ABSTRACT
Awareness and self reported symptoms among 105 gasoline station workers in the Gaza Strip were assessed. A cross section of workers was asked to fill in a questionnaire. Workers reported high level of knowledge on health effects of leaded gasoline 88 [83.8%] and lead as an environmental pollutant 89 [84.8%]. Protective measures were poorly used. Knowledge seems not to have much influence on practice. The most common self reported symptoms were neurological symptoms including headache 78 [74.3%], fatigue 74 [70.5%], irritability 66 [62.9%], concentration difficulties 65 [61.9%], and sleep disturbance 55 [52.4%]. The prevalence of symptoms increased with increasing years of work [chi corrected=7.713, P=0.021]. Use of respiratory mask in particular can potentially limit such symptoms [chi corrected=8.325, P=0.004]
Subject(s)
Humans , Lead , Occupational Exposure , Awareness , Self Report , Cross-Sectional Studies , Surveys and Questionnaires , Headache , Fatigue , Attention , Sleep Wake DisordersABSTRACT
A total of 489 stool specimens was collected from school children aged six to eleven years. The target area was overcrowded with improper sewage disposal system and low socioeconomic standards. A questionnaire was designed to include relevant information. Each stool specimen was processed by the direct smear microscopy, zinc sulfate flotation technique and formol-ether sedimentation technique. This study revealed an overall prevalence at 27.6%. Six parasites were detected. Giardia lamblia [62.2%] was the most frequent species, followed by Ascaris lumbricoides [20.1%] then Entamoeba histolytica [13.3%]. The prevalence of these parasites was found to be related to age, socioeconomic and sanitation conditions. Most of the other parasitic infections were of mild intensity. There was an urgent need to correct the situation by improving the living conditions, providing facilities for the population such as modern housing, proper sewage disposal system, health education and execution of survey programs for parasites to treat the infected persons