Background:Noncommunicable diseases(NCDs)are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCDs among the population of Cyprus and to identify the dist...Background:Noncommunicable diseases(NCDs)are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCDs among the population of Cyprus and to identify the distribution of the socioeconomic and demographic determinants among individuals with the most frequent NCDs.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted using stratified sampling.Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the presence of NCDs were collected through a standardized questionnaire.The diseases were classified using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-10).Results:In total,1140 individuals participated in the study,among whom 590(51.7%)had at least one chronic disease.The most prevalent NCDs were hyperlipidemia(17.4%),hypertension(12.9%),and thyroid diseases(8.4%).We identified more males than females with hyperlipidemia aged 25–44 years old and>65 years old(p=0.024),more males compared to females with hypertension(p=0.001)and more females compared to males with thyroid diseases(p<0.001).Individuals with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were more likely to be married,to have completed a higher education,and to have a high annual income.Discussion:In Cyprus,the majority of the general population had at least one NCD.Hyperlipidemia,hypertension,and thyroid disease are relatively common,even at younger ages,highlighting the need for the development of public health programs aimed at addressing and preventing NCDs.展开更多
Plastic and polymer additives (PA) have unique rational advantages for various water and food packaging applications. However, their (bio)chemical natures are recently recognized for their negative human health impact...Plastic and polymer additives (PA) have unique rational advantages for various water and food packaging applications. However, their (bio)chemical natures are recently recognized for their negative human health impacts. The major adverse consequence of these additives in consumer products is in the form of endocrine-disruption related health-downgrades. Such findings still remain underappreciated in most parts globally;part of which could be ascribed to fragmented studies towards better understanding on the occurrence, release and migration, human exposure, epidemiology and risk assessment of PA from packaging materials. In addition there is limited and disconnected dissemination of research findings on PA effects and mitigation measures to society at present. In light of appropriateness of this topic, a trans-disciplinary research agenda is required for addressing exposure routes to PA, human health burden and prevention measures. This perspective article discusses important research questions relating to PA, which try to shed light to a grey scientific area and help increase consumers’ awareness and intervention to such exposures.展开更多
Increased disinfectant use commonly takes place in hospitals and other health care settings. A cross-sectional study among active nurses in two Cypriot public hospitals（n = 179） was conducted to examine the prevalen...Increased disinfectant use commonly takes place in hospitals and other health care settings. A cross-sectional study among active nurses in two Cypriot public hospitals（n = 179） was conducted to examine the prevalence of exposure to disinfection byproducts（DBPs）, such as trihalomethanes（THMs） using both self-reported information and biomarker measurements.The objectives of this study were to： i） quantify the magnitude and variability of occupational exposure to disinfectants/DBPs in nurses, ii） generate job exposure matrices（JEM） and job task exposure matrices（JTEM） for disinfectants, and iii） assess the major determinants of urinary THMs in nurses. End of shift urinary total THM values showed high variability among the nurses, but did not differ between hospitals. The disinfectant group of alcohols/phenols was used by 〉 98% of nurses, followed by octenidine（82%）, iodine and chlorine（39%, each）,chlorhexidine（25%）, formaldehyde（12%）, hydrogen peroxide（11%）, and peracetic acid/ammonia/quaternary ammonium compounds（QACs）, all being 〈 8% each. Chlorine use during the past 24 hr was associated with significantly（p 〈 0.05） lower brominated THMs（Br THMs） after adjusting for age, gender and BMI, while a positive association was shown for TCM and the sum of all THMs（TTHMs）, albeit not significant. Nurses were exposed to nearly double the levels of TTHMs and BrT HMs（median and IQR, 1027 [560, 2475] ng/g and 323 [212,497] ng/g, respectively） when compared to those of the general population（552 [309,989] ng/g and 152 [87,261] ng/g, respectively）. This was the first occupational health dataset reporting measurements of biomarkers of end of shift exposures to disinfectants/DBPs.展开更多
文摘Background:Noncommunicable diseases(NCDs)are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCDs among the population of Cyprus and to identify the distribution of the socioeconomic and demographic determinants among individuals with the most frequent NCDs.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted using stratified sampling.Socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the presence of NCDs were collected through a standardized questionnaire.The diseases were classified using the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases(ICD-10).Results:In total,1140 individuals participated in the study,among whom 590(51.7%)had at least one chronic disease.The most prevalent NCDs were hyperlipidemia(17.4%),hypertension(12.9%),and thyroid diseases(8.4%).We identified more males than females with hyperlipidemia aged 25–44 years old and>65 years old(p=0.024),more males compared to females with hypertension(p=0.001)and more females compared to males with thyroid diseases(p<0.001).Individuals with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were more likely to be married,to have completed a higher education,and to have a high annual income.Discussion:In Cyprus,the majority of the general population had at least one NCD.Hyperlipidemia,hypertension,and thyroid disease are relatively common,even at younger ages,highlighting the need for the development of public health programs aimed at addressing and preventing NCDs.
文摘Plastic and polymer additives (PA) have unique rational advantages for various water and food packaging applications. However, their (bio)chemical natures are recently recognized for their negative human health impacts. The major adverse consequence of these additives in consumer products is in the form of endocrine-disruption related health-downgrades. Such findings still remain underappreciated in most parts globally;part of which could be ascribed to fragmented studies towards better understanding on the occurrence, release and migration, human exposure, epidemiology and risk assessment of PA from packaging materials. In addition there is limited and disconnected dissemination of research findings on PA effects and mitigation measures to society at present. In light of appropriateness of this topic, a trans-disciplinary research agenda is required for addressing exposure routes to PA, human health burden and prevention measures. This perspective article discusses important research questions relating to PA, which try to shed light to a grey scientific area and help increase consumers’ awareness and intervention to such exposures.
文摘Increased disinfectant use commonly takes place in hospitals and other health care settings. A cross-sectional study among active nurses in two Cypriot public hospitals（n = 179） was conducted to examine the prevalence of exposure to disinfection byproducts（DBPs）, such as trihalomethanes（THMs） using both self-reported information and biomarker measurements.The objectives of this study were to： i） quantify the magnitude and variability of occupational exposure to disinfectants/DBPs in nurses, ii） generate job exposure matrices（JEM） and job task exposure matrices（JTEM） for disinfectants, and iii） assess the major determinants of urinary THMs in nurses. End of shift urinary total THM values showed high variability among the nurses, but did not differ between hospitals. The disinfectant group of alcohols/phenols was used by 〉 98% of nurses, followed by octenidine（82%）, iodine and chlorine（39%, each）,chlorhexidine（25%）, formaldehyde（12%）, hydrogen peroxide（11%）, and peracetic acid/ammonia/quaternary ammonium compounds（QACs）, all being 〈 8% each. Chlorine use during the past 24 hr was associated with significantly（p 〈 0.05） lower brominated THMs（Br THMs） after adjusting for age, gender and BMI, while a positive association was shown for TCM and the sum of all THMs（TTHMs）, albeit not significant. Nurses were exposed to nearly double the levels of TTHMs and BrT HMs（median and IQR, 1027 [560, 2475] ng/g and 323 [212,497] ng/g, respectively） when compared to those of the general population（552 [309,989] ng/g and 152 [87,261] ng/g, respectively）. This was the first occupational health dataset reporting measurements of biomarkers of end of shift exposures to disinfectants/DBPs.
