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Biomedical subjects

H Anttonen

Publications and source records attributed to H Anttonen.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Developing the snowmobile helmet.

With the annually increasing use of snowmobiles in the Nordic countries the amount of accidents is also increasing. The head is the location of some of the most serious injuries with head injuries comprising 12% of all injuries. At the time being there is no special standard for the snowmobile helmet and there are mainly two kinds of helmet models on the market: full face and open face helmets. The most significant differences between the helmets were observed in the subjective evaluation, whereas the differences were minimal in technical evaluation. According to this study an open face helmet was more comfortable than a full face helmet. The present helmets have many deficiencies such as the lack of thermal comfort, high weight, slow removal of mist from the visor and unsatisfactory hearing protection. The aim of future development projects should be to make a more comfortable and lighter helmet. One important aspect of the project could be to integrate hearing protectors and an information channel in the helmet.

Craniocerebral Trauma↗
PubMed1994

Assessment of cold stress in outdoor work.

The evaluation of cold stress in working life was done in 13, mainly outdoor, occupations and 143 workers using local temperatures, body cooling and thermal sensations. The subjects in the study were young, healthy men and they wore the type of winter clothing generally used in those ambient temperatures (+6...-29 degrees C), for in a work load of from 112 to 480 W. Local temperatures on finger skin indicated that manual dexterity was often reduced in outdoor work. A risk of frostbite was frequently found on the cheek and the wind chill index predicted the risk quite well. Body cooling was often temporarily too high when measured by heat debt and mean skin temperature. Thermal sensations were cool or cold occasionally in 28% of the workers interviewed. The insulation of clothing worn was often lower than the IREQmin-value recommends. The results showed that in outdoor work in winter time cold stress frequently reduced (70%) working ability at least for a short period. Mean skin temperature seems to be, in practice, a useful indicator for body cooling and the IREQmin-value was suitable, especially in light work, to indicate body cooling. A very sensitive factor for the expression of cold stress was finger temperature, at least as an indicator of finger dexterity. Due to the adverse health effects found the cold stress should also be evaluated more systematically in occupational health and safety with health examinations, with protective clothing and technical preventive means.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Occupational needs and evaluation methods for cold protective clothing.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the needs for and properties of the occupational cold protective clothing with different methods and the risks related to work in cold conditions from the point of view of occupational hygiene and clothing physiology. The thermal insulation of textile materials and clothing was investigated with the equipment, methods and parameters developed especially in cold and windy conditions in dynamic and steady states. Also the simulation and calculation of results were done and compared to the measurements. The cold exposure from the point of occupational hygiene was evaluated in working life to evaluate the risk of cooling and frostbite and utility ranges of clothing. The function of the sweating hot plate constructed and cylinder in the wind tunnel could be regarded adequate for the evaluation of winter clothing with good precision, stability and repeatability. The measured total thermal resistance was mainly dependent on, and operative thermal resistance independent of, temperature. The operative thermal resistance was also very sensitive to errors in measurement procedures. The heat flow usually evaluated by thermal and water vapour resistance could be substituted for total thermal resistance. Both the measurements and theories showed that, in addition to air permeability, also the ambient temperature, air gaps, contact layers and thickness of clothing were important parameters. Increase of wind (1...8 m/s) decreased the total thermal resistance and mass transfer up to 60% depending on conditions. The comparison of calculation models with material measurements proved the value of the simulation models. The reason for differences between the methods was mainly due to changes in water vapour resistance in the cold. The heat flux method was exact enough in the evaluation of the insulation of clothing in the field but in sweating conditions the condensation and evaporation must be taken into consideration. In the case of heat debt in the cold the heat flux method gave smaller values than the thermometric method. The material measurements diverged logically from the clothing measurements but material methods had a better capability to analyze the differences of material ensembles. In the evaluation of body cooling and performance degradation in outdoor work the physiological recommendations given were temporarily exceeded in 70% of the cases measured (N = 143). The cold problems already occurred in temperatures from 0 to 10 degrees C. The reasons for the cold problems were related to the type of work e.g. wind to the face and long exposure to the feet caused frostbite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Body Temperature↗
PubMed1993

Risk of frostbite in vibration-induced white finger cases.

The rate of frostbite was examined with questionnaires filled by 1095 reindeer herders frequently exposed to cold, in particular in driving snowmobiles in the winter. Altogether 443 frostbite injuries, most (72%) of them on the face, had occurred during the last two years, especially when driving a snowmobile. The prevalence of vibration-induced white finger (VWF) was 22%. In this VWF group (N = 243) the cumulative incidence rate in two years of frostbite injuries on the extremities was 27% and in the non-VWF group (N = 852) only 5%. There was no difference in the incidence of frostbite on the face and ear lobe. The amount of frostbitten subjects, with respect to both frostbite on the extremities and head, was significantly associated with the use of snowmobiles during the last two years. According to the results VWF cases have an increased risk of frostbite in the extremities on a cold environment.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Detection of airborne reindeer epithelial antigen by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay inhibition.

Hypersensitivity reactions to reindeer epithelial (RE) allergens have been recently demonstrated among reindeer herders. To determine the concentration of airborne RE antigens a method based on inhibition of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed. Dust samples were collected in workshops where reindeer leather was processed and the workers had inhaled dry epithelial dust during their working shifts. Specific IgE to RE allergen could be detected in one of 5 workers. RE antigen concentrations varied from 0.01 microgram to 3.9 micrograms/m3 in the air of the workshop. All workers except one claimed work-associated respiratory symptoms.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of accidents in reindeer herding work.

In the northern part of Finland we have about 450,000 reindeer and their raising gives work to about 3,500 reindeer herders. In this study data on the occupational accidents of herders were collected by two questionnaires with an interval of 2 years. Based on the surveys of accident risks in various work phases 34 preventive measures were developed and information about them was passed on to the herders between the questionnaires. Most of the accidents occurred in the late autumn during slaughtering, gathering for separation and during separation work. The main causes of accidents were the slaughtering knife (30%) and the reindeer itself (25%). The most serious accidents were caused by snowmobiles and other terrain vehicles. The recommended preventive measures mostly dealt with the environment of permanent working places, personal protection and working habits. The follow-up questionnaire showed that the herders had implemented on an average 5.8 preventive measures. The incidence rate of accidents also decreased during the 2 years from 21 to 12 accidents/1000 working days. In conclusion these results show that it is possible to develop measures preventing accidents and to improve the safety in reindeer herders' work.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1992

Safety in the use of four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles in Finland.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the use of four-wheeled all-terrain vehicles in Finland and estimate the safety in driving a four-wheeler. According to the importers there are about 3,000 four-wheelers in use in Finland. A questionnaire was sent to the owners of four-wheelers (n = 185), in which questions were asked about their use, protection used when driving, accidents that had occurred and suggestions for developing four-wheelers. One hundred three answers (response rate 56%) were received. The respondents reported minor injuries (15%) and dangerous situations: the four-wheeler had fallen over (35%) and the driver had fallen off the four-wheeler (20%). The accidents and dangerous situations were concentrated to occupational users who drove a lot in poor terrain. Four-wheeler driving was estimated to be more dangerous than snowmobile driving. According to the answers the most efficient measures to improve safety would be the use of a safety helmet and high boots when driving as well as the enforcement of an age limit for the driver. The technical properties of the four-wheelers could also be developed e.g. the leg room, foot board and protective roll bar.

Accident Prevention↗
PubMed1991

No effect of experimental noise exposure on human pregnancy.

The effect of experimental noise exposure (15 minutes of 90-dB white noise via headphones) was examined on systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures; heart rate; and stress hormones (ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine) in normotensive and hypertensive pregnant women. No significant effects induced by noise exposure could be registered in these variables. Fetal and uterine blood circulation was also examined with a duplex pulsed Doppler system. No changes were seen on the fetal side as measured from the descending aorta in blood flow velocity (cm/second) or pulsatility or resistance indexes in either normotensive or hypertensive pregnancy. The only change observed was an increase in fetal heart rate in normotensive pregnancy. However, this increase could not be confirmed by cardiotocographic registration and is not clinically important. Uterine blood circulation was recorded from the proximal uterine artery on the placental side, and no effect of exposure was seen on pulsatility or resistance indexes.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

[Cold weather work].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1988

The effect of working height on the loading of the muscular and skeletal systems in the kitchens of workplace canteens.

Arising from the confirmed high incidence of illness and other signs and symptoms, estimations were made of the loading on the muscular and skeletal systems of kitchen workers. The study included a health questionnaire and the ergonomics examination of 11 kitchens. Problems in the neck-shoulders region appeared particularly frequently in short workers. The symptoms were confirmed to be associated with the raised position of the upper limbs caused by working surfaces which were too high. The worktable with the cutting board was too high for a third of the workers, estimated from individual elbow height. Also, 34-80% of the kitchen equipment was too high. Raising loads above shoulder level into ovens or pressure cookers, for example, loaded the shoulder joints. The back was loaded especially in lifting to knee height and in continuous standing (78% of working time). Loading can be modified by fitting the kitchen with working tables which are adjustable for height (800-950 mm) and by lowering kitchen equipment as follows: cooker height 650 mm, cooking vessel rim height from the floor < 900 mm, oven and pressure cooker rail heights 500-1400 mm.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1986

Toxicity of richterite in hemolysis test and macrophage cultures.

Richterite is a fibrous mineral associated with apatite deposits in eastern Finland. Fibre size features suggest potential toxicity but no data is available of fibrogenic effects on human lungs. The toxicity of richterite in a hemolysis test and in lung macrophage cultures was studied. In the hemolysis test richterite-rich samples showed the same degree of hemolysis as titanium dioxide whereas anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile, wollastonite and quartz samples had distinctly higher degree of hemolysis. In the macrophage toxicity assay the percentage of dead cells was counted, and LDH, ASAT and acid phosphatase were determined from the culture medium. In this assay richterite showed lower toxicity than anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile or quartz but gave higher values than titanium dioxide. Wollastonite showed similar level of toxicity. Differences were statistically highly significant. The results suggest that richterite (with wollastonite) belongs to a group of fibrous minerals which have distinctly smaller biological effect than traditional asbestos minerals.

Animals↗