Sham Sani

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Malaysian Chinese: Salted fish and other dietary exposures

We interviewed 282 histologically confirmed cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Chinese residents of Selangor and the Federal Territory, Malaysia, and an equal number of Chinese age‐, sex‐, and length‐of‐residence‐matched controls sampled from the general population. Consumption of 55 dietary items during childhood, and 5 years pre‐diagnosis of NPC, was analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods. Four salted preserved foods (fish, leafy vegetables, egg and root), fresh pork/beef organ meats and beer and liquor consumption exhibited strong positive associations, and 4 vegetable/fruit combinations strong negative associations with NPC. Factor analysis and multivariable modeling using estimated factor scores strongly supported separate effects on NPC of vegetables/fruits, salted preserved foods, pork/beef organ meats and beer/liquor consumption. Multivariable modeling associated NPC most clearly with high consumption of salted fish, salted eggs, pork/beef liver and beer and low consumption of Chinese flowering cabbage, oranges/tangerines and shrimp. A strong residual association of social class with NPC remained after adjustment for diet, which is consistent with a substantial role for non‐dietary environmental factors. Int. J. Cancer 77:228–235, 1998.© 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Urban climatology in Malaysia: An overview

Abstract The paper provides an overview of the present state of knowledge and understanding of urban climatology in Malaysia vis-a-vis the humid tropics. It highlights some of the major findings to date and discusses their implications on environmental planning and management, and building designs. Generally it is observed that although there are gaps in our knowledge and understanding of urban climate in the humid tropics, enough is known to enable us to apply some of these findings in the planning and management of the urban environment. While recognizing that there are differences between the tropics and the temperate regions where much more research on urban climate has been accomplished, many of the results from the latter could be transferred either directly to the former without much error or with some modifications to suit local conditions. In either case, the paper suggests that the question of transferability of research results from temperate regions to the tropics be given due consideration in future research. The paper also outlines some areas of focus of future research on urban climate in Malaysia. Three major areas of research have been identified and these include (1) an investigation into the components of the radiation and water balances, and their combination in the surface energy balance; (2) an examination of the variations of major climatic elements as a measure of morphological response to the energy flows and stores; and (3) an attempt to model the workings of the urban climate. Equally important are the applied aspects of urban climate particularly in planning and environmental management. Only by infusing research results into practical problems in environmental planning and management can the contribution from urban climatology be better appreciated.

Aerosol particle and organic vapor concentrations at industrial work sites in Malaysia

The objective of this study was to establish baseline data about air pollutants potentially related to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in the Federal Territory and Selangor, Malaysia. During 1991-1993, ambient air quality was monitored at 42 work sites representing ten industrial sectors: adhesive manufacturing, foundries, latex processing, metalworking, plywood/veneer milling, ricemilling, rubber tire manufacturing, sawmilling, shoemaking, and textile related industries. At each work site, aerosol particle size distributions and concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, isopropyl alcohol, and furfural were measured. Mean aerosol particle concentrations ranged from 61 μg/ m3 in foundries to 5,578 μg/m 3 in ricemills, with five industries (adhesives, metalworking, ricemilling, sawmilling, and shoemaking) exceeding the US EPA 24-hr ambient air standard for PM-10. Formaldehyde concentrations exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) in adhesives factories. Other vapours and elements measured were well below TLVs. Asia Pac J Public Health 2001;13(1): 24-29