GLOBAL HEALTH

The process of globalisation affects more and more the life quality of people around the world. In particular it impinges in different ways upon their health. In its turn the health of people affects the demographic and economic growth as well as their sustainability. However, notwithstanding the fundamental importance of this feedback, the nexus between globalisation, sustainable development and health has been insufficiently analysed. This paper aims to explore the main channels of influence through which the recent process of globalisation has affected the health of people, exerting an important influence on the sustainability of world development. To this end we try to identify the principal, direct and indirect, empirical correlations between the main features of globalisation and different indices of health; we proceed then to a preliminary discussion of their causal contents. The indirect correlations run in both directions. This feature turns out to be particularly important since the feed-back between the main intermediate variables (income growth, income inequality and environmental degradation) and different aspects of health plays a crucial role in determining the sustainability of world development.globalisation; inequality; environmental degradation; economic growth;

Greenhouse gas emissions and the energy system: decomposition analysis and the environmental Kuznets curve

This paper discusses to what extent the recent trends in energy consumption and production are compatible with the requirements of sustainable development. For this purpose, starting from a simple identity applied to the energy sector, we use the decomposition analysis to derive a few analytical requirements for the long-term sustainability of the energy system and examine whether they are satisfied on the basis of the currently available data. From the analysis conducted in the paper, it emerges that an Environmental Kuznets Curve in energy intensity and/or carbon intensity may be insufficient to satisfy the sustainability conditions identified in the paper. Moreover, using simple graphical analysis, we show that the decomposition approach and the EKC imply two different relationships between per capita income (y) and carbon intensity (gy) and discuss the relative implications.sustainable development, energy, global warming, environmental Kuznets curve, decomposition analysis, Kaya identity

Globalisation, Inequality and Health

As we suggested in a previous work (Borghesi and Vercelli, Sustainable globalisation, Ecological Economics, vol.44, n.1, 2003), the process of globalisation affects the sustainability of development mainly through three channels: economic growth, inequality and environmental degradation. This conceptual framework may help us to understand also the causal influence of globalisation on health that represents a fundamental dimension of the quality of life enjoyed by the people and of sustainability. For this purpose, the present paper aims to investigate both the direct and the indirect effects of post-war globalisation, with particular attention to the role played by inequality in the globalisation-health relationship. A few policy implications emerging from the analysis are also discussed, suggesting a policy strategy that can at the same time improve health and make the current globalisation process more compatible with sustainable development.globalisation, inequality, health, sustainable development

Lead ammunition residues in the meat of hunted woodcock: a potential health risk to consumers

Wild meat often retains metallic particles originating from the ammunition fired by hunters. Since ammunition are traditionally lead (Pb)-based, the consumption of game meat may entail the ingestion of Pb embedded in tissues. To assess the related risks to human health, information is needed on the number, dimension and spatial distribution of Pb particles embedded in popular quarry species. In this study, we focused on the Eurasian woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), a medium-sized bird intensively hunted across its range. We X-rayed 59 carcasses of woodcock shot by Italian hunters in Ukraine. To check the ammunition types and evaluate the mean weight of the embedded gunshot, we excised a sample of 62 whole pellets from 20 birds. Ammunition residues were found in 57 of the 59 woodcock (96.6%). Radiographs revealed 215 whole pellets and 125 fragmentation centres in 51 (mean = 3.64) and in 48 birds (mean = 2.14), respectively. Most fragmentation centres (75.7%) contained tiny particles (<1 mm). The overall estimated Pb load ranged from 45 to 52 mg/100 g wet weight, most of which (84.6%) in edible parts. The number of embedded pellets per unit of body mass (1.21/100 g of body weight) was higher in comparison with other bird species and also with woodcock shot in the UK, presumably owing to the hunting methods adopted by Italian hunters. The quantity and characteristics of ammunition residues we found suggest that game meat consumers are exposed to a relevant Pb assumption

Istraživanje silicijevih oksinitridnih filmova bogatih vodikom metodom EPR

We studied hydrogen rich silicon oxynitrides deposited from nitrous oxide and silane gas mixture by a plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition apparatus on single crystal silicon substrates. Annealing study showed that hydrogen outdiffusion depends on the film composition and is particularly retarded for oxygen content x = 1.4. EPR analysis demonstrated that this film contains the highest concentration of D centres. However, the maximum concentration of charged dangling bond-like centres does not coincide with D centres. Therefore, we conclude that D centres act as hydrogen traps and are responsible for the peculiar hydrogen behaviour observed in the studied films.Istraživali smo silicijeve oksinitridne filmove bogate vodikom, dobivene na monokristalnoj silicijevoj podlozi iz mješavine silana i dušik-(1)-oksida s pomoću uređaja za plazmom stimulirano kemijsko nanošenje iz pare. Proučavanje otpuštanja je pokazalo da izlaženje vodika ovisi o sastavu sloja, a posebice je usporeno pri sadržaju kisika x = 1.4. EPR mjerenja pokazuju da takav sloj sadrži najveću koncentraciju D centara. Zaključuje se da D centri djeluju kao zamke za vodik i uzrokuju neobična svojstva vodika u istraživanim filmovima

Greenhouse gas emissions and the energy system: decomposition analysis and the environmental Kuznets curve

This paper discusses to what extent the recent trends in energy consumption and production are compatible with the requirements of sustainable development. For this purpose, starting from a simple identity applied to the energy sector, we use the decomposition analysis to derive a few analytical requirements for the long-term sustainability of the energy system and examine whether they are satisfied on the basis of the currently available data. From the analysis conducted in the paper, it emerges that an Environmental Kuznets Curve in energy intensity and/or carbon intensity may be insufficient to satisfy the sustainability conditions identified in the paper. Moreover, using simple graphical analysis, we show that the decomposition approach and the EKC imply two different relationships between per capita income (y) and carbon intensity (gy) and discuss the relative implications

Greenhouse gas emissions and the energy system: decomposition analysis and the environmental Kuznets curve

This paper discusses to what extent the recent trends in energy consumption and production are compatible with the requirements of sustainable development. For this purpose, starting from a simple identity applied to the energy sector, we use the decomposition analysis to derive a few analytical requirements for the long-term sustainability of the energy system and examine whether they are satisfied on the basis of the currently available data. From the analysis conducted in the paper, it emerges that an Environmental Kuznets Curve in energy intensity and/or carbon intensity may be insufficient to satisfy the sustainability conditions identified in the paper. Moreover, using simple graphical analysis, we show that the decomposition approach and the EKC imply two different relationships between per capita income (y) and carbon intensity (gy) and discuss the relative implications

Strategies for preventing group B streptococcal infections in newborns: A nation-wide survey of Italian policies

Background: There are no Italian data regarding the strategies for preventing neonatal group B streptococcal (GBS) infection. We conducted a national survey in order to explore obstetrical, neonatal and microbiological practices for the GBS prevention. Methods: Three distinct questionnaires were sent to obstetricians, neonatologists and microbiologists. Questionnaires included data on prenatal GBS screening, maternal risk factors, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, microbiological information concerning specimen processing and GBS antimicrobial susceptibility. Results: All respondent obstetrical units used the culture-based screening approach to identify women who should receive intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, and more than half of the microbiological laboratories (58%) reported using specimen processing consistent with CDC guidelines. Most neonatal units (89 out of 107, 82%) reported using protocols for preventing GBS early-onset sepsis consistent with CDC guidelines. Conclusions: The screening-based strategy is largely prevalent in Italy, and most protocols for preventing GBS early-onset sepsis are consistent with CDC guidelines. However, we found discrepancies in practices among centers that may reflect the lack of Italian guidelines issued by public health organizations

The red cell distribution width (RDW): value and role in preterm, IUGR (intrauterine growth restricted), full-term infants.

To measure the red cell distribution width (RDW) ranges at birth and to evaluate potential association with typical neonatal diseases: patent of the ductus arteriousus (PDA), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and late-onset sepsis (LOS) mortality.Forty-six full-term, 41 preterm, and 35 intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) infants participated in this retrospective, observational study. RDW was measured before 3 days of life (T0) in all infants, and at first month of life (T1) in preterm/IURG patients.RDW% mean (standard deviation) at T0 was: 15.65 (1.18) in full-term newborns; 17.7 (2.06) in preterm; 17.45 (1.81) in IUGR. A negative correlation (r = -0.51; P0.001) between RDW and gestational age was found. RDW at T1 was: 17.25 (2.19) in the preterm group; 17.37 (2.56) in IUGR group. Fourteen preterm infants reported: 12 PDA, 5 LOS, 4 BPD, and 3 died; 10 IUGR infants had: 4 PDA, 6 LOS, 3 BPD, and 1 died. RDW of IUGR infants suffering from those pathologies was not statistically different compared with unaffected infants, while preterm newborns with pathologies reported higher RDW: PDA vs. PDA absent: P = 0.008 at T0; P0.002 at T1. BPD vs. BPD absent: P0.005 at T1. LOS vs. LOS absent: P0.005 at T0. RDW in preterm/IUGR population was associated with early mortality, T0: dead 21.2 (2.7) vs. alive 16.7 (1.7), P0.0001.RDW and gestational age at birth were negatively correlated. High RDW resulted to be an indication of risk for critical newborns. This parameter can be inexpensively and routinely verified and further studies are required to confirm its prognostic role in neonatal pathologies