Preferencje help
Widoczny [Schowaj] Abstrakt
Liczba wyników

Znaleziono wyników: 8

Liczba wyników na stronie
Pierwsza strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wstecz Poprzednia strona wyników Strona / 1 Następna strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wprzód Ostatnia strona wyników

Wyniki wyszukiwania

help Sortuj według:

help Ogranicz wyniki do:
Pierwsza strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wstecz Poprzednia strona wyników Strona / 1 Następna strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wprzód Ostatnia strona wyników
Background. Use of pesticides has been documented to lead to several adverse health effects. Farmers are likely to be exposed to pesticides through dermal exposure as a result of mixing, loading, and spraying. Organophosphate pesticides (OPs) are widely used in most of the agricultural areas throughout Thailand. OPs are cholinesterase inhibitors and blood cholinesterase activity is used as a biomarker of OP effects. Objective. This study aims to determine the association between blood cholinesterase activity and organophosphate pesticide residues on chili farmer’s hands and their adverse health effects. Materials and Methods. Ninety chili farmers directly involved with pesticide applications (e.g. mixing, loading, spraying) were recruited and were interviewed face to face. Both enzymes, erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma cholinesterase (PChE), were tested with the EQM Test-mate Cholinesterase Test System (Model 400). Hand wipe samples were used for collecting residues on both hands and OP residues for chlorpyrifos and profenofos were quantified using gas chromatography equipped with a flame photometric detector (GC-FPD). Results. The average activity (±SD) of AChE and PChE was 2.73 (±0.88) and 1.58 (±0.56) U/mL, respectively. About 80.0% of the participants had detectable OP residues on hands. The median residues of chlorpyrifos and profenofos were found to be 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg/two hands, respectively. Half of participants reported having some acute health symptoms within 48 hours after applying pesticides. When adjusted for gender, number of years working in chili farming, and frequency of pesticide use, AChE activity (Adjusted OR = 0.03, 95%CI: 0.01-0.13) and detected OP residues on hands (Adjusted OR = 0.15, 95%CI: 0.02-0.95) were significantly associated with having health effects, but no significant association was found in PChE activity (Adjusted OR = 2.09, 95%CI: 0.63-6.99). Conclusions. This study suggests that regular monitoring for blood cholinesterase and effective interventions to reduce pesticide exposure to prevent health effects should be provided to chili farmers.
Background. Dry Thai traditional tobacco (Nicotiana Tabacum L.) production involves a unique process: (a) picking tobacco leaves, (b) curing tobacco leaves, (c) removing stems of tobacco leaves, cutting leaves and putting on a bamboo rack, (d) drying in the sun, reversing a rack, spraying a tobacco extract to adjust the tobacco’s color, storing dried tobacco and packaging. These processes may lead to adverse health effects caused by dermal absorption of nicotine such as Green Tobacco Sickness (GTS). Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between GTS resulting from dry Thai traditional tobacco production and salivary cotinine levels among Thai traditional tobacco farmers in Nan Province, Thailand. Materials and Methods. A prospective cohort study was conducted with 20 tobacco farmers and 20 non-tobacco farmers in Praputtabath Sub-District and Phatow Sub-District. The participants were randomly selected and interviewed using in person questionnaires with bi-weekly follow-up for 14 weeks. During each contact, the cotinine concentration was measured by NicAlertTM Saliva strip tests (NCTS). Descriptive statistics and Spearman’s correlation (Spearman’s rho) was used to examine the relationship between the variables at both 0.01 and 0.05 significant probability levels. Results. This study indicated that GTS from dry tobacco production has the potential to be considered a common occupational disease. This study demonstrated the usefulness of salivary cotinine level measurements by NCTS. The levels were well correlated with farmers who were employed in the dry Thai tobacco production industry. Salivary cotinine levels were also significantly correlated with the prevalence of GTS in the group of tobacco farmers at any given time within a crop season. However, the production process of dry Thai traditional tobacco is different from that evaluated in our previous studies where GTS and salivary cotinine level were correlated in workers working in humid conditions. Conclusions. The long-term effects of such exposure should be investigated and health education programs with health risk exposure studies to increase awareness amongst farmers is recommended.
Background. Occupational factors have previously been mentioned as contributing to decreased kidney function and the development of chronic kidney disease of unknown cause. Sea salt workers are one of the occupations facing high outdoor temperatures and a highly, intensive workload. Objective. The purpose of the study was to examine whether the kidney function of sea salt workers at the beginning of the harvest season differs from kidney function at the end of the harvest season and to identify factors that can predict the change of kidney function. Material and methods. Data were collected from salt workers (n=50) who were between 18–60 years of age without hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease in Samut Sakhon province, Thailand. Urine specific gravity (USG) was used for hydration status and the estimated glomerular filter rate (eGFR) was used to measure kidney function. The mixed model was used to find differences over the harvest season and prediction of factors. Results. On average, the eGFR was estimated to decrease by 15.2 ml/min/1.73 m2 over the harvest season. The decline in eGFR of sea salt workers with moderate and heavy workloads were significantly faster than their light workload counterparts after controlling for other covariates. Similarly, dehydration (USG ≥ 1.030) significantly accelerated the rate of kidney function loss. Conclusions. Our study confirmed exposure to heat over the harvest season leads to decreased eGFR in sea salt workers. The rate of change of eGFR could be predicted by workload and hydration status. Workers with dehydration who performed medium to heavy workloads in farms showed faster kidney function decline than those who performed light workload.
Background. Thailand is a tropical developing country which has a serious increase in health risk due to hot weather exposure among outdoor workers. Objectives. The aims of this study were to compare the factors related to environmental heat exposure in three different seasons, and to assess the relationship between environmental heat and dehydration status in each season among farmworkers in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Methods. A semi-longitudinal study was carried out in 22 male farmworkers throughout a year of farming. The primary data were collected in farmworkers for socio-demographic information, clinical assessments, and heat-related illnesses. Results. Average of environmental heat index (Median, SD) were severe in summer (WBGT=38.1, 2.8°C), rainy season (WBGT=36.1, 2.1°C), and winter (WBGT=31.5, 2.7°C). Average urine Sp. Gr. in summer, rainy season, and winter were 1.022, 1.020, and 1.018 respectively. The third sentence should be corrected as follows: The Friedman analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the three different seasons in WBGT (wet bulb globe temperature), body temperature, heart rate (P<0.01), and respiratory rate (P<0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the three different seasons for skin rash/itching, dizziness, muscle cramp dyspnea (P<0.05), and weakness (P<0.01). Wilcoxon signed-ranks analysis found a significant difference in the medians of the paired sets of urine Sp. Gr. values between baseline and summer (P<0.05). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient did not find a relationship between WBGT and urine Sp. Gr. in the three different seasons. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that farmworkers had exposure to environmental heat stress which was expressed through physical changes. Therefore, there is a need for either interventions or guidelines to prevent dehydration for outdoor workers in this region.
Background. Chlorpyrifos and profenofos are organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), we studied exposure and urinary metabolites in an agricultural area in the northeastern of Thailand during the chili-growing season (March - April) in 2012. Objective. This study was designed to assess pesticide exposure concentration through dermal and inhalation pathways and to find and depict a relationship between urinary metabolites and means of exposure. Materials and methods. To estimate the pesticides exposure concentration, dermal wipes (hand, face, and feet), dermal patches and air samples were collected from 38 chili farmers. The morning void of pre and post application urine samples was an indicator of biological monitoring in the study which derived from 39 chili farmers. Results. Chlorpyrifos and profenofos residues were detected on dermal patches, face wipes, and hand wipe samples, while no significant residues were found on the feet. Using a personal air sampling technique, all air samples detected pesticide residues. However, significant correlation between dermal pesticide exposure concentration and inhalation was not found (p>0.05). For urinary metabolite levels, there was a relationship between the first pre application morning void and post application morning void (p<0.05); similar to the association between the first pre application morning void and the second post application morning void (p<0.05). The main relationship between pesticide exposure and urinary metabolite was found to have been relevant to dermal exposure (r= 0.405; p<0.05). Conclusions. The results of this study could suggested that public health education training programs, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), should be offered for the chili growing farmers in order to improve their ability to properly use pesticides.
Background. Exposure to neurotoxicants is a world wide problem with significant health implications for child development. In spite of higher neurotoxicant exposures, many developing countries do not have established neuropsychological instruments. Objective. This study evalauted the adaptation and reliability of a computer and examiner administered Behavioral Assessment and Research System (BARS) that includes tests of motor speed and dexterity, attention, memory, and visuospatial coordination for use in Thailand. Material and methods. To assess test-retest and alternate form reliability, BARS was administered to 24 healthy, 6-8 year old urban Thai children during two testing sessions two weeks apart. A comparison group of 29 healthy, rural Thai children of similar age and sex completed the BARS as part of another study and comprised a comparison group. Results. Test-retest reliabilities for tests without alternate forms ranged from 0.41 to 0.77, but reliabilities were lower for tests with alternate forms (0.11 to 0.83). Paired t-tests revealed few significant differences in group performance between test administrations. Performance of urban Thai participants was compared to 29 rural Thai participants of similar age and sex. Parental education was significantly greater for urban vs. rural participants, resulting in signficant differences in performance on tests of motor speed. Conclusions. This study supports the use of BARS for epidemiologic studies of neurotoxicants in Thailand, but highlights the sensitivity of these tests to differences in parental education and the need for improved alternate test forms.
Background. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a ubiquitous disease. However, PDs prevalence in the population of agricultural communities lacks understanding and there has been no epidemiological study on the association between pesticides exposure factors and risk for PD. Objective. To investigate the potential association between organophosphate pesticides exposure and Parkinsonism by using a screening questionnaire in agricultural areas. Material and Methods. Ninety elderly people living in agricultural areas participated in a cross-sectional study conducted at Tambon Hua-Rua Health Promoting Hospital in April 2014. Screening questionnaires for Parkinson’s disease, Test-mate ChE (Model 400) for blood cholinesterase (ChE) levels of both blood enzymes erythrocyte cholinesterase (AChE), and plasma cholinesterase (PChE) were used as measurement tools. Descriptive statistics for frequencies and percentage distributions were used primarily to summarize and describe the data. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results. The age range of the participants was 50 to 59 years old, with an average age of 53.9+2.87 years. The majority of the participants were female (62.2%), 82.2% of respondents were farmers. Most of participants (76.7%) reported that they applied insecticides in their farms. Ninety persons participated and completed the 11-item questionnaire. Of these, 17 (18.9%) felt that they lost balance when turning or that they needed to take a few steps to turn right around and 16.7% of participants indicated that they felt the need to move slowly or stiffly. The study found the prevalence of abnormal AChE levels was 28.9% (95%CI=19.81-39.40) and 17.8% of PChE levels (95%CI=10.52-27.26). To predict Parkinsonism, AChE, and PChE level, with a cutoff score of 5 or higher there had to be a sensitivity of 0.31, specificity of 1.00, positive predictive value (PPV) of 1.00 and negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.78 for AChE. While PChE, the score value of 5 or more had a sensitivity of 0.19, specificity of 0.93, PPV of 0.38 and NPV of 0.84. Conclusion. This study described an association between pesticides exposure and Parkinsonism. The questionnaire appears to be useful for Thai agriculturists as a screening tool for Parkinsonism and cholinesterase levels regarding to pesticides exposure.
Pierwsza strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wstecz Poprzednia strona wyników Strona / 1 Następna strona wyników Pięć stron wyników wprzód Ostatnia strona wyników
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.