Health Sciences

The Health Sciences Division at ICMR–NIOH comprises four key sections: Clinical Epidemiology, Ergonomics and Work Physiology, the Poison Information Center, and Biostatistics. Together, they drive interdisciplinary research on occupational health with support from intramural ICMR funding and extramural grants from government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry stakeholders.

The Division focuses on a range of occupational health issues including work-related respiratory illnesses, heat stress, noise-induced hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders, ergonomic risk assessment, and metabolic health risks. The Division also supports statutory Periodic Medical Examinations for industries and provides toxicological diagnostics through its Poison Information Centre. The Biostatistics unit ensures rigorous analytical support across projects. Key research strategies include epidemiological studies, intervention programmes, and implementation research aimed at prevention and mitigation.

Current research initiatives include health risks among informal women workers, coal-handlers, ship recyclers, artisans, and AMTS bus drivers; TB-silicosis collaborative activities; community health assessments in industrial zones and critically polluted areas; multicenter biomonitoring studies on heavy metals; and technical support for health evaluations in NGT and other regulatory matters.

The Division is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, including spirometers (for lung function), audiometers (hearing evaluation), QUESTemp heat stress monitors, Class 1 sound level meters, SVANTEK vibration analyzers (whole-body and hand-arm), isokinetic and hand-grip dynamometers (muscle strength), bioelectrical impedance analyzers (body composition), and semi-quantitative biochemical analyzers (for organophosphate exposure).