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Over the recent years some countries have introduced norms, regulations or recommendations limiting the value of few A/m permissible levels of the 50 Hz magnetic field (MF) in the environment. This results from the studies indicating a number of biological effects on living organisms exposed to magnetic fields with levels similar to those produced by high voltage overhead power lines. The main objective of these restrictions was to protect human health from the effects of MF produced by high voltage overhead transmission lines. The changed permissible level of MF intensity to the level now binding in different countries will have great economic and financial impact. The greatest impact will be observed in the already established residential areas, which require that the levels of magnetic field from existing overhead lines be lowered. The effects of more strict regulations on the protection against the effects of the 50 Hz magnetic field, reducing the levels to values lower than 0.25 A/m, can be grouped into three categories: technical effects, space and landscape implications and financial impact. The lowering of MF maximum acceptable level will require changes in the structure of new power lines and modifications in the existing grid. Unfortunately, the replacing of overhead power lines with cables is not possible on account of too high costs. The extension of the area, in which construction of dwelling houses will not be possible, can turn out to be the only solution.

The populations at risk of adverse effects of noise include, in addition to adults, also children and juveniles, the two groups considered to be particularly vulnerable to noise-induced hearing loss and numerous other adverse systemic effects of exposure to noise. Major sources of noise exposure in children's and youth's environments include incubators at neonate intensive care wards, toys (such as e.g. rattles, squeeze toys, percussion cap toys, pistols), fireworks, pop and rock music concerts, aerobic courses and personal portable music players. This paper reports dB-A noise levels associated with those noise sources, and also combined dB-A levels of noise from external and internal sources prevailing at schools. The suggested preventive steps specified in the CE-HAPE (Children's Environment and Health Action Plan for Europe) and PINCHE (Policy Interpretation Network on Children's Health and Environment) include legislative measures to limit the intensity and time of exposure to noise and classes/education actions for youths and parents.

The presented software, based on the superposition method, is used to calculate the distribution of electromagnetic field (EMF) within the frequency range of 30 MHz-4 GHz for a fixed set of observation points located in the neighborhood of antenna systems and to visualize the results of calculations according to regulations on the environmental protection and occupational health and safety currently binding in Poland. A brief characteristic of the electromagnetic field around transmitters, objectives and methods used in EMF distribution modeling, especially with use of the superposition method are presented. Requirements to meet current Polish regulations on the environmental protection in terms of the human protection against nonionizing electromagnetic radiation as well as examples of calculations of EMF distribution around the transmitter with defined parameters are also discussed.

The localization of high voltage objects, e.g., overhead transmission lines, under the spatial planning and environmental protection regulations is discussed. The most important elements of the localization procedure concerning high voltage overhead lines are presented. One of the elements of this procedure is the assessment of the investment environmental impact. The environmental audit is an essential document, in which this impact is described. It seems that its scope specified in the Environmental Protection Act is not adjusted to the specificity of line investments. This gives rise to some problems in preparing environmental audits for overhead lines, e.g., possible influence of high voltage lines on the Natura 2000 area zones. Several other related problems are also highlighted in this paper.

The National Control System for safety and health protection against electromagnetic fields (EMF) and electromagnetic radiation (EMR) (0 Hz-300 GHz) is constantly analyzed in view of Directive 2004/40/EC. Reports on the effects of investments (at the designing stage or at the stage of looking for their localization) on the environment and measurement and study reports on the objects already existing or being put into operation are important elements of this system. These documents should meet both national and European Union's legislation requirements. The overriding goal of the control system is safety and health protection of humans against electromagnetic fields in the environment and in occupational settings. The author pays a particular attention to provisions made in directives issued by relevant ministers and to Polish standards, which should be documented in measurement and study reports published by the accredited laboratories and relating to the problems of human safety and health protection. Similar requirements are valid for the Reports. Therefore, along with measurement outcomes, the reports should include data on the EMF exposure classification at work-posts and the assessment of occupational risk resulting from EMF exposure or at least thorough data facilitating such a classification.

This paper presents basic information about reports on the effects exterted on the environment. These reports are elaborated to meet the needs of administrative procedures concerning the evaluation of effects exerted on the environment and provide the basis on which decisions are made whether environmental determinants allow for issuing permission for taking up a given enterprise. The author discusses only a small part of a wider problem of the report formulation. Such issues as waste management, protection against noise, conservation of historical monuments and Natura 2000 areas are not raised.

This paper presents the most important elements of the localization procedure of high voltage overhead lines and substations and radiocommunication objects which are the source of electromagnetic fields. These fields are perceived as a major threat to human health. The point of departure to make a choice of investments is the special classification of technical installations described in one of the executive directive issued by virtue of the Environmental Protection Act. This special executive directive enumerates a lot of technical objects (installation), classified in the group of investments which have significant impact on the environment and some objects which could be classified in this group. For all this technical installations (e.g., overhead high voltage power lines) the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act impose an obligation to take particular steps to assure transparency of the environmental protection procedures, transborder procedures and the protection of areas included in the Natura 2000 network.

A critical review of protection regulations (or their proposals) on work safety regarding electromagnetic fields as well as the general public protection against unwanted exposure to the fields are presented in this paper. The standards of the Western World are illogical in both aspects, biomedical knowledge and technical. The results (permissible exposures) are defined more precisely than the input data. In Poland, two independent acts are in force: one on occupational exposures and the other on non-occupational exposures. The former is "a world-better", but requires to be immediately changed to a standard that is applicable and friendly to its users. The latter can be accepted after introducing several amendments. The enlargement of the environmental standard to include occupational issues may create a good Polish proposal also useful at the international level.

Electric and magnetic fields of 50 Hz from electric power devices affect not only workers, but also the general population, as these devices are also located in populated areas, hence the duality of regulations on maximum admissible intensities. This paper presents these regulations and discusses in detail the changes of 2001. Based on the Polish regulations, hygienic evaluation of electric power devices has been attempted. The Polish regulations on the 50 Hz electromagnetic fields were compared with relevant international regulations of CENELEC and the European Union recommendations. Our maximum admissible intensities have been found to conform with the international standards.

Amendments to Polish standards on electromagnetic fields (EMF) have made it necessary to modify the methods and procedures to be employed by the sanitary services responsible for monitoring occupational risks. To ensure a correct functioning of the State Sanitary Inspectorate and of the teams involved in measurements, it seems essential: to adjust other relevant regulations; to develop a method of classifying devices according to the emitted EMF; to provide uniform procedures to be followed in institutions if the measurements required by the regulations are not feasible; and to assemble a database on the determined levels of EMF emitted by various devices--especially those at frequency bands not yet monitored.

The author presents a concise information on the formal and legal status of the protection against the effect of electromagnetic fields in humans adopted in the European Union member states. Essential information on the Polish legal basis of the environmental protection against the effect of electromagnetic fields is provided. The most important, in the author's opinion, provisions of the Environmental Protection Law and executory provisions are discussed.

In enterprises covered by the scheme of the intensified supervision of the State Labor Inspectorate (SLI), working conditions are analyzed every year, and the measures to reduce or eliminate existing hazards are evaluated. The enterprises with high rates of accidents at work and employees exposed to hazardous chemical and physical factors present in the work environment are classified in this category. The list of such enterprises is subjected to annual verification. Enterprises with potential high or increased risk for serious industrial accidents involving noxious chemicals or dangerous for the local environment are also taken into account. The supervision of the State Labor Inspectorate, lasting already for a number of years, greatly contributed--this is confirmed by numerous inspections--to the sustained improvement of working conditions in enterprises of this category. In accord with the suggestions made by parliamentarians, the issue of intensified supervision of enterprises, representing various branches of the national economy, characterized by the highest rates of occupational hazards has been incorporated into the SLI Plan of Action for the years 2001-2003. In January 2001, district inspectorates selected 137 enterprises of various sectors with the highest hazard rates to be covered by the SLI scheme in the nearest future. The systematic control and promotion activities will be aimed at eliminating or substantial reduction of reported hazards. In the previous year, the SLI tried to find out how far the employers fulfill their obligation to check technical conditions in their enterprises, as well as to discuss the possibility of further use of asbestos-containing products. In the opinion of the SLI, the employers do not comply with these requirements, or they are not willing to bear costs of removal or repair of asbestos-containing products. They postpone endlessly all necessary repairs. It is still impossible to evaluate the situation and to explicitly state that after completing works involving asbestos it is removed from premises designed for people. This is of paramount importance for safety of people at schools, kindergartens, high schools, as well as of hospital personnel and patients. In Polish regulations, the maximum admissible concentrations of asbestos for this kind of premises have no as yet been set. The State Labor Inspector has submitted a motion to the Minister of Health on setting permissible concentrations of asbestos dust in premises meant for people. The regulation (still binding) of March 12, 1996 on admissible concentrations and intensities of factors harmful to the human health, emitted by construction materials, devices and equipment in premises intended for people does not take account of asbestos.

The author discuss legal regulations on supplementing information about physical, chemical, toxic and onco-toxic properties of the so called "existing" chemicals, adapted by the European Economic Community. The Chemical Substances Act is being now drafted in Poland. This will be related with the introduction of the category of "existing" chemicals. The performance adapted by the EEC may serve as an example how to solve this problem in our country. It is suggested that a list of chemicals produced in Poland and imported from other countries be developed. This list will serve as a basis for establishing of the national priority list of chemicals which should be taken into consideration in setting up plans for supplementing indispensable information about chemicals present in Poland. It seems that adaptation of a criterion for identifying priorities (magnitude of production and import) similar to that of the EEC is not only justified from the substantial point of view but it is also of a very practical value. Establishment of cooperation with a relevant EEC Commission is considered as the best way to obtain information about chemicals used in Poland.

This work reviews the legal regulations constituting the basis for control of chemical substances present in the working and natural environment as well as in food and utility products in Poland. It has been found that there are many regulations which comply with legislative needs. However, a lack of general regulation on the protection of human health and the environment against the noxious effects of chemicals is widely acknowledged. The unsatisfactory condition of human health and environment in Poland may be attributed to the fact that the existing standards are often disregarded. The authors are of the opinion that implementation of an organizational and legal system of chemical safety would be an important step towards improving the existing situation.