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Biomedical subjects

R Terzi

Publications and source records attributed to R Terzi.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Thermal balance in workers of in greenhouses for the cultivation of tropical plants].

The Authors starting from the microclimatic parameters globe temperature (tg), dry bulb temperature (ts) forced wet bulb temperature (tu), natural wet bulb temperature (tun), speed of the air (v) observed every half an hour in greenhouses for tropical plants, evaluate the required sweating rate per hour during a specimen working shift for a known energetic expenditure. The sweating rate values calculated exceed by far the highest limits accepted for the workers perfectly acclimatized and impose the application of the working safe exposure times.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1983

[Duration limit of moderately heavy work activity in technically unfavorable environments].

The working time in work places thermically uncomfortable must be limited in order to prevent the risk of thermal stress. The Authors measure the environmental microclimatic parameters (dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, globe temperature, natural wet bulb temperature, air speed, vapor pressure) in twenty working sites of a thermal power plant. Starting from the values obtained, they calculate the safe exposure times under unfavourable thermal conditions by means of four different methods (WBGT, time weighted average WBGT, allowable exposure time-AET, required sweat rate index). The results are critically analysed.

Environment, Controlled↗
PubMed1983

[Threshold of energy expenditure for maintenance of thermal comfort in working areas].

The Authors test the possibility of improving the microclimatic conditions of some working areas by assessing the threshold energetic expenditure (KCal/hour and KCal/min) in order to maintain the thermic well-being by means of a "thermic comfort" parameter, PMV. For this purpose, we measured PMV on the basis of tg, ts, V, tun, Pa and Clo in 15 working areas. Then, by an iterative mathematical process, we calculated the threshold value of energetic expenditure in accordance with the values of PMV which show conditions of thermic comfort, that is between + 0.5 and - 0.5. In all the working areas observed it is possible to perform works requiring energetic expenditures lower than 200 KCal/h in conditions of thermic comfort; in 50% of the situations we examined even works requiring higher energetic expenditures.

Body Temperature Regulation↗
PubMed1983

[Microclimate and duration of work tolerance in hothouse for cultivation of tropical plants].

The AA. starting from the environmental values carried out in a greenhouse for tropical plants investigate the possibility of prevent the risk of thermal stress at standardized energetic expenditures by means of the measurement of a few microclimatic parameters; they elaborate also a nomogram proper to calculate the safe exposure times for works under unfavourable thermal conditions.

Climate↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A case of pleural mesothelioma caused by unusual occupational exposure to asbestos in the wool industry].

We report the case of a 73-year-old worker who died of pleural mesothelioma, after being employed for 35 years in a wool textile plant of Biella (Italy). Close investigations revealed that he provided for the maintenance of materials and machines. In particular, he used to replace asbestos parts such as rings, joints and insulations of pipelines (dyeing unit), as well as brake linings of warping, looming and combing machines. Beside confirming the importance of an accurate occupational anamnesis to recognize work-induced cancers, the case draws the attention on the risk of mesothelioma in the wool industry, an occupational setting that is not usually considered as a potential source of exposure to asbestos fibres. Such pollution might explain the increased mortality due to pleural mesothelioma in the Biella area (characterized by a prosperous textile industry), reported in previous epidemiological studies.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Application of mathematical modelling for assessing the urinary half-times of nickel in stainless steel welders.

The study regards workers employed in manual metal are welding of stainless steel (MMA/SS). For two weeks they collected their urine during the work shift and the 16 hours following in order to evaluate the kinetics of nickel. Using one-compartment mathematical modelling we calculated the values of the toxicant's urinary half life during the two phases of exposure and postexposure and also during non working weekends. The aim of the study was to find correlations between inhaled doses and excreted quantities and to acquire practical data for use in biological monitoring. In the welders the mean urinary half life in the exposure period was 59.5 hours, in the post exposure it was 95.6 hours, while in weekend it was 95.5 hours. The study showed that exposure to fumes containing nickel could determine the accumulation of the metal in slow elimination speed compartment. As a consequence of the accumulation of nickel in compartments with different elimination speeds, the collection of single urinary portions in biological monitoring seems to give little information about the actual exposure. In our opinion this indicates collecting urine samples throughout the entire work shift and the 16 hours following exposure.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The biological monitoring of those exposed to 1,1,1-trichloroethane: a longitudinal study].

Data on long-term biological monitoring in two groups of workers engaged in cleaning operations in a wool factory and exposed to methylchloroform are presented. The longitudinal survey lasted one year and brought about 19 random systematic sampling (once or twice a month for everyone of the 13 subjects monitored). The biological marker adopted was the urinary concentration of the solvent as such, according to a previously studied method. The collected data allowed to measure: the annual average level of exposure (estimated by the long term geometric mean); the day to day variation of the true daily exposure averages (estimated by the geometric standard deviation); the probability of overexposure (daily exposures exceeding the biological exposure limit) and the yearly number of work shifts of overexposure. The usefulness of performing long-term surveys of occupational exposure to the chemical substances by mean of longitudinal biological monitoring is discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of thermal comfort in a student population: predictive value of an integrated index (Fanger's predicted mean value].

Practical applications and predictive values of a thermal comfort index (Fanger's PRV) were verified on a sample school population (1236 subjects) by studying the relationships between thermal sensations (subjective analysis), determined by means of an individual questionnaire, and the values of thermal comfort index (objective analysis) obtained by calculating the PMV index individually in the subjects under study. In homogeneous conditions of metabolic expenditure rate and thermal impedence from clothing, significant differences were found between the two kinds of analyses. At 22 degrees C mean radiant and operative temperature, the PMV values averaged 0 and the percentage of subjects who experienced thermal comfort did not exceed 60%. The high level of subjects who were dissatisfied with their environmental thermal conditions confirms the doubts regarding the use of the PMV index as a predictive indicator of thermal comfort, especially considering that the negative answers were not homogeneous nor attributable to the small thermal fluctuations (less than 0.5 degree C) measured in the classrooms.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of individual thermal load in working environments with non-homogeneous microclimatic conditions].

It is often very difficult to quantify the potential thermal stress of jobs requiring high worker mobility in unevenly hot environments. The determination of integrated indexes such as HSI can be a cause of error in risk evaluation. However, monitoring of physiological parameters of exposed workers, such as internal body temperature, provides a direct expression of man-environment interaction. On the basis of measurement of micro-climatic parameters and internal body temperature of subjects employed in a glass production plant, an attempt was made to calculate an integrated index of thermal stress risk which reflected the job requirements. The mathematical model used was the one proposed by Givoni and Goldman for prediction of rectal temperature and heart rate response to work in hot environments.

Body Temperature↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Importance of the relative humidity values in determining thermohygrometric comfort].

A condition of discomfort with specific symptoms, such as throat dryness, eye irritation, in a group of workers of a small, air conditioned, working department, is described. Neither the measurements of the possible environmental pollutants concentrations, nor the assessment of the usually adopted comfort indexes (PMV-PPD) justified the worker's symptoms. They completely disappeared by means of appropriate environmental improvements aiming to increase the relative humidity values from 29% to 50-55% (drop of the amount of the hygroscopic material stored, setting up of an humidifier). The effects of the low humidity values on the hygrometric and thermal comfort are finally discussed.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Monitoring of occupational activities under the risk of heat stress: use of mathematical models in the prediction of physiological parameters].

Some authors proposed mathematical models that, starting from standardized conditions of environmental microclimate parameters, thermal impedance of the clothing, and energetic expenditure allowed the forecast of the body temperature and heart rate variations in respect to the basal values in subjects standing in the same environment. In the present work we verify the usefulness of these models applied to the working tasks characterized by standardized job made under unfavourable thermal conditions. In subject working in an electric power station the values of the body temperature and heart rate are registered and compared with the values obtained by the application of the studied models. The results are discussed in view of the practical use.

Body Temperature↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Reference values of chromium urine in the population residing in Lombardy].

The accurate determination of Cr in normal human urine still presents a considerable challenge, connected to its very low content, supposedly about 1 ppb. The analytical data obtaining from many Authors varying between 0.3 microgram/day and 150 micrograms/day. The question now arises which data picture the true Cr content of normal human urine. To this purpose we have determined the content of total urinary chromium in 310 healthy individuals (170 male, 140 female) resident in Lombardy (Italy). A mean urinary Cr concentration of 0.59 +/- 0.26 ppb was obtained. The levels of urinary chromium tended to be higher in males than in females and to decrease with age.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Simplification of periodic audiometric tests in persons exposed to industrial noise. An operative proposal].

Today the pure tonal audiometric test is the most used in periodical screening of the "hypoacusis" hazard in exposed patients because of its easy performance. The high number of patients to be tested and the screening frequency suggested to simplify the annual checks by testing only some of the frequency to be tested is made on the basis of the first complete audiogram performed according to a scheduled scheme. Available screening data and testing on the field show that a consistent reduction in testing time is possible and that the complete exam is reliable.

Audiometry↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Acute poisoning by Vantal (combination of dimethoate and DDT) in a group of longshoremen].

In this work the authors describe a case of acute intoxication by "VANTAL" (DDT and Dimethoate) occurred in a group of six longshoremen. The authors particularly consider the reports about the gastroenteric apparatus and the central and peripheric nervous system. It has in fact been possible to document all kinds of pathologic condition from gastritis to duodenal ulcer in all subjects; whereas only three subjects out of six showed alterations in E.E.G. and E.M.G.

Adult↗