Health behaviours associated with healthy body composition among Aboriginal adolescents in Australia in the ‘Next Generation: Youth Well-being study’

OnlinePublThis study described the distribution of healthy body composition among Aboriginal adolescents in Australia aged 10–24 years and examined associations with health behaviours and self-rated health. Data were crosssectional from the ‘Next Generation: Youth Well-being study’ baseline (N = 1294). We used robust Poisson regression to quantify associations of self-reported health behaviours (physical activity, screen time, sleep, consumption of vegetables, fruit, soft drinks and fast food, and tobacco smoking and alcohol) and self-rated health to healthy body mass index (BMI) and waist/height ratio (WHtR). Overall, 48% of participants had healthy BMI and 64% healthy WHtR, with healthy body composition more common among younger adolescents. Higher physical activity was associated with healthy body composition (5–7 days last week vs none; adjusted prevalence ratio (aPR) healthy BMI 1.31 [95% CI 1.05–1.64], and healthy WHtR 1.30 [1.10–1.54]), as was recommended sleep duration (vs not; aPR healthy BMI 1.56 [1.19–2.05], and healthy WHtR 1.37 [1.13–1.67]). There was a trend for higher proportion of healthy body composition with more frequent fast food consumption. Healthy body composition was also associated with higher self-rated health (‘very good/excellent’ vs ‘poor/fair’; aPR healthy BMI 1.87 [1.45–2.42], and healthy WHtR 1.71 [1.40–2.10]). Culturally appropriate community health interventions with a focus on physical activity and sleep may hold promise for improving body composition among Aboriginal adolescents.Christopher D. McKay, Lina Gubhaju, Alison J. Gibberd, Bridgette J. McNamara, Rona Macniven, Grace Joshy, Robert Roseby, Robyn Williams, Aryati Yashadhana, Ted Fields, Bobby Porykali, Peter Azzopardi, Emily Banks, Sandra J. Eade

Gold exploration in the Duns area, Southern Uplands, Scotland

Following promising indications during regional geochemical sampling in the Duns area of south-east Scotland, a detailed exploration programme was conducted by the Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) in or&r to locate and characterise the source of alluvial gold occurrences discovered in the area. A drainage survey, involving the collection of panned concentrates and stream sediments, resulted in the identification of four areas for follow-up investigation. Close-spaced soil sampling carried out over these areas led to the recognition of markedly anomalous gold concentrations (up to 250 ppb), sometimes accompanied by, or closely-associated with enrichment in arsenic. Excavations to bedrock in two of these areas revealed localised gold mineralisation (up to 5 ppm) in hydrothermally altered greywacke, with attendant enrichment in adjacent minor intrusives, which were themselves altered. Lithogeochemical sampling of surface outcrops revealed widespread low-tenor (10 - 100 ppb) gold enrichment in hydrothermally altered Silurian greywackes, siltstones and subordinate porphyritic intrusives. Gold values in excess of 100 ppb are associated with dilatent features in the greywacke country rock such as fracture zones, hydrothermal breccias and localised quartz veining. Mineralisation and alteration of the greywackes is mainly developed adjacent to minor talc-alkaline intrusions of late-Caledonian age. The emplacement of these plutons at a high crustal level is believed to be associated with a previously undetected major east-south-east-trending linear structure, recognised by regional and local aeromagnetic data. Within the same area detailed gravity data revealed the presence of discrete anomalies characteristic of concealed intrusive bodies. Petrological investigations indicate the localised hydrothermal alteration of greywacke samples collected in proximity to minor porphyritic intrusions. Pervasive propyllitic alteration of some of these intrusives is also evident. Relict sulphide mineralisation was revealed in the form of pseudomorphs after pyrite and possibly arsenopyrite, occurring as disseminations and in fracture veinlets. A later phase of mineralisation, associated with fracturing and involving the precipitation of iron oxyhydroxide minerals, suggests the invasion of high-Eh meteoric waters. Full data listings, together with detailed logs of samples, are available from the Mineral Reconnaissance Programme Database, BGS, Keyworth, on request

Excess mortality in the Hunter region of Australia

The Hunter region of New South Wales has experienced higher death rates than expected during the past two decades. To try to explain this phenomenon the excess mortality was analysed by sex, age, cause of death and local governmental area within the region. Apart from unusually high mortality from motor vehicle accidents amongst young males, the excess deaths were confined to the age groups 35-74 years in both sexes, occurred in the predominantly industrial and mining areas and were largely attributable to ischaemic heart disease and stroke (with deaths from cancers occurring at normal rates). These findings emphasise that any prevention programme aimed at reducing mortality should focus on vascular diseases and be directed towards those sections of the community identified at greatest potential risk