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Williams PRD, von Stackelberg K, Guerra Lopez MG, Sanchez-Triana E. Risk Analysis Approaches to Evaluating Health Impacts from Land-Based Pollution in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2021; 41:1971-1986. [PMID: 33565672 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Risk analysis offers a useful framework for evaluating and managing environmental health risks across different settings. In this Perspective, we question whether the principles and practice of risk analysis could be beneficial in the context of land-based pollution in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to better support risk-based decision making. Specifically, potential health and economic impacts from land-based pollution in LMICs has become an increasing issue of concern due to widespread environmental contamination from active and legacy operations, particularly informal activities that are becoming increasingly dispersed throughout communities, such as used lead acid battery recycling, artisanal and small-scale gold mining, and small-scale tanneries. However, the overall magnitude and scale of the public health problem arising from these sources remains highly uncertain and poorly characterized and cannot be compared to land-based pollution in high-income countries due to unique factors. This lack of knowledge has negatively affected the political priority and level of funding for risk mitigation actions targeting land-based pollution in these countries. Our primary objective is to raise further awareness of this emerging issue among risk analysts and decisionmakers and to advocate for more robust and focused research. Here, we highlight the types of industries and activities contributing to land-based pollution in LMICs and describe key findings and knowledge and data gaps that have hindered a fuller understanding of this issue. We also discuss how several risk assessment and risk management approaches might be useful in this resource-constrained context. We conclude that a combination of risk analysis approaches may be worthwhile, but more work is needed to determine which methods or tools will be most informative, technically feasible, and cost-effective for identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating land-based pollution in LMICs. Affected researchers, funding agencies, and local or national governments will need to work together to develop improved study designs and risk mitigation strategies.
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Thomsen ST, Assunção R, Afonso C, Boué G, Cardoso C, Cubadda F, Garre A, Kruisselbrink JW, Mantovani A, Pitter JG, Poulsen M, Verhagen H, Ververis E, Voet HVD, Watzl B, Pires SM. Human health risk-benefit assessment of fish and other seafood: a scoping review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2021; 62:7479-7502. [PMID: 33951954 DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2021.1915240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Fish and other seafood are important sources of nutrients, but they are also sources of chemical contaminants that may cause adverse health effects. This article aimed to identify existing risk-benefit assessments (RBA) of fish, shellfish, and other seafood, compare methodologies, discuss differences and commonalities in findings, and identify limitations and ways forward for future studies. We conducted a scoping review of the scientific literature of studies in all languages published from 2000 through April 2019. We identified 106 RBA of fish and other seafood across Europe, Asia, North America, Africa, and at the global level. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of types of fish and other seafood considered, beneficial and adverse compounds assessed, and overall methodology. Collected data showed that a diet consisting of a variety of lean and fatty fish and other seafood is recommended for the overall population and that women of childbearing age and children should limit the consumption of fish and other seafood types that have a high likelihood of contamination. Our review emphasizes the need for evidence-based, up-to-date, and harmonized approaches in RBA in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Theresa Thomsen
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ricardo Assunção
- Food and Nutrition Department, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal.,CESAM, Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Afonso
- Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Portugal
| | - Géraldine Boué
- National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAe), Oniris, Secalim UMR 1014, Nantes, France
| | - Carlos Cardoso
- Division of Aquaculture, Upgrading and Bioprospection (DivAV), Portuguese Institute for the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA, IP), Portugal
| | - Francesco Cubadda
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Garre
- Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Alberto Mantovani
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità - National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Morten Poulsen
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Verhagen
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark.,European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy.,University of Ulster, Northern, Ireland
| | - Ermolaos Ververis
- European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, Italy.,School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Athens, Greece
| | | | - Bernhard Watzl
- Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Sara M Pires
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
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