Sperm DNA damage-the effect of stress and everyday life factors.

The clinical significance of sperm DNA damage lies in its association with natural conception rates and also might have a serious consequence on developmental outcome of the newborn. The aim of the present study is to determine whether stress and everyday life factors are associated with sperm DNA damage in adult men. The study population consisted of 286 men who attended the infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes and who had normal semen concentration of 20-300 m ml(-1) or with slight oligozoospermia (semen concentration of 15-20 m ml(-1)) (WHO, 1999). Participants were interviewed and provided a semen sample. The sperm chromatin structure assay was assessed using flow cytometry. In the present study, we found evidence for a relationship between sperm DNA damage parameters and everyday life factors. High and medium level of occupational stress and age increase DNA fragmentation index (P=0.03, P=0.004 and P=0.03, respectively). Other lifestyle factors that were positively associated with percentage of immature sperms (high DNA stainability index) included: obesity and cell phone use for more than 10 years (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively). Our findings indicate that stress and lifestyle factor may affect sperm DNA damage. Data from the present study showed a significant effect of age, obesity, mobile phone radiation and occupational stress on sperm DNA damage. As DNA fragmentation represents an extremely important parameter indicative of infertility and potential outcome of assisted reproduction treatment, and most of the lifestyle factors are easily modifiable, the information about factors that may affect DNA damage are important.

Impact of socioeconomic risk factors on the seroprevalence of cytomegalovirus infections in a cohort of pregnant Polish women between 2010 and 2011.

The purpose of this investigation was to perform an evaluation of the prevalence and socioeconomic risk factors for human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections in a cohort of Polish pregnant women between 2010 and 2011. HCMV-specific IgG and IgM antibody levels were assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests in serum samples collected from 1,250 pregnant women attending outpatient obstetric clinics and hospitalized at two hospitals in Lodz. The seroprevalence of anti-HCMV IgG and IgM antibodies was 62.4 and 2.2 %, respectively, and differed significantly between age-stratified groups (p ≤ 0.05). The highest IgG prevalence was observed in women above 36 years of age (76.2 %) and IgM in adolescent women aged 16-20 years (6.0 %). Of the various socioeconomic factors, age above 36 years, basic and professional education, and offspring were significantly associated with HCMV IgG prevalence rates (PRs; 1.89, 1.80, and 1.56, respectively). Financial status, occupational risk related to contact with children, and transfusions were not related to the prevalence of IgG antibodies. The IgM prevalence was not associated with any of the analyzed risk factors. A slightly higher prevalence was observed in women who were transfused in the past, but the relationship was not significant. The current data have revealed a decrease in HCMV IgG seroprevalence in our region during recent years (62.4 vs. 76.7 %). Basic and professional education, as well as bringing up offspring, were determined as significant risk factors for HCMV infections in Polish pregnant women [risk ratio (RR) 1.20 and 1.17, respectively], suggesting that the primary and secondary prophylaxis of cytomegaly is necessary during pregnancy, even if screening is not mandatory.

Age-associated prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in 8281 pregnant women in Poland between 2004 and 2012.

This study aimed to describe Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in Polish pregnant women and the incidence rates of congenital infections in their neonates observed between 2004 and 2012. Serological tests for T. gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were performed on serum samples of 8281 pregnant women treated at the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Lodz. The yearly seroconversion rate for T. gondii IgG antibodies was estimated using a mathematical model to determine the dependency between age and prevalence. Mean prevalence of IgG antibodies between 2004 and 2012 in pregnant women was 40·6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 39·6-41·7] and increased with age with a yearly seroconversion rate of 0·8% (95% CI 0·6-1·0, P<0·001). Assuming a T. gondii materno-fetal transmission rate of 30% gave an estimate of 1·80/1000 neonates as congenitally infected. The increased mean age (28·7 vs 26·7 years, P<0·001) of pregnant women was probably the most important factor in abolishing the effect of falling prevalence rates.

Occupational, life stress and family functioning: does it affect semen quality?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although psychological stress has been implicated as a cause of idiopathic infertility in both men and women, it has received little scientific attention among males as compared to females. The aim of the study was to examine the association between occupational, life stress, family functioning and semen quality. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population consisted of 327 men who were attending an infertility clinic for diagnostic purposes. Psychological stress was assessed based on two questionnaires: The Subjective Work Characteristics Questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale. The level of satisfaction with family functioning and support was evaluated by means of the APGAR Family Scale. The findings suggest that, on the one hand, exposure to occupational stressors can be negatively associated with semen quality (there was a positive association between stress and the percentage of sperm with DNA damage (p = 0.03) and atypical sperm (p = 0.05)); on the other hand, there was no correlation between the level of life stress and semen quality indicators. Negative associations were found between satisfaction with family functioning and the percentage of motile sperm cells (p = 0.02), VAP (p = 0.05), VSL (p = 0.05) and VCL (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study indicates that occupational stress can affect male semen quality; however, due to limited data on this issue, the obtained results should be confirmed in longitudinal studies.

Association between GPx1 Pro198Leu polymorphism, GPx1 activity and plasma selenium concentration in humans.

BACKGROUND: Glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) is an antioxidant selenoenzyme that protects the cells against reactive oxygen species. Its activity depends on the concentration of selenium (Se) which is present in the active centre of the enzyme. The genetic polymorphism of GPx1 encoding gene (GPx1) associated with the proline (Pro) to leucine (Leu) change at codon 198 is supposed to be functional. An in vitro study performed on human breast carcinoma cell line showed that GPx1Leu allele was associated with a lower responsiveness of the enzyme to Se added to the culture medium. Some authors observed a decrease in GPx1 activity associated with GPx1 Leu allele in humans; however, there were no findings on how GPx1 activity changes with Se concentration in individuals with different GPx1 genotypes. AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess whether GPx1 activity that depends on the Se status may be influenced by GPx1 polymorphism through studying this relationship in the blood of healthy individuals. METHODS: The association between the Se status, GPx1 activity and GPx1 genotype was assessed in 405 individuals of Polish origin. GPx1 activity in red blood cells was measured by the spectrophotometric method by Paglia and Valentine, using t-butylhydroperoxide as the substrate. Plasma Se concentration was measured using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. GPx1 Pro198Leu polymorphism was determined with the Molecular Beacon Real-Time PCR assay. RESULTS: In the subjects examined, the mean plasma Se concentration was 54.4 +/- 14.2 mcg/L. The mean GPx1 activity was 15.1 +/- 4.7 U/g Hb. No difference regarding both the parameters was found between individuals with different GPx1 genotype. However, the association between GPx1 activity and Se concentration, analyzed separately for each genotype group, was not the same. The correlation coefficients amounted to r = 0.44 (p < 0.001) for Pro/Pro, r = 0.35 (p < 0.001) for Pro/Leu and r = 0.25 (p = 0.45) for Leu/Leu group, which indicates that the correlation strength was as follows: Pro/Pro > Pro/Leu > Leu/Leu. Notably, statistically significant difference in this relationship (analyzed as difference between correlation coefficients for linear trends) was found between genotypes Pro/Pro and Leu/Leu (p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study provide evidence for the hypothesis based on in vitro studies which assumes that GPx1 Pro198Leu polymorphism has a functional significance for the human organism and that this functionality is associated with a different response of GPx1 activity to Se. They also point to the importance of the genetic background in the assessment of the Se status with the use of selenoprotein biomarkers such as GPx1 activity.

Elaboration of a quantitative job-exposure matrix for historical exposure to airborne exposures in the Polish rubber industry.

BACKGROUND: A job-exposure matrix (JEM) for inhalable aerosols, aromatic amines, and cyclohexane soluble matter (CSM) was elaborated based on measurements collected routinely between 1981 and 1996. METHODS: The data were grouped based on similarities in exposure levels and time trends in different departments, and were analyzed using smoothing splines and mixed effects models. RESULTS: Although higher than in western European countries, inhalable aerosol exposure decreased after changes in production volume and implementation of exposure reduction measures in mid-1980s. Aromatic amines concentrations first increased following the factory's production volume, but subsequently decreased in more recent years. CSM concentrations were uniformly distributed between departments. CONCLUSIONS: This JEM provides an overview of historical exposure levels in a large Polish rubber factory and will enable estimation of lifetime exposure for individual workers in a Polish rubber workers cohort and further investigation of the associations between specific exposures and cancer risk.

Sonographical integrated test for detection of chromosomal aberrations.

PURPOSE: Different sonographical and biochemical methods for the detection of an elevated risk of chromosomal abnormality are used. The aim of our study was to establish a diagnostic scheme with the highest sensitivity by means of an algorithm incorporating all parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a group of 1490 pregnant women, ultrasound examination including nuchal translucency and nasal bone measurement was performed in the first trimester. Then, in the early second trimester, a second ultrasound examination combined with measuring nuchal thickness and nasal bone was carried out. RESULTS: The combination of the NT and NB measurement showed the highest sensitivity (94.7%), specificity (99.21%), PPV (85.7%) and NPV (99.73%). CONCLUSION: The proposed integrated test is characterised by a high predictive value for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities, low cost of performance and absolute safety for the foetus and could be offered to all pregnant women. The combination of two ultrasound examinations and biochemistry greatly increased the value of the test.

Exposure to inhalable dust and its cyclohexane soluble fraction since the 1970s in the rubber manufacturing industry in the European Union.

OBJECTIVES: As exposures to airborne particulates in the European rubber industry might still be causing genotoxic risks, it is important to assess trends in levels of inhalable dust and its cyclohexane soluble fraction (CSF) between the 1970s and 2003. METHODS: 13 380 inhalable and 816 respirable dust and 5657 CSF measurements, collected within the framework of the European Union Concerted Action EXASRUB, were analysed. Hierarchical mixed effects models were applied to assess exposure trends, taking into account between-factory, between-worker/location and day-to-day variances. RESULTS: Geometric mean levels of inhalable dust and CSF exposure changed by -4% (range -5.8 to +2.9%) and -3% (range -8.6 to 0%) per year, respectively. Significant reductions in inhalable dust concentrations were found in all countries for handling of crude materials and mixing and milling (-7% to -4% per year), as well as for miscellaneous workers (-11% to -5% per year), while significant CSF exposure reductions were found in curing (-8.6% per year) and maintenance and engineering departments (-5.4% per year). CONCLUSION: These analyses suggest that on average exposure levels of inhalable dust and its CSF in the European rubber manufacturing industry have steadily declined. Most likely genotoxic risks have also lessened over time since exposure levels have decreased and the most toxic chemicals have been replaced. In addition to differences in exposure reductions and levels among various stages of the production process, large differences across countries were noted. These patterns should be taken into account in retrospective assessment of exposure for epidemiological studies assessing cancer risk in the rubber industry.

Prevalence and estimated incidence of Toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Poland: a decreasing trend in the younger population.

This study investigated the prevalence of specific Toxoplasma gondii IgG in pregnancy, the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis and the prevalence trend of T. gondii infection among pregnant Polish women between 1998 and 2003. The study population comprised 4916 women who were admitted to the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute in Lódz. Their sera were tested for specific IgG and IgM antibodies to T. gondii, and the incidence of T. gondii infection was calculated from the increase in prevalence rates of IgG antibodies in various age groups. Specific IgG antibody was found in 41.3% (95% CI 39.9-42.7) of pregnant women, and the prevalence of IgG increased with age. The linear trend was significant (p <0.001), with an annual seroconversion rate of 0.7% (95% CI 0.004-0.010). The risk of primary infection was estimated to be 0.5% for 9 months, i.e., an incidence of 5/1000 pregnancies. Assuming a 30% maternofetal transmission rate, 1.5/1000 neonates were infected in utero. Seroprevalence during the 6-year study period decreased from 45.4% in 1998 to 39.4% in 2003, with a yearly decline in prevalence of 1.0% (p 0.02). The most important contributory factor to this decline was the group of women aged 19-29 years, among whom seroprevalence decreased significantly (p 0.007). Specific IgM was found in 244 (4.9%) women.

Smoking cessation intervention during pregnancy in a Polish urban community - what is the target population?

The aim of this project was to evaluate the effect of intensive individual anti-smoking counselling among pregnant women from a Polish urban community with a large representation of socially underprivileged women. The study was conducted between 1 December 2000 and 31 December 2001. Out of 204 women who were asked to take part in a midwives-assisted program of educational counselling to stop smoking, 152 (74.5%) agreed to participate. The intervention program included four visits of a midwife trained in smoking cessation techniques to the home of a smoking pregnant woman. The control group were 145 pregnant women who on the first visit to a maternity unit received only a standard written information on the health risk from maternal smoking to the foetus. The percentage of pregnant women who quitted smoking during the project was 46.1% in the intervention group and 23.4% among the controls (p < 0.001). After combining the intervention group with the women who refused to participate in the project, the rate of quitting was 36.3%, still significantly higher than in controls (p = 0.01). The strongest influence of the intervention was found among women smoking more than 5 cigarettes/day. Women covered by the intervention programme, who reported smoking in previous pregnancies, were found to quit smoking to a much higher extent than the controls with a similar background. Such pattern was also observed for women whose husbands were smokers. The benefits of the intervention, especially for the socially underprivileged women, seem to result from an increased proportion of subjects who undertook a quitting attempt, rather than the effectiveness of these attempts. In the intervention group, among the subjects who did not manage to quit smoking during pregnancy, the number of women who at least slightly reduced their smoking rate was twice as high as in the controls.

Cancer mortality in rubber tire workers in Poland.

The study aimed at assessing cancer risk in a cohort of workers employed in the rubber tire production. The cohort consisted of 17,747 workers (11,660 men and 6087 women) employed in a rubber tire plant for at least three months during the years 1950-1995. The cohort follow-up was completed on December 31, 1995. Deaths by causes were analyzed using standardized mortality ratio (SMR) calculated by the person-years method. The mortality pattern of the general population of Poland was used as the reference. The study indicated significantly lower total mortality in the cohort (men: SMR = 72; women: SMR = 62) as compared to the general population, which is an example of a well known "healthy worker effect". The number of deaths from malignant neoplasms was also lower than expected (men: SMR = 67; women: SMR = 64). Only in a very small sub-cohort of men involved in dosing and mixing of raw material for the production of rubber, an excess of total mortality (SMR = 104) and from all cancers (SMR = 115) was found. Mortality from all neoplasms was enhanced (SMR = 108) in the sub-cohort of women employed in the technical service work area. When analyzing individual cancer sites in men of the whole cohort or sub-cohorts, the observed number of deaths from cancers of the lip, tongue, pharynx, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas, peritoneum, articular cartilage, connective tissue, skin, testis, prostate, bladder, kidney, brain, as well as from Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma and leukemia was larger than the expected number. Among women the excess mortality was due to cancers of the large myeloma and leukemia. The SMR calculated for these sites were statistically insignificant. The cohort under study was "young" and thus relatively small numbers of deaths were recorded. The excess mortality, based quite frequently on single cases of selected cancer sites, cannot be regarded as a basis for final conclusions. Nevertheless, the fact that these observations are in agreement with the findings of other authors who carried out studies in the rubber industry of other countries justifies the need to follow-up this cohort in the future.

Employment status of pregnant women in central Poland and the risk of preterm delivery and small-for-gestational-age infants.

BACKGROUND: Unemployment is one of the consequences of the ongoing transformation of the Polish economy. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the relationship between women's employment status and preterm delivery (PD) and/or small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, in Central Poland during the socio-economic transition. METHODS: The study population comprised 8% random sample of 2,080 women from the Lodz macro region who gave birth to a child during a one-year period (1996-1997). Based on the employment status, three groups were distinguished: the employed (n = 1238), the unemployed (n = 128)--women who lost their job before pregnancy (at least 12 months prior to delivery) and were actively seeking employment, and the housewives (n = 714). Women with chronic medical problems diagnosed before pregnancy were excluded from the study. RESULTS: The rates of preterm delivery were found to be 6.3%, 11.7% and 4.9%, respectively for the employed, unemployed, and housewives. After adjustment for age, marital status, education, maternal height, smoking, own apartment, presence of cervical insufficiency and uterine irritability, an excess risk of PD was observed among the unemployed women (OR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.01-3.64). Unemployment was associated, though not significantly, with higher rates of SGA births. CONCLUSION: In Central Poland, the unemployed pregnant women are characterised by an excess risk of preterm delivery. The impact of unemployment on the community's health, which seems to be underestimated, should be given more consideration in the national and local policies for public health.

[Occupational exposure to chemicals in the manufacture of rubber tires]. / Ekspozycja na czynniki chemiczne pracowników zakladu produkcji opon gumowych.

The work environment of the rubber industry company, producing various types of tires, was assessed and the workers of the plant were included in a cohort study of mortality. Concentrations of twenty chemical substances at 137 workposts were measured by employees of the plant laboratory and the sanitary and epidemiological station in 1981-1996. The mean values and concentration ranges were determined by departments and workposts. The excess of threshold limit values was analyzed. The workposts with exposure to agents possibly carcinogenic to humans were identified. The analysis performed will render it possible to calculate doses of cumulative exposure to given compounds among workers covered by the epidemiological study.

[Health risk among workers employed in rubber footwear plant]. / Ryzyko zdrowotne wsród pracowników zakladu obuwia gumowego.

The aim of the study was to assess the health risk of workers performing specific jobs in the process of the rubber footwear production by defining the cause and length of temporary work disability, as well as mortality causes and level. The analysis was carried out in the groups of workers performing the following jobs: mixing, mill operation, pressing and vulcanizing (A); semi-product preparation and calendaring (B); finishing and sorting (C); production of polyvinyl chloride footwear (D); and auxiliary works (E). The sickness absence study covered all workers (208 men and 315 women) employed in a large rubber footwear company and performing all above-listed jobs in 1995. Standardized sick days ratio was used to analyze the risk of temporary work disability. Mortality rate was estimated on the basis of the results of the cohort study performed in the same company among workers who had worked at least three months during the years 1945-1985. The follow-up continued until 31 December 1997. The present study included sub-cohorts composed of 5628 men and 7197 women, performing jobs listed above. The results of both studies indicated the enhanced risk of cardiovascular diseases among workers employed in the basic phases of the production process. The increased risk of the diseases of the digestive system was observed in men and women employed in: finishing, sorting and packing of the products (group C); in men involved in mixing, pressing and vulcanizing (group A); and in women engaged in auxiliary works (group E). In addition, the enhanced risk of sickness absence due to the diseases of the respiratory, digestive, or genitourinary systems was related to the enhanced risk of death from malignant neoplasms in a given site. The analysis showed that the temporary work disability may be regarded as a parameter useful in early assessment of health effects of the work environmental hazards.

Mortality pattern in the cohort of workers exposed to carbon disulfide.

The objective of the study was to assess mortality in the cohort of the viscose factory workers occupationally and environmentally exposed to carbon disulfide. Male workers employed for at least one year during 1950-1985 in the production or maintenance departments, living in the vicinity of the plant, were enrolled into the study. Of the 2,878 workers in the cohort, 2,762 were successfully traced, yielding 76,465 person-years. Mortality assessment was based on the standardized mortality ratio using a person-years method. The general male population of Poland was considered as a reference group. Total mortality in the cohort was higher than in the general male population in Poland (SMR = 108). A significantly increased risk of deaths was observed for all cardiovascular (SMR = 114) and cerebrovascular (SMR = 208) diseases. Analyses showed a significantly elevated risk of death from the circulatory system diseases in the men of the "highly exposed" group, spinners and those who were first employed before 1974. A statistically significant trend of mortality from all cardiovascular diseases in relation to the level of exposure (assessed qualitatively) was evident. No clear relationship between duration of exposure and the risk of death was found.

[Sickness absence among workers with occupational locomotor system diseases]. / Czasowa niezdolnosc do pracy osób z przewleklymi chorobami narzadu ruchu wywolanymi sposobem wykonywania pracy.

A long-term analysis of the data on temporary incapacity for work may be useful in identifying the most essential changes in the pattern of the causes of the disease-related incapacity for work and give the alert for taking necessary measures to protect the human health. The aim of the analysis is to define the causes of temporary incapacity for work prior to the diagnosis of chronic diseases of the locomotor system induced by the way the job is performed and the work overload in workers' groups of the highest disease incidence. The sickness absence study was carried out in the group of 395 workers with the locomotor system diseases due to the above-mentioned causes, diagnosed during the years 1996-1997. The analysis was based on numbers of days of work disability, numbers of cases and the average duration of disease. The rates of work disability days in the study group were compared with relevant rates in the occupationally active population of Poland. The analysis of sickness absence during a five-year period before the certification of the occupational diseases of the locomotor system revealed the sickness absence higher by 52% in male workers and by 60% in female workers than the average sickness absence in the general population. In this group, the diseases of the musculoskeletal system were the major cause of work disability, being responsible for 48% of sickness absence. The highest work disability was found in male workers with shoulder pain syndrome (about 49 days/person/year) and female workers with tenosynovitis and bursitis (45 days/person/year). As to the selected occupational groups, the first place was occupied by the group of workers engaged in metal processing (53 days/person/year), in which diseases of the musculoskeletal system made over 50%. In miners, besides locomotor diseases, a high level of sickness absence was due to the diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (17% of absence). In the group of dentists, the circulatory system diseases were the major cause of work disability in men (38% of absence), and the musculoskeletal system diseases in women (36% of absence). The study indicates that sickness absence can prove to be a substantial parameter that renders it possible to identify persons with enhanced risk of occupational disease by physicians involved in prophylactics and to take necessary preventive measures.

[Influence of environmental smoke exposure during pregnancy on umbilical blood flow velocity]. / Wplyw srodowiskowej ekspozycji na dym tytoniowy kobiet ciezarnych na przeplyw krwi w tetnicy pepowinowej.

Influence of environmental smoke exposure during pregnancy on umbilical blood flow velocity and newborns birthweight was assessed in prospective study among 116 pregnant women between 20 and 24 week of pregnancy. The main aim was to search for a possible correlation between cotinine, an effective marker of smoke exposure, and umbilical blood flow as measured by S/D, RI and PI ratios. This study shows a significant increase of systolic/diastolic velocity ratio of the umbilical artery according with increased cotinine levels, either for active or passive smokers. Increase of S/D ratio > 3.0 in umbilical artery in 20-24 week of pregnancy was negatively correlated with newborns birthweight. The results of this study suggest that active and passive smoking by pregnant women causes a direct increase in the vascular resistance of the placenta and contribute to the decreased of the newborns birthweight associated with smoking.

[The effect of environmental tobacco smoke on birthweight: a prospective study employing biomarkers of exposure]. / Wplyw srodowiskowej ekspozycji kobiet ciezarnych na dym tytoniowy na mase urodzeniowa noworodka--badanie prospektywne z wykorzystaniem markerów ekspozycji.

The main goal of the project was to estimate the effect of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on the birthweight. In a cohort of 196 pregnant women in 20-24 week of pregnancy the serum and urine cotinine levels were determined. The cohort included randomly selected pregnant patients of a maternity units in Lodz, Poland. To assess a 24 h exposure to ETS preceding the day of examination, both serum and urine cotinine measurements were applied. A statistically significant relationship was found between serum cotinine concentration and brithweight. The newborns of nonsmoking mothers whose serum cotinine levels were characteristic for passive smoking (2-25 ng/ml) had their birthweight lower by an average of 30 g, compared to those of women who were not exposed to ETS (serum cotinine below 2 ng/ml). It was concluded that more effective public health measures should be undertaken to ensure a tobacco smoke-free environment for pregnant women. Until this goal is achieved, pregnant women should be informed about health risks from ETS exposure so that they would avoid it both at home and workplace.

[Accidents and their health effects in firemen of rescue and firefighting teams]. / Analiza wypadkowosci i jej skutków zdrowotnych wsród strazaków jednostek ratowniczo-gasniczych.

Accidents, traumas and poisoning are the most frequent causes of health impairments among firemen, determined by the nature of their occupation. Their work is directly related with the exposure to various harmful chemical and physical factors, involving at the same time mental stress during rescue and firefighting actions. The aim of the analysis performed was to determine the accident rate, range and causes of accident-related absenteeism among firemen of the rescue and firefighting brigades, as well as to indicate major traumas resulting from accidents at work. The study was carried out in a group of 1503 firemen (7% of the total number of firemen in Poland) employed in the rescue and firefighting brigades, selected at random throughout the country. Workers' personal data, as well as the data on the number of accidents and the number of days of work disability during the years 1994-97 were analysed. Accidents and accident-related absenteeism by age, certified causes and sites (body parts) of traumas were also analysed using the following parameters: the accident rate (the number of accidents per 1000 workers), accident severity rate (the number of work disability days per one accident), and absenteeism rate (the number of accident-related work disability days per 100 employed). In the period under study (1994-97) 352 accidents, involving 301 persons were registered. Thus, the accident rate was 70.3. These accidents were responsible for the period of work disability three times higher (293.5 days/100 workers) than that observed in the male population employed in the national economy, and eight times higher (770.2 days/100 workers) in the 50-59 age group. Dislocations and distortions were the most frequent causes of accident-related absenteeism--48, whereas fractures occupied the second place--25%. Burns were classified among the most severe injuries, resulting in more than 90 days of absenteeism annually, but they made only 7% of absenteeism with frequency rate of 2.2/1000. Legs, ankles and feet were the most frequent sites of injuries (60% of accidents with 170.2 days of absenteeism per 100 workers) which may be of significance in preventing hazards occurring in this occupational group.

[Temporary work disability among firemen employed in rescue and fire brigades]. / Analiza czasowej niezdolnosci do pracy strazaków zatrudnionych w jednostkach ratowniczo-gasniczych.

Workers of rescue and fire brigades participating in actions are exposed to harmful effect of toxic substances, chemicals or physical factors. They also experience enormous emotional shock evoked by direct threat or contact with victims of disasters and fires. The aim of the study was to define the pathology which increases the risk of temporary work disability among firemen. The study covered 150 firemen employed during the years 1994-97 in rescue and fire brigades selected at random. The data on the number of days and cases of work disability during the period of four years for each firemen covered by the study were analysed. In the group under study a mean annual number of work disability due to sickness accounted for 1443 days per 100 employed. The major causes of work disability were as follows: diseases of the respiratory system (22% of total sickness absenteeism); diseases of the nervous system and sense organs (19%); diseases of the musculoskeletal system (18%), diseases of the circulatory system (13%); mental disorders (8%); and diseases of digestive system (7%). Sickness absenteeism among workers of rescue and fire brigades was lower by 30% on average than that among men employed in the national economy. But in the 50-59 age group, it was higher by 68%. In this age group, the highest level of sickness absenteeism was associated with mental disorders (15 times higher than in other male occupational groups); diseases of the musculoskeletal system (higher by 53%); diseases of the respiratory system (2 times higher); neoplasms (7 times higher); diseases of the nervous system (higher by 46%). It should be stressed that the study revealed increased work disability due to lung (by 33%), bladder (6 times higher) and brain (over 3 times higher) cancers. The results of this study find their confirmation in many other epidemiological studies of this occupational group.