Millions of workers all over the world exposure to physical, biological and chemical hazards in the workplace.

Physical hazards such as noise, radiation or microclimatic conditions, biological hazards such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and chemical hazards can affect human health.

The exposure to toxic chemicals poses a serious health problem to workers. Chemicals can enter human organization through respiratory system or by dermal exposure. Chemicals in the workplace such as solvents, pesticides, metal or mineral dusts pose health treats to workers such as respiratory, lung and skin diseases, nervous system disturbances, psychiatric disorders, reproductive dysfunction and cancer.

The quality of the workplace environment is an important parameter for both psychological and physical health of workers.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have established acceptable concentration levels of chemical substances in the workplace.

The recent years many scientists all over the world investigate the quality of air in the workplace and suggest monitoring systems for estimating both the personal and the environmental risk levels.

Qualitative and quantitative data on toxic substances in the workplace can contribute to the diagnosis of several diseases. Hippocrates, the famous Greek physician, was the first one who diagnosed an occupational disease, the silicosis that is attributed to the inhalation of silica and asbestos dust. Paracelsus, a great physician, used to ask his patients “What is your job?”

I look forward to receiving scientific data of Global NEST member’s researches as well as your opinion of how Global NEST can contribute to the monitoring of the occupational hazards and exposures and to the improvement of the quality of the occupational area.

The Global NEST