5,936 research outputs found

    Association between reported exposure to road traffic and respiratory symptoms in children: evidence of bias

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    Background Many studies showing effects of traffic-related air pollution on health rely on self-reported exposure, which may be inaccurate. We estimated the association between self-reported exposure to road traffic and respiratory symptoms in preschool children, and investigated whether the effect could have been caused by reporting bias. Methods In a random sample of 8700 preschool children in Leicestershire, UK, exposure to road traffic and respiratory symptoms were assessed by a postal questionnaire (response rate 80%). The association between traffic exposure and respiratory outcomes was assessed using unconditional logistic regression and conditional regression models (matching by postcode). Results Prevalence odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for self-reported road traffic exposure, comparing the categories ‘moderate' and ‘dense', respectively, with ‘little or no' were for current wheezing: 1.26 (1.13-1.42) and 1.30 (1.09-1.55); chronic rhinitis: 1.18 (1.05-1.31) and 1.31 (1.11-1.56); night cough: 1.17 (1.04-1.32) and 1.36 (1.14-1.62); and bronchodilator use: 1.20 (1.04-1.38) and 1.18 (0.95-1.46). Matched analysis only comparing symptomatic and asymptomatic children living at the same postcode (thus exposed to similar road traffic) showed similar ORs, suggesting that parents of children with respiratory symptoms reported more road traffic than parents of asymptomatic children. Conclusions Our study suggests that reporting bias could explain some or even all the association between reported exposure to road traffic and disease. Over-reporting of exposure by only 10% of parents of symptomatic children would be sufficient to produce the effect sizes shown in this study. Future research should be based only on objective measurements of traffic exposur

    Review on the potential technologies for aromas recovery from food industry flue gas

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    peer reviewedBackground: Food-processing gaseous effluents are rich in flavoured volatile organic compounds (FVOCs). The discharge of these FVOCs is unwanted as they can contribute to the environmental olfactive pollution. Scope and approach: Their recovery would then enable their valuation through the strengthening of the organoleptic properties of the finished products or their use in other products, as well as reducing the pollution linked to their discharge. However, there are only a few documents in the literature concerning food aromas recovery from gaseous effluents. This paper reviews the used or potential technologies for the recovery of aromas from gaseous effluents in the food-processing industry. Key findings and conclusions: The technologies that are already applied in the food processing industry for aroma recovery from gaseous effluents are the vapour permeation and the condensation. The adsorption and the absorption are technologies used for scrubbing volatile organic compounds, which can be potentially used for gaseous aroma recovery

    Update on the current status of onchocerciasis in Cote d’Ivoire following 40 years of intervention: Progress and challenges

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    Background Onchocerciasis control in Côte d’Ivoire started with aerial insecticide spraying in 1974 and continued with community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi) from 1992 to the present. Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are co-endemic in 46 of the 81 health districts in the country. Fourteen and 12 districts are endemic for only LF or onchocerciasis, respectively. This paper aims to review the impact of past interventions on onchocerciasis in Côte d’Ivoire between 1975 and 2013, and review plans for disease elimination. Methods We reviewed microfilaria (MF, skin snip) prevalence and community microfilarial load (CMFL) data from published reports from 53 health districts during two major epidemiological assessment periods. Data from 1975 through 1991 provided information on the impact of vector control, and data from 1992 through 2016 provided information on the impact of CDTi. Results Weekly aerial insecticide spraying in 8 endemic districts between 1975 and 1991 reduced the overall MF prevalence by 68.1% from 43.5% to 13.9%. The CMFL also decreased in 7 out of 8 surveyed communities by 95.2% from 9.24 MF/snip to 0.44 MF/snip. Ivermectin distribution started in 1992. The coverage targets for control (65% of the total population) was reached in most endemic districts, and some areas achieved 80% coverage. Two sets of surveys were conducted to assess the impact of CDTi. Results from the first repeat surveys showed a significant decrease in overall MF prevalence (by 75.7%, from 41.6% to 10.1%). The second follow-up evaluation showed further improvement in most endemic districts and also documented major reductions in CMFL compared to baseline. Conclusions Extensive data collected over many years document the very significant impact of interventions conducted by the National Onchocerciasis and other Eyes Diseases Control Programme during challenging times with periods of civil unrest. The Health Ministry has now integrated efforts to control neglected tropical diseases and adopted the goal of onchocerciasis elimination

    Le malaise économique wallon

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    Ce numéro de Regards économiques se penche sur la situation économique et sociale en Wallonie. Il en dresse un large portrait, en souligne les points positifs et négatifs, et ébauche quelques pistes de réflexion sur les mesures propices à donner à l’économie wallonne un nouvel élan.
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