Occupational diseases of chemical etiology at the enterprises in the Russian Arctic

Abstract

Chemicals are among the most common harmful production factors causing occupational pathology among workers in various industries. The purpose of the study was to investigate the conditions of development, prevalence and structure of occupational diseases of chemical etiology among employees of enterprises in the Russian Arctic. Materials and methods. The analysis included results of the monitoring study «Working conditions and occupational morbidity» of the population of the Arctic zone of Russia in 2007–2018. Results. It was established that in 2007–2018, at the enterprises in the Arctic, the share of chemicals in the structure of harmful production factors was 8.0 %, and their impact was associated with the development of 7.7 % of cases of occupational pathology mainly among metallurgists of nickel and miners of mining enterprises. The risk of contact with harmful chemicals in 2007 was higher than in 2018: RR = 1.40; CI 1.38–1.43; p < 0.0001. Most often, the development of occupational diseases was caused by water-insoluble nickel compounds (40.6 %) and nickel hydroaerosols (27.2 %). The structure of the pathology of chemical etiology was dominated by chronic bronchitis (43.2 %), intoxication with metals and gases (19.3 %) and bronchial asthma (19.0 %). Acute forms of intoxication occurred mainly in miners exposed to carbon oxides (84.6 %), and chronic ones when in metallurgists exposed to nickel compounds (88.2 %). In 2007–2018, there was a decrease in the number of occupational diseases of chemical etiology. The risk of their development in 2007–2009 was higher than in 2016–2018: RR = 1.49; CI 1.21–1.83; χ2 = 14.7; p = 0.0001. Conclusion. To reduce the risk of occupational intoxications, first of all, it is necessary to reduce exposure to nickel compounds and carbon oxides by means of the technical modernization of production and use of modern personal protective equipment for workers.