Mustafa Alparslan Babayiğit

Evaluation of some physical hazards which may affect health in primary schools

AIM This study was performed with the objective to determine the levels of some physical hazards in primary schools. MATERIAL AND METHODS This study is a cross-sectional field survey. In this study which was conducted in 31 primary schools selected by appropriate sampling from the district of Keçiören of the province of Ankara, measurements related with temperature, light, electromagnetic field (EMF) and noise levels were done at hundreds of points. Approval was obtained from Gülhane Military Medical Faculty Ethics Committee (2007/97). RESULTS Only 47.1% of the classes had a temperature value within the recommended limits (20-21°C). It was found that the illumination levels in 96.8% of the schools were above the standard values. However, the levels of illumination were found to be statistically significantly decreased towards the door and the back line (p<0.05). It was found that electromagnetic field levels were significantly higher in the schools who had a source of electromagnetic field nearby compared to the schools who did not have such a source nearby (p<0.001). It was found that the electromagnetic field levels in computer classes were statistically significantly higher compared to the other classes (p<0.001). Noise levels were found to be statistically significantly higher in classes which had 35 and more students (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference was found in schools near intensive vehicle traffic in terms of noise levels (62.8±5.0 (n=72), 62.0±6.4 (n=79), respectively, p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS It was found that primary schools in the region of Keçiören had aspects which had to be improved in terms of building age, building location, brightness, electromagnetic field and noise levels. School health programs directed to improve negative enviromental factors should be developed.

Hantaviral Infections: An ancient zoonosis as newly recognized in Turkey -

Hantavirus is rodent-borne, enveloped RNA virus and belonging to Bunyaviridae. It had been isolated from near Hantaan River in South Korea. Hantavirus is a zoonosis that affects thousands of individuals each year throughout the world. It is associated with two main clinical disorders in man: Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus Pulmoner Syndrome (HPS). HFRS is occur in Asia and Europe, HPS is occur in the American continent. The type and severity of diseases are closely related with virus type. Although hantavirus infection in human have been reported in a wide geopraphical are including some of the neighbours of Turkey in Europe for years any hantavirus-related infection in human has not been reported from Turkey until 2009. The diagnosis of hantavirus-related infections is based upon clinical and epidemiological information and serological tests. It is particularly important to avoid to contact with rodents because of hantavirus-related infections result in high mortality rate and in view of the present situation of missing effective antiviral drugs. Even if there are available some vaccines that used in China and South Korea any of them approved by World Health Organization. This manuscript is prepared to notice the Hantavirus-related infection which is expected to increase in the near future in Turkey and review the control and prevention measures.

Halk Sağlığı Uzmanlık Eğitiminde Çevre Sağlığı Eğitimi: Kavramsal Çerçeve -

Cevresel etkilenimlerin insan sagligina olan etkilerinin her gecen gun artmakta oldugu gunumuzde, insanlarin cevreleriyle olan etkilesimlerinin degerlendirilmesi, yorumlanmasi ve topluma yonelik koruyucu uygulamalar seklinde hayata gecirilmesi gerekliligi, halk sagligi uzmaninin sorumlulugunu bir kat daha artirmaktadir. Bu derleme ile cevre sagligi, cevre hekimligi kavramlari ve halk sagligi uzmanlik egitiminde yer almasi gereken cevre sagligi konulari, kavramsal bir cerceve onerisiyle sunulmustur.