Problems of hygienic assessment in the certification of work sites by the working conditions]

The rating of working places by labour conditions is an important first practical step of introducing state management by an occupational risk. To achieve the goals of rating stipulated in the guidelines requires the correction and specification of some rating provisions.     

Impact of drinking water calcium and magnesium levels on morbidity in the Omsk Region

Drinking water calcium and magnesium levels were examined for impact on morbidity in a model rural area of a West Siberian region. It was ascertained that there were negative correlations between the water levels of the above elements and the incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal, and locomotor diseases and positive correlations between the concentrations of calcium and magnesium and the incidence of nervous, urogenital, and eye diseases. It is concluded that by adjusting the findings, the medical care availability factor should be taken into account in the investigations using the health indices calculated on the data from official medical accounts. This investigation has shown the estimation of the drinking water levels of calcium and magnesium as a significant hygienic problem for a model region.     

Comprehensive hygienic assessment of solaria

The paper gives data on the positive and negative effects of human exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). It provides the hygienic characteristics of solaria used to produce an artificial tan. This device has been found to present a high health risk to its users. There are considerable problems in the hygienic assessment of this type of exposure. The ways of solving the arising problems in developing the metrological monitoring of UVR and compiling a document regulating the sanitary-and-epidemiological surveillance of solaria are defined.     

Substantiation and assessment of the effectiveness of hygienic recommendations for healthier work conditions of operators at seismic-acoustic stations

The labour conditions of seismic operators were studied as a sample of similar professions engaged in acoustic control services. Depending on the number of the sectors under control and the seismic activity in the area, the enthropy of the sounds controlled and the information volume were assessed within 2.2-2.62 and 1.29-1.81 bit/symbol, respectively. The physiological functions' analysis in dynamics for a shift and a week revealed the peculiar features of overstrain characteristic of the working hours in a shift, particularly towards the 3rd and 6th day of the week. The recommendations proposed were designed to reduce overstrain and improve the operators' functional state at work.     

预评价指数在职业卫生学评价中的应用与体会

以某制药厂异地改造工程竣工验收阶段的职业病危害评价报告书为例,辩证地分析了卫生学评价指数在职业病危害评价工作中的作用。     

The hygienic assessment of D-51A rubber and the conditions for its practical use in household drinking water supply

Rubber D-51A under examination, treated by thiuram, following long-time contact with drinking water (static conditions of the experiment) discharges thiuram into it, which significantly worsens the water quality. Drinking of this water by animals leads to functional disturbances in their organisms. Short-time contact of rubber D-51A with drinking water does not cause deterioration of its quality. Therefore rubber D-51A can be recommended to be used as pump gaskets.     

The hygienic assessment of the working conditions and health status of workers on the petroleum tank farms of Bashkiria]

Work conditions and the health status in workers of Bashkirian oil enterprises are characterized. Exposure to oil products composed of alkanes and aromatics, petrol and tetraethyl lead was proved to be the major hazard for workers of all the occupations. Complex of occupational and industrial hazards of Bashkirian oil enterprises harms the health status of workers, which induces the high prevalence of chronic diseases.     

The hygienic conditions in children's and teenagers' institutions]

The leading risk factors in children and teenagers at the educational establishments of Samara Province can be considered to be unfavourable changes that determine the teaching conditions: impairments in an educational process, school routine, dietary deficiencies, nonobservance of sanitary and hygienic requirements for water supply and sewer system, aerothermal and light conditions, for the equipment of workshops and school furniture. With the participation of sanitary surveillance bodies, Samara Province has been introducing (in 1998-1999) a comprehensive assessment of a risk.     

Climate change and biodiversity

There is already widespread change in the natural calendars (phenology) of plants and animals, as well as change in some species distributions. Now threshold change (sudden, fundamental change) in ecosystems is beginning to be observed in nature. At minimum, the natural world will experience an equal amount of warming to that which has already taken place. This all suggests a future with nature and ecosystems very much in flux with profound implications for epidemiology.     

Roma colonies in Hungary--medical care of children and hygienic conditions

INTRODUCTION: The hygienic conditions and the public health safety of the Hungarian Roma living in colonies are poorly known, the health care of Romany children is often subject to criticism. AIM: The authors aim was to identify the blank areas present in public health and to analyze the medical care of children living in Gipsy colonies. METHODS: Medical care of children living in Gipsy colonies in Hungary and the hygienic situation of these colonies have been analyzed. The examinations, performed by the staff of the National Public Health and Medical Officers' Service included all counties and the capital. Data were gathered from answers given to the questions in the circular sent by the Chief Medical Officer of State, by questionnaire-interview method as well as, by on site hygienic examination. Data from the series of examinations were completed by the data of the National Institute for Basic Medical Care. RESULTS: According to the hygienic definition of Romany colonies, there are 767 colonies in Hungary, scattered in 530 habitats, while according to the definition of availability of public utilities and structure of the colonies the number of colonies is 300-400. There are no Romany colonies in the capital, while most of them are located in the counties Hajdú-Bihar, Baranya, Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén. A population of 3 million is living in the habitats with Romany colonies; 138000 (4,7%) of them are living in Romany colonies, or in colony-like communities with similar hygienic situation. In these habitats 5,8% and 16,3% of the population are children of 0-5 years old and 0-14 years old, respectively, while in the colonies the same numbers are 15,8% and 35,6%. Medical care is provided by 456 family pediatrist for the the habitats with Romany colonies. Consulting hours for the children population of 11,4% of the family doctors seems to be insufficient (< 15 hours/day/5 days/week). Only 60% of care for children is provided by specialist in pediatrics. 94% of emergency care for children is provided for family doctors of the adult population (this proportion is characteristic for the whole country). 12,5% of district nurses caring for the colonies provide care for more than 2 habitats; 147 of them (22% of all district nurses) provide care for more than 750 persons (experiences show that appropriate care can be ensured if the number of care recipients does not exceed 300 and the maximum number of settlements under care is two). Illegal waste deposits and animal carcase disposal site are located within 1000 m of 15% and 11% of the colonies, respectively. Most of the dwelling sites are messy, hygienically neglected, rodents and unvaccinated stray dogs are frequently met in their neighborhood. CONCLUSIONS: 1. sufficiently accurate data are not available on the Gipsy colonies (number, location, population, children population), partly due to the related different definitions and partly because this issue of public health importance is not treated uniformly. The repeated examinations of the National Public Health and Medical Officers' Service presented here only improved the relevant information; 2. child health care of the Gipsy colonies does not differ from that of the rest of the Hungarian children, but similarly to that, a lot of corrections are needed--especially regarding the emergency service; 3. the hygienic situation of the Gipsy colonies is not acceptable, it endangers the public health and epidemiological safety of not only their inhabitants, but the whole country.