[Occupational morbidity due to the effects of vibration and noise in leading USSR industries and main objectives of its prevention].

The article presents data on the prevalence and dynamics of noise and vibration related occupational morbidity in different regions of the USSR, branches of industry and professional groups. Diseases caused by noise and vibration present major and ever growing occupational pathology in the Soviet Union. Particularly high morbidity rates were traced in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Lithuania, primarily in coal mining, metallurgy, machinery construction branches of industry, and, as to occupational hypoacusis,--in metallurgy, some branches of machinery construction, automobile construction and light industry. Vibration related risk factors were revealed in such professional groups as choppers, emery polishers, tool sharpeners, loggers, drill operators; noise related risk factors--in blacksmith's works, weaving and some others. Certain decrease in occupational morbidity rate was registered before 1985 with a tendency to increase in the last 4-5 years. Prevention of vibration and noise related morbidity should include complex measures, modernization of industrial sites and health services improvement.