessment methods for deriving human health-based water guidance (HBG) that incorporated the assessment of multiple exposure durations and life stages. The methodology is based on US Environmental Protection Agency recommendations for protecting children’s health (US EPA 2002). Over the last 10 years, the MDH has derived multiple duration (e.g., short-term, subchronic, and chronic) water guidance for over 60 chemicals. This effort involved derivation of multiple duration reference doses (RfDs) and selection of corresponding water intake rates (e.g., infant, child, and lifetime). As expected, RfDs typically decreased with increasing exposure duration. However, the corresponding HBG frequently did not decrease with increasing duration. For more than half of the chemicals, the shorter duration HBG was lower than chronic HBG value. Conventional wisdom has been that chronic-based values will be the most conservative and will therefore be protective of less than chronic exposures. However, the MDH’s experience highlights the importance of evaluating short-term exposures. For many chemicals, elevated intake rates early in life, coupled with short-term RfDs, resulted in the lowest HBG. Drinking water criteria based on chronic assessments may not be protective of short-term exposures in highly exposed populations such as formula-fed infants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drinking Water Quality and Human Health)

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10 pages, 468 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Association between Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Cholelithiasis: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

by Chien-Hua Chen^1,2,3, Cheng-Li Lin^4,5 and Chia-Hung Kao^6,7,8,*

¹ Digestive Disease Center, Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan

² Department of Food Science and Technology, Hungkuang University, Taichung 433, Taiwan

³ Chung Chou University of Science and Technology, Yuanlin Township, Changhua County 510, Taiwan

⁴ Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan

⁵ College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan

⁶ Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, No. 2, Yuh-Der Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan

⁷ Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan

⁸ Department of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 513; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030513 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4426

Abstract

We assessed the subsequent risk of cholelithiasis development in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). We identified 8186 patients who aged ≥20 years and were diagnosed with IBD between 2000 and 2010 as the [...] Read more.

We assessed the subsequent risk of cholelithiasis development in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) such as Crohn’s disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). We identified 8186 patients who aged ≥20 years and were diagnosed with IBD between 2000 and 2010 as the study cohort. A total of 8186 patients without IBD were selected by frequency-matching according to age, sex, comorbidities, and the index date of diagnosis, and they were identified as the control cohort. To measure the incidence of cholelithiasis, all patients were followed up until the end of 2011. The risk of developing cholelithiasis, either gallbladder stone disease (GSD; adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.34–2.61) or common bile duct (CBD) stones and intrahepatic stones (IHSs; aHR = 2.78, 95% CI = 1.18–6.51), was higher for the CD cohort than for the non-IBD cohort after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities of hyperlipidemia, diabetes, liver cirrhosis, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, coronary artery disease, and hepatitis C virus infection. However, UC was related to the development of GSD (aHR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.19–1.75) but not to CBD stones and IHSs (aHR = 1.70, 95% CI = 0.99–2.91). Our population-based cohort study demonstrated that CD is related to the development of cholelithiasis, including GSD alone and non-GSD-associated cholelithiasis. However, UC is only related to the development of GSD alone. Full article

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9 pages, 945 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reflections on Health Promotion and Disability in Low and Middle-Income Countries: Case Study of Parent-Support Programmes for Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome

by Hannah Kuper^*, Tracey Smythe

and Antony Duttine

International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London WC1E7HT, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030514 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 7054

Abstract

Universal health coverage (UHC) has been adopted by many countries as a national target for 2030. People with disabilities need to be included within efforts towards UHC, as they are a large group making up 15% of the world’s population and are more [...] Read more.

Universal health coverage (UHC) has been adopted by many countries as a national target for 2030. People with disabilities need to be included within efforts towards UHC, as they are a large group making up 15% of the world’s population and are more vulnerable to poor health. UHC focuses both on covering the whole population as well as providing all the services needed and must include an emphasis on health promotion, as well as disease treatment and cure. Health promotion often focusses on tackling individual behaviours, such as encouraging exercise or good nutrition. However, these activities are insufficient to improve health without additional efforts to address poverty and inequality, which are the underlying drivers of poor health. In this article, we identify common challenges, opportunities and examples for health promotion for people with disabilities, looking at both individual behaviour change as well as addressing the drivers of poor health. We present a case study of a carer support programme for parents of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome in Brazil as an example of a holistic programme for health promotion. This programme operates both through improving skills of caregivers to address the health needs of their child and tackling poverty and exclusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion Interventions for People with Disabilities)

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13 pages, 266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mobile Healthcare and People with Disabilities: Current State and Future Needs

by Michael Jones^1,*, John Morris¹ and Frank Deruyter²

¹ Virginia C. Crawford Research Institute, Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA

² Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030515 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 75 | Viewed by 12282

Abstract

Significant health disparities exist between the general population and people with disabilities, particularly with respect to chronic health conditions. Mobile healthcare—the delivery of healthcare via mobile communication devices—is witnessing tremendous growth and has been touted as an important new approach for management of [...] Read more.

Significant health disparities exist between the general population and people with disabilities, particularly with respect to chronic health conditions. Mobile healthcare—the delivery of healthcare via mobile communication devices—is witnessing tremendous growth and has been touted as an important new approach for management of chronic health conditions. At present, little is known about the current state of mobile healthcare for people with disabilities. Early evidence suggests they are not well represented in the growth of mobile healthcare, and particularly the proliferation of mobile health software applications (mHealth apps) for smartphones. Their omission in mHealth could lead to further health disparities. This article describes our research investigating the current state of mHealth apps targeting people with disabilities. Based on a multi-modal approach (literature review, Internet search, survey of disabled smartphone users), we confirm that people with disabilities are under-represented in the growth of mHealth. We identify several areas of future research and development needed to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in the mHealth revolution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Promotion Interventions for People with Disabilities)

17 pages, 1106 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Capital Enhanced Disaster Preparedness and Health Consultations after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Nuclear Power Station Accident

by Makoto Hasegawa¹, Michio Murakami^1,*, Yoshitake Takebayashi¹

, Satoshi Suzuki² and Hitoshi Ohto^3,4

¹ Department of Health Risk Communication, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

² Fukushima Prefectural Centre for Environmental Creation, 2-10 Fukasaku, Miharu-machi, Tamura-gun, Fukushima 963-7700, Japan

³ Department of Blood Transfusion and Transplantation Immunology, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

⁴ Department of Advanced Cancer Immunotherapy, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 516; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030516 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6201

Abstract

After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011, there was a strong demand to promote disaster preparedness approaches and health checkups for the prevention of lifestyle diseases. This study examined the yearly change in [...] Read more.

After the Great East Japan Earthquake and the subsequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011, there was a strong demand to promote disaster preparedness approaches and health checkups for the prevention of lifestyle diseases. This study examined the yearly change in the percentage of those who prepared for disasters and who utilized health checkups in Fukushima Prefecture, and identified the factors governing disaster preparedness and utilization of health checkups. We used the public opinion survey from 2011 to 2015 (n = 677–779 each year) on prefectural policies that is conducted every year by the Fukushima Prefecture government Public Consultation Unit. We found that the percentage of those who prepare for disasters decreased, while that for health checkups did not significantly change. With regard to disaster preparedness, experiences of disaster enhance disaster preparedness, while bonds with other local people help to maintain preparedness. For health checkups, familiarity with the welfare service was the most important factor governing such consultations. The findings suggest that social capital should be promoted in order to improve disaster preparedness. The findings also suggest that residents’ accessibility to medical and welfare services is also important in promoting the utilization of health checkups. Full article

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

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12 pages, 1104 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Access to Street Markets and Consumption of Fruits and Vegetables by Adolescents Living in São Paulo, Brazil

by Luana Romão Nogueira¹

, Mariane De Mello Fontanelli¹, Breno Souza de Aguiar², Marcelo Antunes Failla²

, Alex Antonio Florindo³

, Ligia Vizeu Barrozo⁴, Moisés Goldbaum⁵

, Chester Luiz Galvão Cesar⁶, Maria Cecilia Goi Porto Alves⁷ and Regina Mara Fisberg^1,*

¹ Departamento de Nutrição, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 01246-904, Brazil

² Coordenação de Epidemiologia e Informação, Prefeitura de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 01223-010, Brazil

³ Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 03828-000, Brazil

⁴ Departamento de Geografia da Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-080, Brazil

⁵ Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 01246-903, Brazil

⁶ Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 01246-904, Brazil

⁷ Departamento de Saúde do Estado de São Paulo, Instituto de Saúde, São Paulo, SP 01314-000, Brazil

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030517 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 5854

Abstract

Food environment and income act as determinants of diet, and consequently, of the consumption of fruits and vegetables. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption, income, and street market density in adolescents living in São [...] Read more.

Food environment and income act as determinants of diet, and consequently, of the consumption of fruits and vegetables. The objective of this study is to investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption, income, and street market density in adolescents living in São Paulo, Brazil. Data from 521 adolescents (12 to 19 years) participating in the 2015 Health Survey of São Paulo were used. Buffers (500, 1000, and 1500 m) were drawn around the households and the street markets were counted in each zone. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption, income, and street market density. The main results showed that the presence of a street market in the zone closest to the households (500 m) was associated with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables (OR: 1.73; CI 95% 1.01–3.00). Higher family income was associated with a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables for models of 500 m buffer (OR: 2.56; CI 95% 1.47–4.45), 1000 m (OR: 2.30; CI 95% 1.33–3.96), and 1500 m (OR: 2.32; CI 95% 1.35–4.00). These results support the implementation of public policies that jointly consider income and the availability of street markets or healthy food environments. Full article

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22 pages, 431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bread and Shoulders: Reversing the Downward Spiral, a Qualitative Analyses of the Effects of a Housing First-Type Program in France

by Pauline Rhenter¹, Delphine Moreau²

, Christian Laval¹, Jean Mantovani³, Amandine Albisson³, Guillaume Suderie³, French Housing First Study Group^4,†, Mohamed Boucekine^1,5, Aurelie Tinland^1,6, Sandrine Loubière^1,5, Tim Greacen², Pascal Auquier^1,4 and Vincent Girard^1,7,*

¹ Aix-Marseille University, Public Health Research Unit EA 3279, 13005 Marseille, France

² Research Laboratory, Maison Blanche Hospital, 75018 Paris, France

³ Observatory Regional of Health, Midi Pyrenees, 31000 Toulouse, France

⁴ French Housing First Study Group, 13000 Marseille, France

⁵ Department of Research and Innovation, Support Unit for Clinical Research and Economic Evaluation, Public Hospital of Marseille (AP-HM), 13005 Marseille, France

⁶ Community Mental Health Outreach Team, MARS (Movement and Action for Social Recovery), Public Hospital of Marseille (AP-HM), 13005 Marseille, France

⁷ Regional Health Agency PACA (ARS), 13002 Marseille, France

^† French Housing First Study Group: T. Apostolidis, E. Beetlestone, P. Birmes, T. Bossetti, R. Bouloudnine, B. Combes, J. Debieve, B. Falissard, C. Lancon, P. Le Cardinal, J. Naudin and B. Videau.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 520; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030520 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5473

Abstract

This paper is a qualitative analysis of the effects of accompagnement, a support framework, on recovery trajectories of people with long-term homelessness and severe psychiatric disorders during 24 months in a Housing First-type program in France. A comprehensive methodology based on grounded [...] Read more.

This paper is a qualitative analysis of the effects of accompagnement, a support framework, on recovery trajectories of people with long-term homelessness and severe psychiatric disorders during 24 months in a Housing First-type program in France. A comprehensive methodology based on grounded theory was used to construct an interview guide, conduct multiple interviews with 35 Housing First participants sampled for heterogeneity, and produce memos on their trajectories before and after entering the program based on interview information. Thematic analysis of a representative subsample (n = 13) of memos identified 12 objective factors and 6 subjective factors key to the recovery process. An in-depth re-analysis of the memos generated four recovery themes: (1) the need for secure space favorable to self-reflexivity; (2) a “honeymoon” effect; (3) the importance of even weak social ties; (4) support from and hope among peers. Three challenges to recovery were identified: (1) finding a balance between protection and risk; (2) breaking downward spirals; (3) bifurcating the trajectory. This study provides new insight into the recovery process, understood as a non-linear transformation of an experience—the relationship between objective life conditions and subjective perception of those conditions—which reinforces protective support over risk elements. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health and Health Care for Homeless People in Various Contexts)

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14 pages, 2959 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatial Distributions and Variations of Water Environmental Risk in Yinma River Basin, China

by Hui Di, Xingpeng Liu^*, Jiquan Zhang

, Zhijun Tong^* and Meichen Ji

School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 521; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030521 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4221

Abstract

Water environmental risk is the probability of the occurrence of events caused by human activities or the interaction of human activities and natural processes that will damage a water environment. This study proposed a water environmental risk index (WERI) model to assess the [...] Read more.

Water environmental risk is the probability of the occurrence of events caused by human activities or the interaction of human activities and natural processes that will damage a water environment. This study proposed a water environmental risk index (WERI) model to assess the water environmental risk in the Yinma River Basin based on hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and regional management ability indicators in a water environment. The data for each indicator were gathered from 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 to assess the spatial and temporal variations in water environmental risk using particle swarm optimization and the analytic hierarchy process (PSO-AHP) method. The results showed that the water environmental risk in the Yinma River Basin decreased from 2000 to 2015. The risk level of the water environment was high in Changchun, while the risk levels in Yitong and Yongji were low. The research methods provide information to support future decision making by the risk managers in the Yinma River Basin, which is in a high-risk water environment. Moreover, water environment managers could reduce the risks by adjusting the indicators that affect water environmental risks. Full article

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14 pages, 4358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combining Community Engagement and Scientific Approaches in Next-Generation Monitor Siting: The Case of the Imperial County Community Air Network

by Michelle Wong^1,*, Esther Bejarano², Graeme Carvlin³, Katie Fellows³

, Galatea King¹, Humberto Lugo², Michael Jerrett⁴, Dan Meltzer¹

, Amanda Northcross⁵, Luis Olmedo², Edmund Seto³, Alexa Wilkie¹ and Paul English⁶

¹ California Environmental Health Tracking Program, Public Health Institute, 850 Marina Bay Parkway P-3, Richmond, CA 94804, USA

² Comite Civico del Valle, 235 Main St, Brawley, CA 92227, USA

³ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Chair’s Office F463, Box 357234, Seattle, WA 98195-7234, USA

⁴ UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, 56-070B CHS, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA

⁵ Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave. NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA

⁶ California Department of Public Health, 850 Marina Bay Parkway P-3, Richmond, CA 94804, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 523; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030523 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 6870

Abstract

Air pollution continues to be a global public health threat, and the expanding availability of small, low-cost air sensors has led to increased interest in both personal and crowd-sourced air monitoring. However, to date, few low-cost air monitoring networks have been developed with [...] Read more.

Air pollution continues to be a global public health threat, and the expanding availability of small, low-cost air sensors has led to increased interest in both personal and crowd-sourced air monitoring. However, to date, few low-cost air monitoring networks have been developed with the scientific rigor or continuity needed to conduct public health surveillance and inform policy. In Imperial County, California, near the U.S./Mexico border, we used a collaborative, community-engaged process to develop a community air monitoring network that attains the scientific rigor required for research, while also achieving community priorities. By engaging community residents in the project design, monitor siting processes, data dissemination, and other key activities, the resulting air monitoring network data are relevant, trusted, understandable, and used by community residents. Integration of spatial analysis and air monitoring best practices into the network development process ensures that the data are reliable and appropriate for use in research activities. This combined approach results in a community air monitoring network that is better able to inform community residents, support research activities, guide public policy, and improve public health. Here we detail the monitor siting process and outline the advantages and challenges of this approach. Full article

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15 pages, 1492 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Acute Effects of Intermittent Light Exposure in the Evening on Alertness and Subsequent Sleep Architecture

by Minqi Yang^1,2, Ning Ma^1,3,†, Yingying Zhu^1,†, Ying-Chu Su², Qingwei Chen¹

, Fan-Chi Hsiao², Yanran Ji¹, Chien-Ming Yang^2,4,* and Guofu Zhou^1,5,6,*

¹ School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China

² Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, Taipei 11605, Taiwan

³ Center for Studies of Psychological Application, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631, China

⁴ The Research Center for Mind, Brain and Learning, National Chengchi University, Taipei 11605, Taiwan

⁵ National Center for International Research on Green Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China

⁶ Shenzhen Guohua Optoelectronics Tech. Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518110, China

^† The authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030524 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 7812

Abstract

Exposure to bright light is typically intermittent in our daily life. However, the acute effects of intermittent light on alertness and sleep have seldom been explored. To investigate this issue, we employed within-subject design and compared the effects of three light conditions: intermittent [...] Read more.

Exposure to bright light is typically intermittent in our daily life. However, the acute effects of intermittent light on alertness and sleep have seldom been explored. To investigate this issue, we employed within-subject design and compared the effects of three light conditions: intermittent bright light (30-min pulse of blue-enriched bright light (~1000 lux, ~6000 K) alternating with 30-min dim normal light (~5 lux, ~3600 K) three times); continuous bright light; and continuous dim light on subjective and objective alertness and subsequent sleep structure. Each light exposure was conducted during the three hours before bedtime. Fifteen healthy volunteers (20 ± 3.4 years; seven males) were scheduled to stay in the sleep laboratory for four separated nights (one for adaptation and the others for the light exposures) with a period of at least one week between nights. The results showed that when compared with dim light, both intermittent light and continuous bright light significantly increased subjective alertness and decreased sleep efficiency (SE) and total sleep time (TST). Intermittent light significantly increased objective alertness than dim light did during the second half of the light-exposure period. Our results suggested that intermittent light was as effective as continuous bright light in their acute effects in enhancing subjective and objective alertness and in negatively impacting subsequent sleep. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Health)

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12 pages, 2038 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of a Conditional Cash Transfer Program on Nutritional Knowledge and Food Practices among Caregivers of 3–5-Year-Old Left-Behind Children in the Rural Hunan Province

by Yefu Zhang¹, Meimei Ji¹, Jiaojiao Zou¹, Tong Yuan¹, Jing Deng², Lina Yang¹, Mingzhi Li¹, Hong Qin¹

, Jihua Chen^1,* and Qian Lin^1,*

¹ Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China

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

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030525 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7796

Abstract

Left-behind children (LBC) are a unique population in China, whose numbers have increased dramatically in recent years. Most caregivers of left-behind children (CLBC) are grandparents who lack knowledge about proper nutrition and food practice, putting LBC at greater risk for malnutrition. A cluster [...] Read more.

Left-behind children (LBC) are a unique population in China, whose numbers have increased dramatically in recent years. Most caregivers of left-behind children (CLBC) are grandparents who lack knowledge about proper nutrition and food practice, putting LBC at greater risk for malnutrition. A cluster randomized controlled trial was carried to assess the effectiveness of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Forty rural villages from Fenghuang County and Pingjiang County of Hunan province were selected. The villages were randomized into the intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, caregivers received a cash transfer conditional on bimonthly health education attendance, bringing LBC in for vaccinations, and on-time annual health checks. The control group received routine health services only. Two rounds of questionnaire surveys were conducted in March 2015 and July 2016. Questionnaires and in-person interviews were used to assess the changes in nutritional knowledge and food practices among CLBC. Among 447 valid subjects, CLBC in the intervention group were significantly more likely to correctly understand the importance of children’s height and weight measurements, food variety, inclusion of eggs and dairy in the diet, and anemia identification and prevention. Intervention group CLBC were also significantly more likely to prepare dairy products and eggs for their children. Generalized liner mixed model (GLMM) analysis showed that CLBC nutrition knowledge was improved significantly in the intervention group (adjusted p value = 0.01), and there were also positive changes in their food practice (adjusted p value = 0.047). This CCT intervention turned to be effective with respect to rural caregivers’ nutritional knowledge and food practice behavior. The findings from this project could be helpful for future health strategies targeting rural children, in particular the LBC group. Full article

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13 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pesticide Use and Asthma in Alberta Grain Farmers

by Nicola Cherry^1,*

, Jeremy Beach¹

, Ambikaipakan Senthilselvan²

and Igor Burstyn^1,3

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Division of Preventive Medicine, University of Alberta, 5-22 University Terrace, 8303-112 St, Edmonton, AB T6G 1K4, Canada

² School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1C9, Canada

³ Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030526 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4596

Abstract

A study of the respiratory health of grain farmers in Alberta, Canada was carried out in March 2002. Two populations were identified: members, in 1983, of a province-wide farm organisation, and grain farmers registered with the provincial agriculture department. A telephone interview addressed [...] Read more.

A study of the respiratory health of grain farmers in Alberta, Canada was carried out in March 2002. Two populations were identified: members, in 1983, of a province-wide farm organisation, and grain farmers registered with the provincial agriculture department. A telephone interview addressed pesticide use (using pre-circulated trade names), chronic disease and respiratory symptoms. Pesticide ingredients were identified from provincial crop protection guides. Total years of use were calculated for seven chemical groups. Consent for linkage to administrative health records was obtained in 2009. A likelihood score (Lscore) is computed, relating symptoms to asthma diagnosis. Self-reported asthma and the Lscore are examined against duration of pesticide exposures. Of the 10,767 farmers listed, 2426 were still living, had farmed grain and were interviewed; 1371 were re-contacted and matched to health records. After allowance for confounders, years of exposure to phenoxy compounds are related to self-reported asthma and Lscore. Compared to no exposure, the adjusted odds ratios (95% Confidence Intervals for self-reported asthma for short, medium and long exposure to phenoxy compounds are 1.29 (0.66–2.52), 2.52 (1.25–5.09), and 3.18 (1.54–6.58), and for Lscore are 1.19 (0.91–1.55), 1.50 (1.13–1.99), and 1.58 (1.18–2.12). We conclude that lifetime exposure to phenoxy herbicides is associated with an increased risk of asthma. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Occupational Pesticides Exposure)

10 pages, 314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Obesity, Sleep and Physical Activity in Chinese Preschool Children

by Meimei Ji^1,†, Amber Tang^2,†, Yefu Zhang¹, Jiaojiao Zou¹, Guangyu Zhou¹, Jing Deng³, Lina Yang¹, Mingzhi Li¹, Jihua Chen¹, Hong Qin¹

and Qian Lin^1,*

¹ Department of Nutrition Science and Food Hygiene, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, China

² Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, Yale University, 219 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA

³ Department of Epidemiology and Statistical Science, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha 410078, China

^† The first two authors contributed equally to this paper.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 527; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030527 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 11095

Abstract

Background: Pediatric overweight and obesity has become a major public health problem in China. The goal of this study is to understand overweight and obesity in preschool children in Changsha City in the context of their sleep and physical activity. These results offer [...] Read more.

Background: Pediatric overweight and obesity has become a major public health problem in China. The goal of this study is to understand overweight and obesity in preschool children in Changsha City in the context of their sleep and physical activity. These results offer feasible proposals to reduce levels of overweight and obesity among preschool children. Methods: A total of 112 preschoolers aged three to six years old were investigated using multiple stage stratified cluster sampling and simple random sampling. Questionnaires were used to collect general information about children and their families. Body mass index (BMI) was used as an indicator of overweight and obesity. Age- and sex-specific cutoff values for Chinese children and adolescents were used to determine child weight status. Children’s sedentary time was reported by caregivers, while physical activity and sleep were recorded using fitness bracelets (Misfit Shine 2). Results: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity were 15.2% and 9.8% respectively. Preschool-aged children travelled 11,111 ± 3357 and 10,350 ± 2973 steps per day on weekdays and weekends respectively. The number of daily steps was not statistically different between weekdays and weekends. The amount of time spent daily doing vigorous activity on weekdays and weekends was significantly different, with an average time of 20.5 ± 31.6 min and 10.3 ± 15.3 min respectively (p = 0.002). Furthermore, 10.7% and 50.9% of children used screens for more than two hours on weekdays and weekends respectively (p < 0.001). Children slept for significantly longer on weekends (8.3 ± 0.9 h) than on weekdays (8.1 ± 0.7 h) (p = 0.037). A significantly higher proportion of students also fell asleep before 10:00 p.m. on weekends (26.8%) compared to weekdays (15.2%) (p < 0.001). Parent’s BMI values were positively correlated with child BMI, the monthly household income was negatively associated with child BMI. Male children were more likely to have a higher BMI than female children. Children who were obese were also more likely to have shorter sleep times compared to children of normal weight (p = 0.047). Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of overweight and obesity among the Chinese preschool children in this study. Students also demonstrated poor sleep and physical activity habits. Future research is necessary to explore the relationship between sleep, physical activity and weight status for young children in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating and Exercise in Children and Adolescents)

18 pages, 1864 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biocapture of CO₂ by Different Microalgal-Based Technologies for Biogas Upgrading and Simultaneous Biogas Slurry Purification under Various Light Intensities and Photoperiods

by Pengfei Guo^1,2, Yuejin Zhang^2,* and Yongjun Zhao^2,*

¹ Qin Tan (Shanghai) Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd., Shanghai 200232, China

² College of Biological Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 528; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030528 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4627

Abstract

Co-cultivation of microalgae and microbes for pollutant removal from sewage is considered as an effective wastewater treatment method. The aim of this study is to screen the optimal photoperiod, light intensity and microalgae co-cultivation method for simultaneously removing nutrients in biogas slurry and [...] Read more.

Co-cultivation of microalgae and microbes for pollutant removal from sewage is considered as an effective wastewater treatment method. The aim of this study is to screen the optimal photoperiod, light intensity and microalgae co-cultivation method for simultaneously removing nutrients in biogas slurry and capturing CO₂ in biogas. The microalgae–fungi pellets are deemed to be a viable option because of their high specific growth rate and nutrient and CO₂removal efficiency under the photoperiod of 14 h light:10 h dark. The order of both the biogas slurry purification and biogas upgrading is ranked the same, that is Chlorella vulgaris–Ganoderma lucidum > Chlorella vulgaris–activated sludge > Chlorella vulgaris under different light intensities. For all cultivation methods, the moderate light intensity of 450 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ is regarded as the best choice. This research revealed that the control of photoperiod and light intensity can promote the biological treatment process of biogas slurry purification and biogas upgrading using microalgal-based technology. Full article

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

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19 pages, 5573 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimation of PM_2.5 Concentration Efficiency and Potential Public Mortality Reduction in Urban China

by Anyu Yu, Guangshe Jia, Jianxin You and Puwei Zhang^*

School of Economics and Management, Tongji University, Siping Road 1500, Shanghai 200092, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 529; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030529 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3936

Abstract

The particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) is a serious air-pollutant emission in China, which has caused serious risks to public health. To reduce the pollution and corresponding public mortality, this paper proposes a method by incorporating slacks-based data envelopment analysis (DEA) and [...] Read more.

The particulate matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) is a serious air-pollutant emission in China, which has caused serious risks to public health. To reduce the pollution and corresponding public mortality, this paper proposes a method by incorporating slacks-based data envelopment analysis (DEA) and an integrated exposure risk (IER) model. By identifying the relationship between the PM_2.5 concentration and mortality, the potential PM_2.5 concentration efficiency and mortality reduction were measured. The proposed method has been applied to China’s 243 cities in 2015. Some implications are achieved. (1) There are urban disparities in estimated results around China. The geographic distribution of urban mortality reduction is consistent with that of the PM_2.5 concentration efficiency, but some inconsistency also exists. (2) The pollution reduction and public health improvement should be addressed among China’s cities, especially for those in northern coastal, eastern coastal, and middle Yellow River areas. The reduction experience of PM_2.5 concentration in cities of the southern coastal area could be advocated in China. (3) Environmental consideration should be part of the production adjustment of urban central China. The updating of technology is suggested for specific cities and should be considered by the policymaker. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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15 pages, 1434 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prediction and Analysis of CO₂ Emission in Chongqing for the Protection of Environment and Public Health

by Shuai Yang^*, Yu Wang, Wengang Ao, Yun Bai and Chuan Li

National Research Base of Intelligent Manufacturing Service, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030530 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4625

Abstract

Based on the consumption of fossil energy, the CO₂ emissions of Chongqing are calculated and analyzed from 1997 to 2015 in this paper. Based on the calculation results, the consumption of fossil fuels and the corresponding CO₂ emissions of Chongqing in [...] Read more.

Based on the consumption of fossil energy, the CO₂ emissions of Chongqing are calculated and analyzed from 1997 to 2015 in this paper. Based on the calculation results, the consumption of fossil fuels and the corresponding CO₂ emissions of Chongqing in 2020 are predicted, and the supporting data and corresponding policies are provided for the government of Chongqing to reach its goal as the economic unit of low-carbon emission in the ‘13th Five-Year Plan’. The results of the analysis show that there is a rapid decreasing trend of CO₂ emissions in Chongqing during the ‘12th Five-Year Plan’, which are caused by the adjustment policy of the energy structure in Chongqing. Therefore, the analysis and prediction are primarily based on the adjustment of Chongqing’s coal energy consumption in this paper. At the initial stage, support vector regression (SVR) method is applied to predict the other fossil energy consumption and the corresponding CO₂ emissions of Chongqing in 2020. Then, with the energy intensity of 2015 and the official target of CO₂ intensity in 2020, the total fossil energy consumption and CO₂ emissions of Chongqing in 2020 are predicted respectively. By the above results of calculation, the coal consumption and its corresponding CO₂ emissions of Chongqing in 2020 are determined. To achieve the goal of CO₂ emissions of Chongqing in 2020, the coal consumption level and energy intensity of Chongqing are calculated, and the adjustment strategies for energy consumption structure in Chongqing are proposed. Full article

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

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9 pages, 1918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trends and the Economic Effect of Asbestos Bans and Decline in Asbestos Consumption and Production Worldwide

by Lucy P. Allen¹, Jorge Baez², Mary Elizabeth C. Stern^3,*, Ken Takahashi⁴

and Frank George⁵

¹ NERA Economic Consulting, 1166 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10036, USA

² NERA Economic Consulting, 200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 950, Miami, FL 33131, USA

³ NERA Economic Consulting, 360 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601, USA

⁴ Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, University of Sydney, Gate 3 Hospital Road, Concord NSW 2139, Australia

⁵ World Health Organization (WHO), Regional Office for Europe, European Centre for Environment and Health, Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53113 Bonn, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030531 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 10206

Abstract

Although some countries have reduced asbestos consumption and instituted bans, other countries continue to produce and consume asbestos even as asbestos-related deaths mount and the associated societal costs are high. Asbestos production and consumption has declined globally; the number of bans has increased; [...] Read more.

Although some countries have reduced asbestos consumption and instituted bans, other countries continue to produce and consume asbestos even as asbestos-related deaths mount and the associated societal costs are high. Asbestos production and consumption has declined globally; the number of bans has increased; and the speed at which countries have tapered off consumption has increased. Using country-level data, we study the economic impact of historical changes in the production and use of asbestos. We compare changes in gross domestic product (GDP) following the enactment of asbestos bans. We do not find any significant effect on GDP following an asbestos ban. In a regional case study, we compare changes in GDP and employment with changes in asbestos production. Regional-level data revealed a temporary employment decline at the local level that was then reversed. 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, 1584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Patterns of Time Use across the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Severity Spectrum

by Toby Hunt^*, Marie T. Williams

, Timothy S. Olds and Dorothea Dumuid

Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA), Sansom Institute for Health Research, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, City East Campus, North Terrace, Adelaide 5000, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030533 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4728

Abstract

Descriptions of time use patterns in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are scarce and the relationship between use-of-time and COPD severity remains unclear. This study aimed to describe a typical day for people with COPD and to explore the differences in [...] Read more.

Descriptions of time use patterns in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are scarce and the relationship between use-of-time and COPD severity remains unclear. This study aimed to describe a typical day for people with COPD and to explore the differences in time-use patterns across the Body Mass-Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnoea and Exercise Capacity (BODE) index using compositional analyses. Using a cross-sectional design, 141 adults with clinically stable COPD had their demographics, objective measures of function (pulmonary, exercise capacity and physical activity), and self-reported COPD-related impairment recorded. Daily time-use compositions were derived from 24-h accelerometry and 24-h use-of-time recall interviews. Compositional multiple linear regression models were used to explore the relationship between the BODE index and 24-h time-use compositions. These models were used to predict daily time (min/d) that is spent in time-use components across the BODE index. The BODE index score was clearly associated with 24-h accelerometry (p < 0.0001) and 24-h use-of-time recall (p < 0.0001) compositions. Relative to the remaining time-use components, higher BODE index scores were associated with greater sedentary behaviour (p < 0.0001), Quiet time (p < 0.0001), Screen time (p = 0.001) and Self-care (p = 0.022), and less daily Chores (p < 0.0001) and Household administration (p = 0.015) time. As the BODE index scores increased, time-use predictions were strongly associated with decreases in Chores (up to 206 min/d), and increases in Screen (up to 156 min/d) and Quiet time (up to 131 min/d). Time–use patterns may provide a basis for planning interventions relative to the severity of COPD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Impact of 24-Hour Movement Behaviour and Time Use)

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17 pages, 336 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Condom Use at Last Sexual Intercourse and Its Correlates among Males and Females Aged 15–49 Years in Nepal

by Bimala Sharma^1,2 and Eun Woo Nam^1,2,*

¹ Yonsei Global Health Center, Yonsei University, Wonju 03722, Korea

² Department of Health Administration, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju 03722, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030535 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 9978

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of condom use at last sexual intercourse among people aged 15–49 years in Nepal. Secondary data analysis was performed using the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011. The study was restricted to the respondents [...] Read more.

This study aimed to assess the prevalence and correlates of condom use at last sexual intercourse among people aged 15–49 years in Nepal. Secondary data analysis was performed using the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey 2011. The study was restricted to the respondents who reported ever having had sexual intercourse; 9843 females and 3017 males were included. Condom use was assessed by asking if respondents used condoms in their most recent sexual intercourse. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed using Complex Sample Analysis Procedure to adjust for sample weight and multistage sampling design. Overall, 7.6% of total, and 16.3% of males and 6.2% of females reported using condoms in their last sexual intercourse. Living in Far-Western region, age and wealth quintile were positively associated with condom use in both males and females. Being unmarried was the most important predictor of condom use among males. Higher education was associated with increased likelihood of condom use in females. However, mobility, having multiple sexual partners, and HIV knowledge were not significant correlates of condom use in both sexes. A big difference was observed in the variance accounted for males and females; indicating use of condoms is poorly predicted by the variables included in the study among females. Condom use was more associated with sociodemographic factors than with sexual behavior and HIV knowledge. Full article

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

13 pages, 3399 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Capability of Grass Swale for the Rainfall Runoff Reduction from an Urban Parking Lot, Seoul, Korea

by Muhammad Shafique^1,2

, Reeho Kim^1,2,* and Kwon Kyung-Ho³

¹ Department of Smart City and Construction Engineering, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, University of Science and Technology (UST), 217, Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34113, Korea

² Environmental & Plant Engineering Research Institute, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, 83, Goyangdae-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do 10223, Korea

³ Urban Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Safe Drinking Water Research, Anyang si, Gyeonggi-do 14059, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030537 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 8810

Abstract

This field study elaborates the role of grass swale in the management of stormwater in an urban parking lot. Grass swale was constructed by using different vegetations and local soil media in the parking lot of Mapu-gu Seoul, Korea. In this study, rainfall [...] Read more.

This field study elaborates the role of grass swale in the management of stormwater in an urban parking lot. Grass swale was constructed by using different vegetations and local soil media in the parking lot of Mapu-gu Seoul, Korea. In this study, rainfall runoff was first retained in soil and the vegetation layers of the grass swale, and then infiltrated rainwater was collected with the help of underground perforated pipe, and passed to an underground storage trench. In this way, grass swale detained a large amount of rainwater for a longer period of time and delayed peak discharge. In this field study, various real storm events were monitored and the research results were analyzed to evaluate the performance of grass swale for managing rainfall runoff in an urban area. From the analysis of field experiments, grass swale showed the significant rainfall runoff retention in different rain events. Grass swale markedly reduced total rainfall runoff volume and peak flow during the small storm events of intensity about 30 mm/h. From the analysis, on average rainfall runoff retention from the grass swale was found around 40 to 75% during the various small rain events. From the results, we can say that grass swale is a stormwater mitigation practice which can help avoid flash flooding problems in urban areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Stormwater Management in Urban Areas)

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19 pages, 1356 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Persistent Organic Pollutants Exposure and Type 2 Diabetes among First Nations in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada: A Difference in Difference Analysis

by Lesya Marushka¹, Xuefeng Hu¹, Malek Batal², Tonio Sadik³, Harold Schwartz⁴, Amy Ing², Karen Fediuk⁵, Constantine Tikhonov⁴ and Hing Man Chan^1,*

¹ Biology Department, University of Ottawa, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada

² Nutrition Department, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Pavillon Liliane de Stewart, 2405 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Street, Montreal, QC H3T 1A8, Canada

³ Assembly of First Nations, 55 Metcalfe St #1600, Ottawa, ON K1P 6L5, Canada

⁴ Health Canada, Environmental Public Health Division, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB), Room 2000A Jeanne Mance Bldg. AL 1920A, Tunney’s Pasture, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada

⁵ Dietitian and Nutrition Researcher, Victoria, BC V8Y2V8, Canada

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030539 - 17 Mar 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 6507

Abstract

We previously studied the association between fish consumption and prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Manitoba and Ontario First Nations (FNs), Canada and found different results. In this study, we used a difference in difference model to analyze the data. Dietary and [...] Read more.

We previously studied the association between fish consumption and prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Manitoba and Ontario First Nations (FNs), Canada and found different results. In this study, we used a difference in difference model to analyze the data. Dietary and health data from the First Nations Food Nutrition and Environment Study, a cross-sectional study of 706 Manitoba and 1429 Ontario FNs were analyzed. The consumption of fish was estimated using a food frequency questionnaire. Fish samples were analyzed for dichloro diphenyldichloro ethylene (DDE) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) content. Difference in difference model results showed that persistent organic pollutant (POP) exposure was positively associated with T2D in a dose-response manner. Stronger positive associations were found among females (OR = 14.96 (3.72–60.11)) than in males (OR = 2.85 (1.14–8.04)). The breakpoints for DDE and PCB intake were 2.11 ng/kg/day and 1.47 ng/kg/day, respectively. Each further 1 ng/kg/day increase in DDE and PCB intake increased the risk of T2D with ORs 2.29 (1.26–4.17) and 1.44 (1.09–1.89), respectively. Our findings suggest that the balance of risk and benefits associated with fish consumption is highly dependent on the regional POP concentrations in fish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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21 pages, 2254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Burnout and Body Mass Index in Senior and Middle Managers from the Mexican Manufacturing Industry

by Oziely Daniela Armenta-Hernández^1,*

, Aidé Maldonado-Macías²

, Jorge García-Alcaraz²

, Liliana Avelar-Sosa²

, Arturo Realyvasquez-Vargas³

and Miguel Angel Serrano-Rosa⁴

¹ Department of Electric and Computational Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Del Charro Ave., 450 N., Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua 32310, México

² Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Del Charro Ave., 450 N., Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua 32310, México

³ Departament of Industrial Engineering, Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana, Calzada del Tecnológico S/N, Tijuana Baja California 22424, México

⁴ Departament of Psichology, Universidad de Valencia Av. de Blasco Ibáñez, 13, 46010 Valencia, España

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030541 - 17 Mar 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7587

Abstract

This research relates Burnout Syndrome (BS) with the Body Mass Index (BMI) among middle and senior managers of the Mexican manufacturing industry. Even though BS incidence is high in the Mexican industrial population, few systematic studies have explored BS and its relationship with [...] Read more.

This research relates Burnout Syndrome (BS) with the Body Mass Index (BMI) among middle and senior managers of the Mexican manufacturing industry. Even though BS incidence is high in the Mexican industrial population, few systematic studies have explored BS and its relationship with other health problems, such as obesity. The goal of this research is to determine the relationship between BS and the BMI in employees with normal weight, overweight, and obesity. We present three structural equation models to relate BS and the BMI. The BMI ranges were determined according to the parameters (normal weight, overweight, and obesity) proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). The sample includes 361 employees that voluntarily answered a 31-item questionnaire. We measure the levels of BS using the Maslach Burnout Inventory–General Survey (MBI-GS) and analyze anthropometric and sociodemographic data from the participants. Then, we determine the relationships between the variables through structural equation models and estimate the direct, indirect, and total effects in the three models, which show acceptable reliability. As main findings, the normal weight model has a larger explanatory power than the overweight and obesity models. The same research hypotheses were tested and the effects of BS on the BMI differ across the three models. Such results are presented by taking into account that obesity and overweight require additional factors, such as genetic factors and personal eating habits, to be better explained. Full article

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

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13 pages, 12732 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ethylenediamine-N,N′-Disuccinic Acid (EDDS)—Enhanced Flushing Optimization for Contaminated Agricultural Soil Remediation and Assessment of Prospective Cu and Zn Transport

by Marco Race^1,*

, Alberto Ferraro², Massimiliano Fabbricino¹, Agostino La Marca¹, Antonio Panico³

, Danilo Spasiano⁴

, Alice Tognacchini^5,6 and Francesco Pirozzi¹

¹ Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, University of Naples Federico II, via Claudio 21, 80125 Naples, Italy

² Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy

³ Telematic University Pegaso, Piazza Trieste e Trento 48, 80132 Naples, Italy

⁴ Department of Environmental, Building, Civil Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Orabona n.4, 70126 Bari, Italy

⁵ Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Institute of Soil Research, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria

⁶ Alchemia-nova GmbH, Baumgartenstrasse 93, 1140 Vienna, Austria

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030543 - 18 Mar 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6075

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of operative parameters on the efficiency of a soil flushing process, conducted on real contaminated soil containing high amounts of Cu and Zn. Soil flushing tests were carried out [...] Read more.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study aimed at investigating the effect of operative parameters on the efficiency of a soil flushing process, conducted on real contaminated soil containing high amounts of Cu and Zn. Soil flushing tests were carried out with Ethylenediamine-N,N′-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as a flushing agent due to its high biodegradability and environmentally friendly characteristics. Process parameters such as Empty-Bed Contact Time (EBCT) and EDDS solution molarity were varied from 21–33 h and from 0.36–3.6 mM, respectively. Effects on the mobility of cations such as Fe and Mn were also investigated. Results showed that very high performances can be obtained at [EDDS] = 3.6 mM and EBCT = 33 h. In these conditions, in fact, the amount of removed Cu was 53%, and the amount of removed Zn was 46%. Metal distribution at different depths from the top surface revealed that Cu has higher mobility than Zn. The process results were strongly dependent on the exchange of metals due to the different stability constants of the EDDS complexes. Finally, results from a comparative study showed that soil washing treatment reached the same removal efficiency of the flushing process in a shorter time but required a larger amount of the EDDS solution. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue IJERPH: 15th Anniversary)

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11 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Acute Consumption of Energy Drinks on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Blood Glucose in the Group of Young Adults

by Dariusz Nowak^*, Michał Gośliński and Kamila Nowatkowska

Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Dębowa 3, 85-626 Bydgoszcz, Poland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030544 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 20032

Abstract

Background: Energy drinks (EDs) are very popular among young people, who consume them for various reasons. A standard ED typically contains 80 mg of caffeine, as well as glucose, taurine, vitamins and other ingredients. Excessive consumption of EDs and accumulation of the above [...] Read more.

Background: Energy drinks (EDs) are very popular among young people, who consume them for various reasons. A standard ED typically contains 80 mg of caffeine, as well as glucose, taurine, vitamins and other ingredients. Excessive consumption of EDs and accumulation of the above ingredients, as well as their mutual interactions, can be hazardous to the health of young adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of acute consumption of energy drinks on blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose. Methods: The study involved 68 volunteers, healthy young adults (mean age 25 years), who were divided into two groups: the first consumed three EDs at one-hour intervals, and the second drank the same amount of water. All participants had their blood pressure (BP)—systolic and diastolic (SBP and DBP)—as well as heart rate (HR) and blood glucose (BG) measured. In addition, participants could report any health problems before and after consuming each portion of ED. Results: In the above experiment, having consumed three portions of ED (240 mg of caffeine), the participants presented a significant increase in DBP (p = 0.003), by over 8%, which coincided with a lack of any significant impact on SBP (p = 0.809). No significant changes were noted in HR (p = 0.750). Consumption of EDs caused a significant increase (p < 0.001) in BG, by ca. 21%, on average. Some participants reported various discomforts, which escalated after 2 and 3 EDs. Conclusions: Acute consumption of EDs contributed to increased diastolic blood pressure, blood glucose and level of discomfort in healthy young people. Our results reinforce the need for further studies on a larger population to provide sufficient evidence. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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10 pages, 627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sex-Specific Association between Metabolic Abnormalities and Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in a Military Cohort: The CHIEF Study

by Kai-Wen Chen¹, Fan-Chun Meng², Yu-Lueng Shih², Fang-Ying Su³, Yen-Po Lin⁴, Felicia Lin¹

, Jia-Wei Lin⁵, Wei-Kuo Chang², Chung-Jen Lee⁶, Yi-Hwei Li³, Chung-Bao Hsieh^1,2 and Gen-Min Lin^1,2,7,*

¹ Department of Medicine, Hualien Armed Forces General Hospital, No. 100, Jin-Feng St., Hualien 970, Taiwan

² Departments of Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114, Taiwan

³ Department of Public Health, Tzu-Chi University, Hualien 970, Taiwan

⁴ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Yonghe Cardinal Tien Hospital, Fu-Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City 234, Taiwan

⁵ Department of Dentistry, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan

⁶ Department of Nursing, Tzu-Chi College of Technology, Hualien 970, Taiwan

⁷ College of Science and Engineering, National Dong Hwa University, Hualien 974, Taiwan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 545; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030545 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4849

Abstract

The association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a marker of hepatic injury, may differ between men and women. However, the sex-specific association in a military young population which has a low prevalence of MetS was unclear. [...] Read more.

The association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components with elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, a marker of hepatic injury, may differ between men and women. However, the sex-specific association in a military young population which has a low prevalence of MetS was unclear. We conducted a cross-sectional examination in 6738 men and 766 women, aged 18–50 years, from the cardiorespiratory fitness study in armed forces (CHIEF) in eastern Taiwan. The components of MetS were defined according to the updated International Diabetes Federation (IDF) ethnic criteria for Asians. Elevated ALT levels were defined as ≥40 U/L for both sexes and ≥30 U/L for women alternatively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the sex-specific association between MetS components and elevated ALT. The prevalence of MetS and elevated ALT in men were 11.9% and 12.7% respectively, and in women were 3.5%, and 3.8% respectively. In men, high-density lipoprotein < 40 mg/dL, blood pressures ≥ 130/85 mmHg, serum triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL, and waist size ≥ 90 cm were associated with elevated ALT (odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals: 1.59 (1.34–1.90), 1.40 (1.19–1.65), 2.00 (1.68–2.39), and 1.68 (1.38–2.04); all p < 0.001); whereas in women, only fasting plasma glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL was associated with elevated ALT ≥ 40 U/L (OR: 7.59 (2.35–24.51), p = 0.001) and ALT ≥ 30 U/L (2.67 (0.89–7.95), p = 0.08). Our findings suggest that the relationship between metabolic abnormalities and elevated ALT may differ by sex, possibly due to the MetS more prevalent in young adult men than in women. Full article

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

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12 pages, 2000 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Meta-Regression Analysis of the Effectiveness of Mosquito Nets for Malaria Control: The Value of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets

by Gi-geun Yang¹, Dohyeong Kim^2,*

, Anh Pham³ and Christopher John Paul⁴

¹ Department of Fire Service Administration, Wonkwang University, 460 Iksan-daero, Iksan, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea

² School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080, USA

³ Department of Economics and International Business, Foreign Trade University, 91 Chua Lang, Dong Da, Hanoi 100000, Vietnam

⁴ Department of Public Administration, North Carolina Central University, 1801 Fayetteville St., Durham, NC 27707, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030546 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 42 | Viewed by 10778

Abstract

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been widely used as an effective alternative to conventional insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for over a decade. Due to the growing number of field trials and interventions reporting the effectiveness of LLINs in controlling malaria, there is a need [...] Read more.

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) have been widely used as an effective alternative to conventional insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) for over a decade. Due to the growing number of field trials and interventions reporting the effectiveness of LLINs in controlling malaria, there is a need to systematically review the literature on LLINs and ITNs to examine the relative effectiveness and characteristics of both insecticide nettings. A systematic review of over 2000 scholarly articles published since the year 2000 was conducted. The odds ratios (ORs) of insecticidal net effectiveness in reducing malaria were recorded. The final dataset included 26 articles for meta-regression analysis, with a sample size of 154 subgroup observations. While there is substantial heterogeneity in study characteristics and effect size, we found that the overall OR for reducing malaria by LLIN use was 0.44 (95% CI = 0.41–0.48, p < 0.01) indicating a risk reduction of 56%, while ITNs were slightly less effective with an OR of 0.59 (95% CI = 0.57–0.61, p <0.01). A meta-regression model confirms that LLINs are significantly more effective than ITNs in the prevention of malaria, when controlling for other covariates. For both types of nets, protective efficacy was greater in high transmission areas when nets were used for an extended period. However, cross-sectional studies may overestimate the effect of the nets. The results surprisingly suggest that nets are less effective in protecting children under the age of five, which may be due to differences in child behavior or inadequate coverage. Compared to a previous meta-analysis, insecticide-treated nets appear to have improved their efficacy despite the risks of insecticide resistance. These findings have practical implications for policymakers seeking effective malaria control strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Malaria Epidemiology and Control: Current Situation and Perspectives)

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16 pages, 5990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Eutrophication-Related Environmental Parameters in Two Mediterranean Lakes by Integrating Statistical Techniques and Self-Organizing Maps

by Ekaterini Hadjisolomou^1,*

, Konstantinos Stefanidis^2,3

, George Papatheodorou¹ and Evanthia Papastergiadou²

¹ Laboratory of Marine Geology and Physical Oceanography, Department of Geology, Patras University, 26504 Patras, Greece

² Department of Biology, University of Patras-University Campus Rio, 26500 Patras, Greece

³ Sector of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering, School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030547 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5672

Abstract

During the last decades, Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems, especially lakes, have been under severe pressure due to increasing eutrophication and water quality deterioration. In this article, we compared the effectiveness of different data analysis methods by assessing the contribution of environmental parameters to eutrophication [...] Read more.

During the last decades, Mediterranean freshwater ecosystems, especially lakes, have been under severe pressure due to increasing eutrophication and water quality deterioration. In this article, we compared the effectiveness of different data analysis methods by assessing the contribution of environmental parameters to eutrophication processes. For this purpose, principal components analysis (PCA), cluster analysis, and a self-organizing map (SOM) were applied, using water quality data from two transboundary lakes of North Greece. SOM is considered as an advanced and powerful data analysis tool because of its ability to represent complex and nonlinear relationships among multivariate data sets. The results of PCA and cluster analysis agreed with the SOM results, although the latter provided more information because of the visualization abilities regarding the parameters’ relationships. Besides nutrients that were found to be a key factor for controlling chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), water temperature was related positively with algal production, while the Secchi disk depth parameter was found to be highly important and negatively related toeutrophic conditions. In general, the SOM results were more specific and allowed direct associations between the water quality variables. Our work showed that SOMs can be used effectively in limnological studies to produce robust and interpretable results, aiding scientists and managers to cope with environmental problems such as eutrophication. Full article

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

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12 pages, 1829 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibiotics in Crab Ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin, China: Occurrence, Temporal Variations, and Ecological Risks

by Wenxia Wang^1,2, Xiaohong Gu^1,*, Lijun Zhou¹, Huihui Chen¹, Qingfei Zeng¹ and Zhigang Mao¹

¹ State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China

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

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030548 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5346

Abstract

Antibiotics are widely used in aquaculture, however, this often results in undesirable ecological effects. To evaluate the occurrence, temporal variations, and ecological risk of antibiotics in five crab ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin, China, 44 antibiotics from nine classes were analyzed by rapid [...] Read more.

Antibiotics are widely used in aquaculture, however, this often results in undesirable ecological effects. To evaluate the occurrence, temporal variations, and ecological risk of antibiotics in five crab ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin, China, 44 antibiotics from nine classes were analyzed by rapid resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC-MS/MS). Twelve antibiotics belonging to six classes were detected in the aqueous phase of five crab ponds, among which sulfonamides and macrolides were the predominant classes, and six compounds (sulfamonomethoxine, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, erythromycin-H₂O, monensin, and florfenicol) were frequently detected at high concentrations. In general, the antibiotic levels varied between different crab ponds, with the average concentrations ranging from 122 to 1440 ng/L. The antibiotic concentrations in crab ponds exhibited obvious seasonal variations, with the highest concentration and detection frequency detected in summer. Multivariate analysis showed that antibiotic concentrations were significantly correlated with environmental variables, such as total organic carbon, phosphate, ammonia nitrogen, and pH. Sulfadiazine, clarithromycin, erythromycin-H₂O, and ciprofloxacin posed a high risk to algae, while the mixture of antibiotics could pose a high risk to aquatic organisms in the crab ponds. Overall, the usage of antibiotics in farming ponds should be comprehensively investigated and controlled to preserve a healthy aquaculture ecosystem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Ecosystem Health)

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16 pages, 326 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Quality of Patient-Centered Care Provided to Patients Attending Hematological Cancer Treatment Centers

by Flora Tzelepis^1,2,*

, Tara Clinton-McHarg^1,2

, Christine L Paul^1,2, Robert W Sanson-Fisher^1,2, Douglas Joshua³ and Mariko L Carey^1,2

¹ Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia

² Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305, Australia

³ Institute of Haematology, New South Wales Pathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030549 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5944

Abstract

The Institute of Medicine has recommended that improvements are needed in patient-centered care. This study examined hematological cancer patients’ perceptions of which aspects of cancer care were being delivered well and areas that required improvement, and whether patient characteristics, or the treatment center [...] Read more.

The Institute of Medicine has recommended that improvements are needed in patient-centered care. This study examined hematological cancer patients’ perceptions of which aspects of cancer care were being delivered well and areas that required improvement, and whether patient characteristics, or the treatment center they attended, were associated with quality of patient-centered care. Participants were recruited via three Australian hematological cancer treatment centers and completed a paper-and-pen survey assessing sociodemographic, disease, and psychological and treatment characteristics at recruitment. A second survey that contained the Quality of Patient-Centered Cancer Care measure was completed one month after recruitment (n = 215). The most frequently delivered feature of patient-centered cancer care was hospital staff showing respect for patients (91.0%). The area of care reported most commonly as not being delivered was hospital staff helping the patient find other cancer patients to talk to (29.8%). Patients without depression reported higher perceived quality of treatment decision-making, co-ordinated and integrated care, emotional support, follow-up care, respectful communication, and cancer information than patients with depression. The treatment center that was attended was associated only with the quality of cancer information patients received. Privacy issues may hinder staff connecting patients directly but this could be overcome via referrals to cancer organizations that offer peer support services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Quality of Patient-Centered Care)

13 pages, 2939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of the Impact of Urbanization on Soil Erosion in Inner Mongolia

by Li-Yan Wang^1,2

, Yi Xiao^1,*, En-Ming Rao³, Ling Jiang⁴, Yang Xiao¹ and Zhi-Yun Ouyang¹

¹ Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China

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

³ College of Geography Resource Sciences, Sichuan Normal University, Sichuan 610101, China

⁴ Zhongshan Research Institute of Environmental Protection Science Co., Ltd, Guangdong 528403, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030550 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 7656

Abstract

Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China, has experienced severe soil erosion following a period of rapid economic development and urbanization. To investigate how urbanization has influenced the extent of soil erosion in Inner Mongolia, we used urbanization and [...] Read more.

Inner Mongolia, an autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China, has experienced severe soil erosion following a period of rapid economic development and urbanization. To investigate how urbanization has influenced the extent of soil erosion in Inner Mongolia, we used urbanization and soil erosion data from 2000 through 2010 to determine the relationship between urbanization and soil erosion patterns. Two empirical equations—the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ)—were used to estimate the intensity of soil erosion, and we performed backward linear regression to model how it changed with greater urbanization. There was an apparent increase in the rate of urbanization and a decrease in the area affected by soil erosion in 2010 compared to the corresponding values for 2000. The urban population stood at 11.32 million in 2010, which represented a 16.47% increase over that in 2000. The area affected by soil erosion in 2000 totaled 704,817 km², yet it had decreased to 674,135 km² by 2010. However, a path of modest urban development (rural–urban mitigation) and reasonable industrial structuring (the development of GDP-2) may partially reduce urbanization’s ecological pressure and thus indirectly reduce the threat of soil erosion to human security. Therefore, to better control soil erosion in Inner Mongolia during the process of urbanization, the current model of economic development should be modified to improve the eco-efficiency of urbanization, while also promoting new modes of urbanization that are environmentally sustainable, cost-effective, and conserve limited resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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13 pages, 1667 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Investigation of Removal Capacities of Biofilters for Airborne Viable Micro-Organisms

by Rémi Soret¹, Jean-Louis Fanlo¹, Luc Malhautier¹, Philippe Geiger² and Sandrine Bayle^1,*

¹ LGEI, IMT Mines Ales, University of Montpellier, 30100 Ales, France

² CMI Europe-Environnement, 1 rue des Pins, Parc d’Activités du Pays de Thann, 68700 Aspach-Michelbach, France

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030551 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5192

Abstract

New emerging issues appears regarding the possible aerosolization of micro-organisms from biofilters to the ambient air. Traditional bioaerosol sampling and cultural methods used in literature offer relative efficiencies. In this study, a new method revolving around a particle counter capable of detecting total [...] Read more.

New emerging issues appears regarding the possible aerosolization of micro-organisms from biofilters to the ambient air. Traditional bioaerosol sampling and cultural methods used in literature offer relative efficiencies. In this study, a new method revolving around a particle counter capable of detecting total and viable particles in real time was used. This counter (BioTrak 9510-BD) uses laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technology to determine the biological nature of the particle. The concentration of viable particles was measured on two semi-industrial pilot scale biofilters in order to estimate the Removal Efficiency in viable particles (RE_vp) in stable conditions and to examine the influence of pollutant feeding and relative humidification of the gaseous effluent on the RE_vp. The RE_vp of biofilters reached near 80% and highlighted both the stability of that removal and the statistical equivalence between two identical biofilters. Pollutant deprivation periods of 12 h, 48 h and 30 days were shown to have no influence on the biofilters’ removal capacity, demonstrating the robustness and adaptation capacities of the flora. In contrast, a 90-day famine period turned the biofilters into emitters of viable particles. Finally, the humidification of the effluent was shown to negatively influence the removal capacity for viable particles, as drying off the air was shown to increase the RE_vp from 60 to 85%. Full article

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

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20 pages, 1078 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Attitudes Expressed in Online Comments about Environmental Factors in the Tourism Sector: An Exploratory Study

by Jose Ramon Saura^1,*

, Pedro Palos-Sanchez²

and Miguel Angel Rios Martin³

¹ Department of Business and Economics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, Rey Juan Carlos University, Paseo Artilleros s/n, Madrid 28032, Spain

² Department of Business Organization, Marketing and Market Research, International University of La Rioja, Av. de la Paz 137, 26006 Logroño, Spain

³ Department of Financial Economy and Operations Management, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of de Sevilla, Av. de Ramon y Cajal, 1, Sevilla 41004, Spain

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030553 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 53 | Viewed by 6687

Abstract

The object of this exploratory study is to identify the positive, neutral and negative environment factors that affect users who visit Spanish hotels in order to help the hotel managers decide how to improve the quality of the services provided. To carry out [...] Read more.

The object of this exploratory study is to identify the positive, neutral and negative environment factors that affect users who visit Spanish hotels in order to help the hotel managers decide how to improve the quality of the services provided. To carry out the research a Sentiment Analysis was initially performed, grouping the sample of tweets (n = 14459) according to the feelings shown and then a textual analysis was used to identify the key environment factors in these feelings using the qualitative analysis software Nvivo (QSR International, Melbourne, Australia). The results of the exploratory study present the key environment factors that affect the users experience when visiting hotels in Spain, such as actions that support local traditions and products, the maintenance of rural areas respecting the local environment and nature, or respecting air quality in the areas where hotels have facilities and offer services. The conclusions of the research can help hotels improve their services and the impact on the environment, as well as improving the visitors experience based on the positive, neutral and negative environment factors which the visitors themselves identified. Full article

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

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23 pages, 3767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Projecting Drivers of Human Vulnerability under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways

by Guillaume Rohat^1,2

¹ Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland

² Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030554 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 7024

Abstract

The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) are the new set of alternative futures of societal development that inform global and regional climate change research. They have the potential to foster the integration of socioeconomic scenarios within assessments of future climate-related health impacts. To date, [...] Read more.

The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) are the new set of alternative futures of societal development that inform global and regional climate change research. They have the potential to foster the integration of socioeconomic scenarios within assessments of future climate-related health impacts. To date, such assessments have primarily superimposed climate scenarios on current socioeconomic conditions only. Until now, the few assessments of future health risks that employed the SSPs have focused on future human exposure—i.e., mainly future population patterns—, neglecting future human vulnerability. This paper first explores the research gaps—mainly linked to the paucity of available projections—that explain such a lack of consideration of human vulnerability under the SSPs. It then highlights the need for projections of socioeconomic variables covering the wide range of determinants of human vulnerability, available at relevant spatial and temporal scales, and accounting for local specificities through sectoral and regional extended versions of the global SSPs. Finally, this paper presents two innovative methods of obtaining and computing such socioeconomic projections under the SSPs—namely the scenario matching approach and an approach based on experts’ elicitation and correlation analyses—and applies them to the case of Europe. They offer a variety of possibilities for practical application, producing projections at sub-national level of various drivers of human vulnerability such as demographic and social characteristics, urbanization, state of the environment, infrastructure, health status, and living arrangements. Both the innovative approaches presented in this paper and existing methods—such as the spatial disaggregation of existing projections and the use of sectoral models—show great potential to enhance the availability of relevant projections of determinants of human vulnerability. Assessments of future climate-related health impacts should thus rely on these methods to account for future human vulnerability—under varying levels of socioeconomic development—and to explore its influence on future health risks under different degrees of climate change. Full article

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

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14 pages, 4879 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Do Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) and Established Urban Neighborhoods Have Similar Walking Levels in Hong Kong?

by Yi Lu^1,2,*

, Zhonghua Gou³

, Yang Xiao⁴, Chinmoy Sarkar⁵ and John Zacharias⁶

¹ Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

² City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China

³ School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4215, Australia

⁴ Department of Urban Planning, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

⁵ Healthy High Density Cities Lab, HKUrbanLab, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

⁶ College of Architecture and Landscape, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030555 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 7745

Abstract

A sharp drop in physical activity and skyrocketing obesity rate has accompanied rapid urbanization in China. The urban planning concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) has been widely advocated in China to promote physical activity, especially walking. Indeed, many design features thought to promote [...] Read more.

A sharp drop in physical activity and skyrocketing obesity rate has accompanied rapid urbanization in China. The urban planning concept of transit-oriented development (TOD) has been widely advocated in China to promote physical activity, especially walking. Indeed, many design features thought to promote walking—e.g., mixed land use, densification, and well-connected street network—often characterize both TODs and established urban neighborhoods. Thus, it is often assumed that TODs have similar physical activity benefits as established urban neighborhoods. To verify this assumption, this study compared walking behaviors in established urban neighborhoods and transit-oriented new towns in Hong Kong. To address the limitation of self-selection bias, we conducted a study using Hong Kong citywide public housing scheme, which assigns residents to different housing estates by flat availability and family size rather than personal preference. The results show new town residents walked less for transportation purpose than urban residents. New town residents far from the transit station (800–1200 m) walked less for recreational purpose than TOD residents close to a rail transit station (<400 m) or urban residents. The observed disparity in walking behaviors challenges the common assumption that TOD and established urban neighborhoods have similar impact on walking behavior. The results suggest the necessity for more nuanced planning strategies, taking local-level factors into account to promote walking of TOD residents who live far from transit stations. Full article

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10 pages, 306 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of Dietary Exposure to Cadmium in Residents of Guangzhou, China

by Weiwei Zhang¹, Yungang Liu², Yufei Liu¹, Boheng Liang¹, Hongwei Zhou¹, Yingyue Li¹, Yuhua Zhang¹, Jie Huang¹, Chao Yu¹ and Kuncai Chen^1,*

¹ Guangzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou 510440, China

² Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030556 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5133

Abstract

Cadmium and its compounds are human carcinogens with severe organ toxicity, and their contamination of agricultural soil in China has been frequently reported; however, the dietary exposure to cadmium in residents and the relevant health risk have seldom been reported. In this study, [...] Read more.

Cadmium and its compounds are human carcinogens with severe organ toxicity, and their contamination of agricultural soil in China has been frequently reported; however, the dietary exposure to cadmium in residents and the relevant health risk have seldom been reported. In this study, the concentration of cadmium in various types of food collected from 2013 to 2015 were analyzed using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry, and the dietary exposure to cadmium assessed based on a dietary survey in 2976 Guangzhou residents. In total, 3074 out of 4039 food samples had cadmium levels above the limit of detection. The mean ± standard deviation (50th, 95th percentile) cadmium content in all samples was 159.0 ± 112.7 (8.6, 392.4) μg/kg, with levels ranging from 1.0 to 7830 μg/kg. Using the mean cadmium concentrations, the average monthly dietary exposure of Guangzhou residents to cadmium was 14.4 (μg/kg body weight (BW), accounting for 57.6% of the provisional tolerable monthly intake (PTMI). Rice, laver, vegetables, and live aquatic products were the main sources of cadmium intake, on average accounting for 89% of the total value. The dietary cadmium exposure in high consumers (95th percentile food consumption) was 41.0 μg/kg·BW/month, accounting for 163% of the PTMI. Additionally, dietary cadmium exposure at mean consumption but high cadmium food concentration (95th percentile) was 32.3 μg/kg·BW/month, corresponding to 129% of the PTMI. The level of dietary exposure to cadmium in most Guangzhou residents was within the safety limit, thus increased health risk from dietary cadmium exposure is low at present. However, continued efforts by local governments to monitor the levels of cadmium in the four main food categories contributing to exposure are necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Exposures)

16 pages, 1619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relationship between Alcohol Drinking Patterns and Sleep Duration among Black and White Men and Women in the United States

by Chandra L. Jackson^1,*, Symielle A. Gaston¹

, Rui Liu², Kenneth Mukamal^3,4 and Eric B. Rimm^4,5,6

¹ Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA

² Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27703, USA

³ Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02215, USA

⁴ Nutrition Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA

⁵ Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02215, USA

⁶ Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030557 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 8237

Abstract

In the United States, racial minorities generally experience poorer cardiovascular health compared to whites, and differences in alcohol consumption and sleep could contribute to these disparities. With a nationally representative sample of 187,950 adults in the National Health Interview Survey from 2004 to [...] Read more.

In the United States, racial minorities generally experience poorer cardiovascular health compared to whites, and differences in alcohol consumption and sleep could contribute to these disparities. With a nationally representative sample of 187,950 adults in the National Health Interview Survey from 2004 to 2015, we examined the relationship between alcohol-drinking patterns and sleep duration/quality by race and sex. Using Poisson regression models with robust variance, we estimated sex-specific prevalence ratios for each sleep duration/quality category among blacks compared to whites within categories of alcohol-drinking pattern, adjusting for socioeconomic status and other potential confounders. Across alcohol drinking patterns, blacks were less likely than whites to report recommended sleep of 7–<9 h/day. Short (PR = 1.30 [95% CI: 1.22–1.39]) and long (PR = 1.30 [95% CI: 1.07–1.58]) sleep were 30% more prevalent among black-male infrequent heavy drinkers compared to white-male infrequent heavy drinkers. Short (PR = 1.27 [95% CI: 1.21–1.34]) sleep was more prevalent among black-female infrequent heavy drinkers compared to white-female infrequent heavy drinkers, but there was no difference for long sleep (PR = 1.09 [95% CI: 0.97–1.23]). Black female infrequent moderate drinkers, however, had a 16% higher (PR = 1.16 [95% CI: 1.01–1.33]) prevalence of long sleep compared to their white counterparts. Environmental, social, and biological factors contributing to these findings, along with their impact on disparate health outcomes, should be studied in greater detail. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sleep Health)

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17 pages, 1596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Role of Work-Related Factors in the Development of Psychological Distress and Associated Mental Disorders: Differential Views of Human Resource Managers, Occupational Physicians, Primary Care Physicians and Psychotherapists in Germany

by Florian Junne^1,*, Martina Michaelis^2,3, Eva Rothermund⁴

, Felicitas Stuber¹, Harald Gündel⁴, Stephan Zipfel¹ and Monika A. Rieger³

¹ Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Medical University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany

² Research Centre for Occupational and Social Medicine (FFAS), 79098 Freiburg, Germany

³ Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine and Health Services Research, University Hospital of Tuebingen, 72074 Tuebingen, Germany

⁴ Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Ulm, University of Ulm, 89081 Ulm, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030559 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 8285

Abstract

Objectives: This study analyses the perceived relevance of stress-dimensions in work-settings from the differential views of Human Resource Managers (HRM), Occupational Physicians (OP), Primary Care Physicians (PCP) and Psychotherapists (PT) in Germany. Methods: Cross-sectional study design, using a self-report questionnaire. Descriptive [...] Read more.

Objectives: This study analyses the perceived relevance of stress-dimensions in work-settings from the differential views of Human Resource Managers (HRM), Occupational Physicians (OP), Primary Care Physicians (PCP) and Psychotherapists (PT) in Germany. Methods: Cross-sectional study design, using a self-report questionnaire. Descriptive measures and explorative bivariate methods were applied for group-comparisons. Results are presented as rankings of perceived importance and as polarity profiles of contrasting views. Results: N = 627 participants completed the questionnaires (HRM: n = 172; OP: n = 133; PCP: n = 136; PT: n = 186). The stress dimensions with the highest mean ratings across all four professions were: ‘social relationships in the work place’ (M = 3.55, SD = 0.62) and ‘superiors´ leadership style’ (M = 3.54, SD = 0.64). Mean ratings of perceived relevance of stress dimensions differed most between HRM and the three medical professions. Conclusions: The perceived importance of work-related stress-dimensions seems to be higher in the medical disciplines (OP, PCP, PT) than in the group from the management sector (HRM). However, no fundamental disagreement on the role of work-related stress-dimensions seems to hinder e.g., intensified efforts of cooperation across sectors in tackling the “stress-pandemic” and improving the (mental) health of employees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health)

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9 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Health Halo Trend in UK Television Food Advertising Viewed by Children: The Rise of Implicit and Explicit Health Messaging in the Promotion of Unhealthy Foods

by Rosa Whalen^1,*

, Joanne Harrold¹, Simon Child²

, Jason Halford¹ and Emma Boyland¹

¹ Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZX, UK

² Cambridge Assessment, Cambridge CB1 2EU, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030560 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 10264

Abstract

Monitoring the creative content within food marketing to children is strongly advocated by public health authorities, but few studies address the prevalence of health-related messaging in television adverts. Food and beverage adverts (n = 18,888 in 2008, n = 6664 in 2010) [...] Read more.

Monitoring the creative content within food marketing to children is strongly advocated by public health authorities, but few studies address the prevalence of health-related messaging in television adverts. Food and beverage adverts (n = 18,888 in 2008, n = 6664 in 2010) from UK television channels popular with children were coded and analyzed. Physical-activity depiction displayed an 18.8 percentage point increase from 2008 (4.4%) to 2010 (23.2%). Of the food adverts containing physical-activity depiction in 2010, 81.1% were for non-core foods. The appearance of health claims in food adverts in 2010 increased 4.1 percentage points from 2008 levels (20.7% to 24.8%) where the majority of food adverts featuring health and nutrition claims were for non-core foods (58.3%). Health-related (e.g., health/nutrition, weight loss/diet) appeals were used in 17.1% of food adverts during peak child-viewing times, rising to 33.0% of adverts shown on dedicated children’s channels in 2010. Implicit (physical activity) and explicit (health claims) health messages are increasingly prevalent in UK television food advertising viewed by children, and are frequently used to promote unhealthy foods. Policy makers in the UK should consider amendments to the existing statutory approach in order to address this issue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eating and Exercise in Children and Adolescents)

24 pages, 3780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Roles of Motivation and Coping Behaviours in Managing Stress: Qualitative Interview Study of Hong Kong Expatriate Construction Professionals in Mainland China

by Isabelle Yee Shan Chan^1,*, Mei-yung Leung² and Qi Liang³

¹ Department of Real Estate and Construction, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

² Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

³ Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030561 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 9560

Abstract

Driven by fast-growing economies worldwide, the number of international construction projects is booming, and employing expatriates has inevitably become a strategy used by construction firms. However, stress arising from expatriate assignments can lead to early return, assignment failure, and staff turnover, causing in [...] Read more.

Driven by fast-growing economies worldwide, the number of international construction projects is booming, and employing expatriates has inevitably become a strategy used by construction firms. However, stress arising from expatriate assignments can lead to early return, assignment failure, and staff turnover, causing in significant losses to an organisation. Extensive research has focused on the effectiveness of coping behaviours in relation to stress. However, studies investigating the antecedents of coping are rare. The limited studies to date tend to focus on content-based motivations (identifying what), instead of on how coping behaviours can be motivated in the stress management process (identifying how). Focus on expatriate construction professionals (ECPs) is further limited. Hence, this study aims to investigate from a process theory perspective the role of motivation in the stress management process. Using a qualitative interview study approach, involving 22 in-depth interviews, this study first identifies the content of motivation, coping behaviours, performance, and stress in the context of Hong Kong ECPs working on cross-cultural projects in China; it then unveils and explains the associations between the identified variables. Based on the results, stakeholders are recommended to review pre-departure training, so as to ensure that key elements such as personal awareness of stress (cognitive, affective, and physical), expectancies of coping strategies on stress (adaptive or maladaptive), and expectancies of the influence of stress on performance are covered. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health)

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Review

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17 pages, 543 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Association between Maternal Stress and Childhood Eczema: A Systematic Review

by Carmen W. H. Chan¹

, Bernard M. H. Law^1,*, Yun-Hong Liu¹, Alexandra R. B. Ambrocio², Natasha Au³, Melody Jiang⁴ and Ka Ming Chow^1,*

¹ The Nethersole School of Nursing, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, the New Territories, Hong Kong, China

² Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA

³ Department of Psychology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada

⁴ Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-2200, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 395; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030395 - 25 Feb 2018

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 9598

Abstract

Eczema is a chronic atopic disease that is highly prevalent among children worldwide. Identification of factors that may contribute to childhood eczema is needed in order to develop strategies in its prevention. Over the past decade, accumulating evidence has suggested a potential correlation [...] Read more.

Eczema is a chronic atopic disease that is highly prevalent among children worldwide. Identification of factors that may contribute to childhood eczema is needed in order to develop strategies in its prevention. Over the past decade, accumulating evidence has suggested a potential correlation between the experience of stress by mothers and the risk of eczema development in their child. The present review attempts to provide an overview of the studies that contribute data on this correlation. The literature search was conducted using five databases, resulting in the inclusion of eleven studies in the review. The findings of these studies were summarized narratively. Further, an appraisal of the reporting quality of the included studies was conducted using a twelve-item checklist adapted from the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist. Overall, the included studies showed that a positive correlation exists between the experience of stress among mothers and eczema risk of their child. The findings highlight the importance of the implementation of stress reduction programs for pregnant women and those in their postpartum period within communities in order to enable these individuals to relieve stress effectively. Full article

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14 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Impact of Active Workstations on Workplace Productivity and Performance: A Systematic Review

by Samson O. Ojo¹, Daniel P. Bailey²

, Angel M. Chater² and David J. Hewson^1,*

¹ Institute for Health Research, University of Bedfordshire, Luton LU1 3JU, UK

² Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research, School of Sport Science and Physical Activity, University of Bedfordshire, Bedford MK41 9EA, UK

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030417 - 27 Feb 2018

Cited by 54 | Viewed by 15260

Abstract

Active workstations have been recommended for reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace. It is important to understand if the use of these workstations has an impact on worker productivity. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effect of active workstations [...] Read more.

Active workstations have been recommended for reducing sedentary behavior in the workplace. It is important to understand if the use of these workstations has an impact on worker productivity. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the effect of active workstations on workplace productivity and performance. A total of 3303 articles were initially identified by a systematic search and seven articles met eligibility criteria for inclusion. A quality appraisal was conducted to assess risk of bias, confounding, internal and external validity, and reporting. Most of the studies reported cognitive performance as opposed to productivity. Five studies assessed cognitive performance during use of an active workstation, usually in a single session. Sit-stand desks had no detrimental effect on performance, however, some studies with treadmill and cycling workstations identified potential decreases in performance. Many of the studies lacked the power required to achieve statistical significance. Three studies assessed workplace productivity after prolonged use of an active workstation for between 12 and 52 weeks. These studies reported no significant effect on productivity. Active workstations do not appear to decrease workplace performance. Full article

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

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15 pages, 1444 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Narrative Review on the Human Health Effects of Ambient Air Pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa: An Urgent Need for Health Effects Studies

by Eric Coker^1,* and Samuel Kizito²

¹ School of Public Health, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA

² College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 427; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030427 - 1 Mar 2018

Cited by 70 | Viewed by 12536

Abstract

An important aspect of the new sustainable development goals (SDGs) is a greater emphasis on reducing the health impacts from ambient air pollution in developing countries. Meanwhile, the burden of human disease attributable to ambient air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa is growing, yet [...] Read more.

An important aspect of the new sustainable development goals (SDGs) is a greater emphasis on reducing the health impacts from ambient air pollution in developing countries. Meanwhile, the burden of human disease attributable to ambient air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa is growing, yet estimates of its impact on the region are possibly underestimated due to a lack of air quality monitoring, a paucity of air pollution epidemiological studies, and important population vulnerabilities in the region. The lack of ambient air pollution epidemiologic data in sub-Saharan Africa is also an important global health disparity. Thousands of air pollution health effects studies have been conducted in Europe and North America, rather than in urban areas that have some of the highest measured air pollution levels in world, including urban areas in sub-Saharan Africa. In this paper, we provide a systematic and narrative review of the literature on ambient air pollution epidemiological studies that have been conducted in the region to date. Our review of the literature focuses on epidemiologic studies that measure air pollutants and relate air pollution measurements with various health outcomes. We highlight the gaps in ambient air pollution epidemiological studies conducted in different sub-regions of sub-Saharan Africa and provide methodological recommendations for future environmental epidemiology studies addressing ambient air pollution in the region. Full article

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

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29 pages, 1200 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Recent Advances in Research on PM_2.5 in China

by Yaolin Lin^1,2,*

, Jiale Zou², Wei Yang³ and Chun-Qing Li⁴

¹ College of Mechanical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, 333 Longteng Road, Shanghai 201620, China

² School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China

³ College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, Melbourne 8001, Australia

⁴ School of Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne 3000, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030438 - 2 Mar 2018

Cited by 186 | Viewed by 15905

Abstract

PM_2.5 pollution has become a severe problem in China due to rapid industrialization and high energy consumption. It can cause increases in the incidence of various respiratory diseases and resident mortality rates, as well as increase in the energy consumption in heating, [...] Read more.

PM_2.5 pollution has become a severe problem in China due to rapid industrialization and high energy consumption. It can cause increases in the incidence of various respiratory diseases and resident mortality rates, as well as increase in the energy consumption in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems due to the need for air purification. This paper reviews and studies the sources of indoor and outdoor PM_2.5, the impact of PM_2.5 pollution on atmospheric visibility, occupational health, and occupants’ behaviors. This paper also presents current pollution status in China, the relationship between indoor and outdoor PM_2.5, and control of indoor PM_2.5, and finally presents analysis and suggestions for future research. Full article

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28 pages, 716 KiB

Open AccessReview

Urban Green Space and Its Impact on Human Health

by Michelle C. Kondo^1,*, Jaime M. Fluehr², Thomas McKeon² and Charles C. Branas³

¹ USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA

² Urban Health Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

³ Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 445; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030445 - 3 Mar 2018

Cited by 836 | Viewed by 97018

Abstract

Background: Over half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to increase. While there have been numerous reviews of empirical studies on the link between nature and human health, very few have focused on the [...] Read more.

Background: Over half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and this proportion is expected to increase. While there have been numerous reviews of empirical studies on the link between nature and human health, very few have focused on the urban context, and most have examined almost exclusively cross-sectional research. This review is a first step toward assessing the possibility of causal relationships between nature and health in urban settings. Methods: Through systematic review of published literature, we explored the association between urban green space and human health. Results: We found consistent negative association between urban green space exposure and mortality, heart rate, and violence, and positive association with attention, mood, and physical activity. Results were mixed, or no association was found, in studies of urban green space exposure and general health, weight status, depression, and stress (via cortisol concentration). The number of studies was too low to generalize about birth outcomes, blood pressure, heart rate variability, cancer, diabetes, or respiratory symptoms. Conclusions: More studies using rigorous study design are needed to make generalizations, and meta-analyses, of these and other health outcomes possible. These findings may assist urban managers, organizations, and communities in their efforts to increase new or preserve existing green space. Full article

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27 pages, 397 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress: Unsafe Environments and Conditions, and the Default Stress Response

by Jos F. Brosschot^1,*, Bart Verkuil²

and Julian F. Thayer³

¹ Institute of Psychology, Unit Health, Medical and Neuropsychology, Leiden University, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands

² Institute of Psychology, Unit Clinical Psychology, Leiden University, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands

³ Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030464 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 174 | Viewed by 23471

Abstract

Prolonged physiological stress responses form an important risk factor for disease. According to neurobiological and evolution-theoretical insights the stress response is a default response that is always “on” but inhibited by the prefrontal cortex when safety is perceived. Based on these insights the [...] Read more.

Prolonged physiological stress responses form an important risk factor for disease. According to neurobiological and evolution-theoretical insights the stress response is a default response that is always “on” but inhibited by the prefrontal cortex when safety is perceived. Based on these insights the Generalized Unsafety Theory of Stress (GUTS) states that prolonged stress responses are due to generalized and largely unconsciously perceived unsafety rather than stressors. This novel perspective necessitates a reconstruction of current stress theory, which we address in this paper. We discuss a variety of very common situations without stressors but with prolonged stress responses, that are not, or not likely to be caused by stressors, including loneliness, low social status, adult life after prenatal or early life adversity, lack of a natural environment, and less fit bodily states such as obesity or fatigue. We argue that in these situations the default stress response may be chronically disinhibited due to unconsciously perceived generalized unsafety. Also, in chronic stress situations such as work stress, the prolonged stress response may be mainly caused by perceived unsafety in stressor-free contexts. Thus, GUTS identifies and explains far more stress-related physiological activity that is responsible for disease and mortality than current stress theories. Full article

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

17 pages, 706 KiB

Open AccessReview

From Content Knowledge to Community Change: A Review of Representations of Environmental Health Literacy

by Kathleen M. Gray

Institute for the Environment, Center for Environmental Health and Susceptibility, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1105, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030466 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 98 | Viewed by 10386

Abstract

Environmental health literacy (EHL) is a relatively new framework for conceptualizing how people understand and use information about potentially harmful environmental exposures and their influence on health. As such, information on the characterization and measurement of EHL is limited. This review provides an [...] Read more.

Environmental health literacy (EHL) is a relatively new framework for conceptualizing how people understand and use information about potentially harmful environmental exposures and their influence on health. As such, information on the characterization and measurement of EHL is limited. This review provides an overview of EHL as presented in peer-reviewed literature and aggregates studies based on whether they represent individual level EHL or community level EHL or both. A range of assessment tools has been used to measure EHL, with many studies relying on pre-/post-assessment; however, a broader suite of assessment tools may be needed to capture community-wide outcomes. This review also suggests that the definition of EHL should explicitly include community change or collective action as an important longer-term outcome and proposes a refinement of previous representations of EHL as a theoretical framework, to include self-efficacy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Health)

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30 pages, 5206 KiB

Open AccessReview

Revealed Preference Methods for Studying Bicycle Route Choice—A Systematic Review

by Ray Pritchard

Department of Architecture and Planning, Faculty of Architecture and Design, NTNU—Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 470; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030470 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 9242

Abstract

One fundamental aspect of promoting utilitarian bicycle use involves making modifications to the built environment to improve the safety, efficiency and enjoyability of cycling. Revealed preference data on bicycle route choice can assist greatly in understanding the actual behaviour of a highly heterogeneous [...] Read more.

One fundamental aspect of promoting utilitarian bicycle use involves making modifications to the built environment to improve the safety, efficiency and enjoyability of cycling. Revealed preference data on bicycle route choice can assist greatly in understanding the actual behaviour of a highly heterogeneous group of users, which in turn assists the prioritisation of infrastructure or other built environment initiatives. This systematic review seeks to compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of the empirical approaches for evaluating whole journey route choices of bicyclists. Two electronic databases were systematically searched for a selection of keywords pertaining to bicycle and route choice. In total seven families of methods are identified: GPS devices, smartphone applications, crowdsourcing, participant-recalled routes, accompanied journeys, egocentric cameras and virtual reality. The study illustrates a trade-off in the quality of data obtainable and the average number of participants. Future additional methods could include dockless bikeshare, multiple camera solutions using computer vision and immersive bicycle simulator environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Global Health)

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19 pages, 1088 KiB

Open AccessReview

Do Technical Aids for Patient Handling Prevent Musculoskeletal Complaints in Health Care Workers?—A Systematic Review of Intervention Studies

by Janice Hegewald^1,*, Wera Berge¹, Philipp Heinrich¹, Ronny Staudte¹, Alice Freiberg¹, Julia Scharfe¹, Maria Girbig¹, Albert Nienhaus^2,3 and Andreas Seidler¹

¹ Institute and Policlinic of Occupational and Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany

² Institute for Health Service Research in Dermatology and Nursing, University Clinics Hamburg Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany

³ Department of Occupational Health Research, German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Health and Welfare Service, Pappelallee 33-37, 22089 Hamburg, Germany

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030476 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 46 | Viewed by 9904

Abstract

The physical load ensuing from the repositioning and moving of patients puts health care workers at risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Technical equipment developed to aid with patient handling should reduce physical strain and workload; however, the efficacy of these aids in preventing musculoskeletal [...] Read more.

The physical load ensuing from the repositioning and moving of patients puts health care workers at risk of musculoskeletal complaints. Technical equipment developed to aid with patient handling should reduce physical strain and workload; however, the efficacy of these aids in preventing musculoskeletal disorders and complaints is still unclear. A systematic review of controlled intervention studies was conducted to examine if the risk of musculoskeletal complaints and disorders is reduced by technical patient handling equipment. MEDLINE^®/PubMed^®, EMBASE^®, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL^®) were searched using terms for nursing, caregiving, technical aids, musculoskeletal injuries, and complaints. Randomized controlled trials and controlled before-after studies of interventions including technical patient handling equipment were included. The titles and abstracts of 9554 publications and 97 full-texts were screened by two reviewers. The qualitative synthesis included one randomized controlled trial (RCT) and ten controlled before-after studies. A meta-analysis of four studies resulted in a pooled risk ratio for musculoskeletal injury claims (post-intervention) of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.68–0.90). Overall, the methodological quality of the studies was poor and the results often based on administrative injury claim data, introducing potential selection bias. Interventions with technical patient handling aids appear to prevent musculoskeletal complaints, but the certainty of the evidence according to GRADE approach ranged from low to very low. Full article

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

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9 pages, 921 KiB

Open AccessReview

Range Expansion of Tick Disease Vectors in North America: Implications for Spread of Tick-Borne Disease

by Daniel E. Sonenshine^1,2

¹ Laboratory for Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA

² Department of Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 478; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030478 - 9 Mar 2018

Cited by 379 | Viewed by 25461

Abstract

Ticks are the major vectors of most disease-causing agents to humans, companion animals and wildlife. Moreover, ticks transmit a greater variety of pathogenic agents than any other blood-feeding arthropod. Ticks have been expanding their geographic ranges in recent decades largely due to climate [...] Read more.

Ticks are the major vectors of most disease-causing agents to humans, companion animals and wildlife. Moreover, ticks transmit a greater variety of pathogenic agents than any other blood-feeding arthropod. Ticks have been expanding their geographic ranges in recent decades largely due to climate change. Furthermore, tick populations in many areas of their past and even newly established localities have increased in abundance. These dynamic changes present new and increasing severe public health threats to humans, livestock and companion animals in areas where they were previously unknown or were considered to be of minor importance. Here in this review, the geographic status of four representative tick species are discussed in relation to these public health concerns, namely, the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, the Gulf Coast Tick, Amblyomma maculatum and the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis. Both biotic and abiotic factors that may influence future range expansion and successful colony formation in new habitats are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emergence of Tick-Borne Diseases Resulting from Human Landscape Change)

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13 pages, 708 KiB

Open AccessReview

Strengthening Preparedness for Arbovirus Infections in Mediterranean and Black Sea Countries: A Conceptual Framework to Assess Integrated Surveillance in the Context of the One Health Strategy

by Maria Grazia Dente^1,*

, Flavia Riccardo¹, Gloria Nacca¹, Alessia Ranghiasci¹, Camille Escadafal^2,3, Lobna Gaayeb², Miguel Angel Jiménez-Clavero^4,5

, Jean-Claude Manuguerra², Marie Picard⁶, Jovita Fernández-Pinero⁴

, Elisa Pérez-Ramírez⁴, Vincent Robert⁶, Kathleen Victoir² and Silvia Declich¹

¹ Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy

² Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France

³ FIND (Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics), 1202 Geneva, Switzerland

⁴ Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal-Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CISA), 28040 Madrid, Spain

⁵ CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain

⁶ Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), UMR Mivegec IRD-CNRS-Univ. Montpellier, 34394 Montpellier CEDEX 5, France

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030489 - 10 Mar 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 6717

Abstract

In the context of One Health, there is presently an effort to integrate surveillance of human, animal, entomological, and environmental sectors. This aims to strengthen the prevention of, and preparedness against, arbovirus infections, also in the light of environmental and climate changes that [...] Read more.

In the context of One Health, there is presently an effort to integrate surveillance of human, animal, entomological, and environmental sectors. This aims to strengthen the prevention of, and preparedness against, arbovirus infections, also in the light of environmental and climate changes that could increase the risk of transmission. However, criteria to define integrated surveillance, and to compare different systems, still need to be identified and tested. We conducted a scoping review to identify and examine surveillance systems for West Nile virus (WNV), chikungunya virus (CHKV), dengue virus (DENV), and Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), which involve human, animal, entomological, and environmental sectors. We analyzed findings using a conceptual framework we developed for this purpose. The review highlights that the criteria proposed in the conceptual framework to describe integrated surveillance are consistently reported in the context of studies and programs related to integrated surveillance of the selected arboviral diseases. These criteria can facilitate the identification and description of operationalized One Health surveillance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Together in the Fight against Arthropod-Borne Diseases: A One Health Perspective)

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18 pages, 1108 KiB

Open AccessReview

Protozoan Parasites in Drinking Water: A System Approach for Improved Water, Sanitation and Hygiene in Developing Countries

by Alua Omarova¹

, Kamshat Tussupova^2,3,*, Ronny Berndtsson³

, Marat Kalishev¹

and Kulyash Sharapatova⁴

¹ Department of Nutrition and General Hygiene, Karaganda State Medical University, Gogol Street 40, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan

² Department of International Cooperation and Bologna Process, Karaganda State Medical University, Gogol Street 40, Karaganda 100008, Kazakhstan

³ Division of Water Resources Engineering & Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, P.O. Box 118, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden

⁴ Department of Surgery, Gynecology and Pediatry, Semey State Medical University, Pavlodar Branch, Toraigyrov Street 72/1, Pavlodar 140000, Kazakhstan

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030495 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 142 | Viewed by 23200

Abstract

Improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are significant in preventing diarrhea morbidity and mortality caused by protozoa in low- and middle-income countries. Due to the intimate and complex relationships between the different WASH components, it is often necessary to improve not just one [...] Read more.

Improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are significant in preventing diarrhea morbidity and mortality caused by protozoa in low- and middle-income countries. Due to the intimate and complex relationships between the different WASH components, it is often necessary to improve not just one but all of these components to have sustainable results. The objective of this paper was to review the current state of WASH-related health problems caused by parasitic protozoa by: giving an overview and classification of protozoa and their effect on people’s health, discussing different ways to improve accessibility to safe drinking water, sanitation services and personal hygiene behavior; and suggesting an institutional approach to ensure improved WASH. The findings indicate that Giardia and Cryptosporidium are more often identified during waterborne or water-washed outbreaks and they are less sensitive than most of the bacteria and viruses to conventional drinking water and wastewater treatment methods. There are various institutions of control and prevention of water-related diseases caused by protozoa in developed countries. Unfortunately, the developing regions do not have comparable systems. Consequently, the institutional and systems approach to WASH is necessary in these countries. Full article

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

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14 pages, 1701 KiB

Open AccessReview

Comparative Effectiveness of Published Interventions for Elderly Fall Prevention: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

by Peixia Cheng^1,†, Liheng Tan^1,†, Peishan Ning¹, Li Li¹, Yuyan Gao¹, Yue Wu²

, David C. Schwebel³

, Haitao Chu⁴

, Huaiqiong Yin⁵ and Guoqing Hu^1,*

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Rd., Changsha 410078, China

² Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Rd., Changsha 410078, China

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

⁴ Division of Biostatistics, The University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA

⁵ Central South University Library, 172 Tongzipo Rd., Changsha 410013, China

^† Equal contributor.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 498; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030498 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 56 | Viewed by 26026

Abstract

Background: Falls are a major threat to older adults worldwide. Although various effective interventions have been developed, their comparative effectiveness remains unreported. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to determine the most effective interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults [...] Read more.

Background: Falls are a major threat to older adults worldwide. Although various effective interventions have been developed, their comparative effectiveness remains unreported. Methods: A systematic review and network meta-analysis was conducted to determine the most effective interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and over. Combined odds ratio (OR) and 95% credible interval (95% CrI) were calculated. Results: A total of 49 trials involving 27,740 participants and 9271 fallers were included. Compared to usual care, multifactorial interventions (MFI) demonstrated the greatest efficacy (OR: 0.64, 95% CrI: 0.53 to 0.77) followed by interventions combining education and exercise (EDU + EXC) (OR: 0.65, 95% CrI: 0.38 to 1.00) and interventions combining exercise and hazard assessment and modification (EXC + HAM) (OR: 0.66, 95% CrI: 0.40 to 1.04). The effect of medical care performed the worst (OR: 1.02, 95% CrI: 0.78 to 1.34). Model fit was good, inconsistency was low, and publication bias was considered absent. The overall quality of included trials was high. The pooled odds ratios and ranking probabilities remained relatively stable across all sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: MFI and exercise appear to be effective to reduce falls among older adults, and should be considered first as service delivery options. Further investigation is necessary to verify effectiveness and suitableness of the strategies to at-risk populations. Full article

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16 pages, 1669 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hair as a Biomarker of Long Term Mercury Exposure in Brazilian Amazon: A Systematic Review

by Nathália Santos Serrão de Castro^1,*

and Marcelo De Oliveira Lima²

¹ Centre of Research and Extension, Metropolitan College of Amazon (FAMAZ), Visconde de Souza Franco Avenue, 72, Belém-Pará 66053-000, Brazil

² Environmental Section, Evandro Chagas Institute, BR-316, s/n, Ananindeua-Pará 67030-000, Brazil

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 500; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030500 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 5392

Abstract

Many studies have assessed mercury (Hg) exposure in the Amazonian population. This article performs a literature search of the studies that used hair as a biomarker of Hg exposure in the Brazilian Amazonian population. The search covered the period from 1996 to 2016 [...] Read more.

Many studies have assessed mercury (Hg) exposure in the Amazonian population. This article performs a literature search of the studies that used hair as a biomarker of Hg exposure in the Brazilian Amazonian population. The search covered the period from 1996 to 2016 and included articles which matched the following criteria: (1) articles related to Hg exposure into Brazilian Amazon; (2) articles that used hair as a biomarker of Hg exposure; (3) articles that used analytical tools to measure the Hg content on hair and (4) articles that presented arithmetic mean and/or minimum and maximum values of Hg. 36 studies were selected. The findings show that most of the studies were performed along margins of important rivers, such as Negro, Tapajós and Madeira. All the population presented mean levels of Hg on hair above 6 µg g⁻¹ and general population, adults, not determined and men presented levels of Hg on hair above 10 µg g⁻¹. The results show that most of the studies were performed by Brazilian institutions/researchers and the majority was performed in the State of Pará. The present study identified that Amazonian population has long-term been exposed to Hg. In terms of future perspectives, this study suggests the implementation of a strategic plan for environmental health surveillance in the region in order to promote health and benefit Amazonian population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mercury Exposure and Global Change)

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24 pages, 858 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Underpinning and Framing of the Servicescape: Reflections on Future Challenges in Healthcare Services

by Jieun Han

, Hyo-Jin Kang

and Gyu Hyun Kwon^*

Graduate School of Technology and Innovation Management, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030509 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 10258

Abstract

Ever since Bitner defined the term “servicescape” as the physical environment in which the service is assembled, several scholars have attempted to better understand the impact of the built environment in the context of different service settings. While servicescape is a topic of [...] Read more.

Ever since Bitner defined the term “servicescape” as the physical environment in which the service is assembled, several scholars have attempted to better understand the impact of the built environment in the context of different service settings. While servicescape is a topic of increasing academic interest among scholars and practitioners, most studies in the area are dedicated to understanding the built environment of hedonic service. More studies are needed to examine utilitarian servicescape and in this paper, we have focused on the healthcare environment. This study aims to identify the gap in servicescape and healthscape studies by providing a theoretical structure of the current servicescape literature and comprehend the academic differences between hedonic servicescape and utilitarian healthscape studies. After reviewing 44 selected papers based on rigorous criteria, we: (1) framed the servicescape factors; (2) analyzed the servicescape literature from the perspectives of terminologies, research fields, methodologies, and frameworks; and (3) identified the current paths of healthscape research. Through this work, we highlight the significance of adopting different dimensions and factors to evaluate the distinguished service environment by the servicescape type and propose several research agendas for future studies on healthscapes. The research findings can contribute to a deep understanding of healthscapes and can introduce a new viewpoint for interpreting the servicescape in diversified service settings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health Systems and Services)

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24 pages, 717 KiB

Open AccessReview

Erosion and Sediment Transport Modelling in Shallow Waters: A Review on Approaches, Models and Applications

by Mohammad Hajigholizadeh^1,*

, Assefa M. Melesse²

and Hector R. Fuentes³

¹ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, 10555 W Flagler Street, EC3781, Miami, FL 33174, USA

² Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, AHC-5-390, 11200 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33199, USA

³ Department of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, Florida International University, 10555 W Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33174, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030518 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 81 | Viewed by 9485

Abstract

The erosion and sediment transport processes in shallow waters, which are discussed in this paper, begin when water droplets hit the soil surface. The transport mechanism caused by the consequent rainfall-runoff process determines the amount of generated sediment that can be transferred downslope. [...] Read more.

The erosion and sediment transport processes in shallow waters, which are discussed in this paper, begin when water droplets hit the soil surface. The transport mechanism caused by the consequent rainfall-runoff process determines the amount of generated sediment that can be transferred downslope. Many significant studies and models are performed to investigate these processes, which differ in terms of their effecting factors, approaches, inputs and outputs, model structure and the manner that these processes represent. This paper attempts to review the related literature concerning sediment transport modelling in shallow waters. A classification based on the representational processes of the soil erosion and sediment transport models (empirical, conceptual, physical and hybrid) is adopted, and the commonly-used models and their characteristics are listed. This review is expected to be of interest to researchers and soil and water conservation managers who are working on erosion and sediment transport phenomena in shallow waters. The paper format should be helpful for practitioners to identify and generally characterize the types of available models, their strengths and their basic scope of applicability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Non-Point Source Pollution and Environmental Assessment)

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45 pages, 8224 KiB

Open AccessReview

WHO Environmental Noise Guidelines for the European Region: A Systematic Review on Environmental Noise and Effects on Sleep

by Mathias Basner^*

and Sarah McGuire

Division of Sleep and Chronobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 519; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030519 - 14 Mar 2018

Cited by 485 | Viewed by 34844

Abstract

To evaluate the quality of available evidence on the effects of environmental noise exposure on sleep a systematic review was conducted. The databases PSYCINFO, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science and the TNO Repository were searched for non-laboratory studies on the effects [...] Read more.

To evaluate the quality of available evidence on the effects of environmental noise exposure on sleep a systematic review was conducted. The databases PSYCINFO, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science and the TNO Repository were searched for non-laboratory studies on the effects of environmental noise on sleep with measured or predicted noise levels and published in or after the year 2000. The quality of the evidence was assessed using GRADE criteria. Seventy four studies predominately conducted between 2000 and 2015 were included in the review. A meta-analysis of surveys linking road, rail, and aircraft noise exposure to self-reports of sleep disturbance was conducted. The odds ratio for the percent highly sleep disturbed for a 10 dB increase in L_night was significant for aircraft (1.94; 95% CI 1.61–2.3), road (2.13; 95% CI 1.82–2.48), and rail (3.06; 95% CI 2.38–3.93) noise when the question referred to noise, but non-significant for aircraft (1.17; 95% CI 0.54–2.53), road (1.09; 95% CI 0.94–1.27), and rail (1.27; 95% CI 0.89–1.81) noise when the question did not refer to noise. A pooled analysis of polysomnographic studies on the acute effects of transportation noise on sleep was also conducted and the unadjusted odds ratio for the probability of awakening for a 10 dBA increase in the indoor L_max was significant for aircraft (1.35; 95% CI 1.22–1.50), road (1.36; 95% CI 1.19–1.55), and rail (1.35; 95% CI 1.21–1.52) noise. Due to a limited number of studies and the use of different outcome measures, a narrative review only was conducted for motility, cardiac and blood pressure outcomes, and for children’s sleep. The effect of wind turbine and hospital noise on sleep was also assessed. Based on the available evidence, transportation noise affects objectively measured sleep physiology and subjectively assessed sleep disturbance in adults. For other outcome measures and noise sources the examined evidence was conflicting or only emerging. According to GRADE criteria, the quality of the evidence was moderate for cortical awakenings and self-reported sleep disturbance (for questions that referred to noise) induced by traffic noise, low for motility measures of traffic noise induced sleep disturbance, and very low for all other noise sources and investigated sleep outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue WHO Noise and Health Evidence Reviews)

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11 pages, 325 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of the Impacts of Different Approaches for Diabetes Prevention and a Framework for Making Investment Decisions

by Maria L. Alva

RTI International, Washington, DC 20005, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 522; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030522 - 15 Mar 2018

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4386

Abstract

This paper selectively reviews the economic research on individual (i.e., diabetes prevention programs and financial rewards for weight loss) and population-wide based diabetes prevention interventions (such as food taxes, nutritional labeling, and worksite wellness programs) that demonstrate a direct reduction in diabetes incidence [...] Read more.

This paper selectively reviews the economic research on individual (i.e., diabetes prevention programs and financial rewards for weight loss) and population-wide based diabetes prevention interventions (such as food taxes, nutritional labeling, and worksite wellness programs) that demonstrate a direct reduction in diabetes incidence or improvements in diabetes risk factors such as weight, glucose or glycated hemoglobin. The paper suggests a framework to guide decision makers on how to use the available evidence to determine the optimal allocation of resources across population-wide and individual-based interventions. This framework should also assist in the discussion of what parameters are needed from research to inform decision-making on what might be the optimal mix of strategies to reduce diabetes prevalence. Full article

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

34 pages, 596 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effectiveness of Integration and Re-Integration into Work Strategies for Persons with Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review of European Strategies

by Carla Sabariego^1,*

, Michaela Coenen¹

, Elizabeth Ito¹, Klemens Fheodoroff²

, Chiara Scaratti³, Matilde Leonardi³

, Anastasia Vlachou⁴, Panayiota Stavroussi⁴, Valentina Brecelj⁵, Dare S. Kovačič⁵ and Eva Esteban¹

¹ Research Unit for Biopsychosocial Health, Department of Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany

² Neurorehabilitation KABEG-Gailtal-Klinik, 9620 Hermagor, Austria

³ Neurology, Public Health and Disability Unit; Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, 20133 Milan, Italy

⁴ Department of Special Education, University of Thessaly, 38221 Volos, Greece

⁵ Development Centre for Vocational Rehabilitation, University Rehabilitation Institute Republic of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030552 - 19 Mar 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 7001

Abstract

Due to low employment rates associated to chronic conditions in Europe, it is essential to foster effective integration and re-integration into work strategies. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of strategies for integration and re-integration [...] Read more.

Due to low employment rates associated to chronic conditions in Europe, it is essential to foster effective integration and re-integration into work strategies. The objective of this systematic review is to summarize the evidence on the effectiveness of strategies for integration and re-integration to work for persons with chronic diseases or with musculoskeletal disorders, implemented in Europe in the past five years. A systematic search was conducted in MedLine, PsycINFO, CDR-HTA, CDR-DARE and Cochrane Systematic Reviews. Overall, 32 relevant publications were identified. Of these, 21 were considered eligible after a methodological assessment and included. Positive changes in employment status, return to work and sick leave outcomes were achieved with graded sickness-absence certificates, part-time sick leave, early ergonomic interventions for back pain, disability evaluation followed by information and advice, and with multidisciplinary, coordinated and tailored return to work interventions. Additionally, a positive association between the co-existence of active labour market policies to promote employment and passive support measures (e.g., pensions or benefits) and the probability of finding a job was observed. Research on the evaluation of the effectiveness of strategies targeting integration and re-integration into work for persons with chronic health conditions needs, however, to be improved and strengthened. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Healthy Workplaces, Employment and Chronic Conditions in Europe: Answering the Hidden Emergency with Innovative Strategies)

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23 pages, 1719 KiB

Open AccessReview

Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in Air Pollution Exposure Assessment

by Daniela Dias^* and Oxana Tchepel

Department of Civil Engineering, CITTA, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, Polo II, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030558 - 20 Mar 2018

Cited by 127 | Viewed by 10195

Abstract

Analyzing individual exposure in urban areas offers several challenges where both the individual’s activities and air pollution levels demonstrate a large degree of spatial and temporal dynamics. This review article discusses the concepts, key elements, current developments in assessing personal exposure to urban [...] Read more.

Analyzing individual exposure in urban areas offers several challenges where both the individual’s activities and air pollution levels demonstrate a large degree of spatial and temporal dynamics. This review article discusses the concepts, key elements, current developments in assessing personal exposure to urban air pollution (seventy-two studies reviewed) and respective advantages and disadvantages. A new conceptual structure to organize personal exposure assessment methods is proposed according to two classification criteria: (i) spatial-temporal variations of individuals’ activities (point-fixed or trajectory based) and (ii) characterization of air quality (variable or uniform). This review suggests that the spatial and temporal variability of urban air pollution levels in combination with indoor exposures and individual’s time-activity patterns are key elements of personal exposure assessment. In the literature review, the majority of revised studies (44 studies) indicate that the trajectory based with variable air quality approach provides a promising framework for tackling the important question of inter- and intra-variability of individual exposure. However, future quantitative comparison between the different approaches should be performed, and the selection of the most appropriate approach for exposure quantification should take into account the purpose of the health study. This review provides a structured basis for the intercomparing of different methodologies and to make their advantages and limitations more transparent in addressing specific research objectives. Full article

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

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15 pages, 5530 KiB

Open AccessTechnical Note

Nationwide Drinking Water Sampling Campaign for Exposure Assessments in Denmark

by Denitza Dimitrova Voutchkova^1,*, Birgitte Hansen²

, Vibeke Ernstsen³ and Søren Munch Kristiansen⁴

¹ Department of Geography, National University of Singapore, 1 Arts Link, Kent Ridge, Singapore 117570, Singapore

² Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

³ Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS), 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark

⁴ Department of Geoscience, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 467; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030467 - 7 Mar 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5511

Abstract

Nationwide sampling campaign of treated drinking water of groundwater origin was designed and implemented in Denmark in 2013. The main purpose of the sampling was to obtain data on the spatial variation of iodine concentration and speciation in treated drinking water, which was [...] Read more.

Nationwide sampling campaign of treated drinking water of groundwater origin was designed and implemented in Denmark in 2013. The main purpose of the sampling was to obtain data on the spatial variation of iodine concentration and speciation in treated drinking water, which was supplied to the majority of the Danish population. This data was to be used in future exposure and epidemiologic studies. The water supply sector (83 companies, owning 144 waterworks throughout Denmark) was involved actively in the planning and implementation process, which reduced significantly the cost and duration of data collection. The dataset resulting from this collaboration covers not only iodine species (I⁻, IO₃⁻, TI), but also major elements and parameters (pH, electrical conductivity, DOC, TC, TN, F⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺, Na⁺) and a long list of trace elements (n = 66). The water samples represent 144 waterworks abstracting about 45% of the annual Danish groundwater abstraction for drinking water purposes, which supply about 2.5 million Danes (45% of all Danish residents). This technical note presents the design, implementation, and limitations of such a sampling design in detail in order (1) to facilitate the future use of this dataset, (2) to inform future replication studies, or (3) to provide an example for other researchers. Full article

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

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14 pages, 323 KiB

Open AccessProtocol

Feasibility of Integrating Residential Care Pharmacists into Aged Care Homes to Improve Quality Use of Medicines: Study Protocol for a Non-Randomised Controlled Pilot Trial

by Nicole McDerby^1,*

, Mark Naunton¹

, Alison Shield¹

, Kasia Bail² and Sam Kosari¹

¹ Faculty of Health, Discipline of Pharmacy, University of Canberra, Bruce CBR 2617, Australia

² Faculty of Health, Discipline of Nursing, University of Canberra, Bruce CBR 2617, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 499; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030499 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5582

Abstract

Older adults are particularly susceptible to iatrogenic disease and communicable diseases, such as influenza. Prescribing in the residential aged care population is complex, and requires ongoing review to prevent medication misadventure. Pharmacist-led medication review is effective in reducing medication-related problems; however, current funding [...] Read more.

Older adults are particularly susceptible to iatrogenic disease and communicable diseases, such as influenza. Prescribing in the residential aged care population is complex, and requires ongoing review to prevent medication misadventure. Pharmacist-led medication review is effective in reducing medication-related problems; however, current funding arrangements specifically exclude pharmacists from routinely participating in resident care. Integrating an on-site clinical pharmacist into residential care teams is an unexplored opportunity to improve quality use of medicines in this setting. The primary objective of this pilot study is to investigate the feasibility of integrating a residential care pharmacist into the existing care team. Secondary outcomes include incidence of pharmacist-led medication review, and incidence of potential medication problems based on validated prescribing measures. This is a cross-sectional, non-randomised controlled trial with a residential care pharmacist trialled at a single facility, and a parallel control site receiving usual care and services only. The results of this hypothesis-generating pilot study will be used to identify clinical outcomes and direct future larger scale investigations into the implementation of the novel residential care pharmacist model to optimise quality use of medicines in a population at high risk of medication misadventure. Full article

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

6 pages, 281 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Strengthening Emergency Care Systems to Mitigate Public Health Challenges Arising from Influxes of Individuals with Different Socio-Cultural Backgrounds to a Level One Emergency Center in South East Europe

by Michèle Twomey^1,*

, Ana Šijački², Gert Krummrey³, Tyson Welzel^1,3

, Aristomenis K. Exadaktylos^1,3 and Marko Ercegovac²

¹ Centre of Excellence in Emergency Medicine, Cape Town 7700, South Africa

² Department of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Centre of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

³ Department of Emergency Medicine, Inselspital, University Hospital Bern, 3010 Bern, Switzerland

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030501 - 12 Mar 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3736

Abstract

Emergency center visits are mostly unscheduled, undifferentiated, and unpredictable. A standardized triage process is an opportunity to obtain real-time data that paints a picture of the variation in acuity found in emergency centers. This is particularly pertinent as the influx of people seeking [...] Read more.

Emergency center visits are mostly unscheduled, undifferentiated, and unpredictable. A standardized triage process is an opportunity to obtain real-time data that paints a picture of the variation in acuity found in emergency centers. This is particularly pertinent as the influx of people seeking asylum or in transit mostly present with emergency care needs or first seek help at an emergency center. Triage not only reduces the risk of missing or losing a patient that may be deteriorating in the waiting room but also enables a time-critical response in the emergency care service provision. As part of a joint emergency care system strengthening and patient safety initiative, the Serbian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence in Emergency Medicine (CEEM) introduced a standardized triage process at the Clinical Centre of Serbia (CCS). This paper describes four crucial stages that were considered for the integration of a standardized triage process into acute care pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Refugee, Migrant and Ethnic Minority Health)

7 pages, 256 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Mobile Phone Dependence, Social Support and Impulsivity in Chinese University Students

by Songli Mei¹, Jingxin Chai^2,*, Shi-Bin Wang³, Chee H. Ng⁴, Gabor S. Ungvari^5,6 and Yu-Tao Xiang^7,*

¹ School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China

² Hepin Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing 100013, China

³ Guangdong Mental Health Center, Guangdong General Hospital and Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510120, China

⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3050, Australia

⁵ Division of Psychiatry, Notre Dame university Australia, Fremantle, WA 6160, Australia

⁶ Graylands Hospital, Claremont, WA 6010, Australia

⁷ Unit of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 504; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030504 - 13 Mar 2018

Cited by 44 | Viewed by 9051

Abstract

This study examined the frequency of mobile phone dependence in Chinese university students and explored its association with social support and impulsivity. Altogether, 909 university students were consecutively recruited from a large university in China. Mobile phone use, mobile phone dependence, impulsivity, and [...] Read more.

This study examined the frequency of mobile phone dependence in Chinese university students and explored its association with social support and impulsivity. Altogether, 909 university students were consecutively recruited from a large university in China. Mobile phone use, mobile phone dependence, impulsivity, and social support were measured with standardized instruments. The frequency of possible mobile phone use and mobile phone dependence was 78.3% and 7.4%, respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed that compared with no mobile phone dependence, possible mobile phone dependence was significantly associated with being male (p = 0.04, OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.4–0.98), excessive mobile phone use (p < 0.001, OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.09–1.2), and impulsivity (p < 0.001, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03–1.06), while mobile phone dependence was associated with length of weekly phone use (p = 0.01, OR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.2–5.0), excessive mobile phone use (p < 0.001, OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.2–1.4), and impulsivity (p < 0.001, OR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.05–1.1). The frequency of possible mobile phone dependence and mobile phone dependence was high in this sample of Chinese university students. A significant positive association with impulsivity was found, but not with social support. Full article

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

1 pages, 233 KiB

Open AccessAddendum

Addendum: Mehta et al. Standing Up for Learning: A Pilot Investigation on the Neurocognitive Benefits of Stand-Biased School Desks. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13(1), 59; doi:10.3390/ijerph13010059

by Ranjana K. Mehta^*

, Ashley E. Shortz^† and Mark E. Benden^†

¹ Texas A&M School of Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, 1266 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA

^† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030532 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4059

Abstract

The authors wish to update the Introduction in their paper published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH)[...] Full article

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

7 pages, 274 KiB

Open AccessConcept Paper

Expanding Understanding of Response Roles: An Examination of Immediate and First Responders in the United States

by Curtis Harris^1,*, Kelli McCarthy¹

, E. Liang Liu²

, Kelly Klein²

, Raymond Swienton², Parker Prins¹ and Tawny Waltz¹

¹ Institute for Disaster Management, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA

² Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030534 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 9469

Abstract

2017 was a record year for disasters and disaster response in the U.S. Redefining and differentiating key response roles like “immediate responders” and “first responders” is critical. Traditional first responders are not and cannot remain the only cadre of expected lifesavers following a [...] Read more.

2017 was a record year for disasters and disaster response in the U.S. Redefining and differentiating key response roles like “immediate responders” and “first responders” is critical. Traditional first responders are not and cannot remain the only cadre of expected lifesavers following a mass casualty event. The authors argue that the U.S. needs to expand its understanding of response roles to include that of the immediate responders, or those individuals who find themselves at the incident scene and are able to assist others. Through universal training and education of the citizenry, the U.S. has the opportunity increase overall disaster resiliency and community outcomes following large-scale disasters. Such education could easily be incorporated into high school curriculums or other required educational experiences in order to provide all persons with the knowledge, skills, and basic abilities needed to save lives immediately following a disaster. Full article

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

11 pages, 963 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

Commonalities between Disaster and Climate Change Risks for Health: A Theoretical Framework

by Nicola Banwell^1,*, Shannon Rutherford¹, Brendan Mackey², Roger Street³ and Cordia Chu⁴

¹ Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia

² Griffith Climate Change Response Program, Griffith University, Gold Coast City 4222, Australia

³ UK Climate Impacts Programme, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK

⁴ Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Medicine, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030538 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 9590

Abstract

Disasters and climate change have significant implications for human health worldwide. Both climate change and the climate-sensitive hazards that result in disasters, are discussed in terms of direct and indirect impacts on health. A growing body of literature has argued for the need [...] Read more.

Disasters and climate change have significant implications for human health worldwide. Both climate change and the climate-sensitive hazards that result in disasters, are discussed in terms of direct and indirect impacts on health. A growing body of literature has argued for the need to link disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation. However, there is limited articulation of the commonalities between these health impacts. Understanding the shared risk pathways is an important starting point for developing joint strategies for adapting to, and reducing, health risks. Therefore, this article discusses the common aspects of direct and indirect health risks of climate change and climate-sensitive disasters. Based on this discussion a theoretical framework is presented for understanding these commonalities. As such, this article hopes to extend the current health impact frameworks and provide a platform for further research exploring opportunities for linked adaptation and risk reduction strategies. Full article

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

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10 pages, 1002 KiB

Open AccessCommentary

The Public Health Challenge of Consumer Non-Compliance to Toy Product Recalls and Proposed Solutions

by Xiayang Yu^* and David C. Schwebel

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

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030540 - 17 Mar 2018

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5016

Abstract

This paper addresses the public health issue of toy product recalls in the United States, an under-addressed topic in scholarly literature, yet highly relevant to the prevention of pediatric injuries. Toy-related injuries led to 274,000 emergency room visits and seven fatalities in 2016 [...] Read more.

This paper addresses the public health issue of toy product recalls in the United States, an under-addressed topic in scholarly literature, yet highly relevant to the prevention of pediatric injuries. Toy-related injuries led to 274,000 emergency room visits and seven fatalities in 2016 in the United States, and toy-related injury rates have remained stable over the last five years despite declining incidences of recalls. While dangerous toys not being recalled and the misuse of “safe” products are possible contributing factors, consumer non-response to recall notices also contributes to unintentional child injury from dangerous toys. We discuss the process of recalling toys, and the role of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in that process. We also review potential factors behind significant consumer non-response to recall notifications, citing economic and psychological theories as explanations for the actions of multiple stakeholders in the recall process. We close by proposing reforms at the regulatory, consumer, and retailer levels that might boost compliance with recall notifications and ultimately reduce injury morbidity and mortality. Full article

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

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