Powders, composed of chlorine-releasing agent acrylic resin mixtures or based on peroxygen compounds, for spills of body fluids.

The use of powders, composed of a mixture of a chlorine-releasing agent with highly absorbent acrylic resin, for disinfecting body fluid spills was evaluated by laboratory tests. 'Encap' and 'Red Z' were found to absorb rapidly up to 200 ml of water to form a semi-solid gel. When experimental formulations containing 1%, 5% and 10% available chlorine were evaluated by a standardized surface test, those containing 10% gave the best results. The ease and rate of absorption of fluids by these formulations decreased as the fluid consistency increased and they seem more suitable for watery spills than for blood. The use of a powder based on peroxygen compounds ('Virkon') for disinfecting contaminated spills was evaluated by laboratory tests and hospital trials. Laboratory tests showed that 'Virkon' is strongly and rapidly bactericidal. In hospital ward trials by nurses using 'Virkon' on both natural and artificial spills, 60 of 62 contact plates pressed on to decontaminated surfaces proved negative, and no unpleasant fumes were generated when 'Virkon' was applied to urine. In another trial, 1% 'Virkon' solution proved very effective in decontaminating mortuary tables. Antiviral activity was not tested.

[Hygienic evaluation and the effects of toxic factors in the work environment of copper-processing plants]. / Khigienna otsenka na toksichnite faktori na rabotnata sreda v osnovni uchast'tsi pri proizvodstovoto na med.

The study embraces the shops: metallurgic, electrolysis, production of sulfuric acid and shop 100. Tests are performed on the environmental pollution by dust, sulfur dioxide, chlorine, aerosols of sulfuric acid, carbon monoxide, nitric oxide and dioxide, hydrogen chloride, arsenic (II) oxide (III), selenium, tellurium and metal aerosols: lead, copper, cadmium and zinc. The total concentrations of chemical noxae, generating multicomponent mixtures with one-way effect on the work place, are reckon, and estimation in the Bulgarian Institute of Hygiene and Occupational Health and the Ministry of public health methods. In the same shop is comprised a representative group of workers with paraclinical tests: GOT and GPT activity, content of copper and zinc in blood. The assessment made on the work conditions and the changes already found in the workers lead to a discussion for optimizing the conditions in the new shops for copper production.