Air Pollution Disasters: Liability Issues in Negligence Associated With the Provision of Personal Protective Interventions (Facemasks)

McDonald, Fiona; Horwell, Claire J.

doi:10.1017/dmp.2020.37

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The first actions must be devoted to safeguarding the population, due to the worsening of air quality, by making available respiratory protection. Despite that few studies have investigated the efficacy of facemasks, outside of occupational settings, their use should be recommended (McDonald and Horwell 2021 ). Moreover, some studies reveal that different respiratory protections offer notably distinct levels of defense, depending on the size and the composition of dust particles, the effectiveness of the material in filtering particles, and how well the protection fits the face.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey

Zanoletti,

Bontempi

2024

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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This study delves into the repercussions of the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, particularity its impact on air pollution. A year post-event, it is evident that scientific literature has paid limited attention to monitoring the situation. However, the release of hazardous substances, such as asbestos, lead, and other toxins, from damaged structures poses a significant threat by contaminating nearby air, soil, and water sources, thereby jeopardizing ecosystems and public well-being. The improper disposal of waste post-earthquake and the presence of mining and oil refinery sites in the region contribute to potential air pollutants. These circumstances create challenging environments conducive to the spread of respiratory diseases, with potential long-term health and social consequences. Unfortunately, existing data gaps hinder a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This paper pioneers the reporting and analysis of data regarding potential sources of air pollution resulting from the earthquake in Turkey. It also pinpoints gaps in knowledge, outlining areas that demand further investigation. To effectively prevent and mitigate air pollution risks and associated health concerns linked to earthquakes, strategic recommendations are proposed. A key suggestion is the establishment of post-disaster air pollution monitoring systems capable of swiftly identifying emerging health issues, facilitating efficient responses, and curtailing potential long-term effects of the disaster. The paper underscores the necessity for continuous health monitoring of the affected population to mitigate possible adverse impacts on human health. These strategies play a pivotal role in reducing the likelihood of air pollution, supporting emergency response and recovery initiatives, and fostering new dedicated scientific studies.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey

Zanoletti,

Bontempi

2024

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…This event is known in history as The Great Smog of London (Polivka, 2018). Extreme air pollution occurred in 1997 in Sumatra and Indonesian Borneo due to the massive burning of vegetation and peat for soil cleaning, and it was intensified by an El Nino climate event (McDonald and Horwell, 2020). Bhopal, India in 1984, Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan nuclear disaster in 2011 are other significative events witch led to air pollution.…”

Section: Disastersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bhopal, India in 1984, Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi, Japan nuclear disaster in 2011 are other significative events witch led to air pollution. (McDonald and Horwell, 2020). Wildfires can affect the air quality for thousands of kilometres.…”

Section: Disastersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breathing chemicals: a review of air pollution over the years

Totolici¹,

Mitrea²,

Cioloca³

et al. 2022

Studia UBB Biologia

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Air is necessary for human survival and the preservation of the environment. The scientific community is concerned about the ongoing rapid expansion of the population, which uses resources faster, and thus the accumulation of an enormous amount of waste will gradually worsen the air quality. The change in the pollutants released in the atmosphere became more complex throughout human history, and they were released in huge quantities. The sources of air pollution vary greatly – from burning fuel, the household, agricultural or mining activities to natural disasters or significant industrial accidents. New techniques that monitor the air composition are being developed to ensure air quality control. The population exposed to these harmful compounds is predisposed to various health concerns, including skin, cardiovascular, brain, blood, and lung illnesses. The substances also contribute to global warming, acid rains and ozone depletion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noticed that reducing human activities causing pollution leads to improved air quality, which shows that long-term solutions can also be found. This paper aims to offer an overview of the air pollution problems persisting around the globe and present the current state, causes and evolution of air pollution. Some of the solutions we propose in this article include energy-saving, public transportation and material recycling. We also emphasize the need to develop new technologies to control the air quality and implement a sustainable approach.

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“…The finding that industry-certified N95-style masks are most effective but hard to source and afford has led to some humanitarian organizations donating or crowdfunding such masks . However, many government agencies distribute less-effective stockpiled masks, raising important ethical questions about the morality and legality of providing suboptimal protection (McDonald et al 2020;McDonald and Horwell 2021). Provision of information on intervention effectiveness that is specific to local climates and cultures can help address such concerns.…”

Section: Risk Assessment and Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Volcanic air pollution and human health: recent advances and future directions

et al. 2021

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Volcanic air pollution from both explosive and effusive activity can affect large populations as far as thousands of kilometers away from the source, for days to decades or even centuries. Here, we summarize key advances and prospects in the assessment of health hazards, effects, risk, and management. Recent advances include standardized ash assessment methods to characterize the multiple physicochemical characteristics that might influence toxicity; the rise of community-based air quality monitoring networks using low-cost gas and particulate sensors; the development of forecasting methods for ground-level concentrations and associated public advisories; the development of risk and impact assessment methods to explore health consequences of future eruptions; and the development of evidence-based, locally specific measures for health protection. However, it remains problematic that the health effects of many major and sometimes long-duration eruptions near large populations have gone completely unmonitored. Similarly, effects of prolonged degassing on exposed populations have received very little attention relative to explosive eruptions. Furthermore, very few studies have longitudinally followed populations chronically exposed to volcanic emissions; thus, knowledge gaps remain about whether chronic exposures can trigger development of potentially fatal diseases. Instigating such studies will be facilitated by continued co-development of standardized protocols, supporting local study teams and procuring equipment, funding, and ethical permissions. Relationship building between visiting researchers and host country academic, observatory, and agency partners is vital and can, in turn, support the effective communication of health impacts of volcanic air pollution to populations, health practitioners, and emergency managers.

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Air Pollution Disasters: Liability Issues in Negligence Associated With the Provision of Personal Protective Interventions (Facemasks)

Cited by 3 publications

References 17 publications

The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey

The impacts of earthquakes on air pollution and strategies for mitigation: a case study of Turkey

Breathing chemicals: a review of air pollution over the years

Volcanic air pollution and human health: recent advances and future directions

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