Occupational diseases in Poland during the years 1984-1992

The authors present the results of analysis of data on occupational diseases in Poland during the years 1984-1992. The statistical material covers 86,871 cases of various diseases. Among them hearing lesions, vocal organ diseases, contagious and invasive diseases, pneumoconioses, dermatoses, vibration syndrome, poisonings and chronic bronchitis proved to be most common. In Poland, among the etiological factors, noise, industrial dusts, hepatitis virus, chromium and its compounds, lead and its inorganic compounds, carbon disulphide and carbon monoxide pose the highest risk. Apart from the statistics concerning the number of cases of occupational diseases according to sex, age, exposure duration, national economy branches and regions (voivodeships), the article presents, for the first time, some consequences of occupational diseases, such as granting disability pensions and/or indemnity depending on the per cent of health impairment.