POLLUTION AND HEALTH

  Pleasure and Health: The Delicate Balance Abstract Pleasure is a fundamental biological and psychosocial driver of human behavior, essential for wellbeing, social cohesion, and survival. However, in modern environments characterized by commercialization, technological intensification, and social inequities, pleasure-seeking behaviors increasingly contribute to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health disorders, addiction, and social harm. This paper examines the biological, psychological, social, and political dimensions of pleasure, highlighting how health outcomes depend not on pleasure itself but on its context, regulation, and distribution. It proposes a policy framework that promotes “health-aligned pleasure” while mitigating harm through ethical governance, harm reduction, and equity-centered interventions. 1. Introduction Public health has traditionally framed pleasure with suspicion. Behaviors associated with pleasure—eating, drinking, sexual activity, leisur...

  Right Foot Fracture in Women as a Marker of Osteoporosis: Clinical Evidence and Policy Implications Abstract Osteoporosis is a major, underdiagnosed public health problem among women worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While hip, vertebral, and wrist fractures are well-recognized consequences of osteoporosis, peripheral fractures such as those of the foot are frequently overlooked. Emerging evidence suggests that low-energy foot fractures—often unilateral and commonly affecting the right foot—may serve as early indicators of underlying skeletal fragility. This paper examines the biological, biomechanical, and epidemiological links between right foot fractures in women and osteoporosis. It further discusses interactions with parity, menopause, nutrition, and environmental exposures, and outlines policy-relevant strategies for early detection and prevention. Recognizing foot fractures as sentinel events offers an important opportunity to reduce the ...

  Pregnancy and Osteoporosis: Biological Mechanisms, Epidemiological Evidence, and Policy Implications Abstract Osteoporosis is a major public health concern among women, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where maternal nutritional stressors and high fertility rates persist. Parity—the number of pregnancies and live births a woman experiences—has emerged as an important, though context-dependent, determinant of maternal bone health. This paper examines the biological mechanisms linking parity to osteoporosis, reviews epidemiological evidence across diverse settings, and explores the compounding roles of nutrition, lactation, socioeconomic status, and environmental chemical exposures. The paper further outlines policy-relevant interventions aimed at preventing parity-associated bone loss and reducing long-term fracture risk among mothers. The analysis highlights the need to integrate bone health into maternal and reproductive health policies. 1. Introduction ...

  Plastic Shoes, Dermal Absorption, and Health Repercussions: An Academic and Policy Paper Abstract Plastic footwear—commonly made from PVC, EVA, polyurethane, or recycled composite plastics—is widely used in low- and middle-income countries due to affordability and availability. However, such footwear contains numerous chemical additives including phthalates, bisphenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), azo dyes, flame retardants, heavy metals, and microplastics. Under heat, sweat, and mechanical friction, these compounds migrate to the skin and are absorbed transdermally. Evidence links these exposures to dermatitis, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, neurodevelopmental effects, and chronic inflammatory responses. This paper synthesizes toxicological, dermatological, and environmental data on plastic-shoe chemical exposure and proposes evidence-based policy interventions for consumer safety, occupational protection, and regulatory strengthening. 1. Introduct...

  Exposure to Medical Biochemicals and Development of Intolerances Among Female Health Workers Abstract Female health workers represent a critical workforce within global health systems and are disproportionately exposed to a wide range of medical biochemicals, including disinfectants, sterilants, anesthetic gases, laboratory reagents, pharmaceuticals, and latex-based products. Prolonged or repeated exposure can lead to the development of chemical intolerances, occupational allergies, respiratory dysfunction, endocrine disruption, reproductive health impacts, and chronic hypersensitivity syndromes. This paper examines the mechanisms of intolerance development, gender-specific vulnerabilities, occupational patterns that elevate risk, and policy gaps in low- and middle-income settings. Evidence-based policy recommendations are provided to strengthen workplace safety, surveillance, and health system preparedness. 1. Introduction Health work is chemical-intensive. Female health wo...