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Issues in the Development of Neurobehavioral Toxicity Tests in India
Pages 322-336

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From page 322...
... Part IV of this volume, dealing with regional issues in the development of neurobehavioral toxicity tests, is concerned with future development of behavioral tests of neurotoxicity in occupational health. To understand the topic fully there are several issues to be discussed: 1.
From page 323...
... Workers are exposed to relatively high doses of neurotoxic substances without adequate protection. Because of ignorance and, possibly, of no way to cope with the problems, very little or no attention is paid to early neurobehavioral changes.
From page 324...
... accident of the Bhopal gas tragedy on December 2-3 forced the government and other agencies to review occupational health and safety programs and created awareness in the general population about the effects of toxic substances. Epidemiological studies have been carried out since the MIC accident, but because of ignorance of behavioral toxicology, not much attention has been paid to neurobehavioral changes, which are not being assessed by any well-developed neurobehavioral test battery.
From page 325...
... At present about six research investigators are working in this field. Most of the research is ex post facto field studies planned to assess effects of various toxic substances on different behavioral parameters with the help of neurobehavioral tests.
From page 326...
... Performance was measured by using a psychological test battery containing Benton Visual Retention test, Bourdon-Wiersma Vigilance test, Santa Ana Dexterity test, and a screening questionnaire. Results were compared with those of comparable groups of unexposed workers matched on mean age, education, and salary, with exposure duration of (1)
From page 327...
... from related departments were measured on a psychological test battery comprising PGI memory test, Santa Ana Dexterity test, Bourdon-Wiersma Vigilance test, a questionnaire on subjective symptoms, and a screening questionnaire. The results were compared with those of a comparable group of unexposed workers matched on mean age, education, and salary.
From page 328...
... Performance was measured by a psychological test battery comprising the Benton Visual Retention test, digit span, Bourdon-Wiersma Vigilance test, Santa Ana Dexterity test, EPI, and NSQ. These measures were compared with those of a control group of unexposed workers matched on mean age, education, and salary.
From page 329...
... in studying the effects of neurobehavioral toxicity are using their own behavioral test batteries for different toxic substances. In the recent past, WHO has suggested a test battery that can be used and developed by all nations and services.
From page 330...
... Priority should be given to the development of a test battery for preliminary screening comprised of elementary tests covering all the functional domains described by WHO. It should then be applied to find out the domains that are being affected by exposure to various toxic substances.
From page 331...
... BARRIERS TO TEST DEVELOPMENT The expected direction of development of neurobehavioral tests of neurotoxicity depends on overcoming a number of obstacles. Untiland unless- a suitable test development environment is created, with a interdisciplinary approach and coordinated research programs, the scientific and systematic development of tests will not be possible.
From page 332...
... General medical personnel—even those who are working as industrial medical officers are not ready to accept that behavioral tests of toxicity can detect neurological damage or that these tests can be used for the early detection of damage. Because, at present, all epidemiological studies are carried out by medical personnel, fuller understanding and collaboration between the two disciplines are essential if the development of behavioral tests of neurotoxicity is to be possible.
From page 333...
... Control of Exposure The lack of awareness of neurobehavioral toxicology in India has meant that volunteers are not readily available to assist in the development of appropriate tests. The development of sensitive tests and the assessment of reactions to varying concentrations of potentially toxic substances would be facilitated if experimental studies could be conducted.
From page 334...
... An important step can be taken when agencies of developed countries and international agencies such as WHO hold workshops, seminars, and conferences to support the objectives discussed above and also to train persons for the further development of neurobehavioral tests. Inclusion of Neurobehavioral Toxicology as a Full Partner in Occupational Health Programs Occupational health programs differ among developing countries and range from very early to relatively advanced stages.
From page 335...
... A center should be established in each developing country by appropriate international organizations, with the responsibility of fostering the development of neurobehavioral tests. Such centers should exchange information, passing it along to researchers working on the development of neurobehavioral tests.
From page 336...
... 1987b. Psychological Performance and Subjective Symptoms of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Past Control Substances.


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