This study aimed to assess the association of exposure to particle-bound (PM_2.5) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with potential genotoxicity and cancer risk among children living near the petrochemical industry and comparative populations in Malaysia. PM_2.5 samples were collected using a low-volume sampler for 24 h at three primary schools located within 5 km of the industrial area and three comparative schools more than 20 km away from any industrial activity. A gas chromatography–mass spectrometer was used to determine the analysis of 16 United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) priority PAHs. A total of 205 children were randomly selected to assess the DNA damage in buccal cells, employing the comet assay. Total PAHs measured in exposed and comparative schools varied, respectively, from 61.60 to 64.64 ng m⁻³ and from 5.93 to 35.06 ng m⁻³. The PAH emission in exposed schools was contributed mainly by traffic and industrial emissions, dependent on the source apportionment. The 95th percentiles of the incremental lifetime cancer risk estimated using Monte Carlo simulation revealed that the inhalation risk for the exposed children and comparative populations was 2.22 × 10⁻⁶ and 2.95 × 10⁻⁷, respectively. The degree of DNA injury was substantially more severe among the exposed children relative to the comparative community. This study reveals that higher exposure to PAHs increases the risk of genotoxic effects and cancer among children.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF SURGICAL SMOKE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PERIOPERATIVE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN HOSPITAL SERDANG

PREVALENCE OF OCCUPATIONAL HAND CONTACT DERMATITIS AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG STAFF NURSES OF A PUBLIC HOSPITAL IN SELANGOR

MEAL TAKING BEHAVIOUR AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA

Introduction Meal taking behaviour MTB covers a broad definition, from food motive, pattern, dieting and diet related diseases. There are many factors that may affect MTB including social and environmental factors. Nurses were found to skip meals, take high calories food and fast foods. A good MTB is important for nurses ‘health, maintaining good job performance and as role model to the public.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 178 staff nurses of public health clinics in Selangor who have fulfilled the inclusion and exclusion criteria Data was collected from September 2020 till March 2021 using pre-tested and validated self-administered questionnaire. Cronbach alpha were 0.78 for knowledge and 0.71 for MTB. Data was analysed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25.0 involving descriptive and inferential statistics. All ethical approval was obtained from ethical committees and written consent were received from all the respondents.Result: The response rate was 97%. Findings showed 42% of respondents had poor MTB, 47.1% had poor nutritional knowledge and 58.9% of nurses were overweight and obese. There was significant association between MTB with source of foods (breakfast and dinner) with p= 0.016 and p<0.001 and eating companion during lunch (p=0.003). Other factors, such as sociodemographic, working and employment factors were found to have not statistically significant association.Conclusion: MTB showed to be a problem among nurses at the study location with a 42.9% of them had poor MTB and half of them nurses have weight problem. We found that MTB is significantly associated with their food source and eating companion. Intervention should be taken to improve the MTB of nurses.