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Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 38565

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. David Rojas-Rueda

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental and Radiological Health Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
Interests: health impact assessment; risk assessment; burden of disease; public health; health in all policies; sustainable development goals; environmental epidemiology; environmental risk factors; urban health; built environment and health; transport and health; air pollution; physical activity; green spaces; aging and child health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Daniel Buss

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Guest Editor

Global Environmental Changes, Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Interests: climate change; environmental health; public health; sustainable development goals, environmental risk factors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

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

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

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

Prof. David Rojas
Dr. Daniel Buss
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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

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

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

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

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Respiratory Health Impacts of Outdoor Air Pollution and the Efficacy of Local Risk Communication in Quito, Ecuador

by Jiang Zhou, Laura Gladson, Valeria Díaz Suárez and Kevin Cromar

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(14), 6326; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph20146326 - 08 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1174

Abstract

Relatively few studies on the adverse health impacts of outdoor air pollution have been conducted in Latin American cities, whose pollutant mixtures and baseline health risks are distinct from North America, Europe, and Asia. This study evaluates respiratory morbidity risk associated with ambient air pollution in Quito, Ecuador, and specifically evaluates if the local air quality index accurately reflects population-level health risks. Poisson generalized linear models using air pollution, meteorological, and hospital admission data from 2014 to 2015 were run to quantify the associations of air pollutants and index values with respiratory outcomes in single- and multi-pollutant models. Significant associations were observed for increased respiratory hospital admissions and ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5), ozone (O₃), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), although some of these associations were attenuated in two-pollutant models. Significant associations were also observed for index values, but these values were driven almost entirely by daily O₃ concentrations. Modifications to index formulation to more fully incorporate the health risks of multiple pollutants, particularly for NO₂, have the potential to greatly improve risk communication in Quito. This work also increases the equity of the existing global epidemiological literature by adding new air pollution health risk values from a highly understudied region of the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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17 pages, 975 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adult Exposures to Toxic Trace Elements as Measured in Nails along the Interoceanic Highway in the Peruvian Amazon

by Stacy M. Pettigrew, William K. Pan, James Harrington, Axel Berky, Elvis Rojas and Beth J. Feingold

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6335; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19106335 - 23 May 2022

Viewed by 1645

Abstract

Deforestation, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM), and the rapid development related to highway expansion cause opportunities for toxic trace element exposure in the Amazon region of Madre de Dios (MDD), Peru, one of the most biologically diverse places in the world. The objective of this study was to assess the exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury among adults in Madre de Dios. In total, 418 adult (18+ years) participants in the Investigacion de Migracion, Ambiente, y Salud (IMAS) (Migration, Environment, and Health Study) participated in this study. Consent, survey data, and biospecimens were collected between August and November 2014. Nail elements were measured by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. Differences by selected individual and household characteristics and local land uses were tested using one-way ANOVAs and linear mixed models. Adults in ASGM-affected areas had higher nail arsenic and nail cadmium than their non-ASGM counterparts. Higher household fish consumption was positively associated with nail mercury and nail lead. The results indicate that adult exposure to arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury is heterogeneous across Madre de Dios, and the exposures related to ASGM communities and fish consumption suggest that exposures from artisanal and small-scale mining are environmentally widespread. Further investigation is warranted to ascertain potential health impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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16 pages, 3332 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Participatory Science Approach to Evaluating Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Metals and PFAS in Guatemala City Tap Water

by Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, Riley E. Mulhern, Edwin Castellanos, Erica Wood, Andrea McWilliams, Isabel Herrera, Chamindu Liyanapatirana, Frank Weber, Keith Levine, Evan Thorp, Nichole Bynum, Kelly Amato, Maria Andrea Najera Acevedo, Justin Baker, George Van Houtven, Candise Henry, Christopher Wade and AJ Kondash

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(10), 6004; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19106004 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5969

Abstract

Limited information is available regarding chemical water quality at the tap in Guatemala City, preventing individuals, water utilities, and public health authorities from making data-driven decisions related to water quality. To address this need, 113 participants among households served by a range of water providers across the Guatemala City metropolitan area were recruited as participatory scientists to collect first-draw and flushed tap water samples at their residence. Samples were transported to the U.S. and analyzed for 20 metals and 25 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). At least one metal exceeded the Guatemalan Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) for drinking water in 63% of households (n = 71). Arsenic and lead exceeded the MPL in 33.6% (n = 38) and 8.9% (n = 10) of samples, respectively. Arsenic was strongly associated with groundwater while lead occurrence was not associated with location, water source, or provider. One or more PFAS were detected in 19% of samples (n = 21, range 2.1–64.2 ppt). PFAS were significantly associated with the use of plastic water storage tanks but not with location, water source, or provider. Overall, the high prevalence of arsenic above the MPL in Guatemala City tap water represents a potential health risk that current water treatment processes are not optimized to remove. Furthermore, potential contaminants from premise plumbing and storage, including lead and PFAS, represent additional risks requiring further investigation and public engagement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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13 pages, 1365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Pollution to Blame for Depressive Disorder?

by Mariana Segovia-Mendoza, Margarita Isabel Palacios-Arreola, Lenin Pavón, Luis Enrique Becerril, Karen Elizabeth Nava-Castro, Omar Amador-Muñoz and Jorge Morales-Montor

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1737; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19031737 - 02 Feb 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2491

Abstract

Public concern has emerged about the effects of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) on neuropsychiatric disorders. Preclinical evidence suggests that exposure to EDCs is associated with the development of major depressive disorder (MDD) and could result in neural degeneration. The interaction of EDCs with hormonal receptors is the best-described mechanism of their biological activity. However, the dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal adrenal axis has been reported and linked to neurological disorders. At a worldwide level and in Mexico, the incidence of MDD has recently been increasing. Of note, in Mexico, there are no clinical associations on blood levels of EDCs and the incidence of the MDD. Methodology: Thus, we quantified for the first time the serum levels of parent compounds of two bisphenols and four phthalates in patients with MDD. The levels of di-ethyl-hexyl-phthalate (DEHP), butyl-benzyl-phthalate (BBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and di-ethyl-phthalate (DEP), bisphenol A (BPA), and bisphenol S (BPS) in men and women with or without MDD were determined with a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. Results/conclusion: We found significant differences between concentrations of BBP between controls and patients with MDD. Interestingly, the serum levels of this compound have a dysmorphic behavior, being much higher in women (~500 ng/mL) than in men (≤10 ng/mL). We did not observe significant changes in the serum concentrations of the other phthalates or bisphenols tested, neither when comparing healthy and sick subjects nor when they were compared by gender. The results point out that BBP has a critical impact on the etiology of MDD disorder in Mexican patients, specifically in women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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10 pages, 643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Adaptation as a Biological Response Derived from an Earthquake at Intrauterine Stage

by Jonatan A. Mendoza-Ortega, Enrique Reyes-Muñoz, Sonia Nava-Salazar, Sandra Rodríguez-Martínez, Sandra B. Parra-Hernández, Lourdes Schnaas, Blanca Vianey Suárez-Rico, Libni A. Torres-Olascoaga, Andrea A. Baccarelli, Rosalind J. Wright, Robert O. Wright, Guadalupe Estrada-Gutierrez and Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11771; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182211771 - 10 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2584

Abstract

An altered mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) at birth can be a marker of increased disease susceptibility later in life. Gestational exposure to acute stress, such as that derived from the earthquake experienced on 19 September 2017 in Mexico City, could be associated with changes in mtDNAcn at birth. Our study used data from the OBESO (Biochemical and Epigenetic Origins of Overweight and Obesity) perinatal cohort in Mexico City. We compared the mtDNAcn in the umbilical cord blood of 22 infants born before the earthquake, 24 infants whose mothers were pregnant at the time of the earthquake (exposed), and 37 who were conceived after the earthquake (post-earthquake). We quantified mtDNAcn by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction normalized with a nuclear gene. We used a linear model adjusted by maternal age, body mass index, socioeconomic status, perceived stress, and pregnancy comorbidities. Compared to non-exposed newborns (mean ± SD mtDNAcn: 0.740 ± 0.161), exposed and post-earthquake newborns (mtDNAcn: 0.899 ± 0.156 and 0.995 ± 0.169, respectively) had increased mtDNAcn, p = 0.001. The findings of this study point at mtDNAcn as a potential biological marker of acute stress and suggest that experiencing an earthquake during pregnancy or before gestation can have programing effects in the unborn child. Long-term follow-up of newborns to women who experience stress prenatally, particularly that derived from a natural disaster, is warranted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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12 pages, 588 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prenatal Particulate Matter (PM) Exposure and Natriuretic Peptides in Newborns from Mexico City

by Abigail Muñoz-Rodríguez, Jorge Alfonso Maciel-Ruiz, Ana María Salazar, Monserrat Sordo, Patricia Ostrosky-Wegman, Jorge H. Limón-Pacheco, Andrés Eduardo Nepomuceno-Hernández, Rodrigo Ayala-Yáñez, María Eugenia Gonsebatt and Citlalli Osorio-Yáñez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(12), 6546; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18126546 - 18 Jun 2021

Viewed by 1978

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to assess associations between particulate matter (PM) exposure and natriuretic peptide concentrations in cord blood from newborns. (2) Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study in Mexico City with 101 pregnant women from CIMIGEN Hospital. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) were measured in plasma from cord blood in 51 newborns by ELISA. We estimated PM exposure (PM2.5 and PM10) at first, second and third trimester of pregnancy. (3) Results: The median and interquartile range for ANP, BNP and CNP plasma concentrations were 66.71 (46.92–80.23), 98.23 (73.64–112.30) and 1129.11 (944.10–1452.02) pg/mL, respectively. PM2.5 and PM10 levels for the whole pregnancy period were 22.2 µg/m³ and 41.63 µg/m³, respectively. Employing multivariable linear regression models adjusted for maternal age, newborn sex, smoking before pregnancy, maternal occupation and newborns’ length and height, we observed a 2.47 pg/mL (95%CI: −4.67, −0.27) decrease in BNP associated with PM2.5 exposure during second trimester. Adjusted for the same set of confounders, third trimester PM10 exposure was inversely associated with ANP concentrations (beta estimate: −0.90; 95% CI: −1.80, −0.03). Neither PM10 nor PM2.5 were associated with CNP at any trimester of pregnancy. (4) Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to particulate matter was associated with ANP and BNP decrease in newborns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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13 pages, 1510 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Trends at a Hotspot of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Causes in Nicaragua, 1973–2014

by Zoe E. Petropoulos, Oriana Ramirez-Rubio, Madeleine K. Scammell, Rebecca L. Laws, Damaris Lopez-Pilarte, Juan José Amador, Joan Ballester, Cristina O’Callaghan-Gordo and Daniel R. Brooks

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(10), 5418; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105418 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2432

Abstract

An ongoing epidemic of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) afflicts large parts of Central America and is hypothesized to be linked to heat stress at work. Mortality rates from CKDu appear to have increased dramatically since the 1970s. To explore this relationship, we assessed trends in maximum and minimum temperatures during harvest months between 1973 and 2014 as well as in the number of days during the harvest season for which the maximum temperature surpassed 35 °C. Data were collected at a weather station at a Nicaraguan sugar company where large numbers of workers have been affected by CKDu. Monthly averages of the daily maximum temperatures between 1996 and 2014 were also compared to concurrent weather data from eight Automated Surface Observing System Network weather stations across Nicaragua. Our objectives were to assess changes in temperature across harvest seasons, estimate the number of days that workers were at risk of heat-related illness and compare daily maximum temperatures across various sites in Nicaragua. The monthly average daily maximum temperature during the harvest season increased by 0.7 °C per decade between 1973 and 1990. The number of days per harvest season with a maximum temperature over 35 °C increased by approximately five days per year between 1974 and 1990, from 32 days to 114 days. Between 1991 and 2013, the number of harvest days with a maximum temperature over 35 °C decreased by two days per year, and the monthly average daily maximum temperature decreased by 0.3 °C per decade. Comparisons with weather stations across Nicaragua demonstrate that this company is located in one of the consistently hottest regions of the country. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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11 pages, 897 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to PM_2.5 and Obesity Prevalence in the Greater Mexico City Area

by Marcela Tamayo-Ortiz, Martha María Téllez-Rojo, Stephen J. Rothenberg, Ivan Gutiérrez-Avila, Allan Carpenter Just, Itai Kloog, José Luis Texcalac-Sangrador, Martin Romero-Martinez, Luis F. Bautista-Arredondo, Joel Schwartz, Robert O. Wright and Horacio Riojas-Rodriguez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(5), 2301; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18052301 - 26 Feb 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 3364

Abstract

Exposure to PM_2.5 has been associated with the prevalence of obesity. In the Greater Mexico City Area (GMCA), both are ranked among the highest in the world. Our aim was to analyze this association in children, adolescents, and adults in the GMCA. We used data from the 2006 and 2012 Mexican National Surveys of Health and Nutrition (ENSANUT). Participants’ past-year exposure to ambient PM_2.5 was assessed using land use terms and satellite-derived aerosol optical depth estimates; weight and height were measured. We used survey-adjusted logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of obesity (vs. normal-overweight) for every 10 µg/m³ increase in annual PM_2.5 exposure for children, adolescents, and adults. Using a meta-analysis approach, we estimated the overall odds of obesity. We analyzed data representing 19.3 million and 20.9 million GMCA individuals from ENSANUT 2006 and 2012, respectively. The overall pooled estimate between PM_2.5 exposure and obesity was OR = 1.96 (95% CI: 1.21, 3.18). For adolescents, a 10 µg/m³ increase in PM_2.5 was associated with an OR of 3.53 (95% CI: 1.45, 8.58) and 3.79 (95% CI: 1.40, 10.24) in 2006 and 2012, respectively. More studies such as this are recommended in Latin American cities with similar air pollution and obesity conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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12 pages, 977 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Lack of Safe Drinking Water for Lake Chapala Basin Communities in Mexico Inhibits Progress toward Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6

by Charlotte D. Smith, Kaitlyn Jackson, Hannah Peters and Susana Herrera Lima

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(22), 8328; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17228328 - 11 Nov 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4046

Abstract

Background: Access to safe, affordable and accessible drinking water is a human right and foundational to the third and sixth World Health Organization’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unsafe drinking water is a risk factor for chronic and enteric diseases. Both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diarrheal disease are highly prevalent in the Lake Chapala basin, Jalisco, Mexico, suggesting disparities in factors leading to successful achievement of these two SDGs. Methods: This study aimed to assess progress towards SDG three and six in the Lake Chapala basin. Qualitative, quantitative, and geospatial data were collected between May and August of 2019 from three towns within the municipalities of Poncitlán and Chapala. Results: Ninety-nine households participated in this study. Water sampling analyses determined 81.18% of samples from water jugs (garrafones) and 70.05% of samples from tap water were contaminated with total coliform bacteria, often including E. coli. Additionally, 32% of garrafón samples and 61.9% of tap water samples had detectable levels of arsenic. Approximately 97.94% of respondents stated that they believe clean water is a human right, but 78.57% feel the Mexican government does not do enough to make this a reality. Conclusions: This mixed methods approach highlights water quality as a serious issue in communities around Lake Chapala, and demonstrates inadequate drinking water as a key hazard, potentially perpetuating the high disease burden of both CKD and enteric disease in the region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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14 pages, 321 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Prenatal Exposure to Mercury, Perceived Stress, and Depression on Birth Outcomes in Suriname: Results from the MeKiTamara Study

by Anisma R. Gokoel, Wilco C. W. R. Zijlmans, Hannah H. Covert, Firoz Abdoel Wahid, Arti Shankar, M. Sigrid MacDonald-Ottevanger, Ashna D. Hindori-Mohangoo, Jeffrey K. Wickliffe, Maureen Y. Lichtveld and Emily W. Harville

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(12), 4444; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17124444 - 20 Jun 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2970

Abstract

Prenatal exposure to mercury, stress, and depression may have adverse effects on birth outcomes. Little is known on the influence of chemical and non-chemical stressors on birth outcomes in the country of Suriname. We assessed the influence of prenatal exposure to mercury, perceived stress, and depression on adverse birth outcomes in 1143 pregnant Surinamese women who participated in the Caribbean Consortium for Research in Environmental and Occupational Health-MeKiTamara prospective cohort study. Associations between mercury (≥1.1 μg/g hair, USEPA action level/top versus bottom quartile), probable depression (Edinburgh Depression Scale ≥12), high perceived stress (Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale ≥20), and adverse birth outcomes (low birthweight (<2500 g), preterm birth (<37 completed weeks of gestation), and low Apgar score (<7 at 5 min)) were assessed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions. Prevalence of elevated mercury levels, high perceived stress, and probable depression were 37.5%, 27.2%, and 22.4%, respectively. Mercury exposure was significantly associated with preterm birth in the overall study cohort (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.05–5.83) and perceived stress with a low Apgar score (OR 9.73; 95% CI 2.03–46.70). Depression was not associated with any birth outcomes. These findings can inform policy- and practice-oriented solutions to improve maternal and child health in Suriname. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

Review

Jump to: Research

17 pages, 709 KiB

Open AccessReview

Human Pesticide Exposure in Bolivia: A Scoping Review of Current Knowledge, Future Challenges and Research Needs

by Jessika Barrón Cuenca, Kristian Dreij and Noemi Tirado

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2024, 21(3), 305; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph21030305 - 05 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1385

Abstract

Numerous studies have shown that pesticide exposure is linked to adverse health outcomes. Nevertheless, in Bolivia, where there is an increasing use of pesticides, the literature is sparse. To address knowledge gaps and guide future research in Bolivia, we conducted a scoping review spanning 22 years (January 2000 to December 2022). Our search identified 39 peer-reviewed articles, 27 reports/documents on Bolivian regulations, and 12 other documents. Most studies focused on farmers and revealed high pesticide exposure levels, assessed through biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, and effect. The literature explored a range of health effects due to pesticide exposure, spanning from acute to chronic conditions. Many studies highlighted the correlation between pesticide exposure and genotoxic damage, measured as DNA strand breaks and/or micronuclei formation. This was particularly observed in farmers without personal protection equipment (PPE), which increases the risk of developing chronic diseases, including cancer. Recent findings also showed the alarming use of banned or restricted pesticides in Bolivian crops. Despite existing Bolivian regulations, the uncontrolled use of pesticides persists, leading to harmful health effects on the population and increasing land and water pollution. This review underscores the need for the stringent enforcement of regulations and continued research efforts, and it provides a scientific foundation for decision-making by relevant authorities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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21 pages, 1543 KiB

Open AccessReview

Drinking Water Supply in the Region of Antofagasta (Chile): A Challenge between Past, Present and Future

by Barbara Ruffino, Giuseppe Campo, Dafne Crutchik, Arturo Reyes and Mariachiara Zanetti

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 14406; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192114406 - 03 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2764

Abstract

Since the mid-nineteen century, when the first mining companies were established in the region of Antofagasta to extract saltpeter, mining managers and civil authorities have always had to face a number of problems to secure a water supply sufficient for the development of industrial activities and society. The unique features of the region, namely the scarcity of rainfall, the high concentration of arsenic in freshwaters and the increasing pressure of the mining sector, have made the supply of drinking water for local communities a challenge. In the 1950s, the town of Antofagasta experienced a serious drinking water crisis. The 300 km long aqueduct starting from the Toconce catchment, opened in 1958, temporarily ended this shortage of drinking water but created an even more dramatic problem. The concentration of arsenic in the water consumed by the population had grown by approx. ten times, reaching the value of 0.860 mg/L and seriously affecting people’s health. The water treatment plants (WTPs) which were installed starting from the 1970s in the region (namely the Old and New Salar del Carmen in Antofagasta and Cerro Topater in Calama, plus the two recent desalination plants in Antofagasta and Tocopilla), have ensured, since 2014, that the drinking water coverage in the urban areas was practically universal (>99.9%). However, the rural areas have continued to experience significant shortcomings regarding their capacity to ensure the quality and continuity of the water supply service in the long run. Presently, approx. 42% of the rural population of the region of Antofagasta does not have a formal supply of drinking water. The recent amendments to the Chilean Water Code (March 2022) and the interventions carried out in the framework of the Agua Potable Rural (APR) program were intended to reduce the socio-ecological inequalities due to the lack of drinking water in the semi-concentrated and isolated rural population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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16 pages, 701 KiB

Open AccessReview

Why a New Research Agenda on Green Spaces and Health Is Needed in Latin America: Results of a Systematic Review

by David Rojas-Rueda, Elida Vaught and Daniel Buss

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(11), 5839; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18115839 - 29 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3408

Abstract

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

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Health in Latin America and the Caribbean)

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