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Global Climate Change and Contaminants

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Guest Editor
Department of Technology and Innovation, University of Southern Denmark, Niels Bohrs Allé 1, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
Interests: Global contaminants and processes; pollution in remote areas; climate change adaptation; trace metals in the environment; economic and social impact of contaminants

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Science Section of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Interests: Global health and development; Toxic environmental pollution; Microbial diversity and ecological functions

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The climate has always changed but now the international scientific community expects that anthropogenic-induced climatic change will lead many places to experience weather and environments which are warmer and wetter than expected, with more extreme weather incidents occurring.  Since global contaminants are affected by environmental and climatic factors, the changing climate has and will undoubtedly continue to affect global processes surrounding release (volatilization or otherwise), transport, chemical or physical conversion in the atmosphere or other media, deposition and environmental partitioning of contaminants that already have or may potentially have spread across the world with the consequences that may follow.

This special issue is focused on global contaminants and climate change. In addition to the subjects mentioned above, we welcome rigorous and insightful contributions from all disciplines related to climate change and global contaminants, including those related to adaptation, impact, vulnerability of the natural and human environment, human health assessments and regulatory policies

Dr. Michael Goodsite
Dr. Hans Sanderson
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • adaptation
  • impact
  • vulnerability
  • long-range transport
  • volatilization
  • waste
  • heavy metals
  • long-range transport
  • toxicology
  • atmospheric chemistry and physics
  • regulatory policies
  • health and environmental impact assessments
  • source reduction
  • remediation
  • environmental impacts
  • vulnerable populations
  • economic costs
  • sustainable materials

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Editorial

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258 KiB  
Editorial
Editorial—Global Climate Change and Contaminants
by Hans Sanderson and Michael Goodsite
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(7), 7582-7584; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120707582 - 7 Jul 2015
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5210
Abstract
This Special Issue in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health focuses on the inter-linkage between the global distribution of contaminants and climate change. [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)

Research

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766 KiB  
Article
Raising Public Awareness: The Role of the Household Sector in Mitigating Climate Change
by Shis-Ping Lin
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(10), 13162-13178; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121013162 - 20 Oct 2015
Cited by 22 | Viewed by 5669
Abstract
In addition to greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial, transportation and commercial sectors, emissions from the household sector also contribute to global warming. By examining residents of Taiwan (N = 236), this study aims to reveal the factors that influence households’ intention to [...] Read more.
In addition to greenhouse gas emissions from the industrial, transportation and commercial sectors, emissions from the household sector also contribute to global warming. By examining residents of Taiwan (N = 236), this study aims to reveal the factors that influence households’ intention to purchase energy-efficient appliances. The assessment in this study is based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and perceived benefit or cost (BOC) is introduced as an independent variable in the proposed efficiency action toward climate change (ECC) model. According to structural equation modeling, most of the indicators presented a good fit to the corresponding ECC model constructs. The analysis indicated that BOC is a good complementary variable to the TPB, as the ECC model explained 61.9% of the variation in intention to purchase energy-efficient appliances, which was higher than that explained by the TPB (58.4%). This result indicates that the ECC model is superior to the TPB. Thus, the strategy of promoting energy-efficient appliances in the household sector should emphasize global warming and include the concept of BOC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)
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3833 KiB  
Article
Regional Projections of Extreme Apparent Temperature Days in Africa and the Related Potential Risk to Human Health
by Rebecca M. Garland, Mamopeli Matooane, Francois A. Engelbrecht, Mary-Jane M. Bopape, Willem A. Landman, Mogesh Naidoo, Jacobus Van der Merwe and Caradee Y. Wright
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(10), 12577-12604; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121012577 - 12 Oct 2015
Cited by 58 | Viewed by 12239
Abstract
Regional climate modelling was used to produce high resolution climate projections for Africa, under a “business as usual scenario”, that were translated into potential health impacts utilizing a heat index that relates apparent temperature to health impacts. The continent is projected to see [...] Read more.
Regional climate modelling was used to produce high resolution climate projections for Africa, under a “business as usual scenario”, that were translated into potential health impacts utilizing a heat index that relates apparent temperature to health impacts. The continent is projected to see increases in the number of days when health may be adversely affected by increasing maximum apparent temperatures (AT) due to climate change. Additionally, climate projections indicate that the increases in AT results in a moving of days from the less severe to the more severe Symptom Bands. The analysis of the rate of increasing temperatures assisted in identifying areas, such as the East African highlands, where health may be at increasing risk due to both large increases in the absolute number of hot days, and due to the high rate of increase. The projections described here can be used by health stakeholders in Africa to assist in the development of appropriate public health interventions to mitigate the potential health impacts from climate change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)
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1075 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Climate Change on Atmospheric Deposition of Mercury in the Arctic—A Model Sensitivity Study
by Kaj M. Hansen, Jesper H. Christensen and Jørgen Brandt
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(9), 11254-11268; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120911254 - 10 Sep 2015
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6295
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant with adverse health effects on humans and wildlife. It is of special concern in the Arctic due to accumulation in the food web and exposure of the Arctic population through a rich marine diet. Climate change may [...] Read more.
Mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant with adverse health effects on humans and wildlife. It is of special concern in the Arctic due to accumulation in the food web and exposure of the Arctic population through a rich marine diet. Climate change may alter the exposure of the Arctic population to Hg. We have investigated the effect of climate change on the atmospheric Hg transport to and deposition within the Arctic by making a sensitivity study of how the atmospheric chemistry-transport model Danish Eulerian Hemispheric Model (DEHM) reacts to climate change forcing. The total deposition of Hg to the Arctic is 18% lower in the 2090s compared to the 1990s under the applied Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES-A1B) climate scenario. Asia is the major anthropogenic source area (25% of the deposition to the Arctic) followed by Europe (6%) and North America (5%), with the rest arising from the background concentration, and this is independent of the climate. DEHM predicts between a 6% increase (Status Quo scenario) and a 37% decrease (zero anthropogenic emissions scenario) in Hg deposition to the Arctic depending on the applied emission scenario, while the combined effect of future climate and emission changes results in up to 47% lower Hg deposition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)
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880 KiB  
Article
Climate Change and Health on the U.S. Gulf Coast: Public Health Adaptation is Needed to Address Future Risks
by Elisaveta P. Petkova, Kristie L. Ebi, Derrin Culp and Irwin Redlener
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(8), 9342-9356; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120809342 - 11 Aug 2015
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 16134
Abstract
The impacts of climate change on human health have been documented globally and in the United States. Numerous studies project greater morbidity and mortality as a result of extreme weather events and other climate-sensitive hazards. Public health impacts on the U.S. Gulf Coast [...] Read more.
The impacts of climate change on human health have been documented globally and in the United States. Numerous studies project greater morbidity and mortality as a result of extreme weather events and other climate-sensitive hazards. Public health impacts on the U.S. Gulf Coast may be severe as the region is expected to experience increases in extreme temperatures, sea level rise, and possibly fewer but more intense hurricanes. Through myriad pathways, climate change is likely to make the Gulf Coast less hospitable and more dangerous for its residents, and may prompt substantial migration from and into the region. Public health impacts may be further exacerbated by the concentration of people and infrastructure, as well as the region’s coastal geography. Vulnerable populations, including the very young, elderly, and socioeconomically disadvantaged may face particularly high threats to their health and well-being. This paper provides an overview of potential public health impacts of climate variability and change on the Gulf Coast, with a focus on the region’s unique vulnerabilities, and outlines recommendations for improving the region’s ability to minimize the impacts of climate-sensitive hazards. Public health adaptation aimed at improving individual, public health system, and infrastructure resilience is urgently needed to meet the challenges climate change may pose to the Gulf Coast in the coming decades. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)
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1092 KiB  
Article
Community Trial on Heat Related-Illness Prevention Behaviors and Knowledge for the Elderly
by Noriko Takahashi, Rieko Nakao, Kayo Ueda, Masaji Ono, Masahide Kondo, Yasushi Honda and Masahiro Hashizume
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(3), 3188-3214; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120303188 - 17 Mar 2015
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 8483
Abstract
This study aims to explore whether broadcasting heat health warnings (HHWs), to every household and whether the additional home delivery of bottled water labeled with messages will be effective in improving the behaviors and knowledge of elderly people to prevent heat-related illness. A [...] Read more.
This study aims to explore whether broadcasting heat health warnings (HHWs), to every household and whether the additional home delivery of bottled water labeled with messages will be effective in improving the behaviors and knowledge of elderly people to prevent heat-related illness. A community trial on heat-related-illness-prevention behaviors and knowledge for people aged between 65 and 84 years was conducted in Nagasaki, Japan. Five hundred eight subjects were selected randomly from three groups: heat health warning (HHW), HHW and water delivery (HHW+W), and control groups. Baseline and follow-up questionnaires were conducted in June and September 2012, respectively. Of the 1524 selected subjects, the 1072 that completed both questionnaires were analyzed. The HHW+W group showed improvements in nighttime AC use (p = 0.047), water intake (p = 0.003), cooling body (p = 0.002) and reduced activities in heat (p = 0.047) compared with the control, while the HHW group improved hat or parasol use (p = 0.008). An additional effect of household water delivery was observed in water intake (p = 0.067) and cooling body (p = 0.095) behaviors. HHW and household bottled water delivery improved heat-related-illness-prevention behaviors. The results indicate that home water delivery in addition to a HHW may be needed to raise awareness of the elderly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)
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Review

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937 KiB  
Review
Climate Change Impacts on Environmental and Human Exposure to Mercury in the Arctic
by Kyrre Sundseth, Jozef M. Pacyna, Anna Banel, Elisabeth G. Pacyna and Arja Rautio
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2015, 12(4), 3579-3599; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120403579 - 31 Mar 2015
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 8736
Abstract
This paper reviews information from the literature and the EU ArcRisk project to assess whether climate change results in an increase or decrease in exposure to mercury (Hg) in the Arctic, and if this in turn will impact the risks related to its [...] Read more.
This paper reviews information from the literature and the EU ArcRisk project to assess whether climate change results in an increase or decrease in exposure to mercury (Hg) in the Arctic, and if this in turn will impact the risks related to its harmful effects. It presents the state-of-the art of knowledge on atmospheric mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources worldwide, the long-range transport to the Arctic, and it discusses the likely environmental fate and exposure effects on population groups in the Arctic under climate change conditions. The paper also includes information about the likely synergy effects (co-benefits) current and new climate change polices and mitigation options might have on mercury emissions reductions in the future. The review concludes that reductions of mercury emission from anthropogenic sources worldwide would need to be introduced as soon as possible in order to assure lowering the adverse impact of climate change on human health. Scientific information currently available, however, is not in the position to clearly answer whether climate change will increase or decrease the risk of exposure to mercury in the Arctic. New research should therefore be undertaken to model the relationships between climate change and mercury exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Climate Change and Contaminants)
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