Browsing by Author "Budnik, Lygia T."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- From inequitable to sustainable e-waste processing for reduction of impact on human health and the environmentPublication . Ádám, Balázs; Göen, Thomas; Scheepers, Paul T.J.; Adliene, Diana; Batinic, Bojan; Budnik, Lygia T.; Duca, Radu-Corneliu; Ghosh, Manosij; Giurgiu, Doina I.; Godderis, Lode; Goksel, Ozlem; Hansen, Karoline K.; Kassomenos, Pavlos; Milic, Natasa; Orru, Hans; Paschalidou, Anastasia; Petrovic, Maja; Puiso, Judita; Radonic, Jelena; Sekulic, Maja T.; Teixeira, Joao Paulo; Zaid, Hilal; Au, William W.Recycling of electric and electronic waste products (e-waste) which amounted to more than 50 million metric tonnes per year worldwide is a massive and global operation. Unfortunately, an estimated 70-80% of this waste has not been properly managed because the waste went from developed to low-income countries to be dumped into landfills or informally recycled. Such recycling has been carried out either directly on landfill sites or in small, often family-run recycling shops without much regulations or oversights. The process traditionally involved manual dismantling, cleaning with hazardous solvents, burning and melting on open fires, etc., which would generate a variety of toxic substances and exposure/hazards to applicators, family members, proximate residents and the environment. The situation clearly calls for global responsibility to reduce the impact on human health and the environment, especially in developing countries where poor residents have been shouldering the hazardous burden. On the other hand, formal e-waste recycling has been mainly conducted in small scales in industrialised countries. Whether the latter process would impose less risk to populations and environment has not been determined yet. Therefore, the main objectives of this review are: 1. to address current trends and emerging threats of not only informal but also formal e-waste management practices, and 2. to propose adequate measures and interventions. A major recommendation is to conduct independent surveillance of compliance with e-waste trading and processing according to the Basel Ban Amendment. The recycling industry needs to be carefully evaluated by joint effort from international agencies, producing industries and other stakeholders to develop better processes. Subsequent transition to more sustainable and equitable e-waste management solutions should result in more effective use of natural resources, and in prevention of adverse effects on health and the environment.
- Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of human exposure to pesticide residues in honey and other bees’ productsPublication . Sgargi, Daria; Adam, Balazs; Budnik, Lygia T.; Dinelli, Giovanni; Moldovan, Horatiu Remus; Perry, Melissa J.; Scheepers, Paul TJ.; Schlünssen, Vivi; Teixeira, João Paulo; Mandrioli, Daniele; Belpoggi, FiorellaBackground: The presence of pesticides in honey and related products is an increasing concern for consumers and producers, although there is lack of data on the current burden of exposure of the general human population through these products. We present a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of contamination to insecticides, herbicides and fungicides of products from honeybees, and an estimation of how much the consumption of these products contributes to the ADI (Acceptable Daily Intake) of selected substances. Objectives: We aim to systematically review and meta-analyse studies on the contamination to plant protection products in honey, royal jelly, beeswax and propolis, applying the Navigation Guide and WHO-ILO systematic review methodology as an organizing framework. Data sources: We will search electronic academic databases for potentially relevant records from PubMed, TOXNET and EMBASE. We will include quantitative studies analysing the contamination from insecticides, herbicides and fungicides in honey, propolis, royal jelly and beeswax. In particular, we will evaluate the presence of the following substances and classes of pesticides: Glyphosate, Chlorpyrifos, pyrethroid and neonicotinoid pesticides, fungicides and acaricides. Study appraisal and synthesis methods: At least two authors will independently screen titles and abstracts at a first stage of review, and full texts at a second stage, of potentially eligible records against the eligibility criteria; data extraction of included studies will then be performed by at least two authors, in blind. At least two authors will assess risk of bias and the quality of evidence, using the most suited tools currently available. The data on prevalence of contaminated samples and concentration of pesticides in the products will be combined using meta-analysis: when more than three studies reporting the necessary measures to fit the models are available, meta-analysis will be performed separately by product and by exposure; otherwise, weighted descriptive analysis will be performed. We will report the results using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines (PRISMA).