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

During 19 years of monitoring and prevention of occupational lead exposure in a production plant the authors studied lead emission sources and exposure intensity encountered in the work place, the indices of current and long-term lead exposure, and markers of toxic effects of lead in 132 persons examined together 935 times. Lead poisoning was confirmed in 20 persons, i.e. about 2 per cent of examinations, whereas in 12 per cent signs of enhanced lead absorption were found. Based on a complex simultaneous assessment of many parameters, appropriate prophylaxis and therapy were applied to lessen the toxic effects of lead exposure. It is pointed out that technical improvements are fundamental for limiting lead emission and absorption in the work place. As it has been demonstrated, the proper cooperation between the physician, the toxicological laboratory, occupational safety service and the plant administration effectively contribute to the limitation or even elimination of lead exposure, thus reducing the possible future health effects of long-term lead exposure.

347 Finnish deck officers completed the questionnaire on medical training, knowledge and skills. The following conclusions could be drawn: a. Medical training must be based on generally accepted standards, both nationally and internationally. b. More practical exercises should be included in the training. c. Refresher medical training clearly increases knowledge and skills but it also gives the possibility to train, maintain and repeat practical routines. d. Evaluation of the skills should be a part of qualification. e. Good medical knowledge on board ship needs radio-medical services and vice versa.

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.

Furnishing textile materials may be a source of formaldehyde (CH2O) re-emission if this compound is present in the environment. In the examinations performed the effect of temperature (23 degrees C, 35 degrees C) and air humidity (RH: 45%, 85%) upon CH2O re-emission from curtain materials was determined. The source of CH2O emission was particle board. CH2O emission was determined in small glass chambers (13.08 dm3) in controlled conditions, one air exchange per hour at loading factor of 1 m2/m3. The results of these examinations showed that the effect of temperature and humidity upon CH2O adsorption and desorption was different. Increase of temperature from 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C caused increase of the magnitude and rate of CH2O re-emission and the phenomenon intensified at high air humidity.

In order to determine volatile organic compounds (VOC) released from the building and furnishing materials gas chromatography with air samples enrichment on Tenax TA and thermal desorption was used. The results obtained were compared with the results of air samples enrichment on active carbon with carbon disulfide extraction. To the thermal desorption the home made device, a similar to device developed at Research Triangle Institute (USA), was used. The both methods of the air samples enrichment with thermal desorption or carbon disulfide extraction showed that the emission of the volatile organic compounds from the PVC floor covering is very low within the range from 0.01 to 0.03 mg/m2.h. Thermal desorption technique allows to detect a larger number of compounds in trace levels.

Anticoagulant and antiplatelet function of NICM is weak, thereby presenting a hazard of coronary thrombus growth in patients subjected to coronary angiography. Similar antiplatelet effect was demonstrated for verapamil (V). The present study was designed to determine iopromide induced modifications in blood platelet membrane structure and aggregation in patients with primary hypertension and ischaemic heart disease receiving V compared to non-receivers of V. The blood for examinations was collected by Judkins' catheter placed in the vicinity of the coronary vessel ostium, and next centrifuged to obtain platelet-rich plasma. The ADP- and ristocetin (R)-induced blood platelet aggregation was determined by means of an aggregometer while their membrane structure was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance. The spin-label used, 4-maleimide-2, 2, 6, 6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl (MSL) binds covalently to the -SH and -NH2 groups of platelet membrane proteins. The modifications in various spectral components, examined by means of a spectrometer, reflect conformational changes in these proteins. In non-receivers of V, iopromide diminished the aggregation, significantly in the case of ADP (p = 0.05), whereas in the receivers of V the iopromide-induced platelet aggregation examined with ADP did not change while with R was even enhanced (p = 0.05, Fig. 2). The platelet membrane protein conformation also changed due to iopromide: in non-receivers of V the accessibility of the above named groups for MSL was significantly reduced, p < 0.05, but in the receivers of V--inversely--significantly increased, p < 0.05. The results obtained confirm that in non-receivers of V, iopromide modifies the conformation of platelet membrane proteins which, in turn, may result in the lessening of the aggregation rate, favourable as regards the conditions of coronary thrombus growth. The tendency in the receivers of V was reverse and, however its nature remains obscure, this effect should be an indication for discontinuing the use of V several days before subjection the patient to coronary angiography.

In 1993, during the research cruises 224 samples of sea water were taken from the stationary samples points. The most probable number of faecal coliform bacteria was determined for each sample. The results were shown on maps. The maps show ranges and directions of pollution expansion, indicate places of contamination input and confirm that the weather conditions and the shape of coastal line have an effect on pollution distribution in Gdańsk Bay. The obtained results show that range of the bacteriological contamination carried into the Gdańsk Bay from land (as municipal sewage, industrial waste and rivers) is limited to narrow coastal zone. This knowledge is of great importance when estimating the sanitary state of holiday sea resorts and also allows to plan the activities which tend towards reduction of the sewage inflow through the separation of local pollution sources.

Noise was measured on merchant ships of 3 types, during routine sea voyages. It was found that the equivalent noise levels calculated for engine crew members exceeded the accepted hygienic norm by 1-2 dB. Also audiometric examinations at the beginning and on completion of a voyage were performed, enrolling seamen from the engine room and from the deck crews. They showed statistically significant differences of temporary shift of the hearing threshold, more pronounced in the engine room crew.

The results of a questionnaire survey conducted among 243 seafarers in Rijeka in 1989-1990 indicated that the knowledge of ratings among them on AIDS and HIV virus transmission was inadequate. The majority of them had not used condoms for protection against HIV virus infection. More education on AIDS should be given to seafarers, particularly those employed on ships flying flags of developing countries.