Paraffin (called kerosene in North America and other parts of the world) is the most commonly used fuel in non-electrified dwellings worldwide. It is especially popular in Africa and South Asia. Although paraffin offers many advantages-especially its comparatively low cost to produce-it poses two major risks of injury. First, paraffin poisoning is common, either through ingestion or through inhalation of smoke and fumes. Second, paraffin is highly flammable, and poses fire risk through multiple causes. This commentary discusses strategies to prevent paraffin-related injury. Prevention of paraffin-related injury must be through multiple strategies, and should include policy-oriented change, changes to the safety of home environments, and behavioral changes targeting how individuals store and use paraffin and paraffin appliances. We review successful prevention strategies in each of these domains and discuss appropriate research and community initiatives that should be implemented to improve paraffin safety among at-risk populations.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.5249/jivr.v1i1.1 | DOI Listing |
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Paraffin-related injury in low-income South African communities: knowledge, practice and perceived risk.
Bull World Health Organ
September 2009
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States of America.
Objective: To explore what individuals at risk of injury from using paraffin (also known as kerosene) know about paraffin safety, what they do to protect themselves and their families from paraffin-related injury, and how they perceive their risk for such injury. Also, to explore interrelations between these factors and age, sex, education and income.
Methods: A sample of 238 individuals was randomly recruited from low-income housing districts near Cape Town, South Africa in 2007.
Preventing paraffin-related injury.
J Inj Violence Res
July 2009
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Paraffin (called kerosene in North America and other parts of the world) is the most commonly used fuel in non-electrified dwellings worldwide. It is especially popular in Africa and South Asia. Although paraffin offers many advantages-especially its comparatively low cost to produce-it poses two major risks of injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMigration and lymphatic spread of calcified paraffinomas after breast augmentation.
Australas Radiol
November 1996
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
A 62 year old Chinese woman presented 25 years after having both breasts augmented with paraffin injections. Development of paraffinomas and multiple episodes of paraffin-related mastitis eventually resulted in bilateral mastectomies. The unusual distribution of migrated calcified paraffinomas in the thoracic wall and its lymphatic system is documented on computed tomography.
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