Suicide in the elderly 60 years of age and over in the south-east part of Serbia.

Some previous investigations indicated that economic crisis (inflation in Serbia 1993/94) have great influence on increasing suicide rates in Serbia. After that suicide decreased, despite the war and bombing in 1999, specially among the elderly people. A total of 453 suicides were registered on the territory of south-eastern Serbia during 1995-2001 years. Of them 295 (65.1%) were aged over 60 years. Generally linear trends of suicide among both genders from 1995 to 2001 decreased, but the slope of decreasing was grater among males than among females. The highest rates among the both genders were registered in the years with the maximum number of suicides, but the linear trends of rates have statistically important correlation with time (r>0.5). Average annual suicide rate among males was 42.5, and among women it was 18.7. The highest average annual suicide rate among men was observed in the age group 75 years and over (93.3), and the lowest in the age group 65-69 (20.6). Among males, in the all age group linear trends of suicide rates decreased, with the highest slope among 75 years and over and the lowest among 65-69 years. The highest suicide rate among females was registered in age group 75 years and over (25.6), the lowest in the age group 65-69 (13.5). The linear trends are similar as among males: downward trend was observed among all aged groups, with the highest slope among women 75 years and over. The most common way of suicide among men was hanging up (63%), poisoning and by firearms. There were no statistical differences between way of suicide and age groups. The most frequent way of suicide among females was hanging up (55%), poisoning (25%) and drowning (12%). There were statistically significant differences in drowning between age groups, 70-74 and 75 and over (p<0.05), and between poisoning and age groups 60-64 years and 75 years and over. Poisoning and drowning are statistically more frequent among women than among men.

[The effect of occupational noxae in the tobacco industry on pulmonary function in exposed workers]. / Uticaj profesionalnih stetnosti u duvanskoj industriji na stanje ventilacije pluca eksponiranih radnika.

A study was carried out to determine respiratory hazards to workers in tobacco manufacture. The investigations at the workplace included analysis of the work technology and measurements of chemical pollutants and dust concentrations in the work rooms. Ventilatory lung function tests were performed in 95 workers exposed to tobacco dust and in 129 control workers. Results of workplace analysis showed the presence of tobacco dust levels exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations. The values of some lung function tests for exposed workers non-smokers were significantly lower than for control workers non-smokers. They could be attributed to the effect of occupational noxae on the respiratory system.

[The effect of occupational exposure to respiratory noxae in the tobacco industry on the status of pulmonary ventilation]. / Uticaj profesionalnih respiracionih noksi u duvanskoj industriji na stanje ventilacije pluca.

The study from the working environment prevailing in two departments of tobacco factory (DIN) Nis together with the study of the employees (95) working in these departments were carried out. The workers were divided into two sub-groups: smokers (62) and non-smokers (33) and the results of the lung function tests were compared to normal values. The results found point out to the presence of the tobacco dust in these departments and the values exceeding MAC might have caused the obstructive changes of airways in the workers exposed.

[Characteristics of the ventilatory status of the lungs in workers in the electronics industry]. / Neke karakteristike stanja ventilacije pluca radnika elektronske industrije.

To establish the effects of occupational respiratory noxae on the state of the bronchopulmonary system a study of the working environment and examinations of workers from the electronics industry whose workplaces were near tin baths and in conductor soldering shops were carried out. The following chemical noxae were found to be present in the working environment: lead, tin, calophonium and ethyl alcohol, all in permitted concentrations. Comparison of the state of lung ventilation in workers from the electronics industry (n = 120) and control workers (n = 129) pointed to a major increase in total air flow resistance during calm breathing in the exposed workers. The obstructive changes were mainly localized in the small airways.

[Results of bronchodilation tests in workers exposed to occupation respiratory noxae]. / Rezultati bronhodilatacionih testova u radnika izlozenih nekim profesionalnim respiracionim noksama.

In order to detect and assess the spastic components in airway obstruction of workers exposed to inhalation of different nonorganic and organic dusts, 129 workers of metal industry and 135 workers of textile industry were examined. The workers of metal industry were exposed to the following respiratory noxa: toluol, paint aerosol, mineral dusts (SiO2 up to 10%), asbestos dust, metalic dust and several chemical noxa (acetone, CO, CO2, ZnO, FeO and petrol). In textile industry the dust of vegetal origin was detected with unfavourable micro climatic factors. In both groups the similar results were found with very high percent of spastic components. After bronhodilatatory testing the most significant differences were found in the following tests: Raw, FMF25-75, FEF75-85, components. Several significant spastic components were present in workers of metal industry which are due to the polluted working area. In relation to the mean values of tests, the greatest number of different results was found in FEF75-85 and Raw tests. It is suggested that the workers with these results should be tested as well.

[The effect of harmful chemicals used in the electronics industry on airflow resistance in the respiratory tract]. / Uticaj hemijskih stetnosti u elektronskoj industriji na stanje otpora strujanju vazduha u disajnim putevima.

An examination of the working area in one branch of Electronic Industry in Nis (TV) was performed together with the state of the pulmonary ventilation in workers who worked in this department (120). The workers were divided into two groups: smokers (32) and non-smokers (88) and the values obtained from lung function tests were compared with the normal standards. The results of the examination showed that on these working places some chemical noxiousnesses were present (lead, tin, calaphonium and ethyl alcohol) which might have caused the increase of air flow resistance in the respiratory tracts of the exposed workers.