ABSTRACT
Mercury is ubiquitous in the environment and therefore every human being; irrespective of age or location; is exposed to one form of mercury or another. The major source of environmental mercury is natural degassing of the earth's crust; whilst industrial activities can raise exposure to toxic levels directly or the through the use of liquid metals or synthesised mercurial compounds.1 Mercury still gives rise to accidental and occupational exposure. The aim of this mini review is to describe the main factors that influence mercury toxicity and provide a framework for the interpretation of mercury
Subject(s)
Mercury , Mercury Poisoning , Occupational ExposureABSTRACT
The assessment of heavy metals (lead and mercury) and by-product (sulphur) on fried food sold by roadside food vendors in Calabar; Nigeria were investigated. The food samples which were covered and uncovered after frying were obtained randomly from 20 street food vendors. The food samples were obtained from 10 busy roads and 10 non- busy roads in Calabar; Nigeria. The busy roads were those roads that recorded more than 20 cars per minute; while the non-busy roads recorded less than 10 cars per minute. The result showed that the busy roads had significant (P0.05) higher depositions of heavy metals and by-products than the non-busy roads. Lead deposits on the food samples was significantly (P0.05) higher than the amount of mercury and significantly (P0.05) higher than the amount of sulphur deposit. The amount of sulphur deposit on the food samples was significantly higher (P0.05) than mecury. The food samples that was uncovered after frying had a significantly higher (P0.05) deposit of heavy metal and by-product than the food samples that were covered after frying. This result suggest that fried foods vended in calabar by the road-side have a serious public health concern
Subject(s)
Commerce , Food , Food Contamination , Lead , Mercury , SulfurABSTRACT
The misuse of topical steroids; i.e. the usage of these products for skin lightening; is a widespread phenomenon among African men and women. Studies have reported prevalence rates of 18.5to 70 among participants. Though women constitute the majority of users; people of various age groups; socioeconomic status; employment and marital status practise skin lightening. Besides topical steroid products; other commonly used products include preparations containing hydroquinone or mercury derivatives. The misuse of these products is associated with skin problems such as cellulitis; contact eczema; bacterial and fungal infections; Cushing's syndrome; acne; skin atrophy and pigmentation disorders. Although these effects are well documented; it seems that there is little wareness of them among the general public. Other less commonly reported problems include delaying the diagnosis of leprosy; and erythrodermic psoriasis. Data on the misuse and side effects of topical steroids have been gathered primarily from prescriptions; despite the fact that these products could be obtained over the counter; shared between relatives or friends; or come from other informal sources. Moreover; we found no community-based study that investigated the prevalence of the misuse of topical steroid products in South Africa. This survey was therefore conducted to examine the misuse of topical steroid products for skin lightening; among patrons of pharmacies in Pretoria and to determine the potential predictors of misuse.Methods: The aim of this study was to examine the misuse of topical steroid products for skin lightening by patrons of pharmacies in Pretoria and to determine the potential predictors of misuse. Exit interviews were conducted at 21 randomly selected pharmacies by trained interviewers using a structured questionnaire. A total of 1 228 patrons were approached; of which 225 gave verbal consent to be interviewed.Results: Of the 225 participants; 83 were female; 50.7 were 20-40 years old; 56 were employed; and 53.3 were married. The majority of participants (75.1) were black Africans. About half of them (50.2) had high school education. The prevalence of topical steroid misuse for skin lightening was 35.5. A logistic regression analysis revealed that being a black female African and initially being advised to use the products by a friend were the only parameters that significantly correlated with topical steroid misuse.Conclusion: In conclusion; the prevalence of the misuse of topical steroid products among the respondents was 35.5. The following predictors were associated with topical steroid misuse: being a black female African; not being aware of the side effects of these products; and initially being advised to use the products by a friend. In a logistic regression model; the last two predictors were the only parameters that significantly correlated with topical steroid misuse. (SA Fam Pract 2006; 48(1): 14)
Subject(s)
Hydroquinones/adverse effects , Mercury , Pharmacists , Skin Pigmentation , Steroids , WomenABSTRACT
La problematique de l'utilisation de l'amalgame dentaire est liee a l'intoxication mercuriell eet a la pollution de l'environnement.Nous avons mene une enquete au sein de 69 cabinets dentaires des secteurs prive et publique dans les regions de Dakar; Thies et Saint-Louis et au sein de services responsables pour deceler les comportements a risque de pollution mercurielle. Nos resultats ont revele une utilisation majoree du conditionnement en vrac de l'amalgame (69;6