1 Biochemical markers of kidney damage were examined in 16 female workers chronically exposed to tetrachlorethylene (TCE) in five dry-cleaning shops. The results were compared with those obtained in 13 females non-occupationally exposed to organic solvents. 2 The intensity of exposure was monitored by personal environmental monitoring. The time-weighed average exposure to TCE amounted to 157 mg m-3 (range 9-799 mg m-3). A satisfactory agreement was found between the concentration of TCE in ambient air sampled with the charcoal tube method and with a passive dosimeter. 3 The urinary excretion of lysozyme was increased in the exposed group. No difference was found in the urinary excretion of albumin, β2-microglobulin, lactate dehydrogenase, total proteins or glucose. The prevalence of abnormal values of biochemical parameters in the exposed group did not differ from that observed in the control group. No correlation was found between the level of TCE exposure and biochemical parameters. 4 The present study suggests that chronic exposure to TCE does not lead to renal damage.

The welding processes belong among the important sources of occupational pollutions. The welding fumes are ranked, according to the classification of IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer), into the group of 2B. In our study we have performed the investigation of twenty men (exposed group) working in the stainless steel welding industrial processes (11 welders and 9 grinders, average age was 31 years, 55 % of smokers, average time period of welding occupational exposure was 8 years). The concentrations of chromium (0.557–16.343 mg/m3) and nickel (0.340–10.129 mg/m3) in occupational atmosphere highly exceeded established values of maximum permitted concentrations (0.1 and 1.0 mg/m3, respectively). The concentrations of manganese did not exceed its permitted values. Total concentrations of 12 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in occupational atmosphere varied from 300.9 to 961.2 ng/m3. For purposes of biological monitoring, the levels of chromosomal aberrations were determined in the exposed and control group. Healthy blood donors servedas a control group. People from that group were not occupationally exposed to harmful chemical compounds (20 men, average age was 36 years, 40 % of smokers). Increased level of chromosomal aberrations of exposed group brought the evidence about higher genotoxic risk of investigated welding processes.

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Many of epidemiological studies have certified the relationship between welding and various forms of health damages. In our study we performed an immunological research within a group of twenty men, working in the risky environment of manufacturing of stainless steel constructions (11 welders and 9 grinders, average age was 31 years, 55 % of smokers, average time period in welding occupational exposure was 8 years). The exposed group of men was compared with a group of healthy blood donors, marked as the control group (people with various types of employment, living in same locality as a people from exposed group). People within the control group were not occupationally exposed to harmful chemical compounds (from 30 to 100 men were chosen for the individual immune parameters, average age of the whole group was 38 years, 40 % of smokers). When compared with the control group, the exposed group of welders and grinders showed higher level of C3 complement (p<0.001), orosomucoid (p<0.05), beta-2–microglobulin (p<0.001), neopterin (p<0.001) and all fagocytic cells (p<0.001). On the contrary, in the group of exposed people decreased values of IgA (p<0.001), IgG (p<0.001), IgM (p<0.001), transferin (p<0.001), alpha-1–antitrypsin (p<0.001), alpha-2–macroglobulin (p<0.001), haptoglobulin (p<0.001) and ceruloplasmin (p<0.05) were found. Some of these changes were characteristic for the exposed group. They could be considered as precursors of biological markers of effect for given type of exposure.