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The authors studied two types of morbidity among adults of Moscow over 2012-2014 - primary and occupational. Findings are that those levels in the city are significantly lower than the general in Russia. Over the studied period, the structure of both types of morbidity did not change, but there was a tendency to decrease both in total and in main entity classes of general and occupational diseases.

As millions of people worldwide are expoed to inorganic lead, both in the workplace and in general environment, its potential carcinogenicity is an important health problem. Although lead has been shown to be carcinogenic in laboratory animals, epidemiological studies have been inconclusive, and the relationship between lead and human cancer is still unclear. There were several limitations that complicated the analysis and evaluation of the carcinogenic potential of lead compounds. In particular, many of the cohort studies of lead and cancer, mostly among heavily lead-exposed workers, have been limited by a failure to identify and control for covariates, especially co-exposures to other metals such as arsenic, cadmium, and chromium, which have been shown to be carcinogenic. Most of the epidemiological studies unfortunately do not have data on dose-response. The scientific merit of our study is the virtual absence of confounding by other known carcinogens. Another advantage of our study is the presence of three occupational sub-cohorts with different levels and routes of lead exposure. Most previous studies have data on dose-response provided only by comparisons of exposed to unexposed persons. In summary, the results of this cohort study suggest that occupational exposure to lead may increase the risk of cancers of the pancreas, kidney and rectum. In conclusion, despite several limitations, the results of our study add to the evidence that carcinogenicity to humans may be an additional adverse health effect of lead.

The article covers data on occupational morbidity in Moscow region over last 50 years. Stable number of newly diagnosed occupational diseases was seen up to first half of 1990s. Afterwards, steady decrease in occupational morbidity is seen with closure of major industrial enterprises. Among occupational pulmonary diseases, dust fibrosis (pneumoconiosis--44%) prevail. Tuberculosis complication of silicosis decreased, additional general somatic concomitants (arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, malignancies) are more frequent. Prevalence of occupational bronchial asthma has increased 16 times vs. that in 1976.

Occupation-related and physiologic studies in workers using personal computers revealed variable degrees of changed visual performance in accordance with work conditions class and integral parameter of work intensity. Findings are that the performance change is caused by lower accomodation volume and decrease in temporary characteristics of clear vision stability. Correlation was established between work conditions class and percentage of the performance decrease during the working shift in videodisplay users.

Objective: Evaluation of the carcinogenicity of lead for humans has been based primarily on the results of studies on occupationally exposed men, although gender differences in lead metabolism have been reported. In addition, most of the previous studies have been limited by a failure to identify and control for co-exposures to other known occupational carcinogens. The present study follows an industrial cohort of workers, mostly women, with moderate lead exposure and no confounding by other occupational exposures., Methods: Workers, employed at least 2 years between 1950 and 1978 in manual and mechanical (linotype) typesetting and type foundries in 27 printing plants in Moscow, were included in the cohort, which comprised 1423 men and 3102 women. The cohort was followed up during 1979-2003 and contributed 93,682 person-years of observation. Follow-up was 97.7% complete. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% CIs, based on mortality rates of the Moscow general population and adjusted for gender, age and calendar time, were calculated for the total cohort as well as subcohorts stratified by various exposure parameters., Results: Among women, mortality from all causes, circulatory diseases and all cancers combined was lower than that in the Moscow general population and was similar across work groups. Among men, there was excess overall mortality, mainly due to increased mortality from ischaemic heart disease. For both sexes, no significant excess risk for any cancer site was observed, although some dose-response patterns were found. In the overall cohort, mortality from cancers of the kidney and pancreas increased up to twofold in the highest tertile of cumulative lead exposure based on duration and a relative ranking of the three subcohorts (9 deaths; SMR=2.12, 95% CI 1.10 to 4.07) and (18 deaths; SMR=2.32, 95% CI 1.46 to 3.68), respectively. Similar mortality trends for these two cancers were found in analyses by gender., Conclusions: Consistencies by sex and exposure level make a strong case for a link between exposure to inorganic lead and cancers of the kidney and pancreas.

The article covers results of study that involved 204 male patients of occupational pathology department over recent 6 years, with diagnosed vibration disease. 103 of the examinees (50,5%) had vibration disease combined with arterial hypertension. Parameters of the study were age, occupation, length of exposure to vibration, level of the vibration, endogenous risk factors according to literature data (body build index, heart rate, functional changes index, glomerular filtration rate, creatinine level, cholesterol level, HDL and LDL levels, triglycerids levels, WBC and RBC counts). No reliable correlation was seen between arterial hypertension and vibration jeopardy of the occupation, vibration level at workplace, length of exposure to vibration. Differences between groups were defined in endogenous

Analysis covered occupational background of 2680 Moscow residents disabled due to malignancies. The authors revealed differences in nosologic structure and disablement severity between groups engaged into various kinds of economic activities, gave expert evaluation of what share of disabled due to malignancies is induced by occupational carcinogenic factors.

The author presents analysis of occupational morbidity in Moscow over last decade, points out main causes of low quality of preliminary and periodic medical examinations of workers, determines goals and prospective tasks of correcting the situation concerning health care of workers.

The article shows changes in employed population of Moscow over a period of economic changes, in employment structure by economicbranches withsubsequent reduction of individuals employed in industrial branches. Based on analysis of health parameters of employed population according to official statistics, the authors demonstrated trends in those parameters change, with the accent that those changes are less negative in Moscow than generally in Russia.

A case study was undertaken to examine general and cancer mortality rates and cancer morbidity among municipal transport drivers in Moscow. The mortality and cancer morbidity in 1969 to 1988 were followed up among 2528 men and 212 women. In this period, male mortality rates due to malignant neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases and all causes taken together were statistically lower than the expected rates. Male cancer morbidity rates were also lower the expected ones. In the past decade 42 cases of gastric cancer were revealed in the cohort, which was statistically greater than the expected figures (29.8). In the first decade, prostatic cancer mortality was statistically significantly higher in bus drivers with length of service of over 20 years. Among women, there were only 12 deaths, with significantly decreased mortality rates. Esophageal cancer was detected in women who had worked as drivers for 20-29 years. The lower morbidity and mortality rates may be associated with the "healthy worker effect", i.e. with the fact that staff is strictly selected for this job.

Background: This study evaluates cancer mortality among women employed in two large printing plants in Moscow., Methods: A total of 3,473 women who were actively employed as of December 31, 1978, with a minimum of 2 years employment were followed from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1993. There were 47,791 person-years observed, with only 51 women lost to follow-up (1.5%). Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated using the population of Moscow to generate expected numbers. Analyses by job (compositors, press operators, and bookbinders), age hired, latency, and duration of employment were conducted., Results: Among women employed in the two printing plants, there was a significant excess of esophageal cancer, based on seven deaths (expected = 2.7, SMR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.1-5.4). Four of the seven esophageal cancer deaths occurred among bookbinders (expected = 1.0, SMR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.1-10.4), all among workers hired before 1957 (expected = 0.6, SMR = 7.1, 95% CI = 1.9-18.3), the last year benzene was used in bookbinding. Ovarian cancer was also significantly elevated among bookbinders (12 observed, 4.2 expected, SMR = 2.9, 95% CI = 1.5-5.0), which, along with one death from mesothelioma of the abdomen, might be related to the use of asbestos-contaminated talc fillers in paper. Press operators had significantly elevated mortality from stomach cancer (observed = 9, expected = 4.1, SMR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.0-4.2) and, based on two deaths each, melanoma and bladder cancer., Conclusions: Women in this printing industry cohort experienced excess mortality of cancer of the esophagus and stomach, with suggested increases of melanoma and bladder cancer. Further follow-up of this cohort, which would allow more in-depth analysis of rare cancer sites, latency, and duration of employment, is warranted. Gender comparisons within the cohort should also be conducted to clarify the role of occupational and lifestyle factors in the etiology of cancer among workers in the printing industry.

The authors analyze completeness and reliability of State statistics exemplified by occupational deafness. Cochlear neuritis morbidity appears to change unfavorably. For calculation of the necessary parameters, the authors suggest a rational method considering only number of those working in noisy conditions, but not the total number. The results appear more objective, that is essential for adequate evaluation of occupational deafness risk for main industries and occupations exposed to noise, in order to manage this risks effectively.

This study evaluated the mortality and cancer incidence of 1178 men and 2492 women who had worked at least 10 years in a large rubber manufacturing facility up to the cohort assembly period between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 1983. The follow-up period was from 1 January 1979 to 31 December 1988. For all causes of death no increase in risk was observed. The male workers had a nonsignificantly increased standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for all cancers [SMR 116, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 90-151] and a significantly increased SMR for injuries (SMR 174, 95% CI 111-257). For the men the all-cancer standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 146 (95% CI 119-172), and the SIR for brain cancer was significantly greater than 100 (SIR 500, 95% CI 233-767). Among the female workers only a significant excess risk for laryngeal tumors (SIR 1430, 95% CI 172-5160) was found. Because of the limited amount of data and the many subgroups formed, the occupational genesis of the cancer excess should not be overinterpreted. In addition, there was a possibility of confounding from smoking and other nonoccupational factors.

Evaluation of prevented economic detriment from the occupational disablement can be used for estimating the economic efficiency of occupational centre activities. Decreased disability pensions as a main item of expenses must be taken into account in evaluation of prevented economic detriment due to the diminished disablement. Regional occupational pathology centre activities aimed at the early diagnosis of complications-free occupational diseases, complete clinical screening, active treatment and control of the adequate employment give a great social and economic effect.

The article contains results of research of the complex action of noise and heating microclimate on female weavers and on morbidity with temporary disability in this professional group. The group of medically examined weavers was divided into three parts: Cr. 1 - exposed to noise levels at 98.6 +/- 0.8 dB(A) and t degrees at 25.6 +/- 0.6 degrees C; Gr. 2-93.3 +/- 0.4 dB(A) and t degrees at 24.4 +/- 0.11 degrees C; Gr. 3-93.0 +/- 0.7 dB(A) and t degrees at 26.7 +/- 0.1 degrees C. The specific differences between the 3 groups of female weavers in morbidity with temporary disability caused by hypertension can be explained by the complex action heating microclimate and extensive noise.

The results are considered of testing questionnaires designed to evaluate the progress in the implementation of the complex prevention programme "CINDI". The questionnaire survey was carried out in two ways--by post and by telephone. The sample size amounted to 248 people each. The response in the questionnaire survey by post accounted for a little more than 50 percent, by telephone--about 56 percent. The survey methods were acceptable for population: there were almost no omissions, no refusals to give answers by telephone (low response rate is attributable to the absence of the interviewed). The questionnaire survey indicates that the amount of information acquired on health is not great. The main source of information is TV and other mass communication media. The most effective means of influencing the behaviour are individual recommendations of physicians but they are given very rarely (in 10-20 percent of cases). Persons aware of their risk factors are the ones who most actively perceive the information on the problem of health. The major part of the interviewed (20-50%) attempted to change their habits. The most popular attempts were made to change physical activity, the most successful--to change diet. Interviews by post and by telephone give similar results and might be recommended for assessing the development of prevention programmes.

The contributors provide an analysis of the conditions and reasons accounting for the acute occupational intoxications in closed environments, which occurred in Moscow in 1986-1989 and resulted in 18 deaths. Proposals are made with regard to a state standard act on the safety rules for working in closed environments with the texts of some paragraphs to this act.

The article presents results of the study of mortality rates and causes of a retrospective cohort of workers engaged in a metallurgical plant, affected by different degrees of heating microclimate. The results of the study confirmed statistically verified high mortality risks among those engaged in the labour conditions characterized by the heating microclimate exceeding the admissible levels, as compared with the general male population in the Moscow region, with taking into account mortality from different causes (excepting accidents, traumas and poisonings), and from blood diseases, hypertension, IHD and respiratory diseases.

The article is concerned with a study of the mortality rates among the workers engaged at a tire-producing plant, for the 1950-1979 period. In comparison with the control population group, the contributors revealed increased mortality rates caused by cardiovascular diseases, malignant neoplasms, accidents, intoxications and traumas. Analysis of the labour conditions proved the influence of the unfavourable occupational factors on the mortality rates and mortality causes, excepting the indices of mortality caused by accidents, intoxications and traumas.

The quality of medical care provided especially to patients with arterial hypertension employed in three industrial plants (ZIL Automobile Works, Moscow, Mytishchi Machine Works, and Skoda Works, Plzen, Czechoslovakia) was investigated in random samples of male and female employees aged 35-64 years. The lowest prevalence of hypertension (AH) was found in Skoda Works (26.4 +/- 1.3%). A standardized cooperative epidemiological study detected a low percentage of treated AH cases and insufficient efficacy of treatment in all three plants, especially among young male hypertensives. The epidemiological status of AH in the ZIL and Mytishchi Works was less favourable compared with that in Skoda Works. Epidemiological data represent an indispensable basis for developing a scientific approach to primary and secondary prevention of AH.

An attempt was made to study the incidence of gout and hyperuricemia among the workers of the Moscow meat-packing plant exposed to high food purine loads. Using extensive clinical material (535 men and 1121 women) the authors established that gout was diagnosed 33 times more often in men of this plant than in the muscular population of other towns of the country. Moderate hyperuricemia was revealed in every second of the examinees. Marked hyperuricemia was noted 1.8 times more often, it being 3.4 times more often in men working at this plant as compared to the whole muscular population of the country. There was a direct dependence of the level of hyperuricemia in men working in this industry on their service record. The levels of moderate hyperuricemia in all groups of men and in some groups of women directly depended on the amount of daily purine loads. Marked hyperuricemia among the examined men is a factor of risk in the development of load and among the examined women an indicator of risk (i. e. warning) of possible metabolic changes which require an adequate dietetic and therapeutic correction.