Skin aging associated with chromium among rural housewives in northern China.

Previous studies have found associations between chromium exposure and skin damage. However, few studies have focused on both chromium and skin aging. This study aimed to assess the degree of skin aging symptoms and estimate the relationship between hair chromium and skin aging among rural housewives. We recruited 405 subjects in Shanxi Province of northern China and analyzed 397 eligible hair samples with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The subjects' skin aging symptoms were assessed with SCINEXA™ (SCore of INtrinsic and EXtrinsic skin Aging). After adjusting for age and other important covariates, the regression results showed more severe skin aging symptoms in women with a higher level of hair chromium and presented an increasing linear trend. Vegetables, fruits, and beans might be a source of chromium exposure. We concluded that skin aging might be positively associated with hair chromium. It is necessary to take measures to reduce chromium exposure to prevent skin aging.

Health damage to housewives by contaminants emitted from coal combustion in the Chinese countryside: focusing on day-to-day cooking.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to estimate the health damage and find out the main exposure pathways of housewives posed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) from coal combustion in rural areas of China. METHODS: We obtained the concentrations of 16 PAHs and 8 HMs from published literatures and the Monte Carlo simulation was used to process and analysis the data. Sensitivity analysis was also applied to clear parameter uncertainty and the health damage of housewives was quantitatively evaluated by loss of life expectancy. RESULTS: Housewives' carcinogenic risks from PAHs exposure were in descending order of inhalation > ingestion > dermal contact, while exposed to HMs were ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. The carcinogenic risks from PAHs primarily originated from benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), dibenz[ah]anthracene (DahA) and benzo[b]fluorathene (BbF). For HMs, arsenic posed the highest carcinogenic risk to housewives, with a contribution of 92.98%. In addition, the life expectancy loss of housewives exposed to PAHs was 469.04 min from inhalation and 51.82 min for HMs from ingestion. CONCLUSION: Through a comprehensive assessment of the health risks in housewives exposed to emissions from coal combustion, we can gain insight into the hazards from PAHs and HMs in housewives, and take measures to reduce their exposure risks.

'Diabetes is a gift from god' a qualitative study coping with diabetes distress by Indonesian outpatients.

BACKGROUND: More than two-thirds of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Indonesia encounter medical-related problems connected to routine self-management of medication and the social stigma related to T2DM. The current study aims to explore distress and coping strategies in Indonesian T2DM outpatients in a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using two different data collection methods: focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The guideline of interviews and discussions were developed based on seventeen questions derived from the DDS17 Bahasa Indonesia (a Bahasa Indonesia version of the Diabetes Distress Scale questionnaire), which covered physician distress domain, emotional burden domain, regimen distress domain and interpersonal distress domain. RESULTS: The majority of the 43 participants were females and aged 50 or older. Our study discovered two main themes: internal and external diabetes distress and coping strategies. Internal diabetes distress consists of disease burden, fatigue due to T2DM, fatigue not due to T2DM, emotional burden (fear, anxiety, etc.) and lack of knowledge. Internal coping strategies comprised spirituality, positive attitude, acceptance and getting more information about T2DM. External diabetes distress was evoked by distress concerning healthcare services, diet, routine medication, monthly blood sugar checks, interpersonal distress (family) and financial concern. External coping strategies included healthcare support, traditional medicine, vigilance, self-management, social and family support and obtaining information about health insurance. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that for Indonesian T2DM-patients, spirituality and acceptance are the most common coping mechanisms for reducing DD. Furthermore, our study revealed an overall positive attitude towards dealing with T2DM as well as a need for more information about T2DM and potential coping strategies. Finally, an important finding of ours relates to differences in DD between males and females, potential DD associated with health services provision and the specific challenges faced by housewives with T2DM.

Association of maternal determinants with low birth weight babies in tea garden workers of Assam.

AIM: This study was aimed to evaluate the association of maternal determinants with birth weight (BW) of babies in tea garden workers (TGW) and housewives (HW). METHODS: A total of 175 subjects were recruited from Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, India. In this cross-sectional study, maternal determinants, BW of babies and placental weight were explored in TGW (n = 102) and HW (n = 73). These factors were assessed and correlated by logistic regression models. RESULTS: A higher incidence of low birth weight (LBW) was found in mothers working in the tea garden (48.04%) as compared to HW (10.96%). Activity of plucking of leaves in tea garden by women had a higher risk for LBW babies (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] 4.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-13.57, P = 0.012) and decreased placental weight (AOR 11.42, 95% CI 1.18-126.02, P = 0.036) as compared to HW considered as reference group. Women who worked continuously in the tea garden during 9 months of pregnancy also revealed an elevated risk for LBW (AOR 5.32, 95% CI 1.34-21.09, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: This study suggests the activity of plucking of tea leaves by women is associated with LBW of babies and decreased placental weight. Particularly, if mothers worked continuously in the tea garden during 9 months of pregnancy, it also increased the risk of delivering LBW babies. This exploratory study provides an important platform for further prospective studies, which could be focused on the potential consequences of maternal occupational exposures during pregnancy on fetal development.

Tailored feedback reduced prolonged sitting time and improved the health of housewives: a single-blind randomized controlled pilot study.

Reducing sitting time, independent of physical activity, is important for health. However, few reports have been published regarding physical activity of housewives compared to that of employed women. We examined strategies to shorten housewives' sitting time using a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Forty-eight housewives (38.0 ± 4.5 years old) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: pamphlet, self-feedback, and tailored feedback groups. All participants received a pamphlet describing the risks of prolonged sitting. The self-feedback and tailored feedback groups were also given feedback on sitting time by a smartphone application. The tailored feedback group received individual suggestions regarding lifestyle to shorten sitting time. We measured physical activity using an accelerometer and health-related quality of life using the Short-Form 8. The longest prolonged sitting time significantly decreased over time, a significant reduction was observed after the intervention only in the tailored feedback group. Vitality, mental health, and role emotional components of health-related quality of life showed a significant improvement with time but no significant differences were observed among the study groups. We suggested an easy approach to shortening prolonged sitting time in housewives using a pamphlet and feedback by smartphone. However, tailored consulting was necessary to yield a more effective result.

Influence of dietary practices on Blood pressure: comparison between house wives and employed women.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the occurrence and to determine relationship of dietary practices with hypertension between housewives and working women.. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Karachi University and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January to April 2015, and comprised working women and housewives who were enrolled using convenient sampling. Data was collected on consumption of fruits, vegetables, poultry/fish and fast food. Blood pressure and body mass index were noted and interpreted according to World Health Organisation classification for Asian population. Normal reference range of blood pressure was taken as Systolic100-120mmHg, Diastolic 60-90 mmHg, and mean value as 120/80mmHg. Data analysis was done using SPSS17. RESULTS: There were 600 subjects; with 300(50%) housewives and as many working women. Mean age of housewives was 35.56}7.53 years, and that of employed women 35.44}6.65 years. Among the housewives, 96(32%) had normal blood pressure while the corresponding number in the other group was 198(66%) (p<0.001). In terms of relationship body mass index with hypertension, out of the 204(68%) hypertensive housewives, 90(44.1%) were overweight, and of the 102 hypertensive working women, 40(39.23%) had normal weight range. Most housewives reported a sedentary lifestyle as opposed to working women (p<0.001).. CONCLUSIONS: Being a housewife was in itself found to be a contributing factor in hypertensive disorders.

Influence of co-morbidity on body composition changes after weight loss intervention among overweight housewives: a follow-up study of the MyBFF@home.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular diseases. However, it is unclear if the presence of co-morbidities has any effect on the magnitude of body composition changes following weight reduction programmes. Thus, this study aimed to determine changes in body composition among obese housewives with and without co-morbidities after they participated in a weight loss intervention. METHODS: This is a follow-up study among 84 obese housewives without co-morbidities aged 18 to 59 years old who previously participated as a control group (delayed intervention, G1) in the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at Home (MyBFF@home) Phase II. Baseline data were obtained from 12 month data collection for this group. A new group of 42 obese housewives with co-morbidities (G2) were also recruited. Both groups received a 6 month intervention (July-December 2015) consisting of dietary counselling, physical activity (PA) and self-monitoring tools (PA diary, food diary and pedometer). Study parameters included weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure and body compositions. Body compositions were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis device, Inbody 720. Descriptive and repeated measures ANOVA analyses were performed using SPSS 21. RESULTS: There were reductions in mean body fat, fat mass and visceral fat area, particularly among obese women without co-morbidities. There were also decreases fat and skeletal muscle from baseline to month six with mean difference - 0.12 (95% CI: -0.38, 0.14) and visceral fat area from month three to month six with mean difference - 9.22 (- 17.87, - 0.56) for G1. G2 showed a decreasing pattern of skeletal muscle from baseline to month six with mean difference - 0.01(95% CI: -0.38, 0.37). There was a significant difference for group effect of visceral fat area (p < 0.05) with mean difference of - 11.49(95% CI: -20.07, 2.91). It showed that the intervention programs was effective to reduce visceral fat area compared to other part of body composition. CONCLUSION: Obese participants without co-morbidities showed more desirable changes in body composition. Visceral fat area was reduced regardless of morbidity status. Weight management efforts are therefore not as straightforward in those with co-morbidities compared to those without, and require thorough and tailor-made strategies for a better chance of success.

An introduction to the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at home (MyBFF@home): a community-based weight loss intervention study among Malaysian housewives.

BACKGROUND: The national prevalence of overweight and obesity in Malaysia has been increasing in the past 10 years and many efforts have been implemented by the Malaysian government to combat obesity problem among the Malaysian population. The aim of this paper was to describe the background of the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at home (MyBFF@home) study (Phase II). DISCUSSION: The MyBFF@home (Phase II) was a quasi-experimental study and it was conducted among overweight and obese housewives living in the urban areas in Malaysia. In this phase, the study involved a weight loss intervention phase (6 months) and a weight loss maintenance phase (6 months). The intervention group received a standard weight loss intervention package and the control group received group seminars related to women's health. Measurements of weight, height, waist circumference, body composition, fasting blood lipids, dietary intake, physical activity, health literacy, body pain and quality of life were conducted during the study. Overweight and obese housewives from 14 People's Housing/Home Project (PHP) in Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (Klang Valley) were selected as control and intervention group (N = 328). Majority of the participants (76.1%) were from the low socioeconomic group. Data were analysed and presented according to the specific objectives and the needs for the particular topic in the present supplement report. CONCLUSION: MyBFF@home is the first and the largest community-based weight loss intervention study which was conducted among overweight and obese housewives in Malaysia. Findings of the study could be used by the policy makers and the researchers to enhance the obesity intervention programme among female adults in Malaysia.

Changes in body pain among overweight and obese housewives living in Klang Valley, Malaysia: findings from the MyBFF@home study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity leads to the increase of pain at different parts of the body and it is a potential marker for complications of chronic diseases. This paper aims to assess changes in the body pain among overweight and obese housewives who participated in the My Body is Fit and Fabulous at home (MyBFF@home) study. METHODS: Housewives aged 18 to 59 years old from the MyBFF@home study were selected and pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) questionnaire. VAS measured the pain intensity at different parts of the body (score of 0-10). Data were collected at base line, 3 months and 6 months among the housewives in both the control and intervention group. Pain scores and other variables (age, Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference) were analysed using SPSS version 22. RESULTS: A total of 328 housewives completed the VAS questionnaires at baseline, while 185 (56.4%) of housewives completed the VAS at 3 months and 6 months. A decreasing trend of mean pain score in both groups after 6 months was observed. However, the intervention group showed a consistent decreasing trend of pain score mainly for back pain. In the control group, there was a slight increment of score in back pain from baseline towards the 6 months period. Older housewives in both groups (aged 50 years and above) had a higher mean score of leg pain (2.86, SD: 2.82) compared to the other age group. Higher BMI was significantly associated with pain score in both groups. CONCLUSION: There were some changes in the level of body pain among the housewives before and after the intervention. Older obese women had a higher pain score compared to younger obese women. Pain was associated with BMI and change in BMI appears to be beneficial in reducing body pain among overweight and obese individuals.

The effect of weight loss intervention programme on health-related quality of life among low income overweight and obese housewives in the MyBFF@home study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an emerging global public health concern as it is related to chronic diseases and its impact to health related quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of weight reduction on health related quality of life (HRQOL) among obese and overweight housewives. METHODS: Data on 123 obese and overweight housewives in the intervention group from the MyBFF@home study were utilised. A validated Malaysian Malay version of Obesity Weight Loss Quality of Life (OWLQOL) questionnaire was administered at baseline and 6 months after intervention. Descriptive analysis, univariate analysis, paired t-test and multiple logistic regression were performed using SPSS Version 22. RESULTS: Mean body mass index (BMI) was 31.5 kg/m2 (SD:4.13), with 51 participants classified as overweight (41.5%) while 72 were obese (58.5%). About 72% of the housewives experienced weight reduction (62% reduced weight less than 5% and 11% reduced weight more than 5% of their baseline weight). There was a significant improvement in HRQOL with a pre-intervention total mean score of 59.82 (SD: 26.60) and post-intervention of 66.13 (SD: 22.82), p-value < 0.001. By domain, the highest post intervention mean score was self-image 71.46 (SD: 22.85), followed by social stigma 68.77 (SD: 28.70), physical 61.83 (SD: 24.25) and trying to lose weight 61.24 (SD: 27.32). There was no significant association between weight reduction and HRQOL improvement. CONCLUSION: Weight loss intervention programme utilizing behavioural modification has led to a significant improvement in HRQOL among overweight and obese housewives.

Study on awareness of osteoporosis and its associated risk factors among housewives and working women in Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To compare awareness of osteoporosis and its associated risks among working women and housewives. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Karachi University and Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January to April 2015, and comprised working women and housewives who were enrolled using convenience sampling. Data was collected on awareness, dairy, fruit, vegetable, poultry/fish consumption as well as exercise, diagnosis and treatment taken for deficiency of vitamin D. Weight, height and body mass index were noted. Analysis was done using SPSS 17. RESULTS: Of the 600 participants, 300(50%) were housewives and 300(50%) were working women. Significant differences were observed in marriage years, number of children and income (p <0.05). Body mass index of groups demonstrated that more working women were within normal range weight than housewives (p<0.05). Fewer housewives had awareness about osteoporosis and the majority of them had a sedentary lifestyle (p<0.001). More housewives were diagnosed with vitamin D deficiency and were prescribed for treatment (p<0.001). Dairy and vegetable consumption was found comparable while fruits and poultry/ fish intake was better in working women (p<0.05). Since the subjects in both groups had no regular exercise programme, therefore the overall results were insignificant (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Greater number of working women had awareness of osteoporosis.

Dietary practices and severity of depression. Comparative study among housewives and working women in Karachi.

OBJECTIVE: To compare levels of depression and locate difference in effects of dietary practices on depression severity in housewives and working women. METHODS: This comparative, cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Karachi and the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from January to April 2015. Convenient sampling method was used. Participants included educated women, comprising housewives and working women aged 35-45 years. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data about participants' dietary habits. Depression levels were recorded through Patient Health Questionnaire-9 questionnaire. SPSS 21 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 600 participants, 300(50%) were housewives and 300(50%) were working women. The mean age of housewives was 35.56±7.53 years and that of working women was 35.44±6.65 years (p=0.827). Study outcomes revealed that dietary habits influenced severity of depression. In none/minimal category, most women in both study groups were those who were taking 3 meals [18(14.5%) housewives and 114(52.8%) working women], 8 or more glasses of water [16(16%) housewives and 94(48%) working women]and fast food rarely[20(12%) housewives and76(44.7%) working women]. A high number of women with minimal depression were witnessed among participants who rarely consumed vegetables [16(13.1%) housewives and 50(42.4%) working women]. Considering overall depression, a large number of housewives showed moderate depression, i.e. 156(52%). On the contrary, the number of working women showing minimal depression was 142(47.3%) compared to 30(17.4%) housewives (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although housewives were more depressed than working women, the highest number of participants with none or minimal depression in both study groups were those who had better dietary practices.

Comparison Of Dietary Practices And Body Mass Index Among Educated Housewives And Working Women In Karachi.

BACKGROUND: Body Mass Index (BMI) is considered as a major determinant of health. The objective of study was to find out differences between dietary practices, as well as BMI in educated housewives and working woman. It is supposed that both study groups may have difference in work pressures with resultant diverse preferences for food. This can affect health status particularly in relation to obesity in women. Furthermore, we selected participants with 14 years' education expecting basic awareness of healthful diet. METHODS: This cross-sectional study had a convenient sampling method and sample size of 600 with 300 house wives and 300 working women, aged 35-45 years. Dietary habits were recorded by interview. Body Mass Index was calculated by standard formula, and results obtained by Chi-Square using SPSS-17. RESULTS: Working women had healthier dietary practices. Number of meals, fruits, fish/ poultry and water consumption was better in working mothers with significant p-value <0.00.1. Intake of vegetables and fast food was found similar. BMI comparison showed that majority of housewives were noted as overweight whereas working women showed normal weight (p-value <0.001). Most housewives responded that they have a sedentary life style as opposed to working women p-value <0.001. Self- assessment of diet quality was comparable as it was mentioned moderate by most of the participants, however more working females accepted that they need to improve their diet and would need expert advice. CONCLUSIONS: Healthier BMI, active life style and better dietary habits were witnessed in working women as compared to housewives.

Variability in Reproductive Choices: A Comprehensive Analysis of Women's Working Status and Fertility Behavior in Pakistan.

The relationship between women's working status and fertility behavior has been a topic of interest for researchers and policymakers. The societal shifts over time, particularly the increasing participation of women in the workforce, have transformed traditional roles. Women, once primarily perceived as caregivers, are now assuming roles of economic independence. This transformation prompts a re-evaluation of the traditional association between women's working status and fertility behavior. This study aims to investigate the impact of women's working status on fertility behavior using a multistage stratified sampling design. A total of 408 women aged 15 to 49 years were recruited from 2 strata: working and non-working women. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and generalized additive models were used for in-depth analysis of the dataset. An examination of fertility patterns indicates that, on average, working women bear 2.90 live children, while their non-working counterparts have an average of 3.52 children. Stillbirth was reported in 13% of housewives and 15.1% of working women. However, further analysis revealed that the relationship between women's employment status and fertility behavior varied depending on Social and Cultural Norms, Reproductive Rights, Workplace Policies, Economic Independence, Age, and Life Stage. Our findings suggest that promoting access to family-friendly policies and services, as well as challenging gender norms and cultural values, could help address the impact of women's employment on fertility behavior.

Comparative study of exclusive breastfeeding practice among employed mothers and housewives in Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a global concern as it is associated with infant protection against gastrointestinal infections, reduces newborn mortality and prevents a child from becoming overweight or obese. Even though some studies have reported high EBF practices among housewives compared to employed mothers, the influences of practices among the two groups are little documented. OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at comparing the EBF among employed mothers and housewives in Tanzania. METHODOLOGY: The study was a facility-based comparative cross-sectional study, with a sample size of 246 mothers of children less than 6 months. Convenience sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected by using a validated questionnaire and analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Science, version 23, through descriptive statistics (frequency, proportion and mean) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test (χ2) and binary logistic regression). RESULTS: The findings show that 106 (80.9%) of housewives had good EBF compared to 78 (67.8%) employed mothers, which was a significant difference (χ2 = 5.57; P = 0.019). One hundred and seven (81.7%) housewives had adequate knowledge of EBF compared to 84 (73%) employed mothers, but the knowledge between them was not significantly different (χ2 = 2.63; P = 0.071). For employed mothers, only age was significantly associated with EBF (χ2 = 39.49; P = 0.006), while for housewives, none of the sociodemographic characteristics was significantly associated with EBF. CONCLUSION: EBF practice was higher among housewives as compared to employed mothers. Age was significantly associated with good practice of EBF among employed mothers. The effort should be strengthened to help employed mothers aged below 28 years to practice EBF. Different programs and approaches that are developed and implemented should target this age group to increase the rate of EBF.

Mental Health States of Housewives: an Evaluation in Terms of Self-perception and Codependency.

Housewives are individuals who assume the role of caregiver in the family in almost every society and experience serious psychological difficulties in line with this role. These psychological difficulties may develop due to the pathological relationships that women have, especially with their family members. In this context, the study aims to examine the mental health states of housewives within the framework of codependence and self-perceptions. This study, which was planned as descriptive, relational, and cross-sectional, by online questionnaire method, consists of 371 housewives. Personal information form, Codependency Assessment Tool (CODAT), social comparison scale (SCS), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used to collect data. In the analysis of the research, a structural equation model was established by using SPSS 25 and AMOS 23 package programs. It was found that the mean age of the housewives included in the study was 35.19 ± 9.85 and 35.5% of the participants were university graduates, 13.2% lived in an extended family, 13.7% had a poor relationship with their spouse, and 51.5% were only responsible for housework. Besides, according to the results of the study, it was found that the total mean score of SCS was 75.16 ± 21.73, SCL-90-R was 1.96 ± 0.95, and CODAT was 76.16 ± 17.75. In the case of analysis, there was strong correlation between the mental status of housewives and both their codependency levels and their self-perceptions. It has been determined that increased levels of codependency and negative self-perception of housewives increase the psychological symptoms experienced.

From Housewives to Employees, the Mental Benefits of Employment across Women with Different Gender Role Attitudes and Parenthood Status.

Previous studies suggest that paid employment can improve workers' mental health status by offering a series of manifest and latent benefits (i.e., income, self-achievement and social engagement), which motivates policymakers' ongoing promotion of labour force participation as an approach to protect women's mental health status. This study extends the literature by investigating the mental health consequences of housewives' transition into paid employment across different gender role attitude groups. In addition, the study also tests the potential moderating role of the presence of children in relationships. This study yields two major findings by using nationally representative data (N = 1222) from the United Kingdom Longitudinal Household Study (2010-2014) and OLS regressions. First, from the first wave to the next, housewives who transitioned into paid employment reported better mental health status than those who remained housewives. Second, the presence of children can moderate such associations, but only among housewives with more traditional gender role attitudes. Specifically, among the traditional group, the mental benefits of transition into paid employment are more pronounced among those without children. Therefore, policymakers should develop more innovative approaches to promote housewives' mental health by considering a more gender-role-attitudes-sensitive design of future labour market policies.

A study on the impact of road traffic noise exposure on work efficiency of housewives.

Housewives are individuals who take on the caregiving role in the family in virtually every society and while discharging their duties experience serious psychological difficulties due to external environmental pollutants like air, noise, etc., which influences their efficiency of performing household activities. This study hypothesizes a causal association between perception of traffic noise and the reduction in performance of housewives in their daily household activities. A simple mediation model was utilized for the study with traffic noise perception as the exposure variable. The sensitivity to traffic noise, annoyance caused due to traffic noise, and the effect of traffic noise on housewives were evaluated using questionnaire survey. Of the respondents, 57.33% reported high level of traffic noise perception, while 65.81% reported high annoyance due to traffic noise perception. Of the respondents, 88.69% reported higher levels of agreement with regard to negative effect of traffic noise on their household activities. The results supported the hypothesis with respondents belonging to high and moderate noise perception groups reporting a higher reduction in performance as compared to those belonging to the low noise perception group at higher values of sensitivity. There was no significant direct effect among those who perceived traffic noise as high and moderate. However, the indirect path revealed that there was a significantly higher reduction in performance among those belonging to the high and moderate noise perception group as compared to those belonging to the low noise perception group while those who perceived traffic noise as high and moderate did not differ significantly only at higher levels of sensitivity. Using OGRS computational tool, a sensitivity value of 5.586 was identified as the Johnson-Neyman boundary of significance for the direct effect. The results from the study highlight the need for including environmental noise related regulations with regard to residential structures by the concerned authorities and also the need for undertaking more rigorous studies by health authorities and organizations so that the effects are minimized if not eliminated completely.

Passive Smoking Is Associated with Multiple Heavy Metal Concentrations among Housewives in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Passive smoking may increase the content of heavy metals in housewives. However, this association remains a subject of debate. Female passive smoking is widespread, particularly in Chinese rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the association between heavy metal accumulation and passive smoking status among rural housewives. METHODS: 405 women were recruited in Shanxi Province of Northern China, and 384 (94.8%, 384/405) participants were included in the final study, of whom 117 women were exposed to passive smoking. The information on their basic characteristics was collected via a structured questionnaire. We used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to analyze the concentrations of nine heavy metals, including cadmium (Cd), germanium (Ge), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), titanium (Ti), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), and chromium (Cr), in hair samples. RESULTS: The results indicated that higher As, Ge, Ti, and Fe concentrations were significantly associated with passive smoking. After adjusting for potential confounders, the adjusted odds ratios and the 95% confidence intervals of As, Ge, Ti, and Fe were (1.80 (1.13-2.90), p = 0.028), (1.78 (1.14-2.80), p = 0.007), (1.70 (1.09-2.67), p = 0.019), and (1.67 (1.07-2.63), p = 0.035), respectively. The statistically significant linear trend of the adjusted odds ratios at different levels further supported their association. CONCLUSION: Our research concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke might contribute to As, Ge, Ti, and Fe accumulation among housewives.

Association of Rare Earth Elements with Passive Smoking among Housewives in Shanxi Province, China.

BACKGROUND: Rare earth elements (REEs) are emerging contaminants. Previous studies reported the association between REEs and active smoking, but little is known about the effects of passive smoking on this condition. In China, female passive smoking is widespread, particularly in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to estimate the relationship between REEs accumulation and passive smoking among rural housewives. METHODS: We recruited 385 subjects in Shanxi Province of northern China, of whom 117 housewives were exposed to passive smoking, and 268 were not. We analyzed 15 REEs in the hair of housewives with ICP-MS, including lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, and yttrium. RESULTS: The results indicated higher levels of 14 REEs except for Sm in both the univariate and adjusted models among the housewives exposed to passive smoking. The increasing linear trend of adjusted odds ratios of 15 REEs supported their association. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models showed that 15 REEs had a significant overall effect, and Eu had a single-exposure effect with passive smoking. CONCLUSION: We concluded that passive smoking might be associated with increased exposure to REEs among rural housewives.