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Toxicovigilance by NIOH Poison Information Centre
Benzene poisoning in Diamond Workers

On  21st  June  2005,  three  cases  of  Aplastic anemia were brought to the notice of Poison information Centre. All  were  young  males  who  had been working in a diamond cutting and polishing unit  at Surat for the past 2 years.
They had  been  using a solvent along with a whitener  for  marking the rough
facets on diamonds. GC MS analysis of the solvent at NIOH showed  it to be
pure  Benzene.  All  cases  are  undergoing  treatment at various hospitals in
Ahmedabad and these hospitals have  been   regularly  calling  NIOH  Poison
Centre for poisoning related cases.

NIOH  Poison  Centre  swung  into  action  and  the  Dept of Industrial Health
and Safety was notified  about the incident. The  problem  was reported to the
media and it was highlighted in newspapers  and  television. Govt  of   Gujarat
has  initiated  immediate  action  to  carry  out surveys  in  diamond industries.
The  diamond  industry  has also issued directives to ban the use  of Benzene
with immediate effect.

National  Institute  of  Occupational  Health  in  collaboration with the Dept. of
Industrial Safety and Health is going to undertake an epidemiological study in
Diamond workers to determine health risks as a result of benzene exposures.