ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Introduction. The problem of using near-Earth space to meet various human needs, including the development of minerals, especially on the Moon, is becoming relevant, which increases the importance of research on occupational safety in these conditions.
The study aims to research the trace element composition of regoliths in comparison with terrestrial rocks and its significance for the safety of astronauts on the lunar surface.
Materials and methods. The researchers evaluated the trace element composition of the regolith by calculating the concentration coefficients and the quality drop coefficient. When identifying homogeneous classes of regoliths by concentrations of 38 chemical elements, we used computer technology to classify multidimensional observations under conditions of self-organization.
Results. We know that the concentrations of many trace elements in regoliths significantly exceed their concentrations in terrestrial soils. Calculated for the Luna-16 and Luna-24 marine regoliths, as well as for Apollo-11 and Apollo-12, the quality reduction coefficient varies from 27 to 100, which corresponds to the "crisis" category. This indicates that the content of trace elements in the regolith ranges from weekly critical (27 for the Luna-16 regolith) to highly critical (100 for the Apollo-12 regolith). The researchers identified trace elements whose concentrations in lunar regoliths significantly exceed their concentrations in terrestrial soils: Cr, Be, Co, Sc, Ho, Se, Ni, Au, Ag, Er, Tm, Y, Sm, Gd, Tb, Dy Yb, Lu, Cd, Zr, Sr, Ce, Pr, Nd, Eu. Trace trace elements are included in the group of substances with allergenic, fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects and can have a negative impact on the health of future lunar colonists.
Limitations. The authors have conducted the study for the composition of regolith on the surface of the Moon and did not cover aspects of human protection from lunar dust by space stations, structures, spacesuits and special equipment.
Conclusion. When assessing the impact of environmental factors on the safety of astronauts during the colonization of the Moon, attention should be paid to the toxicological aspects of working conditions, in particular the trace element composition of regoliths and lunar dust.
Contribution:
Gavrishin A.I. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, writing of the text, editing;
Ivanov I.V. — research concept and design, writing of the text, editing.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 19.01.2023 / Accepted: 02.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
Introduction. The coal industry, being one of the leading sectors of the Russian economy, occupies a leading position in terms of the share of workers employed in harmful and dangerous working conditions (79.1% in 2021). Unfavorable working conditions and overwork make a significant contribution to the formation of mortality rates in the workplace of employees engaged in coal mining, both due to industrial injuries, and from common diseases.
The study аims to research the causes and mortality rates in the workplace at coal mining enterprises in Russia.
Materials and methods. According to Rosugleprof, the authors have carried out an analysis of the mortality of workers engaged in coal mining in the workplace due to occupational injuries and general diseases for the period 2020–2022 . The researchers calculated the rates of fatal injuries per million tons of coal mining and per one thousand employees, as well as mortality from general diseases per one thousand employees, also conducted an analysis within the industry and compared with the country as a whole. An in-depth analysis of fatal injuries in 2022 was carried out.
Results. In 2020, the level of fatal injuries in coal mining amounted to 0.13 per thousand workers, including 0.28 per thousand employees in mines, which is three and six times higher, respectively, compared with the country as a whole (0.045 per one thousand employees). In 2021, injury rates increased, amounting to 0.51, 1.72 and 0.06 per one thousand employees, respectively. The reason for the sharp increase in injury rates in 2021 was an accident with a methane explosion in a mine, which claimed the lives of 51 people. In-depth analysis of injuries in 2022 He showed that the main causes of fatal accidents in the conduct of coal mining operations are violation of safety rules and personal carelessness. Almost 95% of cases of acute diseases are closely related to cardiovascular diseases. Five to six cases of general illnesses requiring urgent medical care accounted for one death at the workplace, while seven to eight cases of occupational injuries accounted for one death.
Conclusion. Despite ongoing measures to improve working conditions, the coal industry continues to have an extremely high rate of workplace mortality, both due to injuries and due to death from natural causes. The most unfavorable situation is observed in the mines. This is due to the presence of a complex of harmful and dangerous production factors and a high risk of accidents. Of particular importance is the nervous and stressful nature of work and overwork of workers, which leads to a significant number of potentially preventable injuries due to personal negligence and cases of acute cardiovascular diseases. This indicates the need to develop and implement measures to reduce mortality, including through the use of forecasting and risk assessment, as well as strengthening therapeutic and preventive measures, including the optimization of work and rest regimes of employees.
Ethics. The study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.
Contribution:
Mokhnachuk I.I. — research concept and design, data collection;
Piktushanskaya T.E. — data analysis and interpretation;
Bryleva M.S. — data analysis and interpretation, writing the article, editing of the article;
Betts K.V. — data analysis and interpretation, writing the article, editing of the article.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 20.01.2023 / Accepted: 02.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
Introduction. The creation of safe working conditions allows not only to reduce the rates of occupational morbidity and occupational injuries among employees, but also to increase the efficiency and efficiency of work, which together reduce the financial losses of employers. Therefore, the improvement of methodological approaches to the assessment of occupational risks is an urgent task of modern preventive medicine.
The study aims to substantiate the need to apply new approaches and criteria for determining the level of occupational risk based on the analysis of occupational morbidity in a group of people exposed to harmful industrial factors.
Materials and methods. Researchers have carried out a retrospective analysis of occupational morbidity and an analysis of the working conditions of railway transport workers (798,126 people) operating in conditions of constant exposure to harmful production factors. Indicators of occupational morbidity have been recalculated for 10 thousand workers employed in workplaces with harmful and dangerous working conditions. The authors used the software and application package "SPSS 23" during the calculations.
Results. The main occupational diseases of railway transport workers are: professional sensorineural hearing loss (PSHL) (60–75%), pneumoconiosis and dust bronchitis (4–20%), diseases of the peripheral nervous system and musculoskeletal system (6–9%), vibration disease (WD) (3–10%). The indicator of occupational morbidity per 10,000 of all employees of JSC "Russian Railways" for PNST, radiculopathy and vibration disease were 0.25, 0.014, 0.056, respectively. The new indicator of occupational morbidity, calculated for 10,000 workers working in harmful and dangerous working conditions with factors such as noise, vibration, and severity of labor, was: PSHL — 1.08, radiculopathy — 0.06, WD — 0.78. We have carried out the forecasting of the development of PSHL, which is based on data on the profession, the presence of harmful production factors, age-experience indicators and the degree of PSHL.
Conclusion. The existing approach to the assessment of occupational morbidity, calculated for 10 thousand of all employees, is not objective, does not reflect real risk levels, understates official data on occupational morbidity, and creates difficulties for the development of effective management decisions. It is necessary to approve a new approach to the assessment of occupational morbidity, calculating it for 10 thousand workers directly exposed to harmful and dangerous factors. The developed prognostic model of the risk of developing PSHL, based only on information about the profession, work experience, and age of the employee, is not objective and does not give accurate predictions about the timing of the onset of occupational disease. To improve the prognostic model, it is necessary to include additional indicators based on clinical and laboratory studies, as provided by the methodology for the formation of risk groups (groups 1–5) for the development of occupational diseases.
Contribution:
Gutor E.M. — collection of primary material, writing an article;
Zhidkova E.A. — collection of primary material;
Gurevich K.G. — statistical analysis, writing an article;
Zibarev E.V. — research design, writing an article;
Vostrikova S.M. — statistical analysis;
Astanin P.A. — statistical analysis.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 30.12.2022 / Accepted: 02.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
Introduction. Critical stage of acute mountain (altitude) sickness, manifesting by loss of consciousness, convulsions, apnea and high risk of death, develops at altitudes above 8 km. Acute oxygen starvation of the central nervous system while significant hypobaric hypoxia is the main mechanism of critical stage of acute mountain sickness. Alpinists and professional guides, extreme athletes are the main risk group. It is proposed to reduce the level of metabolism (artificial hypobiosis induction) to prevent the negative impact of acute hypobaric hypoxia on central nervous system.
The study aims to assess the efficiency of the metabolic rate reduction for the organism negative impact prevention while acute hypobaric hypoxia.
Materials and methods. Study had 2 stages. The 1st — definition of the possibility of using artificial hypobiosis model. The 2nd — the model efficiency definition. Syrian hamsters 90–110 g weight were used in the study. 5 groups, 8 animals in each. Animals of two experimental groups (1 — on the 1st stage and 1 — is on the 2nd) had intramuscular injections of 1 g/kg Methyldopa (CAS Number 555-30-6). Animals control groups (1 — on the 1st stage and 2 — is on the 2nd) had 0,9% NaCl. Indirect calorimetry was performed on the 1st stage. Oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide elimination speed were measured in each animal group twice: before intramuscular injection and 3 hours after. Critical stage of acute mountain (altitude) sickness was performed on the 2nd stage. In 3 hours after intramuscular injection animals of each group had been placed in hypobaric chamber. 30 kPa underpressure for control group #1 animals and 20 kPa for control group #2 and experimental group animals, speed — 1,25 kPa/s. To avoid CO2 accumulation continuous chamber air flow was made. Continuous visual observation carried out. Consciousness, posture maintenance time, convulsive seizures, agonal breathing, and apnea were registered.
Results. 1st stage. Experimental group animals’ mean base oxygen consumption speed was 4,04±0,3 ml/100 g/min, and 2,70±0,11 ml/100 g/min (p<0,01) after intramuscular injection., carbon dioxide elimination speed was 3,17±0,27 ml/100 g/min and 2,26±0,09 ml/100 g/min (p<0,01) respectively. Control group animals’ mean base oxygen consumption speed was 3,80±0,43 ml/100 g/min, and 3,88±0,37 ml/100 g/min after intramuscular injection, carbon dioxide elimination speed was 2,95±0,31 ml/100 g/min and 2,92±0,2 ml/100 g/min, respectively. 2nd stage. 20 kPa control group: since start of exposure the average animal posture maintenance time was 3±2 s, the first convulsion time — 20±3 s, the second convulsion — 56±5 s, agonal breath start — 52±9 s, apnea — 114±26 s. Consciousness absence in all animal was observed. Experimental group: none of the parameters is to register were observed. All animals had consciousness, actively restored their position, while chamber was tilted. The exposure lasted for 20 minutes. 30 kPa control group: 1 animal of 8 had convulsions on 56 s of 20-minute exposure. None of the parameters is to register were observed in other animals. All animals had consciousness, actively restored their position, while chamber was tilted.
Conclusions. The effectiveness of lowering the metabolic rate for the prevention of loss of consciousness and the development of generalized convulsions in acute hypobaric hypoxia has been experimentally proven; in a state of artificial hypobiosis, the time of safe stay in a hypoxic environment increases by more than 20 times.
Ethics. The study was carried out in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. The Clinical Study Protocol was reviewed at a meeting of the local Ethics Committee FSBSI IRIOH.
Contribution:
Makarov A.F. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing;
Tkachuk Yu.V. — data collection and processing;
Tonshin A.A. — editing;
Bukhtiyarov I.V. — concept and design of the study.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 09.01.2023 / Accepted: 11.01.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
Introduction. The paper presents the results of a hygienic assessment of the intensity levels of electric and magnetic fields of industrial frequency and the functional state of the human body when using shielding personal protective equipment against electric fields of industrial frequency on open switchgears with a voltage of 220–750 kV in the warm season.
The study aims to explore the functional state of the human body using personal protective equipment against industrial frequency electric fields during work on open switchgears with a voltage of 220–750 kV, and the possibility of their regulation depending on the thermal load of the environment.
Materials and methods. The specialists measured the levels of electric and magnetic fields of industrial frequency in accordance with MUK 4.3.2491-09. Eight volunteers took part in the study to assess the functional state of the human body when using personal protective equipment against industrial frequency electric fields. Volunteers performed the work of electrical personnel for 60 minutes followed by a 30-minute recovery. We monitored environmental parameters based on measurements of the environmental heat load index and recorded indicators such as skin temperature and humidity, temperature and humidity under clothing, moisture loss.
Results. At the considered electric grid facilities, the researchers recorded the excess of remote adjustment of the electric field of industrial frequency up to 30 kV/m, in this regard, the use of personal protective equipment is mandatory. The obtained results of studies of the functional state of the human body revealed a tendency to increase the voltage of the mechanisms of thermoregulation of the human body using personal protective equipment against electric fields of industrial frequency when working on open switchgear.
Limitations. The number of volunteers was due to limited access to production facilities.
Conclusion. The regulation of work and rest modes of personnel when working in an open area during the warm season according to the index of the thermal load of the environment requires adjustment, since the studies have shown the need for stricter time regulation when operating personal protective equipment against an electric field of industrial frequency in a heating environment, taking into account their influence on the thermal and functional state of the human body.
Ethics. The study was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (extract from the minutes of the meeting No. 3 dated 03/23/2022).
Contribution:
Perov S.Yu. — concept, design and organization of research;
Sazhina M.V. — collecting material and data processing, writing text;
Konshina T.A. — collecting material and data processing, writing text;
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. There is no conflict of interests.
Received: 14.01.2023 / Accepted: 01.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
FOR THE PRACTICAL MEDICINE
The activity of employees of locomotive crews is characterized by the presence of a number of production factors adversely affecting the state of health, which include noise. It provokes the development of hearing loss.
The study аims to evaluate the effectiveness of rehabilitation of railway workers with sensorineural hearing loss.
70 employees of locomotive crews with sensorineural hearing loss took part in the work. Before and after the course of preventive treatment, all participants in the pilot study underwent a medical examination at the Russian Railways-Medicine healthcare facilities, including an examination by an otorhinolaryngologist, and tonal audiometry was performed. Patients received rehabilitation according to an individual program.
Upon completion of the course of treatment, all participants of the pilot project noted a decrease in noise in the head and ears, a decrease in headache, normalization of sleep. When analyzing the dynamics of the audiometric picture 43 employees (61.4%) showed positive dynamics.
The conducted research shows the effectiveness of the pilot project on the implementation of preventive measures for employees who are at risk for the development of occupational diseases. This project contributes to the preservation of the professional longevity of the company's employees.
Ethics. The researchers conducted this study in accordance with the principles of good clinical practice. The Interuniversity Ethics Committee approved the study by decision (Protocol No. 09-21 of 10/21/2021).
Contribution:
Gutor E.M. — collecting information;
Zhidkova E.A. — collecting information;
Loginova V.A. — interpretation of data;
Kaskov Yu.N. — interpretation of data;
Gurevich K.G. — statistical analysis.
Funding. The study was funded by the Federal Social Service and JSC "Russian Railways" in accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated March 18, 2021, No. 401 "On the implementation of a pilot project on the organization of interdepartmental cooperation in order to prevent occupational diseases and create a system for monitoring the health of employees".
Conflict of interests. E.M. Gutor and E.A. Zhidkova are employees of JSC "Russian Railways".
Received: 30.12.2022 / Accepted: 02.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
In modern conditions, an important task of occupational medicine remains to study the physiological features of the formation of occupational stress with an assessment of the impact of adverse stress factors of varying intensity and duration on the body of pedagogical and medical workers.
The study аims to conduct a physiological and hygienic assessment of the resistance to stress and physiological reactions of the employee's body to the effects of neuropsychiatric stress for the scientifically based development of a system of measures aimed at preserving health and optimizing professional activity of pedagogical and medical workers.
The authors conducted a hygienic assessment of working conditions in educational institutions of St. Petersburg, lifestyle based on the results of a survey of teachers (a total of 116,256 pieces of information), the health status of teachers according to medical examination data (418 teachers) and questionnaires (346 respondents).
Physiological and hygienic studies of the work of nurses, pediatric surgeons and medical workers employed in the covid hospital included a quantitative assessment of stress resistance using a new methodological approach. Specialists examined 130 people, carried out 1194 measurements of psychophysiological indicators. The authors performed static data processing using sets of statistical programs EpiInfo 3.5.2., Statistica 10, Microsoft Excel 2010.
Pedagogical and medical workers of intellectual labor with a pronounced component of interpersonal communication revealed a high level of nervous and emotional tension, which correlates with a high degree of reliability with physiological shifts and an indicator of resistance to stress. Specialists conducted a study of the prevalence of chronic diseases among teachers, which revealed the predominance of diseases of the circulatory system in the structure of morbidity, also implemented and tested a set of physical culture and wellness activities.
As a result of the data analysis, it was found that insufficient resistance to stress, a low level of physical fitness (fitness) form pronounced changes in the parameters of cardiodynamics in teachers. According to the results of the study, scientists have developed a system of health-saving behavior of pedagogical and medical workers, universal for educational and medical organizations.
Limitations. There are quantitative restrictions due to the number of medical staff of the covid hospital.
Ethics. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute of MT" (Protocol No. 4 of 04/14/2021)
Contribution:
Baimakov E.A. — research concept and design, text writing;
Mishkich I.A. — research concept and design, text writing;
Eremenko S.A. — data collection and processing;
Yushkova O.I. — research concept and design, text writing, editing;
Kapustina A.V. — data collection and processing, editing;
Zaitseva A.V. — data collection and processing;
Oniani Kh.T. — data collection and processing.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 25.01.2023 / Accepted: 30.01.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
The method of physiological and hygienic assessment of personal protective equipment according to the indicators of the thermal condition of workers in a heating environment allows us to determine the contribution of personal protective equipment to the overall thermal load of the environment, predict the thermal condition and regulate work and rest modes in relation to specific operating conditions. The methodology can be used to conduct research on the influence of personal protective equipment for various purposes, design, configuration, composition of the package of materials on the thermal condition of those working in a heating environment, including in comparative terms.
Contribution:
Burmistrova O.V. — concept, design and organization of research;
Geregey A.M. — concept, design and organization of research;
Sazhina M.V. — material collection and data processing, text writing;
Malakhova I.S. — material collection and data processing, text writing;
Losik T.K. — text writing;
Konyukhov A.V. — collecting material and processing data, writing text;
All co-authors — approval of the final version of the article, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 15.01.2023 / Accepted: 02.02.2023 / Published: 25.02.2023
BRIEF REPORTS
The relevance of the work is due to the high risk of the development of production-related pathology in employees of the enterprise for the production of potash fertilizers.
The study aims to assess the morphofunctional state of the arteries as an early marker of production-related pathology in employees of a potash fertilizer plant.
The authors examined 160 workers engaged in the production of potash fertilizers and engaged in work with harmful working conditions (observation group). The comparison group included 82 people who were not exposed to harmful production factors in the course of their work. We conducted an analysis of working conditions, an assessment of the air quality in the work area for the content of hexane, heptane and formaldehyde. To determine the studied chemical compounds in biological media (blood, urine), the researchers used chemical-analytical methods. The scientists used ultrasound diagnostics to assess endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery, and also used sphygmomanometry to study the stiffness of the arterial wall.
There is a presence of hexane, heptane and formaldehyde in the air of the working area of the observation group. In those working in harmful working conditions, the content of formaldehyde in the blood, heptane and hexane in the urine exceeded the indicators of the comparison group by 1.2–1.5 times. 65.3% of the employees of the observation group showed a decrease in the extensibility of the vascular wall, while the risk of developing these changes in them is 1.5 times higher than the comparison group. In 29.8% of cases in the observation group, we diagnosed signs of endothelial dysfunction, mainly of moderate severity, due to increased levels of formaldehyde in the blood and heptane in the urine. The risk of developing endothelial dysfunction in workers in harmful working conditions was 2.3 times higher.
The revealed violations in workers engaged in the production of potash fertilizers in the form of a decrease in the extensibility of the vascular wall and signs of endothelial dysfunction indicate the presence of additional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
Ethics. This study was performed in accordance with the ICHGCP rules, the ethical standards set forth in the Declaration of Helsinki (2008 edition), the National Standard of the Russian Federation GOST-R 52379-2005 "Good Clinical Practice" (ICH E6 GCP). All employees were informed about the purpose of the study, and gave voluntary informed consent.
Contribution:
Zajtseva N.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Kostarev V.G. — concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Baydina A.S. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing, writing text;
Nosov A.E. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing, text writing;
Maklakova O.A. — writing, editing;
Ustinova O.Yu. — concept and design of the study, editing.
Funding. The study had no funding.
Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.
Received: 30.11.2022 / Accepted: 09.12.2022 / Published: 25.02.2023
JUBILEES
ISSN 2618-8945 (Online)
