S. A. Gurevich (Moscow)

Scientific and Practical Conference of Moscow State Sanitary Inspectors

On February 10 and 11, 1941, Moscow’s state sanitary inspectors held their first scientific and practical conference in ten years. Eight papers were presented: three on industrial hygiene, two on municipal hygiene, two on food hygiene, and one on school hygiene.

In his paper, “The Current State of Issues Concerning the Use of Solvents at Moscow Enterprises,” I. I. Lifshits drew on extensive material to discuss the role and importance of solvents in the modern chemical industry, the effects of their exposure on the human body, and their hygienic assessment. Using a series of tables, the speaker characterized individual solvents and classified them according to toxicity.

During the past year, solvents came into widespread use at more than 300 enterprises in Moscow. The speaker described the preventive sanitary work undertaken by the Moscow State Sanitary Inspectorate to prevent occupational poisoning: notifying enterprises that their use of particular solvents must be approved in advance by the State Sanitary Inspectorate, monitoring their use, checking for the required specifications and formulations, conducting ongoing laboratory monitoring of workplace air, and participating in the development of sanitary regulations. Thanks to these measures, the number of cases of poisoning associated with solvent use was small. I. I. Lifshits discussed the etiology of these poisonings and concluded his paper with a list of the sanitary and hygienic measures needed to prevent the consequences of using toxic solvents. These include standardization of solvents, sealing of processes, appropriate ventilation, and personal protective equipment. Health education has a very important role to play in this work.

I. I. Lipkin’s paper addressed the prevention of occupational diseases of the urinary bladder among workers in the aniline industry. On the basis of an analysis of factual material on cases of dysuria and bladder tumors (papilloma and cancer), the speaker concluded that intermediate products—benzidine, dianisidine, tolidine, hydrazobenzene and azobenzene, anisole, toluene, and beta-naphthylamine—play an enormous role in the etiology of bladder disorders among workers in the aniline-dye industry.

In discussing the symptoms of these diseases, the speaker particularly emphasized the great importance of regular … for the early diagnosis of incipient disorders.

periodic medical examinations, including mandatory urinalysis and the necessary urological investigations. Preventive measures should focus primarily on improving technological processes and production equipment. Of particular importance here, given the ease with which aniline and its derivatives are absorbed through the skin, are the regular issue and laundering of protective clothing.

V. N. Krayukhina shared her experience in combating pustular diseases at the Ball-Bearing Plant. This work is directed by a special commission consisting of the polyclinic’s chief physician, the state sanitary inspector, the heads of its dermatology and surgical departments, the safety officer, and others. The commission’s work includes statistics, sanitary engineering and medical measures, and health education. Its statistics record boils and carbuncles, felons, abscesses, phlegmons, and hidradenitis separately by month and workshop.

The average duration of pustular diseases among workers treated at the plant polyclinic ranged from 5.1 to 9.5 days, whereas among those treated through Moscow’s public medical network it ranged from 7 to 14.1 days. On the basis of these data, all workers were assigned to the plant polyclinic for treatment.

Closer control of the composition of cooling mixtures, an increase in the number of showerheads from 110 to 450, the appointment of sanitary instructors to treat minor injuries daily, and expanded health education made it possible to achieve a substantial reduction in pustular diseases.

Measures were also taken to replace kerosene with a soap-and-water solution, distribute soda solution centrally, and install guards against splashing coolant.

As a result of all this work, the skin disease rate, measured in days per 100 workers, fell from 98.4 in 1936 to 39.5 in 1940.

Municipal hygiene was represented at the conference by two papers: Dr. E. K. Ugryumova-Sapozhnikova’s “Study of General and Local Atmospheric Air Pollution in Moscow” and Dr. N. S. Vigilev’s “Sanitary Assessment of the Moscow Water Supply.”¹

In her paper, E. K. Ugryumova-Sapozhnikova drew on materials from the Central Sanitary-Hygienic Laboratory of the Moscow State Sanitary Inspectorate to discuss the current approach to combating atmospheric air pollution in Moscow.

The speaker distinguished between general and local atmospheric pollution, defining the former as the overall background deterioration of air quality against which a source of local pollution is assessed. On the basis of materials from the Erisman Institute and data from the Central Sanitary-Hygienic Laboratory, four types of general atmospheric pollution in Moscow can be considered established: industrial, industrial-residential, exclusively residential, and park-and-green-space.

Local atmospheric pollution was studied at nonferrous metallurgy enterprises. The speaker described the raw materials, technological process, and finely dispersed nonferrous-metal dust carried away in smoke and gases. On the basis of 253 analyses for lead, zinc, copper, and, in some cases, arsenic, she determined the extent and distance of dispersal in relation to emission volumes and plant capacity. At a distance of 500 m, positive samples were found in 93% of cases involving nonferrous-metal processing and 82% involving foundry work. At a distance of 100 m from the plant site, the author found lead and zinc concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible levels for workshops.

Three papers on school and food sanitation were presented by district state sanitary inspectors: Dr. G. G. Nadson of the Komintern District, “Laboratory Control as a Method of the School State Sanitary Inspectorate’s Work in Preventing Gastrointestinal Diseases in Children’s Institutions”; Dr. I. A. Polyakova of the Pervomaisky District, “Sanitary Assessment of Cold Dishes and Cream Pastries”; and Dr. F. V. Durasov, “Experience of Intensive Food-Sanitation Inspectorate Supervision of Meals for Pupils of Trade Schools and Factory Training Schools at Public Catering Establishments in December 1940.”

G. G. Nadson reported on his experience of systematically testing selected materials and objects in children’s institutions by laboratory bacteriological analysis. The criteria were total microbial contamination and the presence of E. coli. Bacteriological testing of milk and evidence that its contamination resulted from sanitary deficiencies, such as storage at relatively high temperatures, made it possible to improve milk quality, as confirmed by a follow-up analysis.

The speaker conducted bacteriological examinations of swabs from clean tableware and utensils, mouth-rinsing cups, toys, and staff members’ hands. The results led him to conclude that certain sanitary measures were necessary.

I. A. Polyakova presented a comparative sanitary assessment of buffet products and cream-filled products for 1939 and 1940. She too used data on total microbial contamination and the presence of E. coli as criteria. As a result of the—

¹ See Dr. N. S. Vigilev’s article in this issue, p. 48.

… sanitary measures introduced at the speaker’s suggestion reduced the presence of E. coli from 66 to 20.5% in pastries and cream products, and from 50 to 22.5% in salads and vinaigrettes. I. A. Polyakova also tested hand and equipment swabs for the same indicator. She likewise achieved a sharp reduction in these samples: from 78 to 32% for cream products and from 57.5 to 12.5% for cold dishes. The speaker noted a correspondence between contamination of the swabs and contamination of the products and described in detail a number of sanitary measures that had proved effective.

The final speaker, Dr. V. F. Durasov, described his experience supervising meals for students at vocational schools in the Stalinsky District. The palatability of dishes, portion yields, cost calculations, and menus were examined. Spot checks were made of caloric content and quantities of ingredients, and the operation of the food supply depot was supervised. Frequent cases were found in which the figures in the “order” were understated or overstated, as well as improper distribution of food among the dining halls and other shortcomings. V. F. Durasov concluded his presentation with proposals for remedying the deficiencies he had identified.

Those who spoke in the discussion of the presentations offered a number of critical observations and shared their own work experience. Dr. Durasov’s presentation received a negative assessment because he had undertaken work that did not fall within the responsibilities of the State Sanitary Inspectorate.

Overall, the conference received a favorable assessment in the discussion. It was agreed that the Moscow City State Sanitary Inspectorate should convene such conferences regularly.