A method for testing the impact of nanoparticles on the dynamic surface tension of a model pulmonary surfactant in a pulsating bubble system Dorota Kondej, Tomasz Sosnowski   2-Ethylhexyl acrylate. Documentation Andrzej Starek   Manganese and its inorganic compounds. Documentation   Andrzej Starek   Trimellitic anhydride – a determination method   Anna Jeżewska   Butan-2-one – a determination method   Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec Cyklohexanol – a determination method   Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec Cyklohexanone – a determination method     Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec 2-Diethylaminoethyl alcohol – a determination method     Joanna Kowalska Phenylhydrazine –determination methods     Sławomir Brzeźnicki, Marzena Bonczarowska, Jan Gromiec   Sulphuric acid – thoracic fraction – a determination method       Małgorzata Pośniak,  Beata Pestka-Pędziwiatr   Trichloroacetic acid – a determination method       Anna Jeżewska   Manganese and its compounds – a determination method       Jolanta Surgiewicz   Nitroethan – a determination method       Agnieszka Woźnica, Anna Jeżewska     Silver and its unsoluble compounds – a determination method     Ewa Gawęda   Calcium oxide – a determination method     Jolanta Surgiewicz   Phosphorus trichloride – a determination method     Ewa Gawęda   The activity of the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible  Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment in 2011     Jolanta Skowroń

A method for testing the impact of nanoparticles on the dynamic surface tension of a model pulmonary surfactant in a pulsating bubble system
Dorota Kondej, Tomasz Sosnowski  
This method is used to study the influence of particles of nanopowders on the surface tension of a model pulmonary surfactant. The study consists in determining the changes in  surface  tension
during the oscillation of the air bubble formed in the solution of the  model  pulmonary  surfactant.
The assessment of the impact of nanoparticles on the surface activity of the pulmonary surfactant is carried out on the basis of quantitative criteria describing the hysteresis loops of surface tension as a function of the reduced interfacial area.

2-Ethylhexyl acrylate. Documentation
Andrzej Starek  
2-Ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA), an ester monomer of acrylic acid, has worldwide use as a chemical intermediate in the manufacture of various polymeric materials, including adhesives and polymer dispersions. Exposure to 2-EHA is usually limited to the industrial workplace, with skin contact the major route of exposure. In the workplace, closed systems for its manufacture, transportation and use, normally limit exposure to 2-EHA.
Results of animal studies revealed that(2-EHA is a chemical of relatively low toxicity. This chemical has sensitizing activity in the contact with skin and respiratory tract. Its irritating effect to the respiratory system and skin in humans and animals were  observed. 2-EHA has shown neither mutagenic and genotoxic effects. There has been no evidence of its influence on fertility either. There is inadequate evidence in humans  and limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of 2-EHA. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has categorized 2-EHA as Group 3.
The recommended maximum admissible concentration (MAC) for 2-EHA of 35 mg/m3 is based on the NOAEL value (76,5 mg/m³) derived from 3 months experiment on rats, and relevant uncertainty factors (2). Degenerative alterations in the olfactory epithelium are the critical effects of this chemical. STEL value at 70 mg/m³ has been proposed. Moreover, “I” (irritating) and “A” (allergenic) notations are recommended.

Manganese and its inorganic compounds. Documentation  
Andrzej Starek  
Manganese (Mn) is a transition metal, which occurs in several oxidation states (0, II, III, IV, VI and VII) and forms a range of inorganic compounds. Manganese is a very hard, brittle metal, which is used in the production of ferrous and non-ferrous metal alloys, including those essential to steel making.  This metal increases the strength of steel alloys. Iron and steel production accounts for 85 ÷ 95% of the manganese market.  Its compounds have comprehensive applications.
In industrial conditions, there is occupational exposure especially in mining, metal smelting, steel production, battery manufacture, welding, agricultural production and use, and in pigment, paint and glass making. Workers can be exposed to dust and fumes of manganese-containing compounds in a range of particle sizes where the ratio of inhalable to respirable fractions varies within and between industries.
Manganese is an essential element; it is involved in bone formation and amino acid, carbohydrate and cholesterol metabolism. It is a component of several enzymes and it activates others.
It is estimated that in Poland in 1994 about 3500 workers were exposed to manganese at  levels above the maximum admissible concentration (MAC) of 0.3 mg/m³. However, according to data provided by the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, about 1000 persons were exposed to manganese and its inorganic compounds in 2007.
In persons chronically exposed to manganese and its compounds via inhalation disorders of both the central nervous and the respiratory system predominate. Subclinical neurobehavioral changes have been observed in workers occupationally exposed to relatively low levels of this metal. There have been changes in neurotransmitters metabolism and neurofunctional disorders in laboratory animals repeatedly exposed to manganese. The mutagenicity of this metal was weakly marked. Manganese is not classified as a chemical carcinogen.
On  the  basis  of   the  results  of  epidemiological
examinations the MAC values for manganese and its inorganic compounds were established at 0.2 mg/m³ and 0.05 mg/m³ for inhalable and respirable fractions, respectively. No  STEL (15 mins) and BEI values have been proposed.

Trimellitic anhydride – a determination method  
Anna Jeżewska  
A worker’s exposure to airborne trimellitic anhydride is determined with glass fiber filters (37 mm) with 3,4-dimethoxybenzylamine and dioctyl phthalate. Samples are extracted with aqueous ammonium hydroxide and analysed by HPLC using a DAD detector.
The working range is 0.004 to 0.08 mg/m³ for a 480-L air sample.

Butan-2-one – a determination method  
Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec
The method is based on the adsorption of butan-2-one on Petroleum Charcoal, desorption with carbon disulfide and gas chromatographic (GC-MSD) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 44.5 mg/m³.

Cyklohexanol – a determination method  
Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec
The method is based on the adsorption of cyclohexanol on charcoal, desorption with 5% solution of isopropanol in carbon disulfide and gas chromatographic (GC-MSD) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 1 mg/m³.

Cyklohexanone – a determination method    
Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec
This method is based on the adsorption of cyclohexanone on charcoal, desorption with a 5% solution of isopropanol in carbon disulfide and gas chromatographic (GC-MSD) analysis of the resulting solution. The determination limit of this method is 2 mg/m³.

2-Diethylaminoethyl alcohol – a determination method    
Joanna Kowalska
The determination method is based on the adsorption of 2-diethylaminoethyl alcohol vapours on XAD-7 sampling tubes (60/30 mg sections), desorption with 1 ml of acetone and gas chromatographic (GC/FID) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 1.3 mg/m³.

Phenylhydrazine –determination methods    
Sławomir Brzeźnicki, Marzena Bonczarowska, Jan Gromiec  
Air samples are collected by drawing a known volume of air through a bubbler containing 15 ml of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid solution. After addition of 10 ml of 3% phosphomolybdic acid, absorbance of the resulted solution (phenylhydrazine hydrochloride – phosphomolybdic acid complex) is than measured spectrophotometrically at λ – 730 nm.  
The working range of the analytical method is from  8  to  160 µg/ml  (2 ÷ 40 mg/m³  for  100 l  air sample).

Air samples are collected by drawing a known volume of air through a bubbler containing 15 ml of 0.1 M hydrochloric acid solution.  After derivatization  with acetone (20 µl), the resulting solutions are analyzed  by  high  performance chroma tography using ultraviolet (λ= 270 nm) detection.
The working range of the analytical method is from  0.008  to  0.16 µg/ml  (0.2 ÷ 4 mg/m³  for  100 l  air sample).

Sulphuric acid – thoracic fraction – a determination method      
Małgorzata Pośniak,  Beata Pestka-Pędziwiatr  
This method is based on separation thoracic fraction of sulphuric acid on membrane filter fiber placed in PPI sampler. Sulphuric acid is eluted using
30 ml of  destillated water. The obtained solution is analyzed with IC with conductometry detection. The working range is 0.01 to 0.1 mg/m³ for a 480 l air sample.

Trichloroacetic acid – a determination method      
Anna Jeżewska  
Determination of a worker’s exposure to airborne trichloroacetic acid is carried out by use of a paper filters (37 mm). Air samples are collected at a maximum  flow  rate  of  60 L/h until a maximum collection volume of 36 L is reached. Samples are extracted with water and analyzed by HPLC using a DAD detector.
The working range is 0.2 to 4 mg/m³ for a 36-L air sample.

Manganese and its compounds – a determination method      
Jolanta Surgiewicz  
This method is based on stopping selected manganese and its compounds - inhalable fraction and respirable fraction on membrane filters, mineralizing the samples with concentration nitric acid and preparing the solutions for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Manganese and its compounds in the solutions are determined as manganese with flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The detection limits of manganese is this method are 0.02 mg/m³ for inhalable fraction and 0.005 mg/m³ for respirable fraction.

Nitroethan – a determination method      
Agnieszka Woźnica, Anna Jeżewska    
A worker’s exposure to airborne nitroethane  is determined by using an active charcoal tube (100/50 mg sections). Samples are collected at a maximum flow rate of 5 L/h until a maximum collection volume of 10 L is reached. After sampling the active charcoal tube is desorbed in ethyl acetate. Analysis is conducted with gas chromatography using a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID).
The working range is 7.5 to 150 mg/m³ for a 10-L air sample.

Silver and its unsoluble compounds – a determination method    
Ewa Gawęda  
This metod is used for determining silver and its unsoluble compounds in the workplace air. It is based on stopping silver and its compounds on a membrane filter, mineralizing the sample with concentrated nitric acid and preparing the solution for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Silver in the solution is determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry with an air-acetylene flame. Soluble  compounds  of  silver  present  in  the  air sample are initially removed with water.  The  determination  limit  of  this  method  is  
0.003 mg/m³ (720 L for air sample volume).

Calcium oxide – a determination method    
Jolanta Surgiewicz  
This metod is used for determining silver and its unsoluble compounds in the workplace air. It is based on stopping silver and its compounds on a membrane filter, mineralizing the sample with concentrated nitric acid and preparing the solution for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Silver in the solution is determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry with an air-acetylene flame. Soluble compounds of silver present in the air sample are initially removed with water. The determination limit of this method is 0.003 mg/m³ (720 L for air sample volume).

Phosphorus trichloride – a determination method    
Ewa Gawęda  
This method is used for determining phosphorus trichloride in the workplace air. This method is based on stopping phosphorus trichloride in a water solution, creating a blue complex in a reaction with ammonium molibdate and ascorbic acid, and determining the compound with spectrophotometry in a visible region. The determination limit of this method is about 0.1 mg/m³.

The activity of the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible  Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment in 2011    
Jolanta Skowroń  
In 2011 the Commission met at three sessions, in which 12 documentations for recommended exposure limits of chemical substances were discussed. Moreover, the Commission discussed:
­ a proposal of the Aerosols and Biological Group of Experts to introduce the definition of aerosol fractions: inhalable, thoracic and respirable
­ the report on controlling working conditions of employees exposed to sulfuric acid(VI) conducted by the State Sanitary Inspectorate from January to June 2011
­ methods of determining thoracic fraction of sulfuric acid(VI) in workplace air
­ requests submitted to the Interdepartmental Commission for MAC and MAI by representatives of the Polish industry to introduce a MAC of 0.05 mg/m3 for the thoracic fraction  of sulfuric acid(VI) into the draft regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy  which is related to the implementation of Directive 2009/161/EC into Polish law
­ the interpretation of the results of measurements of harmful chemical and physical agents in the working environment
­ a proposal of a MAC for the respirable fraction of crystalline  silica:  quartz [14808-60-7], cristobalite  [14464-46-1]  at  the  leve  of  0.05 mg/m3
­ the proposal of the Mines Safety Commision working at the State Mining Authority to exclude  gases  occurring in underground mining: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, from the  Ministry of Labour and Social Policy regulation on maximum admissible concentrations and intensities for agents harmful to health in the working environment.
The Commission suggested to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy the following changes in  the list of MAC values:
–  adding four new chemical substances to the list of MAC values: octabromodiphenyl ether (a mixture of isomers) – inhalable fraction, hexachlorocyclopentadiene, sodium peroborate and its hydrate – inhalable fraction, 4,4'-thiobis(6-tert-butyl-m-cresol) – inhalable fraction
–  changing MAC values for six chemical substances: 1,2-dibromoethane, dibuthyl phtha-late – inhalable fraction, acrylic acid, manganese and its inorganic compounds (as Mn) ¬– inhalable and respirable fraction, styrene, 1,1,2-trichloroethane.
Documentation on aniline will be discussed again by the Commission after its concentration in workplaces in Polish enterprises has been added to the documentation.
The proposition of a MAC value  for the respi-rable fraction of crystalline silica at the level of  0.05 mg/m3 has been adopted by the Interdepartmental Commission and it will be  introduce to the list of MAC values when  the method of determining the respirable fraction of crystalline silica at the proposed level is compiled and published.
Four issues of the “Principles and Methods of Assessing the Working Environment” were published in 2011. Issue 1(67) contained 22 methods for assessing the working environment and an article about metal concentrations in dust fractions emitted at industrial workplaces. Issue 2(68) contained 7 documentations for recommended exposure limits and an article about health criteria for size-selective aerosol sampling in the working environment. Issue 3(69) contained 8 documentations along with analytical procedures, recommendations in respect to pre-employment and periodic medical examinations and contraindications to exposure. Issue 4(66) contained 6 documentations and an article about nano-objects.
Three sessions of the Commission are planned for 2012. MAC values for 15 chemical substances will be discussed at those meetings.