Environmental Health And Biomedicine

This book contains most of the papers presented at a meeting held in Riga on two important topics, i.e. the study and modelling of Environmental Health Risk and Biomedical problems.The field of environmental health is defined by the problems faced and by the specific approaches used. These problems include, amongst many others, the treatment and disposal of liquid and airborne wastes, the elimination or reduction of stresses in the workplace, purification of water supplies, the impacts of overpopulation and inadequate or unsafe food supplies, and the development and use of measures to protect hospital and other medical workers from being infected with a variety of diseases.Related topics included in the first part of this volume deal with sessions on environment problems such as air and water contamination; health effects associated with buildings, toxicology and disease studies. Of special interest are the papers on food safety and occupational hazards. The contributions also include research presentations on risk prevention and monitoring.The second part of the book deals with the development of computational tools for the solution of medical and biological problems. The use of mathematical ideas, models and techniques is rapidly growing and is gaining prominence through the biosciences. Studies are presented on the solution of physiological processes and the very important case of the simulation of cardiovascular systems. One of the most successful areas of bioengineering has been biomechanics and orthopaedics, which are topics studied in several of the papers contained in the volume. The book ends with a section on data acquisition and analysis.This book is aimed at scientists and engineers working in the challenging area of biomedicine and health. It comprises a series of state of the art presentations which describe some of the many advances made in these fields.

Following on the success of the first conference, the Wessex Institute of Technology is convening the Second International Conference on Physical Coastal Processes, Management and Engineering. This book contains papers to be presented at that Conference. Coastal zone dynamics involve distinctive features that stem from both near shore hydrodynamics, and the complex local behaviour of the atmosphere that is affected by the irregularity of the coastal topography and variations in land sea surface roughness and thermal properties. Complex interactions occur between the atmosphere, ocean and land, leading to large temporal and spatial differences in air-sea exchange processes and wind strength and direction. Recreational and tourism demand on coastal areas activities makes increased shore and beach protection necessary. Coastlines are often subjected to direct impact of wind, swell and storm wave activity. Many other physical phenomena, such as tides and associated currents, long waves and storm surges, also affect the dynamic behaviour of the coastal zone. With the increase in extreme events due to climate change, the role of extreme events in changing coastal zones needs to be considered. The International Conference will consider also of these and will cover such topics as: Wave modelling; Wave transformation hydrodynamics; Extreme events and sea level rise; Sea defences; Interaction between coastal defences and processes; Energy recovery; Hydrodynamic forces; Sediment transport and erosion; Pollution and dispersion; Planning and beach design; Coastal geomorphology; Coastal processes and navigation; Coastal processes and GIS; Bio-physical coastal processes; and Great Lakes problems. The book will be of interest to engineers and government officials involved with coastal zone management and development

The book presents the latest advances in research into health effects of air pollution, with heavy motor vehicle traffic or cigarette smoke as the exemplar of pollution. The airways are the first-line defense system against pollution. The book focuses on respiratory ailments underlain by inflammation, increased susceptibility to infection, particularly acquired during harsh environmental conditions and exposures to particulate matter or pathogens. The importance of astute analysis of lung function for early diagnosis of disorders is underscored. A knowledge deficit concerning the aerosolized drug delivery through the airways also is addressed. Recent developments and viewpoints in the field of environmental health hazards as well as methodological advances in their assessment are provided. The book will be of interest to pulmonologists, healthcare providers, researchers and clinicians engaged in environment-related respiratory diseases, but also to policy makers concerned with clean ambient air quality.

Environmental Health Risk VII contains contributions presented at the Seventh International Conference on the Impact of Environmental Factors on Health. The successful biennial series began in 1997 and covers health problems related to the environment, which are causing increasing concern all over the world. Important to the public health is Society's ability to ensure good quality air, water, soil, and food and to eliminate or considerably reduce hazards from the human environment. That ability greatly depends on the development of techniques, both modelling and interpretive, that allow decision-makers to assess the risk posed by various factors and to propose improvements.The book covers such topics as: Risk prevention and monitoring; Mitigation problems; Disaster management and preparedness; Epidemiological studies and pandemics; Control of pollution risk; Air pollution; Water quality issues; Food safety; Radiation fields; Toxicology analysis; Ecology and health; Waste disposal; Occupational health; Social and economic issues; Accidents and man-made risks; The built environment and health; Designing for health; Contamination in rural areas; Environmental education and risk abatement.

Health problems related to the environment have become a major source of concern all over the world. The health of the population depends upon good quality air, water, soil, food and many other factors. The aim of society is to establish measures that can eliminate or considerably reduce factors hazardous to the human environment to minimize the associated health risks. The ability to achieve these objectives is greatly dependant on the development of suitable experimental, modelling and interpretive techniques, which allow a balanced assessment of the risk involved as well as suggesting ways in which the situation can be improved.The interaction between environmental risk and health is often complex and can involve a variety of social, occupational and lifestyle factors. This emphasizes the importance of considering an interdisciplinary approach. Containing papers presented at the Fourth International Conference on The Impact of Environmental Factors on Health. The topics discussed will be of interest to a wide readership including health specialists in government and industry as well as researchers involved within the broad area of environmental health risk. Featured topics include: Risk Analysis; Air Pollution; Water quality issues; Electromagnetic Fields; Food contamination; Occupational Health; Remediation; Social and Economic Issues; Housing and Health; Radiation Fields; Education and Training; Accident and man-made risks.

Biodiversity and Biomedicine: Our Future provides a new outlook on Earth’s animal, plant, and fungi species as vital sources for human health treatments. While there are over 10 million various species on the planet, only 2 million have been discovered and named. This book identifies modern ways to incorporate Earth’s species into biomedical practices and emphasizes the need for biodiversity conservation. Written by leading biodiversity and biomedical experts, the book begins with new insights on the benefits of biologically active compounds found in fungi and plants, including a chapter on the use of wild fruits as a treatment option. The book goes on to discuss the roles of animals, such as amphibians and reptiles, and how the threatened presence of these species must be reversed to conserve biodiversity. It also discusses marine organisms, including plants, animals, and microbes, as essential in contributing to human health. Biodiversity and Biomedicine: Our Future is a vital source for researchers and practitioners specializing in biodiversity and conservation studies. Students in natural medicine and biological conservation will also find this useful to learn of the world’s most bio-rich communities and the molecular diversity of various species. Presents new developments in documenting and identifying species for biodiversity conservation and ethical considerations for biodiversity research Examines biodiversity as an irreplaceable resource for biomedical breakthroughs using available species for medical research Discusses challenges and opportunities for biodiversity protection and research in biosphere reserves