Jakubowski M, Trzcinka-Ochocka M, Raźniewska G, Frydrych J
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lódź, Poland.
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 1998;11(1):59-67.
Occupational exposure to lead occurs in about 1,300 enterprises in Poland. According to the 1994 data, based on the reports of the State Sanitary Inspectorate, 1,970 persons were employed at that time under conditions of exposure exceeding the Polish MAC level of 0.050 mg/m3. The measurements of workers' blood lead concentrations (Pb-B) were carried out only in 90 factories. In 1996, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare issued a directive stating that the Pb-B determinations in employees occupationally exposed to lead are compulsory. The aim of the present study was to assess lead exposure of workers employed in different branches of the Polish economy, based on Pb-B determinations. The measurements were performed on 2,324 male and 165 female workers of 13 different types of industry, including manufacture of crystal glass, battery industry, copper and zinc smelters, welding in a repair shipyard and some other workposts under conditions of lead exposure. The results of the determinations indicate that exposure to lead continues to be a serious problem in Polish industry. Pb-B concentrations exceeded the newly introduced Polish biological exposure index (BEI) value of 500 micrograms/l for men workers in about 30% of workers examined in 1996. In about 65% of females under 45 years of age the Pb-B concentrations were higher than 300 micrograms/l recommended as BEI for this age group. Considering the WHO-recommended health-based maximum individual biological action level of 400 micrograms/l, the percentage of the employees for whom higher values were found amounted to about 45% for men workers. The results point to the necessity of enforcing the implementation of Pb-B determinations according to the ministerial ordinance as well as of removing from exposure the workers with Pb-B levels exceeding the present BEI values. The improvement of working conditions and the implementation of health education for workers are also the actions to be promptly undertaken. In order to achieve these goals a close cooperation is required between the State Sanitary Inspectorate, the institutes of occupational health as well as the employers and trade unions.
波兰约有1300家企业存在职业性铅接触情况。根据1994年国家卫生监督局的报告数据，当时有1970人在铅接触水平超过波兰职业接触限值（MAC）0.050毫克/立方米的条件下工作。仅在90家工厂对工人的血铅浓度（Pb-B）进行了测量。1996年，卫生和社会福利部长发布指令，规定对职业性接触铅的员工进行血铅测定是强制性的。本研究的目的是基于血铅测定评估波兰不同经济部门就业工人的铅接触情况。对13种不同行业的2324名男性和165名女性工人进行了测量，这些行业包括水晶玻璃制造、电池行业、铜锌冶炼厂、修船厂焊接以及其他一些存在铅接触的工作岗位。测定结果表明，铅接触在波兰工业中仍然是一个严重问题。1996年接受检查的工人中，约30%的男性工人血铅浓度超过了新引入的波兰生物接触指数（BEI）值500微克/升。在45岁以下的女性中，约65%的人血铅浓度高于该年龄组推荐的BEI值300微克/升。考虑到世界卫生组织推荐的基于健康的个人最大生物作用水平为400微克/升，发现血铅值较高的男性工人比例约为45%。结果表明，有必要按照部长令强制实施血铅测定，并让血铅水平超过当前BEI值的工人脱离接触。改善工作条件以及对工人实施健康教育也是需要立即采取的行动。为实现这些目标，国家卫生监督局、职业健康机构以及雇主和工会之间需要密切合作。
