Military Hygiene and Hygiene in Emergency Situations - K.O. Pashka 2005

Occupational hygiene of military personnel during the mitigation of emergency consequences and in wartime
Occupational hygiene of military personnel in missile forces and artillery

The personnel of the missile forces are exposed to a range of adverse occupational and professional factors, the primary one being neuro-emotional stress resulting from the need to maintain constant readiness for emergency actions dictated by The Nature of combat-training activities. These factors also include: spills, leaks, or explosions of aggressive technical fluids; destruction of ionizing radiation sources (IRS); vehicle accidents (automotive, railway, aviation); failure of military hardware and special technical structures; fires; and meteorological and tectonic phenomena (hurricanes, tornadoes, freezing temperatures, extreme heat, earthquakes, landslides, etc.).

Particularly hazardous to personnel can be emergency situations arising during operations directly related to fueling missiles and draining missile propellant components (MPC), which contain highly dangerous compounds: heptyl and the oxidizer amyl. In the presence of oxygen, heptyl oxidizes to form formaldehyde, free nitrogen, and other highly toxic compounds. The maximum allowable concentration (MAC) of heptyl in work areas is 0.1 mg/m³. Easily penetrating the body through the respiratory tract, Skin, and mucous membranes, heptyl undergoes a series of transformations. The bulk of it is demethylated in Liver microsomes, accompanied by the release of highly toxic hydrazine groups. The biochemical action of heptyl is complex and insufficiently studied. Some researchers believe that the inactivation of phosphopyridoxal leads to significant disruptions in carbohydrate, protein, and Lipid METABOLISM. Heptyl poisoning practically affects all Organs and systems, predominantly damaging the Central Nervous system, liver, Endocrine glands, and others.

Heptyl causes acute and chronic intoxications in humans. In acute poisonings, the pathological process unfolds through distinct periods: primary reaction, latent period, manifest stage of the disease, and resolution. The severity and duration of these periods depend on The amount of poison entering the body. The primary reaction occurs more frequently in inhalation injuries and manifests as coughing, lacrimation, vomiting, and headache.

The latent period, even in severe poisonings, lasts 24 hours. It is followed by the manifest stage. Front and center is central nervous system damage, manifested by chaotic motor responses that progress into clonic-tonic seizures, eventually leading to a comatose state. The duration of this period is 8–12 hours. Toxic Bronchitis or Pneumonia may develop within the first 24 hours. Signs of toxic hepatitis appear after 5–6 days.

The symptomatology of chronic heptyl poisoning is quite diverse. Asthenoneurotic syndrome and vegetative-vascular dystonia come to the forefront, followed by signs of liver damage. Workers handling heptyl frequently exhibit chronic Conjunctivitis, atrophic rhinitis, and pharyngitis. Symptoms of chronic intoxication typically appear after more than one year of occupational exposure.

Amyl is a liquid with a sharp, suffocating odor that fumes in the air, releasing brown nitrogen oxide vapors. The maximum allowable concentration of amyl is 5 mg/m³. Upon skin contact, it causes Burns. Even brief inhalation of amyl leads to damage of the respiratory tract and Lungs, accompanied by The Development of toxic pulmonary edema. Prolonged exposure to low concentrations of amyl results in chronic intoxication, which is the outcome of both local (irritant) and resorptive action.

Clinical manifestations of chronic amyl intoxication are characterized by: bronchopulmonary disorders (Chronic bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, pneumosclerosis); neurological disorders such as asthenoneurotic syndrome; dysfunctions of the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems; and toxic liver damage.

To prevent the harmful effects of missile propellant components, personnel involved in draining or transferring them must wear respiratory and skin protection equipment such as the ZK-1 protective suit or the KR rocketeer suit. When performing operations to connect and disconnect metal hoses (weighing approximately 10–25 kg), as well as in the event of emergency or operational MPC spills, PRV-type gas masks (missile forces gas masks) are used to protect the respiratory organs.

The portion of the missile forces personnel assigned to perform special operations with nuclear munitions (NM), across all stages of their lifecycle (maintenance, storage assurance, preparation for combat use, transportation, and maintaining special weaponry at the specified readiness level), is exposed to ionizing radiation.

Aside from service members working with MPC and nuclear munitions, a separate group comprises personnel on continuous combat duty in special underground structures.

They are affected by A number of factors that generate significant emotional stress: confinement in enclosed duty quarters at depths of up to 30 m; artificial lighting (often 3 to 5 times below permissible standards); forced ventilation systems (personnel breathe non-ionized air); excess air pressure; dense equipment placement and exposure to microwave radiation; fluctuations in air Temperature and humidity; disruption of natural circadian rhythms; and psychological pressure (operating equipment with zero margin for error, systematic high-intensity training, etc.).

Consequently, morbidity rates among missile forces personnel are higher than the average figures for service members in other Branches of the Armed Forces, with cardiovascular diseases and other chronic conditions dominating the overall Structure, which can be classified as occupationally induced.

Therefore, based on morbidity rates, the working conditions of service members (the IRS group and the MPC group) can be characterized as hazardous, necessitating the development and Implementation of a range of health-promoting measures: regulating work and rest schedules, medical rehabilitation, organizing preventive healthcare, and routine medical check-ups (dispensary monitoring). Long-term observations indicate The Need for comprehensive physiological, hygienic, and organizational measures aimed at improving working conditions for other professional groups of missile forces personnel as well.

Occupational hygiene in Artillery

Specific conditions of service in the artillery include high physical loads and the impact on the auditory system from gunshots, artillery shell explosions, landmines, aerial bombs, etc.

Physical strain accompanies artillerymen constantly: during equipment maintenance in the vehicle park; on the march; at firing positions where trenches must be quickly dug and camouflaged; during the construction of command and observation posts, dugouts, and shelters; during firing operations—carrying shells to the guns; when relocating firing positions; and during gun cleaning operations.

Therefore, based on these requirements, appropriate conscript Selection must be carried out: physically strong individuals with robust builds, well-developed chests, sharp Hearing, and keen eyesight.

Military unit medical personnel must monitor the gradual increase in physical exertion during the training of young recruits to prevent future injuries during gun maintenance and live-fire exercises.

During relocation to new positions, especially over off-road terrain, artillerymen are subjected to jolting, vibration, dust, exhaust fumes, and weather factors.

A gunshot generates three distinct waves: the muzzle wave, the ballistic wave, and the blast wave.

Since artillery pieces feature muzzle brakes, the highest air pressure following a shot is generated to the sides of the muzzle. Furthermore, firing large-caliber guns produces infrasounds which, combined with the muzzle blast wave, can injure the ears. There are Three types of auditory organ reactions to artillery fire:

- mechanical, where the tympanic membrane is damaged by a sharp spike in external pressure;

- painful, caused by acute irritation of nerve endings in the eardrum;

- acoustic, resulting in traumatic injury to The Organ of Corti, accompanied by loud ringing in the ears.

Artillerymen must use hearing protection during firing, learn to take cover behind the gun shield when firing (protection against the muzzle wave), and dig individual trenches and slit trenches to protect against enemy shell and bomb explosions.

When firing from concealed positions or ship casemates, with a headwind blowing powder gases back into the enclosure, There is a serious risk of the gun crew being poisoned by combustion gases rich in nitrogen oxides. It is important to note that the Clinical symptoms of such poisoning may appear only after a latent period of 12 to 20 hours and can be fatal. Prolonged exposure to low concentrations of nitrogen oxides may also lead to chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract.

Therefore, adequate supply and exhaust ventilation systems must be installed in such enclosed spaces.

Furthermore, the medical service must not overlook the contamination of artillerymen's skin and clothing with lubricants used to protect gun barrels after cleaning, as well as anti-rust coatings on shell casings. Without regular personal hygiene and laundering, this exposure leads to pustular skin diseases and a consequent loss of combat readiness.