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Article
Publication date: 11 July 2016

Saheed O. Ajayi, Lukumon O. Oyedele, Babatunde Jaiyeoba, Kabir Kadiri and Sunday Aderemi David

There have been speculations as to whether environmental friendly buildings are always healthy. Using lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the purpose of this paper is to…

Abstract

Purpose

There have been speculations as to whether environmental friendly buildings are always healthy. Using lifecycle assessment (LCA) methodology, the purpose of this paper is to investigate lifecycle relationship between building sustainability and its environmental health impacts

Design/methodology/approach

In order to achieve this, a block of classroom was modelled with the aid of Revit software, and its lifecycle global warming potential (GWP) and human health impacts were analysed using green building studio and ATHENA impact estimator tools. Sensitivity analyses of the block of classrooms were then carried out by varying the building materials and energy use pattern of the original typology. The LCA was performed for seven alternative typologies that were achieved through variation in the building materials and energy use patterns.

Findings

For all the eight building typologies, the study shows a direct relationship between GWPs and human health impacts. This confirms that the more sustainable a building, the less its tendency for having negative health effects on building operatives, occupants and the wider environment. Again, the more green a building in terms of its materials and energy use pattern, the healthier the building becomes.

Research limitations/implications

The human health impacts was evaluated by measuring amount of particulate matter (PM2.5) produced by the buildings while environmental impact was evaluated by measuring global warming (KgCO2) potentials of the buildings throughout its lifecycle. The study has been based on the impacts of building materials and energy use patterns over the entire lifecycle of the buildings and materials used for construction.

Originality/value

The study established a positive relationship between GWP of building and its human health impacts. Thus, all arguments relating to the relationship between building sustainability and health are laid to rest by the paper.

Details

World Journal of Science, Technology and Sustainable Development, vol. 13 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2042-5945

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 2002

Martin Birley

Developments at all levels between project and policy have a potential impact on human health. Healthimpact assessment (HIA) is a discipline that seeks to assess these impacts to…

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Abstract

Developments at all levels between project and policy have a potential impact on human health. Healthimpact assessment (HIA) is a discipline that seeks to assess these impacts to safeguard and enhance human health. There is a growing consensus about the scope, methodology and context for HIA but there are also many unresolved issues. This paper reviews the main trends as they vary between the healthy public policy, environmental assessment and environmental epidemiology communities; and between retrospective and prospective, developed and developing economies and urban/industrial versus rural settings. There are unresolved issues associated with the nature of evidence, the link with economic appraisal, and with the core biophysical and social health determinants. The nature of the evidence used is examined and some resolutions are proposed. The growing number of guidelines testify to a demand by development agencies for HIA, but increased consensus is required to ensure that quality assessments are delivered.

Details

Environmental Management and Health, vol. 13 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0956-6163

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 January 2018

Eduardo Botti Abbade

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the associations between obesogenic severity, the public health situation, environmental impacts, and health care expenditures in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the associations between obesogenic severity, the public health situation, environmental impacts, and health care expenditures in populations worldwide.

Design/methodology/approach

This ecological study is based on official data available for approximately 140 countries worldwide. This study defines four main variables: obesogenic severity, environmental impact, public health implications (PHI), and health expenditures, all measured through specific indicators. Data were obtained mainly from the WHO, World Bank, and IDF. The indicators were reduced to the main variables through factorial reduction and multiple regression analyses were used to test the main hypotheses.

Findings

Obesogenic severity strongly and positively affects environmental impacts (β=0.6578; p<0.001), PHI-1 (cardiovascular risk factor) (β=0.3137; p<0.001) and PHI-2 (blood glucose and diabetes diagnoses) (β=0.3170; p<0.001). Additionally, environmental impacts strongly and positively affect PHI-1 (β=0.4978; p<0.001) but not PHI-2. Thus, results suggest that environmental impact, PHI-1, and PHI-2 strongly affect health expenditures (β=0.3154; p<0.001, β=0.5745; p<0.001, and β=−0.4843; p<0.001, respectively), with PHI-2 negatively affecting the health expenditures.

Practical implications

This study presents evidence that can aid in decision making regarding public and private efforts to better align budgets and resources as well as predict the needs and expenditures of public health care systems.

Originality/value

This investigation finds that the main variables addressed are strongly associated at the worldwide level. Thus, these analytical procedures can be used to predict public health and health care cost scenarios at the global level.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 22 June 2021

Supawadee Komonkanjanakul and Rachanont Supapongpichate

The purpose of this paper is to implementing environmental education concepts to manage environmental health impacts by letting the people in the community learn through the…

1342

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to implementing environmental education concepts to manage environmental health impacts by letting the people in the community learn through the participatory learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

The participatory action research (PAR) and the environmental education concept were conducted in managing the learning process for the people in Map Kha Sub-district, Rayong province. The purposive sampling technique and the stakeholder analysis were used to derive the informants of this study. They are those people living or working in the Mab Kha Sub-district area at least 2 years, aged more than 20 years old, and were willing to participate in all steps of the study. A total of 30 informants were divided into three groups as follows: The Key Informants, The Casual Informants and The General Informants. Data collection employed workshops with three techniques – Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), Future Search Conference (FSC) and Appreciation Influence Control (AIC) – to organize cooperative learning processes to managing environmental health impacts. The Content Analysis was utilized in this study through the categorization, grouping, analysis, interpretation and systemization of data. The study period was from June 2014 to December 2015.

Findings

The study found that most people are concerned and aware of the environmental pollution problems affecting the health in the areas and need to solve such problems. They are also prepared for various problems. However, they face the problems on that they still lack of the chance to be informed about the information on the pollution problems and lack of the chance to participate. For the participatory learning process used to manage the environmental health impacts in the industrial community, it is found that the people and the leading network partners perform well through the knowledge building process on the environmental pollution problems and the planning and evaluation lead to desired behavior of people and industrial community to manage environmental health impacts.

Originality/value

The study results emphasized that the participatory learning process of the network associates was the critical key in forming the community power to manage the environmental health impacts. Therefore, the learning process should be easy, not complicated, take a short time and be friendly that will make the community understand the problem and help protect the environment systematically.

Details

Journal of Health Research, vol. 36 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0857-4421

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 May 2024

Ibrahim Nandom Yakubu, Alhassan Musah and Issah Aminu Danaa

This study aims to explore the impact of environmental sustainability on government health expenditure in Africa for the period 2000–2021.

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of environmental sustainability on government health expenditure in Africa for the period 2000–2021.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs the generalized method of moments (GMM) technique and utilizes a sample of 43 African countries.

Findings

The study reveals that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and renewable energy consumption have a positive relationship with health expenditure. For the control factors, we demonstrate that economic growth, urbanization and industrialization have a significant negative influence on health expenditure, while the impact of education on health expenditure is positive.

Practical implications

The study proposes several policy recommendations, including prioritizing investment in renewable energy sources and promoting the use of cleaner energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectric power. These measures would help improve environmental quality and reduce government health expenditure.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the limited research on the relationship between environmental quality and health expenditure in Africa. Moreover, it goes beyond previous studies that only considered CO2 emissions and explores the impact of adopting cleaner energy sources on health expenditure.

Details

Technological Sustainability, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2754-1312

Keywords

Abstract

Details

Disaster Management in Sub-Saharan Africa: Policies, Institutions and Processes
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80262-817-3

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2002

Andrew Jameton and Catherine McGuire

Sustainable health care combines three key factors: quality patient care, fiscally responsible budgeting and minimizing environmental impact. Although pollution is well understood…

2570

Abstract

Sustainable health care combines three key factors: quality patient care, fiscally responsible budgeting and minimizing environmental impact. Although pollution is well understood as a health problem, US health planners have not fully recognized the need to reduce health‐care pollution. Minimizing health‐care pollution, moreover, requires reducing the throughput of energy and materials. Ultimately, sustaining healthy ecosystems requires that health‐care material and energy utilization be limited. However, traditional conceptions of health‐care ethics maintain a philosophy of rescue that makes limiting life‐saving resources, except at a patient’s request, morally worrisome. Moreover, the media image of health care as technologically intensive, together with the common medical view that nature is the enemy, render suspect philosophical perspectives respectful of Earth’s limits. Nevertheless, academic medical centers have advantages as sites for pursuing sustainability: students often uphold environmental ideals, a public health perspective, and an interest in providing services universally; basic biomedical research on campus permits innovative research combining health and environmental considerations; opportunities exist for including environmental concerns in health professional education; some academic medical centers have already stated environmental criteria for purchasing contracts; and health‐care professionals and institutions are increasingly addressing such environmental concerns as mercury use, latex allergies, dioxin pollution, and waste volume. To address these challenges, a visioning process is proposed, designed to formulate a practical plan by means of public, local, and professional participation in the process of articulating creative and morally sound proposals for change.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 April 2017

Sophie Ghvanidze, Natalia Velikova, Tim Dodd and Wilna Oldewage-Theron

Over the last few decades, consumers’ concerns for healthier lifestyles and the environment have become the driving forces for forming food-buying intentions. The purpose of this…

3164

Abstract

Purpose

Over the last few decades, consumers’ concerns for healthier lifestyles and the environment have become the driving forces for forming food-buying intentions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of product attributes regarding nutrition and health benefits of products, the environmental impact of production and social responsibility of producers on consumers’ food and wine choices.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis is based on an online survey conducted in the USA, the UK and Germany, and incorporates a discrete choice experiment with visual shelf simulations.

Findings

Price and nutrition information are much more influential on consumers’ food choices than information about social responsibility of producers or the ecological impact of production. Product attributes emphasizing the ecological impact of production and social responsibility of food producers are specifically valued by consumers with high levels of environmental consciousness and by those concerned about goods production. Consumers who are health conscious regarding their lifestyle and diets derive high utility values from the nutritional information of the product.

Practical implications

The study contributes to an understanding of how to promote healthier food and wine choices and social and environmental responsibility of food and wine producers in various markets.

Originality/value

The study offers a comparison of product attributes concerning ecological, social, nutrition and health benefits of the product; as well the investigation of congruent interrelationships between the consumers’ values and related product attributes in three culturally distinct consumer groups.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. 119 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 September 2023

Li Wang, Yanhong Lv, Tao Wang, Shuting Wan and Yanling Ye

The purpose of this research is to address the existing gap in the study of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) by focusing on its impact on human health throughout the…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to address the existing gap in the study of construction and demolition waste (C&DW) by focusing on its impact on human health throughout the entire life cycle. And this research provides a comprehensive assessment model that incorporates the release of gaseous pollutants and particulate matter during the whole life cycle of C&DW, thereby contributing to a more holistic understanding of its impact on human health.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted in two stages. Firstly, the quantitative model framework of pollutants emitted by C&DW was established. Three types of pollutants were considered, namely nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and inhalable particulate matter (PM10). Second, disability-adjusted life year (DALY) and willingness to pay (WTP) assessments were used to provide a monetary quantified health impact for pollutants released by C&DW.

Findings

The results show that the WTP value of PM10 is the highest among all pollutants and 8.68E+07 dollars/a, while the WTP value in the disposal stage accounts for the largest proportion compared to the generation and transportation stage. These findings emphasize the importance of PM10 and C&DW treatment stage for pollutant treatment.

Originality/value

The results of this study are of great significance for the management department to optimize the construction management scheme to reduce the total amount of pollutants produced by C&DW and its harm to human health. Meanwhile, this study fills the gap in existing research on the impact assessment of C&DW on human health throughout the whole life cycle, and provides reference and basis for future research and policy formulation.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 April 2015

Maria Francesca Milazzo and Francesco Spina

– The purpose of this paper is to quantify the human health impacts of soy-biodiesel production with the aim to discuss about its environmental sustainability.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to quantify the human health impacts of soy-biodiesel production with the aim to discuss about its environmental sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

The integrated use of two current approaches, risk assessment (RA) and life cycle assessment (LCA), has allowed improvement of the potentialities of both in obtaining a more complete analysis. The implementation of a life cycle indicator for the assessment of the impacts on the human health, integrating the features of both approaches, is the main focus of this paper.

Findings

It has been found that, although the biodiesel is a green fuel, it has some criticalities in its life cycle, which cannot be disregarded. In fact, even if biodiesel is essentially a clean fuel there are some phases, prior to the industrial phase, that can cause negative effects on human health and ecosystems.

Practical implications

Results suggest some measures which can be adopted to substantially reduce human health impacts. Further alternative could be analysed in future to gain more insight about the use of biodiesel fuels.

Originality/value

The estimation of the impacts of a process producing biodiesel has been made by using a novel approach. The novelty is associated with the calculation of the impacts on human health by using the transfer factors applied in RA. The use of such factors, properly modified in order to estimate the impacts on a wider scale than a site-dimension, allows defining a holistic approach, as LCA and RA are used as complete units but at the same time can be related to each other.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. 26 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

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