A cross-industry collaboration to assess if acute oral toxicity (Q)SAR models are fit-for-purpose for GHS classification and labelling.

This study assesses whether currently available acute oral toxicity (AOT) in silico models, provided by the widely employed Leadscope software, are fit-for-purpose for categorization and labelling of chemicals. As part of this study, a large data set of proprietary and marketed compounds from multiple companies (pharmaceutical, plant protection products, and other chemical industries) was assembled to assess the models' performance. The absolute percentage of correct or more conservative predictions, based on a comparison of experimental and predicted GHS categories, was approximately 95%, after excluding a small percentage of inconclusive (indeterminate or out of domain) predictions. Since the frequency distribution across the experimental categories is skewed towards low toxicity chemicals, a balanced assessment was also performed. Across all compounds which could be assigned to a well-defined experimental category, the average percentage of correct or more conservative predictions was around 80%. These results indicate the potential for reliable and broad application of these models across different industrial sectors. This manuscript describes the evaluation of these models, highlights the importance of an expert review, and provides guidance on the use of AOT models to fulfill testing requirements, GHS classification/labelling, and transportation needs.

[Strategic preparedness of selected hospitals to act during massive chemical disasters]. / Strategiczne przygotowanie wybranych szpitali do dzialan w warunkach masowych skaien chemicznych.

The aim of our study was the evaluation of strategic preparedness of twelve hospitals in Kraków, Warsaw and the Triple City to give aid during massive chemical accidents. The study was carried on 146 persons, including 9 managers, 31 ward heads, 75 assistants, and 31 ward nurses. In statistical analysis the generalized linear model extended by random factors, particularly the Poisson's regression has been used. In any of the investigated hospitals, there were no plans regarding of action in case of chemical accidents. The knowledge about sources of possible contamination as well as environment threats were insufficient. The majority of the medical staff did not know their role as well as the role of their hospitals in case of a chemical accident. There is an urgent need for courses about the procedures which should be used during chemical accidents. The lack of hospital preparedness to act during chemical disasters in the big cities suggests that a similar situation is common in other such medical units all over the country. Further investigations, especially in the hospitals which are placed near the potentially dangerous factories, should be carried on in the near future.

Lower vapor concentrations in solvent workplaces in larger-scale enterprises than in smaller-scale enterprises, and exceptions.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between environmental vapor concentrations in organic solvent workplaces and size of enterprises, and to examine if occupational hygiene conditions were better in larger-scale enterprises. For this purpose, a total of 3,567 solvent workplaces were surveyed for environmental solvent vapor concentrations in 1999 to 2002. The results were classified by the size of enterprises (taking the number of employees as an indicator) and by the type of solvent work. It was observed that the vapor concentration in a typical small-scale enterprise was approximately three times as high as that in the large-scale enterprise, although the administrative control levels were not exceeded in general. The proportion of testing and research work (with less use of organic solvents and thus low vapor concentrations) among all solvent workplaces was higher in large-scale enterprises than in small-scale enterprises. The vapor concentrations in this type of workplace did not differ however irrespective of the enterprise size. Further comparison in various types of solvent workplaces disclosed similar size-dependent difference in workplaces for degreasing, cleaning, wiping, printing, and surface coating. In painting and solvent-drying work, in contrast, there was no difference in environmental concentration regardless of the size of enterprises, possibly because environmental improvement of this type of workplaces was technically more difficult than others. Thus, it was concluded that large-scale enterprises generally had better control of work environments than small-scale enterprises, with possible exceptions of painting work and solvent-drying work.

Experiencia para el diagnóstico de las incompatibilidades ergonómicas y las alteraciones musculoesqueléticas: nuevos retos en la salud de los trabajadores / Experience to the diagnostic of the ergonomics incompatibilities and muscularskeletal disorders: challenger news in the workers of the health

En torno a la salud de los trabajadores, se han producido diversas investigaciones desarrolladas bajo la lógica de diferentes orientaciones epistémicas. en este ensayo nos referiremos específicamente al estudio de la salud de los trabajadores en el marco del nuevo patrón tecnoproductivo o de la nueva configuración tecnoproductiva presente en latinoamérica, donde encontramos formas heterogéneas de adopción de las nuevas formas de organización del trabajo. La principal interrogante que nos hacemos desde este esbozo de construcción teórico-metodológico es ¿Cómo investigar la salud en centros de trabajo, signados por las nuevas formas de organización del trabajo? El nuevo escenario productivo dificulta la aprehensión de la realidad en términos rígidos y nos obliga a asumir posiciones metodológicas distintas, producto de las reflexiones epistemológicas que se han podido elaborar a partir de los trabajos en el área. De allí que la lógica participativa y flexibilidad que orienta al proceso productivo y al proceso de trabajo, debe también orientar el conocimiento de esa realidad. Las maneras de aprehender la realidad deben también insertarse en esta dinámica, para así no sólo lograr conocer la salud de los trabajadores a partir de los propios actores, lo cual favorece la concientización de la salud como un valor social, sino también involucrar al trabajador en el reconocimiento de su propia realidad, tanto en su dimensión individual como en su dimensión colectiva. Esto significa hacer uso de la mismas estrategias de involucramiento de la nueva lógica productiva, para penetrar en los terrenos de una alianza nueva, no necesariamente prohibida, entre este advenimiento y la consecución de la salud. Este ensayo se centra en la urgencia de desarrollar caminos que favorezcan la aprehensión dialéctica del problema de la salud de los trabajadores, desde el colectivo y para el colectivo, a partir de una experiencia concreta en una industria química, en la cual se elaboró el diagnóstico de las incompatibilidades ergonómicas y las alteraciones musculoesqueléticas