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PubMed1985

Indoor infection in a modern building.

Outbreaks of tuberculosis (TB), which are of a type rarely experienced in the past, have recently increased in Japan. An example of such an outbreak, which occurred in a modern building with fixed sash windows, will be described. The occurrence of four TB cases, which had been found during the period between May 1979 and June 1980 among company employees working in the same building in downtown Tokyo, motivated the conduct of epidemiological and environmental surveys on this episode. The first case, a 36-year-old male with a positive smear and cavities in both lungs, was considered to have been in an infectious state for about one year before his admission to a TB hospital in June 1979. Follow-up investigation of 99 contacts until March 1982 revealed the occurrence of 16 secondary cases. The secondary attack rate was highest among those working on the same floor of the building as this first case, but no case was found among employees of another company that occupied this building. The desks of secondary cases were aggregated near and around that of the first case. Although this building had central air-conditioning, ventilation was often closed for energy conservation purposes. This resulted in the increase of carbon dioxide concentration in the air up to a level of more than 1,000 ppm during working hours and to as high as 2,000 ppm when the ventilation was closed. It was thus concluded that the indoor infection of TB in this episode was attributable to the insufficient ventilation in the building.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A comparative study on the health effects of smoking and indoor air pollution in summer and winter.

This study was performed by a comparison between summer and winter for the purpose of demonstration the actual conditions of health effects of indoor air pollution with special reference to NO2 and smoking, on the subjects composed of 820 school children and their 546 mothers in the two areas with different ambient NO2 concentrations. In either case, examination was carried out with standardized questionnaire test for respiratory symptoms, personal NO2 exposure measurement using the filter badge by Yanagisawa, and analysis of urinary hydroxyproline and creatinine in two areas with different ambient NO2 levels. Personal NO2 exposure level in winter season was 2-3 times higher than that in summer, particularly NO2 level among residents living in homes with non-vented stove for space heating was substantially higher from those of residents with vented stove. Wives with vented stove had a moderate exposure level in winter season by the contribution of NO2 originated from the kitchen and poor ventilation rate. Since the hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio (HOP-ratio) of children increased more, their household location were nearer to any heavy traffic roads in summer, health effects from automobile exhaust were suggested only in summer season. In summer season, personal NO2 exposure level were almost the same with the ambient NO2 concentrations over both areas. These results suggest that indoor air pollution in winter season may be separated from outdoor air pollution. It was a matter of course that hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio in winter season was higher than that in summer, in any group and in any area, but the range of variation of hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio was smaller by far than that of personal NO2 exposure level. Judging from urinary hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio, health effects of active smoking and passive smoking increased with increasing the number of smoked, dose-dependently in any season. According to stepwise multiple regression analysis, hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio had significant relation to either NO2 and active or passive smoking, but personal NO2 exposure level had no relation to cigarette smoking. NO2 and cigarette smoke were seemed to make hydroxyproline to creatinine ratio increase, independently each other.

Air Pollution↗
PubMed1985

Passive smoking in aircraft--a current WHO project.

Only few measurements of levels of pollution by tobacco smoke in aircraft have been made. The results suggest that levels are quite moderate, but studies of actual reactions by passengers and cabin crew indicate rather strong, objective effects. These consist of irritation of the mucous membranes of eye, nose and throat as well as perception of bad odours. Evidently, environmental tobacco smoke causes distress in aircraft already at lower concentrations than under ground conditions, probably because of special climatic conditions such as ultra-low air humidity, elevated levels of ozone, subnormal air pressure and, eventually, disturbance of the concentration of light air ions. None of these abnormalities can easily be eliminated. Ventilation, however effective in terms of rate of air changes, can not effectively curb local peak concentrations, and, close to a smoker the concentration of smoke may be 100 times as high as the room average. Therefore, aircraft must provide separate smoking resp non-smoking areas. Area division along an aisle is unacceptable since the ventilation system makes the aisle and adjacent seats on both sides be located in one whirl of common air. WHO will try to stimulate improvements of airline practices and aircraft design.

Aircraft↗
PubMed1985

Domestic smoke pollution and respiratory function in rural Nepal.

A study was conducted to see the effect of domestic smoke pollution on respiratory function by using vitalograph Model 20.400 S-type dry portable spirometer in 150 randomly selected female subjects aged 30-44 years from a rural area situated in the outskirts of Kathmandu valley at an altitude of 4,800 ft. above sea level. The area is totally free from industrial and atmospheric pollution. Women spend considerable time near the fireplace, which serves both cooking and heating purposes and emits smoke from wood and other biomass fuel. Domestic smoke pollution is considerable because dwellings are ill-ventilated and without chimnies. The selected sample comprised of 6 groups-25 subjects each of 3 exposure levels to domestic smoke pollution amongst smokers and non-smokers. All the spirometric tests (FVO, FEV1 and FMEF 25-75) were performed in a standard way as recommended by American Thoracic Society in Snowbird Meeting in 1979. Variation of age, height, arm-span and weight between the three different levels of exposure to domestic smoke in both the smokers and non-smokers were compared and results revealed no significant variation in all the variables mentioned above. There was a fall of mean FVC, FEV1 and FMEF 25-75 as duration of exposure increased. This decline was found to be statistically significant amongst the smokers but not amongst the non-smokers. Similar results was found even after adjusting for age & height.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Effect of environmental factors on the body response reactions in newborn calves].

Studied was the role of the general state and the adaptability of newborn calves under the effect of some environmental factors (temperature and relative humidity) that had no optimal values in the onset of diseases caused by occasionally pathogenic agents. It was found that under conditions that were one and the same for all calves the metabolic and functional responses were varying. Those of the animals with which the nervous-and-hormonal system was more unstable manifested a specific biochemical-and-functional response through which no'equilibration' was achieved with the environment, and they got sick. Others, exhibiting metabolic processes that were stronger and more stable as the result of the involvement of more powerful regulatory mechanisms inherent to a 'neuro-functional' animal organism could adapt successfully to the nonoptimal factors of the environment. Such animals were not shown to be susceptible to the effects of conditionally pathogenic agents.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Flight problems in Soviet aviation medicine in the 1920s and 1930s].

This paper describes multifaceted investigations of the flying work by Soviet aviation medicine in the 1920-30s. It examines the early stages of the professional activity that is at present termed ergonomic foundations of the design, manufacture and use of the aircraft. The paper discusses one of the first formulations of the problem of standardization of the human factors.

Aerospace Medicine↗
PubMed1985

Recommendations for air quality standards for nitrogen dioxide and ozone.

The acute health effects of nitrogen dioxide and ozone critical to the general population are summarized. For long-term exposures to the former in the outdoor environment a six-month average limit value of 80 micrograms/m3 is recommended for the wintertime. When "new" residential areas are planned or when the limit value is used as an air quality standard for the nonindustrial indoor environment, the adequate six-months' average limit value for the winter would be 50 micrograms/m3. For short-term exposures to nitrogen dioxide outdoors a limit value of 320 micrograms/m3 (1-h average) is recommended, not to be exceeded more than 12 h per year, each time during a maximum of 2 h. This value should apply only to "old" residential areas in which nitrogen dioxide pollution cannot be reduced without large economical and practical consequences. The value 190 micrograms/m3 (1-h average), not to be exceeded more than 12 h per year, should apply to most residential areas, to recreational areas, and to all nonindustrial indoor environments. For short-term exposures to photochemical oxidants, as represented by ozone in nonindustrial outdoor environments, the acceptable short-term limit value should be 120 micrograms/m3 (1-h average), not to be exceeded more than 12 h per year. An additional 1-h outdoor ceiling value of 200 micrograms/m3 is recommended, not to be exceeded. For the nonindustrial indoor environment a 1-h ceiling value of 100 micrograms/m3 is recommended, not to be exceeded.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pathology of bus drivers. I].

A short synthesis of data available on bus-drivers' pathology has been made and several features, related to work conditions, have been discussed taking in account their influence on health.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed1985

[Demonstration of Clostridium difficile and toxin B in patients at a university clinic].

107 stool specimens from not hospitalized individuals and 69 stool specimens from 61 hospitalized patients (Internal Medicine) were examined for C. difficile and toxin B. Included were 42 specimens of 33 female patients of the department of maxillo-facial surgery, receiving prophylactic clindamycin and 7 samples from the ward staff. From the samples of the first group, C. difficile was isolated in one case (0.93%), whereas 8 out of 61 internal patients (13%) were positive for C. difficile by culture and/or toxin test. In 12 out of 33 surgical patients (36%), C. difficile and/or toxin could be detected in the stool. Examination of the ward staff was negative. Environmental samplings on the ward, comprehending 246 contact cultures, resulted in the isolation of C. difficile from 25 plates (10.1%). The majority of the patients showed no symptoms or slight diarrhea. Only 5 patients required vancomycin therapy. Frequency and clinical significance of C. difficile isolation is discussed under these aspects.

Bacterial Proteins↗
PubMed1986

Accidental poisonings involving carbon monoxide, heating systems, and confined spaces.

Eleven incidents of carbon monoxide (CO) intoxication resulting in sixteen fatalities are reported. All of the cases involved heating systems as either the source or the means of distributing the CO. Blood samples were analyzed for ethanol and CO. Elevated blood CO saturations were found in 14 of the 16 victims while none of the victims had a blood ethanol concentration greater than 0.10% (w/v).

Accidents, Home↗