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Collins C, Depledge M, Fraser R, Johnson A, Hutchison G, Matthiessen P, Murphy R, Owens S, Sumpter J. Key actions for a sustainable chemicals policy. Environ Int 2020; 137:105463. [PMID: 32086074 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chemicals policies have spawned a wide range of regulations aimed at limiting damage to the environment and human health. Most instruments are reactive and fragmented. We propose a simple underpinning philosophy, "Do no harm", to ensure a more sustainable, safe "chemical environment" for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Collins
- Soil Research Centre, Department Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DW, UK.
| | - Mike Depledge
- European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter Medical School, Heavitree Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Robert Fraser
- School of Economics, Kennedy Building, Park Wood Road, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7FS, UK
| | - Andrew Johnson
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Gary Hutchison
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, UK
| | | | - Richard Murphy
- Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Susan Owens
- Newnham College, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge CB3 9DF, UK
| | - John Sumpter
- Institute of Environment, Brunel University, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK
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Sabel CE, Hiscock R, Asikainen A, Bi J, Depledge M, van den Elshout S, Friedrich R, Huang G, Hurley F, Jantunen M, Karakitsios SP, Keuken M, Kingham S, Kontoroupis P, Kuenzli N, Liu M, Martuzzi M, Morton K, Mudu P, Niittynen M, Perez L, Sarigiannis D, Stahl-Timmins W, Tobollik M, Tuomisto J, Willers S. Public health impacts of city policies to reduce climate change: findings from the URGENCHE EU-China project. Environ Health 2016; 15 Suppl 1:25. [PMID: 26960925 PMCID: PMC4895602 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-016-0097-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change is a global threat to health and wellbeing. Here we provide findings of an international research project investigating the health and wellbeing impacts of policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in urban environments. METHODS Five European and two Chinese city authorities and partner academic organisations formed the project consortium. The methodology involved modelling the impact of adopted urban climate-change mitigation transport, buildings and energy policy scenarios, usually for the year 2020 and comparing them with business as usual (BAU) scenarios (where policies had not been adopted). Carbon dioxide emissions, health impacting exposures (air pollution, noise and physical activity), health (cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer and leukaemia) and wellbeing (including noise related wellbeing, overall wellbeing, economic wellbeing and inequalities) were modelled. The scenarios were developed from corresponding known levels in 2010 and pre-existing exposure response functions. Additionally there were literature reviews, three longitudinal observational studies and two cross sectional surveys. RESULTS There are four key findings. Firstly introduction of electric cars may confer some small health benefits but it would be unwise for a city to invest in electric vehicles unless their power generation fuel mix generates fewer emissions than petrol and diesel. Second, adopting policies to reduce private car use may have benefits for carbon dioxide reduction and positive health impacts through reduced noise and increased physical activity. Third, the benefits of carbon dioxide reduction from increasing housing efficiency are likely to be minor and co-benefits for health and wellbeing are dependent on good air exchange. Fourthly, although heating dwellings by in-home biomass burning may reduce carbon dioxide emissions, consequences for health and wellbeing were negative with the technology in use in the cities studied. CONCLUSIONS The climate-change reduction policies reduced CO2 emissions (the most common greenhouse gas) from cities but impact on global emissions of CO2 would be more limited due to some displacement of emissions. The health and wellbeing impacts varied and were often limited reflecting existing relatively high quality of life and environmental standards in most of the participating cities; the greatest potential for future health benefit occurs in less developed or developing countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clive E Sabel
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK.
| | - Rosemary Hiscock
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
| | - Arja Asikainen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jun Bi
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Mike Depledge
- European Centre for Environment and Human health, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Sef van den Elshout
- Air Quality Department, DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond, Schiedam, The Netherlands
| | - Rainer Friedrich
- Institute of Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy (IER), University of Stuttgart, 70565, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Ganlin Huang
- Institute of Energy Economics and the Rational Use of Energy (IER), University of Stuttgart, 70565, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Fintan Hurley
- IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine), Riccarton, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Matti Jantunen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, 70210, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Spyros P Karakitsios
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, 57001, Thermi, Greece
| | - Menno Keuken
- Netherlands Organization for Applied Research (TNO), 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Simon Kingham
- Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Periklis Kontoroupis
- Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute, 57001, Thermi, Greece
| | - Nino Kuenzli
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Miaomiao Liu
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Marco Martuzzi
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katie Morton
- School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
| | - Pierpaolo Mudu
- European Centre for Environment and Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe, 53113, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marjo Niittynen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Laura Perez
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Denis Sarigiannis
- Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, 54124, Greece
| | | | - Myriam Tobollik
- School of Public Health, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jouni Tuomisto
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Saskia Willers
- Air Quality Department, DCMR Environmental Protection Agency Rijnmond, Schiedam, The Netherlands
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Galgani F, Claro F, Depledge M, Fossi C. Monitoring the impact of litter in large vertebrates in the Mediterranean Sea within the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD): constraints, specificities and recommendations. Mar Environ Res 2014; 100:3-9. [PMID: 24612883 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/15/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In its decision (2010/477/EU) relating to the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EC), the European Commission identified the following points as focuses for monitoring: (i) 10.1.1: Trends in the amount, source and composition of litter washed ashore and/or deposited on coastlines, (ii) 10.1.2: Trends in the amount and composition of litter in the water column and accumulation on the sea floor, (iii) 10.1.3: Trends in the amount, distribution and composition of micro-particles (mainly microplastics), and (iv) 10.2.1: Trends in the amount and composition of litter ingested by marine animals. Monitoring the impacts of litter will be considered further in 2014. At that time, the strategy will be discussed in the context of the Mediterranean Sea, providing information on constraints, protocols, existing harm and research needed to support monitoring efforts. The definition of targets and acceptable levels of harm must take all factors into account, whether entanglement, ingestion, the transport and release of pollutants, the transport of alien species and socio-economic impacts. It must also reflect on the practical deployment of "ingestion" measures (10.2.1). The analysis of existing data will reveal the potential and suitability of some higher trophic level organisms (fish, turtles, birds and mammals) for monitoring the adverse effects of litter. Sea turtles appear to be useful indicator species, but the definition of an ecological quality objective is still needed, as well as research on alternative potential indicator species.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Galgani
- Ifremer, Immeuble Agostini, ZI Furiani, 20600 Bastia, Corsica, France.
| | - F Claro
- Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, GTMF, CP41, 57 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - M Depledge
- University of Exeter, Devon EX4 4QJ, United Kingdom
| | - C Fossi
- University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Ford T, Jay J, Patel A, Kile M, Prommasith P, Galloway T, Sanger R, Smith K, Depledge M. Use of ecotoxicological tools to evaluate the health of New Bedford Harbor sediments: a microbial biomarker approach. Environ Health Perspect 2005; 113:186-191. [PMID: 15687056 PMCID: PMC1277863 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.6934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2003] [Accepted: 05/26/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
We have been investigating microbial communities in sediments from New Bedford Harbor (NBH), Massachusetts, USA, for a number of years. NBH is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-designated Superfund site heavily contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. Microorganisms are thought to contribute to the fate and distribution of contaminants in NBH through a variety of mechanisms, including direct transformations and formation of soluble and insoluble species. Our more recent research has focused on changes in microbial community structure and function in response to exposure to toxic contaminants, with the ultimate goal of using microbes as ecotoxicological tools. Microbial diversity, as measured by restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis, changes along pollution gradients, with an apparent increase in diversity at the most contaminated sites, concomitant with an increase in genetic relatedness. Current work on microbial communities examines the presence of arsenic-resistance genes in NBH isolates. In collaboration with the Plymouth Environmental Research Center, Plymouth University, United Kingdom, we have also used more conventional ecotoxicological approaches to examine the health of the NBH biota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Ford
- Department of Microbiology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, USA.
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Anderson S, Sadinski W, Shugart L, Brussard P, Depledge M, Ford T, Hose J, Stegeman J, Suk W, Wirgin I. Genetic and molecular ecotoxicology: a research framework. Environ Health Perspect 1994; 102 Suppl 12:3-8. [PMID: 7713030 PMCID: PMC1566742 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.94102s123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Participants at the Napa Conference on Genetic and Molecular Ecotoxicology assessed the status of this field in light of heightened concerns about the genetic effects of exposure to hazardous substances and recent advancements in our capabilities to measure those effects. We present here a synthesis of the ideas discussed throughout the conference, including definitions of important concepts in the field and critical research needs and opportunities. While there were many opinions expressed on these topics, there was general agreement that there are substantive new opportunities to improve the impact of genetic and molecular ecotoxicology on prediction of sublethal effects of exposure to hazardous substances. Future studies should emphasize integration of genetic ecotoxicology, ecological genetics, and molecular biology and should be directed toward improving our understanding of the ecological implications of genotoxic responses. Ecological implications may be assessed at either the population or ecosystem level; however, a population-level focus may be most pragmatic. Recent technical advancements in measuring genetic and molecular responses to toxicant exposure will spur rapid progress. These new techniques have considerable promise for increasing our understanding of both mechanisms of toxicity on genes or gene products and the relevance of detrimental effects to individual fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Anderson
- Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
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