Abstract: In Egypt, the accumulation of dry sludge in wastewater treatment plants stands as a persuasive challenge and presents a crucial hazardous domain within the realm of waste management sector. Accelerated population growth has parallel increase in wastewater generation that needs sustainable solutions. Workers handling dry sludge are exposed to a wide variety of occupational hazards among which the biological hazards due to direct dermal exposure or inhalation of air contaminated with microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. Therefore, dry sludge workers are at high risk of experiencing a broad range of adverse health impacts. Strict measures can control such exposure through engineering, medical and legislative means. Annual periodic medical examination should be performed to ensure general wellbeing and to detect early manifestations of infectious diseases, respiratory, gastrointestinal or skin disease. Proper handling and standardized regulations, establishing a comprehensive Work Plan, guidelines for sludge disposal, developing and implementing a “Site Safety” and “Health Sustained Strategic Plans” to eliminate exposure to such hazards. Egypt can adopt alternative methods for the best use of dry sludge and convert it to valuable resource to be incorporated in circular economy principles where the resource is fed back into the economy as a raw material with higher priority needs to be given to reuse and recycling. The diverse array of biological hazards facing dry sludge workers necessitates proactive measures of effective disinfection and stabilization of sludge such as by lime stabilization, heat treatment or thermophilic aerobic digestion prior to manual handling and strict adherence to safety protocols and practices to safeguard the.health and well-being of workers PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: Food handlers’ health, hygiene, and adherence to proper food handling procedures in hospitals; all play a significant role in the likelihood of spreading illnesses. Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection is a substantial source of illness and mortality in humans, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies it as a class 1 carcinogen. Aim of Work: To assess the prevalence of H pylori among hospital food handlers and the associated risk factors and its consecutive implication on the infection control principles for food hygiene. Materials and Methods: In tertiary hospital kitchens, a cross-sectional study involving 85 food handlers was conducted. All study participants received an Arabic-structured self-administered questionnaire containing questions about socio-demographic information, drinking water source, the crowding index, and hygienic behaviors while handling food. Stool samples were analyzed for H pylori antigen. Results: Forty of the food handlers (47.1 %) were positive for H pylori. Marital status, level of education, smoking and crowding index showed a higher statistical significant difference among positive H pylori food handlers.Wearing gloves were significantly associated with negative H pylori status, meanwhile presence of animals in the house were significantly associated with positive H pylori. Animal presence in the house, high crowding index and wearing gloves were statically significant predictors of H Pylori status. Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of H pylori among food handlers was relatively high, with no age, gender or residence privilege. Its risk factors included marital status, level of education, smoking and overcrowding. Wearing gloves was one of its significant predictors. Strict compliance with appropriate personal hygiene and hygienic food-handling practices is required. PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: Liquefied petroleum gas consists of commercial mixture as butane, propane, ethane, pentane and sulphur based odorizing agent. Acute, subacute or chronic diseases especially respiratory and skin diseases may occur due to the exposure to the toxic gases during the industrial processes. Aim of Work: To asses respiratory and some other health hazards associated with chronic direct exposure to liquefied petroleum gas. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted including 137 gas attendant workers comprising about 83 workers,11 technicians, 7 drivers and 36 supervisors. All the studied workers completed the questionnaire and pulmonary function tests were performed for 115 of them Results: About (71.5%) of the sample aged ≥40 years, with mean working duration of 19.27 ± 6.41, 44.5 % were smokers and 83.9% reported regular use of the PPE. Prevalence of respiratory symptoms were: cough (20.4%), breathlessness (19%), phlegm (21.2%) and wheezes (4.4%). Restricted pattern in pulmonary function was found in 26.9% and 17.3% of them had obstructed pattern. Statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) were detected between using masks and history of periodic medical examination with workers with normal pulmonary function tests. Conclusion and Recommendations: Gas filling attendance were at high risk for respiratory health effects, so more concern should be given from factories and government for the periodic examination and more trainings for safe operations and proper use of personal protective equipment. PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: The widespread use of smart phones has given rise to concerns about addictive behaviors leading to the emergence of smart phone addiction and nomophobia, and their potential impact on work performance. Aim of Work: This study aims at exploring smartphone addiction predictors and smartphone addiction association with nomophobia and job performance among office workers at faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 130 office workers employed in faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Egypt. The participants were chosen using convenient sampling. The data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire that included personal data, smartphone usage data, an assessment of smartphone addiction using the short version of the Smart Phone Addictions Scale, an assessment of nomophobia using the Nomophobia Questionnaire, and an assessment of job performance using the Health and Work Performance Questionnaire. Results: The current study found a high prevalence of smartphone addiction, as 58.5% of office workers classified as addicted. All study participants displayed nomophobic behaviors, with a mild level prevailing (54.6%). Furthermore, a moderate positive correlation was observed between smartphone addiction and nomophobia (r = 0.531, p < 0.001). Additionally, a moderate negative correlation was found between job performance and smartphone addiction (r=-0.452, p < 0.001), as well as between job performance and nomophobia (r=-0.478, p < 0.001). Regression analysis revealed that duration of daily smartphone use, playing games, use of smartphone for entertainment purposes, and nomophobia were significant predictors of smartphone addiction. Conclusion and Recommendation: The present study highlights the high prevalence of smartphone addiction and nomophobia among office workers. They both affect job performance negatively. Addressing these issues is important for well-being and productivity in the workplace. PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: Coinage industry is an industrial facility which manufactures coins that can be used as currency. Many metals are used in this industry as: Copper, Aluminum, Nickel, Zinc, Silver, and Gold. Aim of Work: To study the health hazards among workers engaged in the manufacture of coinage industry with special emphasis on the health effects due to the exposure to Copper and Aluminum.Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of forty-two personnel engaged in one of coinage industry factory in Cairo /Egypt and were exposed to copper and aluminium; and a comparison group of 42 no exposed personnel . A medical history was taken physical examination and laboratory investigations including serum copper and aluminum, CBC, urea, creatinine and liver enzymes (AST/ALT) were done.Results: The present study showed adverse health effects among the exposed workers including some hematological manifestations, allergy, eye and skin symptoms, abdominal pain in addition to bone ache and memory problems. Laboratory investigations revealed statistically significant higher copper and aluminium levels in the exposed group’s serum compared to the control group. As regards liver and kidney function tests; despite being within normal range of value but statistically significant differences were found being higher among the exposed group. Complete blood count values including hemoglobin , platelet and total leucocytic count were within normal values but total leucocytic count was found statistically significantly low among the exposed group. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study detected elevations of serum copper and aluminium among the exposed workers in coinage industry associated with some adverse health effects. Medical exams before hiring and on a regular basis for personnel who are exposed including clinical examination and measurement of serum level of copper and aluminum, CBC, liver, and kidney functions tests. PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: As a result of its beneficial properties, Aluminum is widely used in different industrial processes. However, exposure to aluminum in different industries has been linked to many health sides effects, including worker’s cognitive performance. Aim of Work: early detection of any deviation in cognitive functions for better prognosis among workers exposed to Aluminum. Materials and Methods: Analytic cross-sectional study was carried out on sixty-five male workers in the Arab Aluminum Company in Ismailia Governorate. A questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic data and occupational history. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry was used to asses serum Aluminum level, while Human Elisa Assay was used to measure serum Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) level. As regard cognitive performance, the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used. Results: The mean ± SD of duration of the current employment among workers was 17.57±10.50 years. The mean ±SD serum concentrations were 2574.23 ± 935.64 pg/ml for APP and 1.156±1.49 mg/l for Aluminum. MMSE scoring mean ±SD was 27.92± 1.78. Conclusion and Recommendations: MMSE score and serum Aluminum are negatively correlated. Medical and neuropsychological evaluation, as well as biological monitoring of Aluminum levels of workers should be assessed as pre-employment Exmedical examination and regularly as periodic testing and compared with the pre-existing findings for appropriate medical interventions. PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: Occupational ocular injuries account for about 3-4% of all occupational injuries in the United States while in Egypt, account for 36.7% .The impact of occupational ocular injuries affects the future of workers and inhibits the productivity. Aim of Work: To measure the proportion and risk factors for occupational eye injuries and to compare between occupational and non occupational eye injuries among patients attending the emergency department of the Ophthalmology center; Mansoura University. Materials and Methods: A total of 357working patients with eye injuries were subjected to a specially designed questionnaire covering the personal, socio-demographic, occupational history, general and ocular medical history and accident analysis. All patients underwent comprehensive eye examination. Ophthalmic B-scan ultrasound was performed gently in closed-globe injury cases .Results: All patients had unilateral eye injuries; the overall prevalence of occupational eye injuries was 57.1%.The significant independent predictors of occupational eye injuries among participants were: being male , aged ≥40 years and educated below secondary. The risk of occupational eye injuries among participants increased in the day time and with history of similar accident before. The main cause of eye injuries was foreign bodies (74.5%). Conclusion and Recommendations: occupational eye injuries represented 57.1% of all eye injuries among studied patients. Being male, aged 40 years or more, low education, day time work and previous occupational eye injuries were the significant independent predictors. Corneal injuries and simple eye injuries were the most prevalent. Regular occupational eye safety programs and a large scale multi-center study are recommended for more information about occupational eye injuries PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
Abstract: Introduction: Nomophobia (no mobile phone phobia) is an alarming and emerging problem; it is a relatively new term that describes the growing fear and anxiety associated with being without a mobile phone. Aim of Work: To determine the prevalence and predictors of nomophobia among a sample of university staff members of Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire that included socio-demographic, and occupational data, mobile phone usage characteristics, and a validated nomophobia questionnaire. Logistic regression was performed to find the predictors of moderate and severe nomophobia. Results: Among 102 participants; 86.3% used mobile phones for more than 10 years and 93.1% used the mobile for 2 hours or more per day. Making calls, social networking and academic purposes were the most common use of mobile phone among academic staff members and WhatsApp was the most commonly viewed social media (85.3%). Nomophobia level was divided between Moderate and Severe levels (47.1% and 44.1% respectively). Married participants, working for 8 hours or more a day, longer work duration, and spending 2 hours or more/day were significantly associated with Severe nomophobia (p-value 0.006, 0.02, 0.024, 0.000 respectively). The most significant nomophobia predictors were being married and spending 2 hours or more on the phone/day. Conclusion and Recommendations: This study reported a high prevalence of nomophobia among a sample of university staff members of Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Awareness programs and interventions such as “mindfulness” or coping strategies are needed to prevent and treat this critical issue in educational institutions. PubDate: Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:00:00 +010
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