World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health


Department of Environmental Health Engineering

Faculty of Public Health

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education & Research

(Deemed to be University)

Accredited by NAAC with A++ Grade & Graded by UGC as Category I University


Indian Council of Medical Research

Center for Advanced Research on Environmental Health : Air Pollution

About the Department of Environmental Health Engineering

1. Job-Exposure-Health profile for workers exposed to respirable dusts in textile units of Tamil Nadu, India.
2. Exposures to respirable particulates associated with household fuel use in rural districts of Andhra pradesh, India.
3. Comparative health risk assessment for environmental concerns in Manali Industrial zone in North Chennai.
4. Comparative risk assessment for interventions aimed at reduction of indoor air pollution associated with bio-mass fuel use in rural and urban settings of Andhra Pradesh, India- an integrated evaluation based on health risks and greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Assessment of baseline health and environmental status of the municipal solid waste sector in Chennai.
6. Study of Lead Exposure & Outcomes Amongst Children in Chennai, India.
7. Fogarty-University of California - Training & Research Project.

1. Project Title

Job-Exposure-Health profile for workers exposed to respirable dusts in textile units of Tamil Nadu, India.
Project Description
Evaluation of the workplace environment in textile units of Tamil Nadu through industrial hygiene measurements.
Creation of a job-exposure/job-hazard matrix for the textile units of Tamil Nadu.
Health risk assessment for occupational exposures for workers in these units.
Funding Agency
Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board, Chennai.
Capital grant : Rs.2.85 lakhs
Duration : June 2000 to December 2002
2. Project Title
Exposures to respirable particulates associated with household fuel use in rural districts of Andhra pradesh, India.
Project Description
Conduct of indoor air quality monitoring in rural households of Andhra Pradesh.
Preparation of an exposure atlas for indoor air pollutants associated with the combustion of bio-mass fuels in rural households.
Identification of key household level determinants of concentrations and exposures in rural households to indoor air pollutants release form use of bio-mass for cooking.
Funding Agency
ESMAP Unit, The World Bank.
Grant amount : Rs.8 Lakhs
Duration : December 2000 to February 2003
3. Project Title
Comparative health risk assessment for environmental concerns in Manali Industrial zone in North Chennai.
Project Description
Comparative health risk assessment for environmental concerns in Manali Industrial zone in North Chennai.
Preparation of a National Environmental Health profile based on results from Chennai zone and nine other centers in the country.
Funding Agency
The World Health Organisation / Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt.of India.
Grant amount : Rs.17.5 Lakhs
Duration : May 2001 to December 2003
4. Project Title
Comparative risk assessment for interventions aimed at reduction of indoor air pollution associated with bio-mass fuel use in rural and urban settings of Andhra Pradesh, India- an integrated evaluation based on health risks and greenhouse gas emissions.
Project Description
  Develop integrated environmental strategies to address indoor air pollution associated with combustion of bio-mass fuels through the assessment of co-benefits of reduction of emission of health damaging pollutant as well as green house gas emissions.
  Evaluate cost-effectiveness of possible interventions based on co-benefits.
Funding Agency
The United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Grant amount : Rs.10 lakhs
Duration : January 2003 to June 2004
 
5. Project Title
Assessment of baseline health and environmental status of the municipal solid waste sector in Chennai.
Project Description
  Assessment of baseline health and environmental status of the municipal solid waste sector in Chennai.
  Aid in design of environmental management plan and identify parameters for routine surveillance.
 
Funding Agency
Central Pollution Control Board.
Grant amount : Rs.5 lakhs
Duration : May 2003 to April 2004
 
6. Project Title
Study of Lead Exposure & Outcomes Amongst Children in Chennai, India.
Project Description
 

Establishing association between environmental lead exposures and neuro-behavioural outcomes in school children of Chennai.

  Establishing relationships between DNA polymorphisms and impact of lead on neuro-behavioural development in school children.
Funding Agency
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health, Fogarty International Center, USA in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health. (Being submitted for ICMR approval).
Grant amount : $ 40,000 per year for 3 years
Duration : January 2003 to December 2005
 
7. Project Title

Fogarty-University of California - Training & Research Project.

Project Description
Research training for doctoral and post doctoral research fellows in occupational and environmental health through formal course work at University of California Berkeley and short term research assignments. Current areas of research include:
Pilot project on validation of protocols for demonstration of association between childhood. ARI and respirable particulate matter from bio-mass combustion, in rural households.
Field testing of newly developed instruments for respirable particulate matter measurements. Development of biomarker for wood smoke exposure.
 
Funding Agency
Fogarty International Center, USA in collaboration with University of California, Berkeley.
Training & Research Grant amount : $ 25,000 per year for 5 years
Duration : January 2002 to December 2006