Correlation of arsenic level in drinking water and hair of male respondents of district Sheikhupura.

OBJECTIVE: To find out the correlation between arsenic concentration in drinking water and biological samples of young male respondents. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan, from March 2013 to February 2015, and comprised biological samples i.e. hair of young males aged 15-25 years from Sheikhupura district of the Punjab province. The study questionnaire was designed to assess the general health status of the subjects as well. Drinking water samples were collected from the houses of those who volunteered to fill up the questionnaire and gave hair samples for the study. Acid digestion method was used to pre-treat the water and hair samples for the analysis of arsenic content. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer method was used to measure arsenic concentration. SPSS 13 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: There were 100 subjects and as many water samples. Overall, 46(46%) respondents had a range of health problems, including acne, skin lesions, allergies and respiratory problems. The average arsenic concentration was higher in water samples of tehsil Sheikhupura (67.11±3.8µg/L) and Sharaqpur (61.65± 3.3µg/L) than Muridke (41.7±1.5 µg/L), Ferozwala (40.79± 1.3 µg/L) and Safdarabad (29.7± 0.5 µg/L) (p< 0.05). Positive correlation was established between arsenic in drinking water and hair samples with respect to area and age (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of arsenic in drinking water was found to be likely affecting general metabolism and its accumulation in biological tissues..

Reduced metabolites of nitroaromatics are distributed in the environment via the food chain.

Increased industrial processes have introduced emerging toxic pollutants into the environment. Phytoremediation is considered to be a very useful, economical and ecofriendly way of controlling these pollutants, however, certain pollutants can potentially travel through the food chain and accumulate at hazardous levels. Four isomers of dinitrotoluenes (DNT) were investigated and observed their potential toxicity towards A. thaliana. Two different aphid species (generalist and specialist) were allowed to feed on plants treated with DNTs and toxicity to aphids determined. Reduced metabolites of DNT (in both plant and aphids) were recovered and quantified through GC-MS analyses. 2,6-DNT was observed to be the toxic of the DNTs tested. Complete metabolism of DNTs to their reduced products was never achieved for higher concentrations. Regioselectivity was observed in the case of 2,4-DNT, with 4A2NT as the dominant isomer. Feeding aphids showed a similar toxicity pattern for DNT isomers as host plants. Metabolites were recovered from the body of aphids, demonstrating the potential transport of metabolites through the food chain. Plants show varied toxicity responses towards the DNT isomers. Aphids fed on A. thaliana plants treated with DNTs were shown to have ANTs present, which reflects the propagation of DNT metabolites through the food chain.

Cytogenetic bio-monitoring in fuel station attendants of Gujrat, Pakistan through buccal micronucleus cytome assay.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse buccal epithelial cells for scoring the frequency of cytogenetic toxicity in petrol pump workers. METHODS: The case-control study was conducted at the Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan, from September 2014 to February 2015, and comprised petrol pump workers. Buccal micronucleus cytome assay was carried out by the collection of buccal cells after the written and oral consent of petrol pump workers. Frequencies of genotoxic (micronucleated and binucleated) and cytotoxic (karryorhetic and karyolitic) cells were scored and compared with the control group. The control group samples were collected randomly by keeping in view that these workers had not worked in petrol pumps ever. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 200 participants, there were 100(50%) workers and 100(50%) controls. Statistically significant results were observed on the comparison of frequencies of different cell anomalies in subjects compared to controls on the basis of job duration, smoking habits and age (p< 0.05 each). CONCLUSIONS: Pump workers showed higher frequencies of cytogenetic toxicity compared to controls.

Health status assessment of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects around lahore, Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: The study focused on assessment of the health status of workers during construction phase of highway rehabilitation projects at six selected sites of N5 around Lahore, including Kala Shah Kaku, Muridke, Kamuki, Bhaipheru, Pattoki, and Okara. METHODS: The study was based on multi-methods approach involving hazard identification through survey and checklist as well as a questionnaire for health status assessment and measurements of health parameters including peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and audiometric screening of 300 subjects. RESULTS: The study revealed non-congenial working conditions at the sites. Noise, vibrations, dust, asphalt fumes, poor work postures, and injuries were found to be major health hazards. PEFR of most of the workers was found to be significantly lower than the reference value. Average PEFR±SEM values were 187±5.1 l/min, 178±4.3 l/min, and 266±5.3 l/min in ground preparation workers, asphalt workers, and heavy vehicle drivers, respectively. The highest rate (29%) of hearing loss was recorded among heavy vehicle drivers. Musculoskeletal problems were found to be more common among ground preparation workers. CONCLUSION: Data revealed unsatisfactory health status of most of the workers. Direct relationship between health outcomes and the type of construction activities were observed. The current study focuses on the importance of including occupational health and safety plan in the execution phase of every developmental project that involves construction activities.