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Drivers of change: dietary change, food and nutrition security and agricultural practices in peripheral communities in Pacific Island countries and territories: A scoping review protocol
- A. Harding, S. Burkart, P. Nunn, S. Svensen
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- Journal:
- Proceedings of the Nutrition Society / Volume 83 / Issue OCE1 / April 2024
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 07 May 2024, E175
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- Article
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Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are experiencing a Diet-Related Non-Communicable Disease (DR-NCD) health crisis(1). Increasing rates of DR-NCDs such as Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease have been linked to dietary transitions and increasing food insecurity in the region(2). Anthropogenic climate change has also been identified as a significant threat to food security in PICTs(3). Additionally, the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic have been identified as both a contributor to food insecurity in the region and as an opportunity to transform PICT food systems and reduce rates of DR-NCDs(4). Yet, the drivers of dietary change, food security and agricultural practices in peripheral PICT communities are not well documented or understood. To determine how these drivers may change in the future and the impacts this may have on Pacific peoples, a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary drivers of change is necessary. The aim of this scoping review was to collate existing information to improve this understanding, by mapping key factors evident in the literature that underpin the links between DR-NCDs and food security with a focus on women in PICT peripheral communities, to better clarify the challenges, working definitions and conceptual boundaries in the research area. The review maps where research has been conducted geographically and how the links between DR-NCDs and food security in PICTs have been investigated over time and identifies projections and suggestions for the future. The scoping review was conducted in accordance with a pre-defined protocol available online(5). A total of 476 peer-reviewed sources and 126 grey literature sources were identified by the initial search criteria. Two independent researchers completed title/abstract and full text screening using Covidence, and data extraction using a data extraction tool. The resulting data was quantified in table format, with common themes and ideas presented qualitatively. Sources spanned all sectors of PICT food systems with a heavy focus on production from fisheries and agriculture. Most PICTs were represented in the findings. Many drivers of change within food systems were identified, some of which included the impacts of anthropogenic climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and urbanisation. The drivers impacted all four pillars of food security, and many were directly or indirectly related to dietary and lifestyle changes associated with DR-NCD risk factors. This data is accompanied by an interpretation of results and a narrative summary. These results provide a useful platform to further explore the drivers of dietary change, food security, agricultural practices and DR-NCD’s in this region.
Intercomparison and Validation Exercises in the Southern Urals and the Kazakh Polygon
- W. Burkart, P. Goloshapov, K. König, S. Mundigl, G. N. Romanov
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- Journal:
- Radioprotection / Volume 32 / Issue 2 / April 1997
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 17 June 2005, pp. 197-208
- Print publication:
- April 1997
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The military nuclear activities in the former Soviet Union led to unique contamination and resulted in high cumulative exposures. A proper assessment is needed for mitigation and for the further development of radiation protection. Environmental samples from areas affected by large radioactive releases into the Techa river starting in 1948 and by fall-out from the explosion of a tank containing high level waste in 1957, were independently analysed by two Russian groups and by our team in 1992-93. Soil, sediments, milk and fish samples were split into three aliquots and analysed for 90Sr, 137Cs and plutonium. Soil values in areas accessible to the local population were up to 16 kBq kg-1 for 90Sr, up to 26 kBq kg-1 for 137Cs and up to 12 Bq kg-1 for 239Pu, respectively. Milk generally contained low levels ranging from <1 to 25 Bq kg-1 for 90Sr, 1 to 14 Bq kg-1 for 137Cs and <0.1 Bq kg-1 for plutonium. Pike from the Techa river, however, showed 15,000 Bq kg-190Sr. In 1993, 750 in vivo measurements of 90 Sr/90Y were performed in individuals of communities situated downstream of Majak which had incorporated large activities of 90Sr from using the Techa river as drinking water supply. To help validate a large body of Russian measurements, a transportable body counter which measures the scull content of 90Sr/90Y directly from high energy β's emitted from the front of the head and also indirectly via Bremsstrahlung was developed. Although the highest activities (37 kBq) were found in persons having lived at the river Techa during the early releases, considerable 90Sr contamination, often accompanied with elevated 137Cs burdens, were also found in younger persons indicating recent ingestion. Chronic and recent contamination will add to the uncertainties involved in the assessment of bone marrow doses from 90Sr as a crucial element in dose reconstruction for the Techa river cohort. A first visit to the medical school and health institutions in Semipalatinsk and to a village having been heavily contaminated by an atmospheric bomb test at the Polygon yielded sometimes contradictory information but indicated high cumulative exposures in several Kazakh settlements adjacent to the test site.