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D Beritić-Stahuljak

Publications and source records attributed to D Beritić-Stahuljak.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

Are chlorine-free compounds a solution for health problems caused by ozone-depleting substances?

In January 1996, the Government of Croatia and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) signed an agreement on the phasing out of ozone-depleting substances in Croatia, making the problem of identifying adequate substitutes a high priority. In this paper, the main ecologic characteristics of chlorine-containing fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and partially halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) compared with chlorine-free hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are presented. The data showed HCFCs to be ecologically more acceptable than CFCs, particularly regarding the ozone-depleting potential (ODP), and have therefore been proposed as substitutes for CFCs. However, although having lower ODP, long-term they could still harm the stratospheric ozone layer, and are therefore hardly acceptable. HFCs are promising substitutes which, having no chlorine, have no ODP. Six were toxicologically evaluated; three of them were found flammable. Toxicological characteristics of three nonflammable compounds (HFC 125, HFC 134a and HFC 227ea) are presented. Their toxicity, not yet completely evaluated, appears to be low.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Relationship between cumulative occupational exposure to asbestos fibres and respiratory symptoms.

A survey of chronic respiratory symptoms was undertaken in 1127 asbestos workers engaged in asbestos mining, asbestos cement production, production of friction materials or in the manufacture of asbestos textile. A control group of 593 persons was also surveyed. The exposure of asbestos workers was analysed by evaluating separately the cumulative exposure to total airborne particles and to airborne asbestos fibres. The prevalences of all the respiratory symptoms (chronic cough, chronic phlegm, chronic bronchitis, dyspnoea grade 3+) were significantly higher in asbestos workers compared to controls in both nonsmokers and smokers (p less than 0.01). The prevalences of all the respiratory parameters in asbestos workers increased with both the length of employment and cumulative exposure to total airborne particles. Prevalences of chronic cough, chronic phlegm and chronic bronchitis did not show an increase with cumulative exposure to airborne asbestos fibres expressed as fibres/cc years. It is concluded that the development of chronic cough, chronic phlegm and chronic bronchitis in asbestos workers is likely to be an unspecific effect of the exposure to the difficulty soluble airborne particles rather than a specific effect of the exposure to airborne asbestos fibres.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Ventilatory lung function changes in family members of asbestos workers.

A group of 114 adult family members of asbestos workers were examined for the prevalence of chronic nonspecific respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function changes. There was no difference in the prevalence of any respiratory symptom between the examinees and the matching members of the general population in the study areas. No difference was found between the measured and predicted values of FVC or FEV, or FEF50 in either smoking or nonsmoking men (P greater than 0.05). In contrast, all the measured values in women were significantly lower (P less than 0.0001) than their normal predicted values. Airborne chrysotile weight concentrations in five houses of asbestos workers were found significantly higher than those in four houses without inhabitants occupationally exposed to asbestos.

Asbestos↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Chlorofluorocarbons--a new environmental health problem].

A review of health problems caused by the use of chlorofluorocarbons--chemical substances of widespread and varied applications is presented. There is a recent evidence that fully halogenated chlorofluorocarbons are air pollutants inducing hazardous health effects. Direct effects of chlorofluorocarbons on respiratory and cardiac functions are described among which some with lethal outcome. Recent data are given and models described forecasting indirect effects of chlorofluorocarbons induced by their ozone depleting reactions in the stratosphere which bring about a higher exposure of the population to UV-B radiation. As a consequence of which, an increase of the incidence of nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers, immunosuppression, and eye disorders is predicted. The latest international activities aimed at urgent prevention of these effects are described.

Air Pollutants↗