Nikolai Izmerov

Nikolai Fedotovich Izmerov (Russian: Николай Федотович Измеров, 19 December 1927 – 23 December 2016) was a 20th-century Soviet and Russian occupational hygienist and public figure, who made significant contributions to occupational hygiene.[R 1]

Nikolai Izmerov
Born
Nikolai Fedotovich Izmerov

(1927-12-19)19 December 1927
Bishkek, Soviet Union
Died23 December 2016(2016-12-23) (aged 89)
Moscow, Russia
CitizenshipSoviet Union,Russia
Alma materTashkent medical Institute (in Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
Known for
Spouse(s)
Izmerova Natalia Ivanovna
(
m. after 1947)
Awards
Scientific career
FieldsHygiene
InstitutionsResearch institute of occupational health, First Moscow State Medical University

Early life

Nikolai Izmerov was born in Bishkek (formerly Frunze), Kyrgyzstan in 1927, to Izmerov Fedot Fedotovich (1885) and Izmerova Evdokia Filatovna (née Shemilina) (1892). He was educated at a 10-years school in Jambul (Kyrgyzstan), and entered the Tashkent Medical Institute (faculty of hygiene) in 1946.[R 2]

Middle years

Izmerov entered the Central Institute of advanced medical training (1952) after graduation in the Tashkent Medical Institute and clinical training in hygiene. After additional studying, he became a senior inspector in the Ministry of health in 1953–1955.[E 1]

He prepared and defended the dissertation of the candidate of medical sciences “Air pollution with gasoline vapor and its maximum permissible concentration” in the Central Institute of Advanced Medical Training in 1958.[R 3][E 1]

Izmerov became Deputy head of the Department of external relations of the Ministry of health of the USSR in 1960, and in 1962-64 — Deputy Minister of health, chief sanitary doctor of the RSFSR. N. Izmerov developed standards for occupational and environmental hygiene. He continued his work in this area even later.[E 2]

In World Health Organization

He had been recommended to work in the World Health Organization (WHO) as assistant Director-General by the Ministry of Health; and he work in Geneva 7 years (1964-1971). Izmerov was responsible for environmental health: environmental toxicants, water and air pollutants. He guided the United States to establish their National Water Programmes. His work has influenced the WHO's significant contributions to the UN International Water Decade 1965–1974. Izmerov's experience gained in developing hygiene standards[E 3][E 4] previously helped him to do this work.

Research Institute of Occupational Health and Diseases (AMS)
Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (created in June 20, 1923).

Izmerov returned to Moscow in 1971 and was elected head of the research Institute of occupational health and diseases[E 1] (in Academy of Medical Sciences, the leading Institute in this field in the USSR and in RF, and the world's oldest scientific institute of occupational diseases[E 5]). As the head of the Institute (director in 1971–2012, scientific director in 2012-2015) he has done a lot to improve the work of the Institute: the development of fundamental research in the field of occupational health, the development of permissible exposure limits,[E 1] the development of manuals and textbooks, the implementation of research results in the practice of protection of workers. Some of the toxicological research results were used by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Programme on Chemical Safety.

The work of the Institute (and other similar institutions) received a positive assessment from the American specialists earlier.[E 6]

The director of the Institute focused the attention of his experienced and qualified staff on the development of methods of prevention of occupational diseases; principles and methods of improving working conditions, the environment, and saving the health of workers. The Institute became one of the leading occupational health institutes in the world. Izmerov signatories of the WHO "Declaration on Occupational Health for All" in 1994[E 7] as a director of a leading national OHS Institute.[E 1]

The Institute established the laboratory of women's occupational health (in 1974),[R 4] the Department of social and hygienic research, equipped with modern technology and successfully implementing the latest technology.

The specific features of the Soviet centralized planned state management led to the fact that the scientific developments of the institute became the requirements of legislation very often, and them were implemented in the enterprises. A characteristic feature of these works in the field of occupational health was their focus on the elimination of the causes of diseases and their prevention. This occupational medicine was integrated with the public health system and with the general sanitary hygiene services. According to Western hygienists, this feature led to the fact that the developed requirements were "too idealistic."

Izmerov became a doctor of medical sciences in 1973; professor in 1977; and a corresponding member of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 1980. He continued international activities[E 8][E 9][E 1] as the Institute director. Izmerov became an academician in 1986.

The Institute developed exposure limits for chemicals, physical hazards.,[E 10] and non-toxic dust (which causes pneumoconiosis). If the low level of science and technology did not allow to fulfill the requirements, then the Institute has developed a classification of working conditions according to the degree of danger (classes of work); and led the development of alternative methods of protecting health (aka. protection by reducing exposure time; protection by distance and shielding, etc.). Izmerov led the development of risk assessment methods for the cases of the employee's simultaneous exposure to the various types of occupational hazards. The Institute was established museum of occupational hygiene in 1987[E 11]

Nikolai Izmerov published over 500 journal papers (and other publications), several textbooks and manuals; and created a school of hygienists. 27 candidates and 32 doctors of science were trained under his leadership and during his consultations. He was editor of the articles in the Great Medical Encyclopedia, and ILO OHS Encyclopedia;[E 12] and chief editor of the magazine "Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology".[E 13] Izmerov worked at the First Moscow State Medical University as head of the department of occupational health.

Work in new socioeconomic conditions (1991-2016)
Source[R 5]

The destruction of the planned Soviet economy dealt a heavy blow to the national economy, and a very strong blow to the occupational health and safety system. Academician Izmerov, as a highly qualified and experienced professional, was well aware of the consequences of irresponsible actions, and was sensitive to the destruction of a scientifically based system of the workers' health protection.

The system of registration of occupational diseases had not normally operated in the USSR since 1936: most of the cases of occupational diseases were not registered for ideological reasons, to simulate a good state of occupational health, and to demonstrate the advantages of the soviet state system.[R 6][E 14] It was bad, but the state still seriously tried to improve working conditions and provide preventive medical care to employees directly at the enterprises (as a priority).[E 6] This approach has been used in other countries later. For example, the Hyundai Motor Company used the instruction (which was translated from Russian to Korean) to organize the medical care of its employees[R 7]

But after 1991, the preservation of the negative tradition (not registering occupational diseases[R 8]) allowed the new owners of enterprises to be guaranteed a complete lack of responsibility for damage to the health of employees - and them took advantage of this:

... the numbers of work accidents and the incidence of occupational injuries and diseases … remain unacceptably high, which may have serious consequences in terms of the deterioration of workers’ health … [E 12]

... now workers have to pay with their health to survive ...

... the mortality rate of citizens of the RF at working age is 4.5 times higher than that in the European Union, and exceeds the mortality rate developing countries 1.5 times ... "[R 9]

Registration of a small proportion of cases of occupational diseases.[E 14] (and accidents) deprives the OHS system of the "feedback" pile: employers do not bear the consequences for irresponsible actions. In his eyes, the new owners of enterprises, interested only in obtaining financial profits in the short term, almost completely destroyed the medical units that were available in all large enterprises with harmful working conditions. Workers were left without normal medical prevention. The significant deterioration of the conditions in the workplaces contributed to the sharp decline in life expectancy for men. For example, 65 years for those born in 1987 and only 57 years for those born in 1992. Those workers who reach retirement age suffered from one or two diseases in 70% of cases. The reason is that employees work in poor conditions, did not undergo medical examinations, the diseases are detected too late and them not treated[R 10][E 14]

Academician Izmerov used all his authority and all his powers to change this situation. The concept and project of the Presidential Program “Health of the Working Population of Russia for 2004-2015” was developed under the leadership of Izmerov, and it was reviewed by specialists. Then the program was reviewed and approved by the State Duma of the Russian Federation.[R 11]

However, a change in the country's leadership, in general, did not change the new attitude to occupational health. The program was not implemented; the registration of an insignificant share of occupational diseases was preserved, and it was supplemented by incomplete registration of fatal accidents at workplaces.[R 12] Izmerov wasn't heard neither the employers, nor leaders of the country.

Izmerov organized, and he led the preparation and holding (until 2015) of all-Russian congresses with international participation "Profession and Health" (since 2002).[E 15]

Izmerov was a member of International Committee on Occupational medicine (Stockholm, Sweden), Collegium Ramazzini (Italy), Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine (PRC) etc.

Personal life

Izmerov was married to Izmerova Natalia Ivanovna (born in 1947), professor, dermatovenerologist, specialist in occupational diseases. They had two daughters, four granddaughters, and one grandson.[R 13]

He was fond of poetry, classical music, and ballet.[R 4]

Death

Izmerov died on December 23, 2016 after a long and serious illness in Moscow,[E 1][R 14] and was buried at Troyekurovsky cemetery.

The Research Institute of Occupational Medicine of the RAS was named after academician Izmerov in 2017 by order of the Director of the Federal Agency of Scientific Organizations (FANO).[E 16]

Awards
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References

Publications that are available in English:

  1. ICOH. "Prof. Nikolai Fedotovich Izmerov passed away (News)". International Commission on Occupational Health. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. Izmerov, N.F (25–29 March 1974). "Estimating the Maximum Permissible Intensity of the Complex Effect of Chemical Factors in the Production, Municipal, and Domestic Environment on Man". In Israel, Yu.A (ed.). Proceedings of the first US/USSR symposium on comprehensive analysis of the environment (EPA-600/9-75-004). Tbilisi (Georgia, USSR): EPA, National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP). pp. 45–48. Retrieved 22 June 2019.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  3. Izmerov, Nikolai (1 September 1974). "Principles underlying the establishment of air quality standards in USSR". Science and Public Policy. 1 (9): 230–233. doi:10.1093/spp/1.9.230. ISSN 0302-3427. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  4. Izmerov, Nicolai (1971). "Establishment of Air Quality Standards". Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal. Taylor & Francis. 22 (6): 711–719. doi:10.1080/00039896.1971.10665931. ISSN 1933-8244. PMID 5574017. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  5. Bukhtiyarov, I.; et al. (2018). "The 95th anniversary of the world's oldest scientific institution for occupational diseases". Occupational and Environmental Medicine. History of Prevention of Occupational Diseases. 75 (Suppl. 2): A191. doi:10.1136/oemed-2018-ICOHabstracts.540. ISSN 1351-0711. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  6. Magnuson, Harold; et al. (1964). "Industrial Toxicology in the Soviet Union — Theoretical and Applied". American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. AIHA and Taylor & Francis. 25 (2): 185–197. doi:10.1080/00028896409342575. ISSN 1542-8117. PMID 14125871. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  7. N.F. Izmerov; et al. (13 October 1994). Declaration on Occupational Health For All (PDF). Beijing, Geneva: WHO Collaborating Centres in Occupational Health. p. 10.
  8. Izmerov, N.F. (1973). "Control of air pollution in the USSR". Public Health Papers. Geneva: World Health Organization. 54: 1–157. hdl:10665/62929. PMID 4802086. Translated on: English, French, Spanish
  9. Kovalevsky, E.; Burmistrova, T.; Milishnikova, V.; Elovskaja, L.; Izmerov, N.; Parker, J.; Zitting, A.; Tossavainen, A. (January 2002). "Comparison of Work History and Chest X-ray Changes among Chrysotile Miners and Millers". The Annals of Occupational Hygiene. 46 (suppl_1): 157–159. doi:10.1093/annhyg/46.suppl_1.157.
  10. Izmerov, Nikolai (1985). "Current problems of nonionizing radiation". Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health. Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH). 11 (3): 223–227. doi:10.5271/sjweh.2231. ISSN 0355-3140. PMID 4035325. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  11. "Museum "History of Labour Hygiene and Occupational Pathology"". www.Russian Museums.info. Moscow. Retrieved 2 February 2019. Occupational Hygiene and Health Care History Museum. Detailed information on the website of the Institute.
  12. Nicolai Izmerov; Igor Fedotov (1998). "Chapter 16. Labour Protection in the Russian Federation: Law and Practice". In Jeanne Mager Stellmann (ed.). Encyclopedia of Occupational Health & Safety. Volume 1, Part 2. Health Care. Paragraph "Occupational Health Services" (4 ed.). Geneva: International Labour Organization. pp. 538–542. Retrieved 2 February 2019. Translated on: Russian (2001), Chinese, French, Japanese, Italian, German, Portuguese, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili
  13. Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology ("Labour Hygiene and Occupational Diseases" in 1957-1992). Official site of journal. Publisher: FSBSI Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health (in: Federal Service for the Oversight of Consumer Protection and Welfare). ISSN 1026-9428 Retrieved 2 Fedraury 2019.
  14. Mazitova, Nailya; et al. (July–August 2015). "Current Status and Prospects of Occupational Medicine in the Russian Federation". Annals of Global Health. 81 (4): 576–586. doi:10.1016/j.aogh.2015.10.002. ISSN 2214-9996. PMID 26709290.
  15. Russian National Congress with international participation “Occupation and health” Official site. Retrieved 30 January 2019.
  16. "History of Institute". www.irioh.ru. Moscow: Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Medicine. 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2019.

Publications that are only available in Russian:

  1. Pobochin, V.M. (1978). Николай Федотович Измеров [Nikolai Fedotovich Izmerov]. In Petrovsky, Boris (ed.). Great Medical Encyclopedia (in Russian). Volume 9 "Ibn Roshd – Jordan" (3rd ed.). Moscow: Soviet Encyclopedia. p. 478. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. Editorial office (2012). "N.F. Izmerov (85 years anniversary)". Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology (in Russian) (12): 1–4. ISSN 1026-9428. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  3. Nikolai Izmerov (1958). "Air pollution with gasoline vapor and its maximum permissible concentration [Материалы к гигиеническому нормированию предельно допустимого содержания паров бензина в атмосферном воздухе]". www.rsl.ru (in Russian). Moscow: Министерство здравоохранения СССР; Центральный институт усовершенствования врачей. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  4. "Измеров Николай Федотович". International Joint Bibliographic Center www.biograph.ru (in Russian). Moscow: Международный объединённый библиографический центр. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  5. FSS (2017). "Socio-economic indicators of the Russian Federation in 1991-2016 [Социально-экономические показатели РФ в 1991-2016]". www.gks.ru (in Russian). Moscow: Russian Federal State Statistics Service. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  6. Nikolai Fedotovich Izmerov; Vladimir Fedorovich Kirillov; et al., eds. (2016). "Introduction". Гигиена труда [Occupational health] (in Russian) (2 ed.). Moscow: ГЭОТАР-Медиа. pp. 13, 14. ISBN 978-5-9704-3691-2.
  7. Entsov, Yuri (15 April 2010). "Academician Nikolai Izmerov: it's time for us to remember the soviet experience of healthcare [Академик Николай Измеров: нам пора вспомнить советский опыт здравоохранения]". www.aif.ru (in Russian). Moscow: Argumenty i Fakty (АиФ Здоровье) No. 16. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  8. Izmerov Nicolai; et al., eds. (2011). "Chapter 1, Section 1.1 Analysis of the state of primary care in occupational pathology". Professional pathology. National handbook (in Russian). Moscow: ГЭОТАР-Медиа. pp. 33–35. ISBN 978-5-9704-1947-2.
  9. N.F. Izmerov; et al. (2015). "Russian Federation implementation of WHO global efforts plan on workers health care". Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology (in Russian) (9): 4–10. ISSN 1026-9428. PMID 26638459. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  10. "Dissenting opinion of Nicolai Izmerov" (in Russian). Moscow: Social Insurance Fund of the Russian Federation - (Interview on the radio station "Radio Rossii",18.05.2007, Moscow time: 16:36). 21 May 2007. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  11. Editoral board (2012). "Николай Федотович Измеров". Herald of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences (in Russian). 67 (12): 72–73. ISSN 0869-6047. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  12. Table 2 on page 11:
  13. "Nikolay Izmerov". www.peoples.ru (in Russian). Проект "Люди". Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  14. Editorial office (2017). "In memory of Nikolai Fedotovich". Occupational Health and Industrial Ecology (in Russian) (1): 1–2. ISSN 1026-9428. Retrieved 2 February 2019. Monument in the cemetery
  • In English

"Nikolai Izmerov" (PDF). www.chrysotile.com. The Chrysotile Institute. Retrieved 5 February 2019.

  • In Russian

"Nikolai Fedotovich Izmerov [Николай Федотович Измеров]" (PDF). www.irioh.ru/en/institute-history/ The history of the Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health; on the official website of the Institute (in Russian). Moscow: The Izmerov Research Institute of Occupational Health. Retrieved 19 February 2019.

Vladimir Kuropatkin (produser) (19 May 2018). "Luminaries of medical science. Academician N. F. Izmerov. Page of life [Корифеи медицинской науки. Академик Н.Ф. Измеров. Страницы жизни]". www.youtube.ru (in Russian). Moscow: Фильмотека. Retrieved 13 February 2019. 15 minutes.

Vladimir Kuropatkin (produser) (19 May 2018). "Academician N. F. Izmerov. [Покой нам только снится. Академик Н.Ф. Измеров.]". www.youtube.ru (in Russian). Moscow: Фильмотека. Retrieved 13 February 2019. 17 minutes.

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