Findings indicate that a fraction (3.4%) of the lung cancer cases could be attributed to heavy occupational exposure to asbestos using the Helsinki criterion of > or =25 fiber years. Therefore, approximately 50 lung cancer cases per year in Lithuania could be asbestos-related compensable occupational diseases.

The use of chemical disinfectants where ventilation is insufficient can produce morbidity and allergic responses. Although disinfection is the universal tool for prevention of infections, the chemicals used can irritate the eyes and skin and may have neurotoxic and sensitising effects. The objective in the present study was to evaluate such chemical hazards, the use of personal protective equipment and the health status of those who handle disinfection chemicals in Lithuanian hospitals. Nine hospitals in Vilnius were studied in 2000-2001. Some 334 hospital employees from surgery, anaesthesiology, intensive care unit, resuscitation, nursing and endoscopy departments in contact with disinfecting chemicals were interviewed by questionnaire. Levels of several chemicals were monitored: glutaraldehyde, chlorine compounds and hydrogen peroxide were determined by a photometric method; isopropyl and ethyl alcohols were determined by gas chromatography. It was found that maximum levels of glutaraldehyde exceeded standards by 1.3 times, hydrogen peroxide by 8 times and isopropyl alcohol by 11 times. When working with the chemicals rubber latex gloves were used by 84.1% of personnel and protective face masks by 45.9%. Other personal protective equipment (goggles and respirators) were rarely used. Adverse reactíons included skin reddening and itching (57.6%; p<0.05), allergic conjunctivitis (39.5%), allergic rhinitis (36.0%), as well as frank diseases like chronic bronchitis (9.9%), allergic contact dermatitis (8.3%), allergic rhinitis (7.0%) and allergic conjunctivitis (6.4%). The study concluded that improvements were necessary in all aspects of work with chemical disinfectants containing these active components.

No abstract

One of the most dangerous chemical factors throughout industry in the developed countries is asbestos. An adequate legislative basis has been created in Lithuania and there are in force legislation documents that set forth the requirements for work with asbestos as well as the measurements that need to be made in the work environment. In Lithuania the technique used for determination of the concentration of asbestos fibres (as f·cm 3) is by the method of phase-contrast optical microscopy. Mostly, measurements of asbestos exposures in the work environment have been made in the chemical industry, industry concerned with the production of machinery, the construction industry, transport and the energy sector. The average concentration of asbestos fibres in workplace atmospheres was found to be highest in the chemical industry, namely, 0.07f·cm 3. It is now necessary to harmonise the legislative base according to the requirements of the EU Directive 2003/18/EC and put them in practice.

The Republic of Lithuania does not possess a standard document on clinker bricks. In the standard LST 1458 clinkery and baked bricks are defined as products with water absorption lower than 6% and 5%, respectively. Lately in the world market the prices of oil and its products have been greatly reduced. Since the production of clinkery bricks consumes much more fuel than baking building bricks, it would be more economic to use mazout instead of natural gas. Mazout comprises sulphur (2.5–3.5)%, therefore on the surface of produced clinkery bricks appear there sulphatic spots, worsening the surface of products. In this study the possibilities were researched how to get clinkery ceramics from carbonaceous [CaO+MgO = (12.01- 14.73)%] easily dissolved clay of Kertupis-2 quarry, selecting additives which stimulate baking and to determine the influence of sulphurous mazout on the properties of ceramic splinter. Chemical composition of Kertupis-2 clay is presented in Table 1. Mineralogical composition (Fig 1) of this clay was investigated by radiographic method and dry remnant of water extract was evaporated (Fig 2). CaCO3predominated in the dry remnant. Forming mixtures, composition of which is given in Table 2, were prepared. While investigating deformation changes of forming mass at the moment of baking, dilatometric research was carried out (Fig 3–6). Baking data of laboratorial samples from Kertupis-2 clay with various additives are presented in Table 3 depending upon baking temperature. Measurings of dust amount and gas emission into atmosphere were performed when burning orimulsion, mazout M100 and desulphurized mazout with the additive of magnesium oxide. Comparable data are presented in Table 4. Sulphur oxides present in combustion gas react with calcium combinations on the surface of ceramic splinter, resulting in white deposit of CaS04. RDX pattern presented in Fig 7 has characteristic elements of anhidrite (0.349; 0.283; 0.233) nm. Having carried out the chemical analysis on the surface layer of ceramic splinter, the determined amount of sulphur combinations was more than 2.0% (rating according to S03). In the middle layers its amount fluctuated from 0.36 to 0.66%. Having summarized the results of research the following conclusions have been drawn: Choosing additives stimulating baking, baked earthenware with water absorption less than 6% from Lithuanian carbonaceous easily dissolved clays were obtained. When breakage of window-pane was used as an additive, baking process began at the lowest temperature. Baking earthenware with sulphury mazout, >2.0% of sulphur combinations formed on the surface of ceramic splinter, and in the middle layers, which had not any contact with fuel burning products, its amount fluctuated from 0.36 up to 0.66%. Applying magnesium oxide desulphurisation way, it is possible to desulphurise burning gas of mazout up to 315.3 mg/m3 of SO2 concentration. The research has developed the possibility for ceramic industry to change natural gas into much cheaper fuel—mazout.