FOO, Swee Cheng

Associate Professorial Fellow

PhD (Chem. Eng.) Queensland, 1977
MSc (Ind. Hyg.) Cincinnati, 1988
MEng (Ind. Eng.) AIT, 1972
BSc (Chem. Eng.) Cheng Kung, 1968

Contact information
Blk E4, 4 Engineering Drive 3, #05-27, Singapore 117576
Tel: (65) 6516 8721    Fax: (65) 6779 1936
Email: chefoosc@nus.edu.sg

RESEARCH

Industrial Hygiene & Ergonomics

The study of industrial hygiene focuses on exposure evaluations and health surveys for risk assessment of workers exposed to organic solvents, toxic metals and ergonomics. Previous studies include environmental and biological monitoring assessments for exposure to solvents (such as toluene) and toxic metals (such as mercury, manganese, lead and cadmium).

Occupational Safety & Health

In collaboration with occupational physicians, neurobehavioural effects of chemicals such as mercury, manganese, toluene, solvent mixtures, ethylene glycol ethers and reproductive effects of chemicals such as toluene, paint and coating solvent mixtures, ethylene glycol ethers and manganese were studied in industrial workers.

Indoor Air Quality & Office Health

In collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, extensive indoor air quality survey was conducted in office buildings, schools, carparks and MRT stations. The effects of indoor air quality on office workers were also studied.

Environmental Health

Research is focused on environmental pollution and its effects on public health. Chemicals investigated include lead, cadmium, mercury, benzene, and DDT. The relationships among DDT absorption, estrogen metabolism and breast cancer have been investigated.

Safety & Health Management

Research and consultancy in safety and health management programme include:

1. Hazards identification & detection  which identify the critical hazards that exist in factories and the formulation of customized management programme.

2. Formulation of customized behavioural-based safety programme, training and implementation.

3. Ergonomics for safety & health

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

G. H. Ho, X. L. Luo, C. Y. Ji, S. C. Foo and E. H. Ng, "Urinary 2/16a-Hydroxyestrone Ratio: Correlation with Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-3 and a Potential Biomarker of Breast Cancer Risk", Annals Academy of Medicine, 27, 294 (1998).

P. L. Ooi, K. T. Goh, M. H. Phoon, S. C. Foo and H. M. Yap, "Epidemiology of Sick Building Syndrome and its Associated Risk Factors in Singapore", Occupational Environment Medicine, 55, 188 (1998).

S. C. Foo, J. Jeyaratnam and D. Koh, "Chronic Neurobehavioural Effects of Toluene", British Journal of Industrial Medicine, 47, 480 (1990).

S. C. Foo, C. H. Ngim, W. O. Phoon and J. Lee, "Mercury in Scalp Hair of Healthy Singapore Residents", The Science of the Total Environment, 72, 113 (1988).

S. C. Foo, P. C. Wankat and K. H. Bergsman, "Multicomponent Fractionation by Direct-Thermal Mode Cycling Zone Adsorption", Industrial Engineering Chemical Fund., 19, 86 (1980).