Groups at risk and protection in case of disasters

Правната и изследователска литература очертават групите в риск, сред които инвалидите и възрастните хора, като по-уязвими от останалото население при бедствени ситуации. Потребностите на тези групи трябва да бъдат взети под внимание при всеки етап на управлението на помощта при бедствие. Повечето хора, които имат ограничения, се нуждаят от по-голям обем комуникации, медицински грижи и имат специални потребности за своята самостоятелност.The policy and research literature on disasters constructs the groups at risk, including people with disabilities and elderly, as a particularly vulnerable compared with the general population in disasters. The needs of this groups should be taken into account in disaster management. The most of the people with limitations need larger volume of communications and medical cares, and they also have special needs for their self-sufficiency

Environmental risks of chemical contamination in marine waters

Recently, environmental risks to water in port areas increased a lot. Human activity in port areas and especially water pollution from ships, including oil spills and oil products, waste disposal, cleaning of ships and the use or transport of toxic chemicals become a major problem.We set a goal to investigate key environmental risks to waters of Varna Black Sea aquatory. Historical and documentary methods and methods of analysis and generalization of data are used. Accidents, emergency plans and other documents assessing the risk of marine pollution in emergency situations are taken into consideration for the period 1970 to 2014.The main sources of pollution of the Varna Black Sea aquatory are anthropogenic activities related to ports and ships. The number of accidents with a spill of oil and oil products since 2000 is reducing worldwide, as well as in the Black Sea. The effect of oil spills and oil products on the biosphere is negative.It is necessary to comply with the conventions and international agreements for protecting the sea water quality

Climate Change: Impacts on World Ocean and Biodiversity

Climate change predominantly arises from human-related factors, leading to the emission of large amounts of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat and contribute to an increase in the Earth's temperature, resulting in various adverse consequences for the environment, particularly the world's oceans, which have absorbed approximately 90% of the warming over recent decades. Marine ecosystems also experience significant impacts as a result.The objective of this study is to investigate and analyze the consequences of climate change on the world's oceans and the associated risks to biodiversity.To achieve this, a literature review was conducted, encompassing scientific research and strategic documents from the European Commission and the United Nations, obtained through scientific databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. The literature search involved the use of relevant keywords and titles related to climate change, the world's oceans, and impacts on marine ecosystems.Substantial evidence supports the significant risks and consequences associated with the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, with profound implications for life on our planet. The past decade has been the warmest for the oceans since 1800. The consequences of climate change include elevated water temperatures, ocean acidification, and oxygen depletion, all of which pose risks to biodiversity.In conclusion, the world's oceans are undergoing accelerated long-term changes in temperature, acidification, and oxygen levels, exceeding the normal rate. The combined impacts of climate change caused by human activities push marine ecosystems and numerous species to the verge of sustainability and in some cases surpass the critical thresholds for survival

Basic methods for detecting pollution in marine waters

Anthropogenic pollution of the marine areas during the last years continuously increased to the extent of ecological catastrophes. The aim is to present the main methods for detecting marine pollution. A systematic review of the publications on the problem in the last years has been made.The study of the literature established that by remote aerospace methods and tools chemical, mechanical, biological and radioactive contamination of the water areas can be tested. Most of the chemical contaminants are oil and oil products spills. Passive and active methods to detect oil pollution are used. Passive methods are based on radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum: gamma - radiation to radio range, including in the areas of ultraviolet (UV), violet (B) and infrared (IR). Active methods aimed at measuring and registration of the reflected laser radiation. Mechanical marine pollution is registered by the turbidity of the water. This is best registered in color photographs.For biological contamination is most important remote monitoring of photosynthetic organisms. Conclusion: The methods for detecting marine pollution depend on his character as the accuracy varies

Migrants‘ flow within maritime area - health threats and challenges

An analysis of the refugee crisis in the Balkans and the European Union is made. Defined are several groups of migrants: refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants. Regardless of their status, they may become a direct or indirect challenge both for the health of crews and maritime medicine. The reasons for the deterioration of the migrants` health status are considered and discussed. Main risks are: drowning, dehydration, hypothermia and hyperthermia, burns, malnutrition, increased infectious diseases and violence. They are also a health risks for the marine medical specialists and crews when contact with migrants in the limited space of the vessels. Overcoming these challenges requires special medical training of the rescue teams

The basics of stress. Factors and symptoms

Stress is a highly subjective phenomenon and a difficult one to define. Nowadays the relationship between stress and diseases is well established, but it has not always been recognised.The word “stress” is used in physics to refer to the interaction between a force and the resistance to counter that force. It was Hans Selye who first incorporated this term into the medical lexicon to describe the “nonspecific response of the body to any demand”. Selye’s theories attracted considerable attention and stress became a popular modern word, completely ignoring its original definition.There are different types of stress, each of them has its own, particular characteristics, symptoms, duration, and way to be treated.The stress factors are divided into four types or categories: physical stress, psychological stress, psychosocial stress, and psycho-spiritual stress.Stress has physiological, emotional/mental, and behavioral symptoms

Impact Of Marine Pollution On Human Health

            The greatest threat to the oceans and seas is related to human activities leading to increasing pollution from various sources. This pollution is considered to be the major environmental cause of diseases, responsible for around 9 million premature deaths per year, with a range of direct and indirect consequences for human health. The state of the European seas, including the Black Sea, is considered poor.Purpose: To research the pollution of the Black Sea and its specific pollutants and to analyse and systematise the possible consequences for human health.Material and Methods: The study analysed reports from the European environment agency and the Bulletin of the State of the water in the Black Sea basin management area, as well as publications from the scientific databases PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science. The primary focus is on the health risks associated with major pollutants in European seas and the Black Sea.Results and discussion: The Helsinki Commission identifies pollutants as hazardous substances that can harm the marine environment. They are toxic, persistent and prone to bioaccumulation. Heavy metals, organotin compounds, harmful synthetic substances, polybrominated diphenyl ether and petroleum products are major pollutants. These substances accumulate in the food chain and represent a potential risk to human health if they reach high levels.Conclusion: The European seas, including the Black Sea, are suffering from severe environmental impacts due to toxic and persistent pollutants. Approximately 91% of the Black Sea is contaminated with toxic metals, industrial chemicals and plastic waste. An integrated approach is needed to tackle these challenges, as well as raising awareness of the risks of marine pollution and human health

Industrial toxic pollution of marine waters - the Minamata Case

Industrial toxic pollution of seawater poses a risk to the lives and health of the local population. Accumulation of toxic chemicals in the food chain can seriously harm not only people in the area but also their generations. Minamata disease is a typical example of harm caused to people by environmental pollution.Literature on industrial toxic pollution of marine waters and the subsequent health problems has been collected and analyzed. Monographs, articles in Bulgarian and foreign scientific journals, and other literature sources on methylmercury pollution found out in Minamata Bay, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, have been investigated and summarized.Minamata disease is a methylmercury poisoning with neurological symptoms due to the daily consumption of fish, seafood and seaweed obtained fromJapan`s highly toxic, polluted area. Two outbreaks of the disease have been observed. Conclusions have been drawn that methylmercury (a by-product of the production of acetaldehyde discharged by the wastewater of chemical plants) accumulates in the marine inhabitants` food chain causing Minamata disease. It has not only a medical aspect but also a social and economic one. Identifying the cause of the disease leads to serious measures being taken in Japan to protect the environment and the health of the population. Chemical enterprises are closed and the victims are paid benefits. Millions of dollars have been invested to eradicate the accumulated methylmercury in the sediments of the Shiranui Sea. Establishing the link between the consumption of mercury-contaminated foods and Minamata disease lead to significant legislative changes in Japan and later in the whole world

Nutrition, nutritional status and cancer of disabled people from Varna

The leading strategies in the field of food policy, proposed at international conferences on nutrition are: improving the nutrition of vulnerable population groups in socially disadvantaged situations, promoting healthy eating. A direct anonymous poll examined the nutritional habits of 100 disabled people, members of the Society of Disabled People in Varna.The study shows unhealthy nutrition of the disabled, resulting in insufficient variety of consumed food, as well as inadequate consumption of fish, fresh fruit and vegetables. Due to good information and lots of leisure time, 69% of the respondents have a proper diet. The reason for poor nutrition, according to the subjective estimate of 3/4 of the respondents, is insufficient financial means.Only  1/5 of the study participants have normal weight. A total of 30% are overweight and 51% have obesity to varying degrees. The "poor" nutrition and reduced motor activity as a consequence of the disability result in overweight and obesity, which lead to worsening and deteriorating of the health condition.Nutrition has a significant role in the tumor formation, especially tumors of the mammary gland, gastrointestinal tract, liver, skin, endocrine organs (thyroid gland, pancreas), lung, uterus, etc. Among the factors that increase the carcinogenic risk for the study group are general over-eating, excessive intake of fats and carbohydrates, chemical and radioactive substances and stress - especially with regard to emergency situations (traffic accidents, flood, fire, etc.)

Study on the awareness and preparedness for flood of foreign citizens temporarily residing in Varna – part two

A survey was conducted involving 230 young English-speaking (AE) young individuals from 12 countries in Europe and Asia to investigate their awareness and preparedness to assist in cases of floods.The assessment of the awareness and readiness of the study group of 230 foreign young individuals temporarily residing in Varna concluded:- they were insufficient in regard to the mechanisms for transmission of contamination through objects (33.30%), use of disinfectants at epidemic risk (45.40%);- there was lack of sufficient knowledge - 54.60% will leave the area in an epidemic, which will lead to the spread of the epidemic and a serious threat to the health of a large part of the population.- a very small percentage will apply the quarantine measure - 0.40% and water filtration - 0.40%, which will seriously endanger the health and life of their community in a real situation and lead to the spread of the epidemic