Retrospective assessment of specific effects of exposure of workers to PCBs in Slovakia.

Introduction And Objective: Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been used commercially since 1929 as dielectric and insulating non-flammable substances, additives for paints, etc. In Slovakia, 60 chemical production workers highly exposed to PCBs (mainly to Delor 103) were studied with duration of exposure ranging from 3 months to 19 years.

Material And Methods: Clinical examinations of skin, skin histology and laboratory tests concerning lipid metabolism, iron metabolism and levels of copper provided comparisons with a control group of healthy individuals and/or the upper limits of normal values.

Fish and fish products as risk factors of mercury exposure.

Introduction: Mercury is ubiquitous in the biosphere, occurring in the air, water, land, and soil, as well as in living organisms. Excessive exposure to mercury is associated with a wide range of adverse health effects including damage to the central nervous system and the kidneys. Mercury exists in many different forms in the environment which produce various patterns of toxicity.