Instant noodles had been found to be contaminated with heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As). This study aims to determine the heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As) concentration in popular instant noodles from Ma- laysian market. Seven different brands of commercially popular instant noodles were randomly sampled from the market. The samples were prepared by dry ashing method prior to analysis by using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Results showed that all seven samples detected with heavy metals which the concentration for Pb in two samples exceeded the maximum permitted level of Malaysian Food Act and Regulation of 2 mg/kg. This finding indicated that instant noodle can be one the sources of chronic exposure to toxic heavy metals through food consumption which later might cause health effects. Instant noodles in Malaysian market need to be closely monitored to ensure the food quality and safety for consumption. Further study which focuses on the source of contamination as well as the health risk of consuming this contaminated noodles is strongly recommended.
Heat stress is a serious problem among agricultural workers. Workers who are exposed to the extreme heat or work in hot environments may be at risk of heat stress. The physiological changes and heat related symptoms could occur due to heat stress. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the impact of heat on the health and productivity of cassava farm workers in Kratie province of Cambodia. The sampling method was a convenient sampling with some inclu- sive criteria. A total of 125 cassava farm workers were selected to participate in this study. The information was collected through a face to face interview using a questionnaire form. Questions were asked on heat exposure during work and heat related symptoms. The environmental heat was measured using heat stress monitor WBGT and data logger for 2 hours for each day. Automatic blood pressure monitor was used to measure blood pressure and heart rate, while ear thermometer measured the body temperature. All measurements of physiological changes were conducted during the rest and work time of the workers. Observations were conducted to determine the production hourly output of workers by using productivity forms. The productivity was determined by calculating the total of cassava roots harvested per hour, which started from
9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. The results indicated that the highest average of heat stress index were 32.11°C and 32.36°C re- spectively whereby the daily exposure to heat during work, exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) of 27.5°C for heavy metabolic workload level with 75% work, 25% rest regimen. Meanwhile, the highest prevalence of heat related symptoms reported among workers were tiredness/weakness (84.4%), followed by heavy sweating (82.4%) and headache (61.6%). The blood pressure, heart rate and core body temperature were below the standard, indicated that the workers were fully acclimatized. There was no significant difference in the physiological changes between male and female during the resting and working period. Heavy sweating, heat, BMI and working time were the factors that were significantly related with productivity. In conclusion, the cassava farm workers in Kratie, Cambodia were exposed to high level of heat stress, which reduced their work productivity.
The purpose of this study was to determine the level of ergonomic knowledge and safety among contractor of a selected construction site located in Georgetown, Penang. The study also tried to identify the restrictions in imple- menting ergonomic and safety programs in the workplace. Prior to the study, a field investigation were conducted by the researcher and the researcher found out that workers are practicing poor body posture in the site and thus decided to conduct this study. Data were collected primarily from a questionnaire and the data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney test due to the small sample size which only involved 35 respondents. Results from the study shows respondents have high in ergonomic knowledge (p=0.962,>0.05). Several factors restricting the implementation of ergonomic programs are “lack of management support” and “lack of information and training”.
The generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in South East Asian and developing countries has become a serious concern worldwide. Population growth, urbanization, economic productivity and demand for consumption had accelerated the amount of waste generation each year. This paper presents a short definition of MSW landfill, an overview of current status of MSW landfills in Malaysia and generation of solid waste in Malaysia and other neigh- bouring countries.
The effects of poor air quality are a serious issue in urban areas, wherever most people live and work. Precise moni- toring of air quality in real-time is crucial to enable prompt and fitting resolutions for outdoor workers and the public. This study is meant to provide information and to understand current knowledge on the use of mobile wireless sensor network for outdoor air pollution assessments and monitoring. A search of the literature was carried out using an appropriate query for the search of papers across various databases. Majority of the previous studies researched have reported that mobile wireless sensors are versatile and could be applied in exposure assessments and monitoring of outdoor air quality. The reviewed articles proved that mobile wireless sensors are a practical device that can effec- tively detect air pollution and will facilitate to boost the protection of the community, personal health care as well as environmental monitoring.
Bauxite mining activities in Felda Bukit Goh, Kuantan, has been in operation since early 2013. The uncontrolled min- ing activities created dusty environment which led to health complaints from the surrounding residence. The mining activities had also caused anxiety and stress among the community due the noise which disturb their well-being and their sleep (1). The objectives of this study were to determine and relate selected heavy metal levels (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Al) in the dust in the classrooms of a school located near to the mines with the respiratory health symptoms reported by the parents of the selected school children. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 121 students randomly selected from the Primary 4 and 5 clusters. Questionnaires were used to collect information on their back- ground and their respiratory health symptoms. Environmental sampling for 16 dust samples consisted two samples (window and corridors) from each of the eight classes (four from each Primary 4 and 5) were collected using 400W vacuum cleaner with special filter from these classrooms. The dust samples were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results showed that the levels of heavy metal in the dust were high in both the Primary 5 and Primary 4 classes. The mean heavy metal levels in the dust from the classroom area varied signifi- cantly and decreased in the order of: Al > Cr > Ni > Pb > As > Cd. The mean ranges were as follows: Al (39360.15- 110824.1 mg/kg); Cr (2364.84- 4726.009 mg/kg); Ni (699.9606-1443.36 mg/kg); Pb (434.3067- 1650.76 mg/kg); As
(200.7891-454.7241 mg/kg); and Cd (10.9107-34.9902 mg/kg) respectively. The levels were higher at the corridor than the window. Nasal congestion (45.5%) was the highest respiratory symptoms experienced by the school chil- dren. There was a significant correlation between the respiratory health symptoms reported with absenteeism in the year 2015 when the mining activities were at the peak. There was a significant correlation between dust Pb levels with respiratory reported symptoms of the school children. Other risk factors which contributed to the respiratory symptoms reported were the close location of their houses to the mining areas, young age and low family income.
To achieve rapid economic development, many countries including Malaysia resort various activities to exploit nat- ural sources such as mining. As a consequence, mining are an important economic activity which has the potential to contribute to the development of areas endowed with the ore. Studies have been carried out in countries where the impact were on the environment and health. However, fewer studies have been carried out on the effects of min- ing on health especially the children. This paper provides a review of the process description, properties of bauxite, bauxite production and the potential health effects of heavy metals from mining ores on children’s health. The aims of this article are to evaluate the most frequently reported effect towards health and heavy metals levels in biomark- ers such as blood, urine, hair and toenail among children mining areas. Respiratory problems were most commonly reported effects associated with mining activities. Heavy metals such as lead, aluminum, chromium, nickel are also elevated from normal levels due to mining activities. Specific mitigated measures need to be taken in order to solve the problems and protect the public health especially children as they are vulnerable and represent the non-occupa- tionally exposed population.
Ergonomics is a science focusing on the study of human fit, decreasing human fatigue and discomfort through the design of new product. Prevention related to workers injury and illness such as muscle discomfort is part of the main goals in ergonomics interventions. Thus, this present study investigates the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions such as footrest and floor conditions in reducing workers lower leg muscle discomforts during prolonged standing. The main objective of this study was to determine and compare the lower leg muscles discomfort (exertion percent- age (%)) of Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior among the respondents using the two ergonomic interventions (foot- rest and anti-fatigue mat). About 60 healthy subjects were recruited to stand for 2 hours (120 minutes) while using the two interventions in different session with one week interval between each test session. During standing, lower leg muscle discomfort of Gastrocnemius and Tibialis Anterior muscles were continuously monitored. Changes in lower leg muscle discomforts over standing time were measured using the surface Electromyography (sEMG). In this study, the sEMG readings showed that the percentage of exertion (%) were increasing with time (within 120 minutes) on muscles for both legs with the usage of the interventions (footrest and anti-fatigue mat). However, the percentage of exertion (%) from the sEMG readings were lower compared to previous studies. The independent t-test was used to find the mean changes on exertion percentage (%) between each muscles of both legs for the two interventions. Results found that there were significant exertion percentage at certain time with 15 minutes time period within the 120 minutes standing. This study showed that the ergonomic interventions (anti-fatigue mat and footrest) gives a low number of exertion percentage (%), showing a reduced muscle discomfort to the lower leg muscles compared to previous studies and interventions. In comparisons with footrest, this study showed that anti-fatigue mat is more applicable for the assembly workers in the industrial factory. The data produced by the comparisons between the two interventions can be useful especially to the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Malaysia (DOSH) in enhancing the safety and wellbeing of industrial workers in Malaysia.
In Malaysia, chemical pesticides are widely used not only for agricultural development, but also to public health, household to control diseases, pests or weeds. In order to ensure that the information of the pesticides’ hazard prop- erties conveyed to all pesticide users, the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) has initiated to promote standard criteria for classifying chemicals according to human health, physical and environmental hazards. Even though statuses of GHS implementation on pesticides are remained unstandardized across different countries, Malaysia has taken proactive measures to implement the GHS at the workplace through the promulgation of the Occupational Safety and Health (Classification, Labelling and Safety Data Sheet of Hazard- ous Chemicals) Regulations 2013 (CLASS Regulations). This paper attempted to summarize the health hazards of pesticide chemicals registered in Malaysia by summarizing the nature of the registered pesticides’ hazards classifica- tion based on GHS in order to understand the current situation of GHS adoption in pesticides sector in the country. Overall, registered pesticides in Malaysia are known to cause either acute or chronic health effects. Out of 3,610 pesticides registered under the Pesticide Board, a total of 2,241 pesticides are listed as highly hazardous pesticides (HHP). Even though GHS includes appropriate labelling tools to convey information about each of the hazard classes and categories, several limitations have found when classifying appropriate hazard class and categories to individual pesticides.
Agriculture activity in Cameron Highland is one of the sources of river water pollution. This study evaluates the phys- icochemical properties and heavy metals contamination (Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Pb) in Bertam River. The results indicate the river water pH was slightly acidic. Based on the Malaysia National Drinking Water Quality Standard (NDWQS), the river water is not suitable for drinking as it has exceeded the safe value for turbidity, chemical oxygen demand COD and lead (Pb). Spatial distribution of heavy metals showed that Cr, Cu and Pb were concentrated at the downstream area.
Exposure to traffic related air pollution (TRAP) is a public health concern particularly in children, who are one of the most susceptible groups of the population. Children are more vulnerable to such exposure by virtue of their increased susceptibility and the higher doses received. The materials for this review was obtained from several online databas- es; PubMed, Proquest, Scopus, Springerlink and Science Direct (year 1990 to 2018). In this review, we emphasized several relevant studies on respiratory health effects among children living in the proximity to heavy traffic area and focus on the factors, which contributed to the severity of the health outcomes. Short term TRAP exposure reduces lung function, increases respiratory symptoms and incidence of asthma and allergic diseases especially for those who living within 75 m from the heavy traffic area. Preventive measures must be taken in order to protect children from exposure to traffic air pollutants.
Exposure to PM2.5 from traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) can cause health risk among residents in the urban area. Those who work outdoors are vulnerable to TRAP. PM2.5 from TRAP contain various carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds that can cause genotoxicity to human health. This study indicated that exposure to the higher level of PM2.5 in the urban areas had exhibited an increased in the formation of micronucleus (MN) among respondents. Traf- fic policemen experienced a high concentration of PM2.5 that lead to higher MN frequency compared to the office workers.
This is a cross-sectional study aims to estimate the concentration of bio-aerosols in a manufacturing factory. There were 108 respondents involved with 100% response rate. Self-administered questionnaire was used to collect infor- mation on socio-demographical characteristics and work characteristics. IUALTD standardized questionnaire was used to measure respiratory symptoms among respondents. Duo Sas Super 360 was used to measure the concentra- tion of airborne bacteria and fungi. Twenty four air sampling was completed. Findings shows that only prayer room (650 cfu/m3) recorded to have bacteria concentration beyond the standard acceptable limit. The most prevalent reported respiratory symptoms were cough and phlegm (22.2%) followed by wheezing and chest tightness (20.4%). There were no significant association between socio-demographical factors, work factors and airborne bacteria and fungal concentration with respiratory symptoms. Better ventilation with regular cleaning of prayer cloth and carpet is warranted for the prayer room. Future study is recommended to include knowledge, attitude and practice related to hygiene among workers.
This paper studies the muscle discomfort among police officers when carrying out their work. The objective of this study is to give a basic introduction of ergonomic problems in among police officers and risk controls in relation to minimize the ergonomics risk factors. This paper gives quick review of muscle discomfort problems and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) among police officer. An ergonomic application has been purposed in the liter- ature to solve the problem related with design of mechanical.
Frequent and high severity exposure to hazards can contribute to increased probability of harm among workers in agricultural sectors. Systematic risk assessment process will assist employers to mitigate risk using suitable control methods. The aim of this study was to perform Hazards Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control (HIRARC) in commodity-based agricultural plantation in Malaysia. This was a cross-sectional study among 74 workers in se- lected cocoa and tea plantations. All work activities performed at the plantations were video recorded and hazards were identified from interview-based questionnaire and work observations. The highest Risk Rating (RR) within work activities was harvesting characterised by prolonged standing with repetitive bending. Ergonomic hazard is the most common hazard. The outcome of this study can be used to provide information to assist employers and authorities in the management of safety and health at the selected type of plantations.
Prolonged standing has been identified as one of the risk factors which is associated with occupational injuries. Therefore, the primary aim for this study is to determine the association between prolonged standing and muscle dis- comfort among workers who have to stand for long periods of time. A total of 74 respondents were given and asked to complete a self-administered Borg’s Scale questionnaire. After that, the completed questionnaire was analysed using statistical analysis. This study highlighted the correlation between height, weight and age of the respondents with muscle discomfort following exposure to prolonged standing. Besides that, the association between prolonged standing and muscle discomfort also will be highlighted. In short, the prevalence of leg muscle discomfort was higher compared to the muscle discomfort experienced by the other body parts.
It happens that 2019 is the commemoration date for the 130(th) and 140(th) birthday of K. Chimin Wong and Wu Lien-teh respectively, both famous modern Chinese medical historians, the authors of the book History of Chinese Medicine. Originally, they were inhabitants separated thousand miles away, the former in Eastern China, and the other in Penang, Malaysia. Both were busying in their own business works, Wong was specialized in establishing Museum of Medical History, then the first of its kind in China and the world, with splendid results. Whereas, Wu was fighting at the frontier of the overwhelming pneumonic plague in Manchuria, having successfully terminated this virulent infectious disease in a short period of about a quarter, achieving a global reputation in medical world and thus presided the International Plague Conference held in Mukden, China, attended by invited experts from 11 countries. The latter was also active in the creation of hospitals and medical schools, plague prevention and quarantine services in China. Incidentally, when one of them read the book History of Medicine written by the famous American medical historian Fielding Hudson Garrison, to find that this 700+ -page work only includes the contents for Chinese medicine next to nothing and even with wrong descriptions, both were very frustrated and wrote a letter to its author for clarification. They were even more irritated to receive a reply, complaining that the mistakes were not his own, but simply due to shortage of sources, and even that bit of content was from western sources! To wipe up these wrong "foreign descriptions" , they made up their mind to write a similar book of its own in English language, so as to fill up the gaps in this field, hence, the completion of History of Chinese Medicine in a long course of almost 16 years, formally published in 1932, and an enlarged and revised 2nd edition in 1936. This work is divided into 2 books. Book One is devoted to traditional Chines medicine written by K. Chimin Wong; the other Book Two, written by Wu Lien-teh, is devoted to modern and contemporary Chinese medical history, dealing with western medicine to China from its introduction and after experiencing tortuous course and eventually constituting an integral system on biomedicine in China. At the end of the work, there are appendices, including chronological table, geographical names, person names and subject indices. Evaluation of History of Chinese Medicine after 1949 experienced a huge difference. During the first decades, people deemed it to contain lots of mistakes and to have been influenced by national nihilism and western missionary medicine. As a result, the whole work has been roughly translated into a Chinese version, marked by "for criticism" on its cover. After the country carries out a reform and opening to outside world policy, improper appraisal for this work has been changed and is crowned with "brilliant masterpiece" which virtually fills the gaps of the lack of Chinese medical history in western language. It is known that a Chinese version for this work is ongoing and will be officially published soon.
MeSH terms: Anniversaries and Special Events; Books*; China; Humans; Medicine, Chinese Traditional/history*; Plague/history*; History, 20th Century
There is an enduring disconnect between the routine surveillance of mosquitoes that transmit dengue viruses and control activities to limit disease spread. A great variety of methods used to collect vector surveillance data exists globally, with program design typically influenced by historical, socio-cultural and cost factors. Surveillance data can be expensive to collect, meaning that without demonstration of its usefulness in directing mosquito control it may be deprioritized or even abandoned. Given that universally prescribed surveillance methods are unlikely to be sustainable and successful, we propose that strategies be designed according to the local terroir of dengue transmission. Strategy design should consider not only costs, but the amenability of workers and the public to various methods, the utility of methods for directing control and reducing disease, and the underlying spatial structure of the vector populations locally. A process of evaluating each of these factors should precede strategy design and be part of on-going review processes. In the case that the usefulness of vector surveillance cannot be demonstrated, then it may be argued that resources could be allocated to other aspects of disease control.
Overweight and obesity are a serious public health problem globally. Healthcare workers in some countries have been reported to be having a high prevalence of being overweight despite them being well informed of the aetiology and risks of excessive body weight. However, the problem of being overweight and obese among Malaysian healthcare workers is still poorly understood. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity among healthcare workers in Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah (PKD) Melaka Tengah.
Substantial advances on the life expectancy have been achieved in Malaysia over the past few decades. It is essential that elderly lead a healthier old age which leans towards successful aging. Thus, this study describes the major causes of premature mortality among the elderly population in Malaysia, 2014.