The section endeavors to protect the public from toxicants found in the environment, home and work place through epidemiological methods and approaches. Detailed studies of human subjects for clinical outcomes of exposure to toxicants are undertaken for devising strategies to promote health and prevent disease.

• To identify & measure adverse health effects attributable to occupational & environmental factors in groups of populations.

• Health risk assessment specifically for industrial and environmental chemicals.

• Exposure assessments through work place monitoring and biological monitoring of workers.

• Study of acute episodes of sickness related to chemical accidents.

• Recommend and suggest methods for amelioration of occupation and environment related sickness.

• HRD in occupational health & environmental epidemiology.

• Adverse Health Effects, Exposure Estimates & Economic burden in PAHs Exposed Subjects 
  The study revealed that the proportion of subjects excreting more than normal levels of Urinary Hydroxypyrene - 1 (UHP), a metabolite of Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) excreted in urine (> 0.5 µmol /mol of creatinine) was significantly higher in group exposed to vehicular emissions. A large percentage of population is exposed to PAHs and faces the risk of short-term clinical symptoms relating to cardiovascular, respiratory, auditory & ophthalmic systems that are attributable to PAHs exposure. A population of 1.64 million persons is estimated to be excreting higher than the cut-off levels of UHP in Lucknow and is thus exposed to PAHs. A sizeable population of 0.38 million of these suffers from a symptoms-cluster that is attributable to PAH exposure. The cost of PAHs exposure related symptom cluster is estimated to range between Rs. 200 and 1633 m for Lucknow with an average estimated cost to be 919 m INR.

• Health Survey Brick-Kiln Workers 
  Brick kilns provide employment to more than 12 million persons. In first ever occupational health study of this industry, 263 workers from different kilns in Lucknow and representing various sub-occupations in the brick industry were examined for risk of occupational diseases. These subjects were found to be at a higher risk for suffering from silicosis (6.2%), chronic bronchitis (4.6%), eye irritation (8.5%) and callosities (8.2%) and non occupational diseases due to compromised social and economic conditions. A significant increase in Cellular DNA protein crosslinks (DPC) content and DPC coefficients in peripheral lymphocytes was observed in the brick-kiln workers compared with the controls, indicating high exposure to solar radiation.
  Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Vol. 6, No. 4, P 150-155, 2000.
  Biomarkers, Vol.8, No. 2, P 162-166, 2003.

• Disease burden in Lucknow city 
  The commercial areas, densely populated older parts and areas with high traffic density are more polluted than those with compared to well planned suburban townships, cantonment, etc having higher green coverage and lesser population density. The study attempted to quantify the risk for ill health in congested and non-congested areas. Variations in health trends and sickness among the residents were studied using a mixed cross-sectional study design with add on components. The study included 900 subjects of all ages and both sexes; 551 from congested areas, 250 from less congested areas and 99 from non congested areas. 
  Environmental burden comprised 31.7 % of the estimated total burden of sickness. Area and locality wise morbidity rates and relative risk with respect to control area were calculated. In congested areas estimated number of sick persons at the time of survey were 5, 17,110 of which 1, 55,040 were respiratory cases, 1, 31, 830 of GIT disorders and 55,703 dermal cases while the rest were of other systems. The attributable fraction due to congestion was calculated to be 74.6 %, 28.6% for respiratory and GIT disorders respectively. Accidents constitute major health risks that can be reduced through environmental measures. Dust is a major source of poor air quality and resulting ill health. The city has an estimated 34,814 cases (cholelithiasis = 9,283 & nephrolithiasis 25,530) of stone in kidney/ gall bladder. The problem requires scientific investigation as these diseases have high economic costs. Policies for decongesting areas with high population density and heavy commercial activity will have a positive impact on health of residents. A proper mix of appropriate technology and social change is required for achieving this aim.

• Association of body composition and cardiovascular risk factors among active and sedentary population of Lucknow using Bioelectric Impedance (BI) method 
  A cross sectional health survey was undertaken among the police men of Lucknow for assessing their health status with special emphasis on the assessment of body composition. The survey included 1042 male policemen. Mean age (yrs), height (cms) and weight (Kg.) were 38.10 ± 10.03, 171.2 ± 7.42 and 72.36 ± 10.55 respectively. Percentage of overweight (BMI>= 25.0) among policeman was found to be 46.1 however obesity (BMI >= 30.0) was only 6.1 per cent. Visceral Fat Analysis showed high fat (VFA>=15) in 14.3 per cent policeman and slightly high (VFA between 10 to 14.9) visceral fat in 37.9 per cent subjects. High visceral fat was significantly higher (p<0.001) in higher age group (21.7 %) compared to lower age group (2.6 %). Prevalence of slightly high (BF % between 20 to 25%) and high body fat content (BF% >25) was 32.2 per cent and 45.6 per cent respectively. The prevalence of high fat content was found to be significantly higher (p<0.001) in higher age group (57.8 %) in contrast to lower age group (26.0 %). Morbidity pertaining to cardiovascular system was found to be 29.6%. Twenty percent policemen shows diastolic blood pressure > 90mmHg while 11.8 per cent shows systolic blood pressure > 140mmHg. The study shows overweight, excess body fat percent leading to cardio vascular morbidity in policemen. Exercise viz., walking and yoga may be taken as preventive measure. 
  ITRC Annual Report 2005-2006:50

• Lung function abnormalities among petrol-pump workers of Lucknow, North India 
  Our study demonstrates altered lung function in petrol-pump workers related to duration of exposure. Decline in observed values of VC, FVC, FEV1 among petrol pump workers when compared to predicted value and also exposure- wise denotes prevalence of restrictive type of lung diseases. Reduced mechanical properties of breathing due to exposure to benzene in the vapours of petrol may have resulted in respiratory impairments. Steady reduction in the capacity of MMEF denotes PAO. Overall prevalence of mixed with PAO type of respiratory impairment was higher among petrol-pump workers .The results show that mixed/PAO type of respiratory impairment was observed during early periods of exposure (<5 years) itself and it continued to persist in other exposure groups (> 5 yrs group).Lack of health awareness and lack of protective measures during work among petrol-pump workers may have led to lung function abnormality among them. 
  Current Science 2006; 90:9: 1177-1178

• Respiratory Effects due to occupational exposure to Formaldehyde-Systematic review with meta-analysis
  Subjects exposed to organic solvents frequently complain of respiratory symptoms. Epidemiological studies conducted in these exposed subjects with special reference to respiratory effects are very few and that too are on very small number of subjects. This paper critically reviews most of the epidemiological studies in formaldehyde induced respiratory effects and combines them through meta analysis to get global precise estimates of the respiratory risks. A computerised bibliographic search revealed 16 epidemiological studies out of which 12 studies were considered for meta analysis. The symptoms of upper respiratory tract were more prevalent as the combined odds of exposed was 5.04 compared to controls. The pooled odds ratio for acute lower respiratory symptoms ranged between 1.85 and 2.91. The mean fall of FVC, FEV1 and FEV1/FVC was only 3.4%, 3.6% and 0.6% respectively which was not statistically or physiologically considered significant. 
  Ind J Occup Envt Med 2007; 11:1: 26-31

• Human health data for evaluation of consumer products
  Generation and evaluation of human data is essential for safety assessment and procuring appropriate sanctions from regulatory authorities, prior to marketing of agrochemicals and other consumer products. Data on azadirachitin, tetra hydro azadirachitin and jojoba cream was generated from human studies in this period.

• Facility for clinical studies 

• Nerve conduction studies 

• Lung function test 

• Body composition monitoring 

• Industrial Hygiene 

• Haematology 

• Biochemical studies 

• Epidemiological Statistical analysis based on software viz., EPI INF05, SPSS

Top

_________________________________________________

Copyright © 2008 Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, India