The history of the Department of Occupational Hygiene of the Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman” of Rospotrebnadzor

Abstract

The history of the creation of the Department of Occupational Hygiene of the Federal Scientific Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman of Rospotrebnadzor dates back to 1942, when the subject of scientific research was devoted to the study of sanitary working conditions at defense industry enterprises and the development of personal protective equipment for workers. By 1950, the range of issues under study was expanded with initiation of the comprehensive clinical and hygienic studies in the mining, chemical industries, mechanical engineering and agriculture using hygienic, physiological, biochemical research methods, animal experiments. In 1960-1990, the research was carried out in areas including the study of working conditions, workers’ health and toxicological assessment of new substances in the chemical industry, study of the dust factor and occupational health issues in the coal and mining industries; study of the effects on the body of working physical factors (noise, vibration, ultrasound, magnetic fields) in industry and agriculture, study of working conditions, working and rest regimes with new technological processes and new forms of labour management. During the period of 1957-2001, employees of the Occupational Health Department developed 14 sanitary rules (SP) and sanitary rules and regulations (SanPiN), hygienic norms of infrasound and vibration in the workplace. Maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) in the air of the working area for 42 harmful substances, maximum permissible levels (MPC) of skin contamination of workers for 17 chemicals have been developed and approved, the toxicity of 35 different compounds has been studied. According to the results of the research, 45 candidate’s and 18 doctoral dissertations were defended. In the modern period, the accumulated experience of effective scientific activity of the Department of Occupational Hygiene has been mastered .and implemented by a new generation of researchers of the Department of Occupational Medicine of the Institute of Complex Hygiene Problems of the "Federal Research Center of Hygiene named after F.F. Erisman" of Rospotrebnadzor.