A DIFFERENTIATION OF THE BENEFITS OF ISO 14001 ADOPTION IN MANUFACTURING COMPANIES

This article aims to analyze the benefits of implementing Environmental Management Systems (EMS) in accordance with the ISO 14001:2015 standard in Polish manufacturing companies. The study focuses on identifying how the internal characteristics of a company, and its financial situation, influence the variety of benefits obtained from ISO 14001 implementation. The main goal is to understand the role of EMS in the context of the broadly defined Qstrategy of sustainable development (SD) of enterprises. Filling the research gap also involves determining the factors differentiating the scale of benefits, considering both the attributes of enterprises and the parameters of their financial situation. The research methodology uses primary data, collected through a questionnaire survey of enterprises, and secondary data, including financial information. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis statistical tests are used to analyze and evaluate the differentiation of benefits. The results indicate significant differences in perceptions of the advantages of implementing ISO 14001, depending on factors such as the enterprise’s origin of capital, the geographical scope of its activity, and its financial condition. Among the most significant benefits mentioned are compliance with legal requirements, an improved company image, increased customer numbers, and growth in operational efficiency. The article contributes to the literature on environmental management, emphasizing the importance of diversification of a company’s internal and external factors in the context of the benefits arising from EMS. The implications of this study are significant, both for the theory of environmental management and for business practices; it offers insight into how companies can maximize the benefits of implementing the ISO 14001 standard

Comparison of fat mass measurements in young, healthy, normal-weight women by bioelectric impedance analysis and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

WSTĘP. Impedancja bioelektryczna (BIA) to szybka, nieinwazyjna i powtarzalna metoda badania składu ciała. Celem pracy była ocena przydatności BIA do wyznaczania masy tłuszczu u młodych zdrowych kobiet z prawidłową masą ciała w odniesieniu do referencyjnej metody absorpcjometrii podwójnej energii promieni RTG (DXA). MATERIAŁ I METODY. Badaniami objęto 145 kobiet w wieku 22-40 lat (średnio 31,5 &#177; 5 lat) z prawidłowym wskaźnikiem masy ciała (21,8 &#177; 1,7 kg/m2). Procentową zawartość tłuszczu oraz masę tłuszczu i tkanek beztłuszczowych mierzono analizatorem składu ciała Tanita BC 420 SMA (BIA) oraz densytometrem LUNAR Prodigy (DXA). WYNIKI. Średnia procentowa zawartość tłuszczu wynosiła 32,05 &#177; 5,2% zmierzona metodą DXA oraz 26,05 &#177; 5,1% (BIA; p < 0,02). Badaniem DXA zidentyfikowano 91 kobiet (63%) z procentową zawartością tłuszczu powyżej 30%, natomiast w BIA 57 kobiet (39,4%; p < 0,01). Obie metody składu ciała były powiązane ze sobą w zakresie pomiarów procentowej zawartości tłuszczu (r = 0,63; p < 0,001) i jego masy (r = 0,84; p < 0,001). Impedancję bioelektryczną w porównaniu z DXA cechowała dobra swoistość (96%), ale niska czułość (35%) w identyfikowaniu kobiet z procentową zawartością tłuszczu powyżej 30%. WNIOSKI. Uzyskane wyniki wskazują, że u młodych, zdrowych kobiet z prawidłową masą ciała procentowa zawartość tłuszczu mierzona metodą BIA jest istotnie mniejsza niż w pomiarze DXA. W tej grupie osób BIA cechuje się dobrą swoistością, ale małą czułością w identyfikowaniu przypadków z odsetkiem zawartości tłuszczu poniżej 30%. Endokrynologia, Otyłość i Zaburzenia Przemiany Materii 2010, tom 6, nr 4, 189-195INTRODUCTION. Bioelectric impedance analysis (BIA) provides a fast, non-invasive, and repetitive method of body composition assessment. The aim of study was to assess the BIA utility for the fat mass estimation in young, healthy, normal-weight women in comparison with a reference method, dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study was performed on 145 women aged 22&#8211;40 years (mean 31.5 &#177; 5 years) and normal body mass index (21.8 &#177; 1.7 kg/m2). Percentage of fat mass as well as fat mass and lean mass were measured by the Tanita BC 420 SMA analyzer (BIA) and LUNAR Prodigy densitometer (DXA). RESULTS. Mean percentage of fat mass was 32.05 &#177; 5.2% by DXA and 26.05 &#177; 5.1% by BIA (p < 0.02). Ninety-one (63%) and 57 (39.4%) women with percentage of fat mass >30% were identified by DXA and BIA, respectively (p < 0.01). Both methods of body composition assessment were correlated with regard to percentage of fat mass (r = 0.63; p < 0.001) and fat mass (r = 0.84; p < 0.001). BIA compared to DXA showed an excellent specificity (96%) but low sensitivity (35%) in identifying women with percentage of fat mass > 30%. CONCLUSIONS. The present results demonstrate that in young, healthy, normal-weight women percentage of fat mass measured by BIA is significantly lower than by DXA. In this group, BIA has an excellent sensitivity but poor specificity in identifying cases with percentage of fat mass > 30%. Endocrinology, Obesity and Metabolic Disorders 2010, vol. 6, No 4, 189-19

Sedentary time in older men and women: an international consensus statement and research priorities

Sedentary time is a modifiable determinant of poor health, and in older adults, reducing sedentary time may be an important first step in adopting and maintaining a more active lifestyle. The primary purpose of this consensus statement is to provide an integrated perspective on current knowledge and expert opinion pertaining to sedentary behaviour in older adults on the topics of measurement, associations with health outcomes, and interventions. A secondary yet equally important purpose is to suggest priorities for future research and knowledge translation based on gaps identified. A five-step Delphi consensus process was used. Experts in the area of sedentary behaviour and older adults (n=15) participated in three surveys, an in-person consensus meeting, and a validation process. The surveys specifically probed measurement, health outcomes, interventions, and research priorities. The meeting was informed by a literature review and conference symposium, and it was used to create statements on each of the areas addressed in this document. Knowledge users (n=3) also participated in the consensus meeting. Statements were then sent to the experts for validation. It was agreed that self-report tools need to be developed for understanding the context in which sedentary time is accumulated. For health outcomes, it was agreed that the focus of sedentary time research in older adults needs to include geriatric-relevant health outcomes, that there is insufficient evidence to quantify the dose-response relationship, that there is a lack of evidence on sedentary time from older adults in assisted facilities, and that evidence on the association between sedentary time and sleep is lacking. For interventions, research is needed to assess the impact that reducing sedentary time, or breaking up prolonged bouts of sedentary time has on geriatric-relevant health outcomes. Research priorities listed for each of these areas should be considered by researchers and funding agencies