Browsing by Author "Hou, Deyi"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Emerging contaminants: a One Health perspective
    (Cell Press, 2024-03-13) Wang, Fang; Xiang, Leilei; Leung, Kelvin Sze-Yin; Elsner, Martin; Zhang, Ying; Guo, Yuming; Pan, Bo; Sun, Hongwen; An, Taicheng; Ying, Guangguo; Brooks, Bryan W.; Hou, Deyi; Helbling, Damian E.; Sun, Jianqiang; Qiu, Hao; Vogel, Timothy M.; Zhang, Wei; Gao, Yanzheng; Simpson, Myrna J.; Luo, Yi; Chang, Scott X.; Su, Guanyong; Wong, Bryan M.; Fu, Tzung-May; Zhu, Dong; Jobst, Karl J.; Ge, Chengjun; Coulon, Frederic
    Environmental pollution is escalating due to rapid global development that often prioritizes human needs over planetary health. Despite global efforts to mitigate legacy pollutants, the continuous introduction of new substances remains a major threat to both people and the planet. In response, global initiatives are focusing on risk assessment and regulation of emerging contaminants, as demonstrated by the ongoing efforts to establish the UN’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste, and Pollution Prevention. This review identifies the sources and impacts of emerging contaminants on planetary health, emphasizing the importance of adopting a One Health approach. Strategies for monitoring and addressing these pollutants are discussed, underscoring the need for robust and socially equitable environmental policies at both regional and international levels. Urgent actions are needed to transition toward sustainable pollution management practices to safeguard our planet for future generations.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Lead-based paint remains a major public health concern: A critical review of global production, trade, use, exposure, health risk, and implications
    (Elsevier, 2018-09-01) O'Connor, David; Hou, Deyi; Ye, Jing; Zhang, Yunhui; Sik Ok, Yong; Song, Yinan; Coulon, Frederic; Peng, Tianyue; Tian, Li
    Human exposure to lead (Pb) is a growing global public health concern. Elevated blood lead is thought to cause the mental retardation of >0.6 million children globally each year, and has recently been attributed to ~18% of all-cause mortality in the US. Due to the severe health risk, the international community, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Health Organization (WHO), is actively supporting the global phase-out of lead-based paint by 2020. However, there are many significant hurdles on the way to achieving this goal. In light of the importance of the lead-based paint issue, and the urgency of achieving the 2020 phase-out goal, this review provides critical insights from the existing scientific literature on lead-based paint, and offers a comprehensive perspective on the overall issue. The global production and international trade of lead-based paints across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe are critically discussed – revealing that lead-based paints are still widely used in many low and middle-income developing countries, and that the production and trade of lead-based paint is still wide-spread globally. In India, as well as many south-east Asian, African, Latin American and European countries, lead concentrations in paints often exceed 10,000 mg/kg. This will certainly pose a serious global threat to public health from surfaces painted with these products for many decades to come. The sources and pathways of exposure are further described to shed light on the associated health risk and socioeconomic costs. Finally, the review offers an overview of the potential intervention and abatement strategies for lead-based paints. In particular, it was found that there is a general lack of consensus on the definition of lead based paint; and, strengthening regulatory oversight, public awareness, and industry acceptance are vital in combating the global issue of lead based paint.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Resilient remediation: addressing extreme weather and climate change, creating community value
    (Wiley, 2018-12-04) Maco, Barbara; Bardos, Paul; Erickson‐Mulanax, Emerald; Hansen, Lara J.; Harclerode, Melissa; Hou, Deyi; Mielbrecht, Eric; Wainwright, Haruko M.; Yasutaka, Tetsuo; Wick, William D.
    Recent devastating hurricanes demonstrated that extreme weather and climate change can jeopardize contaminated land remediation and harm public health and the environment. Since early 2016, the Sustainable Remediation Forum (SURF) has led research and organized knowledge exchanges to examine (1) the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events on hazardous waste sites, and (2) how we can mitigate these impacts and create value for communities. The SURF team found that climate change and extreme weather events can undermine the effectiveness of the approved site remediation, and can also affect contaminant toxicity, exposure, organism sensitivity, fate and transport, long‐term operations, management, and stewardship of remediation sites. Further, failure to consider social vulnerability to climate change could compromise remediation and adaptation strategies. SURF's recommendations for resilient remediation build on resources and drivers from state, national, and international sources, and marry the practices of sustainable remediation and climate change adaptation. They outline both general principles and site‐specific protocols and provide global examples of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Opportunities for synergy include vulnerability assessments that benefit and build on established hazardous waste management law, policy, and practices. SURF's recommendations can guide owners and project managers in developing a site resiliency strategy. Resilient remediation can help expedite cleanup and redevelopment, decrease public health risks, and create jobs, parks, wetlands, and resilient energy sources. Resilient remediation and redevelopment can also positively contribute to achieving international goals for sustainable land management, climate action, clean energy, and sustainable cities.