Effect of kerosene and biomass fuel as cooking medium on pulmonary function of adult nontobacco addict homemaker women residing in slums of Ahmedabad City, Gujarat.

BACKGROUND: Combustion of kerosene and biomass fuel in the kitchen as cooking medium is one of the major sources of indoor air pollution. Such contaminated indoor air quality adversely affects the respiratory health of exposed individuals over a period of time. Homemaker women especially residing in slum areas are always vulnerable to indoor air-pollution-related health hazards. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to assess the relationship between various socio-demographic factors and usage patterns of cooking fuel; and to determine the effect of cooking medium namely biomass, kerosene on pulmonary function parameters. METHODS: A cross-sectional observational study was carried out during April 2012 - April 2016 among 531 nontobacco addicted adult primary homemaker women residing in slums of Ahmedabad city of Gujarat. Basic information-related socio-demographic parameters were collected on a pretested questionnaire. Pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters were evaluated with standard techniques. The statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS software (version 17.0). Statistical tests of significance between groups and mean along with multivariate linear regression analysis were applied. RESULTS: Predominant cooking medium for nearly 40% of slum households were kerosene and biomass. Mean value of forced expiratory volume in the 1st s (FEV1) and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) were significantly lower among Kerosene and biomass users compared to LPG users. Multivariate regression analysis with involvement of PFT parameters, cooking medium, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) shows, deprivation of both FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were significantly related with the usage of kerosene and biomass; whereas no relation found with ETS. CONCLUSION: Reduction of pulmonary function parameters among the study participants were related with kerosene and biomass fuel usage in the kitchen.

Occupational injury proneness in young workers: a survey in stone quarries.

OBJECTIVES: Workplace injuries are of concern in adolescent and child workers. The factors of such injuries are important for injury prevention. This study explored the predictors of injury in such workers. METHODS: This study was carried out in stone quarries and included 147 children and adolescent workers (81 males and 66 females). The mean age of the subjects was 11.3 years. An interviewer-administered questionnaire survey was performed to collect personal, occupational, morbidity and injury details. Descriptive analysis followed by logistic regression was undertaken to obtain the contribution of different factors on workplace injury occurrence. RESULTS: Age (OR: 0.73 95% CI: 0.53-0.99), nature of work (OR: 29.4 95% CI: 2.5-340.7), work hours per day (OR: 1.77 95% CI: 1.3-2.3), musculoskeletal complaint (OR: 15.8 95% CI: 4.8-52.2) and education (OR: 0.24 95% CI: 0.08-0.7) showed significant effects on workplace injuries. However, duration of employment and body mass index had no significant contribution. CONCLUSIONS: This study stresses the need to strictly stop employment of child labor in such occupations in accordance with the national law. It shows that apart from nature of job, age of worker, work hours/day, musculoskeletal morbidity and education are significant predictors of occupational injuries and that training of such workers with regard to safe practices, provision for education, alleviation of musculoskeletal morbidity, suitable restriction of work hours/day and awareness generation among parents regarding the imminent danger of such labor in their children will ensure a positive impact in protecting young and child workers from occupational injuries.

Cost-benefit analysis of installing dust control devices in the agate industry, Khambhat (Gujarat).

It is well known that an exposure to crystalline silica gives rise to silicosis and silico-tuberculosis (TB). In the agate industry of Khambhat (Gujarat) not only workers but also people staying in the vicinity of the agate-grinding facilities are exposed to crystalline silica. To reduce their dust exposure, dust control devices were developed. There are approximately 500 grinding machines located in Khambhat. A cost-benefit analysis of installing dust control devices on all agate-grinding machines was carried out by adding all positive factors and benefits and subtracting the negatives and costs. It was concluded that by installing dust control devices not only could the prevalence of silicosis and TB be reduced but also, in the long run, there could be financial benefits.

Erosion of nails following thallium poisoning: a case report.

This case report describes a patient with thallium poisoning caused by repeated exposure to low doses of thallium. Alopecia and nail changes were the most prominent features of this case. There was dystrophy of nails in the form of whitish lunular stripes. This is the first report of complete erosion of proximal parts of nails following thallium poisoning. This case is the first report of thallium poisoning from India occurring from repeated low dose exposure.

Cardiac toxicity following short-term exposure to methomyl in spraymen and rabbits.

A health surveillance study in 22 healthy spraymen showed significant T-wave changes (including inversion) in most of the limb leads and chest leads following 5 d exposure to methomyl, a carbamate pesticide. Significant changes in plasma cholinesterase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were also noticed. The ECG changes could be reproduced in rabbits and were dose dependent. This type of ECG change following exposure to a carbamate compound is reported for the first time in occupationally-exposed subjects. The study results indicate that these changes are probably directly related to methomyl rather than its toxicity through cholinesterase inhibition. The significance of these changes remain to be investigated.

Non-occupational pneumoconiosis at high altitude villages in central Ladakh.

An epidemiological survey was carried out to investigate the occurrence of non-occupational pneumoconiosis in Ladakh, where there are no mines or industries. The clinicoradiological investigations of 449 randomly selected subjects from three villages showed typical cases of pneumoconiosis associated with progressive massive fibrosis and egg shell calcification of hilar glands. The prevalence of pneumoconiosis in these three villages was 2.0%, 20.1% and 45.3% and it corresponded with the severity of dust storms and the use of chimneys in the kitchens. The dust concentrations in the kitchens with no provision for a chimney were very high. The free silica content of the storms was between 60 and 70%. Exposure to free silica from dust storms and soot from domestic fuels are suggested as causes of these cases of pneumoconiosis.