[Neurological symptoms and syndromes in municipal transport drivers].

Background: The way the municipal transport drivers perform their job contributes to varied burdens linked with the body posture at work, stress, shift work, vibration, noise and exposure to chemical agents. The aim of the study was to assess the condition of the nervous system (NS) in municipal transport drivers.

Material And Methods: The study covered 42 men, aged 43.

Neurological and neurophysiological examinations of workers exposed to arsenic levels exceeding hygiene standards.

Objectives: The assessment of the neurotoxic effect of arsenic (As) and its inorganic compounds is still the subject of interest due to a growing As application in a large array of technologies and the need to constantly verify the principles of prevention and technological parameters. The aim of this study was to determine the status of the nervous system (NS) in workers exposed to As at concentrations exceeding hygiene standards (Threshold Limit Values (TLV) - 10 μg/m(3), Biological Exposure Index (BEI) - 35 μg/l) and to analyze the relationship between the NS functional state, species of As in urine and As levels in the workplace air.

Material And Methods: The study group comprised 21 men (mean age: 47.

Health effects and arsenic species in urine of copper smelter workers.

The aim of this study was to compare indices of exposure in workers employed at different work posts in a copper smelter plant using neurophysiological tests and to evaluate the relationship between urinary arsenic species with the aid of sensitive respiratory and renal biomarkers. We have attempted to elucidate the impact of different arsenic speciation forms on the observed health effects. We focused on the workers (n = 45) exposed to atmospheres containing specific diverse mixtures of metals (such as those occurring in Departments of Furnaces, Lead and Electrolysis) compared to controls (n = 16).

[Certain issues concerning medical certification and driving fitness assessment after craniocerebral traumas].

Background: The incidence of craniocerebral traumas increases with a growing number of road accidents. It should be emphasized that it is rather difficult to determine precisely the craniocerebral traumas incidence rate, however, it is well known that road accidents are the major cause of these injuries.

Material And Methods: The study embraced 43 men (mean age: 47.

[Borreliosis in occupational medicine practice].

Lyme borreliosis is a multisystem infectious disease that can occur from bites by infected ticks. It can appear at persons exposed professionally for staying in tick feeding environment as well as persons staying in such an environment occasionally. For a few years the Lyme disease is taking the leading place amongst occupational diseases and first amongst infectious occupational diseases.

[Comments on diagnostic problems and procedures in certifying the ability of epileptic patients to drive motor vehicles based on published articles and our own cases].

Epileptic seizures prevent the affected persons, partly or completely, from performing certain occupational tasks. Due to their widely differentiated etiology, seizures and related conditions pose a serious diagnostic and certification problem. Epilepsy is thought to be one of the essential contraindication for driving a vehicle.

Effects of occupational exposure to arsenic on the nervous system: clinical and neurophysiological studies.

Objectives: A number of metals, especially heavy metals, exhibit neurotoxic properties. Neurological and neurophysiological studies indicate that the functions of the central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) may be impaired under conditions of exposure to arsenic (As). The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of inorganic arsenic on the central and peripheral nervous system.

Association between occupational exposure to arsenic and neurological, respiratory and renal effects.

Occupational exposure by inhalation in copper smelter is associated with several subclinical health phenomena. The respiratory tract is usually involved in the process of detoxication of inhaled noxious agents which, as arsenic, can act as inductors of oxidative stress (Lantz, R.C.

[Nervous system disorders induced by occupational exposure to arsenic and its inorganic compounds: a literature review].

This paper presents a review of the effect of arsenic (As) and its inorganic compounds on the nervous system. In humans, inhalation exposure mostly occurs in occupational conditions. In the occupational environment, the most extensive exposure to this element is observed in the copper industry.

Early neurotoxic effects of inhalation exposure to aluminum and/or manganese assessed by serum levels of phospholipid-binding Clara cells protein.

Little is known on the disturbances of lung epithelium function in aluminum casting smelters and shipyard welders exposed by inhalation to irritant occupational pollutants, dust and fumes. The exact mechanism of aluminum and manganese toxicity is not known, but it is thought that they may potentiate oxidative and inflammatory stress, leading to impaired neurological function. The aim of the study was to investigate the subclinical effects of aluminum and manganese exposure on the nervous system and to assess their relationship to the biomarkers of exposure and effect in workers exposed to neurotoxic fumes.

[Work performance as a risk factor for carpal tunnel syndrome].

Certification of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) as an occupational disease should be based on evidence that the job performance is a dominant factor responsible for its development. Features of the way the job is performed, which can increase the constriction in carpal tunnel and their quantitative analysis are presented. They include a specific position of the hand during the job performance (dorsal bending, alternate bending and extension), e.

[The effect of combined exposure to chemical and physical factors on the nervous system during aluminum production: a preliminary finding].

Background: The authors present the results of medical examinations of workers employed in an aluminum electrolysis plant with occupational exposure to aluminum dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and magnetic field.

Methods And Materials: The study covered a selected group of 39 male workers (mean age, 44,9; SD = 7.5 years; range 29-55 years) involved in the aluminum production.

Neurological and respiratory symptoms in shipyard welders exposed to manganese.

Objective: The nervous system is the major target of the toxic effect of manganese (Mn) and its compounds in welding fumes. In humans, inhalation is the most frequent route of Mn access, therefore, the respiratory tract and lungs are usually involved in the process of translocation of inhaled noxius agent by blood to the brain. This study was performed to assess whether it is possible to use neurophysiological tests for the detection of early effects of exposure to low Mn concentrations.

[Neurologic and neurophysiologic examinations of workers occupationally exposed to aluminium].

Background: Studies conducted to assess aluminum (Al)-induced toxicity to humans and environment. It has been implicated that Al is involved in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders, though this is controversial. The aim of the present study was to assess Al effects on the nervous system functions in workers chronically exposed to this metal.

[ Effects of electromagnetic fields generated by mobile phones on the nervous system].

The authors present some data on the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) generated by mobile phones on the nervous system. The main attention was paid to the usefulness of some neurophysiological methods, such as electroencephalography (EEG), multimodality evoked potentials (MEP), and event related potentials (ERP) in the evaluation of the bioelectrical activity of the brain. The majority of the cited articles underline the difficulties in the evaluation of adverse effects of EMF generated by mobile phones, which can result from their nonspecific influence on biological structures.

Effects of occupational exposure to aluminum on nervous system: clinical and electroencephalographic findings.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of aluminum (Al) on the nervous system functions in workers chronically exposed to Al.

Materials And Methods: The study covered a selected group of 67 male workers (mean age, 38.7 SD 10.

[Diagnosis and certification of the ability of epileptic patients to drive motor vehicles: cases consulted by the author].

Epilepsy is a frequent diagnostic problem. It is also difficult to certify whether an epileptic patient is able to drive a motor vehicle. With the advent of efficient anti-epileptic treatment, a general practice of refusing epileptic patients driving license should be seriously reconsidered.