Med Pr
-
By means of personal air sampler and Fibre Monitor FM-7400 concentrations of total dust and respirable mineral fibre were measured at work-posts, after sprinkling places with the highest emission of dust, in the plant where serpentine asbestos, used as road stone, was processed. It was found that due to sprinkling mean concentrations of total dust during a shift decreased by 1.5 (at inspection post) to 13.5 times at the post where crushing and sorting machines were served (before sprinkling -29.7 mg/m3 and after 2.2 mg/m3). It was found, at the same time, that sprinkling no decreased the concentration of mineral fibres.
-
Concentrations of carbon monoxide hemoglobin in blood of 48 furnace-room, and of 31 carbon derivatives department workers for many years exposed to carbon monoxide (divided into smokers and non-smokers) were assessed by spectrophotometry. CO levels were within the values provided in the corresponding standards for the occupational exposure, there was, however, the risk of periodically exceeding the MAC values. It has been found that HbCO levels in the workers of the furnace room and of the carbon derivatives department were much significantly higher than in the controls, both in the smoker and in the non-smoker group.
-
Poor health status of general population in Poland together with existing trends were discussed on the basis of health indices and in comparison with other European countries. Examples of health effects related to environmental pollution in Poland were presented, and some vital preventive activities for improving the situation were proposed.