Assessment of working conditions and features of respiratory disorders in modern refractory manufacturing

Abstract

Introduction. Broad prospects for development of refractory manufacturing in Russia necessitate studies of the work environment, especially of the indoor air quality, and respiratory health effects of adverse occupational factors. 
 The purpose of our study was to conduct a general hygienic assessment of working conditions of the core personnel engaged in contemporary refractory manufacturing for more than 10 years and establish their respiratory functional status.
 Materials and methods. We assessed working conditions of press operators of a Ural refractory manufacturing plant in compliance with Russian Guidelines 
 R 2.2.2006–05. The respiratory functional status was established by the results of clinical instrumental testing of refractory production workers who were examined and/or treated at the occupational health clinic of the Yekaterinburg Medical Research Center for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers 
 in 2015–2021.
 Results. We gave a general assessment of working conditions of press operators engaged in the production of spinel periclase-carbon and fireclay-dinas molded refractories in the first refractory workshop, aluminosilicate refractories at the molding site, and corundum-graphite products in the second refractory workshop. 
 We analyzed the results of instrumental testing and established characteristics of clinical disorders of the respiratory system.
 Limitations. The study has regional (Sverdlovsk Region) and occupational (workers of a refractory manufacturing plant) limitations.
 Conclusion. Occupational risk factors for refractory production workers include silica-containing aerosols, which levels exceed maximum allowable concentrations (Class 3.1), aerosols of disintegration of aluminum oxides (in refractory workshop No. 2), iron in concentrations below MACs (Class 2), higher concentrations of volatile products of phenol formaldehyde resins (Class 3.1 in terms of phenol and up to 3.4 in terms of formaldehyde), increased noise levels for all jobs (Class 3.2), and heavy physical labour (Classes 3.1–3.3). Features of clinical respiratory disorders in the core personnel (press operators) were scarcity of complaints and physical data, absence of pronounced coniotic (respirable dust-related) X-ray findings and inflammatory (septic and allergic) blood changes. Moderate obstructive airway disorders were observed in 30 % of the examined cases.