Displaying publications 141 - 160 of 169 in total

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  1. Fulltext Factors associated with vascular and neurological complications of hand-arm vibration syndrome among tire shop workers in Kelantan, Malaysia
    Qamruddin AA, Nik Husain NR, Sidek MY, Hanafi MH, Mohd Ripin Z
    J Occup Health, 2021 Jan;63(1):e12220.
    PMID: 33942440 DOI: 10.1002/1348-9585.12220
    OBJECTIVE: Prolonged exposure to hand-arm vibration (HAV) at the workplace is associated with hand-arm vascular syndrome (HAVS). This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the vascular and neurological complications of HAVS among tire shop workers in Kelantan, Malaysia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional study involving 200 tire shop workers from two districts in Kelantan was conducted. Data were collected at the field using Malay Translated HAVS questionnaire, and hand-arm vibration was measured. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associated factors.

    RESULTS: The prevalence of vascular and neurological complications of HAVS among the tire shop workers was 12.5% (95% CI: 10.16, 14.84) and 37.0% (95% CI: 30.31, 43.69), respectively. From multiple logistic regression analysis, only A(8) of HAV exposure was significantly associated with the development of vascular complications and A(8) of HAV exposure, age. and body mass index were significantly associated with the development of neurological complications of HAVS.

    CONCLUSION: This study has identified that HAVS is a significant problem among workers exposed to HAV in a warm environment. A(8) of HAV exposure is significantly associated with the development of both vascular and neurological complications. Therefore, there is a need for better control of vibration exposure in Malaysia.

    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/adverse effects
  2. Optimization of the operating parameters of a grass trimming machine
    Mallick Z
    Appl Ergon, 2010 Mar;41(2):260-5.
    PMID: 19762006 DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2009.07.010
    Hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) is very common among the workers operating power tools and doing similar nature of work for long hours. Grass trimming is one of the operations that involves use of vibrating cutter, and results in hand-arm vibration among workers. In this study, the influence of several operating parameters (length of nylon cutting thread, engine speed and handle material) is investigated in terms of HAV. Data are analyzed via orthogonal array, main effect, signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, and analysis of variance to determine the appropriate operating parameter levels to minimize HAV. Operating parameters under investigation are found to be influential in controlling HAV generation during grass trimming operation. Experiments are carried out for measuring hand-arm vibration using tri-axial accelerometer conforming the effectiveness of this approach. Results show that 100mm length of nylon thread, 3000+/-400rpm of engine speed and ABS handle material combination results in minimum HAV (HARM) of magnitude 2.76m/s(2). Through this study not only the optimal operating parameter levels for GTM are obtained, but also the main process parameters that affect the HAV are determined. The optimum HAV obtained through appropriate level selection of operating parameters, significantly reduces the occurrence of HAVS among the grass trimmers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  3. Fulltext Needlestick injury among medical personnel in Accident and Emergency Department of two teaching hospitals
    Ng YW, Hassim IN
    Med J Malaysia, 2007 Mar;62(1):9-12.
    PMID: 17682562
    Needlestick injury has been recognized as one of the occupational hazards which results in transmission of bloodborne pathogens. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 136 health care workers in the Accident and Emergency Department of two teaching hospitals from August to November 2003 to determine the prevalence of cases and episodes of needlestick injury. In addition, this study also assessed the level of knowledge of blood-borne diseases and Universal Precautions, risk perception on the practice of Universal Precautions and to find out factors contributing to needlestick injury. Prevalence of needlestick injury among the health care workers in the two hospitals were found to be 31.6% (N = 43) and 52.9% (N = 87) respectively. Among different job categories, medical assistants appeared to face the highest risk of needlestick injury. Factors associated with needlestick injury included shorter tenure in one's job (p < 0.05). Findings of this study support the hypothesis that health care workers are at risk of needlestick injury while performing procedures on patients. Therefore, comprehensive infection control strategies should be applied to effectively reduce the risk of needlestick injury.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  4. Exposed, but Not Protected: More Is Needed to Prevent Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in Healthcare Workers and Students
    von Delft A, Dramowski A, Sifumba Z, Mosidi T, Xun Ting T, von Delft D, et al.
    Clin Infect Dis, 2016 05 15;62 Suppl 3:S275-80.
    PMID: 27118858 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw037
    "Occupational MDR-TB"  …  "XDR-TB"  …  "Treatment-induced hearing loss": 3 life-changing messages imparted over the phone. Three personal accounts are shared highlighting the false belief held by many healthcare workers (HCWs) and students in low-resource settings-that they are immune to tuberculosis despite high levels of occupational tuberculosis exposure. This misconception reflects a lack of awareness of tuberculosis transmission and disease risk, compounded by the absence of accurate occupational tuberculosis estimates. As the global problem of drug-resistant (DR) tuberculosis evolves, HCWs are increasingly infected and suffer considerable morbidity and mortality from occupational DR tuberculosis disease. Similarly, healthcare students are emerging as a vulnerable and unprotected group. There is an urgent need for improved detection, vaccines, preventive therapy, treatment, and support for affected HCWs and those they care for, as well as destigmatization of all forms of tuberculosis. Finally, efforts to protect HCWs and prevent DR tuberculosis transmission by universal implementation of tuberculosis infection control measures should be prioritized.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  5. Blood lead levels of a population group not occupationally exposed to lead in Singapore
    Neo KS, Goh KT, Sam CT
    Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2000 Jun;31(2):295-300.
    PMID: 11127329
    A survey was conducted between 1995 and 1997 to assess the impact of introduction of unleaded petrol and other public health measures on the blood lead level of the population. The geometric mean blood lead level of 269 government employees as determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy, was 66.0 microg/l, much lower than that recorded before introduction of lead-free petrol. Using multiple regression analysis, factors significantly associated with blood lead levels were: exposure to traffic, age (>50 years) and active smoking. Passive smoking, exposure to recent paint work, consumption of alcohol and traditional medicine were found not to be significantly associated with the blood lead level.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  6. Blastocystis in animal handlers
    Rajah Salim H, Suresh Kumar G, Vellayan S, Mak JW, Khairul Anuar A, Init I, et al.
    Parasitol Res, 1999 Dec;85(12):1032-3.
    PMID: 10599928
    The present study investigated whether people working closely with animals were at higher risk of getting infected with Blastocystis hominis. The prevalence of the parasite was determined in two population groups, i.e., animal handlers and normal healthy individuals who did not work with animals. In all, 105 stool samples were collected from animal handlers from 2 local research institutions, a local zoo, and a local abattoir and 163 stool samples were collected from normal healthy individuals residing in high-rise flats in the city. The in vitro culture method used in the study detected that 41% of 105 animal handlers and 17% of 163 flat-dwellers in the city were positive for Blastocystis. This statistically significant finding (P = 0.0000313) shows that people who work closely with animals do stand at risk of acquiring Blastocystis infection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  7. Removal of chromium (III) from aqueous solution using chrome sludge
    Low KS, Lee CK, Ow-Wee ST
    Bull Environ Contam Toxicol, 1995 Aug;55(2):270-5.
    PMID: 7579934
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  8. Ethical aspects in the use of radiation in medicine: update from ICRP Task Group 109
    Bochud F, Cantone MC, Applegate K, Coffey M, Damilakis J, Del Rosario Perez M, et al.
    Ann ICRP, 2020 Dec;49(1_suppl):143-153.
    PMID: 32777956 DOI: 10.1177/0146645320929630
    Whereas scientific evidence is the basis for recommendations and guidance on radiological protection, professional ethics is critically important and should always guide professional behaviour. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) established Task Group 109 to advise medical professionals, patients, families, carers, the public, and authorities about the ethical aspects of radiological protection of patients in the diagnostic and therapeutic use of radiation in medicine. Occupational exposures and research-related exposures are not within the scope of this task group. Task Group 109 will produce a report that will be available to the different interested parties for consultation before publication. Presently, the report is at the stage of a working document that has benefitted from an international workshop organised on the topic by the World Health Organization. It presents the history of ethics in medicine in ICRP, and explains why this subject is important, and the benefits it can bring to the standard biomedical ethics. As risk is an essential part in decision-making and communication, a summary is included on what is known about the dose-effect relationship, with emphasis on the associated uncertainties. Once this theoretical framework has been presented, the report becomes resolutely more practical. First, it proposes an evaluation method to analyse specific situations from an ethical point of view. This method allows stakeholders to review a set of six ethical values and provides hints on how they could be balanced. Next, various situations (e.g. pregnancy, elderly, paediatric, end of life) are considered in two steps: first within a realistic, ethically challenging scenario on which the evaluation method is applied; and second within a more general context. Scenarios are presented and discussed with attention to specific patient circumstances, and on how and which reflections on ethical values can be of help in the decision-making process. Finally, two important related aspects are considered: how should we communicate with patients, family, and other stakeholders; and how should we incorporate ethics into the education and training of medical professionals?
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  9. Seroprevalence of brucellosis among farmers and veterinary technical staff in peninsular Malaysia
    Bamaiyi PH, L. Hassan, S. Khairani-Bejo, M. Zainalabidin, M. Ramlan, A. Adzhar, et al.
    Sains Malaysiana, 2017;46:933-943.
    A study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with brucellosis in farmers, veterinary technical staff and other volunteers in Peninsular Malaysia using the One Health concept. A cross sectional study design was employed to sample a population of farmers and Veterinary technical staff on a volunteer basis. The Brucella Coombs test was used to elucidate the seroprevalence of brucellosis in the sampled population and the associated factors and predictors for brucellosis. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among farmers and non-farmers (veterinary technical staff and others) of 446 people studied was 1.35% (95% CI=0.28-2.42). Occupation, age and drinking unpasteurized milk were significant risk factors for brucellosis using multivariate logistic regression at 90% confidence level. The odds of having brucellosis increased by 7.19 times in farmers compared to non-farmers (90% CI=1.16, 44.71), it increased 7.16 times in individuals 40 years and below compared with those above 40 years old (90% CI=1.16, 44.41) and 4.45 times among those who drink unpasteurized milk compared to those who do not (90% CI= 1.03, 19.15). This study highlights the current state of human brucellosis in Malaysia among those groups that are occupationally at risk. A nationwide health education of the occupationally exposed population especially farmers may decrease the incidence of the infection and support the on-going eradication efforts of brucellosis in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  10. Fulltext Factors associated with occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among healthcare worker in a government hospital in Sabah
    Che Wan Ilmiyah Ahmad, Raja Muhammad Raja Omar, Khamisah Awang Lukman
    Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences, 2019;15(106):32-32.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are exposed to occupational blood and body fluid exposure (OBBE) that potentially cause blood-borne infection such as HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C, with risk of transmission 0.3%, 6 to 30% and 0-10% respectively. They are exposed to these infections through percutaneous injury, splash exposure of blood and body fluids to mucous membrane and non-intact skin. Aim of this study was to determine prevalence and risk factors associated with occupational exposure of blood and body fluid in a tertiary government hospital in Sabah. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted involving 10 places, was chosen by stratified random sampling and involved various job categories (specialist, medical officer, house officer, nurse, hospital assistant and Sedafiat worker). Self-administered questionnaire used as study tool. The data was analysed by using SPSS version 22.0. Association of risk factors and OBBE incidence were determined by Chi-square test and simple logistic regression. Results: A total of 334 respondents involved in this study. Prevalence of OBBE was 25.2% with 95% CI of 20.6% to 30.2% and highest (41.3%) among HCWs working in medical ward. Nurses were less likely to have occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (Crude OR=0.33, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.57). Needle recapping (Crude OR=3.77, 95% CI: 1.99, 7.10) and never attend training in infection prevention (Crude OR=3.19, 95% CI: 1.69, 6.05) were associ-ated with higher odds of OBBE. There was 76.3% of respondents adhere to universal precaution. HCWs who did not work in shift (Crude OR=3.04, 95% CI: 1.49, 6.21) and non-nurses (Crude OR=2.04, 95% CI: 1.06, 3.92) profession had better adherence to universal precaution. Conclusion: Prevalence of OBBE was 25.2%. Modifiable risk factors for OBBE were identified including needle recapping and training on infection prevention. Shift work is associated with adherence to universal precaution. Adequate training, increasing knowledge and awareness may help to reduce OBBE burden.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  11. Fulltext Effect of petroleum derivatives and solvents on colour perception
    Sharanjeet-Kaur, Mursyid A, Kamaruddin A, Ariffin A
    Clin Exp Optom, 2004 Jul;87(4-5):339-43.
    PMID: 15312037 DOI: 10.1111/j.1444-0938.2004.tb05064.x
    BACKGROUND: Occupational exposure to various neurotoxic chemicals has been shown to be associated with colour vision impairment. It seems that this can occur at low exposure levels, sometimes well below the recommended occupational threshold limits. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of exposure to petroleum derivatives (polyethylene, polystyrene) and solvents (perchloroethylene) on colour perception.
    METHODS: Colour vision was assessed using the Ishihara plates, the D-15 test and the Farnsworth Munsell 100 Hue test. Two factories using petroleum derivatives and three dry cleaning premises were chosen at random. A total of 93 apparently healthy employees were recruited from the five workplaces. Two age-matched control groups comprising 56 people, who were support staff of the university with no exposure to petroleum, solvents or their derivatives, were also recruited.
    RESULTS: All subjects passed the Ishihara test, showing that none had a congenital red-green defect. Some of the exposed employees failed the D-15 and had abnormally high FM100 Hue scores. All control subjects passed all the colour vision tests. The D-15 test showed that 28 per cent (26 of 93) of exposed employees had a colour vision defect whereas the FM 100 Hue test found that 63 per cent (59 of 93) had a colour vision defect. Most defects were of the blue-yellow type (22.6 per cent) when using the D-15 test. However, with the FM 100 Hue test, most defects were of the non-polar type with no specific axis (50.5 per cent). Mean total error scores calculated from the FM100 Hue test for exposed employees were statistically significantly higher than those of the control subjects.
    CONCLUSION: Employees directly exposed to petroleum derivatives and solvents have a higher risk of acquiring colour vision defects compared to subjects who are not.
    Study sites: Factories; the control subjects were tested at the Optometry Clinic in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  12. A report on needle stick injuries for the year 2000
    Lim JF
    Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 2004;1(2):82-88.
    MyJurnal
    Workers in the health care industry and related occupations are at risk of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and other potentially infectious agents. The primary route of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens is accidental percutaneous (through the skin) injury. Health care workers handle sharp devices and equipment such as hypodermic and suture needles, intravenous blood collection devices, phlebotomy devices, and scalpels. Health care workers with the most involvement in direct patient care e.g., nursing staff, sustain the highest proportion of reported NSIs (needle stick injuries).
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  13. Fulltext Association between IL-31 serum levels and other predisposing factors with allergic diseases in HRPZ II and HUSM, Kelantan, Malaysia
    Siti Noor Syuhada Muhammad Amin, Noor Suryani Mohd Ashari, Wan Zuraida Wan Abd. Hamid, Azriani Ab Rahman, Azman Azid
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2017;17(2):66-73.
    Interleukin 31 (IL-31)is one of the cytokines which appears to be an important regulator of Th2 responses. Previous study has been done to determine IL-31 serums levels in atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the serum levels of IL-31 in allergic rhinitis (AR) and atopic asthma (AA) is not many reported and still unclear. The objective of this cross sectional study is to determine an association between IL-31 and other predisposing factors with allergic diseases in HRPZ II (Hospital Raja PerempuanZainab II) and HUSM (Hospital UniversitiSains), Kelantan, Malaysia. This study involved 70 patients of AD, 70 patients of AR, 70 patients of AA and 70 healthy controls from staffs and people in HUSM.Five milliliters of blood were withdrawn and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 2000 rpm to obtain the serum and analyzed for IL-31 levels by using enzymelinked immunosorbent (ELISA) kits (Human IL 31 Duoset, R&D System). Simple and multiple logistic regressions were used to analyze the association between IL-31 levels and predisposing factors among allergic diseases. The levels of IL-31 and other predisposing factors showed significant associations in smoking status, occupational exposure and area of living for AD and AR, however in AA, the significant association only found in smoking status and occupational exposure. In conclusion, we found that there were associations between IL-31 serum levels and other predisposing factors with AD, AR and AA. The findings can be the pilot study to determine IL-31 levels in allergic diseases in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  14. Lower back pain and its association with whole-body vibration and manual materials handling among commercial drivers in Sabah
    Awang Lukman K, Jeffree MS, Rampal KG
    Int J Occup Saf Ergon, 2019 Mar;25(1):8-16.
    PMID: 28978270 DOI: 10.1080/10803548.2017.1388571
    A cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of lower back pain (LBP) and its association with whole-body vibration (WBV) and manual materials handling (MMH). We studied 110 commercial vehicle drivers using a self-administered questionnaire and the VI-400Pro human vibration monitor. Prevalence of LBP was 66.4%. The percentage of drivers who had frequent manual handling of heavy loads was 45.5% and those who handled heavy loads in awkward postures accounted for 86.4%. Daily vibration A(8) averaged on the z axis was 0.25 (0.06) m·s-2 and at vector sum was 0.29 (0.07) m·s-2. Daily vibration exposures on the z axis, frequent manual handling of heavy loads and awkward posture during MMH were significantly associated with LBP. Drivers who are exposed to WBV and frequently handle heavy loads manually and with awkward postures probably have more LBP than drivers who are exposed to only one of these risk factors.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  15. Fulltext Role of the CYP1A2 Gene Polymorphism on Early Ageing from Occupational Exposure
    Eshkoor S, Ismail P, Rahman S, Moin S, Adon M
    Balkan J Med Genet, 2013 Dec;16(2):45-52.
    PMID: 24778563 DOI: 10.2478/bjmg-2013-0031
    The ageing process is influenced by many internal and external factors. The toxic substances in the environment can cause genomic damages to cells, which increase the risk of early ageing. Furthermore, the cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) gene polymorphism is a susceptibility factor and may enhance the risk of DNA damage in cells. The current study was carried out to show whether occupational exposure could cause genotoxicity in cells carrying the CYP1A2 gene polymorphism, thus enhancing the likelihood of early ageing. This study was conducted on mechanical workshop workers and a control group by collecting buccal cells from their mouths. Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) was used to identify the CYP1A2 gene polymorphism in the cells. In addition, three extra methods including micronuclei (MN) test, comet assay and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were applied to determine the effects of gene polymorphisms on DNA damage and ageing from occupational exposure. The results showed that DNA damage in the cells carrying the mutated genotype was higher than the wild genotype. In addition, the difference in MN frequency (p = 0.001) and relative telomere length (p = 0.002) between workers and controls was significant (p <0.05) in the mutated genotype. The findings indicated a possible protective effect of gene polymorphism against early ageing, which was characterized by lack of a significant influence of CYP1A2 gene polymorphism on genetic material in the subjects (p >0.05). It was concluded that the CYP1A2 gene could be a contributing factor to prevent early ageing from occupational exposure.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  16. Hearing impairment and contributing factors among fertilizer factory workers
    Saffree Jeffree M, Ismail N, Awang Lukman K
    J Occup Health, 2016 Sep 30;58(5):434-443.
    PMID: 27488035
    INTRODUCTION: Hearing impairment remains the main occupational health problem in the manufacturing industry, and its contributing factors have not been well controlled.

    METHODS: Unmatched case control and comparative studies were carried out among fertilizer factory workers in Sarawak with the aim of determining contributing factors for hearing impairment. Respondents consisted of 49 cases that were diagnosed from 2005 to 2008 with 98 controls from the same work places. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used in a univariate analysis to determine the association between hearing impairment and the contributing risks being studied.

    RESULTS: The results of the univariate analysis showed that hearing impairment was significantly (p<0.05) associated with older age, lower education level, high smoking dose, high occupational daily noise dose, longer duration of service, infrequent used of hearing protection device (HPD), and low perception of sound on HPD usage. Multivariate logistic regression of hearing impairment after controlling for age found the following five variables: occupational daily noise dose ≥50% (OR 3.48, 95% CI 1.36-8.89), ≥15 years of services (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.16-7.33), infrequent use of HPD (OR 2.79, 95% CI 1.15-6.77), low perception of sound on HPD (POR 2.77, 95% CI 1.09-6.97), and smoking more than 20 packs per year (OR 4.71, 95% CI 1.13-19.68).

    DISCUSSION: In conclusion, high occupational noise exposure level, longer duration of service, low perception of sound on HPD, infrequent used of HPD, and smoking more than 20 packs per year were the contributing factors to hearing impairment, and appropriate intervention measures should be proposed and taken into considerations.

    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*
  17. Fulltext Antibody prevalence and factors associated with exposure to Orientia tsutsugamushi in different aboriginal subgroups in West Malaysia
    Tay ST, Mohamed Zan HA, Lim YA, Ngui R
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2013;7(8):e2341.
    PMID: 23936576 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0002341
    Limited data is available on the current status of scrub typhus infection in the aboriginal population in Malaysia. This study was aimed to provide recent data on the degree of exposure of 280 individuals from seven aboriginal subgroups to Orientia tsutsugamushi (causative agent of scrub typhus) in West Malaysia. The environment, socioeconomic and behavioural risk factors associated with the disease were also investigated.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  18. Fulltext The rate of glove perforations in orthopaedic procedures: single versus double gloving. A prospective study
    Chan KY, Singh VA, Oun BH, To BH
    Med J Malaysia, 2006 Dec;61 Suppl B:3-7.
    PMID: 17605178
    Glove perforation during surgery has always been a matter of concern as it increases the infection rate and the risk of transmission of blood borne diseases. To determine the common causes, the site and the awareness of glove perforations in orthopaedic surgery, a prospective study was conducted to assess the rate of glove perforation during 130 consecutive orthopaedic operations. All gloves worn by the surgical team were assessed after the surgery using the water-loading test. A total of 1452 gloves were tested, and the rate of perforation was 3.58%. Most of these perforations (61.5%) were unnoticed. The main surgeons had the most perforations (76.9%), followed by first assistants (13.5%) and second assistants (9.6%). Most perforations occurred at the non-dominant hand. The commonest site of perforation was the index finger followed by the thumb. Shearing force with instruments accounted for 45% of the noticed perforations. Majority of these occurred during nailing procedures (33%) and internal fixation without the use of wires (19%). Our rate of glove perforation is similar to other series. Most of them went unnoticed and were mainly due to shearing injuries rather than perforation by sharps. Therefore, there is an increased risk of contamination and break in asepsis during surgery.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  19. Lead exposure among Malaysian school children using delta-aminolevulinic acid as an indicator
    Ming LO, Surif S, Abdullah A
    Sci Total Environ, 1997 Jan 30;193(3):207-13.
    PMID: 9092077
    A study on lead exposure among school children aged between 7 and 12 years from Kajang and Sepang in the state of Selangor, Malaysia was carried out using delta-aminolevulinic acid (delta-ALA) levels in the urine as an index. The delta-ALA levels in urine were linked to variables which could contribute to lead exposure. Out of 1628 school children studied [Kajang (43.5%) and Sepang (56.5%)], only 194 subjects (16 and 8.8% from Kajang and Sepang, respectively) had urinary delta-ALA levels between 0.6 and 2.0 mg/100 ml. However, chi 2 analysis demonstrated significant association between delta-ALA of this group to some of the variables. The strongest association was found in the habit of biting fingernails (P < 0.025). Other statistically significant correlations were found between delta-ALA and father's occupation (P < 0.05) and the amount of time spent playing in the field (P < 0.01). Generally, this study indicates that school children in Kajang and Sepang are still relatively safe from excessively high lead exposure. However, a more sensitive indicator, which is based on a lower tolerable lead limits, such as lead in blood, are necessary to affirm this finding.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
  20. Detection and distribution of anti-leptospiral antibody among dogs and their handlers
    Goh SH, Khor KH, Ismail R, Megat Abdul Rani PA, Mohd Mohidin TB, Bahaman AR, et al.
    Trop Biomed, 2020 Dec 01;37(4):1074-1082.
    PMID: 33612759 DOI: 10.47665/tb.37.4.1074
    The incidence of leptospirosis seems to be on the rise and could be an alarming indirect indication of a global re-emergence. It is a potential public health threat when dogs are speculated to be involved in the transmission of leptospirosis through possible subclinical harbouring of Leptospira spp. and subsequent shedding into the environment. This study aimed to detect anti-leptospiral antibodies among dogs and their handlers using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Blood samples from 266 apparently healthy dogs and 194 dog handlers were collected at four working dog organisations and four dog shelters. Serum samples were tested using MAT against 20 leptospiral serovars with a cut-off titre >=1:100 (dog) and >=1:50 (dog handlers). Seventy dogs (70/266; 26.3%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae, Ballum, Bataviae and Javanica (titres ranged: 1:100-1:800). Sixty-seven dog handlers (67/194; 34.5%) were seropositive mainly against serovars Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae and Malaysia (titres ranged: 1:50-1:200). Dogs were seropositive due to exposure, vaccination or active infection. Seropositive dog handlers could indicate exposure or active infection. This shows the potential of dogs in maintaining and spreading the infection in Malaysia. Due to the occupational risk as a result of frequent contact with dogs and exposure to contaminated environments, dog handlers should be made aware of the presence of this zoonotic disease.
    Matched MeSH terms: Occupational Exposure
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