ABSTRACT
Health awareness promotion among farming communities are important for a sustainable agriculture activities. A crosssectional study was conducted to assess health status among farming communities in Cameron Highlands, Pahang (n = 61) and Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (n = 143). Mobile Health Screening Programme composed of assessment of blood glucose, blood cholesterol, haemoglobin, blood pressure, pterygium, lung function and nerve conductive velocity was utilized. Our results indicate that the percentage of Cameron Highland’s farmers with hyperglycaemia, systolic hypertension, diastolic hypertension and anaemia were 8.2%, 14.8%, 11.5% and 8.2%, respectively. However, higher percentage of farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan with hyperglycaemia (32.8%), hypercholesterolaemia (83%), anaemia (24.2%) and systolic hypertension (41.9%) were observed. Pterygium was positive for 88.6% of farmers in Cameron Highlands and 94.4% in Bachok and Pasir Puteh. Lung function test shows that 61.7% and 11.4% of farmers in Cameron Highlands had restrictive and obstructive lung, respectively. In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, a total of 19.8%, 55.5% and 23.9% of farmers were found to have obstructive, restrictive and combined obstructive and restrictive lung, respectively. Current Perception Threshold (CPT) value which indicate nerve conductive velocity were signifi cantly increased (p < 0.05) among Cameron Highland’s farmers for both median and peroneal nerve at all frequencies (5 Hz, 250 Hz and 2000 Hz). In Bachok and Pasir Puteh, the values of the CPT for median nerve was signifi cantly increased (p < 0.05) for all frequencies (5, 250 and 2000 Hz). Meanwhile, a signifi cant increased (p < 0.05) was observed for the CPT values for peroneal nerve at the frequencies of 250 and 2000 Hz as compared to control groups. In conclusion, analysis revealed different health problem among the studied farming communities which could be infl uenced by the differences in farming practices. Thus, employed Mobile Health Screening Programme offers a monitoring approach that could highlight the need for suitable health services and awareness programmes for different farming communities
ABSTRACT
Chromium is an essential mineral and cofactor for insulin that plays an important role as hormone that helps in the blood sugar regulation. Kelantanese were known as sugar-based food consumer. Farmers have high risk of health problem because of exposure to pesticide and sugar-based food intake can give an effect on the level of chromium. The objective of this research was to study the status of chromium among farmers exposed to pesticides and fertilizer in Kelantan. This was a cross-sectional study that was done at Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan. Respondent were 113 farmers who had been exposed to pesticides or fertilizer for not less than one year. Subjects were interviewed to obtain information on their demographic data by using validated knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) questionnaire. Nails and hair chromium levels were analyzed by using acid digestion method and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Results showed that 81.4% were male while 18.6% were female. Farmer’s chromium level in nails (125.82 ± 47.81 μg/L) and hair (39.63 ± 5.70 μg/L) were very much lower when compared with standard value in nails (6200 μg/L) and hair (100-2500 μg/L). No signifi cantly differences (p > 0.05) were found between chromium level according to gender, age, level of pesticide exposure, dietary chromium intake and blood glucose. Chromium levels in nails and hair of farmers who smoke was signifi cantly lower (p < 0.05) than non-smoking farmers. As a conclusion, the level of chromium among farmers in Bachok and Pasir Puteh, Kelantan are lower than normal reference and farmers should stop smoking because smoking can lower the chromium level
ABSTRACT
Pesticide exposure can lead to low trace elements levels in human body. Trace element plays important role in body metabolism. The aim of this study was to study the levels of selenium, zinc and chromium among paddy farmers who expose to pesticide in Wilayah I, MADA, Perlis. This cross sectional study involved 70 males paddy farmers and 57subjects living in fisherman village as control group who were aged between 21 to 80 years old. Subjects were interviewed to obtain information on their demographic data by using validated questionnaire. Subjects also were examined for their blood pressure and glucose level. Selenium, zinc and chromium levels were analyzed by using acid digestion method and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Results showed that selenium levels in hairs (5.11 ± 17.05 μg/L) and nails (4.92 ± 2.17 μg/L) were significantly (p 0.05) between all trace element levels and duration of pesticide exposures. In conclusion, levels of trace elements were lower in nails and hairs of paddy farmers than fisherman community group