An Environmental Dilemma for China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Explosion of Disposable Plastic Wastes

Plastic pollution control has been on top of the political agenda in China. In January 2020, China announced a phased ban on the production and usage of various types of single-use plastics as a solution to environmental pollution problems. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 seems to be a new obstacle to the ban on single-use plastic products. To basically satisfied the daily necessities and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 under the background of the regular epidemic prevention and control in China, online ordering, contactless delivery and wearing mask have become an important and feasible way of daily life. However, the unrestrained use of disposable plastic bags, lunch boxes and masks within the nationwide quarantine leads to hundreds of millions of plastics wastes every day. The potential environmental pollution caused by the use of disposable plastic products during the pandemic should arouse social concern. The Chinese government should manage environmental protection in parallel with anti-pandemic endeavors as the situation of the pandemic evolves.

     

Comprehensive Application Technology of Bauxite Residue Treatment in the Ecological Environment: A Review

The emission of bauxite residue continues to grow with the increase of alumina production capacity, along with the large amounts of bauxite residue currently stored in stockpiles. The exposed problems of high yield, strong alkalinity, low comprehensive utilization rate, and threats to the ecological environment are becoming increasingly prominent. With the strict requirements of environmental protection, improving the comprehensive utilization rate of bauxite residue and bulk consumption of bauxite residue has become an urgent issue to be solved. A large number of researchers have conducted in-depth investigations into the application of bauxite residue over a wide range, and this paper summarizes its application in the environment in recent years, providing guidance for the high value and harmless application of bauxite residue, which can help reduce environmental pollution and human life and health hazards caused by bauxite residue.

     

Infant malnutrition predicts conduct problems in adolescents

Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of conduct problems in a well-documented sample of Barbadian adolescents malnourished as infants and a demographic comparison group and to determine the extent to which cognitive impairment and environmental factors account for this association.

Methods

Behavioral symptoms were assessed using a 76-item self-report scale in 56 Barbadian youth (11–17 years of age) with histories of protein–energy malnutrition (PEM) limited to the first year of life and 60 healthy classmates. Group comparisons were carried out by longitudinal and cross-sectional multiple regression analyses at 3 time points in childhood and adolescence.

Results

Self-reported conduct problems were more prevalent among previously malnourished youth (P < 0.01). Childhood IQ and home environmental circumstances partially mediated the association with malnutrition. Teacher-reported classroom behaviors at earlier ages were significantly correlated with youth conduct problems, confirming the continuity of conduct problems through childhood and adolescence.

Discussion

Self-reported conduct problems are elevated in children and adolescents with histories of early childhood malnutrition. Later vulnerability to increased conduct problems appears to be mediated by the more proximal neurobehavioral effects of the malnutrition on cognitive function and by adverse conditions in the early home environment.     

The impact of 1992 on food law

The essential purpose of food law is consumer protection while quality judgement is a matter for the individual, based on informative labelling. Although the Council has agreed major frameworks directives, much detailed work is still required including; an agreed common list of food additives; the problems of the constituents of packaging materials and their possible migration into food; the assessment of quality of dietary products for their declared aims; limits for environmental contaminants; the approach to be adopted for biotechnology products and the labelling of foods containing ingredients which have been irradiated.     

Banning Tobacco Sales in Massachusetts' Pharmacies

Bans on the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies allow pharmacies to provide health information and services without the conflict of interest posed by concurrent tobacco sales. As health care providers, pharmacies are trusted sources of information for patients. The existence of tobacco products in pharmacies is contrary to their mission as a health care entity. By May 2012, a full 27 Massachusetts municipalities had banned the sale of tobacco products in health care institutions, including pharmacies. These bans covered 30% of the state's population.

Key teaching points:

? Pharmacies play a key role in dispensing health advice.

? Pharmacies are the only remaining health care institutions in Massachusetts that continue to sell tobacco.

? Tobacco products in pharmacies send a conflicting message and are likely to discourage smokers who are trying to quit.

? Bans on the sale of tobacco in pharmacies enjoy broad support in Massachusetts.

? No legal challenges or compliance problems relating to banning the sale of tobacco in pharmacies have been reported in Massachusetts.

     

Exposure to noise, vibration and radiation in Cracow

The problems are discussed connected with exposure to noise, vibration and ionizing radiation. In Cracow traffic and industrial noise is particularly troublesome. The greatest intensity of traffic noise is in the old part of the city and noise level caused by city transport is from 65 to 85 dB/A. Among the industrial sources of noise the highest intensity is in the Lenin Steel Plant, Leg Electrothermal Plant, and Solway Soda Works. Vibration and ionizing radiation resulting from the industrial activities are a considerable risk for human health in the Cracow area. The building materials in construction (including apartment houses) have sometimes a high radioactivity, e.g. dust-slag hollow bricks. The need is stressed for solving, if possible, the problem of noise, especially traffic noise, which is connected with considerable financial costs; the question of using materials of high radioactivity for building purposes should be also resolved.     

A review of tobacco abuse and its epidemiological consequences

Aim

The economic burden caused by death and disease in the world is credited mainly to tobacco use—currently linked to approximately 8,000,000 deaths per year with approximately 80% of these faralities reported in low and middle income economies. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that nearly 7,000,000 deaths are attributed to direct tobacco use, while approximately 1,200,000 non-smokers exposed to second hand cigarette smoke die every year. Accordingly, tobacco use is a major threat to the public health infrastructure; therefore, proper cessation interventions must be put in place to curb tobacco abuse and ease economic and social burdens caused by the tobacco epidemic.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to investigate how scientific efforts have been advanced towards harm reduction among smokers and non-smokers. Relevant articles published during the period 2010–2020 in PubMed, Crossref, Google scholar, and Web of Science were used in this study. The articles were selected based on health impacts of cigarette smoking, tobacco cessation and emerging diseases, including Covid?19. Various cessation strategies have been identified although their efficiency is yet to match the desired results.

Results

A series of carcinogenic chemicals are generated during cigarette smoking resulting in serious health complications such as cancer and mutagenesis. The precursors for tobacco induced diseases are toxic and carcinogenic chemicals of the nitrosamine type, aldehydes, polonium-210 and benzo[a]pyrene, which bio-accumulate in the body system during cigarette smoking to cause disease. Rehabilitation facilities, use of drugs to diminish the desire to smoke, heavy taxation of tobacco products and warning labels on cigarettes are some of the cessation strategies employed towards curbing tobacco abuse.

Conclusion

The need for further research to develop better methods and research based policies for safe cigarette smoking and workable cessation strategies must be a priority in order to deal with the tobacco epidemic. Campaigns to promote tobacco cessation and abstinence are recommended in this review as a sure measure to mitigate against the deleterious impacts caused by cigarette smoking and tobacco abuse.

     

Does clinical ethics need a Land Ethic?

A clinical ethics fit for the Anthropocene—our current geological era in which human activity is the primary determinant of environmental change—needs to incorporate environmental ethics to be fit for clinical practice. Conservationist Aldo Leopold’s essay ‘The Land Ethic’ is probably the most widely-cited source in environmental philosophy; but Leopold’s work, and environmental ethics generally, has made little impression on clinical ethics. The Land Ethic holds that “A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” I argue that a Land Ethic helps to re-frame problems in clinical ethics that more common philosophical approaches struggle to handle, and that it can be incorporated into clinical ethics without succumbing to “environmental fascism”. I motivate viewing problems in clinical ethics from the perspective of the ‘integrity of the biotic community’, then illustrate how this perspective can offer guidance where more commonly-invoked theories—such as consequentialism and Kantian-inspired approaches—struggle, using antimicrobial resistance in nosocomial infection as a case study. The Land Ethic equips us to understand human values as arising within and inseparable from a social-ecological context, and by treating communities (both human and biotic) as valuable in themselves rather than just through the aggregate welfare of their individual participants, we can avoid problems with the ‘repugnant conclusion’ and utility monster that plague utilitarian accounts.

     

Hearing impairments caused by genetic and environmental factors

Impairments of hearing and balance are major problems in the field of occupational and environmental health. Such impairments have previously been reported to be caused by genetic and environmental factors. However, their mechanisms have not been fully clarified. On the other hand, the inner ear contains spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) in the organ of Corti, which serve as the primary carriers of auditory information from sensory cells to the auditory cortex in the cerebrum. Inner ears also contain a vestibule in the vicinity of the organ of Corti—one of the organs responsible for balance. Thus, inner ears could be a good target to clarify the pathogeneses of sensorineural hearing losses and impaired balance. In our previous studies with c-Ret knock-in mice and Endothelin receptor B (Ednrb) knock-out mice, it was found that syndromic hearing losses involved postnatal neurodegeneration of SGNs caused by impairments of c-Ret and Ednrb, which play important roles in neuronal development and maintenance of the enteric nervous system. The organ of Corti and the vestibule in inner ears also suffer from degeneration caused by environmental stresses including noise and heavy metals, resulting in impairments of hearing and balance. In this review, we introduce impairments of hearing and balance caused by genetic and environmental factors and focus on impairments of SGNs and the vestibule in inner ears as the pathogeneses caused by these factors.     

The Acute Toxic Effects of Black Smoke

Few experiments have been conducted on the toxicity of solid carbonaceous combustion products. In order to obtain an estimate of the toxicity of black smoke which could be compared with similar estimates for other pollutants, the median dosage to death, (Ct)D 50, has been determined for smoke from burning tetrahydronaphthalene administered to guinea-pigs and mice. Values ranging from 147,000 mg. min./m.³ to 351,000 mg. min./m.³ were obtained at concentrations between 714 mg./m.³ and 1,140 mg./m.³. Animals allowed to associated protected one another to some extent, probably owing to their fur acting as a filter.

In mice the cause of death appears to be blockage of the air passages; deaths after removal from the smoke are unusual. In guinea-pigs haemorrhagic lesions are caused, and delayed deaths are commoner.

The action of smoke on rats resembles its action on mice.

It is pointed out that tetralin smoke is considerably more toxic to animals than is sulphur dioxide in the same concentration. This finding is discussed in relation to atmospheric pollution.

     

O.B. Section

“The inanimate environment must be given proper attention without under- or over-estimating its contribution to infections. Too often, unnecessary attemtps are made to disinfect or even sterilize parts of the environment that have rarely been epidemiologically associated with disease. Understanding the role of the environment in disease transmission allows a hospital to focus its personnel importance.

Many recommendations are intended to reduce expensive “infection control” practices that are not likely to prevent infections.

Reducing the risk of infection caused by environmental contamination depends on adhering to tested protocols for cleaning and processing environmental objects. Personnel may be better motivated to follow these and other guidelines if they are given adequate training after hiring, periodic in-service education, and suitable supervision to assure continued performance.”     

Consensus Document. Update on latex exposure and use of gloves in Italian health care settings

This consensus document was prepared by an Italian working group including occupational health professionals involved for many years in the management of glove- and latex-related problems in health care settings. The aim of this document was to address the most significant technical, epidemiological, clinical, environmental and prevention problems related to the use of gloves and latex. The group's recommendations are based on scientific evidence and practical experience but they cannot be considered as final. These topics need to be periodically revised. The following points should be taken into account: glove quality seems to have improved considerably but the information on glove features provided by the manufacturers is often still inaccurate or incomplete; the regulations in force provide that the manufacturers perform tests to supply evidence for the quality of the products but they do not indicate which analytical method should be used and they do not require that the results be reported in the technical data sheets. Thus the manufacturers have only to declare that their products are "in accordance with the rules"; therefore, purchasers should require the manufacturing companies to supply detailed information and verify their reliability. Moreover, the rules should be adapted to higher quality standards; occupational physicians must be involved for the correct choice and purchase of protective gloves; the use of gloves (in particular latex gloves) and latex devices in health care settings should be based on specific criteria: procedures must be available stating which kind of gloves are suitable for specific tasks. When exposure to latex cannot be avoided it is necessary to choose products that have good biocompatibility (e.g., powder free-gloves with low allergen content); once and for all latex powdered gloves should no longer be commercially available! labels for latex devices (including gloves) should report the extractable latex allergen content. Limit values for extractable latex allergens should be established; the use of synthetic rubber gloves should be encouraged since some materials (e.g., neoprene and nitrile rubber) appear to have physical properties and protective efficacy similar to latex, plus good biocompatibility; more studies should be promoted to verify the protective efficacy of new synthetic materials; health care workers should be informed about the advisability and usefulness of using materials other than latex; health care services should not cause additional risks but rather highlight the advantages for workers and patients if the use of latex gloves and devices is minimized.     

Oil Folliculitis: A Study of 200 Men Employed in an Engineering Factory

Occupational skin disease is a problem of major importance in the engineering industry. Little is known about the occupational distribution of oil folliculitis and its varying degrees of severity. This investigation was undertaken in an attempt to discover which occupations are at risk and why.

The study was conducted at an engineering factory where 200 men, whose daily work brought them in contact with mineral oils, petroleum products, or greases, were surveyed. The survey comprised a personal interview and clinical examination. The object was to determine the severity of the folliculitis and the nature of certain environmental factors which might be associated with the development of this condition.

It was found that in the occupations of capstan lathe operator and automatic lathe operator there was a significantly higher proportion of men with the more severe degrees of oil folliculitis. It was also demonstrated that in these occupations men were exposed to oil to a significant degree. The apparent inefficiency of personal hygiene as a preventive measure was thought to be due to insufficient cleansing so that oil was not properly removed from the skin. This type of occupational skin disease will remain prevalent until machines can be so designed as to eliminate or reduce contamination of the workers' skin by oil.

     

Comparison of the efficacy of Neethling lumpy skin disease virus and x10RM65 sheep-pox live attenuated vaccines for the prevention of lumpy skin disease – The results of a randomized controlled field study

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is a viral disease of cattle and buffalo, caused by a Capripox virus. A field study was performed during an LSD epidemic which occurred in 2012–2013 in Israel, in order to assess the efficacy of two commercial vaccines for protection against LSD. Fifteen dairy herds, vaccinated 2–5 months prior to study onset with a single dose of 10^2.5 TCID₅₀ of RM65 attenuated sheep-pox vaccine, and not affected previously, were enrolled in the study. 4694 cows were randomized to be either vaccinated with a 10^3.5 TCID₅₀/dose of RM65 vaccine (x10RM65) or with a same dose of an attenuated Neethling LSD virus vaccine. A case of LSD was defined as the appearance of at least 5 lesions typical to LSD and a severe case was defined if this sign was accompanied by either fever (>39.5 °C) or/and a 20% reduction in milk production. Deep lesion biopsies and blood samples were collected from 64.5% of the cases in an attempt to detect DNA of LSD virus by PCR and to differentiate between the wild strain and the vaccine Neethling strain. Seventy-six cows were affected by LSD in 8 herds with an incidence of 0.3–5.7%. Mantel–Haenszel relative risk (RR_MH) for LSD morbidity at least 15 days after vaccination in x10RM65 vs. Neethling was 2.635 (CI_95% = 1.44–4.82) and 11.2 (2.3–54.7) for severe morbidity. RR_MH for laboratory confirmed cases was 4.28 (1.59–11.53). An incidence of 0.38% (9/2356) of Neethling associated disease was observed among Neethling vaccinated cows while no such disease occurred in x10RM65 vaccinated cows. We conclude that the Neethling vaccine is significantly more effective than x10RM65 in preventing LSD morbidity, though it might cause a low incidence of Neethling associated disease. No transmission of the Neethling strain to non-Neethling vaccinated cows was observed in this study.     

Crisis management during anaesthesia: desaturation

Background: Desaturation occurs for many reasons under anaesthesia, some rare and obscure, and many potentially life threatening. The rapidity with which the cause is determined and appropriate management is instituted varies considerably between anaesthetists.

Objectives: To examine the role of a previously described "core" algorithm COVER ABCD–A SWIFT CHECK, supplemented by a specific sub-algorithm for desaturation, in the management of incidents of desaturation occurring in association with anaesthesia.

Methods: The potential performance of this structured approach for each of the relevant incidents among the first 4000 reported to the Australian Incident Monitoring Study (AIMS) was compared with the actual management as reported by the anaesthetists involved.

Results: Amongst the first 4000 incidents reported to AIMS there were 584 episodes of desaturation in association with general anaesthesia; 41% were dealt with by COVER, 48% by ABCD, and 11% required a specific desaturation sub-algorithm. Nearly a fifth of all desaturations were caused by endobronchial intubation. Within the specific desaturation subgroup, half were due to pulmonary problems in the form of underlying lung disease, excessive secretions or obesity and a third could not be diagnosed.

Conclusion: Desaturation may have many causes, some of which are obscure, and failure to respond promptly may place the patient at risk. In the face of persistent desaturation, management should consist of hand ventilation with 100% oxygen, completion of COVER ABCD–A SWIFT CHECK, and a return to a supine posture. Blood gases, chest radiography, and bronchoscopy may be required where desaturation is persistent and/or no apparent causes can be found.

     

The complete genome sequence and analysis of the human pathogen Campylobacter lari

Campylobacter lari is a member of the epsilon subdivision of the Proteobacteria and is part of the thermotolerant Campylobacter group, a clade that includes the human pathogen C. jejuni. Here we present the complete genome sequence of the human clinical isolate, C. lari RM2100. The genome of strain RM2100 is approximately 1.53 Mb and includes the 46 kb megaplasmid pCL2100. Also present within the strain RM2100 genome is a 36 kb putative prophage, termed CLIE1, which is similar to CJIE4, a putative prophage present within the C. jejuni RM1221 genome. Nearly all (90%) of the gene content in strain RM2100 is similar to genes present in the genomes of other characterized thermotolerant campylobacters. However, several genes involved in amino acid biosynthesis and energy metabolism, identified previously in other Campylobacter genomes, are absent from the C. lari RM2100 genome. Therefore, C. lari RM2100 is predicted to be multiply auxotrophic, unable to synthesize eight different amino acids, acetyl-coA, and pantothenate. Additionally, strain RM2100 does not contain a complete TCA cycle and is missing the CydAB terminal oxidase of the respiratory chain. Defects in the amino acid biosynthetic pathways in this organism could be potentially compensated by the large number of encoded peptidases. Nevertheless, the apparent absence of certain key enzymatic functions in strain RM2100 would be expected to have an impact on C. lari biology. It is also possible that the reduction in the C. lari metabolic machinery is related to its environmental range and host preference.     

医学化学教学中如何加强环保教育

造成环境污染的重要原因之一是化学因素,解决环境污染问题,化学起举足轻重的作用.保护环境必须从教育入手,化学教育更是责无旁贷.本文就化学教学中如何从化学理论、化学实验、化学课外活动等化学教学的三方面加强环保教育,阐述培养学生的环保意识的有关问题.     

Position of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior: The Importance of Including Environmental Sustainability in Dietary Guidance

It is the position of the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior that environmental sustainability should be inherent in dietary guidance, whether working with individuals or groups about their dietary choices or in setting national dietary guidance. Improving the nutritional health of a population is a long-term goal that requires ensuring the long-term sustainability of the food system. Current environmental trends, including those related to climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, water shortages, and water pollution, threaten long-term food security and are caused in part by current diets and agricultural practices. Addressing these problems while producing more food for a growing population will require changes to current food systems. Dietary choices have a significant role in contributing to environmental impacts, which could be lessened by consuming fewer overconsumed animal products and more plant-based foods while reducing excess energy intake and the amount of food wasted. Discussion of sustainability within governmental dietary guidance is common in many countries, is consistent with previous US guidelines, and is within the scope of authorizing legislation. Dietary choices are a personal matter, but many American consumers are motivated by a concern for the environment and would welcome sound advice from credentialed nutrition professionals. More opportunities are needed for developing such interdisciplinary knowledge among nutritionists.     

Responses to “Texaco and Its Consultants”

Abstract

The burden of occupational illnesses and injuries in the developing world is now enormous. Local experts in occupational health and safety are needed to address the growing worker and environmental health problems brought about by global industrial expansion, but such expertise is lacking. The author describes a 15-week, online, instructor-led course, Principles of Environmental and Occupational Health, that was offered to international students over two semesters. She suggests the needs that must be determined and recommends collaborative development of a real-time, on-line curriculum to enhance the training of professionals in occupational and environmental health.     

Teaching Ill-Structured Problem Solving Using Occupational Therapy Practice Epistemology

ABSTRACT

Epistemic and ontological cognition (EOC) have to do with an individual's beliefs about knowledge and knowing. Research has shown that EOC have an influence on learning and achievement. EOC may be discipline-specific with a profession being defined by its practice epistemology. If an individual's EOC is inconsistent with the profession's practice epistemology, the student or practitioner may struggle with effectively solving ill-structured occupational performance problems. The purpose of this paper is to increase awareness of the constructs of EOC, to describe its importance to occupational therapy education and practice, and to provide recommendations for educators and researchers. Specific examples are detailed and recommendations for future research are proposed.