Adil AlWahaibi

My name is Adil AlWahaibi, born and live in Oman. I received my primary and secondary education in Muscat, the capital of Oman. I studied medicine in the Sultan Qaboos University (1997-2004). After graduation I worked as a physician in the royal hospital in Muscat, in the department of medicine. In 2008 I joined the department of environmental and occupational medicine in Oman.

In 2010 I finished my MSc of occupational and environmental medicine in the university of Aberdeen (UK). In 2011 I finished postgraduate diploma in public health, after that I joined a PhD program of environmental epidemiology supervised by Dr. Ariana Zeka.

My main interest is to study the determinants of diseases in populations, especially the environmental determinants. I believe that controlling the environment will control the incidence and prevalence of many diseases. This, in turn, will help decrease the burden on the health system.

Work experience:

1. Placement in the department of occupational and environmental health in the ministry of health, sultanate of Oman. (September 2008 to August 2009)
2. Resident in Internal Medicine; Royal hospital. (August 2006 to October 2007)
3. Medical Officer (GP) at South Maabaila Health centre (August 2005 – August 2006) then (March 2008-July 2008):
4. House Officer/ Intern (August 2004 - August 2005):
5. Overseas Clinical Elective Attachment in the University of Wales Hospital, UK (4 weeks in Paediatrics, 4 weeks in Internal Medicine); summer 2003
6. Volunteered   Placement with the surgical team in the Armed Forces Hospital in Muscat; summer 2000.

Research Interests

Environmental determinants of diseases in populations

Research Activity

The adverse effects of air pollution on human health are well established. These effects may involve different systems of the body especially the respiratory (for example, bronchial asthma) and the cardiovascular system (for example, ischemic heart disease). Other health effects include allergies (such as, dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis) and possible malignancies (such as lymphoma).

Sohar Industrial Port, operated in 2006, contains many industries that may adversely contribute to the air quality and hence to the health status of the residence around it. In my study, I will investigate the amount of exposure in the area around the port. Then, I will assess the health effects in that residential area. These health effects along with the exposure will be compared together to find out the association between them.

The health data was obtained from the Ministry of Health (MoH), Sultanate of Oman. These data are basically the electronic health system recording implemented by the MoH. On the other hand, the pollution data was taken from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs. In addition, Oman Metrological Department contributed to the metrological data (such as, wind speed, wind direction and temperature profile). Finally, data of the demographic properties of the region was obtained from a national census conducted in 2010 by the Ministry of Economy.

My research will help in the development of evidence-based guidelines to improve the policies regarding the accepted exposure and environmental levels of the studied pollutants. Furthermore, it will help in the suggestion of the minimum distance that should be allowed from the industries and the residential areas (separation distance). Finally, my study could be easily replicated in the other industrial areas in Oman, which will lead for a better pollution and environmental monitoring across the sultanate.