Category Archives: b_original_articles

Original Articles

Blood cholinesterase level and its association with neurobehavioral performance due to insecticide exposure among male cocoa farmers in Pahang and Perak, Malaysia

Leave a reply

Norsyazwani Mohammad, Emilia Zainal Abidin*, Nor ‘Aqilah Amani Zainal Mubarik,

 

 

 

 

 

Vivien How, Sarva Mangala Praveena, Zailina Hashim

 

Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

 

 

 

Abstract

 

Background: Chlorpyrifos (group II) is an example of organophosphate (OP) insecticides used in cocoa farm that contains moderately hazardous substances that may be dangerous, toxic and can cause severe effects to human health. It is a concern considering cocoa plantations uses large amount of pesticides. There is a lack of study focusing on cocoa farmers’ exposure to organophosphate and data is needed to allow preventive measures to be planned and implemented in order to protect the health and safety of the workers in this specific agricultural sector.

Objective: This study aims to determine blood cholinesterase level due to exposure to organophosphate pesticides and identify its link with neurobehavioral performance of cocoa farmers in cocoa plantations across Perak and Pahang, Malaysia.

Method: This is a cross-sectional study among participants that includes cocoa farmers as the exposed group and fishermen as the comparison group. Structured questionnaire were administered to obtain background information and occupational usage of insecticides. Blood samples were collected via finger prick technique and seven tests of World Health Organization (WHO) Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB) were used to measure the neurobehavioral performance of the respondents. Data collected were entered into statistical software and were analysed according to objectives.

Results: A total of 178 respondents were recruited in this study. This study had reversed results where the blood cholinesterase level of the comparison group was below than the normal range compared to the exposed group. The standard scores of Pursuit Aiming and Trail Making tests showed that the exposed group had significantly poorer performance than the comparison group. There was no significant correlation between the blood cholinesterase with neurobehavioral performance scores for the exposed group. Income, years of handling were significant predictor factors for Pursuit Aiming Test whereas age, use of gloves and education for Trail Making Test.

Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that neurobehavioral assessment conducted have provided insight into the early effects of OP pesticide exposures when results detected impairment of cocoa farmers’ motor steadiness and visual motor coordination. There is a need to encourage commitment of employers to protect workers through conducting medical surveillance, reviewing existing training modules, assist in the amendment of the existing guideline for use and provide adequate and suitable personal protective equipment for the use of the workers in order to fulfil the objectives of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.

 Keywords: Organophosphate, blood cholinesterase level, neurobehavioral performance, cocoa farmers



Biomarker of occupational airways inflammation for exposure to inorganic dust

Leave a reply

 

Noor Haziqah Kamaludin1, Juliana Jalaludin1*, Shamsul Bahri Mohd Tamrin1,

 

 

Abdah Md Akim2

 

 

1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

 

 

2Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, 43400 Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abstract

Occupational airways inflammation occurs when the bronchial tubes airways have become swollen and oversensitive due to unwanted particles gases and particulate matter of inorganic dust such as asbestos, silica and coal dust. Workers’ biomarker of airways inflammation is used as tools to interpret their lung metabolism and toxic mechanism reaction with pollutant exposed by industrial process. The aim of this review is to determine compatible biomarker that is used in diagnosis occupational airways inflammation from the exposure of inorganic dust. This review summarize the outcome of workers’ biomarkers that indicate airways inflammation caused by occupational exposure to the industrial pollutant. Relevance online database and data from previous epidemiological studies have been used in this study. Previous study found that Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) in spontaneous sputum, induced sputum, nasal wash and bronchoalveolar Lavage (BAL) have significantly correlate with symptoms of occupational asthma among the workers. Few studies have examined on non-invasive methods of EBC and FENO as biomarkers because of their reliability and sensitivity screening tools to diagnosed occupational asthma by determined eosinophil level in airway inflammation with a significant correlation of asthma severity. Several studies of occupational asthma had also suggested the combination use of different biomarker or pulmonary analysis such as lung function test for better results. Workers’ biomarkers indicate occupational disease regarding their airways inflammation and guiding the clinician on decisions for further treatment. IL-6 and IL-8 mostly used as the biomarker of occupational asthma to indicate the exposure of industrial pollutant.

 Keywords: Occupational asthma, Airways biomarker, Inorganic dust


Avoidance of environmental tobacco smoke among non-smoking pregnant women in Malaysia

Leave a reply

 

Siti Munira Yasin1*, Khairul Mizan Taib2, Mohammad Idris Zamhuri1

 

1Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Teknologi MARA Sungai Buloh, Selangor

 

2Faculty of Information Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Puncak Alam, Selangor

 

 

 

 

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to examine the association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and avoidance of tobacco smoke among pregnant non-smoking women.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was used to obtain a representative sample of non-smoking pregnant women who attended health clinics (n = 661) six states in Malaysia. The durations of ETS exposure within and outside of the home were obtained by self-report. Exposure to ETS was assessed by the second-hand smoke (SHS) avoidance subscale. The analyses were conducted using logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables and other variables.

Results: Among non-smoking pregnant women, the prevalence of ETS exposure was 66.3%. The overall knowledge of ETS was good (>50%). The odds of ETS exposure were higher among those in the low-salary (RM1000-RM1999) group (OR=2.37; 95% CI=1.22, 4.62) and those with a history of chronic disease (OR=2.47; 95% CI=1.09, 5.62), whereas ETS exposure was significantly lower among those working full time during pregnancy (OR=0.31; 95% CI=0.17, 0.59). In the multivariate model, compared with non-ETS-exposed individuals, ETS-exposed individuals showed significantly different avoidance behaviour in situations that involved speaking to smokers who were smoking in same room (OR=2.31; 95%CI= 1.26, 4.21), sitting in a smoking section on public transport (OR=2.15; 95% CI= 1.07, 4.34) and frequently associating with smokers (OR=3.01; 95% CI=1.14-8.30).

Conclusions: Our findings revealed that knowledge about ETS exposure failed to manifest as avoidance behaviour. The knowledge was good but avoidance was poor, especially among women frequently exposed to ETS.

 Keywords: environmental tobacco smoke, pregnant women, avoidance behavior


Association between schoolbag weight with back pain and perceived load among primary schoolchildren in Selangor

Leave a reply

Wong Yee Kiat1, Emilia Zainal Abidin1*, Irniza Rasdi1, Noor Hassim Ismail2

1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,

Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

2Department of Community Health, UKM Medical Centre, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Ya’acob Latif,

Bandar Tun Razak, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 

Abstract

Heavy schoolbag weight has been identified as one of the risk factors that influenced the health of young children. Considering the increased and improved syllabus in the primary schools in Malaysia, the risk of heavy schoolbag weight and its impact on the musculoskeletal health of children needs to be identified. This study was performed to determine the association between schoolbag weight and perceived load with back pain among schoolchildren. This was a cross-sectional study performed among 114 primary schoolchildren in two schools at Selangor, Malaysia in 2015. Background information and perceived load was obtained via self-administered questionnaires from both parents and schoolchildren. Data on height, body weight and schoolbag weight were objectively measured. Data obtained were entered into statistical software for analysis. The average schoolbag weight and relative schoolbag weight were 5.98 kg and 19.7% respectively. The prevalence of back pain was 36.8% and more than one-third of the respondent perceived load as heavy and cause fatigue. Significant associations were found between relative weight and perceived load (heaviness and fatigue) with back pain. Findings of this study suggest that schoolbag weight pose musculoskeletal health risk to schoolchildren. Therefore, there is a need for implementation of policy and guideline as well as intervention in minimising schoolbag weight. 

Keywords: Musculoskeletal Disease, Ergonomic Risk, Adolescents, Knapsack, Heavy Lifting