1.Potential Health Impacts of Bauxite Mining in Kuantan
Noor Hisham Abdullah ; Norlen Mohamed ; Lokman Hakim Sulaiman ; Thahirahtul Asma Zakaria ; Daud Abdul Rahim
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2016;23(3):1-8
Bauxite mining is not known to most Malaysian except recently due to environmental pollution
issues in Kuantan, Pahang. Potential impacts are expected to go beyond physical environment and
physical illness if the situation is not controlled. Loss of economic potentials, and the presence
of unpleasant red dust causing mental distress, anger and community outrage. More studies are
needed to associate it with chronic physical illness. While evidences are vital for action, merely
waiting for a disease to occur is a sign of failure in prevention. All responsible agencies should focus
on a wider aspect of health determinants rather than merely on the occurrence of diseases to act and
the need to emphasize on sustainable mining to ensure health of people is not compromised.
2.Health Risk Assessment of PM10 Exposure among School Children and the Proposed API Level for Closing the School during Haze in Malaysia
Norlen Mohamed ; Lokman Hakim Sulaiman ; Thahirahtul Asma Zakaria ; Anis Salwa Kamarudin ; Daud Abdul Rahim
International Journal of Public Health Research 2016;6(1):685-694
During haze, at what level should Air Pollutant Index (API) showed, public or private school be closed is not without controversy and is very much debated. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to objectively quantify the potential inhaled dose of PM10 associated with exposure at school and home microenvironments during haze. The result of the health risk assessment will be used to propose the API level for closing the school during haze episode. A hypothetical haze exposure scenario was created using the breakpoints of PM10 concentration for calculation of API and respective inhaled dose during haze. To determine the potential inhaled dose, we have considered many factors that include time spent for specific physical intensity at school and home microenvironments, age-specific and physical intensity-specific inhalation rate (m3/min), and the indoor/outdoor ratio of PM10. To calculate risk quotient (RQ), the inhaled dose was compared with the health reference dose computed based on the concentration of PM10 in the Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard. When considering the specific exposure at each microenvironment (school and home), the potential inhaled dose of PM10 was substantially lower when school is closed for both primary and secondary school. The calculated risk quotient (RQ) indicates that primary school children are likely to be affected at slightly lower PM10 concentration (equivalent to API of 197) as compared to secondary school children. Short duration of high physical activity intensity during school breaks has contributed to a large proportion of inhaled dose among school children indicating the important to avoid physical activities during haze. Based on the assessment, taking into account the uncertainty of risk assessment methodology, we proposed school to be closed when API reach 190 for both primary and secondary schools. These findings and recommendations are only valid for naturally ventilated school and applicable in the context of the current API calculation system and the existing Recommended Air Quality Guideline values in Malaysia.
3.Obstacles and Facilitators in Daily Living Activities Among Persons with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systemic Review
Faizan Jameel Khanzada ; Mohammad Ghazali Masuri ; Erna Faryza Mohd Poot ; Mohd Zulkifli Abdul Rahim ; Ahmad Zamir Che Daud
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):271-280
Introduction: This systematic review aimed to investigate the level of participation, obstacles, and facilitator factors
that influence activities of daily living among persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A comprehensive
search was conducted in four online databases, namely Google Scholar, PubMed, OT Seeker, and Cochrane Library
covering the ten-years period from January 2012 to December 2022. Inclusion criteria encompassed original published studies in English focusing on daily activities, work, participation, obstacles, and facilitators in persons with
SCI. Non-peer review sources (e.g., abstracts, grey literature, preprints), and studies unrelated to occupational therapy were excluded. The selected studies were assessed for quality using McMaster University Occupational Therapy
Evidence-Based Practice critical review form. Results: Out of the 678 articles identified, ten studies were included
after the screening, exploring participation in daily living activities, employment, return to work, leisure activities,
family tasks, and community mobility among persons with SCI. Obstacles and facilitators influencing participation
in activities of daily living were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health
(ICF) framework. This review highlighted that long-term participation is challenging for persons with SCI, affected
by obstacles such as body functions, pain, low self-esteem, and environmental and social factors. Conclusion: The
findings underscore the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach to enhance participation
in daily activities for persons with SCI. Occupational therapy plays a significant role in improving participation levels
among persons with SCI.