[Results of subjective and endoscopic studies on the incidence of upper digestive tract pathology among industrial workers]. / Wyniki Badan podmiotowych i endoskopowych nad wystepowaniem zmian chorobowych górnego odcinka przewodu pokarmowego w populacji zakladu pracy.

This paper has been aimed at an evaluation of the prevalence of upper alimentary duct pathologies in an industrial population, as well as at an attempt to evaluate the value of subjective symptoms in screening tests. Altogether 975 subjects have been examined, but only 235 of them underwent endoscopic studies. The data on subjective symptoms have been collected from all the subjects, by way of a special questionnaire. In the group of those subjected to endoscopic studies, 38,7% have been found to have developed various diseases of the upper alimentary duct. Those predominating have been ulcers and deformations of pylorus and hiatal herniae. Ulcers and deformations of duodenum in smokers have been nearly twice those in nonsmokers. The results demonstrated that the prevalence of upper alimentary duct diseases in the industrial population concerned, has been higher than expected. To account for this, further epidemiological analytical studies must be undertaken. It has been found that within the screening studies of populations, aimed at the detection of upper alimentary duct diseases, questionnaire on abdominal pain is more reliable than the questions on dyspeptic symptoms.

[Effect of occupational environment on the occurrence of chronic nonspecific respiratory tract diseases among workers engaged in the production of superphosphates]. / Zwiazek srodowiska pracy z wystepowaniem przewleklych nieswoistych chorób ukladu oddechowego wsród pracowników zatrudnionych przy produkcji superfosfatu.

The paper was aimed at establishment of the contribution of work conditions to etiology of chronic bronchitis, asthmatic symptoms and lung ventilation disturbances. The investigation involved 354 men producing superphosphate in the Sulphur Processing Plant in Machów near Tarnborzeg and the control group of 276 workers from the same plant but little exposed to industrial dusts. The analysis of mean FEV1 indices with different smoking habits, respiratory tract symptoms and work environment, was based on so called corrected i.e. standardized mean values, with regard to age and increase based on multiple regression equations. In the workers producing superphosphate much more frequent chronic bronchitis (PNO), asthmatic syndrome (ZA) and lung ventilation disturbances were found. Corrected FEV1 arithmetic means in those with PNO and ZA symptoms were significantly lower in those from superphosphate division than in the control group. In addition, in the superphosphate division a significant linear trend of the proportion of lung ventilation disturbances cases, depending on symptoms category, was found. These results reveal harmful effect of air pollution in work environment upon health status of the exposed workers.