[A new method for the determination of naphatylamines in workplace air for occupational exposure assessment]. / Nowa metoda oznaczania naftyloamin w powietrzu do oceny narazenia zawodowego.

BACKGROUND: Naphthylamine (NA), i.e., 1-naphthylamine (1-NA) and 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) and its salts (2-naphthylamine hydrochloride and 2-naphthylamine acetate) are colorless crystalline solids. They have been used, among others, in the production of paints and dyes. In the European Union, 1-NA is classified as a toxic substance, and 2-NA and its salts as carcinogenic category 1A. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for the determination of NA, which will enable the determination of 1-NA and 2-NA and its salts in the working environment, in the concentration range of 0.3-6 µg/m3. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The method consists in passing the test air containing the substances to be determined through a glass fiber filter impregnated with sulphuric acid(VI). After recovery with water and sodium hydroxide solution followed by extraction into a solid on Oasis HLB columns, the solutions in methanol are analyzed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a fluorescence detector and Ultra C18 column. RESULTS: The method developed allows determining 1-NA and 2-NA and its salts in the concentration range of 0.3-6 µg/m3. The limit of detection for 1-NA is 81 pg/ml and for 2-NA - 80.6 pg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The method is characterized by good precision and accuracy; it meets the requirements of European Standard PN-EN 482 and can be used by occupational hygiene laboratories to measure the level of 1-NA and 2-NA and its salts in workplace air to assess workers' exposure to these substances. Med Pr. 2021;72(2):145-54.

[Determination of 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane in order to assess the working environment]. / Oznaczanie 1-chloro-2,3-epoksypropanu dla potrzeb oceny srodowiska pracy.

BACKGROUND: 1-Chloro-2,3-epoxypropane, known as epichlorohydrin (ECH), is a colorless liquid used in the production of epoxy resins, synthetic glycerine, elastomers, glycidyl ethers, surfactants, polyamide-epichlorohydrin resins and others. Epichlorohydrin may cause cancer. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for determining concentrations of ECH in workplace air in the range of 1/10-2 values of the maximum admissible concentration (MAC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The paper presents a method for the determination of ECH in workplace air using a gas chromatograph coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The developed method is based on the adsorption of ECH on an activated charcoal, extraction with acetone, and a chromatographic analysis of the resulting solution. RESULTS: The method developed makes it possible to determine ECH in the concentration range of 0.1-2 mg/m3, i.e., 1/10-2 values of MAC established in Poland. The limit of detection (LOD) is 0.24 µg/m3 and the limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.71 µg/m3. CONCLUSIONS: The method is characterized by good precision and accuracy; it meets the requirements of the European standard PN-EN 482, and can be used by occupational hygiene laboratories to measure concentrations of ECH in workplace air, with a view to assessing workers' exposure to this substance. Med Pr. 2020;71(6):715-23.

[Occupational exposure to airborne chemical substances in paintings conservators]. / Narazenie konserwatorów malarstwa na substancje chemiczne wystepujace w powietrzu srodowiska pracy.

BACKGROUND: This paper presents the results of the quantitative study of the airborne chemical substances detected in the conservator's work environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The quantitative tests were carried out in 6 museum easel paintings conservation studios. The air test samples were taken at various stages of restoration works, such as cleaning, doubling, impregnation, varnishing, retouching, just to name a few. The chemical substances in the sampled air were measured by the GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionization detector) test method. RESULTS: The study results demonstrated that concentrations of airborne substances, e.g., toluene, 1,4-dioxane, turpentine and white spirit in the work environment of paintings conservators exceeded the values allowed by hygiene standards. It was found that exposure levels to the same chemical agents, released during similar activities, varied for different paintings conservation studios. It is likely that this discrepancy resulted from the indoor air exchange system for a given studio (e.g. type of ventilation and its efficiency), the size of the object under maintenance, and also from the methodology and protection used by individual employees. CONCLUSIONS: The levels of organic solvent vapors, present in the workplace air in the course of painting conservation, were found to be well above the occupational exposure limits, thus posing a threat to the worker's health.