ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Introduction. Noise is a common occupational hazard in metallurgic production. Objective. To evaluate occupational risk caused by exposure to noise in 18 occupational groups in subunits under modernization in an enterprise producing titanium alloys, using methodology of N.F. Izmerov Occupational Medicine Research Institute. Materials and methods. A priori risk evaluation by noise measurements was performed according to criteria of Manuals R 2.2.2006–05, R 2.2.1766–03 and hygienic models, a posteriori one — by analysis of occupational morbidity over 30 years, transitory disablement morbidity and chronic diseases prevalence according to medical examinations data over 5 years. Total of 58758 sick-leave certifi cates was analyzed. Comparison covered morbidity in individuals exposed to noise (3501 individuals) and non-exposed individuals (9138 ones). Results. Findings are that a risk level by hygienic criteria in the studied occupations was assigned to low to high category (work conditions classes 3.1–3.3), by occupational morbidity criterion — from low to high (index of occupational diseases from 0 to 0.25). Occupational neurosensory deafness was registered in blacksmiths, turners, vertical lathe operators. Noise appeared to be a trigger for diseases of ears, eyes, skin, locomotory system, nervous system, urinary tract, respiratory system, for mental disorders, increased blood pressure, hyperglycemia, leukocytosis, with 1.1–1.7 times reliably increased their risk in general over the production, and up to 3.7 times in certain occupations (p<0.05). Prevalence of the health disorders appeared to increase with growing noise levels. Conclusions. Industrial modernization is associated with decrease of occupational morbidity caused by exposure to noise to single cases and increase of age and length of service at noise conditions to diagnosis. Considerable health improvement was seen in blacksmiths, aft er hammer equipment was changed to the press one, in lathe operators — aft er lathe changed to processing centers with numerical control.
Introduction. Coal heat power stations are characterized by severe hazardous eff ect of occupational environment on workers. Objective. To analyze chromosomal disorders in workers of thermal power plant working on coal from Kuznetsk coal fi eld (West Siberia). Materials and methods. Th e authors studied level and specter of chromosomal aberrations in blood lymphocytes of 185 workers of Kemerovo thermal power plant and 218 inhabitants of the same location, not working on industrial enterprises (Kemerovo, Russia). For every individual, average number of 200 metaphase plates of high quality was analyzed. Results. Findings are that the workers of thermal power plant have levels of chromosomal aberrations signifi cantly higher than those of reference group (3,01±0,13% vs. 1,45±0,08%; р<0,00001). With that, increased frequency is seen both for chromatid aberrations and for chromosomal ones — that indicates complex exposure to chemical and radiation factors. Conclusions. Th e results obtained necessitate elaboration of measures to decrease genotoxic hazards in the occupational environment.
Introduction. Multiple studies of health state of workers in various economic branches of Russia revealed that peripheral nervous system diseases are among the most prevalent disorders. Th eir prevalence varies from 32.3 to 58 diseases per 100 examined workers, and they occupy usually fi rst place in the morbidity structure. Th ey are leaders among occupational diseases also. Objective. To determine features of occupational morbidity with peripheral nervous system diseases and its structure among workers in various economic branches of Bashkortostan Republic. Materials and methods. Th orough analysis covered occupational morbidity with peripheral nervous system diseases by separate branches, workers who are directly exposed to occupational hazards. Specifi c levels of the morbidity are defi ned by occupations, length of service in each economic branch. Results. Over 100 cases of occupational diseases are annually registered in Bashkortostan Republic. Over a half of them (54%) are diseases of peripheral nervous system. Th eir share among all occupational diseases tends to increase. Th e most prevalent type of peripheral nervous system diseases are radiculopathy (0.29 cases) and vibration disease (0.14 cases per 10,000 workers). Nearly all occupational diseases of peripheral nervous system are diagnosed in machinery building, metallurgic, mining, oil extracting industries, agriculture and building industry. In these economic branches, average of 16.59 cases per 10,000 workers exposed to occupational hazards is assigned to occupational peripheral nervous system diseases. Occupational diseases of peripheral nervous system diagnosed at average length of service of 23,3±3,4 years. Th e study results helped to determine specifi c economic branches associated with peripheral nervous system disorders development. At the highest risk of peripheral nervous system disorders are workers of mining (20,8‰0) and metallurgic (10,6‰0) industries. Conclusions. Peripheral nervous system diseases are the main causes of occupational morbidity, detailed according to specifi c economic branches and occupational groups, should be a basis of particular measures on lower impact of occupational risk factors, on prevention, health preservation, occupational and medical rehabilitation of the diseased.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Cancer is increasing worldwide. Th e Russian Federation is no exception in this regard with an increase of the total number of new cases predicted to rise from 529,062 in 2018 to 587,622 in 2040. Th e present high burden and increase in incident cases at the same time increases the pressure on healthcare infrastructure and related costs. Th us, primary and secondary prevention of cancer becomes essential. Occupational cancers related to exposure at the workplace are among the preventable cancer burden, due to the modifi ability of the risk through minimisation of occupational exposures and adequate worker protection. For the Russian Federation, some 20,000 cancers each year may be att ributable to occupation, but systematic recording is currently lacking. As information is also lacking on the absolute eff ect of various occupational carcinogens in the Russian workforce due to lack of large-scale epidemiological studies and because for many suspected occupational carcinogens the evidence may become stronger, the true burden may in fact be higher. Th e Russian Federation appears particularly suitable for research into occupational cancer given the sizable workforce, the heavy industrialisation as well as the good documentation and workplace s urveillance over time, so that results are both informative for the situation in the Russian Federation and on a global scale. Five challenging but not unfeasible steps of nationwide population-based cancer registration, development of a legal framework for record linkage of registries and data collections, recording of occupational cancers, large scale epidemiological occupational cancer research and rigorous implementation of worker protection on known carcinogens, lead the way to a continuously updated cancer control plan that includes the elimination of occupational cancer in the Russian Federation.
BRIEF REPORTS
Th e article covers results of comparative analysis of prevalence and motivation for tobacco smoking, and its consequences for health state in medical and teaching staff ers, in occupations of high risk due to occupational psychoemotional burnout and stress. Polling covered 601 staff ers of governmental medical institutions managed by Health care Department of Moscow and 300 teachers of governmental educational institutions managed by Education Department of Moscow. All the examinees were tested for individual att itude to tobacco smoking (presence or absence of tobacco smoking; for smokers — number of cigarett es smoked daily; att itude to tobacco smoking among the colleagues; personal participation in preventive activities of anti-smoking organizations). Findings are that prevalence of tobacco smoking in medical staff ers in higher than among teachers. Th e authors determined priority directions of anti-smoking activities among medical and teaching staff ers.
JUBILEES
OBITUARY
ISSN 2618-8945 (Online)