Air pollution by NO is associated with the risk of Bell's palsy: A nested case-controlled study.

This study investigated the relationship of weather and air pollution with the onset of Bell's palsy. The Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service-National Sample Cohort (HIRA-NSC) data from 2002 through 2013 were used. The 3,935 Bell's palsy patients were matched with 15,740 control participants.

Availability of environmental health services among blacks in urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa.

Fundamental to primary health care is the need to provide adequate environmental health services to the population. Such services constitute primary prevention, and, under some circumstances, may have a greater impact on health than the provision of personal health services. This study aimed to assess the availability of environmental health services among blacks living in urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa.

Environmental health risks of toxic waste site exposures--an epidemiological perspective.

A general account is given of the problems of assessing the impact of human exposure to toxic waste sites, including the identification of truly exposed populations and of exposure pathways. Epidemiological studies of populations at risk are briefly reviewed and methodological problems summarised. These include the use of relatively weak study designs, inadequate exposure assessment and recall biases associated with symptom reporting among anxious residents living in the vicinity of waste sites.

Morbidity among bathers exposed to polluted seawater. A prospective epidemiological study.

As the first phase of a major programme to develop epidemiologically derived recreational water quality criteria for South Africa, a preliminary epidemiological-microbiological study was conducted in Cape Town during February and March 1990. Serial trials were carried out at a clean and at a relatively polluted beach over weekends. Participants were recruited at the beach, at which time information on swimming status and sociodemography was obtained.

Blood lead levels in South African inner-city children.

Little is known about childhood lead absorption in South Africa. In this study a cross-sectional analytic survey was carried out to determine the blood lead levels and associated risk factors for inner-city, first-grade schoolchildren. Blood lead analyses, hematological and anthropometric measurements were conducted, and a pretested questionnaire was administered to parents to identify risk factors for lead exposure.

Acute respiratory infections as an important cause of childhood deaths in South Africa.

Compared with other major preventable childhood diseases, such as diarrhoea, acute respiratory infections (ARI) have received comparatively little attention as an important cause of death in children. In this study of mortality from ARI in South Africa, national data was examined for the period 1968-1985, and data for Greater Cape Town for 1987. Almost 90% of ARI deaths were attributable to pneumonia and large inter-group differences were found that favoured whites and Asians over blacks and coloureds.

Malaria control and levels of DDT in serum of two populations in Kwazulu.

Concentrations of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD were determined in serum of members of households of two different areas of KwaZulu. Annual intradomiciliary application of DDT is used for the interruption of malaria transmission in one area (the exposed group) while the other served as the control. Demographic differences between the two groups resulted in significantly more females in the control group.

Environmental determinants of acute respiratory symptoms and diarrhoea in young coloured children living in urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa.

The impact of environmental risk factors associated with housing was examined in relation to diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory symptoms in South African coloured children. A multistage cluster sample representative of all coloured people living in the major urban and peri-urban areas of South Africa was used for the study. Interviews were conducted with respondents from 1,227 households.

Factors associated with elevated blood lead levels in inner city Cape Town children.

A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out to determine risk factors for childhood lead exposure. Blood lead levels of inner-city Sub A coloured children living in Woodstock were examined in relation to information obtained by questionnaire on environmental and social factors. The mean blood lead concentration of the population was 18 micrograms/dl.

Serum levels of DDT and liver function of malaria control personnel.

The levels of DDT and metabolites in serum of 23 applicators involved in malaria control operations in Natal were determined using gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The mean levels (microgram/l, ppb) were 61.7 DDT, 129.

Environmental health impacts associated with rapid urbanisation in South Africa.

There is an urgent need for epidemiological assessments of environmental factors associated with rapid urbanisation in developing countries. Unlike the process in developed countries, urbanisation in the developing world is often associated with urban poverty, particularly on the periphery of the city where informal settlement areas develop. Population growth rates in these areas are frequently higher than in the city itself, and access to basic environmental amenities is frequently lacking.

Sunscreen use and environmental awareness among beach-goers in Cape Town, South Africa.

Background: The potential impact on health of increased exposure to sunlight has caused increased concern in recent years. In South Africa little is known of peoples' sunbathing habits, use of sunscreens, and factors influencing these practices.

Aims: The aims of the study were to determine sunscreen usage among the South African beach-going public, to determine sunbathing practices of beach-goers and to determine factors influencing peoples' sunbathing habits.

Factors affecting levels of DDT and metabolites in human breast milk from Kwazulu.

Concentrations of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, and p,p'-DDD have been determined in breast milk of mothers residing in two different areas of KwaZulu. Annual intradomiciliary application of DDT was used for the interruption of malaria transmission in one area, while the other served as the control. Milk from mothers living in DDT-treated dwellings had significantly higher mean levels of DDT and metabolites (mean sigma DDT 15.