Bulletin of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia最新文献

The reasons for sick absence in dockers performing heavy loading jobs (stevedores) in the port of Gdynia, in 1986-1991, were identified and subjected to statistical analysis. The study group consisted of 603 people--73% of the whole population of dockers in the port. The prevailing reason were the diseases of the musculoskeletal system--on the average 5.6 days of sick leave per 1 docker per year--28.7% of the total sick absence in the occupational group studied. On the second place were traumas, mainly of the extremities and of the spine--4.7 days (24.9%). The proportion of the circulatory system diseases was a mere 1.9-0.4 days. The high sick absence caused by the first group of diseases calls for preventive interventions during pre-entry and periodic medical examinations of dockers.

Urea-formaldehyde-resins bounded particleboards (100 x 40 mm plates) each from a different manufactory plant, were stored at room temperature, with free access of air. In selected time intervals plates were placed in the climatic chamber for five days, and formaldehyde (CH2O) emission were determined. The conditions were as follows: loading factor 1 m2/m3, one air exchange per hour, air temperature of 25 degrees C and relative humidity (RH) 45%. During the 3 months following the production, CH2O emission decreased by more than 50%. During the next months of storing the emission decrease was slight. In the period of 1-3 years since the production, CH2O emission was 0.13-0.06 mg/m2/h, regardless of the amount of formaldehyde released in the first period after the production.

Two nitrox saturation exposures (seven- and nine-days) at a pressure equivalent to 40 and 45 m (pO2 40-50 kPa) with three divers were carried out. During one exposure 6 excursions from the plateau to the depth of 70 m (one hour) and 60 m (four hours) were made. Before and after the exposures blood platelet count, aggregation and adhesion of blood cells were determined. After the first series of diving a slight increase of adhesion and aggregation was observed, after the other one, despite the larger depth and the excursions from the saturation plateau to 60 and 70 m, a slight decrease of adhesion occurred. This allows to conclude that the phenomenon is related to the decompression load degree as well as to the condition of the divers. Finding about the effect of decompression upon the processes of hemostasis may be useful for the evaluation of the verified system of saturation decompression.

Five hundred and seventy five out of 1642 fishermen from the Swedish west coast left the trade during the period 1982-1987 for reasons other than age retirement or death. A questionnaire study directed to all these fishermen showed that the majority of the fishermen leaving the trade were young and most of them left fishing within the first few years. The major reasons for leaving the job were low or uncertain earnings, long absence from home or musculo-skeletal symptoms. The major advantages with the work given by the ex-fishermen were working outdoors, good fellowship, personal influence on and excitement of the work. The frequency of subjective musculo-skeletal symptoms was lower among the ex-fishermen than among active fishermen in a previous investigation. However, the active fishermen had to a lower extent been unable to perform daily work due to their symptoms. Seasickness had been a problem for a portion of the ex-fishermen.

The study presents the results of physical-chemical examinations of the coastal water of the Baltic Sea, carried out from 1984-1988 on 18 sampling stations located in the region of Gdynia and Gdańsk, and along the Hel Peninsula. The samples were collected weekly from the surface of water in the distance of about 5 m from the shore during 5 years. The results indicated a considerable physical and chemical pollution of the coastal water of Gdańsk Bay. Noted is the absence of the criteria of sanitary evaluation of the sea water regarding its usability for recreation. Mean concentration values of phosphates, ammonia compounds and nitrites as well as BOD5 in the coastal water of Gdańsk Bay were on the average 5-10 times higher than in the water of the open Baltic Sea. If the level of reference is the open sea water, it must be assumed that the coastal water of the Gdańsk Bay is strongly polluted. Useful seems to be the determination of the level of the physical and chemical pollution of the sea coastal water by comparison of certain indices with the values characteristic for open, clean sea or by relating them to the values making the "background" for the sea area examined. There is a need to elaborate evaluation criteria of physical and chemical pollution of sea coastal waters.

On the basis of literature the hypothesis of the effect of lead upon humoral, immunological responsiveness in the adult men was examined. The examinations comprised 77 men occupationally exposed to lead of high concentration and 50 persons not exposed to this metal in their work. In the group of many years' occupational lead exposure, especially with lead-poisoning traits, an immunosuppressive effect of lead on humoral responsiveness was found. It was pronounced in peripheral B lymphocytes pool reduction and IgG and IgM serum immunoglobulins titres decrease as well as in the decrease of the specific antibodies (IgG) production--after antityphoid immunisation.

The occurrence of S. enteritidis phage types in Poland during the years 1981-1990 was examined. The strains were isolated from man, animals, and from food-stuffs. The majority of strains belongs to the phage types 7 and 1. The comparison with the phage-types isolated in 1970-1975 in Poland is done. The stability of the phage types in reported outbreaks is considered.

Fourteen guinea pigs were injected with sublimate during the period of 3 months. Their urine and blood was examined. In the urine an increase of activity of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase was noted. In the blood plasma an increase of lactate dehydrogenase activity was observed and in the blood serum decrease of gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase activity. The determination of alkaline phosphatase in urine is a sensitive indicator of renal damage caused by mercury. It has a greater diagnostic value than the determination of this enzyme in the blood serum.

50 seamen aged 19-66 years (mean age 41.5 +/- 10.9), with nonspecific pains in the chest but no changes in the resting ECG, were subjected to the submaximal exercise test. The examinations were carried out at the Clinic of the Institute of Maritime and Tropical Medicine in Gdynia. The positive exercise test was recorded in 42% of persons examined. Observed was an increasing prevalence of the positive test with the growing age and period of employment at sea, especially in the group with the risk factors of the heart ischaemic disease present. Introduction of this test in seafarers, aged over 40 years might be considered; it would help to early diagnose this disease. In the presence of several risk factors of the heart ischeamic disease, the exercise test could be recommended for seafarers as early as at the age 30-40.