Application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to Analyse and Detect the Risk of Chronic Diseases in the Elderly.

Unlabelled: The prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in older people has been concerning in several ways. This study investigated the risks of health behaviour of elderly by applying the Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyse the risk of NCDs for the elderly in Thailand.

Methods: The survey investigated 1,006 elderly people in Chuen Chom District, Maha-Sarakham Province, Thailand.

Paraquat exposure of backpack sprayers in agricultural area in Thailand.

Thai agriculturists heavily used paraquat in agricultural areas to control weed and grasses. This study determined paraquat exposure among backpack sprayers in Thailand and identified determinants of occupational exposure. Breathing zone air and dermal samples were collected from 57 backpack sprayers while spraying.

Evaluation of Dermal Exposure to the Herbicide Alachlor Among Vegetable Farmers in Thailand.

Vegetable farmers applying the herbicide alachlor may be highly exposed through dermal contact when spraying. Dermal patches were attached to 10 locations on the farmers' skin when they mixed and applied alachlor in vegetable farming areas in Thailand. Measurements were made on farmers using either a backpack sprayer with a 2 stroke gasoline motor and fan or a battery operated pump.

Paraquat Exposure of Pregnant Women and Neonates in Agricultural Areas in Thailand.

This study aimed to assess paraquat concentrations in the urine of women at 28 weeks of pregnancy, delivery and 2 months postpartum and in the meconium of neonates. In all, 79 pregnant women were recruited from three hospitals located in agricultural areas in Thailand. The subjects were interviewed about personal characteristics, agricultural activities and pesticide use patterns.

EXPOSURE TO EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS DURING LESSONS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

Schools are a significant location where children are exposed to electromagnetic fields (EMFs), which may cause adverse health effects. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine exposure levels to extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs) with a range of 5 Hz-32 kHz, and ELF-electric fields (ELF-EFs) with a range of 5 Hz-2 kHz in secondary schools in Bangkok, Thailand. This study was conducted in 60 classrooms from three schools during class hours.

Assessment of occupational exposure to malathion and bifenthrin in mosquito control sprayers through dermal contact.

Objective: To assess occupational exposure of malathion and bifenthrin concentrations by dermal contact and urinary 3-(2-chloro-3, 3, 3-trifluoro-1-propenyl)-2, 2-dimethyl-cyclopropanecarboxylic (TFP) acid, health symptoms developed and the relationship between bifenthrin concentrations and TFP acid in urine of the mosquito control sprayers.

Material And Method: The aerosols of these two pesticides were collected using 100 cm2 cotton patches attached on the skin of upper legs of 54 volunteer of mosquito control sprayers. Their urine samples were also collected before and after application.

Health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds in a high risk group surrounding Map Ta Phut industrial estate, Rayong Province.

Objective: The health risks of a high-risk group, surrounding Map Ta Phut industrial estate, Rayong, which may be exposed to VOCs through inhalation of contaminated air and dermal contact of contaminated water were assessed.

Material And Method: The health risk was assessed for 19 subjects categorized as children, adult and elderly from Ban plong and Nongfab communities following the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method. The VOC concentrations in ambient air and ground water were monitored by Pollution Control Department (PCD), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to represent average VOC exposure of subjects.

Health effects of people living close to a petrochemical industrial estate in Thailand.

Objective: An acute health effect of people living near the petrochemical industrial estate in Thailand was assessed using a panel study design.

Material And Method: The populations in communities near the petrochemical industrial estates were recruited. The daily air pollutant concentrations, daily percentage of respiratory and other health symptoms reported were collected for 63 days.

Exposure to particulate matter, CO2, CO, VOCs among bus drivers in Bangkok.

Objective: To measure the exposure of particulate matter CO2, CO, VOCs among Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) Bus Drivers.

Material And Method: The exposure of 60 bus drivers to PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, CO2, CO was monitored for full shifts on three routes of air-conditioned (A/C) and non-A/C buses.

Exposure to trinitrotoluene and health effects among workers in an artillery and ammunition plant.

Objective: To determine urinary trinitrotoluene (TNT), 2-amino-4, 6-dinitrotoluene (2ADNT) and 4-amino-2, 6-dinitrotoluene (4ADNT) and health effects upon workers in an ammunition plant.

Material And Method: The urine samples from forty munition workers and forty office workers were monitored for TNT and its metabolites by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The workers were interviewed with a questionnaire.

Ethion exposure and biological monitoring in vegetable farmers.

Objective: To modify the method of analysis of urinary diethyl phosphate (DEP) in order to determine the relationship between atmospheric ethion concentration and urinary DEP concentration.

Materials And Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted by collecting atmospheric ethion in the breathing zone of 28 farmers following the NIOSH 5600 method. Urine samples were also collected to analyze urinary DEP concentrations by a modified method using a Gas Chromatography-Flame Photometric Detector (FPD).

Development of an airborne lead analysis kit and its application.

We developed a method to analyze airborne lead concentrations in the field. It was a modification of the colorimetric method using the reaction between 4(2-pyridylazo)-resorcinol (PAR) and lead with cyanex302 in an acid medium to reduce interfering metals. The lead concentration was detected with a photometer made in Thailand.

Assessment of nicotine dermal contact and urinary cotinine of tobacco processing workers.

Objective: To assess the dermal contact of nicotine dust, subjective symptoms and urinary cotinine of post curing tobacco workers.

Material And Method: Dermal hand wipes of residual nicotine dust samples, morning urine samples and subjective symptoms were collected from 30 workers. The hand-wipe samples and urine samples were analyzed for nicotine and cotinine by a GC/MS, respectively.

Design and development of ultraviolet germicidal irradiation device for controlling airborne bacteria in the workplace.

Objective: To design and develop an ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) device for controlling airborne bacteria in the workplace of hospitals.

Material And Method: The constructed UVGI device was a chamber, consisting of a return air grille, an air supply grille, two 30-watt ultraviolet lamps and a cross flow fan inside the chamber. The efficiency of the UVGI device was tested at three different flow rates of 15.

Assessment of nicotine inhalation exposure and urinary cotinine of tobacco processing workers.

Objective: To study the composition of tobacco dust, atmospheric nicotine concentration, urinary cotinine excretion and the subjective symptoms of workers in dry tobacco leaf preparation.

Material And Method: The tobacco dust in air of the breathing zone of workers and the urine samples of these workers and a comparison group were collected and analyzed by GC/MS. The accuracy, precision and detection limit of the methods were determined.

High performance liquid chromatography for determination of urinary metabolites of toluene, xylene and styrene and its application.

The purpose of this research was to determine mandelic, phenylglyoxylic, hippuric, o-, m- and p-methylhippuric acids, the six urinary metabolites of styrene, toluene and xylene by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). These metabolites were extracted in an acid medium, transferred into a basic solution and back extracted again using ethyl acetate, and the organic phase was evaporated to dryness under a compressed air flow at room temperature. The residue obtained was dissolved in 1 ml mobile phase solution of 0.

Development of a sampling and analysis method for 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene in air.

The purpose of this research was to develop an applicable sampling and analytical method to determine airborne 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene concentrations which are usually found in the atmosphere of polybutadiene factories. A solid sorbent tube, containing two sections (100 mg in the front and 50 mg in the back) of activated coconut-shell charcoal was chosen for sampling 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene vapor. The 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene in the charcoal samples was desorbed with carbon disulfide and analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector.