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.
Introduction: The increased use of mobile phones has increased the mobile base stations (MBS) deployment. While understanding of radiation protection is growing among the public, questions regarding early-life exposure to ra- diofrequency radiation (RFR) from MBS in children are of importance as to whether it will raise the chances of developing chronic diseases during adulthood. Taking into account the sitting location of MBS, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the chromosomal DNA damage in buccal mucosal cells between school children exposed to RFR emitted from base station antennas. Method: This is a comparative cross-sectional study in which two group of school children were sampled i.e. exposed groups are children whose school located near MBS (200 meters); un- exposed groups are children whose school located distant far from the MBS (>200 meters). Digital RF Analyzer was used to measure RFR at the school surrounding. Buccal mucosa cells from the oral cavity were sampled to examine the level of micronuclei (MN) frequencies. Results: This study found that the densities of the RFR energy differed in range. Although all measurements showed the RFR reading below the acceptable exposure level, there were still sig- nificant variations at each location assessed. Statistically, the MN frequency is significantly different when compared to the exposed and non-exposed group. Conclusion: To understand the mechanism of health effects from exposure to low-level RFR emited from MBS, further study should consider environmental factors influencing MBS sitting on RFR emission, as well as examining the health effects into molecular levels.