[Health status of persons occupationally exposed to chromium, nickel, manganese and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons]. / Zdravotní stav osob profesionálne exponovaných chromu, niklu, manganu a polycyklickým aromatickým uhlovodíkum.

Occupational environment monitoring and biological-medical monitoring of persons professionally exposed to welding fumes have been performed. Chromium, manganese and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in welding fumes represents an important health risk. Pollutant concentrations found in metal welding fumes represented only fractions of those acceptable ones. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been reached the concentration found in a busy road crossing in Hradec Králové (compared with these as in Czech Republic no maximum acceptable levels for PAHs having been declared). Family, personal and occupational history have been taken. Health state including total haematological count, biochemical and cytogenetical changes of 19 stainless steel welders were checked-up. The level of mercapturates in urine were examined as well. The data were statistically compared with those of non exposed (control group). No changes witnessing the above mentioned risk factors influence on the haematological, biochemical and cytogenetical findings were ever proved. In conclusion, our results did not confirm an increased professional risk in this group of welders.

[Environmental monitoring and biological monitoring of young people exposed to nonoccupational levels of formaldehyde, toluene and other hydrocarbons]. / Monitorování prostredí a biologické monitorování mladistvých, neprofesionálne exponovaných nízkým koncentracím formaldehydu, toluenu a jiných uhlovodíkû.

During the period of 1983-1985, in two of apprentice schools of P. town the health disorders were investigated in the total of 82 apprentices 15-18 years old from the environment with elevated concentrations of formaldehyde and toluene. The study was contrasted with a control total of 42 apprentices. Cytogenetical examination has been performed, and selected immunological parameters in both blood serum and saliva have been assessed with red and white blood cells counts including differential formula of white blood cells. In addition, the atmospheric toxicity of formaldehyde and vapours of organic solvents (toluene, xylene, varnish naphtha) was measured. A single biological exposure test has been performed for the detection toluene. Statistically significant were differences in occurrence of cell chromosomal aberrations between the group of long term formaldehyde and toluene exposure (averagely 3.53% ABB) and controls (2.21% ABB) as obtained in 1983 and 1984, and so were differences between the long term-to-toluene exposed group (3.30% ABB) and the above mentioned control group as obtained in 1984. No similar results were stated between the long term-to-formaldehyde exposed (3.07% ABB) and control (2.55% ABB) groups in 1985. The main evidence consisted in finding the genotoxical/clastogenic effect of observed agents associated with mainly chromosomal abnormalities of chromatide type. It outflowed from the determination of selected serum proteins (Ig and acute phase proteins) and salivary lysozyme that the group under the combined influence of formaldehyde and toluene showed significantly lower IgG and higher alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). The group at risk of toluene was characteristical in elevated concentrations of alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) and A1AT. Most pronounced changes in first year had been revealed through the evaluation of the influence of the duration at risk (significant decrease in IgA and prealbumin, and the increase in A2M and A1AT). The infectious disease as experienced 2 month prior the collection resulted in a significant decrease of IgM, A2M and A1AT in risky groups in individuals with infection in anamnesis. Salivary lysozyme concentration of apprentice environmentally exposed to formaldehyde in the noon showed the decrease, whereas its increase occurred in controls with the difference on 5% significancy level. Blood count assessements showed no significant differences between the investigated values as well as any were assessed between the incidence of health disorders of apprentices and their correspondance to the given group.