Hygienic assessment of health risks for employees of the Omsk ambulance service due to tobacco smoking

The results of many studies indicate that there is a cause-effect relationship between active tobacco smoking and risks of various diseases, lung and bronchial cancer (C34) and coronary heart disease (I25) being the most common among them. These diseases are one of the main causes of death in working age.

The aim of this study was to perform hygienic assessment of risks of lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease due to active tobacco smoking. Healthcare workers employed at the Omsk ambulance station were chosen as the research object. Additional risk levels were calculated for lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease in accordance with the methodical guidelines MR 2.1.10.0033-11 Assessment of Risks Associated with Impacts of Lifestyle Factors on Public Health.

Smoking was a health risk factor for 27.5 % of emergency medical services workers, including 42.5 % of men and 21.3 % of women. Sixty-six point seven percent of men aged between 31 and 40 years smoked. Prevalence of smoking among the females in the sample did not depend on age. The risk analysis revealed that smokers, equally men and women (p > 0.1) were the most likely to have lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease. The corresponding median levels of additional risk equaled 1.45E-05 and 9.0E-06. The proportion of people with unacceptable levels of additional risks of the analyzed diseases (> 1.4E-04) equaled 43.3 and 53.3 % respectively among people older than 40 years. Likelihood of lung and bronchial cancer and coronary heart disease statistically significantly depends on the intensity of smoking.