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This book, the third in the series Behavior of Radionuclides in the Environment, is dedicated to Fukushima. Major findings from research since 2011 are reviewed concerning the behavior of radionuclides released into the environment due to the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, including atmospheric transport and fallout of radionuclides, their fate, and transport in the soil-water environment, behavior in freshwater, coastal and marine environment, transfer in the terrestrial and agricultural environment. Volume III discusses not only radionuclides dynamics in the environment in the short- and mid-term, but also modeling and prediction of long-term time changes.Along with reviews, the book contains original data and results not published previously. It was spearheaded by the authors from the Institute of Environmental Radioactivity at Fukushima University, established two years after the Fukushima accident, with their collaborators from Japan, Russia, and Ukraine. The knowledge emerging from the studies of the environmental behavior of Fukushima-derived radionuclides enables us to move forward in understanding mechanisms of environmental contamination and leads to better modeling and prediction of long-term pollution effects in general. 

This book discusses the sources, human health hazards and risk prevention strategies associated with aeolian dust particles (fine and ultrafine) in the atmosphere. It covers the challenges of accurately forecasting aeolian dust and the need to raise public awareness on the warning signs and harmful impacts of airborne dust. Also discussed is the presence of microorganisms, heavy metals and other pollutants in dust which contributes to harmful impacts on human health as well as management and treatment options for the various health issues that can result from exposure. The book is a useful resource for scientists, engineers and policymakers interested in dust and health.

Antimicrobial resistance is recognised among the world¿s most challenging problems. Despite its global spread, Africa, specifically sub-Saharan Africa, is the most affected by this malaise. Poor living conditions and inadequate access to sanitation and potable water supplies are among contributing factors that have influenced a high disease burden on the continent, requiring extensive antimicrobials. Weak health systems and the absence of firm policies further aggravate the problem, as the use of antimicrobials is mostly unregulated. The increasing demand for animal protein to meet the starving populations¿ demands has also influenced the use of these antimicrobials, including those banned on other continents, for food animal production. The ripple effect of indiscriminate use in humans and animals is the massive discharge of antimicrobials, their residues, antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms and their associated genes into the environment. This 14-chapter unique masterpiece presents the AMR problem in African, addressing the various compartments of the One Health ¿ humans, animals, and the environment, to illustrate the need for concerted efforts in the fight against AMR, especially in Africa. Authors from the four cardinal points present diverse aspects of AMR in Africa, starting with behavioural and social drivers of AMR in Africa. Antimicrobial stewardship in an African context is also discussed. AMR in humans is presented through studies on antibiotic-resistant neonates and nontyphoidal Salmonella infections and the clinical relevance of the genetics of viral resistance. Topics on AMR in mastitis, biosecurity in animal farming and the linkage between disinfectants and AMR are discussed. The environmental dimension of AMR is discussed, notably in the aquatic environment, and its implication for aquaculture and irrigation and using nanomaterials to treat polluted waters from such environments are highlighted. Finally, Africäs rich floral diversity is portrayed as an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach to combat AMR. Hopefully, the work presented will spur greater collaboration between scientists, environmental, animal and human health practitioners, the general population, and policymakers to assimilate and implement the One Health approach to combating AMR, rather than working in silos on their various sectors

This book focuses on a monograph published in 2017 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), discussing its carcinogen hazard classification of four pesticides: parathion, malathion, diazinon, and tetrachlorvinphos as well as the herbicide glyphosate. The monograph provided a detailed discussion of considerations and conclusions made by a group of experts who met in 2015 to evaluate these compounds. Although not universally true, many of these substances, from the time of their commercial introduction to their present-day use, have spread significantly in the environment, affecting animals and plants in the larger ecosystem, the overall health of the environment, and human health. This book develops each of these issues before turning to the IARC review process, both the general process and its evolution over time, and compound selection criteria and deliberations regarding the substances discussed in the 2017 monograph. Final book sections detail scientific and private sector reactions to and implications of the IARC classifications. Hazard identification is contrasted with various models of quantitative risk assessment. The last chapters highlight the importance of hazard identification for members of domestic and global underserved communities involved in farming and landscape work, where exposures may vary widely, are not well-regulated, and where health outcomes are often not carefully documented.

This book details the state-of-the-art methodological advances for delineating the toxicology and working mechanisms of nanomaterials, microplastics, fine aerosol particulates (PM2.5) as well as emerging organic pollutants. It also provides latest computational approaches for toxicity prediction and risk assessment of nanoscale materials which possess realistic chances to enter the environment and human organism. Written by leading scientists at the frontiers of environmental science and nanomedicine, this book is intended for both young researchers and experienced professionals working in the fields of environmental protection, human health and occupational safety, nanotechnology, material science and nanomedicine, as well as graduate students majoring in environmental and health sciences.

Through an approach strongly oriented to socio-health contexts and healthcare facilities, with multidisciplinary contributions on the methodological and technical aspects, or legislative issues, the book provides tools and design strategies to plan and realize therapeutic places and healing gardens for care, rehabilitation, interaction, and social inclusion. It addresses all the technical and medical professionals - like Architects, Urban Planners, Agronomist, Sociologists, Epidemiologists, Public Health experts, Policy Makers, etc. - wishing to explore the link between built environment, well-being, and health, referring in particular to the direct relationship between places and therapy.

Eating locally and developing an urban-rural food continuum is a rapidly evolving movement. Integration of multi-functional forms of agriculture - termed New Forms of Urban Agriculture (NFUA) - could be a critical adaptation to strengthen this movement and for the sustainability of cities. While NFUA have the potential to provide diverse benefits to humans, there is an absence of reliable empirical data on the scale and impact of urban resources on NFUA which has a profound impact on its viability and sustainability. In this book, we shift the focus from how NFUA have potential to impact the urban system to investigate the potential impacts of urban resources on NFUA. Access to resources such as land, labour, clean water, etc. are major barriers to enter the agriculture sector in the cities; the chapters in this book present projects or reviews recent research on the subject from different cities in the world. This edited volume offers critical perspectives from diverse disciplines, expertise, and geographic contexts related to the actual and potential role of urban and peri-urban agriculture in the developing and the developed world where forms, adaptations, and debates around NFUA vary distinctively. Using and urban ecology lens, the book provides empirical evidence of how urban resources of land, water/waste, labour, and biodiversity impact NFUA.

The current coronavirus pandemic fundamentally reshapes existing debates and processes in international development. The unprecedented (and rapidly evolving) crisis is generating a number of substantial challenges for developing economies. Governments in low-income nations often find it extremely hard to cope with the increased demand for health services, make prompt decisions and put them into action, protect vulnerable segments of society and offer immediate relief to affected economic sectors. This book provides a series of reflective chapters that demonstrate how several areas of international development have been severely affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. It provides an in-depth critical discussion on how the current pandemic influences several development outcomes (in the domains of poverty/inequality, health, education, migration, formal/informal employment, (de)globalisation, the extractive sector, climate change, water and the global financial system). Each chapter draws policy recommendations on relevant interventions that can alleviate the identified negative repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, especially for the most vulnerable communities in the Global South.

Wastewater-based Epidemiology for the Assessment of Human Exposure to Environmental Pollutants discusses wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and its use in risk assessment and monitoring of human exposure to hazardous pollutants and pathogens. The book explores the health impacts of organic and inorganic pollutants from pesticides, heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, phthalates, personal care products, and endocrine disruptors in the wastewater environment. The book examines the application of wastewater-based epidemiology in determining health risk and exposure to infectious diseases caused by viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, parasites, and bacteria. Other topics include detection techniques, sampling techniques, analytical methods, biomarkers, and the use of biosensors in wastewater-based epidemiology studies.

This book provides extensive information on the chemicals that inhabit our environment, our food, our water and our air and the impact that they may be having on human health. The author is a medical scientist, with training in the law. The book documents current understanding about pesticides in food, the plastics revolution, toxic metals, air, water and electronic waste pollutants, chemical exposure in the workplace, radiation pollutants, chemical exposure and hearing loss, how our bodies deal with chemicals, genetic variability and the risk of disease, the effect of chemicals on genes, mitochondria and the immune system and what we can do about it all. Industrialisation has resulted in many thousands of chemicals, which are being continuously developed and often escaping from where they are used into our human environment, without us really knowing enough about them. In high dosages or with continuous small dosage, the evidence suggests, that many of them couldinterfere with human health and some of them are known to be doing so. But for the vast majority, we are left wondering whether some could be responsible for some diseases the causes of which are inadequately understood. Every chapter is thoroughly reinforced with several pages of references from the peer-reviewed literature.

Ist frische Luft ein Mythos? In diesem Werk durchstreift der Autor die Lebensräume des Menschen und bietet Einblicke in die jeweils anzutreffenden Luftqualitäten. Aerosole steigen nicht von allein in die Luft auf. Die Partikel lösen sich aus dem festen oder flüssigen Verband. In der Luft kommen alle flugfähigen Masseteilchen miteinander in Kontakt ¿ als ein anschauliches Beispiel dient dem Leser die Entstehung von Wassertropfen.Jede Luftschicht der Atmosphäre wirkt unterschiedlich auf die Atemluft ein und der Wind spielt dabei seine ganz eigene Rolle. Einerseits ist er Verteiler von Schadstoffen, und andererseits Garant frischer Luft am Erdboden. Die Verschmutzung der Luft ruft den Gesetzgeber auf den Plan. Wir erleben derzeit eine rasante Entwicklung von der Aufhebung der Zünfte bis zur Klimadiskussion.Große Relevanz für die Gesundheit besitzt die Schnittstelle zwischen Luft und Mensch: die Atemwege. Deren Schleimhäute stehen im Zentrum unserer Immunabwehr, und müssen einen ¿Etagenwechsel¿ von Infektionen der oberen Atemwege in untere Lungenabschnitte verhindern. Diese und viele weitere spannende Zusammenhänge und Themen im breiten Spektrum zwischen Meteorologie und Atemwegserkrankungen werden anschaulich, gut zugänglich und anhand praktischer Beispiele abgehandelt, um sich eine sichere Plattform zur Beurteilung der Flut von Umweltnachrichten zu schaffen.

This book covers the research fields in biodiversity conservation, the Belt and Road eco-environmental cooperation, China's five-year plan for eco-environmental protection, sustainable development goals assessment, and human health loss assessment. In the past, these achievements have played an important scientific role in supporting China's ecological and environmental protection, and produced extensive social impacts and significant environmental benefits. At the same time, the relevant research ideas and methods also show the latest progress and trend in the field of environmental strategy and planning in China in recent years, which can be used for reference by experts and scholars of other countries in the field of ecological environment.

Environmental Chemistry is a relatively young science. Interest in this subject, however, is growing very rapidly and, although no agreement has been reached as yet about the exact content and limits of this interdisciplinary discipline, there appears to be increasing interest in seeing environmental topics which are based on chemistry embodied in this subject. One of the first objectives of Environ mental Chemistry must be the study of the environment and of natural chemical processes which occur in the environment. A major purpose of this series on Environmental Chemistry, therefore, is to present a reasonably uniform view of various aspects of the chemistry of the environment and chemical reactions occurring in the environment. The industrial activities of man have given a new dimension to Environ mental Chemistry. We have now synthesized and described over five million chemical compounds and chemical industry produces about hundred and fifty million tons of synthetic chemicals annually. We ship billions of tons of oil per year and through mining operations and other geophysical modifications, large quantities of inorganic and organic materials are released from their natural deposits. Cities and metropolitan areas of up to 15 million inhabitants produce large quantities of waste in relatively small and confined areas. Much of the chemical products and waste products of modern society are released into the environment either during production, storage, transport, use or ultimate disposal. These released materials participate in natural cycles and reactions and frequently lead to interference and disturbance of natural systems.

Coal and Coalbed Gas: Resilient Resource: Fueling the Future, Second Edition provides the latest research and advances, highlighting shifting trends of coal use and remaining resiliency on 'a tale of two worlds,' one half (West Europe, North America) moving away for cleaner energy sources and the other half (Asia-China-Pacific region, East Europe, South America) upping coal demand as an affordable energy source. The book emphasizes coalmine gases (CMM and AMM) as equally important as coal-fired power plants CO2 emissions as sources of potent anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) prioritized for capture, use and storage and underscores R&D of emerging non-fuel uses towards coal-to-carbon-based products.Each chapter in this book is fully updated, with two new chapters covering the global occurrence of coal, the environmental impact of coal and coalbed gas use, and alternative, non-fuel uses of coal.

Das Leben in der Stadt kann zu physischen und psychischen Erkrankungen fuhren. Dabei spielen Umweltfaktoren, wie z.B. Extremwetterereignisse, Luftverunreinigung, Larmbelastung oder veranderte Stadtklimatologie durch Versiegelung eine entscheidende Rolle.Ein grunes Stadtbild kann durch die Schaffung gesundheits- und bewegungsfordernder Strukturen die Gesundheit und das Wohlbefinden der Burger positiv beeinflussen und damit Krankheiten, die durch das Stadtleben begunstigt werden, abmildern.