Personal Research Database

Title: Journal of Health Population and Nutrition

Full Journal Title: Journal of Health Population and Nutrition

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? Kwok, R.K., Kaufmann, R.B. and Jakariya, M. (2006), Arsenic in drinking-water and reproductive health outcomes: A study of participants in the Bangladesh integrated nutrition programme. Journal of Health Population and Nutrition, 24 (2), 190-205.

Full Text: J Hea Pop Nut24, 190.pdf

Abstract: This study examined 2,006 pregnant women chronically exposed to a range of naturally-occurring concentrations of arsenic in drinking-water in three upazilas in Bangladesh to find out relationships between arsenic exposure and selected reproductive health outcomes. While there was a small but statistically significant association between arsenic exposure and birth-defects (odds ratio=1.005, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.010), other outcomes, such as stillbirth, low birth-weight, childhood stunting, and childhood under-weight, were not associated with arsenic exposure. It is possible that the association between arsenic exposure from drinking-water and birth-defects may be a statistical anomaly due to the small number of birth-defects observed. Future studies should look more closely at birth-defects, especially neural tube defects, to elucidate any potential health effects associated with arsenic exposure from drinking-water. Further, given the knowledge that serious health effects can result from chronic arsenic exposure, efforts to find alternatives of safe drinking-water for the population must continue.

Keywords: Arsenic, Arsenic Exposure, Drinking-Water, Reproductive Health, Pregnancy Outcomes, Bangladesh, Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Dietary Selenium, Skin-Lesions, West-Bengal, Exposure, Groundwater, India, Hypertension

? Guo, X.J., Liu, Z.Y., Huang, C.P. and You, L.G. (2006), Levels of arsenic in drinking-water and cutaneous lesions in Inner Mongolia. Journal of Health Population and Nutrition, 24 (2), 214-220.

Full Text: 2006\J Hea Pop Nut24, 214.pdf

Abstract: The most common health effects from drinking-water containing dissolved arsenic are skin abnormalities and lesions that are typically diagnosed as keratosis and pigment disorder. It was previously reported that the prevalence of cutaneous lesions was about 44% in arsenic-affected villages. However, there has been little research on the relationship between levels of arsenic in drinking-water and cutaneous lesions in Inner Mongolia. One study examined the association between the prevalence of keratosis and levels of arsenic exposure and the relationship between pigment disorder and levels of arsenic exposure among villagers aged 18 years or older in the arsenic-affected village of Hetao Plain in Inner Mongolia, PR China. The study included 227 participants who were affected by cutaneous lesions and 221 participants who were not affected by cutaneous lesions diagnosed in 1996 and 1998. Well-water drunk by the participants was collected to analyze arsenic content. Adjusting for age, sex, and smoking, logistic regression was applied to calculate the risks that arsenic in drinking-water will lead to cutaneous lesions. The results from the logistic regression showed that, with the increase of arsenic concentration in water, the risk of pigment disorder also increased (odds ratio [OR]=5.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.32-83.24 for 50-199 mu g/L; OR=10.97, 95% CI 1.50-79.95 for 200-499 mu g/L; OR=10.00, 95% CI 1.39-71.77 for >= 500 mu g/L (p=0.000), but the association between risk of keratosis and levels of arsenic was not significant (p=0.346). The findings suggest that keratosis is an early feature of arsenic poisoning, and the development of pigment disorder depends on higher doses of arsenic intake rather than keratosis. Further studies are needed to confirm that cutaneous lesions and other adverse health effects occur at low levels of arsenic exposure.

Keywords: Arsenic, Drinking-Water, Cutaneous Lesions, Inner Mongolia, China, Tubewell Water, Skin-Lesions, West-Bengal, Exposure, Prevalence, Hair

? Li, D.S., An, D., Zhou, Y.S., Liu, J. and Waalkes, M.P. (2006), Current status and prevention strategy for coal-arsenic poisoning in Guizhou, China. Journal of Health Population and Nutrition, 24 (3), 273-276.

Abstract: Arsenic exposure from burning coal with high arsenic contents occurs in southwest Guizhou, China. Coal in this region contains extremely high concentrations of inorganic arsenic. Arsenic exposure from coal-burning is much higher than exposure from arsenic-contaminated water in other areas of China. The current status and prevention strategies for arsenic poisoning from burning high-arsenic coal in southwest Guizhou, China, is reported here. Over 3,000 arsenic-intoxicated patients were diagnosed based on skin lesions and urinary arsenic excretion. Non-cancerous toxicities and malignancies were much more common and severe in these patients than in other arsenic-affected populations around the world. The high incidence of cancer and arsenic-related mortality in this cohort is alarming. Chelation therapy was performed but the long-term therapeutic effects are not satisfactory. The best prevention strategy is to eliminate arsenic exposure. Funds from the Chinese Government are currently available to solve this arsenic exposure problem. Strategies include the installation of vented stoves, the use of marsh gas to replace coal, health education, the improvement of nutritional status, and the use of various therapies to treat arsenic-induced skin and liver diseases.

Keywords: Arsenic, Arsenicosis, Coal-Arsenic Exposure, Health Effects, Neoplasms, Health Education, Nutrition, Drug Therapy, Review Literature, China, Contamination, Bangladesh

Title: Journal of Health Science

Full Journal Title: Journal of Health Science

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ISSN: 1344-9702

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Adachi, A., Takagi, S. and Okano, T. (2001), Studies on removal efficiency of rice bran for pesticides. Journal of Health Science, 47 (2), 94-98.

Full Text: J\J Hea Sci47, 94.pdf

Abstract: Rice bran effectively removed pesticides from an aqueous solution. The removal by rice bran was examined using 22 different pesticides. The removal efficiencies varied from 22.2% to 98.8%. The variation in the removal efficiency of different pesticides was studied, and the pesticides with high lipophilicity were found to be easily removed by rice bran. The amount of captan adsorbed was plotted against the equilibrium concentration of substances in solution on a logarithmic scale, and a linear relationship was obtained, indicating that the adsorption reaction was a Freundlich-type. The mechanism of pesticides removal by rice bran was attributed to the uptake into intracellular particles called spherosomes.

Keywords: Rice Bran, Pesticide, Spherosome, Captan, F344 Male-Rat, Acute Toxicity, 1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane

? Asada, T., Ishihara, S., Yamane, T., Toba, A., Yamada, A. and Oikawa, K. (2002), Science of bamboo charcoal: Study on carbonizing temperature of bamboo charcoal and removal capability of harmful gases. Journal of Health Science, 48 (6), 473-479.

Full Text: J\J Hea Sci48, 473.pdf

Abstract: We examined the relationship between the carbonizing temperature of bamboo carbide made from Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and the removal effect of harmful gases and odorants, and the use of a bamboo charcoal as a countermeasure for “Sick Building Syndrome” or “Chemical Sensitivity” and the use as a deodorant. With regard to the carbonizing temperature of the bamboo charcoal, a temperature sensor was installed inside each bamboo material and the carbonizing temperature was controlled at 500, 700 and 1000degreesC. The removal effect was tested for formaldehyde, toluene and benzene that are known to cause “Sick Building Syndrome” or “Chemical Sensitivity” and for ammonia, indole, skatole and nonenal as odorants. The formaldehyde removal effect was only slightly different in the charcoal at all the carbonizing temperatures. The benzene, toluene, indole, skatole and nonenal removal effect were the highest for the bamboo charcoal carbonized at 1000degreesC and tended to increase as the carbonizing temperature of the bamboo charcoal increased. The removal effect for ammonia was the highest on the bamboo charcoal carbonized at 500degreesC. It is concluded that the effective carbonizing temperature is different for each chemical, and a charcoal must be specifically selected for use as an adsorbent or deodorant.

Keywords: Bamboo, Bamboo Charcoal, Carbonizing Temperature, Charcoal, Chemical Sensitivity, Moso Bamboo, Sick Building Syndrome, Waste-Water

Nakamura, T., Tokimoto, T., Tamura, T., Kawasaki, N. and Tanada, S. (2003), Decolorization of acidic dye by charcoal from coffee grounds. Journal of Health Science, 49 (6), 520-523.

Full Text: J\J Hea Sci49, 520.pdf

Abstract: From the viewpoints of decreasing environmental burdens and recycling of materials, the adsorption ability of charcoal from coffee grounds for acidic dye (acid orange 7) removal was investigated by the batch method. Differences in the removal ratio and removal rate of acid orange 7 could be explained by differences in the properties of charcoal such as specific surface area and pore volume. In the relationship between the amount of acid orange 7 adsorbed at each elapsed time and the square root of elapsed time, a good linearity was recognized. Since the good linearity between the acid orange 7 adsorption and the square root of elapsed time was recognized, the intraparticle diffusion of acid orange 7 onto pores of adsorbents was identified as the rate-limiting step in the adsorption process.

Keywords: Coffee Grounds, Charcoal, Acid Orange 7, Adsorption Characteristics, Intraparticle Diffusion, Activated Carbon, Aqueous-Solutions, Adsorption, Chloroform, Removal, Phenol, Waste