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 N,N -dimethylformamide (DMF), exposure assessment by the dermal route is necessary. These restrictions require to ensure that exposure of workers is below the derived no-effect levels (DNELs) for dermal exposure. The aim of the work was assessment of suitability of selected non-measurement forecasting models for the estimation of dermal occupational exposure to chemicals for the purposes of assessing compliance of working conditions with the restrictions 71 and 76 of the REACH regulation. Material and Methods Three tools estimating dermal exposure, recommended by European Chemical Agency (ECHA), were selected: ECETOC TRA, RISKOFDERM and IH SkinPerm, which were used to estimate 2 exemplary workplaces. Results Results of the estimations of dermal exposure showed that non-measuring models are useful for fulfilling the obligations under restrictions 71 and 76 of Annex XVII of REACH. The type of exposure scenario and amount of data available for the workplace are crucial for the selection of the model. The ECETOC TRA was considered the best model for this type of analysis, whose main advantages are direct comparison of the output data in mg/kg/day with the DNEL value and use of standardized descriptors system. Conclusions Exposure modeling is a good and cheap way to determine the dermal exposure magnitude at workplaces, also to comply with the requirements of restrictions 71 and 76 of Annex XVII of REACH. The application of modeling in the case of occupational exposure by the dermal route is one of the solutions when it is necessary to comply with the DNEL for dermal exposure. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2023;74(6):487–500.
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. Based on the results of concentration measurements, it was assessed that the probability of adverse health effects related to the work of insulation installers, resulting from exposure to mineral wool fibers, is low, but for dust associated with exposure, an average health risk was estimated. An additional threat may be the sensitizing effect of substances used as binders and additives improving the utility properties of mineral wool, for example, phenol formaldehyde resins. The paper also contains some information on the labeling of mineral wool; this is very important because the label allows downstream users to recognize mineral wools, the composition and properties of which cause that they are not classified as carcinogens. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(6):757-69.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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.
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. The data were shown in various configurations and presented in the form of spatial distribution of the exposure to and occurrence of selected occupational carcinogens and mutagens.
The number of chemical substances reported to the Central Register in the reference period had increased gradually since 2013. In 2017, 368 substances were reported, i.e., an increase of 21.1% compared to 2013. Also, the number of reporting enterprises increased (to over 4000 enterprises in 2017). The most common chemical agents in the reference years were formaldehyde, particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzene and chromium( VI) compounds. Among the technological processes, most of the plants reported works in exposure to hardwood dust (about 800 plants and over 10 000 to almost 15 000 exposed workers).
It is necessary to legally define the term "exposure" and its quantification so that there would be no doubts for employers and supervision services about the number of people exposed in the workplace. Exposure spatial distribution maps are a transparent and easy-to-understand way of presenting data on exposure to occupational carcinogens and mutagens. Med Pr. 2020;71(2):187-203.
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. The assessment of occupational exposure to cytostatics and health risks constitutes employers' obligation. Unfortunately, the assessment of occupational risk resulting from exposure to cytostatics raises a number of concerns. Provisions governing the problem of workers' health protection are not unequivocal because they derive from a variety of law areas, especially in a matter of hazard classification and safety data sheets for cytostatics. Moreover, no legally binding occupational exposure limits have been set for cytostatics or their active compounds, and analytical methods for these substances airborne and biological concentrations are lacking. Consequently, the correct assessment of occupational exposure to cytostatics, the evaluation of health hazards and the development of the proper preventive strategy appear difficult. The authors of this article described and discussed the amendments to the European provisions concerning chemicals in the light of employers' obligations in the field of employees' heath protection against the consequences of exposure to cytostatics. Some modifications aimed at a more effective health protection of workers occupationally exposed to cytostatics were also proposed.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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.
The SurveyMonkey Internet survey software was selected for this purpose. Two groups of respondents were surveyed - downstream users (DU) and distributors (D) of chemicals, and consumers.
Responses were obtained from 65 downstream users and distributors of chemicals, and from 98 consumers. As many as 23% of the respondents did not know the obligations imposed on their company by REACH and CLP. Over 59% of the DU/D respondents did not have the opportunity to participate in chemical safety management (CSM) training in the last 5 years. Eighty percent of the respondents were interested in participating in free courses that would enable them to broaden their knowledge of the classification, labeling and marketing of chemicals.
Despite the 10 years of the application of REACH and CLP, many people working for chemical enterprises still do not know their company's obligations set out in these regulations. The percentage of people positively assessing their competences increases with the size of the enterprise. The results of the survey indicate the need to organize continuous training for people using chemicals in their professional activity and for distributors. It is very important to ensure training at the basic level of chemical distributors. Such training should provide them with elementary knowledge on the hazards posed by chemicals, which could then be passed to consumers in an understandable manner. Med Pr. 2019;70(4):435-44.
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. In the European Union the proposed binding occupational exposure limit value (BOELV) for chromium(VI) of 0.025 mg/m³ is still associated with high cancer risk. Based on the Scientific Commitee of Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) document chromium(VI) concentrations at 0.025 mg/m³ increases the risk of lung cancer in 2-14 cases per 1000 exposed workers. Exposure to chromium(VI) compounds expressed in Cr(VI) of 0.01 mg Cr(VI)/m3; is responsible for the increased number of lung cancer cases in 1-6 per 1000 people employed in this condition for the whole period of professional activity.
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., pharmacists, physicians, nurses and other personnel. The significant scale of occupational exposure to cytostatics in Poland is confirmed by the data collected in the Central Register of Data on Exposure to Carcinogenic or Mutagenic Substances, Mixtures, Agents or Technological Processes, maintained by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland. The issue of occupational risk assessment of exposure to cytostatics gives raise to numerous concerns. Polish regulations concerning health protection of employees occupationally exposed to cytostatics are not unequivocal, as they are derived from different areas of the law, especially those applying to hazard classification, labeling and preparation of safety data sheets for cytostatics. There are neither binding occupational exposure limits legally set for active compounds of antineoplastic drugs nor methods for monitoring of these substances concentrations in a worker's breathing zone and biological material. This prevents the employer to carry out the correct assessment of occupational exposure, the results of which are the basis for preparing the proper preventive strategy. In this article the consequences of amendments to the European chemical legislation for employers responsible for adequate protection of health and life of employees exposed to cytostatics, were discussed, as well as some legal changes aimed at a better health and life protection of workers exposed to cytostatics in a workplace were proposed. Med Pr 2018;69(1):77-92.
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.
Qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data on occupational expo- sure to carcinogenic substances and technological processes reported by employers were carried out.
In 2011-2012 approximately 2600 plants reported more than 300 carcinogenic or mutageaic chemical substances annually. The most common occupational chemical carcinogens/mutagens were: benzene, one of the unspecified gasoline, chromium(VI) compounds, asbestos, chroniurn(VI) trioxide, ethylene oxide and benzoapyrene. The highest number of employees was exposed to particular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Hardwood dust was the major occupational carcinogen listed in the technological processes inventory with approximately 11 000 employees exposed in about 650 enterprises annually.
The amended legislation concerning occupational exposure to carcinogens has not significantly influenced the exposure structure n Poland. Nevertheless it permited to determine the actual total number of the occupationally exposed to carcinoLens.
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