Recognition COVID-19 as an occupational disease in Poland - definition, criteria and recommendation.

A major challenge over the pandemic period was to establish the criteria for recognizing COVID-19 as an occupational disease. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has attempted to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 in individual occupational groups and economy sectors in the European Union and the United Kingdom, and to identify possible factors increasing the transmission of the virus at workplaces. Legal regulations of various countries in the world allow COVID-19 to be recognized as an accident at work and/or an occupational disease.

Concept of health surveillance programme for workers exposed to respirable crystalline silica at present and in the past.

In the paper authors present general assumptions of health surveillance programme concept for workers employed in respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure at present and in the past. There is no effective treatment for silicosis thus disease prevention is of paramount significance. For decades efforts of World Health Organization (WHO) and International Work Organization (ILO) have been focused on eliminating silicosis globally.

Monkeypox (Mpox) and Occupational Exposure.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in interest in biological risk factors, which are increasingly perceived as an important problem in occupational medicine. Exposure to harmful biological agents may be associated with the deliberate use of microorganisms in the work process or with unintentional exposure resulting from the presence of biological risk factors in the work environment. Monkeypox (mpox) is a viral infectious disease that may afflict humans and non-human primates.

[A dancer, a groomer, a folk artist and a viola player - case reports of occupational musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system diseases].

Work-related diseases of the musculoskeletal and the peripheral nervous system are classified as overload cumulative microtrauma diseases, resulting from chronic overload and/or damage of specific neuromusculoskeletal structures. Occupational activities which predispose to them are characterised by monotypy (repetition of movements during a significant part of the working shift). Authors described 4 cases of women with musculoskeletal and peripheral nervous system disorders qualified as occupational background just in the 2nd instance of medical certification.

The role of occupational health services in cancer prevention - which factors determine the implementation of preventive measures?

Objectives: Epidemiological data on cancer diseases are alarming. The workplace has become an increasingly important site for disseminating health information and implementing health promotion activities. Occupational medicine physicians (OMPs) have the opportunity to carry out primary and secondary preventive activities focused on civilization diseases, especially cancer.

Occupational Asthma Caused by Quaternary Ammonium Compounds: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are used extensively for cleaning and disinfection and have been documented in scattered reports as a cause of occupational asthma (OA) through bronchoprovocation tests (BPTs).

Objective: To examine the clinical, functional, and inflammatory profile of QAC-induced OA compared with OA caused by other low-molecular weight (LMW) agents.

Methods: The study was conducted in a retrospective multicenter cohort of 871 subjects with OA ascertained by a positive BPT.

Evaluation of selected risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes as a background for the prevention program in occupational healthcare.

Objectives: Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders constitute major health problems in the working populations in Europe. The aim of this project was to evaluate the health condition of workers employed in a Polish research and medical institution, and then to establish the necessary preventive actions by creating a modern model of occupational healthcare integrated with civilization disease (CivD) prevention.

Material And Methods: Overall, 100 workers voluntarily participated in a health program for CivD prevention during mandatory prophylactic examinations.

[Health protection of employees against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection causing the COVID-19 disease - the current state of knowledge and recommendations].

The COVID-19 pandemic, despite the restrictions and preventive measures applied, has rapidly spread and reached Poland. The adaptation to the dynamically changing epidemiological situation requires a prompt implementation of effective preventive measures. The aim of the publication is to provide current knowledge to all persons involved in the preventive care system, i.

[Recommendations for performing specific inhalation challenge tests: Polish experience in relation to the European Respiratory Society guideliness].

A diagnosis of occupational diseases implicates some medical and legal consequences; therefore, the most specific and objective methods are needed in the diagnostic process. Specific inhalation challenge (SIC) tests currently play an irreplaceable role in diagnosing allergic airway diseases (e.g.

Mannitol vs. methacholine in the evaluation of airway responsiveness in bakers' asthma.

Objectives: Various indirect or direct airway challenge tests are used to measure nonspecific bronchial hyper-responsiveness (NSBHR). The evaluation of NSBHR in diagnosing occupational asthma (OA) is performed, e.g.

Bronchial Response to High and Low Molecular Weight Occupational Inhalant Allergens.

Purpose: Occupational asthma may be induced by high- or low-molecular weight allergens (HMWA or LMWA, respectively). The study was conducted to compare the pattern of bronchial response in 200 HMWA-induced asthmatics (n = 130) and LMWA-induced asthmatics (n = 70).

Methods: The study participants underwent a single-blind, placebo-controlled specific inhalation challenge (SIC) with workplace allergens, accompanied by evaluation of non-specific bronchial hyperresponsiveness (NSBHR) with methacholine before and after the SIC.

[Workers' view on the preventive needs for civilization diseases' in prophylactic care taken on employees].

Background: Every year in Poland almost 5 million prophylactic examinations (PEs) are carried out by occupational medicine specialists (OMPs) among workers, for the purposes envisaged in the Polish Labour Code. The aim of this study was to collect workers' opinions on the possible extension of these check-ups in the field of prophylaxis and prevention of civilization diseases (CivDs), focusing also on the "healthy lifestyle" recommendations.

Material And Methods: The study group comprised 325 employees who filled out an anonymous questionnaire containing questions about the possible extension of the PE scope for CivD and cancer prophylaxis.

Food processing and occupational respiratory allergy- An EAACI position paper.

Occupational exposure to foods is responsible for up to 25% of cases of occupational asthma and rhinitis. Animal and vegetable high-molecular-weight proteins present in aerosolized foods during food processing, additives, preservatives, antioxidants, and food contaminants are the main inhalant allergen sources. Most agents typically cause IgE-mediated allergic reactions, causing a distinct form of food allergy (Class 3 food allergy).

[The prophylactic operational model integrated with occupational healthcare - Prophylactic of some types of cancers among women].

Periodical medical examinations are mandatory for employees in Poland. This rule makes a unique opportunity during occupational health services for implementation of prophylactic activities focused on early diagnosis of various diseases, including cancers. Epidemiological data about cancers is alarming and what is more, further increase in development of cancers is being predicted in population overall.

Can Periodical Examinations of Employees Be Useful in Detection of Glycaemia Impairment and Improving Patients' Adherence to Medical Recommendations?

Worldwide epidemiological data indicates insufficient diagnosis of diabetes as an increasing public health problem. In the search for solutions to this disadvantageous situation, occupational medicine health services seem to open up a unique opportunity to recognize some abnormalities in the early stages, especially among the asymptomatic working-age population. 316 workers underwent obligatory prophylactic examinations.

Is it possible to improve compliance in hypertension and reduce therapeutic inertia of physicians by mandatory periodic examinations of workers?

Background: Due to high prevalence, insufficient recognition, and ineffective treatment, hypertension (HT) still remains a major medical and socio-economic problem. There is a real necessity to develop effective prophylaxis for cardiovascular disorders (CVD), based on strategies that support compliance during long-term therapy. The Polish scheme of occupational health services with mandatory periodical employee check-ups creates a unique opportunity for effective HT prophylaxis.

[Occupational cancers - Epidemiology and certification].

The etiology of cancer is multifactorial. Malignant tumors caused by factors occurring in the work environment, classified as carcinogenic in humans, can be recognized as an occupational disease. Analysis of epidemiological data indicates a significant underestimation of occupational cancer, mainly due to long latency period of these diseases.

Spirometric and hygienic criteria in recognition of occupational COPD in Poland - A retrospective analysis of medical records.

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be work-related. It has been estimated that 15% of the population burden of COPD is attributable to occupational exposure. However, in Poland COPD is rarely recognized as an occupational disease.

Usefulness of Biomarkers in Work-Related Airway Disease.

Determination of biomarkers may be useful in the surveillance of occupational exposure and workers' health. The possibility of predicting development/clinical course of specific disorders or current disease, diagnosing in early steps, and health condition monitoring is a real necessity. Various agents present in the workplace environment (or their metabolites) can be measured in samples possessed from human body (blood and urine, saliva, etc.

Work-related asthma among professional cleaning women.

The job of cleaning has developed dynamically as a working service, and women constitute the majority of all professional cleaning workers. Cleaners are at an increased risk of work-related asthma (WRA). This study characterizes work-related respiratory symptoms reported by female cleaners, evaluates any associated factors of WRA, and shows diagnostic management of medical certification.

[Smoking at workplace - Legislation and health aspect of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke].

Tobacco smoke contains thousands of xenobiotics harmful to human health. Their irritant, toxic and carcinogenic potential has been well documented. Passive smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in public places, including workplace, poses major medical problems.

Work-related symptoms among workers exposed to black tea dust.

Background: Tea may be classified as unfermented green, semi-ferinented oolong and fermented black. All of these types are derived from Camellia sinensis, the Tea Plant, which contains the low molecular weight (LMW) agent Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), probably responsible for allergic reactions. The aim of our study was to asses the work-related allergic symptoms and IgE-mediated sensitivity among black tea packers.