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Samples were obtained from two world-famous 17th century panel paintings of the Gdańsk school of panting: 'Seven Acts of Charity' (1607, in St. Mary's Church in Gdańsk, Poland) by Anton Möller and 'Angelic Concert' (1611, in Diocesan Museum in Pelplin, Poland) by Hermann Han. Micro-Raman spectroscopy (MRS), optical microscopy (OM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy studies of the samples were performed to characterize the pigments present in the individual painting layers (a rich palette of white, black, blue, red, and yellow pigments) and the pictorial techniques used by the artists., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Identification and testing of organic compounds emissions from water-based akrylate paints were conducted. TD-GC/MS system was applied for identification of compounds. Emission was monitored in an environmental chamber with controlled temperature, relative humidity, and air exchange. Quantitative analysis was measured by GC method. Emission of main volatile organic compounds (VOC) semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC) and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were defined in various periods of time, within 30 days after paints application. The main organic compounds indicated high level of an initial emission after 24 hours. Some of water-based akrylate paints may release small quantities of SVOC (texanol) even 30 days after their application. It was demonstrated that the first-order emission decay model well describes the emission course from water-based paints.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the exposure to organic solvents in plants of the furniture industry., Materials and Methods: Studies were conducted in five furniture plants. Hazardous chemicals present in the air at workposts were determined by capillary gas chromatography with mass spectrometry and flame ionization detection., Results: The analysis of air samples collected at the workposts allowed to identify the following chemicals occurring during varnishing and cleaning of furniture surface elements: acetone, butan-2-one, ethyl, isobutyl and methoxypropyl acetate, 4-methylpentan-2-on, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. Indices characteristic of combined exposure ranged from 0.13 to 1.67 and exceeded the limit value at 21% of workposts., Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that chemicals present at representative workposts during the furniture production are harmful to health of workers, especially those involved in varnishing and cleaning of furniture elements.

Mixtures of organic solvents with frequently changing composition are employed in many industries. It is true that dangerous solvents are eliminated from the work environment, but simultaneously new manufacturing techniques are implemented. Glues, varnishes and stains, containing chemicals of unknown toxicity and non-recognized effects on the human body are extensively used in the footwear and furniture industries. The aim of our study was to identify new sources of occupational exposure. The tests were performed in plants of selected industries. Samples of glues, varnishes and wood stains were collected to glass vials (10 ml). The air-tight vials were kept at the temperature of +2 degrees C to +8 degrees C until removed for the analysis. After incubation period (T = 24 degrees C; t = 1 h), 100 microliters of gas phase was removed with gas-tight syringe. Organic solvents were identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC/MSD). The following classes of organic compounds were detected in glues, varnishes and stains under study: alkanes, cycloalkanes, alcohols, ketones, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons and their numerous alkyl derivatives. The tests confirmed that glues, varnishes and stains contained chemicals with poorly recognized or totally unknown toxicity and toxicokinetics; MAC values were set for only few of them.

Evaluation of occupational exposure to solvent vapours in the production of paints and lacquers is presented. The measurements were carried out in 5 paint and lacquer producing plants of the varied level of technical and technological advancement. Evaluation of exposure was based on determination of all substances identified in the work environment. Analysis was performed by gas chromatography with MSD and FID. Standard mixtures composed of 40 substances were used for calibration. The determined levels of exposure were directly dependent on technical conditions and modernisation status in factories investigated. Measurements were carried out in the uniform analytical system, which assures comparability of the data from all the factories under study.

The author discussed current data on sources of the environmental exposure to lead, health effects of exposure in adults and children as well as recommended admissible concentrations of lead in blood. The review of studies on biological monitoring of exposure to lead in Poland permits to state that the results of measurements of Pb-B concentrations performed by laboratories which did not participate in the inter-laboratory programme of quality assurance were often overestimated evoking public concern. The outcome of investigations carried out by the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lodz and other institutions which are provided with appropriate analytical equipment, tested under the inter-laboratory programme of quality assurance gives the ground for a hypothesis that an excessive environmental exposure to lead in Poland may result only from industrial emission. The mean geometric lead blood concentrations in persons living in areas free from industrial emissions of lead range from 40 to 70 micrograms/l and they do not prove any potential hazard for adults. Exposure of children and pregnant women living in areas polluted with lead due to industrial emissions and where mean geometric Pb-B concentrations reach 100-170 micrograms/l may create a significant problem. The results obtained emphasize the need for targetted surveillance aimed at identifying areas of excessive lead contamination, measurements of Pb-B concentrations in populations living in those areas and necessary preventive measurements. Collection of blood samples and measurements of lead levels should be performed only by those laboratories which satisfy necessary requirements.

A chromatographic method for determining lacquer benzine C in the air has been developed. Appropriate column packing and chromatograph operation parameters have been selected so as to yield summary estimation of all lacquer benzine C components in form of one peak. As a column packing 3% SE-30 has been used deposited on Chromosorb W AW DMCS. This chromatographic method for lacquer benzine C determination is nonspecific when related to xylene and toluene.