Dual use of tobacco among Bangladeshi men.

INTRODUCTION: Dual use of tobacco (using smoking and smokeless forms) in Bangladesh is uncommon in women but common in men. Dual users are at additional risk of cancers and heart diseases compared with a single form of tobacco use. Knowledge about their socioeconomic background is necessary for planning appropriate interventions. We report here socioeconomic background of the dual users of tobacco from a nationally representative survey. METHODS: The study adopted a probability proportionate to size sampling technic of divisional population stratified into urban and rural areas to recruit men aged 25 years or older from their households. A total of 4312 men were recruited. Variables included questions on 20 household assets, tobacco use and other behavioral risk factors, and measurement of body weight and height. RESULTS: The average age of dual users was 46.7 years old compared to 43.4 and 52.3 years for smokers and smokeless tobacco users. Prevalence of “smoking only,” “smokeless only” and “dual use” of tobacco was 40.6%, 15.2%, and 14.2%, respectively. Among all tobacco users, dual users constituted 20%. These dual users had lower educational achievement, rural residence, lower intake of fruit, and higher intake of alcohol. They were more undernourished as indicated by a thin body mass index compared to nonusers and smokers. Dual users were of socioeconomically deprived as measured by wealth quartiles constructed out of household assets. CONCLUSION: Dual use of tobacco is common in Bangladesh, and it is intimately linked with socioeconomic deprivation. Poverty reduction strategy and campaigns should address tobacco control not only tobacco in general, but its dual use in particular.

Effect of Biochar on the Abundance of Soil Bacteria.

A pot experiment was conducted to study the effect of biochar on the abundance of soil bacteria and compare it with the source biomass. Seven different treatments and a control were used in the experimental set-up. Three different types of biomass were selected and three types of biochar were produced from them. Both the materials were applied to the soil at a rate of 5t/ha. All treatments were incubated for 30, 60 and 90 days. Cultural, microscopic and biochemical tests were carried out to identify the bacterial isolates in soils treated with biochar and its source biomass. Bacterial isolates identified in soil and in some of the biomasses before treatments were applied include Bacillus badius, Bacillus krulwichiae, Bacillus siralis, Bacillus sylvestris, Bacillus flexus, Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus and Bacillus thuringiensis while after incubation periods, seven new isolates were identified. This was true for the biomass treated soils where additional one to two isolates reappeared. Conversely, in the biochar treated soils, most of the isolates disappeared except Bacillus badius that survived in all soils till 90 days. Because of its tolerant nature, it was further investigated for cellulase enzyme activity. Interestingly, the isolate did not show any such activity. Conclusively, biochar application may exert negative effect on the distribution and proliferation of soil bacteria with possible effect on soil quality and crop production.

Status of knowledge and practice about complete tetanus toxoid immunization of unmarried female students of a public university in Dhaka.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to assess the level of knowledge and practice about tetanus toxoid immunization of a group students from a public university. Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out on 113 female students randomly selected from Dhaka University. The interview was conducted using a structured questionnaire. Results: Mean age of the respondents was 19.7±1.2 years (mean±SD). About 90% of the respondents knew about tetanus. Regarding age groups prone to develop tetanus, 49% respondents told ‘children <1 year’, 26.5% ‘neonate’, 14.7% ‘children of 1-5 years’, 3.9% ‘children of 6-12 years’, 5.8% ‘women of 15 years and above’. Respondents showed lack of knowledge about the target group for TT vaccination. None has mentioned about the necessity of TT immunization before the start of reproductive life. Regarding number of dose for complete vaccination 60% respondents mentioned ‘five’, 10.9% ‘three’ and 4.9% ‘two’. Twenty two percent (22.1%) of the respondents did not know. Over one-third (34.5%) of the respondents was found to be completely immunized, 24.8% on schedule, 17.7% incompletely immunized and 23% was not at all immunized. Respondents’ source of knowledge about TT immunization was TV in 35% cases followed by health workers 24%, newspaper 16%, radio and other sources 25%. Among the nonvaccinated group 50% respondents told of their unawareness about need for vaccination against tetanus before the start of their reproductive life, 15.4% told about lack of information regarding of place and time of vaccination and 19.6% complained about inconvenience schedule and place of vaccination. Conclusions: More than two-thirds of the respondents had knowledge about tetanus toxoid immunization before the start of their reproductive life but only half of them were completely vaccinated. Mass media found to be the main source of information. So planners and policy-makers should utilize mass medium and gear up the activities of health workers to convey the correct massages regarding tetanus toxoid immunization to its clients.

Arsenic contamination in food-chain: transfer of arsenic into food materials through groundwater irrigation.

Arsenic contamination in groundwater in Bangladesh has become an additional concern vis-à-vis its use for irrigation purposes. Even if arsenic-safe drinking-water is assured, the question of irrigating soils with arsenic-laden groundwater will continue for years to come. Immediate attention should be given to assess the possibility of accumulating arsenic in soils through irrigation-water and its subsequent entry into the food-chain through various food crops and fodders. With this possibility in mind, arsenic content of 2,500 water, soil and vegetable samples from arsenic-affected and arsenic-unaffected areas were analyzed during 1999-2004. Other sources of foods and fodders were also analyzed. Irrigating a rice field with groundwater containing 0.55 mg/L of arsenic with a water requirement of 1,000 mm results in an estimated addition of 5.5 kg of arsenic per ha per annum. Concentration of arsenic as high as 80 mg per kg of soil was found in an area receiving arsenic-contaminated irrigation. A comparison of results from affected and unaffected areas revealed that some commonly-grown vegetables, which would usually be suitable as good sources of nourishment, accumulate substantially-elevated amounts of arsenic. For example, more than 150 mg/kg of arsenic has been found to be accumulated in arum (kochu) vegetable. Implications of arsenic ingested in vegetables and other food materials are discussed in the paper.