65 research outputs found
Assessing the exposure risk and impacts of pharmaceuticals in the environment on individuals and ecosystems
No full textCopyright @ 2013 The authors. Published by the Royal Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/, which permits unrestricted use, provided the original author and source are credited.The use of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals is increasing. Over the past decade, there has been a proliferation of research into potential environmental impacts of pharmaceuticals in the environment. A Royal Society-supported seminar brought together experts from diverse scientific fields to discuss the risks posed by pharmaceuticals to wildlife. Recent analytical advances have revealed that pharmaceuticals are entering habitats via water, sewage, manure and animal carcases, and dispersing through food chains. Pharmaceuticals are designed to alter physiology at low doses and so can be particularly potent contaminants. The near extinction of Asian vultures following exposure to diclofenac is the key example where exposure to a pharmaceutical caused a population-level impact on non-target wildlife. However, more subtle changes to behaviour and physiology are rarely studied and poorly understood. Grand challenges for the future include developing more realistic exposure assessments for wildlife, assessing the impacts of mixtures of pharmaceuticals in combination with other environmental stressors and estimating the risks from pharmaceutical manufacturing and usage in developing countries. We concluded that an integration of diverse approaches is required to predict 'unexpected' risks; specifically, ecologically relevant, often long-term and non-lethal, consequences of pharmaceuticals in the environment for wildlife and ecosystems
Household food insecurity, living conditions, and individual sense of security: A cross-sectional survey among Burkina Faso refugees in Ghana
No full textFood insecurity and achieving adequate nutrition is a major global challenge, especially in vulnerable groups such as refugee communities. In West Africa, thousands of Burkina Faso refugees have crossed the border into northern Ghana due to conflict and instability in their home country. We conducted a one-off cross-sectional survey to assess household food insecurity, living conditions, and sense of security among Burkina Faso refugees currently residing in the Upper East region of Ghana. Study data was collected over 14-21 October 2022 from 498 refugee households, via registered refugee households who were contacted with the help of the community refugee focal persons. We used the validated USAID household food insecurity questionnaire, analysed using Rasch modelling, with descriptive statistics, and linear regression analyses (with significance at p < 0.05) to assess food insecurity. Results revealed that 100% of households experienced food insecurity, with 95.2% defined as moderate or severe, and 70.4% as experiencing severe food insecurity. Refugees from rural areas were less insecure compared to urban refugees (β = -4.25 [CI: -5.79 --2.71], p < .001). Refugees residing in host communities experienced lower food insecurity than those in designated refugee camps (β = -1.56 [CI: -2.74 --0.39,] p = .009). Further, refugees who were dissatisfied with their accommodation size were more likely to experience food insecurity (β = 2.96 [CI: -0.06-2.47], p = .060). Most refugees (73.5%) felt safe and welcomed by host communities. Our results highlight the extremely high prevalence of moderate and severe food insecurity in this vulnerable refugee population. We provide evidence to support the need to improve food distribution logistics, prioritising suitable accommodation, and facilitating access to healthcare. Follow-up research, such as repeated community surveys, can track this evolving situation to continuously inform decision-making for refugee support.</p
Systematic Variation in Willingness to Pay for Agricultural Land Preservation and Implications for Benefit Transfer: A Meta-Analysis
No full textDespite prior studies examining willingness to pay for farmland preservation there has been no quantitative, systematic analysis of findings across the literature. This paper presents the first statistical meta-analysis of farmland preservation values. Results confirm systematic variations in willingness to pay, with value surfaces corresponding to theoretical expectations. Findings also provide significant insight into the potential for valid meta-analytic, function based benefit transfer. Results suggest, for example, that transfer validity is critically dependent on jurisdictional scale. Transfer errors are modest for community scale farmland preservation, but large for state scale preservation policies in which per acre welfare estimates are small.Land Economics/Use,
Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers
No full textEnvironmental exposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can have negative effects on the health of ecosystems and humans. While numerous studies have monitored APIs in rivers, these employ different analytical methods, measure different APIs, and have ignored many of the countries of the world. This makes it difficult to quantify the scale of the problem from a global perspective. Furthermore, comparison of the existing data, generated for different studies/regions/continents, is challenging due to the vast differences between the analytical methodologies employed. Here, we present a global-scale study of API pollution in 258 of the world's rivers, representing the environmental influence of 471.4 million people across 137 geographic regions. Samples were obtained from 1,052 locations in 104 countries (representing all continents and 36 countries not previously studied for API contamination) and analyzed for 61 APIs. Highest cumulative API concentrations were observed in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and South America. The most contaminated sites were in low- to middle-income countries and were associated with areas with poor wastewater and waste management infrastructure and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The most frequently detected APIs were carbamazepine, metformin, and caffeine (a compound also arising from lifestyle use), which were detected at over half of the sites monitored. Concentrations of at least one API at 25.7% of the sampling sites were greater than concentrations considered safe for aquatic organisms, or which are of concern in terms of selection for antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, pharmaceutical pollution poses a global threat to environmental and human health, as well as to delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.Fil: Wilkinson, John L.. University of York; Reino UnidoFil: Boxall, Alistair B.A.. University of York; Reino UnidoFil: Kolpin, Dana W.. Central Midwest Water Science Center; Estados UnidosFil: Leung, Kenneth M.Y.. City University of Hong Kong; Hong KongFil: Lai, Racliffe W.S.. City University of Hong Kong; Hong KongFil: Galban Malag, Cristobal. Universidad Mayor; ChileFil: Adell, Aiko D.. Universidad Andrés Bello; ChileFil: Mondon, Julie. Deakin University; AustraliaFil: Metian, Marc. International Atomic Energy Agency; MónacoFil: Marchant, Robert A.. University of York; Reino UnidoFil: Bouzas Monroy, Alejandra. University of York; Reino UnidoFil: Cuni Sanchez, Aida. University of York; Reino UnidoFil: Coors, Anja. ECT Oekotoxikologie GmbH; AlemaniaFil: Carriquiriborde, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Rojo, Macarena Gisele. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Química. Centro de Investigaciones del Medio Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Gordon, Chris. University of Ghana; GhanaFil: Cara, Magdalena. Agricultural University of Tirana; AlbaniaFil: Moermond, Monique. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Luarte, Thais. Universidad Andrés Bello; ChileFil: Petrosyan, Vahagn. Yerevan State University; ArmeniaFil: Perikhanyan, Yekaterina. Yerevan State University; ArmeniaFil: Mahon, Clare S.. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: McGurk, Christopher J.. University of Sydney; AustraliaFil: Hofmann, Thilo. Universidad de Viena; AustriaFil: Kormoker, Tapos. Patuakhali Science and Technology University; BangladeshFil: Iniguez, Volga. Universidad Mayor de San Andrés; BoliviaFil: Guzman Otazo, Jessica. Karolinska Huddinge Hospital. Karolinska Institutet; SueciaFil: Tavares, Jean L.. Instituto Federal De Educacao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: de Figueiredo, Francisco Gildasio. Instituto Federal De Educacao, Ciencia e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte; BrasilFil: Razzolini, Maria T.P.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi
A COMPARISON OF STATED AND REVEALED PREFERENCE METHODS FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
No full textIn this paper, we compare revealed and stated preference methods for anglers' preferences for various fisheries management measures. Using random utility models of recreation demand, we compare the use of stated and revealed preference methodologies for analyzing fisheries management options. We compare parameter and welfare estimates from the two models.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,
So how much do you pay for ethical consumption? Estimating the hedonic price for Fair Trade coffee in Sweden
No full textThis study applies the method of hedonic pricing to estimate the impact of the Fair Trade-label on the market for coffee in Sweden. Over the past decades, the general public interest in products bearing some environmental or social responsibility label has grown considerably in the EU, and Sweden is one of the countries where public awareness of labelling issues is particularly high. The sale of labelled products in regular supermarkets has increased significantly in Sweden but despite growing supply and acceptance, a lot remains to be understood about the market. This study takes a revealed preference approach using weekly scanner sales panel data recently made available by Nielsen and the Swedish Retail Institute (HUI). A representative sample of grocery stores all over Sweden is covered, as well as all major brands supplying roasted coffee. Hedonic estimates are obtained for what consumers pay for different characteristics as accessible from the package. Results point to a considerable premium of 38% paid for Fair Trade coffee, underlining high public awareness reflected in the retailers’ pricing policy.Fair Trade; coffee; eco-labels; hedonic pricing; ethical consumption
Antibiotic uptake by plants from manure-amended soils
No full textAntibiotics are extensively given to livestock to promote growth and reduce diseases. Therefore, animal manure often contains antibiotics. Once manure is applied to agricultural land to improve soil productivity, crops would be exposed to antibiotics which may persist in soils from a few to several hundred days. The objective of this study was to evaluate the uptake of gentamicin and streptomycin by carrot (Daucus carota), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and radish (Rhaphanus sativus) from manure-amended soil. The treatments were 0, 0.5 and 1 mg of antibiotic kg-1 of soil. Two pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse. The first was conducted on the three crops and the second exclusively on radish. In radish, the increase in the concentrations of gentamicin was significant between the 0 and both of 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg-1 treatments, but not significant between the 0.5 and 1.0 mg kg-1. The average values were 35.5, 60.0 and 57.4 μg kg-1 for the 0, 0.5 and 1 mg kg-1 rates, respectively. However, the increase in streptomycin concentration in radish was not significant between the three treatments, and the average values were, 12.1, 15.2 and 17.4 μg kg-1 for the 0, 0.5 and 1 mg kg-1 rates, respectively. In carrot roots and lettuce leaves no significant increase in the concentrations of gentamicin or streptomycin was observed between the treatments. The three crops absorbed relatively higher amounts of gentamicin (small molecule) than streptomycin (large molecule). Generally the levels of antibiotics in plant tissue increased with increasing the antibiotic concentration in the manure (1 mg kg-1 andgt; 0.5 mg kg-1). © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.Bashour I., 2007, METHODS ANAL SOILS A, P40; Boxall Alistair B. A., 2008, P123; Boxall ABA, 2006, J AGR FOOD CHEM, V54, P2288, DOI 10.1021-jf053041t; Choueiri M., 2008, THESIS AM U BEIRUT L; Dolliver H, 2007, J ENVIRON QUAL, V36, P1224, DOI 10.2134-jeq2006.0266; Kong WD, 2007, ENVIRON POLLUT, V147, P187, DOI 10.1016-j.envpol.2006.08.016; Kumar K, 2005, J ENVIRON QUAL, V34, P2082, DOI 10.2134-jeq2005.0026; MacDougall C., 2011, GOODMAN GILMANS PHAR, P1155; Sarmah AK, 2006, CHEMOSPHERE, V65, P725, DOI 10.1016-j.chemosphere.2006.03.02612
From ‘other’ to involved: User involvement in research: An emerging paradigm
No full textThis article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund. Copyright @ 2013 The Author(s).
This is an Open Access article. Non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly attributed, cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way, is permitted. The moral rights of the named author(s) have been asserted.This article explores the issue of ‘othering’ service users and the role that involving them, particularly in social policy and social work research may play in reducing this. It takes, as its starting point, the concept of ‘social exclusion’, which has developed in Europe and the marginal role that those who have been included in this construct have played in its development and the damaging effects this may have. The article explores service user involvement in research and is itself written from a service user perspective. It pays particular attention to the ideological, practical, theoretical, ethical and methodological issues that such user involvement may raise for research. It examines problems that both research and user involvement may give rise to and also considers developments internationally to involve service users/subjects of research, highlighting some of the possible implications and gains of engaging service user knowledge in research and the need for this to be evaluated
A qualitative enquiry into the process of supporting self-directed researchers with learning difficulties
No full textThis thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.This dissertation is concerned with the under-researched subject of supporting people with learning difficulties to be in control of their own self-advocacy group while undertaking self-directed research.
Guided by the social model of disability and emancipatory disability research principles I supported a group of people with learning difficulties within a self-advocacy organisation throughout the course of their own self-directed research project. At the same time, drawing upon various sources of data, I reflexively studied and analysed my own support practice, constructing the critical ethnography that is this dissertation. There were two purposes for working in the above way: (a) to provide the most effective support I could for the researchers to gain and maintain control of their research group and (b) to analyse the processes and challenges involved in providing support for self-directed self-advocacy group members and researchers (in order to develop the literature in this area).
Analysis of data revealed the following. Supporting self-directed researchers with learning difficulties requires a broad range of involved, interconnected interpersonal support skills. Working in this way can present supporters with unforeseen time-consuming tasks as well as intellectual and psychological challenges as they respond to the needs and requests of the supported group. Supporting people with learning difficulties to be in control in this way, where the balance of power is actively weighted in their favour, is not only complex it can lead to the supporter facing institutional pressures to assume control over the group, feelings of psychological discomfort or stress and ethical dilemmas.
Anaysis of the data led me to conclude that drawing specific boundaries around supporter behaviour and monitoring or developing an actively non-authoritarian practice through a process of critical reflection can be an important aspect of providing consistent and effective support for self-directed researchers with learning difficulties
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