Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health

Introduction: Causeway is providing a road link between travelers from Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The vehicle traffic noise and emissions exhaust at Causeway have a significant effect on air quality parameters which leads to deteriorations impact on health of employees and passengers. The present study aimed to analyze the ambient air pollutants PM10, PM2.5, PM1, O₃, CO₂, SO₂, CO, VOCs, and NO₂, ambient noise and heat stress in and around causeway. Materials and Methods: All gaseous, particulate air pollutants, meteorological factors, ambient noise and heat stress were analyzed using standards calibrated equipment. July 2019 to October 2019 the study incused seven administrative sites in King Fahd causeway (Saudi Side). Air Quality Index (AQI) was used to determine the concentrations of selected ambient air pollutants. Results: All major air pollutants were high and significant difference in the concentration level between weekdays and weekends (p<0.05) and exceeds the international air quality guidelines in the selected studied sites of causeways. However, ambient noise demonstrated high significant levels in different studied sites in different times (p<0.05). Conclusion: Air quality measures in Causeway are significantly deteriorated and should be continuously evaluated to minimize the risk of daily exposure to traffic emissions.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the district of North Bogor to find out the relationship of facilities, knowledge and counseling to the level of behavior of the handwashing of elementary school students. This research is a quantitative study, accompanied by observations of the availability of handwashing facilities in schools. Data characteristics, facilities, counseling, behavior and knowledge of students were collected using a questionnaire. Three hundred fifty-five students (51.8% were male) registered in this study. The average age of students is 10 years (73.0%). The availability of facilities such as hand washing facilities (100%), toilets (100%), clean water (97.7%), running water (82.0%) and soap (91.3%) in schools is quite complete. The behavior of students using soap when washing their hands (76.1%), after defecating small (88.7%), and after handling animals (82.0%). Students’ knowledge about correct hand washing (73.8%), the exact duration of handwashing (22.8%). In the logistic regression analysis, gender, age and counseling were not significantly related to student behavior. However, facilities (P=0.011) and knowledge (P=0.037) are related to students’ handwashing behavior. Observation found that the availability of washbasket facilities in five schools was in good condition and functioning normally as well as the standard operational procedures for handwashing in schools, but placed in a location that is not visible to students. In short, students’ handwashing behavior is still lacking, especially among students who are in schools with inadequate facilities and have less knowledge about handwashing.

This study was conducted to monitor lead poisoning, if any, in pregnant women of Meerut City, a town of Northern India. The parameters selected included urinary concentration of lead and

Occupation is one of the most important extrinsic factors which have the major impact on health. Pedalling the tricycle rickshaw is a most stressful job. Rickshaw Pullers are extensively exposed to the air pollutants in conjunction with strenuous exercise. In the present study demographic details along with nutritional status, hygiene status and morbid conditions were obtained from fifty Rickshaw Pullers (RPs) in Allahabad.

The morphometric analysis was carried out in indigenous cyprinid food fish, Schizothorax labiatus (a species of snow trout) collected from Vishav stream, a perennial cold water stream of Kashmir valley, India, wherein various morphometric characters viz., Total Length (TL), Standard Length (SL), Fork Length (FL), Pre-dorsal Length (PDL), Pre-pectoral Length (PPL), Pre-pelvic Length (PPeL), Pre-anal Length (PAL), Anal Fin Length (AL), Head Length (HL), Height of Dorsal Fin (HOD), Snout Length (SnL), Body Depth (BD), Eye Diameter (ED), Inter Orbital Length (IOL), Caudal Fin Length (CL) and Caudal Depth (CD) of 104 fish specimens were measured, correlated and analysed. The morphometric data was calculated in the percentage of total length except SnL, ED and IOL which were calculated in the percentage of HL. The result revealed that the correlation coefficient ranged from 0.770 to 0.995 in proportion to TL and 0.706 to 0.859 in proportion to HL which indicates that all the morphometric characters are highly correlated. All the correlations were significant at the level of p<0.01. During the investigation, the results revealed that in the % of TL, 8 characters were found to be genetically controlled 4 characters as intermediate and none character as environmentally controlled one. In the % of HL, 1 character was found to be included in intermediate character, 2 characters in environmentally controlled characters and none in purely genetically controlled one. As revealed by the regression analysis of different morphometric characters in proportion to TL, the maximum growth was obtained for FL (b = 0.9664) and the minimum growth was obtained for AL (b = 0.0655) and in proportion to HL, the maximum growth was obtained for IOL (b = 0.4689) and the minimum growth was obtained for ED (b = 0.0852).

Background: Excessive stress can affect students’ learning performance and well-being. An optimal level of stress could enhance learning and achievement, whereas excessive stress may affect academic achievement and result in mental and physical health problems. This research aims to assess the prevalence of Beta-Blockers misuse especially propranolol and to determine the stress causative factors among health professions students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study has been conducted at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Data collected through an online, modified and valid questionnaire through Google documents were sent to all health professions students. The total number of participants is 430. Results: The prevalence of propranolol misuse is 40% (172) among health professions students in Jeddah city and 89% (153) of them were among the age group 20-30 years. The most causative stimulants to use propranolol among the medical students especially was for reducing the educational stress and anxiety (70%) and they reported that they frequently used propranolol before oral/poster presentation (42%) and entering the practical exams (OSCE/OSPE) (26%) and oral exam (19%) in comparison to the theoretical written exam (p-value < 0.01). Conclusion: This study concludes that there is a high rate of propanol misuse among health professions students in Jeddah city especially among male medical students. All users were aware of the potential side effects of propranolol, however; the stress-relieving effect and feeling of propranolol increased its use prior to practical, oral and presentations exams.

Daruharidra (Berberis aristata D.C.) has been described in ancient Ayurvedic texts for treatment of Jaundice, Skin diseases and abdominal diseases etc. Hence the present study was carried out in randomly selected cases of stool +ve Giardiasis. The stem and root of Berberis aristata (BA) was administered in capsules after drying in shade and rough grinding. Out of 268 cases with abdominal symptoms and ill health 69 were found +ve for Giardiasis only. These were treated with 1 gm BD of the Berberis aristata powder for 14 days. Ninety-five percent cases were found free of parasites in stool after treatment. The clinical, Stool microscopic and hematological profiles were studied. The haematological profiles of the patients were improved after 1 month and 1.5 month of treatment. There was significant improvement in clinical profile of patients treated with Berberis aristata. The demographic characteristics of patients were also studied but there was no any correlation between demographic details and infestation of Giardia lamblia.

Different organic manures vermicompost @ 15000, vermicompost @ 10000, cow dung @ 10000, poultry manure @ 6000, pig manure @ 4000 kg/ha/yr and control used to monitored their effect on growth performance of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala. The results revealed that all the three species gained maximum length in vermicompost @ 10,000 kg/ha/yr followed by vermicompost @ 15,000 kg/ha/yr, cow dung @ 10,000 kg/ha/yr, poultry manure @ 6,000 kg/ha/yr, pig manure @ 4,000 kg/ha/yr and control. Among the 3 species C. mrigala showed maximum increase in body length which was 33.4 cm followed by L. rohita and C. catla was 32.1, 31.3 cm in vermicompost @ 10,000 kg/ha/yr treatment. The minimum length of C. mrigala, L. rohita, C. catla observed in pond treated control. But in case of C. mrigala, the result revealed that the maximum increase in body length in vermicompost > poultry manure > cow dung > pig manure and control, respectively. All the three species gained maximum growth in vermicompost. Among the 3 species L. rohita showed maximum growth followed by C. catla and C. mrigala. There was two times more growth of Indian major carps in pond treated with vermicompost @ 10,000 kg/ha/yr as compared to control.