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May 5, 1972 Factory — Statutory duty — Breach — Fume — Prolonged inhalation of low concentration — Chronic lung illness — Employer's actual or constructive knowledge of health hazard — Whether to be determined up to time when action brought — Limits of statutory duty — Whether need to act on expert speculation unaccompanied by hazard warning — Factories Act, 1961 (9 & 10 Eliz. II, c.34), ss. 4(1), 63(1).

Occupational exposure to dust is a major health and safety concern for workers in developing countries. Such laborers are often exposed to dust without being aware of its threat to their health. In the process of crushing stone, mineralogical materials are released into the environment. The material includes dust, fumes, ashes or other industrial waste which may constitute toxic elements. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the respiratory health problems of stone crushing industry workers in Bangladesh.

This cross-sectional descriptive research study was conducted by adopting a multi-method approach. Data were collected by use of a questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, in-depth interview and spirometric examinations. Focus group discussions and questionnaire surveys were conducted among 240 workers. The respondents were divided in six groups for the spirometric examination. The questionnaire was formulated by following standards set by the American Thoracic Society Division of Lung Disease questionnaire and European Coal and Steel Community. Data on respondent’s height, weight and smoking habits were collected by using a structured checklist. Meanwhile, lung functions were assessed by spirometry. A Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyze the data.

The results show that there was a significant relation between respiratory problems and inhalation of dust and particulate matter and cigarette smoking. It also shows that coughing was the most common problem among the respondents. The majority of respondents suffered from obstructive types of respiratory problems.

Findings of the study reveals that chronic exposure to dust at stone crushing plants increases the risk of respiratory problems and the impaired lung function of workers. It also reveals that there is a significant relation between respiratory problems and inhalation of dusts and cigarette smoking. Raising awareness about health risks amongst workers could reduce these health hazards. The government should make a national policy for the prevention, control and elimination of silica exposure and silicosis. The results would help to raise awareness of the issue. Finally, it would raise awareness on respiratory health problems of workers at stone crushing industries in Bangladesh and help the government to make a policy for the prevention, control and elimination of silica exposure and silicosis, and thus enhancing public health policy and practices in the country.

The purpose of this paper is to describe and discuss the use of Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China and Asia.

This paper provides a brief overview of the COVID-19. Based on the syndrome differentiation (辨證論治), the concept of clearing heat and detoxifying lung in traditional Chinese medicine is used to prevent and treat COVID-19 through restoring the vital qi (正氣) in human body and regulating the lung as well as spleen to strengthen the immune system. Traditional Chinese medicine has been used as a complementary therapy for the possible intervention of COVID-19 including traditional Chinese herbal decoctions, Chinese traditional patent medicines, acupuncture and moxibustion as well as the traditional health exercises in China and parts of Asia.

Traditional Chinese medicine plays a significant role in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 pandemic. The infection cases of China are around 80,000 and a steady decline compared with the USA which has 5,000,000 infection cases and continuous increases. It is shown that more than 90% of patients recovered after the treatment of traditional Chinese herbal decoctions and Chinese traditional patent medicines without any side-effect compared to the use of Remdesivir (GS-5734). Acupuncture (針灸) and moxibustion (艾灸) stimulate the immune and nervous systems for preventing infectious diseases. Taichi (太極) and Baduanjin (八段錦) as the auxiliary aerobic exercise under the theory of Chinese medicine can enhance the immune system and improve the lung function. Thus, an integration of traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine is the best strategy for the prevention, treatment and control of COVID-19 pandemic in the future.

This paper describes traditional Chinese medicine as an effective way for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

A comprehensive field study of atmosphere coarse and fine particulate concentration was conducted in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia from September 1998 to April 2000. Coarse and fine particulate concentrations were investigated at five stations. The means coarse particulate concentration for 1998, 1999 and 2000 were 66mg/m³, 348mg/m³ and 192mg/m³ respectively. The corresponding means for fine particulate concentration for 1998, 1999, and 2000 were 10mg/m³, 69mg/m³ and 51mg/m³. Data reported in this paper provide emphasis with regard to the environmental and health impacts of inhalable coarse and fine particulates in the zone investigated.

May 26, 1971. Limitation of action — Asbestosis — Workmen contracting progressive and insidious disease over number of years due to employers' breaches of statutory duty — Actions commenced pursuant to leave in extended time — Whether workmen entitled to bring action outside satisfactory three‐year period — Limitation Act c.47, 1963, ss. 1 and 7.

Nanotechnology as an emerging area if adequately harnessed could revolutionise food packaging and food processing industry worldwide. Although several benefits of nano-materials or particles in food packaging have been suggested, potential risks and health hazards of nano-materials or particles are possible as a result of migration of their particles into food materials. The purpose of this review therefore assessed nanotechnology and its applications in food packaging, consumer acceptability of nano-packaged foods and potential hazards and safety issues in nano-packaged foods.

This review takes a critical assessment of previous literature on nanotechnology and its impact on food packaging, consumer health and safety.

Applications of nanotechnology in food packaging could be divided into three main divisions: improved packaging, which involves mixing nano-materials into polymers matrix to improve temperature, humidity and gas barrier resistance of the packaging materials. Active packaging deals with direct interaction between nano-materials used for packaging and the food to protect it as anti-microbial or oxygen or ultra violet scavengers. Smart packaging could be used to sense biochemical or microbial changes in foods, as well as a tracker for food safety, to prevent food counterfeit and adulteration. The review also discussed bio-based food packaging which is biodegradable. Bio-based packaging could serve as veritable alternative to conventional packaging which is non-degradable plastic polymers which are not environmental friendly and could pose a threat to the environment. However, bio-based packaging could reduce material waste, elongate shelf life and enhance food quality. However, several challenges are envisaged in the use of nano-materials in food packaging due to knowledge gaps, possible interaction with food products and possible health risks that could result from the nano-materials used for food packaging.

The increase in growth and utilisation of nanotechnology signifies wide use of nano-materials especially in the food sector with arrays of potential benefits in the areas of food safety and quality, micronutrients and bioactive ingredients delivery, food processing and in packaging Active studies are being carried out to develop innovative packages such as smart, intelligent and active food packaging to enhance effective and efficient packaging, as well as balanced environmental issues. This review looks at the future of nano-packaged foods vis-à-vis the roles played by stakeholders such as governments, regulatory agencies and manufacturers in looking into consumer health and safety issues related to the application of nano-materials in food packaging.

The review of food consumption elsewhere in this issue shows the broad pattern of food supplies in this country; what and how much we eat. Dietary habits are different to what they were before the last War, but there have been few real changes since the end of that War. Because of supplies and prices, shifts within commodity groups have occurred, e.g. carcase meat, bread, milk, but overall, the range of foods commonly eaten has remained stable. The rise of “convenience foods” in the twenty‐five year since the War is seen as a change in household needs and the increasing employment of women in industry and commerce, rather than a change in foods eaten or in consumer preference. Supplies available for consumption have remained fairly steady throughout the period, but if the main food sources, energy and nutrient content of the diet have not changed, changes in detail have begun to appear and the broad pattern of food is not quite so markedly stable as of yore.

The purpose of this paper is to critically summarize the current data concerning the impact of obesity and micronutrient adequacy and supplementation on the risk and severity of COVID-19 disease, and their potential impact on treatment and rehabilitation.

PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases were thoroughly searched to identify studies concerning obesity and nutritional status, vitamin and other micronutrients adequacy with COVID-19 severity.

Individuals with higher body mass index are in greater risk of severe disease and need for mechanical ventilation. Concerning micronutrient adequacy, no published studies at the present time have evaluated the effect of supplementation on the risk and the treatment of the novel disease.

Recently, COVID-19 has monopolized the interest of the medical community regarding diet and nutritional status and it possibly plays an important role in disease severity.

This paper presents a study of the effects of an abandoned mining site on the environment and human health and discusses possible mechanisms to raise public awareness of the risks posed by mining sites, and environmental risks in general. The case study reported concerns the Campo de Jales mining site located in the northern part of Portugal, which is currently being sealed. The action taken and outlined in this paper is based on the lines of action established by the Sixth Environmental Action Programme.