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Automobile transport ranks first among the pollutants of big cities by nitrogen and carbogen oxides nowadays. Other kinds of fuel are to reduce the level of pollution. Evaluation of the liquid and gaseous fuel showed their positive hygienic and ecological prospects.
Automobiles do not protect passengers from the forces generated in traffic accidents. Although some compensatory protection can be provided by restraining devices, seat belts are not enough and must be supplemented by upper torso restraints. Cars should be designed with a view to better protection of passengers against injury from striking against hard surfaces or protuberances.
Patients with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have poorer driving performance than patients without sleep apnea. This poor driving has been demonstrated by studies on a wide variety of driving simulators. Patients with sleep apnea show a significant improvement in driving performance after successful treatment of their apnea with nasal CPAP. After treatment with CPAP, their driving performance is similar to control subjects. Several studies show that patients with untreated sleep apnea are poor drivers and have two to three times more auto accidents than other drivers. These studies reveal that almost one quarter of these patients report frequently falling asleep while driving. Patients with severe sleep apnea or those who perform poorly on driving simulators may be at highest risk of auto accidents. Automobile accidents involving patients with sleep apnea may lead to severe injury or death. Patients, individual physicians, and the medical profession have responsibilities to help prevent these accidents. Finally, more study is needed to improve patient care, protect drivers, and formulate a fair and rational policy concerning drivers with sleep apnea.
To further elucidate the question whether the criteria for assessing alcohol-induced unfitness to drive should be stricter for night-time than for day-time driving (cf. Schewe et al., 1977) 64 test persons performed automobile driving tests in daylight and in darkness while being sober and while under the influence of alcohol. The first set of tests was done in daylight. A test course of approx. 600 m involving six everyday driving maneuvers had to be covered, first in the sober state and then at blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 1.1 g % and 1.4 g %. The driving tests in the dark were performed on the same test course, first in the sober state and then at a BAC of 1.1 g%. In both test series the errors were counted and the driving times measured. Statistical evaluation of the test results was done parametrically (t-test for dependent random samples) and distribution-free (Wilcoxon's test for paired comparison). In the sober state 2.1 errors were made on average during the day and 3.2 errors, i.e. one error more, at night. At 1.1 g %, 4.3 errors occurred during the day but 8.0 errors at night (i.e. 3.7 errors more than during the day). The differences were statistically significant. With 8 errors during night-time driving at 1.1 g % the number of errors was still higher than the average number of 6.8 errors made during day-time driving at 1.4 g %. The average driving times required in the sober state were 241 s during the day and 256 s at night. At 1.1 g %, 243 s were needed during the day and 272 s at night, i.e. on average 17 s more than for day-time driving at 1.4 g % for which 255 s were needed. For an orienting comparison of driving performance it can be assumed that "performance" in the sense meant here is reciprocally proportional to the number of errors and reciprocally proportional to the time required, i.e. on the whole reciprocally proportional to the product from number of errors and time. The deterioration of performance can be illustrated best by assuming performance in the sober state during the day to be 100% and relating the other "performances" thereto.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of cetirizine on objective measures of mental performance. Fifteen subjects were given single doses of cetirizine (20 mg, 10 mg, and 5 mg) diphenhydramine, 50 mg (positive control), and placebo (negative control) in this randomized, double-blinded, crossover study. An automobile driving simulator, digit symbol substitution, Trails B maze tracking and subjective feelings of drowsiness were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after the dose. No differences between placebo and any of the three doses of cetirizine could be detected, however, diphenhydramine produced impaired mental performance and drowsiness. These data indicate that these doses of cetirizine produce little or no effect on cognitive function or mental performance.
The risks of persons with controlled seizure disorders for traffic safety are reviewed. Previous studies provide insufficient and inaccurate data on this subject. Moreover, the advances in diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and the improved safety and technology of automobiles and roads have made previous studies out of date and inapplicable to current circumstances. A number of vital questions concerning the determination of safe prognosis remain unanswered. Studies to address these questions and ways of improving future decision making are suggested.
Effects of Michigan's law requiring all young children to be restrained when traveling in automobiles were assessed. Data on all reported residents of the state who were involved in crashes from 1978 through 1983 were examined using times-series analysis methods. Reported restraint use among injured children younger than 4 years of age involved in crashes increased from 12% before to 51% after the law was implemented. More importantly, a 25% decrease in the number of children younger than 4 years injured in crashes was associated with the law. A reduction of this magnitude was repeatedly found, whether analyzing the raw frequency of children injured, the rate of injured children per crashed vehicle, the rate of injured children per vehicle mile traveled, or the proportion of all injured occupants accounted for by young children. The substantial increase in restraint use and decrease in number of children injured appear to be direct results of the law, because similar changes did not occur among any of the comparison age groups. The 25% reduction in the number of young children injured means that an estimated 522 children per year are protected from injury because of Michigan's compulsory child restraint law.
A suspected automobile was identified in a hit-and-run death of a 40-year-old male by matching a tiny nonspecific fragment of tissue attached to the gasoline line clip of the undercarriage with an avulsed area on the hypothenar area of the palm of the hand. There was no ostensible damage to the auto and there was an absence of clothing remnants, blood, and other tissues and an absence of paint pigments on the victim or victim's clothing.
Attitudes and practices regarding automobile passenger safety education for pregnant women and infants were surveyed in a random sample of 236 certified obstetrician-gynecologists in California. A majority of respondents stated that maternal passenger safety (71.6%) and infant/child passenger safety (63.6%) should be "routinely discussed by the obstetrician-gynecologist during the prenatal period." Nevertheless, one of four respondents could not give an opinion or had doubts about the safety of seat belt use in pregnant women. Fewer than one of three discussed maternal passenger safety, and fewer than one of four discussed infant/child passenger safety when giving prenatal care. There was a scarcity of patient education materials in the practitioners' offices. Given the obstetrician-gynecologists' support for promoting passenger safety, there is need for increased health education activities in offices, clinics, hospitals and prenatal classes.
Two families from rural areas of North Carolina had excessive lead exposure which resulted from either recycling exhausted automobile storage batteries in the home or burning the discarded battery casings for home heating. One child developed encephalopathy resulting in permanent brain damage. Decontamination efforts reduced the quantity of lead in the home environment by greater than 50%. Rural children, previously considered to be at low risk, may in fact receive profound exposures which may go unrecognized until encephalopathy occurs. Occupational histories should be obtained from parents in order to detect children at risk from environmental toxins brought into the home on workmen's bodies and clothing.
Toxic hygienic investigations were carried out involving a representative group of 131 workers (50 females and 81 males) distributed into three main workshops--preparatory, confection, and vulcanization--at "Dynamic" automobile tire plant in Sofia. The majority of male and female workers were in the age range beyond 40 years, having a general occupational experience in excess of 10 years and specialized occupational experience from 10 to 20 years or more. The chemical hazard was among the leading ones in the occupational environment, differing in nature according to the technologies used. Included were various chemical substances and compounds: synthetic rubbers, fillers (soot, chalk, kaolin); softeners (mazut, paraffin, etc.); accelerants (mercaptothiazoles--captax and altax); dithiocarbamates (thiuram); vulcacides (diphenylguanidine); antiwear agents (antioxidants and antiozonators-isopropyl-phenyl-paraphenylene diamine, naphthyl-beta-naphthylamine); antiaccelerants (phthalic anhydride, ets.); organic solvents and others. The indicated chemical substances and compounds, though often found at concentrations below the mean-shift MACs, do produce health impacts by virtue of prolonged and combined exposures. Use was made of the questionnaire method. Also, hematologic, clinical laboratory, and toxic chemical testing was performed. Findings pointed to changes in hemopoiesis, deviations in hepatic functional state, while sulfate and glucuronide values confirmed the workers' high exposures.
At the Preparatory Workshop of the Plant for Automobile Tires (PAT), Sofia, complex investigations were undertaken to reveal possible genotoxic exposure. The studies included chemical analyses for levels of identifiable human carcinogens in the occupational ambient air (benz(a)pyrene, mineral oils, 2-naphthylamine); special techniques--questionnaire investigations and cytogenetic analysis by cytokinesis-block micronucleus method in peripheral lymphocyte cultures from 23 workers in occupational groups at risk; and urinalysis for contents of mercapturic acids. An out-of-house control group of 13 nonexposed subjects was concurrently investigated. For contents of benz(a)pyrene and mineral oils exceeding 2.5 to 3.5 times the respective occupational environment MACs, evidence from cytogenetic analysis showed substantial, 4-fold, increase in indexes of genotoxic impairment (frequency of micronucleated-binucleated lymphocytes, number of micronuclei per 1000 binucleated lymphocytes) in the workers investigated. These results are an indicator of genotoxic exposure and point to an increased potential risk of cancer development in the group of workers studied.
During July 1995, an infant in southeast Louisiana died as a result of heat exposure in an enclosed automobile. To evaluate degree of heat exposure in a vehicle, we compared the temperature rise inside an enclosed, dark-colored vehicle with the temperature rise in light-colored vehicle with the windows partly open. Within 20 minutes, readings in both cars exceeded 125 degrees F and reached approximately 140 degrees F in 40 minutes--a temperature rise of over 45 degrees F. A person who is unable to remove himself from an enclosed vehicle is at risk for a life-threatening crisis if left alone in a sun-exposed car for even a relatively short period of time.
The Volvo plant at Olofström, Sweden is engaged in the pressing and assembling of sheet-metal components for automobiles. During the past 25 years, determined efforts have been made to introduce less noisy methods of production and to limit the levels of noise emission in three large workshops at the plant. Noise levels were mapped with the aid of stationary noise measurements. The results are expressed in terms of noise emission zones and presented as noise contour maps. The investigations were made on four occasions between 1967 and 1991. Following the comparative area calculations of the noise emission zones, it was deduced that the noise levels had been significantly reduced, despite an increased production. The results show that noise reduction measures applied to the presses. An increase in automation in sheet-metal handling, improved quality in the pressing of components and changes in the range of products have contributed to the reduction of noise levels at the plant.
Peculiarities of drivers' work require visual strain. The studies prove considerable changes in accommodation (value of absolute and resources of relative accommodation), muscular balance, visual performance in correction test, that prove visual fatigue of automobile drivers, especially aged 20 to 30.
Conducting a program on prophylaxis of arterial hypertension among automobile transport workers, the researchers revealed higher blood pressure among 22.6% of the examines. Prophylactic measures during 5 years induced decrease in prevalence of arterial hypertension from 23.6% to 13.7% among the exposed group members, whereas the reference group members demonstrated increase of the parameter from 21.5% to 34.3%. Prophylaxis of arterial hypertension among drivers should be based on non-pharmacologic methods, if inevitable, the drug therapy should be selected under control of psychophysiologic tests.
A group of 59 female workers in the sewing and upholstery departments of a factory manufacturing automobile seats underwent clinical and instrumental tests following reports of several cases of suspected carpal tunnel syndrome. A risk evaluation analysis for disorders attributable to repeated trauma of the upper limbs (WMSDs) was simultaneously carried out using the protocol recommended by the EPM Research Unit in Milan. Evidence was found of a high frequency of elementary actions associated with considerable muscular involvement along with inadequate recovery periods. The clinical investigation revealed an unusually high percentage of carpal tunnel syndromes, often associated with Guyon channel syndrome. This disorder affects males and females equally, is often bilateral, and is not associated with known non-occupational factors. The widespread outbreak of work-related musculo-skeletal disorders reported in the departments in question may have arisen from a combination of significant risk factors relating to the types of activities performed, and the long service of the workers. It is reasonable to assume that failure to adopt technical preventive and organisational measures may have stemmed primarily from a poor evaluation of the relevant occupational risks, and from many years of substandard health surveillance practices.
The incidence of eye injuries related to automobile batteries has sharply increased, currently comprising nearly 1% of all unscheduled eye visits to one medical center. A series of 93 cases obtained over 81/2 years was reviewed and follow-up information obtained. While two thirds of the injuries were relatively minor, 10% (9) of the patients sustained permanent ocular damage or required hospitalization. All of the severe injuries and the majority of the other injuries were caused by battery explosions. Not only should the inherent danger of the lead-acid storage battery be reduced, but the public must be alerted to the hazard.