Occupational exposure to municipal solid wastes and development of toxic neuropathies: Possible role of nutrient supplementation, complementary and alternative medicines in chemoprevention

Abstract

Achieving effective municipal solid waste (MSW) management remains a major challenge and waste generation and accumulation continue to constitute important environmental and public health concern, particularly in most developing countries. Although the general population is at risk of adverse health consequences and hazards associated with exposure to MSW, the waste management workers (WMWs) are the most vulnerable because of their direct involvement in the disposal of waste, with increasing evidence of work-related health and safety risks among these individuals. Among the numerous work-related health hazards prevalent in WMWs, development of toxic neuropathies following chronic occupational exposure remains poorly recognized. However, the risk or predisposition to toxic neuropathies is becoming evident considering the increasing recognition of large amount of neurotoxic heavy metals and hazardous industrial materials present in MSW in most parts of the world. The present review seeks to draw attention to the continuous vulnerability of the WMWs to developing toxic neuropathies. This is aimed at facilitating conscious efforts by relevant governmental and nongovernmental agencies towards promoting risk reduction and ensuring adequate protection against possible toxic polyneuropathies associated with occupational exposure to solid wastes. While continuous education of the WMWs on the need for adequate compliance to safety regulations and practice remains sacrosanct towards achieving significant reduction in toxic neuropathies and related adverse health consequences of waste handling, it is also our intention in this review to underscore the possible relevance of nutrient supplementation and alternative medicines in chemoprevention.

Foods, Dietary Patterns and Occupational Class and Leukocyte Telomere Length in the Male Population

“…DNA oxidative damage indices such as 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and the presence of leukocytes in urine and systemic oxidative stress indices, including blood malondialdehyde, lipid-peroxide, and total-urinary biopyrrins in waste-recyclers’ blood was very high ( Yoshida et al, 2003 ). Low concentrations of tocopherol antioxidants ( Ekor & Odewabi, 2014 ) and higher levels of inflammatory indices ( Kuijer, Sluiter, & Frings-Dresen, 2010 ) such as IL-6 were identified in their blood ( Kuijer et al, 2010 ). Diet and lifestyle can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and increased psychological pressure, and all these factors affect TL ( Crous-Bou et al, 2014 ).…”

The Application of Zhongzhen Medicine in the Skin Diseases

“…can play a certain degree of antihistamine effect. For some chronic, complex diseases, can also be treating by using of Zhongzhen medicine [14][15][16][17][18][19]. The ancient "chronic illness must be responsible for blood stasis chronic illness must be responsible for phlegm".…”

Levels of heavy and essential trace metals and their correlation with antioxidant and health status in individuals occupationally exposed to municipal solid wastes

“…The risk and public health impact of environmental pollution attributable to waste dumps is of considerable interest and has become an issue of global concern (Abah and Ohimain, 2010). Although, significant progress has been made with regards to putting measures in place to minimize work-related risks in the last two decades, the challenges associated with waste generation and accumulation continue to constitute a major public health concern, especially in developing countries (Ekor and Odewabi, 2014; Odewabi et al, 2013a). There is good evidence that work-related adverse health effects are common in waste management workers (WMW), and the risk of developing toxic neuropathies is becoming increasingly apparent.…”

“…There is good evidence that work-related adverse health effects are common in waste management workers (WMW), and the risk of developing toxic neuropathies is becoming increasingly apparent. This may be associated with the presence of large amount of heavy metals and other hazardous industrial materials in municipal solid waste (MSW) in most parts of the world (Ekor and Odewabi, 2014).…”