Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2)

Risk assessment of chemicals - a central European perspective

Bencko V., Ungváry G.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):70-72  

During the last four decades in all the Central and East European countries it was intended that prevention of the adverse health effects of chemicals in occupational and environmental settings, including the drinking water and food basket of populations, be achieved by determination and compulsory observance of hygienic limit values (MAC, TLV, ADI). The authors have tried to demonstrate some specific features of risk assessment of exposure to chemicals in environmental and occupational settings. Although the approach to risk assessment and management was similar in many respects in the CMEA countries, implementation and hygienic practice was different...

Cord blood levels of potentially neurotoxic pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls, lead and cadmium) in the areas of Prague (Czech Republic) and Katowice (Poland). Comparison with reference values in The Netherlands. The Czech/Polish/Dutch/German Research Team

Janousek V., Krijt J., Malbohan M., Cibula D., Lukas W., Zejda J.E., Lammers W., Huisman M., Boersma E.R., C.G.van der Paauw

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):73-76  

In a preliminary study the levels of four non-planar polychlorinated biphenyls congeners (118, 138, 153 and 180), and of the toxic metals lead and cadmium, and their antagonist selenium and zinc were measured in cord blood from apparently healthy neonates from the region of Prague and Upper Silezia (Katowice). These "background" levels were compared with similar values from neonates in the Netherlands. It was found that the levels of three PCB congeners (138, 153 and 180) were significantly higher in the Prague samples than in the Netherlands; but in the Katowice group they were significantly lower. In Upper Silezia (Katowice) the values of the metals...

Influence of chronic mercury poisoning upon the connective tissue in rats. I. Effect of mercuric chloride on glycosaminoglycan levels in tissues, serum and urine

Olczyk K., Kucharz E.J., Głowacki A.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):77-79  

Rats were intoxicated with mercuric chloride (1mg/kg b.w.) daily, for 12 weeks. A decrease in total glycosaminoglycan content was shown in the skin, the lungs, the liver and the heart muscle. These changes were accompanied by a slight alteration of the glycosaminoglycan pattern, a decrease in hyaluronic acid in the skin, the lungs and the heart muscle and an enhancement of heparan sulphate level in the kidneys. In serum of mercury-intoxicated rats, an increase in total glycosaminoglycan levels was shown. This enhancement was caused by elevation of almost all fractions. Urine output of glycosaminoglycans was higher in mercury-treated animals as compared...

Influence of chronic mercury poisoning upon the connective tissue in rats. II. Effect of mercuric chloride on collagen and elastin

Kucharz E.J., Olczyk K.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):80-81  

Rats were intoxicated with mercuric chloride (1 mg/kg b.w.) daily, for 12 weeks. An increase of total collagen and elastin content was found in the skin, the lungs, the liver, the kidneys and the heart muscle. The increase resulted from the elevated level of soluble collagen. These changes were accompanied by elevated hydroxyproline level in serum and urine. It is concluded that chronic intoxication with mercury leads to disturbed composition of the connective tissue matrix.

Content of the selected trace elements (Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in blood, urine and hair of blood donors without occupational exposure to these metals

Buchancová J., Knizková M., Hýllová D., Vrlík M., Mesko D., Klimentová G., Gáliková E.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):82-87  

The trace element content in biological samples from blood donors (BD) has not been studied in detail so far. In everyday practice minimum attention is paid to the occupational history of blood donors from different social strata. In addition to clinical and elementary haematological and biochemical examinations, the authors assessed levels of Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) in two groups of BD - from the Orava (n = 19) and Prievidza region (n = 29). The examined blood donors were never exposed to the risk of metal exposure. No significant differences were found in age and smoking habits...

A history of poliomyelitis in the Czech Republic - Part II

Slonim D., Svandová E., Strnad P., Benes C.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):88-90  

The first large epidemic of poliomyelitis in (previous) Czechoslovakia was recorded in 1939. It affected only the western part of the state, Bohemia, with a relatively high morbidity and mortality, 25.42 and 2.05 per 100,000, respectively, the death rate being 8.1%. In Prague, children aged between 5 and 9 years represented 41.5% and those up to 14 years 84% of all cases of poliomyelitis. Other epidemics followed in 1943, 1948 and 1953 affected Moravia and Slovakia as well. The highest death rates were in the interepidemic periods, the lowest ones were recorded in the epidemics. During the "epidemic phase" between 1939 and 1956, 12,868 cases of poliomyelitis...

Latent Q fever in cattle in southern Moravia (Czech Republic)

Literák I., B.Calvo Rodríguez

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):91-94  

In 1991-92, a complement fixation test technique (titre > or = 8) was used in serological assays of antibodies to Coxiella burnetti performed in cattle in southern Moravia. Antibodies were ascertained in 6.1% to 213 aborting cows. The cows with a positive finding after abortion came from 13 different farms. On two of the farms (H. V. and P.), all the cattle were tested. On the H. V. farm, antibodies were ascertained in 4.2% of 120 cows, in 1 of 36 calves and in none of 93 heifers. On the P. farm, antibodies were ascertained in 14.1% of 519 cows and 15.2% of 521 cows in 1991 and 1992 respectively, in 17.4% of 190 calves and in none of 40 heifers....

Vth nation-wide anthropological survey 1991 in the Czech Republic comparison with 1981 data

Lhotská L., Bláha P., Vignerová J., Roth Z., Prokopec M.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):95-99  

The objective of the survey was to assess whether a secular trend still affected growth of the Czech child population and, if necessary, to update national growth standards. The study was designed in such a manner so that trends in child growth, obtained from comparisons of body height, body weight and head circumference from the two successive nation-wide representative surveys (1981, 1991) of the Czech child population, could be followed. Representative random samples of the Czech child population from 0 to 18 years of age were studied with the following number of examined subjects: 86,846 in 1991 and 117,643 in 1981. Nation-wide standards and growth...

Mycobacterial infections in patients with AIDS in a low HIV prevalence area

Stanková M., Rozsypal H., Kubín M., Slosárek M., Horová B., Brůcková M.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):100-102  

The Czech Republic is characterized here as both a low HIV prevalence area (1.64 registered positivity per 10(5) population and 45 AIDS patients notified in the 1986-93 period) and a low tuberculosis prevalence area (mortality rate 0.8, incidence of bacillary pulmonary cases 11.3 per 10(5) population and risk of infection 0.04 in 1990). From 1986 to 1993 a total of 10 cases of mycobacterial infections complicating AIDS or ARC disease were registered in the Czech Republic in 9 male patients aged from 29 to 55, 8 homosexuals, and one woman aged 48. Classical pulmonary tuberculosis caused by M. tuberculosis was diagnosed in one male patient and was controlled...

Water as a possible factor of transmission in mycobacterial infections

Slosárek M., Kubín M., Pokorný J.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):103-105  

Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium xenopi are the most frequent species occurring in water in the Czech Republic. In the endemic area of M. kansasii in heavy industry and mining areas of North Moravia various mycobacterial species were detected in more than 20% of different water samples and M. kansasii was found in 1.5 to 1.9% of them, frequently in pit bathrooms and in the drinking water as well. Mycobacterium xenopi was detected in 35 and 50% of water samples collected in households of M. xenopi excretors in North Bohemia and in Prague. A nosocomial occurrence of M. xenopi was recorded in an hospital department in North Bohemia and in a rest...

Early warning system in the Czech Republic

Prouza Z.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):106-108  

Since the 1950's early warning networks (EWN) for monitoring of the radiation situation on the state territory have been established in the most European countries. In the Czech republic the radiation monitoring network exists, but new requirements, especially after accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plants, called for restructure of EWN so that be able of permanent and telemetrized measurements. Based on these requirements, the program of the EWN establishment in the Czech republic is prepared. The realization is planned in two phases - in the first one 40 telemetrized measuring places in professional observatories of the Czech Hydrometereological...

The NIPEH network of cooperating countries of central and eastern Europe. National Integrated Programmes on Environment and Health

Wyes H.W., Bláha K.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):109-114  

The National Integrated Programmes on Environment and Health (NIPEHs) in countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CCEE) are introduced. The NIPEH programme is one of the primary activities of the Bilthoven Division of the World Health Organization's European Centre for Environment and Health (WHO-ECEH). Located in the heart of the Netherlands on the compound of the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM) in Bilthoven, WHO-ECEH's Bilthoven Division has established a small but effective team of highly motivated experts who can draw upon the expertise available both within the Dutch host institution RIVM as well within...

Hungary as an aging society

Blasszauer B., Hazafi K.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):115-117  

The authors describe the situation of the aged in Hungary, with a particular focus on the medical and ethical problems that health professionals have to face. The so-called post-communist transitional period is characterised by both economic and moral crisis. The country has a serious foreign debt problem as well as high rate of unemployment and crime, a considerable price inflation, and the pauperisation of the people, particularly among the old. The old are defined as those who have reached retirement age, which is 55 for women and 60 for men. Hungary lacks the kind of incentives that would provide good reasons to live much beyond the age of 60....

Health care services for the elderly in Czech Republic: new trends and future development

Topinková E.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):118-121  

Old people over 65 are now the most rapidly growing segment of the population and represent 13% of all Czech inhabitants. Because of the high prevalence of morbidity and disability among the elderly they are the most important consumers of health care services, both extramural and intramural. They consume about 1/3 of the total expenditures on the health care, 40-50% of the general practitioner's time, 40% of prescribed drugs, and over 30% of all hospital days. An important additional consequence of population aging are the increasing needs and costs of long-term care. During the past 30 years, health services for the elderly have been developed and...

TOCOEN project

Holoubek I., Cáslavský J., Helesic J., Kocan A., Petrik J., Chovancová J., Drobná B., Korínek P., Bohácek Z., Holoubková I.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):122-129  

The basic goals of the TOCOEN project (Toxic Organic COmpounds in the ENvironment) are to detect and understand the fate of selected organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs and PCDDs/Fs mainly) in the environment. The TOCOEN project was established in 1988 as a free association of Czech and Slovak environmental chemists, ecototoxicologists and other environmentalists.

Current knowledge of health effects from volatile organic chemicals in the environment. Report of the international meeting organised by Indoor Air International in London on 27-28 October 1993

Weetman D.F.

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):130-131  

The conference attracted 60 papers and 150 delegates from 22 countries. The various sessions covered air quality management and legislation, industrial control and product reformulation, vehicle emissions and fuel composition, evaluation technologies, and health effects and air quality case studies. Delegates were presented with the 606 page book of the proceedings at registration (1). Thus those who attended were briefed right up to the present situation about volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment.

Editorial

Cent Eur J Public Health 1994, 2(2):69