Exposure to ambient air particulate matter (PM_2.5) pollution presents a significant public health and economic challenge in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This thesis used the Environmental benefits mapping and analysis program-community edition (BenMAP-CE) software tool to estimate health and economic impact of ambient air PM_2.5 pollution. The study evaluated the impact of decreasing the annual average PM_2.5 concentration in 2019 (32.8 µg/m³) to different international and national air quality standards, including World health Organization’s guidelines and the Ethiopian National Ambient Air Quality standard (NAAQS). Results showed that Addis Ababa exceeded both WHO’s and Ethiopia’s ambient air quality standards in 2019. The study estimated the attributable deaths from cardiovascular, ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lower respiratory infection (LRI) due to PM_2.5 exposure across 3 reduction scenarios. Additionally, economic benefits associated with avoided deaths were quantified using the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Value of Statistical Life (VSL) methodology. The finding demonstrated that reducing PM_2.5 pollution levels led to a notable decrease in mortality rates from various health conditions in Addis Ababa. Moreover substantial economic benefits, amounting to millions of dollars, were observed across all health endpoints, indicating significant societal savings. This study underscores the importance of implementing interventions to mitigate PM_2.5 pollution for improved public health and economic well-being in Addis Ababa and similar urban settings.

Background: Wastewater treatment is crucial to protecting public health and the environment by removing Biohazards. In Ethiopia, however, significant research gaps limit progress, especially regarding the efficiency of Biohazard removal in existing treatment facilities. This review evaluates the effectiveness of current treatment methods for Biohazard removal, highlights key challenges, and offers recommendations.

Methods: This scoping review followed PRISMA guidelines, systematically searching databases like NLM. Science Direct, HINARI and Scopus for Biohazard removal studies in Ethiopia, with independent reviewers screening and analyzing relevant data to identify key challenges.

Results: Out of 1218 studies initially recorded by title and abstract, only 11 articles were selected for analysis. The Activated Sludge Process emerged as a highly effective system, achieving 85% to 95% removal of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and total coliforms. Other methods, such as the Conventional Activated Sludge, and Anaerobic-Aerobic Reactors, demonstrated promising results but were found only in select locations. However, the widely adopted Oxidation Ponds, Ethiopia’s most common wastewater treatment system, showed the lowest AMR removal efficiency, at just 30% to 50%. Significant challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, high operational costs, and weak regulatory enforcement.

Conclusions and recommendations: The review underscores the need for affordable wastewater treatment in Ethiopia, highlighting challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and high costs. To enhance effectiveness and reduce public health risks from Biohazards like AMR, recommendations include adopting cost-effective treatment technologies, strengthening regulatory frameworks, increasing public awareness, promoting corporate responsibility, and investing in infrastructure for sustainable wastewater management.

This scoping review highlights the Activated Sludge Process and Anaerobic-Aerobic Reactors as effective methods, achieving 85% to 95% AMR removal. In contrast, Oxidation Ponds, commonly used in Ethiopia, show only 30% to 50% efficiency. Addressing challenges like inadequate infrastructure and costs is crucial, necessitating low-cost technologies for sustainable wastewater management.

Graphical Abstract

Due to the remoteness of rural areas, the impact of environmental pollution on residents’ health has not received adequate attention. This study examined the relationship between coal consumption and residents’ health status in rural areas in China between 2005 and 2021. We explored the impact of air pollution caused by coal combustion on the health of rural residents in China and provided associated countermeasures. The annual number of medical visits of rural residents was evaluated via multiple regression, and the Pearson correlation and Granger causality tests were used to evaluate the relationships between coal consumption and the changes in mortality rates of various diseases in rural areas. The results revealed that coal consumption for domestic use had a significant (P < .001) positive effect on the frequency of medical treatment, whereas this effect was not significant at the production end. Significant positive correlations existed between coal consumption in rural areas and increased mortality rates for 7 out of the 10 main diseases. Causal relationships were identified between coal consumption and increased mortality rates due to urogenital system diseases and nervous system diseases. The empirical results of this study suggest that the gradual promotion of clean energy replacement of coal with electricity and natural gas in rural areas should reduce the probability of exposure to gas emitted from coal combustion for rural residents. Related diseases in coal-consuming areas should be screened regularly to effectively protect the health and safety of rural residents.

BACKGROUND: School-based interventions are crucial for promoting healthy behaviors in children and preventing the spread of diseases. This study aimed to enhance hygiene knowledge and practices (K&P) among school children through a school-based intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To improve personal and environmental hygiene K&P amongst primary and middle-grade students in urban squatter settlement schools in Karachi, Pakistan using school-based intervention.

DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study conducted in three schools over 2 years.

SETTING: Urban squatter settlement schools in Karachi, Pakistan, serving primary, and middle-grade students.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 156 students participated in the study, with a majority of 55.77% being girls (n = 87). Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted to evaluate the impact of the intervention.

INTERVENTION: Behavioral Change Communication (BCC) strategies aimed at improving school children’s hygiene K&P.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures included changes in hygiene K&P pre- and post-intervention, specifically focusing on personal hygiene and environmental hygiene.

RESULTS: Significant improvements observed post-intervention. Mean knowledge score differences were 20.33 (SD = 5.85) for personal hygiene and 10.08 (SD = 7.72) for environmental hygiene. Practice scores also increased, with mean differences of 2.52 (SD = 1.98) and 2.47 (SD = 2.08) for personal and environmental hygiene, respectively. Statistically significant improvements (P < .05) were noted across most of the hygiene domains.

CONCLUSIONS: The school-based intervention effectively improved personal and environmental hygiene K&P among primary and middle-grade children in urban squatter settlement schools. Key recommendations include integrating hygiene education into the curriculum, providing enabling environment to children and capacity building of school teachers to teach hygiene education.

This study evaluated the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the carcinogenic risks of cattle and goat meats singed with either firewood, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or tyres from five cities in Ghana. The meat samples, before and after singeing, as well as after scraping and washing, were collected from abattoirs and sent to Clinical Analysis Laboratory (Can-Lab) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) for PAH analysis. Tyre-singed meats exhibit significantly higher PAHs concentrations (P = .01304) compared to those singed with firewood and LPG. Benzo[a]pyrene was the predominant PAH in tyre-singed cattle and goat meats, with concentrations of 23.1 mg/kg and 12.16 mg/kg, respectively. Washing singed meats reduced PAH levels, yet tyre-singed samples retained higher and dangerous concentrations than those singed with other fuels. Statistical analysis using ANOVA confirmed a significant effect of fuel type on PAH16 concentrations (P = .01304). The Tukey HSD test indicated a significant difference between LPG and tyre (P = .0105). Estimated daily intake (EDI) calculations highlighted potential health risks, particularly from tyre-singed meats, which exceeded regulatory limits set by health authorities. The findings emphasize the health hazards associated with consuming meats singed with tyres in Ghana and underscore the need for stringent regulatory measures and public awareness to mitigate PAH exposure.

This paper highlights the health risk concern associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in meat.

Background: The decline in wheat output in Ethiopia is widely attributed to pests, which has led to a rise in the usage of pesticides to boost productivity. The degree of pesticides sorption and degradation which influence the likelihood of environmental contamination from pesticides seeping into water bodies from soil has not yet been published for Ethiopian soils. The study aimed at to quantify the levels of pesticide residues, assess glyphosate’s adsorption capabilities and degradation rate in the soils.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: QuEChERS method of extraction was employed to determine the concentration of the respective pesticides. The adsorption capacities of glyphosate in agricultural soils of Cheha and Dinsho districts were measured using batch adsorption techniques.

RESULTS: Six pesticide residues were found in 12 soil samples at varied quantities. Glyphosate (24.00-219.31 µg kg⁻¹), s-metolachlor (23.67-220.67 µg kg⁻¹), chlorpyrifos (27.74 202.67 µg kg⁻¹), pyroxulam (14.67-50.65 µg kg⁻¹), florasulam (78.00-250.67 µg kg⁻¹), malathion (15.00-49.67 µg kg⁻¹). The experimental results showed that glyphosate was slightly sorbed at SD10 soil (18.91 µg⁻¹⁻ⁿ mLⁿ g⁻¹) in comparison to SC1 soil (114.66 µg⁻¹⁻ⁿ mLⁿ g⁻¹). Organic matter and clay content proving to be the principal factors influencing the process. According to adsorption experimental data, chemisorption is the major process in glyphosate adsorption, with the pseudo-second order kinetic model providing the best fit (R² = .99). The soils in the study area exhibit notable variations in glyphosate rate of degradation (0.0076-0.0221 week⁻¹). The findings show that the main soil variables affecting the half-life (glyphosate degradation) were clay concentrations (R² = .48; P = .013), pH (R² = .55; P = .0055), Organic matter (R² = .74; P = .00027), Fe_ox (R² = .50; P = .0105), and Al_ox (R² = .73; P = .00046).

CONCLUSION: The weak glyphosate adsorption capabilities of soils can be a good indicator that the pesticide residues in the soil are poised to endanger soil organisms and contaminate nearby water bodies through runoff and leaching.