Exploring Blood Lead Level Determinants in Refinery Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Occupational lead exposure poses a significant risk to workers in industrial settings, especially in petroleum refineries. The study aimed to examine the prevalence and determinants of high blood lead concentrations among refinery workers in Kirkuk, Iraq. It has also been aimed to provide evidence-based approaches to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 187 workers from three departments (transportation, storage, and production) in a petroleum refinery from August 2023 to April 2024. Blood lead levels (BLLs) were measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy (GFAAS) (Agilent, Santa Clara, CA). The elevated BLLs were defined as lead levels in blood samples greater than 10 µg/dL. Data on demographic characteristics, such as occupations, smoking habits, and drinking milk, were collected using a researcher-developed information sheet. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test and Pearson Chi-Square test, and logistic regression was used to address the determinants of elevated BLLs. The corresponding associations were reported using odds ratios (OR) and adjusted OR (AOR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Eighty-five percent of the workers had high BLLs, with a median BLL of 17.11 µg/dL. The findings revealed that workers employed in outdoor settings had 4.25 times higher AOR (95% CI: 1.24-14.48) of experiencing high BLLs compared to those working indoors, after adjusting for other factors. This was especially true for workers who spent nine to 16 hours outdoors. Additionally, age and smoking were also found to be associated with an increased risk of high BLLs. On the other hand, the analysis indicated that drinking milk had a protective effect against high BLLs. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of elevated BLLs among refinery workers in Kirkuk underscores the urgency for immediate interventions. Regular monitoring of BLLs, improved training, dietary adjustments (e.g., consuming calcium and phosphate-rich milk, which can help lower BLLs), and smoking cessation programs are recommended to reduce lead exposure and safeguard workers' health. Furthermore, the results suggest that drinking milk could potentially reduce BLLs among petroleum refinery workers. Additional research is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions and to continue monitoring exposure levels.

Understanding Healthy Eating Habits of Elderly People in a Geriatric Center in Kirkuk City: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background A person's nutritional knowledge has a great influence on their eating habits and nutritional status. Identifying knowledge gaps can lead to educational efforts to reduce the probability of malnutrition and encourage healthy aging. This study aimed to assess older people's knowledge of healthy eating and identify associated factors in the Geriatric Center in Kirkuk City. Methods This was a cross-sectional study conducted from November 5, 2023, to February 25, 2024, at the Geriatric Center in Kirkuk City on 25 older adults who were targeted at the only specialist center in Kirkuk City. All center residents were included (≥60 years old and without severe cognitive impairment). A non-probability, purposive sample was employed in the study. Data were collected using an interview-structured questionnaire. The structured questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part focused on socio-demographic variables such as age, gender, marital status, education level, and type of work before admission to the center, as well as smoking status, walking, and medical history. The second part related to assessing older people's knowledge of healthy eating using 17 items. Data entry and analysis were performed using SPSS (v 26; IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, US). Data are reported as frequency and percentage and the chi-square test/Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. The significance level for statistical analysis was set at p<0.05. Results Of the 25 participants included in the study, 20 (80%) were men and 5 (20%) were women. Approximately two-thirds of the 17 (68%) were between 60 and 69 years old, with a mean age of 69.44 ± 5.71 years. Of the 25 older people surveyed, 16 (64%) had low knowledge of healthy eating while 9 (36%) had high knowledge. Knowledge level was significantly associated with age (p = 0.001), gender (p = 0.040), education level (p = 0.006), and smoking status (p = 0.037). Conclusions In the geriatric center in Kirkuk City, the level of knowledge of healthy eating was low. The knowledge level of people tends to be related to factors like age, gender, education level, and smoking status. This, in turn, requires implementing educational programs by healthcare providers at the center to promote knowledge and understanding of healthy diets and practices.

Prevalence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 genes in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from nose of restaurant workers in Kirkuk city.

Staphylococcus aureus resides naturally in the nasal cavity of healthy individuals, including those working in restaurants, so they may be a source for spreading this bacterium to restaurant customers directly or indirectly through cooked meals. This bacterium has several virulence factors enabling it to cause many diseases in different parts of the body. It has also the capability to resist conventional antibiotics including methicillin. To investigate methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), 170 nasal swabs were collected from food preparation workers in 30 restaurants (5-6 workers in each restaurant) in Kirkuk city. After collection, the samples were directly transferred to the laboratory and cultured on selective media like mannitol salt agar (MSA). Microbiological examination including morphological, biochemical, and confirmatory tests showed that 24/170 of collected samples were positive for S. aureus with a rate of 14.12%. Among 24 isolates, 20 (83.3%) belonged to MRSA. All isolates were resistant to oxacillin and penicillin (100%), whereas sensitive to other antibiotics (gentamicin, chloramphenicol, and rifampicin). Polymerase chain reaction exhibited that 13 (65%) of MRSA isolates have toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 gene and only 4 (20%) have Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene.

Demographic and clinico-pathological characteristics of colorectal cancer in Kirkuk governorate, Iraq.

BACKGROUND: World-wide Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer with one million new cases a year. Historically, a higher incidence of this disease has been recorded among the elderly in the western countries, but it is increasing in developing countries and in younger age groups. AIM: This study aims to find whether CRC cancer is progressively affecting the younger age groups known as early onset (< 50 years). In addition, it describes the pathological characteristics of CRC in early onset CRC cases. METHOD: The study is retrospective cross-sectional. It was conducted over a period of five months from October 1st 2019 till 1st March 1st 2020. Data were drawn from patients with CRC from their medical records at Kirkuk Oncology Centre (KOC) and from the IRAQI National CANCER REGISTRY (INCR) over thirteen years period from 2006 to 2018. The basic data we obtained for each patient include sex, age, and stage, grade of the disease at diagnosis and mode of presentation. RESULTS: The Initial study population included 654 patients of both genders and all ages. CRC occurred in < 5.5/100,000 population per year which accounted for < 8% of total malignancies (2006-2018). The patients were divided into two groups; an early onset (< 50 years) group and a late onset CRC (⩾ 50 years) group. The final study population provided enough data for 238 patients for the years (2014-2018) with an age range of 20-91 and a mean of 54.4 years. The males were ∼54% while ∼46% were females. The age group under 50 years (early onset CRC) was ∼41% (no 98) while those who are 50 years and older (late onset) stood for 59% (no 140). There were no statistical differences between the two age groups regarding stage, grade, or presenting symptom. CONCLUSION: CRC is common in early onsets or young age groups with similar pathological characteristics to those of the late onset cancer. Accordingly, even mild lower gastrointestinal symptoms should be taken seriously. The study points toward an increasing awareness of the population on the importance of colorectal cancer. Also, conducting more surveillance studies and investigations would be recommended for early detections of the disease in young populations.

Strontium isotopes as an indicator for groundwater salinity sources in the Kirkuk region, Iraq.

The Kirkuk region in northern Iraq hosts some of the largest oil fields in the Middle East. Several anticline structures enabled vertical migration and entrapment of the oil. Frequently, complex fracture systems and faults cut across the Eocene and middle Oligocene reservoirs and the cap rock, the Fatha Formation of Miocene age. Seepage of crude oil and oil field brines are therefore a common observation in the anticline axes and contamination of shallow groundwater resources is a major concern. In this study, 65 water samples were collected in the Kirkuk region to analyze and distinguish mixing processes between shallow groundwater resources, uprising oil field brines, and dissolution of gypsum and halite from the Fatha Formation. Hydrochemical analyses of the water samples included general hydrochemistry, stable water isotopes, as well as strontium concentrations and for 22 of the samples strontium isotopes ((87)Sr/(86)Sr). Strontium concentrations increased close to the anticline axes with highest concentrations in the oil field brines (300mg/l). Strontium isotopes proved to be a valuable tool to distinguish mixing processes as isotope signatures of the oil field brines and of waters from the Fatha Formation are significantly different. It could be shown, that mixing of shallow groundwater with oil field brines is occurring close to the major fault zones in the anticlines but high concentrations of strontium in the water samples are mainly due to dissolution from the Fatha Formation.

Cytomegalovirus seroprevalence in women with bad obstetric history in Kirkuk, Iraq.

The human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major cause of congenital infections. A case-control descriptive study was conducted in Kirkuk, Iraq to determine the seroprevalence of CMV in women with bad obstetric history (BOH) compared to women with a normal previous pregnancy. The CMV IgG and IgM seroprevalence was higher in women with BOH. The CMV IgG seroprevalence was significantly influenced by pregnancy, age, residence and level of education. In addition, the current CMV infection was significantly associated with pregnancy, age, residence and education. Large families (crowding index >3) exhibited higher seroprevalence for CMV IgM (8.3%) and IgG (98.3%), but odd ratio (OR) showed no significant association between family size and seropositivity. The CMV IgG seropositivity was higher in working women (100%) compared to housewives (95.4%). However, the CMV IgM (current infection) was 6.8% in housewives and was not detected in any working women (0%). The OR exhibited no significant association between occupation and both IgM and IgG levels.