Environmental Health

Oily sludge is considered the most important solid waste resulted from crude oil storage tanks. Conventional oily sludge treatment methods (landfill and incineration) are high in cost and need specialized equipment and skilled personnel. Therefore, bioremediation provides a technique for cleaning up oily sludge, totally or mostly, by enhancing the natural biodegradation processes. The three bacterial isolate Bacillus cereus sp. M1, Bacillus
cereus sp. M7 and Pseudomonas mendocina sp. M10, which were isolated from a soil sample from SidiKerir branch, have a high capability to degrade oil sludge. A consortium of isolates (M1, M7 and M10) and sp48 (Pseudomonas sp.) was applied for bioremediation of 1% of oily sludge with different inoculum amounts and at different time periods, where it resulted in higher biodegradation rate of total petroleum hydrocarbons, reaching 89% after 12 days. This consortium was used in bioaugmentation as land farming for oily sludge degradation which achieved 99.2% removal (biodegradation rate) of total petroleum hydrocarbons and 93.7% of oil and grease. Results obtained suggest that the bacterial consortium for oil sludge degradation may be better than each bacterium unaccompanied.

Background: Unsafe school buildings may adversely affect students, teachers, administrative workers, cleaning workers, and visitors. Objective(s): The aim of the present study was to evaluate the leading safety performance of public, private, and experimental primary school buildings in Alexandria, Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 30 primary schools in Alexandria selected by stratified cluster sampling. Two observational checklists were designed, validated, and used; including school building safety inspection checklist (SBSIC), and classroom safety inspection checklist (CSIC). The completed checklists were reviewed and coded. The safety performances (SP) for each category and for the overall checklists were then calculated. Results: The SP in private primary schools and classrooms [(66.1±13.0%), (68.7±12.5)] were higher than that of experimental [(59.9±14.0%), (65.1±14.2%)] and public ones [(39.3±7.8%), (46.0±11.8%) respectively]. The most common causes of reduced school SP were "the absence of protective measures against vectors & insects," "the non-daily refuse disposal," "the non-inspected play areas." Other causes included "the irregular fire drills," "the absence of the alarm system," "the non-earthed electrical equipment," "the absence of emergency plan," and "the unmarked tripping/slipping locations." The most frequent unsafe classroom conditions were "the absence of classroom alarm point," "the on-board glare," and "the non-compliant windows to class area ratios." Conclusion: Many safety violations were found to occur in Alexandria primary schools. This would cause a reduction of the safety performance and consequently a lack of safety management. Safety performance in private schools was better than that in experimental and public ones.

In Egypt, there is a power crisis. So search on varieties of power sources, especially in the highly consumed energy industries like cement is going in. Hence, Egypt began using coal as an energy source instead of Mazeot and Natural Gas. However, coal combustion emits large amounts of air pollutants as mercury (Hg), sulfur content, carbon content and organic materials. The aim of the present study was to assess mercury emissions from coal burning cement industry at various cement companies that use different types of coal. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey that was conducted in Tourah, Helwan, and Arabian Cement Production settings that use coal as an energy source. Stack sampling of both vapor, and particulates' Hg was conducted according to the standard isokinetic method. Total stack Hg was then calculated. Helwan Cement plant (Coal) was of the highest Hg emissions [0.0008(0.011) mg/m3] followed by Tourah that uses petroleum coke [0.006(0.011) mg/m3] and Arabian (mixed coal) [0.003(0.006) mg/m3]. From the present study we concluded that Hg emissions of Helwan cement plant (petroleum coke) was higher than that of Tourah (Coal) and Arabian (mixed coal) ones. All plants were compliant with the Egyptian.

Background: Accident analysis is a tool which can be used to obtain accurate information about the combined accident factors that when fixed, prevent recurrence. It includes recording and documenting work-related injuries. It is carried out mainly for identifying unsafe working conditions and establishing program priorities. Objective: The study aimed to explore causes, factors, and outcomes of the occupational accidents during 2005-2007 in various industrial sectors of Khartoum State, Sudan. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, the sample of which was selected to include all injured workers during the period from 2005-2007 in the industrial enterprises employing 50+ workers in Khartoum State, Sudan. The data were collected by reviewing accident records of both enterprises and Administration of Industrial Safety and by direct interviewing the injured workers using pre-designed questionnaires. Results: The caught in or between things represented the highest accident incidence rate. The machines were the major cause of accidents in Omdurman locality. In addition; machines were the main cause of amputation, crushing and broken bones (86.8%, 44.4% and33.3%, respectively).Head injuries recorded the highest incidence rates in food and chemical industries. The defective or lack of appropriate equipment/tool recorded the highest percentage accidents in the engineering sector (58.6%)."Using defective equipment" and "failure to use the available equipment/tool" recorded the highest accidents' percentage in oils and soap industry (80%).Conclusion: The most frequent type of accident among injured workers in the different industrial sectors was the "caught in or between things" and the main cause of accidents was "machines."Enhancement of occupational safety and health laws and regulations is recommended.

Street of Alexandria have numerous unplanned, mixed, and noisy activities that may interfere with public health and comfort. The aim of this study was to assess A-weighted ambient noise levels in urban residential streets of Eastern Alexandria, Egypt, from September 2010 to January 2011, with the objective of recommending corrective actions to minimize high noise levels. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out, in which A-weighted ambient noise levels were measured on the basis of 24-h periods, using Ono sokki la-5120 - precision integrating sound level meter, from September 2010 to January 2011. The measurements were taken on three streets, which were selected using stratified random sampling. Seven measurement sites, along the three streets under study, were selected by site visits according to predetermined criteria. A-weighted ambient noise levels (LAeq) were the highest [70.7 (24.2) dB] on high-traffic-density and high-human-activity streets followed by streets with...

Particulate matter (PM) is a key indicator of air pollution. Particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 10 µ (PM 10), and 2.5 µ (PM 2.5); are inhaled and deposited in the respiratory system. The fate of air pollutants, including PM, is highly dependent on meteorological parameters as they control natural emissions, transport, chemistry and deposition. This study was a cross-sectional one aimed at assessing the effect of meteorological factors on the daily average levels of PM in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia during year 2012. Two monitoring stations with the HORRIBA APDA-371 Continuous Particulate Monitors were distributed in Dammam and Khobar governorates for incessantly recording the hourly ambient levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 . Simultaneously, the meteorological parameters (wind speed, wind direction, air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, and precipitation) were recorded by the WS600-UMB weather parameters' sensor. The daily average levels PM 10 ...

Background: Air pollution index is not applied in Egypt up till now. Objectives: This study is a trial to apply the concept of air pollution index (API) to assess the air quality and its health concerns at one of the heavy traffic streets in Alexandria; Egypt. Methods: This was a case study that was conducted over one year, the setting of which was one of the heavy traffic streets. The total suspended particulate matter (TSP) was sampled using "High Volume Air Sampler," for 24 hours/day with simultaneous measurement of local meteorological parameters. Results: The total suspended particulates exceeded the National Standards during 78 measurement days out of 84 (92.9%). Application of air pollution index revealed that 19% of the measurement days were of good air quality, 28.6% harmful for sensitive groups, 20.2% unhealthful for the public, 15.5% very unhealthy, and 16.7% hazardous to the public. Conclusion: Traffic concentrations of TSP at the streets under study exceeded the Egyptian National Standards during all weekdays and all months throughout the year. The air quality during the working days (Sunday to Thursday) was unhealthy to the general population. The API was the highest during Spring Season. Application of an air pollution control strategy with generalization and communication of air pollution index in Egypt were recommended.

Workplace inspection is part of a comprehensive health and safety program in which the workplace is closely examined on a regular basis of identifying and reviewing potential and actual hazards associated with equipment, tools, and industrial processes. The aim of the present study is to investigate the process of factory inspection as a tool of pertaining safety and welfare of employees in Egypt as well as to study the attitudes of inspectors who are responsible for the process of factory inspection in Egypt. The present study is conducted on 210 inspectors. 145 of them belong to different industrial, commercial, and service enterprises in Egypt and classified as group [A]. The other 65 inspectors are members of the Ministry of Labor in Egypt and classified as group [B]. Two forms of questionnaires are formed to provide personal, professional, and attitudinal data. Percentages of males in group [A] inspectors (95.2%) are greatly higher than that in group [B] (46.0%). The bachelor degree in group [B] inspectors (89%) is more predominant than in group [A] inspectors (50.3%). The main source of occupational health and safety (OHS) knowledge for group [A] inspectors is the training programs (75%), while, it is the practical training or by asking seniors for group[B]. The predominant aims of inspectors are safe work environment, safe workers and mitigation of occupational hazards. Some of job descriptions are identical. There are significant variation between the two groups of inspectors in how they evaluate work environment, (P=0.00001*). Only 78% and 91% of groups [A] and [B] inspectors, respectively know the Egyptian Labor Law No.12/2003. In case of danger, 73% of group [A] and 72% of group [B] inspectors take action(s) coincide with their responsibilities as informing management. There is non-significant variation between their opinion regarding the importance of the field of OHS and environment. Factory inspection is an important tool in assisting OHS programs. Efforts should be directed to enrich knowledge of inspectors continuously. Legislative knowledge is also needed. Inspectors should be continuously encouraged and supported from all involved authorities; this will help them do perfectly. Employers should be encouraged to fulfill the requirements of OHS programs.

Background: Kuwait State is branded by the recurrent dust storms and high pollution level. It has the highest dust concentration and surface temperature in Peninsula. The aim of the present study was to assess the respirable particulates during days with and without dust storms in two residential areas in Kuwait State. Materials and Methods: This time-series comparative study was accomplished during the period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013. It was conducted by recording the local meteorological data in the two sampling stations at Mansoria (A) and Ali Sabah Al-Salem (B) residential areas, in addition to the sampling and analysis of respirable particulates (PM10) using the SOP-10 High-Volume PM10 Samplers' Standard Method. Results: There were 256 and 278 measurement days (70.1 and 75.1% of the yearly days) in monitoring stations A and B, respectively, with a total of 119 (46.5%) and 134 (48.2%) days with dust storms, respectively. The daily concentrations of PM10 were higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards of Kuwait State (150 µg/m3) at the two stations. The annual PM10 concentration of B station [192.5 (264.5) µg/m3] was nonsignificantly higher than that of A [191.2 (182.7) µg/m3]. At the two stations, the levels of PM10 during days with dust storms were significantly higher than that during days without. Conclusion: Respirable particulate is slightly higher in Ali Sabah Al-Salem than in Mansoria. Days with dust storms have significantly greater PM10 levels than those without. The study recommends application of land-use planning, and windbreaks, combating desertification, and enhancing stoppage of outdoor activities during dust storms among public.

Background: Garment industry in Egypt has been estimated in 2008 to be about 458 enterprises (employing 103,000 workers) representing 42.0% of the overall textile and garments industries, and 4.8% of the total private sector enterprises. Al-Mahalla Al-Kubra, which is the greatest city of El-Gharbia Governorate houses 263 (57.4%) of these enterprises (employing 12,209 workers). The occupational exposure to physical hazards may adversely affect workers' comfort, health, performance and productivity. Objective(s): This study was designed to assess the relation between work stresses imposed by exposure to physical hazards and productivity in Garment industry in that city. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was conducted in five garment enterprises in Al-Mahalla Al-Kobra city. The five enterprises included two public and three private sector units, representing 12% of the total number of garments' workers within the city. The collected data included data from records, workers' and employers' or managers' interview, and the results of the physical hazards' assessments. Since it was difficult to calculate the workers' productivities directly from enterprises' records, the productivities of the workers were computed as follows: % of productivity = Standard workers' productivity (100%)-% deficiency in his or her productivity from the standard. Results: The higher percent productivity reported in the Private sector enterprises (86.5%, 86.5% and 100% in C, D, and E enterprises respectively) than in the Public (71.5% and 54.7% in A and B enterprises respectively) may be attributed to the production payment regimen common in the former than in the latter. The workers in the Private-sector enterprises were keen to achieve the greatest production to get maximum payment. This may also interpret the considerably higher workers' attendance (less absenteeism) among Private-sector workers than in the Public-sector ones. Conclusions: The deleterious effects of workers' exposure to physical hazards; heat, noise and vibration, and improper illumination on their productivity are clearly demonstrated in the present study. Attention should be directed towards the control of these hazards and improving the work environment of the garment industry in Egypt, particularly in the Public sector enterprises.