[Limitations in using international occupational disease statistics for comparative analysis].

The comparability of international statistical data on the incidence of occupational disease is discussed. The examples of some countries served to present the reasons why the relevant data available in publications cannot be often used as a frame of reference to comparative studies. The problem results mainly from different definitions of the term "occupational disease" as they frequently include in their context also these pathologies which are numbered among work-related diseases.

[Data processing computer system for evaluation of health effects due to occupational diseases diagnosed in Poland].

General consequences of occupational diseases for both employees and the country's economy have been known for many decades. Nevertheless there were no legal instruments and financial means to carry out studies leading to a comprehensive evaluation of health effects induced by occupational diseases diagnosed in Poland. Only recently, the legal basis has been provided by the revision of the regulations on occupational diseases (Official Journal of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare no 9, heading 51, 1989), and the financial means allocated according to the Governmental Strategic Programme (SPR-1) for the years 1995-1998.

[Health effects of occupational diseases diagnosed in Poland during the years 1990 and 1994].

The study was carried out on the material of 15,136 occupational diseases that accounted for 71.9% and 65.6% of all cases detected in 1990 and 1994, respectively.

[Morbidity of occupational diseases in Poland in the years 1994-1996].

The authors analysed all cases of occupational diseases diagnosed in Poland over the last three years. The following variables were considered: age, gender of patients, duration of exposure to factors inducing occupational disease, nosologic units, and the types of work places by the European Activity Classification and their localization by voivodships. The obtained results helped to formulate the following conclusions: 1.

Mortality among different occupational groups of workers with pneumoconiosis: results from a register-based cohort study.

A mortality cohort study was carried out on 11,224 men with pneumoconiosis diagnosed during the period 1970-1985. The cohort was selected from among subjects entered into the National Register of Occupational Diseases and included 7,065 coal miners, 924 employees of underground work enterprises, 1,796 workers of the metallurgical industry and iron and nonferrous foundries, as well as 1,439 refractory materials, china, ceramics, and quarry workers. The cohort was traced up to the end of 1991.

Mortality among coal miners with pneumoconiosis in Poland.

A mortality cohort study was carried out on 7,065 coal miners with pneumoconiosis first diagnosed during the years of 1970-85. The cohort was selected from among subjects entered into the National Register of Occupational Diseases and followed up through to the end of 1991. The general male population of Poland was considered as a reference group.

Mortality pattern in men with pneumoconiosis in Poland.

Mortality study was carried out on the cohort of 11,224 men with coal workers' pneumoconiosis or silicosis diagnosed during the period 1970-1985. The cohort was selected from the register of occupational diseases and was traced up to the end of 1991. The general male population of Poland was a reference group.

Pneumoconioses in Poland.

This article deals with the analysis of the epidemiological situation in Poland in the purview of the incidence of pneumoconioses in the past 32 years. During that period pneumoconioses (mainly in coal workers and arc welders) made 17% of all occupational diseases and proved to be the most common pathology among occupational diseases of the respiratory system. The average age of the majority of persons who developed pneumoconioses was over 40 years and duration of exposure--20 years.

[Guidelines concerning criteria for confirming occupational diseases].

The authors shared their comments on the criteria for diagnosing occupational diseases operating nowadays in our country. This work has been inspired by an increasing number of inaccuracies observed in medical certificates sent to the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz. It is believed that explanations presented in this paper will assist local sanitary inspectorates in taking proper decisions after receiving reports on clinical diagnoses of occupational diseases.

Occupational diseases in Poland during the years 1984-1992.

The authors present the results of analysis of data on occupational diseases in Poland during the years 1984-1992. The statistical material covers 86,871 cases of various diseases. Among them hearing lesions, vocal organ diseases, contagious and invasive diseases, pneumoconioses, dermatoses, vibration syndrome, poisonings and chronic bronchitis proved to be most common.

Case-referent study on skin cancer and its relation to occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. II. Study results.

The study was performed on a group of 376 males suffering from skin cancer and on two control groups, 752 males each, matched according to age. Referents were randomly sampled from the general population as well as from hospital wards and dermatological out-patient clinics. The analysis of occupational exposure to different products containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons produced data which indicated an increased risk of skin cancer in persons exposed to mineral oils (odds ratio = 1.

[Causes of mortality among workers exposed to inorganic dust containing crystalline silica].

The authors briefly comment on the characteristics and results of recent epidemiological studies devoted to the reasons of mortality in persons exposed to dusts containing crystalline silica. The most important data concerning these studies are presented in the table accompanied by an author commentary which discusses results obtained by various authors and justification behind this subject in Poland.

[Problems of the evaluation of occupational exposure in epidemiologic case-control studies].

The paper presents issues concerning collecting and assessing data on occupational exposure in case-referent studies. The authors discuss different opinions and methods for obtaining relatively trustworthy and valuable information regarding this subject. The system of combining data on profession and kind of exposure (the so-called occupational exposure system) and the method for constructing a job exposure matrix are paid much attention.

[Effect of night shift work on health status].

Presented in the paper are opinions on night work. The authors submit not only their own views but also those of other researchers. The material points to considerable hazards of the night work, including specific negative health effects.

Case-referent study on skin cancer and its relation to occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. I. Study design.

The authors present the first stage of a case-referent study conducted in order to confront a hypothesis which suggests the existence of an important casual relationship between the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and skin cancer. The investigated group consisted of patients suffering from skin cancer, while control groups comprised individuals from the general population and patients from hospital departments and dermatological outpatient clinics. The present paper deals with the characteristics of cases and their referents, ways of selecting examinees, a method of data collecting (history of a patient in the form of a questionnaire), the work of interviewers and the information concerning localization and histopathological forms of diagnosed skin cancers, as well as reasons for not examining all persons.

[Analysis of formal and substantial errors in the diagnosis of occupational diseases in Poland 1985-1987].

Formal and substantial errors in the diagnosis and certification of occupational diseases during 1985-1987 were analysed. The evaluation was based on occupational disease certificates obtained from the Regional Sanitary-Epidemiological Station and registered at the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź. Most errors were related to misnaming of diseases, certifying some diseases as occupational though they are not included in the mandatory list of occupational diseases, or--qualifying specific health disorders under improper items on the list.

[Occupational diseases in Poland 1984-1985].

The authors have analysed occupational diseases cases that occurred in Poland during 1984-1985. Personal notification of the diseases, sent over to the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódź from Provincial Sanitary--Epidemiological Stations, constitute sources of information. The analysis covers the morbidity data in age and sex groups, involving territorial and branch differentiation.

Occupational exposure to cadmium and kidney dysfunction.

Investigations were carried out in an alkaline battery factory. The study group consisted of 102 persons and the control group of 85 persons. Cadmium in blood (Cd-B) and cadmium in urine (Cd-U), as well as beta 2-microglobulin (B2-M), retinol binding protein (RBP), amino acids in urine were determined.

[Cancer of the skin in Poland related to occupational factors].

The paper deals with the effects of occupational environment on the skin cancer prevalence rates. Particularly, the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been enhanced. Due to the long latency between the initial contact with PAH-emitting substances (asphalt, tar, oils, soot) and cancer occurrence, and also due to the usually advanced age of affected workers, the evaluation of chemical carcinogens in skin cancer prevalence is hampered and so imprecise.

[Health status and working conditions of female workers in the textile industry in Lódź].

Within a cross-sectional representative study of textile industry workers in Lódź, the rate of chronic diseases in particular occupational groups of women, as related to age, socio-living conditions and work environment, has been analysed. Furthermore, a representative gynaecologic examination has been carried out in a randomly selected group of women and occupational and non-occupational workload has been estimated. The study delivered ample information on the health conditions and revealed a number of disadvantageous phenomena inherent in the population and in the gynecologic care system for the women employed in the test plants.

[Health effects of occupational exposure to cadmium and its compounds and proposed preventive measures].

The paper presents effects of cadmium compounds upon human organism. Special attention was paid to disturbances resulting from chronic occupational exposure to those compounds. In addition, the description of toxic effects was supplemented with suggestions to carry on pre-employment and periodic examinations that would enable undertaking appropriate preventive measures for the population occupationally exposed to cadmium compounds.

[Incidence of arterial hypertension in the population of workers in the textile industry in Lódź].

Textile workers in Lódź have undergone a cross-sectional representative study aimed at the detection of arterial hypertension. In addition, the impact of sex, age, overweight, blood cholesterol level, smoking habit and noise upon the prevalence of that disease has been tested. Arterial hypertension has been found in 8.

[Chronic bronchitis in textile industry workers in Lódź].

Within the cross-sectional representative study of textile workers' health the prevalence of chronic bronchitis was evaluated. In addition, the impact of working conditions, sex, age and smoking habit was assessed. Chronic bronchitis was found in 4.