Occupational Health Effects of Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla,
Obrenovac, Yugoslavia: Present State
Elizabet B. Paunović1, Mirjana R. Domić1, and Dragoljub S. Belić2
1 Occupational Health Service, Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla, Obrenovac, Yugoslavia
2 Faculty of Physics, University of Beograd, Yugoslavia
Corresponding author: Elizabet Paunović, M.D.
Thermal Power Plant Nikola Tesla
YU-11500 Obrenovac, Yugoslavia
P.O. Box 25
Telephone: +381 11 8722 738
Fax number: +381 11 397 14 69
E-mail address: paune@Eunet.yu
CEJOEM 2002, Vol.8. No.2–3.:245–250
Key words:
Occupational exposure, occupational hazards, health effects
Abstract:
This work is a part of a multidisciplinary project investigating the emission and deposition of
coal ashes and other harmful substances from the biggest thermal power plant in Yugoslavia. The
workers professionally exposed to various harmful effects yearly underwent periodical medical
examinations. The results were collected and statistically analyzed. In order to reveal the present
state, a descriptive study was performed including analysis of sick leaves. Of the 2856 employees,
a total of 641 workers were examined in 2001. The average age of the population (mainly males) was
40.7 yr (95% CI: 31.2–50.2 yr). The average length of occupational exposure amounted to 17.6 yr
(8.5–26.7 yr). The prevalences of the diseases (according to the International Classification of
Diseases) were: hearing loss –0.77, cardiovascular diseases –0.29, musculoskeletal disorders
–0.17, and endocrine diseases –0.09. The per capita average of lost working days due to illness
was 42.4 d/yr. The absence rate was 74.1. Noise was the main working hazard. The high prevalence
of hearing loss was the result of very poor and inadequate protective measures. The other diseases
were caused by many factors arising from the lifestyle as well as the working and living environment.
Generally, the working population is aged and is not in good health conditions.
Received: 3 July 2002
Accepted: 20 September 2002
| Back |