[OCCUPATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT IN MODERN CONDITIONS OF EXPLOITATION OF POLYURETHANEFOAM INDUSTRIES].

In the article there are presented data on the evaluation of occupational risk on two types of modern production of polyurethane foam (PUF), one of which is a large-tonnage fast-growth production, the 2nd type is semidomestic industry being different in small volume of output products. An analysis and evaluation of occupational exposure to large-scale production was performed patient-specifically with the use of elaborated individual cards, where there was introduced information about occupational route, the level of harmful factors of the working environment in all the years of work, the duration of exposure. The research results allowed to establish that the occupational risk in representatives of the main professions in the large-scale production (operators and handlers) is referred to a class of working conditions 3.2, which corresponds to the risk categories--moderate (Important), and demonstrates the need for further improvement of the system of preventive measures. At the small production working conditions were characterized by the presence of a large number of manual operations and comply with Class 3.3--category of professional risk-high (Unbearable). To reduce the risk to the health of workers of this type of production it is necessary to develop documents, that will increase the responsibility of employers to ensure safe working conditions.

[Stress as an occupational risk factor among policemen of road patrol service].

The hygienic evaluation of occupational factors which characterized working conditions of traffic policemen of road patrol service was performed. The authors found that along with high neuro-emotional occupational stress in traffic policemen, they exposed to unfavorable microclimate, higher level of noise, vibration and their work was classified as heavy. Also, traffic policemen presented subjective complaints about negative impact of polluted air of motorways on their health status. Prevalence of chronic diseases was analyzed in group of 431 traffic policemen. The authors revealed a leading role of the following diseases: musculoskeletal diseases, diseases of connective tissue, digestive diseases, diseases of the nerve system, circulation system; their portion in the morbidity structure was 86.0%. The association of these diseases with occupation was confirmed by the increasing of their incidence with increasing of length of duration of service. Calculation of indices of relative occupational risk showed (that especially important) the increase of the length of service led to the increase in the risk ofpathologies, in which stress played a significant role. In examined group, the authors revealed such diseases as hypertension, autonomous-vascular dystonia, gastric and duodenal ulcer. Risk of the development of these diseases in some age/length of service groups is classified as high and very high. Obtained results provide the evidence that measures aimed to the decrease of the exposure to occupational factors will promote prevention of stress-stipulated diseases among traffic policemen.

[The influence of ergonomic characteristics of the work place on the prevalence of pain syndrome in vocational drivers].

The study of features of the working posture pattern of bus and trucks drivers showed the inconsistency to their optimal criteria. Deviations of goniometric indices of working posture pattern of drivers are noted for most brands of studied cars, that is caused by constructive disadvantages of the driving seat both of well buses and trucks. The study of the health state of drivers have shown the prevalence of dorsalgia in the group of bus and truck drivers reached 40.8 ± 4.75, and in truckers drivers--15.6 ± 2.96 cases per 100 employees. The largest share in the structure of the pathology in both groups is occupied by lumbodynia. Significantly more frequent pathology of musculoskeletal system in bus drivers is related with the long-term presence in the fixed uncomfortable position. There is emphasized the importance of design changes of the driver's seat, adapted with taken account of the individual anthropometric parameters, for the prevention of the disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

[Evaluation of the functional state of drivers by parameters of vegetative regulation of cardiac rhythm with the use of method of wireless cardiorhythmography].

Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) provides the possibility to obtain the predictive and meaningful information on the functional status and features of adaptive responses of the whole organism. Monitoring the functional state in the course of professional activities with the use of wireless cardiorhythmography provides data acquisition on heart rate dynamics in accordance with the level of occupational load. The article is devoted to the development of methods for rapid assessment of the functional state of motor vehicle drivers in the process of occupational activity. There was performed the hygienic assessment of working conditions of jobs. The studies of the influence of the factor loadings on the level of the functional state of the cardiovascular system (CVS) of drivers were performed with the help of wireless telemetry system. A developed computer software were used for the calculation of the spectral parameters of HRV. By the analysis of cardiorhythmograms in drivers there were both revealed significant disorders of the rhythm of the cardiac activity (reduction of total power TP, HF-component, increase in LF-component, LF/HF index, extrasystole) and recorded changes in the spectral HRV indices in accordance with the level of occupational load, that represents the degree of individual response. The method of wireless cardiorhythmography is promising for the creation of personalized monitoring system to assess the risk of individual occupational risk.

[Cancer risk assessment in a group of traffic officers].

Air-pollution studies in the area where the traffic officers of the road-patrol service of the State Inspectorate for Road Traffic Safety, who patrol road traffic safety, breathe at the stationary militia inspection stations (MIS) and in the areas of the heaviest motor traffic highways of a city ascertained the cancer risk from exposure to carcinogenic agents, such as benzo(a)pyrene, benzene, and formaldehyde. The mean concentrations of these substances do not exceed the hygienic limits. In terms of the hazard index (1.04) and the individual's cancer risk index (4.8 x 10(-5)), the cancer risk for the traffic officers of MIS may be considered acceptable. Both indices (1.28 and 1.3 x 10(-4), respectively) for traffic officers and traffic controllers are suggestive of an increased cancer risk, which constitutes a potential threat to a rise in cancer morbidity in this occupational group and needs preventive measures to be undertaken.

[Effects of low doses of ionizing radiation on substrate and germination of higher plants seeds].

The investigation had the aim to evaluate the effects of low doses (< 1-10 cGy) of ionizing radiation on the physical-chemical qualities of high-purification water. It had also the goal to study germination rate and energy and sprouting of four species of higher plants exposed directly and indirectly (watering) to alpha- and beta-radiation from radionuclids sources. When compared with intact water, after exposure to beta-particles electrical currents in water-filled containers consistently tended upward and downward after exposure to alpha-particles. Radiation-induced changes in water parameters were observed throughout the experiment with higher plant seeds. Evaluation of the effect of irradiated water on sprouting showed that plant sensitivity varied with species and depended on type of radiation particles. Neither alpha- nor beta particles affected the wheat sprouts; however, both types of particles inhibited growth of mustard and accelerated growth of lentil and haricot Mash as compared with control crops. The investigation suggests that plant species for space greenhouses should be selected with account of their radioresistance and radiosensitivity.

[Hygienic aspects of employment of old age group individuals in chemical industry]. / Gigienicheskie aspekty ispol'zovaniia truda lits starshikh vozrastnykh grupp v khimicheskikh proizvodstvakh.

Due to the fact that a lot of pre-pension and pension-aged individuals are engaged in chemical industry, the age-specific features of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidative defense (AOD) were studied in an experiment on animals exposed to toluylene diisocyanate (TDI) at the levels of MAC and 1/2 MAC. The experimental findings support that decreased LPO and suppressed AOD occur with age which lower the efficiency of detoxification of chemicals in the body. A wave-shaped pattern of changes has been revealed in these systems in old (8.5-month) animals. At the beginning of exposure to TDI (within the first 2 weeks), there was an increase in LPO and AOD, then a reduction in their activity. Long-term exposure may bring about an impairment of adaptive mechanisms, which is suggested by the parameters characterizing the state of LPO and AOD after a loading test. The findings are indicative of the necessity of monitoring and correcting these parameters in old workers who are in contact with chemicals.

[Aspects of exposure to methyl-methacrylate of varying intensity in an organism and on population levels]. / Osobennosti vozdeistviia razlichnoi intensivnosti metilmetakrilata na organismennom i populiatsionnom urovniakh.

Studies of mortality among 3588 workers who contacted variable doses of methylmetacrilate (MMA) revealed that higher intensity of the exposure led to increased risk of death with lung and colon cancer. Immune state studies in 157 workers proved significant immune disorders due to MMA levels several times exceeding the MAC. Experiments evaluating immune functions under exposure to MMA levels equal to or under the MAC demonstrated mostly adaptational changes.

[Influence of chemicals on female reproduction]. / O vliianii khimicheskikh veshchestv na reproduktivnoe zdorov'e zhenshchin.

Studying female reproductive health in city with developed chemical industry, the authors revealed significant difference in character and incidence of disorders between the chemical workers and general population. Calculated dependence of some reproductive disorders on values of chemicals in the air helps to forecast the risk degree.

[Specific features of adverse effects in workers exposed to different levels of methylmethacrylate]. / Osobennosti neblagopriiatnykh éffektov u rabotaiushchikh pri vozdeistvii raznykh urovnei metilmetakrilata.

The relation of the incidence of malignant neoplasms to the dose of methyl methacrylate (MMA) was studied in 3588 workers. There was a clear correlation between the dose of MMA and the risk for cancer of the genital system in females and of the lung in males. Examining the immunity in groups receiving different doses of MMA revealed significant immunological disorders when exposed to its high concentrations.

[Use of personal dosimetry in the determination of average concentrations of methylmethacrylate in the air]. / Primenenie personal'noi dozimetrii dlia opredeleniia srednesmennykh kontsentratsii metilmetakrilata v vozdukhe.

This article describes a method that uses sampling by diffusion dosimetry to determine mean shift concentrations of methylmethacrylate in the air of workplace. Silochrome S-80 with PMS-100 liquid phase worked as an adsorbent of methylmethacrylate vapors. Thermodesorption or elution with subsequent gas chromatography were used for extraction of the chemical from the adsorbent. The method successfully passed occupational trials in evaluation of air pollution with methylmethacrylate.

[Occupational contact of women with methylmethacrylate and the negative tendency in the process of child-bearing]. / Professional'nyi kontakt zhenshchin s metilmetakrilatom i negativnye tendentsii v protsesse deterozhdeniia.

The study of women exposed to methyl methacrylate (MMA) in the workplace revealed the increased incidence of spontaneous abortions (SA). When women contacted with MMA at the MAC levels, the incidence of SA did not exceed the control levels, but the newborns were recorded to have congenital malformations, cases of hypoxia, signs of prematurity, hypotrophy, which necessitates to make stricter specifications for MAC in the workplace air and/or to lead women of childbearing age from the enterprises manufacturing MMA- and its based acrylic plastic.

[Epidemiologic-hygienic aspects of the assessment of carcinogenic risk in methacrylate production]. / Epidemiologo-gigienicheskie aspekty otsenki kantserogennogo riska pri proizvodstve metakrilatov.

The authors studied oncologic mortality among the workers exposed to some acryl monomers. The oncologic risk was estimated for the individuals exposed to acrylonitrile, methyl methacrylate, methyl- and butyl acrylate, methacrylic acid. Occurrence of the malignancies appeared to depend on the dose of methyl methacrylate.

[Industrial hygiene and occupational diseases in chemical industry at present]. / Problemy gigieny truda i profpatologii v khimicheskoi promyshlennosti na sovremennom étape.

The working conditions of workers engaged in chemical industry today make them be at risk of an occupational disease whose early manifestation can be detected by modern techniques of medical investigations, such as electromyography, electron spirometry, allergic, immunological and neuropsychological tests. The preventive trend in occupational medicine should be in progress by developing the system of biological and hygienic monitoring techniques for those getting in contact with noxious chemicals and by improving the legal bases for creating safe working conditions with allowance made for new economic relations.

[Development, course and late sequelae of diseases in workers engaged in organic glass production]. / Osobennosti formirovaniia, techeniia i otdalennykh posledstvii patologii u rabochnikh, zaniatykh v proizvodstve organicheskogo stekla.

Health status was examined in workers engaged into methylmethacrylate-based organic glass production. The study supported that incidence, time and severity of occupational intoxications with methylmethacrylate depend on the level of its action. High (3-5-10 and more times exceeding the MAC) concentrations of methylmethacrylate induced the clinical signs of intoxication after 5 years of service. Neural, circulatory, digestive disorders were diagnosed. The workers contacting methylmethacrylate more than 15 years showed higher oncologic mortality. The noted features of exposure to methylmethacrylate are necessary to be taken into account in screenings of workers engaged into the stated production.

Increasing evidence of the rise of cancer in workers exposed to vinylchloride.

The results of a cancer mortality study among workers employed in the production of vinylchloride and polyvinylchloride between 1939 and 1977 suggest a significant increase in deaths from malignancies of the lymphatic and haemopoietic tissues. Mortality for tumours of the digestive organs, respiratory system, bone and connective tissues, brain, and skin are also greater than in the general population. There were no registered cases of liver angiosarcoma in the study cohort during the follow up period. The risk of cancer was highest among the workers exposed to concentrations of VC of 300 mg/m3 and more who had worked at the plant for 15 to 19 years. The relatively high number of leukaemias and lymphomas in the study group and the absence of liver angiosarcomas probably reflects specific carcinogenic action of different doses of vinylchloride.