Waste and by-products form palm oil trees are versatile and can be used as biomass fuel, but the processes of producing electricity by using low pressure boilers are causing air pollution. The objective of this study is to determine the association between PM10 and PM2.5 exposure with respiratory symptoms and lung function among children living near to palm oil mill. A cross- Sectional comparative study was carried out among school children at Dengkil and Kerling. Questionnaires adopted from ATS-DLD-78-C were distributed to the respondents’ parents. PM10 and PM2.5 was measured. Lung function of the respondents was evaluated by using Chest Graph Spirometer; results were compared with standards of lung function, by ATS (1991). There was a significant difference for Mean±SD PM10 and PM2.5 in studied and comparative area, (p<0.05). There were significant association between PM10 with wheezing and cough (PR=5.220, CI%=1.030-26.453) and (PR=3.289 CI%=1.074-10.072). The study indicates that the lung function of; FEV1 % (t=-4.54, p=0.001) and FEV1/FVC % (t=-7.00, p=0.001) were lower among studied group compared to the comparative group. Results also showed that there is a significant inverse correlation between PM2.5 and FVC% (r=-0.352, p=0.0226). The need for palm oil mill management to evaluate the effectiveness of their implemented control measure seems to be very important, as black soot emitted from boilers stack is believed to contain high level of. The high efficiency biomass boiler and the used of fabric filters should be considered if the implemented control measure is not functioning effectively.

Introduction: The industrial park in the district of Parit Raja, Batu Pahat resulted in rapid growth of the town during the last 20 years and has been a reason of concern that this park also has contributed greatly to the problem of air pollution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between industrial air pollution and respiratory symptoms in adults living in the Parit Raja. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was undertaken among residents in the district of Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. A total of 110 residents aged between 19 and 65 years were randomly selected and information on personal characteristics and respiratory symptoms was obtained through a validated questionnaire. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms was compared between residents recruited from the areas situated about 5km radius of the industrial park (exposed) and >5km radius from the industrial park (comparative). Results: A total of 34.5% and 25.5% of adults from the exposed group reported experiencing coughing for the last 3 months and chest tightness for the last 3 years. The logistic regression models showed that symptoms of coughing was associated with the exposed group (aOR=6.34, 95% CI=2.08-19.35), male respondents (aOR=3.18, 95% CI=1.10-9.16) and who stay in Part Raja for more than 14 years (aOR=3.16, 95% CI=1.14-8.79). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that long-term air pollution exposures are consistently associated with respiratory symptoms in residents living in the proximity of industrial parks. Therefore, public health initiatives that aim to provide more conducive environment are needed, especially for residents living near industrial parks.

In 2015, Indonesia was ranked as the second-highest, with a percentage of 12.9%. Open Defecation Free (ODF) in Indonesia is still a problem, 33 out of 34 provinces in Indonesia are still not 100% verified as ODF. The purpose of this study is to make a management control of OD behaviour in Indonesia. This study’s literature was collected using Google Scholar and Pubmed search engines by entering keywords open defecation Indonesia, and buang air besar sembarangan. From review of published literature, it is found that several factors cause people to practice OD, namely environmental, socio-cultural, and economic factors. These factors become the basis for making OD model control with a logic model. The program was made with a button-up approach carried out through several activities, namely approaches to community leaders, youth, and local communities, monitoring potential areas for OD practice and cross-sector coordination, and making regional regulations.