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Respirable dust exposure impact on respiratory symptoms among cleaners in a Selangor Public University, Malaysia

Aziz NAI, Feisal NAS, Ibrahim TNBT, Cheah WY, Kamaludin NH

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):110-116.
PMID: 38555894

INTRODUCTION: Cleaners perform a vital role in environmental health by keeping the place clean, but they are also exposed to various hazards. Yet, there is a lack of effective and accessible occupational safety standard measures, thus making this to be difficult to monitor the long-term health effects of cleaners. This study aims to determine the respirable dust exposure on respiratory symptoms among cleaners in a public university in Selangor.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 51 cleaners. The respondents' background information and respiratory symptoms were gathered using a series of standardised questionnaires validated by the American Thoracic Society (ATS-DLD-78-A). The 8- hour respirable dust exposure to cleaners was measured using an air sampling pump (Gillian & Sensodyne Gil Air 3).
RESULTS: The mean of respirable dust was lower than permissible exposure limit with 0.63±0.57mg/m3. The respiratory symptoms among the cleaners showed no significant association between cough, phlegm, and breathing difficulties with working tenure. Meanwhile, wheezing and coughing with phlegm have an almost significant association with working tenure among cleaners with (Χ2=1.00, p=0.08) and (Χ2=1.00, p=0.07) respectively. Exposure to respirable dust has exhibited 6 times the prevalence of coughing with phlegm among cleaners (PR=6.28, 95% CI: 0.44, 89.38).
CONCLUSION: The findings of this study demonstrated that the cleaners were significantly affected by the respirable dust. The cleaners' working environment has caused them to be exposed to respirable dust.
Biological active metabolites from microalgae for healthcare and pharmaceutical industries: A comprehensive review

Ibrahim TNBT, Feisal NAS, Kamaludin NH, Cheah WY, How V, Bhatnagar A, et al.

Bioresour Technol, 2023 Jan 21;372:128661.
PMID: 36690215 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128661

Microalgae are photoautotrophic microorganisms which comprise of species from several phyla. Microalgae are promising in producing a varieties of products, including food, feed supplements, chemicals, and biofuels. Medicinal supplements derived from microalgae are of a significant market in which compounds such as -carotene, astaxanthin, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and polysaccharides such as -glucan, are prominent. Microalgae species which are commonly applied for commercial productions include Isochrysis sp., Chaetoceros (Chlorella sp.), Arthrospira sp. (Spirulina Bioactive) and many more. In this present review, microalgae species which are feasible in metabolites production are being summarized. Metabolites produced by microalgae as well as their prospective applications in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, are comprehensively discussed. This evaluation is greatly assisting industrial stakeholders, investors, and researchers in making business decisions, investing in ventures, and moving the production of microalgae-based metabolites forward.
From tap to table: An assessment of drinking water quality in Perak, Malaysia

Ibrahim TNBT, Feisal NAS, Azmi NM, Nazli SN, Salehuddin ASM, Nasir NICM, et al.

Med J Malaysia, 2024 Mar;79(Suppl 1):14-22.
PMID: 38555880

INTRODUCTION: A study on the quality of drinking water was conducted at Air Kuning Treatment Plant In Perak, Malaysia, based on a sanitary survey in 14 sampling points stations from the intake area to the auxiliary points. This was to ensure the continuous supply of clean and safe drinking water to the consumers for public health protection. The objective was to examine the physical, microbiological, and chemical parameters of the water, classification at each site based on National Drinking Water Standards (NDWQS) and to understand the spatial variation using environmetric technique; principal component analysis (PCA).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were subjected to in situ and laboratory water quality analyses and focused on pH, turbidity, chlorine, Escherichia coli, total coliform, total hardness, iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na). All procedures followed the American Public Health Association (APHA) testing procedures.
RESULTS: Based on the results obtained, the values of each parameter were found to be within the safe limits set by the NDWQS except for total coliform and iron (Fe). PCA has indicated that turbidity, total coliform, E. coli, Na, and Al were the major factors that contributed to the drinking water contamination in river water intake.
CONCLUSION: Overall, the water from all sampling point stations after undergoing water treatment process was found to be safe as drinking water. It is important to evaluate the drinking water quality of the treatment plant to ensure that consumers have access to safe and clean drinking water as well as community awareness on drinking water quality is essential to promote public health and environmental protection.

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