Levels of Heavy Metals in Traffic-Related Particulate Matter along a Major Motorway in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area, Nigeria (20m Lecture)

 Background: Traffic-related particulate matter contributes extensively to ambient air pollution especially in urban centres. Hence, Populations found along major urban motorways are at higher risk of various health effects. This study was therefore designed to determine levels of heavy metals in the air along IdiApe-Iwo road motorway in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area.

Methods: Descriptive study design involving air sampling and particulate analysis for selected heavy metals was used. At all five sampling locations, levels of particulate matter (PM10) at intervals of 10, 20 and 30 metres away from the motorway were measured using calibrated fine particulate matter sampler. Measurements were done in the morning (7-10am) and afternoon (1-4pm) for 10 weeks. Filter papers obtained from the sampler from SL were digested and analysed for Lead (Pb), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr) and Nickel (Ni) using atomic absorption spectrophotometry according to standard methods. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Pearson correlation test at p <0.05.

Results: Daily PM10 level at each sampling location were AB (100.5 ± 36.3µg/m3), IA (96.3 ± 42.1µg/m3), BA (84.6 ± 41.7µg/m3), AL (110.1 ± 48.4µg/m3), and HJ (121.6 ± 59.8µg/m3) was 4-6times above the PM10 guideline limit of 20µg/m3. The mean levels of heavy metals were Pb (161.1 ± 108.3mg/m3), Fe (2.54 ± 1.09mg/m3), Cu (0.91 ± 0.31mg/m3), Cd (52.5 ± 30.7mg/m3), Zn (0.52 ± 0.39mg/m3), and Cr (0.19 ± 0.03mg /m3). Spatial variations in PM10 and heavy metal concentrations were found to reduce with distance further away from traffic by 23.5% and 18.7% respectively.

Conclusion: Levels of heavy metals at all sampling locations along Idi-Ape-Iwo road motorway exceeded permissible guideline limits for urban centres. Periodic air monitoring of motorways should be instituted. This should be targeted at reducing traffic-related particulate matter concentrations on our motorways especially from exhaust emissions.

Sanitizing 101 ( Drop-in Learning Lab)

  Sanitizers are used in lots of EH functions and there are numerous different types that are available.  This session will show attendees how to properly test some of the more common types of sanitizers. i.e. Quat and chlorine.  Attendees will learn how to dispense and test sanitizer concentrations and the different types of test kits available.  They will get to see firsthand that when you swish the test strip that it does in fact increase the concentration reading on the test strip.  Participants will get to see how hard it is to remove sanitizer from a surface that was sanitizer with too high of a concentration.  In addition, the learning lab will also demonstrate how sanitizer can cling to the inside of a spray bottle.  Attendees can participate in any or all demonstrations based on their knowledge and needs and will be able to problem solve issues identified in the field as it relates to sanitizers better and with more confidence.                             

Meeting the Challenge in Time of Crisis (50m Lecture)

When a disaster occurs, it is essential that public and environmental health understands its role in assuring the public's health. This workshop will examine the role of public and environmental health in emergency response. From environmental concerns to threats to community health, we will discuss the threats in a disaster recovery environment. Lastly, the workshop will examine what resources and expertise that public and environmental health bring to a crisis and examine a vision of how we interfaces with existing incident management structure.

The Environmental Health Definitions Show (50m Learning Lab / Talk Show)

The National Environmental Health Association recently published new definitions of the terms "environmental health" and "environmental health professional." They were the products of a work group formed by the NEHA Board of Directors. After research, study and deliberation, the work group developed definitions and subjected them to public comment.  Comments were considered and the definitions were revised.  The final version of the definitions were published in the October 2013 Journal of Environmental Health, as well as on the NEHA.org web site and social media such as LinkedIn.  The definitions sparked lively debate about the field, its purposes, workforce composition, and qualifications to be an environmental health practitioner/professional.  This program will continue to conversation about the definitions and what it means to practice environmental health.  This is relevant because the Board of Directors also has adopted a policy calling for periodic review of the definitions and revisions when necessary. The talk show will demonstrate the use of social media in promoting the discussion of concerns and issues within the field of environmental health. It will also contribute to the understanding of the profession of environmental health and the workforce composition and range of views about what constitutes an environmental health professional. 

Development of a vocational qualification for environmental health in Saudi Arabia (20m Lecture)

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is embarking on one of the largest technical and vocational training upgrades in the world, aimed at dramatically increasing annual training capacity from about 100,000 students today to 300,000 by 2020, while simultaneously developing the quality of the vocational training and assessment/qualification systems. The proportion of the Saudi workforce currently receiving vocational training is less than 10%, but the Kingdom has set an ambitious target figure of 40-45%, which would bring Saudi Arabia in line with the majority of developed countries. According to the accreditation agency, Saudi Skills Standards, “getting more young people – male and female – into high quality Technical and Vocational Training is the single most important factor for success in the labour market”.

AlphaPlus Consultancy in the UK has been appointed to work for Saudi Skills Standards as part of a project team to help develop national occupational standards and qualifications for 49 occupations – one of which is ‘Public Health/Environmental Health Officer’ - people who investigate health hazards in a wide variety of locations, and will take action to mitigate or eliminate the hazards. 
This session will explain how National Occupational Standards for environmental health in Saudi Arabia have been developed and reviewed, and how these standards were incorporated into the development of a vocational qualification in environmental health. Delegates will be invited to consider how the approach could be applicable in other contexts, particularly where increasing vocational training capacity is a priority.

Designing a training programme for the wider public health workforce in Wales (20m Lecture)

Over the past decade there have been major advances in public health workforce development in Wales and the UK. The UK’s Chief Medical Officer recognised in 2001 that “most people, including managers, have a role in health improvement and reducing inequalities, although they may not have recognised this”. The Public Health Skills & Career Framework describes knowledge and competence for core and defined areas of public health, split across nine different career levels, from people with little knowledge of public health who may undertake specific public health activities under direction, through to those whose main role is in public health practice, right up to multidisciplinary public health leaders who set strategic direction and determine priorities across organisations and areas of public health work.

Consultant-grade public health posts are now open to those from non-medical backgrounds, including environmental health, and many EHPs have taken up positions of this nature. Formal recognition of the status of public health practitioners has also been achieved through the establishment of a Public Health Practitioner Register. The next stage is to increase recognition of the role of the ‘wider workforce’.

This session will consider a recent project in Wales to scope and design a training programme to address core and defined competences for the wider workforce for public health in Wales. The session will discuss the approach taken to identifying what is required, and how existing training opportunities have been reviewed for potential incorporation into a flexible programme. Findings from consultation and engagement with employers and likely participants will be considered and the final programme design presented. Delegates will be invited to consider how they could support the role of the wider workforce in the promotion and protection of public health in their context.

The Proliferation of Blue-Green Algae: Context, Challenges and Innovative Solutions (50m Lecture)

Phosphorous levels contained in discharged treated effluent from wastewater treatment systems directly impacts the eutrophication of lakes and the formation of blue algae blooms, which are toxic to animal and human life.  

Lack of sustainable and technically applicable solutions to an onsite wastewater treatment application for single dwellings has relegated this issue to a lower-priority level.

An approach based on a Self-Cleaning electro-coagulation process for phosphorus removal and disinfection has been tested at full scale on three different testing platforms in cold conditions for over one year. The system is now certified under the new CAN/BNQ 3680-600 Standard. The tested system of a 600 USGpd capacity is composed of a 1450 USG primary reactor followed by the 530 USG Self-Cleaning electro-coagulation unit (EC) followed by tree different combination of systems: a sand filter or an absorbent media-based filter combined or not with a UV disinfection unit.

The standalone Phosphorus Removal Unit removed by itself total phosphorus below 1.0 mg/L, which correspond to B-I and P-I classes (TSS ≤ 100 mg/L, BOD₅ ≤ 150 mg/L and Total P ≤ 1.0 mg/L) under the CAN/BNQ 3680-600 Standard.

When combined to a gravity fed sand filter 1.2 guspd/ft² area, the unit produced a high quality treated effluent with Total P concentration at 0.1 mg/L, BOD₅ and TSS below 5 mg/L and Fecal coliforms below 10 counts/100 mL.

Combination of the Phosphorus Removal Unit with the Ecoflo Biofilter, an organic media biofilter, produced treated effluent with a concentration of below 0.3 mg/L in total P, less than 3 500 fecal counts and < 10 mg/L of TSS and BOD₅  

Based on the CAN/BNQ 3680-600 Standard, the system is certified under B-IV and P-II and D-I classes (TSS and BOD₅ ≤ 10 mg/L, Total P ≤ 0.3 mg/L and Fecal coliforms or E.Coli ≤ 50 000 counts/100 mL). To reach high disinfection levels in fecal coliforms or E.Coli, an auto-cleaning UV unit has been added to the previous system. Results indicated a high level of disinfection reaching a “not detectable” level (D-III) according to the CAN/BNQ Standard (median value below 10 counts/100 mL).