Health Hazard In Terms Research Articles

Assessment of Outdoor Background Radiation Level and its Radiological Hazards at Jimeta and Yola Towns of Adamawa State, Nigeria

The radiation from different types of radionuclides has both advantages and disadvantages. However, detailed research reveals that the drawbacks of several radionuclides far outweigh their advantages, particularly in regions with high concentrations, posing alarming impacts on human health. The study focuses on assessing outdoor background radiation levels in Jimeta and Yola towns, Adamawa State, Nigeria. Using a well-calibrated portable halogen-quenched Geiger Muller (GM) detector at 20 locations, measurements were taken at an elevation of 1.0m above ground level, with GPS tracking for accurate location. The research evaluates radiological health hazards and radiation effective doses to different body organs based on outdoor background exposure rates. Comparison with recommended permissible limits reveals that mean values for outdoor background exposure levels (0.016 mRh-1) and absorbed dose rates (147.46 nGyh-1) exceed safety limits (0.013 mRh-1, 84.0 nGyh-1) set by UNSCEAR and ICRP. The total excessive lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) ranged from 0.33× 10−3 to 2.61× 10−3 , with a mean value of 0.78 × 10−3 , close to the world average lifetime cancer limit (1.45× 10−3 ). Despite the mean annual effective dose equivalent (AEDE) (0.2219mSvy-1) being below the recommended limit of 1.00 mSvy-1 for general public exposure, and effective doses to various body organs remaining below 1.0 mSvy-1, the study indicates potential long-term health hazards such as cancer due to accumulated doses. Generally, the study shows that Jimeta and Yola Metroplis is relatively safe radiologically with little contamination which could be attributed to the geological formation and partly due to human activity such as market and car park for transport system in the area. However, the contamination will not pose any immediate radiological health effect on resident of the area but there is tendency for long –term health hazards in the future such as cancer due to doses accumulated. It is therefore recommended that regular radiation monitoring exercise should be conducted on the area from time to time in order to checkmate both the workers and the members of public from high radiation exposure.

Evaluation of Specific Activity Concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K in Soil and Rice Grains from Solid Mineral Mining Sites in Ikwo Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Evaluation of specific activity concentration of 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil and rice grains from solid mineral mining sites in Ikwo area of Ebonyi state was carried out using a Digilert-200 Radiation Meter. The radiological impact of the radionuclides was calculated. The average value concentrations of radionuclides obtained were 170.53, 9.26 and 8.81 (in Bq.Kg-1) for 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively in soil samples and 113.77, 5.86 and 7.08 (in Bq.Kg-1) for 40K, 238U and 232Th respectively in rice grain. These values are below the world permissive value of 400, 35 and 30(in Bq.Kg-1) respectively. All the health risk parameters calculated in soil and rice were below world permissive values. For the radionuclides in rice samples, the average annual committed effective doses(in mSvy-1) for ages (<1 year), (1 – 7 years), (7 – 12 years), (12 – 17 years) and (>17 years) are 0.37, 0.05, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02 respectively. These results are less than the world permissive value of 1.00 mSvy-1. Generally, the study shows that the rice consumption was relatively safe radiologically with little contamination which could be attributed to human activities but there is tendency for long term health hazards in future such as the cancer due to doses accumulation. It is recommended that the various human activities that raise the activity concentration in soil in Ikwo mining area that should be reduced. The activity concentration of radionuclides level in the area should be periodically assessed.

Enhancement of novel NaZnBr3 perovskite for solar cells application

The efficiencies of lead-based inorganic and organic–inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have been approaching 25% in recent years. Their major challenges include instability problems and their possible long term health hazards. In response to this, there has been a growth in research into lead-free inorganic perovskites. This research proposed that structural modifications of perovskite using copper and silver dopants be used as a unique technique for enhancing the efficiency of novel NaZnBr3. The optical, microstructural, electronic, and crystalline characterization was carried out using Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–VIS) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), SCAPS-1D, and X-ray Diffractometry (XRD) respectively. NaZnBr3 had an efficiency of 0.88% at 100μm, with a band gap of 3.1 eV. This efficiency improves to 9.33% with silver additive with a bandgap of 1.65 eV. Pure NaZnBr3 is found to be a p–n type semiconductor via its flat band potential, while doped NaZnBr3 are shown to be p-type semiconductors. Silver is concluded to be the better dopant, although both dopants increased the efficiency and show higher doping densities and external quantum efficiencies than pure NaZnBr3. It was reported that the crystallographic and microstructural structure of the perovskite plays a significant role in the optimization or modification of the efficiency of the novel NaZnBr3 perovskite. It is recommended that NaZnBr3 be researched further using different synthetic routes and experimental electronic measurement.

Gamma Radiation Levels of Some Selected Government Farms in Rivers State Nigeria

Human are exposed to Background Ionizing radiation (BIR) due to the consumption of crops from fertilized farms within the study area.an in-situ measurement of BIR exposure rate in six fertilized farms and the unfertilized farm aws carried out using a well calibrated portable nuclear radiation detector (Digilert 200). and Geographical positioning system (GPS) for measuring the geographical location. The BIR of the selected local government area varies from 0.012 mR/hr to 0.022 mR / hr and the higher BIR value recorded in Khana, Obio / Akpor, Ahuoda east and Emuoha Local Government area (0.015 mR/hr, 0.015 mR / hr , 0.014 mR/hr , 0.014 mR / hr . While the mean value of Eleme and Gokana were within the permissible limit of 0.013 mR/hr and the BIR of the unfertilized farm was lower than the standard value of 0.013 mR/hr.the mean of absorbed dose varies from 1131 nGy / hr to 122.1nGy/hr which was higher than the recommended safe limit of 84.0 nGy / hr UNSCEAR 2008.The mean of ELCR varies from 0.63 to 0.72x10-3 which is higher than the world average value. The AEDE varies from 0.14 to 0.33 mSv / yr which are below the recommended permissible limit of 1.0 mSv / yr for general public. The effective dose to different body organs are below the recommended limit of 1.0 mSv / yr. The study shows that fertilized farms are contaminated due consistence application of fertilizers during cultivation, but the contamination does not have any direction health effect on individual who consumed crops from fertilized farms but there is the potential for long term health hazards in future such as Cancer due to consistence consumption of crops from fertilized farms.

Noise pollution: the silent killer of the century

Labelled as ‘silent killer’ of 21st century, the noise pollution is largely neglected despite its short and long-term ramifications on human health. The noise affects the human beings from intrauterine life to old age in different ways. The ill effects of noise pollution are slow but cumulative in nature with long term health hazards in form of noise induced hearing loss, sleep disturbances, cardiovascular disease and stress etc. The increasing industrialization and modernization have rewarded us with noise as a pollutant so the accusing finger is clearly pointing towards the human activities. The various permissible noise limits in residential, commercial and industrial area should be strictly followed in consonance with the governing law. The violation of these limits should have strict legal consequences.

ChemInform Abstract: Advances in Nanomaterial Based Approaches for Enhanced Fluoride and Nitrate Removal from Contaminated Water

AbstractReview: 195 refs.

Methods for Separation of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles From Colloidal Suspension in Dodecane

Phase change materials (PCM) are used in many energy storage applications. Energy is stored (latent heat of fusion) by melting the PCM and is released during resolidification. Dispersing highly conductive nanoparticles into the PCM enhances the effective thermal conductivity of the PCM, which in turn significantly improves the energy storage capability of the PCM. The resulting colloidal mixture with the nanoparticles in suspension is referred to as nanostructure enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM). A commonly used PCM for energy storage application is the family of paraffin (CnH2n+2). Mixing copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles in the paraffin produces an effective and highly efficient NEPCM for energy storage. However, after long term application cycles, the efficiency of the NEPCM may deteriorate and it may need replacement with fresh supply. Disposal of the used NEPCM containing the nanoparticles is a matter of concern. Used NEPCM containing nanoparticles cannot be discarded directly into the environment because of various short term health hazards for humans and all living beings and unidentified long term environmental and health hazards due to nanoparticles. This problem will be considerable when widespread use of NEPCM will be practiced. It is thus important to develop technologies to separate the nanoparticles before the disposal of the NEPCM. The primary objective of this research work is to develop methods for the separation and reclamation of the nanoparticles from the NEPCM before its disposal. The goal is to find, design, test, and evaluate separation methods which are simple, safe, and economical. The specific NEPCM considered in this study is a colloidal mixture of dodecane (C12H26) and CuO nanoparticles (1–5% mass fraction and 5–15 nm size distribution). The nanoparticles are coated with a surfactant or stabilizing ligands for suspension stability in the mixture for a long period of time. Various methods for separating the nanoparticles from the NEPCM are explored. The identified methods include: (i) distillation under atmospheric and reduced pressure, (ii) mixing with alcohol mixture solvent, and (iii) high speed centrifugation. These different nanoparticle separation methods have been pursued and tested, and the results are analyzed and presented in this article.

ASSESSMENT OF SYNTHETIC PYRETHROIDS RESIDUES IN THE WATERS AND SEDIMENTS FROM THE WEIJA LAKE IN GHANA

Abstract: The spectrum and levels of synthetic pyrethroids in the Weija Lake have been investigated using the Lake waters and sediments as a case study. Sampling was done in eight sampling locations along the Lake. Liquid-liquid extraction using hexane and soxhlet extraction using 3:1 hexane/acetone mixture were used for extraction of the pyrethroid from the water and sediment samples respectively. Analysis of the extracts for pyrethroids was done with gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector. In all, seven synthetic pyrethroids namely, fenpropathrin, cyfluthrin, cypermethrin, fenvalerate, deltamethrin, allethrin, and permethrin were detected in the Lake waters. In addition to the above pyrethroids, bifenthrin and lambda cyhalothrin were detected in the sediments. Cyfluthrin was the most ubiquitous pyrethroid in the Weija water with 100 percent occurrence, while, cyfluthrin, fenvalerate were the most ubiquitous pyrethroids. Both were detected with 87.5 percent occurrence. The concentrations of the detected pyrethroids ranges from 0.10 – 3.50 ng/L and 0.15 – 6.60 ng/g for the water and sediment samples respectively. The concentrations of detected pyrethroids in the Weija waters were far below maximum residue limits set by European Union (EU) and the Japanese Government. The results therefore suggest that pyrethroids residue concentration in the Weija waters may not pose health hazard in terms of synthetic pyrethroid pollution. Key words: synthetic pyrethroid, weija lake, sediment, lake water,

The Impact of a Pharmacist-Conducted Interactive Anti-Smoking Education Program on the Attitudes and Knowledge of High School Students

Introduction: Smoking among adolescents remains a major concern because of its long term health hazards. An effective adolescent-specific anti-smoking education is needed. Objectives: To measure the impact of a school-based tobacco prevention program provided by pharmacists on the attitudes and knowledge of senior high students. Methods: An anti-smoking program specifically aimed at high school students was developed by pharmacists and introduced to 354 students inTaiwan. It consisted of a role play and a lecture. The students were asked to complete a structural questionnaire right before and after the intervention. Results: After the intervention, the average of the total attitude scores increased from 41.7 to 43.2 (p = 0.001), and the total knowledge scores increased from 6.4 to 8.2 (p < 0.001). The average practice score was 31.2 (maximum score = 50) and the result suggested that the practice score was associated with attitude rather than knowledge. Conclusion: This pharmacist-conducted anti-smoking program for high school students resulted in positive changes regarding both attitude and knowledge. This suggests that further anti-smoking programs targeting students would be effective in helping to prevent youth smoking.

Radioactivity concentration and heavy metal assessment of soil and water, in and around Imirigin oil field, Bayelsa state, Nigeriaa

The alpha and beta activity concentration and heavy metal assessment of soil and water in and around Imirigin oil field has been carried out. Study area was subdivided into five locations, Soil and water samples were collected from field undisturbed environment and oil spilled areas. Sample collection and preparation follows standard procedures. In situ measurement was conducted for pH and electrical conductivity, heavy metal analysis was carried out using Atomic absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and gross alpha and beta activity concentration was by using gas filled proportional counter. Average value for pH and E.C. are 6.5±0.2 and 46.8±1.0 µs/cm respectively for soil and 6.4±0.5 and 406.1±5.2 µs/cm respectively for water. The mean values obtained for ASS analysis for soil are 11.9±1.0, 3.3±0.4, 1.7±0.7, 8.1±0.5, 42.5±1.9, 3.3±0.5, 8.0±0.6, 0.08±0.02 and 79.5±2.2 mg/kg. For Ca, Mg, Zn, Ni, Fe, Cd, Pb, Hg and Cr respectively for water, mean value obtained are 8.3±0.5, 4.2±0.4, 1.6±0.4, 1.5±0.3, 1.3±0.2, 0. 0.06±0.004, 0.07±0.003, 0.05±0.01 and ND mg/l for Ca, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Pb, Cd, Hg and AS respectively. Gross alpha and beta activities mean concentrations for soil are 0.53±0.02 Bq/g and 29.29±0.17 Bq/g respectively, and 4.02±0.01 Bq/l and 54.23±1.76 Bq/l respectively for water. The results show that the level of the various metals obtained differs from location to location. Values obtained in soil are within reported values in the Niger Delta region except Iron level. Heavy metals such as Ca, Fe and Cd exceed the WHO limits for drinking water. The mean values for alpha and beta activity in soil are above reported values in similar environment while mean values obtained in water samples are above WHO recommended maximum permissible limit for drinking water. These values obtained shows that drinking water from sampled locations may pose some long term health hazards to the public users though soil from the area is still safe as construction material for buildings. Key words: Assessment, radionuclide concentration, heavy metal, oil field.

MiADMSA reverses impaired mitochondrial energy metabolism and neuronal apoptotic cell death after arsenic exposure in rats

Arsenicosis, due to contaminated drinking water, is a serious health hazard in terms of morbidity and mortality. Arsenic induced free radicals generated are known to cause cellular apoptosis through mitochondrial driven pathway. In the present study, we investigated the effect of arsenic interactions with various complexes of the electron transport chain and attempted to evaluate if there was any complex preference of arsenic that could trigger apoptosis. We also evaluated if chelation with monoisoamyl dimercaptosuccinic acid (MiADMSA) could reverse these detrimental effects. Our results indicate that arsenic exposure induced free radical generation in rat neuronal cells, which diminished mitochondrial potential and enzyme activities of all the complexes of the electron transport chain. Moreover, these complexes showed differential responses towards arsenic. These early events along with diminished ATP levels could be co-related with the later events of cytosolic migration of cytochrome c, altered bax/bcl 2 ratio, and increased caspase 3 activity. Although MiADMSA could reverse most of these arsenic-induced altered variables to various extents, DNA damage remained unaffected. Our study for the first time demonstrates the differential effect of arsenic on the complexes leading to deficits in bioenergetics leading to apoptosis in rat brain. However, more in depth studies are warranted for better understanding of arsenic interactions with the mitochondria.

Reversal of Arsenic-Induced Hepatic Apoptosis with Combined Administration of DMSA and Its Analogues in Guinea Pigs: Role of Glutathione and Linked Enzymes

Arsenicosis, due to contaminated drinking water in the Indo-Bangladesh region, is a serious health hazard in terms of morbidity and mortality. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated due to arsenic toxicity have been attributed as one of the initial signals that impart cellular toxicity, which is controlled by the internal antioxidant glutathione (GSH). In the present study, we investigated (i) the role of GSH and its linked enzymes, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase, in reversing chronic arsenic toxicity using a thiol chelating agent, meso-2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA), or one of its analogues individually or in combination; (ii) if alterations in the carbon side chain of DMSA increased efficacy; and (iii) whether the combination therapy enhance arsenic removal from hepatic tissue and prevent hepatic apoptosis. Results indicated that chronic arsenic exposure led to a ROS-mediated, mitochondrial-driven, caspase-dependent apoptosis in hepatic cells with a significant increase in glutathione disulfide (GSSG) levels and decreased glutathione reductase levels. Monotherapy with DMSA and its analogues did show minimal recovery postchelation. However, the combination of DMSA with long carbon chain analogues like monoisoamyl DMSA (MiADMSA) or monocyclohexyl DMSA (MchDMSA) showed a better efficacy in terms of reducing the arsenic burden as well as reversing altered biochemical variables indicative of oxidative stress and apoptosis. We also observed that GSH and its linked enzymes, especially glutathione reductase, play a vital role in scavenging ROS, maintaining GSH pools, and providing clinical recoveries. On the basis of the above observations, we recommend that combinational therapy of DMSA and its long carbon chain analogues MiADMSA or MchDMSA would be more effective in arsenic toxicity.

Swedish pesticide risk reduction 1981-1995: food residues, health hazard, and reported poisonings.

The Swedish Government has initiated three pesticide risk-reduction programs since the mid-1980s. Risk-reduction achievements have been measured mainly in terms of reduction in quantities sold. In this review, risk-reduction achievements have been described also in terms of pesticide residues in foods, both imported and grown domestically, acute health hazard to the users, and reported poisonings. The time periods selected for comparisons are 1981-1985 (which is the Government's baseline period), 1990-1994 for food residues and poisonings, and 1991-1995 for acute health hazard and quantities sold. The quantity of pesticides as active ingredient (ai) sold for use in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry decreased from a total of 22,800 tons during 1981-1985 to 8450 tons in 1991-1995, a 63% reduction. Published data on pesticide residues in domestically grown fruits and vegetables show that the proportion of cases of reported residues higher than 20% of the maximum residue limit has decreased only slightly, from 6.9% to 6.2%. Residues in imported food crops of the same type increased from 31% to 37%. Overall, the achieved 63% reduction of quantities used may have resulted in only a 10% reduction in number of cases of reported residues. A forthcoming report on pesticide intake via food from the National Food Administration may shed light on any trends in actual residue levels. The degree of goal fulfillment for the pesticide residue monitoring program and for pesticide residue levels in food is difficult to judge because of imprecise goal formulations. An estimate of the potential acute health hazard to the pesticide users, based on quantities and acute toxicity of individual pesticides, indicates that the acute health hazard in terms of "acute toxicity equivalents" decreased by 71%. The number of poisonings caused by acute exposure at the workplace has decreased between 1984 and 1994, whereas the number of mostly harmless incidents at home has increased. The decline in workplace-related accidents and the favorable pattern and low frequency of pesticide poisonings in Sweden compared to many other countries, especially developing countries, is the result of several factors, such as the mandatory training of workers using pesticides professionally, severe restrictions in availability of pesticides for use in households, and withdrawal from the market of the most toxic pesticides. To improve the worrisome global situation, it would seem appropriate that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization pay greater attention to the need for promotion of restrictions on availability of highly toxic and other pesticides, as recommended by FAO and WHO in 1975 (WHO/FAO 1975).

Compensating wages for long-term job hazards in Canadian industry

The following paper analyzes the compensating wage differentials workers receive for long term health hazards. Occupational and industry fatalities are separated into short-term hazards and long-term hazards. These variables are included in human capital earnings functions in order to see how they impact on workers' wages. The results indicate that workers do receive wage premiums for long-term hazards, like occupational diseases, however they do not receive additional benefits for job-related accidents except at high levels of risk.

Further Analysis of Cancer Mortality Patterns Among Workers Exposed to Cutting Oil Mists&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;

Workers exposed to cutting oil mists at a single U.S. plant were followed to determine if they experienced unusual death rates for specific cancer sites, which would be indicative of a carcinogenic potential for some or all of the oils used. The study group consisted of 2,485 white males who were employed between 1938 and 1967 and had 5 or more years' employment in jobs exposing them to varying levels of cutting oil mists anytime prior to 1968; 1.137 of these men were engaged in a wide range of metal machining processes that entailed longterm heavy exposure to the mists. Cause-specific mortality patterns among the workers during 1938–67 were compared to death rates in the total U.S. white male population. The usual deficits were seen in mortality for most major disease categories, although total cancer deaths were very close to expectation. Analysis of mortality for each of 15 cancer site categories showed no significant differences between observed and expected deaths for almost all comparisons. However, a twofold risk of cancers of the stomach and large Intestine (combined) was seen after 20 years of follow-up In the subgroup of men with 5 or more years' exposure to cutting oil mists prior to 1938. Deaths from nonmalignant respiratory disease were significantly less than expected. These results suggested that occupational exposure to soluble and nonsoluble cutting oil mists during various metal machining processes does not pose a health hazard in terms of respiratory cancer and fatal nonmalignant respiratory disease but may be associated with certain forms of gastrointestinal cancer.

Water Quality Implications of Cattle Grazing on a Semiarid Watershed in Southeastern Utah

Highlight: During 19 73 and 1974 wildland water quality analyses were performed on a semiarid, chained and seeded, pinyon-juniper site in southeastern Utah. The area was treated in 1967 and protected from grazing until 1974. In 1974 livestock grazing was introduced and investigations continued to determine if any deleterious land use effects were present from fecal contamination by cattle. No significant changes were noted in fecal and total coliform production (fecal pollution bacterial indicators) from grazing use. There is an element of risk involved whenever data generated from a small area are projected to larger land areas. However, it appears that this level of livestock grazing (2 hafA UM) did not constitute a public health hazard in terms of fecal pollution indicators on the semiarid watershed.