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Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons

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Environmental Health

Faculty Scholarship

Developing countries

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Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health

Food Safety Policies And Practices In Public Spaces: The Urban Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene Environment For Fresh Fish Sold From Individual Vendors In Mzuzu, Malawi, Jazimoni Lazaro, Fanuel Kapute, Rochelle H. Holm Sep 2019

Food Safety Policies And Practices In Public Spaces: The Urban Water, Sanitation, And Hygiene Environment For Fresh Fish Sold From Individual Vendors In Mzuzu, Malawi, Jazimoni Lazaro, Fanuel Kapute, Rochelle H. Holm

Faculty Scholarship

In sub-Saharan Africa, informal markets account for more than 80% of the total food selling. Fish is a major protein source for households in Malawi and is commonly purchased from individual vendors. The aim of this study was to review national acts and policies and local regulations focused on fresh fish sold at open-air markets or by mobile vendors and to further examine the water, sanitation, and hygiene environment that may impact food safety in Mzuzu City, Malawi. The study used interviews, an observational checklist, and sampling of water and fish skin. In general, there was limited oversight of food …


A Qualitative Assessment Of Disability Friendly Water And Sanitation Facilities In Primary Schools, Rumphi, Malawi, Harlod Zaunda, Rochelle H. Holm, Ambumulire Itimu-Phiri, Mphatso Malota, Sian White Nov 2018

A Qualitative Assessment Of Disability Friendly Water And Sanitation Facilities In Primary Schools, Rumphi, Malawi, Harlod Zaunda, Rochelle H. Holm, Ambumulire Itimu-Phiri, Mphatso Malota, Sian White

Faculty Scholarship

Students with disabilities commonly face barriers when accessing water and using sanitation and hygiene facilities at school. International frameworks have prompted governments to enact local policies that enshrine these rights, guarantee equitable access to education and mandate inclusive infrastructure. This research was designed to explore whether Malawi has translated good policies into practice. Data were gathered in Rumphi district, Malawi, through structured field observations in ten schools and interviews with students with a disability (n = 23), teachers (n = 11) and government stakeholders (n = 2). No school had facilities that fully meet the needs of students with disabilities, …


The Handpump Choice Is Yours: A Pilot Study In Rumphi District, Malawi, Rochelle Holm, Alinafe Kamangira, Victor Kasulo, Prince Kaponda, Edwin Hara, Channing Carney-Filmore, Muthi Nhlema Oct 2017

The Handpump Choice Is Yours: A Pilot Study In Rumphi District, Malawi, Rochelle Holm, Alinafe Kamangira, Victor Kasulo, Prince Kaponda, Edwin Hara, Channing Carney-Filmore, Muthi Nhlema

Faculty Scholarship

In sub-Saharan Africa, moving towards the Sustainable Development Goals will require an approach to water and sanitation service delivery for many rural communities where handpumps still dominate infrastructure. This paper reviews a case study of allowing users (local government and communities) in Rumphi District, Malawi, to choose a handpump model based on information about the life-cycle costs. The results indicate that there is some awareness within communities and within the local government of several handpump options for the rural water supply in the study area. Given a choice of different handpump models in the treatment communities, each community chose the …


Reducing The Burden Of Rural Water Supply Through Greywater Reuse: A Case Study From Northern Malawi, Evan Newcomer, Courtney Boyd, Laban Nyirenda, Emmanuel Opong, Shannon Marquez, Rochelle Holm Jul 2017

Reducing The Burden Of Rural Water Supply Through Greywater Reuse: A Case Study From Northern Malawi, Evan Newcomer, Courtney Boyd, Laban Nyirenda, Emmanuel Opong, Shannon Marquez, Rochelle Holm

Faculty Scholarship

Greywater reuse has potential for non-potable applications that conserve freshwater resources in water-stressed areas especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The feasibility of reusing greywater for domestic activities in a rural area of Malawi, Africa, was evaluated from microbiological and public acceptance perspectives. Median Escherichia coli concentrations for eight domestic greywater sources (handwashing, laundry, runoff from a tap apron, bathing, cleaning a home/kitchen, cleaning a water collection container, washing plates and soaking vegetables) ranged from 100 to >20, 000 colony forming units (cfu)/100 ml. Twenty-four of 47 greywater samples tested (51%) met the World Health Organization guideline for unrestricted use of greywater …


Trash Removal Methods For Improved Mechanical Emptying Of Pit Latrines Using A Screw Auger, Tracey Sisco, Tate Rogers, Walt Beckwith, Willy Chipeta, Rochelle Holm, Christopher A. Buckley, Francis L. De Los Reyes Mar 2017

Trash Removal Methods For Improved Mechanical Emptying Of Pit Latrines Using A Screw Auger, Tracey Sisco, Tate Rogers, Walt Beckwith, Willy Chipeta, Rochelle Holm, Christopher A. Buckley, Francis L. De Los Reyes

Faculty Scholarship

Trash in pit latrines is one of the largest challenges facing pit emptying technologies, including the powered auger (the Excrevator), developed for improved emptying in lower- and lower-middle income countries. This study focused on two trash removal methods in conjunction with pit emptying by the Excrevator: (1) simultaneous removal of trash with sludge and (2) manual trash removal prior to sludge removal. Simultaneous removal was tested by adding to the inlet of the Excrevator system two cutting heads designed to reduce the size of trash particles before entering the pipe and auger. Laboratory testing indicated that the auger will not …


Pit Latrine Fecal Sludge Resistance Using A Dynamic Cone Penetrometer In Low Income Areas In Mzuzu City, Malawi, Charles F.C. Chirwa, Ralph P. Hall, Leigh Anne H. Krometis, Eric A. Vance, Adam Edwards, Ting Guan, Rochelle H. Holm Feb 2017

Pit Latrine Fecal Sludge Resistance Using A Dynamic Cone Penetrometer In Low Income Areas In Mzuzu City, Malawi, Charles F.C. Chirwa, Ralph P. Hall, Leigh Anne H. Krometis, Eric A. Vance, Adam Edwards, Ting Guan, Rochelle H. Holm

Faculty Scholarship

Pit latrines can provide improved household sanitation, but without effective and inexpensive emptying options, they are often abandoned once full and may pose a public health threat. Emptying techniques can be difficult, as the sludge contents of each pit latrine are different. The design of effective emptying techniques (e.g., pumps) is limited by a lack of data characterizing typical in situ latrine sludge resistance. This investigation aimed to better understand the community education and technical engineering needs necessary to improve pit latrine management. In low income areas within Mzuzu city, Malawi, 300 pit latrines from three distinct areas were assessed …


Adopters And Non-Adopters Of Low-Cost Household Latrines: A Study Of Corbelled Pit Latrines In 15 Districts Of Malawi, Rochelle Holm, Mavuto Tembo, Dalo Njera, Victor Kasulo, Mphatso Malota, Willy Chipeta, Wales Singini, Joshua Mchenga Sep 2016

Adopters And Non-Adopters Of Low-Cost Household Latrines: A Study Of Corbelled Pit Latrines In 15 Districts Of Malawi, Rochelle Holm, Mavuto Tembo, Dalo Njera, Victor Kasulo, Mphatso Malota, Willy Chipeta, Wales Singini, Joshua Mchenga

Faculty Scholarship

The Sustainable Development Goals will challenge low- and middle-income settings to look at new approaches for rural sanitation. In 2013, Mzuzu University, in partnership with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Malawi, started a low-cost latrine program in rural areas using the corbelled latrine design supported by locally owned sustainable businesses. The objective of this work was to trace customers (early household adopters) and non-customers through field observations and interviews in 15 districts of Malawi. The research team spent 193 personnel work days in data collection and found 21 households as adopters in 7 districts. Most respondents had a preference with …