Hygienic assessment of toxic dust factor at the aluminium smelter in Eastern Siberia

Introduction. Workers of modern aluminum plants experience long-term exposure to a complex of toxic chemical compounds, components of which are fluoride compounds. They have a chronic toxic effect on an organism. In this regard, it becomes relevant to conduct biomonitoring studies to assess the level and dynamics of excretion of fluorine in exposed workers of modern aluminum production. Material and methods. A total of 186 workers in primary aluminum production, individuals at increased professional risk (42 people) and 77 patients with established occupational diseases were examined. Results. The average fluoride - ion concentrations in the urine of aluminum production workers ranged from 1.2 ± 0.3 to 3.6 ± 0.9 mg/dm3 and were by 1.7-5.1 times higher than in the control group (0.7 ± 0.2 mg/dm3), the highest values were observed in workers of the main occupations of workshops with the technology of prebaked anodes. In workers of the high-risk group, examined in a hospital, content of fluoride ion in the urine increased by 1.1-1.4 timeswith the increase their experience of work in all experience groups (from 1.5 ± 0.2 to 2.1 ± 0.3 mg/dm3), with the exception of persons who have worked for 25 years or more (1.5 ± 0.1 mg/dm3). In workers with an established diagnosis of an occupational disease with an increase in the length of the post-exposure period there was observed a decrease in urinary fluoride ion excretion from 1.8 ± 0.1 mg/dm3 in the group with a time period up to 4 years and to 1.2±0.1 mg/dm3 in the group with 10 years or more. Conclusion. The results of studies argue a high content of fluoride ion in the urine in workers at aluminum smelters and in patients with an established diagnosis of occupational disease, which depends on the technology used, the worker’s occupation, length of service and the length of the post-contact period. This allows recommending the biomonitoring of fluoride compounds to assess occupational risks and the effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic measures.

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Biomonitoring of the Content of Fluorine in Workers in the Modern Aluminum Manufacture

Shayakhmetov

Меринов

Lisetskaya

et al. 2019

HAS

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The Level of Snow Cover Contamination with Fluoride Compounds in the Emission Zone of a Primary Aluminum Smelter

Лисецкая¹,

Шаяхметов²

2021

PH&LE

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Background: Fluoride compounds are one of the main components of industrial emissions from aluminum production. Natural deposition of fluorides with precipitation leads to their accumulation in soil and surface waters. In winter, the snow cover enables an assessment of industrial pollution with fluoride compounds. The objective of our work was to study fluoride levels in the snow cover in the emission zone of the primary aluminum smelter in the town of Shelekhov, Irkutsk Region. Materials and methods: Snow sampling was performed at nine points at different distances from the plant and fluoride concentrations were then measured in the aqueous fraction and solid precipitate by a potentiometric method with ion-selective electrode. Results: The aqueous fraction was a solution of hydrofluoride and sodium fluoride. Insoluble fluorides were found as a mixture of aluminum fluoride, calcium fluoride, cryolite, and aluminum tetrafluoride. We established that the soluble fraction exceeded 90 % in all snow samples. Within the urban agglomeration, snow pollution was distributed differentially. The total fluoride level in residential areas of Shelekhov was 14 to 21 times higher than that at the reference point. At the same time, in the area of a suburban rural settlement located downwind of the smelter, it reached a 33-fold excess. Conclusion: The main source of environmental pollution in the Shelekhovsky district of the Irkutsk Region is the processing of cryolite and fluoride salts in the primary aluminum production technological cycle generating fluorine-containing gaseous emissions and solid wastes. Concentrations of industrial pollutants in snow correlated with the distance from the source of emissions and the prevailing wind directions. Contribution of a heat power engineering enterprise to the industrial pollution of the local environment with fluorides was also revealed.

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Prospects of analyzing of nanoparticles in the composition of aerosol by the method of electron microscopy

Shelomentsev

Gomzikova

2023

Hygiene and Sanitation

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Introduction. Control of distribution of aerosol particle by size in the workplace area is one of the important problems of hygiene. To assess health effect of aerosol particles in workers, it is necessary to improve existing and introduce new methods for analyzing the dispersion and chemical composition of aerosols, including their nanosized constituents. Materials and methods. Generated lead oxide nanoparticles with an average diameter of 26.2±12.6 nm were sampled on 47-mm nylon membrane disc filters with a pore size of 0.2 µm and 1.2 µm. The experimental device represented a cascade system consisting of two membrane filters, where the first filter was intended for capturing nanoparticles while the second one was used for establishing the capture efficiency of the first. The sampling time for the cascade systems was 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, and 80 minutes for filters with a pore size of 0.2 µm and 5, 10, 20, and 120 minutes for those with a 1.2 µm pore size; in all cases, the volumetric flow rate was 1.5 L/min. The membrane surface was then analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Results. Lead oxide nanoparticles were found on all filters tested. They were evenly distributed over the entire effective filter area, their number increasing with air sampling duration. No nanoparticles were observed on the second level filters, regardless of the sampling period. Limitations. The results cannot be extrapolated to all types of nanoparticles since the capacity of polyamide/nylon filters was studied only with respect to lead oxide nanoparticles. Conclusion. The study proved that polyamide/nylon filters with the pore sizes of 0.2 µm and 1.2 µm have a high potential for nanoparticle capture and can be considered as a tool for developing new techniques of studying and controlling harmful factors.

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Hygienic assessment of toxic dust factor at the aluminium smelter in Eastern Siberia

Cited by 3 publications

References 2 publications

Biomonitoring of the Content of Fluorine in Workers in the Modern Aluminum Manufacture

Biomonitoring of the Content of Fluorine in Workers in the Modern Aluminum Manufacture

The Level of Snow Cover Contamination with Fluoride Compounds in the Emission Zone of a Primary Aluminum Smelter

Prospects of analyzing of nanoparticles in the composition of aerosol by the method of electron microscopy

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