Indoor air quality (IAQ) is rated as a serious public health issue. Knowing children are accounted as more vulnerable to environmental health hazards, data are needed on air quality in schools. ...Methods A project was conducted from 2007 until 2009 (SEARCH, School Environment and Respiratory Health of Children), aiming to verify links between IAQ and children’s respiratory health. Study was conducted in ten primary schools on 735 children, in 44 classrooms. Children were randomly selected. Research tools and indicators used for children’s exposure to school environment were indoor and outdoor pollutants, two standardized questionnaires for school and classroom characteristics. In both classroom air and ambient air in front of them we measured, during a 5-day exposure period for continuous 24h measuring: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and PM10 during classes. Results PM10 concentrations were significantly most frequent in an interval of ≥80.1μg/m3, that is, in the interval above 50μg/m3. Mean PM10 value was 82.24±42.43 μg/m3, ranging from 32.00μg/m3 to of 197.00μg/m3. Conclusion The increase of outdoor PM10 concentration significantly affects the increase of indoor PM10. A statistically significant difference exists for average IAQ PM10 concentrations vs. indicators of indoor thermal comfort zone (p<0.0001); they are lower in the classrooms with indicators within the comfort zone. Moreover, dominant factors for the increase of PM10 are: high occupancy rate in the classroom (<2m2 of space per child), high relative humidity (>75%), and indoor temperature beyond 23°C, as well as bad ventilation habits (keeping windows shut most of the time).
Lyme disease (LD) is a natural focal zoonotic disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, which is mainly transmitted through infected Ixodes ricinus tick bites. The presence and abundance of ticks in ...various habitats, the infectivity rate, as well as prolonged human exposure to ticks are factors that may affect the infection risk as well as the incidence of LD. In recent years, 20% to 25% of ticks infected with different borrelial species, as well as about 5,300 citizens with LD, have been registered in the Belgrade area. Many of the patients reported tick bites in city's grassy areas. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi in high-risk groups (forestry workers and soldiers) in the Belgrade area, and to compare the results with healthy blood donors. A two-step algorithm consisting of ELISA and Western blot tests was used in the study. Immunoreactivity profiles were also compared between the groups. The results obtained showed the seroprevalence to be 11.76% in the group of forestry workers, 17.14% in the group of soldiers infected by tick bites and 8.57% in the population of healthy blood donors. The highest IgM reactivity was detected against the OspC protein, while IgG antibodies showed high reactivity against VlsE, p19, p41, OspC, OspA and p17. Further investigations in this field are necessary in humans and animals in order to improve protective and preventive measures against LD.
Between February and November 2016, 17 tuberculosis (TB) cases were identified among high school students in Novi Pazar, Serbia. The objectives of our study were to describe the outbreak, to identify ...potential risk factors and to evaluate the applied control measures.
The outbreak was described by time, person and place. A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Attack rates, unadjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Multiple log-binomial regression analysis was performed to calculate adjusted RR.
Sixteen of the total 17 cases occurred among grade 3 students, AR 5.5%. Previous TB family history, (RR = 5.29; 95% CI = 1.63-17.12), spending time with a known TB case at school (RR = 5.38; 95% CI = 1.48-19.55) and exposure to secondhand smoke (RR = 3.37; 95% CI = 1.11-10.29) were all significantly and independently associated with the occurrence of TB.
Delayed diagnosis and reporting resulted in delayed initiation of the contact investigation and non-identification of latent TB cases probably favored the occurrence of this outbreak in a low incidence country. Public health authorities should consider revising the existing guidelines, promoting inter-sectorial collaboration and increasing awareness of public health professionals.
Indoor air quality (IAQ) is rated as a serious public health issue. Knowing children are accounted as more vulnerable to environmental health hazards, data are needed on air quality in schools.
A ...project was conducted from 2007 until 2009 (SEARCH, School Environment and Respiratory Health of Children), aiming to verify links between IAQ and children's respiratory health. Study was conducted in ten primary schools on 735 children, in 44 classrooms. Children were randomly selected. Research tools and indicators used for children's exposure to school environment were indoor and outdoor pollutants, two standardized questionnaires for school and classroom characteristics. In both classroom air and ambient air in front of them we measured, during a 5-day exposure period for continuous 24h measuring: carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, indoor air temperature, relative humidity, and PM
during classes.
PM
concentrations were significantly most frequent in an interval of ≥80.1μg/m
, that is, in the interval above 50μg/m
. Mean PM
value was 82.24±42.43 μg/m
, ranging from 32.00μg/m
to of 197.00μg/m
.
The increase of outdoor PM
concentration significantly affects the increase of indoor PM
. A statistically significant difference exists for average IAQ PM
concentrations vs. indicators of indoor thermal comfort zone (p<0.0001); they are lower in the classrooms with indicators within the comfort zone. Moreover, dominant factors for the increase of PM
are: high occupancy rate in the classroom (<2m
of space per child), high relative humidity (>75%), and indoor temperature beyond 23°C, as well as bad ventilation habits (keeping windows shut most of the time).
To present the performance indicators for monitoring the cervical cancer screening process conducted in primary health centres (PHCs) and to identify any shortcomings in the implementation of the ...Organized Cervical Cancer Screening Programme (OCCSP).
This study included 16 PHCs participating in the OCCSP in the Republic of Serbia. The data were analysed from the moment the methodology in the PHCs has been accurately and consistently applied in accordance with the European guidelines (earliest from 20th December 2012 until 30th November 2014). We constructed "the standardised" model (adjusted on the number of working months). Performance indicators analysed in this study were: coverage by invitation, coverage by examination, and compliance with invitation.
According to "the standardised" model, coverage by invitation was 61.9%, coverage by examination was 35.5% and compliance to invitation was 57.3%.
Social mobilization, education, effective promotion strategies and training about cervical cancer screening program-especially in women of target population-as well as better coordination and planning of capacity-building, and staff resources in PHCs, are needed in the future in order to obtain higher values for our performance indicators. Screening registration will provide additional information about demographic characteristics of the tested women.
The study provides evidence on the individual and family factors as potential predictors (odds ratio—OR and 95% CI) of cyber-violence among school-aged children (11–17 years old) from 64 schools ...participating in the 2017 Serbian Study on health behavior in school-age children (HBSC). The standardized international HBSC research protocol was used. The study population was the nationally representative sample of 3267 students of V and VII grades of primary and I grade of secondary schools in Serbia. Potential predictors for the probability of occurrence vs. non-occurrence of cyberbullying exposure at least once and multiple times were identified among 24 explanatory variables, including the individual characteristics and family context. The cyberbullying exposure was more prevalent among girls than among boys of school-age, i.e., over one in seven girls and one in ten boys were exposed to cyberbullying. Over one in seven students at age 13 years and almost every seventh student at grade I of the gymnasium were exposed to cyberbullying. There were more students exposed to at least one cyberbullying than to multiple cyberbullying. Potential predictors of exposure to cyberbullying are gender, opinion of the family’s affluence status, fathers’ employment, communication with father, and family support. The study compensates for the evidence of cyberbullying in Serbia, which could help raise awareness, inform national and international stakeholders in the region and enable their efforts and strengthen cooperation in ending cyberbullying. This study’s findings could inform the development of an intervention program aimed at families and various professionals involved in protecting and improving school-age children’s health and well-being.
Participating in physical fighting and bullying can be a cause of severe injury and death among school-age children. Research evidence can support school and health actors' efforts to improve ...school-age children's development and health capacity for life. The study aims to assess the prevalence of school-age children's participation in fights and bullying in Serbia, and to examine the relevance of students' socio-demographic characteristics and perceptions of school and relations with other students and professors for participation in fights and bullying. A secondary analysis is also performed on the original data of the 2017 HBSC study, which was conducted on 3267 students in a nationally representative sample of primary and high schools in Serbia. We sought to investigate the relationship between eight socio-demographic characteristics and nine school-related perceptions, with two outcome variables: taking part in fights and taking part in bullying, examined by using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. The main results show that 50.8% of boys and 17.1% of girls have taken part in fights, while 17.7% boys and 10.4% of girls have taken part in bullying. Students who felt a large and very large burden of school obligations were 1.43 times more likely to participate in bullying at least once, while they were 1.38 and 2.12 times more likely to participate in multiple fights and 4.04, 1.24, and 2.78 times more likely to participate multiple times in bullying. Multiple participation in fights and in bullying is significantly negatively associated with female gender, younger age years, good and very good perception of family financial status and quality of life, and positive perceptions of school and relations they have with other students and professors. Fights among school-age children are significantly positively associated with living with relatives/legal guardians and poor quality of life. In conclusion, the prevalence of participating in at least one fight/bullying is higher than in multiple fights/bullying. These associations suggest a necessity to enhance the monitoring and control of peer behavior among school-age children. The findings of the study imply key enablers of protection, such as building relationships based on team spirit and work, friendly behavior, empathy, and help, which should be included in the value system of school and family activities in programs to combat fights and bullying in school-age children.
Atmospheric pressure plasma jet is used as a tool to design polymer/nanoparticle composite materials for various applications. The aim of this research is to get a cheap and green method for ...nanoparticle impregnation into polymer surfaces. The proposed route consists of nanoparticle synthesis by laser ablation in water and their impregnation into polymers assisted by atmospheric pressure plasma jet. The impregnation is achieved by increased roughness of treated samples containing nanoparticles which are embedded into such rough structures. This proof-of-concept method is based on pre- or post-treatment of PVC polymer drop-coated with Au nanoparticles by helium atmospheric pressure plasma jet.
Decades of mining activity have resulted in the accumulation of significant amounts of tailings that are deposited over the natural vegetation, forming deposits tens of meters thick. The tailings are ...poor in organic matter and macronutrients and contain a high concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTE). Their surface remains unvegetated for long periods of time and is susceptible to fluvial and wind erosion. Equisetum arvense and E. telmateia appear to be the first colonizers in the tailings of the Pb?Cu?Zn mine in Serbia. Each plant was sampled along with its associated substrate. Pseudototal and available metals in the substrate, as well as total As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations in the plant parts were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The findings show that both species have high bioaccumulation capacity and tolerance to otherwise toxic concentrations due to efficient accumulation, immobilization and detoxification of these elements in their underground parts. It is expected that the long-term presence of metal-tolerant horsetail species would increase the organic matter content of flotation residues, thus gradually improving their physical, chemical and biological properties. This, in turn, would promote the natural succession of other metaltolerant plant species and soil microorganisms.
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