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ObjectiveThis project aimed to describe demographic patterns and circumstances surrounding injury deaths in New York City (NYC) related to Hurricane Sandy.MethodsInjury deaths related to Hurricane Sandy were classified by using data from multiple sources: NYC’s Office of Vital Statistics death records, Office of Chief Medical Examiner case investigation files, and American Red Cross disaster mortality data. Injury deaths were classified as being related to Hurricane Sandy if they were caused directly by the storm’s environmental forces or if they were indirectly caused by an interruption of services, displacement, or other lifestyle disruption.ResultsWe identified 52 injury deaths in NYC related to Hurricane Sandy. Most decedents were male (75%); nearly half were aged 65 years and older (48%). Most (77%) deaths were caused by injuries directly related to Hurricane Sandy. Ninety percent of direct deaths were caused by drowning; most (73%) occurred within 3 days of landfall. Half (50%) of the 12 indirect deaths that occurred up to 30 days after the storm were caused by a fall. Nearly two-thirds (63%) were injured at home. Three-quarters (75%) of fatal injuries occurred in evacuation Zone A.ConclusionsRisk communication should focus on older adults, males, and those living in evacuation zones; more evacuation assistance is necessary. NYC’s fatal injury profile can inform future coastal storm planning efforts. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2016;10:378–385)

PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO Esta dissertação examina o surgimento do movimento ambientalista como parte de um processo maior de conscientização sobre a proteção do meio ambiente. Observa como, através da abertura de espaço discursivo para a participação democrática, as conferências internacionais da ONU sobre o meio ambiente em 1972 e 1992 contribuíram para a formação deste movimento e o próprio conceito do meio ambiente. A discussão utiliza-se dos conceitos que Jurgen Habermas desenvolve na sua teoria de ação comunicativa para destacar a importância da esfera pública e o papel da sociedade civil neste processo. No entanto, a partir de uma comparação da participação do Brasil e os EUA nas duas conferências da ONU, coloca em questão o uso dessa teoria para explicar a atuação desses países e as mudanças ao longo das duas décadas que separaram as conferências. Levanta uma discussão metodológica, inspirada em ideias apresentadas por Michel Foucault, que permite uma análise do surgimento do movimento ambientalista no Brasil e os EUA. Para além disso, contextualiza a participação de ambos os países nas conferências internacionais e a mudança para do foco para o desenvolvimento. Através disso, salienta as tensões entre as perspectivas de Habermas e Foucault, discutindo seus limites e contribuições para esta análise. This thesis examines the emergence of the environmental movement as part of a larger process of increasing conscientiousness about environmental protection. It looks at how the international UN conferences on the environment in 1972 and 1992 contributed to the formation of this movement, and the concept of the environment, by opening discursive space and allowing for democratic participation. The discussion uses concepts developed by Jurgen Habermas, in his theory of communicative action, to highlight the importance of the public sphere and the role of civil society in this process. However, a comparison of the participation of Brazil and the USA in the two conferences raises questions about the application of this theory. In order to explain the activity of these countries and the changes that occurred during the 20 years that separate the conferences a different perspective is presented. Ideas inspired by Michel Foucault provide a methodological discussion, which permits an analysis of the emergence of the environmental movement in Brazil and the USA. In addition, it contextualizes their participation in the international conferences and helps understand the turn in the international community towards a focus on development. Finally, as a result of the tensions that arise between Habermas and Foucault s perspectives, the limits and contributions of these authors for the herein analysis are uncovered.

Visiting restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges is a regular part of urban cultural life for residents and tourists alike; however, anecdotal reports and diner surveys suggest that sound levels are excessive and diners dislike them. High sound levels in these venues can contribute to both patron and employee overexposure, and young people may be particularly at risk. To supplement the paucity of literature and data on noise in urban venues, patron noise exposure was measured inside a sample of loud New York City restaurants, bars, clubs, and lounges. Sound level measurements were obtained in 59 venues. Field staff conducted one 20–162 minute visit per venue on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening. The equivalent continuous sound pressure level on the A-scale (LAeq) was calculated for each visit. Median and mean LAeq among all venues sampled were both 92 decibels (dBA). Clubs and lounges had a higher mean LAeq than restaurants and bars (97 vs. 91 dBA, p < 0.05). A greater number of patrons was as...

Background Previous studies have reported relationships between adverse respiratory health outcomes and residential proximity to traffic pollution, but have not shown this at a personal exposure level. Objective We compared, among inner-city children with asthma, the associations of adverse asthma outcome incidences with increased personal exposure to particulate matter mass ≤ 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) air pollution versus the diesel-related carbonaceous fraction of PM2.5. Methods Daily 24-hr personal samples of PM2.5, including the elemental carbon (EC) fraction, were collected for 40 fifth-grade children with asthma at four South Bronx schools (10 children per school) during approximately 1 month each. Spirometry and symptom scores were recorded several times daily during weekdays. Results We found elevated same-day relative risks of wheeze [1.45; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–2.04)], shortness of breath (1.41; 95% CI, 1.01–1.99), and total symptoms (1.30; 95% CI, 1.04–1.62) with an increase in personal EC, but not with personal PM2.5 mass. We found increased risk of cough, wheeze, and total symptoms with increased 1-day lag and 2-day average personal and school-site EC. We found no significant associations with school-site PM2.5 mass or sulfur. The EC effect estimate was robust to addition of gaseous pollutants. Conclusion Adverse health associations were strongest with personal measures of EC exposure, suggesting that the diesel “soot” fraction of PM2.5 is most responsible for pollution-related asthma exacerbations among children living near roadways. Studies that rely on exposure to PM mass may underestimate PM health impacts.

Personal exposures to fine particulate matter air pollution (PM(2.5)), and to its traffic-related fraction, were investigated in a group of urban children with asthma. The relationships of personal and outdoor school-site measurements of PM(2.5) and elemental carbon (EC) were characterized for a total of 40 fifth-grade children. These students, from four South Bronx, NY schools, each carried air pollution monitoring equipment with them for 24 h per day for similar to 1 month. Daily EC concentrations were estimated using locally calibrated reflectance of the PM(2.5) samples. Personal EC concentration was more closely related to outdoor school-site EC (median subject-specific: r=0.64) than was personal PM(2.5) to school-site PM(2.5) concentration (median subject-specific: r=0.33). Regression models also showed a stronger, more robust association of school site with personal measurements for EC than those for PM(2.5). High traffic pollution exposure was found to coincide with the weekday early morning rush hour, with higher personal exposures for participants living closer to a highway (

Statement of purpose The New York City (NYC) Child Fatality Review Advisory Team 2014 report characterises patterns of child injury deaths in NYC with a special focus on motor vehicle (MV)-related injuries. Methods/Approach Deaths among children aged 1–12yrs from 2003–2012 were identified from the NYC Bureau of Vital Statistics death records using the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10) codes V01-Y34. Detailed information about MV-related deaths among children and youth aged 1–17yrs from 2009–2011 was abstracted from review of Office of Chief Medical Examiner files and the NYC Department of Transportation Traffic Fatality Database. We calculated descriptive statistics including counts, proportions, and age-specific rates. Distances between MV crash location and place of residence were measured in blocks using the shortest route street network. Results There were 438 injury deaths from 2003–2012 among children aged 1–12. Unintentional injury death rates were highest among boys, non-Hispanic black children, and children from very high poverty neighbourhoods. Intentional injury death rates (primarily homicides) were highest among children aged 1–2, non-Hispanic black children, and children from high and very high poverty neighbourhoods. The leading cause of injury death was MV-related injuries, followed by fire-related, suffocation, and falls. Of the 110 MV-related deaths, 71% (n = 78) were pedestrians. There were 48 MV-related deaths from 2009–2011 among children and youth aged 1–17. 65% were pedestrians, 23% MV passengers, 6% MV drivers, and 6% bicyclists. 33% of the child/youth pedestrian deaths occurred between the hours of 3PM to 8PM and 48% were struck by cars. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of the pedestrians were crossing midblock or against the traffic light at an intersection. Over one third (35%) of these pedestrians were hit by a motor vehicle within 2 city blocks of home, and almost two-thirds (61%) were within 10 city blocks of home. Conclusions MV-related injuries represent the leading cause of injury death among children aged 1–12, and within NYC the majority of these injury deaths are among pedestrians. Significance and contribution to the field We recommend continued efforts, such as those enabled by NYC’s Vision Zero initiative, to make walking, bicycling, driving, and riding in a motor-vehicle safer in NYC.