[Occupational microclimate. Results and prospects of research].

The article covers results of studies conducted over last 15 years and aimed to elaboration of requirements to integral parameters of microclimate at workplace, its evaluation and regulation, prophylactic measures against body overcooling and overheating. The authors present methods to evaluate combined effects of physical factors (noise, vibration, microclimate) and to assess microclimate with consideration of factors determining body thermal load (energy expenditure, duration of stay at workplace, heat insulation of clothes and thermo-physical parameters of its materials). Mathematic models of forecasting cold and heat stress are presented, as well as requirements to heat insulation for individual protective means against cold and methods to calculate it. Regimens of work in heating and cooling conditions are specified. The authors set directions for further studies to define regulation requirements to microclimate on basis of studied patterns of body heat state formation, its evaluation criteria, epidemiologic studies results, specified prophylactic measures against overheating and overcooling with consideration of adaptation, sex, thermo-physical characteristics of individual protective means (special clothes, footwear, gauntlets, headwear).

[Methodic approaches to evaluation of microclimate at workplace, with application of various types of protective clothing against occupational hazards].

Studies of heat state of human involved into physical work in heating environment and having various protective clothing on demonstrated value of the protective clothing in modifying thermal load on the body and possible decrease of this load through air temperature and humidity correction, shorter stay at workplace. The authors presented hygienic requirements to air temperatures range in accordance with allowable body heating degree, suggested mathematic model to forecast integral parameter of human functional state in accordance with type of protective clothing applied. The article also covers necessity of upper air temperature limit during hot season, for applying protective clothing made of materials with low air permeability and hydraulic conductivity.

[Physiological and hygienic rationale for the duration of exposure to the heating environment and comfortable thermal conditions during a workshift].

The strain in different functional systems of human body maintaining thermal homeostasis that develops during work under heating conditions results in impaired working capacity and efficiency and may be harmful to health. One of the most efficacious measures is the reduction of exposure to the adverse conditions and its rational alternation with rest in the comfortable environment. Based on the mathematical and statistical analysis of the results of multiple-factor experiments, we derived a multiple regression equation describing the quantitative dependence of the integral index of human body thermal regime on the totality of factors responsible for thermal strain. The equation permits to determine the heat content in the human body formed by exothermal and endothermal strain, to estimate the contribution of each individual factor, and to predict the risk of overheating in order to take measures for reducing the thermal strain. Recommendations are proposed on the duration of thermal exposure during a workshift depending on the overheating risk level and on the optimal relationship between the duration of staying in the heating microclimate and the duration of the rest (work) in the comfortable environment.

[Biologic age as a criterion for work evaluation (exemplified by titanium alloys production)].

The article deals with results of studies concerning biologic age of workers (males) under occupational hazards of titanium alloys (jeopardy classes 3.3, 3.4.4) in Verkhne-Saldinsky metallurgic production association. Based on mathematic statistic analysis, the authors worked out an equation of multiple regression for ageing pace to forecast the ageing with consideration of age, length of service, occupation. The authors determined occupational groups characterized by premature ageing and increased risk of health disorders.

[Comparative evaluation of heat state in workers exposed to heating microclimate during cold and warm seasons].

The authors demonstrated differences in heat state among workers exposed to heating microclimate during cold and warm seasons. Same external thermal load in cold season induces more humidity loss, lower weighted average skin temperature, higher pulse rate, increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure. With that, heat discomfort was more in cold season, than in warm one, this necessitates decrease of thermal load in cold season vs. the warm one.

[Medical and biologic aspects of regulation and evaluation of microclimate: results and prospects of further studies].

The article deals with basic points concerning influence of microclimate on humans and tasks of its regulation in contemporary conditions. The authors described universality of microclimate from viewpoint of producing functional state and health state of human, so microclimate should be assessed consistently and systematically through all aspects of its influence, with complex approach to evaluation (clothing, physical activity, etc.).

[Physiologic and hygienic principles underlying creation of clothes protecting against cold].

The article presents principles underlying creation of clothes protecting against cold, in accordance with specific usage conditions (ambient air temperature and speed, ergonomic traits and metabolic level of work, duration of cold exposure). The authors listed requirements to thermal protection of clothes and to separate entities (hat, gloves, shoes) in relation to various climate regions. Major steps of creation and evaluation of the clothes are demonstrated.

[Evaluating influence of individual protective means on heat state of individuals working in heating microclimate].

The authors evaluate working clothes protecting against electromagnetic waves and chemical pollution to exemplify that the clothes use in heating surroundings deteriorates human heat state due to disordered heat-mass exchange with environment and higher physical exertion caused by the clothes weight. The article demonstrates necessity to correct requirements to microclimate parameters, if using working clothes deteriorating heat-mass exchange with environment in heating microclimate. For adequate evaluation of work conditions, the materials include temperature modification values in accordance with some working clothes types.

[Forecasting heat and functional state of human exposed to cooling in water medium].

Based on mathematic and statistic analysis of results obtained in studies of human heat exchange with cooling water medium, the authors represented canonical correlational patterns to determine integral parameter of cooling conditions (IPCC) referred to naked human and with various clothes on, both with and without additional heat releasing sources. Mathematic and statistic analysis helped to present correlational patterns for predicting levels of changes in human functional state according to IPCC comprising complex of factors that determine heat exchange in water medium, including safe time for stay in it.

[Use of the WBGT-index for evaluation of the heating microclimate in industrial conditions]. / Ob ispol'zovanii WBGT-indeksa dlia otsenki nagrevaiushchego mikroklimata v proizvodstvennykh usloviiakh.

The article covers the results showing relationships between the parameters of human heat status and an integral parameter WBGT index (ISO 72443). The significant strong correlation was shown between WBGT index, average skin temperature and heat sensation, medium correlation was seen between WBGT index, changes in heat content of the body, water losses and pulse rate. Approximate values of WBGT index were calculated for the human doing the light physical work. The stated values describe various heat status taking into account the time of hyperthermia.

[Method evaluating heat isolation for individual device suit designed to protect workers from coldness]. / Metod opredeleniia teploizoliatsii komplekta individual'nykh sredstv, prednaznachaemykh dlia zashchity rabotaiushchikh ot okhlazhdeniia..

Based on results of personal research and of foreign studies, the authors present a method to calculate heat isolation for individual protective means set necessary for human heat state preservation in real working conditions. The method includes surface temperature measurements with consideration of cooling degree and energy consumption, calculation of separate elements of heat balance and density of "net" heat flow in correlation with cooling duration. Calculating heat isolation, the authors considered influence of wind speed on its value and air-resistance of outer clothing.

[Substantiation of physiologic and hygienic requirements of heat-proof properties of winter headgear]. / O obosnovaniiu fiziologo-gigienicheskikh trebovanii k pokazateliam teplozashchitnykh svoistv zimnikh golovnykh uborov.

Experimental studies conducted in cooling environment assessed the features of heat exchange and thermoregulation of head during physical work varying in hardness and type. The studies determined allowable parameters of heat exchange on head (skin temperature and surface heat outflow), which are necessary for construction and evaluation of headgear. The article presents correlations between main heat-proof parameters of headgear (total heat resistance, thickness of materials and their permeability to air). The data of experimental and industrial trials helped to elaborate physiologic and hygienic requirements for heat-proof headgear in various climate conditions.

[Physiologic and hygienic requirements for clothes protecting from cold during outdoors work in Northern regions]. / Fiziologo-gigienicheskie trebovaniia k odezhde dlia zashchity ot kholoda rabotaiushchikh na otkrytoi territorii Severnykh regionov.

The article presents main requirements met by clothing for protection against cold. The authors demonstrate calculation of desirable heat resistance of clothing and its components, results of experimental and occupational studies participated by humans and aimed at evaluation of individual protective means. The article shows role of individual protective means in maintaining desirable state of the workers.

[Comparative evaluation of different methods for normalizing heat state of persons exposed to cold water]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka razlichnykh sposobov normalizatsii teplovogo sostoianiia cheloveka posle okhlazheniia ego v vodnoi srede.

Decrease of deep body temperature in humans due to exposure to cold water continues after the exposure ends and carries major danger for human health and life. The article covers data characterizing human heat state parameters after rejection of cold (10 +/- 1 degree C) water environment. This rejection was proved to take place in more severely decreased "core" and "capsule" temperature vs that in air environment. Studies of heat state in 38 volunteers practicing winter swimming demonstrated comparative evaluation of various heating methods among which the most effective are immersion into warm (38 degrees C) water with simultaneous hydromassage and being in sauna at air temperature of 65 +/- 5 degrees C.

[Sanitary evaluation of microclimate conditions at the ore mining and alluvial pits sites]. / Gigienicheskaia otsenka mikroklimaticheskikh uslovii v podzemnykh vyrabotkakh rudnykh i rossypnykh shakht.

The authors summarized results of hygienic research carried in pits of Transbaikal region, Yakutia. Tchukotka, Kazakhstan, Kirgizia, Krivoy Rog, European North and other areas. Microclimate parameters in winze of mining and alluvial pits appeared to vary significantly and to depend on certain specific factors (depth of mining, climate geographic zone of the enterprise, temperature of the ores treated, etc.). Considering degree of influence on workers' heat state, taking into account significance of clothes heat insulation required, the authors defined 4 types of microclimate at workplace. For operative selection of optimal special clothing set, the authors represent dependence of proper heat resistance of clothes for main and auxiliary occupations on microclimate conditions.

[Comprehensive evaluation of a host of factors influencing thermal load on workers]. / Integral'naia otsenka kompleksa faktorov, obuslovlivaiushchikh termicheskuiu nagruzku na rabotaiushchikh.

The article represents mathematic simulation that enables to determine human heat content for those working in heating environment, using complex of factors causing thermal load, and to assess role of each factor in formation of this load. The authors necessitate evaluation of heating microclimate and specification of requirements to a work mode considering clothes influence on heat accumulation that could be calculated by the equations presented.

[Cold stress and its prophylaxis]. / Kholodovoi stress i ego profilaktika.

The authors present criteria of cold stress and their relationships with thermoregulatory strain, ability to work and some health state parameters. Findings are unfavorable influence of human cooling and adaptation to cold on vibration disease development. The article covers requirements to heat-proof properties of clothing set, to duration of exposure to cold in various climate areas of Russian Federation.

[Medical aspects of the use of gas jets with infrared irradiation for heating of industrial accommodations]. / Meditsinskie aspekty ispol'zovaniia gazovykh gorelok infrakrasnogo izlucheniia dlia otopleniia proizvodstvennykh pomeshchenii.

Up-to-date research, results of experimental and pilot studies of gas radiative heating helped to justify hygienic, sanitary and technical requirements concerning air quality in heated compartments, to determine values of infrared irradiation on various body sites, that are not hazardous for human functional state. Radiation doses received by the workers are set in accordance with ambient temperature decrease compared to the normal values in convective heating systems. The authors adjusted parameters of microclimate in compartments heated by gas radiative systems and some methods evaluating the ambient air.

[Grounds of the duration of work shift for female vegetable growers working in the field in the summer]. / K obosnovaniiu prodolzhitel'nosti rabochei smeny zhenshchin-ovoshchevodov, rabotaiushchikh v letnii period goda v pole.

Analysis of changes in heat state of female vegetable-growers within the shift helped to determine correlation between microclimate parameters (including general indicator of extrinsic heat load--WBGT index) and temperature state in the females adjusted and non-adjusted to heat. Depending on various relationships between the microclimate parameters inducing variable overheating, duration of the working shift is set for stably optimal heat state.

[Physiologic and hygienic substantiation of requirements of individual protective means against cold of workers exposed to local and general vibration]. / Fiziologo-gigienicheskoe obosnovanie trebovanii k individual'nym sredstvam zashchity ot kholoda rabochikh, podvergaiushchikhsia vozdeistviiu lokal'noi i obshchei vibratsii.

The article deals with results of studies evaluating heat and functional state of miners in Murmansk region. The authors suggest prophylaxis against unfavorable effects of cold and vibration on the miners. The measures are to lower thermoregulatory overstrain by use of individual protective means providing optimal heat state during the work activities.