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Biomedical subjects

S H Clerk

Publications and source records attributed to S H Clerk.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Behavioral studies in petrol pump workers.

Behavioral studies were conducted on 90 petrol pump workers to study the effect of petrol on the central and peripheral nervous systems. Sixty-four control subjects of similar age and socio-economic status were also taken for purposes of comparison. Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI), Benton Visual Retention Test, Digit Span Test, Progressive Matrices, Digit Symbol Test and Mirror Drawing Test were used for behavioral studies. Immediate and delayed memory were found to be significantly affected in exposed workers. Intellectual capacity and psychomotor ability were also significantly affected (P less than 0.01). Psychomotor ability and visuomotor learning ability were more affected (P less than 0.05) among the exposed subjects than among the controls. However, stability and extroversion-introversion ability remained unaffected.

Humans↗

Chronic cyanide exposure--A biochemical and industrial hygiene study.

A study was undertaken to assess the health status of workers exposed to cyanide fumes and cyanide aerosols in one of the local factories. Cyanide levels in the breathing zone and the working atmosphere were measured. Cyanide and thiocyanate concentrations in blood and urine were determined colorimetrically. The cyanide and thiocyanate concentrations in blood and urine of exposed workers were much higher than those of control workers. Smokers had higher concentrations than nonsmokers. The highest values of cyanide were found to be 0.8 and 0.2 mg/m3 in the breathing zone and general workroom atmosphere respectively. In spite of such low values, the workers complained of typical HCN poisoning. It is suggested that MAC values of 5 mg/m3 (in terms of CN) should be reviewed in respect to conditions in India.

Adult↗