Prevalence of periodontal diseases in North Herzegovina.

AIM: To investigate effects of smoking on periodontal tissue and the occurrence of periodontal disease in the population of North Herzegovina. METHODS: The study included 800 persons of 20-49 years of age (400 smokers and 400 non-smokers), inhabitants of Prozor-Rama Municipality, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Periodontal condition assessment was made by the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs index (CPITN) at representative teeth: 16, 17, 21, 26, 27, 36, 37, 31, 46, and 47.Statistically significant difference between non-smokers and smokers was tested by χ2 test with the level of significance set at p=0.05. RESULTS: The prevalence of healthy periodontal tissues was lower in smokers than in non-smokers, 25 (6.3%)and 36 (9%), respectively. The prevalence of gingival bleeding, calculus, shallow and deep periodontal pockets was higher in smokers than in non-smokers, although it was not significant. There was a risk between occurrence of deep periodontal pockets and smoking (RR=2). A total of 64 (8%)participants neededonly instructions on proper oral hygiene, 654 (81.8%) prophylaxis and initial treatment,while 21 (2.6%) needed complex periodontal treatment. CONCLUSION: Obtained results indicate a high need of preventive measures and the improvement of oral health in the population of North Herzegovina.

Managing occupational safety and health in aluminum production: case study of aluminum production factory, Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

AIM: To assess the effect of modernization of the aluminium production on physical and chemical health hazards at work environment in the Aluminium Mostar factory. The modernization included introduction of automatic equipment, computerized management, and rationalized coke manipulation in Anoda, Electrolysis, and Cast House plants. METHOD: Periodical measurements of chemical (gas concentrations and aerosols) and physical (microclimatic factors, noise, and illumination) factors were performed at the same workplaces by the same methods of measurements before (1982-1988) and after the modernization (2004). The measured values were compared with the recommended Occupational Safety and Health Standards of Bosnia and Herzegovina. RESULTS: The number of workplaces with a high noise level was reduced from 65.0% (89/137) in 1982-1988 to 28.7% (51/178) in 2004. The best results were achieved in Cast House plant. The illumination of the workplace was partly improved. Values of microclimatic factors did not considerably change; they deviated from the recommended values at nearly all the workplaces in the factory. The concentrations of chemical agents were above the recommended standards in 56.3% (196/348) of the samples in 1982-1988, and in only 15.4% (99/645) of the samples tested in 2004. High concentrations of hydrogen fluoride have remained the primary pollutant in Electrolysis plant. CONCLUSION: The modernization of the factory has considerably reduced the amount of harmful substances at work environment in the Aluminum Mostar. However, the exposure to unfavorable physical factors has been only partly reduced.