Occupational Health in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC): A Systematic Review and Call for Comprehensive Policy Development
M.SC Project
In order to evaluate Human Biomonitoring (HBM) practices in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, this study was conducted with the intention of assessing the current state and providing guidance for future research directions. It is imperative to undertake this study due to the escalating levels of environmental pollutants in the GCC, a region undergoing rapid industrial expansion, which present substantial risks to human health. Methods: A thorough search was performed in PubMed and Web of Science databases up to February 2023 to identify biomonitoring studies on human exposure and levels in the GCC region. Two independent reviewers assessed study eligibility, conducted data extraction and risk of bias assessment. The NIH Quality Assessment Tools and PRISMA guidelines were utilized for quality evaluation and reporting of results. Results: A total of 38 eligible articles were included in this systematic review out of 662 articles screened. Most of the publications were from Saudi Arabia (n = 24) and Kuwait (n = 10), while limited representation was found from Qatar (n = 3) and the UAE (n = 1). No articles were identified from Oman and Bahrain. The studies focused on metals, organohalogen compounds, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phthalates. The findings revealed elevated levels of metals and established correlations between metal exposure and adverse health effects, including infant neurodevelopmental issues, vitamin D deficiency, and oxidative stress. The presence of organohalogen compounds and pesticides was prevalent in the GCC region, with significant associations between exposure to these compounds andnegative health outcomes. Notably, high levels of perchlorate were observed in the Kuwaiti population, and a study from Saudi Arabia found an association between per- and polyfluorinated substances and increased odds of osteoporosis. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the need to address environmental health challenges in the GCC region through improved HBM research methods and strategies. Implementing biomonitoring programs, conducting cohort studies, investing in tools and expertise, promoting collaboration, and engaging the community are crucial for reliable HBM data in the GCC. Khaled R, Elabed S, Masarani A, Almulla A, Almheiri S, Koniyath R, Semerjian L, Abass K. Human biomonitoring of environmental contaminants in Gulf Countries - current status and future directions. Environ Res. 2023 Nov 1;236(Pt 1):116650. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116650. Epub 2023 Jul 20. PMID: 37479209.
