Hd 654

Children’s length and weight were measured using an infant scale with a length meter (Seca Model 336, 232, Germany) [21 ]. Mothers’ height and weight were measured using a mobile stadiometer (Seca Model 213, Germany) and digital weight measure (Tanita HD-654, Japan), respectively.

A field survey was conducted in October 2008. The authors employed a convenience sampling method, in which people present in the targeted villages were invited to participate during the survey period. We collected urine samples since this collection method is not invasive and was deemed acceptable by respondents in the (widely differing) study communities in the seven counties in the ENVRERA project. Urine samples were collected in the morning and immediately stored at −20 °C. Together with local trained staff, we conducted a questionnaire-based survey and undertook the anthropometric measurement of residents aged ≥20 years (n = 599). Height and weight were measured using a standard anthropometer (minimum unit, 0.1 cm; DKSH Switzerland Ltd., Zurich, Switzerland) and a digital scale (minimum unit, 0.1 kg; HD-654; Tanita Corp., Tokyo, Japan), respectively. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated by dividing an individual’s weight (kg) by the square of their height (m²). Participants were asked questions regarding their demographic attributes (age and sex) and agrochemical use in the past year. Specifically, they responded to the questions “Did you use agrochemicals, herbicides or pesticides in the past year?”. All interviews were conducted in Mandarin Chinese or the Hainan dialect.

Before each survey, we informed participants of the purpose and procedures of the study. The surveys were conducted at the village community center, the village temple or the primary school in the village site. Obesity, diabetes, and hypertension were classified according to the most recent WHO recommendations[31 (link), 32 ]. Participants received medical advice from doctors.
Random blood glucose concentration was measured on site with a blood glucose analyzer (Dexter ZII or Breeze 2, Bayer Medical Co. Leverkusen, Germany). Hemoglobin A 1c (HbA1c) was detected by DCA 2000® Analyzer (Siemens, Tokyo, Japan) or A1CNow plus (Bayer Medical Co. Leverkusen, Germany). Blood pressure and resting heart rate (HR) were measured using a brachiohemopiezometer (EW3106, National Co. Tokyo, Japan), and body weight was measured using a digital weight scale (HD654, TANITA Co. Tokyo, Japan). Height was measured using a stadiometer (seca213, Seca yk, Chiba, Japan). The measurement of waist circumference (WC) was taken with a measuring tape (umfangmessband 203cm, Seka yk. Chiba, Japan) in a horizontal plane, midway between the inferior margin of the iliac crest, according to the International Diabetes Federation consensus worldwide definition of metabolic syndrome[33 ].