16 research outputs found
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Bioavailability in soils
The consumption of locally-produced vegetables by humans may be an important exposure pathway for soil contaminants in many urban settings and for agricultural land use. Hence, prediction of metal and metalloid uptake by vegetables from contaminated soils is an important part of the Human Health Risk Assessment procedure. The behaviour of metals (cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, lead and zinc) and metalloids (arsenic, boron and selenium) in contaminated soils depends to a large extent on the intrinsic charge, valence and speciation of the contaminant ion, and soil properties such as pH, redox status and contents of clay and/or organic matter. However, chemistry and behaviour of the contaminant in soil alone cannot predict soil-to-plant transfer. Root uptake, root selectivity, ion interactions, rhizosphere processes, leaf uptake from the atmosphere, and plant partitioning are important processes that ultimately govern the accumulation ofmetals and metalloids in edible vegetable tissues. Mechanistic models to accurately describe all these processes have not yet been developed, let alone validated under field conditions. Hence, to estimate risks by vegetable consumption, empirical models have been used to correlate concentrations of metals and metalloids in contaminated soils, soil physico-chemical characteristics, and concentrations of elements in vegetable tissues. These models should only be used within the bounds of their calibration, and often need to be re-calibrated or validated using local soil and environmental conditions on a regional or site-specific basis.Mike J. McLaughlin, Erik Smolders, Fien Degryse, and Rene Rietr
Integration of Womenâs Cardiovascular Health Content Into Healthcare Provider Education: Results of a Rapid Review and National Survey
Despite its importance, formal education in healthcare training programs on sex- and gender-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and outcomes is lacking. We completed rapid reviews of the academic and grey literature to describe the current state of women-specific CVD education in medical, nursing, and other healthcare education programs. Second, we analyzed results from a Canada-wide survey of healthcare professional education programs to identify gaps in curricula related to sex- and gender-specific training in CVD. Our academic review yielded only 15 peer-reviewed publications, and our online search only 20 healthcare education programs, that note that they specifically address women, or sex and gender, and CVD in their curricula. Across both searches, the majority of training and education programs were from the USA, varied greatly in length, delivery mode, and content covered, and lacked consistency in evaluation. Of surveys sent to 213 Canadian universities and other entry-to-practice programs, 80 complete responses (37.6%) were received. A total of 47 respondents (59%) reported that their programs included women-specific CVD content. Among those programs without content specific to CVD in women, 69.0% stated that its inclusion would add âquite a bitâ or âa great dealâ of value to the program. This study highlights the emerging focus on and substantial gaps in women-specific CVD training and education across healthcare education programs. All medical, nursing, and healthcare training programs are implored to incorporate sex- and gender-based CVD content into their regular curricula as part of a consolidated effort to minimize gaps in cardiovascular care. RĂ©sumĂ©: MalgrĂ© la prĂ©valence des maladies cardiovasculaires (CV), les programmes dâenseignement en santĂ© accordent peu dâattention aux facteurs de risque, aux symptĂŽmes, aux traitements et aux issues selon le sexe ou le genre. PremiĂšrement, nous avons fait une revue rapide de la littĂ©rature universitaire et la littĂ©rature grise pour faire Ă©tat de la formation sur les maladies CV spĂ©cifiques aux femmes dans les programmes dâenseignement en mĂ©decine, en soins infirmiers et autres domaines de la santĂ©. DeuxiĂšmement, nous avons analysĂ© les rĂ©sultats dâune enquĂȘte menĂ©e Ă lâĂ©chelle du Canada sur des programmes de formation professionnelle pour cerner les lacunes dans les programmes au chapitre de la formation sur les maladies CV en fonction du sexe et du genre. Notre analyse de la littĂ©rature universitaire a permis de relever seulement 15 publications rĂ©visĂ©es par des pairs Ă ce sujet, et notre recherche en ligne a mis au jour seulement 20 programmes dâenseignement qui comportent un volet portant spĂ©cifiquement sur les femmes, ou bien le sexe et le genre, et les maladies CV. Ces deux enquĂȘtes ont rĂ©vĂ©lĂ© que la majoritĂ© des programmes de formation et dâenseignement Ă©taient aux Ătats-Unis et quâils prĂ©sentaient une grande diversitĂ© sur le plan de la durĂ©e, du mode dâenseignement et du contenu abordĂ©. De plus, les mĂ©thodes dâĂ©valuation nâĂ©taient pas uniformes. Parmi les sondages envoyĂ©s Ă 213 universitĂ©s et programmes dâadmission Ă la pratique au Canada, 80 rĂ©ponses complĂštes (37,6 %) ont Ă©tĂ© reçues. Quarante-sept des Ă©tablissements qui ont rĂ©pondu (59 %) ont signalĂ© que leurs programmes comprenaient du contenu portant sur les maladies CV spĂ©cifiques aux femmes. Parmi les Ă©tablissements dont les programmes ne comportaient aucun contenu spĂ©cifique aux femmes, 69,0 % ont indiquĂ© quâune telle inclusion ajouterait « beaucoup » ou « Ă©normĂ©ment » de valeur au programme. Cette Ă©tude met en lumiĂšre lâattention nouvelle accordĂ©e Ă la formation et Ă lâenseignement sur les maladies CV spĂ©cifiques aux femmes ainsi que les lacunes substantielles observĂ©es Ă cet Ă©gard dans les programmes dâenseignement en santĂ©. Les programmes de formation en mĂ©decine, en soins infirmiers et en santĂ© sont vivement invitĂ©s Ă intĂ©grer du contenu spĂ©cifique au sexe et au genre pour ce qui est des maladies CV dans un effort concertĂ© visant Ă rĂ©duire les lacunes dans les soins cardiovasculaires