The work presents the results of the investigations of the effect of inhibitors coated on the internal walls of a ceramic mould on the quality

of the obtained casts made of the AM60 alloy containing additions of chromium and vanadium. In order to reduce the reactivity of

magnesium alloy cast by the technology of investment casting with the material of the mould and the ambient atmosphere, solid inhibitors

were applied in the form of a mixture of KBF4 and H3BO3 after the stage of mould baking and before the mould’s being filled with the

liquid alloy. For the purpose of examining the effect of the inhibitors on the surface quality of the obtained casts, profilometric tests were

performed and the basic parameters describing the surface roughness, Ra, Rz and Rm, were determined.

The development of economy and industry introducing new technologies and materials often means the increased threat of occurrence of factors harmful to humans and environment. Workers employed in foundries as mould pourers are the group of high professional risk. Foundry moulding sands when poured with liquid metal are a source of the emission of harmful, toxic and carcinogenic (benzene, PAHs) compounds. The paper presents the results of studies on the concentration of chemical compounds emitted in the process of casting aluminium alloy and brass using moulding sands with the new inorganic binders. The specific values of the exposure indices were compared with the limit values. This enabled an assessment of the impact of moulding sands on work environment. The obtained results were compared with the values of contaminants emitted when pouring foundry moulds made from furan sands and bentonite sands with an addition of coal dust. Studies were carried out under the project POIG.01.01.02-00-015/09 "Advanced materials and technologies."