[Military ecology and military hygiene: the concept of an interaction]

At the modern level of society development, on the one hand its Armed Forces are the object that requires the defense from unfavourable effect of environmental factors, on the other hand they are potential source of ecology worsening. The problem of ensuring ecological safety in the army and navy becomes urgent. In order to solve this problem first of all it is necessary to develop the conceptual bases of military ecology. Among all medical sciences the military hygiene by purpose, tasks, subject and objects is the most close to military ecology.

[An epidemiological study on acute diarrhea during a filed exercise in PLA unit in an area in southern China]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of acute diarrheal disease during a filed exercise.

METHODS

Epidemiological study of a certain artillery acute diarrheal disease during a filed exercise and multiple linear stepwise regression analysis, multiple stepwise discriminate analysis were used.

RESULTS

Result showed that the incidence rate of training troops was significantly higher than that of the local troops at the corresponding period (7.32% vs 0.98% P<0.05). The incidence rate among officers was significantly lower than that of the soldiers (0.99% vs 8.20% P<0.05). The incidence rate was significantly higher at the beginning of assemble for training but smooth and steady afterwards with several outbreaks. There was highly significant difference in the incidence rate of 39 companies. Regression and discrimination analysis suggested that the incidence rate was correlated with the density of flies and average boiled water volume provided everyday. The correct classifying rate of the discrimination was 91.9% in total.

CONCLUSION

These results provided a basis for prevention of acute diarrheal disease during filed exercise of military action.

A toxicity reduction evaluation for an oily waste treatment plant exhibiting episodic effluent toxicity

A Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE) was conducted on the oily wastewater treatment plant (Plant) at a Naval Fuel Depot. The Plant treats ship and ballast wastes, berm water from fuel storage areas and wastes generated in the fuel reclamation plant utilizing physical/chemical treatment processes. In the first period of the project (Period I), the TRE included chemical characterization of the plant wastewaters, monitoring the final effluent for acute toxicity and a thorough evaluation of each treatment process and Plant operating procedures. Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedures were performed as part of the overall TRE to characterize and identify possible sources of toxicity. Several difficulties were encountered because the effluent was saline, test organisms were marine species and toxicity was sporadic and unpredictable. The treatability approach utilizing enhancements, improved housekeeping, and operational changes produced substantial reductions in the acute toxicity of the final effluent. In the second period (Period II), additional acute toxicity testing and chemical characterization were performed through the Plant to assess the long-term effects of major unit process improvements for the removal of toxicity. The TIE procedures were also modified for saline wastewaters to focus on suspected class of toxicants such as surfactants. The TRE was successful in reducing acute toxicity of the final effluent through process improvements and operational modifications. The results indicated that the cause of toxicity was most likely due to combination of pollutants (matrix effect) rather than a single pollutant.

[Epidemiological health surveillance among the troops during combat operations in armed conflicts]

With local wars and armed conflicts the sanitary-epidemiological situation for the troops and local population shows a tendency to worsen. The main objects of the military medical service at the period of deployment are the preventive measures against troops infection from local sources by virus hepatitis A, bacterial dysentery, typhoid, cholera etc. As a rule, combat actions result in communal service destruction, low quality of potable water, soil contamination and worsening sanitary norms and standards. Also, there is a danger of reactivation of the natural centres of infection due to large-scale defence earthworks in the region of operations. The experience of the military medical service in Afghanistan and Chechnya proves, that a multimedia approach to preventive antiepidemic measures is necessary together with the emphasis on the most important actions against infections that represent the biggest danger for the land troops.

[A priceless contribution to the theory and practice of military public health]

The article is dedicated to the outstanding figure in national medicine--colonel-general MD E.I. Smirnov (1904-1989), the Hero of Socialist Labour, member of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, who was the Head of the Main Military Sanitary Department of the Red Army during the Great Patriotic war, and the Minister of Health of the USSR in the post-war period. The main attention of the author is drawn on the contribution of E.I. Smirnov to the development of military medicine. The article makes a detailed analysis of the role of E. Smirnov in the development and practical implementation of military medical doctrine and the antiepidemic support system during the years of the Great Patriotic War, as well as his contribution for organizational arrangement of field therapy as an independent scientific discipline and as a subject of study in the system of medical education; his merits in organization of specialized medical care; formation of an institution of senior medical specialists; reforms in military medical education. The article contains many concrete examples which characterize a celebrated personality of E.I. Smirnov and his leadership qualities.