Health Watch

Scented products emit unlisted chemicals

Charmaine Fernando

It’s nice to have your freshly laundered clothes smell fresh. Does it have an appealing fragrance that you like, that others appreciate having you around? The sweet smell of freshness may be labeled ‘green’ but you would never know whether the emanating fragrance is off a a chemical that is not listed on the label. It may even be classified as toxic.

A study disclosed that 25 commonly used scented products emit an average of 17 chemicals each.

Of the 133 different chemicals detected, nearly a quarter are classified as toxic or hazardous. Only one emitted compound was listed on a product label, and only two were publicly disclosed anywhere, reports the journal, Environmental Impact Assessment Review.

About half of the analyzed best-selling products made some claim about being green, organic or natural but surprisingly, the green product emissions of hazardous chemicals were not significantly different from the other products it was revealed. More than a third of the products emitted at least one chemical classified as a probable carcinogen says the report. Manufacturers are not required to disclose any ingredients in cleaning supplies, air fresheners or laundry products.

Neither these nor personal care products are required to list ingredients used in fragrances, even though a single fragrance, in a product it can be a mixture of up to several hundred ingredients the report said.

The study used chemical sleuthing to discover what is emitted by the scented products commonly used in homes, public spaces and workplaces the report said.

Toxic chemicals in your favourite shampoo?The study analyzed air fresheners including sprays, solids and oils; laundry products including detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets; personal care products such as soaps, hand sanitizers, lotions, deodorant and shampoos; and cleaning products including disinfectants, all-purpose sprays and dish detergent. All were widely used brands worldwide, with more than half being the top-selling products in its category.

The most common emissions included limonene, a compound with a citrus scent; alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, compounds with a pine scent; ethanol; and acetone, a solvent found in nail polish remover. All products emitted at least one chemical classified as toxic or hazardous. Eleven products emitted at least one probable carcinogen which included acetaldehyde, dioxane, formaldehyde and methylene chloride revealed the report out a few days ago.

Dr Sarath Wijemanne remembered

Dr Vilasini Menaka Perera

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Sarathchandra Wijemanne passed away on 24, October 2010, while descending the holy “Pahiyangala Rock Temple”, Bulathsinhala.

Born on August 19, 1960 in Kandy, he was the youngest in a family of five children. His father is E L Wijemanne the Secretary to the Ministry of Education when Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe was the Education Minister. He was educated at Royal College, Colombo and pursued a career as a VOG obtaining degrees from Colombo Medical Faculty and Master of Surgery from Post Graduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) Colombo. He possessed MRCOG and FSCOG.

He extended his services throughout the Island starting from Sri Jayewardenepura Teaching Hospital (1984), Colombo South Teaching Hospital (1987), De Soya Hospital for Women (1988), Dambulla Base Hospital (1996), Castle Street Hospital for Women (1996) and Family Health Bureau - Ministry of Health (FHB) (2000). Dr Wijemanne associated himself with various important organizations locally and internationally especially when he was working in Princess Margret Hospital, Swindon (1993) and Chesterfield Royal Hospital, UK (1994). He gave his effective post graduate teaching and clinical training sessions for the following PGIM courses; Diploma in Reproductive Health, Diploma in Venerology and MSc in Community Medicine and Dentistry. His studies and publications cover a wide range and are at the same time as numerous in quantity and as excellent in quality.

The most gigantic task entrusted to him was of course, laparoscopic sterilization of females from various MOH areas. He emphasized that it was made for the sake of national interest with a view to achieve good Maternal and Child Health Indicators. The untimely death was indeed an irreparable loss to all citizens of Sri Lanka and shattered many hopes of MOOH who have taken appointments for laparoscopic surgeries till February 2011.

Another significant contribution made by him was the new guidelines for Male/Female sterilization which he could not complete before death.

It was with my appointment as a Medical Officer FHB that I met VOG - Sarath Wijemanne in late 2007. First I saw him as a burly, big made man with a hefty chunk for a chin he looked the type that brooked no nonsense. But as his thickset lips cracked open in a smile every morning to greet me “Good Morning Menaka”! there shorn forth vivid genuine geniality out of face, generous friendly and hospitable around his face. The disciplined intellectual virtues of justice of heart and mind, the proud shyness that comes of high mental attainments and the sensitive dignity, the result of exceedingly good breeding. In themselves are great qualities devoutly to be wished. My words fail to recapture his genuine qualities.

He was always ready to bear responsibility even though it was not his, who could make decisions on the spur of the moment even though it is the wrong decision, who could go out of his way to help others, even though he hurt himself in doing it. When there was trouble or turmoil, he was at his best slapping his arms, jutting out his chest. When there was work to be done, he was there to do it. When money had to be spent, he was there putting his hand in his pocket. He never minced his words, if he had to check or correct us. As a boss, incomparable, as a gentleman, beyond reproach, as a Specialist doctor, an excellent species.

His humility and friendly disposition endeared to him many and he was held in high esteem by his staff and even respected by the whole staff at FHB.

I still can remember how I disagreed with you on young female and male sterilization, but you respected my views and beliefs and slowly promoted me to engage more on sub fertility work and we succeeded in establishing a well equipped IUI (Intra Uterine Inseminisation) laboratory under UNFPA funds to cater to sub fertile couples, all over the country and its free of charge.

He was an adorable human being with a big heart to match, whichever way you look at him. I owe him whatever I learnt about family planing, sub fertility, Well Woman Clinics, Vasectomy and B’LRT, Colposcopy etc.

Having worked in so many central and leading places in the Ministry of Health and in private health sector, I still believe it would be a great discovery if one could find another like him anywhere among the whole medical professionals in Sri Lanka and present officers should emulate people of this calibre and try building the lost reputation.

[email protected]

Healthy mouth at elderly age

Dr. Dilum Perera, Consultant Community Dental Surgeon, Health Education Bureau, Colombo

Every year, National Oral Health Day is commemorated on 31st of October. This year, the theme is ‘Healthy mouth at elderly age’. Special programs have been planned for this day and throughout November and December across the country at national and regional level with community participation and the support of various government and non government organizations.

Demographic transitional phase

Most countries in the world including Sri Lanka have faced a demographic transitional phase which means that the population is ageing or proportion of elderly population in the community is in the rise. Improvements in socio economic status, social welfare, availability of good quality health care services, new treatment methods and technology accompanied with reduction of birth rates in today’s fast moving lifestyle have contributed to this population ageing and increase in life expectancy at birth.

In Sri Lanka, 60 years of age and above is called elderly or senior citizens and they contribute to about 10% of the population (sources: Department of Census and Statistics) There are specific social problems; isolation, loneliness and health problems; chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, heart diseases, stroke, neurological disorders and certain types of dental health problems existing specifically in this age group.

Dental health problems present among elderly people can be broadly divided into two groups, namely dental diseases associated with general medical conditions and dental diseases present locally in the mouth. Medical conditions such as diabetes, certain types of cancer (leukemia, cancer around mouth and face) depression, dehydration and kidney diseases may give rise to dry mouth, taste disturbances, high chance of getting infections, ulcers and bad odour (smell) from the mouth.

Integrated health management

In addition to that, some drugs which are taken as treatments for certain medical conditions like high blood pressure, depression and sleep disturbances may also give rise to dry mouth, taste disturbances and pigmentation inside the mouth. Therefore, it is important to inform your physician and dentist about your medical conditions and oral manifestations if any, when you visit them. This will enable them to carry out an integrated health management that could ease your discomfort.

In addition to dental problems associated with medical conditions, there are some common dental conditions that can be seen inside the mouth among the elderly. The most common is tooth mobility and shedding with advanced ageing due to chronic (long term) gum disease. The affected people may complain gum recession, bleeding gums, root exposure, pocketing (a gap between root and the gum where food impaction could occur) and teeth sensitivity due to root exposure. When the gum is recessed and root is exposed, the bone support that holds the tooth becomes weak. Then the tooth may start shaking, unstable and fall out.

Myth or truth?

Most of us still believe in the ‘natural death of the tooth’ concept. There is no truth behind this concept; indeed it is a myth. There is a wrong impression in the society that teeth fall is inevitable with ageing. It happens due to chronic nature of gum disease that goes on several years. Tooth mobility and teeth fall out occur at elderly age due to that. Food impaction may occur due to gum recession and pocketing and food impaction in sequence may give rise to bad odour from the mouth and infections.

Islandwide Blood Donation Campaign - November 2010

Date	Place

23	Toroid (Pvt) Ltd,   		Katunayake.
23	Pitakumbura Navodya Pasala,	Ampara.
23	Thuduwa Viharasthanaya,
 	Athulnagoda, Benthota, 	 	Karapitiya.
23	Samithi Shalawa, 
	Katugampola, Rambe, 		Kurunegala.
24	Sanasa Bank, Udagama, 		Kandy.
24	Premarathanaramaya, Vijayagama, 
	Beralapanathara, 		Kamburugamuwa.
24	Nawagamuwa Dewalaya, 		Ragama
24	University of Moratuwa 		NBC
24	Army Camp, Delgoda 		NBC
25	Commercial Bank, Col-1. 	NBC
25	United Motors, Orugodawatta. 	NBC
26	Brandix Finishing, Rathmalana. 	NBC
26	Konduruwawela, Sasmithi
	Shalawa, Narangoda,		Kurunegala.
27	Donglas and Company, Col-10. 	NBC
27	Paramadamma Vishuddaramaya,
	Boralasgamuwa. 			NBC
27	Trelabo Lanka, Makola, 
	Sapuguskanda. 			NBC
27	Ganhatha Viharaya, Ganhatha,	Kandy.
27	Sri Gnanawimalaramaya,
	Wewaldoowa, 			Ragama.
27	Weluwanaramaya, Parawahera, 	Kamburugamuwa.
27	Delgoda Army Camp, 		Gampaha.
27	Bank of Ceylon, Ruwanwella. 	Kandy
27	Iluppalla, Akuressa. 		Karapitiya
27	Muchalindarama Viharaya, 
	Meennana, 			Rathnapura.
27	Koshena Viharaya, Koshena, 	Kuliyapitiya.
27	Seylan Bank, 			Badulla.
27	Dampalassa Mahapiriwena,
	Narammala, 			Kurunegala.
28	Nattandiya Old Temple, Nattandiya, Negombo.
28	St Mary’s Church, Kaduwela, 
	Welivita. 			NBC
28	Community Hall, Mahara, 
	Nugegoda. 			Ragama
28	Gangula Temple, Panadura. 	NBC
28	Methodistha High School,
	 Moratuwa. 			NBC
28	Rajasinghagama Community Hall,
	Himbutana. 			NBC
28	Arogya Hospital, 		Gampaha.
28	SLRC, Mathara, 			Kamburugamuwa
28	St Thomas’ Church, Mathale, 	Kandy
28	Perera & Sons, Rajagiriya 
	(Bakery Section). 		Maharagama
28	Girambe MV, Girambe, 		Badulla.
28	Polpagala Kanishta Vidyalaya, 
	Yakkalamulla,			Karapitiya.
28	Galkanda Vidyalaya, Pahalalanda, Ampara.
28	Inginimitiya Madya Maha 
	Vidyalaya, Galgamuwa, 		Kurunegala.
30	Samurdhi Bank, Kotawera, 	Badulla.
30	Dharmawanshikaramaya, Madiha, 	Kamburugamuwa.
30	Redeegama Disa Rohala, 	Redeegama, 				
					Kurunegala.
30	Asokaramaya, Thawalama, 	Karapitiya.