Vol 98, No 9 (2019)

Introduction. In the development and operation of ore deposits, there is a risk of adverse effects from the occurrence of endogenous mine fires (spontaneous combustion of ore), as a result of which there are emissions of significant amounts of harmful and poisonous gas-dust impurities into the atmosphere. This study was conducted in connection with the current unfavorable sanitary and epidemiological situation in the city of Sibay of the Republic of Bashkortostan, due to the decay of sulfur-containing ore of the underground mine.

The purpose of the study is to assess the ecological and hygienic situation associated with air pollution by the decay products of the ore rock of the Sibai underground mine.

Material and methods. The assessment of the level of air pollution in residential areas of Sibai was carried out on the basis of the analysis of monitoring data of 4 independent laboratories (more than 40000 samples from atmospheric air). Calculations and assessment of public health risk were carried out in accordance with the Guidelines 2.1.10.1920-04. Statistical processing was carried out using the software “Microsoft Excel”.

Results. During the period of an intensive decay of the ore rock of the Sibay underground mine in the atmospheric air of some areas of the city, there were found concentrations of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide exceeding hygienic standards (maximum permissible concentration) by 30 or more times and 80 or more times correspondingly. The values of hazard indices in relation to the respiratory system when combined inhalation substances: hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, nitrogen dioxide were ranging from 0,3 (acceptable risk) to 18,4 (high risk). Sulfur dioxide (the hazard ratio to 14.0) and hydrogen sulfide (the hazard ratio to 6.6) made the greatest contribution to the formation of a health risk.

Conclusion. There is a high tendency to spontaneous combustion – the emergence of endogenous fires for copper-pyrite deposits represented by pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite. The decay of the ore rock of the Sibay underground mine resulted in air pollution of residential areas with hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, which contributed to the formation of an increased non-carcinogenic risk to public health.

Introduction. Industrial aerosols remain one of the main sources of development of occupational respiratory diseases of allergic etiology, leading to the early and permanent disability of qualified industrial workers.

Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of the prevalence of occupational diseases of the respiratory tract from exposure to industrial aerosols according to statistical records and the first time established occupational diseases registration logs in the clinic for the period from 2008 to 2017 was carried out.

Results. According to the analysis of occupational respiratory diseases in the Republic of Bashkortostan and the sanitary and hygienic characteristics of working conditions, the development of occupational allergic diseases of the respiratory organs was established in 54% of cases to be associated with exposure to aerosols of complex chemical composition exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations.

Discussion. The working conditions of employees in a number of industries are characterized by the predominant effect of industrial aerosols of complex composition influenced the formation of occupational allergic diseases of the respiratory system. Adverse microclimatic conditions at the workplace in combination with a chemical factor are aggravating factors. The largest number of cases of occupational respiratory diseases is registered in the manufacturing sectors of the economy, mining companies, and the construction industry.

Conclusion. Based on the studies conducted, measures have been developed to reduce the levels of exposure to industrial aerosols and to maintain workers’ health.

Introduction. Ground constructions for salt therapy, which differ in the composition of minerals and in the modification of therapeutic surfaces, are actively used in Russia and abroad. The abiotic surfaces of these devices are susceptible to microbial contamination, the sources of which are the upper respiratory tract, the skin of patients and medical staff.

The aim of the work is to assess the viability of microorganisms on abiotic surfaces identical to the material for the manufacture of salt physiotherapy constructions.

Material and methods. 6 and 24 hours after application to abiotic surfaces with different relief there was evaluated the survival rate of reference gram-positive and gram-negative cultures of microorganisms and isolated ones from salt rooms. Viable cells were determined by the method of decimal dilutions in terms of the number of colonies-forming units (CFU).

Results. It was found that bacterial cells can preserve at the halite and various surfaces of sylvinite for at least 24 hours. The viability of microorganisms was independent of the ratio of minerals (halite/sylvin) in the samples. The structure of the surface of sylvinite: the largest number of microorganisms was retained on crushed sylvinite (7.98E+02 ± 1.62E+03 CFU/ml was a significant factor for the survival of bacteria. Despite a great survival of staphylococci in comparison with gram-negative opportunistic pathogenic bacteria on all the surfaces studied, no significant differences between the groups were detected. In this case, bacteria isolated from salt structures were more resistant to salt load due to adaptive modification of microorganisms, including increasing the hydrophobicity of the cell wall, increasing their ability to survive. Bacteria grown on a solid agar medium proved to be more tolerant of the conditions of osmotic stress.

Conclusion. The obtained data confirm the dependence of the adaptive mechanisms on the environmental conditions and the initial physiological state of cells. The results of studies on the survival of bacteria on salt surfaces of various types indicate their resistance to high concentrations of salts, which raises the question of special methods for treating fences of salt therapy structures.

Introduction. The ecological and hygienic state of the environment plays a major role in promoting pediatric population health. The ambient air pollutants are regarded as the primary environmental factor leading to the immunity reducing, thus provoking the development of various diseases.

Material and methods. The data on the concentration of general toxicity chemicals in the ambient air of towns and districts of the Republic of Bashkortostan with the developed oil industry, as well as data on the state of pediatric health between 2007 and 2016. To identify possible links between medico-demographic indicators and toxicant concentration in the ambient air the Pearson correlation coefficients (r) were calculated.

Results. The Republican objects of the fuel and energy complex make the largest contribution to air pollution in the areas of their location. The gross emissions of such enterprises as Bashneft-Ufaneftekhim and Bashneft-Navoil amount to 43.69–49.77 thousand tons of pollutants per year. The presence of a number of air pollutants is detected above the standards in certain periods of time. The most commonly recorded excesses are for ammonia, suspended solids, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide. In some areas where oil-extracting and oil-refining enterprises are located, there are high rates of general morbidity of the pediatric population, congenital anomalies, and diseases of the respiratory organs in children of the first year of life. Correlation analysis showed a close positive relationship between carbon monoxide content and the overall incidence rates of child circulation (r = 0.957) and blood disease indicators in infants (r = 0.821). Respiratory diseases correlate with nitrogen dioxide emissions (r = 0.899).

Conclusion. Further development of the oil extracting, petrochemical and oil refining industries should be carried out taking into account the socio-economic conditions of the population.

Introduction. Despite the fact that the state of school meals is monitored by the administration of educational institutions, authorities of Federal Service on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare Supervision, it is almost impossible to cover all safety measures with research on safety performance. As part of the study of the quality and safety of food products used in the diet of schoolchildren, there was carried out an analysis of vegetables grown in school grounds for the content of nitrates, pesticides, and macro- and microelements.

Material and methods. Sampling of beets, carrots, and potatoes was carried out during the autumn period at school grounds in rural areas of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Macro- and trace elements (Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Al) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry, pesticides (HCCH and DDT) were measured by gas chromatography, and nitrates were evaluated potentiometrically. Statistical data processing was performed using standard software, the results are expressed as medians or general average values with the corresponding standard deviations.

Results. Organochlorine pesticides (HCH and DDT), the use of which is currently prohibited, have not been identified in vegetable samples, the levels of metals and nitrates are very variable and depended on both the type of product and the place of growth. The concentration of nitrates in beets and carrots exceeds the maximum permissible levels in 62.5% of samples, in potatoes - in 18.8%.

Lead accumulation in vegetables has not been established, the maximum levels did not reach 0.2 MPU, the concentration of cadmium was higher than the permissible level in 6% of the samples analyzed. No elevated levels of iron, copper, zinc, aluminum, manganese were recorded; on the contrary, their lower concentrations were noted compared with the average Russian data.

Conclusion. In connection with the detection of elevated concentrations of nitrates, it is necessary to strengthen control over the safety of vegetables grown in school grounds and used in school canteens.

Introduction. Despite the improvement of technologies for the production of petrochemical products, against the background of the positive dynamics of occupational morbidity in the whole production of chemicals and chemical products, according to official data, occupational diseases are recorded annually at the industrial enterprises. In this regard, studies that will reveal the causal relationships between occupational diseases and the development of preventive programs aimed at eliminating the influence of harmful substances on the workers’ bodies and ensuring safe working conditions are relevant.

Material and methods. There was carried a retrospective analysis of occupational morbidity indices out due to acute and chronic occupational diseases caused by a chemical factor over 39 years (1980-2018) in workers of one of the leading petrochemical enterprises located in the Volga Federal District. This company includes more than a dozen industries located on one industrial site. Occupational morbidity was assessed in absolute and relative terms.

The occupational morbidity index, an integral indicator of the frequency and severity of occupational diseases, occupational risk levels in terms of occupational morbidity were determined in accordance with the Guide “Occupational Health Risk to Workers”, edited by Izmerov N.F., Denisov E.I.

Results. The working conditions of petrochemical workers that are part of the enterprise structure are unsafe; cases of acute and/or chronic occupational diseases caused by chemical factors are annually recorded. In the structure of occupational morbidity, chronic toxicity ranks first. The level of occupational risk according to indices of occupational morbidity among workers of heptyl production corresponds to above average, among workers of ethylbenzene-styrene and butyl alcohols - to average.

Conclusion. Based on the analysis of the occupational morbidity of petrochemical workers, a prevention program including a number of organizational, technical, sanitary and hygienic, as well as medical and preventive measures have been developed.

Introduction. The high prevalence of circulatory diseases among workers exposed to hazardous occupational factors is an important medical and social problem.

Material and methods. The study of working conditions and the state of the cardiovascular system in petrochemical workers has been carried out by using hygienic, clinical, laboratory and statistical research methods. Occupational and non-occupational factors of cardiovascular risks for workers have been studied.

Results. As a result of complex clinical and hygienic studies, the contribution of occupational, non-occupational, and psycho-emotional factors to the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases in chemical workers has been established. The level of cardiovascular risk has been shown to be determined by the spectrum and intensity of the impact of occupational stress factors, the age and work-experience-related characteristics of workers

Conclusion. The impact of occupational, non-occupational, psychosocial risk factors on the state of the cardiovascular system has been identified. The development and implementation of the multiple factor prevention system are imperative.

Introduction. The problem of women’s health protection and maintaining their reproductive health is a relevant problem of occupational health.

Material and methods. The assessment of exposure levels to hazardous occupational factors at workplaces and reproductive health indices of female workers of petrochemistry and mining of the Republic of Bashkortostan has been carried out.

Results. Petrochemical female workers have been shown to be exposed to the combined impact of toxicants including saturated, unsaturated, aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. at the maximum permissible level or below their concentration, the mining and processing enterprise workers - to the combined impact of hazardous occupational factors (polymetallic ore dust, chemicals, industrial noise). The working conditions of female workers of both industries correspond to hazardous Class I. Most chemicals possess reproductive toxicity. A significantly high prevalence of menstrual disorders, benign neoplasms, obstetric pathology in the form of threatened abortion, gestosis in the second half of pregnancy, chronic placental insufficiency, and as well as newborns’ morbidity have been revealed among female workers of main groups.

Conclusion. The labor of women in the modern petrochemical complex, as well as the mining and processing enterprise fails to provide female workers’ reproductive health safety. Studies have shown the need to develop a system of preventive measures which will promote reproductive health of workers.

Introduction. The high frequency of chemical poisoning is accompanied by an increase in the absolute number of cases of chemical damage to the liver. There is growing evidence that acute chemical poisoning in Russia is among the leading non-infectious diseases leading to premature death of male and female working-age people. It seems relevant to search for new pharmacological agents with low toxicity and high hepatoprotective activity, which increase the body’s stability under the influence of adverse environmental factors. The use of metabolic action drugs combining antioxidant and antihypoxic activity as hepatoprotectors is promising. The purpose of this study is an experimental evaluation of the hepatoprotective activity of a new composition of oxymethyluracil with succinic and fumaric acids.

Material and methods. The composition of 5-hydroxy-6-methyluracil with succinic and fumaric acids was first synthesized at the Ufa Institute of Chemistry. Using the model of acute liver toxic damage with carbon tetrachloride in laboratory animals, the prophylactic effect of a new drug was studied in comparison with heptor (ademetionine). Biochemical and morphological studies of laboratory animals’ biomaterial were conducted.

Results. The analysis showed that when using the studied drugs, biochemical parameters were close to the level of control animals. Morphological changes in the liver were less pronounced in the group of animals treated with the new composition, compared with changes in the structure of the liver of animals treated with heptorator (ademetionin).

Conclusion. The new composition of 5-hydroxy-6-methyluracil with succinic and fumaric acids has a protective effect on the liver of laboratory animals with the acute toxic effects of carbon tetrachloride, comparable, and in some cases, exceeding the preventive effect of heptoperam (ademetionine).

Introduction. The working conditions of workers in oil-producing industries do not exclude the negative impact of a harmful biological factor of the working environment. The combined effect of harmful and dangerous factors (noise, vibration, a complex of chemicals of varying intensity), adverse climatic and geographical conditions in the process of oil production lead to violations of the structural and functional state of the body and increase the risk of disease caused by opportunistic microorganisms.

Material and methods. To study the effect of working conditions of workers engaged in oil extraction on the qualitative and quantitative composition of the microorganism, an investigation of skin microbiota and microbiocenosis of the upper respiratory tract mucosa was carried out. Using the method of skin prints from the inner surface of the forearm on a plate with blood agar allowed, along with the total number of microorganisms, to determine the presence of hemolytic forms on the surface and in deep layers of the skin of oil workers. Estimate the influence of working conditions on the microbiocenosis of the upper respiratory tract and mucosal anti-infective resistance of the mucous membrane analyzed the species composition of the microbiota of the nasal mucosa and pharynx in workers, directly and indirectly engaged in oil production.

Results. Studies show in workers directly involved in oil extraction, the number of microorganisms of the skin is significantly higher than that of healthy people in average by 2.0-3.6 times on the surface and 1.7-3.7 times in the deep layers. For machinists, these differences achieve 2.5–4.0 and 1.2–4.0 times, respectively, and for engineering and technical workers, 1.4–2.3 on the skin surface and 1.2–2.5 in the deep layers. For drillers, drillers’ assistants, operators, the presence of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms of 3-5 or more components on the nasal and pharyngeal polymicrobial associations is typical, and for engineers, engineers and technicians from 2-4, less often 5 components.

Conclusion. The impact of occupational factors affecting workers in the process of oil extraction, contributes to the development of microbiocenosis lesions of the skin and mucous membranes. On the surface of the skin and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract there are a wide variety and specific structure of the microflora, specific to each of the studied groups in the workers examined.