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A comparison of the designs of two types of tricycles available in India for the use of persons with severe both-lower-limb disability was made from the viewpoint of the anthropometric characteristics of the users It was noted that neither design was compatible with the disabled persons' anthropometric dimensions in a number of ways. The seats did not provide for comfortable sitting. Although the hand crank was relatively well positioned in one, the distance of the crank from the back rest obliged the users to bend forward while driving their tricycles. The study concluded that suitable modifications in the dimensions of the tricycles are required to provide greater comfort, safety and ease of operation.

Six healthy adult male Indian workers whose physical characteristics resembled those of the average worker from eastern India, were required to carry compact loads of 20, 30, 40, and 50 kg at a speed of 5 km/h on separate days. From observations on energy expenditures, of peak pulse rates, and of the patterns of recovery pulse rates, it was decided that for the average eastern Indian male worker the permissible weight of a compact load for manual carriage on a hard, level terrain should not ordinarily be more than 30 kg.

Findings of the follow-up examination of slate-pencil workers after 16 months are described. The progression of silicosis with this short duration was very rapid with high mortality among those who had conglomerate silicosis at the initial examination. Twenty-three workers had died during this period at a mean age of only 34.7 years, with a mean duration of exposure of 11.9 years. This high mortality is attributed to exposure to high concentrations of silica dust leading to early onset of PMF at a relatively young age. The progression of silicosis within this period was related to the intensity and duration of dust exposure, and also to the severity of silicosis found at the initial examination. Smoking habits had an adverse, though statistically nonsignificant, effect on the evolution of silicosis.

A preliminary survey of the few units of the small-scale glass bangle industry in Firozabad, Agra District, Uttar Pradesh, indicated that the workers were exposed to severe degrees of heat stress during various operations in the manufacturing processes. A more detailed study in eight glass bangle units was therefore undertaken to make quantitative estimates of heat stress on exposed workers in the summer season. The thermal data collected confirmed that the heat stress on the workers was severe but measurement of certain physiological indicators revealed relatively low levels of strain amongst the exposed workers. The findings could be attributable to high degrees of acclimatization, but further observations in the field supplemented by studies on simulated exposures of volunteers in a climatic chamber seem to be warranted.

Semen qualities were studied in workers with an average age of 30 years and occupationally exposed to lead in a printing press. Another sample with the same average age but not exposed to lead were taken as control subjects. The average lead content in blood and seminal plasma of the exposed group were 42.5 mcg/100 ml and 14.80 mcg/100 ml, respectively. Their sperm counts and percentage of motile sperm were significantly affected. Significantly higher percentages of abnormal spermatozoa were also observed in these semen samples. The levels of seminal acid phosphatase, succinic dehydrogenase, and fructose in them were also significantly found to be low compared with those from the unexposed subjects. Cytochemical study of sperm head DNA in the exposed groups showed a low surface reaction.

An environmental and medical survey was undertaken in the slate-pencil industry in the central part of India. The industrial hygiene survey revealed that concentrations of free silica dust were very high. The medical survey, involving 593 workers, revealed that the prevalence of silicosis in this industry was 54.6%. Of these, 17.7% of workers had conglomerate silicosis (progressive massive fibrosis, PMF). The radiologic appearance of simple and conglomerate silicosis resembled closely the simple pneumoconiosis and progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) among other occupational groups exposed to free silica and also found in coal workers. The pulmonary lesions were detectable after a relatively short duration of exposure. The short latent period of development and the high prevalence of silicosis observed among these workers are related to exposure to high concentrations of siliceous dust in the work environment.

The ergonomic approach to performance evaluation in orthopaedic rehabilitation presents problems because of the cumbersome and time-consuming measurement and test procedures involved. This paper describes a method of performance evaluation through graded load carrying tests which makes it possible to set up regression equations which can be used in routine clinical practice for prediction of the performance of below-knee amputees.

The effects of thyroidectomy and treatment with thyroxine (T4) were studied in immature male rats to evaluate the role of the thyroid in the development of testicular functions. Thyroidectomy inhibited gametogenesis and development of the Leydig cell in these rats. However, the effects could be reversed by administration of 10 micrograms T4 (i.p.) daily for 30 days.

Two types of gloves were provided to 85 non-Virginia tobacco harvesters who complained of having "green symptoms." Results show that the use of gloves causes a significant reduction in nicotine absorption as reflected by the nicotine and cotinine excretion rates and also the reduction in the prevalence of "green symptoms," since contact with the leaves and leaf-sap and the abrasions of the palms was avoided by their use. It was found that the use of rubber gloves afforded protection among 93% of the subjects, while with cotton gloves the proportion was somewhat less (78.5%). Cotton gloves were more comfortable but nondurable while the rubber ones were durable but not so comfortable.

The accumulation of hexachlorocyclohexane, one of the most commonly used chlorinated insecticides, was studied in a high-risk group of people who are exposed during its manufacturing process. The serum HCH concentration was estimated by quantitating its alpha, beta, gamma and delta-isomers with the help of GLC analysis. Exposed workers involved in maintenance work were found to have 3 times higher HCH residues than the controls, while in the plant operators and supervisors the levels were 5 times higher. The most severely exposed were the handlers who are in direct contact with the insecticide. The level of serum HCH residues in them was found to be about 12 times higher than those in the controls. The percentage composition of the insecticide, with respect to the different isomers, varied up to 20% for the gamma-isomer, up to 30% for alpha-isomer and had between 60%-100% of the beta-isomer in the samples. The serum levels of the insecticides were clearly related to the workers' job-related close contact, intensity, frequency, and the duration of their exposure. The total of HCH residues in the sera studied were in the range of 0.143-1.152 ppm. The importance of these findings and the relevant protective measures are discussed.

Four types of wheelchair available in India were evaluated from physiological, anthropometric and biomechanical points of view. None of the wheelchairs had a seat designed to provide comfort to the majority of disabled users. The diameter of the castor wheels in one type of wheelchair was found to be more suitable for overcoming the more common obstacles in buildings and net oxygen cost of this type was found to be much lower than the others. Propulsion of all the wheelchairs consumed more than 50% of the VO2 max of the disabled persons. The space allowed between the hand rim and the wheel was not adequate in any of the designs for comfortable and efficient propulsion. From the present evaluation it was concluded that although one type of wheelchair was preferable amongst the four examined, it still needed several modifications., (Copyright © 1986. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Cadmium and zinc have been analyzed in 102 normal human kidney cortex tissues collected from Indian hospitals. Cadmium and zinc were found to accumulate as age increased to 60 years, and had a log-normal distribution. Concentrations of cadmium and zinc in kidney cortex and cadmium/zinc ratios were comparable to those in other studies. The relationship between cadmium and zinc in kidney cortex gave a slope constant of 0.96 (YZn = 0.96XCd + 21.4).

Histochemical investigations of 3 beta-hydroxy-delta 5-steroid dehydrogenase (delta 5-3 beta OHD) activity in the testicular tissue of rats administered mercuric chloride (HgCl2) at dosages of 0.05 mg/kg and 0.1 mg/kg (i.p.) daily for 90 days reveal a graded inhibition of delta 5-3 beta OHD activity which was positively related to dosage and to the duration of treatment with this compound. This phenomenon may be mainly responsible for the inhibition of spermatogenesis, observed as a toxic manifestation of mercury compounds.