Polish journal of occupational medicine and environmental health最新文献

An epidemiological study was performed to assess whether environmental pollution by cadmium as found in cadmium polluted areas of CSFR (Pribram and Frýdek-Mistek) is associated with changes in biological indicators of renal dysfunction in non-occupationally exposed population groups. Polluted areas were chosen on the basis of existing sources of Cd emission. The city of Prague was selected as a control area. Environmental monitoring (Cd in air, dust fall and soil) did not confirm significant contamination of selected areas. It was found that Cd levels in urine (Cd-U) of inhabitants living in areas chosen as Cd-contaminated were significantly higher than in the control area. Differences in concentrations of Cd in blood (Cd-B) levels between individual areas were not significant. No significant differences between the study populations were noted in the urinary excretion of low molecular weight proteins (beta 2-microglobulin, retinol binding protein) and albuminuria. However, total proteinuria and aminoaciduria in persons living in Pribram area was significantly higher. This area suffers from combined contamination by cadmium and lead. In smokers of both sexes the Cd-B levels were significantly higher in all areas, no significant differences were found in Cd-U levels. However, it was found that in smokers there is higher percentage of persons excreting more than 0.9 micrograms Cd.g-1 creatinine in urine. Consumption of home-grown vegetable and fruit in Cd-polluted areas led to significantly higher levels of Cd-B and Cd-U and total proteinuria. The results of the study show that smoking and food seem to be the most important sources of Cd intake in non-occupationally exposed populations. In spite of the fact that environmental monitoring does not reveal a significant contamination of selected areas by Cd, Cd-U levels confirmed that population living in these areas is really exposed to Cd.

Thie biological effect of low dose radiation is little known. In the current study male Wistar rats were exposed monthly to a 60Co-source low dose whole body irradiation (0.25 Gy, per 18 months; total dose: 4.5 Gy). The glutathione disulphide (GSSH): total glutathione (GSH) ratio, the concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase in: small intestine, spleen, kidney, soleus muscle, and liver were analysed. Low dose irradiation is accompanied by distinct peroxidative changes in organs, observed in the small intestine, the spleen and in the kidneys. The current study suggests that the measurement of glutathione status and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances can be proposed as sensitive parameters for low dose radiation induced changes.

The aim of our study was to evaluate the reaction of the circulatory system on work with various levels of physical and mental load. The examinations were carried out at a department store in two groups of women: 20 cashiers (mental work) and 53 saleswomen (physical work). There were no statistically significant differences in age, duration of employment or physical fitness between those groups. Work at this department store was performed on a two-shift system with irregular rotations. The psychic load was evaluated as a relation between subjective estimation of work demands and the ability to cope with them. Physical effort was measured as an energy expenditure during work. Cardiovascular reaction was expressed by heart rate during work, leisure time and sleep estimated according to the 24-hour Holter monitoring method. No statistically significant differences in heart rate were found to exist between cashiers and saleswomen. This, taking into account the much higher energy expenditure in saleswomen, suggests that mental effort is likely to affect heart rate. In fact, mean values of subjective assessment of work demands in cashiers were much higher (5.1) than in saleswomen (4.4), unlike the evaluation of the ability to cope with them, which points to the occurrence of a significant psychic load in the work of cashiers. A lower difference between maximum and minimum frequencies of heart rate in cashiers in comparison with saleswomen confirmed this observation, although it might have resulted from different levels of physical activity during work.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A new method has been developed to enable the ergonomic assessment of stress associated with posture at the workplace. It enables evaluations of the load resulting from working postures at workplaces where standing and walking postures dominate. The method also offers the possibility of estimating the preexisting load already at the stage of workplace designing. This may prove useful in evaluating both the global load and giving the designer an idea about the effect of individual design decisions on changes of the postural load. The method has been used to compare the postural stress at several workplaces in the textile industry and it seems to perform satisfactorily.

Biological markers are tools that can be used to clarify the relationship, between exposure to a xenobiotic compound and health impairment and to indicate individual or population differences that affect the biologically effective dose. Biological markers, broadly defined, are indicators of variation in cellular or biochemical components or processes, structure, or function that are measurable in biological systems or samples. There is growing interest in the use of biological markers to study the health effects of exposure to environmental toxicants in occupational medicine, epidemiology, toxicology, and related biomedical fields.

Hearing conservation for divers and swimmers has been overlooked nearly everywhere in the world. Because submerging a listener changes his or her auditory physiology dramatically, the research upon which we base exposure limits for airborne noise is not pertinent under water. Of the research that is necessary for developing a damage-risk standard for underwater noise exposure, only a negligible amount has been done. The value of Poland's marine industries and the motivation of its audiologists make Poland and ideal country in which to accomplish this research and to develop the foundation for national and international standards.

Effects of combined exposure to toluene and m-xylene in the conditions of subchronic inhalation experiments in rats were examined. Rats were exposed to vapours of individual solvents and their 1:1 mixture at concentrations of 1000 ppm or 100 ppm, 6 h/day, 5 days/week, for 3 or 6 months, respectively. In rats exposed for 3 or 6 months to toluene, m-xylene and their mixtures (1:1) at concentrations of 1000 ppm and 100 ppm, respectively, the observed disturbances in rotarod performance test and decrease in spontaneous motor activity were statistically significant in comparison to control. In animals exposed to mixtures (1:1) of toluene and m-xylene, changes were not significantly different but more pronounced when compared to single solvent groups. The decrease of red blood cells count and increase of rod neutrophil cell counts were observed only in rats exposed for 3 months to mixture of solvents. Results obtained in condition of acute and subchronic inhalation exposure and toxicokinetics data interpreted jointly indicate the more than additive toxic effects of combined exposure to toluene and m-xylene.

During Ramadan, Moslems are required strictly to avoid fluids and nourishment from dawn to sunset. Heat stress during such abstinence represents a substantial health hazard. In the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) where numerous Moslems, particularly of Turkish origin, perform heat work and other heavy labour, we observed moderate to severe health disturbances in such labourers during Ramadan, e.g.: tachycardia, severe headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and circulatory collapse. The severe dehydration of these workers was demonstrated by substantial increases in their hematocrit, serum protein, urea, creatinine, uric acid and electrolyte imbalance. Because of the evidence of the substantial health hazard to Islamic workers in such situations, we have strongly urged employers to refrain from assigning Islamic workers to heat work or heavy daytime work during Ramadan; we have therefore limited systematic studies of health problems during Ramadan to persons performing only moderate work. Even under these conditions signs of dehydration were found in the 32 labourers monitored. Some of these labourers also had to interrupt their observance of Ramadan due to health problems, e.g.: acute gout due to serum uric acid increase, or circulatory insufficiency. In light of the observed potentially harmful pathophysiological effects, the danger of dehydration of Islamic workers due to heat work during Ramadan should be taken very seriously.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)