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Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment

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 (30 April 2022) | Viewed by 24739

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Interests: inhalation toxicology (prenatal exposure models autism); developmental neurobiology (somatosensory cortex); behavioral neurobiology (development of structure-specific paradigms); environmental and biochemical toxicology (Nitroxides, PAH’s); dispersion modeling of PAH’s in environmental justice communities; structural biology, protein structure and function; environmental-exposure health assessment questionnaire development; modeling exposures across lifetime using public health exposome approach

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Multiple exposures from the built, natural, physical, and social environment are thought to differentially moderate adverse chronic disease health outcomes in a “place-based” manner. There are a multiplicity of publicly available datasets that span the natural, built, physical, and social environments and include chemical and non-chemical stressor measures. These datasets include atmospheric conditions; EPA Air Quality System criteria (air pollutants, particulates, and meteorological data (e.g., PM2.5 and heat)); toxicants; chemical emissions; land cover data; and measures of the built environment, including land use, Toxic Release Inventory data, facilities, traffic-related pollution, highways, neighborhood resources, health care facilities, and occupational codes. Social environmental stressors include population-level measures of social, demographic, economic, and political variables. While most of these data elements have been standardized as annual county measures, many are also available at smaller geospatial units to include block groups; census tracts; zip codes; and 1-, 3-, 10-, and 12-km grids.

While many of the aforementioned variables may be statistically correlated with components of air pollution indices and other environmental variables, their utility for use in traditional risk assessment frameworks is limited due to cross-correlations, differences in dose–response predictivity, and proximity to apical outcomes (e.g., early effect biomarkers and clinical signs).

This Special Issue is intended to provide an opportunity for the research community to publish valuable results from assessments describing cumulative effects from exposure to combinations of chemical and non-chemical stressors on chronic disease outcomes. Manuscripts describing models that support new approaches for conducting cumulative risk assessments towards assessing the impacts of multiple, interactive, and cumulative exposures from the environment on adverse personal health events and population-level health disparities are encouraged.

The overarching theme of Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment should be at the center of these manuscripts. Reviews, research articles, methodological studies, and papers concerning relevant policies and regulations are solicited. Please provide an abstract beforehand so we can confirm its suitability to the intended theme. We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Darryl B. Hood
Guest Editor

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

  • chemical and non-chemical stressors
  • cumulative risk trajectories
  • Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) analytics
  • combined effects
  • multiple exposures
  • place-based disparities
  • vulnerable populations
  • social ecological life-course framework

Published Papers (10 papers)

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21 pages, 4597 KiB  
Article
Big Data to Knowledge Analytics Reveals the Zika Virus Epidemic as Only One of Multiple Factors Contributing to a Year-Over-Year 28-Fold Increase in Microcephaly Incidence
by Myriam Patricia Cifuentes, Clara Mercedes Suarez, Ricardo Cifuentes, Noel Malod-Dognin, Sam Windels, Jose Fernando Valderrama, Paul D. Juarez, R. Burciaga Valdez, Cynthia Colen, Charles Phillips, Aramandla Ramesh, Wansoo Im, Maureen Lichtveld, Charles Mouton, Nataša Pržulj and Darryl B. Hood
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(15), 9051; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19159051 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1775
Abstract
During the 2015–2016 Zika Virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Brazil, the geographical distributions of ZIKV infection and microcephaly outbreaks did not align. This raised doubts about the virus as the single cause of the microcephaly outbreak and led to research hypotheses of alternative explanatory [...] Read more.
During the 2015–2016 Zika Virus (ZIKV) epidemic in Brazil, the geographical distributions of ZIKV infection and microcephaly outbreaks did not align. This raised doubts about the virus as the single cause of the microcephaly outbreak and led to research hypotheses of alternative explanatory factors, such as environmental variables and factors, agrochemical use, or immunizations. We investigated context and the intermediate and structural determinants of health inequalities, as well as social environment factors, to determine their interaction with ZIKV-positive- and ZIKV-negative-related microcephaly. The results revealed the identification of 382 associations among 382 nonredundant variables of Zika surveillance, including multiple determinants of environmental public health factors and variables obtained from 5565 municipalities in Brazil. This study compared those factors and variables directly associated with microcephaly incidence positive to ZIKV and those associated with microcephaly incidence negative to ZIKV, respectively, and mapped them in case and control subnetworks. The subnetworks of factors and variables associated with low birth weight and birthweight where birth incidence served as an additional control were also mapped. Non-significant differences in factors and variables were observed, as were weights of associations between microcephaly incidence, both positive and negative to ZIKV, which revealed diagnostic inaccuracies that translated to the underestimation of the scope of the ZIKV outbreak. A detailed analysis of the patterns of association does not support a finding that vaccinations contributed to microcephaly, but it does raise concerns about the use of agrochemicals as a potential factor in the observed neurotoxicity arising from the presence of heavy metals in the environment and microcephaly not associated with ZIKV. Summary: A comparative network inferential analysis of the patterns of variables and factors associated with Zika virus infections in Brazil during 2015–2016 coinciding with a microcephaly epidemic identified multiple contributing determinants. This study advances our understanding of the cumulative interactive effects of exposures to chemical and non-chemical stressors in the built, natural, physical, and social environments on adverse pregnancy and health outcomes in vulnerable populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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12 pages, 943 KiB  
Article
Clustering of Environmental Parameters and the Risk of Acute Myocardial Infarction
by Geraldine P. Y. Koo, Huili Zheng, Pin Pin Pek, Fintan Hughes, Shir Lynn Lim, Jun Wei Yeo, Marcus E. H. Ong and Andrew F. W. Ho
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(14), 8476; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19148476 - 11 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1836
Abstract
The association between days with similar environmental parameters and cardiovascular events is unknown. We investigate the association between clusters of environmental parameters and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk in Singapore. Using k-means clustering and conditional Poisson models, we grouped calendar days from 2010 [...] Read more.
The association between days with similar environmental parameters and cardiovascular events is unknown. We investigate the association between clusters of environmental parameters and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk in Singapore. Using k-means clustering and conditional Poisson models, we grouped calendar days from 2010 to 2015 based on rainfall, temperature, wind speed and the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and compared the incidence rate ratios (IRR) of AMI across the clusters using a time-stratified case-crossover design. Three distinct clusters were formed with Cluster 1 having high wind speed, Cluster 2 high rainfall, and Cluster 3 high temperature and PSI. Compared to Cluster 1, Cluster 3 had a higher AMI incidence with IRR 1.04 (95% confidence interval 1.01–1.07), but no significant difference was found between Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Subgroup analyses showed that increased AMI incidence was significant only among those with age ≥65, male, non-smokers, non-ST elevation AMI (NSTEMI), history of hyperlipidemia and no history of ischemic heart disease, diabetes or hypertension. In conclusion, we found that AMI incidence, especially NSTEMI, is likely to be higher on days with high temperature and PSI. These findings have public health implications for AMI prevention and emergency health services delivery during the seasonal Southeast Asian transboundary haze. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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23 pages, 1413 KiB  
Article
Insights into Improving Risk and Safety Communication through Environmental Health Literacy
by Marti Lindsey, Ben Richmond, Daniel R. Quintanar, Jordan Spradlin and Loren Halili
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(9), 5330; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19095330 - 27 Apr 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2062
Abstract
Messages and materials developed to communicate risk to the public are often misunderstood because the public misperceives risk, science information is too complex, leading to audience misunderstandings, and an overarching focus on the details of the problem without supplying solutions or actions to [...] Read more.
Messages and materials developed to communicate risk to the public are often misunderstood because the public misperceives risk, science information is too complex, leading to audience misunderstandings, and an overarching focus on the details of the problem without supplying solutions or actions to keep the public safe. This article describes the creation of a communication model to improve risk communication that includes safety information. The authors describe essential components of Risk and Safety Communication based on features of Environmental Health Literacy (EHL), which informed the creation of a protocol for developing risk communication messages and materials. An online training module was developed to aid communicators in creating information to enable the public to protect themselves, their family, and their community, leading to improved comprehension of how the environment impacts health. These principles were developed in a series of focus groups, identifying how the public perceives risk, how they prefer to receive communication, and how participants respond to materials developed using the principles. Important topics discussed are understanding the literacy levels of the target audience, applying that understanding to developing messages, how risk perception leads to misperceptions and how to address those misperceptions by using plain language when developing focused messages and materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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16 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
Human Health Risk Assessment from Lead Exposure through Consumption of Raw Cow Milk from Free-Range Cattle Reared in the Vicinity of a Lead–Zinc Mine in Kabwe
by Golden Zyambo, John Yabe, Kaampwe Muzandu, Ethel M’kandawire, Kennedy Choongo, Andrew Kataba, Kenneth Chawinga, Allan Liazambi, Shouta M. M Nakayama, Hokuto Nakata and Mayumi Ishizuka
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(8), 4757; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19084757 - 14 Apr 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2451
Abstract
Lead (Pb) contamination in the environment affects both humans and animals. Chronic exposure to Pb via dietary intake of animal products such as milk from contaminated areas poses a health risk to consumers; therefore, the present study investigated Pb contamination in cow milk [...] Read more.
Lead (Pb) contamination in the environment affects both humans and animals. Chronic exposure to Pb via dietary intake of animal products such as milk from contaminated areas poses a health risk to consumers; therefore, the present study investigated Pb contamination in cow milk and its health risk impact on humans through consumption of milk from cattle reared in the proximity of a Pb–Zn mine in Kabwe, Zambia. Fresh milk samples were collected from cows from Kang’omba (KN), Kafulamse (KF), Mpima (MP), Mukobeko (MK), and Munga (MN) farming areas. Pb determination was performed using Graphite Flame Absorption Atomic Spectrophotometry (GFAAS). Cow milk Pb levels showed different concentration patterns according to season, distance, and location of the farms from the Pb–Zn mine. The overall mean Pb levels were ranged 0.60–2.22 µg/kg and 0.50–4.24 µg/kg in the wet and dry seasons, respectively. The mean Pb concentration, chronic daily intake (CDIs), target hazard quotients (THQs), and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) results obtained were all within the permissible limits of 20 µg/kg, 3 and 12.5 µg/kg-BW/day, <1 and 10−4 to10−6, respectively. In conclusion, although Pb was detected in milk from cows reared in Kabwe, the health risk effects of Pb exposure associated with the consumption of milk in both adults and children were negligible. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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11 pages, 1882 KiB  
Article
Simulation Studies Provide Evidence of Aerosol Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a Multi-Story Building via Air Supply, Exhaust and Sanitary Pipelines
by Zhuona Zhang, Xia Li, Qin Wang, Xiaoning Zhao, Jin Xu, Qinqin Jiang, Sili Jiang, Jiayun Lyu, Shiqiang Liu, Ling Ye, Jun Yuan, Wenru Feng, Jiamin Xie, Qiuling Chen, Haoming Zou and Dongqun Xu
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(3), 1532; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19031532 - 29 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5828
Abstract
A cross-layer non-vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in a quarantine hotel in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China in June 2021. To explore the cross-layer transmission path and influencing factors of viral aerosol, we set up different scenarios to [...] Read more.
A cross-layer non-vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in a quarantine hotel in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China in June 2021. To explore the cross-layer transmission path and influencing factors of viral aerosol, we set up different scenarios to carry out simulation experiments. The results showed that the air in the polluted room can enter the corridor by opening the door to take food and move out the garbage, then mix with the fresh air taken from the outside as part of the air supply of the central air conditioning system and re-enter into different rooms on the same floor leading to the same-layer transmission. In addition, flushing the toilet after defecation and urination will produce viral aerosol that pollutes rooms on different floors through the exhaust system and the vertical drainage pipe in the bathroom, resulting in cross-layer vertical transmission, also aggravating the transmission in different rooms on the same floor after mixing with the air of the room and entering the corridor to become part of the air supply, and meanwhile, continuing to increase the cross-layer transmission through the vertical drainage pipe. Therefore, the air conditioning and ventilation system of the quarantine hotel should be operated in full fresh air mode and close the return air; the exhaust volume of the bathroom should be greater than the fresh air volume. The exhaust pipe of the bathroom should be independently set and cannot be interconnected or connected in series. The riser of the sewage and drainage pipeline of the bathroom should maintain vertical to exhaust independently and cannot be arbitrarily changed to horizontal pipe assembly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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19 pages, 1528 KiB  
Article
Quantitative Analysis and Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Paddy Plants Collected from Perak, Malaysia
by Agatha Anak Sibuar, Nur Syahirah Zulkafflee, Jinap Selamat, Mohd Razi Ismail, Soo Yee Lee and Ahmad Faizal Abdull Razis
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(2), 731; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph19020731 - 10 Jan 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2335
Abstract
Rice is one of the major crops as well as the staple food in Malaysia. However, historical mining activity has raised a concern regarding heavy metal contamination in paddy plants, especially in Perak, a state with major tin mining during the late nineteenth [...] Read more.
Rice is one of the major crops as well as the staple food in Malaysia. However, historical mining activity has raised a concern regarding heavy metal contamination in paddy plants, especially in Perak, a state with major tin mining during the late nineteenth century. Therefore, the objective of this study is to investigate the heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr) contamination in paddy soils and paddy plants in three districts in Perak. The content of heavy metals was determined using ICP-MS, while the absorption and transferability of heavy metals in the paddy plants were investigated through enrichment (EF) and translocation (TF) factors. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to recognize the pattern of heavy metal contaminations in different sampling areas. Health risk assessment was performed through calculation of various indices. The quantification results showed that root contained highest concentration of the studied heavy metals, with As exhibiting the highest concentration. The EF results revealed the accumulation of As, Cu, and Cr in the rice grains while PCA showed the different compositional pattern in the different sampling areas. The health risk assessment disclosed both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks in the local adults and children. Overall, findings from this study show that heavy metal contamination poses potential health risks to the residents and control measure is required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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19 pages, 2012 KiB  
Article
Rethinking of Environmental Health Risks: A Systematic Approach of Physical—Social Health Vulnerability Assessment on Heavy-Metal Exposure through Soil and Vegetables
by Jun Yang, Silu Ma, Yongwei Song, Fei Li and Jingcheng Zhou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13379; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182413379 - 19 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
In the field of environmental health risk assessment and management research, heavy metals in soil are a constant focus, largely because of mining and metallurgical activities, and other manufacturing or producing. However, systematic vulnerability, and combined research of social and physical vulnerability of [...] Read more.
In the field of environmental health risk assessment and management research, heavy metals in soil are a constant focus, largely because of mining and metallurgical activities, and other manufacturing or producing. However, systematic vulnerability, and combined research of social and physical vulnerability of the crowd, have received less attention in the research literature of environmental health risk assessment. For this reason, tentative design modelling for comprehensive environmental health vulnerability, which includes the index of physical and social vulnerability, was conducted here. On the basis of experimental data of heavy-metal pollution in soil and vegetables, and population and societal survey data in Daye, China, the physical, social, and comprehensive environmental health vulnerabilities of the area were analyzed, with each village as an evaluation unit. First, the polluted and reference areas were selected. Random sampling sites were distributed in the farmland of the villages in these two areas, with two sampling sites per village. Then, 204 vegetable samples were directly collected from the farmland from which the soil samples had been collected, composed of seven kinds of vegetables: cowpea, water spinach, amaranth, sweet potato leaves, tomato, eggplant, and pepper. Moreover, 400 questionnaires were given to the local residents in these corresponding villages, and 389 valid responses were obtained. The results indicated that (1) the average physical vulnerability values of the population in the polluted and reference areas were 3.99 and 1.00, respectively; (2) the village of Weiwang (WW) had the highest physical vulnerability of 8.55; (3) vegetable intake is exposure that should be paid more attention, as it contributes more than 90% to physical vulnerability among the exposure pathways; (4) arsenic and cadmium should be the priority pollutants, with average physical vulnerability value contributions of 63.9% and 17.0%, respectively; (5) according to the social vulnerability assessment, the village of Luoqiao (LQ) had the highest social vulnerability (0.77); (6) for comprehensive environmental health vulnerability, five villages near mining activities and two villages far from mine-affected area had high physical and social vulnerability, and are the urgent areas for environmental risk management. In order to promote environmental risk management, it is necessary to prioritize identifying vulnerable populations in the village-scale dimension as an innovative discovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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11 pages, 343 KiB  
Article
Experimental Studies of the Effect of Schisandrachinensis Extract on the State of Adaptive Capabilities of Rats under Chronic and General Exposure to Cold
by Irina Sergeeva, Tatyana Kiseleva, Valentina Pomozova, Nataliy Shkrabtak, Nina Frolova and Alexander Vereshchagin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 11780; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph182211780 - 10 Nov 2021
Viewed by 1539
Abstract
Currently, there is an objective need to create fortified food products that allow not only to provide the body with energy, but also to replenish the deficiency of essential nutrients. A generalization of the information published by Rospotrebnadzor and the Institute of Nutrition [...] Read more.
Currently, there is an objective need to create fortified food products that allow not only to provide the body with energy, but also to replenish the deficiency of essential nutrients. A generalization of the information published by Rospotrebnadzor and the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences indicates a deficiency in the diet of Russians of vitamins C, group B and β-carotene and minerals, including calcium and iron, regardless of the season of the year. The identified deviations lead to a violation of the immune status, a decrease in the body’s resistance to infections, and other unfavorable environmental factors, leading to an increase in the level of morbidity and a decrease in working capacity. The main unfavorable climatic factor that the population of the Far Eastern region has to face is low freezing temperatures. Adaptation to cold exposure is a complex process that requires a long period and may be accompanied by functional disorders and morphological changes in body tissues. In connection with the above, the problem of increasing the adaptive capabilities of a person to unfavorable environmental factors by means of correcting daily nutrition, providing the body with essential macro- and micronutrients, which is important in the prevention of possible diseases, is of particular importance. This study is aimed at assessing the effect of Schisandrachinensis extract on the adaptive capacity of rats in conditions of chronic and general cold. It was found that the extracts obtained from the fruits of Schisandra chinensis are characterized by a high content of biologically active substances. In experiments with determining the duration of running on the treadmill, a distinct act-protective effect was observed with the introduction of Schisandra chinensis extracts at a dose of 150 mg/day, against the background of reduced resistance to physical activity due to cold exposure. It was found that exposure to cold significantly reduced the swimming resistance of rats on all days of the study. The introduction of Schisandra chinensis extract into the diet led to an increase in resistance to fatigue and an increase in the duration of swimming on all days of the experiment. Conclusions: in this experimental model, a gradually increasing effect of increasing the physical performance of rats was demonstrated with prolonged (28 days) intake of the developed drinks, which coincides with the literature data on a number of other adaptogens and indicates the presence of cumulative properties of biologically active substances of Schisandra extract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
14 pages, 1645 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Lead and Mercury Exposure Levels in the General Population of Korea Using Integrated National Biomonitoring Data
by Jeong-Wook Seo, Young-Seoub Hong and Byoung-Gwon Kim
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(13), 6932; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18136932 - 28 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1665
Abstract
In Korea, the estimated values of blood lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) levels differ between two national-level biomonitors, namely the Korean National Environmental Health Survey and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The present study used integrated data from these surveys [...] Read more.
In Korea, the estimated values of blood lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) levels differ between two national-level biomonitors, namely the Korean National Environmental Health Survey and the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The present study used integrated data from these surveys to estimate the representative values of the change in concentration and recent distribution characteristics. The yearly trend of age-standardized exposure levels in regular adults was identified, and the geometric mean (GM) adjusted according to demographic characteristics was presented. Age-standardized GM for blood Pb and Hg in the integrated data was 2.06 and 3.64 μg/L in 2008, respectively, which decreased to 1.55 and 2.92 μg/L, respectively, by 2017. Adjusted GMs from most recently conducted surveys (2015–2017) were 1.61 and 2.98 μg/L for blood Pb and Hg, respectively. In particular, the adjusted percentage of blood Hg exceeding the reference value of 5 μg/L was 20.79%. While the blood Pb and Hg exposure levels are decreasing in Korea, the levels remain high relative to those in other countries. The Hg levels exceeded the reference value in many individuals. Therefore, continued biomonitoring must be conducted, and a reduction plan and exposure management are needed for harmful metals, including Hg. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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18 pages, 3050 KiB  
Systematic Review
A Framework for Interfacing and Partnering with Environmental Justice Communities as a Prelude to Human Health and Hazard Identification in the Vulnerable Census Tracts of Columbus, Ohio
by Heather Lochotzki, Karen Patricia Williams, Cynthia G. Colen, Olorunfemi Adetona, Charleta B. Tavares, Georgina M. Ginn, Rejeana Haynes, Wansoo Im, Tanya Bils and Darryl B. Hood
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(21), 13846; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph192113846 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1539
Abstract
Columbus, Ohio is one of the more prosperous, well-educated, and progressive cities in the United States. However, it ranks as the second worst life expectancy at birth, has a census tract wealth gap (27-year disparity), and one of the higher infant mortality rates [...] Read more.
Columbus, Ohio is one of the more prosperous, well-educated, and progressive cities in the United States. However, it ranks as the second worst life expectancy at birth, has a census tract wealth gap (27-year disparity), and one of the higher infant mortality rates in the country. These data suggest that there are likely several high-risk, vulnerable neighborhoods in Columbus with residents experiencing disparate and adverse outcomes. Illustrative of this fact are studies that have examined the social processes and mechanisms through which neighborhood contexts are at the forefront, including exposures to chemical stressors such as particulate matter (PM2.5) as well as non-chemical stressors including violence, social determinants of health, zoning, and land use policies. It is documented that disparate and adverse outcomes are magnified in the vulnerable neighborhoods on the Near East Side as compared to Columbus city proper, Franklin County and/or the state of Ohio. As such, we developed a nuanced community engagement framework to identify potential environmental hazards associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes in those census tracts. The refined framework uses a blended version of traditional community-based participatory research (CBPR) models and is referred to as E6, Enhancing Environmental Endeavors via e-Equity, Education, and Empowerment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human Health and Environmental Exposure Assessment)
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