POLLUTION AND HEALTH

  Impacts of Gender-Based Violence on Children in Families: An Academic Policy Perspective Gender-based violence (GBV) is a pervasive violation of human rights that primarily affects women but also significantly harms children within affected households. Children exposed to GBV—as direct victims or witnesses—face severe physical, psychological, social, and developmental consequences. Their educational trajectories, emotional well-being, and future relationships are shaped by the presence of violence in the home, reinforcing an intergenerational cycle of abuse. This paper explores the multifaceted impacts of GBV on children in families, examines systemic and structural challenges, and provides policy recommendations that prioritize child protection, social support, and prevention strategies within national and global frameworks. 1. Introduction Gender-based violence is recognized as one of the most widespread forms of human rights abuse, with one in three women worldwide experie...

  Radioactive Fertilizers and Women’s Health: A Policy and Public Health Perspective Abstract The global agricultural sector depends heavily on fertilizers to sustain food production. However, certain fertilizers—particularly those derived from phosphate rock—contain naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) such as uranium-238, thorium-232, radium-226, and potassium-40. Although typically low in concentration, these radionuclides accumulate in soils, water, crops, and the food chain over decades of application. Chronic exposure raises potential health risks, especially for women, whose reproductive systems, bone physiology, and hormonal balance make them more vulnerable to ionizing radiation. This paper reviews the scientific evidence on fertilizer-associated radioactivity, highlights exposure pathways and women’s health implications, and provides actionable policy recommendations for safer agricultural practices and gender-sensitive health protection. 1. Introduction ...

  Diazinon Use and Women's Health: An Expanded Academic Policy Paper Diazinon, an organophosphate insecticide first commercialized in the mid-20th century, has been a cornerstone of agricultural pest control worldwide. Despite its effectiveness in safeguarding crops and ensuring food security, diazinon presents considerable risks to human health and the environment. Acute and chronic exposure has been linked to neurological, reproductive, and developmental harms, with children and agricultural workers at greatest risk. Persistent contamination of soil and water, coupled with ecological toxicity to pollinators and aquatic life, further compounds its dangers. While high-income countries have moved towards restrictions or bans, diazinon remains widely used in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and Asia. This paper reviews diazinon’s toxicology, human health implications, regulatory landscape, and environmental impacts, while offering policy recommendations for s...

  Women’s Reproductive Health: Avoiding Harmful Substances in Toiletries and Personal Cosmetics to Prevent Cancer Introduction Women’s reproductive health is shaped by a complex interplay of biological, environmental, and socio-cultural factors. Among these, chemical exposures from toiletries and personal cosmetics represent an overlooked yet significant public health challenge. Daily products such as lotions, soaps, deodorants, perfumes, hair products, powders, and makeup often contain compounds with known carcinogenic and endocrine-disrupting properties . These substances are absorbed through the skin, inhaled, or ingested inadvertently, leading to chronic exposures that may increase the risk of reproductive cancers including breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical cancer . The cosmetic industry is estimated to be worth hundreds of billions of dollars globally, yet regulation remains weak in many regions, allowing potentially harmful substances to reach consumers without compr...

  Persistence of Aflatoxins in the Domestic Surrounding: An Academic and Policy Perspective Introduction Aflatoxins are a group of highly toxic and carcinogenic mycotoxins produced predominantly by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus . Their impact on food safety, human health, and livelihoods is well documented in agricultural and economic literature. However, less attention is paid to their persistence in the domestic environment —spaces where families store food, prepare meals, and raise children. Once introduced into households, aflatoxins may remain for extended periods in dust, storage containers, and food residues, creating a continuous cycle of exposure. This dimension of aflatoxin contamination is critical for both public health and policy, as it links food systems to the household ecology of disease. Persistence Mechanisms in Domestic Surroundings Aflatoxins are remarkably stable molecules due to their difuranocoumarin structure, making them resistant to c...

  Ageing in Women: Addressing Muscular Atrophy  to Prevent Accidents: An Expanded Academic Policy Paper Muscular atrophy in ageing women is a progressive and preventable contributor to functional decline, falls, and injury-related mortality. It is influenced by hormonal changes, nutritional inadequacies, and reduced physical activity, compounded by socio-economic and environmental barriers. This paper critically examines the underlying mechanisms of muscle loss in older women, its epidemiological link to accidents, and proposes multi-sectoral policy frameworks to mitigate associated risks. Emphasis is placed on integrating muscular health into public health planning, improving preventive screening, and creating age-friendly environments. 1. Introduction The demographic shift towards an older global population disproportionately affects women, who live longer but often with more years spent in ill health. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2022),...