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A reduced environmental burden, while maintaining high quality and low cost, has become an important factor for achieving sustainability in the fisheries sector. The authors performed life cycle inventory (LCI) analysis targeting the fish production for a small-scale trawl fishery including small trawlers operating in Sendai Bay, Japan. The average annual cumulative CO2 emissions for the small trawlers were 4.7 ton-CO2/ton-product and 8.3 ton-CO2/million Japanese yen (JPN). Total fuel consumption contributed to 97% of the global warming potential. The range of variation in the basic unit of CO2 for each small trawler was also elucidated. Energy conservation through lower fuel consumption is shown to be an effective measure for reducing CO2 in a small trawler fishery. Moreover, the authors examined the system boundary, the determination of the functional unit, and the allocation method of applying LCI analysis to fisheries. Finally, the economy and environment of small trawler fisheries are discussed as important factors for sustainable fisheries, and the life cycle approach is applied to a new fishery type in Japan.

In the recent years, the environmental noise is a global issue of great concern. Especially, it is considered to be one of the most deleterious environmental risk factors for the human health and well-being in urban areas. In this study, we focus on the major source of the transportation noise in the modern-day urbanized societies, which is the road traffic noise. The study was performed in the urban complex in Thessaloniki-Neapoli in Greece, and the estimation of the road traffic noise levels was based on the CoRTN (Calculation of Road Traffic Noise) prediction method. In addition, we estimated the EBD (environmental burden of disease), in terms of DALYs (disability-adjusted life years), due to the annoyance and sleep disturbances associated with the exposure to road traffic noise. The estimation of the EBD was based on the strategic noise mapping in Thessaloniki-Neapoli as well as on the guidance document produced by the WHO (World Health Organization) for the quantitative assessment on the humans’ health consequences of the environmental noise. Above all, the results revealed the magnitude of the health damage caused by the transportation noise.

Environmental health literacy (EHL) includes knowledge of health effects due to environmental exposure and skills to protect health from environmental risks. This study investigated some aspects about EHL of the Italian adult population. Data were collected through questionnaires (n = 672) and analysed through multivariable logistic regression models. Results showed that participants with incomplete/insufficient self-perceived knowledge of health effects due to environmental risks verified less information about this topic (adjOR = 0.38 (CI95% 0.25–0.59)/0.09 (0.04–0.21); p < 0.001/<0.001), potentially spreading fake news. The self-perceived exposure to pollution was higher in participants living in towns than in rural areas (small, medium, big towns adjOR = 2.37 (1.41–3.97), 2.10 (1.11–3.96), 3.11 (1.53–6.31); p = 0.001, 0.022, 0.002) and lower in participants with incomplete/insufficient knowledge about pollution effects (adjOR = 0.54 (0.32–0.92)/0.30 (0.13–0.67); p = 0.022/0.004), confirming that knowledge is essential to achieve awareness. Since insufficient self-perceived knowledge of pollution effects was negatively associated with the adoption of pro-environmental behaviours (adjOR = 0.37 (0.15–0.90); p = 0.028), EHL was proven to be a virtuous behaviour promoter. Finally, a lack of institutional support, time and cost were identified as barriers to pro-environmental behaviours. This study provided useful data to design prevention programmes, underlined some barriers to pro-environmental behaviours and highlighted the need to promote attitudes and behaviours aimed at contrasting environmental pollution, thus protecting human health.

Objectives To estimate the burden of disease attributable to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in Polish children in terms of the number of deaths and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) due to lower respiratory infections (LRI), otitis media (OM), asthma, low birth weight (LBW) and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Materials and Methods Estimates of SHS exposure in children and in pregnant women as well as information concerning maternal smoking were derived from a national survey, the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, and the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in Poland. Mortality data (LRI, OM, asthma, and SIDS), the number of cases (LBW), and population data were obtained from national statistics (year 2010), and DALYs came from the WHO (year 2004). The burden of disease due to SHS was calculated by multiplying the total burden of a specific health outcome (deaths or DALYs) by a population attributable fraction. Results Using two estimates of SHS exposure in children: 48% and 60%, at least 12 and 14 deaths from LRI in children aged up to 2 years were attributed to SHS, for the two exposure scenarios, respectively. The highest burden of DALYs was for asthma in children aged up to 15 years: 2412, and 2970 DALYs, for the two exposure scenarios, respectively. For LRI, 419 and 500 DALYs, and for OM, 61 and 77 DALYs were attributed to SHS, for the two exposure scenarios, respectively. Between 13% and 27% of SIDS cases and between 3% and 16% of the cases of LBW at term were attributed to SHS exposure. Conclusions This study provides a conservative estimate of the public health impact of SHS exposure on Polish children. Lack of comprehensive, up to date health data concerning children, as well as lack of measures that would best reflect actual SHS exposure are major limitations of the study, likely to underestimate the burden of disease.

Objective To systematically investigate the association between neighborhood-level environmental burden and residents’ cardiovascular health in Tianjin, China. Additionally, it aimed to pinpoint neighborhoods confronting “environmental-social” dual disadvantages. The study intended to provide guidance for the equitable distribution of health resources and offer references for the formulation of public health strategies. Methods A cross-sectional design was employed in this study, which included 6,604,729 residents from 4407 neighborhoods in Tianjin. A neighborhood-level Environmental Burden Index (EBI) was constructed, covering the domains of air, built environment, and water. Meanwhile, the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) was integrated to explore potential effect modification. Mixed-effects linear regression models were utilized to analyze the associations between EBI and the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Interaction terms were used to assess effect modification, and domain-specific associations were also examined. A spatial econometric model is employed to verify its robustness. Results The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI), unemployment rate, and uninsurance rate in neighborhoods with the highest environmental burden were all higher than those in neighborhoods with the lowest environmental burden (all P  < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, the Environmental Burden Index (EBI) remained positively correlated with the prevalence of the four types of diseases (all P  < 0.001). In neighborhoods with high social vulnerability, the adverse impact of EBI on hypertension, diabetes, and stroke was stronger. The environmental burden in the air domain was associated with coronary heart disease and stroke, the built environment domain was associated with diabetes and coronary heart disease, and the water domain was associated with all four types of diseases. The results were verified to be robust by spatial econometric models. Conclusions In Tianjin, neighborhood environmental burden is linked to poorer cardiovascular health, and social vulnerability exacerbates this impact for specific conditions. As such, targeted community-based interventions aimed at improving cardiovascular health should be put into practice.

Nickel is a chemical element that occurs naturally in soil, water, air, plants, and therefore also in food and other living organisms. However, anthropogenic activities related to the production and processing of nickel can cause its increased concentration in the environment, which is a risk to wildlife and thus to human health. Nickel and its compounds are currently considered immunotoxic and carcinogenic agents that cause a number of health problems. The study examines this problem in the context of the environmental paradigm, which emphasizes the importance of political–economic and socio-economic factors that can seriously affect environmental health. The aim of the study is to draw attention to the economic–political implications of not addressing the environmental burden caused by nickel production and landfilling of waste from this production in Slovakia. The uniqueness of the study is that it reflects the negative impacts of nickel on health in a human–legal context that is characteristic of social work. The study proposes a conceptual model, the verification of which requires further research.

Background Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular, respiratory, and other diseases and health outcomes. Although NO 2 emissions have decreased in Germany, concentrations currently observed still pose a threat to population health. The aim of this study is to estimate the environmental burden of disease (EBD) resulting from long-term NO 2 exposure in Germany from 2010 to 2021. Methods To estimate the attributable disease burden, World Health Organization’s EBD approach was used. We first conducted a systematic literature review to identify exposure–response functions (ERFs) which mathematically represent the association between NO 2 exposure and the health outcomes: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), ischemic heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular and respiratory mortality. Then, we estimated the years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD) and, where possible, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to these health outcomes in Germany, using mostly publicly available data. In a third step, using the ERFs and modelled ambient NO 2 exposure data, the fraction of the disease burden attributable to NO 2 exposure was estimated for each health outcome and year, stratified by sex. Results The systematic review yielded recent ERFs for some exposure-outcome pairs, but not always for both mortality and morbidity outcomes. A full DALY calculation was possible for COPD and T2DM. For the other outcomes, either only YLL or YLD were calculated. Summing up the estimated YLD and YLL of all outcomes, the burden of disease due to NO 2 exposure in Germany decreased from 261,503 (95% UI 69,290–489,273) lost healthy years in 2010 to 100,032 (95% UI 24,558–191,715) in 2021. Conclusions Although the burden of disease attributable to NO 2 exposure decreased from 2010 to 2021, NO 2 still poses a threat to population health in Germany. While the current legal concentration limit was generally not exceeded in Germany in 2021, stricter new values proposed by WHO were frequently surpassed. When comparing the results to a previous assessment, it was obvious how strongly different input data impact the results. Transparent reporting of input data and discussing potential challenges when interpreting EBD results are critical.

Levels of suspended particulate matter (PM) of both fractions PM 10 and PM 2.5 in ambient air were monitored in three areas of Gran La Plata: industrial, urban, and residential (2017–2019). Associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) to PM were also determined and possible emission sources were identified. Assessment of health risk to PM exposure and associated compounds was realized. Results showed a decrease in levels of PM 10 in each area along the period studied, especially in the industrial area. Decreases in PM 2.5 levels were also observed in urban and residential areas over the years, although the trend is not as marked as with PM 10 levels. Then, PM 2.5 levels in the industrial area have remained practically constant. The 89% of both PM 10 and PM 2.5 annual mean exceeds the WHO reference values. The presence of most of the 16 US EPA priority PAHs studied was found with a detection frequency greater than 60% and it was possible to identify the importance of the contributions of vehicular emissions as predominant sources of PAH emission. From the calculations of the risk of contracting cancer throughout life (LCR), in the case of adults, the US EPA limits were not complied in the industrial and urban areas and in both fractions of PM. From the evaluation of the burden of disease (EBD), the calculated relative risks of mortality were very similar for the studied districts, being the relative risk in La Plata slightly lower, about 3–5%, than those in Berisso and Ensenada.

The environmental impacts of welding have attracted huge attention and it became a significant basis to evaluate sustainable manufacturing process. To achieve the environmental impact assessment of welding, the consumption/emission of inventory data should be collected for supporting inventory analysis. Meanwhile, the consumption/emission of these substances in welding is affected by process parameters (such as current, voltage, welding speed, and gas velocity). These parameters were always considered and designed for achieving satisfactory mechanical properties and satisfying the requirements of assembly. However, since the relationship between welding parameters and input/output of inventory data is not clear, the inventory data needs to be re-collected when the process parameters are changed, which is tedious and time-consuming. Thus, a model is proposed for investigating this relationship, which can predict the consumption/emission of inventory data in welding. Moreover, the welding experiment was performed for verifying the effectiveness of the model. The results show that the consumption/emission of inventory data can be predicted and the deviation is changed in the range of 0 to 15%. Meanwhile, the carbon footprint of welding a concrete column framework was calculated for validating the applicability of the method, which demonstrated that the model can help engineers select the appropriate process parameters for achieving greener welding.

Enhancing healthy and sustainable food systems is one of the key goals of the current European Commission policy. In this light, the creation of a food environment where people are properly informed about the healthiness and sustainability of food choices is essential. This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional profile and the environmental impact of meals consumed in a workplace canteen in Italy in the presence of a nudge (i.e., the Double Pyramid logo) combined with a web-based application promoting the Mediterranean Diet. Energy and nutrient contents and the carbon, water, and ecological footprints of 29,776 meals were compared across three subsequent periods (from June to April) through one-way ANOVA. Although the choice of dishes labelled with the Double Pyramid logo was comparable across periods, the selection of fish- and plant-based dishes increased from +2% (fish, vegetables) up to +17% (whole-grain cereals), with a concurrent reduction of meat-based options (−2%). Although the consumption of healthy items increased (p < 0.001), they were not added as a replacement for alternative options, leading to a higher content in energy (p < 0.001) and nutrients (p < 0.001) and worse environmental footprints, contrarily to what was observed when data were adjusted for energy. The intervention significantly improved food choices; however, as the higher selection of desired dishes was not adequately compensated for, it was not fully effective.