Special Issue "Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean"

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. David Rojas
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Interests: health impact assessment; risk assessment; burden of disease; public health; health in all policies; sustainable development goals; environmental epidemiology; environmental risk factors; urban health; built environment and health; transport and health; air pollution; physical activity; green spaces; aging and child health
Special Issues and Collections in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniel Buss
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Environmental Changes, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, D.C. 20037, USA
Interests: climate change; environmental health; public health; sustainable development goals, environmental risk factors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The World Health Organization defines Environmental Health as all the physical, chemical, and biological factors external to a person and all the related factors impacting behaviors. It encompasses the assessment and control of those environmental factors that can potentially affect health. It is targeted towards preventing disease and creating health-supportive environments. This definition excludes behavior not related to the environment, as well as behavior related to the social and cultural environment and genetics.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have more than 600 million inhabitants, a number which is expected to grow to more than 760 million by 2050. LAC is facing rapid economic growth that challenges the environment and the health of its citizens. Urbanization rates in LAC are among the highest in the world, and climate change is one of the most important threats in the region. Environmental health has been suggested as a key element to support healthy and sustainable economic and social development in the region. Compared with other regions around the world, lack of scientific evidence on environmental health has been a common issue in LAC.  

This Special Issue seeks papers on environmental health in Latin America and the Caribbean, including studies focused, though not exclusively, on environmental determinants of health, exposure assessment, environmental epidemiology, environmental justice, climate change, one health, eco-health, urban health, toxicology, risk assessment, health impact assessment, and environmental health policy (see keywords section for a detailed description). We also welcome high-quality reviews, methodological papers, best practices, and critical analyses. We invite contributors from the academia, education, and policy sectors. We expect that this Special Issue will serve as a showcase of current research on Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean, triggering future collaborations, research topics, and policy interventions.

Prof. David Rojas
Dr. Daniel Buss
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2300 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)
  • Environmental exposure assessment
  • Environmental epidemiology
  • Environmental health
  • Environmental justice
  • Climate change and health
  • One health
  • Ecology, ecosystems, and health
  • Eco-health
  • Planetary health
  • Urban health
  • Rural health
  • Housing and health
  • Transport and health
  • Energy and health
  • Toxicology
  • Risk assessment
  • Health impact assessment
  • Environmental burden of disease
  • Environmental policy and health
  • Environmental health indicators
  • Risk communication/management
  • Complex systems
  • Citizen science
  • Environmental psychology
  • Food environment and health
  • Outdoor/indoor air pollution
  • Heavy metals
  • Pesticides
  • Chemicals/plastics
  • Endocrine disruptors
  • Water/soil pollution
  • Water, sanitation, and hygiene
  • Waste/e-waste
  • Extreme weather/temperatures
  • Natural disasters Green/blue spaces
  • Biodiversity and health
  • Sustainable development goals

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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Article
Prenatal Particulate Matter (PM) Exposure and Natriuretic Peptides in Newborns from Mexico City
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126546 - 18 Jun 2021
Viewed by 668
Abstract
(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess associations between particulate matter (PM) exposure and natriuretic peptide concentrations in cord blood from newborns. (2) Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Mexico City with 101 pregnant women from CIMIGEN Hospital. Atrial [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess associations between particulate matter (PM) exposure and natriuretic peptide concentrations in cord blood from newborns. (2) Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Mexico City with 101 pregnant women from CIMIGEN Hospital. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) were measured in plasma from cord blood in 51 newborns by ELISA. We estimated PM exposure (PM2.5 and PM10) at first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. (3) Results: The median and interquartile range for ANP, BNP and CNP plasma concentrations were 66.71 (46.92–80.23), 98.23 (73.64–112.30) and 1129.11 (944.10–1452.02) pg/mL, respectively. PM2.5 and PM10 levels for the whole pregnancy period were 22.2 µg/m3 and 41.63 µg/m3, respectively. Employing multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, newborn sex, smoking before pregnancy, maternal occupation and newborns’ length and height, we observed a 2.47 pg/mL (95%CI: −4.67, −0.27) decrease in BNP associated with PM2.5 exposure during second trimester. Adjusted for the same set of confounders, third trimester PM10 exposure was inversely associated with ANP concentrations (beta estimate: −0.90; 95% CI: −1.80, −0.03). Neither PM10 nor PM2.5 were associated with CNP at any trimester of pregnancy. (4) Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to particulate matter was associated with ANP and BNP decrease in newborns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)
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Article
Climate Trends at a Hotspot of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Causes in Nicaragua, 1973–2014
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105418 - 19 May 2021
Viewed by 695
Abstract
An ongoing epidemic of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) afflicts large parts of Central America and is hypothesized to be linked to heat stress at work. Mortality rates from CKDu appear to have increased dramatically since the 1970s. To explore this [...] Read more.
An ongoing epidemic of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) afflicts large parts of Central America and is hypothesized to be linked to heat stress at work. Mortality rates from CKDu appear to have increased dramatically since the 1970s. To explore this relationship, we assessed trends in maximum and minimum temperatures during harvest months between 1973 and 2014 as well as in the number of days during the harvest season for which the maximum temperature surpassed 35 °C. Data were collected at a weather station at a Nicaraguan sugar company where large numbers of workers have been affected by CKDu. Monthly averages of the daily maximum temperatures between 1996 and 2014 were also compared to concurrent weather data from eight Automated Surface Observing System Network weather stations across Nicaragua. Our objectives were to assess changes in temperature across harvest seasons, estimate the number of days that workers were at risk of heat-related illness and compare daily maximum temperatures across various sites in Nicaragua. The monthly average daily maximum temperature during the harvest season increased by 0.7 °C per decade between 1973 and 1990. The number of days per harvest season with a maximum temperature over 35 °C increased by approximately five days per year between 1974 and 1990, from 32 days to 114 days. Between 1991 and 2013, the number of harvest days with a maximum temperature over 35 °C decreased by two days per year, and the monthly average daily maximum temperature decreased by 0.3 °C per decade. Comparisons with weather stations across Nicaragua demonstrate that this company is located in one of the consistently hottest regions of the country. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)
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Article
Exposure to PM2.5 and Obesity Prevalence in the Greater Mexico City Area
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2301; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18052301 - 26 Feb 2021
Viewed by 923
Abstract
Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with the prevalence of obesity. In the Greater Mexico City Area (GMCA), both are ranked among the highest in the world. Our aim was to analyze this association in children, adolescents, and adults in the GMCA. [...] Read more.
Exposure to PM2.5 has been associated with the prevalence of obesity. In the Greater Mexico City Area (GMCA), both are ranked among the highest in the world. Our aim was to analyze this association in children, adolescents, and adults in the GMCA. We used data from the 2006 and 2012 Mexican National Surveys of Health and Nutrition (ENSANUT). Participants’ past-year exposure to ambient PM2.5 was assessed using land use terms and satellite-derived aerosol optical depth estimates; weight and height were measured. We used survey-adjusted logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of obesity (vs. normal-overweight) for every 10 µg/m3 increase in annual PM2.5 exposure for children, adolescents, and adults. Using a meta-analysis approach, we estimated the overall odds of obesity. We analyzed data representing 19.3 million and 20.9 million GMCA individuals from ENSANUT 2006 and 2012, respectively. The overall pooled estimate between PM2.5 exposure and obesity was OR = 1.96 (95% CI: 1.21, 3.18). For adolescents, a 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 was associated with an OR of 3.53 (95% CI: 1.45, 8.58) and 3.79 (95% CI: 1.40, 10.24) in 2006 and 2012, respectively. More studies such as this are recommended in Latin American cities with similar air pollution and obesity conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)
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Article
Lack of Safe Drinking Water for Lake Chapala Basin Communities in Mexico Inhibits Progress toward Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8328; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228328 - 11 Nov 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 754
Abstract
Background: Access to safe, affordable and accessible drinking water is a human right and foundational to the third and sixth World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unsafe drinking water is a risk factor for chronic and enteric diseases. Both chronic kidney disease [...] Read more.
Background: Access to safe, affordable and accessible drinking water is a human right and foundational to the third and sixth World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unsafe drinking water is a risk factor for chronic and enteric diseases. Both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diarrheal disease are highly prevalent in the Lake Chapala basin, Jalisco, Mexico, suggesting disparities in factors leading to successful achievement of these two SDGs. Methods: This study aimed to assess progress towards SDG three and six in the Lake Chapala basin. Qualitative, quantitative, and geospatial data were collected between May and August of 2019 from three towns within the municipalities of Poncitlán and Chapala. Results: Ninety-nine households participated in this study. Water sampling analyses determined 81.18% of samples from water jugs (garrafones) and 70.05% of samples from tap water were contaminated with total coliform bacteria, often including E. coli. Additionally, 32% of garrafón samples and 61.9% of tap water samples had detectable levels of arsenic. Approximately 97.94% of respondents stated that they believe clean water is a human right, but 78.57% feel the Mexican government does not do enough to make this a reality. Conclusions: This mixed methods approach highlights water quality as a serious issue in communities around Lake Chapala, and demonstrates inadequate drinking water as a key hazard, potentially perpetuating the high disease burden of both CKD and enteric disease in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)
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Article
Influence of Prenatal Exposure to Mercury, Perceived Stress, and Depression on Birth Outcomes in Suriname: Results from the MeKiTamara Study
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(12), 4444; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124444 - 20 Jun 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1028
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to mercury, stress, and depression may have adverse effects on birth outcomes. Little is known on the influence of chemical and non-chemical stressors on birth outcomes in the country of Suriname. We assessed the influence of prenatal exposure to mercury, perceived [...] Read more.
Prenatal exposure to mercury, stress, and depression may have adverse effects on birth outcomes. Little is known on the influence of chemical and non-chemical stressors on birth outcomes in the country of Suriname. We assessed the influence of prenatal exposure to mercury, perceived stress, and depression on adverse birth outcomes in 1143 pregnant Surinamese women who participated in the Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health-MeKiTamara prospective cohort study. Associations between mercury (≥1.1 μg/g hair, USEPA action level/top versus bottom quartile), probable depression (Edinburgh Depression Scale ≥12), high perceived stress (Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale ≥20), and adverse birth outcomes (low birthweight (<2500 g), preterm birth (<37 completed weeks of gestation), and low Apgar score (<7 at 5 min)) were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Prevalence of elevated mercury levels, high perceived stress, and probable depression were 37.5%, 27.2%, and 22.4%, respectively. Mercury exposure was significantly associated with preterm birth in the overall study cohort (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.05–5.83) and perceived stress with a low Apgar score (OR 9.73; 95% CI 2.03–46.70). Depression was not associated with any birth outcomes. These findings can inform policy- and practice-oriented solutions to improve maternal and child health in Suriname. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

Review

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Review
Why a New Research Agenda on Green Spaces and Health Is Needed in Latin America: Results of a Systematic Review
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5839; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18115839 - 29 May 2021
Viewed by 1067
Abstract
(1) Background: Increasing and improving green spaces have been suggested to enhance health and well-being through different mechanisms. Latin America is experiencing fast population and urbanization growth; with rising demand for interventions to improve public health and mitigate climate change. (2) Aim: This [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Increasing and improving green spaces have been suggested to enhance health and well-being through different mechanisms. Latin America is experiencing fast population and urbanization growth; with rising demand for interventions to improve public health and mitigate climate change. (2) Aim: This study aimed to review the epidemiological evidence on green spaces and health outcomes in Latin America. (3) Methods: A systematic literature review of green spaces and health outcomes was carried out for studies published in Latin America before 28 September 2020. A search strategy was designed to identify studies published in Medline via PubMed and LILACS. The search strategy included terms related to green spaces combined with keywords related to health and geographical location. No time limit for the publication was chosen. The search was limited to English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French published articles and humans’ studies. (4) Findings: This systematic review found 19 epidemiological studies in Latin America related to green spaces and health outcomes. Nine studies were conducted in Brazil, six in Mexico, three in Colombia, and one in Chile. In terms of study design, 14 were cross-sectional studies, 3 ecological, and 2 cohort studies. The population included among the studies ranged from 120 persons to 103 million. The green space definition used among studies was green density or proximity (eight studies), green presence (five studies), green spaces index (four studies), and green space visit (two studies). The health outcomes included were mental health (six studies), overweight and obesity (three studies), quality of life (three studies), mortality (two studies), cardiorespiratory disease (one study), disability (one study), falls (one study), and life expectancy (one study). Eleven studies found a positive association between green spaces and health, and eight studies found no association. (5) Conclusion: This systematic review identified 19 epidemiological studies associating green spaces and health outcomes in Latin America. Most of the evidence suggests a positive association between green spaces and health in the region. However, most of the evidence was supported by cross-sectional studies. Prioritizing longitudinal studies with harmonized exposure and outcome definitions and including vulnerable and susceptible populations is needed in the region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)
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