Risk of exposure to acrylamide.

OBJECTIVES: Acrylamide is a toxic compound that can be found it both occupational and non-occupational environments. This study focuses on its sources and health effects of its exposure. METHODS: Adverse effects of acrylamide, especially carcinogenic, genotoxic, and teratogenic were reported in many studies conducted on animals. Neurotoxicity was reported in workers exposed to acrylamide in the occupational environment. Another important source of populations' exposure to acrylamide is their nutrition. RESULTS: This study focuses on humans' exposure to acrylamide from various sources and its harmful effects on their health. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary intake of acrylamide, as well as occupational exposure, cigarette smoking, cosmetics usage and other environmental sources could have a significant effect on human health.

Concentrations of selected toxic elements in ewe living near an environmentally loaded area of eastern part of Slovakia.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Research focused on the monitoring of selected heavy metals in ewes' blood. Concentrations of selected toxic elements, lead, cadmium and zinc, in ewes living near an environmentally-loaded area, concerned 15 ewes (aged 3-4 years) in good physical condition, during the spring of 2014 and 2015 in the eastern part of Slovakia. The aim of the research was to determine the concentration of selected heavy metals and state the correlations of selected heavy metals in ewes' blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within the period of 2 years, 15 ewe were evaluated. Ewes' blood samples were collected twice during the spring season from a farm located in area Spis, eastern Slovakia, and then analysed for heavy metal contents. In the area under investigation, contamination with heavy metals was assumed as a result of intensive agricultural development and former mining activities. The level of selected heavy metals in the experimental group of animal blood was determined using an optical spectrophotometry. RESULTS: Statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistica programme. The significant differences between means were calculated by the statistical method of the non-parametric Mann-Whitney´s U test. The statistical test experimental group of ewes in 2014 and 2015 confirmed the presence of selected heavy metals in ewes. The measured values of Cd (P=0.0003), Pb (P=0.0200) and Zn (P=0.0018) showed significant differences when comparing the years 2014 and 2015. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained and analysed blood samples confirmed the presence of selected heavy metals in ewes from area of Spis in eastern Slovakia, which belongs the sub-region or is among the localities environmentally burdened. The conclusions are centred on the population's interest and concern for the environment, as well as on the preoccupation with factors that affect the satisfaction of basic needs, the local agricultural development and former mining activities.