Occupational Health Risks for Workers Engaged in Copper-Nickel Ore Processing

Abstract

Introduction: Despite all preventive measures constantly taken, high incidence of occupational diseases is still registered in workers of copper-nickel enterprises. Objective: To obtain new knowledge about the conditions, timing, structure and frequency of occupational diseases in order to develop methods for their more effective prevention in workers involved in pyrometallurgical copper-nickel ore processing. Materials and methods: We have analyzed incidence rates of occupational diseases in a cohort of 664 workers who processed copper-nickel ore in 2007–2020. Results: Working conditions during pyrometallurgical processing of copper-nickel ore correspond to hazard classes 3.2–3.4 with the chemical exposure being of paramount importance in the development of health disorders (45.6 % of cases). In 2007, 664 workers were examined and 158 occupational diseases were diagnosed in 65 (9.8 %) of them in the years 2008–2020, respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases being the most prevalent categories (50.6 % and 29.1 %, respectively) and chronic bronchitis and sensorineural hearing loss – the most prevalent diseases (27.8 % and 17.1 %, respectively). We established non-occupational disorders (arthralgia, osteochondrosis, early signs of hearing impairment, etc.) contributing to further development of occupational diseases. Smoking history (> 5 packs/year) was found to promote occupational diseases of the respiratory system (RR = 4.84; 95 % CI: 2.51–9.35). Crane operators (17.5 % of the workers) were found to be at highest risk of occupational diseases (366.1 cases per 10,000 workers). Conclusions: Based on data on previously registered occupational diseases, working conditions, length of service, occupation, and clinical conditions, criteria for five risk categories have been developed to predict occupational diseases by time, nosology, and severity of the course in metallurgists involved in copper-nickel ore processing.