This study explored biochemical parameters of blood in workers operating in the main workshops at the Ust-Kamenogorsk Titanium and Magnesium Plant: magnesium (Mg) workshop (furnace operator, chlorinator operator, and electrolyzer operator), titanium tetrachloride workshop (mill operator and titanium (Ti) production operator), and Ti sponge workshop (reduction furnace operator, knockout operator, and crushing machine operator). The control group consisted of 112 male workers, whose duties were not related to similar occupational hazards (plumbers, electricians, janitors cleaning the administrative building, security guards, and carpenters). The activity of gamma-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase, cholinesterase, alkaline phosphate, and α-amylase and the concentration of serum calcium, Mg, phosphorus, and chloride ion were measured. To clarify the nature of pathological changes that occur in the body of mammals under the influence of toxic gases and dust, this study also included 130 sexually mature, white female rats. Animals and workers were exposed to examination of the same indicators. Changes in test results of enzymes and minerals indicated a negative impact that harmful production factors may have had on the bodies of workers. Findings showed significant fluctuations in enzyme and mineral blood profiles of workers as compared to controls. In the test animals, changes in the enzyme activity and mineral blood composition were as diverse as in the workers. These findings will be useful when identifying markers of a negative impact of harmful substances in an industrial workplace and when developing measures to prevent employees from developing an occupational disease.

Іn order to clarify the nature of pathological changes in animals that develop under the influence of a complex of toxic gases and dust (titanium dioxide aerosol, titanium metal dust, titanium tetrachloride and its hydrolysis products, as well as chlorine and phosgene), we performed experimental studies directly in the conditions of titanium-magnesium production. This approach, from our point of view, can create the most profitable experimental model that allows for the maximum completeness of the corresponding clinical and experimental Parallels. Therefore, a series of experimental animals were placed on the territory of the three main workshops of JSC «CC TMK». The animals were placed in specially made cages of 25-26 heads each, which were installed at the level of the human respiratory system. Experimental animals of the control series of the experiment were kept on the territory of the plant, but at a considerable distance from the main production shops in a separate, clean, well-ventilated room. The animals of the control group were slaughtered at the same time as the experimental animals. These studies help in the development of evidence-based measures to improve the health of workers engaged in harmful working conditions. In such production conditions, workers often had acute respiratory infections, chronic bronchitis, etc.the degree of retention of compounds containing chlorine anion (chlorine, hydrogen chloride, titanium tetrachloride, phosgene, magnesium dihloride) was relatively high and ranged from 39-85%. At the same time, higher indicators of the degree of delay in all the main workshops were usually observed for gaseous substances (chlorine, hydrogen chloride, phosgene), which is probably due to their good solubility.