Introduction. Employees of production of polyurethane foams (PUF) are exposed to various harmful occupational factors that cause an increased risk of respiratory disorders, nervous system, cancer.

The aim of the study was to substantiate the occupational risk management system aimed at its reduction on the basis of the analysis of working conditions and health of employees of modern production facilities of PUF.

Materials and methods. The characteristics of working conditions at 5 modern PUF productions are given on the basis of the analysis of a large amount of laboratory and instrumental research of occupational factors; the state of workers’ health in the production of PUF was assessed by the results of periodic medical examination over a number of years. For risk assessment, indicators of odds ratio, relative risk, etiological fraction of occupational factors in a group of 5 years of work experience or more compared to a group of 0–4 years of work experience for men and women in nosological forms were calculated with an assessment of differences in 95% confidence intervals and the magnitude of chi-square (c2 ).

Results. Working conditions in the production of PUF are characterized by exposure to a complex of chemicals, of which the most significant are isocyanates and amines. Workers are also affected by factors such as increased noise, the severity of work. Working conditions in the production of polyurethane foam are evaluated as harmful to the first to third degrees. The increased risk of development of diseases of endocrine, nervous, respiratory systems and musculoskeletal system in workers was revealed, the level of which increases with the increase of work experience in the production of PUF. The requirements to the organization of the production process, monitoring of working conditions, improvement of medical care aimed at the prevention of violations of the health status of employees are substantiated.

Conclusions. Modern production of PUF is characterized by a complex of harmful occupational factors that have an adverse impact on the health of employees, which requires the introduction of a unified model of occupational risk management aimed at reducing it.

Introduction. In recent years, in occupational pathology, much attention is paid to professionally caused diseases, a special place among which is occupied by cardiovascular pathology. Vascular wall stiff ness is considered as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. This makes it important to study the mechanism of development of arterial stiffness, a key component of which is inflammation.

The aim of the study was to identify the relationship between immune parameters and vascular wall stiff ness according to volumetric sphygmography in workers exposed to industrial aerosols.

Materials and methods. A survey was conducted of 55 men working in conditions of exposure to industrial aerosols, and 32 men who do not have professional contact with industrial pollutants. Serum concentrations of class A and G immunoglobulins, cytokines, tumor necrosis factor α, and C-reactive protein were determined by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay. Assessment of elastic properties of the vascular wall was carried out by volumetric sphygmography.

Results. Increased production of anti-inflammatory interleukin–8, immunoglobulin G and C-reactive protein, as well as increased cardiovascular and ankle vascular index on the right and left in the group working under the influence of industrial aerosols was found. Median concentrations of immunoglobulins, interleukins and C-reactive protein were independent of changes in the value of the cardiovascular ankle vascular index. Increased rigidity of the vascular wall was accompanied by an increase in the production of tumor necrosis factor α. Thus, in the group of persons with increased stiff ness, the level of this cytokine was 3 times higher than in the group of persons with normal values of the cardiovascular-ankle vascular index. The relationship between the cardiovascular ankle vascular index and the concentration of tumor necrosis factor α (r=0.61; p=0.009), C-reactive protein (r=0.54; p=0.02) and feedback with the level of anti-infl ammatory interleukin–10 (r=0.36; p=0.04) was revealed.

Conclusions. The established significant correlations between cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin–10), C-reactive protein and individual indicators of volumetric sphygmography (cardio-ankle vascular index) indicate the pathogenetic role of cytokines and acute phase proteins in the violation of elastic properties of the vascular bed in workers under the influence of industrial aerosols.

Introduction. Currently, the concept of early vascular aging, manifested by an increase in the stiffness of the vascular wall, is gaining popularity. As a method of diagnosis of this syndrome, volumetric sphygmography is increasingly used to determine the cardiovascular ankle vascular index and estimated age. In addition to studying the impact of traditional cardiovascular risk factors on the development of vascular rigidity, a promising direction is the search for additional factors that reduce the elasticity of the vascular wall.

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of industrial aerosol on the development of early vascular aging syndrome in metallurgical workers.

Materials and methods. 155 men working at the metallurgical enterprise were examined. The main group included 95 people working in conditions of exposure to industrial aerosol. The comparison group included 60 workers not exposed to industrial aerosol. All subjects underwent periodic medical examination, assessment of blood lipid spectrum, smoking status and experience, study of elastic properties of the vascular wall by volumetric sphygmography.

Results. The study showed that in persons working under the influence of industrial aerosol, the cardiovascular ankle vascular index was significantly higher than in the comparison group (7.13 [6.3; 8] and 6.75 [6.1;7.13], respectively, p=0.006). The estimated age remained comparable with the chronological age of the two groups, but was significantly higher in the main group (42 [29;49] years and 37.1 [29;44] years, respectively, p=0.014). An increase in the cardiovascular-ankle vascular index relative to the age norm was revealed in 33.6% of the surveyed main group, which is twice higher than this indicator of the comparison group (16.6%). According to the calculated vascular age, early vascular aging was detected in 28.4% of the main group and in 13.3% of the comparison group. Signifi cantdiff erences appear when working in hazardous conditions for more than 10 years in the age category from 35 to 45 years.

Conclusions. The obtained results indicate a high prevalence of early vascular aging in persons working under the influence of industrial aerosol.

Introduction. Intense physical activity leads to a violation of homeostasis, which is supported by a balanced work of the body’s defense systems against oxidative stress, in particular, antioxidant, thiol disulfide and nitric oxide system. The study of these indicators will improve the mechanisms of adaptation of the human body to physical activity.

The aim of the study was to identify the features of changes in antioxidant protection systems and nitric oxide during intense physical activity in athletes-swimmers.

Materials and methods. Blood of athletes-swimmers (n=30, age 23,0±2,5 years) in the conditions of intensive physical loadings is investigated. Oxidative stress, total serum antioxidant capacity, glutathione levels and nitric oxide metabolites were studied by photometric biochemical methods.

Results. In 73.3% of athletes after intense physical activity remained elevated levels of oxidized glutathione, 30% had a high level of oxidative stress, 26.7% of the level of antioxidant capacity of serum is low, 73.3% was reduced relative to the initial level of the concentration of nitric oxide metabolites.

Conclusion. Intense physical activity leads to oxidative stress and disturbances in the antioxidant system of the athlete’s body. With increasing load, the degree of violations increases. The level of oxidative stress increases, the total antioxidant capacity of serum decreases, the functioning of glutathione is disrupted. Integral indicators of oxidative stress, as well as glutathione fractions can be recommended for monitoring the state of oxidative stress.

Introduction. Development of methodical base of information hygiene, systematization of data on levels of information loadings and degree of their influence on working conditions of workers is actual.

The purpose of the study was to measure and evaluate the levels of information mental load of office workers, to study the patterns of development of adverse functional States in this professional group.

Materials and methods. The pilot study included 25 employees of scientific and educational institutions aged 25 to 65 years. Measurement of information mental load of workers was carried out on the basis of a point assessment. Psychodiagnostics of performance of participants of research was carried out by means of a package of standard techniques. Heart rate telemetry was carried out in employees in the conditions of professional activity.

Results. The integral indicator of information mental load of the studied professional group was 37.3±7.2 points and was in direct connection with the coefficient of comfort of the workplace (r=0.5, p=0.01). A reliable dependence of the speed of information processing on the length of work experience (r=0.71, p=0.0001) was also established. In the low-stress group, high indices of stress, fatigue, monotony were recorded in the workers, in the senior group — signs of chronic fatigue. The employees during the shift registered an increase in sympathetic activation.

Conclusions. The results of the psychophysiological survey of employees indicate the need to regulate the information load, the development and implementation of preventive measures to reduce professional stress.

Introduction. To assess occupational stress, it is important to create an effective system of personalized monitoring of the functional state of workers based on information computer technologies.

The aim of the study was to carry out personalized physiological and hygienic monitoring using a complex of mobile telemetry systems and computer technologies of laterometry and campimetry in real conditions of professional activity.

Materials and methods. 37 athlete rowers aged 15–20 years took part in the research on the basis of voluntary informed consent. In the course of the training, stress responses were recorded according to the results of heart rate telemetry and the stress load index (SLI) was calculated. The blood levels of biochemical markers were detected (creatine kinase — CK-MB, alanine aminotransferase — ALT). Using computer laterometry and campimetry.

Results. In persons with identifi ed signs of stress in terms of laterometry and campimetry in the blood recorded increased ALT (18.9±6.9 IU / l against the group “norm” 14.3±3.4 IU/ l, p=0.01), CC-MV (42±17.5 IU / l against 16±3.5 IU/ l, p=0.02). In the course of training, 60% of athletes had increased values of isn (0.30±0.04).

Conclusions. The introduction of information technologies for personalized monitoring makes it possible to manage the risk of health disorders of workers with high nervous, emotional and physical stress.

Introduction. To date, age and sex differences have been established for many biochemical parameters. Gender differences in indicators for systems such as antioxidant, thiol-disulfide, oxidative stress and inflammation systems are absent or under study.

The aim of the study was to identify gender differences in biochemical parameters reflecting the functioning of antioxidant systems of the body and free radical oxidation in workers of metallurgical production, in contact with harmful production factors.

Materials and methods. The blood of men and women working at the metallurgical enterprise of the Nizhny Novgorod region (n=80) under the influence of a complex of physical and chemical production factors was studied. Total oxidative stress, total antioxidant capacity of serum, glutathione levels were studied by photometric biochemical methods. Levels of C-reactive protein and 8-hydroxy–2-deoxyguanosine were studied by ELISA.

Results. The average amount of peroxides in the serum of women exceeded 1.6 times this figure in men. In the group of men, the content of 8-Ondg was higher by 26% (p=0.012), the level of GS-by 12% (p=0.019), the activity of SOD — by 1.5–2 times (p=0.0001), the level of CRP — by 2 times (p=0.008) compared to similar indicators in women.

Conclusions. Studies of gender differences in workers under the influence of harmful production factors will allow more effective approach to the etiology, treatment and prognosis of production-related diseases. Indicators of oxidative stress and antioxidant protection can be indicators of the health of workers under the influence of harmful industrial factors and be important in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress.

The analysis of mainly foreign publications devoted to the leading risk factors affecting the ability to work, the possibility of using the screening method of assessing performance using the questionnaire “index of ability to work” to obtain objective data, on the basis of which it is possible to develop preventive measures aimed at maintaining the most qualified, trained workers, extending their stay in the profession. Electronic literature search was carried out on Medline, CINAHL and Embase databases.

Mercury is one of the most common in various industries and at the same time dangerous chemicals. It is able to be deposited in the body and have a toxic effect for a long time after the cessation of contact. Under the influence of mercury, workers can develop various intoxications, as a result of which pathological changes in the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, immune and reproductive systems are possible.

Under production conditions, mercury enters the body, usually in the form of vapors (absorbed about 80%) and suspended particles. Inorganic forms of mercury are excreted mainly in the urine (60%). However, insufficient attention is currently being paid to the problem of determining the mercury content in urine samples. To date, in world practice there is no systematic approach to the determination of small doses of mercury in the body, as a result of which it is difficult to timely identify public health disorders. This is largely due to the lack of highly sensitive and highly effective methods of analysis, allowing routine measurements with minimal cost and high accuracy. The methods currently used are either quite expensive or have low accuracy/sensitivity.

The aim of the study was to develop a method of atomic absorption determination of mercury in urine by cold steam, which would allow at minimal cost to increase the accuracy and sensitivity of mercury detection in the body.

Materials and methods. Quantitative measurement of mercury in urine samples was carried out on an atomic absorption spectrometer with a mercury-hydride prefix using model solutions of different concentrations.

Results. The study determined the optimal conditions for sample preparation of urine samples, set the range of concentrations for the construction of the calibration schedule, studied the effect of the matrix on the accuracy of the analysis by the “introduced-found” method. The lower limit of detection of the developed technique was 0.05 mcg/l, the upper limit–100 mcg/l (if necessary, it can be increased by additional dilution). The relative error of determination depending on the concentration varied from 3 to 15%.

Conclusions. A highly sensitive, affordable and relatively inexpensive method for the determination of mercury in urine has been developed, which will allow to diagnose with high accuracy the background contents of mercury in urine, which is especially important when inspecting workers of industries associated with the use of mercury and its compounds, as well as the population living in areas close to these industries.

In many countries, burnout due to stress at work is recognized as a professionally related disease. Of great importance for its prevention is the introduction of health-saving technologies.

The aim of the research was to assess the state of their psycho-emotional sphere, the adequacy of the methodological complex used for psychodiagnostics, and the effectiveness of short-term psychological assistance projects by means of socialadapting and personal-developing technologies on the example of 2 groups of typical representatives with intellectual type of professional activity.

In the study, consisting of three stages, two groups of subjects took voluntary part: 13 methodologists of the University and 20 managers of a trading fi rm. The first stage of the study consisted in the initial psychodiagnostics of indicators of the emotional sphere and functional state of the subjects. Different versions of psychodiagnostic tools were developed for each group. The second stage consisted in development and approbation of projects of short-term psychological help to workers. At the third stage the analysis of indicators of emotional sphere at subjects before and after participation in projects is carried out. The results of the study were processed using the usual methods of variational statistics according to the program Statistica 12.0. Initial psychodiagnostics of the studied parameters of the subjects showed signs of professional burnout. In Methodists, this was manifested by a pronounced degree of chronic fatigue index, a decrease in efficiency, a moderate degree of mental and physical fatigue, maladaptation in stress. Managers are also diagnosed with a high risk of maladjustment in stress, low values of indicators of functional state. In the course of participation in psychopath projects, the subjects of both groups showed positive dynamics of indicators of the emotional sphere.

The obtained data allow to recommend these projects of health saving programs for practical use. The tested complex of psychodiagnostic tests allows to reveal signs of professional burnout and to estimate efficiency of programs of psychopathology. For the prevention of burnout syndrome and the formation of stress resistance, it is advisable to create a culture of health conservation at each workplace.

Back pain is one of the most common causes of temporary disability (TD) and medical aid appealability. Pain syndrome of lumbosacral localization is typical for the class of diseases of the musculoskeletal system (DMSS). The factors of workload be the cause of the development of occupationally determined DMSS. Given the possibility of the impact of same factors on traffic policemen, it seems relevant to study the risk of developing DMSS in this group workers.

The aim of study based on the study of working conditions of traffic police inspectors and the prevalence of BCMS among THEM to assess the degree of professional conditioning of the analyzed diseases.

The assessment of working conditions of inspectors of traffic police with measurement of levels of influence of professional factors was carried out. Retrospective analysis of health status was carried out according to the data of outpatient cards (431 cards) and sick leaves (568 sheets for 369 people), as well as subjectively according to the results of a survey (117 questionnaires) in different age and age groups. Nonparametric and parametric methods of variational statistics were used to establish the reliability of the differences.

Working conditions of traffic police inspectors-harmful fourth degree (class 3.4), limiting factors were the microclimate (3.3), tension (3.3) and the severity of work (3.2). Predicted index of occupational diseases — 0,5–1,0 — very high (intolerable) occupational risk. BCMS ranked 1st in the structure of morbidity and amounted to 37.12±2.3 cases per 100 workers–2.8 times higher than the average. The linear character of the increase in the cases of BKMS with experience was observed (approximation coefficient R2=0.98; p<0.001). The increase in the number of cases of BCMS in the group with experience of 10 years or more compared to the group up to 5 years is statistically significant: χ2=29.79 (p<0.001).

The linear nature of the dependence of the increase in the number of diseases with experience was revealed. Professional conditionality of development of BKMS in group of inspectors of traffic police traffic police is statistically proved. The level of relative occupational risk in the BCMS class is high.