INVESTIGATIONS ON SALMON-TROUT FISHERY IN THE NORTH PACIFIC OCEAN FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH. : Part 2. A Comparison between the Old and New Boats

• Published in: Sangyo Igaku Vol. 10; no. 10; pp. 497 - 504
• Main Authors: TAKAKUWA, Eimatsu, KATABAMI, Masao, SAITO, Kazuo, KAWAMURA, Shigeichi, IKEDA, Hiroshi, DOMON, Hiroka, ANEI, Tetsuo, OHNAKA, Yoshito, MIURA, Yusho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japan Society for Occupational Health 1968
• ISSN: 0047-1879; 1881-1302
• DOI: 10.1539/joh1959.10.497

In order to collect fundamental materials about the health supervision of fishermen of the salmon-trout fishery in the North Pacific Ocean south of 48°N.L., health status of crew and environmental conditions etc. in three boats, the A-maru, an old-type boat, and the B-and C-maru, new-type ones, were investigated. The environmental conditions in the B-and C-maru were better than those of the A-maru. It is sure that the so-called additional bonus tons to the boat effected improvements in its environment. Even in the boats of new type, however, the noise level was rather high, and considerasions should be given to the ventilation in living quarters. Problems in dealing with drinking water and with the equipment of water storage remained to be solved in all the cases. As to the health status, many of the fishermen were found to have a decrease in the body-weight at the end of the fishing period as stated in Part 1 of this report, especially the tendency of anemia among the crew of the A-maru. At the same time, the gastric juice showed a tendency to hyperacidity, which was more marked in the crew of the old boat than in those of the new ones. About 80% of the deck woekers were suffering from contact dermatitis, which could have been caused by mechanical stimulation with rubber coats and by local contamination under unsanitary conditions. Adequate counter-measures should be devised. Considering the subjective symptoms, it was presumed that the living environment, the amount of income and the working conditions were greatly influencing the health status of the fishermen.