Учредитель-федеральное государственное бюджетное образовательное учреждение высшего образования «Северный государственный медицинский университет» Министерства здравоохранения Российской Федерации Основан в 1994 году Основным направлением деятельности журнала является публикация научных исследований, посвященных проблемам экологии человека и имеющих как фундаментальное, так и прикладное значение. В журнале публикуются оригинальные статьи, обзоры и краткие сообщения по всем аспектам экологии человека и общественного здоровья. Предназначен для публикации материалов кандидатских и докторских диссертаций.

Exposure to nickel aerosol in the nickel production is associated with greater occupational risk, yet little is known how many workers will develop an occupational disease and claim compensation. The aim of this analysis was to prospectively observe a cohort of nickel electrolysis workers and quantitatively assess confirmed occupational disease claims. We observed a cohort of nickel electrolysis workers (N = 1397, median age 39, 68% males) from 2008 till 2020 in one of the largest nickel producers in the Russian High North. Cumulative incidence of confirmed occupational disease claims in seven occupational groups, including electrolysis operators, hydrometallurgists, crane operators, final product cleaners, metalworkers, electricians and ‘other’ was analyzed and supplemented with Cox proportional hazards regression, yielding hazard ratios (HR) with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) of occupational disease claims for each group. N patients with occupational disease claims varied from 1 in 2016 to 22 in 2009, and in total 87 patients developed one or more occupational diseases (cumulative incidence 6.2%, p < 0.001 between seven groups). Accounting for 35,527 person-years of observation in total, cleaners exhibited the greatest risk (HR 2.58 (95% CI 1.43–4.64)), also adjusted for smoking, number of non-occupational diseases and group 2 (hydrometallurgists). Smoking was independently associated with having an occupational disease claim in all groups (p < 0.001), as was the number of non-work-related diseases in six groups of seven. Despite consistent improvement in the exposure control measures in nickel production, occupational morbidity persists. More effort is needed to reduce exposure in final product cleaners.

Background Pyrometallurgical nickel production exposes workers to a wide range of occupational risk factors, including nickel aerosol, occupational noise and heat, but occupational (compensation) claims do not get enough attention in the literature. We, therefore, aimed to identify and analyze new occupational disease predictors in order to tailor prevention measures in the nickel pyrometallurgical production workers. Methods In a prospective observational study, a cohort of workers grouped in 16 occupations (N = 1424, 88% males, median age 39 (interquartile range (IQR) 31–47 years)), was fixed in 2007 at a large nickel production plant in the Russian High North. We then followed the cohort until 2021 and analyzed the association of selected predictors, including exposure to nickel and occupational group, with the risk of an occupational (compensation) claim in a Cox regression analysis. Results With 18,843 person-years of observation, occupational disease claims were confirmed in 129 workers (9% of the initial cohort, N = 108 men (84%)). Top three diagnoses were chronic bronchitis (3.81 cases/1000 workers/year), sensorineural deafness (2.36 cases/1000 workers /year) and musculoskeletal disorders (1.90 cases/1000 workers/year). Smoking was significantly associated with each diagnosis (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) ranged from 2.56 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17–5.57) for bronchitis to 6.69 (95% CI 1.46–30.64) for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)). High nickel exposure was associated with occupational bronchitis and occupational asthma, whereas associations of occupational groups were also identified for COPD, asthma and musculoskeletal disorders. Conclusion Smoking, high exposure to nickel and specific exposure in the occupational groups increase the risk of occupational disease claims and should be prioritized directions for targeted intervention.

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Introduction. Currently, the main influence of adverse working conditions is manifested not only by the level of occupational morbidity and injuries but by the general state of health of employed persons. Among the most significant non-occupational exposure is tobacco smoking. The aim of the study was a comparative assessment of the influence of the factor “harmful working conditions” (Fwc) and the factor “Smoking” (Fsmo) on the prevalence and rate of development of the most frequently diagnosed chronic diseases in industrial workers. Material and methods. Working conditions, medical examination data and smoking status of 2810 Apatite-nepheline and copper-Nickel miners were studied (cross section study). Population risk (PR) and its annual increase (GPR) were studied in six classes of diseases: circulatory system (CS), digestive system (DS), genitourinary system (GUS), respiratory system (RS), musculoskeletal system (MSS), skin and subcutaneous tissue (SST), nervous system (NS). Morbidity factors were characterized by the duration of their exposure: harmful working conditions - work experience not related to age and duration of smoking; non - professional factors - age of employees not related to work experience and smoking; smoking-its duration not related to age and work experience. Results. Population rates among non-smokers and smokers, in groups with the same average age and work experience, did not differ statistically, except for CS, the frequency of which is lower in smokers. It can be assumed that these data refer to “paradoxical cases” in which the Fwc effect is masked by employee turnover. In contrast to extensive indices of PR, GPR indices of the majority of classes of diseases-accurately reveal negative influence of smoking on a state of health of miners. Conclusion. 1. For quantitative comparison of negative effects on the health of workers of Fwc and Fsmo it is necessary to use indices PR of dynamics in certain experience and age groups. 2. The impact of the Fwc on the GPR is more pronounced than Fsmo for MSS, RS, NS. The influence of Fsmo exceeds a Fwc for SST, CS and DS. 3. An annual gain in the risk of chronic diseases (except MSS), not differentiated by their classes, s in smokers is by 1.6 times more than in non-smokers.