A study was carried out between November 2010 and April 2011 to assess the availability and potability of water from alternative water sources in Harare, Zimbabwe＇s capital city. A survey of 256 households from a tot...A study was carried out between November 2010 and April 2011 to assess the availability and potability of water from alternative water sources in Harare, Zimbabwe＇s capital city. A survey of 256 households from a total of 10 high, medium and low income suburbs and informal settlements was undertaken to assess types and amount of water consumed. This was complemented by a water quality study that assessed a selection of physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. Quality of the water was compared to World Health Organisation and Zimbabwean standards. All households were found to rely on water sources other than municipal water. Per capita water consumption across settlements was found to be below the recommended upper limit of 50 litres per person per day except in one high income suburb, but above the recommended lower limit of 15 litres. All samples were within the acceptable limit for color but above the acceptable limit for turbidity. Chemical parameters were found to be within the acceptable range except for total hardness, where 35% of the samples were above the acceptable range. About a third of the samples from low income suburbs and informal settlements were above the acceptable limit for faecal and total coliforms.展开更多
Exposure to CO （carbon monoxide） during cooking in households using LPG （liquefied petroleum gas）, natural gas and charcoal as fuels has been conducted. The study aimed at assessing the indoor air quality in order...Exposure to CO （carbon monoxide） during cooking in households using LPG （liquefied petroleum gas）, natural gas and charcoal as fuels has been conducted. The study aimed at assessing the indoor air quality in order to address potential hazards associated with CO. Carbon monoxide concentrations and flame temperature were measured at an interval of 1 min for 1 h using CO and thermometer data loggers respectively. While the CO concentration from LPG and natural gas were found below 26 ppm for 1 h, as recommended by WHO （World Health Organization） standards, the average CO concentration from charcoal exceeded the standard limit. In addition closing the kitchen door during cooking increased the CO concentration from 26-295 ppm to 92-597 ppm. According to WHO, the observed CO concentrations from charcoal stove highlights questionable life support atmosphere. It can therefore be suggested that switching to LPG or natural gas from charcoal will reduce CO exposure to persons during cooking.展开更多
In big countries, nutrition profiles and foodstuffs chemical contamination may differ significantly between different regions and even between areas within a region. Thus one should assess toxic exposure through food ...In big countries, nutrition profiles and foodstuffs chemical contamination may differ significantly between different regions and even between areas within a region. Thus one should assess toxic exposure through food on not only national but also local level. We have developed and distributed a personal questionnaire for estimating average daily consumption of 44 types of foodstuffs, and for 12 of them-the percentage contribution of the main sources of supply. Depending on data analysis results, we choose the most important foodstuffs for determining their chemical contamination. We tested this approach in 7 industrial towns and found differences among them, as well as among children and adults, with regard to toxic exposure through food. People with a relatively high income consume more milk, cheese, meat, fish, poultry and fruit but less bread and potatoes than those with medium or low income. About 80% of consumed potatoes are grown locally and thus depend on each area＇s contamination. Although daily intakes of toxicants do not exceed WHO tolerable levels, their contribution to the total environmentally dependent dose is important. The approach developed by us can be used in epidemiological and risk assessment studies when they are performed on regional or local level.展开更多
In a world in which, according to public health authorities and the media, everyone seems to be getting fatter, what does fat mean when we look across cultures？ Is being fat the same in China as in the USA？ How does...In a world in which, according to public health authorities and the media, everyone seems to be getting fatter, what does fat mean when we look across cultures？ Is being fat the same in China as in the USA？ How does obesity map onto culture in a world in which there are multiple, competing models for understanding illness？展开更多
文摘A study was carried out between November 2010 and April 2011 to assess the availability and potability of water from alternative water sources in Harare, Zimbabwe＇s capital city. A survey of 256 households from a total of 10 high, medium and low income suburbs and informal settlements was undertaken to assess types and amount of water consumed. This was complemented by a water quality study that assessed a selection of physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters. Quality of the water was compared to World Health Organisation and Zimbabwean standards. All households were found to rely on water sources other than municipal water. Per capita water consumption across settlements was found to be below the recommended upper limit of 50 litres per person per day except in one high income suburb, but above the recommended lower limit of 15 litres. All samples were within the acceptable limit for color but above the acceptable limit for turbidity. Chemical parameters were found to be within the acceptable range except for total hardness, where 35% of the samples were above the acceptable range. About a third of the samples from low income suburbs and informal settlements were above the acceptable limit for faecal and total coliforms.
文摘Exposure to CO （carbon monoxide） during cooking in households using LPG （liquefied petroleum gas）, natural gas and charcoal as fuels has been conducted. The study aimed at assessing the indoor air quality in order to address potential hazards associated with CO. Carbon monoxide concentrations and flame temperature were measured at an interval of 1 min for 1 h using CO and thermometer data loggers respectively. While the CO concentration from LPG and natural gas were found below 26 ppm for 1 h, as recommended by WHO （World Health Organization） standards, the average CO concentration from charcoal exceeded the standard limit. In addition closing the kitchen door during cooking increased the CO concentration from 26-295 ppm to 92-597 ppm. According to WHO, the observed CO concentrations from charcoal stove highlights questionable life support atmosphere. It can therefore be suggested that switching to LPG or natural gas from charcoal will reduce CO exposure to persons during cooking.
文摘In big countries, nutrition profiles and foodstuffs chemical contamination may differ significantly between different regions and even between areas within a region. Thus one should assess toxic exposure through food on not only national but also local level. We have developed and distributed a personal questionnaire for estimating average daily consumption of 44 types of foodstuffs, and for 12 of them-the percentage contribution of the main sources of supply. Depending on data analysis results, we choose the most important foodstuffs for determining their chemical contamination. We tested this approach in 7 industrial towns and found differences among them, as well as among children and adults, with regard to toxic exposure through food. People with a relatively high income consume more milk, cheese, meat, fish, poultry and fruit but less bread and potatoes than those with medium or low income. About 80% of consumed potatoes are grown locally and thus depend on each area＇s contamination. Although daily intakes of toxicants do not exceed WHO tolerable levels, their contribution to the total environmentally dependent dose is important. The approach developed by us can be used in epidemiological and risk assessment studies when they are performed on regional or local level.
文摘In a world in which, according to public health authorities and the media, everyone seems to be getting fatter, what does fat mean when we look across cultures？ Is being fat the same in China as in the USA？ How does obesity map onto culture in a world in which there are multiple, competing models for understanding illness？
