The assessment of maximum allowable heat load of a body in a hot environment is determined using the WBGT index. The name of the WBGT index is derived from the measurement of two parameters: natural wet-bulb temperature and black globe temperature. WBGT as an indicator used to assess the heat load (until 2017) was related to the metabolic heat production and placed in the form of tables in the Polish edition of Standard No. PN-EN 27243:2005 (and PN- -EN 27243:2005P). In 2017, this standard was replaced by Standard No. EN ISO 7243:2017, and in January 2018, the Polish translation of Standard No. PN-EN ISO 7243:2018-01 was approved. This article describes the methodology of conducting WBGT research according to Standard No. PN-EN ISO 7243:2018-01. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

N-Methylformamide is a colorless liquid with an ammoniacal odor, used as a solvent and an intermediate for chemical reactions. There are no data on occupational exposure in Poland. N-Methylformamide is very well absorbed into the human body. The LD50 values for N-methylformamide administered to animals in various routes are similar (2600–4000 mg/kg bw). After single or short-term administration of the compound in doses of 100–1200 mg/kg bw. worsening symptoms of liver damage have been observed. No-observed adverse effect concentration (NOAEC) was established at 120 mg/m3 (two-week inhalation exposure in rats). Increase of hepatotoxic effect of N-methylformamide were observed at concentrations of 320 mg/m3 and 980 mg/m3. There are no data on the sub-chronic, chronic and carcinogenic effects of the compound in laboratory animals. N-Methylformamide was not mutagenic and genotoxic. It caused embryotoxic and teratogenic effects. The NOAEC value (120 mg/m3) was used as the basis for determining the MAC (maximum acceptable concentration) value for N-methylformamide, and the MAC value for N-methylformamide was calculated at 3.3 mg/m3. There are no basis to determine the short-term value (STEL) and biological limit value (BLV). It has been proposed to label the compound as ˝Ft˝ (toxic for repoduction) and ˝skin˝ (skin absorption of the substance may be as important as inhalation exposure). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Benzidine is a white, crystalline solid. In the past, it was used mainly for the production of dyes, and nowadays in chemical analysis. Benzidine can cause bladder cancer to humans. The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining benzidine in workplace air, which will makes it possible to determine its concentrations at the lowest possible level. The method is based on the chemisorption of benzidine on a glass fiber filter treated with sulphuric acid(VI), extraction of benzidine disulphate with water and sodium hydroxide solution, and after extraction to the solid phase (SPE), benzidine is eluted from the SPE cartridge using 1 mL of methanol. The obtained solution is analyzed chromatographically. The tests were performed using a liquid chromatograph (HPLC) 1200 series of Agilent Technologies with a fluorescence detector (FLD). Determinations were performed using an Ultra C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, dp = 5 μm). The procedure was validated according to Standard No. EN 482. The method can be used to determine benzidine in workplace air in the concentration range from 0.1 to 2 μg/m3. The limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.25 ng/m3. The overall accuracy of the method was 5.36% and its relative total uncertainty was 23%. This method makes it possible to selectively determine benzidine in workplace air in the presence of most substances that do not show fluorescence, and in the presence of: biphenyl-4-amine, 1-naphthylamine and 2-naphthylamine, which show fluorescence. The method of determining benzidine has been recorded as an analytical procedure (see Appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Dinitrotoluene (DNT) is a yellow, crystalline solid with a characteristic odor. It may consist of 6 isomers, but only two (2,4-DNT and 2,6-DNT) are of industrial importance. DNT can cause cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a method for determining mixture of DNT isomers in workplace air, which will allow to determine its concentration at the level of 0.033 mg/m3. The method is based on the collection of the mixture of dinitrotoluene isomers contained in the air on glass fiber and silica gel, extraction with methanol and chromatographic analysis of obtained solution. The tests were performed using a liquid chromatograph (HPLC) 1200 series from Agilent Technologies with a diode array detector (DAD). The method was validated in accordance with the requirements of Standard No. EN 482. The method allows to determine mixture of DNT isomers in the workplace air in the concentration range: 0.033–0.66 mg/m3. The described method makes it possible to determine mixture of DNT isomers in the workplace air in the presence of: toluene-2,4-diamine, toluene-2,6-diamine, toluene-2,4-diyl diisocyanate, toluene-2,6-diyl diisocyanate and toluene. The method for determining dinitrotoluene has been recorded as an analytical procedure (see Appendix). This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

This paper presents basic information on the structure and function of biological membranes. The types of biomimetic membranes modelling the properties of biological membranes were introduced. The method of testing surface properties of lipid monolayer, which is the basic type of biomimetic membranes, was described. The presented method makes it possible to evaluate the effect of nanoparticles on the surface activity of biomimetic membranes based on the determination of the surface index MA. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

Ferrovanadium belongs to the group of ferroalloys used in the production of carbon steel, high-strength alloy steel. Ferrovanadium dust is a mild irritant to human skin and respiratory tract. However, pathological changes in various zones of the respiratory system were found among workers in the production of ferrovanadium. Currently, maximum allowable concentration value (MAC) for ferrovanadium in workplace air in Poland, for inhalable fraction, is at 1 mg/m3 and STEL at 3 mg/m3. The article presents a method for determining concentrations of ferrovanadium in the range of 1/10–2 of the MAC. The method consists in collecting ferrovanadium contained in the air in fractions to filters, mineralization of filters with the use of concentrated acids and determination of iron and vanadium with atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The developed analytical method makes it possible to determine the inhalable fraction ferrovanadium in workplace air at the concentration range of 0.073–2.06 mg/m3 (for an 720-L air sample). The obtained relative expanded uncertainty of the measurement of ferrovanadium meets the requirements of Standard No. PN-EN 482. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

In 2020, the Commission met at three sessions, in which 9 documentations for recommended exposure limits of chemical substances were discussed. Moreover, the Commission discussed: the frequency of tests and measurements in relation to works in which the respirable fraction of crystalline silica is produced, changes in Annex 2 to the Regulation on MAC and MAI, point C.1: “Hot microclimate” and updating Directive 2020/739/EC based on the Standard No. PN-EN ISO 7243: 2018-01. The Commission suggestes to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy the following changes in the list of MAC and MAI values: adding 5 substances to the list of MAC values (4-chloro-2-tolylamine and its hydrochloride, basic red 9, furan, nitrilotriacetic acid and its salts, N-methylformamide), changing current values for 3 chemical substances and adaptation of the Polish list of OEL (MAC) values to the directives: 2017/2398/EU [wood dust, chromium (VI) compounds] and the fourth draft directive amending Directive 2004/37/EC (acrylonitrile). The Commission also proposed changes to Annex 2 to the hot microclimate. The Interdepartmental Commission for MAC and MAI supported the request of the Group of Experts on Biological Agents to include the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in Annex 1 to the Regulation of the Minister of Health on harmful biological agents for health in the work environment and health protection of workers professionally exposed to these factors that implement into Polish law the Commission Directive (EU) 2020/739 of June 3, 2020. Four issues of the quarterly Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy were published in 2020. The following were published: article on coronaviruses, 10 monographic documentations with justification of proposed values and their maximum allowable concentrations (NDS, NDSCh), 9 methods for assessing the concentration of harmful factors in the working environment, including the method of determining elemental carbon in exhaust gases emitted from diesel engines and report on the activities of the Interdepartmental Committee for MAC and MAI in 2017-2019. Three sessions of the Interdepartmental Commission for MAC and MAI are planned in 2021. During the meetings, the MAC/MAC-STEL values for about 10 chemicals will be discussed and work will be continued on the adaptation to national regulations the proposed binding values for chemicals with carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic effects prepared by the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC). These tasks are also in line with the activities of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.