International Conference on Environmental Health & Safety October 24-25, 2016 Valencia, Spain

Biography:

Vítor Manteigas is Environmental Health Specialist by Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon, he has a "public recognition, innovation and development" by Lisbon School of Health Technology an (ESTeSL) for his work as coordinator of Eco-Universities Programme Victor has done his Master in Public Health from the NOVA University of Lisbon and PhD candidate in Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policies, a joint initiative between the University of Lisbon and NOVA University of Lisbon

Abstract:

In recent years, the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) has been a part, all over the world, of the discourse associated to education. The UN, by designating the period 2005-2014 as the Decade of ESD, sought to bring to the fore the need for policy makers and education professionals find ways in which the ESD could become an integral part of formal and non-formal education. The objective of this work involves (i) identify the different programs that educational institutions have used to work the issues of ESD and (ii) know and state the scientific nature of work that has been developed, associated with ESD, in the educational institutions, focusing on higher education, for the past 15 years. In order to ensure the achievement of the objectives set, was analyzed the final report of the Decade of ESD, with further research of scientific papers. Of the programs listed in the final report, Eco-Schools is recognized by The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the largest international network of teachers and students from around the world. The designations associated to educational institutions, which have been developing work within ESD programs, has not been consensual. This may cause confusion in what concerns the existing programs. Regarding the Eco-Schools the used designations are different ("Eco-Schools" and "Green-Schools" for basic and secondary education and "Eco- Universities", "Eco-Campus" and "Green Campus" for higher education). Most of the work of the schools gives emphasis to structural issues of schools (school building), energy issues and sustainability.

Biography:

Abstract:

This study was aimed to find an efficient sorbent for use with our novel desorption technique, photothermal desorption (PTD) which thermally desorbs an analyte by applying a pulse of light. Two types of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), arc discharge (AD) and high-pressure carbon monoxide (HiPco), were used to fabricate buckypapers (BPs) and they were examined
as a potential sorbent for PTD. Upon fabrication (AD BP and HiPco BP), heat treatment was administered to improve adsorption properties. Adsorption properties, including Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area and pore size, of the heat-treated BPs were characterized and then tested for PTD. Toluene was used as a representative volatile organic compound (VOC) and a photographic grade xenon flash lamp was used for PTD. As a result, both types of BPs showed a large surface area (933 – 970 m²/g) and small mean pore diameter (5.6 – 5.9 nm). The difference in the recovery rate between AD and HiPco BPs was statistically significant (p < .0007 – .0256) AD BP having the higher recovery rate (0.016 – 0.431 %) at all energy levels examined (1.84 – 7.37 J), indicating that AD BP is a viable sorbent for VOC sampling and analysis using PTD.

Biography:

Ján Derco, D.Sc. has Graduated from the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak Technical University (SUT) as M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering. Then he started working at the Department of Environmental Engineering at the same faculty where he has continued his research. Later he obtained his PhD. and D.Sc. graduations from the same University. Presently he is working as Professor at the Institute of Chemical and Environmental Engineering SUT.

Abstract:

Adoption of the Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC) provides a policy tool enabling sustainable protection of water resources. The main aim of our research acitivities is to find the most appropriate technique for the removal of priority and relevant substances from water using ozone based reactions, designing controlled oxidation processes and eventually also an ozonation reactor. The aim of this presentation is to summarize the main results of ozone application to degrade BT and 2-MBT from model wastewater with selected ozone based processes (O3, O3/ZEO, O3/GAC). Benzothiazole (BT) and its derivates are widely used, mainly as herbicides and fungicides, anti-fungal drugs, corrosion inhibitors in cooling water, slimicides in the paper and pulp
industry and largely as vulcanization accelerators in rubber production. They are toxic and poorly biodegradable. Benzothiazoles (BTs) have been detected in the environment for instance in wastewaters, soils, estuarine sediments, and superficial waters. Our results of ozone utilization for wastewater pretreatment indicates that 99% of BT were removed after 80 minutes of ozonation. Efficiency of BT mineralization was increased three times using the O3/GAC process compared with ozonation only. The 2-MBT removal rate was three times higher than that of BT wastewater. Efficiency of BT removal was lower by 31% in wastewater containing 2-MBT. The results of ozonation of wastewater containing BT and 2-MBT simulating real industrial wastewater prior to the biological treatment indicate the feasibility of this procedure. This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under
the contract No. APVV-0656-12. The authors would like to thank also for the support from the VEGA Grant 1/0859/14.

Biography:

Susana Paixão is a Environmental Health Specialist by Coimbra Health School (ESTeSC), has a honors degree in Environmental Health, a Master in Environmental Education and is a PHd candidate in Physical Geography. She holds a certificate of competence to perform the duties of Health and Safety at work Officer, she is a certified trainer and a accredited trainer of IGC Nebosh.She worked as Environmental Health Officer at the Environment Ministery - Central Region Department and at the Health Pombal Local Authorities. Since 1999 she is professor in the Department of Environmental Health at ESTeSC. From June 2011 until May 2015 she was the Head of Environmental Health Department. Since june 2015 is the Coordinator for International Relations of Environmental Health Department at ESTeSC.

Abstract:

Introduction: Dengue and Zika are considered a disease of the XXI re-emerging century are a major public health problems in the world, not only because it affects thousands of people, since the mosquito Aedes aegypti tends to reproduce in homes but also because it is considered one of the most important viral diseases transmitted by animals. In health surveillance Environmental Health Officers has is mission to analyze, prevent and correct the potential health risks. It is in this sense that environmental health is as important to end this disease, and in the meantime to prevent it does not affect human health.

Methodology: The study is based on data from DGS program and INSA, REVIVE, which verify the presence of mosquitoes and larvae that can cause contamination and diseases originating from mosquitoes, the analysis of these data and the other allows us to see the need for prophylactic care to have in our country, especially in Madeira, which, for its location and climate can foster the emergence of these.

Results: Samples and data collected by the REVIVE program did not detect the presence of the virus mosquitoes in continental Portugal, however climate change that Portugal crosses can cause the onset of mosquito vectors of carriers, so you want to public education for preventive measures can combat the proliferation of mosquitoes carriers.

Conclusion: Although there are no mosquitoes, educate the public for mosquito prevention measures is the most important think to prevent apperance of this vectores. Thus, this study provides a number of solutions to minimize the proliferation  of mosquito vectors.

Biography:

Abstract:

The worldwide interest for a formal tool to efficiently evaluate sustainability of buildings is increasing. Many interventions have been documented for using holistic concepts by introducing rating systems such as LEED of the United States, BREEAM of the United Kingdom, Pearl of the United Arab Emirates, GPRS of Egypt. All rating systems efficiently evaluated environmental impact
and resources use for an instance of the building in its life cycle. This paper investigates the use of system dynamics to evaluate building life cycle sustainability though activities interaction behavior. In other words, a way for comprehending impact and effect of suitability related activities over the whole building life cycle or period of time. A generic framework was developed with an initial task of selecting key parameters through benchmarking of worldwide rating systems. The output from the benchmarking was analysed to generate correlation ideas in order to identify the system thinking relationships.

Biography:

Kathy Norris is the Emory Occupational Injury Management Physical Therapy Manager. She provides onsite physical therapy for Emory Healthcare and Emory
University work related injuries, and ergonomic analysis for work related and non-work related injuries. She develops department specific injury prevention programs. She is a Certified Ergonomic Analysis Specialist with 28 years experience in industrial medicine. She is a Maitland-Australian Certified Orthopaedic Manual Therapist. She received a BS in Health Science from the University of Kentucky.

Abstract:

Emory Healthcare with Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia employs 39,075 employees. Contract onsite physical therapy and ergonomic services were added in 2001. Employees with work related musculoskeletal injures only required five onsite physical therapy visits versus the national average of fourteen visits. The cost savings of physical therapy and employee labor
costs were $887,574 in 2006. In 2008, Emory’s Occupational Injury Management Department was developed and physical therapists specializing in ergonomics were hired full time. The Emory employee received physical therapy, body mechanics instruction and an ergonomic evaluation as needed. Physical therapy statistics of discharged patients were recorded for three
years to evaluate the discharge work status, physical therapy visits, the departments with injuries, and types of injuries. The goal was to provide good evidence based justification for onsite medical management with physical therapy and ergonomic services. Over 300 Emory employees were discharged annually from onsite physical therapy. The statistics revealed 90% to 93% of the employees returned to work full duty. With close medical management, only 35% of the employees required outside physician referral. The Nursing, Facilities Management, and Food and Nutrition Departments had the highest injuries. Injury prevention programs were designed based on the department ergonomic evaluations. A Safe Patient Handling Program was initiated in 2006. In 2014, there was a 12.5% cumulative reduction in lifting injuries. The average cost per WC case reduced by $2100 in ten years. Emory’s comprehensive approach expedites the successful return to full duty work and reduces the cost of work related injuries.

Biography:

Elizabeth Garland graduated from Albany Medical College of Union University as Medical Doctor, and a Masters Degree in Public Health and Nutrition from Columbia University. She trained at Icahn School of Medicine in New York City in both Pediatrics and General Preventive Medicine. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Pediatrics. She is the Director of the Division of General Preventive Medicine and Community Health and also the Director of the General Preventive Medicine Residency. She is the Health Promotion Disease Prevention Track Leader in the Mount Sinai Graduate Program in Public Health.

Abstract:

The American workforce has become sedentary; a behavior associated with poor health outcomes; chronic diseases, premature mortality, fatigue, and obesity.  Changing the built environment is a strategy that can provide opportunities to promote physical, mental health and overall wellbeing. Ergonomic changes in an office environment can address excessive sitting; factors influencing mental health include indoor environmental conditions, the social climate of the workplace, and job stressors. Studies have shown that the improvement of these factors can promote healthy behaviors, mood states, and job satisfaction. Implementing adjustable workstations (AWS) allow workers to sit or stand, with studies demonstrating notable reductions in sitting times, improvements in comfort, energy, happiness, and focus. This study documents workplace behavior, physical and mental wellbeing of workers, after the introduction of an AWS, compared to those with a traditional desk (TD) in an office environment.

This presentation describes a RCT of adjustable workstations (AWS). Subjects with AWS and traditional desks (TD) were surveyed electronically with two validated health and work questionnaires, before AWS installation,  three and six months later. They reported current activity via polling for one week, at each time point.  Nonparametric Wilcoxon tests were performed. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to analyze mental health variables.

Participants included 30 with AWS and 37 with TD, median age 30-39 years and 60% male. Participants who received AWS reported (through polling) significantly less sitting three months after (17% reduction in sitting; p=0.02) and six months after (15% reduction; p=0.006) AWS installation. Participants with AWS reported a reduction in upper back pain at both time points (p=0.008 and p=0.01, respectively), compared with participants with TD. After six months, 96% of participants who received AWS reported the new workstations were convenient to use; 63% reported increased productivity; and 61% indicated that the AWS positively impacted their health outside of the workplace. Among employees <30 years old, less sitting time was associated with improved coworker communication (r=.80; p=.104) and efficiency (r=0.740; p=.152). Participants with AWS also reported better concentration and, overall, would recommend AWS for their worksite.

This study demonstrates advantages of an AWS versus a traditional desk. Due to the fact that physical activity and work environment have been shown to improve mood states and physiological health, an exploration of how AWS usage can affect sustained workplace environment satisfaction is a topic for further exploration.

Biography:

Olivier Jousson has completed his PhD at the age of 28 years from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) and postdoctoral studies from University Hospital Lausanne. He is Associate Professor and PI of the Microbial Genomics Laboratory at CIBIO. He is director of teaching of undergraduate biotechnology programs at the University of Trento. He has published more than 60 papers in international, peer-reviewed journals. His is interested in the study of bacterial pathogens, including genome-wide identification and functional characterization of virulence factors, development of molecular typing systems, and population biology and epidemiology. He has been serving as a reviewer or invited editor for a number of reputed journals in the field.

Abstract:

We present the latest insights concerning molecular methods for qualitative and quantitative foodborne pathogen detection and characterization, with a focus on Listeria monocytogenes, a facultative intracellular human pathogen. The high mortality rate of listeriosis (around 20%) and the persistence of Listeria monocytogenes in food-associated environments makes its elimination or reduction a compulsory step before marketing potentially contaminated products. Besides methods based on cultural, immunological, or biochemical identification and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes, a number of molecular methods with strain-level resolution have been developed in recent years for epidemiological investigations. These methods mainly include real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), multilocus genotyping (MLGT) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Subtyping of L. monocytogenes strains can prove to be crucial to point source outbreaks in food processing plants. The emergence of WGS as a routine method should assist in the development of prospective epidemiological surveillance programs for L. monocytogenes and other pathogens relevant to public health.

Biography:

Prof Dr Malisa S. Chiappero has completed her PhD at the age of 28 years from Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina) and postdoctoral studies from Ford Motor Laboratories under direction of the Prof. Dr Gustavo A. Argüello and Prof. Dr Timothy Wallington, respectively. She is director of the LANIN Laboratories (UNMdP) She is founding member of the Argentina

Abstract:

The 2-Ethylhexyl 4-methoxycinnamate, EHMC, is one of the UVB blocking agents more widely used in a variety of industrial fields given an enormous annual consumption. Problems that arise due to the accumulation of this compound in nature should be taken into consideration. The exposition of EHMC to the UV radiation produces a isomerization in the double bond, consequently two photoisomers can exist, as (Z) or (E).

In order to explain their atmospheric fate, it is required quantitative information regarding about their partition into atmospheric particles, aerosols and water droplets, as well as their volatility. As is well know, the P_L and K_OA are useful descriptors of chemical mobility in the atmospheric environment. All these parameters are strongly influenced by temperature.

The GC-RT technique was used in this work with the aim of determining the vapor pressure, enthalpies of vaporization and octanol–air partition coefficient, for the BBP, DOP, E- and Z-EHMC esters. The results have showed that Z-EHMC is almost five times more volatile than E-EHMC.

Moreover, BBP, Z-EHMC and E-EHMC can be classified as substances with a relatively low mobility since they lie within the range of 8 < log K_OA < 10 and -4 < log(P _L/Pa) < -2, while DOP lies in the range of log K_OA > 10 and log(P _L/Pa) < -4, therefore, a low mobility can be expected. From these parameters, their particle-bound fraction and gas–particle partition coefficient were also derived.

Biography:

Abstract:

Background The prevalence of hypertension varies greatly among various ethnic groups in China. Kazak’s hypertension ranks fifth with regard to morbidity among the 56 Chinese ethnic groups. Kazaks, are the main ethnic group in Kazakhstan, and represent a sizable ethnic minority in China and Russia. For thousands of years, China’s Kazak people are mainly active in raising livestock on the prairie grasslands in northwest China, and have developed a unique culture and lifestyle. In order to establish whether this distinct life-style and culture affects the prevalence of hypertension in this population, we undertook a population-based study of Kazak people who are involved in three occupational backgrounds (herdsman, farmer, non-manual worker of town city) in north Xinjiang China.

Methods A prospective cohort design was used, with 1670 participants (aged 30-92) from seven villages and town city recruited by a stratified random clustering sampling procedure in Hong Dun town, Altay region Xinjiang from January to March 2013. All participants completed the survey and physical examination using standardized procedures. The overall response rate for completing both the survey and physical examination was 92.0%.

Results Compared with farmers and non-manual workers, herdsmen had the highest prevalence of hypertension and the lower rates of treatment and control (Table 1). High-salt diet (air-dried beef and milky-tea) intake and low intake of fruits and vegetables were more common in the nomadic group and a dose-response relationship was observed between the prevalence of hypertension and occupation (Figure 1). Furthermore, the prevalence of hypertension within each occupational group was more common in lower socioeconomic status based on educational attainment and economic measures (data not shown).

Conclusion Unlike the previous epidemic of hypertension in developed countries which was driven mainly by urbanization, these data highlight the need for careful monitoring and control of hypertension risk factors in rural area residents, especially groups such as the Kazak nomads who have a greater degree of marginalization in modern China.

Biography:

Gokce GUNEY has been graduated from Engineering Faculty of Dokuz Eylul University, TURKEY as an Environmental Engineer. Then she started working at Environmental Engineering Department of Dokuz Eylul University, TURKEY as a research assistant. Later on she obtained her post-graduation in master of science from The Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences of

Abstract:

In laboratory studies, a proper risk management must be done for the realisable risks, therefore, occupational health and safety precautions must be implemented for the health of the laboratory personnel and for the reliability of the analysis results. It is possible to describe the most common risks encountered in laboratory studies and it can be determined the precautions through the methods used in risk analysis. The novelty of the study is to take advantage of the mathematical modelings for the first time in Turkey in environmental research laboratories choosing the most efficient, economic and quick precautions against to the probable risks, working accidents and financial harms. The main aim of this study was to monitor the possible risks and to determine the precautions in order to make occupational health and safety assessment studies in a chemical and in a microbiology laboratory in Environmental Engineering Department – Dokuz Eylul University in Izmir/Turkey using two different risk assesment methods namely Analytic Hierarchy Process – (AHP) and Kinney Method for occupational health and safety assessment studies based on chemical, physical and biological factors. The significance levels of the safety measures that must be taken in laboratories could be determined as percentages with AHP. Degree of urgency of the safety measures that must be taken in laboratories according to the quantity of the risk value were detected with Kinney Method. As a result of this study, probable risks, working accidents and financial harms in these laboratories could be minimized with occupational health and safety precautions using mathematical modelings.

Biography:

Valentina Filimonova is currently a 29 years old PhD researcher at the final year of the Doctoral Programme on Marine Ecosystem Health and Conservation (MARES, mares-eu.org) from University of Aveiro, Portugal, and Ghent University, Belgium. She published 2 papers in indexed SCI journals.         
 

Abstract:

  Mixture effects of chemicals and their potential synergistic interactions are of great concern to both the public and regulatory authorities worldwide. Intensive agriculture activities are leading to discharges of chemicals mixtures (pesticides and metals) to the located nearby aquatic areas with severe repercussions to aquatic communities and thus, to the trophic food web. Further information about the impacts of these stressors in aquatic organisms is needed. By this, our study address toxic and biochemical effects of single and equitoxic mixtures of the herbicide Primextra^® Gold TZ and the metal copper in the marine diatom Thalassiosira weissflogii and in the estuarine calanoid Acartia tonsa by determining growth rate and immobilisation effects, respectively, and changes on fatty acids (FA) profiles, being the latter a good biomarker of stress. Single effects revealed that the herbicide is considerably more toxic to diatoms than to copepods, whereas the metal showed an opposite trend. Mixture effects revealed that copper and Primextra^® acted antagonistically relative to concentration addition model on diatoms and synergistically relative to independent action model on copepods. FA profiles of diatom responded significantly to the single copper exposure. Significant decline in the content of copepod FAs was observed after mixture exposure including considerable decrease of essential FAs that cannot be synthesized de novo. Our results revealed that the mixture effects are more hazardous for primary consumer than for primary producer species in terms of abundance and biomass quality suggesting the harmful effects for higher trophic levels, biodiversity losses and decrease in ecosystem health status.

Biography:

Marta Calatayud has a Veterinary degree and obtained her Ph.D. from Valencia University and the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology - Spanish
National Research Council. After being an assistant professor of Toxicology at the Technical University of Ambato (Ecuador), she started a doctor assistant
position at the Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University (Belgium) where she is currently performing her research. Her primary interest is the understanding of environmental pollutants behavior at intestinal level, including the host-associated microbiome. Recently, she has been granted by the FWO to develop an in vitro biomimetic model of the intestine.

Abstract:

Microbe-host cross-talk is a key factor in human health and while the gut barrier controls (micro-) nutrient absorption, it also fends off antigens or xenobiotics. One of the contaminants of highest health concern is arsenic, which affects more than 100 million people worldwide, causing cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Human exposure to inorganic and organic arsenic is largely caused by the ingestion of contaminated drinking water and foodstuffs, mainly rice and seafood. Although most of the arsenic is absorbed in the small intestine, significant amounts could reach distal segments of the gut. Specifically, at the colon, a mucus layer is covering the epithelial surface, protecting the colonocytes from the luminal milieu. This specific niche, due to its close contact with epithelial cells, is gaining more attention in host-microbe interaction studies. From our results, gut microbiome was affected by arsenic in the simulator of the human intestinal microbial ecosystem (SHIME®). 7 human fecal samples were stabilized in the SHIME reactor and exposed to environmentally relevant levels of arsenic (0.01 or 0.1 mg/L) for 7 days. Gut microbiome and specifically mucus associated microbiota reduced its metabolic activity, represented by a decrease in short chain fatty acids and ammonium production (48-89% of reduction compared to the control). In addition, the microbial structure in the mucus niche was specifically affected, increasing the richness and reducing the evenness in the community. These results support the hypothesis of considering the mucus ecosystem in the gut as sensitive “target organ” of arsenic toxicity.

Biography:

Thouraya Bohli from University of Gabes-Tunsia. She has published more than 6 papers in reputed journals.

Abstract:

Heavy metals are common pollutant found in various industrial effluents. The stricter environment regulations on the discharge of heavy metals make it necessary to develop various technologies for their removal. Adsorption on activated carbon was considered to be the more effective process especially at low concentrations. The surface characteristics and chemical properties of activated carbon are the most important factors that determine the adsorption capacity. These two factors can be changed through certain surface oxidizing methods of activated carbon. In this work, an activated carbon prepared from olive stones by chemical way using phosphoric acid (COSAC) was further undergoes treatments with nitric acid, ozone, CuO impregnation and Al2O3 impregnation to improve the surface chemistry. Activated carbons were characterized by BET, FTIR and Boehm titration. Treated ACs show a decrease in both specific surface area and micropore volume, and lead to a fixation of high amounts of oxygen functional groups, especially when nitric acid and ozone were used, thus making the carbon surfaces more hydrophilic. Prepared ACs were used as adsorbent matrix for Co(II), Ni(II) and Cu(II) metal ions removal from aqueous solution. Adsorption isotherms obtained at 30°C show that the modified ACs are able to sorb more Co(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous solution. Nitric acid treated AC was found to be the most favorable one since higher heavy metal ions uptake are observed when using this material. COSAC and nitric acid-treated olive stones activated carbon were tested and compared in their ability to remove metal ions from binary systems and results show synergies, inhibitor and enhancement effects and higher adsorbed amounts as compared to single systems