Health problems of deep sea fishermen.

In 1995-1997, 966 fishermen were subjected to medical examinations and their health state was evaluated. In 78.2% fishermen examined no pathologies were recorded and in 7.7% of them defects and impairments not regarded diseases with visual defects predominating were noted. In a part of the fishermen examined the diseases coexisted with the defects and impairments. The major health problems of the deep-sea fishermen were various types of neuroses (8%), arterial hypertencion (4.7%), urolithiasis (0.8%) and musculoskeleted system diseases.

Diseases and work-related injuries in Polish seafarers and conditions of their work on foreign-flag ships.

A questionnaire survey was conducted in 1994-1996 among Polish seafarers employed on foreign-flag ships, in order to collect their opinions and experiences on work and life on these ships, and to estimate the morbidity and injuries incidence. The majority of 1103 respondents were satisfied with the conditions of work and life on these ships: their food, accommodation, the health and safety of work, standard of health care on board were good or satisfactory; they had no problems with living and working together on the same ship with seamen of other nationalities. But about 7.8% of respondents complained that the safety and health of work on their ship was unsatisfactory, or conditions of work "endangered their health and life". The self-reported morbidity (calculated rate 176.8 per 1000 men per year) and accidents (rate 114.5 per 1000 per year) was recorded.

Selected problems of health and safety of divers in the light of Polish regulations.

The work addresses legal aspects of employing amateurs (diving clubs members) at underwater works, and lack of standards and regulations regarding light diving equipment for diving teams. New legislation is needed to lay down pensionable age for divers, regulate the employment of women for underwater works in some professions, and medical aspects of fitness certification for divers.

Distant health effects of using asbestos in shipyards and in co-operating plants.

A survey was conducted during a 15-years period (1981-1994) among a group of workers employed in shipyards and in cooperating plants, who were exposed to asbestos. In a group of 681 people surveyed a growing incidence of asbestosis of the lung was revealed: from 3.9% in 1981 to 17.9% in 1994. Since 1990, 19 persons have been found to have malignant neoplasms, in that number in 9 cases the location of neoplasm was evidently associated with the effects of the asbestos dust (3 mesotheliomas of the pleura and 6 bronchial cancers of the lungs). The smoking habit was probably a contributing factor in the occurrence of these diseases.

Observations on the conditions of work of Polish seafarers and their health.

Conditions of work of seafarers depend on the influence of physical, chemical biological and psycho-social factors. In 1971-1973, the health of 3000 sefarers was examined; their main health problems were: neuroses (10.13%), arterial hypertension (4.63%), ulcer of stomach and duodenum (2.80%), renal calculi (2.80%), and the alcoholic addiction (1.73%). Those seamen worked on cargo ships which technically differed from ships which sail the seas in the nineties; they were slower, to load them and unload took much time, and they stayed in ports for long periods of time. Recent technical developments in shipbuilding, and the trend to build larger ships with more powerful engines and greater cruising speed, the mechanization and automation of ships operation, and computerization, caused the change in their crews structure and number. It also changes the psycho-social work environment. Using the same method, health examinations of 3,300 seafarers were conducted in 1983-1985. There was an increase in the prevalence of neuroses, arterial hypertension, ulcer of stomach and duodenum, and calculus of kidney. In 1990-1992, a group of 4,688 seafarers was examined. Their health problems were different, in comparison with the populations previously examined. For example, neuroses were recorded in 1.16% men, and ulcer of stomach and duodenum in 0.13% of men examined. The above differences in the health status of seafarers examined cannot be attributed only to the changes in their work conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of pathological changes in respiratory system of workers exposed to asbestos dust. Part I: Prevalence and dynamics of chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases.

In order to evaluate dynamics of pathological changes in the respiratory system in workers exposed to asbestos dust in the industrial plants of Gdansk and Gdynia, after the first series of examinations conducted in 1981-1985 another series of repeated examinations of the same workers was carried out in 1986-1989, comprising 548 people, that is 80.5% of the total number of the workers previously examined. Their health deteriorated in 1986-89. The number of chronic nonspecific lung diseases (c.n.l.d.) diagnosed in them increased from 26.4% to 35%. The increased prevalence of these diseases was found to be related to their age, smoking habit and the period of their employment. A statistically significant increase in the prevalence of the c.n.l.d. was noted in the group of people who worked in these plants for 15-19 years. This increase was more marked in women than in men.

Evaluation of the pathological changes progress in people of long-term exposure to asbestos dust during 5-year observation.

In order to evaluate the dynamics of the pathological changes in the respiratory system of the workers exposed to asbestos dust in the industrial plants of Gdank-Sopot-Gdynia, after the first series of examinations in 1981/82 the tests were repeated in 1986/87 comprising 340 persons i.e. 85.4% of previously examined. Minimal employment period was 10 years. After 5 years the state of health of the subjects got worse. The number of the chronic nonspecific lung diseases and the rate of ventilatory disorders increased. The number of the people with irregular small opacities present in the radiological picture of the lungs also got higher. After the period of 5 years more than a doubled increase of asbestosis was found. These changes were much more often in women. The author suggests that the exposure to asbestos longer than 10 years induces changes in the respiratory system of a progress that in the group observed proved to be distinct and quite rapid.

Impact of the working environment upon the state of health of the dockers handling dusty materials (with a special regard to respiratory and circulatory system).

The present report addresses the question of whether, and if so then in what extent the dust present at the loading works of bulk cargo affect the respiratory system of dockers. The values of the air dustiness change within a wide range according to the worksite, type of the dust material, dust dispersion degree, loading techniques employed, climatic conditions and others. 766 dockers exposed to dusty materials were examined. A subjective examination was conducted--by means of the questionaire aimed at chronic bronchitis and physical, laryngological, RTG, spirometric, gasometric and ECG examinations. The increase in the incidence of chronic bronchitis correlated with age, period of employment, type of dusty material and smoking habit was observed. The main reason for the high morbidity rate for chronic bronchitis in the workers handling dusty cargo in ports is combined effect of smoking and occupational factors.

Estimation of occupational hazards of the employees of a phosphate fertilizers plant.

Composite examinations of 116 persons, employees of Phosphate Fertilizers Plant in Gdansk, with an average length of service ca. 15 years, were carried out. It was found that the frequency of occurrence of the chronic non-specific diseases of the lungs was not higher than in other works where dust and gaseous hazards of respiratory tract occur. However, at persons with longer length of service, the long-term effects of fluorine influence were found. They were revealed in disturbances of the carbohydrates balance and mineral balance, with radiographically seen thickening of the osseous structure.

Changes in electrocardiograms at rest among dockers employed at loading/discharging of dusty materials.

Examinations were carried out among 602 dockers of sea-ports working at stevedore and trimmer work places in loading/discharging of dusty materials. The mean age of the population examined was 40.38 SD+/- 8.83 years and the mean length of service 13.33 SD +/- 6.91 years. In the material examined the authors found 32.7 per cent of cases with chronic non-specific respiratory system diseases. The evaluation of electrocardiograms was performed with the use of Minnesota code. We have found abnormal electrocardiograms in 49.16 per cent of the persons examined, but in 119 persons were observed patterns of the influence of parasympathetic system, which one should recognize as features of good training and fitness to perform hard physical work. If this just mentioned group is left out the total of the abnormal electrocardiograms reaches 28.90 per cent. In ECG recordings we have found pathologic changes in Q and QS waves evidencing the existence of necrotic foci and healed infarct. In cases of chronic non-specific respiratory system diseases (37.7 per cent) occurring particularly over age of 50 years P-pulmonale waves, complete and incomplete right bundle branch blocks, jagged QRS complex and rotation change, as traits of right ventricular hypertrophy were found.

[Respiratory tract in subjects occupationally exposed to asbestos dust]. / Ocena ukladu oddechowego u osób narazonych zawodowo na dzialanie pylów azbestu.

Health status of 145 "isolators", in this 50 women, engaged in ship building and repair, inhalating asbestos dust for 2 to 24 years of occupation (10.7 and 1.7 years on average) was examined. High percentage (63.6) of chronic bronchitis was found, especially in those working more than 10 years, and more frequently in women. 13.3% of asbestos cases were diagnosed, in this in the group working longer than 15 years in 47.4%. In 20.6% of those examined, respiratory disfunction was noted, mainly obturative, with no changes in blood gases. Chronic bronchitis was found to have developed earlier and more frequently in women than in men, under the same exposure. This should be a contraindication to employ women on those work--stands where the air is considerably dusted by highly aggressive dusts.