Environmental Public Health Research Group

Malaria is a major public health problem, particularly in Africa. According to the World Health Organization (2015), Uganda has the third highest incidence of annual deaths from Malaria in Africa, with the disease being endemic in 95% of the country. Our group have been based in the Wakiso district of Uganda since 2001. We have trained a number of community health workers (CHWs) to equip them with knowledge about Malaria prevention that can be passed onto different communities. For example, mosquitos tend to enter houses after 6 pm, therefore CHWs advise local people to keep their doors closed after 6 pm to prevent the majority of mosquitos entering. The use of CHWs has enabled our help and advice to reach over 30 villages.

We have also made attempts to reduce the density of mosquito populations around houses by clearing bushes within a 2 km radius of the village where mosquitos tend to shelter during the heat of the day. Additionally, we have set up "Demonstration Sites" within different villages where local people can go to learn how to install insecticide-treated mosquito nets and mosquito proof their homes, thereby overcoming illiteracy barriers and helping to improve knowledge of Malaria prevention at ground level.

The aim of the API is to provide opportunities, through collaboration, to further develop the use of appropriate and relevant technology and community resources as a basis to promote and develop projects with African countries. In addition to the work detailed above on an integrated approach on Malaria prevention and control, we are also working on:

• the effects of water sanitation and hygiene on selected health outcomes among pupils in schools

• evaluating working environment conditions among oil, gas, farm and cement workers

• exploring ecological construction techniques such as the use of rammed earth for building houses 

The primary objective of this work is to understand institutional structures and to ascertain knowledge, attitudes and practices of frontline firefighters as well as leadership practices among senior officers. By undertaking needs assessments and comprehensive health screening, we are able to understand current practices, levels of health and fitness of staff and how they can be improved.

Gaining land from bodies of water, the ocean and coastal wetlands and shores is referred to as land reclamation. By working with six stakeholder groups, the study aims to evaluate the effects of land reclamation on marine life in coastal regions. We can then recommend strategies that may help reduce the negative impacts of land reclamation.

In collaboration with Dr John Littlewood (Cardiff School of Art and Design), the aim of this work is to measure the impact of using on-site alternative water sources in a healthcare setting to alleviate the use of desalinated potable water. This in turn reduces energy consumption, capital cost investment and carbon emissions. So far, we have developed three interventions: using food waste to generate organic biological waste; enhancing the soil quality; and monitoring the quality and quantity of condensate water.

The Centre for Health Safety and Environment (CSHE) is the focal point for delivery of Research & Enterprise activities by academics from the occupational and environmental public health discipline area, and we undertake a broad range of research and enterprise activities. 

The bioaerosol research group, led by Dr Peter Sykes, has a specific interest in occupational exposures to bioaerosols, particularly in the waste treatment industry. The aim of the group is to develop an understanding of risk factors so that evidence-based risk controls and risk mitigation measures can be established. We are currently characterising worker exposure levels to bioaerosols with a view to understanding the exposure scenarios and activities that may lead to elevated exposure levels, and hence, occupationally-related respiratory disease. In addition to our bioaerosol research, we also conduct research into: the risk associated with organic dust exposure, understanding endotoxin exposure scenarios and its correlation to organic dust, the efficacy of risk control measures and risk assessment methodologies, and cab filtration protection factors.