USING THE METHODOLOGY OF CARCINOGENIC RISKS ASSESSMENT IN COPPER PYROMETALLURGY

Abstract

We conducted a hygienic assessment of the chemical factors contribution of the production environment to the formation of carcinogenic risk of workers employed in the reverberatory and blast smelting of copper-containing ores, compared with autogenous processes. Inorganic arsenic compounds have been shown to be a major factor forming a carcinogenic risk in copper smelting. The greatest prognostic values of carcinogenic risk for similar professions of metallurgical shops are observed during reverberatory and blast smelting, rather than during bath smelting due to the difference in the equipment used. The main measure to reduce the carcinogenic risk of blister copper production should be the technical reequipment of smelters with the introduction of autogenous processes.