Environmental Health Insights

BACKGROUND: Khat ( Catha edulis Forsk ) is a stimulant plant grown in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Heavy metal pollution has been a global concern due to its acute and chronic health effects and the major route of exposure is the consumption of contaminated foods. In this study, the determination and health risk assessment of heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Cd, and Pb) in khat and its support soil samples was carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Khat and its support soil were analyzed for the levels of 7 toxic heavy metals by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer...

The use of toilet facilities is a major sanitation intervention, as it reduces the spread of diarrheal diseases. In areas where toilets are misused, human excreta may be disposed of in open fields, bushes, and other open places. However, information about the level of utilization of toilet facilities in developing regions of Ethiopia is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to identify open defecation (OD) levels and determinants of OD among household-owned toilets in Gambella town, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 households in Gambela Town, using systematic random sampling and questionnaires...

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are among the most common infections that affect the poorest and most deprived communities. In most developing countries, children aged 5 to 15 years are at risk for chronic helminth infection and associated morbidity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of STH infections and associated risk factors among three government elementary schools in Dembecha town, Ethiopia. We conducted a school-based cross-sectional study involving 316 participants between November 2019 and March 2020...

This letter highlights the impact of environmental drivers on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to address this global health threat. Key factors, such as agricultural practices, wastewater treatment, and pollution, contribute to the development and spread of resistant pathogens. Utilizing the One Health approach, the paper emphasizes the importance of promoting responsible antimicrobial use, strengthening public health systems, investing in innovative research, and raising public awareness...

BACKGROUND: In Ethiopia, domestic animals and their feces are not properly contained. However, the risk of exposure to zoonotic pathogens is not well documented. This study was conducted to assess animal handling practices and the risk of childhood diarrhea among rural households in northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: This study was done among 403 randomly selected households. Information on animal handling was collected using a questionnaire and spot-check observation...

Asia has been alarmed by the resurgence of avian influenza A (H5N1) in Cambodia in 2024. H5N1 could be swiftly transmitted by wild birds to poultry populations along their migration route via infection. Circulation of endemic H5N1 in Asian poultry facilitates recurrent human transmission. Cambodia's role as a reservoir heightens the potential dangers of uncoordinated containment and surveillance across Southeast Asia. This correspondence addresses the risk factors, seasonal patterns, transmission dynamics, and potential pathways for the global dissemination of H5N1...

INTRODUCTION: Municipal solid waste collectors are at risk of experiencing work-related health problems due to the waste they handle and the physical effort they put in. Work-related injuries among domestic waste collectors have been the subject of scant research in developing nations. Therefore, it is necessary to describe work-related injuries in these subpopulation groups. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of work-related injury among municipal solid waste collectors in Hawassa city, Southern Ethiopia...

Several studies have been conducted on household water use and microbial water quality globally. However, studies that considered seasonal variability of household water use and microbial water quality were limited. Therefore, this study investigated the seasonal variability of household water use, microbiological water quality, and challenges to the provision of adequate water in the peri-urban and informal settlements of Hosanna town, Southern Ethiopia. A longitudinal study was conducted on 288 households...

INTRODUCTION: Street foods are foods and beverages as either ready for direct consumption or minimally processed, prepared, and/or sold by vendors and handlers. The objective of this study was to explore the condition and governance of street foods in Ethiopia. METHOD: A qualitative exploratory study was employed from December 2022 to January 2023 in Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Dire Dawa, and Jimma, cities of Ethiopia. Twelve respondents comprised key informants from selected governmental sectors were interviewed...

BACKGROUND: The adoption of electric vehicles for mobility is seen as a major step towards the conservation of the environment. In India, slow-moving Electric 3-Wheelers (E3Ws) have been adopted for last-mile connectivity. The present study investigated the impact of slow-moving electric 3-wheelers on the environment in terms of emissions and traffic performance in mixed conditions. METHODS: Field traffic data from a section of road in the city of Lucknow was collected and used for the calibration of the traffic model...

This study was the first to investigate the levels of heavy metals in commercially important fish species ( Lates niloticus and Oreochromis niloticus ) and the human health risk in Southern Ethiopia. Sixty fish samples were collected from the Omo delta. The target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), and target cancer risk (TCR) were used to estimate the human health risks. The mean levels of heavy metals detected in the liver and muscle of Lates niloticus generally occurred in the order of Fe> Zn > Pb > Cu >Mn> Cr > Co > Ni and Fe > Pb > Zn >Mn > Cu > Co > Cr >Ni, respectively...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

Noise pollution derived from motor vehicles, especially those with noisy engines, constitutes a significant challenge in urban environments, impacting quality of life and public health. In this context, the present study focuses on the implementation of an advanced technological solution: a web-based system specifically designed to monitor and manage noise pollution in Tarapoto, Peru. The execution of this project was structured in 4 key phases. The first phase involved extensive data collection and definition of the project scope...

The transportation sector is among the highest contributors to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in European nations, with private cars emerging as the primary source. Although reducing emissions presents a formidable challenge, the emergence of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) offers a promising and sustainable avenue toward achieving zero greenhouse gases within the transportation infrastructure. Since the 1990s, the Norwegian parliament has fervently supported this transition, leveraging public awareness campaigns and a range of financial incentives for its users nationwide...

This study investigated water safety practices and risk levels along Addis Ababa's water supply service chain. The data came from 23 random woredas, 384 random households, 115 microbiological water quality tests, and diagnostic inspections from source to point of use. Findings from this study indicate that the surface water sources (53%) and the water source catchments (62%) are characterized by very high-risk and high risk contamination levels respectively. Conversely, the water treatment process (5%) and temporary reservoir (20%) indicates a low risk level...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

INTRODUCTION: Microplastics may be present in food and drinks from various sources, exposing pregnant women to these particles. Consumption of contaminated food can lead to the ingestion of microplastics by pregnant women, potentially causing adverse health effects on the fetus. This study aims to investigate the presence of microplastics in the stools of pregnant women. METHODS: The research was conducted in the Makassar City region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia...

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the health, social, and economic systems, triggering lasting damage and exposing the complexity of the problem beyond just being a health emergency. This crisis has highlighted the need for a comprehensive and collaborative strategy to successfully counter infectious diseases and other global challenges. With the COVID-19 pandemic pushing One Health to the forefront of global health and sustainable development agendas, this concept has emerged as a potential approach for addressing these challenges...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defined Disease X as an upcoming disease with the potential to cause a pandemic. Pathogen X is responsible for Disease X. Marburg virus disease (MVD) is one of the diseases from the priority disease list published by WHO. Marburg virus is a filamentous, negative-sense RNA virus that belongs to the same filovirus family as the lethal Ebola virus. Since the first discovery of this virus in 1967, 17 outbreaks occurred sporadically till 2023. Rousettus aegyptiacus acts as the natural reservoir of the virus...