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Background Exposure to Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) continues over the world through seafood consumption and indoor exposure to building materials containing PCB. This study aimed to assess the relationship between plasma level of PCB congeners and lipid profile and Body Mass Index (BMI) as well. Methods The study population consisted of 181 Iranian adults. Data on BMI, plasma concentration of PCB congeners and serum level of lipid profile including Triglyceride, low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins, recruited from database of a project entitled “Occupational and environmental exposure to PCBs in Iran”. Multiple linear regression analysis of associations between different quartiles of PCB congeners and various lipid fractions and BMI have been conducted. Results A linear increase in average serum Triglyceride and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) levels of participants in first, second, third and fourth quartiles of some PCB congeners was obtained. Following adjustment for age, gender, diet and other variables, only the association between different quartiles of PCB 138, PCB 153, PCB 118 and PCB sum and TG remained statistically significant. Conclusion The study showed a significant positive relation between plasma PCBs concentrations and serum level of TG in the study population with normal PCBs levels., Public health; Endocrinology; Biological sciences; Health sciences; Polychlorinated biphenyls, Serum lipid, Body mass index, Triglyceride, LDL, HDL.

Background: A walk through the Agbogbloshie e-waste recycling site shows a marked heterogeneity in the spatial distribution of the different e-waste processing activities, which are likely to drive clustering of health conditions associated with the different activity type in each space. Objective of study: To conduct a spatial assessment and analysis of health conditions associated with different e-waste activities at different activity spaces at Agbogbloshie. Methods: A choropleth showing the various activity spaces at the Agbogbloshie e-waste site was produced by mapping boundaries of these spaces using Etrex GPS device and individuals working in each activity spaces were recruited and studied. Upon obtaining consent and agreeing to participate in the study, each subject was physically examined and assessed various health outcomes of interest via direct physical examination while characterizing and enumerating the scars, lacerations, abrasions, skin condition and cuts after which both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values were recorded alongside the administration of open and close ended questionnaires. All individuals working within each activity space and consented to participate were recruited; giving a total of one hundred and twelve (112) subjects in all. Results: A study of the choropleth showed that health conditions associated e-waste processing activities were clustered in a fashion similar to the corresponding distribution of each activity. While a total of 96.2% of all the study subjects had cuts, the dismantlers had higher mix of scars, lacerations and abrasions. Abrasions were observed in 16.3% of the dismantlers. Scars were the most common skin condition and were observed on the skins of 93.6% of the subjects. Prevalence of burns among the study subjects was 23.1%. Developing hypertension was not associated with activity type and while a total of 90.2% of subjects had normal blood pressure and 9.8% of them were hypertensives. Finally, 98.2% of respondents felt the need to have a first aid clinic at the site with 96.4% and 97.3% willing to visit the clinic and pay for services respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that while the observed injuries were random and were due purely to accidents without any role of spatial determinants such as the configuration, slope, topography and other subterranean features of the activity spaces, a strong association between the injuries and activity type was observed.

Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology 9, 14 (2014). doi:10.1186/1745-6673-9-14, Published by BioMed Central, London

Journal of occupational medicine and toxicology : JOMT 5(15), (2010). doi:10.1186/1745-6673-5-15, Published by BioMed Central Ltd., London