International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

Maehly, Andreas; Swensson, Åke

doi: 10.1007/BF01027416pmid: 5490372

The concentrations of free cyanide in the blood and in the urine, and the levels of “free” thiocyanate (oxidized to cyanide and distilled) as well as “total” thiocyanate (directly determined and quite unspecific) were determined in the urine of 140 volunteers.

Zenk, H.

doi: 10.1007/BF01027417pmid: N/A

Examinations of nasal and auditory functions were performed on a number of different age groups of people exposed to CS2 in the synthetic-fiber industry. In people thus exposed, dry nasal mucous membranes as well as a deficit in olfactory functioning was evident. The auditory examinations showed a reduction of thresholds in the high frequences, a predominance of calorically caused nystagmus, and an increase in pathological forms of nystagmus.

Wrońska-Nofer, Teresa

doi: 10.1007/BF01027418pmid: 5490373

Rats were exposed to carbon disulphide in concentration of 1.5 to 1.8 mg/l over several months and during certain time periods part of the animals were fed 30 mg of nicotinic acid per day. In the serum cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides were determined in time intervals ranging from 30 to 300 days of exposure. An increased level of all lipids in serum due to CS2 exposure was found; that increase could be prevented by feeding the nicotinic acid. The hypolipemic effect was observed only within the treatment period. Advanced hyperlipaemia could be removed by nicotinic acid treatment without interrupting the exposure to carbon disulphide.

Kośmider, St.; Kłopotowski, J.

doi: 10.1007/BF01027419pmid: N/A

Urinary excretion of mercury has been observed in 15 patients with chronic mercurialism after the administration of semisynthetic penicillin (methycillin). It has been shown that methycillin has a chelating effect and in patients with chronic mercurialism produces an increase of excretion of mercury with urine of the same range as the administration of BAL. The elimination of the metabolite of serotonin is also increased. In view of the slight toxicity of this antibiotic and the possibility of its application over a long period of time, it can be used in the treatment of chronic mercurialism.

Nieding, G.; Krekeler, H.; Smidt, U.; Muysers, K.

doi: 10.1007/BF01027420pmid: N/A

13 healthy persons-18 to 40 years old-breathed room-air or a mixture of 20.9% O2, 5% Ar, rest N2, then the same mixture with 5 ppm NO2 and finally room-air again in three consecutive periods of 15 min.

Woitowitz, H.

doi: 10.1007/BF01027421pmid: N/A

The problem of causality between chronic obstructive lung diseases and occupational asbestos dust exposure has actual significance in the field of occupational medicine above the single case of professional disease. The presented results are based on cross section examinations on 465 workers and 31 pensioners with valuable asbestos dust exposure as well as on the results from 69 cases of asbestosis. Methodically body plethysmography and spirography had been used. Statistically the data obtained from asbestos workers and from the cases of asbestosis do not admit of the supposition, that the asbestos dust exposure can be regarded for the most important partial cause for the occurrence of chronic obstructive lung diseases. In many individual cases chronic bronchitis has been proved. On behalf of the findings obtained from the group of long term exposed pensioners with and without asbestosis, the causality has to be examined individually by considering all concomitants.

Slepička, J.; Kadlec, K.; Tesař, Z.; Škoda, V.; Miřejovský, P.

doi: 10.1007/BF01027422pmid: N/A

Fourty electric-welders' pneumoconiosis were recorded in 1951–1968 in the Department of Occupational Diseases. 6 cases were of the “m, n” and 34 of the “L” form of the International X-ray classification of pneumoconioses. The biopsy was performed in two cases and the post mortem examination in one case (an electric-welder who died because of a purulent peritonitis), and the authors were able to compare the X-rays and the histological results of their medical examination. A hygienic evaluation showed a bad state of the working place where high dust rates prevalled. This paper deals with a group of electric-welders who used rutil or basic types electrodes during the welding process. All of them were clinically examined and did not show any abnormalities except dyspnae and X-ray lung changes similar to pneumoconiosis. The examination of lung functioning was showed a low lung compliance. The histological examination of the biopsies and post-mortem material showed an interstitial focal coniosis with production of reticulin and collagen tissue. This finding led the authors to deal systematicaly with the evaluation of the electric-arc welding process. They examined a group of 65 electric-welders and the hygienic conditions of their working place. Furthermore they investigated ventilation in 15 electric-welders who developed pneumoconiotic changes in 1951–1968. A comparison of the examined group with a control group of workers from non-hazard work places and a group of 380 coal miners was performed. By estimating the dust in the atmosphere of working places, the dust rates reached 1364.5 mg/m3 in most hazard places, while the rates of fluorides varied from 0 to 3 mg/m3. The atmosphere was polluted by different toxic substances which did not exceed the MAC, but were considered one of the etiological factors in diseases of respiratory ways.