[Provision of personalized acoustic protection of aviation specialists (practical aspects)].

In the article observed the issues of individual protection of aviation technical personnel from the noise generated by military aircrafts. It is shown that modern innovative materials and technologies allow carrying out scientifically based selection of perspective acoustic protection means for aviation personnel. Conducted analysis has shown that specially designed aviation PPE are comparable by acoustic effectiveness with foreign analogs. The necessity of taking into account of personal psycho-physiological features in the process of designing, building and testing of PPE has been proved. Stress-protective function of acoustic protective equipment has been proved in experiments with aviation specialists. Discussing prospective investigation directions in the field of noise protection. One of them is the establishment of persons register (flight and technician personnel) working in acoustically adverse conditions as the basis for occupational risks management.

[Fundamental and applied aspects of preventing the adverse effects of aviation noise].

In the article, aviation noise is discussed as a harmful physical factor with ecological, hygienic, clinical and social implications. Noise contributes to development of general and occupational pathologies, chronic diseases, and reduction of professional longevity. The present-day knowledge of aviation noise sources and dynamics, and effects on environment, population, and aviation personnel is overviewed, as well as strategies to prevent noise consequences, muffling techniques being the key ones.

[The autonomic system reactivity of airport technical personnel using individual protective devices against noise].

The study covered cardiac rhythm variability and hemodynamic parameters in airfield technical personnel under exposure to aviation noise and with use of individual protective measures against noise. Individual protective means remove unfavorable stressful external effects of noise--that is manifested by more stable parameters of sympathetic nervous system activity.

[The hearing function and vegetative reactions in airport technicians using individual hearing protectors].

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the hearing function in the airport technical personnel and estimate the effectiveness of multicomponent anti-noise hearing protectors used by the specialists engaged in the aircraft maintenance. The tonal threshold audiometry was carried out before and after a shiftwork. The extra-aural effect of noise was assessed from the characteristics of cardiac rhythm variability. The study included two groups of subjects: in one of them (n=8) they used ordinary flight headsets (control) in the other the protection was ensured with the help of multi-insert hearing protectors (n=16). The initial hearing thresholds were found to be increased up to 70 and 60 dB at the frequencies of 4 and 8 kHz respectively. The regression analysis revealed the relationship between these parameters and the duration of aerodrome work experience. Temporary threshold shifts were observed only in the control group. An increase in the tone of the sympathetic nervous system was observed in the control subjects but was absent in the study group. It is concluded that the multi-component hearing protectors employed in the present study are highly efficacious anti-noise devices. The mechanisms of noise-induced hearing loss are discussed.

[Evaluation of acoustic effectiveness of personnel protectors from extra-aural exposure to aviation noise].

Purpose of the investigation was to validate testing acoustic effectiveness of a personnel vest-like protector (PP) from extra-aural exposure to aviation noise. Levels of aviation noise for PP testing were determined through calculation. Vest effectiveness in protecting from acoustic vibration generated by high-intensity aviation noise was evaluated both in laboratory and field tests. For comparison analysis, PP was also tested with a dummy exposed on a special tester, i.e. acoustic interferometer.

[Medical and biologic evaluation of individual noise-protection means efficiency].

In laboratory and nature, the authors studied protective properties of experimental models of noise-protection earphones with high acoustic efficiency in broadened frequency range. The article covers expedience of studies at workplaces, including medical and biologic methods that evaluate noise-protection in audible and infra-sound ranges.

[Means and methods of acoustic protection in aviation: current status and outlook for development].

Analysis of the current status of acoustic protection in aviation shows that despite the material progress in the field, risk of professional pathologies in flying and technical personnel is still high. The situation is dramatized by the lack of effective personal and crew acoustic protectors. The authors speculate on applicability of innovative materials and technologies, ingenious designs of earphones and modular prefabricated demountable structures. Tests of proposed personal protectors demonstrated their competitiveness with foreign analogs. Prospective lines of development, e.g. incorporation of active sound absorption systems in existing passive protectors are discussed.

[Occupationally mediated morbidity in aviation specialists].

General hygienic evaluation covered workplaces of aviation engineers and technicians and showed that work conditions of these occupations are characterized mainly by exposure to noise and infrasound, that are assigned to hazardous (3.4) and jeopardized (4) classes. Analysis of periodic medical examinations results helped to justify evidence based occupational and occupationally mediated diseases.

[Influence of pilot's professional activity on the adaptive character of hemodynamic reactions to the tilt test].

The comparative study of blood circulation reaction to the tilt test was performed with three groups of essentially healthy subjects: AF pilots (n = 72), locomen (n = 44) and students of Military Institute of Radio Electronics (n = 32). In each group, adequate adaptive reactions were due to the eukinetic hemodynamics with steady minute volume and blood pressure values combined with heart rate increase by 10-12%. Hypokinetic hemodynamics caused 20% growth in minute volume during the initial 5 minutes of tilting in pilots versus 8-12% growth in non-flyers. Hyperkinetic hemodynamics was responsible for the minute volume growth in pilots but not in the other groups of subjects. Parasympathetic system activation was peculiar of hypokinetic hemodynamics, while sympathetic system activation was associated with hyperkinetic hemodynamics. These results point to a larger body functional reserve in pilots compared with the other subjects as a by-effect of the profession.

[Criteria of noise pathologies in aviation specialists and their prognostic implications].

The paper outlines the criteria of noise pathologies in aviation specialists after extended period of exposure to high-intensity noise and infrared sound. Analysis of morbidity and clinical researches shows prevalence of such pathologies as neurosensory deafness, hypertension and discirculatory encephalopathy. These disorders were correlated with career length.

[Age factor in a complex evaluation of health of air staff].

Was elaborated program of a complex of estimation of health condition of air staff with determination of capability of early diagnostic of functional tension of physiological systems. According to this system there were observed 73 airmen using a complex of tests (estimation of level of pectoral control, of personal and reactive anxiety, vegetal regulation etc.). Was detected, that length of service and sympato-adrenaline activeness with vicarious decrease of adrenoreactiveness are in direct proportion. Were marked the most informative indexes of estimation of functional tension of psycho-physiological functions, vegetative regulation and cardiovascular system. Was shown that the elaborated system of individual estimation of health of air staff permits diagnose prenosological conditions and determine indexes for rehabilitation treatment.

[Evaluation of functional adaptation level in air specialists according to biochemical indexes of saliva secretion].

It was examined a capability of evaluation of functional condition of air staff by indexes of natrium, kalium, cortisol and glucose in saliva. There were realized 5 series of examinations with participations of 71 airplane pilot of the same level in conditions of realizing flies of different difficultness. Saliva sampling was effectuated before and after the flies not later then 10-15 minutes after landing. On pre-flight medical examination and after performance of task of air relay there was registration of systolic, diasystolic blood pressure and cardiac rate. It was posed the correlation of physiological indexes with percentage of examined ingredients in saliva in different flight loads. The results of examinations speak for capability of using of indexes of percentage of natrium, kalium, cortisol and glucose in saliva for evaluation of functional condition of airplane pilots during effectuating the flies and rating of value of flight load with account of individual peculiarities.

[Radionuclide indication of the relative economic ecological safety of local ecosystems].

The use of radioactive isotopes as indicators has been theoretically and experimentally substantiated for comparison of the ecological safety of local ecosystems. The higher concentration of cosmogeneous 7Be and the lower concentration of terrestrial 222Rn and its disintegration products in the environment are, the safer the total ecological situation is in the local ecosystem. Experimental and comparative data on the concentrations of 7Be in the surface air and grass in Moscow are given by the years and months of the early 21st century. The results are assessed as a promising line of the development of radioecology.

[Hygienic analysis of conditions of work at the aircraft repair plants and ways to improve the acoustic situation].

Inspection of the conditions of work at aircraft repair plants showed that employees are impacted by a number of harmful in-plant factors including noise, infrasound, kerosene, microclimate and others. Acoustic conditions correspond to harmful (3.2-3.4) or dangerous (4) classes. The general rating of the conditions of work is determined by the degree of noise harmfulness and danger. To reduce the risk of professional pathologies, employees must use personal means of acoustic protection.

[Complex evaluation of parachutists' stress-endurance by biochemical characteristics of saliva].

Variations in saliva biochemical characteristics of parachuting sportsmen were analyzed after flight duty. The investigation revealed three types of saliva biochemical reactions to the stresses of parachuting. Our data point to the possibility to judge about the level of tension in organism of people engaged in difficult and extreme activities by saliva concentrations of Na+, K+, cortisol and glucose along with the physiological and psychological investigations traditionally employed by aviation and sport medicine.

[Characteristics of a negative effect of aviation noise on hearing organ of aircraft maintenance personnel].

Otolaryngological examination was carried out of 80 engineers and technicians engaged in maintenance of aircrafts in the airports. They are continuously exposed to occupational aviation noise and therefore are at risk for chronic neurosensory hypoacusis. Pure tone audiogram registers in them a rise in hearing thresholds throughout the whole band of frequencies studied. This means that aviation maintenance staff is exposed to noise containing highly intensive infrasound and high-frequency components. The detected pathology directly correlated with duration of exposure to noise. Development of neurosensory hypoacusis in aviation maintenance specialists starts earlier than in other specialists exposed to noise.