In this book the authors examine the contribution of social scientists to the topics of health and environment. They present diverse perspectives on classical and contemporary debates by focusing on social scientific framing of environment and health, as well as on the potential contribution of social science to problem solving strategies in these fields. They trace environment and health debates to the classical scholars and examine the evolution of contemporary academic disciplines concerned with health and environment. Finally, they address current complex relationships between human health and environmental problems, and between human and non-human interests.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal of increasing environmental concern due to its wide variety of adverse effects. Living organisms are exposed to Cd through the intake of food, water and contaminated air. Cadmium is absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and the lungs, and is mainly accumulated in the liver and kidney where it is bound to metallothionein (MT). When Cd concentration exceeds the binding capacity of MT, the non-bound Cd causes toxicity possibly due to free radical induction and lipid peroxidation. This book emphasises how the Cd relation to the antioxidant system and other elements enhances our understanding on the role of Cd in the environment.

Environmental change is the present focus of our world. Its effect is interesting and should be followed. Based on the success of the previous book "climate change and health", it seems that the topic is of interest to the general readers in both medical and environmental science. Examples and models of important diseases are given in the chapters of this book.

Pain management (also called pain medicine) is the discipline concerned with the relief of pain. Acute pain, such as occurs with trauma, often has a reversible cause and may require only transient measures and correction of the underlying problem. In contrast, chronic pain often results from conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat, and that may take a long time to reverse. Some examples include cancer, neuropathy, and referred pain. Often, pain pathways (nociceptors) are set up that continue to transmit the sensation of pain even though the underlying condition or injury that originally caused pain has been healed. In such situations, the pain itself is frequently managed separately from the underlying condition of which it is a symptom, or the goal of treatment is to manage the pain with no treatment of any underlying condition (e.g. if the underlying condition has resolved or if no identifiable source of the pain can be found.Pain management generally benefits from a multidisciplinary approach that includes pharmacologic measures (analgesics such as narcotics or NSAIDs and pain modifiers such as tricyclic antidepressants or anticonvulsants), non-pharmacologic measures (such as interventional procedures, physical therapy and physical exercise, application of ice and/or heat), and psychological measures (such as biofeedback and cognitive therapy). This new book presents the latest research in this growing field.

Breathing other people's smoke is called passive, involuntary or second-hand smoking. The non-smoker breathes "sidestream" smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette and "mainstream" smoke that has been inhaled and then exhaled by the smoker. Second-hand smoke (SHS) is a major source of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals in the form of particles and gases. Many potentially toxic gases are present in higher concentrations in sidestream smoke than in mainstream smoke and nearly 85% of the smoke in a room results from sidestream smoke. The particulate phase includes tar (itself composed of many chemicals), nicotine, benzene and benzo(a)pyrene. The gas phase includes carbon monoxide, ammonia, dimethylnitrosamine, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and acrolein. Some of these have marked irritant properties and some 60 are known or suspected carcinogens (cancer causing substances). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the USA has classified environmental tobacco smoke as a class A (known human) carcinogen along with asbestos, arsenic, benzene and radon gas. How does this affect the passive smoker? Some of the immediate effects of passive smoking include eye irritation, headache, cough, sore throat, dizziness and nausea. Adults with asthma can experience a significant decline in lung function when exposed, while new cases of asthma may be induced in children whose parents smoke. Short term exposure to tobacco smoke also has a measurable effect on the heart in non-smokers. Just 30 minutes exposure is enough to reduce coronary blood flow. In the longer term, passive smokers suffer an increased risk of a range of smoking-related diseases. Non-smokers who are exposed to passive smoking in the home, have a 25 per cent increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer.

AN ESSENTIAL CONVERSATION FROM TODAY'S LEADING VOICES ON EFFECTING CHANGE IN HEALTH AND SOCIETY "The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has changed the conversation about health in the United States." -Jo Ivey Boufford, President, New York Academy of Medicine In a society where a person's zip code is a stronger predictor of health status than their genetic profile, every public health challenge is also a challenge of equity, implementation, and policy. For better or worse, improving health requires societal change, and the scale of today's societal challenges can have a stifling effect on even the most well-intended efforts. Assembled by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and featuring today's most prominent voices from diverse sectors, Knowledge to Action is a collection of short conversations focused on the idea of meaningful change - its definition, its impediments, and exploring how we can transition from research to action in health, well-being, and equity. Steeped in honesty and benefiting from the diverse experiences of an extraordinary assembly of academics, journalists, policymakers, public health practitioners, and researchers, this book offers provocative yet actionable perspectives that will benefit anyone who reads it.

This book presents some of the most important public health topics to be faced in the 21st Century. The authors do not only analyse the challenges, but also propose solutions to researchers, practitioners and policy makers. Urbanisation is an on-going process throughout the world today. It has a profound impact on people's lives and health status. The globalisation of markets, increased use of communication and new information technologies are the driving forces behind this process. By 2025 it is estimated that about 60 percent of the world's population and 83 percent of Europeans will live in urban centers. Migration and immigration have an impact on social inequalities in health. Achieving good health is one of the major concerns of contemporary societies. Therefore future public health policy, practice and research have to focus not only on factors causing disease and injuries (pathogenesis), but also on factors promoting health (salutogenesis). Most of the chapters of the book reflect key presentations from the 12th EUPHA Conference in Oslo on 6-9 October 2004, including presentations from a pre-meeting on WHO's Global Strategy on Diet, Physical activity and Health. Some chapters illustrate the saluto-genetic way to health promotion and nature-culture-health activities, such as music and health, green areas in the cities, and healthy food. The 31 chapters of the book are written by 78 public health experts from all around the world. Our hope is that the book will be used by public health experts and students in different countries and by EU and WHO/EURO in setting up the new public health policy in Europe. Gunnar Tellnes PhD, MHA, MD is specialist in Community Medicine and Professor at the University of Oslo and Akershus University College, Norway. He is President of the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) and the Norwegian Society of Public Health.

The potential of terrorist attacks against agricultural targets (agroterrorism) is increasingly recognised as a national security threat, especially after the events of September 11, 2001. Agroterrorism is a subset of bioterrorism, and is defined as the deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating fear, causing economic losses, and/or undermining stability. Attacks against agriculture are not new, and have been conducted or considered by both nation-states and substate organisations throughout history. The results of an agroterrorist attack may include major economic crises in the agricultural and food industries, loss of confidence in government, and possibly human casualties. Humans could be at risk in terms of food safety or public health, especially if the chosen disease is transmissible to humans (zoonotic). Public opinion may be particularly sensitive to a deliberate outbreak of disease affecting the food supply. Public confidence in government could be eroded if authorities appear unable to prevent such an attack or to protect the population's food supply. Agriculture has several characteristics that pose unique problems for managing the threat. Agricultural production is geographically disbursed in unsecured environments. Livestock are frequently concentrated in confined locations, and then transported and commingled with other herds. Pest and disease outbreaks can quickly halt economically important exports. Many veterinarians lack experience with foreign animal diseases that are resilient and endemic in foreign countries. Agriculture and food production generally have received less attention in counter-terrorism and homeland security efforts. But more recently, agriculture has garnered more attention in the expanding field of terrorism studies. Laboratory and response systems are being upgraded to address the reality of agroterrorism. This new book examines this threat and the preparations underway for countering it.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for assessing the extent of environmental contamination and human health consequences in the event of a radiological incident such as a terrorist incident involving radioactive materials. Although the EPA will be mainly involved in the intermediate and recovery phases of an incident response, there also may be involvement in some activities in the early phase. This book describes project method validation guidance that a radioanalytical laboratory should comply with in order to validate methods used to process samples submitted during a radiological or nuclear incident, such as that caused by a terrorist attack. These responsibilities include response and recovery actions to detect and identify radioactive substances, and to co-ordinate federal radiological monitoring and assessment activities.

Why the news about the global decline of infectious diseases is not all good. Plagues and parasites have played a central role in world affairs, shaping the evolution of the modern state, the growth of cities, and the disparate fortunes of national economies. This book tells that story, but it is not about the resurgence of pestilence. It is the story of its decline. For the first time in recorded history, virus, bacteria, and other infectious diseases are not the leading cause of death or disability in any region of the world. People are living longer, and fewer mothers are giving birth to many children in the hopes that some might survive. And yet, the news is not all good. Recent reductions in infectious disease have not been accompanied by the same improvements in income, job opportunities, and governance that occurred with these changes in wealthier countries decades ago. There have also been unintended consequences. In this book, Thomas Bollyky explores the paradox in our fight against infectious disease: the world is getting healthier in ways that should make us worry. Bollyky interweaves a grand historical narrative about the rise and fall of plagues in human societies with contemporary case studies of the consequences. Bollyky visits Dhaka-one of the most densely populated places on the planet-to show how low-cost health tools helped enable the phenomenon of poor world megacities. He visits China and Kenya to illustrate how dramatic declines in plagues have affected national economies. Bollyky traces the role of infectious disease in the migrations from Ireland before the potato famine and to Europe from Africa and elsewhere today. Historic health achievements are remaking a world that is both worrisome and full of opportunities. Whether the peril or promise of that progress prevails, Bollyky explains, depends on what we do next. A Council on Foreign Relations Book

The practice of performing and managing regulatory air toxic risk assessments requires an exceptionally broadbase of understanding. The information and hands-on skills needed to evaluate the effects of air toxic emissions on human health derive from a broad range of disciplines: engineering, the physical and biological sciences, probability, statistics, and medicine. Dr. Lawrence Gratt's Air Toxic Risk Assessment and Management provides a comprehensive study of the subject of risk assessment, showing how the various disciplines are integrated to carry out this complex process. No other resource combines the basic science underlying risk assessment with the techniques needed to perform the analyses.

Surrounded by Canada's densest concentration of chemical manufacturing plants, members of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation express concern about a declining male birth rate and high incidences of miscarriage, asthma, cancer, and cardiovascular illness. Everyday Exposure uncovers the systemic injustices they face as they fight for environmental justice. Exploring the problems that conflicting levels of jurisdiction pose for the creation of effective policy, analyzing clashes between Indigenous and scientific knowledge, and documenting the experiences of Aamjiwnaang residents as they navigate their toxic environment, this book argues that social and political change requires a transformative "sensing policy" approach, one that takes the voices of Indigenous citizens seriously.

This book investigates the need for a more open and interdisciplinary dialogue on the nexus of food, water and energy security in the Arab region. It argues that achieving sustainable economic development is irretrievably tied to the security of the water-energy-food nexus, which is in turn essential for bringing about sustained peace. Further, it discusses various approaches to achieving these lofty objectives, and offers the following take-away messages: The Arab region is currently under considerable water stress, and the situation will continue to get worse with a number of global changes - most notably those related to climate and regional water distribution. Viable solutions are available in the Arab region and can be implemented through innovative policies, judicious use of new technologies, and stimulating public opinion. Integration across water, energy, and food sectors is obviously needed but achieving it in practice is extremely challenging. There are some gaps in the scientific understanding but at the same time there is a wealth of data and synthesized information that can guide decision-making.

Celebrated as a major work since its original publication, The Sanitation of Brazil traces how rural health and sanitation policies influenced the formation of Brazil's national public health system. Gilberto Hochman's pioneering study examines the ideological, social and political forces that approached questions of health and government action. The era from 1910 to 1930 offered unique opportunities for public health reform, and Hochman examines its successes and failures. He looks at how health became a state concern, tying the emergence of public health policies to a nationalistic movement and to a convergence of the elites' social consciousness with their political and material interests. Politicians weighed the costs and benefits of state-run public health versus the burdens imposed by disease. Physicians and intellectuals, meanwhile, swayed them with warnings that endemic disease and official neglect might affect everyone--rich and poor, rural and urban, interior and coastal--if left unchecked. The book shows how disease and health were and are associated with nation-state building in Brazil.

Fires are a common source of exposure to smoke and a range of toxicologically active chemicals. Providing a complete overview of the subject, this book provides comprehensive and detailed information on combustion processes, estimation of rate of production of combustion products, dispersion of these products and their effects on health. Beginning with a chapter discussing the chemistry of combustion and detailing the mechanisms of burning, how different materials ignite and the nature of combustion products, the book goes on to examine specific combustion products in detail, the toxicity and carcinogenicity of the products, their dispersion and methods of monitoring. With diverse coverage edited and authored by recognised experts in the field, this book will provide an essential text for those working in toxicology, combustion science, public health and environmental research.

During the last few decades, development of the environmental movement has been placing more and more pressure on firms to acknowledge, characterise, analyse and report upon environmental issues and impacts. Many organisations and enterprises are aware that environmental issues are becoming urgent in all aspects of social life. In an effort to protect the environment, environmental management measures have been introduced on both a mandatory and voluntary basis. Perceiving the benefits of compliance is crucial for firms to act in accordance with environmental laws and regulations. This new book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this field of study and focuses on related topics such as incentive-compatible targeting to improve effectiveness of environmental policies, antigenic/allergenic rubber proteins and environmental regulations, Chernobyl consequences and the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"Food's Frontier" provides a survey of pioneering agricultural research projects underway in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, India, China, Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru by a writer both well-grounded technically and sensitive to social and cultural issues. The book starts from the premise that the 'Green Revolution' which averted mass starvation a generation ago is not a long-term solution to global food needs and has created its own very serious problems. Based on increasing yields by extensive use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and monoculture - agribusiness-style production of single crops - this approach has poisoned both land and farm workers, encouraged new strains of pests that are resistant to ever-increasing amounts of pesticides, and killed the fertility of land by growing single crops rather than rotating crops that can replenish nutrients in the soil. Solutions to these problems are coming from a reexamination of ancient methods of agriculture that have allowed small-scale productivity over many generations. Research in the developing world, based on alternative methods and philosophies, indigenous knowledge, and native crops, joined with cutting edge technology, offer hope for a more lasting solution to the world's increasing food needs.

Latin America is one of the most diverse but also vulnerable regions in the world that is under continuous anthropogenic pressure due to increasing urban, industrial and agricultural developments. Although there are many research groups studying the impacts caused by those pressures, the results and conclusions obtained by many of them are largely unknown because their studies are mostly published at the local or regional scale. Ecotoxicology in Latin America represents an effort to collect and share research performed in Latin America in the area of ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment, presenting a collection of relevant and innovative studies focused on the following topics: (i) Contaminant entrance, transportation, distribution and fate; (ii) Environmental risk in freshwater ecosystems; (iii) Ecological risk in coastal zones; (iv) Biomonitoring programs: water, sediment and air; (v) Physiological effects and biomarkers; (vi) Soil ecotoxicology; (vii) Bioaccumulation and human risk; (viii) Toxicity of emerging contaminants; and (ix) Frontiers in Ecotoxicology. This selection of topics aims at covering the most important subjects and applications of ecotoxicology, including classical and novel subjects. Therefore, this book contains chapters related to different environmental compartments prone to contamination (water, sediment, soil and air), to different contamination sources (agriculture, industry, urban discharges and natural emissions), and to multiple biological responses at different organizational levels (individual to ecosystems, including human beings). It is envisioned to have an international projection within and beyond Latin American countries, as it is a great opportunity to increase the networks not only among Latin American research teams working on similar subjects, but also with teams from other regions. The idea of this book was to favor the connection among groups to quickly improve the development of methods and their application in ecotoxicological and environmental risk studies in Latin America. This book will be useful to important sectors of environmental sciences and related areas, and to specific target demographics such as students and researchers acting in environmental studies, and decision-makers (i.e., politicians and environmental organizations). Ecotoxicology in Latin America presents 34 chapters authored by 111 researchers from 12 Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela) and from 6 non-Latin American countries (Austria, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and USA).

How climate change can affect our health, from heat-related illnesses to extreme weather events. Climate change affects not just the planet but the people who live on it. In this book, physician Alan Lockwood describes how global warming will be bad for our health. Drawing on peer-reviewed scientific and medical research, Lockwood meticulously details the symptoms of climate change and their medical side effects. Our global ecosystems create webs of interdependence that support life on the planet. Lockwood shows how climate change is affecting these ecosystems and describes the resulting impact on health. For example, rising temperatures create long-duration heat waves during which people sicken and die. Climate change increases the risk for certain infectious diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, Zika, and Lyme disease. Extreme weather and poor soil conditions cause agricultural shortfalls, leading to undernutrition and famine. There is even evidence that violence increases in warmer weather-including a study showing that pitchers throw "beanballs" (balls thrown with the intention of hitting the batter) significantly more often in hot weather. Climate change is real and it is happening now. We must use what we know to adapt to a warmer world and minimize adverse health effects: make city buildings cooler with air conditioning and "cool roofs," for example, and mobilize resources for predicted outbreaks of disease. But, Lockwood points out, we also need prevention. The ultimate preventive medicine is reducing greenhouse gas emissions and replacing energy sources that depend on fossil fuels with those that do not.

Arsenic (As) is one of the most toxic elements for plants, animal and humans, found in waters. It is considered as carcinogenic and causative agent of numerous human diseases by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, group 1) since 1980. Based on these observations and evidences, many studies have highlighted the interest of using plants for the detection of arsenic in the environment. Arsenic sources and speciation, as well as arsenic uptake and toxicity in plants, will be reviewed in Chapter One. Chapter Two aims to introduce the arsenic uptake in some of the common and popular fruits and vegetables that have been a pathway of risk to human health. In Chapter Three a three-module continuous plant design, capable of deliver up to 1 m3/day of arsenic-free drinking water, is described. Chapter Four studies the toxicogenesis of arsenic in wheat and paddy plants with subsequent internal metabolism and remediation strategies.

In the books opening chapter, Nefta Eleftheria Votsi, Ph.D., Athanasios Kallimanis, Ph.D., and Ioannis Pantis, Ph.D. methodically review present collected works to clarify Quiet Areas categories to identify research gaps and establish guidelines for the addition of Quiet Areas initiatives in cohesive environmental management approaches. Next, Angel M Dzhambov, MD and Donka D Dimitrova, Ph.D. examine the risk of hypertension connected to road traffic noise exposure in different ethnic groups in Bulgaria. Supplementing this, Hussein M Elmehdi, Ph.D. discusses noise exposure and related health risks with the goal to connect the results of measured noise exposures to sleep disturbance and annoyance. Angel M Dzhambov, MD proves a review of literature on traffic noise reduction by vegetation. Then, Janusz Bohatkiewicz, Ph.D. and Maciej Halucha present a study on quit pavements. Ending the book, David Isaac Ibarra Zarate gives an overview of the issue of road traffic noise while also presenting possible solutions.