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Artisans in the informal automobile sector are involved in diverse occupational activities that could predispose them to health risks associated with lead exposure. A case-control study was conducted to assess the risk of having high blood lead levels among the artisans. Data were collected using structured questionnaire and laboratory analysis. Sixty purposively sampled participants, 30 artisans and 30 age-matched control subjects, were assessed. Lead levels in blood samples were analysed using NIOSH method 8003 and data were analysed using SPSS version 22. The artisans had four times odds of having high blood lead levels compared to the control subjects (Odds ratio = 4.0; 95% CI = 1.37 - 11.70). The study concludes that the informal automobile repair workshops pose risks of high blood lead levels to the artisans. Therefore, there is a need for occupational health and safety monitoring and intervention programmes in the informal sector automobile industry to curb such health risks.

Geophagia is deliberate consumption of earths' materials e.g., soil. It is a widespread practice among pregnant women in Kenya. Various hypotheses on geophagia have been advanced and there are conflicting views as to whether it is beneficial to health or not. Geophagia materials may be a source of micronutrients especially zinc and iron although the materials may bind some of these micronutrients consequently reducing or hindering their bioavailability in the body. This study focused on determination of prevalence rate of geophagia and factors influencing it, sources and types of consumed geophagia materials. The research design was descriptive cross-sectional study whereas data collection was by structured questionnaire and observations. A total of 431 pregnant women in various stages of pregnancy were recruited in the study. Both point and period prevalence rates of geophagia were determined to be 35% and 58% pregnant women respectively. There was a statistical significant difference in the prevalence rate among the geophagous pregnant women in the different trimesters of pregnancy (ρ = 0.00, x2= 19.41). However there was no statistical significant difference in the prevalence rate among the geophagous pregnant women with different levels of education (ρ = 0.34, x2= 4.51).