ABSTRACT
Objective:To learn about the changes of the condition of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism, the use of improved stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors in Shaanxi Province, and evaluate the effect of prevention and control measures.Methods:From 2015 to 2020, according to the "Implementation Plan for Monitoring Coal-burning-borne Endemic Arsenism in Shaanxi Province", regular field surveys were carried out in 4 natural villages, 2 counties in Ankang City and Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, to learn about the basic prevention and control situation in the monitoring village. Using the simple random sampling method, 10 families in each village were selected to investigate the use of stoves and the formation of health-related behaviors, and 5 of these families were selected to collect coal samples for arsenic content determination in accordance with the "Determination of Arsenic in Coal" (GB/T 3058-2008). According to the "Diagnosis of Endemic Arsenicosis" (WS/T 211-2015), the condition of the people exposed to high arsenic coal in the monitoring village was investigated. Urine samples of 30 adult patients (half males and half females) with arsenic poisoning were collected, the content of arsenic in urine was determined by the "Urine-Determination of Arsenic-Silver Diethyldithiocarbamate-Triethanolamine-Spectrophotometric Method" (WS/T 28-1996).Results:A total of 240 households were monitored in the past 6 years, and the quality conformance and correct utilization rates of improved stoves in the households monitored in the disease areas remained at 100.00% in 2018 - 2020. The utilization rate of clean energy increased from 75.00% (30/40) in 2015 to 100.00% (40/40) in 2018 - 2020 (χ 2trend = 25.5, P < 0.001). The 73.75% (177/240) of households using a variety of clean energy. From 2018 to 2020, the correct drying, storage and pre-processing washing rates of corn and pepper continued to reach 100.00% (40/40). The arsenic content of coal ( n = 120) in the disease areas was (118.09 ± 57.91) mg/kg, ranging from 16.70 to 280.94 mg/kg. The detection rate of arsenic poisoning decreased from 6.34% (231/3 646) in 2015 to 2.90% (109/3 754) in 2020 (χ 2trend = 121.8, P < 0.001), and no skin cancer or Bowen's disease was detected. The geometric mean of arsenic content in urine ( n = 720) was 0.038 1 mg/L, ranging from 0.000 5 to 0.312 9 mg/L. Conclusions:The condition of coal-burning-borne endemic arsenism areas in Shaanxi Province has reached the national elimination standard. The quality and correct utilization rate of improved stoves and the rate of using clean energy have increased. The healthy-related behaviors the people in the endemic areas have been basically formed. The prevention and control work has achieved good results.
ABSTRACT
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of prevention and control of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Sichuan Province, and to provide basis for further development of targeted prevention and control measures.Methods:According to the requirements of the Implementation Plan for the Elimination and Evaluation of Coal-burning-borne Endemic Fluorosis in Sichuan Province, from 2018 to 2021, the assessment of the elimination of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis was carried out in all the endemic fluorosis villages of 23 counties (cities, districts) in Sichuan Province. In each village, 30 households were selected to be investigated the use of improved stoves, the drying of corn and pepper for human consumption, and the prevalence of dental fluorosis among all children aged 8 - 12 years old in the village.Results:A total of 222 242 households were surveyed in 1 640 villages, 196 towns, 23 counties (cities, districts) in Sichuan Province. Among them, the rate of qualified improved stoves was 99.99% (222 238/222 242), the correct use rate of qualified improved stoves was 99.90% (212 026/222 238), and the correct drying rate of corn and pepper for human consumption was 99.96% (212 630/212 721). A total of 135 125 children aged 8 to 12 years old were examined, and 5 927 cases of dental fluorosis were detected. The prevalence of dental fluorosis in children was 4.39%. The grading of dental fluorosis was mainly very mild and mild, which were 2.71% (3 656/135 125) and 1.32% (1 783/135 125), respectively. In the county-level self-assessment of 1 640 villages, 1 621 villages had reached the elimination standard, with the elimination rate of 98.84%. Taking counties as a unit, the elimination rate of diseased villages ranged from 96.69% to 100.00%, and 23 diseased counties (cities, districts) had reached the elimination standard. In the provincial-level review results of 174 villages with endemic fluorosis, 174 diseased villages had reached the elimination standard, with the consistency rate of 98.85% (172/174) with the county-level self-assessment results. Among them, except for Gulin County, the consistency rate of self-assessment results was 7/9, the consistency rate of other counties (cities, districts) was 100.00%.Conclusions:The prevention and control of coal-burning-borne endemic fluorosis in Sichuan Province has achieved remarkable results, and all the diseased counties (cities, districts) have reached the elimination standard. In the future, we should continue to take active prevention and control measures to ensure that the elimination status is maintained.