An enquiry into work environmental status and health of workers involved in production of incense sticks in city of Bangalore.

This preliminary study represents 10% of the workers in this occupation in Bangalore. The industry is highly commercial in nature and the city of Bangalore; has the largest number of units in Karnataka State. The study provides base line data relating to some morbidity conditions for future comparisons. Low back ache, tiredness, head ache, irritation in the eyes, sleeplessness, joint pains, chest pain, postural giddiness, persistent running nose, abdominal pain, cough and tremors of hands, were some of the common conditions elicited among the workers. Some of the conditions were identified to be possibly related to various processes within the industry. Particularly low back ache and irritation in the eyes (rolling and dipping), tremors of hands (packing). It is very likely that in the final stages when certain chemical ingredients are added which finally give the scent, the chances of pollutants entering either through skin or inhalation is possible. Environmental monitoring has not shown any appreciable dust hazard. The study has helped in identifying some of the areas in the work environment which required improvement. There is a need for social workers, medical personnel and industrial hygienists to explore the possibilities of minimizing possible hazards. A national sampling survey in other parts of the country might also be beneficial.

Bacterial contamination of reconstituted oral rehydration solution.

The extent and nature of bacterial contamination in oral rehydration solution reconstituted for use by individuals and for group of patients was studied. Twenty three volunteers (all qualified doctors) were asked to reconstitute a packet of prepackaged salt in half litre of clean unboiled water obtained from taps at their residence. Five ml aliquots of ORS were collected at 6, 12 and 24 hours after reconstitution for bacteriologic study. The water used by volunteers to reconstitute the ORS as well as throat swabs, peri-anal swabs and nail clippings of volunteers yielded pathogenic bacteria in all the subjects/samples. All the 23 specimens of ORS prepared by volunteers when cultured at 6 hours after reconstitution yielded pathogenic bacteria. The bacterial colony counts were found to be unacceptably high at 12 hours. Five ml samples of reconstituted ORS prepared in bulk in the children ward of PGIMER, Chandigarh were cultured at 12, and again at 24 hours after reconstitution on 10 different days. These yielded Klebsiella pneumoniae in 8 specimens (80%) and E. coli in 2 (20%). The bacterial colony count was unacceptably high, 12 hours after reconstitution.

A comparative study of different methods of training of rural subjects for reconstitution of oral rehydration solutions.

The efficacy of three methods of training rural women in reconstituting ORS was studied by analysing the sodium, potassium, and glucose contents of the ORS reconstituted by the three groups of rural women. The women in Group I were verbally instructed in the regional language regarding how to reconstitute the entire contents of a sachet containing oral rehydration salts in half a litre of water. Women from Group II, were given the same verbal instructions and in addition, were demonstrated the correct method of doing the same. Subjects from Group III were provided with plastic bags containing oral rehydration salts, which when filled with water upto the printed line, was expected to accommodate half a litre of water, when the bag was hung from a hook or held by another person from its upper ends. The contents of ORS reconstituted by Group II, who were demonstrated the actual procedure following verbal instructions, were near ideal followed by the ORS reconstituted by Group III and by Group I.