Dietary patterns and serum of DDT concentrations among reproductive-aged group of women in Bangladesh.

This research was conducted in order to propose ways to reduce human exposure to DDT, especially for women of reproductive age in Bangladesh, and to find a relation between DDT exposure levels in serum and questionnaire information including sociodemographic and food frequency (FFQ). In this study, a significant relationship was found between the education level and BMI, and the serum p,p'-DDE concentration. This result suggests that people with higher education (relating to higher income) and BMI in Bangladesh actively buy expensive foodstuff, like meat and/or fatty fish, which relates to a higher fat intake.

Intake of DDT and its metabolites through food items among reproductive age women in Bangladesh.

This study was conducted to make clear the major intake route of DDT in Bangladesh people to develop strategy and policy that could lead to a reduction in body burden especially in the reproductive age women. The concentrations of several POPs (DDT, PCBs, chlordanes, HCHs, HCB, and PeCB) were quantified in food items, human breast milk and house dust collected in Bangladesh in 2011-2012. Among the POPs analyzed in this study, DDT and its metabolites (ΣDDT) showed the highest concentration.

A consecutive study on arsenic exposure and intelligence quotient (IQ) of children in Bangladesh.

Objective: In a recent cross-sectional investigation, we reported the intellectual function of adolescents (aged 14 and 15 years) in Bangladesh who had been exposed to arsenic (As). Here, we report a consecutive investigation on the intelligence quotient (IQ) of 408 children who are living in the Sonargoan Thana of Bangladesh (two age groups: 9 and 10 years; 4 and 5 years) were exposed to high levels of As in the groundwater.

Methods: Urine and water samples were collected to assess As exposure.

Arsenic contamination in groundwater and its effects on adolescent intelligence and social competence in Bangladesh with special reference to daily drinking/cooking water intake.

Objective: The present study aims to investigate the relationship between arsenic (As) exposure and intelligence quotient (IQ) or social competence (SC) of Bangladeshi adolescents (aged 14 or 15 years) in Sonargaon thana.

Methods: Information about socioeconomic status (SES) was collected as confounding factors. To evaluate the relative contribution of As sources to total As intake, the As concentrations in urine and drinking/cooking water, and the amount of water added in cooking, were assessed on site using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Nutritional status and functional capacity of community-dwelling elderly in Southern Laos.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and functional capacity of 144 community-dwelling elderly in three rural ethnic groups, namely, the Oy, the Brau and the Lao, of southern Laos.

Methods: The Mini nutritional assessment (MNA) questionnaire and Determine Your Nutritional Health checklist were used to assess nutritional status. The Barthel Activities of Daily Living questionnaire and Lawton and Brody's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living questionnaire were used to assess the functional capacity of the respondents.