[Comparative hygienic evaluation of work conditions in sulphate cellulose production, with consideration of modern mechanization].

Comparative evaluation covered work conditions in contemporary sulphate cellulose productions with various levels of mechanization and automation. Findings are that major work hazards for cellulose production workers are: polluted workplace air with chemical complex (methylsulphurous compounds, chlorine, chlorine dioxide, alkaline aerosol) in concentrations exceeding MAC, heating microclimate, noise. Levels of workplace air pollution with chemical hazards and transitory disablement morbidity parameters are considerably lower in highly automated production.

[Evaluation of workplace air pollution with fluor compounds and their contents of biologic media in aluminium production workers].

The authors estimated fluorine compounds content of workplace air in electrolysis workshops of aluminium production, for various electrolysis technologies. The data cover results of physical and chemical analysis and material constitution of produced toxic dust complexes, urinary excretion levels of fluorine ion and fluorides accumulation in hair of aluminium production workers.

[Hygienic assessment of toxic dust factor at the aluminium smelter in Eastern Siberia].

There is presented the assessment of priority toxic matters in the air of working zone for basic occupations of aluminum smelting by electrolysis. There are presented results of different production technologies. There are presented the results of the physical-chemical analysis of the morphology and composition of produced toxic-dust complexes.

[Assessment of carcinogenic risks to workers of the main enterprises of the Irkutsk region].

The purpose of research is the assessment of the individual cancer risk (ICR) for workers of the basic occupations in key branches of industry of the Irkutsk region. There was executed the calculation of ICR levels for workers of the basic occupations of the aircraft industry, aluminum smelters and vinyl chloride production plants. The estimation of the exposure for workers was carried out according to long-term time-weighted average concentrations in the air of the working area, for the population - on annual average concentrations in the ambient air. To assess the risk that is not associated with the profession, the dose was calculated for the period of life (70 years). When calculating the toxicant doses in the working area there were used the "standard" indices ofpulmonary ventilation for adults, body weight, the work experience in the contact with carcinogens of 30 years, the number of days in the contact of 240, the duration of the working time 8 or 12 hours (in accordance with the working hours) duration. ICR for the Irkutsk population amounted of 3.08E-04, in Shelekhov - 4.8E-05, Sayansk - 1.1E-05. The amount of risk depends on the content offormaldehyde in all territories and chromium VI in cities of Irkutsk and Shelekhov. ICR for workers of basic occupations of studied plants in dozens of times are higher than for the urban population. Priority carcinogens are: chromium VI, nickel, formaldehyde, silicon dioxide -for the aircraft plant employees; 1,2-dichloretan, vinyl chloride - for the workers of vinyl chloride production plant; benzopyrene - for the aluminum smelter workers.

[Clinical and neurophysiological peculiarities of health disorders in workers in dependence on the vinyl chloride exposure load].

Results of the clinical and neurophysiological examinations of 42 workers with operating history at the chemical plant exposed to vinyl chloride (VC) are presented. The purpose of research was the identification ofpeculiarities of clinical manifestations and disorders of the functional activity of the brain in workers at the vinyl chloride production, with taking into account the exposure toxic load (ETL). There were made clinical and electroencephalographic examinations with the detection of cognitive evoked potentials (CEP) and statistical analysis of results with the use of the Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher's F-test, calculation of Spearman's correlation coefficient. The features in clinical picture of the pathology of the nervous system were detected in the form of asthenic disorders with cognitive impairment and autonomic dysfunction syndrome. There was established the increase in the cognitive impairment rate (p = 0.03), the decline in a-EEG activity (p = 0.01) and the worsening of indices of the amplitude (p = 0.011) and latency (p = 0,05) of CEP in extremely high level of ETL in comparison with same indices in the group with moderately high ETL. In the first group there was revealed a statistically significant exceedance of the frequency of hypertension - by 1.6 times, skin diseases - by 9 times, chronic subatrophic rhino-pharyngitis by 1.4 times in comparison with cases from the second group. In the group with moderately high level of ETL there was established the statistically significant inverse correlationship between the ETL and the index of P300 amplitude from the left side (r = -0.38, p = 0.019) and in the group with extremely high level ETL - between ETL and index of the ß2 - rhythm (r = - 0.73, p = 0.0008).

[FEATURES OF CHANGES IN THE IMMUNE REACTIVITY IN EMPLOYEES IN MODERN PRODUCTION OF SULPHATE CELLULOSE].

There are reported changes in the indices of the immunoreactivity of the body in employees in modern productions of sulphate cellulose in dependence on the specificity of exposing factors of the production environment. At that the main adverse factor affecting the state of the immune reactivity of workers was found to be is air pollution of the working area with methyl-sulfur compounds in the pulping process, with chlorine and chlorine dioxide--in the process of bleaching, lime and limestone dust--in the process of caustic regeneration. There were shown differences in the character and severity of the immune response to the impact of different chemical compounds. The exertion of protective immune mechanisms is most pronounced in workers employed in the process of boiling and bleaching, in whom there were revealed significant changes in humoral compartment of immunity (pronounced inhibition of the IgA synthesis, which plays an important role in the state of broncho-pulmonary immunity). At the same time, the inhibition of the functional activity of phagocytic neutrophils was the most significant in workers who was experienced to the exposure to lime and limestone dust, testifying about the depression of nonspecific mechanisms of anti-infectious protection. The revealed changes in the immune system are the basis for the formation in workers certain health disorders, mainly with broncho-pulmonary pathology.

[Risk assessment of health disorders and quality of life in employees of modern polyvinyl chloride production].

The authors analyse changes in exposure load and associated occupational risk, health state of workers engaged into contemporary polyvinyl chloride production. Consideration covered objective parameters--results of thorough medical examinations -and subjective ones--results of quantitative risk evaluation of general pathologic syndromes and life quality caused by health state. The latter were compared with general working population unexposed to the hazards. Findings are statistically significant increase of functional disorders risk connected with cardiovascular and nervous diseases. Correlation was found between cardiovascular diseases prevalence and exposure chemical load. Statistically significant differences were seen in all life quality components between the workers groups compared.

[Evaluating occupational health risk in workers engaged in the chemical industry].

Evaluating occupational health risk in workers engaged into chemical industry. The authors evaluated long-term dynamics of air pollution with toxic chemicals at chemical enterprises producing caustic soda, vinylchloride and polyvinylchloride. Peculiarities of the work conditions were revealed. Calculating dose load with length of service helped to relate health disorders in the workers with accumulated influence of chemical pollutants on the working environment.

[Methyl sulphides and their metabolites in biologic materials of workers engaged into sulfate pulping].

The authors studied serum and urine levels of methyl sulphides in workers engaged into sulfate pulping and exposed to methyl sulphides. Blood serum was studied only for dimethyldisulfide. Urine appeared to contain no methyl sulphides, but finding was increased urinary excretion of sulfates which are metabolites of methyl sulphides. Sulfates content of urine correlated with intensity and duration of exposure to methyl sulphides, so this exposure test could be used as a biologic marker in monitoring work conditions and health state of workers exposed to methyl sulphides.

[Occupational risk factors and reproductive health of female workers engaged into kraft pulping].

Female workers of child-bearing age appeared to have significant frequency of reproductive disorders, high degree of their connection with the occupation. The authors justified a concept of reproductivity disorders formation.

[Urinary sulfates as a biologic indicator of exposure to methylsulfate compounds in manufacture of sulfate cellulose]. / Sul'faty v moche kak biologicheskii pokazatel' vozdeistviia metilsernistykh soedinenii v proizvodstve sul'fatnoi tselliulozy.

The authors studied urine excretion of sulfates before and after a shift in workers engaged into brewing and flushing shops of sulfate cellulose production, who are exposed to various amounts of methyl sulfate compounds. Significant increase of urine sulfate appeared by the end of the shift and correlated with intensity of the air pollution with methyl sulfate compounds. Lower urine excretion of sulfates occurred with longer length of service.