Among the harmful factors related to the work environment, noise and dust poses the greatest threat. Continuous monitoring of working environment parameters may be an effective solution to this problem, enabling the quick detection of areas with high noise emissions and dust concentration and their sources. Thanks to the proposed solution, OSH services will receive a tool for a quick response to exceeded exposure limit values   for factors harmful to health. Such solution will also facilitate the assessment of technical conditions of installation, because excessive dust emission and/or high levels of exposure to noise may be the result of unsealing, or faulty operation of devices. The results of the meter prototype for PM2.5 concentrations of suspended dust are satisfactory. Comparative measurements of A-sound levels for different test signal levels confirmed small differences in relation to the reference meter. It was found that the prototype can be used as a tool for a quick and effective response to exceeded exposure limit values   for dust and noise in an industrial plant. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering.

2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol (BHT) is an organic chemical compound from the group of phenols, which occurs in the form of white crystals or in the form of a light yellow powder. This substance is manufactured and/or imported into the European Economic Area in quantities of 10.000–100.000 t/year. BHT due to its antioxidant properties is used, e.g., in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic industries to protect materials from oxidation during long-term storage. Despite the widespread use of BHT, reports of the consequences of exposure to this substance in humans are sporadic and are generally limited to skin reactions. BHT is characterized by low acute toxicity after a single intragastric or cutaneous administration. Experimental studies have shown that in both rodents and primates, the liver is a critical organ of BHT action. In vitro and in vivo studies of the mutagenicity and genotoxic effects of BHT have shown that BHT does not pose a significant mutagenic and genotoxic risk to humans. In offspring of mammals who were exposed to BHT by the oral route during pregnancy, effects of the compound on developmental toxicity including fetotoxic and embryotoxic effects were observed. There was no effect of BHT exposure on reproduction parameters. The basis for calculating MAC was  a NOAEL of 25 mg/kg/day obtained from a chronic study in rats. After applying several uncertainty factors, MAC of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol of 10 mg/m3 was proposed. The established value should protect employees from the effects of systemic action and possible irritating relationship. There are no grounds for establishing the value of STEL and the value of the permissible concentration in biological material. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and environmental engineering. 

1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) exists as a hygroscopic liquid. This substance is produced and / or imported to the European Economic Area in large quantities (10.000–100.000 t/year). According to the information on the ECHA website, the substance has been registered under the REACH regulation, inter alia, by two registrants from Poland. NMP is mainly used as an industrial solvent in the production of chemicals and in the industrial production. In April 2018, the European Commission limited the use of NMP due to its properties which are posing a risk to human health. Restriction 71 of Annex XVII to REACH applies to manufacturing, placing on the market and using NMP. The derived no effect level (DNEL) values for worker exposure have been determined to be 14.4 mg/m3 for inhalation exposure and 4.8 mg/kg/day for dermal exposure. The NMP documentation with the proposed NDS value was revised due to the non-compliance of the NDS value applicable in Poland (NDS 40 mg/m3) with the DNEL value recommended by the Risk Assessment Committee: DNELinh.14.4 mg/m3. Introducing a standard at the level of the DNEL value would allow the use of NMP also in a concentration equal to or greater than 0.3%. For NMP, the critical effect is respiratory irritation, chemosensory effects and reproductive toxicity. It was proposed to keep the NDS NMP value applicable in Poland, i.e. 40 mg/m3. The basis for this value was respiratory irritation and chemosensory effects. Due to the irritating effect of the compound, the TLV value was left equal to 80 mg/m3. The proposed values are consistent with the values adopted in the European Union, contained in Directive 2009/161/EU. The DSB value was established at  20 mg 2-HMSI/g creatinine. The substance was labeled with the notation „skin”, „I” and with the notation „Ft”. This article discusses the problems of occupational safety and health, which are covered by health sciences and  environmengig.

1-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) is a colorless liquid with ammonia-like odor. It belongs to the organic compounds from the lactam group, i.e., the ethyl derivative of 2-pyrrolidone. 1-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone, due to similar physicochemical proper-ties, is used in industry as a substitute for 1-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP). It is used as a solvent in polymer, petrochemical, paint and varnish, and electronic industries. Moreover, it has been used as a cleaning agent for removing paints, varnishes, adhesives, oil or grease. 1-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone can be absorbed through the skin as well as through inhalation and food. The aim of the this study was to develop and validate a method for determining 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone in work-place air. The developed method of NEP determination consists in adsorption of vapors of this substance on coconut shell charcoal, extraction with a dichloromethane and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The study was performed using a gas chromatograph coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS), equipped with a polar ZB-WAXplus capillary column (length 60 m, diameter 0.25 mm and the film thickness of the stationary phase 0.5 µm). The developed method is linear in the concentration range of 15.0–320.0 µg/ml, which corresponds to the range of 1.5–32.0 mg/m3  for a 10-L air sample. The analytical method described in this paper makes it possible to determine 1-ethyl-2-pyrrolidone in workplace air in the presence of comorbid substances. The method is precise, accurate and it meets the criteria for procedure for measuring chemical agents listed in Standard No. PN-EN 482. Developed method of determining 1-ethyl- 2-pyrrolidone at workplace air 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.

1-Metylo-2-pirolidon (NMP) jest higroskopijną cieczą o lekko aminowym (rybnym) zapachu, pochodną γ-laktamu. NMP znalazł zastosowanie w przemyśle chemicznym jako polarny rozpuszczalnik do ekstrakcji, do mycia i odłuszczania części metalowych, do usuwania pozostałości żywic z części elektronicznych oraz starych powłok malarskich. Główną drogą narażenia na NMP w środowisku pracy jest droga inhalacyjna oraz kontakt przez skórę. Celem prac badawczych było opracowanie i walidacja metody oznaczania 1-metylo-2-pirolidonu w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy. Opracowana metoda oznaczania NMP polega na adsorpcji par tej substancji na węglu z łupin orzecha kokosowego, ekstrakcji dichlorometanem i analizie chromatograficznej tak otrzymanego roztworu. Do badań wykorzystano chromatograf gazowy sprzężony ze spektrometrem mas (GC-MS), wyposażony w polarną kolumnę kapilarną ZB-WAXplus (o długości 60 m, średnicy 0,25 mm i grubości filmu fazy stacjonarnej 0,5 µm). Opracowana metoda jest liniowa w zakresie stężeń 40,0 ÷ 800,0 µg/ml, co odpowiada zakresowi 4,0 ÷ 80,0 mg/m3 dla próbki powietrza o objętości 10 l. Opracowana metoda analityczna umożliwia oznaczanie 1-metylo-2-pirolidonu w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy w obecności substancji współwystępujących. Metoda charakteryzuje się dobrą precyzją i dokładnością i spełnia wymagania normy PN-EN 482 dla procedur dotyczących oznaczania czynników chemicznych. Opracowana metoda oznaczania 1-metylo-2-pirolidonu w powietrzu na stanowiskach pracy została zapisana w postaci procedury analitycznej, którą zamieszczono w załączniku. Zakres tematyczny artykułu obejmuje zagadnienia zdrowia oraz bezpieczeństwa i higieny środowiska pracy będące przedmiotem badań z zakresu nauk o zdrowiu oraz inżynierii środowiska.

N-Methylformamide (NMF) is a colorless liquid with slight ammonia like odor and the specific gravity similar to water. NMF is chemical compound used in production of insecticides, methyl isocyanate and for extraction of aromatic hydrocarbons in an oil refining process. The most important adverse effect of NMF exposure is its hepatotoxicity. NMF is also suspected to be embriotoxic and teratogenic agent. The aim of this study was to develop and validate method for determining NMF in workplace air. The developed method is based on adsorption of NMF vapors on silica gel, extraction with a solution of 3% methanol and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The study was performed with high performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection. The developed method is linear (r = 0.9994) in the concentration range of 1.65–33.0 µg/ml, which corresponds to the range of 0.33–66 mg/m3 for a 10-L air sample. The analytical method described in this paper is precise, accurate and it meets the criteria for procedure for determination of chemical agents listed in Standard No. PN-EN 482. The developed method of determination of NMF in workplace air 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.