POLLUTION AND HEALTH

  Bridging Genomic Gaps: The Importance of Genetic Counseling in the Global South versus the Global North Abstract Genetic counseling is a critical health service that supports individuals and families in understanding and adapting to the medical, psychological, and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. While it is well integrated into healthcare systems in the Global North, the Global South remains significantly underserved due to limited resources, insufficient policy frameworks, and cultural barriers. This essay explores the disparities in access to genetic counseling between the North and South, highlighting its importance for both regions while advocating for policy innovation and capacity-building in the Global South. 1. Introduction Genetic counseling is an interdisciplinary process that provides information, risk assessment, and support to people who may be at risk for inherited conditions. It plays a crucial role in personalized medicine , reprod...

  Domestic Dangers: Electronic Equipment Density and the Rising Risk of Chemical Leaks in Homes Introduction The modern home is no longer a simple shelter—it is a hub of technological interaction. Televisions, smartphones, tablets, routers, smart fridges, laptops, printers, digital speakers, and a host of other electronic gadgets now populate domestic spaces, often with high density and minimal regulation . While this digital saturation offers convenience, efficiency, and enhanced connectivity, it also brings a less visible but grave environmental health hazard : the slow, insidious release of toxic chemicals from electronic equipment . As electronics degrade over time, especially in poor storage conditions or when broken, they release toxicants like lead, mercury, and flame retardants into household environments. These exposures—frequently chronic and low-level—can severely affect vulnerable groups, especially children, pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with comprom...

  Silent Exposure: The Health Risks of Electronic Chemicals to Children in Domestic Settings and the Need for Policy Action Introduction Africa is experiencing a digital transformation marked by the widespread use and accumulation of electronic devices in domestic spaces. From mobile phones and TVs to broken appliances and discarded components, African households—especially in urban slums and peri-urban settlements—have become de facto storage sites for electronic waste. While the social benefits of technology are evident, the chemical hazards that these devices introduce into home environments remain poorly addressed . Children, who spend significant time indoors and engage in tactile exploration of their surroundings, are uniquely vulnerable to the toxic components embedded in household electronics and informal repair activities. Unlike formal workplaces that fall under occupational health regulations, homes are unregulated spaces of exposure , creating silent health risks t...

    Skin Diseases Among Domestic Workers in Africa: An Overlooked Public Health Concern Introduction Domestic workers—commonly referred to as “house helps” in many African countries—constitute a largely invisible yet indispensable labor force that sustains middle- and upper-class households. Their work involves prolonged physical exertion, repeated exposure to chemicals, and minimal occupational safety standards, all of which put them at high risk for occupational skin diseases . Despite their essential services, the occupational health of house helps remains under-researched and largely excluded from national health agendas. This essay critically examines the epidemiology of common skin diseases among domestic workers in Africa, explores the socio-structural determinants that perpetuate health inequities, and outlines policy interventions grounded in labor justice and public health equity. 1. Occupational and Environmental Risk Factors for Skin Disease The everyday ...

  Behind Closed Doors: The Enslavement, Exploitation, and Health Implications of House Helps in Africa Introduction Domestic workers—commonly referred to as "house helps"—form an indispensable yet structurally marginalized labor force across Africa. From child-rearing and cleaning to cooking, elder care, and even emotional labor, house helps enable middle- and upper-class households to function. These workers, largely female and often young or underage, come from rural or impoverished communities and find themselves in private homes where legal oversight and labor protection are minimal or absent. The phenomenon of house helps in Africa must be understood not merely as a matter of employment but as a gendered, classed, and racialized system of exploitation rooted in colonial legacies, social inequalities, and patriarchal traditions. The result is widespread abuse, health neglect, and structural violence that amounts to modern-day domestic servitude . This essay explores ...