[Occupational cancers - Epidemiology and certification]. / Choroby nowotworowe pochodzenia zawodowego ­ epidemiologia i aspekty orzecznicze.

The etiology of cancer is multifactorial. Malignant tumors caused by factors occurring in the work environment, classified as carcinogenic in humans, can be recognized as an occupational disease. Analysis of epidemiological data indicates a significant underestimation of occupational cancer, mainly due to long latency period of these diseases. This publication provides guidance to certify occupational etiology of malignant tumors, based on the reviews of existing legislation and medical literature, as well as on the experience of their authors. The publication presents the epidemiology of cancers, including occupational cancers, risk factors, occupational carcinogens and presents the principles of occupational cancer certification. Med Pr 2018;69(1):93-108.

Feasibility of setting up generic alert levels for maximum skin dose in fluoroscopically guided procedures.

PURPOSE: The feasibility of setting-up generic, hospital-independent dose alert levels to initiate vigilance on possible skin injuries in interventional procedures was studied for three high-dose procedures (chemoembolization (TACE) of the liver, neuro-embolization (NE) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)) in 9 European countries. METHODS: Gafchromic® films and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLD) were used to determine the Maximum Skin Dose (MSD). Correlation of the online dose indicators (fluoroscopy time, kerma- or dose-area product (KAP or DAP) and cumulative air kerma at interventional reference point (Ka,r)) with MSD was evaluated and used to establish the alert levels corresponding to a MSD of 2 Gy and 5 Gy. The uncertainties of alert levels in terms of DAP and Ka,r, and uncertainty of MSD were calculated. RESULTS: About 20-30% of all MSD values exceeded 2 Gy while only 2-6% exceeded 5 Gy. The correlations suggest that both DAP and Ka,r can be used as a dose indicator for alert levels (Pearson correlation coefficient p mostly >0.8), while fluoroscopy time is not suitable (p mostly <0.6). Generic alert levels based on DAP (Gy cm2) were suggested for MSD of both 2 Gy and 5 Gy (for 5 Gy: TACE 750, PCI 250 and NE 400). The suggested levels are close to the lowest values published in several other studies. The uncertainty of the MSD was estimated to be around 10-15% and of hospital-specific skin dose alert levels about 20-30% (with coverage factor k = 1). CONCLUSIONS: The generic alert levels are feasible for some cases but should be used with caution, only as the first approximation, while hospital-specific alert levels are preferred as the final approach.

Comparison of the distribution of doses summarised over different periods of time.

Track dosemeters are very useful devices for dose assessment. The low cost and relatively simple procedures of dose calculation allow the mass distribution of track dosemeters in the population of exposed people. Because of the large number of measurements, observations may be made that would not be possible if the number of measurements were low. One such observation is the unexpected difference between the parameters of the annual dose distribution and the distribution of short-term doses. This difference may have a strong impact on lifetime dose or risk calculations. Much epidemiological data are based on the extrapolation of the distribution of short-term doses into the distribution of the lifetime dose. How the distribution of lifetime doses is spread is more complicated. The answer depends on the period of the single measurement.

[Concentrations of natural 226Ra and 222Rn radioisotopes in the water from deep well intakes in the vicinity of Lódz]. / Ocena zawartosci naturalnych izotopów promieniotwórczych radu 226Ra i radonu 222Rn w wodach z ujec glebinowych pochodzacych z okolic Lódzi.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND. The towns of Zgierz, Ozorków, Stryków and Glowno are located in the central part of Poland, 10 to 30 km to the north of Lódiz. Large surface water reservoirs are not available in that region, and the inhabitants of this region are supplied with drinking water from deep water sources. Literature data show that water from deep wells may contain various radionuclides, such as radium 226Ra or radon 222Rn, and their activity levels depend, among others, on the age of the geologic formation the water comes from. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An emanation technique employing a low-background system consisting of scintillation chamber with two photomultipliers operating in the coincidence arrangement was used to measure radium and radon concentrations. RESULTS: Radium-226 at levels above the detection level (9 Bq/m3) of the measurement method were not detected in any of the examined deep water sources. Water-solved radon-222 was detected in all tested samples. The measured activities were within the range of 1 kBq/m3 to 13 kBq/m3. CONCLUSIONS: Assuming the maximum concentration value, it is estimated that an annual dose received by the population drinking that water is 0.04 mSv, which is below the value of 0.1 mSv recommended by the World Health Organisation.

[Occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens in Poland, 2001]. / Narazenie zawodowe na chemiczne czynniki rakotwórcze w Polsce w 2001 r.

This paper discusses occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens in Poland in 2001 based on data obtained from the Central Register of Carcinogen Agents (CRCA). The data on 3017 enterprises, in which employees were exposed to chemical carcinogens (chemicals, mixtures and technological processes involving carcinogenic agents) were collected by CRCA in 2001. More than 10,000 workers were exposed to crystalline silica. Diesel engine exhausts, formaldehyde and benzo[a]pyrene. The majority of exposed workers were in three southwestern regions (voivodships) of Poland: Slaskie, Doinoslaskie and Malopolskie.