Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 47 in total

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  1. [Sanitary and environmental engineering: the importance of planning in regard to health needs]
    Horwitz A
    Bol Oficina Sanit Panam, 1986 Sep;101(3):193-207.
    PMID: 2944521
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health*
  2. Fulltext Intestinal parasitism in Malayan aborigines (Orang Asli)
    Dunn FL
    Bull World Health Organ, 1972;46(1):99-113.
    PMID: 4537337
    Surveys were conducted in the southern Malay peninsula to assess intestinal parasitism in the aboriginal ethnic minority groups. Faecal specimens from 1 273 persons were examined by the thiomersal-iodine-formol direct-smear technique. Prevalences are reported and, for helminth infections, data on worm burdens. The state of sanitation in each of 9 cultural-ecological groups was assessed by means of a simplified system of scoring for variables. Particular attention was paid to relationships between cultural and ecological factors, sanitation, and observed patterns of intestinal parasitism. The author also discusses the fact that the number of parasitic species diminishes in habitats simplified by man, whereas an increase occurs in the prevalence and intensity of the more adaptable species that persist in ecosystems of low complexity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  3. Fulltext Urban governance and the systems approaches to health-environment co-benefits in cities
    Oliveira JA, Doll CN, Siri J, Dreyfus M, Farzaneh H, Capon A
    Cad Saude Publica, 2015 Nov;31 Suppl 1:25-38.
    PMID: 26648361 DOI: 10.1590/0102-311X00010015
    The term "co-benefits" refers to positive outcomes accruing from a policy beyond the intended outcome, often or usually in other sectors. In the urban context, policies implemented in particular sectors (such as transport, energy or waste) often generate multiple co-benefits in other areas. Such benefits may be related to the reduction of local or global environmental impacts and also extend into the area of public health. A key to identifying and realising co-benefits is the adoption of systems approaches to understand inter-sectoral linkages and, in particular, the translation of this understanding to improved sector-specific and city governance. This paper reviews a range of policies which can yield health and climate co-benefits across different urban sectors and illustrates, through a series of cases, how taking a systems approach can lead to innovations in urban governance which aid the development of healthy and sustainable cities.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health*
  4. Forest fires, air pollution, and mortality in southeast Asia
    Sastry N
    Demography, 2002 Feb;39(1):1-23.
    PMID: 11852832
    I assess the population health effects in Malaysia of air pollution from a widespread series of fires that occurred in Indonesia between April and November of 1997. I describe how the fires occurred and why the associated air pollution was so widespread and long lasting. The main objective is to uncover any mortality effects and to assess how large and important they were. I also investigate whether the mortality effects were persistent or whether they represented a short-term, mortality-harvesting effect. The results show that the smoke haze from the fires had a deleterious effect on the health of the population in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  5. Governance and networks for health co-benefits of climate change mitigation: Lessons from two Indian cities
    Puppim de Oliveira JA, Doll CN
    Environ Int, 2016 12;97:146-154.
    PMID: 27665118 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.08.020
    Health has been the main driver for many urban environmental interventions, particularly in cases of significant health problems linked to poor urban environmental conditions. This paper examines empirically the links between climate change mitigation and health in urban areas, when health is the main driver for improvements. The paper aims to understand how systems of urban governance can enable or prevent the creation of health outcomes via continuous improvements in the environmental conditions in a city. The research draws on cases from two Indian cities where initiatives were undertaken in different sectors: Surat (waste) and Delhi (transportation). Using the literature on network effectiveness as an analytical framework, the paper compares the cases to identify the possible ways to strengthen the governance and policy making process in the urban system so that each intervention can intentionally realize multiple impacts for both local health and climate change mitigation in the long term as well as factors that may pose a threat to long-term progress and revert back to the previous situation after initial achievements.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health*
  6. Fulltext An overview of health forecasting
    Soyiri IN, Reidpath DD
    Environ Health Prev Med, 2013 Jan;18(1):1-9.
    PMID: 22949173 DOI: 10.1007/s12199-012-0294-6
    Health forecasting is a novel area of forecasting, and a valuable tool for predicting future health events or situations such as demands for health services and healthcare needs. It facilitates preventive medicine and health care intervention strategies, by pre-informing health service providers to take appropriate mitigating actions to minimize risks and manage demand. Health forecasting requires reliable data, information and appropriate analytical tools for the prediction of specific health conditions or situations. There is no single approach to health forecasting, and so various methods have often been adopted to forecast aggregate or specific health conditions. Meanwhile, there are no defined health forecasting horizons (time frames) to match the choices of health forecasting methods/approaches that are often applied. The key principles of health forecasting have not also been adequately described to guide the process. This paper provides a brief introduction and theoretical analysis of health forecasting. It describes the key issues that are important for health forecasting, including: definitions, principles of health forecasting, and the properties of health data, which influence the choices of health forecasting methods. Other matters related to the value of health forecasting, and the general challenges associated with developing and using health forecasting services are discussed. This overview is a stimulus for further discussions on standardizing health forecasting approaches and methods that will facilitate health care and health services delivery.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health/methods*
  7. Recent advances on nanocellulose biomaterials for environmental health photoremediation: An overview
    Hitam CNC, Jalil AA
    Environ Res, 2022 03;204(Pt A):111964.
    PMID: 34461122 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111964
    As one of the potential bionanomaterials, nanocellulose has appeared as a favorable candidate for photoremediation of the environment because of its abundance in nature, inexpensive, eco-friendly, decomposable, high surface area, and outstanding mechanical properties. The current review carefully summarized the diverse type of nanocellulose, their preparation approaches, and several previous works on the use of nanocellulose for photoremediation. These include the role of nanocellulose for the increased surface active site of the hybrid photocatalysts by providing a large surface area for enhanced adsorption of photons and pollutant molecules, as a dispersing agent to increase distribution of metal/non-metal dopants photocatalysts, as well as for controlled size and morphology of the dopants photocatalysts. Furthermore, the recommendations for upcoming research provided in this review are anticipated to ignite an idea for the development of other nanocellulose-based photocatalysts. Other than delivering beneficial information on the present growth of the nanocellulose biomaterials photocatalysts, this review is expected will attract more interest to the utilization of nanocellulose photocatalyst and distribute additional knowledge in this exciting area of environmental photoremediation. This could be attained by considering that a review on nanocellulose biomaterials for environmental health photoremediation has not been described elsewhere, notwithstanding intensive research works have been dedicated to this topic.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  8. River sediment metal and nutrient variations along an urban-agriculture gradient in an arid austral landscape: implications for environmental health
    Dalu T, Wasserman RJ, Wu Q, Froneman WP, Weyl OLF
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2018 Jan;25(3):2842-2852.
    PMID: 29143261 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0728-1
    The effect of metals on environmental health is well documented and monitoring these and other pollutants is considered an important part of environmental management. Developing countries are yet to fully appreciate the direct impacts of pollution on aquatic ecosystems and as such, information on pollution dynamics is scant. Here, we assessed the temporal and spatial dynamics of stream sediment metal and nutrient concentrations using contaminant indices (e.g. enrichment factors, pollution load and toxic risk indices) in an arid temperate environment over the wet and dry seasons. The mean sediment nutrient, organic matter and metal concentration were highest during the dry season, with high values being observed for the urban environment. Sediment contaminant assessment scores indicated that during the wet season, the sediment quality was acceptable, but not so during the dry season. The dry season had low to moderate levels of enrichment for metals B, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mg, K and Zn. Overall, applying the sediment pollution load index highlighted poor quality river sediment along the length of the river. Toxic risk index indicated that most sites posed no toxic risk. The results of this study highlighted that river discharge plays a major role in structuring temporal differences in sediment quality. It was also evident that infrastructure degradation was likely contributing to the observed state of the river quality. The study contributes to our understanding of pollution dynamics in arid temperate landscapes where vast temporal differences in base flow characterise the riverscape. Such information is further useful for contrasting sediment pollution dynamics in aquatic environments with other climatic regions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  9. Air pollution effects on adult mortality rate in developing countries
    Ahmad NA, Ismail NW, Ahmad Sidique SF, Mazlan NS
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Feb;28(7):8709-8721.
    PMID: 33068244 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11191-3
    Although industrialisation is a crucial aspect of economic growth across developing nations, through the release of air contaminants, industrial activities may also create adverse environmental health consequences. Noting that continuous production and other economic activities are crucial for continued survival, this study explores this issue by including the role of governance that is deemed essential but the literature is relatively sparse particularly in the context of developing countries. This research empirically analyses the relationship between air pollution and adult mortality rates from 72 developing countries from the period of 2010 until 2017. Particulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon dioxide (CO2) are used as indicators of air pollution. From the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimations, the results reveal that air pollution negatively affects adult mortality rate. The result reveals that a 10% increase in the PM2.5 level induces the adult mortality rates to increase between 0.04% and 0.06%. In addition, the government significantly moderates the negative effect of air pollution on adult mortality, whereby a one-unit enhancement in governance quality index reduces mortality among the adults in the developing countries by 0.01%. On the other hand, CO2 emission also appears to be positive, but not statistically significant. The results suggest that governance and public health interplay in the sense of a transition towards economic development for improved living and health states can be achievable with improved governance quality.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  10. Birth Cohort Consortium of Asia: Current and Future Perspectives
    Kishi R, Zhang JJ, Ha EH, Chen PC, Tian Y, Xia Y, et al.
    Epidemiology, 2017 10;28 Suppl 1:S19-S34.
    PMID: 29028672 DOI: 10.1097/EDE.0000000000000698
    BACKGROUND: The environmental health of children is one of the great global health concerns. Exposures in utero and throughout development can have major consequences on later health. However, environmental risks or disease burdens vary from region to region. Birth cohort studies are ideal for investigating different environmental risks.

    METHODS: The principal investigators of three birth cohorts in Asia including the Taiwan Birth Panel Study (TBPS), the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health Study (MOCEH), and the Hokkaido Study on Environment and Children' Health (Hokkaido Study) coestablished the Birth Cohort Consortium of Asia (BiCCA) in 2011. Through a series of five PI meetings, the enrolment criteria, aim of the consortium, and a first-phase inventory were confirmed.

    RESULTS: To date, 23 birth cohorts have been established in 10 Asian countries, consisting of approximately 70,000 study subjects in the BiCCA. This article provides the study framework, environmental exposure and health outcome assessments, as well as maternal and infant characteristics of the participating cohorts.

    CONCLUSIONS: The BiCCA provides a unique and reliable source of birth cohort information in Asian countries. Further scientific cooperation is ongoing to identify specific regional environmental threats and improve the health of children in Asia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health*
  11. Fulltext The status of international collaborations in compilation of Iranian scientific articles on environmental health engineering
    Tirgar A, Sajjadi SA, Aghalari Z
    Global Health, 2019 02 27;15(1):17.
    PMID: 30813953 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-019-0460-3
    BACKGROUND: Scientific cooperation is one of the effective methods to access current knowledge and technologies and also to use successful experiences of researchers in developed countries by academicians living in developing countries. This study aimed to determine the level of international contribution in compilation of scientific articles in Iranian journals published in the field of environmental health engineering.

    METHODS: This descriptive and retrospective study was conducted within a 10-year period (2008-2017), in which all articles published in five specialized Iranian journals of environmental health engineering were reviewed using a researcher-made checklist. The information collected in the checklist included: the year of publication, number of issues and articles, information about the status of authors' participation in terms of number of authors, sex, institutional affiliation, country, continents, and research centers. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as index of dispersion, measures of central tendency, and Chi-square and t tests were used to statistically analyze the data. Besides, VOSviewer software was used to visualize the data.

    RESULTS: The review of 1276 articles published in 102 issues of the five journals of environmental health engineering in Iran showed that 184 articles were written with the participation of researchers from other countries. Most articles with the participation of international authors during the last decade were published in 2014. Chi-square test indicated a significant difference in the publication of these articles within 2014-2015 than other years (P = 0.001). Among the five journals, the best participation of international researchers was observed in J Environ Health Sci Engineer (168 articles, 91.3%). Considering the number of joint articles with Iran, the top continents were Asia, Europe, and Africa each with 117, 52, and 32 articles, respectively. India, Turkey, and Malaysia had the highest level of cooperation with Iranian researchers with 53, 16, and 14 articles, respectively. 637 authors contributed in 184 articles, of whom 469 (73.6%) were male and 121 (18.9%) were female. T test was used to compare the mean number of male and female authors in the articles with or without the participation of international researchers, which showed no significant difference.

    CONCLUSION: International contribution of researchers in compilation of specialized environmental health articles was good. Given the low level of cooperation between researchers from developed European and American countries and their Iranian counterparts, it seems necessary to adopt different methods to attract more collaboration from researchers working in developed countries considering their significant role in health-related areas.

    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health*
  12. The Case for Public Financing of Environmental Common Goods for Health
    Lo S, Gaudin S, Corvalan C, Earle AJ, Hanssen O, Prüss-Ustun A, et al.
    Health Syst Reform, 2019;5(4):366-381.
    PMID: 31860403 DOI: 10.1080/23288604.2019.1669948
    Safeguarding the continued existence of humanity requires building societies that cause minimal disruptions of the essential planetary systems that support life. While major successes have been achieved in improving health in recent decades, threats from the environment may undermine these gains, particularly among vulnerable populations and communities. In this article, we review the rationale for governments to invest in environmental Common Goods for Health (CGH) and identify functions that qualify as such, including interventions to improve air quality, develop sustainable food systems, preserve biodiversity, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage carbon sinks. Exploratory empirical analyses reveal that public spending on environmental goods does not crowd out public spending on health. Additionally, we find that improved governance is associated with better performance in environmental health outcomes, while the degrees of people's participation in the political system together with voice and accountability are positively associated with performance in ambient air quality and biodiversity/habitat. We provide a list of functions that should be prioritized by governments across different sectors, and present preliminary costing of environmental CGH. As shown by the costing estimates presented here, these actions need not be especially expensive. Indeed, they are potentially cost-saving. The paper concludes with case examples of national governments that have successfully prioritized and financed environmental CGH. Because societal preferences may vary across time, government leaders seeking to protect the health of future generations must look beyond electoral cycles to enact policies that protect the environment and finance environmental CGH.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health/economics; Environmental Health/standards
  13. Fulltext The importance of data in developing environmental health guidelines – an IMU perspective
    Stephen Ambu
    International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education, 2013;7(11):47-50.
    MyJurnal
    The global environment is in a dynamic flux due to rapid development. As a result of this, new
    diseases are emerging and old diseases are re-emerging in many parts of the world. Therefore there is a constant need for appropriate data for formulation of effective policies to mitigate the adverse effects of environmental degradation on human health. The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 is a milestone that sets the direction for good environmental management initiatives and the success
    of this depends on good data. Malaysia currently has the Environmental Quality Act 1974 in place to
    control environment related problems. However good guidelines must be developed to keep the initiatives for good environmental management on course, for this we need good data. The Centre for Environmental and Population Health at IMU, coordinates research activities in specific thrust areas in an endeavour to produce important data that is required for developing appropriate guidelines for environmental health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  14. Fulltext An Evidence-Based Review of Impacts, Strategies and Tools to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands
    Leal Filho W, Echevarria Icaza L, Emanche VO, Quasem Al-Amin A
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2017 12 19;14(12).
    PMID: 29257100 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14121600
    The impacts of climate changes on cities, which are home to over half of the world's population, are already being felt. In many cases, the intensive speed with which urban centres have been growing means that little attention has been paid to the role played by climatic factors in maintaining quality of life. Among the negative consequences of rapid city growth is the expansion of the problems posed by urban heat islands (UHIs), defined as areas in a city that are much warmer than other sites, especially in comparison with rural areas. This paper analyses the consistency of the UHI-related literature in three stages: first it outlines its characteristics and impacts in a wide variety of cities around the world, which poses pressures to public health in many different countries. Then it introduces strategies which may be employed in order to reduce its effects, and finally it analyses available tools to systematize the initial high level assessment of the phenomenon for multidisciplinary teams involved in the urban planning process. The analysis of literature on the characteristics, impacts, strategies and digital tools to assess on the UHI, reveals the wide variety of parameters, methods, tools and strategies analysed and suggested in the different studies, which does not always allow to compare or standardize the diagnosis or solutions.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health/methods*
  15. Malaysian society and health: issues and challenges in the 21st century
    Wong YL, Mohd Amin J
    JUMMEC, 2005;8:53-58.
    Malaysia, like many aspiring developing countries, is undergoing a health transition that has seen the concomitant decrease in communicable diseases and increase in chronic diseases due to urbanization, modernization and ageing population. Health in the Malaysian society will thus increasingly focus on emerging problems that are both chronic and infectious in nature, such as, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, mental health, hepatitis and HIV/AIDS. Re-emerging diseases previously well-controlled, such as, tuberculosis for instance is another addition to these immediate health issues facing Malaysian society today. Despite the tremendous health gains and above average health status that Malaysians now enjoy, we are compelled to take stock of these urgent issues as well as to anticipate and handle serious challenges to our health in the 21st century. In this paper, we review the changing trends and discuss related challenges in disease pattern, environmental health, demographic impacts on health, migration influxes and health, effects of globalization on health, mental health and wellness as well as fundamental access and equality in health care. Being proactive, resilient and innovative, Malaysian society would forge ahead towards our Vision for Health in this new era. KEYWORDS: Society and health, health trends and issues, Vision for Health, Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  16. Fulltext Current status of industrial accident learning in Malaysia
    Kamarizan Kidam, Zainazrin Zainal Abidin, Mimi Haryani Hashim, Adnan Ripin, Mohammed Wijayanuddin Ali, Hazlee M. Safuan, et al.
    Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2015;12(1):1-4.
    MyJurnal
    In general, the industrial accident rate in Malaysia is decreasing. However, statistically it is still relatively high
    if compared with that of other developing nations. One of the reasons why accidents keep on happening is poor
    learning from accidents. This paper discusses the level of accident learning, based on accident reports submitted to the
    Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) Malaysia and the Society Security Organization (SOCSO)
    Malaysia involving a total of 1,291 accident cases. Based on the quality and completeness of accident reports, the
    levels of learning were classified into five accident causation levels which are no, limited, fair, good and excellent
    learning.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  17. Fulltext Osh audit compliance at National Service Training Programme (NSTP) camps in Malaysia: training elements
    Tengku Hizir Tengku Abdul Rashid, Mohd Esa Baruji, Shahronizam Noordin, Mohd Kashfullah Razali
    Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2015;12(1):101-104.
    MyJurnal
    There were a number of accidents reported throughout the implementation of the National Services Training
    Programme (NSTP) since 2004 until 2012. The National Services Training Department (NSTD) is responsible for
    the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) aspects in the NSTP camps. The study was conducted with its objective
    to compare the levels of OSH audit compliance at NSTP between 2011 and 2012. A cross sectional method was
    used, involving a total of 67 randomly selected NSTP camps. The data analysis was conducted on two types of
    audit checklists using SPSS version 2.1. The r-value of 0.197 obtained indicates a weak relationship between the
    document review and physical training element. The p-value of 0.118, meanwhile, shows that there is no statistically
    significant correlation between the results of document review and physical training element. Most of the elements
    show an increased percentage of compliance as a result of initiatives taken by the Camp Training Management and
    the Camp Operator. Despite an improved compliance level seen from 2011 to 2012, NSTD should look into certain
    critical elements considered high risk by the regulatory requirements. NSTD should also continue with its initiatives
    to enhance safety and health aspects in NSTP camps not only for the benefit of the trainees but also for themselves.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  18. Fulltext Overview of statutory inspection enforcement for certificated machinery by licensed person
    Shahronizam Noordin, Yuzainie Yusoff, Noorhasimah Awang, Siti Nurani Haji Hassan, Zulfadhli Suhaili, Samuri Mohd Mussim, et al.
    Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2015;12(2):31-40.
    MyJurnal
    Licensed person is a third party who was awarded a license to perform statutory inspection for certificated
    machinery under the provision of section 40 (1A), Factories and Machinery Act (Amendment) (FMA) 2006. The
    objectives of the study is to identify issues related to statutory inspection in Malaysia and to make comparisons with
    respect to the statutory inspection by Licensed Person adopted by other countries. The enforcement of Licensed
    Person in Malaysia is still in not yet implemented although Section 40 (1A) in FMA (Revision) 2006 regulating on
    Licensed Person had been introduced on 2006 and compared with other countries especially our neighboring country
    Singapore. Based on the DOSH inspection data analysis, the main issues relating to statutory inspection in Malaysia
    is the increment in backlog cases due to lack of number officers compare to the number of registered certificated
    machineries in Malaysia. As a conclusion, the implementation of Licensed Person is crucial in Malaysia to reduce the
    work and financial burden of Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) officer in enforcing FMA 1967
    and also to improve the quality of statutory inspection for the safety in workplace.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  19. Fulltext Land Use Land Cover Changes in Detection of Water Quality: A Study Based on Remote Sensing and Multivariate Statistics
    Hua AK
    J Environ Public Health, 2017;2017:7515130.
    PMID: 28377790 DOI: 10.1155/2017/7515130
    Malacca River water quality is affected due to rapid urbanization development. The present study applied LULC changes towards water quality detection in Malacca River. The method uses LULC, PCA, CCA, HCA, NHCA, and ANOVA. PCA confirmed DS, EC, salinity, turbidity, TSS, DO, BOD, COD, As, Hg, Zn, Fe, E. coli, and total coliform. CCA confirmed 14 variables into two variates; first variate involves residential and industrial activities; and second variate involves agriculture, sewage treatment plant, and animal husbandry. HCA and NHCA emphasize that cluster 1 occurs in urban area with Hg, Fe, total coliform, and DO pollution; cluster 3 occurs in suburban area with salinity, EC, and DS; and cluster 2 occurs in rural area with salinity and EC. ANOVA between LULC and water quality data indicates that built-up area significantly polluted the water quality through E. coli, total coliform, EC, BOD, COD, TSS, Hg, Zn, and Fe, while agriculture activities cause EC, TSS, salinity, E. coli, total coliform, arsenic, and iron pollution; and open space causes contamination of turbidity, salinity, EC, and TSS. Research finding provided useful information in identifying pollution sources and understanding LULC with river water quality as references to policy maker for proper management of Land Use area.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health
  20. Issues and framework of environmental health in Malaysia
    Mokhtar MB, Murad W
    J Environ Health, 2010 Apr;72(8):24-9.
    PMID: 20420051
    Environmental health problems in Malaysia are mostly attributed to atmospheric pollution, water pollution, climate change, ozone depletion, and solid waste management, as well as toxic, chemical, and hazardous waste management. The Ministry of Health, Malaysia, has been vigorously pursuing the environmental health agenda by collaborating with other agencies at district, state, national, and international levels. This article discusses the issues and management framework of environmental health in Malaysia. Some issues requiring further investigation in order to clearly understand the trade-off between atmospheric change and environmental health are suggested. These suggestions are developed with particular reference to appraisals concerned with the development and implementation of environmental policy, programs, and practice. Research on the relevant issues is discussed and a framework is built involving a comprehensive review of the literature and existing framework of Malaysian environmental health.
    Matched MeSH terms: Environmental Health*
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