Department
Information
Occupational
Hygiene
1.
Objectives The
main objectives of Occupational Hygiene Division are to critically
assess and evaluate the work environment, taking into consideration
physical factors like heat, noise, illumination and chemical factors
like dust, fumes, vapour and gases etc. and suggest or recommend
intervention and preventive measures to minimize the levels of contaminant
in the work environment of the factory. 2.
Functions ·
To plan and execute the research projects to provide
comfortable work environment for the workers. · To
suggest necessary preventive measures to minimize occupational diseases
in organized and unorganized sectors. ·
To develop engineering control devices to control
the dust related diseases. ·
To organize educational and awareness programmes/workshops
for the workers, NGOs, Supervisors, Medical Officers, Factory Inspectors,
Industrial Physicians and Safety Officers. 3.
Details of scientific and technical staff
4.
Laboratory
facilities and instruments To
fulfill above objectives Division has following facilities
and instruments. Facility : Dust free Trace Metal Laboratory equipped with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophotometer (FTIR). This Division has also Digestion Chamber Treatment Room, etc. MAJOR EQUIPMENTS
5.
Ongoing projects 1. Biological and Environmental Monitoring of Chromium in Chemical Industry. 6.
Important projects completed
6.1
Programme on Trace Metals Exposure and Toxicology
:
The work on Trace Metal Exposure and Toxicology was initiated
in 1984 in this Institute, wherein, systematic study of Trace Metal
exposure in the community and work environment was studied. The
trace metals in autopsis samples collected from Civil Hospitals were
also analyzed to find out the body burden. The trace metals
like copper, nickel, lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium, cobalt etc. were
studied in this project using sophisticated technique like Atomic
Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). After this programme, division was
designated by WHO/UNEP International programme entitled
"Assessment of Human Exposure to Lead and Cadmium through
Biological Monitoring". This prestigeous programme was
successfully completed. In this programme, international comparison
was made for lead and cadmium through Biological Monitoring. As a
part of this programme, I also attended WHO meeting at Zagreb,
Yugoslavia
in 1982 to discuss the quality control results of all
participating laboratories Integrated
Environment Programme on Heavy Metals Pollution (Phase-I & Phase-II Integrated
Environment Programme on Heavy Metals Pollution (Phase-I and
Phase-II) was an exploratory study aimed to assess environmental
pollution by heavy metals and possible human exposure to them. In
this project, the information on the distribution of cadmium,
chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and zinc in water, air and food
was collected in urban and rural locations in winter and summer with
the help of six national recognised institutions/centres. NIOH,
Ahmedabad had carried out both the phases (1983-89) of this
programme in Western part of this country (i.e. Gujarat and
Rajasthan states) and generated baseline data on levels of seven
above said heavy metals. The outcome of this project was
publication on TOXIC METALS IN THE INDIAN ENVIRONMENT edited by C.R.
krishnamurthy and Pushpa Viswanathan, published by Tata McGraw Hill
Publishing Co. Ltd., 1991. In this book, all scientific data of my
studies had been included and one chapter of this book had been
written jointly with other eminent scientists of the country.
6.2
WHO/UNEP Programme on Human Exposure Assessment Location (HEAL)
Total or integrated human exposure assessment required the measurement of a pollutants through all routes from all media. The WHO/UNEP programme on Human Exposure Assessment Location (HEAL) (1989-92) was the first international attempt to make an integrated environmental pollution assessment. Pb/Cd, HCB/DDT and NO2 had been selected initially and seven countries, viz. Brazil, China, India, Japan, Sweden, USA and Yugoslavia participated. Chembur area of the Bombay city had been selected as Indian HEAL site, in which NIOH, Ahmedabad, was working as Co-ordinating as well as participating institute, representing India on this global project. (1) Global environment monitoring system - Exposure monitoring of lead and cadmium - 1990. (2) Earthwatch global environment monitoring system - Exposure monitoring of nitrogen dioxide - 1991.(3) Report was also prepared for WHO/UNEP and Ministry of Environment, Govt. of India. Exposure monitoring of pesticides - HCB&DDT - 1992
6.3 Quality Assurance
and Monitoring Programme on Nickel Contents
Director
General of Health Services and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Govt. of India, sponsored project entitled "quality assurance
and monitoring prts were medically examined with lead related specific
biochemical and haematological tests.
Alongwith this Industrial hygiene and environmental monitoring
was carried out. Lead related morbidity was noted in about 30% of
the high risk group workers. Suitable recommendations were suggested
to reduce lead levels in the factory.
6.4
Health surveillance, health status and hygiene survey of Modi Alkalies
and Chemicals Ltd., Alwar, Rajasthan. Chlor-alkali plant is designed to produce caustic soda, with other products like Cl2, HCl, bleaching powder, TCE at Alwar, Rajasthan. About 300 workers working in this plant and exposed to mercury, chlorine, TCE were medically examined alongwith industrial hygiene study. Mercury levels exceeded the TLV of Cell House Division and occasionally in the close by areas. Mercury related morbidity associated with biochemical abnormalities were noted in about 25% of the high risk groups workers. Suitable recommendations were suggested to reduce mercury exposure in the factory at risk to establish prevalence of population related morbidity in Vapi, South Gujarat. Total about 5000 subjects from peripheral villages like Balitha, Chala, Chandod, Chhiri, Chharwada, Salvav, Namdha, Chandor, alongwith Vapi town, GIDC. Industrial Estate had been medically examined. PFT and ECG were carried out randomly in about 1500 subjects, while biochemical and haematological tests were carried out in 2000 subjects. About 600 subjects from Ambach village, as controls, were also studied. Overall finding of this study suggested respiratory impairment due to air pollution, but trend of morbidity and mortality due to pollution (air and water) will be assessed after final statistical analysis. In this project. 6.5 Environmental cum medical survey in Cement Works, Himachal Pradesh. Detailed
industrial hygiene study along with community environment monitoring
was carried out in this plant to assess the dust levels in the environment.
Dust levels were found high in bagging and loading departments of
the factory. The respirable dust levels were found higher than the
prescribed levels upto 2 kms. of radius from the factory. However,
dust related morbidity was not observed in the workers. Suitable
recommendations were suggested to reduce dust exposure in the factory.
6.6
Cotton dust exposure in India Cotton
dust exposure and prevalence of Byssinosis in three textile mills
of Ahmedabad using median variety of cotton was studied in detail.
It was found that Byssinosis occurs mainly in blow and card rooms.
The prevalence of Byssinosis correlated well with dust (less fly)
concentrations. Dust concentrations were much higher than the prescribed
exposure limits for cotton dust. Later on, two textile mills with
fine and medium variety of cotton were also studied. Cotton dust
levels were evaluated with vertical elutriators also. Cotton
dust exposure was also studied in four ginning units of Gujarat.
Two units were selected from South Gujarat (using medium variety
of cotton with low trash content) and two unit were selected from
North Gujarat (using medium variety of cotton with high trash content).
It was found that dust levels were much higher in Gins using cotton
having more trash content (7-8% than the gins using cotton with
low trash content (<1%). It was suggested that in addition to
engineering control, the use of good quality of cotton (low trash
content) can help in minimizing the risk of Byssinosis in textile
mills because active agents responsible for Byssinosis are contained
in trash content.
6.7
Asbestos exposure in India Asbestos
exposure was studied in mining, milling and asbestos cement factories.
It was found that the exposure was below the limit of 2 fibres/ml
in asbestos cement factories and in underground mines where wet
drilling was carried out. In open cast mining also the fibre lends
were found to be lower than 2 fibres/ml. But exposure was very high
in milling of asbestos fibres (20-222 fibres/ml).
6.8
Indo-US Collaborative Programme on Biological Markers of Manganese
Exposure and Effect in Manganese Exposure
Mines.
6.9
A Pilot Study on Occupational Health Problems of Salt
Manufacturing Workers in Little Rann (Desert) of Kutchh.
6.10
Prevention, Control and Treatment of Silicosis and Silico-tuberculosis
in Agate Industry. Agate
industry has been primarily developed as a cottage or household
industry mainly located in and around Khambhat, Gujarat. Grinding
and polishing of agate puts it in semi-precious category of ornamental
stones. During grinding of agate a large amnount of dust containing
free crystalline silica (quartz) is generated in the work environment.
Exposure to this type of dust produces not only silicosis but also
predisposes to the development of tuberculosis. Recently crystalline
silica has been identified as a carcinogen also. During preliminary
vists to Khambhat we observed that this dust not only pervades the
work environment but also goes to living rooms of the house as it
is a household industry. Due to this family members are also affected
and since most of the grinding machines are installed in verandah
of houses, neighbours are also exposed to dust although they are
not engaged in this occupation. There
are two types of grinding machines viz. vertical shaft grinding
machine (Bankada) and horizontal shaft grinding (Patia).
Any shape can be given to the stone with Bankada whereas
Patia is used for giving spherical shape to stones. Environmental
hygiene survey at grinding units using traditional Bankada
and Patia machines showed that dust concentrations were much
higher than the permissible levels of exposure. Samples were also
analyzd for quartz content by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR)
Spectroscopy. The quartz content to work environment samples was
found to be 34.19 ±
14.54%. The particle size analysis of samples showed that 98% of
the airborne particles were having sizes less than 10 microns. Air
pollution survey was also carried out in the vicinity of these units
at four locations and three control sites away from these units.
It was found that crystalline silica concentration in ambient air
in the vicinity of these units was 15.28 mg/m3
whereas the silica concentration was only 3.03 mg/m3
at the control sites. Medical
survey was carried out in agate workers, their family members, community
and control subjects. It was found that the prevalence of silicosis
was 29.2% in grinders, 11.0% in family members, 8.9% in other workers
(except those involved in grinding), 6.8% in community subjects
in the vicinity of these units. Cases of silicosis were found in
control subjects. To
reduce exposure of silica dust control system was developed on traditional
grinding machines (Fig.1 and 2). The system was installed at 10
units. The efficacy of dust control system was found to be 93.55%
and 93.80% for total and respirable dust for vertical grinding machine
(Bankada) and 93.73% and 90.21% for total and respirable
dust for horizontal machines (Patia).
6.11 Health hazards in and around silver foundries in Ahmedabad. WHO-biennium
survey on occurrence of metal contaminants like lead, cadmium, arsenic
and tin in infant milk and infant milk substitute sponsored by MHFW
in collaboration with WHO |
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