Citation

Kumar P, Rastogi SK, Gupta BN, Husain T. J. Soc. Occup. Med. 1991; 41(4): 157-160.

Affiliation

Department of Epidemiology, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, Lucknow, India.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Society Of Occupational Medicine, Publisher Oxford University Press)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

1779671

Abstract

Behavioural studies were conducted on a random sample of 38 glass bangle workers engaged in various occupations and exposed to high ambient temperature (38.2 +/- 3.4 degrees C) and radiant heat (46.2 +/- 5.1 degrees C) during their work in the glass bangle industries at Firozabad, India. Twenty-two control subjects of similar age and socio-economic status unexposed to heat during their work were also studied for comparison. The digit span test, digit symbol test, Bourdon-Wiersma vigilance test, flicker fusion test and Maudsley personality inventory (MPI) were used to assess the behavioural changes induced by the existing heat stress. The mean scores of immediate memory were much lower in the exposed population than in the controls thereby indicating impairment of immediate memory in the study group. The visuo-motor coordination and vigilance were also significantly affected. Visual perception showed a downward trend among the glass bangle workers, although the MPI test indicated no personality changes.

Language: en