Risk Of Health Hazards Research Articles

Survey instructions bias perceptions of environmental health risks

A basic function of government is to manage environmental risks. This requires measurement of how the public perceive different risks, but it is hard to measure risk perceptions in a neutral, unbiased way. In a pre-registered experiment with a nationally representative sample (N = 800), we tested the effects of survey instructions on perceived risk from common environmental health hazards. Participants were randomised to read instructions that made salient a relatively unfamiliar hazard (electromagnetic fields; EMFs), a familiar hazard (carbon monoxide) or no hazard (i.e. that the study was about environmental health risks in general) before rating the perceived risks of a series of hazards. Results revealed an asymmetric salience effect. Instructions that highlighted EMFs elicited higher perceived risk from EMFs, while perceptions of other hazards were unaffected. Instructions that made carbon monoxide salient did not affect perceptions of carbon monoxide, but diminished perceived risk from other hazards. Effects were observed using standard rating scales and via a novel policy budget allocation task. In exploratory analyses, we further tested the relationship between perceived risk as elicited by rating scales and revealed risk perceptions. How often respondents report thinking about a hazard day-to-day best predicted choices in a hypothetical budget task and self-reported mitigative behaviour, when controlling for other dimensions of perceived risk, such as perceived severity of the consequences of exposure. The results have implications for designing surveys to measure perceived risk of environmental health hazards.

Longitudinal study and predictive modelling of urinary pesticide metabolite concentrations in residents of Guangzhou, China

Continuous human biomonitoring and predictive modelling of urinary pesticide metabolites are critical for evaluating pesticide exposure trends and associated health risks. We conducted repeat cross-sectional surveys to determine the urinary concentrations of eight pesticide metabolites in the residents of Guangzhou, China, from 2018 to 2022. We longitudinally analyzed the changes in these metabolite concentrations over the years and assessed the potential non-carcinogenic risks by calculating the hazard quotient and hazard index. No significant differences were observed in the total urinary pesticide metabolite concentrations over the 5 years (9.16–12.99 μg/L). The urinary concentrations of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid reached their lowest levels in 2020 (1.47 and 0.11 μg/L). Conversely, urinary para-nitrophenol concentrations exhibited an inverse trend, peaking in 2020 (6.16 μg/L). The composition profiles of urinary pesticide metabolites showed that para-nitrophenol consistently constituted the largest proportion each year. Males consistently showed higher median concentrations of total urinary pesticide metabolites and individual metabolites of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, trans-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, and para-nitrophenol than females. The concentrations of cis-3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid in adults' urine were significantly higher than those in minors' urine each year. The total pesticide metabolite concentrations in adults' urine were significantly higher than those in minors' urine in 2018 and 2020, whereas no significant differences were observed in other years. No significant differences in urinary pesticide metabolite concentrations were observed among different BMI groups. Results showed that 14.17% of the population had hazard index values above 1, indicating a higher risk of health hazards. Three predictive models were employed to predict urinary pesticide metabolite concentrations for 2023–2024, revealing an increasing trend in 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol concentrations while other metabolites are expected to decrease. The study showed the concentration of para-nitrophenol peaked in 2020 while 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid reached their lowest levels, suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced pesticide exposure patterns.

Use of Fruit Waste as Natural Dyes in pH-Sensitive Colorimetric Sensors for Tilapia Fillets Quality Decline

Graphical Abstract Highlight Research 1. The use of dragon fruit peel, mangosteen peel and onion peel waste as natural dyes in colorimetric sensors was analyzed in this study. 2. Natural dyes are added to bioplastics with kappa carrageenan polymer, a mixture of corn starch and kappa carrageenan, and corn starch to determine the characteristics of the best bioplastic to be used as a colorimetry sensor. 3. The quality of the fish fillet compared to the color changes in colorimetry sensor was analysed in this study. 4. Mixture of kappa carrageenan and corn starch as bioplastic with casting method was analyzed in this study. Abstract Tilapia fillet aimed to prolonging shelf life, may still experience quality deterioration posing food safety risks. Colorimetric pH indicators offer a simple and affordable solution to the food industry to evaluating fish spoilage. Natural dyes reduce potential health risks associated with synthetic dyes. Anthocyanin sources haven’t been explored like dragon fruit rind, mangosteen rind, and red onion skin serve as real time quality and safety assessment tools for consumers. This study explores the potential of anthocyanin extracted from dragon fruit rind, mangosteen rind, and red onion skin as colorimetric sensors for evaluating the quality and safety of tilapia fillets. The anthocyanin-based sensors developed using kappa carrageenan and corn starch polymers to achieve sustainability fisheries program and were characterized according to the Japanese Industrial Standard for bioplastics. The results show that anthocyanin from dragon fruit skin exhibited the best color change in response to pH changes in the tilapia fillet, indicating its potential as a reliable indicator of spoilage. This research highlights the feasibility of using natural dyes as colorimetric sensors, reducing the risk of health hazards associated with synthetic dyes. This study also shows that different polymers give different characteristic of bioplastic. Carrageenan bioplastic shows best thickness values of 0,118 mm; Carrageenan and corn starch bioplastics shows best tensile strength values of 20,62 MPa; Carrageenan bioplastic shows best elongation values of 254%; and All polymers shows the same biodegradation rate values of 14,29%. Further studies are needed to explore other natural dyes and optimize the polymers for optimal bioplastic characteristics.

Frequency of occupational health hazards and factors responsible among the waste handlers at the tertiary care hospitals of Karachi.

Hospital waste handlers (HWHs) are in contact with contaminated waste that put them at risk for occupational health hazards. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of occupational health hazards and identify factors contributing to them among the HWHs at tertiary care hospitals of Karachi. A cross sectional survey was conducted from January 2021 till June 2022 on 417 conveniently selected HWHs of the public and private tertiary care hospitals of the Karachi including three Public sector hospitals (Civil Hospital Karachi, National Institute of Child Health, Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Center) and five private sector hospitals (Sohail University Hospital, Darulsehat Hospital, Kharadar General Hospital, Patel Hospital and Hamdard University Hospital) using a structured questionnaire. Chi Square test was applied to determine the differences in occurrence of different hazardous outcomes (Needle stick injury, Sharp Injury, Eye Symptoms, Skin symptoms, Cough) between different groups of age, gender, type of hospitals and status of being trained in Hospital Waste Management (HWM). Around half of the HWHs (52.6%) labeled the bins of the waste according to their level of hazard. Only 17.9% disinfected the infected waste. The proportion of participants who experienced needle stick and sharp injury in the last six months was 16.3% and 15.8% respectively. Majority of them used disposable gloves (95.7%) and face masks (94.3%). One thirds had access to aprons while only 10.5% had access to protective shoes at their work place. HWHs of private sector were significantly less likely to experience Needle stick injuries, skin symptoms, cough, breathing difficulty and throat burning. The HWM practices in tertiary care hospitals of Karachi is far from being satisfactory. HWHs must be trained and monitored for safe disposal of waste.

Evaluating the impact of safety pictogram training on comprehension scores and knowledge retention among engineering students

Safety pictograms are essential tools for identifying workplace hazards by providing critical information about health hazard risks, fire safety, emergency evacuation, and accident prevention. Effective safety pictogram training programs are necessary to enhance workers' knowledge of these pictograms. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a safety pictogram training program on the comprehension and retention of knowledge among engineering students. A total of 262 participants were asked to predict the meaning of 22 safety pictograms regulated by International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7010 before and after a one-hour online training session. A follow-up test was administered six months later to assess long-term knowledge retention. Results showed that the average comprehension rate increased from 60.1 % before training to 68.3 % after training, with a retention rate of 66.0 % six months after training. The study found that training positively affected comprehension of emergency and mandatory action pictograms, while lower scores were observed for warning pictograms. Statistical tests revealed a significant effect of training on comprehension levels 16 out of 22 pictograms, with an average increase in comprehension of 11.2 %. Of these 16 pictograms, the comprehension level of 10 pictograms increased after training and remained at the same level six months later. However, the scores decreased slightly six months after the intervention, indicating the need for continued reinforcement or retraining. These findings have important implications for safety education and training programs, particularly in industries where safety hazards are widespread. The positive impact of training on comprehension scores highlights the ongoing need to improve safety pictogram comprehension to consistently meet standard acceptance criteria. Future training programs may need to focus on categories such as warning pictograms and fire equipment and fire action pictograms, which exhibited lower comprehension scores, to ensure better employee understanding.

An integrated appraisal of the hydrogeochemistry and the potential public health risks of groundwater nitrate and fluoride in eastern Ghana

To understand groundwater pollution and its associated health hazards and to ensure the availability of a clean, safe, and sustainable water supply, comprehensive research plays a crucial role. This article presents an integrated investigation of groundwater conditions, hydrogeochemistry, and health implications arising from fluoride (F⁻) and nitrate (NO₃⁻) contamination in eastern Ghana. Analysis of 107 samples revealed variable groundwater suitability for human consumption, as indicated by Pollution Index of Groundwater (PIG) values ranging from 0.11 to 1.19. The study highlights significant variations in health hazard risks due to F⁻ and NO₃⁻ exposure. Hazard indices (HIs) for nitrate ingestion range from 0.000 to 16.321, for fluoride ingestion from 0.000 to 17.426, and for the combined ingestion risks from 0.000 to 17.602. Dermal absorption risk for nitrate is minimal, with values between 0.000 and 0.049. Spatially distinct contamination and health risks were mapped using GIS, to pinpoint vulnerable localities in the study region. Hydrochemical investigations, confirmed by clustering and factor analyses, revealed that natural geological processes are the primary drivers of groundwater quality and mineralization, with limited anthropogenic impacts. Further, an artificial neural network model with an impressive R2 of 0.976 and low statistical errors demonstrated strong potential for accurate prediction of groundwater quality. The holistic study approach significantly advances groundwater research in the region, paving the way for effective resource management strategies by revealing areas of concern, understanding the contamination drivers, and predicting future water quality with high accuracy.

Distribution, source identification, water quality, and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface-groundwater-sediments multifunctional system in Guohe River Basin

Within the Huaihe River Basin, Guohe River, as its second-largest tributary, serves as a critical water supply source. Recent industrial and agricultural advancements have led to increased trace element contamination, adversely impacting the water quality within Guohe River Basin. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the distribution characteristics, sources, water quality and risk assessment of trace elements in the surface water, groundwater, and sediments across the basin. The results showed that the spatial distribution of trace elements in the surface water and groundwater of Guohe River Basin was that most of the high concentrations appeared in Qiaocheng District of Bozhou City, the mean concentration of Fe in Guohe River sediments was the highest, the mean concentration of Sb was the lowest. The PMF source analysis results showed that the main source of trace elements in Guohe River Basin was natural geological processes, followed by human activities. The sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) indicated that the surface water samples of Guohe River in two seasons had high sodium and salinity hazards. The water quality index (WQI) showed that surface water and groundwater samples in the northwestern of Guohe River Basin had poor water quality. The results of the risk assessment showed that As and Mn posed great ecological risks to surface water and groundwater, respectively, and that F− was the pollutant with the most potential health risk hazard in the basin. The Geo-accumulation index (Igeo) results showed that Cd, Se and As should be taken seriously as the main contaminants of the sediments in Guohe River Basin. KeywardsTrace elements; Source analysis; Sodium adsorption ratio; Water quality index; Risk assessment; Geo-accumulation index.

Generation rate of hospital solid waste from different services: A case study in the province of Bagua, northern Peru

The objective of this research was to evaluate the unit generation rate of solid hospital waste at the Gustavo Lanatta Lujan Bagua Support Hospital (HAB). The calculations were based on the weights of hospital waste disposed periodically to the biosafety cell located 7 km from the city of Bagua since 2015. Nineteen services were identified and grouped into three areas: hospitalization area, emergency area and gynecology area, studied according to the group classification of Peruvian regulations. The results show that 92.77 kg/day-1 are generated, 62.26 % are biocontaminated waste, 26.45 % are common waste, 7.7 % are sharp-sharp waste and 3.6 % are special waste. It was also found that only 73.56 % is disposed of in the hospital's biosafety cell. In this sense, this study will contribute to promote the reduction of the entry of hazardous substances into the stream of an adequate waste management and save workers and the environment in the Amazon Region. Therefore, awareness should be raised at all levels of society through various means of communication and education, so that the risks of spreading health hazards can be minimized by improving hospital waste management. In addition, healthcare waste management should be implemented, taking into account the parameters to be monitored, the economic resources to be managed and the national plans for healthcare waste.

Tracing the land use specific impacts on groundwater quality: a chemometric, information entropy WQI and health risk assessment study.

Understanding the nexus of land use and water quality can potentially underline the influences within the groundwater management. The study envisages land use-specific qualitative assessment of the groundwater resources in Ghaziabad district, in western Uttar Pradesh, India. For encountering the relative impacts of land use on the groundwater quality, chemometric analysis has been employed to apportion the pollution sources. The integration of quality parameters, in the information entropy index modeling, has segregated the quality classes and visualized the seasonal suitability trends as per potability standards along with non-carcinogenic health hazard risk assessment (HHRA). The qualitative assessment of the groundwater resources, along with spatial distribution, has deciphered a polluting impact, specifically in western and south western parts of district, and observed the linkages with direct and indirect discharges/seepages from densely populated residential and industrial land use types localized in urbanized areas. Statistically significant annual and seasonal variations have been found exclusively for EC, Mg2+, F-, Cd, Cr(total), Ni, and Pb which inferred variable concentrations, whereas land use types showed a non-significant variation within groundwater quality. Chemometric-based source apportioning and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) have derived salinization and enrichment of dissolved salts, arising from mixed sources and contributes to metal pollution, i.e., mainly from anthropogenic sources. Information EWQI derived poor to extremely poor category represented degraded potability specifically for fewer sites located within western and southern parts on the Yamuna-Hindon flood plains for limited sites of residential, industrial, and agricultural in an urbanized region. However, majority of the samples fall under excellent to good groundwater quality, recommendable in the north and north-eastern (peri-urban) regions. Non-carcinogenic HHRA has shown that majority of the samples categorized under unsafe value for hazard index (HI > 1), for females and children and thus, presumed probable health hazard risk from metal groundwater pollution in south-western part, eastern, and northern regions.

Health hazards in sports: Exploring the influence of despotic leadership and perceived organizational politics on well-being

In recent years, the concept of despotic leadership has garnered considerable attention in sports. Despotic leadership significantly reflecting leaders' deviant behavior has today heightened the risk of health hazards in the workplace. In addition, the perceived organizational politics have also yielded a deleterious result on employees’ well-being. In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, understanding the implications of organizational behavior on well-being is paramount for risk management. This study elucidates the relationships between despotic leadership, perceived organizational politics, workplace incivility, emotional exhaustion, person-organization unfit, and health harm, which can pose significant risks in a healthcare setting. The quantitative study was conducted using an empirical survey with respondents representing sports organizations. A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze data from 429 participants using Smart PLS. The study findings suggest that despotic leadership and perceived organizational politics can lead to increased risks, manifested as workplace incivility, emotional exhaustion, and person-organization unfit. These organizational risks subsequently translate to tangible health harm for employees. Mediation analyses revealed that workplace incivility, emotional exhaustion, and person-organization unfit mediate the detrimental health outcomes rooted in leadership and organizational politics. The study underscores the urgent need for risk management strategies to foster a healthier organizational culture and leadership approach in healthcare settings. This will ensure enhanced employee well-being and a reduction in associated health risks, thus aligning with best practices in healthcare policy.

Radiometric survey of sediments and health risk assessments from the southern coastal area of Delta State, Nigeria

Over the years, the release of potential radiological components around the oil exploration environment has increased with potential health implications.Yet; the mechanism and health associated assessment have remained fuzzy to most experimental scientists. The current study determines the activity concentration of radionuclides in sediments and the corresponding health risk assessments from the hydrocarbon exploration environment of the southern coastal area of Delta State, Nigeria. A Sodium-iodide NaI(Tl) detector, with a well-calibrated multichannel analyzer (MCA) to ensure efficiency and energy was utilized. A total of seventy-five sediment samples (Five sediment samples each per community) were collected from the southern coastal area of Delta State, Nigeria. The mean activity concentrations of 40K, 238U, and 232Th of the sediment samples were 3361.48 ± 194.26 Bqkg−1, 40.11 ± 16.17 Bqkg−1, and 45.73 ± 19.27 Bqkg−1 respectively. The obtained mean values exceeded the world standard limit of 400 Bqkg−1, 35 Bqkg−1, and 30 Bqkg−1 respectively. Also, the computed mean radiological health hazard risk of radium equivalent activity (Raeq), representative level index (Iyr), external hazard index (Hex), internal hazard index (Hin), absorbed gamma dose rate (D), annual effective dose equivalent outdoor and indoor (AEDE) and lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) values are 363.94 ± 32.37 Bkgl−1, 2.9657 Bkgl−1, 0.9839, 1.0919, 175.82 nGyh−1, 2.1556 mSvyr−1, 0.8625 mSvyr−1, and 7.5447 mSvyr−1 respectively. The values were found to be slightly higher than the world standard limit. Therefore, the residents that are using the sediments of the southern coastal area for the construction of buildings as well as dwelling in houses built with such sediments are exposed to these radiological materials. This may pose a radiological health risk concern. The obtained results will serve as radiation and radiological baseline data for sediments of the southern coastal area of Delta State, Nigeria.

A Comparative Study to Evaluate the Body Mass Index in Urban and Rural School Children of Belagavi

Introduction Body mass index BMI is a simple tool used to screen body weight and assess whether the body weight is healthy for your body size. In the post COVID-19 era a new normal has been established. A high BMI augments the risk of various health hazards. In developing countries both obesity and undernutrition in children is a burning issue.Objective The current cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the BMI of urban and rural school children and to compare their BMI.Methodology Five schools were selected 3 urban and 2 rural and a total of 1191 students from these schools were screened and assessed for their BMI.Results On comparison urban school boys were more underweight 85 than rural school boys 79 while among rural and urban school girls urban school girls were more underweight 77 than rural school girls 63. Among urban school girls 3294 1.02 were obese while among rural school girls 1195 0.5 was obese. About 68454 14.9 urban boys 50248 20 rural boys 65294 22 urban girls and 70195 36 rural girls showed healthy weight BMI.Conclusion Unlike the common concern about obesity in Indian school children this study indicates that underweight is more prevalent especially among urban school children boys and girls compared to rural school children.

Identification of Previously Unrecorded Bacills, Serratia, and Mucor Strains Isolated from Yogurt

(1) Background: Foodborne illnesses are recognized as a significant threat to public health and the economy in both developed and developing nations. The safety of foods containing microorganisms has consequently become a major worldwide concern. One of the most frequent causes of food deterioration in the world is microbial contamination. (2) Methods: Yogurt containers that were bought commercially in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during their validity period contained four different species of bacteria and one type of fungus. Using nutritional agar and Czapek-Dox agar medium, the bacteria and fungi were isolated. The isolates of the fungi and bacteria were identified using a scanning microscope. The isolates were further identified and classified for molecular evolutionary analyses using the 16S rRNA and ITS sequences from the bacteria and fungi, respectively, in conjunction with the universal primers 27F, 1492R, ITS1F, and ITS4R. (3) Results: A total of 131 separate strains were identified from 12 yogurt samples based on their phenotypic characteristics. In total, 79 isolates (60.3%) consisted of Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, and Mucor circinelloides, with 52 isolates (39.7%) being Bacillus cereus. While the cells of Bacillus and Serratia are shaped like rods, the sporangia of Mucor are large, round, and black. Each strain was identified by its accession number, which were as follows: MK590996.1: B. cereus; MK591144.1: B. subtilis; MK591002.1 and MK591014.1: S. marcescens; and MK559692.1: M. circinelloides. The maximum identification was found to be between 98.64 and 100% when BLAST was used to compare the sequences to the NCBI GeneBank database. (4) Conclusions: Genus and species identification was performed using the similarity score values. Yogurt products containing high concentrations (39.7%) of Bacillus cereus isolates carry a significant risk of health hazards due to the potential for spreading pathogenic bacteria to humans.

Bioaccumulation and Potential Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals in Two Varieties of Edible Vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus and Celosia argentea) around Lapite Dump Site, Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the bioaccumulation and potential risk assessments of heavy metals in two varieties of edible vegetables (Amaranthus hybridus and Celosia argentea) around Lapite Dump Site of Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria using different standard analytical techniques. The mean concentrations of the heavy metals showed that Pb, Cd and Mn (3.05mg/kg, 0.67mg/kg, and 129.61mg/kg) are the metals with means higher than their respective permissible values (PL) for humans (0.3mg/kg, 0.2mg/kg, and 6.64mg/kg respectively). These three heavy metals are also the metals with the most significant contamination and pollution factor according to the calculated contamination factor and geo-accumulation index. The bioaccumulation factors showed that Mn and Zn are the heavy metals accumulated most in the plants with the leaves having high content of these metals more than the stems. Pollution load index calculated revealed that the dumpsite area has been deteriorated (PLI > 1) making activities around the area (including agriculture) and the habitants at high risk of health hazards. Consequently, planting and other human activities in this area should be discouraged while appropriate authorities should get involved in impact assessment of the environment to relocate the farms and habitants of the area to a more suitable and environmental friendly area.

Climate change-related health hazards in daycare centers in Munich, Germany: risk perception and adaptation measures

Due to their vulnerability, children need special protection from health effects of climate change, which are already noticeable today. Since a large proportion of children in Germany are in non-parental care during the day, the pedagogical staff in daycare centers play a crucial role in protecting children’s health. For this reason, a quantitative online survey was conducted among pedagogical staff (n = 181) in daycare centers of one provider in Munich, where children aged nine weeks to 10 years are cared for. It was examined how the pedagogical staff assesses the risk of climate change-related health hazards on children’s health and on its own health at work today and in the next 10 years. Additionally, it was surveyed whether or which measures for (health-related) adaptation to climate change and long-term climate change mitigation in the form of education for sustainable development (ESD) are implemented in the daycare centers. The results were statistically analyzed both descriptively and with multiple linear regression analyses to test the assumed associations. The results show that despite the strong perception of climate change-related health risks, their implementation in corresponding protection and adaptation measures is insufficient in most of the daycare centers surveyed. The informedness of the pedagogical staff proved to be a decisive influencing factor in the implementation of measures. Therefore, in addition to stronger implementation of structural adaptation measures in daycare centers, target group-specific knowledge and instructions for action should also be increasingly conveyed in the training curricula and further education of pedagogical staff.

Evaluation of groundwater contamination and associated human health risk in a water-scarce hard rock-dominated region of India: Issues, management measures and policy recommendation

Groundwater is the most precious resource on the earth's surface, providing fresh drinking water for human beings and supplying water for plants to survive. The shortage, unavailability, and pollution of fresh drinking water is an emerging issue in almost every part of the world. To this end, the present study intends to evaluate the quality of groundwater and the associated health hazard risk of the Bankura district. To conduct the present study, 55 groundwater samples were collected across the Bankura district with intensive field investigation in the dry season, 2021 to assess the groundwater quality and associated health risks. For this study, we have selected 15 groundwater causative parameters to seek the NO3−, F− and Fe heavy metal groundwater quality (GWQ) status and impact of GWQ on human health by utilizing the degree of contamination (CD), GWQI and human health hazard index. Gibbs's diagram confirmed that the source of the groundwater pollutants is more geogenic than anthropogenic inputs for the Bankura district. The study's findings indicate that the GWQ of 25% area of the Bankura district is poor and unsafe for drinking purposes. In comparison, 15% of the groundwater contains good quality and is safe for drinking, and various pollutants moderately contaminate the remaining areas. The human health hazard index exhibited the same pattern as the GWQI map of the Bankura district. This unique finding of the present study will be helpful for the decision-makers, local well-being authorities and disaster management team to manage and mitigate the issue of GWQ of Bankura district and surroundings more sustainably.

Heavy metals induced health risk assessment through consumption of selected commercially available spices in Noakhali district of Bangladesh

There are growing concerns for food safety due to the risks associated with heavy metal contamination of culinary herbs and spices in developing countries like Bangladesh. The objective of the present cross-sectional study is to determine the concentrations of the heavy metals Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), and Iron (Fe) in the branded and non-branded spices collected from the Noakhali district by Atomic absorption spectrophotometry method, as well as to assess the health hazard risk associated with heavy metals intake via consumption of spices. The findings revealed that the greatest concentrations of Pb (15.47 ± 1.93), Cd (1.65 ± 0.011), Cr (31.99 ± 3.97), Cu (18.84 ± 1.97), and Fe (9.29 ± 1.71) were found in Cardamom, Coriander leaf, Bay leaf, Dried chili, and Black pepper respectively. Around 37 % of Cr and 5 % of Fe Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) were greater than reference doses (RfD). All spices had Total Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for Pb, Cd, Cu, and Fe that were below acceptable, and 37 % of all spices had Total Target Hazard Quotient (TTHQ) values for Pb, Cd, Cu, and Fe that were over the standard range, suggesting adverse health impacts for consumers. Green chili, ginger, coriander leaf, and all kinds of chili powder and turmeric powder have been reported to have exceptionally high TTHQ levels of Cr. The estimated carcinogenic risk for chromium in non-branded coriander leaf was found to be higher than safe levels. This study provides valuable insights into the commonly consumed spices in Bangladesh and their potential health risks associated with heavy metal contamination. The findings of this study can be used by regulatory authorities to develop effective strategies and actions to mitigate these risks and safeguard public health.

ANALISIS PENERAPAN KESEHATAN DAN KESELAMATAN KERJA MENGGUNAKAN METODE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT (HIRA) (STUDI KASUS: UKM ATHAYA DRUMBAND)

ANALYSIS OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY USING HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT (HIRA)(CASE STUUDY: SME’s ATHAYA DRUMBAND)DIY Province is a province that has a large number of SMEs. The number of SMEs in Yogyakarta in 2019 reached 42,155 units. One sector that is very influential on the economy is an industry engaged in the manufacturing sector. One of the products in the manufacturing sector is drumband equipment. This research was conducted to reduce work accidents by identifying the risks of hazards in the workplace. Identification of work accidents using the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) method. HIRA aims to identify the potential hazards that exist in a company to assess the magnitude of the chance of an accident or loss. The results of this study state that there are 6 potential hazards in UKM Athaya Drumband. Being exposed to wood chips from cutting results, tired due to work attitudes, being exposed to chemicals, getting burns and impaired vision due to welding activities, and being injured due to exposure to leftover production materials that are scattered. The biggest risk is the welding process, namely the dangerous end of the weld and work attitude with a percentage of 28.57%. The potential hazard in the form of chemicals in paint also has a high presentation of 19.05%.

Health risk assessment of some heavy metals in twenty one wheat products sold in Nigeria

This study assessed some heavy metals in twenty one wheat products originating from Nigeria and six other countries sold in local markets in Ijebu-Ode, Ibadan and Lagos cities in Nigeria and their possible health risks were also evaluated. Wheat-based food samples were digested and analyzed using Microwave Plasma coupled Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES) technique. The heavy metal contents in local and foreign wheat products ranged as follows: As (0.014-0.033 mg.kg-1), Cd (0.067-0.330 mg.kg-1), Ni (-0.002-0.104 mg.kg-1) and Pb (0.166-0.655 mg.kg-1). The mean contents of Cd and Pb exceeded the acceptable thresholds set by FAO/WHO while those of As and Ni were below permissible limits recommended by FAO/WHO. The health hazard indices for the four heavy metals, reported as follows: Ni (0.005), As (0.201), Pb (0.211), and Cd (0.490), fall within the low hazard range except for Ni whose hazard index could be regarded as negligible. The health hazard risk, which may be posed by each metal, occurred in a sequence of HQ (Ni) < HQ (As) < HQ (Cd) < HQ (Pb) <1, with each occurring within the safe limit set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The combined non-carcinogenic risk of the four heavy metals (ΣHQ = 0.906) occurred at the low-risk index. The carcinogenic risk index was below 1x 10-4 threshold recommended by USEPA, which indicates that the combined concentrations of the four metals possess a weak potential to modulate lifelong carcinogenic ailments for consumers of such wheat products.

Influence of personal cooling at local body parts on workers’ thermal comfort levels under thermal environments with elevated ambient temperatures: A model study

Heatwaves, which are defined as prolonged periods of time when the weather is much hotter than usual, have been always serious threats to the occupational health and productivity of workers. To reduce the risk of occupational health hazards during heatwaves, various heat protection methods have been developed and applied. One of the proposed methods is to apply personal cooling onto a certain local body part of the worker, like one's neck or one's torso, using thermoelectric coolers. Several commercial solutions of this type are already available in the market, but a rigorous analysis of the effects of local cooling of body parts is not yet widely available. In this study, we use a human thermal behavior model, i.e., the FIALA-FE model, to assess the effectiveness of such a personal local cooling device under heatwaves. A whole-body thermal comfort index, i.e., predicted mean vote (PMV), and a local thermal sensation index, i.e., Zhang's local thermal comfort index, are calculated under local cooling conditions of various body parts and compared to those without any cooling to assess the effectiveness of such a local cooling strategy. Our result shows that the local cooling strategy may provide only limited protection against extreme thermal conditions like heatwaves, suggesting that basic measures for the protection of workers including assured access to drinking water, frequent rest breaks, reduction of working hours, and suspension of work must remain as the primary means for protecting workers during heatwaves.