Browsing by Author "Alam, Mohammad Shafiqul"

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A study into the long-overlooked carcinogenic radon in bottled water and deep well water in Dhaka, Bangladesh
(Scopus, 2023-01-10) Mahmuda, Jubair Al; Siraz, M. M. Mahfuz; Alam, Mohammad Shafiqul; Das, Sudeb Chandra; Bradley, David Andrew; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin
The aim of this study is to evaluate diet quality and other associated factors with dyslipidaemia in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients in Bangladesh. Design: The study employed a cross-sectional design. Setting: Data from medical records, dietary intake and socioeconomic factors were collected from January to October 2022 at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Dhaka, and Noakhali Sadar Hospital. Participants: A total of 570 CVD patients, aged 25-80 years, with a confirmed diagnosis within the past 3 months, were included in the study.Main outcome measures: The primary outcomes were the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) and dyslipidaemia. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to explore the associations between dyslipidaemia and various sociodemographic, nutritional, and dietary factors in CVD patients. Results: Dyslipidaemia was identified in more than two-thirds (70.4%) of participants. The mean GDQS was 24.38, with 69.8% of the population maintaining a healthy diet. GDQS was significantly higher in the non-dyslipidaemic group (25.21±2.53) compared with the dyslipidaemic group (24.03±2.33). Nutrient intake was generally higher in non-dyslipidaemic patients. The odds of hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were notably higher for participants in the lowest GDQS tertile compared with the highest. Multivariable logistic regression identified sex, employment status, body mass index (BMI) and GDQS as significant predictors of dyslipidaemia. Males (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.18, 95% CI 2.32 to 7.54), homemakers (AOR=2.86) and obese individuals (AOR=1.0) were at increased odds of dyslipidaemia. Compared with the highest GDQS tertile, the odds of dyslipidaemia were nearly double in the middle tertile (AOR: 1.87, 95% CI 1.13 to 3.11) and almost four times higher in the lowest tertile (AOR: 3.67, 95% CI 2.02 to 6.64). Conclusions: A high-quality diet was associated with significantly lower odds of dyslipidaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia and elevated LDL cholesterol. The study findings highlight the potential of targeted nutritional interventions with a multifaceted approach to managing dyslipidaemia, emphasising the need for personalised dietary guidelines that consider the individual's gender, occupation and BMI.
A Study Into the Long-Overlooked Carcinogenic Radon in Bottled Water and Deep Well Water in Dhaka, Bangladesh
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2023-01-10) Mahmud, Jubaier Al; Siraz, M. M. Mahfuz; Alam, Mohammad Shafiqul; Das, Sudeb Chandra; Bradley, David Andrew; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin; Tokonami, Shinji; Shelley, Afroza; Yeasmin, Selina
Radon (222Rn), a radioactive and gaseous progeny of Uranium (238U) decay series, accounts for almost 50% of the total background radiation in our dwelling environment. Inhalation and ingestion of radon in excessive amounts pose serious health effects to humans. The first-ever measurement of radon concentration in commercial bottled water available in Dhaka city and deep well water samples from the campus of the University of Dhaka was carried out using the RAD7 Radon monitoring system. The concentration of radon in the bottled water ranged from 0.11 Bq/L to 1.30 Bq/L with a mean of 0.59 Bq/L, and the deep well water showed a mean of 4.88 Bq/L with a range of 3.02 Bq/L to 5.98 Bq/L. All twenty-five samples of water had radon concentrations within the recommended limits of USEPA and WHO. The mean annual effective doses from radon in bottled water and deep well water were evaluated to be 0.126 µSv/y and 12.481 µSv/y, respectively. Although the calculated doses indicate the least potential risk according to WHO and UNSCEAR, however, it is expected that the present results play an important role in setting up a national guideline for radon in drinking water, and the monitoring of radon for the safety of public health.
Evaluating the radioactivity and health risks in oil and gas production areas: insights from Titas Gas Field, Bangladesh
(2024-09-19) Siraz, M.M. Mahfuz; Haque, Tasnia; Choudhury, Tasrina Rabia; Alam, Mohammad Shafiqul; Mahmud, Araf; Rashid, Md. Bazlar
Conducting comprehensive studies of radioactivity and associated risk assessments in the oil and gas industry is crucial due to the potential accumulation of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials in production operations. This pioneering study investigates radioactivity levels in surface soil from the Titas Gas Field area in Bangladesh by a High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector, a crucial resource of the nation’s energy infrastructure. In surface soil, the activity of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K varied from 18–41 Bq/kg, 28–62 Bq/kg, and 280–600 Bq/kg, respectively. Particularly, the levels of 232Th exceeded the global average value for soil. These elevated 232Th levels are likely attributed to a combination of natural geological processes of enriching thorium bearing minerals, geochemical processes favouring thorium retention and human activities selectively impacting these radionuclides. The estimated of radiological risk reveals that some indices exceed recommended limits, hence pose a concern for public health. The study recommends periodic monitoring, public awareness campaigns, remediation efforts, and long-term management strategies to protect environmental and public health. The findings of this research underscore the critical need to recognise and address radiological hazards associated with gas extraction activities to safeguard the health and safety of workers and nearby communities in Bangladesh.
Pioneering Study of Radioactivity in Soil near the Payra 1320 Mw Thermal Power Plant, the Largest Coal-fired Thermal Power Plant in Bangladesh
(Taylor & Francis Publication, 2024-09-28) Siraz, M. M. Mahfuz; Reza, Ashik; Khan, Mohammad; Alam, Mohammad Shafiqul; Mahmud, Jubair Al; Rashid, Md. Bazlar; Begum, Mahbuba; Sultana, Nazneen; Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin; Osman, Hamid; Yeasmin, S.
Coal combustion increases atmospheric radioactivity, harming those live in the periphery of coal-fired thermal power plants (CFTPPs). A pioneering study has been performed using a high-purity germanium detector by analysing 30 soil samples collected from distances of 50, 600, 1200, and 3000 metres in the periphery of the largest 1320 MW CFTPP, Payra, Bangladesh. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K ranged from 19–32, 31–90, and 420–870 Bq/kg, respectively, with most of the samples show 232Th and 40K levels above global averages. Elevated levels of 232Th and 40K in soil around Payra thermal power plant stem from natural minerals, granitic rocks, ash disposal, coal combustion residues, and environmental factors. Radiological hazard indices, including dose rates and cancer risk, exceed global averages, indicating unsafe radiation exposure for coal miners and locals. These findings are crucial for planning coal-fired power plants and stress the need for municipal regulation of fly ash and health monitoring to mitigate risks for workers and residents.
Radionuclide Transfer in Tea Cultivation: Assessing Radiological Risks in the Largest and First Established Tea Garden in Bangladesh
(Taylor & Francis, 2024-05-03) Siraz, M. M. Mahfuz; Kamal, Md. Hossain; Khan, Zulfiqar Hasan; Alam, Mohammad Shafiqul; Mahmud, Jubair Al; Rashid, Md. Bazlar
To address potential health risks associated with radioactivity in tea consumption, a study was conducted utilizing high purity germanium (HPGe) γ-ray spectrometry to measure the concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, 40K, and 137Cs radionuclides in soil and tea leaves collected from several major tea gardens (including the Malnicherra tea garden which is the largest and first established tea garden in the Indian subcontinent) situated in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Although nearly all soil samples showed the presence of 137Cs (with a maximum activity of 6.5 ± 1.31 Bq/kg), none of the analyzed tea leaf samples exhibited its presence, which can be attributed to its restricted transferability from soil to plants. The range of transfer factors for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K from soil to tea leaves was calculated to be (0.39–0.54), (0.25–0.46) and (1.39–3.03), respectively. The heightened concentrations of 40K identified in the tea leaf samples can be mainly ascribed to specific metabolic processes associated with potassium, along with the heightened utilization of potassium chloride-based fertilizers aimed at enhancing tea production. The examination of hazard parameters, including the estimated committed effective dose and the excess lifetime cancer risk associated with tea consumption, reveals values that are comparatively lower than the recommended limits. Consequently, the radiation exposure from tea consumption does not present a significant radiological health concern for the general population.