In the event of an emergence of harmful and hazardous chemical and dust factors at workplaces, the employer must provide adequate protection for employees exposed to these factors. As a rule, organizational measures and collective technical measures are a priority. However, many workplaces use personal protective equipment for this purpose. This applies particularly to respiratory protective devices, protective clothing, hand and leg protection, and eye and face protection. The selection of the optimal set of these measures, considering the exposure to chemical and dust factors and the need to ensure employees suffer from the minimum level of discomfort, is a fundamental problem. The data related to the characteristics of individual types of hazards, their classification and selection procedures for various levels of exposure is essential in this regard. This information can be found in numerous thematic publications, but their analysis extends the time needed by employers to make the correct decision. Therefore, as part of the 5th stage of the Multiannual Program, task no. 3.SP.08 was carried out to collect and systematize knowledge about personal protective equipment. The article presents an extract of information from the knowledge base concerning selecting personal protective equipment for chemical and dust hazards. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Benzene is a colorless to slightly yellow liquid with the characteristic odor. Gases emitted from volcanoes and forest fires as well as petroleum products are natural sources of benzene. It is used primarily as a solvent and a starting material in the synthesis of many chemicals. In 2020 Poland, 28 people were exposed to benzene in concentrations exceeding the current TLV value. Benzene is a narcotic under the severe poisoning conditions. The liquid is irritating. Haematological changes in the blood and neoplasms, including acute myeloid leukemia, have been observed in humans after chronic exposure. Similar effects were seen in laboratory animals. Benzene and/or its metabolites are genotoxic. Such an effect of benzene was demonstrated in people occupationally exposed to the compound at a concentration of <3.2 mg/m³ (<1 ppm). Benzene is not an animal teratogen. As the value of TLV for benzene, it is proposed to adopt the concentration recommended in the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive 2004/37/EC, i.e. 0.66 mg/m³. The risk of leukemia at employees professionally exposed to benzene at a concentration of 0.66 mg/m³ is within the range from 2.7 · 10⁻⁴ to 1 · 10⁻³. It is also proposed to add the following notations: “Carc. 1A” (carcinogenic substance of hazard category 1A); “Skin” (the absorption of substances through the skin may be as important as for inhalation exposure); “Muta. 1B” (germ cell mutagenicity, hazard category 1B). Benzene concentration of 2.5 μg/l of urine and the concentration of S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) at the level of 9.0 μg/g of creatinine in urine were proposed as biomarkers of occupational exposure to benzene. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

1-Ethylpyrrolidin-2-one (NEP) is a colorless or yellowish liquid with ammonia-like odor. It is used as 1-methylpyrrolidin- 2-one (NMP) substitute, mostly as industrial solvent. So far, no normative values in the air of the working environment have been defined in Poland for 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone. The MAC value of 30 mg/m³ and STEL value of 60 mg/m³ have been proposed. The basis for calculating the MAC value was the NOAEC value of 62.6 mg/m³ for the olfactory epithelium degeneration in rats. The equivalent concentrations in the air of the working environment, calculated on the basis of the NOAEL value for prenatal toxicity in rats and rabbits, are 87.5 mg/m³ and 175 mg/m³, respectively, therefore the MAC value of 30 mg/m³ should protect workers from harmful effects on the offspring. Taking into account the irritating effect of 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, its absorption through the skin and possible toxic effects on the fetus, the following notations have been proposed: “skin” – skin absorption of the substance may be just as important as for inhalation exposure, “Ft” – substance toxic to the fetus and “I” – irritating substance. It is proposed to set Biological Exposure Index (BEI) value of 45 mg 2-hydroxy-N-ethylsuccinimide (2-HESI)/g creatinine. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Cadmium and its inorganic compounds cause lung cancer. A relationship between human exposure to cadmium and its inorganic compounds and renal and prostate cancer has also been demonstrated. It is estimated that several thousand people employed in metal production are exposed to cadmium and its inorganic compounds; in metallurgy, in the production batteries, alloys, pigments, plastics and welders. The values of the maximum allowable concentration (NDS) for cadmium [7440-43-9] and its inorganic compounds in Poland were changed. The NDS value, which is meant to become obligatory from 2027, refers to the inhalable fraction and amounts to 0.001 mg/m³. In the transition period from July 2021 to 2027, the NDS value was set at 0.004 mg/m³. A method for the determination of cadmium and its inorganic compounds was developed, enabling the determination of this substance in the air at workplaces with the use of the atomic absorption spectrometry with electrothermal atomization (ET AAS), in accordance with the requirements of the European standard PN-EN 482. Cadmium was determined in the concentration range: 0.10–1.00 μg/l and 0.50–5.00 μg/l. The method’s determination in the air at workplaces of 0.0001 mg/m³ was obtained for, as well as the possibility of determining this substance in the concentration range of 0.00010–0.0104 mg/m³ for a 480-l air sample. The presented method enables the determination of this substance in the air at workplaces in the required range of 0.1–2 new NDS values. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.