Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to G P Azzaro.
In the above brief note, the authors discuss the validity of sterilization with ethylene oxide in hospital. The use of this agent requires most accurate attention by the operator and precise specific indication in view of the many negative factors which limit its widespread use, above all its marked toxicity and the fact that it is not easy to handle.
The purpose of the above note was to offer an overall view of preventive medicine the fundamental object of which is the safeguard of the state of health before the manifestation of disease. Prevention is therefore closely related to epidemiology which looks for causes and identifies risk factors. These tasks must be performed with constant effort and tenacity on the one hand by the state via the necessary public health organizations (personnel, facilities, programming), and on the other by the community as well as by the individual citizen who, being the user and driving force, must take advantage of the benefits and at the same time work for better results through changes in his own behavior and lifestyle.
The authors examine prophylactic aspects of laser-induced injury in personnel dealing with these radiations, especially as far as ocular pathology and criteria of aptitude to work with these radiations from the point of view of function of the visual apparatus are concerned. The importance is stressed of a multidisciplinary approach as well as the need for close cooperation between specialists in ophthalmology and occupational medicine.
Radon is the most serious cause of human irradiation and can accumulate indoors in large quantities. The authors examine some aspects of human exposition to natural radioactivity, survey the Italian and international literature on indoor radon concentrations, and finally, set out some guidelines for prevention and control of radon pollution.
The different problems connected with work at video-terminals are thoroughly discussed, and above all the preventive aspects both as to repercussions on the operator's health and as to a better relationship between operator and machine are set out. These aspects require the participation of a variety of specialists concerned with techniques, methods, and ergonomics, as well as norms, also with a view of the future given the ever wider use of computerized systems.