[Effect of occupational exposure to ADCA on the incidence of allergic respiratory reactions - a literature review].

1,1'-azodi(formamide) (azodicarbonamide - ADCA) is widely used as a blowing agent, a chemical substance designed to induce foaming processes. In Poland, ADCA is manufactured by a company specializing in the production of polyethylene foam bags and laminates used in various industries including home appliances, electronics, construction, furniture, automotive, and sports and leisure. The mechanism of action of ADCA involves thermal decomposition, resulting in nitrogen, carbon monoxide, as well as ammonia and carbon dioxide as the main gaseous decomposition products.

[Assessment of the suitability of selected non-measuring models for dermal exposure estimation for the purposes of assessing compliance of working conditions with restrictions 71 and 76 in Annex XVII of the REACH regulation].

Background: Occupational exposure to chemicals occurs mainly through inhalation and the skin. The inhalation exposure assessment is regulated by law, while in Poland the method of conducting measurements for dermal exposure has not been indicated in the law. However, due to the restrictions 71 and 76 from Annex XVII of REACH for 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and -dimethylformamide (DMF), exposure assessment by the dermal route is necessary.

[Occupational carcinogens and mutagens in Poland - occurrence and workers' exposure in the years 2018-2021 based on the data from Central register of carcinogenic or mutagenic agents].

Background: Central register of data on exposure to carcinogenic or mutagenic chemical substances, their mixtures, agents or technological processes (CRCR) conducted by Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine (NIOM) enables monitoring of such agents occurrence in working environment in Poland. The NIOM conducts CRCR based on the provisions of the Regulation of the Minister of Health of 24 July 2012 on chemical substances, their mixtures, agents or technological processes with carcinogenic or mutagenic effects in the work environment. The work summarizes the information reported to CRCR in 2018-2021.

Occupational risk resulting from exposure to mineral wool when installing insulation in buildings.

Mineral wool is widely used for thermal and sound insulation. The subject of the study is to identify hazards for employees resulting from exposure to mineral wool, when it is used to insulate buildings, and to assess the risk arising from this exposure. When installing mineral wool insulation, respirable mineral fibers, dust, and volatile organic compounds may pose a hazard at workplaces.

[Carcinogenic or mutagenic chemical substances and technological processes in the workplace in Poland in 2013-2017].

Background: The aim of this paper was to present data on occupational exposure to carcinogens and mutagens in Poland in 2013-2017, based on information sent to the "Central Register of Data on Exposure to Carcinogenic or Mutagenic Chemical Substances, Mixtures, Agents or Technological Processes," kept by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland. The legal bases, purpose and scope of data collection were also discussed.

Material And Methods: Data on occupational exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, mixtures and technological processes, submitted to the Central Register by Polish employers in 2013- 2017, were analyzed.

[Ten years of the application of REACH and CLP - assessing the knowledge and implementation of these regulations by Polish users of chemicals].

Background: The aim of this work was to assess the awareness among both downstream users and distributors of chemicals in Poland, as regards legal regulations applicable to chemicals (i.e., the Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals - REACH, and the Registration on classification, labelling and packaging - CLP), and to identify on this basis the needs for training and information campaigns addressed to these professional groups, by means of a questionnaire survey.

Cytostatics as hazardous chemicals in healthcare workers' environment.

Cytostatics not only induce significant side-effects in patients treated oncologically but also pose a threat to the health of occupationally exposed healthcare workers: pharmacists, physicians, nurses and other personnel. Since the 1970s numerous reports from various countries have documented the contamination of working areas with cytostatics and the presence of drugs/metabolites in the urine or blood of healthcare employees, which directly indicates the occurrence of occupational exposure to these drugs. In Poland the significant scale of occupational exposure to cytostatics is also confirmed by the data collected in the central register of occupational carcinogens/mutagens kept by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine.

[Hygiene and legal aspects of occupational exposure assessment to cytostatics].

The employers responsibilities for the assessment of occupational exposure to cytostatics in the workplace were analyzed in the light of existing legal regulations. Cytostatics may pose a threat to health and life of workers taking care of patients treated oncologically, i.e.

Chemical incidents resulted in hazardous substances releases in the context of human health hazards.

Objectives: The research purpose was to analyze data concerning chemical incidents in Poland collected in 1999-2009 in terms of health hazards.

Material And Methods: The data was obtained, using multimodal information technology (IT) system, from chemical incidents reports prepared by rescuers at the scene. The final analysis covered sudden events associated with uncontrolled release of hazardous chemical substances or mixtures, which may potentially lead to human exposure.

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.

[Occupational exposure to chromium(VI) compounds].

This article discusses the effect of chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) on human health under conditions of acute and chronic exposure in the workplace. Chromium(VI) compounds as carcinogens and/or mutagens pose a direct danger to people exposed to them. If carcinogens cannot be eliminated from the work and living environments, their exposure should be reduced to a minimum.

[Carcinogenic and mutagenic agents in the workplace, Poland, 2011-2012].

Background: The objective of the study was the analysis of structure of carcinogenic or mutagenic chemical substances and dusts occurring in Polish enterprises, 2011-2012, including the number of exposed employees reported to the "Central register of data on exposure to carcinogenic or mutagenic chemical substances, mixtures, agents or technological processes", Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź. In the paper the aims, range and methodology of data collecting by the Central Register are presented.

Material And Methods: Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data on occupational expo- sure to carcinogenic substances and technological processes reported by employers were carried out.

Rapid recombination mapping for high-throughput genetic screens in Drosophila.

Mutagenesis screens are a staple of classical genetics. Chemical-induced mutations, however, are often difficult and time-consuming to identify. Here, we report that recombination analysis with pairs of dominant visible markers provides a rapid and reliable strategy to map mutations in Drosophila melanogaster.

Night shift work characteristics and occupational co-exposures in industrial plants in Łódź, Poland.

Objectives: Night shift work involving circadian rhythm disruption has been classified by IARC as a probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A). Little is known about co-exposures of the night shift work in occupational settings. The aim of our study was to characterize night shift work systems and industrial exposures occurring in the manufacturing plants in Łódź, Poland, where night shift work system operates, with particular focus on potential carcinogens.

[Chemical carcinogenic and mutagenic agents in the workplace, Poland, 2008-2010].

Background: The aim of this paper is to present a concise but comprehensive information on the occurrence of carcinogenic or mutagenic agents in Polish enterprises and the number of workers exposed to those agents reported to the central register by employers. Objectives and responsibilities of the register, as well as the range and methods of data gathering are discussed.

Material And Methods: Data concerning carcinogenic or mutagenic chemical substances and technological processes reported to central register in 2008-2010 were analyzed.

[Protection against environmental tobacco smoke exposure according to eu and Polish legislation].

Amendment to the Act on health protection against consequences of using tobacco and tobacco products, in force since 15 November 2010, has introduced a number of changes by extending the range of population protection against tobacco smoke exposure, of which the most controversial one for public was placing more restrictive ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. The changes in question caused that current legal bans, although more restrictive than earlier, are still not completely sufficient as far as the protection of all groups of workers against environmental tobacco smoke exposure is concerned. The text of WHO Framework Convention on Tobbacco Control, ratified by Poland, was discussed in the article together with the detailed WHO guidelines on the convention implementation in the field of workers' protection against tobacco smoke.

[Impact of the legislation for smoke-free workplaces on respiratory health in hospitality workers--review of epidemiological studies].

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure (ETS) is a significant risk factor for the development of many diseases, including lung cancer, lower respiratory tract infections, asthma and eye, throat and nasal irritations. Hospitality workers form an occupational group with high exposure to ETS in their workplace. Taking into account the health consequences of ETS exposure and high prevalence of exposure in public places, including workplaces, many countries have implemented the smoking ban that prohibits or restricts smoking in workplaces, including restaurants and bars.

[Hospitality workers' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke before and after implementation of smoking ban in public places: a review of epidemiological studies].

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure induces serious negative health consequences, of which the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory symptoms and poor pregnancy outcomes appear to be most important. Taking into account those health consequences of ETS exposure most countries have introduced legislation to ban or restrict smoking in public places. In this paper the effectiveness of the introduced legislation was analyzed with regard to the protection of hospitality workers from ETS exposure in the workplace.

Enteral access by double-balloon enteroscopy: an alternative method of direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy placement.

Background: Although direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunal feeding tube placement is an increasingly accepted method of providing small-bowel access for long-term enteral nutrition, it is reliant on push enteroscopy and remains a technically challenging procedure with significant failure rates. Double-balloon enteroscopy, with its ability to provide controlled small-bowel intubation may facilitate direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunal tube placement.

Aims And Methods: We report a prospective series of ten consecutive cases of double-balloon enteroscopy-assisted direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunal placement, accompanied by a step-by-step illustrated overview of the technique.

Effective dilation of small-bowel strictures by double-balloon enteroscopy in patients with symptomatic Crohn's disease (with video).

Background: Crohn's disease (CD)-related small-bowel strictures remain a major cause of morbidity, frequently requiring surgery.

Objective: Assessment of the feasibility and effectiveness of CD small-bowel stricture dilation by DBE.

Design: Prospective case series.

[Petroleum substances--human health hazards. I. Classification of petroleum substances on the list of dangerous substances and assessment of existing hazards].

Complex products derived from petroleum are widely used as fuels, greases, solvents, and intermediates in many branches of industry. Petroleum exposure-related human health hazards, observed in occupationally exposed people and in the general population, are a serious sanitary problem. Complex and variable composition of individual petroleum products makes the actual assessment of human health hazards difficult.

[Occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens in Poland, 2001].

This paper discusses occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens in Poland in 2001 based on data obtained from the Central Register of Carcinogen Agents (CRCA). The data on 3017 enterprises, in which employees were exposed to chemical carcinogens (chemicals, mixtures and technological processes involving carcinogenic agents) were collected by CRCA in 2001. More than 10,000 workers were exposed to crystalline silica.

[Exposure to chemical carcinogens in Poland in 1999].

Occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens in Poland, based on the data provided by the Central Register of Carcinogenic Agents, is presented. More than 220,000 employees in 2376 enterprises were exposed to chemical substances, mixtures and technological processes recognized as carcinogenic. The majority of them were present in the three regions (voivodships) of Poland: ślaskim, dolnoślaskim and małopolskim.

[Adaptation of the terminology of chemicals included in the list of maximum allowable concentrations in work environment to the principles which meet the requirements of the IUPAC guidelines].

Significant changes in the terminology of chemicals have been introduced into the updated Maximum Allowable Concentrations (MAC) list in line with the recommendations of the Polish Chemical Society's Chemical Terminology Committee, based on the guidelines of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), and adapted to the specific characteristic of the Polish language. The names formed according to new principles often differ considerably from the names used heretofore, any may be difficult to identify for the user of the list. In order to facilitate the use of the new list, new principles of the formation of chemical names are presented with special emphasis put on the changes introduced.