Talking trash: Perspectives on community environmental health in the Dominican Republic

Abstract

A safe and healthy natural and built environment is fundamental to children’s health and represents a significant determinant of community well-being. We aimed to identify and prioritize environmental health concerns within resource-poor neighborhoods in the Dominican Republic using free-listing and semi-structured focus groups composed of parents and caregivers in the perirural community of Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Transcripts were coded and relevant themes identified using qualitative content analysis. Demographic data and information regarding trash disposal practices were also collected. Participants described common health concerns, including respiratory infections, asthma, vector-borne illnesses, and diarrheal diseases and linked them to environmental hazards in their communities, such as air quality and sanitation. Interventional priorities that emerged included reduction of trash accumulation and trash burning as well as improvement of sanitation facilities.

Investigation of environmental and health impacts solid waste management problems and associated factors in Asella town, Ethiopia

“…The consequences of poor solid waste management practices cause environmental pollution and affect human health [ 21 ].The vast majority of the global burden of communicable disease transmission was caused by environmental pollution. The morbidity and mortality rate of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and vector-borne diseases reached 24% of all global deaths and 28% of deaths among children as a consequence of environmental pollution specifically with water, soil, and air pollution [ [22] , [23] , [24] ].…”

Identifying Waste Burning Plumes Using High-Resolution Satellite Imagery and Machine Learning: A Case Study in the Maldives

“…The country’s natural beauty and popularity have increased economic prosperity with subsequent increases in commercial and single-use waste, creating a unique challenge for the island archipelago. − Waste management practices in Thilafushi, particularly waste burning, have raised concerns from environmentalists locally and globally, threatening the tourism and fishery industries, two major sources of income for the Maldives. Waste burning at landfills has been linked to the release of environmental pollutants and greenhouse gases, as shown in Figure , which have been associated with an increased risk of developing new-onset asthma. , This elevates the importance of plume detection to track and mitigate unregulated burns and reduce human exposure to pollutants. This is a global issue, and understanding the toxins to which many populations are exposed is equally important …”

“…Waste burning at landfills has been linked to the release of environmental pollutants and greenhouse gases, 6 as shown in Figure 1, which have been associated with an increased risk of developing new-onset asthma. 12,13 This elevates the importance of plume detection to track and mitigate unregulated burns and reduce human exposure to pollutants. This is a global issue, and understanding the toxins to which many populations are exposed is equally important.…”