Introduction. Temporary disability (TD) is one of the main indicators characterizing the state of health of workers. The legislation in force in the Russian Federation on the protection of personal data has significantly limited the possibilities of analyzing the incidence of temporary disability at the enterprise level.

The study aims to evaluate the possibility of using the results of the analysis of temporary disability according to enterprise data in the risk management system for the health of workers.

Materials and methods. The scientists used data from four enterprises of different types of economic activity with the number of employees from 1,647 to 5,882 people to assess the possibility of analyzing the causes of temporary disability, they also received information about all cases of temporary disability in the form of depersonalized personal data. For statistical data processing, specialists used Microsoft Excel 2013.

Results. The company’s own accounting data allows to consolidate and analyze personalized data on the causes of temporary disability of employees. The level of temporary disability can be determined considering the gender and age structure of employees, length of service, working conditions, profession and other characteristics of the workers.

Limitations. The study is limited by the lack of information on diseases that cause temporary disability.

Conclusion. At the present stage, it is necessary to develop new methodological approaches for analyzing the causes of temporary disability at the enterprise level, introducing them into systems of social and hygienic monitoring and risk management for the health of workers.

Ethics. The conclusion of the local Ethics Committee is not required to conduct the study.

Contribution:
Bukhtiyarov I.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Gurvich V.B. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Shastin A.S. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Tikhonova G.I. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Gazimova V.G. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Sutunkova M.P. — writing, editing;
Pershin S.E. — writing, editing;
Plotko E.G. — writing, editing;
Serebryakov P.V. — writing, editing;
Yarushin S.V. — writing, editing;
Ruzakov V.O. — writing, editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 04.10.2024 / Accepted: 08.11.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

Introduction. The article tells about the widespread use of calcium nitrate (calcium nitrate, anhydrous calcium nitrate, calcium salt of nitric acid), about the use in the production of additives to concrete, deicing reagents, detergents, fertilizers and in other fields of human activity. There are data in the literature on the toxicity and danger of compounds similar in chemical structure, there is an approved maximum permissible concentration of calcium dinitrate in the atmospheric air of urban and rural settlements equal to 0.03 mg/m³ — the maximum single and 0.01 mg/m³ — the average daily in accordance with SanPiN 1.2.3685-21. However, the hygienic standard of calcium dinitrate in the air of the working area, which is necessary to ensure the preservation of the health of workers, has not yet been established.

The study aims are the hygienic rationing of calcium dinitrate in the air of the working area based on the study of the toxic properties and nature of the biological action of the substance in various ways of entry into the body of experimental animals.

Materials and methods. The authors had carried out experimental studies on non-harmless white rats of both sexes of the Wistar line, non-harmless white mice, white Agouti guinea pigs, rabbits of the Soviet Chinchilla breed in single and repeated experiments with oral, inhalation and percutaneous exposure. Experts have assessed the condition of experimental rats after a single inhalation exposure to calcium dinitrate at concentrations of 102.1±6.2 mg/m³ and 35.3±5.1 mg/m³ by changing physiological, hematological and biochemical parameters, taking into account literature data on compounds similar in chemical structure.

Results. The DL₅₀ value when the substance was injected into the stomach of male rats was 1633 (1407–18 894) mg/kg, for females — 1908±360 mg/kg, for mice — 1000±363 mg/kg (a moderately dangerous substance according to GOST 12.1.007-76). It has a weak accumulation, K_kum>8. Calcium dinitrate has a pronounced irritating effect on the skin of rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as on the mucous membrane of the eye of rabbits, does not penetrate through intact skin. The data obtained in the experiment indicate a weak sensitizing activity of calcium dinitrate. The Lim_ac of the general toxic effect of an aerosol with calcium dinitrate was set at 102 mg/m³ for changes in the functional state of the nervous system and changes in kidney function and coincides with the threshold of irritant effect (Lim_ac) on the respiratory system of experimental animals.

Conclusion. Based on the conducted studies and by analogy with the parameters of toxicometry, similar in chemical structure, 5.0 mg/m³ (aerosol, hazard class 3) is proposed as the MPC_m.r. of a calcium dihydrate aerosol in the air of the working area (aerosol, hazard class 3), where special protection is required, cleaning of the skin and eyes is required.

Ethics. Extract No. 3 of the Meeting of the Local Ethics Committee of Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health, dated March 10, 2021.

Contribution:
Kayutina S.V. — concept and design, collection and processing of material, writing, editing;
Tonshin A.A. — concept and design, writing, editing;
Karpukhina E.A. — concept and design, collection and processing of material;
Krikunov O.V. — collection and processing of material;
Makarov A.F. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing;
Muravskaya M.P. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing;
Tkachuk Yu.V. — collection and processing of material, statistical processing;
Blintsova N.V. — collection and processing of material;
Shishkov A.Yu. — collection and processing of the material.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 15.07.2024 / Accepted: 23.08.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

Introduction. One of the main air pollutants in the working area of metallurgical enterprises is rare earth elements, which are sorbed on fine dust particles and have a negative impact on the health of workers.

The study aims to carry out a comprehensive hygienic assessment of the potential health hazards of fine particles and rare earth elements (REE) contained in the air of the working area at metallurgical enterprises.

Materials and methods. The specialists have took samples of the working area air to measure the content of REE, dust and industrial aerosol of small fractions, they have assessed the levels of REE in the blood of employees of the metallurgical enterprise (n=31) and the comparison group (n=12). The scientists have measured the REE content in the air of the working area and blood using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry on an Agilent 7900 mass spectrometer. The authors have measured the dust content in the air of the working area in accordance with the MUK 4.1.2468-09 method and determined the content of fine fractions of industrial aerosol using the DustTrak 8533 aerosol analyzer.

Results. Analysis of the metal content in the air of the working area showed an excess of control concentrations for chronic inhalation exposure to cerium. In points with a high concentration of metals, the content of industrial aerosol of a fine fraction of 10 microns prevails. During the study of the work area, experts found significantly higher concentrations in the blood of workers employed in production, compared with the comparison group.

Limitations. The limitation of research is due to the period of sampling of the working area air, insufficient number of samples of the working area air and samples of biomaterial. The expansion of the list of surveyed points in production and the list of metallurgical enterprises, as well as an increase in the number of surveyed workers, may become a direction for further research to assess the impact of fine particles and rare earth elements on workers of metallurgical enterprises.

Conclusion. Since higher concentrations of REE were found in the air of the work area and in the blood of workers compared to the control point/group, reducing the impact of harmful production factors of working conditions and production processes in order to preserve the health of workers remains relevant for enterprises of the metallurgical industry.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with Ethical standards in accordance with the Ethical principles set out in the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013). The study was approved by the local Ethical Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Technologies for Public Health Risk Management of Rospotrebnadzor (meeting protocol No. 2 dated 02/11/2021).

Contribution:
Zaitseva N.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Nurislamova T.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Zorina A.S. — research concept and design, material collection and data processing, text writing;
Stenno E.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Krylov A.A. — material collection and data processing;
Nedoshitova A.V. — material collection and data processing;
Gileva K.O. — material collection and data processing;
Sukhikh E.A. — material collection and data processing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

Received: 02.10.2024 / Accepted: 03.11.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

Industrial fibers and materials, containing industrial fibers, are currently widely used in industrial and civil construction, and many other sectors of the national economy. Methodological approaches for monitoring workers and general population exposure to these fibers in the country should be improved. In this regard, drafts of four new methodical documents were developed, and one of existing methodical document was changed. Two documents are related to the determination of concentrations of industrial fibers in the air of a working zone and environment using phase-contrast optical and scanning electron microscopy. The scanning electron microscopy technique is considered as primary, allowing the determination of the types of industrial fibers in the air, and phase-contrast optical microscopy is the appropriate method for use at the relevant industrial enterprises. Two other interconnected documents contain an algorithm for examining various objects in order to identify potential sources of air pollution by industrial fibers and, also the fact of former air pollutions, which will allow assessing the risks (probability) of workers and general population exposure to industrial fibers. The proposed methods have been tested by field studies and harmonized with similar foreign ones to allow comparison. The current method of measuring of the mass concentration of dust in the air of the working zone does not comply with the current legislation and does not allow comparing the obtained results of measurements of individual types of dust with the existing national standards.

Contribution:
Tshomaria I.M. — collection of literature data, writing of the text, development of the concept and design of research, collection of primary material and data processing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Kovalevskiy E.V. — development of the concept and design of research, collection of primary material and data processing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article, editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Fedoruk A.A. — collection of literature data, writing of the text, development of the concept and design of research, collection of primary material and data processing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article, editing;
Drugova O.G. — collection of literature data, writing of the text, development of the concept and design of research, collection of primary material and data processing, 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: 01.11.2024 / Accepted: 06.11.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

Introduction. The article describes a methodological scheme for operational psychological monitoring of the crew in isolation, simulating the effect of space flight factors on humans. Examples of intermediate experimental results in the form of qualitative operational data (psychological profiles of participants) are given. The methodological approach can be applied in the practice of operational monitoring of work teams (crews) whose professional activities take place in conditions of social isolation and/or the action of extreme environmental factors.

The aim of the study is to test a comprehensive, minimally invasive method of psychological monitoring of participants in an isolation experiment to obtain operational data.

Materials and methods. The SIRIUS-23 experiment is the fourth stage of the 365-day SIRIUS international project. The participants in the simulated isolation were 6 people, 2 men (±34.5) and 4 women (±30.5). The basic principles of building a diagnostic scheme for psychological monitoring are complexity and an individual approach. The scheme includes three structural blocks (score scale, semi-structured confidential conversation, computerized techniques), each of which is aimed at solving a specific task.

Results. The authors presented the depersonalized psychological data of two anonymized participants of the experiment as intermediate results of the study. Psychological profiles contain generalized operational data, divided by time for ease of analysis into three equal parts — trimesters. The use of three diagnostic blocks allows us to describe the dynamics of changes in the psycho-emotional state of specialists working in isolation: the appearance of adverse signs of mental asthenization.

Limitations. The study is limited to a small sample of subjects.

Conclusion. As a result of the application of the methodological scheme, each of its structural blocks complements each other. For example, certain signs of asthenization in daily recordings of negotiations, which are obtained using a score scale (negatively colored negative reactions, parasitic words, etc.), are confirmed by data from computer techniques and correspondence. The use of a three-part methodological scheme is possible in areas of professional activity where people are under the influence of extreme factors. Thus, there is an interpretative context (an understanding of the reasons is being formed, the basis for making recommendations is being laid).

Ethics. The experimental program was approved by the section of the Academic Council and approved by the Biomedical Ethics Commission at the Russian Scientific Center — Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences (protocol No. 643 dated 07.07.2023).

Contributions:
Supolkina N.S. — research concept and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing an article;
Yusupova A.K. — concept and writing of the article, editing of the article;
Polyanichenko A.A. — research concept and design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing an article;
Ryumin O.O. — writing an article, editing an article;
Bubeev Yu.A. — writing an article, editing an article.

Funding. The study was carried out within the Framework of the Fundamental Scientific Research Program of the Russian Academy of Sciences FMFR-2024-0034.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 07.10.2024 / Accepted: 05.11.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

In occupational health, scientists view the COVID-19 as a biological factor that can occur not only in the environment, but also in industrial conditions. In this regard, the spread of a new coronavirus infection requires addressing issues of preserving and strengthening the health of medical workers who make up the risk group.

The study aims to assess the risk of COVID–19 infection during the pandemic in medical workers of a clinical hospital, depending on working conditions and the degree of contact with infectious patients.

The object of the study was medical workers of the state budgetary healthcare institution of the Moscow region. The total number of medical workers amounted to 495 people. According to the degree of probability of medical workers’ contact with an infectious agent, the following groups were identified: a high-risk zone of infection; an average risk zone of infection; a comparison group — a group that did not come into contact with patients with COVID-19. Within each of the above groups, three production and professional groups were formed: doctors; secondary medical personnel; junior medical personnel. The authors studied the frequency of temporary disability due to COVID-19 in medical workers who performed their professional duties during the pandemic. To assess the risk of infection of medical workers with COVID-19, they calculated the relative risk (RR).

The study showed that the incidence of temporary disability among medical personnel during the pandemic period was 64.6±2.1 per 100 employees. Morbidity rates with temporary disability in the group of doctors who performed work duties in the high-risk area of COVID-19 infection amounted to 60.9±10.2 and in the medium-risk area of COVID-19 infection 63.2±4.0, which is significantly higher compared to workers in the comparison group 40.0±8.9 who had no contact with infectious patients. At the time of the study, the presence of a history of chronic diseases of the circulatory system in medical workers increases the risk of infection with COVID-19 (OR=3.9 with DI=2.62–5.78). The presence of chronic diseases of the endocrine system, eating disorders and metabolic disorders also increases the risk of COVID-19 infection (OR=3.3 with DI=2.08–5.13).

The data obtained as a result of the performed study indicate an increased risk of infection for doctors employed in areas of high and medium risk of COVID-19 infection, which are the most vulnerable professional group.

Limitations. The present study requires further study of the issue and verification of the data obtained due to the limited observation period.

Ethics. All medical workers have given informed consent to the use of personal data for statistical processing.

Contributions:
Kuzmina L.P. — research concept and design, editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Leskina L.M. — the concept and design of the study, editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article, writing the text;
Golovkova N.P. — the concept and design of the study, editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article, writing the text;
Tolmachev D.A. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Izmerova N.I. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Osmanova P.Sh. — research design, collection, processing of material, writing of text.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflicts of interests.

Received: 05.11.2024 / Accepted: 11.11.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

The article tells that, to date, the impact of excessive use of computer technology (CT) on the performance of internists and the occurrence of professional burnout syndrome (PBS) has not been sufficiently studied. The authors present the results of their own research on these issues.

The study aims to identify the main indicators of changes in the parameters of mental performance and to assess the risks of professional burnout among therapeutic specialists who actively use information technology.

The researchers formed the main sample: 140 specialist doctors (94 women and 46 men) aged 27 to 75 years (average age 46.16±10.67 years)), and divided into two subgroups:

the first included 65 respondents (45 women and 20 men) aged 27–75 (average age 44.6±9.8 years) who actively use information and communication technologies in work practice and daily life for less than 6 hours a day, the second subgroup included 75 respondents (49 women and 26 men) 28–73 years old (average age 44.8±9.3 years), actively using information and communication technologies in their work practice and daily life for more than 6 hours a day. To assess mental performance during the working day and week, as well as to study preclinical symptoms of overwork, the authors used: the questionnaire «Degree of chronic fatigue» (A.B. Leonova and I.V. Shishkina; modification — 2003), the method of finding numbers in the Platonov table, a proof-reading test (Bourdon test). The authors also used a visual analyzer with a table (Landolt rings) as a test for assessing throughput. The authors used the following data to assess the risks of emotional burnout: the scale for diagnosing emotional burnout of a person according to V.V. Boyko, the questionnaire for determining the level of mental burnout Maslach (MBI) in the Russian adaptation for medical workers from 2007 at the Bekhterev NIPNI.

When analyzing the risks of professional burnout using the MBI questionnaire, the level of emotional exhaustion among respondents using information technology for more than 6 hours a day (43.01±8.7 points) was significantly higher compared to doctors using information technology for less than 6 hours a day (34.5±9.0 points) (Mann–Whitney U test: U=1149, p<0.00001). Indicators of the risk of emotional burnout of a person on the V.V. Boyko scale among internists using information technology for more than 6 hours a day is significantly higher in all three phases: tension, resistance and exhaustion (76,2±15,0; 72,4±14,3; 84,6±15,5 points, respectively) (Mann–Whitney U test: U=1013, p<0.00001; Mann–Whitney U test: U=1302.5, p<0.00001; Mann–Whitney U test: U=1175.5, p<0.00001). The fatigue rates of internists using information technology for more than 6 hours a day are significantly higher compared to the subgroup using CT for less than 6 hours a day (Mann–Whitney U test: U=1618.5, p=0.00062).

The vast majority of internists working in hospitals use modern information technologies in their clinical practice, which significantly increases the effectiveness of medical care. Aspects of the influence of computed tomography on the performance of doctors and on the risk of developing professional burnout syndrome (PBS) and psychoemotional disorders (anxiety and depression) have not been fully studied. The study demonstrates the presence of a certain influence of excessive use of digital technologies and electronic devices during the day on the risks of emotional exhaustion and faster development of signs of overwork in therapists. The results of the study can be used to develop and implement measures to prevent the development of signs of overwork and the safe use of information technology in work practice, which to a certain extent reduces the risks of developing professional burnout syndrome, psychoemotional and somatic disorders associated with the inadequate use of modern digital technologies.

Limitations. The influence and presence of mild forms of emotional and affective disorders in respondents were not taken into account; the limited sample size associated with the highly specialized focus of the study, it is advisable to increase the sample in the future; the subjectivity of questionnaire research methods, difficulties in assessing the «true» use of information and communication technologies.

Ethics. The research was carried out in accordance with the Ethical standards approved by the Helsinki Declaration (1964) and its later additions, or similar Ethical standards. All respondents were familiarized with the goals and objectives of the study, as well as with all possible risks and inconveniences. Participation in the study was voluntary for all respondents, everyone had the right to leave the study at any stage if desired. All personal information provided by the respondents was not disclosed, and all data was depersonalized. All study participants gave their personal written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution:
Kaminer D.D. — data collection and processing, writing text;
Milushkina O.Yu. — concept and design of the study;
Bokareva N.A. — data collection and processing;
Korolik V.V. — concept and design of the study;
Bulatseva M.B. — editing;
Bazhenov P.A. — editing.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interests. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 22.08.2024 / Accepted: 05.09.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024

The authors present in the article the results of the study of the problem of emotional burnout among teachers with different professional experience.

The study aims to consider the features of emotional burnout among teachers with different professional experience in order to scientifically substantiate psychophysiological measures to correct the functional state and psychological status of teachers.

To study the phenomenon of emotional burnout, the authors conducted a study among 60 teachers using the V.V. Boyko emotional burnout questionnaire, K. Maslach and S. Jackson professional burnout techniques and the primary diagnosis of people with manifestations of neuropsychic instability V.Y. Rybnikov. The teachers were divided into 2 groups. The first group included 30 women aged 30 to 40 years with 10 to 20 years of professional experience, and the second group included 30 women aged 40 to 50 years with 20 to 30 years of work experience. The scientists processed the results using the statistical software package «Statistica 17.0».

Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the scales of emotional burnout among teachers of the first and second groups. Using the questionnaire of V.V. Boyko, experts identified the stages of professional burnout development in most of the interviewed teachers. The «stress» phase was formed in 13.4% of teachers with 10 to 20 years of experience and in 40.0% with more than 20 years of experience; the authors registered the «resistance» stage in 20.0% of teachers of the first group and in 40.0% of the second; the stage of the «exhaustion» phase was determined in 13.4% of teachers with more than 20 years of experience 20 years old. Using the methodology of K. Maslach and S. Jackson, the researchers revealed the degree of manifestation of the sides of professional deformation. They revealed a high level of emotional exhaustion in 20.0% of teachers with work experience from 10 to 20 years and in 60.0% of teachers with work experience from 20 to 30 years, depersonalization — in 26.7% of teachers of the first group and 36.6% of the second, a decrease in professional achievements — in 16.7% and 26.8%, respectively. A low level of neuropsychic stability (according to V.Y. Rybnikov’s methodology) was found in 3.3% of teachers with work experience from 10 to 20 years and in 13.3% with work experience from 20 to 30 years.

There is a relationship between work experience and emotional burnout: an increase in professional experience leads to an increase in the level of formation of emotional burnout among teachers. The presence of emotional burnout is a serious problem in the professional activities of teaching staff, which affects not only the effectiveness of their work, but also their psychological and physical health, and relationships with others. There is an urgent need to organize measures to prevent and correct professional burnout of teachers, the implementation of which should be implemented at two levels — at the level of work with teachers and at the level of eliminating risk factors of this problem in the educational organization itself.

Limitations. The study is limited to a gender and age sample of teaching staff at an educational institution. The results may vary depending on the place of residence and personal characteristics of the respondents.

Ethics. The study was conducted in compliance with the requirements of biomedical ethics and did not endanger the participants. Voluntary informed consent was obtained for each participant.

Contributions:
Sokolova N.V. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Skoblina N.A. — concept and design of the study, editing;
Kuvshinova N.M. — writing, editing;
Popov M.V. — data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Kharchenko V.N. — data collection and processing, text writing, editing.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interests.

Received: 25.09.2024 / Accepted: 10.10.2024 / Published: 27.11.2024