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Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, Volume 15, Issue 3 (March 2018) – 168 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Adolescents’ deaths by suicide are tragedies which touch the lives of large numbers of people. How do these deaths impact other students at the decedents’ schools, and how should schools best respond? The current study surveyed 9th through 12th grade students in a total of 12 schools in the U.S. where students had or had not been exposed to a schoolmate’s suicide (six schools per group). The general student population at the exposed schools was not found to be at increased risk of suicidal ideation or behavior. However, exposed students with concurrent negative life events and those who were friends, albeit not close friends, of the suicide decedents were at increased risk. These students also failed to report the same adaptive attitudes toward help-seeking that the general population of exposed students reported. Schools need to pay special attention to these students after a suicide has occurred on [...] Read more.
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24 pages, 3780 KiB  
Article
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, Mei-yung Leung and Qi Liang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030561 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 8617
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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<p>The Conceptual Model for Motivations, Coping Behaviours, Stress and Performance.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The Resulting Model for Motivations, Coping Behaviours, Stress and Performance of ECPs.</p> Full article ">
9 pages, 289 KiB  
Article
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, Joanne Harrold, Simon Child, Jason Halford and Emma Boyland
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030560 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 37 | Viewed by 9334
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)
17 pages, 1596 KiB  
Article
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, Martina Michaelis, Eva Rothermund, Felicitas Stuber, Harald Gündel, Stephan Zipfel and Monika A. Rieger
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 559; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030559 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 33 | Viewed by 7586
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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<p>Polarity profile across work-related factors potentially important for (stress-associated) mental disorders in employees comparing the mean value ratings from “not at all important” (1) to “very important” (4) of Human Resource Managers (HRM) and Occupational Physicians (OP), w = effect size of differences.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Polarity profile across work-related factors potentially important for (stress-associated) mental disorders in employees comparing the mean value ratings from “not at all important” (1) to “very important” (4) of Human Resource Managers (HRM) and Primary Care Physicians (PCP), w = effect size of differences.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Polarity profile across work-related factors potentially important for (stress-associated) mental disorders in employees comparing the mean value ratings from “not at all important” (1) to “very important” (4) of Human Resource Managers (HRM) and Psychotherapists (PT), w = effect size of differences.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Polarity profile across work-related factors potentially important for (stress-associated) mental disorders in employees comparing the mean value ratings from “not at all important” (1) to “very important” (4) of Occupational Physicians (OP) and Primary Care Physicians (PCP), w = effect size of differences.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Polarity profile across work-related factors potentially important for (stress-associated) mental disorders in employees comparing the mean value ratings from “not at all important” (1) to “very important” (4) of Occupational Physicians (OP) and Psychotherapists (PT), w = effect size of differences.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Polarity profile across work-related factors potentially important for (stress-associated) mental disorders in employees comparing the mean value ratings from “not at all important” (1) to “very important” (4) of Primary Care Physicians (PCP) and Psychotherapists (PT), w = effect size of differences.</p> Full article ">
23 pages, 1719 KiB  
Review
Spatial and Temporal Dynamics in Air Pollution Exposure Assessment
by Daniela Dias and Oxana Tchepel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030558 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 105 | Viewed by 8801
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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<p>Trajectory of an individual in space (x, y) and time (t).</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Combination of the classification criteria for personal exposure assessment: (<b>a</b>) individual point-fixed activities and uniform air quality approach; (<b>b</b>) trajectory based and uniform air quality approach; (<b>c</b>) individual point-fixed activities and space-variable air quality approach; (<b>d</b>) trajectory based and space-variable air quality approach.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Summary of the article selection process.</p> Full article ">
16 pages, 1619 KiB  
Article
The Relationship between Alcohol Drinking Patterns and Sleep Duration among Black and White Men and Women in the United States
by Chandra L. Jackson, Symielle A. Gaston, Rui Liu, Kenneth Mukamal and Eric B. Rimm
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 557; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030557 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7302
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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<p>Age-standardized proportions across alcohol drinking pattern for men (<b>A</b>) and women (<b>B</b>) by race and sleep duration categories. Note: Alcohol drinking pattern for men: never = never drinkers; moderate infrequent = 1–2 drinks ≤ 2 days/week; moderate frequent = 1–2 drinks 3–7 days/week; heavy infrequent =≥ 3 drinks ≤ 2 days/week; heavy frequent =≥ 3 drinks 3–7 days/week. Sleep duration: short =&lt; 7 h; long =≥ 9 h, recommended = 7–&lt;9 h. Alcohol drinking pattern for women: never = never drinkers; moderate infrequent = 1 drink ≤ 2 days/week; moderate frequent = 1 drink 3–7 days/week; heavy infrequent =≥ 2 drinks ≤ 2 days/week; heavy frequent =≥ 2 drink 3–7 days/week. Sleep duration: short: &lt;7 h; long: ≥9 h, recommended: 7–&lt;9 h.</p> Full article ">Figure 1 Cont.
<p>Age-standardized proportions across alcohol drinking pattern for men (<b>A</b>) and women (<b>B</b>) by race and sleep duration categories. Note: Alcohol drinking pattern for men: never = never drinkers; moderate infrequent = 1–2 drinks ≤ 2 days/week; moderate frequent = 1–2 drinks 3–7 days/week; heavy infrequent =≥ 3 drinks ≤ 2 days/week; heavy frequent =≥ 3 drinks 3–7 days/week. Sleep duration: short =&lt; 7 h; long =≥ 9 h, recommended = 7–&lt;9 h. Alcohol drinking pattern for women: never = never drinkers; moderate infrequent = 1 drink ≤ 2 days/week; moderate frequent = 1 drink 3–7 days/week; heavy infrequent =≥ 2 drinks ≤ 2 days/week; heavy frequent =≥ 2 drink 3–7 days/week. Sleep duration: short: &lt;7 h; long: ≥9 h, recommended: 7–&lt;9 h.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Fully-Adjusted Prevalence Ratios for Sleep Duration and Quality in Relation to Alcohol Drinking Patterns among U.S. Black Men (<b>A</b>) and Women (<b>B</b>) (referent: White Men or White Women), National Health Interview Survey, 2004–2015. Note. Short sleep: &lt;7 h; long sleep: ≥9 h. Prevalence ratios adjusted for age, BMI, educational attainment, income, employment status, smoking, physical activity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, feeling sad (past 30 days), health status, and region of residence. Sleep quality data is from 2013–2015. <sup>a</sup> The referent category is white men (A) or white women (B) with recommended sleep (7–&lt;9 h); <sup>b</sup> Number of times having trouble falling asleep over the past week (1–7 or more times vs. never); <sup>c</sup> Number of times having trouble staying asleep over the past week (1–7 or more times vs. never); <sup>d</sup> Days woke up feeling rested over the past week (4–7 days vs. 0–3 days); <sup>e</sup> Number of times taking medication for sleep over the past week (1–7 or more days vs. never). * (A) Significant interactions between race and alcohol drinking pattern for men (long sleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.03); (B) Significant interactions between race and alcohol drinking pattern for women (short sleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.0004; long sleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.01; trouble falling asleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.05; took sleep medication: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.0003).</p> Full article ">Figure 2 Cont.
<p>Fully-Adjusted Prevalence Ratios for Sleep Duration and Quality in Relation to Alcohol Drinking Patterns among U.S. Black Men (<b>A</b>) and Women (<b>B</b>) (referent: White Men or White Women), National Health Interview Survey, 2004–2015. Note. Short sleep: &lt;7 h; long sleep: ≥9 h. Prevalence ratios adjusted for age, BMI, educational attainment, income, employment status, smoking, physical activity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, cancer, feeling sad (past 30 days), health status, and region of residence. Sleep quality data is from 2013–2015. <sup>a</sup> The referent category is white men (A) or white women (B) with recommended sleep (7–&lt;9 h); <sup>b</sup> Number of times having trouble falling asleep over the past week (1–7 or more times vs. never); <sup>c</sup> Number of times having trouble staying asleep over the past week (1–7 or more times vs. never); <sup>d</sup> Days woke up feeling rested over the past week (4–7 days vs. 0–3 days); <sup>e</sup> Number of times taking medication for sleep over the past week (1–7 or more days vs. never). * (A) Significant interactions between race and alcohol drinking pattern for men (long sleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.03); (B) Significant interactions between race and alcohol drinking pattern for women (short sleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.0004; long sleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.01; trouble falling asleep: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.05; took sleep medication: <span class="html-italic">p</span><sub>interaction</sub> = 0.0003).</p> Full article ">
10 pages, 306 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of Dietary Exposure to Cadmium in Residents of Guangzhou, China
by Weiwei Zhang, Yungang Liu, Yufei Liu, Boheng Liang, Hongwei Zhou, Yingyue Li, Yuhua Zhang, Jie Huang, Chao Yu and Kuncai Chen
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 556; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030556 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4578
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)
14 pages, 4879 KiB  
Article
Do Transit-Oriented Developments (TODs) and Established Urban Neighborhoods Have Similar Walking Levels in Hong Kong?
by Yi Lu, Zhonghua Gou, Yang Xiao, Chinmoy Sarkar and John Zacharias
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 555; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030555 - 20 Mar 2018
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 6596
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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<p>The 20 estates in Study 2 are shown, along with the urban areas established before 1970 and New Territories in Hong Kong. The New Territories feature nine transit-oriented development (TOD) new towns, which accommodate half of the population.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The aerial view of Tin Shui Wai in 2016 [<a href="#B26-ijerph-15-00555" class="html-bibr">26</a>]. It is a typical Hong Kong new town, confined by open rural areas and connected to other districts with mass transit railway (MTR) and other public transportation services.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>The Hong Kong new towns are often confined by surrounding open areas (<b>a</b> &amp; <b>c</b>). The established urban areas are continuously developed, and different parts are immediately adjacent to each other (<b>b</b> &amp; <b>d</b>). The new town housing estates far from MTR stations are adjacent to open rural areas (<b>e</b>), while urban housing estates far from MTR stations are still surrounded by dense urban developments (<b>f</b>). Legend: red dots represented MTR stations. (Source: Microsoft Bing maps.).</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>The mean transportation walking (<b>a</b>) and recreational walking time (<b>b</b>) (in minutes/7 days) by neighborhood types (urban vs. TOD) and distance to MTR stations (close vs. far). The error bars represent standard errors. Public housing residents within 400 m walking distance to a MTR station were classified in the close group; those within 800–1200 m were classified in the far group.</p> Full article ">
23 pages, 3767 KiB  
Article
Projecting Drivers of Human Vulnerability under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways
by Guillaume Rohat
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 554; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030554 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6172
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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<p>Sample of the available projections of variables related to human vulnerability, under the three extended SSPs (2050) and the baseline (2015) conditions, for the 28 member countries of the European Union, at the NUTS-2 level.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Workflow of the projection method based on experts’ elicitation and correlation analyses.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Center of gravity (blue line) for each trend category ([- -] = large decrease; [-] = decrease; [+] = increase; [++] = large increase), computed as the average of the minimum, maximum, and median values (in red) of the experts’ quantitative ranges (in black).</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Projections of the prevalence of overweight and of the proportion of elderly living alone, under the four European SSPs (2050) and for current conditions (2015), aggregated at the NUTS-3 level, for the 28 member countries of the European Union.</p> Full article ">
20 pages, 1078 KiB  
Article
Attitudes Expressed in Online Comments about Environmental Factors in the Tourism Sector: An Exploratory Study
by Jose Ramon Saura, Pedro Palos-Sanchez and Miguel Angel Rios Martin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030553 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 49 | Viewed by 5855
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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<p>Classification of tweets according to feelings about the environment.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Relationship of Nodes and number of tweets for environment factors identification.</p> Full article ">
34 pages, 596 KiB  
Review
Effectiveness of Integration and Re-Integration into Work Strategies for Persons with Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review of European Strategies
by Carla Sabariego, Michaela Coenen, Elizabeth Ito, Klemens Fheodoroff, Chiara Scaratti, Matilde Leonardi, Anastasia Vlachou, Panayiota Stavroussi, Valentina Brecelj, Dare S. Kovačič and Eva Esteban
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 552; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030552 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 6212
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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<p>Flow chart of the systematic review carried out in the PATHWAYS project. Boxes in bold highlight the flow chart of the present review with its focus on quantitative papers evaluating strategies for persons with chronic conditions in general, disability or musculoskeletal conditions.</p> Full article ">
13 pages, 1667 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Removal Capacities of Biofilters for Airborne Viable Micro-Organisms
by Rémi Soret, Jean-Louis Fanlo, Luc Malhautier, Philippe Geiger and Sandrine Bayle
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 551; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030551 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4696
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 (REvp) in stable conditions and to examine the influence of pollutant feeding and relative humidification of the gaseous effluent on the REvp. The REvp 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 REvp from 60 to 85%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Environmental Science and Engineering)
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<p>Schema diagram of experimental design with particles sampling points. 1: Ambient air. 2: Gas homogenization area. 3: Gas outlet.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>RE<sub>vp</sub> for both biofilters during the pollutant alternation of deprivency and feeding periods (<span class="html-italic">n</span><sub>deprivency</sub> = 25/bars, <span class="html-italic">n</span><sub>feeding</sub> = 27/bars).</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>RE<sub>vp</sub> during the different deprivency periods (12 h/48 h, 30 and 90 days). The time required to recover the RE<sub>vp</sub> at steady state is of seven days.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>RE<sub>vp</sub> during normal operation humidification and after 46 h without humidification. “With humidification” and “Without humidification” correspond to the evaluation of viable particles counts by using one and three sampling points. “Biofilter only” corresponds to the evaluation of viable particles counts by using sampling points 2 and 3 (<span class="html-italic">n</span> = 2).</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Explaining mechanism: disappearance of interstitial water and enhancement of the impaction phenomenon.</p> Full article ">
13 pages, 2939 KiB  
Article
An Assessment of the Impact of Urbanization on Soil Erosion in Inner Mongolia
by Li-Yan Wang, Yi Xiao, En-Ming Rao, Ling Jiang, Yang Xiao and Zhi-Yun Ouyang
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030550 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 51 | Viewed by 6711
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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<p>Location of Inner Mongolia.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The distribution of soil erosion in 2010 in Inner Mongolia.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Changes in areas of different categorical intensities of soil erosion, in proportion to all erosion areas for the period of 2000–2010.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>The integrated interpretation of urbanization on soil erosion in Inner Mongolia.</p> Full article ">
16 pages, 326 KiB  
Article
Quality of Patient-Centered Care Provided to Patients Attending Hematological Cancer Treatment Centers
by Flora Tzelepis, Tara Clinton-McHarg, Christine L Paul, Robert W Sanson-Fisher, Douglas Joshua and Mariko L Carey
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030549 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5425
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)
12 pages, 1829 KiB  
Article
Antibiotics in Crab Ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin, China: Occurrence, Temporal Variations, and Ecological Risks
by Wenxia Wang, Xiaohong Gu, Lijun Zhou, Huihui Chen, Qingfei Zeng and Zhigang Mao
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030548 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4769
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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<p>Sample sites in crab ponds around Lake Guchenghu.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Composition of antibiotics in aqueous phase of crab ponds during three seasons.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Canonical correspondence analysis of the antibiotic concentrations and environmental parameters in surface water of crab ponds.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Individual RQ values of antibiotics in ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin.</p> Full article ">
16 pages, 5990 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Eutrophication-Related Environmental Parameters in Two Mediterranean Lakes by Integrating Statistical Techniques and Self-Organizing Maps
by Ekaterini Hadjisolomou, Konstantinos Stefanidis, George Papatheodorou and Evanthia Papastergiadou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030547 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5157
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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<p>Map of the studied transboundary Lakes Megali and Mikri Prespa in northwestern Greece, with the sampling sites marked in red.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Projection of n-dimensional data into a two-dimensional (<span class="html-italic">XY</span>) space (output layer) with the use of a SOM; where <span class="html-italic">X1</span>, <span class="html-italic">X2</span>,<span class="html-italic">…</span>,<span class="html-italic">Xn</span> are the input variables, <span class="html-italic">n</span> is the input variable’s number, and <span class="html-italic">w<sub>ij</sub></span> is the synaptic weight that is connecting the <span class="html-italic">i</span> input variable with the <span class="html-italic">j</span> node.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Pareto chart representing the percentage of variance explained by the principal components (PCs) of the PCA analysis.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Bivariate plots between four different principal components (PCs) of Lake Megali Prespa (L1) and Lake Mikri Prespa (L2).</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>A dendrogram of similarity for the data samples from Lake Megali Prespa (L1) and Lake Mikri Prespa (L2). Based on Sneath’s criterion (red horizontal line), three clusters are formed (separated by the red vertical solid lines). <span class="html-italic">Dmax</span>: maximum distance.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Visualization of the SOM’s component planes (CPs) for each environmental parameter, where the colorbars indicate the mapping of the data values.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>(<b>a</b>) Clustering of the SOM based on the K-means algorithm. (<b>b</b>) Hits histogram of SOM analysis representing the density of SOM hits. The green represents data from Lake Mikri Prespa, the red represents data from Lake Megali Prespa, and the empty nodes are associated with the absence of data samples.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>A dendrogram of similarity for the SOM’s prototype nodes. Based on Sneath’s less restrictive criterion (red horizontal line), three clusters are formed (separated by the red vertical solid lines).</p> Full article ">
12 pages, 2000 KiB  
Article
A Meta-Regression Analysis of the Effectiveness of Mosquito Nets for Malaria Control: The Value of Long-Lasting Insecticide Nets
by Gi-geun Yang, Dohyeong Kim, Anh Pham and Christopher John Paul
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030546 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 9090
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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<p>Methodology of searching for and selecting studies to include in meta-regression analysis.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Forest plot of the meta-regression analysis of the odds ratio of the reduction of malaria prevalence due to the use of LLINs. (The row-like symbol for Ahmadi (2012) indicates that the lower limit of 95% CI for the study is so low that it goes beyond the chart area.).</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Forest plot of the meta-regression analysis of the odds ratios of the reduction of malaria prevalence due to the use of ITNs.</p> Full article ">
10 pages, 627 KiB  
Article
Sex-Specific Association between Metabolic Abnormalities and Elevated Alanine Aminotransferase Levels in a Military Cohort: The CHIEF Study
by Kai-Wen Chen, Fan-Chun Meng, Yu-Lueng Shih, Fang-Ying Su, Yen-Po Lin, Felicia Lin, Jia-Wei Lin, Wei-Kuo Chang, Chung-Jen Lee, Yi-Hwei Li, Chung-Bao Hsieh and Gen-Min Lin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 545; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030545 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 4291
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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<p>The age-based prevalence of elevated ALT in men and women.</p> Full article ">
11 pages, 1088 KiB  
Article
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
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 544; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030544 - 19 Mar 2018
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 16461
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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<p>Changes in SBP and DBP of participants—ED group. Data are mean ± SD (<span class="html-italic">n</span> = 36); * Statistical significance (at <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05) was only stated between 2.5 and 3 h; SBP—systolic blood pressure; DBP—diastolic blood pressure.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Changes in DBP after consuming EDs and water. * Statistical significance (at <span class="html-italic">p</span> &lt; 0.05) between ED and water. DBP—diastolic blood pressure.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Values of blood sugar (mean) in the study participants before and after 3 EDs/water consumption.</p> Full article ">
13 pages, 12732 KiB  
Article
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, Alberto Ferraro, Massimiliano Fabbricino, Agostino La Marca, Antonio Panico, Danilo Spasiano, Alice Tognacchini and Francesco Pirozzi
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 543; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030543 - 18 Mar 2018
Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5475
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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<p>The sampling point (40°96′05″ N, 14°11′84″ E).</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Breakthrough curves at different Empty-Bed Contact Times (EBCTs) with respect to bed volume. [EDDS] = 3.6 mM: <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i001"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i001" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i001.png"/></span> EBCT = 33 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i002"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i002" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i002.png"/></span> EBCT = 27 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i003"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i003" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i003.png"/></span> EBCT = 21 h; [EDDS] = 0.36 mM: <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i004"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i004" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i004.png"/></span> EBCT = 33 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i005"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i005" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i005.png"/></span> EBCT = 27 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i006"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i006" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i006.png"/></span> EBCT = 21 h—(<b>a</b>) Cu; (<b>b</b>) Zn; (<b>c</b>) Mn; (<b>d</b>) Fe.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Breakthrough curves at different EBCTs with respect to treatment time. [EDDS] = 3.6 mM: <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i001"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i001" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i001.png"/></span> EBCT = 33 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i002"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i002" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i002.png"/></span> EBCT = 27 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i003"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i003" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i003.png"/></span> EBCT = 21 h; [EDDS] = 0.36 mM: <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i004"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i004" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i004.png"/></span> EBCT = 33 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i005"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i005" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i005.png"/></span> EBCT = 27 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i006"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i006" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i006.png"/></span> EBCT = 21 h—(<b>a</b>) Cu; (<b>b</b>) Zn; (<b>c</b>) Mn; (<b>d</b>) Fe.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Cu and Zn removal by soil washing treatment at different times. <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i007"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i007" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i007.png"/></span> 48 h; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i008"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i008" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i008.png"/></span> 96 h—(<b>a</b>) Cu; (<b>b</b>) Zn.</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Values of metals in the four steps of the sequential extraction on the contaminated soil (CS) and on the four layers of the treated soil before and after SF1 tests. <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i009"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i009" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i009.png"/></span> Exchangeable and weak acid soluble fraction, <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i010"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i010" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i010.png"/></span> Reducible fraction, <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i011"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i011" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i011.png"/></span> Oxidizable fraction; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i012"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i012" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i012.png"/></span> Residual Fraction (<b>a</b>) Cu; (<b>b</b>) Zn; (<b>c</b>) Mn; (<b>d</b>) Fe.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe transport across soil column layers with respect to different values of bv: <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i013"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i013" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i013.png"/></span> 0 bv; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i014"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i014" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i014.png"/></span> 0.25 bv; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i015"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i015" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i015.png"/></span> 0.5 bv; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i016"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i016" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i016.png"/></span> 1 bv; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i017"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i017" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i017.png"/></span> 2 bv; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i018"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i018" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i018.png"/></span> 5 bv; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i013"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i013" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i013.png"/></span> 19 bv—(<b>a</b>) Cu; (<b>b</b>) Zn; (<b>c</b>) Mn; (<b>d</b>) Fe.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Cu, Zn, Fe, and Zn cumulative removal from the soil as a function of bv, during the SF3 tests. Full symbols: 0–4 bv [EDDS] = 3.6 mM, 4–18 bv [EDDS] = 0 mM—<span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i020"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i020" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i020.png"/></span> Cu; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i003"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i003" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i003.png"/></span> Zn; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i002"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i002" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i002.png"/></span> Mn; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i001"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i001" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i001.png"/></span> Fe. Empty symbols: 0–18 bv [EDDS] = 0 mM. <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i021"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i021" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i021.png"/></span> Cu; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i006"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i006" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i006.png"/></span> Zn; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i005"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i005" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i005.png"/></span> Mn; <span class="html-fig-inline" id="ijerph-15-00543-i004"> <img alt="Ijerph 15 00543 i004" src="/ijerph/ijerph-15-00543/article_deploy/html/images/ijerph-15-00543-i004.png"/></span> Fe.</p> Full article ">
4 pages, 234 KiB  
Editorial
Sustainable Transportation and Health
by Norbert Mundorf, Colleen A. Redding and Songtao Bao
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 542; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030542 - 18 Mar 2018
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4859
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)
21 pages, 2254 KiB  
Article
Relationship between Burnout and Body Mass Index in Senior and Middle Managers from the Mexican Manufacturing Industry
by Oziely Daniela Armenta-Hernández, Aidé Maldonado-Macías, Jorge García-Alcaraz, Liliana Avelar-Sosa, Arturo Realyvasquez-Vargas and Miguel Angel Serrano-Rosa
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030541 - 17 Mar 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7064
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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<p>Burnout-BMI hypothetical model. H1: The emotional exhaustion (Emo_Exha) affects directly and positively the Body Mass Index (BMI); H2: The Cynicism affects directly and positively the Body Mass Index (BMI); H3: The Professional Efficacy (Prof_Eff) affects directly and negative the Body Mass Index (BMI). Emotional Exahustion (Emo_Exha) and Professional Efficacy (Prof_Eff).</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Direct effects—Normal weight model.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Direct effects—Overweight model.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Direct effects—Obesity model.</p> Full article ">
10 pages, 1002 KiB  
Commentary
The Public Health Challenge of Consumer Non-Compliance to Toy Product Recalls and Proposed Solutions
by Xiayang Yu and David C. Schwebel
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030540 - 17 Mar 2018
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4401
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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<p>Toy-related emergency department visits for children 0–14 years by age group, 2012–2016. <b>S</b>ource: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), United States Consumer Product Safety Commission [<a href="#B5-ijerph-15-00540" class="html-bibr">5</a>].</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall process.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Where recall notices are found at local retailers. (<b>a</b>) The “Safety Board” at a major toy store in Birmingham, Alabama. Product names of recalled items are listed in a small font and no photos of the products are provided to help consumers identify items they might own. (<b>b</b>) Only two recall notices were posted in the customer service area at a major multi-product retailer in Birmingham, Alabama. The customer service area is located in a lightly-trafficked part of the store, away from where many consumers might view it.</p> Full article ">
19 pages, 1356 KiB  
Article
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 Marushka, Xuefeng Hu, Malek Batal, Tonio Sadik, Harold Schwartz, Amy Ing, Karen Fediuk, Constantine Tikhonov and Hing Man Chan
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 539; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030539 - 17 Mar 2018
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 6034
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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<p>Map of participating First Nations communities in Manitoba (<b>A</b>) and Ontario (<b>B</b>) [<a href="#B38-ijerph-15-00539" class="html-bibr">38</a>,<a href="#B39-ijerph-15-00539" class="html-bibr">39</a>].</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>The prevalence of type 2 diabetes by categories of fish intake in Manitoba and Ontario First Nations males and females.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Amount of daily fish intake (g/day) with (<b>A</b>) DDE levels and (<b>B</b>) PCB levels below the estimated breakpoint in Ontario. DDE breakpoint = 2.11 ng/kg/day; PCB breakpoint = 1.47 ng/kg/day; reference body weight = 70 kg.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Amount of daily fish intake (g/d) with (<b>A</b>) DDE levels and (<b>B</b>) PCB levels below the estimated breakpoint in Manitoba. DDE breakpoint = 2.11 ng/kg/day; PCB breakpoint = 1.47 ng/kg/day; reference body weight = 70 kg.</p> Full article ">
11 pages, 963 KiB  
Commentary
Commonalities between Disaster and Climate Change Risks for Health: A Theoretical Framework
by Nicola Banwell, Shannon Rutherford, Brendan Mackey, Roger Street and Cordia Chu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 538; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030538 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 8768
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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<p>Direct and indirect health impact pathways of climate change and climate-sensitive disasters. Developed based on frameworks contained in [<a href="#B13-ijerph-15-00538" class="html-bibr">13</a>,<a href="#B16-ijerph-15-00538" class="html-bibr">16</a>,<a href="#B24-ijerph-15-00538" class="html-bibr">24</a>,<a href="#B27-ijerph-15-00538" class="html-bibr">27</a>,<a href="#B67-ijerph-15-00538" class="html-bibr">67</a>].</p> Full article ">
13 pages, 3399 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Capability of Grass Swale for the Rainfall Runoff Reduction from an Urban Parking Lot, Seoul, Korea
by Muhammad Shafique, Reeho Kim and Kwon Kyung-Ho
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030537 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 7430
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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<p>Diagram of the grass swale location and details.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Cross section view of the grass swale system.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>From left to right: (<b>a</b>) grass swale features with infiltration trench; (<b>b</b>) Drain water pipe of about diameter 25 cm where the infiltrated water outflow was measured and then water entered into the underground storage trench; (<b>c</b>) the location where the water level was measured.</p> Full article ">Figure 4
<p>Show the precipitation (mm/min) and the soil water content (%) of the grass swale system at the middle part (named mound) and at the side part (named swale).</p> Full article ">Figure 5
<p>Shows the seasonal effect on the soil water content of the grass swale system. (<b>a</b>) soil water content of the grass swale in summer and (<b>b</b>) soil water content of the grass swale in summer in autumn seasons.</p> Full article ">Figure 6
<p>Shows the depth of the total amount of rainfall runoff which is attenuated in the grass swale during the different storm events of: (<b>a</b>) 29 May–3 July 2017; (<b>b</b>) 6–26 July 2017.</p> Full article ">Figure 7
<p>Indicates the rainfall runoff outflow (L/min) response during to the different storm events of 6–26 July 2017.</p> Full article ">Figure 8
<p>Rainfall runoff outflow (L/min) response during the different storm events: (<b>a</b>) 23 June–5 July 2017; (<b>b</b>) 15–16 August 2017.</p> Full article ">
3 pages, 229 KiB  
Editorial
Work Stress and the Development of Chronic Diseases
by Johannes Siegrist and Jian Li
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030536 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4058
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)
17 pages, 336 KiB  
Article
Condom Use at Last Sexual Intercourse and Its Correlates among Males and Females Aged 15–49 Years in Nepal
by Bimala Sharma and Eun Woo Nam
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030535 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6946
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)
7 pages, 274 KiB  
Concept Paper
Expanding Understanding of Response Roles: An Examination of Immediate and First Responders in the United States
by Curtis Harris, Kelli McCarthy, E. Liang Liu, Kelly Klein, Raymond Swienton, Parker Prins and Tawny Waltz
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030534 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8518
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)
12 pages, 1584 KiB  
Article
Patterns of Time Use across the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Severity Spectrum
by Toby Hunt, Marie T. Williams, Timothy S. Olds and Dorothea Dumuid
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030533 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4244
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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<p>Participant flow—cross-sectional use of time study. RCT—randomised controlled trial, n—number, MARCA—Multimedia Activity Recall for Children and Adults.</p> Full article ">Figure 2
<p>Composite activity profile presenting a typical profile of 24-h time use. Mean time spent in MARCA superdomains (in min/d) is presented using arithmetic means from baseline MARCA data.</p> Full article ">Figure 3
<p>Estimated daily time use (in min/d) for components across the BODE index. BODE index—the Body mass, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnoea and Exercise index, Light PA—Light physical activity, MVPA—moderate to vigorous physical activity, min/d—minutes per day. Data are expressed as means derived from compositional models (i.e., geometric means of components, adjusted to collectively sum to a total of 1440 min/day). (<b>A</b>) Predicted time use using energy expenditure bands (accelerometry estimates are shown with solid lines, and MARCA estimates are shown with dashed lines); (<b>B</b>) Predicted time use using MARCA super domain categories.</p> Full article ">
1 pages, 233 KiB  
Addendum
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
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(3), 532; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15030532 - 16 Mar 2018
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3700
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)
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