title: [Exposure to biological agents used in Polish enterprises: analysis of data derived from the National Register of Biological Agent].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The National Register of Biological Agents at Work and the National Information Centre for Biological Agents Present at Workplaces were established in the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in 2005. The National Information Centre carries out consultation and education activities concerning occupational exposure and risk assessment, development and implementation of preventive programs and accurate registration of reliable information about the use of biological agents. Educational materials on biological exposure are published on the website.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Register of Biological Agents (database) collects and periodically analyzes the information obtained from employers about the use of biological agents for research, diagnostic or industrial purposes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As of 10 December 2010 there were 240 notifications from companies, which use biological agents for the following purposes: research--69, industrial--30 and diagnostic--321. Near 75% of all notifications were obtained from different diagnostic laboratories (public and private). In total, 3226 workers, including 2967 (92%) women and 256 (8%) men were exposed to biological agents. In general, occupational exposure to 209 biological agents (186 of risk group 2 and 23 of risk group 3, of which 16 are additionally marked by 3**) were registered in the data base.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Srodowiskowych Zagrozeń Zdrowia, Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera, Łódź. anias@imp.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kozajda
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szadkowska-Stańczyk
mesh_terms: D001688:Biological Products; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011044:Poland; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products