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The proliferation of plastic production in recent years has precipitated a global surge in environmental pollution, with microplastics and nanoplastics (M-NPLs) emerging as omnipresent contaminants across ecosystems. Despite growing awareness of plastic pollution, the systematic toxicity and effects of M-NPLs on human health are often neglected. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the formation, routes of exposure, and potential health impacts of M-NPLs on the human digestive, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. Mechanisms of M-NPL formation, including mechanical breakdown, chemical degradation, and biological degradation, are examined, alongside the primary routes of human exposure through ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact. The potential effects of M-NPLs exposure include disruption to intestinal homeostasis, inflammatory responses in the respiratory systems and cardiovascular complications. The findings emphasize the importance of conducting comprehensive investigations to fully grasp the enduring impacts of MNPLs on human health and the environment, addressing this significant challenge to environmental and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor air quality remains the largest environmental health risk in Europe, despite the EU policy efforts. Especially in cities, the synergistic interactions between the urban heat island and urban pollution result in premature mortality, associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Mediterranean urban areas are particularly susceptible under the consideration that the intensity, frequency, and duration of heat waves will increase due to climate change. The LIFE SIRIUS project designates that air quality management needs to go beyond traditional approaches in order to consider synergistic effects. This paper assesses the impact of temperature on daily mortality from 2004 to 2019 in the Republic of Cyprus with the use of a Generalized Additive Model (GAM). The association between mean daily temperature and mortality is nonlinear, implying that a prompt rise in deaths occurs when temperatures are high, while for colder temperatures, the effect is delayed. We report an inverted J-shaped relationship between mean temperature and mortality, with the most prominent effects on human health documented at low temperatures. The population under study appears to be acclimatized to local conditions, as mortality increases after 10 days of exposure to the environmental risk. The results of this study will assist in the definition of city-specific thresholds above which health warnings for the protection of the local population will be issued, in the framework of LIFE SIRIUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics can enter waters from surface run-off and atmospheric deposition. An exploratory study was undertaken to assess microplastic pollution in the natural lake of Yliki, an auxiliary drinking water reservoir supplying the network of Athens, Greece. Samples taken over the ~25 km² area of the lake revealed the presence of fragments and fibers at three out of ten locations, possibly from agriculture in the surrounding area or fishing in the lake. The findings highlight the ubiquitous nature of plastics and the need for regulated assessment of water supplies for environmental and human health protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a considerable body of research has demonstrated the suitability of global and regional reanalysis data for human-biometeorological applications. These applications include the assessment of the outdoor thermal environment and the investigation of its relation to human health, especially in areas where the spatial coverage of surface observational networks is sparse. Here, we present the first comprehensive evaluation of the most recent pan-European regional reanalysis, namely the Copernicus European Regional Reanalysis (CERRA) dataset at 5.5 km spatial resolution, in terms of simulating the observed human bioclimate, as expressed by the modified physiologically equivalent temperature (mPET) that is computed through the RayMan Pro model, and its meteorological drivers. The validation was performed over Greece using up to 11 years of records of 2 m air temperature and relative humidity, 10 m wind speed and global solar radiation derived from 35 sites of the nationwide network of surface weather stations operated by the METEO Unit at the National Observatory of Athens. The ERA5-Land dataset at ~9 km spatial resolution, which represents the current state-of-the-art reanalysis, was also compared against the same observations. Our findings show that the CERRA dataset performs significantly better compared to the ERA5-Land reanalysis with respect to the replication of the examined meteorological variables and mPET. The added value of the CERRA data is particularly evident during the warm period of the year and in regions that are characterized by complex topography and/or proximity to the coastline. Combining the CERRA dataset with population and mortality data, we further showcase its applicability for human-biometeorological and heat-health studies at a local scale, using the regional unit of Rethymno (Crete) as a pilot area for the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Europe has been experiencing an increasing number of sweltering heat waves in recent years. This run of hot extremes induces a significant impact on the human environment, especially in terms of excess mortality, highlighting the urgent need for improved heat-health action planning. This is particularly true in countries situated in the eastern Mediterranean, which is considered a climate change hot spot. To increase preparedness and response to overheating risks, heat-health warning systems (HHWSs) are of vital importance. In this direction, the principal aim of the HEAT-ALARM research project is to provide a novel scientific and technological framework for the development of efficient HHWSs, employing Greece as a testbed. Going beyond the simple notion that outdoor meteorological conditions alone can adequately describe the heat-health nexus, a sophisticated human-biometeorological index, the modified physiologically equivalent temperature (mPET), is used. Advanced statistical models and tools are employed in order to establish a clear link between mPET and excess mortality at regional-unit administrative level. Moreover, urban climate factors produced by combining remote sensing and geographical information system techniques are incorporated into the HHWS via a state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction model. The latter includes a scheme that combines the parameterization and modeling of building effects and energy, respectively, in order to account for the urban indoor thermal conditions and the intra-urban differential heat exposure within the five highest populated cities of Greece (Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and Larissa). Further, the human body's acclimatization ability is considered, as well as the physiological characteristics of different vulnerable groups of people, including the elderly, women and outdoor workers. The current paper describes the scientific background of HEAT-ALARM and provides preliminary results associated with the project's realization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to analyse the main air pollutants considered responsible for most premature deaths and illnesses: particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and ground-level ozone. The research methodology used is based on the analysis and synthesis of information from the scientific literature on air pollution, identification of sources of air pollutants and their implications for human health. The principal research method used in the paper is content analysis. The importance of this publication is to expand and improve the content of the literature in the domain. The contributors point out that air pollution is currently the highest environmental risk affecting human health. Every year, this type of pollution causes around 400,000 premature deaths in the European Union and causes various illnesses: respiratory, strokes and lung diseases, cardiovascular, liver and blood diseases. Emissions of air pollutants are mainly the result of human actions: heating of homes, road transport, the energy sector, industry, agriculture and others in much smaller proportions. The authors' investigation revealed that, in overall terms, air quality has not improved with the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In conclusion, the authors highlight the need for environmental policies that contribute to reducing emissions and improving air quality, intending to further safeguard human health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Human & Nature Safety is the property of Vytautas Magnus University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Urban noise is affecting an increasing number of people and this is why it is becoming a major environmental issue, being a known fact that it affects all human activities and constitutes a stress factor with negative effects on health. It can affect the population both physiologically and psychologically, having an influence on the elementary activities such as sleep, rest, study and communication. Noise in the environment - a harmful and unwanted sound from the outside - is spreading, both in duration and in geographical coverage, being associated with many human activities, but the noise produced by road traffic, in particular, represents a problem for the urban environment, because approximately 75% of Europe's population lives in cities, where the volume of road traffic is still increasing. Sound absorbing systems and products are the basis solutions for already existing constructions. They make it possible to protect people from the adverse effects of noise and improve the quality of life. Efficient and properly installed insulation systems protect the environment against noise The current paper presents the effects produced by external noise on the inhabitants of a house before and after performing soundproofing works. There are also elements of sound insulation that can be used in existing buildings without sound protection elements (single casting concrete constructions). Determinations are analysed on frequency bands to identify the optimum materials for reducing noise level in residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Have you ever noticed that there are places where a person can feel relaxed, full of energy and revitalized? These places may be recreational locations (tourist resorts, wellness, and spa-centers) and tourist attractions (churches, monasteries, geo-parks, etc.). On the other hand, the therapeutic benefits of electromagnetic field radiation on human's body have already been medically proven. The objective of the paper is to introduce some new insights and raise a discussion if the existence of such magnetic fields may be a reason why people feel more relaxed and healthier when visiting or staying at such recreational environment. Thus, the authors argue the possible influence of the Earth's magnetic fields on the well-being of those who visit, sightsee or stay at tourist and leisure environment. Particular attention is raised within the optional utilization of the extra-low frequency as the Schumann resonance in recreational areas that are used for tourism and relaxing purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From its existence, man seeks to visit places where he feels calm, filled with positive energy and pleasure. Such places exist and represent a longstanding sphere of interest both to individuals who explore and travel on their own, as well as to modern tourism, which focuses on health and development of such places and offers on tourism market through development strategies. In this paper, the strategies that are elaborated are the ones that will associate availability of such locations with the electromagnetic field in their surroundings and the people's need to enjoy its influence. The main focus is put on the impact on the global magnetic field of the Earth, represented through the Schumann resonance and its potential influence on human health and the creation and application of development strategies that will promote new approaches to this tourism product in Macedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, data related to the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dioxins and furans (PCDDs/Fs) in mussels bred in the marine coastal area of Taranto town are shown and discussed. The analysis of the data, acquired in five years of monitoring, in relation to the "Monitoring Plan" started by the "Local Health Authorities", has allowed to identify the farming areas with the greatest contamination. A seasonal variation in the concentrations of the organic contaminants was highlighted, related to the physiological state of the bivalves, with an increase in the summer months. The evaluation of the distribution of the various congeners (Fingerprint) was useful to identify the contamination sources. The obtained results show that the areas of the first Inlet of the Mar Piccolo basin are those in which the pollutants concentrations in mussels are often higher than the limits set by the legislation. As regards the risk for human health, associated with the consumption of mussels in the examined areas, it generally depends not only on the level of contamination but also on the dietary intake. The results indicate, however, that for the populations residing in contaminated coastal areas, the consumption of a greater quantity of seafood could be a risk factor for the bioaccumulation of non biodegradable toxic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are pesticides with a scent and specific but also there are odorous phytosanitary substances, the latter being clearly more dangerous than the first because they do not warn about their presence in the air in the given case. Why do pesticides have negative effects? Pesticides are synthetic chemicals, foreign to the animal and vegetable kingdoms. They can not be biologically assimilated, so that after dispersions, they accumulate in the organs of the human body, in the soil and in the plants. In humans, pesticides can have direct toxic effects when the active substance produces immediate and immediate indirect effects when the active substance produces tardive visible effects as a result of bioaccumulation (in the liver, kidney, brain, adipose tissue, etc.). Indirect toxicity may occur after a long period of time and may result in a variety of conditions such as: lymphomas, leukemias, soft tissue sarcomas, brain, breast, prostate, bone, bladder, thyroid, colon, liver, lung cancer; obesity; Parkinson's disease; congenital malformations in children; dementia and Alzheimer's disease; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; affecting the immune system cognitive impairment in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter are microscopic matter suspended in the atmosphere originating from natural and man-made sources, ranging from wildfires to a variety of industrial activities, including transportation. In our research we looked at the impact of particulate matter on the environment and on human health with the focus on contribution to production and spreading of particulate matter by aviation activities. In the first step current state of research was examined. Available data was summarized on the occurrence and concentration of particulate matter worldwide. This analysis was extended by information on the harmful effects of matriculate matter on human health including factors such as birth rate and mortality. Subsequently, the contribution of aviation activity was analyzed. Aviation activity contributes to global presence of particulate matter only by a fraction. Nevertheless the phase of flight which is most prone to particulate matter creation are the take-off phase and landing phase. At these stages the aircraft fly with high setting of engines at low altitudes, often flying over densely populated areas near airports, where the products from engine emissions have a direct impact on people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Occupational noise exposure in the workplace is linked with a range of negative effects on human health. Many researchers agree that the noise-induced hearing loss is the second most common form of sensorineural hearing deficit, after the illness of agerelated hearing loss. An extended exposure to occupational noise can generates devastating disability that is potentially 100% completely preventable. The hearing deficit begins at the higher frequencies and it develops gradually as a result of chronic exposure to excessive sound levels. In order to avoid these negative effects on the worker's health and to stop further progression of the damage, italian law establishes strict limits, with the aim that the effective exposure of a worker may overpass the limit values of LAeq = 87 dBA and Lpeak = 140 dBC. After the risk assessment, particularly at noisy workplaces, the employers generally provide workers the hearing protection devices (HPDs), but the employment of this device results to be useless if it is not used correctly. This study aims to the analyze the correct use of hearing protection devices (HPDs), to determine how his position can influence the noise damping and consequently the worker's noise exposure dose. The experimental campaign consists of different measures of the same noise source realized on many subjects with the same HPD type. The results obtained for different types of subjects point out that the use of the protection device can be useless if insertion procedure in the worker's ear is wrong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wine is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, promoting a more relaxed lifestyle in current society. However, wine has been used from the ancient times for medical purposes such as antiseptic and analgesic, dermatological diseases and digestive disorders treatments. In the last decades, the studies shown that a moderate wine consumption might have a positive impact on human health due to high content of antioxidant compounds released from skin and seed grapes during winemaking process. The antioxidant capacity of wine is directly correlated with polyphenols content. Polyphenols are the biggest group of phytochemicals, currently being identified more than 8000 phenolic structures, of which over 4000 flavonoids. The benefits of wine consumption depend on the different groups of polyphenols it contains such as anthocyanins, flavonols, stilbenes, phenolic acids, they being absorbed and metabolized from wine. Moreover, red wines are considered to have higher benefits compared to white wines on cardiovascular disease, probably due to an increased concentration of flavonoids. Recent research try to highlight the role that polyphenols have in prevention of degenerative, and neurodegenerative diseases, in cardiovascular diseases where are acting as powerful antioxidants against oxidative stress by preventing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and against cancer. Therefore, as excessive alcohol intake is of itself detrimental, all research indicates that the health benefits of wine are noted only when consumption is moderate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In terms of the economic, historical and structural transformations, the Romanian energy sector has contributed and essentially contributed to the country's development and development process through its profound influence on the quality of life, the competitiveness of the economy, the environment and the climate. To support the expectations of energy consumers, the Romanian energy sector must become more economically efficient, technologically advanced and less polluting for human health and the environment. Romania, as a signatory country to a series of international agreements with universal and regional vocation, and a partner state in a number of international programs and projects, has been actively involved in solving problems and dysfunctionalities in the energy sector. Therefore, in the framework of the European project DARLINGe, financed by the INTERREG Danube Transnational Program, made by a consortium of 14 partners from 6 countries and 7 associated strategic partners, including Romania, through the Geological Institute of Romania, each partner country of the project, has worked as a project developer on the country's energy strategy, from which it emerged that each partner country has a strategic energy legislative framework, but not entirely adequate to the confrontations and the existing challenges it faces population and the environment. The paper presents an enumeration of the main tools for achieving the objectives regarding the sustainable development of energy sources, by stimulating the renewable sources in Romania in the context of the European project DARLINGe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper investigates the relation between the pesticides use in agriculture and their effects on human health, in the global context of food security, overpopulation, and climate change. It is assumed that demographic growth led to the need of producing more food for over seven billion people. As the land is limited, the agricultural output must increase intensively, not extensively, meaning that yields are supposed to grow, not the area cultivated. In order to grow the yields, higher amounts of chemical substances, including pesticides, are needed. The objective of this paper is to assess the effects of the pesticides use on human health, using the simple regression model. The main findings show that digestive diseases are correlated to pesticides use. The relevance of the study lies in its capacity to inform people about the effects of the pesticides use on human health, so they could make informed choices on the food they consume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The theory of Eco-Economy (Ecological Economy) as a concept proposed by Lester R. Brown emphasizes the importance of ecology and environmental protection in supporting the sustainable development of humanity as a warning signal for the limited earth resources. This concept refers to a long-term economy without affecting its own support system (environment). Another paradigm, Eco-Bio-Economy, appears as a scientific, economic and psychological endeavor that brings the vision of sustainable development of human welfare, in all forms, through an economy of the future dedicated to human life in the optimal functionality "human - environmental". The term "eco-sanogenesis" refers, equally, to the human health in daily life, the health of the workplace, the health of consumers and the environmental health. Healthy human condition and implicitly, the vision of somatic (biological, physical), mental-mental and spiritual sanogenesis are concepts in a major change. The last one, new Eco-Bio-Sanogenesis paradigm is contrived in the context in which the overall health condition depends to a great extent on the optimal functionality of the man-produced relationship - nature, the promotion and the strengthening of health in all aspects of life and life, and a complex fact that finds its solution only in interdisciplinary vision. In the phrase "Human - Product - Nature" the concept of eco-sanogenesis is required as an objective requirement for the existence of a healthy person in a healthy environment, more so as its actions are more complex and wider, with a strong impact on man and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil is the predominant environmental factor for the accumulation of pollutants, including heavy metals, from where, in time, they enter into the global plant-water- animal-human circuit. Some heavy metals with higher toxicity and mobility such as Cd, Pb and even Zn and Cu can be accumulated in large amounts in the edible part of the plant or animal organs, generating consumer illness, some of the worst. This paper presents two examples of cities in Romania, Copșa Mica and Baia Mare, where, for a long time, metallurgy of non-ferrous ores was carried out. For several years these polluting industries have been closed, but the soils in the area, including the urban ones, have been polluted with significant amounts of such chemical elements. Thus, in urban soils of these two locations have been determined, the total levels of Cd that exceed, on average, 10 times the maximum admissible limit in the soil of Copșa Mică and 3.6 times in those of Baia Mare. Similarly, concentrations of the mobile Cd, soluble in the CH3COONH4-EDTA solution at pH 7.0, are 8, respectively, 2 times higher than the maximum admissible limit for this form of heavy metal in soil. Because of the acidic reaction of soils in these two areas, a significant amount of heavy metals will be found in plants grown on such soils. In the leaves of lettuce grown on urban soils of the two mentioned locations, significant amounts of Cd were determined, compared to the same plants grown in heavy metals - free zones. Similar situations occur for other heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn). As a consequence, in both areas, there have been recorded cases of intoxication with heavy metals in animals and humans. Life expectancy in such areas is ten years lower than in non-polluting areas. The effects of the heavy metal pollution phenomenon can be diminished by changing the soil reaction range, from acid to neutral or slightly alkaline, thus decreasing mobility in soils of this category of chemical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the hydrological area of Banat from Romania, 20 bodies of underground water were identified and delimited, out of which 5 are cross-border underground water bodies. The present paper characterizes the underground water bodies in the Bârzava catchment area, which has an area of 1202 km2, with an average altitude of 289 m. The Bârzava catchment area occupies the central part of the Banat catchment area, bordering the north and east with the Timiş catchment area, to the south with the Nera catchment area and to the west with Serbia. The Bârzava river springs from the crystalline massif of Semenic and crosses two powerful industrial centers, Resita and Bocşa, but also a plains area with animal breeding complexes. In the mountain area there are 4 reservoirs, the Bârzava river flows into the river Timiş in Serbia. Groundwater, surface and depth, were affected by a number of pollutants. Thus the groundwater in Berzovia and pouring into Serbia generally fall within the permissible limits with the exception of the heavy metal content, which exceeds the maximum admissible value. In high-flow periods, the suspension content exceeds the maximum admissible concentration. Deep groundwater indicators fall within acceptable limits. Exceptionally, concentrations of pollutants in nitrates, nitrates, iron, organic substances, manganese, and ammonium have been found to be excessive, because in most cases, the quality of ground deepwater is appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization is a global process most widely spread in the second half of the 20th century. In 2009, the urban population was equal to the size of the rural population and its importance is growing now. City conditions are so specific that at present some scientists note the excistance of processes that form a new adaptive type of man at the phenotypic level - urban type in addition to already existing high-mountainous, arctic, temperate latitudes and tropical types. The main groups of factors that affect the state of human health include: socio-economic, genetic, state of the environment and the state of medical care for the population. At the same time, the leading negative impact on the health of the population (according to various estimates up to 30%) is due to the impact of environmental factors.The atmosphere pollution, soils, surface and groundwater pollution, which serve as a source of drinking and household water, thermal, noise, radiation, electromagnetic and ionizing pollution, in their totality, have both direct and indirect impact on the health of the urban population. Examples of this impact are given in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of study is to understand challenges in assessing risk due to exposures of mixture of polymers during reuse and recycling activities of plastic materials on human health. A four- step human health risk assessment framework consist of hazard identification, dose response assessment, risk estimation, uncertainty characterization was developed for assessing risk. Mixture of Bisphenol A (BPA) and Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP): endocrine disrupting substances was taken as an example. Both of these chemicals are used in packaging bottles, beverage and food containers and are probable to occur in landfill and groundwater, and thus, assessment of their combined risk is required. Information of co-occurrence of these chemicals in the plastic containers with special emphasis on packaging bottles were obtained from published reports and current knowledge gaps were identified. Findings of this study indicated that there exists data gaps in (1) lack of information on simultaneous exposure of two chemicals, (2) their combined mode of action, (3) Mixture toxicity dose and concentration gap; different dose response curves, (4) lack of knowledge about interaction of chemicals (synergism and antagonism), (5) Variation of exposure with time and location, (6) complex effects at different level and segments of community, including indirect effects on ecosystem. These identified data gaps need to be filled by conducting more research in this direction, so that exposure of population to plastic waste can be estimated with more confidence and efforts for protecting them can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of International Conference: Crisis Management Days is the property of University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Abstract of the Geological Congress of Turkey / Türkiye Jeoloji Kurultayı Bildiri Özleri is the property of TMMOB JEOLOJI MUHENDISLERI ODASI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study examined the ambient air quality in city of Bor, Serbia, following the acquisition of company RTB Bor Company in the early 2019 by a foreign investor company Zijin. During the examined period, during the nine months of 2019, the allowed threshold average daily value of SO2 gas concentration was exceeded more than 30 times. The continual increase in the SO2 concentration was especially intense during the two month period in which the exceedances were up to ten times higher than the allowed values. Additionally, at the same time, the concentration of PM10 was 2-3 times higher than the allowed maximum value, whereas only during the aforementioned twomonth period there were 29 exceedances of the average daily threshold value. Especially concerning were the recorded high concentration of heavy metals in PM10 particles, particularly Arsenic and Cadmium. Arsenic's maximum average daily concentration was more than 270 times greater than the corresponding EUrequired limit, which presented a possible significant danger to both human health and the ecosystem in the city and the surrounding area. The aim of this study is to emphasize the significance of monitoring of the sources of air pollution emissions and need for implementation of the emission control procedures. They are essential in providing guidance to the decision makers in the Zijin Company in their efforts to reduce the effects of air pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses the composition and distribution of particulate matter (PM10) in the Biology department building, in UKM. PM10 were collected using SENSIDYNE Gillian GilAir- 5 Personal Air Sampling System, a low-volume sampler, whereas the concentration of heavy metals was determined using Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentration of PM10 recorded in the mechanically ventilated building ranges from 89 µgm-3 to 910 µgm-3. The composition of the selected heavy metals in PM10 were dominated by zinc, followed by copper, lead and cadmium. It was found that the present of indoor-related particulate matter were originated from the poorly maintained ventilation system, the activity of occupants and typical office equipments such as printers and photocopy machines. The haze event occured during sampling periods was also affected the PM10 concentration in the building. This results can serve as a starting point to assess the potential human health damage using the life cycle impact assessment, expressed in term of disability adjusted life year (DALY). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article 44 (1 through 5) of the Constitution of the Slovak Republic guarantees everybody the right to a favorable environment. At the same time it requires that all entities protect and cultivate the environment and it prohibits to jeopardize or to damage the environment and natural resources exceeding levels prescribed by law. In accordance with the Slovak Government's Legislative Program for the year 2014 as well as a follow up of the Slovak Government's Manifesto for years 2012 - 2016 the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic has submitted a draft of the Waste Act. The legislative draft was based on the Legislative Intent for the Waste Act as approved by the National Council of the Slovak Republic in 2015 thus becoming a part of the legal order of the Slovak Republic. Aim of the new Waste Act is modification of the existing and setting up of new rules within the waste management in order to create standard conditions (from the perspective of the developed countries of the European Union) for making changes in the environment that would enable development and implementation of activities within the waste management and at the same time to create conditions for legal security comparable to conditions in other European Union Member States. This paper's intention is a thorough analysis of selected legal institutes relating in particular to the reduction of waste being disposed of by landfill; as well as to the regulation and focusing on waste prevention, minimizing of negative impacts of generating and managing of waste on the environment and human health; and at the same time to introduce and implement an extended producers' and importers' responsibility in a standard way as is usual in other European Union Member States and its transfer to the municipal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to examine the association between the useing of ICT and sleep disturbances among Japanese adolescents. It was widely extended the using of mobile phone and PCs in students due to the promotion of the ICT, not only the SNS but also the e-learning and mobility learning trail. This study was designed as a two famous survey, morning and evening sleep evaluation by Ostberg and internet addiction test by Young, respectively. Jissen Womenn's University Ethics Committee approved this survey. There were requested several schools to fill out self-reported questionnaires through using web screen for each person. A total of 556 adolescent responded and collected data was to analysis. There were 56.2% more than medium degree of internet addiction. It was typical tendency observed the exponential increase after university admission. There was no student in clearly morning type of sleep conditions. There were three results of classification sleep conditions: 66.4% almost evening type, 22.9% evening type, 10.5% morning type, respectively. It was calculated normalized value between score of internet addiction and morning-evening sleep condition analysis of variance. This study was showed that the use of internet for calling internet addiction was no significant different in sleep conditions. However, there were some limitation, such as small effect size, in this study. More studies that examine the wide of this association are necessary to educate strategies for healthy sleep condition with ICT development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of life in general is determined by the health of the population resulting from a healthy environment. The objective of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is to maximize health benefits and minimize negative impacts on health. According to International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA), HIA is formally defined as a combination of procedures, methods and tools that systematically judges the potential, and sometimes unintended, effects of a proposed project, plan, or policy on the health of a population and the distribution of those effects within the population. HIA identifies appropriate actions to manage those effects. Although existing laws and guidance support the inclusion of a comprehensive health analysis in Environmental Impact Assessment, current Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practice usually does not link proposed actions and alternatives to health outcomes. A complete analysis of health effects would consider all potentially significant direct, indirect and cumulative health impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives. The term Integrated Impact Assessment has been used to describe many different procedures but essentially any process which attempts to cover more than one type of impact assessment in a single process can be called an integrated impact assessment. Most commonly Integrated Impact Assessments combine an EIA and a HIA. The important issue is that consequences for health of policies and decisions should be properly considered. Many have concluded that Integrated Impact Assessment is the best way of ensuring that health issues are considered during development of policies, programmes and projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the authors' observations about the uncertainties which are associated with monitoring based on sensors. It presents the results of an experiment which is part of an ongoing research about dealing with uncertain contextual information in the human health monitoring system based on sensors. The experiment employs evidence theory on reasoning over context. Recommendations to improve the systems to monitor the human health within a framework that addresses uncertainty are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The paper covers the power quality — light sensitivity relationship from two perspectives, both affecting the human eye and health: first is the voltage perturbation known as flicker phenomenon and the second is related to the light emission of PC monitors and TV screens. These second light sources are referring especially to the content of the PC software and to the TV programs corresponding to the unhealthy light emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this article is on the basis of theoretical researches and processing of statistical materials to develop a complex estimation technique of harmful emissions negative influence on a state of health of the population — number of the treated patients, cost of treatment, the damage caused to health. The complex estimation of atmospheric air pollution by harmful emissions at shock emissions and normative work of the industrial enterprises is executed. The estimation of connection between shock emissions of harmful substances with growth of diseases, number of the treated patients is given. Function "doze-effect" for the basic kinds of polluting substances and the based groups disease is quantitatively appreciated. The estimations technique of treatment of patients cost and damage to health of the population, the harmful substances caused by emissions is developed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study presents a risk assessment of the schistosomiasis disease transmission for a study site in eastern Burkina Faso. Environmental parameters derived from high resolution Rapid Eye data and SRTM data are weighted and integrated into a suitability index using an additive priority function. The spatial risk assessment of schistosomiasis transmission is calculated based on the snail habitat suitability, human settlement density and the distance between settlements and potential transmission areas. The risk assessment on the local scale presents a heterogeneous pattern of disease transmission risk, which could guide public health workers to hotspots of disease transmission and apply prevention and intervention measures more efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper introduces the Nanomaterial Registry, a resource for biological and environmental interactions of well-characterized nanomaterials. The registry also provides links to associated publications, modeling tools, computational results, and relevant manufacturing guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Radio Frequency (RF) radiation effects are strictly relying on few critical factors, ie frequency, period of exposure and distance. Certain frequency ranges are absorbed in body tissue more than the other frequency range. The second factor is the duration of exposure. Where, over the period of time, the body will absorb more RF frequencies which hence will worsened the human tissue. The third factor is the distance of radiating elements from the human body. Hence, with respect to that unawareness of human towards the effects of the RF exposure, this project is carried out to simulate the base station radiation effects on human health. The experiments was conducted using mice as it has the closest DNA structure to human and the frequency used in the experiments was 1.8 GHz (i.e. GSM frequency). The mice were exposed at 1.8 GHz frequency, certain level of intensity and over a period of time. After certain duration, the mice were examined for its cellular changes. Second test conducted was the histopathology to examine the tissue of the mice out from the autopsy. The third test was the blood count on red blood cells, white blood cells, hemoglobin and packed cell volume. From the tests which are conducted at veterinar Lab, there are evidences of degeneration of cells in some organs through histopathological procedures. While in through biochemistry test, the level of blood calcium and phosphorus were decreasing and the level of blood creatinine was increasing. All this evidences show that, exposure to certaion level of frequencies will affect human body. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Coal is one of the most abundant and important energy resources of the world. It plays crucial role in defining the economy of a nation. After mining, coal has to be processed to remove the impurities in the form of mineral matter. A large volume of impurities such as tailing and solid wastes are discarded during beneficiation of coal in coal beneficiation plants. The entire processes involved in coal preparation, starting from unloading of the raw coal to the loading of processed coal, would liberate particulate matters that would ultimately settle on the soil at varying distances, depending on the prevailing wind direction, particle size, and density. This is likely to affect the biology of the soil under such stresses. Soil samples collected from the contaminated and control sites were analyzed for pH, EC, soil organic carbon (SOC), mineralizable N, soil respiration, and soil enzymes like dehydrogenase, catalase, peroxidase and phenol oxidase. The biological parameters were found to be severely altered due to coal contamination. Based on principal component analysis, soil peroxidase was observed to be the most sensitive indicator that would be considered as biomarkers for coal contaminated soils. A high level Ni concentration was observed in contaminated soils than control. The prevalence of diseases like gastrointestinal disorder and asthma was more among the inhabitants of industrial site than control. Morbidity rate was higher in contaminated sites, besides the problems of general weakness, blurred vision, body pain, and cracked foot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In environmental terms, "cost-effective measures" allude to various (mostly industrial) attempts to prevent environmental degradation as written in principle 15 of the Rio Declaration of the Earth Summit Conference 1992. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a technique for selecting among competing wants wherever resources are limited. Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration says: "In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation." The paper describes a wide range of instruments from the perspectives of cost-effectiveness, distributional consequences, environmental effects, and incentives to develop new technologies to deal with pollution. An ideal tool would maximize the net benefits that accrue to society (all environmental and other benefits, less compliance costs, administrative costs, monitoring and enforcement costs) without creating major imbalances in the distribution of costs or benefits. The set of instruments that can deal effectively with individual classes of environmental problems is fairly narrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, many health problems caused by physical activity environment have been the issues with an increasing concern. People who often exercise began to be more concerned about the safety of their exercise environment and the impact of the enviroment on health. This thesis points out the importance of the physical activity environment to human health from the current situation of physical exercise and provides methodes and guidance for choosing the exercise environment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Selenium (Se) is one of the important micronutrient for human and animal. There is a relationship between the level of selenium in food system and the levels of plant-available Selenium in soil. This study was carried out on rice to observe the effects of addition of different Selenium rates on yield and Se concentration in rice. A filed trial carried out with five different Selenium rates did not show significant effects on MR219 rice variety yield, grain Selenium concentration and soil Selenium concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]