[Combined exposure to lead and cadmium in selected groups of people in Upper Silesia].

The aim of investigation was an assessment of potential combined exposure to lead and cadmium in selected groups of people in Upper Silesia. The employees of coal-mines, of smelting works, and non exposed occupationally population were investigated. The following groups of employees were distinguished: in coal-mines--miners (38 persons), workers on the surface of earth (77 persons), in smelting works--smelters (8 persons), accessory workers (37 persons), clerks (18 persons) and non-exposed occupationally groups (66 persons).

Indicator-based assessment of environmental hazards and health effects in the industrial cities of upper Silesia, Poland.

Using an indicator-based approach, we assessed environmental hazards and related health effects in populations of industrial cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants in Upper Silesia, Poland, and analyzed the relationship between environment and health. We adopted the method developed by Dutkiewicz et al. for assessing large geographic areas.

[Assessment of exposure to bioaerosols in workplace ambient air during municipal waste collection and disposal].

The assessment of the exposure to bioaerosols among workers engaged in the collection and disposal of municipal waste is presented. The workers were divided into the following groups, depending on the job performed: waste collectors (loaders, drivers), composting plant workers (heavy equipment operators, waste site workers), sorters (heavy equipment operators, waste sorters) and landfill site workers (heavy equipment operators, weighers). Air samples were also collected on the city streets and in flats.

Percutaneous absorption studies after forty years.

The authors review the development of ways to study percuatneous absorption of chemicals and summarize the current status of investigations in this area.

Background on the system of integral evaluation of human exposure to toxic substances in the work and municipal environments.

Exposure to toxic chemicals in the work, natural and home environments is recognised as combined exposure. The system of integral evaluation of human exposure should take account of all toxic substances occurring in all environmental media (air, water, soil and food), and all routes through which they enter the human body. To provide the integral evaluation it is necessary to develop different exposure scenarios based on dose intake or derived values.