A System Approach to Carcinogenic Risk Assessment and Management for Metallurgical Workers Employed in Various Blister Copper Production Processes

Abstract

The paper presents results of the application of the system approach to carcinogenic risk assessment and management based on the identification carcinogens, prediction carcinogenic effects and rationale for targeted preventive and curative measures. Evidence from metallurgical shops where various blister copper production processes are used regardless of the existing smelting technologies shows the risk of cancer to be Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeingeptable even when the working conditions are classified as permissible (class 2) in terms of chemical factors. The highest carcinogenic risk values are observed for occupations with workplaces characterized by a significant release of dust, arsenic being the main risk contributor. In cases of the blast furnace and reverberatory furnace smelting, carcinogenic risks for workers with a 25-year length of employment exceed the permissible level by 17.6 and 28.8 times, respectively, and in the case of bath smelting, carcinogenic risks exceed the permissible level by 5.1 times. The maximum length of employment for bath smelting shop workers amounts to 5.14 years, being by 1.42 and 0.89 years higher than that for the blast furnace and reverberatory furnace smelting shop workers, respectively. The observed cancer mortality rates exceed significantly the expected mortality rates for the tumor of all sites in cases of combined and respiratory cancers. The highest cancer mortality rates were recorded for batch loaders (60%) and smelter (40%) with the highest predicted carcinogenic risk values. Cancer-specific marker levels higher normal ones were detected in 73% of workers from the increased individual carcinogenic risk group. The proposed system approach to carcinogenic risk assessment and management will make it possible to try out components of the risk-based approach in the supervisory activities at industrial facilities with exposure to carcinogens, to establish the acceptable risk levels depending on the length of employment, identify the priority carcinogens; it will also allow indicating a rationale for additional testing for occupational carcinogenesis predictors as part of routine medical examination procedures and to develop preventive measures against key risk factors.

Assessment of the Contribution Made by Oncogenic Factors to the Risk of Malignant Neoplasms Development for the Urban Population of Working Age

“…Загрязнение атмосферного воздуха химическими веществами вызывает 41 % заболеваний органов дыхания и более 13 % онкологических заболеваний у трудоспособного населения [13]. Большое значение для риска возникновения ЗН придается социально-экономическим условиям [12,14]. Влияние данного фактора может осуществляться посредством множественных взаимодействующих элементов: материальных и социальных ресурсов, физических и психосоциальных стрессоров и связанного со здоровьем поведения.…”

Assessment of the Contribution Made by Oncogenic Factors to the Risk of Malignant Neoplasms Development for the Urban Population of Working Age

“…Ambient air pollution with chemicals is responsible for 41 % of respiratory diseases and more than 13 % of oncologic diseases among employable population [13]. Socioeconomic conditions are also thought to be a significant factor causing a risk of MNs occurrence [12,14]. Influence exerted by this factor becomes possible due to multiple interrelated elements including material and social resources, physical and psychosocial stressors, and health-related behavior.…”