Evaluation of health risk for workers engaged into processing of titanium-containing and rare-earth materials.

The authors defined occupational risk level and relations of health disorders in workers engaged into processing of titanium-containing and rare-elements materials with forecasting risk changes in accordance with length of service and its realization evaluation. Work conditions are characterized by exposure to chemicals (sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, chlorine and hydrochloride, vanadium compounds), noise, general vibration, heating, work hardiness - and are evaluated as hazardous, jeopardy degree 3 and 4. Results of a priori assessment of occupational risk define it as high. Modelling of health risk evolution outlines that after 15 years of service (by 35 years of age) the share of cardiovascular disease will approach 65% in total workers' health risk. Prevalence of arterial hypertension in the studied group by 15 years of service equals 44,5% (p = 0,04), in the reference group no reliable prevalence of arterial hypertension with length of service was seen. Realization of health risk due to chemicals manifested with higher prevalence of upper respiratory tract diseases that were significantly more frequent (p = 0,037) among the studied group (62,23%), than in the reference group (38,30%). The authors determined length of service criteria and health disorders, that outline priority contribution into the health risk, to specify a system of preventive measures for risk minimization.

[Biochemical markers of early diagnosis of occupationally related arterial hypertension in workers of ore-dressing production].

The authors demonstrate that work conditions for main occupations of sylvinite ore-dressing production (drying machine operator, granulation operator, drying and granulation dosage department operator, centrifuge operator, filtration operator, transporting machine operator in drying and granulation department, mill operator) are characterized by combined exposure to chemical and physical occupational hazards: formaldehyde, highly dispersed dust (PM,0), industrial noise, increased microclimate parameters. The work conditions are considered as hazardous (class 3.1, 3.2, 3.3). Findings are reliable increase of MDA level with lower general antioxidant defence in serum, when compared to the reference group. Increased homocysteine, lipoprotein with significant decreased nitrogen oxide production are seen. These processes can result in disordered structure and endothelial function of vessels, with higher prevalence of arterial hypertension. Values of MDA, antioxidant activity, homocysteine, lipoprotein (a), nitrogen oxide are justified as markers for early diagnosis of occupationally related arterial hypertension.

[New potential of MTHFR gene variations application as an individual sensitivity marker in evaluation of occupational risk of arterial hypertension under exposure to nose].

The article deals with results of assessing risk of occupationally related hypertension among workers of sylvinitedressing works, with individual sensitivity consideration. Epidemiologic study proved correlation between occupational exposure to noise over 83 dB and hypertension and its predictors - increased activity of serum lipoprotein and homocystein. The studies determined an indicator of the workers' increased sensitivity to arterial hypertension development and to changes in parameters of disordered vascular tone regulation (increased activity of serum lipoprotein and homocystein) under exposure to noise - CT genotype of MTHFR gene. Workers with CT genotype of MTHFR gene, according to epidemiologic analysis, demonstrated increase in relative risk of vascular tone regulation disorders (hypertension predictor). Additional probability ofvascular tone regulation disorders under exposure to noise of 83 dB in sylvinitedressing workers with increased individual sensitivity is estimated at 3%.