ABSTRACT
Ayurveda is a comprehensive and systematic medicinal system, originated in India. It takes into consideration all aspects of health, including mental, physical and social components. According to the principles of Ayurvedic medication, heavy metals possess considerable therapeutic properties and can be administered to the patients after being processed properly as mentioned within the Rasashastra, in prescribed quantities. However, improper manufacturing processes might lead to higher levels of heavy metals remaining in the final product which may be dangerous. They may also be present as impurity rather than being added willfully. Heavy metals possess tendency to accumulate in vital organs and hence, pose a particular health risk. The presence of impurities in drug samples, whether herbal or pharmaceutical, is of great concern, not only because some contaminants are inherently toxic, but also they may negatively affect the stability of the drug and the lifespan, or they can cause unwanted side effects. The quality assurance of herbal formulations is the main concern of current phytomedical era due to the increase in toxicity reports. As a consequence, both organic and inorganic (elemental) impurities must be monitored and controlled in final dosage form starting from the raw materials itself. This article deals with the various aspects of heavy metals in Ayurvedic medicines such as their sources, methods used for their determination, their therapeutic significance, their toxic effects and also summarizes various guidelines and limits for their regulation.
ABSTRACT
Introducción. La problemática del uso del mercurio es global y afecta tanto a los humanos como al ambiente. Los efectos del mercurio en la salud son diversos, por eso es necesario abordar el problema desde una perspectiva amplia, identificando las poblaciones en riesgo de exposición, sus efectos en la salud, los procesos productivos involucrados y las acciones para disminuir la exposición y mitigar el impacto. Objetivo. Diseñar un marco conceptual y operativo para desarrollar estrategias de prevención, control y mitigación de los efectos del mercurio sobre la salud y el ambiente en Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un estudio en dos fases: una revisión de la literatura científica siguiendo la metodología Cochrane, y foros con expertos nacionales e internacionales orientados a la planificación integral para identificar las acciones prioritarias y construir la agenda de investigación nacional . Resultados. Los resultados de la revisión se estructuraron en cuatro componentes: efectos del mercurio en la salud, marco legal en Colombia, inventario de emisiones en el país, y planes y programas existentes en el sector de la salud. Se presentaron recomendaciones para diseñar un plan de intervenciones considerando cinco líneas de acción: gestión tecnológica para la prevención de la exposición, fortalecimiento institucional para la prevención y el control de la exposición, fortalecimiento de estrategias de diagnóstico y atención, educación en salud sobre los riesgos del mercurio y generación de conocimiento . Conclusiones. Se visibilizaron vacíos de información, así como debilidades técnicas, administrativas y necesidad de recursos en Colombia, y se propusieron acciones prioritarias para disminuir el impacto económico, social y en salud de la exposición al mercurio.
Introduction: The problem of mercury effects on humans and the environment is global, and it has different impacts on health. It is necessary, therefore, to address this issue from a broad overview to identify populations at risk of exposure, health effects, the production processes involved and the actions aimed at reducing exposure and mitigating the impact. Objective: To design a conceptual and operational framework to develop strategies for prevention, control and mitigation of mercury effects on health and on the environment in Colombia. Materials and methods: We conducted a two-phase study: a literature review following the Cochrane methodology and forums with national and international experts using a comprehensive planning methodology to identify priority actions and establish a national research agenda. Results: The results of the review were structured into four components: mercury effects on health, legal framework in Colombia, emission inventory for the country and health plans and programs. We made recommendations for the design of an intervention plan considering five lines of action: technologies for exposure management, institutional strengthening for exposure prevention and control, strategies for strengthening diagnosis and care, health education on mercury risks, and knowledge generation. Conclusion: We detected information gaps, technical weaknesses, and the need of administrative and other resources in this field in Colombia. We proposed priority actions to reduce the economic, social and health impact from exposure to mercury.
Subject(s)
Humans , Environmental Exposure/prevention & control , Health Policy , Mercury/adverse effects , Occupational Exposure/prevention & control , ColombiaABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Avaliar a audição e a ocorrência de mudança significativa do limiar auditivo em trabalhadores de frigoríficos expostos a níveis de ruído abaixo das Normas e Regulamentações nacionais e internacionais e compará-los com trabalhadores expostos a níveis de ruído considerados excessivos. MÉTODOS: Utilizou-se um banco de dados contendo informações longitudinais de 266 trabalhadores. Foram selecionados trabalhadores com um mínimo de três exames audiométricos e os que continham dados de exposição ao ruído. Foram mantidos 63 exames, classificados de acordo com sua exposição ao ruído em três níveis: 79 a 84,9 dB(A), 85 a 89,9 dB(A) e 90 a 98,8 dB(A). Foi avaliada a ocorrência de perdas auditivas e de mudança significativa de limiar auditivo dos participantes de cada subgrupo. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se diferenças em todas as frequências nos testes de comparação entre a média dos limiares auditivos para cada frequência em função do nível de exposição ao ruído. A correlação entre a ocorrência de Perda Auditiva Induzida por Níveis de Pressão Sonora Elevados (PAINPSE) e os anos de exposição ao ruído dentro da empresa atual foi significativa (R=0,373; p=0,079). Foram encontradas mudanças permanentes de limiar auditivo nos três níveis de exposição ao ruído. CONCLUSÃO: Os achados do presente estudo sugerem a existência de uma associação entre mudança significativa do limiar auditivo dos trabalhadores e os anos de exposição ao ruído considerado de baixo risco.
PURPOSE: To assess the hearing status and signs of significant auditory threshold shifts in meat-processing facility workers who are exposed to noise levels below nationally and internationally recommended exposure limits, and to compare these results with data from workers exposed to excessive noise levels. METHODS: Longitudinal audiometric data from 266 workers were evaluated, and only workers with a minimum of three audiometric test results and noise exposure records were selected for this study. The 63 assessments selected were classified according to subjects' noise exposure into three levels: 79 to 84.9 dB(A), 85 to 89.9 dB(A), and 90 to 98.9 dB(A). Occurrences of hearing loss and significant auditory threshold shifts were assessed, in each group. RESULTS: Differences in the mean thresholds were observed in all test frequencies among the different groups. A significant correlation was found between occurrence of noise-induced hearing loss and duration of noise exposure (in years) at the present industrial facility (R=0.373; p=0.079). Significant auditory threshold shifts were found in all three levels of noise exposure. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggest the existence of an association between significant auditory threshold shifts in workers and the years of exposure to low risk noise levels.