Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju最新文献

{"title":"Coasting effect of <i>n</i>-hexane-induced neuropathy evidenced by electroneuromyography and clinical symptom scales: a 12-month follow-up study.","authors":"Yusuf Koçak, Uğur Kulu, Tuba Demirer Çeker, Orhan Sümbül, Dürdane Aksoy, Betül Çevik","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4034","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4034","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>To the best of our knowledge, no study so far has investigated the coasting effect of neuropathy caused by occupational exposure to <i>n</i>-hexane through more detailed clinical evaluations than nerve conduction measurements, such that would also include pain assessment and functional status. The aim of our study was therefore to see if our measurements, which include all three elements, would support the coasting effect and reveal associations between electrophysiological measurements and clinical symptom assessments over a 12-month follow-up. Our study included eighteen patients working in the same shoe factory who were diagnosed with occupational neuropathy most likely caused by exposure to <i>n</i>-hexane. After identification of occupational exposure to high, yet unspecified VOC levels by local health authorities, production was suspended and all patients removed from further exposure. All underwent detailed neurological examination, including electroneuromyography (EMG) and the assessment of self-rated pain severity, symptoms, and functionality in everyday activities. All clinical, laboratory, and electrophysiological assessments were performed at baseline and at months 4 and 12 of follow-up. The patients presented with different degrees of numbness, muscle weakness, and sensory disturbances. EMG measurements and clinical scales at month 4 revealed significant worsening from the baseline (p<0.05), and the assessments at month 12 a significant improvement from month 4 (p<0.05), which confirms the coasting effect. Significant correlations were found between baseline motor conduction velocities and subsequent functional outcomes, and between selected sensory parameters and pain severity. Regardless of its limitations, our study points to the real-life consequences of exposure to harmful VOCs in poorly controlled shoe factory environments and establishes the coasting effect through more than one diagnostic parameter. From a preventive perspective, our findings suggest that early electrophysiological evaluation, together with simple and validated clinical scales, may help identify workers at risk of developing neuropathy before irreversible functional impairments occur. Such an approach could inform timely exposure control, medical surveillance, and occupational interventions in high-risk settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"28-38"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061073/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Forsythoside A attenuates metabolic dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice by inhibiting the MAPK and activating the Nrf2 signalling pathways.","authors":"Mengxian Shu, Chunhui Xiang","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4026","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Forsythoside A, a natural phenylethanoid glycoside extracted from the weeping forsythia (<i>Forsythia suspensa</i>), exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activity, including antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study was to determine its anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidative effects in a diabetic mouse model (created by administering high-fat diet alongside successive low doses of streptozotocin) by measuring fasting blood glucose levels, body weight, food and water intake, oxidative stress, and histopathological changes. Diabetic mice received either forsythoside A (30 or 60 mg/kg bw) or metformin (150 mg/kg) as standard type 2 diabetes medication for comparison. After four weeks of administration, forsythoside A significantly increased body weight and reduced food and water intake at both doses, while the higher, 60 mg/kg dose also significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and had a similar effect on all these parameters as metformin. The higher, 60 mg/kg dose also had similar antioxidative effects as metformin in lowering malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and in elevating the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) levels. Moreover, at 60 mg/kg forsythoside A attenuated lipid accumulation in diabetic mice by elevating high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lowering total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), showing comparable effect to metformin. Similar improvements were observed by histopathological changes in the liver. Forsythoside A also lowered insulin levels in diabetic mice by up-regulating p-IRS-1 and inhibited the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by lowering the expressions of the p-p38 and p-JNK proteins. At the same time, it promoted the Nrf2 pathway by increasing Nrf2 and HO-1 expressions relative to untreated diabetic mice. In conclusion, forsythoside A demonstrated therapeutic effects akin to those of 150 mg/kg metformin and may be a promising candidate for clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"21-27"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061084/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autonomic echoes of student life: a mixed-method inquiry with meta-inferential integration of autonomic function, lifestyle narratives, and health behaviours among medical students.","authors":"Dharani Bhaskaran, Suba Anagppan, Logeshwari Vijayagopal, Abeetha Subramanian, Chitra Mourali, Daniel Dev Merlin","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4057","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4057","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medical students face intense academic and lifestyle transitions that can affect their physiological health and well-being. This mixed-method study explores the interplay between the autonomic nervous system activity, measured via heart rate variability (HRV) and lifestyle behaviours, measured with a 20-item questionnaire (LBQ-20) in 90 first-year medical students in South India. We also gathered narrative responses to understand subjective health perceptions and stress adaptation. HRV parameters, calculated individually for each participant and summarised using group-level means, indicate moderate overall autonomic variability (SDNN of 42.76±18.20 ms and RMSSD of 28.37±13.75 ms), while the mean LBQ-20 score of 9.46±3.16 indicates moderate overall adherence to health-promoting behaviours across the cohort. The correlation between the two is weak and non-significant. Thematic analysis of narratives highlight rigid academic routines, stress, poor sleep, and dietary challenges as major barriers to health. This study suggests that medical student well-being is shaped not only by personal lifestyle but also by systemic and psychological stressors.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"49-56"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061075/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public awareness of microplastic pollution among residents of a western Turkish province and how it is reflected in demographics and behavioural practices.","authors":"Ömer Faruk Tekin, İnci Arıkan, Muhammet Ali Bölükbaş","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4030","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4030","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the public awareness of and attitudes toward microplastic pollution in the Kütahya Province of Turkey between September and December 2024 and included 406 users of regional family healthcare centres. Data were collected with a specifically developed questionnaire combining sociodemographic information and self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour related to the microplastics issue and with our Microplastic Pollution Awareness Scale (MPAS), against which we compared the answers to the first questionnaire. MPAS scores were significantly higher among women than men, persons under the age of 40, unmarried participants, university graduates (5.1 times higher than in those with lower education), and residents of developed regions (2.3 times higher than among residents of underdeveloped or developing regions). Overall, participants show pretty good awareness of microplastic pollution. Future prospective studies should cover all ages, but more importantly, develop effective intervention programmes aimed at changing public behaviour.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"57-64"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061086/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Structure-guided modification of a lead cholinesterase-targeting oxime to improve peripheral site binding.","authors":"Nikola Maraković, Nicolas Probst, Tena Čadež, Antonio Zandona","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4078","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4078","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Based on our previous study on <i>N‑</i>substituted 2-hydroxyiminoacetamides as cholinesterase-targeting ligands, which highlighted 2-hydroxyimino-<i>N</i>-(3-(4-((2-methyl-<i>1H</i>-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)-<i>1H</i>-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropyl)acetamide as lead compound because of its inhibition potency, we extended this group of compounds by introducing a new, bulkier peripheral anionic site (PAS)-binding substituent - 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline to achieve an orientation of its three modular elements that would comply with our initial design: the benzyl unit to occupy the choline binding region, the bulky substituent to stabilise binding at the peripheral site, and the 2-hydroxyiminoacetamide moiety to bind at the catalytic serine residue. The obtained <i>N</i>-(3-(4-((6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(<i>1H</i>)-yl)methyl)-<i>1H</i>-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropyl)-2-(hydroxyimino)acetamide inhibited both human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) non-competitively in a low micromolar range. Molecular docking studies predicted high stability of the 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline group at PAS and of the 2-hydroxyiminoacetamide moiety and the benzyl group inside the catalytic site of BChE, while the closest orientation of the three modular elements to our initial design was predicted for AChE, though different orientations were also predicted. Cytotoxicity was observed in the HepG2 and HEK293 cell lines, but only at concentrations exceeding those used in the reversible inhibition assay. Our study confirms <i>N</i>-substituted 2-hydroxiiminoacetamides with three structural elements as low micromolar cholinesterase ligands, successfully extending the scope of PAS substituent to 6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline. Beyond cholinesterase inhibition, our findings contribute to better understanding of the cytotoxic properties of constituting structural elements of the tested <i>N</i>-(3-(4-((6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydroisoquinolin-2(<i>1H</i>)-yl)methyl)-<i>1H</i>-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-1-phenylpropyl)-2-(hydroxyimino)acetamide.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061080/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Potential of <i>Bacillus paramycoides</i> hydrolase to degrade propiconazole.","authors":"Muhammad Naveed, Maida Salah Ud Din, Tariq Aziz, Rida Naveed, Daochen Zhu, Maha Alharbi, Ashwag Shami","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4001","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Propiconazole is a widely used synthetic fungicide that has raised deep environmental and toxicological concerns due to its persistence and bioactivity. In this study, we investigated the potential of a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, <i>Bacillus paramycoides</i> to degrade propiconazole by elucidating the functional role of its hydrolase enzyme <i>in silico</i>. The hydrolase was characterised with the FASTA sequence to determine its physicochemical properties, stability, and conserved functional domains. Homology modelling was performed and the predicted structure validated using a Ramachandran plot and ERRAT analysis, yielding an overall quality score of 93.6 %. Eleven propiconazole-related compounds, including parent molecules and degradation products (e.g. hispor, propiconazole TP1, propiconazole TP2, and propiconazole-d7) were retrieved from the PubChem database and subjected to molecular docking using PyRx. Docking analysis revealed stable enzyme-substrate interactions, with the highest binding affinity of -6.8 kcal/mol observed for native hydrolase complexes. Site-directed mutagenesis was subsequently performed, and mutant structures were evaluated for structural stability and functional integrity. The mutated hydrolase exhibited an improved binding affinity of -7.4 kcal/mol, indicating enhanced substrate interaction. Molecular dynamics simulations using the AMBER force field further confirmed the structural stability, binding consistency, and functional reliability of the enzyme-ligand complexes. Overall, these quantitative findings support the potential of <i>B. paramycoides</i> hydrolase as a stable, non-virulent, and efficient candidate for environmentally sustainable bioremediation of propiconazole, with relevance to environmental and occupational toxicology.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"9-20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic lymphatic leukaemia in a worker with a long-term occupational exposure to petroleum product mixtures: a case report.","authors":"Diana Bućan, Ivan Bućan","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4094","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Following a regular occupational health checkup, a 63-year-old worker employed at petrol station for thirty years was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The patient's occupational history revealed long-term daily exposure to petroleum-derived vapours. As part of a routine occupational health assessment, he underwent comprehensive laboratory testing, followed by further evaluation and treatment by a haematologist, including a myelogram, immunophenotyping of haemoblastosis, and bone marrow histopathology. Based on the completed diagnostic workup, the patient was diagnosed CLL with B-cell predominance. Due to the nature of the disease and job demands, the worker was declared permanently unfit for work at his current workplace. The diagnosis was recognised as an occupational disease by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund thanks to the expert opinion, issued by the occupational health specialist, who, after an extensive toxicological assessment and the exclusion of other possible causes, linked 30 years of occupational inhalation exposure to petroleum products containing benzene with the onset of this malignant disease. This case highlights systemic shortcomings in the assessment of occupational exposure to mixtures of petroleum products, inhalation of vapours, and potential dermal contact among petrol station workers, deficiencies in occupational safety measures, and the crucial role of occupational medicine specialists in the prevention, early detection, and risk management before disease progression, as well as in supporting the legal and occupational rights of affected workers.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"77 1","pages":"73-77"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13061081/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147629720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integration of job satisfaction into the Personal Wellbeing Index: analysis of psychometric properties and sociodemographic influences among employees of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund.","authors":"Jozo Dubravac, Renata Barić","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4060","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4060","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study examines subjective wellbeing (SWB) among administrative staff of a Croatian universal health insurance coverage provider in a transitional economy, hypothesising a moderate spillover effect from job satisfaction to overall life satisfaction. Our aim was to assess the psychometric properties of a modified Personal Wellbeing Index that incorporates job satisfaction (PWI-J), evaluate sociodemographic influences, and validate the job satisfaction domain inclusion in the index. The hypothesis was tested on a convenience sample of 1,051 Croatian employees of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund who completed an anonymous online survey in 2018. Analyses encompassed descriptive statistics, reliability testing, correlations, ANOVA/MANOVA for sociodemographic effects, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The PWI-J exhibited high reliability (Cronbach's α=0.896), and its two-factor structure (material-practical and socioemotional wellbeing) explained 65 % of the variance. The mean PWI-J score was 65.01 on a 0-100 scale. Standard of living and future security received the lowest score (around 52) and relationships and community the highest (77-81). Spillover was confirmed (ρ=0.633, P<0.001). Compared to the Australian wellbeing triage ranges, participants reported lower economic satisfaction but stronger community ties, with higher education associated with better material outcomes, female gender with enhanced social satisfaction, and younger workers (19-34 years old) with higher socioemotional scores. Our findings underscore economic vulnerabilities balanced by social resilience and validate PWI-J for occupational health assessments. Recommendations include targeted interventions for lower-educated and older workers. Limitations encompass cross-sectional design, self-report bias, and limited generalisability. Future research should pursue longitudinal studies on possible mediators, such as resilience.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"76 4","pages":"265-273"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12772485/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Gentiana lutea</i> root aqueous extract mitigates hydroxyurea-induced genotoxicity through antioxidative action and DNA repair: an <i>in vitro</i> study in healthy human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.","authors":"Ksenija Radošević, Mila Kostić, Marijana Janić, Ivan Jovanović, Maja Živković, Ana Valenta Šobot, Jelena Filipović Tričković","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4033","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hydroxyurea is a chemotherapeutic agent used to treat various conditions, including sickle cell anaemia and myeloproliferative malignancies. However, it has adverse genotoxic effects on normal cells. This <i>in vitro</i> study aimed to explore the genoprotective potential of yellow gentian (<i>Gentiana lutea</i> L.) root extract (GRE) against hydroxyurea-induced DNA damage in primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. We measured total phenolic and flavonoid GRE content (TPC and TFC, respectively) and its capacity to scavenge free radicals using the DPPH and ABTS assays. Before exposure to hydroxyurea, mononuclear cells were treated with non-cytotoxic and non-genotoxic GRE concentrations to assess their genoprotective (CBMN assay) and antioxidative effects (PAB and GSH assays). We also wanted to see how they affected the expression of DNA repair genes <i>PARP1</i>, <i>OGG1</i>, and <i>MnSOD</i>. GRE TPC was 8.42 mg GAE/g while the TFC was below the detection limit. Even so, GRE displayed radical-scavenging activity and restored hydroxyurea-disrupted cellular redox homeostasis, as PAB values returned to normal and GSH levels rose. GRE pre-treatment significantly reduced hydroxyurea-induced DNA damage in a concentration-dependent manner. <i>PARP1</i> and <i>MnSOD</i> were upregulated, but not <i>OGG1</i>, which indicates GRE's selective action. Our findings confirm its genoprotective effects against hydroxyurea-induced DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, indicate a complex mechanism of action, and call for further research of this promising compound against secondary genotoxic effects of hydroxyurea.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"76 4","pages":"282-291"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13430532/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907476","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Risks of radiation exposure to old military compasses with radioluminescent markings.","authors":"Igor Miklavčić, Igor Lassinger, Vanja Radolić, Marina Poje Sovilj","doi":"10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4038","DOIUrl":"10.2478/aiht-2025-76-4038","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study investigates the radiological safety of handling old radioluminescent military compasses whose markings are coated with radium-based luminous paint, historically used to ensure better visibility in dim or night-time conditions until the 1960s, when its use was discontinued and eventually banned due to the mounting evidence of its harmful health effects, including the increased risk of cancer. Using gamma spectrometry, we confirmed radium presence in three historical compass models, namely M.49, M.53 S1, and the small Bézard model. We also measured ambient dose equivalent rates to assess ionising radiation exposure at the usual distances from the source during routine handling or long-term storage of these devices. Our findings indicate that, under certain conditions, radiation doses may exceed the recommended safety limits for general public and underscore the importance of raising awareness about potential radiological risks associated with antique navigation instruments. Our study points to the need for appropriate safety protocols, handling procedures, and storage conditions to minimise these risks among collectors of military memorabilia as well as the general public in line with the ALARA principle.</p>","PeriodicalId":520565,"journal":{"name":"Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju","volume":"76 4","pages":"292-298"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12772478/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145907453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}