To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Industrial agriculture and human health.
Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Industrial agriculture and human health'
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Industrial agriculture and human health.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Cappelli, Tara Marie. "Two- and Three-Plane Job Risk Classification Using Motion Capture: An Examination of the Marras et al. Model, 1993." MSSTATE, 2005. http://sun.library.msstate.edu/ETD-db/theses/available/etd-11112005-144302/.
Full textAbstract:
Lower Back Disorders account for 16-19% of work related claims and 33-41% of dollars paid in workers? compensation (as cited in Marras, 1999), with impacts to society approaching $100 billion dollars annually (as cited in Marras et al., 1999). Dr. William Marras engineered a device to track trunk kinematics in order to develop a Job Risk Classification Model for predicting high-risk group probability of lower back injury. The device has been validated, but other technologies such as 3-D motion capture can potentially gather the same data. This study examined the use of motion capture to apply two- and three-plane lifting tasks to the Marras model and compare results with commonly used assessment techniques. Regardless of the fact that the Marras model results were drastically different from NIOSH and RULA, motion capture was able to gather all necessary data for running the models and has a promising future in ergonomic assessments.
2
McGinley, Susan. "Characterizing Calpains: Implications for Production Agriculture and Human Health." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 1999. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/622288.
Full text
3
Nabulo, Grace. "Assessing risks to human health from peri-urban agriculture in Uganda." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.508220.
Full text
4
McGinley, Susan. "Improving Meat Quality with CLA: Fatty Acid Benefits Animal and Human Health." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2004. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/622208.
Full text
5
Leibler, Jessica H. "Characterizing the contribution of industrial food animal production to the transmission and emergence of influenza A viruses." Thesis, The Johns Hopkins University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3579515.
Full textAbstract:
The goal of my dissertation is to characterize the contribution of industrial food animal production to between-farm transmission of zoonotic influenza A viruses and transmission of these viruses from industrial food animals to humans. The intention of this research is to improve the capacity of public health policies in the United States to prevent the emergence of pandemic influenza viruses.
Preventing and controlling outbreaks within animal populations and avoiding human infection with zoonotic influenza A viruses can reduce the risk of emergence of pandemic influenza viruses in human populations. Industrial food animal production, which dominates the market in the United States and much of the developed world – and increasingly, the developing world as well – has long been considered biosecure. However, emerging research indicates that these industrial systems are vulnerable to disease incursions and suggests that they may play a central role in driving the emergence of zoonotic diseases. The implications of these industrial systems for human influenza risk, particularly the emergence of novel zoonotic influenza A viruses, remains largely unaddressed in the current literature and in health policy strategies in the United States.
Chapter 1 of this dissertation outlines my research goals and provides background on my central research themes and topics. Chapter 2 documents the limits of biosecurity within industrial systems, highlighting risks to food animal workers. Chapter 3 details a cross-sectional serology study of a cohort of industrial poultry workers and community members (n=99) in the Delmarva Peninsula, a tri-state area of intense poultry production in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. No evidence of infection with avian influenza viruses is observed in this population.
Chapter 4 contains a quantitative modeling study to estimates risk of between-farm transmission of avian influenza viruses among industrial poultry farms. This study concluded that company affiliation was a significant source of exposure risk from vehicular transmission. Chapter 5 is a policy analysis of the limitations of current pandemic preparedness policy in the United States to adequately incorporate primary prevention. The central results of this dissertation, their significance to public health and opportunities for further research are highlighted in Chapter 6.
6
McGinley, Susan. "Iron Metabolism in Humans and Insects: Implications For Human Health and For Insect Control." College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ), 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/622261.
Full text
7
Hugo, Charmaine June. "Mental health literacy and attitudes of human resource practitioners in South Africa." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2003. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/53498.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MA)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: South African companies need to contend with numerous transformation and development issues since the country's re-entry into the international marketplace. One component that is receiving increasing attention is the wellbeing of employees in the drive to remain competitive within the global economy. This study argues that mental illness is a component of employee wellbeing that has been ignored, even though these conditions are highly prevalent and costly to businesses. The lack of recognition, research and information about mental illness in the workplace raises questions about the knowledge and orientation of human resource (HR) practitioners. This study therefore aimed to investigate and describe the mental health literacy and attitudes ofHR practitioners in South Africa. Methodology: This study had a descriptive purpose and employed a sample survey research design to distribute a mail questionnaire to a randomly selected sample of human resource practitioners registered with the South African Board for Personnel Practice (SABPP). The measuring instrument comprised mental health literacy and attitudes scales that have been extensively researched and reported to have sound psychometric properties. Three vignettes portraying mental disorders selected for their relevance to the business world (i.e., depression, panic disorder and alcohol abuse) were used as aids to achieving the research aim. A standard statistical package (SPSS 10.0) was utilised to determine descriptive and inferential statistics with an accepted 5% level of significance. Results: A response rate of 31% was achieved yielding an equal distribution of responses across the study vignettes. HR practitioners who acted as respondents to this study were found to be illiterate regarding mental illness and to hold subtle negative attitudes towards the mentally ill. Less than 10% could recognise mental illness as opposed to the majority who regarded the behaviour in the vignettes as normal responses. Whereas just over a third could correctly name the diagnosis described in the vignettes, only 7% were able to identify panic disorder. Most respondents believed that psychosocial stress factors caused mental illness, while only 29% where of the opinion that biological factors had a role in the aetiology of mental illness. Respondents favoured psychological and lifestyle treatment strategies and opposed medical treatments, irrespective of the type of mental illness presented with. Although as a group respondents showed mainly positive attitudes towards the mentally ill, evidence was found that the commonly held myths of danger/violence and the irresponsible/ childlike nature of the mentally ill were adhered to. Conclusions: The HR field should take cognisance of the reality of mental illness. Urgent steps need to be taken to adequately equip HR practitioners and students with both evidencebased knowledge and a positive orientation to enable the effective management of these conditions in the workplace. Attention should be given to addressing common mistruths and misconceptions, and to creating an awareness of the significant role that the HR practitioner can play in timeously recognising and appropriately dealing with employee mental health problems so that companies can benefit by the optimal utilisation of human resources.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Suid-Afrikaanse maatskappye het te doen met verskeie transformasie- en ontwikkelings aangeleenthede sedert die land se terugkeer na die internasionale mark. Die welstand van werkers is 'n aspek wat toenemend aandag verkry met hierdie strewe om mededingend te bly in die globale ekonomie. Hierdie studie argumenteer dat geestessiekte as 'n komponent van werkerwelstand geïgnoreer word, alhoewel dit algemeen voorkom en besighede heelwat geld kos. Die beperkte herkenning, navorsing en inligting oor geestessiekte in die werkplek lei tot vrae omtrent die kennis en inslag van Menslike Hulpbron- (MR) praktisyns. Derhalwe, ondersoek en beskryf hierdie studie die kennis en houding jeens geestesgesondheid van MH-praktisyns in Suid-Afrika. Metodologie: Hierdie studie se doel is beskrywend van aard en maak gebruik van 'n steekproef opname navorsingsontwerp. 'n Vraelys is gepos aan 'n ewekansig gesellekteerde steekproef van MH-praktisyns wat geregistreer is by die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad vir Personeelpraktyk. Die meetinstrument bestaan uit geestesgesondheid kennis- en houdingskale wat ekstensief nagevors is en wat beskryf is om goeie psigometriese eienskappe te besit. Drie gevaUestudies van geestessteurings relevant tot die besigheidswêreld (depressie, panieksteuring en alkoholmisbruik) is gebruik as hulpmiddels om die navorsingsdoeiwit te bereik. Standaard statistiese sagteware (SPSS 10.0) is gebruik om beskrywende en afleidende statistiek te bepaal met 'n aangenome 5% vlak van betekenisvolheid. Bevindings: Altesaam 31% van vraelyste is beantwoord en dit was eweredig verdeel tussen die verskillende gevallestudies. MH-praktisyns wat deelgeneem het aan hierdie studie het swak kennis omtrent geestessiekte en subtiele negatiewe houdings ten opsigte van persone met geestesiekte getoon. Minder as 10% kon geestessiekte identifiseer teenoor die meerderheid wat die gedrag in die gevallestudies as normaal beskou het. Net oor 'n derde kon die diagnose korrek benoem en slegs 7% kon panieksteuring korrek identifiseer. Meeste van die respondente het geglo dat psigososiale stresfaktore geestessiekte veroorsaak, terwyl net 29% van mening was dat biologiese faktore 'n rol speel in die etiologie van geestessiekte. Respondente het psigologiese en lewensstyl behandelingsmodaliteite verkies bo mediese behandeling en dit was onafhanklik van die tipe geestessteuring wat voorgekom het. Alhoewel die respondente as 'n groep hoofsaaklik 'n positiewe houding getoon het ten opsigte van persone met geestessiekte, was daar bewyse dat algemene mites ondersteun is en dat persone met geestessiekte beskou is as gevaarlik/aggressief en as onverantwoordeliklkinderlik. Gevolgtrekkings: Die MH veld moet die realiteit van geestessiekte aanvaar. Dringende stappe moet geneem word om MH-praktisyns en studente te voorsien van uitkomsgebaseerde kennis en 'n positiewe houding sodat effektiewe hantering van hierdie toestande kan plaasvind in die werkplek. Algemene onwaarhede en miskonsepsies moet aangespreek word en die bewustheid van die betekenisvolle rol van die MH-praktisyn moet benadruk word. Geestesgesondheidsprobleme van die werker moet betyds herken word en toepaslik gehanteer word sodat maatskappye voordeel kan trek uit die optimale gebruik van menslike hulpbronne.
8
Kavanagh, Peter. "Impacts of high arsenic concentrations in South West England on human health and agriculture." Thesis, Imperial College London, 1998. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.300619.
Full text
9
Papu-Zamxaka, Vathiswa. "Industrial mercury contamination and human health in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa : exposure and awareness." Thesis, London South Bank University, 2008. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.618682.
Full text
10
Wilson, Colleen. "Nurses with human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome." Thesis, McGill University, 1996. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=23974.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis will explore the various legal, administrative and ethical issues arising out of the situation in which nurse is HIV-positive or has AIDS. In contrast to the situation of patients suffering from AIDS or HIV, there has been little in the literature, whether legal or medical, on nurses who are infected. The rights and duties of these nurses, testing of nurses for the presence of HIV infection or AIDS and the issue of discrimination are among the matters discussed with reference to relevant legislation and ethical principles.
11
Isoto, Rosemary Emegu. "Essays on Human Capital Investments and Microfinance in East African Agriculture." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1437652454.
Full text
12
Lyons, Graham Henry. "High-selenium wheat : biofortification for better health /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2004. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phl9915.pdf.
Full text
13
Beswick-Honn, Jessica Marie. "Evaluation of low-cost hydrogen sulfide monitors for use in agriculture." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2017. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/5417.
Full textAbstract:
Toxic exposure to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a well-recognized hazard in agriculture, particularly in livestock operations that manage large amounts of manure. Numerous fatalities have been observed, often multiple fatalities in a single incident, due to toxic exposure to H2S from manure pits at concentrations higher than 500 ppm. Direct-reading instruments that alarm workers in the areas when H2S concentrations are high may prevent these fatalities. However, monitors that are commonly found in industries with robust safety programs are impractical for agricultural use as they are often prohibitively expensive and require regular maintenance and calibration that may be above the expertise level of agricultural workers.
In more recent years, manufacturers marketed simpler models of direct-reading H2S monitors as “low-maintenance” or “maintenance-free” at a much lower cost than traditional monitors, which may cost $500 for basic models or more than $1000 for more complex models. The objective of this study was to test several models of low-cost, low-maintenance monitors in order to examine the features of each for comparison, as well as to test the performance of these monitors with no maintenance over time while under constant exposure to low levels of H2S.
Two types of monitors were examined: qualitative monitors that were lowest-cost (around $100) and provided only alarm settings with no concentration displayed (Honeywell BW Clip and MSA Altair), and quantitative monitors that cost slightly more (around $200) but displayed concentration readings (Dräger Pac 3500 and Industrial Scientific T40 Rattler). All models were exposed to H2S for a test period of 4 months, at concentrations slightly higher than typical background concentrations to simulate expected monitor exposure for a year in a barn.
The performance of qualitative (‘alarm-only’) monitors declined faster than over the course of the simulated barn year than the quantitative monitors, with both models of qualitative meters failing to alarm at the high setting before the test period was complete. The quantitative (‘concentration-display’) models showed fewer effects from long-term exposure over the duration of testing, but both models exhibited inaccuracies in the concentration readings when compared to calibration gas concentrations. The T40 Rattler provided consistently higher readings (+2.3 ppm) than the calibration gas concentration, while the Pac 3500 showed consistently lower readings (-3.4 ppm) than the calibration gas concentration. Serious acute health effects for H2S are not typically observed until exposure to concentrations above 500 ppm, so inaccuracies of this small magnitude are relatively insignificant.
Though each of the test monitors is advertised to be maintenance-free for two years, this study found that failures occurred within one simulated year in a barn. Bump checks should be performed regularly to ensure the monitor reacts to the presence of H2S appropriately, even when the manufacturer’s literature may say otherwise. Most importantly, agricultural workers should always inspect and bump check these monitors prior to any potentially high-risk activity such as manure agitation or pumping to ensure that the monitor is still providing the protection needed from a potentially toxic release of H2S.
This study tested each of these models within a clean chamber at room temperature to isolate the effects of long-term exposure to H2S. In an actual barn, these monitors may be exposed to variations in temperature and humidity, as well as other barn contaminants such as ammonia, dust, and chemicals. Each of these other exposures could also affect the performance of these monitors over time, and should be considered when storing and using these monitors. Furthermore, the potential interactions from other exposures is an opportunity for future study to better understand how these interactions may affect sensor performance in an agricultural environment.
14
Magwedere, Kudakwashe. "Veterinary public health aspects related with food-producing wildlife species in the domestic animal, human and environment interface." Thesis, Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/80034.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The wildlife industry in Namibia continues to grow as the production and consumption of game meat increases. However, the health risks posed by the trade in wildlife and related by-products to livestock and humans have not been fully assessed. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential health risks related to the increased consumption of game meat and relevant by-products by assessing the quality of game meat, as well as determine the role of game meat species in the transmission of zoonoses. The microbiological quality and safety of export game meat was assessed. No differences in the aerobic plate count (APC) were observed between the years (2009 and 2010), but the mean Enterobacteriaceae count was 1.33±0.69log10 cfu/cm2 compared to 2.93±1.50log10 cfu/cm2 between the years. Insignificant heterotrophic plate count (HPC) levels were detected in 9/23 field water samples, while faecal bacteria (coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and enterococci) were not isolated in all samples. Seven serogroups, with the exception of O26, were detected in exotic species. A white tailed deer sample had a serotype belonging to O45 which confirmed positive for stx1 gene. In springbok, 5/15 pools of faecal samples tested positive for the intimin gene. No Salmonella spp were isolated, and all E. coli isolates from the meat samples were negative for STEC virulence genes (i.e. stx1, stx2, eae and hlyA). A linear regression analysis was conducted on selected variables to identify the main predictors and their interactions affecting pH of meat 4 hours post-slaughter. In an increasing order of magnitude during winter time, the pH reached at 16-36hr post slaughter in springbok heart, liver, spleen, kidney and lungs was significantly higher than pH 6.0, while no significant differences were observed from the regulatory reference (pH 6.0) in the heart. There was a positive association between the pH of game meat 4hr post-slaughter, and liver congestion. The pH of game meat 4hr post slaughter, increased by 0.11 units per mL increase in liver congestion, and decreased by 0.04 units per minute increase in the shooting to bleeding interval, irrespective of the species. Worm eggs of strongylids, Strongyloides papillosus, Toxocara spp, Trichuris spp and coccidia were found in variable numbers in both springbok and gemsbok faeces, indicating a potential risk of transmission to other species in the ecosystem. On examination of carcasses, a novel parasite, Skjabinodera kuelzii, was identified and noted to be associated with inguinal fascia and renal fat, but the public health significance remains unclear. Nevertheless, S. kuelzii should be considered as of potential significance during routine game meat inspection. A total of 12 310 springbok were harvested from 26 commercial farms over a period of two years. Tissue samples (i.e. 60 livers, 41 kidneys and 52 hindquarter muscles) were collected from randomly selected healthy animals. The mean values (i.e. above the detection limit) of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) were 0.10±0.05mg/kg and 1.04±0.21mg/kg in the liver, respectively; and 0.33±0.22mg/kg and 0.905±0.51mg/kg in the kidney of springbok, respectively. The levels of cadmium and lead in the hindquarter muscles were below the detection limit. Serum samples (n=1692) collected from sheep, goats and cattle from four presumably at-risk farms, and 900 springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) serum samples collected from 29 mixed farming units, were screened for Brucella antibodies by using the Rose-Bengal test (RBT). Positive cases were confirmed by complement fixation test (CFT). To assess the prevalence of human brucellosis, 137 abattoir employees were tested for Brucella antibodies using the standard tube agglutination test (STAT), and the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cattle and sheep from all four farms were negative by RBT and CFT, but two of the four farms carried 26/42 and 12/285 seropositive goats, respectively. Post mortem examination of seropositive goats revealed no gross pathological lesions. Culture for brucellae from organs of seropositive animals was negative. None of the wildlife sera tested positive by either RBT or CFT. Occurrence of confirmed brucellosis in humans was linked to the consumption of unpasteurized goat milk, home-made goat cheese and coffee with raw milk and prior contact with goats. All abattoir employees (n=137) tested negative by STAT, but 3 were positive by ELISA. The three abattoir workers were clinically normal, and lacked historical connections with clinical cases. This study illustrates the importance of microbiological, parasitic and residue monitoring as critical components of a hazard analysis and critical control point based system for game meat. The study also provides the basis for increased integrated health research, surveillance and meat safety risk analysis.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Namibiese wildbedryf raak toenemend groter soos die produksie en verbruik van wildsvleis toeneem. Die verwante gesondheidsrisiko’s wat die gebruik van wildsvleis en verwante produkte vir mens en dier inhou, is nog nie volledig geassesseer nie. Die doelwit van die studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die potensiële gesondheidsrisiko's wat wildsvleis en verwante neweprodukte vir mens en dier inhou deur middel van die assessering van vleisgehalte en die bepaling van die rol van die wildsvleis spesies in die oordrag van soönoses. Die mikrobiologiese gehalte en veiligheid van uitvoer wildsvleis was geassesseer. Geen verskille in die aerobiese plaat telling (APC) vir monsters versamel tydens 2009 en 2010 is aangeteken nie. Die gemiddelde Enterobacteriaceae telling was 1.33± 0.69log10 cfu/cm2 in vergelyking met 2.93±1.50log10 cfu/cm2 tussen die jare. Onbeduidende heterotrofe plaattelling (HPC) vlakke is waargeneem in 9/23 water monsters, terwyl fekale bakterieë (d.i. kolivorme, Clostridium perfringens en enterokokke) nie in enige van die monsters geïsoleerd is nie. Sewe serogroepe, met die uitsondering van O26, is aangeteken vir die eksotiese spesies. Monsters verky van ʼn white tailed deer is as positief vir 'n serotipe van O45 getoets, en die teenwoordigheid van die stx1 geen is bevestig. In springbok het 5/15 poele van fekale monsters positief getoets vir die intimien geen. Geen Salmonella spp is geïsoleer nie en alle E. coli geïsoleer in die vleismonsters was negatief vir die Stec virulensie geen (d.i. stx1, stx2, EAE en hlyA). ʼn Liniêre regressie-analise is op geselekteerde veranderlikes wat as die belangrikste indikators kan dien, en enige moontlike interaksie wat die pH van wildsvleis 4 uur na-slag kan beïnvloed, uitgevoer. In 'n toenemende orde van grootte gedurende die winter tyd, die pH teen 16-36hr na slagting in springbok hart, lewer, milt, niere en longe was aansienlik hoër as die pH 6.0, terwyl geen beduidende verskille waargeneem is wanneer dit met die regulasie verwysingswaarde van die hart (pH 6.0) vergelyk is nie. Daar was 'n positiewe assosiasie tussen die pH van wildsvleis 4 uur na-slag en mate van aansameling in die lewer. Die pH van wildsvleis 4 uur na-slag, het toegeneem met 0.11 eenhede per mL toename in lewer aansameling en afgeneem met 0.04 eenhede per minuut toename in die skiet tot uitbloei interval, ongeag die spesie. Wurmeiers van rondewurms, Strongyloides papillosus, Toxocara spp, Trichuris spp en koksidia het in verskillende ladings in die mis van beide springbok en gemsbok ontlasting, voorgekom. Dit dui op 'n potensiële risiko van oordrag na ander spesies in die ekosisteem. Die voorkoms van ʼn nuwe parasiet, Skjabinodera kuelzii, in wildskarkasse is aangeteken en was geassosieer met inguinale fascia en renale vet, maar die openbare gesondheidsrisiko bly onduidelik. Daar word aanbeveel dat dié parasiet as ʼn potensiële risiko faktor tydens roetine vleisinspeksies beskou moet word. ʼn Totaal van 12 310 springbokke is oor 'n tydperk van twee jaar van 26 kommersiële plase geoes. Weefselmonsters (d.i. 60 lewers, 41 niere en 52 agterkwart spiere) is ewekansig versamel van gesonde diere. Die gemiddelde waardes (d.i. hoër as die opsporingslimiet) van kadmium (Cd) en lood (Pb) was 0.10 ± 0.05mg/kg en 1.04 ± 0.21mg/kg in die lewer onderskeidelik en 0.33 ± 0.22mg/kg en 0.905 ± 0.51mg/kg in die niere van springbok, onderskeidelik. Die vlakke van kadmium en lood in die agterkwart spiere was laer as die opsporingslimiet. Serum monsters (n=1692) is van skape, bokke en beeste van vier vermoedelik hoë risiko plase en springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis, n=900) van 29 gemengde boerdery sisteme versamel en getoets vir die teenwoordigheid van Brucella teenliggaampies deur middel van die Rose-Bengal-toets (RBT). Positiewe gevalle is bevestig deur die komplement binding toets (CFT). Die voorkoms van menslike brusellose is bepaal deur 137 abattoir werknemers te toets vir Brucella teenliggaampies deur gebruik te maak van die standaard buis agglutinasie toets (STAT) en die ensiembinding immunosorberende toets (ELISA). Beeste en skape van die vier hoë risiko plase het negatief getoets met die RBT en CFT metodes, maar bokke van twee van die vier plase het seropositief getoets (26/42 en 12/285 onderskeidelik). Nadoodse ondersoek van seropositief bokke het geen patologiese letsels aangedui nie. Die kultuur van orgaanmonsters van seropositief diere vir Brucellae was negatief. Die monsters versamel van wild het negatief getoets deur middel van die RBT en CFT toets metodes. Die voorkoms van brusellose in mense in die studie was geassosieer met die gebruik van ongepasteuriseerde melk, tuisgemaakte bokmelkkaas en koffie met ongepasteuriseerde melk, asook direkte kontak met bokke. Alle abattoir werknemers (n=137) het negatief getoets met die STAT metode, maar drie werknemers het positief getoets met die ELISA metode. Die drie abattoir werkers was klinies normaal en het nie vorige kontak met bevestigde kliniese gevalle gehad nie. Hierdie studie bevestig die belang van mikrobiologiese, parasitiese en residu monitering as kritieke komponente van 'n gevaar-analise en kritiese kontrolepunt gebaseerde stelsel vir die produksie en verbruik van wildsvleis. Die studie verskaf ʼn basis vir toekomstige navorsing gefokus op ʼn geïntegreerde benadering van mens- en diergesondheid, monitering en vleis veiligheid risiko-analises.
15
Grego-Nagel, Anne C. "An exploratory study of the adoption of mobile telecommunications service in order to improve mobile health service development." Diss., Kansas State University, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/34554.
Full textAbstract:
Doctor of PhilosophyDepartment of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Malgorzata J. Rys
This dissertation is the result of exploring the phenomenon of the adoption of a service innovation, in particular mobile telecommunications service, with the goal of informing the design of mobile health services. A grounded research study led to the finding that older adults may not abandon a legacy service, such as landline telecommunications service, when they adopted mobile telecommunications service. To further understand the results of the first study, a multidisciplinary literature review was undertaken and resulted in a typology of the factors of individual-level innovation adoption that can be applied by human factors professionals in the field. The three categories of factors included macro environmental, innovation-specific, and human factors. A research analysis of a study done by a county health department provided insights into what older adults contributed to the service production process in healthcare services including which common proxies do not accurately reflect the situations of older adults. A three-state process model of individual-level innovation adoption, which incorporated the role of a legacy system, was developed using the adoption patterns of mobile telecommunications services. In this model, individuals move from a state of using a legacy system to adopting a innovative system while still using the legacy system. After a period of time, the individual moves from the state of dual use to fully abandoning the legacy system and using only the innovative system. A compartmental mathematical model is developed to allow the model to be simulated and future service demand needs can be better predicted. Two decision-making processes were identified to be employed by individuals in the abandonment of a landline telecommunications services. Finally, recommendations for the design of mobile health services are provided.
16
Dausman, Taryn Bette Catherine. "Low cost air quality monitors in agriculture." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2017. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/5451.
Full textAbstract:
Agriculture workers can be exposed to hazardous concentrations of airborne contaminants such as, particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide (CO2), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Exposure to these contaminants has been associated with a high prevalence of acute and chronic respiratory symptoms: coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and phlegm, as well as a reduction in lung function. Commercial low-cost indoor air quality (IAQ) monitors have the ability to detect many of the contaminants commonly found in agriculture. Limited research has been conducted on the performance of low-cost monitors in different occupational settings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the Foobot (Airboxlab, San Francisco, CA, USA), a low-cost (IAQ) monitor, is sufficiently robust to operate in agricultural environments and provide useful and accurate information to farmers.
Foobots were deployed at two sites, a tractor repair shop (“Shop”) for 43 days and a finishing room in a swine production building (“Barn”) for 40 days, where they monitored PM2.5, CO2, and VOCs. Reference direct-reading monitors to compare Foobot readings were collocated with the Foobots. Paired sample results were compared over 19 days at the shop and 21 days at the barn.
At neither of the two sites did the Foobots meet the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) acceptable bias criterion of ± 10% when compared to the reference monitors. Linear regression results indicate that a strong linear relationship does not exist (R2< 0.66) between the Foobots and reference monitors. A significant difference (P< 0.031) was found between contaminant concentrations reported by each Foobot but the difference was not found to be substantial. The Foobot CO2 and VOC concentrations were highly correlated (R2=0.99). However, a strong linear relationship between the Foobot CO2 concentrations and the reference CO2 concentrations was not found at the shop (R2 = 0.02) or barn (R2 = 0.61).
After 40 days in the barn, the Foobots were reporting that damage had occurred to the sensors and were no longer functioning. In addition, the PM sensors in the three Foobots in the barn were contaminated after the study. Therefore, it was concluded that the Foobots were unable to supply farmers with accurate information and were not durable enough for agricultural environments. Future research will investigate the use of other low-cost monitors in agriculture.
17
Ringgenberg, Wendy Jeannette Wehrman. "Trends and characteristics of occupational suicide and homicide in farmers and agriculture workers, 1992-2010." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2014. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4734.
Full textAbstract:
This study looked at 19 years of Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatality data for the purpose of describing occupational homicide and suicide for farmers and agriculture workers. The study found homicide rates for farmers and agriculture workers were lower than rates for total occupations for 14 years, while suicide rates for farmers and agriculture workers were consistently higher than total occupations. Significant regional variations in homicide and suicide patterns were identified. Finally, this study confirmed prior research in that males were most commonly victims of both occupational homicide and suicide when compared to females, while both male and female farmers and agriculture workers were most likely victims of homicide by firearms.
18
Wearaduwa, Vidana Kankanamge Thilani Kaushalya. "Economic Efficiency of Occupational Health and Safety Investments at Agricultural Cooperatives." Thesis, North Dakota State University, 2018. https://hdl.handle.net/10365/28861.
Full textAbstract:
Industries related to agricultural cooperatives record some of the highest injury rates in the U.S. Therefore, agricultural cooperatives are highly motivated to invest in occupational health and safety (OHS). This thesis examines the economic efficiency of OHS investments at agricultural cooperatives and identifies cooperative characteristics leading to greater economic efficiency of OHS investments. A multiple input-output data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to estimate technical efficiency. The effects of cooperative characteristics on the efficiency of OHS investments are estimated using ordinary least squares, censored regression, truncated regression, and the Simar and Wilson (2007) bootstrap procedure. Results show that the mean technical efficiency score was 0.833. Furthermore, a cooperative?s annual insurance premia has a significant, negative relationship with technical efficiency. In contrast, the experience levels of a cooperative?s top safety person and top managerial person and a location?s total workers employed have significant, positive relationships with efficiency in all estimated models.North Dakota State University. Department of College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources
19
Margenat, Mas Anna Maria. "Dynamics of chemical microcontaminants in peri-urban agriculture and evaluation of their potential impact on crops and human health." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/664083.
Full textAbstract:
Peri-urban agriculture carries out environmental, social and economic functions and services to the nearby urban areas. Nonetheless, most of these fields are impacted with organic and inorganic contaminants caused by industrialization, sewage and sludge application, vehicular emissions and the reuse of reclaimed water. Therefore, vegetables are exposed to a large number of contaminants present in irrigation water, air and soil. In the recent years, concerns have been raised regarding the presence of chemical contaminants in agriculture crops due to the evidence that plants are able to incorporate, translocate and accumulate them in their edible parts. Despite detected concentrations in food crops are generally low, little is known about the effects of these contaminants on human health. For this reason, field studies are necessary to properly evaluate their incorporation and create databases to assess the human health risk. Currently, there are only few field studies done at real scale, none of them in Spain, which demonstrate the uptake of micropollutants in vegetables irrigated with reclaimed water. In this Thesis, the plant uptake in real field-scale conditions of some trace elements (TEs) and organic microcontaminants (OMCs) chosen by their occurrence in the environment and their physicochemical properties, has been assessed. For this purpose, 4 farm plots located in the peri-urban area of Barcelona (NE Spain) and a rural farm plot far away from the peri-urban area were selected, including different irrigation water qualities and exposure to urban pollution. Lettuce, tomatoes, cauliflowers and broad beans were selected regarding their importance in the horticultural production in the sampling area. The PhD dissertation is split in six chapters. Chapter I gives an overview of the Thesis topic, whereas chapter II explains motivations and aims of the PhD project. The Chapter II assesses the occurrence of TEs and OMCs in irrigation waters. Irrigation waters from peri-urban areas showed higher abundance of selected chemical contaminants than that water from the rural site. Nevertheless, any of the irrigation waters affected seed germination, root elongation or crop productivity. Chapter III assesses the co-occurrence of these contaminants in soil and lettuce leaves, their bioaccumulation factors and how they affect leaf constituents. The higher abundance of these contaminants in the irrigation waters an soils from the peri-urban area had no impact on leaf constituents (chlorophyll, carbohydrate and lipid content). Chapter IV shows the occurrence of the chemical contaminants in different food crops (lettuce, tomato, cauliflower and broad beans) and estimates the human health risk associated with their consumption. Results show that human health risk associated was low and similar between crops grow in peri-urban and rural areas. Chapter V is devoted to the general discussion of three previous chapters, whereas Chapter VI reveals the main conclusions of the Thesis.L'agricultura periurbana proporciona funcions ambientals, soci-econòmiques i serveis ecosistèmics a les zones urbanes properes. Malgrat això, els cultius conreats en aquestes zones estan exposats a contaminants orgànics i inorgànics procedents d'emissions industrials i del trànsit rodat, així com de l'aplicació de biosòlids i l'ús d'aigües regenerades. En aquest sentit, en els darrers anys, ha sorgit una preocupació creixent sobre la presencia de contaminants químics en els cultius agrícoles degut a l'evidencia de que les plantes poden incorporar-los, translocar-los i acumular-los en les seves parts comestibles. Tot i que les concentracions detectades en els cultius alimentaris són generalment baixes, es coneix poc sobre els efectes d'aquests contaminants sobre la salut humana. Per aquest motiu, els estudis de camp són necessaris per avaluar adequadament la seva incorporació i el seu risc potencial per a la salut humana. Actualment no existeix cap estudi que avaluï l'exposició i presència de contaminats orgànics i inorgànics de manera simultània en cultius agrícoles de zones periurbanes. Els pocs estudis existents a escala de camp es basen en l'impacte d'aigües regenerades en cultius agrícoles, considerant de manera separada contaminats orgànics i inorgànics. En aquesta Tesi, s'ha avaluat la incorporació en les plantes en condicions de camp reals d'alguns elements traça i microcontaminants orgànics, seleccionats en funció de la seva presència en el medi ambient i les seves propietats fisicoquímiques. Amb aquesta finalitat, es varen seleccionar 4 parcel·les agrícoles situades a la zona periurbana de Barcelona (NE Espanya) i una parcel·la agrícola rural llunyana de la zona periurbana, incloent diferents qualitats d'aigua de reg i exposició a la contaminació urbana. Com a cultius objecte d'estudi es van seleccionar l'enciam, el tomàquet, coliflors i faves com a vegetals model (fulla, fruit i flor). La present tesi doctoral es divideix en sis capítols. En el capítol I s'ofereix una visió general de la temàtica de la Tesi i presenta les hipòtesis i objectius del projecte de doctorat. El Capítol II avalua la presència d'elements traça i microcontaminants orgànics en aigües de reg. Les aigües de reg de les zones periurbanes van mostrar una major abundància de contaminants químics seleccionats en relació a l'aigua de la zona rural. Malgrat això, cap de les aigües de reg va induir efectes fitotòxics (germinació de llavors, elongació de l'arrel) o minvar la productivitat del cultiu. El capítol III incideixen la coexistència d'aquests contaminants al sòl i a les fulles d'enciam, els seus factors de bioacumulació i com afecten als constituents lipídics i sucres de les fulles. La major abundància d'aquests contaminants en les aigües de reg i sòls de la zona periurbana no va alterar el contingut en clorofil·les, hidrats de carboni i lípids de fulles d'enciam. El capítol IV mostra la presència dels contaminants químics en la part comestible de diferents cultius model (enciam, tomàquet, coliflor i faves) i avalua el risc potencial per a la salut humana associat al seu consum. Els resultats obtinguts mostren que els riscos associats a la salut humana eren baixos i similars entre els cultius que creixen en les zones periurbana i rural. El capítol V esta dedicat a la discussió general dels tres capítols anteriors, i finalment el capítol VI presenta les principals conclusions de la tesi.
20
Nadal, Lomas Martí. "Human health risk assessment of exposure to environmental pollutants in the chemical / petrochemical industrial area of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain)." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, 2005. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/8719.
Full textAbstract:
Tesi: Human health risk assessment of exposure to environmental pollutants in the chemical/petrochemical industrial area of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain).Autor: Martí Nadal
Resum:
Un dels complexos químics/ petroquímics més importants del sud d'Europa està ubicat a Tarragona. En els darrers anys, ha augmentat la preocupació pública envers els possibles efectes adversos que el complex industrial podria tenir per a la salut de la població resident a Tarragona. En resposta, el 2002 s'inicià un estudi per tal de determinar els nivells de diversos contaminants a l'àrea. En concret, es van recollir mostres de sòls i vegetació (bledes silvestres) en diversos punts dels Polígons Nord i Sud, així com del centre urbà de Tarragona i diversos barris residencials. Finalment, es van prendre mostres fora de l'àrea d'influència directa de les indústries (controls). En totes les mostres, es van determinar les concentracions d'arsènic (As), cadmi (Cd), crom (Cr), mercuri (Hg), manganès (Mn), plom (Pb) i vanadi (V). Per altra banda, també s'hi analitzaren els nivells de policlorodibenzo-p-dioxines i furans (PCDD/Fs), bifenils policlorats (PCBs), naftalens policlorats (PCNs) i hidrocarburs aromàtics policíclics (PAHs).
Els sòls recollits en el complex químic i les àrees urbana/residencial presentaren les concentracions més elevades per a tots els contaminants analitzats. La diferència respecte a les zones petroquímica i no contaminada fou significativa pel Cr, el V, els PCDD/Fs i els PCBs. No obstant, els nivells de tots els contaminants en sòl foren clarament menors a les concentracions màximes permeses en les legislació. Quant a les bledes, no es van trobar diferències significatives per a cap dels contaminants, llevat del V. En conseqüència, es podria considerar que Tarragona presenta un cert grau de contaminació per part d'aquest metall.
L'aplicació del mapa auto-organitzatiu de Kohonen (SOM) i l'anàlisi de components principals (PCA) permeté la identificació d'alguns punts del sud-oest del complex químic, i del centre urbà de Tarragona, pels seus alts nivells de contaminació. De fet, la presència d'una planta de producció de clor, així com el règim de vents predominant (mestral) i l'altura de les torxes i xemeneies de la refineria (facilitant la dispersió lluny del focus) serien una explicació raonable de les concentracions relativament més elevades de l'àrea química.
Les actuals concentracions de metalls pesants no suposen un augment rellevant dels riscos no cancerígens per a la població. No obstant, un cert nombre de casos de càncer podria derivar de la ingesta d'As (a causa dels baixos nivells d'As establerts per l'US EPA) i inhalació de Cr (ja que es va assumir que el Cr6+ era 1/6 del crom total). L'avaluació de riscos de l'exposició a PCDD/Fs es dugué a terme en funció del nivell socioeconòmic de la població. L'exposició directa suposa menys del 2% del total. Globalment, els habitants de les àrees residencials estan més exposats a les PCDD/Fs a causa de la ingesta dietètica. De tota manera, els riscos associats a aquesta exposició són assumibles.
Considerant les baixes concentracions de PAHs, es va estudiar la influència de la temperatura i la radiació solar en la fotodegradació de PAHs. S'observà que ambdues variables podrien tenir un efecte sinergètic. Per tal d'estudiar l'estat integral de contaminació a Tarragona, es desenvolupà un Índex de Risc Integral en base al SOM. Així, es va elaborar un ranking dels diversos contaminants en funció de la seva persistència, bioacumulació i toxicitat. Posteriorment, es va dissenyar un mapa del risc de la zona mitjançant la representació espacial de l'Índex amb un Sistema d'Informació Geogràfica.
Tot i que el risc per metalls pesants i contaminants orgànics no és significatiu, fóra molt recomanable dur a terme mesures continuades del nivells d'aquests i altres contaminants en les àrees industrials i urbanes de Tarragona. Així mateix, caldria fer un esforç conjunt per tal de reduir els nivells ambientals d'As, Cr i V.
Thesis: Human health risk assessment of exposure to environmental pollutants in the chemical/petrochemical industrial area of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain).
Author: Martí Nadal
Summary:
One of the most important chemical/petrochemical complexes in Southern Europe is located in Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). In recent years, public concern over possible adverse health effects for the population living near the industrial complex has increased. In response, in 2002 we initiated a wide survey to determine the current levels of various pollutants in the area. Specifically, samples of soils and vegetation (wild chards) were collected in several locations of the chemical and petrochemical industrial complex of Tarragona, as well as in Tarragona downtown and some residential suburbs. Finally, a few samples were collected outside the direct influence of the chemical industries (controls). Concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), and vanadium (V) were determined in those samples. In turn, the levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were also determined in the same samples.
Soils collected near the chemical complex and in urban/residential areas showed the highest concentrations for all the chemicals analyzed. The difference with respect to the petrochemical and unpolluted areas was significant for Cr, V, PCDD/Fs and PCBs. However, the levels of all pollutants in soil were clearly lower than the maximum allowed concentrations established by the legislation. With regard to chard samples, no significant differences were observed for any of the pollutants, excepting V. Consequently, it can be considered that Tarragona is impacted by some degree of pollution by this metal.
The application of Kohonen's Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) allowed to identify some sampling locations in the south-western corner of the chemical area, and in Tarragona downtown, due to relatively high levels of pollution. In fact, the presence of a chlor-alkali plant, as well as the predominant wind regime (from North) and the height of stacks and torches of the oil refinery (making easier the dispersion far away these sources), would be a reasonable explanation why higher concentrations were found in the chemical area.
The current concentrations of heavy metals do not pose relevant non-carcinogenic risks for the population. However, a certain number of cancer cases could derive from As ingestion (due to the low As levels established by US EPA) and Cr inhalation (according to the assumption that Cr+6 is 1/6 of the total chromium). Human health risk assessment of PCDD/F exposure was carried out according to the socioeconomic status of the population. The environmental exposure only means less than 2% of the total exposure. Overall, people of residential areas result more exposed to PCDD/Fs. However, non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated to that exposure would be assumable.
Considering the low levels of PAHs, the influence of the temperature and solar radiation on the PAH photodegradation was studied. It was found that both variables might have a synergistic effect over PAH degradation. To study the global state of pollution in the area of Tarragona, a SOM-based Integral Risk Index was developed. Inorganic and organic pollutants were ranked according to different properties of persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. Subsequently, a risk map of the zone was designed as the spatial representation of this Index with a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Although the risk by heavy metals and organic pollutants is not notable, continuous measurements of these and other pollutants in the industrial and urban Tarragona are remarkably advisable. Likewise, some efforts should be done to reduce the environmental levels of As, Cr, and V.
21
Rudolphi, Josie M. "Occupational safety & health of young adult agricultural workers." Diss., University of Iowa, 2017. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/5617.
Full textAbstract:
Background: Agriculture is the most hazardous occupational industry for young adults. Young adults are engaging in agricultural work and interacting with common hazards, however, it is unknown how young adults are engaging with such hazards and whether administrative controls including workplace organizational factors and social influences in the workplace are associated with safe working practice.
Methods: Workplace practices were examined among young adult agricultural workers (18-24). Workers responded to statements regarding their participation in six agricultural work areas, specific behaviors within each work area, risk-taking behaviors of parents, peers, and supervisors, and items about workplace organizational characteristics. A second study, conducted among swine facility workers in the Midwest, tested the effectiveness of an intervention that coupled behavioral theory with technology to increase the use of hearing protection in swine facilities.
Results: Results from the cross-sectional, online survey indicated supervisor influence was more strongly associated with reported workplace behaviors than co-worker/peer or parent influence. Furthermore, organizational factors including number of hours worked each week and the presence of safety and health policies was associated with workplace behaviors Results from the intervention study suggest behavioral tracking is effective at increasing the use of hearing protection among young adult swine facility workers in the short term, however, changes in behavior are not maintained over time. Supplying hearing protection is a more effective tool in facilitating sustainable behavioral change.
Conclusions: Results suggest interventions that address social and organizational factors of work to improve workplace behaviors among young adult agricultural workers should be tested.
22
Nimmermark, Sven. "Odour impact : odour release, dispersion and influence on human well-being with specific focus on animal production /." Alnarp : Dept. of Agricultural Biosystems and Technology (JBT), Swedish Univ. of Agricultural Sciences, 2004. http://epsilon.slu.se/a494.pdf.
Full text
23
Galyas, Éva. "Concentrations of lead, copper and zinc in forest soils near industrial areas." Thesis, Högskolan i Halmstad, Akademin för ekonomi, teknik och naturvetenskap, 2019. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hh:diva-40363.
Full textAbstract:
Environmental contamination with heavy metals, especially of soils, has been a continuousproblem worldwide since the beginning of the industrial revolution. Heavy metal emissionshave increased continuously since 1900 and the metals accumulate in the environment. Pulpand paper mill factories, and factories which produce sulphuric acid emit heavy metals,among others lead (Pb), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). Results from previous studies showedthat the soils near factories had higher concentrations of these pollutants than the controlplace. In this study I want to determine the effects of industrial heavy metal emissions of onehistoric and one present industry on nearby soil heavy metal concentrations.Samples were taken near one historically heavily contaminated site, the old sulphite factoryin Rydöbruk (1897-1944) and near the present Stora Enso paper mill in Hyltebruk. As acontrol site, I compared these with Rocknen nature reserve area.At each site I took 6 soil samples, representing the top 15-20 cm of soil and organic material.Samples were analysed with an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer and the concentrations oflead, copper and zinc were determined per ashed dry material.I analyzed the samples at the laboratory using the guideline from the Swedish StandardInstitute for water analysis.The concentrations of the soil samples showed no significant difference between the naturereserve area and the industrial sites (One-way ANOVA). This was due to very variableorganic content within and between the sites.Organic content of the samples has a significantly effect on the metal concentrations for Pband Cu (Linear Regression test). In conclusion, metals can accumulate in the vegetation, andin case of Pb and Cu there is a correlation between their concentration and the amount oforganic matter. Therefore in future studies it is best if soil with very high organic content orvegetation is used to determine if forest soil near industries are affected by past or presentindustrial emissions of heavy metals.
24
Bembry, Earl Dan. "Comparison of Ammonia and Particulate Matter Air Sample Concentrations at Task-Locations within Swine Confinement Buildings." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2009. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1880.
Full textAbstract:
Introduction: A task-associated analysis of ammonia and particulate matter concentrations was conducted on swine farms in breeding and gestation barns. The purpose of this study was to determine if specific tasks performed by workers increase concentrations of ammonia and particulate matter exposure.
Methods: An exploratory, descriptive design was used to determine if swine confinement workers have increased ammonia and particulate matter exposure when performing assigned tasks in breeding and gestation barns. A convenience sample of 8 workers volunteered from among all breeding and gestation workers (n=24). Data collection occurred in the morning at each of the 8 farms and continued until tasks were completed (~4 hrs). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was computed to determine if the type of task or type of barn was related to workers' exposure to ammonia or particulate matter.
Results: Ammonia levels were below the sensitivity of the instrument (<0.1) except on 1 morning when the ammonia concentration was recorded at 8 ppm. However, concentrations above 0.1 ppm lasted for less than 5 minutes. Consequently, this variable was not included in the analysis. Correlation analysis was used to answer the 1st research question. The results suggested a statistically significant decrease in particulate matter as the number of operating fans increased. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to answer the last 2 research questions. The results suggested a significant interactive effect between the type of confinement barn and the type of tasks workers were performing. The barn types differed by the number of exhaust fans and the type of animal waste disposal system.
Conclusions: Occupational health nurses can use study results to implement interventions to minimize worker exposures. These results indicate that understanding the relationship between building design and type of work tasks along with the importance of proper ventilation may minimize worker exposure to harmful particulate matter in SCBs during the summer months.
25
Ramaswamy, Maya. "Assessing occupational health among transitional agricultural workforces: a mixed methods study among U.S. beginning farmers and South Indian tea harvesting workers." Diss., University of Iowa, 2018. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/6251.
Full textAbstract:
Agriculture is a hazardous industry worldwide, and certain groups of agricultural workers are at increased risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes. Agricultural workforces are becoming increasingly transitional, as established and experienced workers exit the industry and new workers take their place. Limited occupational health surveillance exists among certain transitional agricultural workforces. In the US, beginning farmers, i.e., agricultural workers with 10 years or less experience operating a farm, may differ from established farmers in terms of their demographics, length of experience within the agricultural industry, and occupational exposures and health outcomes. Separately, South Indian tea harvesting workers are exposed to occupational physical demands that are risk factors for musculoskeletal health outcomes. However, few studies have examined associations between occupational demands and musculoskeletal pain among these workers. Furthermore, no studies have identified additional occupational health issues within the tea harvesting process.
To address the lack of available knowledge on beginning farmers and tea harvesting workers, the goals of this mixed method study were to estimate the associations between musculoskeletal symptoms and occupational physical demands and occupational psychosocial stress among beginning farmers in the US and tea harvesting workers in South India. An additional goal was to identify occupational health issues within the tea harvesting process and to determine how tea harvesting workers conceptualize and prioritize these issues.
An online survey was conducted among beginning farmers across the U.S. Participants answered questions about their demographics, personal health and farm characteristics, occupational physical demands, occupational psychosocial stress, and musculoskeletal symptoms of the low back, neck/shoulder, and elbow/wrist/hand. An interviewer-based survey was conducted among South Indian tea harvesting workers. Participants answered questions about their demographics, personal health, occupational physical demands, occupational psychosocial stress, and musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck/upper back, lower back, upper extremity region, and lower extremity region. A qualitative study was conducted using focus groups among South Indian tea harvesting workers and semi-structured interviews and structured interviews among South Indian tea harvesting workers and supervisors.
Results from the cross sectional online survey concluded that musculoskeletal symptoms were common among beginning farmers. In addition, occupational physical demands were associated with musculoskeletal pain, particularly low back pain was associated with working in awkward and cramped positions, bending or twisting the back, and carrying, lifting, or moving heavy material by hand. Results from the cross sectional interviewer-based survey concluded that musculoskeletal symptoms were also common among South Indian tea harvesting workers. Musculoskeletal pain was associated with exposure to forceful exertions, awkward posture, and repetition. Finally, results from the qualitative study identified additional occupational health issues within tea harvesting, including the presence of animals and pelvic organ prolapse. The study further identified important influential stakeholders within the tea harvesting process. Findings from these three studies may be used to inform future health interventions among these transitional workforces.
26
Predmore, Ashley N. "Enhanced Sanitization of a Human Norovirus Surrogate in Fresh Vegetables and Fruits by a Combination of Surfactants and Sanitizers." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1306441160.
Full text
27
Du, Toit Willem Johannes. "The relationship between health and safety and human risk taking behaviour in the South African electrical construction industry." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1009529.
Full textAbstract:
Mankind, and the development of people, exists due to risk-taking behaviour. It is not that humans should not take risks, but rather the ability to identify the magnitude of risk exposure in order that mankind‟s actions would be so selected as to mitigate exposed risk factors, that no harm should befall them. The approach to health and safety (H&S) has always been to manage H&S environmental factors that could have a negative impact on people, capital, and organisational systems. However, the critical component of human risk-taking behaviour that would have a far greater impact has rarely been acknowledged as part of the drivers that increase risk exposure. Human behaviour is a major contributing factor in accident causation. Although human error cannot be completely eliminated, it should be identified and correctly managed according to each individual‟s risk-taking profile. The reason people decide to take certain risks under certain conditions and the effect it has on H&S management systems is a key component to managing organisational risk exposure. To quantify the value of individual risk-taking behaviour could provide management with better opportunities of lowering the organisational risk exposure. Human risk-taking behaviour is influenced by each individual‟s perception of risk. Such perception of risk will influence decisions on risk-taking behaviour, which in turn is influenced by the individual‟s psychological profile and environmental factors, including character and the impact of a cultural environment. The electrical construction and maintenance industry differs from other similar industries in that the physical entity of electricity requires not only sensory perception for the identification and evaluation of risk factors, but also requires specialised knowledge and testing equipment to evaluate the parameters of electrical installation, plant or equipment. Without such competence, direct exposure to most electrical installations could be fatal. The optimum human resource (HR) solution for managing the risk potential of high risk-taking behaviour is the rating and allocation of specific job tasks that can match and limit the individual potential for risk-taking behaviour and the impact on organisational incident statistics. Maintaining and optimising employee job performance enables organisations to better achieve pre-set goals and missions. Such improvements being a catalyst for better job performance by setting limitations on high risk-taking behaviour, that will improve H&S performance by lowering incident rates.
28
Dooris, Matthew David. "Apparent Total Evaporative Resistance Values From Human Trials Over a Range of Metabolic and Heat Stress Levels." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3078.
Full textAbstract:
Failure to maintain thermal equilibrium can cause uncontrollable increases in body core temperature beyond critical upper limits. In selecting clothing, consideration must be given to the heat transfer properties of clothing that may restrict the cooling capacity of the human body under heat stress conditions, most importantly, apparent total evaporative resistance (Re,T,a). This study calculated and compared Re,T,a for five clothing ensembles under varying heat stress conditions, including three relative humidity (RH) levels and three stages of heat stress to determine if Re,T,a values varied or remained the same with changes in heat stress conditions. A four-way mixed model analysis of variance demonstrated significant differences for estimated Re,T,a values among ensembles, RH levels, heat stress stages, and interactions among ensembles and RH levels and ensembles and heat stress stages (p < 0.0001). No significant interaction among RH levels and heat stress stages was found (p = 0.67). A Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference multiple comparison test was used to identify where significant differences occurred (p < 0.05). The results of the study indicated that Re,T,a values do change with RH levels and stages of heat stress and that the theoretical framework for explaining heat-exchange in hot environments is not yet well-established. Also confirmed was the dominance of the convection pathway over the diffusion pathway in hot environments.
29
Savarese, Josephine. "The gifts of the chip? : the regulation of occupational health and safety in the post-industrial age." Thesis, McGill University, 1999. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=30324.
Full textAbstract:
In the face of the extensive changes resulting from the Post-Industrial Age, many are questioning "the gifts of the chip," or, more specifically, the ability of computer technologies to deliver the comfort predicted. The objective of this thesis is to examine the law's response to computer technology concerning occupational health and safety. This inquiry is necessary due to the dramatic changes that have occurred in the workforce, altering the profile of workplace health.The thesis begins with a reference to The Gift of Stones, a fictional account of the difficulties that stone workers experienced when the Bronze Age arrived. Modern labourers face parallel struggles due to the arrival of the Post-Industrial Age characterized by technological innovation and restructuring. The legitimacy and effectiveness of occupational health and safety law is challenged by changes to social institutions and by computer related work injuries.
In many jurisdictions, the state has responded to these changes by enacting ergonomic standards that seek to minimize the harmful effects of computer use. The thesis examines the trend towards ergonomic standards with particular focus on Canadian initiatives. In conclusion, it argues that ergonomic regulations are an important means of promoting safer computer practices. Additionally, ergonomic standards provide a mechanism for continued state regulation of occupational health and safety. The challenge for rule makers is ensuring that the standards are a component of comprehensive legal reforms.
30
Predmore, Ashley N. "Various Non-Thermal Technologies and Their Effectiveness against Human Norovirus Surrogates." The Ohio State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1428530909.
Full text
31
Bainbridge, Melissa Lee. "Enhancing The Content Of Bioactive Fatty Acids In Bovine Milk For Human Health Promotion And Disease Prevention." ScholarWorks @ UVM, 2017. http://scholarworks.uvm.edu/graddis/695.
Full textAbstract:
Consumer awareness of the link between dietary fats and health outcomes has led to increased demand for food products enriched with bioactive fatty acids (FA). Ruminant-derived fats, such as dairy fats, contribute significantly to the American diet and contain many unique beneficial FA, such as short- and medium-chain FA, n-3 FA, conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), vaccenic acid (VA), as well as odd-and branched-chain FA (OBCFA). Increasing these FA in dairy products by altering farm management practices, such as breed, lactation stage, and nutrition, may improve human health without a change to the diet. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to evaluate on-farm strategies to increase the content of bioactive FA in bovine milk.
The first objective was to enrich milk fat with bioactive FA via supplementation with echium oil, a terrestrial oil rich in n-3 FA. Treatments were 1.5% and 3.0% dry matter as lipid encapsulated echium oil (EEO) which were compared to a control (no EEO). Milk fat contents of n-3 FA increased with EEO supplementation but the transfer of n-3 FA from EEO into milk fat was rather low (< 5%). In a subsequent trial, ruminal protection of EEO and post-ruminal release of EEO-derived FA was examined. EEO-derived FA were preferentially incorporated into plasma lipid fractions unavailable to the mammary gland. Moreover, fecal excretion of EEO-derived FA ranged from 7-14% of intake, and VA and CLA, the biohydrogenation and metabolism products of n-3 FA, increased in milk and feces with EEO supplementation. Therefore, lipid-encapsulation provided inadequate digestibility and low transfer efficiency of n-3 FA into milk. The second objective was to compare the bacterial community structure and unique bioactive FA in bacterial membranes and milk fat between Holstein (HO), Jersey (JE), and HO x JE crossbreeds (CB) across a lactation. Lactation stage had a prominent effect on rumen bacterial taxa, with Firmicutes being most abundant during early lactation. The FA composition of bacterial cells was affected by both lactation stage and genetics, and OBCFA in bacterial cells were positively correlated with several bacteria of the Firmicutes phylum. HO and CB exhibited greater contents of various bioactive FA in milk than JE. The highest content of all bioactive FA occurred at early lactation, while OBCFA were highest at late lactation. The third objective was to determine the effects of grazing a monoculture vs. a diverse pasture on rumen bacterial and protozoal taxa, their membrane FA composition, and milk FA. Microbial communities shifted in response to grazing regime accompanied with changes in their membrane FA profiles. Rumen microbiota from cows grazing a diverse pasture had higher contents of n-3 FA and VA, but lower contents of OBCFA. Microbial membrane FA correlated with microbial taxa, the contents of ALA and n-3 FA were positively correlated with the bacterial genus Butyrivibrio and the protozoal genus Eudioplodinium. Milk contents of CLA and n-3 FA increased when cows grazed a diverse pasture, while grazing a monoculture led to greater milk contents of OBCFA.
In conclusion, grazing cows on a diverse pasture, when compared to genetic effects and lipid supplementation, was the most efficacious strategy to increase the content of bioactive FA in milk.
32
Williams, Ischer Sarah Ashlee. "Evaluation of a sprinkler cooling system on inhalable dust and ammonia concentrations in broiler chicken production." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2016. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/3216.
Full textAbstract:
Indoor air contaminants such as dust and gases are present in concentrations that may be hazardous to worker health in poultry production. Poultry dust may contain inflammatory agents (e.g., endotoxin) and inhalation exposure has been associated with pulmonary symptoms. The current control practice to reduce worker exposure to poultry dust is the use of respiratory protection (e.g., filtering face-piece respirators). Limited research has been conducted to evaluate engineering controls to reduce dust concentrations in broiler chicken production. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of a water sprinkling system to reduce inhalable dust and ammonia concentrations in a broiler chicken house.
Inhalable dust and ammonia concentrations were measured daily for the production cycle of a flock of broiler chickens (63 days). Inhalable dust was measured gravimetrically using an inhalable sampler and ammonia was measured by a direct reading sensor. Sampling was performed on a stationary mannequin inside two broiler chicken houses. One house used a sprinkler cooling system to deliver a water mist throughout the house and the second house was an untreated control. The sprinkler system activated 5 days after chicken placement and continued through day 63 of the broiler chicken production cycle. The following sprinkler activation program was used each hour from 6am to 10pm: days 5 – 9 five seconds, days 10 – 14 ten seconds, and days 15-63 for fifteen seconds.
Geometric mean (GM) inhalable dust concentrations collected in the treatment house (5.2 mg/m3) were lower than those found in the control house (6.0 mg/m3). The GM ammonia concentration within the treatment house was higher at 10.6 ppm (GSD: 1.80), compared to the control house (GM 9.51 ppm; GSD: 1.77). However, the observed differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.33 and p = 0.34, respectively).
Concentrations of inhalable dust were reduced by 11β when using the water sprinkling system, however the reduction was not statistically significant. The observed reduction in dust concentration was not sufficient to eliminate the need for respiratory protection.
33
Shao, Dingding. "Human risk assessment based on mercury contamination in food and environmental martrix at two regions in Guangdong and Zhejiang Provinces." HKBU Institutional Repository, 2011. http://repository.hkbu.edu.hk/etd_ra/1269.
Full text
34
Ricchio, Jessica L. "Pesticide drift in the Midwest: 2010-2016." Thesis, University of Iowa, 2018. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/6256.
Full textAbstract:
Approximately 92% of the land in Iowa, 64% in Indiana, and 27% in Michigan is agricultural farmland. Nearly 77% of farmland in Iowa and Indiana, and 58% of farmland in Michigan, were treated with herbicides in 2012 (USDA). Pesticide drift, or “overspray”, is defined as any off-site movement of pesticide during its application. Exposure to this drift has the potential to damage crops and landscaping, kill aquatic animals, and cause DNA damage, cancer, and allergic wheeze in applicators. The Pesticide Bureau of the Iowa Department of Agricultural and Land Stewardship (IDALS), the Indiana State Chemist (ISC), and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) investigate complaints of pesticide misuse, including reports of pesticide drift. Individual narrative reports and case summaries are available, but have not been analyzed to identify contributing factors to prevent field, worker, and community exposures; nor has the community at large been surveyed about reporting practices.
The aim of this research was to (1) identify determinants of pesticide drift events in the Midwest, comparing between states; (2) whether differing state policies were associated with drift characteristics and/or reporting of incidents; and (3) determine the proportion of events that occurred due to applicators ignoring pesticide label guidance. This examination will provide guidance when developing policies and prevention efforts used to minimize the hazards associated with pesticide drift.
Narrative case reports from IDALS and MDARD, and case summaries from ISC spanning 2010-2016 were analyzed. Narratives and case summaries were converted to trackable data for ease of analysis using Excel. Data analysis includes descriptive statistics on continuous variables (e.g., distance, wind speed), chi-square tests, and t-tests. Analysis includes: crop damage associations with wind speed by chemical; ratio of human exposures across aerial applications, and associations of distance to target crop and reported plant damage. Key state policies were compared and the responses from a survey concerning the reporting of drift incidents was analyzed. The proportion of cases that violated weather and distance recommendations/label directions for the five most common pesticides in each were analyzed.
Between 2010 and 2015, Iowa received 471 reported drift cases; between 2011 and 2016 Indiana received 391, and between 2014 and 2016 Michigan received 91 reports. The five most common pesticides analyzed for during drift investigations varied between states, but 2,4-D, glyphosate, and atrazine were common to all states. The method of application, (i.e., aerial or ground), wind speed, and the intended target crop were significantly associated with drift events across all three states. While Iowa was the only state to contain regulatory language concerning drift to bees or livestock, all states still reported 4 to 5% of cases in which pesticides drifted onto animals. Michigan was the only state to suggest the creation and use of a drift management plan and was the only state requiring applicators to inform neighbors of drift. About 30% of confirmed drift cases involved applications within 7.62 meters of desirable vegetation, and about 40% of applications occurred in wind greater than 4.5 m/s. More education, training, and community involvement are suggested interventions to reduce drift cases.
35
Glasgow, Lindonne Marcia. "Socioeconomic Characteristics of Farmers and Agrochemical Use in Grenada." ScholarWorks, 2018. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/6029.
Full textAbstract:
The World Health Organization classified carbaryl, glyphosate, and paraquat as hazardous to human health. In the Agriculture Health Study in the United States, health problems were associated with the use of these 3 agrochemicals 12 or more times per year. These 3 agrochemicals were commonly used in Grenada. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between the social and economic characteristics of the farmers who participated in the 2012 agriculture survey and the use of agrochemicals at frequencies that could pose health risks. Five constructs of the social cognitive theory were used as the premise to hypothesize relationships between the variables. Binomial regression analysis was conducted to test the hypotheses of relationships between the characteristics of 8,868 farmers and use of agrochemicals or herbicides -?¥12 timers per year. Statistically significant relationships were found between 16 characteristics of the farmers and use of agrochemicals. Significant relationships were also found between 8 characteristics of the farmers and use of herbicides -?¥12 timers per year. The findings of this study show that several characteristics of the farmers in Grenada were associated with the use of agrochemicals at frequencies that were hazardous to health. By demonstrating the need to implement preventive measures and adopt the precautionary principle in the use of agrochemicals, positive changes can be made in monitoring agriculture practices, health surveillance, and clinical practice.
36
Negrey, John Patrick. "The effect of dietary methylmercury on Na+,K+-ATPase activity and growth in fall-run chinook salmon (O. tshawytscha) from California's Central Valley." Thesis, San Jose State University, 2014. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=1552274.
Full textAbstract:
Hatchery reared Chinook salmon from California’s Central Valley were fed for 67 days (Apr-Jun, 2008) on fish pellets mixed with either 0, 1, 3, or 5 µg·g−1 methylmercury hydroxide. Weight, fork length, condition factor, and Na+,K+-ATPase measurements were determined every two weeks and a 96-h seawater challenge was conducted at the conclusion of the experiment.
Results from two-way ANOVA, with treatment and date as independent variables, indicated no significant differences for weight (F3,32 = 1.38; P = 0.280), length (F3,32 = 0.986; P = 0.412) and condition factor (F3,32 = 0.239; P = 0.869). Post-hoc analysis following two-way ANOVA indicated mean ATPase activity in the high (x¯ = 3.08, S.E. = 0.19; P = 0.008) and medium treatments (x¯ = 2.86, S.E. = 0.57; P = 0.017) was significantly increased in early May compared with the control group (x¯ = 1.47, S.E. = 0.34). The results from the 96 h seawater challenge were consistent with those of other studies indicating weight has the greatest influence for survival in the transition from freshwater to seawater. Overall, results from this study indicated methylmercury, a known neurotoxin, altered ATPase activity in fall-run Chinook but did not significantly affect mortality in the transition from freshwater to seawater.
37
Byerley, Andrew. "Becoming Jinja : The Production of Space and Making of Place in an African Industrial Town." Doctoral thesis, Stockholm : Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University, 2005. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-620.
Full text
38
Samson, Akiev. "Digital human modeling for ergonomic assessment of patient lifting by paramedics." Diss., Online access via UMI:, 2009.
Find full textAbstract:
Thesis (M.S.)--State University of New York at Binghamton, Thomas J. Watson School of Engineering and Applied Science, Department of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, 2009.Includes bibliographical references.
39
Park, Seong-Hyun. "Randomized clinical trials evaluating therapeutic influences of ornamental indoor plants in hospital rooms on health outcomes of patients recovering from surgery." Diss., Manhattan, Kan. : Kansas State University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/227.
Full text
40
Anderson, Kimberly Rose. "Quantifying Uncertainty in Low Velocity Human Aspiration Studies: Effect of Secondary Aspiration and Thin-walled Reference Sampling in Low Velocity Conditions." Diss., University of Iowa, 2013. https://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/4812.
Full textAbstract:
In order to evaluate a biologically relevant measure of exposure, inhalable samplers are designed to match the aspiration efficiency of the human head. Human inhalability is evaluated in wind tunnel studies using mannequins as human surrogates or using numerical and computational methods. There has been differences between human aspiration efficiency estimates using wind tunnel studies and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, particularly for larger particle sizes (>68 µm). The objective of this dissertation was to evaluate biases in low velocity inhalability studies in an effort to explain the discrepancies in results between experimental and computational inhalability studies. This research addressed the phenomena of secondary aspiration on human facial skin, evaluated the appropriateness of mannequin surfaces as surrogates for humans, and evaluated the performance of the thin-walled reference sampler in low velocities to quantify potential biases in low velocity inhalability studies.
The first study determined a realistic coefficient of restitution (CoR) for human facial skin over a range of ages under nine environmental conditions. This study found human facial skin is non-uniform across the face and identified significant interaction between age and sampling location, indicating that how CoR varies with age is dependent on the location sampled.
The second study applied the average CoR values for forehead, cheeks and nose in CFD simulations to evaluate the effect of secondary aspiration on human aspiration efficiency estimates and determine how refined the CoR value needed to be to accurately model human aspiration efficiency. This study identified significant increases in aspiration when allowing for particle bounce, but no significant differences between uniform CoRs of 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0, indicating differences between different mannequin surfaces and particle interactions would have minimal effect on aspiration efficiency estimates.
The third study evaluated the performance of a horizontally-aligned reference sampler in low wind speeds (0.1 to 0.4 m s-1). While significant differences from unity were identified, differences ranged from -1 to 6% and would have a negligible effect on sampler efficiency estimates. The use of a horizontally-aligned isokinetic reference sampler was found to be appropriate in freestream velocities ranging from 0.1 to 0.4 m s-1.
41
Grace, Brian. "Apparent Total Evaporative Resistance Values from Human Trials Over a Range of Heat Stress Levels." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3125.
Full textAbstract:
Clothing can influence heat stress depending on the design and its ability to act as a barrier. The progressive heat stress protocol permitted the collection of data to empirically estimate the apparent total evaporative resistance (Re,T,a). Five different clothing ensembles were evaluated, which included work clothes, cotton coveralls, and three limited-use protective clothing ensembles including a pthesis-barrier ensemble, (Tyvek® 1424), water-barrier, vapor-permeable ensemble (NexGen® LS 417), and a vapor-barrier ensemble (Tychem QC®). The study design called for three metabolic level's: low, moderate, and high (L, M, & H) and three heat stages: compensable, transitional, uncompensable (C, T, U). The purpose of this study was to determine if Re,T,a values remained constant over a range of metabolic and heat stage levels. Calculated Re,T,a values were compared using a four-way mixed model analysis of variance. Significant differences for Re,T,a were found among ensembles, metabolic levels, heat stress stages, as well as interactions among ensembles and metabolic levels along with ensembles and heat stress stages (p < 0.0001). A Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference multiple comparison test identified where significant differences occurred (p < 0.05). Results show Re,T,a values differ over a range of metabolic levels and stages of heat stress. Additionally, convection is more supportive of evaporative cooling than diffusion.
42
Rodriguez-Palacios, Alexander. "Ecology and Epidemiology of Human Pathogen Clostridium difficile in Foods, Food Animals and Wildlife." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313582304.
Full text
43
McHugh, Keith. "Agricultural Efficiency and the End of the Oil Age; Building a Future of Longevity." Scholarship @ Claremont, 2012. http://scholarship.claremont.edu/pomona_theses/47.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis uses an efficiency analysis of agricultural systems to assert that, in lieu of rising prices of fossil fuel, people need to come into more direct contact with their food systems. With a switch to smaller, more efficient farms that rely less on fossil fuel and are connected with the communities they supply for, we can avoid an energy crisis turning into a famine. These smaller-scale systems can help create self-contained, carbon-neutral communities.
44
Kengni, Bernard. "Trade and environment: the environmental impacts of the agricultural sector in South Africa." Thesis, University of the Western Cape, 2012. http://etd.uwc.ac.za/index.php?module=etd&action=viewtitle&id=gen8Srv25Nme4_1491_1363781507.
Full text
45
Watson, Sarah Louise. "Assessing the Impacts of Unrestricted Pesticide Use in Small-Scale Agriculture on Water Quality and Associated Human Health and Ecological Implications in an Indigenous Village in Rural Panam[aacute]." Scholar Commons, 2014. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5149.
Full textAbstract:
In 2014, the global pesticide industry's projected worth is $52 billion and by 2020, the developing world will make up one-third of the world's chemical production and consumption. Pesticides can have unintended negative consequences for human health and the environment, especially in the developing world where regulations are loose or nonexistent. One country with unrestricted use of pesticides is Panam[aacute], especially in Santa Rosa de Cucunatí. In this indigenous village, small-scale farmers and ranchers spray paraquat, glyphosate, picloram, and 2,4-D at higher elevations than the spring water source of a gravity-fed water system, the river, and the village. The objective of this study was to estimate the concentration of these pesticides in the water system and the river and to perform a human health and ecological risk assessment.
Pesticide fate and transport models in the graphical user interface EXAMS-PRZMS Exposure Simulation Shell (EXPRESS), which was developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, were used to predict concentrations of the four mentioned pesticides in drinking water and the river using chemical properties, data from Food and Agriculture Organization and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, and the author's experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer. The results from Tier I model FQPA Index Reservoir Screening Tool (FIRST) were used to compare immediate and delayed rain events, noting minimal difference. The Tier II PRZM-EXAMS shell provided estimated drinking water concentration (EDWC) profiles. The paraquat profile was much lower than picloram, glyphosate, and 2,4-D, which had almost identical profiles with peak concentrations around 12 ppm and the average annual concentration 100 ppb.
Average Daily Dose (ADD) via drinking water was calculated for men, women, and children using model results and compared to the oral reference dose (RfD). ADDs only exceeded the RfD with maximum peak EDWCs, implying low risk. However, RfD was used to calculate a breakpoint concentration, the concentration at which each pesticide presents a risk to the consumer. This was then compared to the maximum peak (highest, i.e. worst-case scenario) and annual (lowest, i.e. best-case scenario) EDWC profiles. In the best-case scenario, glyphosate and picloram did not pose a threat, paraquat posed a moderate threat and 2,4-D posed a high threat, with the concentration exceeding the breakpoint for 90 percent of the years. With respect to the worst-case scenario, all four chemicals posed high threats to the consumer. Individual exposure via consumption of fish from the river was calculated using a calculated bioconcentration (BCF) factor and calculated breakpoint concentrations. For the best case scenario, picloram presented a low risk and 2,4-D presented a high risk but for the worst case, both of these chemicals presented a very high risk. An additive exposure of these two human health pathways found that for the best case scenario, exposure from most of the four chemicals did not approach the RfD. However, for the worst-case scenario the exposures were significantly higher than the oral RfD--therefore, between the lowest and the highest concentrations, the general population is at risk.
For the ecological risk assessment, the 96-hour peak profile was compared to the 96-hour lethal dose (LD50); glyphosate posed a high risk to fathead minnows and low risk to bluegills and 2,4-D presented a high risk to fathead minnows, low risk to channel catfish, and very high risk to bluegills. A more general risk assessment compared maximum peak and annual concentrations to the US EPA's aquatic life benchmarks. Glyphosate presented no threat and 2,4-D only presented a threat to plants. For picloram, fish were at very high risk at the chronic level and low risk at the acute level, and plants were at moderate risk. Paraquat presented the most significant threat to aquatic life, exceeding benchmarks for all plants and invertebrates at the chronic level 100 percent of the time. It presented no threat to fish in the best-case scenario, but a high risk for fish at the chronic level in the worst case scenario, as well as very high risk for all invertebrates and plants. Improvements in application and watershed protection as part of a multi-disciplinary approach are proposed in place of technological mitigation strategies. Recommendations for future studies include the development of a developing-world context model and experimental studies in the developing world to compare to model results, where possible.
46
Steinig, Wenzel. "Shit and piss : An environmental history of the meaning and management of human excrement in densely populated areas and urban regions, with a focus on agriculture and public health issues." Thesis, Uppsala universitet, Institutionen för arkeologi och antik historia, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-302730.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis analyses individual and societal relations to human excrement by looking at historical and contemporary examples of symbolics and management systems of human shit and piss. It furthermore connects urban culture to a particular type of perception of the meaning of human waste. End-of-pipe, large scale sewerage solutions for densely populated areas and cities are analysed for their historical origins and contemporary ramifications, and contrasted with examples of classical, mediaeval, early modern and contemporary times in different regions of Europe and India. The cases were presented in a non-chronological order to avoid simple narratives of progress. The focus is on questions of agricultural recycling of excrement and the relevance of human waste for public health issues. Analytical tools during the cross-temporal and cross-cultural case comparison are the categorisations of human excrement as e.g. waste, threat or resource, the technique of dualism-deterritorialisation and occasionally the Entanglement approach. Main results are that the large-scale introduction of sewerage systems in European cities around the world coincides with urbanisation and industrialisation, that pre-industrial dense settlement faced essentially the same excrement management challenges as modern cities do and that the stability of certain management systems has been severely influenced by factors such as power structures, paradigms of purity and piety as well as economic developments. The future relevance of this topic is seen in the predicted rise of urban regions worldwide, but especially in the developing world, a development which is expected to complicate human excrement management issues considerably.
47
Martinez, MaryAnn. "Human Centeredness: The Foundation for Leadership-as-Practice in Complex Local/Regional Food Networks." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1624179376157514.
Full text
48
Myers, Kendall Page. "Zoonotic influenza and occupational risk factors in agricultural workers." Diss., University of Iowa, 2007. http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/221.
Full text
49
Pattath, Priyadarshini. "Internet-based Behavior of IT Professionals: Implications for Online Ergonomic Education to Prevent Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders." VCU Scholars Compass, 2017. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/4933.
Full textAbstract:
INTERNET-BASED BEHAVIOR OF IT PROFESSIONALS: IMPLICATIONS FOR ONLINE ERGONOMIC EDUCATION TO PREVENT WORK-RELATED MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS
By Priyadarshini Pattath, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017 Director: Dr. Robin Hurst, Assistant Professor of Adult Learning, Teaching and Learning,
School of Education
The purpose of this study was to explore the preferences of medium of ergonomic education and views about self-directed online training modules to prevent musculoskeletal disorders in computer professionals and understand their perspectives and experiences about online health information seeking using a self-directed learning framework. To accomplish this, a qualitative research design was used to analyze data from interviews and observation. An exploratory case study research design was employed to examine the experiences of fifteen information technology professionals. The findings revealed that the preference for the mode of delivery of ergonomic education depends on the individual attitude and on the perceived attributes of the particular mode of delivery. The findings highlighted the role of the Internet in making significant lifestyle and contextual modifications. Finally, the findings highlighted the barriers that were faced when seeking health information on the Internet. The findings of this study were limited by the nature of the research and sample size. Additional research is needed to support the findings. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
50
James, Jonathan Peter. "Field and laboratory analyses of manual tasks in the South African automotive industry." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1005199.
Full textAbstract:
The present study adopted a “field-laboratory-field” approach in the assessment of the efficacy of ergonomics interventions specific to two selected tasks evaluated in a South African automotive industry. Initial field testing was conducted in an Eastern Cape (South Africa) automotive plant where high risk areas were identified during walkthrough ergonomics surveys in conjunction with interaction with operators. Temporal factors and working postures of 12 industrial workers were recorded and observed, while physiological and perceptual responses were assessed. Two priority areas were focused upon for analysis, namely the Paintshop and Bodyshop with the former identified as being the more taxing of the two tasks. Responses of 30 students participating in rigourously controlled laboratory simulations were subsequently collected while completing the two tasks, namely the Paintshop Trolley Transfer (PTT) and Car Door Carriage (CDC) for participants. Working postures, kinematic, physiological and perceptual responses were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Following the laboratory experimentation a basic re-evaluation was conducted at the plant to assess whether the proposed changes had a positive effect on working postures, physiological and perceptual responses. The results of the preliminary field investigation revealed a prevalence of awkward working postures and excessive manual work in both areas. Laboratory experimentation revealed a notable reduction in task demands pre- versus post-intervention. The PTT mean lean angle for two-handed pre-intervention pulling observations of 23.7° (±3.51) was reduced to 13.9° (±2.21) post-intervention. Low back disorder (LBD) risk was reduced during the two-handed pull intervention (from 36.8% ±8.03 to 21.7% ±5.31). A significant decrement in heart rate responses from 103 bt.min-1 (±11.62) to 93 bt.min[superscript -1] (±11.77) was recorded during the two-handed symmetrical pushing intervention. The electromyography (EMG) responses for one-handed pushing and pulling pre-intervention showed the highest levels of muscular activity in the right medial deltoid due to an awkward and asymmetrical posture. CDC responses demonstrated that minor changes in the storage height of the door resulted in a significant reduction in sagittal flexion from 28.0° (±4.78) to 20.7° (±5.65). Predictions of average probability of LBD risk were significantly reduced from 50.3% (±5.91) to 39.8% (±5.10) for post-intervention car door lifting. In addition, the greatest reduction in EMG activity as a %MVC was achieved during sub-task ii (reduced from 35.1 to 13.7% and 30.5 to 13.9% for left and right erector spinae respectively) which was associated with the introduction of the transfer trolley for the door transfer phase of the CDC. Re-evaluation in the automotive plant revealed that the most notable change has been the implementation of automated ride on trolleys in the Paintshop. The Bodyshop area has also been modified to allow more effective job rotation and the step into the storage bin has been reduced via a “low-cost” stepping platform. Mean heart rate recordings were reduced from 94 (±9.77) bt.min[superscript -1] to 81 (±3.72) bt.min[superscript -1] in the Paintshop. Overall the results demonstrate the effect of “low-cost” interventions in reducing the physical stresses placed on workers in the automotive industry where much of the work is still done manually.