International Union for Circumpolar Health Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of RF Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Medical Sciences Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences Medical Polar Fund “Science” The Northern Forum

Abstracts

Occupational health

There are big enterprises of leading industrial branches at the territory of Siberian Federal region. The workers of general occupations are exposed to physical factors among which vibration, noise, electromagnetic fields of production frequency (EMF PF), which are considerable higher than limited allowable levels.

The analysis of work conditions, occupational morbidity rates (OMR), medical examination results of the workers exposed to a local vibration at the aviabuilding plant, noise at the heat-energetic plant, EMF PF at the hydro- energetic enterprise has been performed to assess occupational risk (OR).

The indices of vibration- induced diseases (VID), which have officially been registered in aviaindustry, reach 23.2 per 10000 workers; neurosensoric dullness of hearing (NDH) in heat-energetics -1.8 per 10000 workers; OMR is practically not registered in hydroenergetics.

OR relates to the category of super high one for the workers exposed to a local vibration, to a high one for the workers exposed to noise, to a mean one for the workers exposed to EMF PF based on the working conditions.

Occupational disease index calculated according to risk category and occupational disease severity (based on the data of official statistics) has shown that development risk of occupational pathology in the workers exposed to a local vibration and noise corresponded to a very high level, in the workers exposed to EMF PF – to a low one.> The calculations of a relative risk have been performed based on the common somatic diseases because OMR was practically not registered in the workers of general occupation in hidro-energetics.

A practically full degree of common somatic diseases, induced with production exposure, of circulation system (RR=6.74; EF=85%, р<0.01), digestion organs (RR=6.18; EF=79%, р<0.01), osteo-muscular system (RR=5.39; EF=81%, р<0.01), psychical disorders (RR=9.57; EF=88%), has been revealed.

One-directed alterations in main organism systems have been revealed in the workers exposed to physical factors above, which are displayed in forming the nidus of low-waved activity in median brain structures, mainly in hypothalamus-hypophysis region, the level alterations of the hormones of hypophysis, adrenal bodies, thyroid, development of neurotic and depressive responses.

So, real indices of occupational morbidity in the workers, exposed to noise and vibration are significantly higher than those, officially registered. A high degree of production stipulation in health disorders according to some disease classes has been revealed in the workers exposed to EMF PF in a formal absence of their occupational diseases. It is necessary to take into account in planning the prevention measures.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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Last update: 06-Jul-2012 (11:52:05)