Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 230 in total

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  1. Fulltext Biorational control programme for the German cockroach (Blattaria: Blattellidae) in selected urban communities
    Shahraki G, Bin Ibrahim Y, Noor HM, Rafinejad J, Shahar MK
    Trop Biomed, 2010 Aug;27(2):226-35.
    PMID: 20962720 MyJurnal
    This study assessed the effectiveness of a biorational control approach using 2% hydramethylnon gel bait on German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.) in some residential and hospital buildings in South Western Iran. In total, three buildings consisting of 150 apartment units and 101 hospital units were monitored weekly via sticky trap for German cockroach infestations over a period of eight months. These infested units were randomly subjected to intervention and control treatments. Pamphlets and posters were provided and lectures were given to support the educational programmes as a tactic of the biorational system. Survey on cockroach index for intervention units showed 67-94% recovery to achieve clean level of infestation for intervention units of the residential buildings and 83% for the hospital. Mean percentage reductions for treatment groups throughout the 15-week treatment period were 76.8% for the residential buildings and 88.1% for the hospital, showing significant differences compared to the control groups. Linear regression of infestation rates were recorded weekly after treatment and their negative slope for treatment groups substantiated significant reductions for interventions. The results of this study showed that biorational control method, using gel bait, educational programmes and sanitation, is an effective way to manage German cockroach infestation.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  2. Fulltext Breast cancer awareness of rural women in Malaysia: is it the same as in the cities?
    Norlaili AA, Fatihah MA, Daliana NF, Maznah D
    Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(12):7161-4.
    PMID: 24460269
    Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally. This study was conducted to compare the awareness of breast cancer and the practice of breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography screening among rural females in Pahang and Perak. A cross-sectional study was carried out in five selected rural districts of Pahang and Perak. Two hundred and fifty households were randomly selected and interviewed face to face using a semi-structured questionnaire. The majority of residents from both states were Malay, aged between 50 and 60 years and had a secondary level of education. Malay women aged 40-49 years and women with a higher level of education were significantly more aware of breast cancer (p<0.05). About half of these women practiced BSE (60.7%) and CBE (56.1%), and 7% had underwent mammography screening. The results of this study suggest that women in Pahang and Perak have good awareness of breast cancer and that more than half practice BSE and CBE. The women's level of education appears to contribute to their level of knowledge and health behaviour. However, more effort is needed to encourage all women in rural areas to acquire further knowledge on breast cancer.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  3. Fulltext COVID-19 and waste production in households: A trend analysis
    Filho WL, Voronova V, Kloga M, Paço A, Minhas A, Salvia AL, et al.
    Sci Total Environ, 2021 Jul 10;777:145997.
    PMID: 33676209 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145997
    Apart from the health aspects and the high death toll, the COVID-19 pandemic has, since its official recognition in March 2020 caused may social and economic problems. It has also led to many environmental ones. For instance, the lockdowns have led to higher levels of consumption of packaged products, and of take-away food. This paper reports on an international study on the increased consumption and subsequent changes in the amounts of waste produced since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that 45-48% of the respondents observed an increased consumption of packed food, fresh food, and food delivery. One of the main reasons for the increased waste generation during the lockdown was the fact that people have spent more time at home. In addition, increases of 43% and 53% in food waste and plastic packaging. Drawing from comparisons on the amount of domestic waste produced before and during the pandemic, the findings suggest that some specific types of municipal waste have visibly increased, putting additional pressure on waste management systems. This characterises one of non-intended effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results from this study provide useful insights to city administrations and municipal utilities on consumption patterns during emergency situations. This, in turn, may support more systemic and strategic measures to be taken, so as to curtail the increase of household waste during pandemic situations.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  4. Fulltext Can Building "Artificially Intelligent Cities" Safeguard Humanity from Natural Disasters, Pandemics, and Other Catastrophes? An Urban Scholar's Perspective
    Yigitcanlar T, Butler L, Windle E, Desouza KC, Mehmood R, Corchado JM
    Sensors (Basel), 2020 May 25;20(10).
    PMID: 32466175 DOI: 10.3390/s20102988
    In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has started to manifest itself at an unprecedented pace. With highly sophisticated capabilities, AI has the potential to dramatically change our cities and societies. Despite its growing importance, the urban and social implications of AI are still an understudied area. In order to contribute to the ongoing efforts to address this research gap, this paper introduces the notion of an artificially intelligent city as the potential successor of the popular smart city brand-where the smartness of a city has come to be strongly associated with the use of viable technological solutions, including AI. The study explores whether building artificially intelligent cities can safeguard humanity from natural disasters, pandemics, and other catastrophes. All of the statements in this viewpoint are based on a thorough review of the current status of AI literature, research, developments, trends, and applications. This paper generates insights and identifies prospective research questions by charting the evolution of AI and the potential impacts of the systematic adoption of AI in cities and societies. The generated insights inform urban policymakers, managers, and planners on how to ensure the correct uptake of AI in our cities, and the identified critical questions offer scholars directions for prospective research and development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  5. Fulltext Can butterflies cope with city life? Butterfly diversity in a young megacity in southern China
    Sing KW, Dong H, Wang WZ, Wilson JJ
    Genome, 2016 Sep;59(9):751-61.
    PMID: 27314400 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2015-0192
    During 30 years of unprecedented urbanization, plant diversity in Shenzhen, a young megacity in southern China, has increased dramatically. Although strongly associated with plant diversity, butterfly diversity generally declines with urbanization, but this has not been investigated in Shenzhen. Considering the speed of urbanization in Shenzhen and the large number of city parks, we investigated butterfly diversity in Shenzhen parks. We measured butterfly species richness in four microhabitats (groves, hedges, flowerbeds, and unmanaged areas) across 10 parks and examined the relationship with three park variables: park age, park size, and distance from the central business district. Butterflies were identified based on wing morphology and DNA barcoding. We collected 1933 butterflies belonging to 74 species from six families; 20% of the species were considered rare. Butterfly species richness showed weak negative correlations with park age and distance from the central business district, but the positive correlation with park size was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Among microhabitat types, highest species richness was recorded in unmanaged areas. Our findings are consistent with others in suggesting that to promote urban butterfly diversity it is necessary to make parks as large as possible and to set aside areas for limited management. In comparison to neighbouring cities, Shenzhen parks have high butterfly diversity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities*
  6. Carbon monoxide exposure assessment among toll operators in Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Niza S, Jamal HH
    Int J Environ Health Res, 2007 Apr;17(2):95-103.
    PMID: 17616865
    A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted to determine tollbooth carbon monoxide (CO) levels and carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels among the tollbooth operators and office workers in the Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur. All tollbooths were equipped with well functioning air-conditioning. The total number of respondents was 180: 90 toll operators and 90 office workers aged between 19 and 52 years. The highest peak of CO level recorded was 61 ppm. The highest average peak CO level within a shift was 30 ppm. The CO level was higher during peak traffic at 6.00 - 8.00 a.m. There was no significant correlation between average peak CO level with vehicle load (r = -0.007, p = 0.474). The toll operators' median COHb level (1.0%, IQR = 0.8%) was significantly higher (p = 0.008) compared to office workers (0.7%, IQR = 0.8). There was a weak and significant correlation between COHb levels with average peak CO levels (r = 0.228, p = 0.031). In conclusion, tollbooth operators were chronically exposed to CO leading to higher COHb levels compared to office workers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  7. Fulltext Case Report: A Symptomatic Case of Hymenolepis diminuta Infection in an Urban-Dwelling Adult in Malaysia
    Ahmad AF, Ngui R, Ong J, Sarip F, Ismail WHW, Omar H, et al.
    Am J Trop Med Hyg, 2017 Jul;97(1):163-165.
    PMID: 28719332 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.15-0877
    A case of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a 43-year-old Malaysian male with persistent abdominal colicky pain is reported. Endoscopy revealed whitish worms in the lumen of the small intestine, which were identified as H. diminuta after microscopy. Patient was successfully treated with a single dose of praziquantel (25 mg/kg).
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  8. Characteristics and health effect of heavy metals on non-exhaust road dusts in Kuala Lumpur
    Wahab MIA, Razak WMAA, Sahani M, Khan MF
    Sci Total Environ, 2020 Feb 10;703:135535.
    PMID: 31767333 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135535
    This study aimed to assess the concentrations and health effect of trace metals [cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn)] on the road dust of selected locations in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Sampling was conducted thrice at four locations, namely, Tun Razak Road, Raja Abdullah Road, Tunku Abdul Rahman (TAR) Road, and Ayer Molek Road. The concentrations of trace metals in road dust were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. TAR Road presented the highest Cd, Cu, Ni, and Pb contents compared with the other roads. The pollution level of trace metals in road dust was assessed by pollution index and pollution load index (PLI), showing that all studied locations were highly contaminated except Ayer Molek Road. Based on the PLI value, the sequence of pollution in descending order is as follows: TAR Road > Raja Abdullah Road > Tun Razak Road > Ayer Molek Road. Health risk assessment was performed to assess the health effects of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic pollutants caused by the exposure to trace metals in road dust on adults and children. Based on the integrated hazard index values for children at all locations, >1 indicates a possible noncarcinogenic effect. All incremental lifetime cancer risk values for adult and children at all locations are within acceptable limits and are considered safe.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  9. Characterization and source apportionment of particle number concentration at a semi-urban tropical environment
    Khan MF, Latif MT, Amil N, Juneng L, Mohamad N, Nadzir MS, et al.
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Sep;22(17):13111-26.
    PMID: 25925145 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4541-4
    Principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation have been used to study the variability of particle mass and particle number concentrations (PNC) in a tropical semi-urban environment. PNC and mass concentration (diameter in the range of 0.25->32.0 μm) have been measured from 1 February to 26 February 2013 using an in situ Grimm aerosol sampler. We found that the 24-h average total suspended particulates (TSP), particulate matter ≤10 μm (PM10), particulate matter ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5) and particulate matter ≤1 μm (PM1) were 14.37 ± 4.43, 14.11 ± 4.39, 12.53 ± 4.13 and 10.53 ± 3.98 μg m(-3), respectively. PNC in the accumulation mode (<500 nm) was the most abundant (at about 99 %). Five principal components (PCs) resulted from the PCA analysis where PC1 (43.8 % variance) predominates with PNC in the fine and sub-microme tre range. PC2, PC3, PC4 and PC5 explain 16.5, 12.4, 6.0 and 5.6 % of the variance to address the coarse, coarser, accumulation and giant fraction of PNC, respectively. Our particle distribution results show good agreement with the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) distribution.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  10. Children's exposure to food advertising on free-to-air television: an Asia-Pacific perspective
    Kelly B, Hebden L, King L, Xiao Y, Yu Y, He G, et al.
    Health Promot Int, 2016 Mar;31(1):144-52.
    PMID: 24997194 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dau055
    There is an established link between food promotions and children's food purchase and consumption. Children in developing countries may be more vulnerable to food promotions given the relative novelty of advertising in these markets. This study aimed to determine the scope of television food advertising to children across the Asia-Pacific to inform policies to restrict this marketing. Six sites were sampled, including from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea. At each site, 192 h of television were recorded (4 days, 16 h/day, three channels) from May to October 2012. Advertised foods were categorized as core/healthy, non-core/unhealthy or miscellaneous, and by product type. Twenty-seven percent of advertisements were for food/beverages, and the most frequently advertised product was sugar-sweetened drinks. Rates of non-core food advertising were highest during viewing times most popular with children, when between 3 (South Korea) and 15 (Indonesia) non-core food advertisements were broadcast each hour. Children in the Asia-Pacific are exposed to high volumes of unhealthy food/beverage television advertising. Different policy arrangements for food advertising are likely to contribute to regional variations in advertising patterns. Cities with the lowest advertising rates can be identified as exemplars of good policy practice.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  11. Fulltext Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus: a menace to the end game of polio eradication
    Ming LC, Hussain Z, Yeoh SF, Koh D, Lee KS
    Global Health, 2020 07 16;16(1):63.
    PMID: 32677974 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-020-00594-z
    The World Health Organisation Western Pacific Region countries were declared free of polio in 2000 until a polio outbreak involving 305 cases occurred in Indonesia in 2006. It was not until 2014 that the World Health Organisation South East Asia region was officially declared polio-free again. However, in February 2019, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative announced a new circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreak in the Papua province of Indonesia. To make matter worse, the outbreak responses were tardy and led to transmission among migrating communities to other cities. The pressing regional issues of polio outbreak caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus and use of oral polio vaccine have not been well presented. Our letter highlighted the suboptimal outbreak responses as well as the necessity of cross-border vaccination to curb continued poliovirus transmission.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  12. Fulltext Clinical profile, risk factors and aetiology of young ischaemic stroke patients in Asia: A prospective, multicentre, observational, hospital-based study in eight cities
    Kay, Sin Tan, Navarro, Jose C, Ka, Sing Wong, Yi, Ning Huang, Hou, Chang Chiu, Poungvarin, Niphon, et al.
    Neurology Asia, 2014;19(2):117-127.
    MyJurnal
    Background and Objective: There is a lack of international collaborative studies on young adults with ischaemic stroke in Asia. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors, aetiology and outcome at hospital discharge of these patients across 8 participating countries in Asia. Methods: This was a prospective, observational, multicentre, hospital based cohort study. Consecutive young stroke patients with confirmed cerebral infarction between the ages of 18-49 were recruited from December 2011 to May 2012. Data was collected for patient demography, risk factors, investigations, clinical profile and TOAST classification. Outcome measures were death and independence (modified Rankin score≤ 2) at hospital discharge. Results: Two hundred and eighteen patients with the mean age was 40.8±6.7 years were recruited. There was a larger proportion of male patients with a ratio of 1.9:1. Traditional risk factors observed were hypertension (n=103; 47.3%), dyslipidaemia (n=93; 42.4%), smoking (n=85; 38.8%), diabetes (n=53; 24.3%), alcohol use (n=33; 15.0%), a previous history of stroke and transient ischaemic attacks (6.4%), family history (n=12; 5.5%), migraine (n=6;2.8%), pregnancy related (n=5; 2.3%) and numerous cardiac risk factors (0.9-5.5%). The majority suffered arterial infarction; n=216 (99.4%) while n=2 (0.6%) had venous strokes. The predominant stroke subtypes were large artery atherosclerosis (LAA); 29.8% and small vessel occlusion (SVO); 20.2%. LAA and SVO accounted for 37.5% of all stroke subtypes in the ≤36 year age-group. Cardioembolism (15.1%) and stroke of determined aetiology (14.7%) contributed to the other categories of identified stroke subtypes. Mortality on hospital discharge was 3.1% while 65.1% of patients were independent on discharge. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the substantial presence of premature atherosclerosis and conventional risk factors in young ischaemic stroke patients from 8 Asian cities. Venous infarction from cerebral venous thrombosis was rare in this study. Outcome on hospital discharge was poorer compared to Western studies. Detection of vascular risk factors and primary prevention measures should be initiated during late adolescence or early adulthood in urban Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  13. Fulltext Community Needs Assessment in Relation to Urban Heat Effects: A Study in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Wong LP, Alias H, Aghamohammadi N, Nik Sulaiman NM
    Biomed Environ Sci, 2018 09;31(9):705-711.
    PMID: 30369349 DOI: 10.3967/bes2018.095
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  14. Fulltext Conflicting perceptions on participation between citizens and members of local government
    Mohammadi SH, Norazizan S, Nikkhah HA
    Qual Quant, 2018;52(4):1761-1778.
    PMID: 29937584 DOI: 10.1007/s11135-017-0565-9
    There is a growing consensus among citizens and members of local government that citizen participation is desirable for local government. However in practice, there are differing perceptions between them regarding the level and extent of citizen participation. As citizen participation is a multi faceted concept, its meaning is construed differently by both the members of local government and the citizen groups. This paper attempts to describe the conflicts that arise from participation. The paper is based on the study of the process of citizen participation in local government carried out in Torbat-Heydarieh city, Iran. A qualitative research method is seen as the most suitable approach of collecting and analyzing the data. The method employed for data collection in this research is in-depth interviews. In-depth interviews were conducted to gauge the existence of conflicts regarding participation. The findings reveal four areas that give rise to conflicts. This study also attempts to highlight two different views regarding citizen participation; the people-centered view and authority-centered view.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  15. Consumer purchase intention towards environmentally friendly vehicles: an empirical investigation in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    Afroz R, Masud MM, Akhtar R, Islam MA, Duasa JB
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2015 Oct;22(20):16153-63.
    PMID: 26070739 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4841-8
    This paper examines whether attitudes towards electric vehicles (ATEVs), subjective norms (SNs) and perceived behavioural control (PBC) have significant associations with consumer purchase intention (PI) and the purchase behaviour of environmentally friendly vehicles (EFVs). The results from the survey questionnaires are analysed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings of this paper indicate that ATEV, SN and PBC significantly influence PI. This finding also indicates that environmental consequence and individual preferences do not influence the PI of the respondents. We found that Malaysian car owners are largely unaware of the greenhouse effects on the environment or attach to it little importance, which is reflected in their PI towards EFVs. The outcomes of this study could help policymakers design programmes to influence attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and purchase behaviour to prevent further air pollution and reduce CO2 emissions from the transportation sector.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities/statistics & numerical data*
  16. Current solid waste management strategies and energy recovery in developing countries - State of art review
    Khan AH, López-Maldonado EA, Khan NA, Villarreal-Gómez LJ, Munshi FM, Alsabhan AH, et al.
    Chemosphere, 2022 Mar;291(Pt 3):133088.
    PMID: 34856242 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133088
    Solid waste generation has rapidly increased due to the worldwide population, urbanization, and industrialization. Solid waste management (SWM) is a significant challenge for a society that arises local issues with global consequences. Thus, solid waste management strategies to recycle waste products are promising practices that positively impact sustainable goals. Several developed countries possess excellent solid waste management strategies to recycle waste products. Developing countries face many challenges, such as municipal solid waste (MSW) sorting and handling due to high population density and economic instability. This mismanagement could further expedite harmful environmental and socioeconomic concerns. This review discusses the current solid waste management and energy recovery production in developing countries; with statistics, this review provides a comprehensive revision on energy recovery technologies such as the thermochemical and biochemical conversion of waste with economic considerations. Furthermore, the paper discusses the challenges of SWM in developing countries, including several immediate actions and future policy recommendations for improving the current status of SWM via harnessing technology. This review has the potential of helping municipalities, government authorities, researchers, and stakeholders working on MSW management to make effective decisions for improved SWM for achieving sustainable development.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  17. Fulltext Current state of knowledge of basic life support in health professionals of the largest city in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study
    Irfan B, Zahid I, Khan MS, Khan OAA, Zaidi S, Awan S, et al.
    BMC Health Serv Res, 2019 Nov 21;19(1):865.
    PMID: 31752855 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4676-y
    BACKGROUND: Basic Life Support (BLS) is the recognition of sudden cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system, followed by resuscitation, and rapid defibrillation. According to WHO, Pakistan has one of the highest mortality rates from accidental deaths therefore assessment and comparison of BLS knowledge in health professionals is crucial. We thereby aim to assess and compare the knowledge of BLS in doctors, dentists and nurses.

    METHODS: A multi-centric cross-sectional survey was conducted in Karachi at different institutions belonging to the private as well as government sector from January to March 2018. We used a structured questionnaire which was adapted from pretested questionnaires that have been used previously in similar studies. Descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS v22.0, where adequate knowledge was taken as a score of at least 50%. P 

    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  18. Current status and future perspectives of solid waste management in Iran: a critical overview of Iranian metropolitan cities
    Rupani PF, Delarestaghi RM, Abbaspour M, Rupani MM, El-Mesery HS, Shao W
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2019 Nov;26(32):32777-32789.
    PMID: 31520387 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06456-5
    By growing urban population, Iran faces numerous environmental issues and solid waste management is on the top of these problems. Studies showed that a daily average of 700-1000 g of wastes are produced per person in Iran, in which organic waste accounts for a significant amount. On the other hand, hospital waste represents a part of the wastes, which need careful consideration from the environmental point of view. In the present study, the amount, composition, and management of urban and hospital wastes were evaluated in 7 Iranian metropolises, which account for about 30% of the population and produce about 35% of the country wastes. Based on prior surveys, landfill method is the current main method for waste management in these cities, which is generally not completely sanitary and therefore causes many environmental problems. The other common methods for waste management in these cities are composting of organic wastes, and the use of waste conversion methods to energy. However, the latter is ongoing only in Tehran which also includes some limitations. Therefore, the study also evaluated the future perspectives and feasibility of waste-to-energy conversion as a promising economic route for waste disposal.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  19. Fulltext DOMESTIC VISITORS’ WILLINGNESS TO PAY (WTP) FOR THE PRESERVATION OF WORLD HERITAGE SITE, STADTHUYS, MELAKA, MALAYSIA
    MUHD AZRIN SHAH RAZALI, MAHIRAH KAMALUDIN
    UMT Journal of Undergraduate Research, 2020;2(2):93-100.
    MyJurnal
    This research explores the issue of local management system governing the heritage preservation in UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) Stadthuys, Melaka. Thus far, there is no clearly defined value of cultural heritage that justifies the benefits of preserving cultural heritage as a tourism product and as a sustainable heritage site. Most studies have proven that visitors in general are less interested in visiting cultural heritage sites due to the lack of information available there. Another issue identified in the recent research on cultural heritage assessment is the lack of empirical references on the economic valuation of cultural heritage preservation. This study used contingent valuation method (CVM) and questionnaire for data collection. Four sets of questionnaires were designed and distributed to a total of 100 respondents consisting of local community and domestic tourists. On average, respondents are willing to pay RM8.82, in which this value is higher than the current fee, RM5.00, showing that visitors have the awareness to value cultural heritage through preservation in Stadthuys, Melaka, WHS. Finally, this research has established a framework to be considered by the management regarding the WTP value of the cultural heritage in order to create a more sustainable Melaka Historical City.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
  20. Daily exposure to toxic metals through urban road dust from industrial, commercial, heavy traffic, and residential areas in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia: a health risk assessment
    Shabanda IS, Koki IB, Low KH, Zain SM, Khor SM, Abu Bakar NK
    Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2019 Dec;26(36):37193-37211.
    PMID: 31745807 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06718-2
    Human health is threatened by significant emissions of heavy metals into the urban environment due to various activities. Various studies describing health risk analyses on soil and dust have been conducted previously. However, there are limited studies that have been carried out regarding the potential health risk assessment of heavy metals in urban road dust of < 63-μm diameter, via incidental ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation exposure routes by children and adults in developing countries. Therefore, this study evaluated the health risks of heavy metal exposure via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation of urban dust particles in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) were measured using dust samples obtained from industrial, high-traffic, commercial, and residential areas by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The principal component and hierarchical cluster analysis showed the dominance of these metal concentrations at sites associated with anthropogenic activities. This was suggestive of industrial, traffic emissions, atmospheric depositions, and wind as the significant contributors towards urban dust contamination in the study sites. Further exploratory analysis underlined Cr, Pb, Cu, and Zn as the most representative metals in the dust samples. In accommodating the uncertainties associated with health risk calculations and simulating the reasonable maximum exposure of these metals, the related health risks were estimated at the 75th and 95th percentiles. Furthermore, assessing the exposure to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals in the dust revealed that ingestion was the primary route of consumption. Children who ingested dust particles in Petaling Jaya could be more vulnerable to carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, but the exposure for both children and adults showed no potential health effects. Therefore, this study serves as an important premise for a review and reformation of the existing environmental quality standards for human health safety.
    Matched MeSH terms: Cities
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