The greatest danger to the future of human life is Man. Environmental issues are becoming highly topical, with attention focusing on nuclear power plants and their operational hazards. The main concern tends to be their technological reliability rather than the fact that humans are in control. In its long-term research project, the Institute of Sports Medicine, which belongs to the 1st Medical School of Charles University in Prague, is primarily concerned with examinations of the most exposed workers in nuclear and thermal power plants. As all of them are under supervision of their plant physicians, the purpose of the project is to uncover possible hidden health hazards that could result in a sudden collapse of the person concerned and bring about a disaster with far-reaching consequences. This paper presents only a small fraction of the results obtained to date. In functional anthropology and functional exercise dianostics we focused on certain signs that could be interpreted as risk factors for cardiopulmonary failure especially due to CHD, frequently found in middle-aged men. We also discuss the changes that have taken place in the 76 investigated nuclear power plant operators and managers during the three-year observation period.

Preventive examinations of nuclear power plant operators and managers — Anthropological and medical research project

The aim of the study was to evaluate aerobic fitness trends in the Czech adult white collar population within last 20 years. Aerobic fitness parameters were obtained by bicycle spiroergometry. The workrates 1.0 and 2.0 W · kg−1 were performed for 4 min each. After 2 min break the maximal workrate up to vita maxima was performed so that the examined person would reach the reference W peak· kg−1 in the fifth minute. Aerobic fitness in the Czech population changed unfavorably. The decrement was moderate in men and severe in women. Relative number of subjects performing regular exercise activity declined. Smoking habits increased significantly, especially in men. Body fat increased significantly in both male and female populations. The enhancement of body fat correlated to aerobic fitness. According to the accessible literature, the authors evaluate the aerobic fitness of white collar Czech population as lower than that in the USA and West European countries.

V. V. Novotný

Papers

Preventive examinations of nuclear power plant operators and managers — Anthropological and medical research project

Aerobic fitness trend in the white collar Czech adult population within last 20 years