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Bahrami Z, Sato S, Yang Z, Maiti M, Kanawat P, Umemura T, Onishi K, Terasaki H, Nakayama T, Matsumi Y, Ueda K. The perception of air pollution and its health risk: a scoping review of measures and methods. Glob Health Action 2024; 17:2370100. [PMID: 38940815 PMCID: PMC11216274 DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2024.2370100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although there is increasing awareness of the health risks of air pollution as a global issue, few studies have focused on the methods for assessing individuals' perceptions of these risks. This scoping review aimed to identify previous research evaluating individuals' perceptions of air pollution and its health effects, and to explore the measurement of perceptions, as a key resource for health behaviour. METHODS The review followed the methodological framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley. PubMed and Web of Science were searched. After initial and full-text screening, we further selected studies with standardised scales that had previously been tested for reliability and validity in assessing awareness and perceptions. RESULTS After full-text screening, 95 studies were identified. 'Perception/awareness of air quality' was often measured, as well as 'Perception of health risk.' Only nine studies (9.5%) used validated scaled questionnaires. There was considerable variation in the scales used to measure the multiple dimensions of risk perception for air pollution. CONCLUSION Few studies used structured scales to quantify individuals' perceptions, limiting comparisons among studies. Standardised methods for measuring health risk perception are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeinab Bahrami
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satomi Sato
- Graduate School of Public Health, St Lukes International University, Chuo, Japan
| | - Zhesi Yang
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Monali Maiti
- Department of Chemistry and Forensic Science, R.B.V.R.R. Women’s College, Hyderabad, India
| | - Paoin Kanawat
- Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Umemura
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Department of Health and Psychosocial Medicine, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Kazunari Onishi
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Public Health, St Lukes International University, Chuo, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Terasaki
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Faculty of Engineering, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan
| | - Tomoki Nakayama
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Faculty of Environmental Science, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Yutaka Matsumi
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kayo Ueda
- Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Hyland C, Hernandez A, Gaudreau É, Larose J, Bienvenu JF, Meierotto L, Som Castellano RL, Curl CL. Examination of urinary pesticide concentrations, protective behaviors, and risk perceptions among Latino and Latina farmworkers in Southwestern Idaho. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 255:114275. [PMID: 37866282 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studies have documented high levels of pesticide exposure among men farmworkers; however, few have examined exposures or the experiences of women farmworkers. Data gaps also exist regarding farmworkers' perceived risk and control related to pesticides, information that is critical to develop protective interventions. OBJECTIVE We aimed to compare urinary pesticide biomarker concentrations between Latino and Latina farmworkers and examine associations with occupational characteristics, risk perceptions, perceived control, and protective behaviors. METHODS We enrolled a convenience sample of 62 farmworkers (30 men and 32 women) during the pesticide spray season from April-July 2022 in southwestern Idaho. Participants were asked to complete two visits within a seven-day period; at each visit, we collected a urine sample and administered a questionnaire assessing demographic and occupational information. Urine samples were composited and analyzed for 17 biomarkers of herbicides and of organophosphate (OP) and pyrethroid insecticides. RESULTS Ten pesticide biomarkers (TCPy, MDA, PNP, 3-PBA, 4-F-3-PBA, cis- and trans-DCCA, 2,4-D, Glyphosate, AMPA) were detected in >80% of samples. Men and women had similar urinary biomarker concentrations (p = 0.19-0.94); however, women worked significantly fewer hours than men (p = 0.01), wore similar or greater levels of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and were slightly more likely to report having experienced an Acute Pesticide Poisoning (26% of women vs. 14% of men; p = 0.25). We observed inconsistencies in risk perceptions, perceived control, and protective behaviors among men. DISCUSSION Our study is one the first to examine pesticide exposure and risk perceptions among a cohort of farmworkers balanced on gender. Taken with previous findings, our results suggest that factors such as job tasks, biological susceptibility, or access to trainings and protective equipment might uniquely impact women farmworkers' exposure and/or vulnerability to pesticides. Women represent an increasing proportion of the agricultural workforce, and larger studies are needed to disentangle these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly Hyland
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA; Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA; Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
| | - Alejandra Hernandez
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA; Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Éric Gaudreau
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jessica Larose
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-François Bienvenu
- Centre de Toxicologie Du Québec (CTQ), Institut National de Santé Publique Du Québec, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Lisa Meierotto
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
| | | | - Cynthia L Curl
- School of Public and Population Health, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USA
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Habtamu D, Abebe B, Seid T. Health risk perceptions of household air pollution and perceived benefits of improved stoves among pregnant women in rural Ethiopia: a mixed method study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e072328. [PMID: 37648392 PMCID: PMC10471873 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Since community perceptions of the risk of biomass smoke and the benefits of improved stoves play a critical role in behaviour change to the uptake and sustainable utilisation of improved stoves, we aimed to assess the level of health risk perception on kitchen smoke and benefits of using improved stoves among pregnant women. DESIGN A community-based cross-sectional mixed method study. SETTING In six kebeles of a low-income rural community of South Gondar Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia. PARTICIPANTS All 455 households with pregnant women aged 18-38 years, in their first-trimester or second-trimester gestation, exclusively use traditional biomass-fuelled or locally modified mud stoves, and the primary cook in her household were included. But completed data were obtained only from 422 households. RESULT From 422 completed data, more than half, 63% (95% CI 58% to 68%) had high-level health risk perception of household air pollution, and nearly three-fourths, 74% (95% CI 70% to 79%) of the respondents perceived that using improved stove had benefits for their families. Participants in the 32-38 years age group, rich in asset index, presence of under-five children, being a member of any women group and large family size were positively associated with high-level health risk perception. Whereas respondents in the 18-24 years age group, presence of under-five children, husbands of primary or higher education, high health risk perception and not happy with the current stove were positively associated with perceived benefits of using an improved stove. CONCLUSION The observed level of health risk perception of biomass smoke and the benefits of using improved stoves may help to adopt effective intervention measures. This study also suggests that for successful intervention, clean cooking programmes and policies must consider many local factors influencing health risk perception and benefits of using improved stoves. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTR202111534227089.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Beyene Abebe
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tiku Seid
- Department of Environmental Health Science and Technology, Jimma University College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Clougherty JE, Ocampo P. Perception Matters: Perceived vs. Objective Air Quality Measures and Asthma Diagnosis among Urban Adults. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6648. [PMID: 37681788 PMCID: PMC10487870 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Urban air pollution is consistently linked to poorer respiratory health, particularly in communities of lower socioeconomic position (SEP), disproportionately located near highways and industrial areas and often with elevated exposures to chronic psychosocial stressors. Fewer studies, however, have considered air pollution itself as a psychosocial stressor and whether pollution may be impacting health through both direct physiologic and psychosocial pathways. We examined data on perceived air pollution exposures from a spatially representative survey of New York City adults through summer and winter 2012 (n = 1183) using residence-specific ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure estimates. We used logistic regression to compare associations for perceived and objective air quality on self-reported asthma and general health, adjusting for sociodemographics and mental health. In models including all exposure metrics, we found small but significant associations for perceived air quality (OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.04-1.22) but not for NO2 or PM2.5. Neither perceived nor objective pollution was significantly associated with self-reported general health. Results suggest that perceived air quality may be significantly associated with adult asthma, more so than objective air pollution and after adjusting for mental health-associations not observed for self-reported general health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane E. Clougherty
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Pilar Ocampo
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
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Adebisi YA. Decolonizing Epidemiological Research: A Critical Perspective. Avicenna J Med 2023; 13:68-76. [PMID: 37435557 PMCID: PMC10332938 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1769088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Decolonizing epidemiological research is a crucial endeavor. Historically, colonial and imperialistic ideologies have pervaded epidemiology, leading to an emphasis on Western perspectives and the neglect of indigenous and other marginalized communities' needs and experiences. To effectively address health disparities and promote justice and equality, acknowledging and addressing these power imbalances are imperative. In this article, I highlight the need of decolonizing epidemiological research and make recommendations. These include increasing the representation of researchers from underrepresented communities, ensuring that epidemiological research is contextually relevant and responsive to the experiences of these communities, and collaborating with policymakers and advocacy groups to inform policies and practices that benefit all populations. Moreover, I underscore the importance of recognizing and valuing the knowledge and skills of marginalized populations, and integrating traditional knowledge-the distinct, culturally specific understanding unique to a particular group-into research efforts. I also emphasize the need of capacity building and equitable research collaborations and authorship as well as epidemiological journal editorship. Decolonizing epidemiology research is a continual process that requires continuing discourse, collaboration, and education.
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Rubio R, Grineski S, Collins T. Carcinogenic air pollution along the United States' southern border: Neighborhood inequities in risk. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113251. [PMID: 35436448 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution poses serious and socially inequitable risks to public health. Social disparities are marked along the US-Mexico border, yet prior research has not assessed inequities in air pollution exposure across the entire US-side of the border region. We apply an intersectional approach to examine contextually relevant sociodemographic variables, including (1) Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity by race and (2) nativity (US vs. Foreign) by citizenship, and cancer risks attributable to air pollution exposures. We pair data from the 2012-2016 American Community Survey with 2014 National Air Toxics Assessment estimates of carcinogenic risks from all sources of hazardous air pollutants at the census tract level (n = 1448) and use a series of generalized estimating equations to assess inequities in risk. Increased concentrations of renter-occupants, Hispanics, mid-to-high socioeconomic status households, and foreign-born citizens were associated with elevated risks. Hispanic ethnicity intersected with non-White racial identification to amplify risks. In contrast, increased concentrations of non-Hispanic Black people and foreign-born non-citizens were not associated with disparate risks. To ameliorate environmental health inequities in this context, research and policy actions must be tailored to the US-Mexico border and consider intersectional positions within the Hispanic population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Rubio
- University of Utah, Department of Sociology, 390 1530 E #301, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Sara Grineski
- University of Utah, Department of Sociology, 390 1530 E #301, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Tim Collins
- University of Utah, Department of Geography, 260 Central Campus Dr #4625, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
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Wang S, Pei J, Zhang K, Gong D, Rokpelnis K, Yang W, Yu X. Does Individuals' Perception of Wastewater Pollution Decrease Their Self-Rated Health? Evidence from China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19127291. [PMID: 35742549 PMCID: PMC9223579 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
Background: This study used original survey data to quantitatively investigate the associations between individuals’ perception of locally present wastewater pollution and their self-rated health. Methods: This research used the data from large-scale surveys covering all the 31 provinces and equivalent administrative units in mainland China and interviewed 6112 participants. The ordered logit method was employed to estimate the models. Results: The results indicated that individuals’ perceptions of local industrial and domestic wastewater pollution significantly decrease their self-rated health. If industrial wastewater pollution was reported, the possibility of the observers indicating lower levels of self-rated current health, comparing to the past year, and comparing with peers, all increased by 26% (p < 0.001), 23% (p = 0.005), and 18% (p = 0.006), respectively. Likewise, perceived domestic wastewater pollution led to the increase by 21% (p = 0.012), 17% (p = 0.034), and 33% (p = 0.000), respectively. Meanwhile, reported industrial wastewater pollution also has an obvious negative effect on individuals’ health performance, such as being more fatigued and upset. Conclusions: The survey clearly shows that Chinese individuals who are aware of water pollution in their living environment tend to experience more negative health outcomes, which adds additional urgency to improving wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Wang
- School of Economics, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China; (S.W.); (J.P.); (K.Z.); (W.Y.)
- China Institute for Vitalizing Border Areas and Enriching the People, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jipeng Pei
- School of Economics, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China; (S.W.); (J.P.); (K.Z.); (W.Y.)
| | - Kuo Zhang
- School of Economics, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China; (S.W.); (J.P.); (K.Z.); (W.Y.)
| | - Dawei Gong
- School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, 59 Zhongguancun Avenue, Beijing 100872, China;
| | - Karlis Rokpelnis
- Council on International Educational Exchange, 600 Southborough Drive, Suite 104, South Portland, ME 04106, USA;
| | - Weicheng Yang
- School of Economics, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China; (S.W.); (J.P.); (K.Z.); (W.Y.)
| | - Xiao Yu
- School of Economics, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China; (S.W.); (J.P.); (K.Z.); (W.Y.)
- China Institute for Vitalizing Border Areas and Enriching the People, Minzu University of China, 27 Zhongguancun South Avenue, Beijing 100081, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-15210595097
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Citizens’ Perception and Concerns on Chemical Exposures and Human Biomonitoring—Results from a Harmonized Qualitative Study in Seven European Countries. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116414. [PMID: 35681998 PMCID: PMC9180191 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to different chemicals is an inevitable part of our everyday lives. Within HBM4EU, focus group discussions were conducted to gather data on citizens’ perceptions of chemical exposure and human biomonitoring. These discussions were hosted in Cyprus, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, the Netherlands, and North Macedonia following a protocol developed in the first round of discussions. Results indicate the very high concern of European citizens regarding food safety and the environment. Focus group participants were well aware of potential uptake of chemicals through food consumption (e.g., preservatives, flavor enhancers, coloring agents, pesticides, fertilizers, metals), drinking water, or from polluted air and water. One of the positive aspects identified here, is the high interest of citizens in awareness and education on personal measures to control exposure. The promotion of personal behavioral changes requires active involvement of society (e.g., commuting habits, energy choices, waste disposal, dietary habits). Activities should focus on raising awareness of the general public, implementation of policy measures, and mainstreaming of related topics into the education system. Raising awareness of the general public may promote engagement of citizens, which in turn may empower them to put pressure on politicians to take effective actions. There is also a need for further research which might focus on the impact of country-specific situations and of the COVID-19 pandemic on the exposure of citizens to chemicals.
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Boso À, Martínez A, Somos M, Álvarez B, Avedaño C, Hofflinger Á. No Country for Old Men. Assessing Socio-Spatial Relationships Between Air Quality Perceptions and Exposures in Southern Chile. APPLIED SPATIAL ANALYSIS AND POLICY 2022; 15:1219-1236. [PMID: 35607513 PMCID: PMC9117586 DOI: 10.1007/s12061-022-09446-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An extensive body of research has been noted that many socially deprived communities tend to live in areas characterized by higher levels of outdoor air pollution. Whilst there is an expanding literature documenting this disproportionate distribution, most previous studies have taken place in the Global North, have focused with industrial or vehicle air pollution sources and have tend to ignore the complex interactions between exposures, public perceptions and social factors. In this paper, we investigate the social vulnerability to and risk perceptions of air pollution sourced from domestic heating in two Chilean cities with particularly high levels of PM2.5 during winter months. To this end, we integrate primary survey data, with geographically detailed estimates of air pollution exposures and area-level characteristics obtained from the Chilean Census. We first examine the spatial distribution of PM2.5 exposures and air quality perceptions, and subsequently explore relationships between socio-demographic characteristics, air pollution exposure, and health concerns. Our results revel evident spatial patterns of dispersion, with some neighborhoods being more polluted than others. Age and percentage of roofs in poor condition in the participant's census tract are the best predictors of PM2.5 exposure. We find no correlation between perceived and real levels of contamination. Our multivariate analysis indicates that personal perceptions of air quality are significantly associated with age, gender, family structure, and heating behaviors. Such detailed depictions provide insights into potential meaningful strategies to improve air quality and highlight the need to incorporate measures to better protect older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Àlex Boso
- Deparment of Social Science, Faculty of Social Science, Education and Humanities & Butamallín Research Centre for Global Change, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco, Chile
- Department of Environment, Socio-Technical Research, CIEMAT, Avenida Complutense 40, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Aner Martínez
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 4780000 Temuco, Chile
| | - Marcelo Somos
- Butamallín Research Centre for Global Change & Department of Forest Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Forest Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, 4780000 Temuco, Chile
| | - Boris Álvarez
- Núcleo en Ciencias Sociales Y Humanidades & Butamallín Research Centre for Global Change, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco, Chile
| | - Constanza Avedaño
- Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco, Chile
| | - Álvaro Hofflinger
- Núcleo en Ciencias Sociales Y Humanidades & Butamallín Research Centre for Global Change, Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Francisco Salazar 01145, Temuco, Chile
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Lou B, Barbieri DM, Passavanti M, Hui C, Gupta A, Hoff I, Lessa DA, Sikka G, Chang K, Fang K, Lam L, Maharaj B, Ghasemi N, Qiao Y, Adomako S, Foroutan Mirhosseini A, Naik B, Banerjee A, Wang F, Tucker A, Liu Z, Wijayaratna K, Naseri S, Yu L, Chen H, Shu B, Goswami S, Peprah P, Hessami A, Abbas M, Agarwal N. Air pollution perception in ten countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. AMBIO 2022; 51:531-545. [PMID: 34155609 PMCID: PMC8216327 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01574-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
As largely documented in the literature, the stark restrictions enforced worldwide in 2020 to curb the COVID-19 pandemic also curtailed the production of air pollutants to some extent. This study investigates the perception of the air pollution as assessed by individuals located in ten countries: Australia, Brazil, China, Ghana, India, Iran, Italy, Norway, South Africa and the USA. The perceptions towards air quality were evaluated by employing an online survey administered in May 2020. Participants (N = 9394) in the ten countries expressed their opinions according to a Likert-scale response. A reduction in pollutant concentration was clearly perceived, albeit to a different extent, by all populations. The survey participants located in India and Italy perceived the largest drop in the air pollution concentration; conversely, the smallest variation was perceived among Chinese and Norwegian respondents. Among all the demographic indicators considered, only gender proved to be statistically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baowen Lou
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Nan Er Huan Road (Mid-section), Xi’an, 710064 Shaanxi China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Diego Maria Barbieri
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Marco Passavanti
- Italian Society of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT-Italy), Mannelli St. 139, 50132 Firenze, Toscana Italy
| | - Cang Hui
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Matieland, 7602 South Africa
- Biodiversity Informatics Unit, African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Cape Town, 7945 South Africa
| | - Akshay Gupta
- Department of Civil Engineering, Transportation Engineering Group, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, 321-A&B, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667 India
| | - Inge Hoff
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Daniela Antunes Lessa
- Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Rua Nove, Bauxita, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400-000 Brazil
| | - Gaurav Sikka
- Department of Geography, Lalit Narayan Mithila University, Darbhanga, Bihar 846004 India
| | - Kevin Chang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Mailstop 1022, Moscow, ID 83844 USA
| | - Kevin Fang
- Department of Geography, Sonoma State University, Environment, and Planning, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 USA
| | - Louisa Lam
- School of Health, Federation University Australia, 72-100 Clyde Rd, Berwick, VIC 3806 Australia
| | - Brij Maharaj
- Department of Geography, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College City, Durban, 4000 KwaZulu South Africa
| | - Navid Ghasemi
- Department of Civil Chemical Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento, 2, 40136 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna Italy
| | - Yaning Qiao
- School of Mechanics and Civil Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Daxue Road 1, Xuzhou, 22116 Jiangsu China
| | - Solomon Adomako
- Department of Engineering and Science, University of Agder, Jon Lilletuns vei 9, 4879 Grimstad, Agder Norway
| | - Ali Foroutan Mirhosseini
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Bhaven Naik
- Department of Civil Engineering/Russ College of Engineering & Technology, Ohio University, 28 W. Green Drive, Athens, OH 45701 USA
| | - Arunabha Banerjee
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039 India
| | - Fusong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi road 122, Wuhan, 430070 Hubei China
| | - Andrew Tucker
- Connecticut Transportation Safety Research Center, University of Connecticut, 270 Middle Turnpike, Unit 5202 Longley Building, Storrs, CT 06269 USA
| | - Zhuangzhuang Liu
- School of Highway, Chang’an University, Nan Er Huan Road (Mid-section), Xi’an, 710064 Shaanxi China
| | - Kasun Wijayaratna
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, 81, Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Australia
| | - Sahra Naseri
- School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, 76615-336 Kerman, Iran
| | - Lei Yu
- School of Civil Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Xingang Xi Road 135, Guangzhou, 510275 Guangdong China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Høgskoleringen 7A, 7491 Trondheim, Trøndelag Norway
| | - Benan Shu
- Foshan Transportation Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Kuiqi Second Road 18, Foshan, 528000 Guangdong China
| | - Shubham Goswami
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Science Bangalore, C V Raman Avenue, Bangalore, Karnataka 560012 India
| | - Prince Peprah
- Department of Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, John Goodsell Building, Kensington, Sydney, NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Amir Hessami
- Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Texas A&M University – , Kingsville, 917 W. Ave B, Kingsville, TX 78363 USA
| | - Montasir Abbas
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, 301-D3 Patton Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061 USA
| | - Nithin Agarwal
- Department of Civil & Coastal Engineering, University of Florida, 2100 NE Waldo Rd., Sta 106, Gainesville, FL 32609 USA
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11
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Public Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Health Impacts: Taking Account of People's Exposure to Floods and Air Pollution. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19042246. [PMID: 35206433 PMCID: PMC8872106 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19042246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Climate change-related exposures such as flooding and ambient air pollution place people’s health at risk. A representative UK survey of adults investigated associations between reported flooding and air pollution (in the participants’ local area, by the participant personally, and/or by family and close friends) and climate change concerns (CCC) and perceptions of its health impacts (PIH). In regression analyses controlling for socio-demographic factors and health status, exposure was associated with greater CCC and more negative PIH. Compared to those with low CCC, participants who reported local-area exposure were significantly more likely to be fairly (OR 2.07, 95%CI 1.26, 3.40) or very concerned (OR 3.40, 95%CI 2.02, 5.71). Odds of greater CCC were higher for those reporting personal and/or family exposure (‘fairly concerned’: OR 2.83, 95%CI 1.20, 6.66; ‘very concerned’: OR 4.11, 95%CI 1.69, 10.05) and for those reporting both local and personal/family exposure (‘fairly concerned’: OR 3.35, 95%CI 1.99, 5.63; ‘very concerned’: OR 6.17, 95%CI 3.61, 10.55). For PIH, local exposure significantly increased the odds of perceiving impacts as ‘more bad than good’ (1.86, 95%CI 1.22, 2.82) or ‘entirely bad’ (OR 1.88; 95%CI 1.13, 3.13). Our study suggests that public awareness of climate-related exposures in their local area, together with personal exposures and those of significant others, are associated with heightened concern about climate change and its health impacts.
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12
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A multiscale analysis of social and spatial determinants of cancer and noncancer hazards from on-road air pollution in Texas. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2022; 41:100484. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2022.100484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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13
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Voogd R, de Vries JR, Beunen R. Understanding public trust in water managers: Findings from the Netherlands. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 300:113749. [PMID: 34547569 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113749] [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: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Public trust in water managers is often considered an important precondition for the effective implementation of sustainable water-management practices. Although it is well known that general public trust in government institutions is under pressure, much less is known in the literature on water governance whether such distrust also affects general and task-specific trust of the wider public in water managers. In addition, empirical studies on the determinants of such trust seem to be scarce. To fill those gaps, this study aims to measure general and task-specific public trust in water managers in the Netherlands and to assess how a selected group of potential determinants is related to general- and task-specific trust in water managers. To this end, we employ an original survey among a representative sample of the Dutch population (N = 2262). We find that trust in water managers in the Netherlands is generally high, but that it also comes with some task-specific variations. People have more trust in the flood-protection capacities of the water managers than in the capacities to successfully manage surface-water quality, nature conservation, and drought management. Using linear regression models, we subsequently find that individual-level variations in trust in water managers are best explained by one's general level of political trust. Additionally, we also show that both risk perceptions and self-evaluations of how informed people feel themselves about water management are important factors with (curvilinear) relations with trust in water managers. Overall, we conclude that water managers are under specific conditions able to build themselves well-established reputations and relatively high trust levels based on their performances. Nevertheless, trust development is far from entirely in the hands of the water managers themselves as we also conclude that trust evaluations of water managers are not immune from negative generalized political evaluations and public perceptions on water related risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remko Voogd
- Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 8130, 6700 EW, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Jasper R de Vries
- Strategic Communication Group, Wageningen University and Research, PO Box 8130, 6700 EW, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - R Beunen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Open University, PO Box 2960, 6401 DL, Heerlen, the Netherlands.
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14
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Perry MJ, Arrington S, Freisthler MS, Ibe IN, McCray NL, Neumann LM, Tajanlangit P, Trejo Rosas BM. Pervasive structural racism in environmental epidemiology. Environ Health 2021; 20:119. [PMID: 34784917 PMCID: PMC8595076 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00801-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epistemological biases in environmental epidemiology prevent the full understanding of how racism's societal impacts directly influence health outcomes. With the ability to focus on "place" and the totality of environmental exposures, environmental epidemiologists have an important opportunity to advance the field by proactively investigating the structural racist forces that drive disparities in health. OBJECTIVE This commentary illustrates how environmental epidemiology has ignored racism for too long. Some examples from environmental health and male infertility are used to illustrate how failing to address racism neglects the health of entire populations. DISCUSSION While research on environmental justice has attended to the structural sources of environmental racism, this work has not been fully integrated into the mainstream of environmental epidemiology. Epidemiology's dominant paradigm that reduces race to a mere data point avoids the social dimensions of health and thus fails to improve population health for all. Failing to include populations who are Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) in health research means researchers actually know very little about the effect of environmental contaminants on a range of population health outcomes. This commentary offers different practical solutions, such as naming racism in research, including BIPOC in leadership positions, mandating requirements for discussing "race", conducting far more holistic analyses, increasing community participation in research, and improving racism training, to address the myriad of ways in which structural racism permeates environmental epidemiology questions, methods, results and impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Perry
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
| | - Suzanne Arrington
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Marlaina S Freisthler
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Ifeoma N Ibe
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Nathan L McCray
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Laura M Neumann
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Patrick Tajanlangit
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Brenda M Trejo Rosas
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave NW Suite 400, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
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15
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Waters AR, Warner EL, Vaca Lopez PL, Kirchhoff AC, Ou JY. Perceptions and knowledge of air pollution and its health effects among caregivers of childhood cancer survivors: a qualitative study. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:1070. [PMID: 34592955 PMCID: PMC8482574 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08739-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging research suggests that survivors of childhood and adolescent cancers are at risk for morbidity and mortality associated with air pollutants. However, caregiver perceptions of the effects of air pollution are unknown. Thus, to address this gap we described caregivers' perceptions of air pollution's impact on general population health and specifically on childhood cancer survivors, and caregivers' air pollution information-seeking and exposure reduction behaviors. METHODS Participants were Utah residents, ≥18 years, and caregiver of a childhood cancer survivor who had completed treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers to describe their perspectives on air quality, how air pollution impacts health (general population and survivor health), and their information seeking and exposure reduction behaviors. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through two rounds of structured coding. RESULTS Caregivers (N = 13) were non-Hispanic white and primarily females (92.3%) between 30 and 49 years old (46.2%). Most families lived within the Wasatch Front (69.2%), the main metropolitan of Utah. Two categories emerged pertaining to caregiver's perceptions of air pollution: 1) Limited awareness about the health effects of air pollution, and 2) Unsuccessful information seeking and minimal exposure reduction behaviors. All caregivers held negative perceptions of air pollution in Utah, but most were unaware of how pollution affects health. While some families limited air pollution exposure by avoiding outdoor activity or physically leaving the region, few practiced survivor-specific exposure reduction. Nearly half of caregivers worried about potential effects of air pollution on survivor health and wanted more information. CONCLUSIONS Despite negative perceptions of air pollution, caregivers were divided on whether air pollution could impact survivor health. Few caregivers engaged in exposure reduction for their cancer survivor. As air pollution levels increase in the U.S., continued research on this topic is essential to managing cancer survivor respiratory and cardiovascular health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin R Waters
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Echo L Warner
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
- University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ, USA
- College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Perla L Vaca Lopez
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Anne C Kirchhoff
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Judy Y Ou
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, 2000 Circle of Hope, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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16
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Scarlett RD, Subramaniam M, McMillan SK, Ingermann AT, Clinton SM. Stormwater on the margins: Influence of race, gender, and education on willingness to participate in stormwater management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 290:112552. [PMID: 33892231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Stormwater has immense impacts on urban flooding and water quality, leaving the marginalized and the impoverished disproportionately impacted by and vulnerable to stormwater hazards. However, the environmental health concerns of socially and economically marginalized individuals are largely underestimated. Through regression analysis of data from three longitudinal surveys, this article examines if and how an individual's race, gender, and education level help predict one's concern about and willingness to participate in stormwater management. We found that people of color, women, and less-educated respondents had a greater willingness to participate in stormwater management than White, male, and more-educated respondents, and their concern about local stormwater hazards drove their willingness to participate. Our analysis suggests that physical exposure and high vulnerability to stormwater hazards may shape an individual's concern about and willingness to participate in stormwater management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel D Scarlett
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
| | - Mangala Subramaniam
- Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sara K McMillan
- Ecological Sciences and Engineering Interdisciplinary Program, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA; Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Anastasia T Ingermann
- Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Sandra M Clinton
- Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
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Using Social Media Mining and PLS-SEM to Examine the Causal Relationship between Public Environmental Concerns and Adaptation Strategies. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18105270. [PMID: 34063459 PMCID: PMC8156109 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18105270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
With growing scientific evidence showing the harmful impact of air pollution on the environment and individuals’ health in modern societies, public concern about air pollution has become a central focus of the development of air pollution prevention policy. Past research has shown that social media is a useful tool for collecting data about public opinion and conducting analysis of air pollution. In contrast to statistical sampling based on survey approaches, data retrieved from social media can provide direct information about behavior and capture long-term data being generated by the public. However, there is a lack of studies on how to mine social media to gain valuable insights into the public’s pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, research is needed to integrate information retrieved from social media sites into an established theoretical framework on environmental behaviors. Thus, the aim of this paper is to construct a theoretical model by integrating social media mining into a value-belief-norm model of public concerns about air pollution. We propose a hybrid method that integrates text mining, topic modeling, hierarchical cluster analysis, and partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). We retrieved data regarding public concerns about air pollution from social media sites. We classified the topics using hierarchical cluster analysis and interpreted the results in terms of the value-belief-norm theoretical framework, which encompasses egoistic concerns, altruistic concerns, biospheric concerns, and adaptation strategies regarding air pollution. Then, we used PLS-SEM to confirm the causal relationships and the effects of mediation. An empirical study based on the concerns of Taiwanese social media users about air pollution was used to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed framework in general and to examine gender differences in particular. Based on the results of the empirical studies, we confirmed the robust effects of egoistic, altruistic, and biospheric concerns of public impact on adaptation strategies. Additionally, we found that gender differences can moderate the causal relationship between egoistic concerns, altruistic concerns, and adaptation strategies. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of enhancing perceptions of air pollution and environmental sustainability by the public. The results of the analysis can serve as a basis for environmental policy and environmental education strategies.
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18
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Mehta S, Vashishtha D, Schwarz L, Corcos I, Gershunov A, Guirguis K, Basu R, Benmarhnia T. Racial/ethnic disparities in the association between fine particles and respiratory hospital admissions in San Diego county, CA. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND HEALTH. PART A, TOXIC/HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING 2021; 56:473-480. [PMID: 33678143 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2021.1887686] [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: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Ambient air pollution exposure is associated with exacerbating respiratory illnesses. Race/ethnicity (R/E) have been shown to influence an individual's vulnerability to environmental health risks such as fine particles (PM 2.5). This study aims to assess the R/E disparities in vulnerability to air pollution with regards to respiratory hospital admissions in San Diego County, California where most days fall below National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for daily PM 2.5 concentrations. Daily PM 2.5 levels were estimated at the zip code level using a spatial interpolation using inverse-distance weighting from monitor networks. The association between daily PM 2.5 levels and respiratory hospital admissions in San Diego County over a 15-year period from 1999 to 2013 was assessed with a time-series analysis using a multi-level Poisson regression model. Cochran Q tests were used to assess the effect modification of race/ethnicity on this association. Daily fine particle levels varied greatly from 1 μg/m3 to 75.86 μg/m3 (SD = 6.08 μg/m3) with the majority of days falling below 24-hour NAAQS for PM 2.5 of 35 μg/m3. For every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM 2.5 levels, Black and White individuals had higher rates (8.6% and 6.2%, respectively) of hospitalization for respiratory admissions than observed in the county as a whole (4.1%). Increases in PM 2.5 levels drive an overall increase in respiratory hospital admissions with a disparate burden of health effects by R/E group. These findings suggest an opportunity to design interventions that address the unequal burden of air pollution among vulnerable communities in San Diego County that exist even below NAAQS for daily PM 2.5 concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Mehta
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Devesh Vashishtha
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Lara Schwarz
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Isabel Corcos
- County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Alexander Gershunov
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Kristen Guirguis
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Rupa Basu
- Cal EPA/OEHHA, Oakland, California, USA
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
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McCray N, Thompson L, Branch F, Porter N, Peterson J, Perry MJ. Talking About Public Health With African American Men: Perceptions of Environmental Health and Infertility. Am J Mens Health 2021; 14:1557988320901375. [PMID: 31973636 PMCID: PMC6984439 DOI: 10.1177/1557988320901375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
While the past two decades have seen rapid advances in research demonstrating links between environmental health and reproductive capacity, African American men have largely been overlooked as study participants. To give voice to the perceptions of urban African American men, the present qualitative study conducted focus groups of men recruited from street- and internet-based advertisements in Washington, DC. Participants were asked for their perspectives on their environment, reproductive health and fertility, and factors that would influence their participation in public health research. Participants expressed concern about ubiquitous environmental exposures characteristic of their living environments, which they attributed in part to gentrification and urban development. Infertility was seen as a threat to masculinity and a taboo subject in the African American community and several participants shared personal stories describing a general code of silence about the subject. Each group offered multiple suggestions for recruiting African American men into research studies; facilitators for study participation included cultural relevance, incentives, transparent communication, internet- and community-based recruitment, and use of African Americans and/or recruiters of color as part of the research team. When asked whether participants would participate in a hypothetical study on fertility that involved providing a sperm sample, there was a mixed reaction, with some expressing concern about how such a sample would be used and others describing a few facilitators for participation in such a study. These are unique perspectives that are largely missing from current-day evidence on the inclusion of African American men in environmental health and reproductive health research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan McCray
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Lance Thompson
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Francesca Branch
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nicholas Porter
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - James Peterson
- Department of Epidemiology, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Melissa J Perry
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
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He X, Dong S, Li L, Liu X, Wu Y, Zhang Z, Mei S. Using a Bayesian spatiotemporal model to identify the influencing factors and high-risk areas of hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) in Shenzhen. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2020; 14:e0008085. [PMID: 32196496 PMCID: PMC7112242 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The epidemic of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) has become a severe public health problem in the world and has also brought a high economic and health burden. Furthermore, the prevalence of HFMD varies significantly among different locations. However, there have been few investigations of the effects of socioeconomic factors and air pollution factors on the incidence of HFMD. METHODS This study collected data on HFMD in Shenzhen, China, from 2012 to 2015. We selected eleven factors as potential risk factors for HFMD. A Bayesian spatiotemporal model was used to quantify the influence of the factors on HFMD and to identify the relative risks in different districts. RESULTS The risk factors of HFMD were the population, population density, concentration of SO2, and concentration of NO2. The relative risks (RRs) were 1.00473 (95% CI: 1.00059-1.00761), 1.00010 (95% CI: 1.00002-1.00016), 1.00215 (95% CI: 1.00170-1.00232) and 1.00058 (95% CI: 1.00028-1.00078), respectively. The protective factors against HFMD were the per capita GDP, the number of public kindergartens, the concentration of PM10, and the concentration of O3. The RRs were 0.98840 (95% CI: 0.98660-0.99026), 0.97686 (95% CI: 0.96946-0.98403), 0.99108 (95% CI: 0.98551-0.99840) and 0.99587 (95% CI: 0.99534-0.99610), respectively. The risk of incidence in Longgang district and Pingshan district decreased, while the risk of incidence in Baoan district increased. CONCLUSIONS Studies have confirmed that socioeconomic factors and air pollution factors have an impact on the incidence of HFMD in Shenzhen, China. The results will be of great practical significance to local authorities, which is conducive to accurate prevention and can be used to formulate HFMD early warning systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi He
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shengjie Dong
- Orthopedic Department, Yantaishan Hospital, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Liping Li
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaojian Liu
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yongsheng Wu
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shujiang Mei
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, China
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Cordner A, Poudrier G, DiValli J, Brown P. Combining Social Science and Environmental Health Research for Community Engagement. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E3483. [PMID: 31546760 PMCID: PMC6766000 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16183483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Social science-environmental health (SS-EH) research takes many structural forms and contributes to a wide variety of topical areas. In this article we discuss the general nature of SS-EH contributions and offer a new typology of SS-EH practice that situates this type of research in a larger transdisciplinary sensibility: (1) environmental health science influenced by social science; (2) social science studies of environmental health; and (3) social science-environmental health collaborations. We describe examples from our own and others' work and we discuss the central role that research centers, training programs, and conferences play in furthering SS-EH research. We argue that the third form of SS-EH research, SS-EH collaborations, offers the greatest potential for improving public and environmental health, though such collaborations come with important challenges and demand constant reflexivity on the part of researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alissa Cordner
- Sociology Department, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA 99362, USA.
| | - Grace Poudrier
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Jesse DiValli
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Phil Brown
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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22
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Chen Z, Newgard CB, Kim JS, IIkayeva O, Alderete TL, Thomas DC, Berhane K, Breton C, Chatzi L, Bastain TM, McConnell R, Avol E, Lurmann F, Muehlbauer MJ, Hauser ER, Gilliland FD. Near-roadway air pollution exposure and altered fatty acid oxidation among adolescents and young adults - The interplay with obesity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2019; 130:104935. [PMID: 31238265 PMCID: PMC6679991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.104935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Air pollution exposure has been shown to increase the risk of obesity and metabolic dysfunction in animal models and human studies. However, the metabolic pathways altered by air pollution exposure are unclear, especially in adolescents and young adults who are at a critical period in the development of cardio-metabolic diseases. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the associations between air pollution exposure and indices of fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. METHODS A total of 173 young adults (18-23 years) from eight Children's Health Study (CHS) Southern California communities were examined from 2014 to 2018. Near-roadway air pollution (NRAP) exposure (freeway and non-freeway) and regional air pollution exposure (nitrogen dioxide, ozone and particulate matter) during one year before the study visit were estimated based on participants' residential addresses. Serum concentrations of 64 targeted metabolites including amino acids, acylcarnitines, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and glycerol were measured in fasting serum samples. Principal component analysis of metabolites was performed to identify metabolite clusters that represent key metabolic pathways. Mixed effects models were used to analyze the associations of air pollution exposure with metabolomic principal component (PC) scores and individual metabolite concentrations adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Higher lagged one-year averaged non-freeway NRAP exposure was associated with higher concentrations of NEFA oxidation byproducts and higher NEFA-related PC score (all p's ≤ 0.038). The effect sizes were larger among obese individuals (interaction p = 0.047). Among females, higher freeway NRAP exposure was also associated with a higher NEFA-related PC score (p = 0.042). Among all participants, higher freeway NRAP exposure was associated with a lower PC score for lower concentrations of short- and median-chain acylcarnitines (p = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS Results of this study indicate that NRAP exposure is associated with altered fatty acid metabolism, which could contribute to the metabolic perturbation in obese youth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanghua Chen
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Christopher B Newgard
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute and Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeniffer S Kim
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Olga IIkayeva
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute and Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tanya L Alderete
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Duncan C Thomas
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kiros Berhane
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carrie Breton
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Leda Chatzi
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Theresa M Bastain
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rob McConnell
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Edward Avol
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Michael J Muehlbauer
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute and Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
| | - Elizabeth R Hauser
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute and Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center Durham, NC, USA
| | - Frank D Gilliland
- Division of Environmental Health, Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Loustaunau MG, Chakraborty J. Vehicular Air Pollution in Houston, Texas: An Intra-Categorical Analysis of Environmental Injustice. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E2968. [PMID: 31426575 PMCID: PMC6720268 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16162968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This article contributes to distributive environmental justice (EJ) research on air pollution by analyzing racial/ethnic and related intra-categorical disparities in health risk from exposure to on-road hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in Harris County, Texas. Previous studies in this urban area have not examined intra-ethnic heterogeneity in EJ outcomes or disproportionate exposure to vehicular pollutants. Our goal was to determine how the EJ implications of cancer risk from exposure to on-road HAP sources differ across and within each major racial/ethnic group (Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and non-Hispanic Whites), based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency's National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment (2011) and American Community Survey (2009-2013). Statistical analyses are based on generalized estimating equations which account for clustering of analytic units. Results indicated that Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks are exposed to significantly higher cancer risk than non-Hispanic Whites. When each racial/ethnic group was disaggregated based on contextually relevant characteristics, individuals who are in poverty, foreign-born, renters, and have limited English proficiency are found to be disproportionately located in areas exposed to significantly higher cancer risk, regardless of their major racial/ethnic designation. Our findings underscore the need to conduct intra-categorical EJ analysis for uncovering inequalities that get concealed when broadly defined racial/ethnic categories are used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel G Loustaunau
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Jayajit Chakraborty
- Department of Sociology & Anthropology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
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24
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Burwell-Naney K, Wilson SM, Whitlock ST, Puett R. Hybrid Resiliency-Stressor Conceptual Framework for Informing Decision Support Tools and Addressing Environmental Injustice and Health Inequities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:E1466. [PMID: 31027209 PMCID: PMC6518295 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16081466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
While structural factors may drive health inequities, certain health-promoting attributes of one's "place" known as salutogens may further moderate the cumulative impacts of exposures to socio-environmental stressors that behave as pathogens. Understanding the synergistic relationship between socio-environmental stressors and resilience factors is a critical component in reducing health inequities; however, the catalyst for this concept relies on community-engaged research approaches to ultimately strengthen resiliency and promote health. Furthermore, this concept has not been fully integrated into environmental justice and cumulative risk assessment screening tools designed to identify geospatial variability in environmental factors that may be associated with health inequities. As a result, we propose a hybrid resiliency-stressor conceptual framework to inform the development of environmental justice and cumulative risk assessment screening tools that can detect environmental inequities and opportunities for resilience in vulnerable populations. We explore the relationship between actual exposures to socio-environmental stressors, perceptions of stressors, and one's physiological and psychological stress response to environmental stimuli, which collectively may perpetuate health inequities by increasing allostatic load and initiating disease onset. This comprehensive framework expands the scope of existing screening tools to inform action-based solutions that rely on community-engaged research efforts to increase resiliency and promote positive health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen Burwell-Naney
- Center for Outreach in Alzheimer's, Aging and Community Health, North Carolina A&T State University, 2105 Yanceyville Street, Greensboro, NC 27405, USA.
| | - Sacoby M Wilson
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Heath, University of Maryland, 255 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| | - Siobhan T Whitlock
- Office of Environmental Justice and Sustainability, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
| | - Robin Puett
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, School of Public Heath, University of Maryland, 255 Valley Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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25
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Influencing Factors on the Ecological Protection Behaviors of Entrepreneurial Farmers in Chinese Forest Zones. SUSTAINABILITY 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/su10061827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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