POLLUTION AND HEALTH

  Implications for Women’s and Children’s Health:  Paraquat and Atrazine in Africa — An Academic Policy Perspective Abstract Paraquat and atrazine are among the most widely used herbicides in African agriculture, valued for their effectiveness in weed control and their contribution to crop productivity. However, both compounds are associated with profound toxicological risks. Women and children, due to biological susceptibility, gendered labor roles, and nutritional and social vulnerabilities, face disproportionately high health burdens from chronic and acute exposures. This paper reviews current evidence, highlights the specific risks for women and children in African agricultural and domestic contexts, and outlines urgent policy and regulatory pathways to mitigate harms while ensuring food security. 1. Introduction Chemical-intensive agriculture remains central to African food systems, with smallholders and large estates heavily reliant on synthetic herbicides. Paraquat...

  Why diazinon in Africa? — Expanded analysis with most current references (2020–2025) Executive summary  Diazinon is an organophosphate insecticide still used in many African agricultural systems because it is effective, inexpensive and widely distributed. However, a growing body of recent studies from Africa (including farm-gate residue surveys in Kenya and regional monitoring studies) plus shifting regulatory actions in high-income jurisdictions (EU non-approval, U.S. product cancellations) and continuing toxicology findings strengthen the case for risk reduction and managed phase-down in high-exposure uses (particularly fresh leafy vegetables and home/domestic uses). Policymakers should combine immediate exposure-reduction measures, sentinel surveillance, and a funded multi-year transition to IPM and lower-toxicity options. PLOS +2 Federal Register +2 1. New evidence since 2020 (what’s changed) Field residue studies in East Africa (2024–2025): Multiple recent studi...

  Tobacco Smoking by Husbands and Women’s Health Abstract Tobacco smoking remains the world’s leading preventable cause of morbidity and mortality, killing over eight million people annually, of which roughly 1.3 million are non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) (WHO, 2024). In most regions—particularly low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—smoking prevalence is markedly higher in men than women, creating a gendered pattern of exposure where married women bear disproportionate health burdens. This paper synthesizes epidemiological evidence, explores biological and social mechanisms of harm, and proposes multi-level policy actions to mitigate the risks posed to women by husbands’ smoking. 1. Introduction While global tobacco control has advanced through the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), household exposure remains inadequately addressed. In many LMICs—including countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia—male smoking rates exceed 30% while fem...

  Women’s Health in LMICs: Political Elites Seeking Healthcare Abroad Abstract The routine practice of political elites traveling abroad for medical treatment is not merely symbolic; it undermines domestic health systems, distorts health-sector priorities, and erodes public trust. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), these effects are especially detrimental to women, who depend disproportionately on publicly financed and locally delivered services for maternal, reproductive, and chronic care. This paper expands on earlier analysis by (1) presenting a historical overview of elite medical travel, (2) synthesizing cross-country evidence linking governance failures to women’s health outcomes, (3) detailing the structural, economic, and socio-cultural pathways of harm, and (4) offering a more granular policy framework with examples of best practice and reform options. 1. Introduction Political leaders’ decisions to seek medical care overseas have been widely documented in ...

Aflatoxicity in the Domestic Settings: An Academic and Policy Perspective with a Focus on Women Introduction Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic mycotoxins produced mainly by Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus . They are widely recognized for contaminating staple crops such as maize, groundnuts, and sorghum. Less explored, however, is their persistence inside the home—where food is stored, cooked, and consumed. Once introduced, aflatoxins can remain for months in household dust, utensils, and porous surfaces. For women, who often shoulder primary responsibility for food storage, preparation, and child care, the domestic environment becomes both a workplace and a high-risk exposure zone. Addressing this hidden pathway requires a gender-responsive policy lens. Domestic Sources and Pathways 1. Food Storage and Preparation Moisture and Temperature : Women frequently manage post-harvest tasks like drying and shelling grains. Limited access to mechanical dryers or moisture meters...