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Hurricanes, as one of the most devastating natural disasters, significantly impact the public's health, causing both physical injuries and long-lasting mental health issues. Although substantial research has focused on hurricane-related injuries, this study aims to synthesize findings from recent literature, specifically evaluating the 10 most recent hurricanes, to identify research gaps and inform future studies. This scoping review, conducted in accordance with PRISMA-Scr guidelines, assessed studies from PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane databases, and Medline as of February 2024. Eligibility criteria focused on studies examining physical and mental health impacts, COVID-19 effects, and emergency medical services (EMS) interventions related to Hurricanes Ian, Nicholas, Ida, Zeta, Delta, Sally, Laura, Isaias, Hanna, and Dorian. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. The studies were categorized into four themes: physical injuries and fatalities, mental health impacts, hurricane-COVID-19 interplay, and EMS interventions. Findings revealed varied mechanisms of injuries and deaths, significant mental health challenges, compounded crises due to COVID-19, and diverse EMS strategies, including AI utilization and strategic planning for medical care delivery. Addressing the social determinants of health and evaluating hurricane readiness initiatives were two gaps in the literature identified. Future research should focus on the mental health impacts and concurrent crisis challenges to develop comprehensive disaster management practices that enhance community resilience against future hurricanes and public health crises.

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Studies have suggested that universal basic income (UBI) has the capacity to have substantial health benefits across the population at national level. Multiple impact pathways have recently been theorized and there are calls for trials to explore these pathways empirically. However, very limited research has taken place at local levels to explore potential context-specific effects, or how these effects could play out in economic, social, and behavioral changes. In order to examine these effects and to think through potential issues and unintended consequences, we brought together citizen engagement groups in Jarrow, South Tyneside, in the northeast of England to explore local people's expectations and positions on the development of UBI policies and pilots prior to their implementation. We found that people's expectations regarding the potential beneficial health impacts of UBI on their communities mapped strongly onto academically theorized impact pathways. They also extended understanding of these pathways in meaningful ways. Our findings add to the literature about UBI and health and provide important insights for the future development of empirical, health focused, UBI research.

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Climate change challenges public health. Effective management of climate-related health risks relies on robust public health surveillance (PHS) and population health indicators. Despite existing global and country-specific indicators, their integration into local PHS systems is limited, impacting decision-making. We conducted a systematic review examining population health indicators relevant to climate change impacts and their suitability for national PHS systems. Guided by a registered protocol, we searched multiple databases and included 41 articles. Of these, 35 reported morbidity indicators, and 39 reported mortality indicators. Using Chile as a case study, we identified three sets of indicators for the Chilean PHS. The high-priority set included vector-, food-, and water-borne diseases, as well as temperature-related health outcomes indicators due to their easy integration into existing PHS systems. This review highlights the importance of population health indicators in monitoring climate-related health impacts, emphasising the need for local contextual factors to guide indicator selection. Funding: This research project was partly funded by ANID Chile and University College London. None of these sources had any involvement in the research conceptualisation, design, or interpretation of the results.

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Evidence on the link of long-term exposure to ozone (O3) with childhood asthma, rhinitis, conjunctivitis and eczema is inconclusive. We did a population-based cross-sectional survey, including 177,888 children from 173 primary and middle schools in 14 Chinese cities. A satellite-based spatiotemporal model was employed to assess four-year average O3 exposure at both residential and school locations. Information on asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema and conjunctivitis was collected by a standard questionnaire developed by the American Thoracic Society. We used generalized non-linear and linear mixed models to test the associations. We observed linear exposure-response associations between O3 and all outcomes. The odds ratios of doctor-diagnosed asthma, rhinitis, eczema, and conjunctivitis associated with per interquartile increment in home-school O3 concentration were 1.31 (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.28, 1.34), 1.25 (95 %CI: 1.23, 1.28), 1.19 (95 %CI: 1.16, 1.21), and 1.28 (95 %CI: 1.21, 1.34), respectively. Similar associations were observed for asthma-related outcomes including current asthma, wheeze, current wheeze, persistent phlegm, and persistent cough. Moreover, stronger associations were observed among children who were aged > 12 years, physically inactive, and exposed to higher temperature. In conclusion, long-term O3 exposure was associated with higher risks of asthma, allergic rhinitis, conjunctivitis and eczema in children.

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Urban environment and air quality are changing primarily due to land use land cover (LULC) changes, economic activity, and urbanization. Air pollution has been increasingly acknowledged as a major issue for cities due to its extensive effects on health and well-being. As the second most populous city in the country, Lahore faces alarming levels of air pollutants, which induced this study to focus on the pervasive issue of air pollution in Lahore. For this, the study collected air pollutants data from the Environmental Protection Department of Punjab and analyzed them using the ARIMA model. In the research results, both the observed data and predictive models uncovered concerning trends in pollutant concentrations, ultimately portraying a concerning picture for air quality management. Carbon monoxide (CO) levels show a consistent rise, surpassing Pakistan's environmental standards by 2025. Similarly, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations escalate, exceeding prescribed standards. Ground-level ozone (O3) also demonstrates a substantial increase, surpassing standards by 2025. Both PM2.5 and PM10 exhibit marked upward trends, projected to exceed recommended limits, particularly PM10 throughout the study year. The Air Quality Index exhibits an observable upward trend, fluctuating between 70 and 442 from 2015 to 2020. Similarly, a positive correlation was found between population growth and land use conversion into residential areas. Projections suggest a continuous increase, potentially hitting a severe level of 500 during winter by 2025. These findings point to an impending air pollution crisis, demanding urgent action to address the hazardous situation in the city. The study recommends that urban air pollution should be reduced, and the negative health effects of air pollution should be minimized using vegetation barriers, screens, and greening initiatives. Strict regulations and monitoring initiatives need to be put in place in big cities to monitor pollution and vegetation.

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By identifying a unified aim of Federal, State, and Local government authorities to deliver healthier, more liveable urban spaces and enable walkable neighbourhoods in Melbourne, Australia, questions emerge regarding noise data collection methods and the policies that aim to protect pedestrian areas from potential increases in urban traffic noise. It highlights a missed opportunity to develop strategies that provide explicit guidance for designing more compact urban forms without diminishing pedestrian amenities. This study investigates the governance of traffic-induced noise pollution and its impact on pedestrian amenities in Melbourne, Australia. It aims to identify the government bodies best positioned to protect pedestrians from noise pollution and evaluate the strategic justification for reducing traffic noise to enhance urban walkability. This research employs a semi-systematic policy selection method and a hybrid critique and review method to evaluate the multidisciplinary governance frameworks engaged in the management and mitigation of traffic noise in Melbourne. Key findings reveal that while traffic noise poses significant health risks, current policies overlook its impact on pedestrian amenities in urban areas. This study emphasises the benefits of qualitative and subjective noise data collection to inform policy-makers of the pedestrian aural experience and impacts. Discussion points include noise management strategies and the value of implementing metropolitan-scale noise-mapping to illustrate the impact of noise rather than quantities of sound. The conclusions demonstrate that there is strategic justification for managing traffic-induced noise pollution to protect pedestrian areas within international, federal, and state government policies and implicit rationale at a local level.

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This study aimed to examine the potential of soil amendment-assisted phytoremediation using ryegrass in reclaiming abandoned gold mine soil in southwestern Ghana, with a specific focus on the soil contamination hazards associated with metals and metalloids. A pot experiment lasting 60 days was carried out to assess the efficacy of soil amendments, such as compost, iron oxide, and poultry manure, in mitigating environmental hazards. Three soil contamination indices (soil contamination = CF, enrichment factor = ER, and pollution load index = PLI) were used to calculate the extent of soil contamination, enrichment, and pollution of the sites with Co, Hg, Ni, Mo, Se, Sb, and Pb. The findings show that Hg made the greatest contribution (with a maximum soil CF of 18.0) to the overall PLI, with a maximum value of 74.4. The sites were averagely and consequently enriched with toxic elements in the decreasing order: Ni (ER = 33.3) > Mo (20.5) > Sb (14.1) > Pb (11.0) > Hg (7.9) > Se (2.1). The bioaccumulation factor (BCF > 1) suggests that ryegrass has the ability to phytostabilize Co, Hg, Mo, and Ni. This means that the plant may store these elements in its roots, potentially decreasing their negative effects on the environment and human health. Ultimately, the addition of combined manure with iron oxides might have augmented the sequestration of these metals in the root. The elements may have accumulated through sorption on manure or Fe surfaces, dissolution from watering the plants in the pot, or mineralization of organic manure. Thus, ryegrass has shown potential for phytostabilisation of Co, Hg, Mo, and Ni when assisted with a combination of manure and iron oxides; and can consequently mitigate the environmental and human health impacts.

Gold mining in Ghana has caused significant environmental damage and political unrest. Research on environmentally friendly solutions to land degradation is crucial for restoring degraded lands, preserving ecosystem integrity, restoring livelihoods, and protecting public health in gold mining hotspots. However, previous studies have often overemphasized the use of trees in improving soil quality. Other past studies have merely collected plant species for heavy metal analysis without concrete pots or field experiments. Ryegrass has only been limited to arsenic remediation, and its phytoremediation ability for other toxic elements like Co, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Se has not been investigated. This work reports for the first time the phytostabilisation ability of ryegrass for potentially toxic elements in a Ghanaian context. Consequently, recommendations are made for reclaiming gold-mine-affected sites while at the same time providing evidence for widening the choice of plant species available for restoring mine-derelict lands. Ultimately, the study fills the gap in phytoremediation research within the global scientific community and Ghana in particular.

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A large portion of Ghana's population, particularly in rural areas, lack reliable access to safely managed water. Many of these communities rely on groundwater as their primary drinking water source. Distinguished by its thorough examination of F- occurrences in Ghana, this study complements previous studies by meticulously analyzing groundwater-soil and -plant dynamics, global implications, and region-specific insights, notably in the high-risk Bongo area. The study showed that Fluoride contamination in Ghana is evident in various regions, with primary data showcasing concentrations ranging from 0.05 mg/L-1 to 13.29 mg/L-1. The Bongo District in the north exhibits elevated fluoride levels, surpassing WHO safety limits of 1.5 mg/L-1 [62]. Additional studies in Sekyere South and Nalerigu disclose concentrations from 0.3 mg/L-1 to 4.0 mg/L-1 and 0.35 mg/L-1 to 3.95 mg/L-1, respectively. Contamination probabilities range from 50 % to 90 % in the north and northeast. While southern areas lack extensive data, the identified hotspots necessitate further investigation. Geological factors significantly influence fluoride levels, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive monitoring, mitigation, and public awareness. The identified contamination poses risks to public health, urging immediate action for sustainable solutions and ensuring safe drinking water in affected regions. The health implications of fluoride toxicity on the residents of regions prone to fluoride exposure are noteworthy. As a result, an inevitable surge in instances of dental and skeletal fluorosis can be anticipated. Notwithstanding the challenges, research indicates optimistic prospects for mitigating fluoride pollution in drinking water. Techniques like the utilization of "Bone Charcoal" and the "Contact Precipitation" approach offer promise for remediation. These methods can be implemented at a household level and some are economically viable, making them advisable for adoption in fluoride-prone areas of Ghana.

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Microgrids are emerging to mitigate the degradation in grid resiliency and reliability resulting from an increasing frequency of grid outages. Because microgrids incorporate a local source of power generation, the production of electricity is shifting from a centralized to distributed topology, thereby installing power generation resources and the concomitant emissions into heavily populated urban air sheds and residential communities. In this paper, the air quality and public health impacts of a mass deployment of microgrids in an urban air shed are assessed. Candidates to become microgrids are identified for both the near- and long-term deployment, and two microgrid scenarios are considered, differing by the 24/7 prime source of power: (1) combustion gas turbine (CGT)-based microgrids and (2) zero-emission fuel cell (FC)-based microgrids complemented by solar PV and battery energy storage. Spatially and temporally resolved emissions from the microgrids are input to an air quality model and assessed for health impacts. The results show that (1) a mass deployment of CGT-based or FC-based microgrids in both the near- and long-term has a relatively small impact on air quality, (2) the health impacts are nonetheless significant for CGT-based microgrids due to the large and dense population of the area, and (3) disadvantaged communities are disproportionately impacted with the deployment of CTG-based microgrids. For example, near-term deployment of CGT-based microgrids results in an increase in the incidence of premature mortality (1 to 5 incidences per month) and an increase of $33 to $56 million per month in health costs. Deploying zero-emission FC-based microgrids mitigates the adverse health impact, prevents several incidences of premature mortality, and results in saving of ~$36M per month rather than a cost per month of ~$50M.

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Up to 1.6 million tons of waste is produced annually by each of more than 21,000 concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) located in the United States (USA). These operations give rise to externalities, including adverse local and global health impacts from CAFO waste emissions, which can potentially outweigh their economic viability. However, a shortage of evidence synthesis research exclusively on the impacts of USA-based CAFO waste emissions may hinder effective policy development. This scoping review (ScR) study, adhering to the guidelines from the Joanna Briggs Institute, conducted a search in databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase in May 2020, resulting in ten publications that met the inclusion criteria. The results suggest possible exposure of CAFO workers to multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA), campylobacteriosis, and cryptosporidiosis. Communities near CAFOs experienced higher rates of adverse health impacts compared to those in non-CAFO areas, with patterns suggesting that proximity may correlate with increased odds of detrimental health effects. Implicit global health threats include methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MDRSA, campylobacteriosis, tuberculosis, and cryptosporidiosis. These studies provide foundational insights into CAFO proximity, density patterns, and adverse public health effects, indicating a need for evidence-informed environmental health policies to minimize local and global risks.

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As human-induced climate change warms the planet, its health impacts will affect all populations, but certain groups will be more vulnerable to its impacts. Given its role as a health care safety net, emergency medicine will play a crucial role in addressing these health conditions. Additionally, with its expertise in disaster medicine, interdisciplinary collaboration, and health care systems knowledge, emergency medicine has the potential to lead the health care sector's response to climate change.

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Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent contaminants used as flame retardants in electronic products. PBDEs are contaminants of concern due to leaching and recalcitrance conferred by the stable and hydrophobic bromide residues. The near absence of legislatures and conscious initiatives to tackle the challenges of PBDEs in Africa has allowed for the indiscriminate use and consequent environmental degradation. Presently, the incidence, ecotoxicity, and remediation of PBDEs in Africa are poorly elucidated. Here, we present a position on the level of contamination, ecotoxicity, and management strategies for PBDEs with regard to Africa. Our review shows that Africa is inundated with PBDEs from the proliferation of e-waste due to factors like the increasing growth in the IT sector worsened by the procurement of second-hand gadgets. An evaluation of the fate of PBDEs in the African environment reveals that the environment is adequately contaminated, although reported in only a few countries like Nigeria and Ghana. Ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, and Soxhlet extraction coupled with specific chromatographic techniques are used in the detection and quantification of PBDEs. Enormous exposure pathways in humans were highlighted with health implications. In terms of the removal of PBDEs, we found a gap in efforts in this direction, as not much success has been reported in Africa. However, we outline eco-friendly methods used elsewhere, including microbial degradation, zerovalent iron, supercritical fluid, and reduce, reuse, recycle, and recovery methods. The need for Africa to make and implement legislatures against PBDEs holds the key to reduced effect on the continent.

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Indoor air pollution arising from burning of biomass fuels poses a significant threat to child health in rural areas of Pakistan. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess health implications associated with indoor air pollution resulting from biomass burning among children under 12 years of age in rural Punjab. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted in six randomly selected rural districts of Punjab, characterized by their primary reliance on biomass fuels. The findings revealed that several characteristics, such as monthly household income, number of living rooms, secondary use of solid fuels, kitchen type, type of cooking stove, and presence of child in the kitchen with their mother, exhibited significant associations (p < 0.05) with negative health impacts among children. Reported health effects among the children included coughing (18.7%), watery eyes (17.7%), eye irritation (12.3%), runny nose (11.8%), breathing difficulties (8.5%), phlegm (38%), headache (25%), nausea (20.1%), dizziness (6.7%), asthma (6.4%), tuberculosis (1.8%), and pneumonia (1.5%).

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In order to fully understand the nutritional heterogeneity of plant-based meat analogues and real meat, this review summarized their similarities and differences in terms of ingredients, nutrient contents, bioavailability and health impacts. Plant-based meat analogues have some similarities to real meat. However, plant-based meat analogues are lower in protein, cholesterol and VB12 but higher in dietary fiber, carbohydrates, sugar, salt and various food additives than real meat. Moreover, some nutrients in plant-based meat analogues, such as protein and iron, are less bioavailable. There is insufficient evidence that plant-based meat analogues are healthier, which may be related to the specific attributes of these products such as formulation and degree of processing. As things stand, it is necessary to provide comprehensive nutrition information on plant-based meat products so that consumers can make informed choices based on their nutritional needs.

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Extreme heat events will become more frequent and intense across the globe. In this science and society article we summarize how heat affects our body and discuss the associated health threats, but also the potential health benefits of heat exposure. Moreover, we provide practical suggestions for sustainable and health-oriented strategies to cope with heat.

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BACKGROUND: This study explores the impacts of attacks perpetrated in the context of armed conflict, to female health workers in three Colombian territories. METHODS: We conducted a document review of the reports and databases of the Colombian Truth Commission, 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with experts on the national and regional armed conflict and the medical mission, and 26 female health workers who were victims of attacks. RESULTS: Experts and female health workers reported attacks to health activities, facilities, equipment, and personnel, including attacks to traditional doctors belonging to indigenous communities. The most frequent attacks were threats and retention of health personnel; theft of supplies and medicines; damage and use of infrastructure and means of transport for purposes other than health care; and hinderance of health service provision. The attacks occurred in a framework of structural violence that intersects with poverty, racism, and gender bias. The impacts of these attacks include gender-based violence, significant disruption of the lives of health workers, and physical, emotional, psychological, social, and economic effects on the victims and their families. The government response to protect victims and populations has been absent or insufficient. CONCLUSIONS: Attacks to health care were reported in all the studied territories obstructing adequate health care. Impacts of these attacks affect negatively the professional and personal life of the workers and are aggravated by structural violence and absent or little institutional response.

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The effects of PM2.5 on human health fluctuate greatly among various age groups, influenced by a range of physiological and immunological reactions. This paper compares the pathogenesis of the disease caused by PM2.5 in people of different ages, focusing on how children, adults, and the elderly are each susceptible to it because of differences in their bodies. Regarding children, exposure to PM2.5 is linked to many negative consequences. These factors consist of inflammation, oxidative stress, and respiratory problems, which might worsen pre-existing conditions and potentially cause neurotoxicity and developmental issues. Epigenetic changes can affect the immune system and make people more likely to get respiratory diseases. On the other hand, exposures during pregnancy can change how the cardiovascular and central nervous systems develop. In adults, the inhalation of PM2.5 is associated with a wide range of health problems. These include respiratory difficulties, reduced pulmonary function, and an increased susceptibility to illnesses such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. In addition, exposure to PM2.5 induces systemic inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, insulin resistance, and neurotoxic consequences. Evident disturbances in the immune system and cognitive function demonstrate the broad impact of PM2.5. The elderly population is prone to developing respiratory and cardiovascular difficulties, which worsen their pre-existing health issues and raise the risk of cognitive decline and neurological illnesses. Having additional medical conditions, such as peptic ulcer disease, significantly increases the likelihood of being admitted to hospital.

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An increase in incidence and amplitude of extreme weather events (EWEs) linked to climate change, has resulted in greater human exposure and vulnerability to weather-related health effects. Increases in the occurrence of EWEs, including storms, flooding, extreme heat and wildfires, will impact health globally, with poor and vulnerable populations disproportionately affected. Vulnerability to EWEs, and the ability to adapt to these weather shocks, are influenced by existing physical, social and political limitations of a given region. As such, developing context-specific health vulnerability indices to inform planning and decision-making for policy makers and citizens alike, should be prioritized. The existence and development of health vulnerability indices in South Africa are limited, therefore, this study provides a foundation from which future indices can build. Mixed methods approaches including evidence and data analysis/synthesis and focus groups are used to understand the interconnections between extreme weather events and human health, including citizens' understanding of emergent vulnerabilities linked to these events. The methods employed in this study include: •A rapid evidence review (RER) including data extraction identifying health impacts and indicators.•Development of a draft health vulnerability index (HVI) framework.•Focus groups and individual interviews testing the draft HVI for citizen input and framework refinement.

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Air pollution is a key global environmental problem raising human health concern. It is essential to comprehensively assess the long-term characteristics of air pollution and the resultant health impacts. We first assessed the global trends of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during 1980-2020 using a monthly global PM2.5 reanalysis dataset, and evaluated their association with three types of climate variability including El Niño-Southern Oscillation, Indian Ocean Dipole and North Atlantic Oscillation. We then estimated PM2.5-attributable premature deaths using integrated exposure-response functions. Results show a significant increasing trend of ambient PM2.5 during 1980-2020 due to increases in anthropogenic emissions. Ambient PM2.5 caused a total of âˆ¼ 135 million premature deaths globally during the four decades. Occurrence of air pollution episodes was strongly associated with climate variability, which were associated with up to 14 % increase in annual global PM2.5-attributable premature deaths.

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This project examined the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on grandparent caregivers, grandchildren, family dynamics, and resources to mitigate and navigate crises. Phone interviews were conducted with 24 grandparent caregivers using a semi-structured interview guide. Caregivers explained that the pandemic had impacted them and their grandchildren by increasing emotional distress, social isolation, financial difficulties, and challenges with education. Helpful resources consisted of financial support, respite care, and support for grandchildren. Thus, there is a need to provide grandparent caregivers with the same resources that foster care providers receive - particularly when faced with challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

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