POLLUTION AND HEALTH

The Role of Government in Preventing Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for Human Health in Africa Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as one of the most pressing and complex global health threats of the 21st century, posing significant challenges to modern medicine, food security, and global development. It occurs when microorganisms—including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites—undergo genetic changes that enable them to survive exposure to drugs that were previously effective in killing or inhibiting them. As a result, infections that were once easily treatable with standard antimicrobial therapies become increasingly difficult, expensive, and sometimes impossible to manage. This growing resistance undermines decades of progress in treating infectious diseases, making routine surgeries, cancer therapies, and other medical procedures more dangerous due to the increased risk of untreatable infections. The situation is particularly alarming in Africa, where the impact o...

  Herbicide Pre-Harvest Interval and Human Exposure Herbicides play a vital role in modern agriculture by controlling unwanted plant growth, thereby increasing crop yields and reducing labor costs. However, their use is not without concern, especially regarding human exposure and potential health risks. One of the critical safety measures implemented to mitigate these risks is the pre-harvest interval (PHI)—the minimum amount of time required between the last herbicide application and the harvesting of crops. Understanding the importance of PHIs and how they influence human exposure is crucial for both food safety and public health. What is the Pre-Harvest Interval (PHI)? The pre-harvest interval is a scientifically determined period that ensures pesticide residues on crops degrade to levels considered safe for human consumption before the crop is harvested. Regulatory agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States or the European Food Safety Aut...

  The Impact of Herbicide Use on Biodiversity and Human Health Herbicides are chemicals designed to control or eliminate unwanted plants, commonly referred to as weeds, in agricultural, forestry, and urban environments. While these substances have revolutionized modern agriculture by increasing crop yields and simplifying weed management, their widespread use has sparked significant concerns about their impact on both biodiversity and human health. This essay explores the multifaceted consequences of herbicide use, focusing on its detrimental effects on ecosystems and the potential risks to human health. Herbicide Use and Its Effect on Biodiversity Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms in a given ecosystem, including plants, animals, microorganisms, and the complex relationships between them. Herbicides, particularly those with broad-spectrum activity like glyphosate, are designed to target and kill weeds. However, the unintended consequence is that they often affect ...