1,721,009 research outputs found
Climate change and radon exposure as a health risk
Full text linkIntroduction. Radon exposure is expected to increase due to the direct and indirect effects of climate change. According to climate projections, changes in air temperature and humidity could modify the health impacts of radon. The melting permafrost caused by global warming releases more radon into the atmosphere and homes, leading to increased exposure and a higher risk of lung cancer. The aimis to argue the health risks associated with radon exposure in a changing climate to include it in public health activities. Material and methods.The world’s experience with climate change and its impact on health risks associated with radon was examined, utilizing approximately 30 scientific publications from platforms such as ResearchGate, PubMed, Bio-MedCentral, WHO, IAEA, and others. A comprehensive analysis was conducted, synthesizing current knowledge and regional estimates of the projected interaction between climate change and radon concerning the onset of lung cancer. Results. The expanding list of health risks associated with climate change includes the release of substantial amounts of radon due to melting permafrost. This could represent a major risk for the occurrence of lung cancer, as radon exposure ranks as the primary cause among non-smokers and the second leading cause among smokers. Permafrost acts as a natural radon barrier, reducing radiation to one-tenth of the background level and increasing it behind the barrier. With global warming, permafrost melts, allowing radon to seep out of the ground and penetrate buildings, resulting in long-term exposure unless radon remediation is employed. Instantaneous thawing can yield radon levels exceeding 200 Bq/m3 for over five years in buildings with basements. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the risk of lung cancer increases by approximately 16% for every 100 Bq/m3 of long-term radon exposure. In the Republic of Moldova, the reference level is 300 Bq/m3. Since radon is an odorless, colorless, and tasteless gas, its risk remains unknown without radon testing, particularly in areas with geological indications of its presence. Weather parameters affect radon concentrations both indoors and outdoors. Outdoor wind speed and relative humidity show a negative correlation with radon concentrations. The risk of radon exposure during climate change is further exacerbated by increased use of air conditioners, prompted by high air temperatures (heat waves). This results in lower air exchange rates in well-sealed homes, raising radon concentrations and exposure on upper floors where residents spend more time. Some regional assessments support this relationship, demonstrating a statistically significant direct link between radon concentration in buildings and air temperature. However, a stronger dependence on radon concentration is evident when air temperature and humidity are combined, enabling the quantification of radon concentration fluctuations along with their variability. Conclusions. The melting of permafrost due to climate change will elevate radon levels in the atmosphere, and projected changes in air temperature and humidity could alter the health risk associated with radon exposure. The amount of inhaled radon is crucial for human health, and testing is the only way to determine the risk of radon exposure in buildings in the new climate change reality
Эпидемиологическое исследование смертности жарким летом 2007 года в Республике Молдова
Full text linkA fost cuantifi cat impactul temperaturilor extrem de înalte din vara anului 2007 asupra mortalităţii
în Republica Moldova. Analiza epidemiologică a mortalităţii a fost efectuată după categoriile următoare –
reşedinţă, sex, vârstă, cauza decesului. Utilizarea analizei de regresie simplă a evidenţiat o relaţie statistic
semnifi cativă dintre creşterea deceselor excesibile şi temperatura ambiantă ridicată. S-a constatat, că cele mai
sensibile la căldură sunt: populaţia urbană, femeile şi persoanele în vârstă. Cel mai mare număr de decese
excesibile a fost cauzat de maladiile cardiovasculare. Temperaturile nocturne ridicate au cel mai mare impact
asupra creşterii mortalităţii.Эпидемиологическое исследование смертности
жарким летом 2007 года в Республике Молдов
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
European Council and international recommendations on radon exposure risk control
Full text linkLaboratorul Igiena Radiaţiilor şi Radiobiologie, Agenția Națională pentru Sănătate Publică, Chişinău, Republica Moldova, Conferința Națională cu participare internațională „Un mediu sigur-sănătate protejată” 12-13 noiembrie 2020Rezumat.
Obiective. Revizuirea experienței internaționale în crearea și promovarea programelor de comunicare a riscului expunerii la radon pentru sănătatea publică
în vederea elaborării unor abordări adecvate pentru ţara noastră în dezvoltarea unui program de comunicare a riscului expunerii la radon.
Material și metode. Au fost utilizate surse științifice și practice din țările Regiunii Europene, Canada și Statele Unite ale Americii, care acoperă programele
și politicile lor naționale pentru comunicare a riscului expunerii la radon, recomandate spre implementare de Directiva EURATOM 2013/59. Metode utilizate
– descriptivă, analitică, de sinteză.
Rezultate. Analiza sintetică a surselor actuale rezumă dovezile ştiinţifice pentru fundamentarea deciziilor politice şi demonstrarea necesităţii intervenţiilor
pe mai multe niveluri. Punctul cheie al acestor politici este necesitatea unei acoperiri mai largi a rezidenţilor cu informaţii despre riscul expunerii la radon şi
modul de diminuare a acestuia. Eforturile de îmbunătățirea conștientizării publicului au avut anumit succes în unele țări, dar s-a constatat și dificultatea de
a convinge rezidenți în importanță controlului de radon și le obligă să ia măsuri pentru a atenua efectele adverse.
Concluzii. Politica de sănătate publică în domeniul riscului de radon ar trebui să țină seama de responsabilitatea guvernului și a rezidenților în soluționarea
acestei probleme.Abstract.
Objectives. Review of international experience in creating and promoting programs for communicating the risk of radon exposure for public health in order
to elaborate the appropriate approaches for our country in developing a program for communicating the risk of radon exposure.
Material and methods. The scientific and practical sources from the countries of the European Region, Canada and the United States of America were
used, which cover their national programs and policies for communicating the risk of radon exposure, recommended for implementation by EURATOM
Directive 2013/59. Methods used - descriptive, analytical, synthetic.
Results. The synthetic analysis of current sources summarizes the scientific evidence to substantiate political decisions and demonstrate the need for
multilevel interventions. The key point of these policies is the need for a wider coverage of residents with information about the risk of radon exposure and
how to reduce it. Efforts to improve public awareness have had some success in some countries, but it has also been found difficult to convince residents of
the importance of radon control and forces them to take measures to mitigate the side effects.
Conclusion. Public health policy in the area of radon risk should take into account the responsibility of the government and residents in addressing this
issue
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Public health risk of radon exposure and climate change: is there a link?
Full text linkIntroduction. Climate change is emerging as a critical determinant of indoor radon
dynamics and related health risks. Radon (²²²Rn), a radioactive gas and the second leading
cause of lung cancer worldwide, infiltrates buildings from uranium-bearing soils. Indoor
concentrations are shaped by meteorological conditions and building features—both
increasingly influenced by climate change and energy-efficiency policies. This article
synthesizes international evidence with regional data to outline three principal pathways
through which climate change intensifies radon exposure: (1) permafrost thaw in highlatitude
regions, (2) increased airtightness of buildings due to energy-saving measures, and
(3) shifting weather patterns that favor radon indoor accumulation. A 100 Bq/m³ rise in
radon is associated with a 16% increase in lung cancer risk, and an estimated 35–40% of
radon-related lung cancers could be prevented if exposure were reduced below the WHOrecommended
threshold of 100 Bq/m³.
Purpose of the research is to study and synthesize international experiences in
developing and utilizing methods to assess the impact of meteorological parameters on
indoor radon concentrations under regional climate change conditions.
Material and methods. A literature review was conducted using 60 peer-reviewed
sources from Web of Science, PubMed, and ResearchGate. In addition, the study introduces
a regional methodology adapted to Moldova’s climate and building conditions, aimed at
assessing how changing environmental factors affect indoor radon exposure and public
health.
Results. Permafrost degradation is releasing radon previously trapped in frozen soils, with
concentrations exceeding 200 Bq/m³, persisting for years in homes with basements. In
temperate regions such as the Republic of Moldova, poorly ventilated, energy-efficient
buildings retain radon indoors, with post-renovation increases of 22–120% observed.
Meteorological parameters, including air temperature, humidity, and wind speed, exert
strong influence on indoor radon concentrations. Winter levels are typically 2–5 times
higher than in summer, driven by reduced ventilation and pressure gradients. The proposed
methodology integrates radon monitoring using high-sensitivity electret ion chambers,
meteorological observations (temperature, wind, humidity), building characteristics, and
regional climate projections. Statistical approaches, including multi-factor analysis and
cross-correlation, will be applied to assess how meteorological variability affects radon
exposure and associated lung cancer risks.
Conclusions. Radon exposure must be recognized as an emerging public health concern
in the context of climate change. The increased use of airtight buildings and shifts in climate
parameters are likely to elevate radon levels indoors. Systematic radon testing, optimized
ventilation design, and predictive exposure modeling are vital for developing prevention and
adaptation strategies. The Republic of Moldova and similar regions must integrate these
considerations into climate and public health policy frameworks
High temperatures and daily deaths from diseases of the circulatory system registered in Chișinău municipality
Full text linkLaborator Igiena Radiațiilor și Radiobiologie, Agenția Națională pentru Sănătate Publică, Chișinău, Republica Moldova, Disciplina de igienă, Universitatea de Stat de Medicină și Farmacie „Nicolae Testemițanu”, Chișinău, Republica Moldova, Conferința Națională cu participare internațională „Un mediu sigur-sănătate protejată” 12-13 noiembrie 2020Rezumat.
Obiective. Modificările climatice reprezintă un subiect de importanță majoră, discutat intens de către politicieni, oameni de afaceri, ecologiști, societate
și mass-media. Acestea se desfășoară în oceane, sol, medii deschise și închise. Schimbările climatice au multe efecte asupra sănătății, iar sectorul sănătății
constituie una dintre verigile principale în conduita acestor stări clinice. Medicii sunt specialiștii care ar putea contribui la creșterea gradului de conștientizare
a populației cu privire la schimbările climatice și impactul acestora asupra stării de sănătate. Scopul studiului a fost axat pe determinarea influenței
temperaturilor ridicate ale aerului asupra cazurilor de decese în urma maladiilor sistemului circulator.
Material și metode. A fost realizat un studiu retrospectiv, axat pe estimarea mortalităţii generale și a deceselor, în urma maladiilor sistemului circulator,
utilizând datele zilnice ale cazurilor de decese și valorile temperaturii aerului în municipiul Chişinău, în perioada de vară a anilor 2001-2015.
Rezultate. Temperaturile ridicate din timpul verii, în ultimii 15 ani (2001-2015), au sporit numărul deceselor în municipiul Chișinău. În timpul temperaturilor
ridicate ale aerului, principalele grupuri nosologice de maladii netransmisibile, care reprezintă în total peste 70% din cauzele de deces, sunt neoplasme
(C00-D48), maladii ale sistemului respirator (J00-J99), maladii ale sistemului circulator (I00-I99) și maladii ale sistemului digestiv (K00-K93). Cea mai mare
contribuție la mortalitatea totală (~50%) o constituie maladiile sistemului circulator.
Concluzii. În baza studiului realizat au fost constatate relații statistice slabe, dar sigure, dintre temperaturile ridicate și cazurile de deces prin maladii ale
sistemului circulator.Abstract.
Objectives. Climate change is a topic of major importance, discussed extensively by politicians, businessmen, environmentalists, society and the media.
They take place in oceans, soil, open and closed environments. Climate change has many effects on health, and the health sector is one of the main links in
the conduct of these clinical conditions. Doctors are specialists who could help raise public awareness of climate change and its impact on health. The aim of
the study was focused on determining the link between high air temperatures and deaths from diseases of the circulatory system.
Material and methods. A retrospective study was carried out, focusing on the estimation of general mortality and deaths from circulatory system diseases,
using daily data on deaths and air temperature in Chișinău, during the summer 2001-2015.
Results. The high temperatures during the summer, in the last 15 years (2001-2015), have increased the number of deaths in Chișinău. During high
air temperatures, the main nosological groups of noncommunicable diseases, which represent in total over 70% of the causes of death, are neoplasms
(C00-D48), diseases of the respiratory system (J00-J99), diseases of the circulatory system (I00-I99) and diseases of the digestive system (K00-K93). The
largest contribution to total mortality (~50%) is circulatory system diseases.
Conclusions. Weak but reliable statistical relationships have been established between high temperatures and deaths from circulatory system diseases
Monitorizarea la nivel naţional a stării de sănătate în raport cu factorii de mediu în contextul declaraţiei de la Parma
Full text linkSunt refl ectate problemele de armonizare a sistemului naţional de monitorizare a indicatorilor stării de
sănătate în raport cu factorii de mediu la indicatorii europeni, conform recomandărilor OMS. În baza procesului
de armonizare a indicatorilor, au fost propuse principiile expuse în Declaraţia Conferinţei miniştrilor de
mediu şi sănătate de la Parma (Italia, 2010). În lucrare sunt expuse aspectele tehnico-materiale şi metodologice
de adaptare a celor 4 grupe de indicatori de nivel european pentru sistemul naţional de monitorizare a stării de
sănătate în raport cu factorii de mediu
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