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

732 workers from several loudest production departments in a pottery plant were examined. The noise level measurements were carried out at a regular course of work. Auditory sensitivity threshold was determined via air conduction, at frequencies of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 Hz. Functioning of the organ of hearing under conditions of noise at the workplace was analysed. The influence of several noise levels--up to 85 dB/A/ and higher, and the relation between the length of service and hearing sensitivity threshold were investigated. The largest exposures were recorded in the batching and milling plant, sorting and kilns departments.

The electrocardiograms of 780 seamen and deep-sea fishermen, aged over 40 or of at least a 10 years' service at sea, randomly selected, were evaluated according to the Minnesota Code 1982 criteria. Out of them, 70.3% were found normal, 29.7% were not. In the latter group pathological Q or QS waves were noted in 1.4% Defective repolarization of the ventricle myocardium in the fourth and fifth category were observed in 4.5%. Atrio-ventricular first degree block was revealed in 1.4%, intraventricular conduction defects totalled 3.8%. Heart action disorders in the form of frequent ventricular and junctional beats were diagnosed in 2.3%. Arterial hypertension in terms of WHO criteria was observed in 9.4% subjects. Overweight and obesity affected 8.3% patients under investigation. The rate of deviations in the electrocardiograms subjected to the evaluation with the code do not diverge significantly from the data obtained from the studies on industrial workers in Poland.

The noise level was measured in the workplaces and in living quarters on a fishing trawler-factory ship, type B-418, in the fishing grounds. It was found, that an average noise level in the engine room was from 97 to 104 dB A. The noise level registered in the living and resting areas on board did not exceed the admissible values. In the fish processing plant the noise levels ranged from 84 to 97 dB A. The equivalent noise level for the engine room crew exceeded 90 dB A by 7-15 dB A; in the fish processing plant and on the bridge it remained within the norm limits.

The laboratory tests were aimed at determination of the effectiveness of 3 insecticides: propoxur, permethrin and deltamethrin against cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.) caught on Polish merchant ships and in some communal buildings in the town Gdynia. The contact method with use of glass jars was applied. A total of 1700 specimens of B. germanica (males, females and larvae) has been examined. In this material there were: 720 specimens from ships, 620 from communal buildings and 360 from susceptible laboratory colony. There were carried out 116 tests: 37 with propoxur, 38 with permethrin and 41 with deltamethrin. The controls involved: 27 tests with acetone and 27 with use of the B. germanica (L.) susceptible strain. Out of the insecticides tested a very high effectiveness was shown in case of deltamethrin--in regard to all the cockroaches under investigation, and propoxur--against the cockroaches from the communal buildings. The toxic efficacy of permethrin was low.

A total of 1352 seafarers and deep-sea fishermen were interviewed with the use of a questionnaire regarding their knowledge on risk factors in cardiovascular diseases. A great majority of them knew about the harmful effect of tobacco smoking (88.4 per cent of persons interviewed), arterial hypertension (75.7 per cent), and diet rich in fats which contributes to increasing the level of serum cholesterol (75.2 per cent); only 43.2 per cent marked diabetes mellitus as a risk factor. The knowledge on the above risk factors was not enough to change their attitude and habits, with regard to smoking and diet. Preventive interventions should be intensified on ships in order to promote the health of crews. Maritime medicine staff should play more active role in this health promotion programme.

Data on the occurrence of cancer in fishermen is presented. The paucity of the information shows the need for more consistent and comprehensive data collection to enable their care needs to be met. Analysis of an enhanced data set may allow causative factors for cancer to be identified. An international coordinating center may be necessary to implement the proposed scheme.

322 cases of closed fracture and 69 cases of open fracture in Russian seafarers injured on ships were treated. Most of open fracture cases occurred among engine room crew members. This type of injury occurred more frequently among young and inexperienced seamen than among those with long period of service at sea. In 52% there were open fractures of wrist, and in 16% skull fractures. Methods of treatment were discussed.

The results for the determination of benzene air emissions from building and finishing materials are presented. The test chamber was used to ventilate sample materials at controlled air change rate, temperature and relative humidity. Charcoal sample cartridges were used and then CS2 was desorbed to a packed column gas chromatograph for analysis. The test chamber concentrations of benzene for adhesive were observed to diminish with time. Calculated emission rate for materials tested were determined from 0.4 micrograms/m2/h to 4.4 micrograms/m2/h.