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Fulltext Awareness of post-exposure prophylaxis guidelines against occupational exposure to HIV in Hospital Sungai Petani

Bairy KL, Ganaraja B, Indira B, Thiyagar N, Choo CM, See CK

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Mar;60(1):10-4.
PMID: 16250274

Occupational risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection is a matter of concern for health care workers. We conducted a study to gauge the level of awareness amongst HCW (doctors and nurses) working in Hospital Sungai Petani regarding the post-exposure prophylaxis in case of needle stick injuries from confirmed or suspected cases of HIV. Nineteen Doctors (56%) and 13 nurses (25%) were aware of correct risk of transmission. None identified all the four risk fluids correctly. 94% of doctors and 98% of nurses correctly stated that washing the site with soap and water is the initial procedure, but only few (1/10 of doctors and 1/3 of nurses) knew whom to contact immediately after injury. Twenty three doctors (67%) and 41(78%) nurses were aware of the use of Zidovudine but only 10 participants were aware of the use of second drug. Only 6 doctors (17%) and 8 nurses (15%) knew the correct duration of post-exposure prophylaxis. Twenty-three doctors (67%) and 35 nurses (67%) knew that the drugs were available in Hospital Pharmacy and 11 doctors and 12 nurses knew the approximate cost of therapy. On the average about 50% of doctors and nurses have fair knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis against HIV. Ongoing awareness and training are necessary to improve the same.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Mercury in dental amalgam: Are our health care workers at risk?

Sahani M, Sulaiman NS, Tan BS, Yahya NA, Anual ZF, Mahiyuddin WR, et al.

J Air Waste Manag Assoc, 2016 Nov;66(11):1077-1083.
PMID: 27192328 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2016.1188866

Dental amalgam in fillings exposes workers to mercury. The exposure to mercury was investigated among 1871 dental health care workers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of mercury exposure among dental compared to nondental health care workers and to determine other risk factors for mercury exposure. Respondents answered questionnaires to obtain demographic, personal, professional, and workplace information and were examined for their own amalgam fillings. Chronic mercury exposure was assessed through urinary mercury levels. In total, 1409 dental and 462 nondental health care workers participated in the study. Median urine mercury levels for dental and nondental health care workers were 2.75 μg/L (interquartile range [IQR] = 3.0175) and 2.66 μg/L (IQR = 3.04) respectively. For mercury exposure, there were no significant risk factor found among the workers involved within the dental care. The Mann-Whitney test showed that urine mercury levels were significantly different between respondents who eat seafood more than 5 times per week compared to those who eat it less frequently or not at all (p = 0.003). The urinary mercury levels indicated significant difference between dental workers in their practice using squeeze cloths (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.03). Multiple logistic regression showed that only the usage of cosmetic products that might contain mercury was found to be significantly associated with the urinary mercury levels (odds ratio [OR] = 15.237; CI: 3.612-64.276). Therefore, mean urinary mercury levels of health care workers were low. Exposure to dental amalgam is not associated with high mercury exposure. However, usage of cosmetic products containing mercury and high seafood consumption may lead to the increase of exposure to mercury.

IMPLICATIONS: Exposure to the high levels of mercury from dental amalgam can lead to serious health effects among the dental health care workers. Nationwide chronic mercury exposure among dental personnel was assessed through urinary mercury levels. Findings suggest low urinary mercury levels of these health care workers. Exposure to dental amalgam is not associated with high mercury exposure. However, the usage of cosmetic products containing mercury and high seafood consumption may lead to the increase of exposure to mercury.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Lead in blood and hair of shipyard workers, Sabah, Malaysia

Mokhtar MB, Awaluddin AB, Yusof AB, Bakar BB

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 2002 Jul;69(1):8-14.
PMID: 12053250
Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Respiratory health of rice millers in Kelantan, Malaysia

Musa R, Naing L, Ahmad Z, Kamarul Y

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2000 Sep;31(3):575-8.
PMID: 11289024

A cross sectional study was carried out to evaluate the effect of rice husk dust in rice millers in Malaysia. Altogether 69 workers participated in this study. They were interviewed using standardized questionnaires and lung function tests were performed. Chest tightness was among the common symptoms (34.9%) complained by workers. Age, duration of employment and smoking status were among the factors associated with respiratory symptoms (p < 0.01). Lung function tests revealed some degree of impairment compared to the healthy population.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Effects of safety behaviours with pesticide use on occurrence of acute symptoms in male and female tobacco-growing Malaysian farmers

Nordi RB, Araki S, Sato H, Yokoyama K, Wan Muda WA, Win Kyi D

Ind Health, 2002 Apr;40(2):182-90.
PMID: 12064560

The effects of safety behaviours associated with pesticide use on the occurrence of acute organ symptoms in 395 male and 101 female tobacco-growing farmers in Malaysia were studied. We used a 15-questionnaire checklist on safe pesticide-use behaviours and a 25-questionnaire checklist on acute organ symptoms reported shortly after spraying pesticides. Results of stepwise multiple linear regression analysis indicated that no smoking while spraying, good sprayer-condition, and changing clothes immediately after spraying significantly prevented occurrence of acute symptoms just after pesticide spray in male farmers; in female farmers, only wearing a hat while spraying significantly prevented the symptoms. Safety behaviours in pesticide use in male and female tobacco-growing farmers are discussed in the light of these findings.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Fulltext Exposure to sputum positive cases of tuberculosis in a government hospital

Jeyakumar D

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Dec;53(4):354-7.
PMID: 10971977

A retrospective study was carried out to ascertain the degree of exposure to the tubercle bacillus within Ipoh Hospital. This study reveals that, over a one year period, 92 sputum positive cases were admitted to the general wards. In 11 of these cases, drug resistance was considered to be possible. The mean time from admission to the commencement of treatment was seven days for the newly diagnosed cases. This study thus documents a significant degree of in-hospital exposure to the tubercle bacillus.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Fulltext Respiratory conditions in Malaysian asbestos cement workers

Lim HH, Rampal KG, Joginder S, Abu Bakar CM, Chan KH, Vivek TN

Med J Malaysia, 2002 Sep;57(3):340-7.
PMID: 12440274 MyJurnal

A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence and type of respiratory conditions including asbestos-related diseases among Malaysian asbestos cement workers. The study population consisted of 1164 workers who had undergone medical surveillance from 1995 to 1997, including full history, physical examination, chest radiography and spirometry. More than half the male workers were smokers or ex-smokers, with smokers having more respiratory symptoms and signs, and reduced FEV1 compared with non smokers. The five most common respiratory conditions diagnosed were bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary tuberculosis, upper respiratory tract infections and allergic rhinitis. On follow-up, there were also two cases of asbestosis and one case of bronchial carcinoma. The asbestosis cases were probably related to heavy occupational exposure to asbestos fibres in the past, before governmental regulations were gazetted in 1986. Further follow-up is essential for continued monitoring of the health status of asbestos workers.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*
Fulltext A study on some aspects of the epidemiology of malaria in an endemic district in northern Peninsular Malaysia near Thailand border

Rahman WA, Adanan CR, Abu Hassan A

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1998 Sep;29(3):537-40.
PMID: 10437952

A study on the distribution of malaria in Hulu Perak district, Peninsular Malaysia was carried out between January and December 1993. The study encompassed the distribution of malaria cases according to sex, age and profession. A total of 332 cases were recorded, with 182 cases occurring in males. The highest infection was observed in the above 15 years old age group. Forest workers (loggers, rattan collectors and forest product gatherers) were the group most exposed to the disease (32.8%), followed by both plantantion workers (32.2%) and aboriginal communities (32.2%). Army and police personnels (2.1%) were also infected. Plasmodium falciparum was the most common species of malaria in the area.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Mercury determination in hair of Malaysian fishermen by neutron activation analysis

Sarmani SB, Kiprawi AZ, Ismail RB

Biol Trace Elem Res, 1994;43-45:435-41.
PMID: 7710858

Fish has been known as a source of nonoccupational mercury exposure to fish-consuming population groups. In this study, hair samples collected from fishermen and their families residing in an industrialized area in Penang and a nonindustrialized area in Terengganu were analyzed for mercury by neutron activation. The range, arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and median of the mercury concentrations for the groups in Penang and in Terengganu were 0.45-16.68, 3.61, 3.49, and 2.96 and 6.79-18.31, 12.08, 11.69, and 12.05 mg/kg, respectively. Somewhat lower values than from the Penang group were found in a group from Selangor consisting mainly of office workers. The group in Penang took about 40-100 g of fish/d, whereas the group in Terengganu consumed twice as much. This shows that hair mercury levels depend on a fish consumption pattern, and not on the location of the population. The levels of mercury found in this study were similar to those reported by other workers for fish-consuming population groups worldwide.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/analysis*
Occupational contact dermatitis from arsenic in a tin-smelting factory

Mohamed KB

Contact Derm., 1998 Apr;38(4):224-5.
PMID: 9565305
Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*
Fulltext Non-ionizing radiation exposure causing ill-health and alopecia areata

Isa AR, Noor M

Med J Malaysia, 1991 Sep;46(3):235-8.
PMID: 1839918

Three cases of occupational exposure to radio-frequency and microwave radiation were seen at the out-patient clinic, Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. They presented with run-down symptoms of neck strain associated with throbbing headache, irritability, loss of appetite, fatigue, memory difficulties, and numbness of extremities. They also presented with alopecia areata which is felt to be causally linked to the radiation exposure.

Study site: Outpatient clinic Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia (HUSM)

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Ethnic differences in blood lead concentration among workers in a battery manufacturing factory

Chia SE, Chia KS, Ong CN

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1991 Nov;20(6):758-61.
PMID: 1803964

Blood lead levels of two ethnic groups (11 Chinese and 25 Malays) of workers in a factory manufacturing lead accumulator battery were studied. The mean adjusted (for environmental lead levels, age, exposure duration and stick-years of smoking by analysis of covariance) blood lead level of the Malays was 34.8 micrograms/dl as compared to 22.4 micrograms/dl for the Chinese. This difference was significant (p less than 0.02). Oral ingestion of lead, through eating of food with hands contaminated by lead compound, among the Malay workers was suggested as a possible cause for the difference in the mean blood lead levels. Preventive measures and recommendations to overcome the problem among this particular group of workers were discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*
Assessment of urinary cotinine as a marker of nicotine absorption from tobacco leaves: a study on tobacco farmers in Malaysia

Onuki M, Yokoyama K, Kimura K, Sato H, Nordin RB, Naing L, et al.

J Occup Health, 2003 May;45(3):140-5.
PMID: 14646288

To assess dermal absorption of nicotine from tobacco leaves in relation to Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS), urinary cotinine concentrations were measured in 80 male tobacco-growing farmers and in 40 healthy males (controls) who did not handle wet tobacco leaves in Kelantan, Malaysia. Among non-smokers, urinary cotinine levels in farmers were significantly higher than those of controls; farmers with urinary cotinine of 50 ng/ml/m2 or above showed eye symptoms more frequently than those below this level (p<0.05). Farmers who did not wear protective equipment had subjective symptoms more frequently than those who used the equipment (p<0.05); some of these symptoms were seen more frequently in organophosphate (Tamaron) users than in non-users. As tobacco farmers evidence a risk of nicotine poisoning from tobacco leaves, assessment including GTS together with effects of pesticides will be necessary.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Fulltext Supporting Role of Society and Firms to COVID-19 Management among Medical Practitioners

Zandi G, Shahzad I, Farrukh M, Kot S

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2020 10 29;17(21).
PMID: 33138254 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17217961

Measurement of job stress and employees' commitment are few of the admired topics in the corporate world amongst business writers. With a principal aim to trial the blow of exposure to COVID-19 patients on doctors' job stress and commitment, in Pakistan; data have been collected through 7-10 min telephonic interview from voluntary participants and a sample of 129 responses were analyzed by Structure Equation Modeling-Partial Least Square (SEM-PLS) path modeling through Smart PLS 3.2. The results of the study indicated; direct positive & significant impact of Extent of Exposure on Job Stress while direct negative, significant association with Commitment. Job Stress also observed having direct negative impact on commitment. The Extent of Exposure-Job Stress relationship was also found stronger among group of doctors having Low level of Perceived Organizational Support and weaker among group of doctors having High level of Perceive Organizational support. Perceived Organizational Support showed a moderating effect on the Extent of Exposure-Job Stress relationship; while, Social Support showed no moderation. Researchers are required to investigate more and management of the medical services providers (both hospitals and government) needs to focus on doctors' perception about Organizational Support, as doctors show no concern about the support from society as long as their well-being is cared for by respective hospitals. This study is an effort to stimulate more empirical evidence towards the treating and handling of COVID-19 patients and the psychological well-being of doctors.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/prevention & control
Fulltext Prevalence of hand-arm vibration syndrome among tyre shop workers in Kelantan, Malaysia

Qamruddin AA, Nik Husain NR, Sidek MY, Hanafi MH, Ripin ZM, Ali N

J Occup Health, 2019 Nov;61(6):498-507.
PMID: 31364246 DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12078

BACKGROUND: Prolonged exposure to hand-arm vibration is associated with a disorder of the vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal systems of the upper limb known as hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS). Currently, the evidence of HAVS in tropical environments is limited.
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and severity of HAVS among tyre shop workers in Kelantan, Malaysia.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 200 tyre shop workers from two districts in Kelantan was performed. Part one data were collected at the field using questionnaire, and hand-arm vibration was measured. Part two involved a set of hand clinical examinations. The workers were divided into high (≥5 m s-2 ) and low/moderate (<5 m s-2 ) exposure group according to their 8-hr time weighted average [A(8)] of vibration exposure. The differences between the two exposure group were then compared.
RESULTS: The prevalence of the vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal symptoms was 12.5% (95% CI 10.16 to 14.84), 37.0% (95% CI 30.31 to 43.69), and 44.5% (95% CI 37.61 to 51.38) respectively. When divided according to their exposure statuses, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of HAVS for all three components of vascular, neurological, and musculoskeletal (22.68% vs 2.91%, 62.89% vs 12.62% and 50.52% and 38.83%) respectively. All the clinical examinations findings also significantly differed between the two groups with the high exposure group having a higher abnormal result.
CONCLUSION: Exposure to high A(8) of vibration exposure was associated with a higher prevalence of all three component of HAVS. There is a need for better control of vibration exposure in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Melatonin, environmental light, and breast cancer

Srinivasan V, Spence DW, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trakht I, Esquifino AI, Cardinali DP, et al.

Breast Cancer Res Treat, 2008 Apr;108(3):339-50.
PMID: 17541739

Although many factors have been suggested as causes for breast cancer, the increased incidence of the disease seen in women working in night shifts led to the hypothesis that the suppression of melatonin by light or melatonin deficiency plays a major role in cancer development. Studies on the 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea experimental models of human breast cancer indicate that melatonin is effective in reducing cancer development. In vitro studies in MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line have shown that melatonin exerts its anticarcinogenic actions through a variety of mechanisms, and that it is most effective in estrogen receptor (ER) alpha-positive breast cancer cells. Melatonin suppresses ER gene, modulates several estrogen dependent regulatory proteins and pro-oncogenes, inhibits cell proliferation, and impairs the metastatic capacity of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The anticarcinogenic action on MCF-7 cells has been demonstrated at the physiological concentrations of melatonin attained at night, suggesting thereby that melatonin acts like an endogenous antiestrogen. Melatonin also decreases the formation of estrogens from androgens via aromatase inhibition. Circulating melatonin levels are abnormally low in ER-positive breast cancer patients thereby supporting the melatonin hypothesis for breast cancer in shift working women. It has been postulated that enhanced endogenous melatonin secretion is responsible for the beneficial effects of meditation as a form of psychosocial intervention that helps breast cancer patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/adverse effects
ASSESSMENT ON THE INTERCHANGEABILITY OF PERSONAL EFFECTIVE DOSE ALGORITHMS IN FLUOROSCOPY-GUIDED INTERVENTIONS USING BLAND-ALTMAN ANALYSIS

Bohari A, Hashim S, Ghoshal SK, Mohd Mustafa SN

Radiat Prot Dosimetry, 2019 Dec 31;186(4):462-468.
PMID: 31329977 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncz051

Long exposure to radiation from fluoroscopy-guided interventions (FGIs) can be detrimental to both patients and radiologists. The effective doses received by the interventional radiology staff after performing 230 FGIs in a year were assessed by using double dosimetry and five various algorithms. The Shapiro-Wilk test revealed normally-distributed data (p < 0.01), while the significant correlation coefficients between the effective doses ranged between 0.88 and 1.00. As for the Bland-Altman analysis, both Niklason and Boetticher algorithms strongly supported the absence of statistical significance between the estimated effective doses. This portrays that the occupational doses received by the interventional radiology staff during FGIs fall within the acceptable limit regardless of the varied algorithms applied. In short, the Niklason and Boetticher algorithms appeared to be the more interchangeable ones for effective evaluation of doses. This is in view of their strong mutual correlations and excellent agreement.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/analysis*
Overview of radiation safety in the tin by-product (amang) industry of South East Asia

Hewson GS

Health Phys, 1996 Aug;71(2):225-34.
PMID: 8690608

Processing of by-product heavy minerals (amang) from tin mining involves potential exposure to external and internal sources of radioactivity. The radioactivity arises through the presence of thorium and uranium series radionuclides in the various minerals. Monazite is the most radioactive mineral, containing 3% to 7% thorium by weight, while ilmenite is generally the least radioactive mineral containing typically less than 0.05% thorium. External exposure occurs when workers are in close proximity to accumulations or stockpiles of the radioactive minerals, whereas internal exposure occurs when workers are involved in dusty processes. This paper summarizes the nature of the amang industry in South East Asia and presents the results of preliminary measurements of external radiation and airborne radioactivity in twelve Malaysian and Thai plants. Although constrained by a paucity of exposure data, it is concluded that radiation doses to some amang plant workers may approach or exceed international standards and that appropriate control measures are required as a matter of priority, Radiation doses may approach or exceed 100 mSv in situations where workers are exposed to excessive levels of ambient dust and no protective measures are used. Observations and recommendations are made relating to monitoring and surveillance, instruction and training, and engineering and administrative protection measures.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure*
Impacts of PM2.5 on respiratory system among traffic policemen

Putri Anis Syahira MJ, Karmegam K, Nur Athirah Diyana MY, Irniza R, Shamsul Bahri MT, Vivien H, et al.

Work, 2020;66(1):25-29.
PMID: 32417810 DOI: 10.3233/WOR-203147

BACKGROUND: Malaysian traffic policemen are constantly exposed to unhealthy air in the outdoor environment, which results in various health problems. This study investigates the relationship of the personal exposure level to PM2.5 and lung functions in traffic policemen in Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru.
METHODS: A pulmonary function test using a spirometer was carried out to measure the lung function of the traffic policemen. The personal exposure level to PM2.5 was measured using a pump with a PVC filter and 5.0μm pore size. A questionnaire requesting the background data, such as age, height, and weight, was also used for testing lung function abnormalities.
RESULTS: The PM2.5 personal exposure level was found to be significantly related to lung function (predicted FEV1 and predicted FVC) at p-value

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/analysis
The handling of safety concerns among anaesthetists when restarting full surgical lists during the COVID-19 pandemic

Loh PS, Shariffuddin II, Chaw SH, Mansor M

Med J Malaysia, 2021 01;76(1):98-100.
PMID: 33510117

Around June 2020, many institutions restarted full operating schedules to clear the backlog of postponed surgeries because of the first wave in the COVID-19 pandemic. In an online survey distributed among anaesthestists in Asian countries at that time, most of them described their safety concerns and recommendations related to the supply of personal protective equipment and its usage. The second concern was related to pre-operative screening for all elective surgical cases and its related issues. The new norm in practice was found to be non-standardized and involved untested devices or workflow that have since been phased out with growing evidence. Subsequent months after reinstating full elective surgeries tested the ability of many hospitals in handling the workload of non-COVID surgical cases together with rising COVID-19 positive cases in the second and third waves when stay-at-home orders eased.

Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/prevention & control*

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