Assessment of Potential Health Hazards During Emission of Hydrogen Sulphide from the Mine Exploiting Copper Ore Deposit - Case Study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine hydrogen sulphide concentration emitted from the mine extracting copper ore, to evaluate potential adverse health effects to the population living in four selected villages surrounding the exhaust shaft.

Materials: Maximum measured concentration of hydrogen sulphide in the emitter is 286 µg/m³. Maximum emission calculated from the results of determinations of concentrations in the emitter is 0.

[Predictive models for the assessment of occupational exposure to chemicals: a new challenge for employers].

Employers are obliged to carry out and document the risk associated with the use of chemical substances. The best but the most expensive method is to measure workplace concentrations of chemicals. At present no "measureless" method for risk assessment is available in Poland, but predictive models for such assessments have been developed in some countries.

[Evaluation of methods for monitoring air concentrations of hydrogen sulfide].

The development of different branches of industry and a growing fossil fuels minming results in a considerable emission of by-products. Major air pollutants are: CO, CO2, SO2, SO3, H2S, nitrogen oxides, as well as compounds of an organic arigin. The main aspects of this paper is to review and evaluate methods used for monitoring of hydrogen sulfide in the air.

Occupational exposure to dusts and risk of renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Occupational exposures to dusts have generally been examined in relation to cancers of the respiratory system and have rarely been examined in relation to other cancers, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Although previous epidemiological studies, though few, have shown certain dusts, such as asbestos, to increase renal cancer risk, the potential for other occupational dust exposures to cause kidney damage and/or cancer may exist. We investigated whether asbestos, as well as 20 other occupational dust exposures, were associated with RCC risk in a large European, multi-center, hospital-based renal case-control study.

Renal cancer risk and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and plastics.

Objective: To investigate whether occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and certain plastic monomers increased renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk.

Methods: Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate RCC risk in relation to exposure.

Results: No association between RCC risk and having ever been occupationally exposed to any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or plastics was observed.

Occupational trichloroethylene exposure and renal carcinoma risk: evidence of genetic susceptibility by reductive metabolism gene variants.

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a suspected renal carcinogen. TCE-associated renal genotoxicity occurs predominantly through glutathione S-transferase (GST) conjugation and bioactivation by renal cysteine beta-lyase (CCBL1). We conducted a case-control study in Central Europe (1,097 cases and 1,476 controls) specifically designed to assess risk associated with occupational exposure to TCE through analysis of detailed job histories.

Occupational exposure to organic solvents and breast cancer in women.

Background: Although studies in rodents suggest possible associations between exposure to organic solvents and breast cancer, the evidence in humans is limited.

Methods: We evaluated job histories of 2383 incident breast cancer cases diagnosed during 2000-2003, and 2502 controls who participated in a large population-based case-control study in Poland. Industrial hygienists reviewed occupational histories and developed exposure metrics for total organic solvents and benzene.

[Occupational exposure limits for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Current legal status and proposed changes].

Background: The evaluation of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Poland is based on the results of measurements of their concentrations in workplace air compared to appropriate occupational exposure limits. The inconsistence in current regulations is the source of many interpretation-related problems.

Objective: The objective of this work was to determine PAH concentrations in different technological processes and to analyze statistically the obtained data to indicate the presence (or absence) of differences between exposure indices calculated for 9 PAHs listed in the decree of the Minister of Labor and those (8 compounds) set by the Minister of Health.

[Problems concerning the integration of "derived-no-effect-levels" (DNELS) into occupational safety and health regulations].

Under the rules of chemical safety assessment, derived-no-effect-levels (DNELs) should be established for all registration-subjected substances, which are put on the market in quantities of 10 tonnes and more per year. DNELs represent exposure levels above which humans should not be exposed to. The purpose of DNELs is to serve as a reference value for determining adequate control of exposure for specific scenarios.

Elaboration of a quantitative job-exposure matrix for historical exposure to airborne exposures in the Polish rubber industry.

Background: A job-exposure matrix (JEM) for inhalable aerosols, aromatic amines, and cyclohexane soluble matter (CSM) was elaborated based on measurements collected routinely between 1981 and 1996.

Methods: The data were grouped based on similarities in exposure levels and time trends in different departments, and were analyzed using smoothing splines and mixed effects models.

Results: Although higher than in western European countries, inhalable aerosol exposure decreased after changes in production volume and implementation of exposure reduction measures in mid-1980s.

Renal cell carcinoma, occupational pesticide exposure and modification by glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms.

This study investigated associations between occupational pesticide exposure and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk. To follow-up on a previous report by Buzio et al., we also considered whether this association could be modified by glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 (GSTM1 and GSTT1) genotypes.

Occupation and breast cancer risk in Polish women: a population-based case-control study.

Background: The etiology of breast cancer is not well understood and the role of occupational exposures in breast carcinogenesis is still uncertain.

Methods: The population-based case-control study included 2,386 incident breast cancer cases diagnosed in 2000-2003, and 2,502 controls. Lifetime occupational histories and information on other potential breast cancer risk factors were obtained through personal interviews.

[Polish and worldwide short term exposure limits: concept, interpretation and proposed sampling strategy for assessing short term exposure].

Short term exposure limits (STEL) are introduced to prevent acute effects of substances whose workday concentrations are maintained below OEL-TWA. The aim of this paper was to compare the procedures of setting STEL and practicing their application for chemical agents in Poland and other selected countries (USA, Germany, UK) and in the European Union in general. Based on the review, a new concept of STEL was proposed.

Assessing exposure misclassification by expert assessment in multicenter occupational studies.

Background: In a multicenter case-control study of lung cancer in central and eastern Europe and in Liverpool, exposure to occupational agents was assessed by teams of local experts. We performed an interteam agreement study to estimate the levels of exposure misclassification and the expected attenuation of the risk estimate.

Methods: Eight teams of experts and a reference rater assessed exposure to 70 putative lung carcinogens for 19 jobs.

Occupational exposure to rubber vulcanization products during repair of rubber conveyor belts in a brown coal mine.

Several hundred chemical compounds were found in workroom environments in the rubber industry, but most of the published exposure data relate to the production of tyres; information from the "non-tyre" sections are very limited, if any. This study was carried out to identify chemical substances and measure their air concentrations in the repair shop of a brown coal mine in which damaged rubber conveyor belts were repaired. GC-MS and HPLC analysis of stationary air samples resulted in identification of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons to C12, PAHs, alcohols, phenols, ketones, heterocyclic nitrogen and sulfur compounds.

[Exposure to selected aldehydes among municipal transport bus drivers].

The objective of the study was to determine occupational exposure of municipal transport bus drovers to selected aldehydes: formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. Ten drivers serving 5 bus lines were selected for the study. Air samples were collected in the driver's breathing zone and in bus cabins.

[Criteria for evaluating exposure to chemical substances in Poland: procedures for suppression and applications].

The major objective of setting values of chemical concentrations in the work environment is to reduce the risk of occupation-related exposure to levels regarded as safe to humans. In the standard setting process, a critical assessment of the available literature data on toxicity of a given chemical and related health effects in the population exposed, depending on concentrations and exposure duration, is essential. Such an assessment performed by a group of experts is a difficult and responsible task since the available data are frequently incomplete and extrapolation of the results of animal experiments aimed at setting limits of concentrations safe to humans raises multiple doubts.

Evaluation of occupational exposure to toxic metals released in the process of aluminum welding.

The objective of this study was to evaluate occupational exposure to welding fumes and its elements on aluminum welders in Polish industry. The study included 52 MIG/Al fume samples and 18 TIG/Al samples in 3 plants. Air samples were collected in the breathing zone of welders (total and respirable dust).

[Occupational exposure to gases emitted in mild and stainless steel welding].

The objective of this work was to select optimal methods for determination of toxic gases (NOx, NO2, CO, CO2, O3) and to evaluate occupational exposure of welders to those gases. The survey covered workers employed in shipyards, and other metal product fabrication plants engaged in welding mild and stainless steel by different techniques (manual metal are, metal active gas, tungsten inert gas welding; gas, plasma, laser cutting and resistance welding). Personal and stationary air samples were collected to determine time weighted average (TWA) and short-term concentrations of gases.

[Problems faced in hygiene evaluation of Welders' working conditions--analysis of chemical hazards].

Dissemination of individual welding methods, as well as assessment of welding fume and gas emissions and their physical properties, chemical composition and related difficulties in hygiene evaluation of working conditions are discussed.

[Exposure assessment strategies for determination of compliance with ceiling occupational exposure limits].

The goal of the assessment of exposure to chemicals is to demonstrate the compliance with occupational exposure limit (OEL). There are numerous publications on recommended air sampling strategies for compliance measurements of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of chemicals but no clear and unambiguous guidelines for measurements and interpretation of ceiling concentrations can be found. Furthermore, definitions and interpretation of ceiling values in different countries may differ considerably.

[Reliability of routine measurements of the atmospheric air pollutant nitrogen dioxide].

On the basis of an external quality control of nitrogen dioxide measurements in the atmospheric air (emmission), the preparation of control material, its evaluation and durability are presented. The results of the control test carried out in the spring 1995 is also discussed.

Occupational exposure in Polish paint and lacquer industry.

Evaluation of occupational exposure to solvent vapours in the production of paints and lacquers is presented. The measurements were carried out in 5 paint and lacquer producing plants of the varied level of technical and technological advancement. Evaluation of exposure was based on determination of all substances identified in the work environment.

[Reliability of routine measurements of atmospheric air pollution using sulfur dioxide as an example].

On the basis of an external quality control of sulfur dioxide measurements in the atmospheric air (emission), the preparation of control material, its evaluation and a two-week durability of the material are presented. The results of the control test carried out in autumn 1994 is also discussed.