The Environmental Health Study in the Korean National Industrial Complexes (EHSNIC) is a project that aims to monitor the exposure and health effects of environmental pollution among residents of national industrial complexes, as well as propose appropriate environmental health measures. Since its launch in 2003, this project has been initiated in eight national industrial complexes. Currently, it is necessary to review the accomplishments and limitations of the phases 1 and 2 of this project, and establish the direction of the upcoming the phase 3. Thus, the present study has developed principles and goals for the phase 3, considering the rationale and justification of the EHSNIC, and presented specific research contents accordingly. In the phase 3, it is important to improve the methods for exposure assessment and evaluation of health effects, in order to identify clearly the association between the pollutants released from industrial complexes and their health impacts, to develop and to reinforce communication strategies to promote participation of residents of communities near industrial complexes. Nonetheless, it is also important to maintain the basic goal of continuously monitoring the level of exposure to and health effects of environmental pollutants.
Environmental Health* ; Environmental Pollutants ; Environmental Pollution

The Environmental Health Study in the Korean National Industrial Complexes (EHSNIC) is a project that aims to monitor the exposure and health effects of environmental pollution among residents of national industrial complexes, as well as propose appropriate environmental health measures. Since its launch in 2003, this project has been initiated in eight national industrial complexes. Currently, it is necessary to review the accomplishments and limitations of the phases 1 and 2 of this project, and establish the direction of the upcoming the phase 3. Thus, the present study has developed principles and goals for the phase 3, considering the rationale and justification of the EHSNIC, and presented specific research contents accordingly. In the phase 3, it is important to improve the methods for exposure assessment and evaluation of health effects, in order to identify clearly the association between the pollutants released from industrial complexes and their health impacts, to develop and to reinforce communication strategies to promote participation of residents of communities near industrial complexes. Nonetheless, it is also important to maintain the basic goal of continuously monitoring the level of exposure to and health effects of environmental pollutants.
Environmental Health ; Environmental Pollutants ; Environmental Pollution

No abstract available.
Environmental Health* ; Toxicology*

No abstract available.
Environmental Monitoring* ; Health Promotion*

In this overview, authors analyzed the relationship between pollution with the health of general population, advantages and disadvantages of different methods in predicting the health of laborers and general population. Base on air-borne and water-borne pollutants to proposed the content of environmental hygiene research to protect the health of laborers and community.
Environmental Pollutants ; health

No abstract available.
Environmental Health ; Toxicology

Background: Coal is the largest source of energy on earth and is used to supply electricity in many countries. Unfortunately, as much as it helps light up some communities, coal-fired power plants are also the world's biggest industrial polluters. Objectives: This study investigated the environment and health conditions of the community before, and 20 years after the construction of the coal. It explored the perception of the respondents on the presence of a coal-fired power plant in their community, and determined strategies that can help protect the community against the coal-fired power plant. Methodology: It utilized descriptive phenomenological design using in-depth interviews through snowball sampling. Data were analysed through Colaizzi method and was guided by the health belief model which claims that change can occur if self-efficacy is built in. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: (1) realization of the deterioration of the environment and the residents' health, (2) awareness on the interplay between economic gain, politics, and impact on health and environment, and (3) recognizing the need for increased community empowerment on health and environment. Conclusion The presence of a coal-fired power plant in the community brings about negative changes in health and environment. Sustainable efforts to combat such negative effects are needed, and community residents in the vicinity of the power plant need to be empowered to conduct check-and-balance for their own health and environmental safety.
Health ; Environmental Pollutants

Objectives. This study aimed to describe baseline and follow-up prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, nutritional status and school performance of school-age children in Cebu City. By measuring these parameters, it also aimed to monitor the progress of a local government unit-led, school-based, schoolteacher-assisted deworming initiative. Methods. Grade three and grade four pupils from two selected school districts in Cebu City were chosen as participants. Kato-Katz technique was used to assess helminth infections. All positive slides and 10% of all negative slides were re-examined blindly by a reference microscopist for quality control. Secondary anthropometric and school performance data were also obtained from the Department of Education. Results. Baseline results showed cumulative prevalence and prevalence of heavy intensity infection of 73.1% and 44.3%, respectively, which were significantly lower during follow-up at 56.5% (p < 0.0001) and 26.5% (p < 0.0001), respectively. School performance improved in District B, with an 8.8% increase in mean percentage score from baseline to follow-up. There was no marked difference between baseline and follow-up proportions of pupils with below normal weight-for-age and height-for-age. Conclusions. The positive results merit continuation of the school-based STH control initiative in Cebu City. Improvements in water supply and sanitation, promotion of good hygiene and health education are important in minimizing risks of infection and re-infection.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Child ; INTESTINAL HELMINTHIASIS ; ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ; PUBLIC HEALTH ; SANITATION ; SANITARY ENGINEERING ; WATER SUPPLY

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasingly becoming a threat to global public health, not least in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where it is contributing to longer treatment for illnesses, use of higher generation drugs, more expenditure on antimicrobials, and increased deaths attributed to what should be treatable diseases. Some of the known causes of AMR include misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in both humans and animals, unnecessary use of antimicrobials in animals as growth promoters, and lack of awareness among the public on how to protect antimicrobials. As a result, resistant organisms are circulating in the wider environment, and there is a need to consider the One Health approach to minimise the continuing development of AMR. Environmental Health, specifically water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), waste management, and food hygiene and safety, are key components of One Health needed to prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms particularly in LMICs and reduce the AMR threat to global public health. The key Environmental Health practices in the prevention of AMR include: (1) adequate WASH through access and consumption of safe water; suitable containment, treatment and disposal of human excreta and other wastewater including from health facilities; good personal hygiene practices such as washing hands with soap at critical times to prevent the spread of resistant microorganisms, and contraction of illnesses which may require antimicrobial treatment; (2) proper disposal of solid waste, including the disposal of unused and expired antimicrobials to prevent their unnecessary exposure to microorganisms in the environment; and (3) ensuring proper food hygiene and safety practices, such as sale and consumption of animal products in which adequate antimicrobial withdrawal periods have been observed, and growing vegetables on unpolluted soil. Environmental Health is therefore crucial in the prevention of infectious diseases that would require antimicrobials, reducing the spread of resistant organisms, and exposure to antimicrobial residues in LMICs. Working with other professionals in One Health, Environmental Health Practitioners have a key role in reducing the spread of AMR including health education and promotion, surveillance, enforcement of legislation, and research.
Developing Countries ; Disease Transmission, Infectious/prevention & control* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Environmental Health/standards* ; Food Safety ; Health Personnel/standards* ; Humans ; Hygiene/standards* ; Role ; Sanitation/standards* ; Waste Management/standards*

Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Occupational Health