[Chemical hazards induced by heavy metals refining processes]

Processes of refining heavy metals consist in removing impurities, which can be found in metals produced on industrial scale. People involved in heavy metals refining processes are primarily exposed to metals (Pb, Cd, Cu), metalloids (As, Se) and metal compounds. Exposure to dusts (from 2 to 50% SiO2) and sulfuric acid is an additional hazard.

The air concentrations of harmful chemical agents at heavy metals refining stations in two Polish Plants are presented. Several tens of workers employed in the processes of copper, lead, nickel sulfate, zinc, cadmium and silver production were examined. Concentrations of Cd, Ni, Se, Cu, Pb, Ag, As and Sb were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) with a graphite tube, whereas Fe, ZnO oxide (as Zn), MgO (as Mg) and CaO (as Ca) by AAS with air-acetylene flame, and sulfuric acid by method described in PN-91/Z-04056/02.

Lead concentrations in the samples collected in both Plants were often high (significantly exceeding Polish MAC values at some workstations). Arsenic concentrations ranged from very low in all processes in one Plant to very high, exceeding Polish MAC values, at some workstations in the other. In general, air concentrations of other agents were not high (fraction of MAC). The occurrence of antimony and magnesium oxide was not determined.

The risk created by metals and metalloids at the workstations in two Plants was diversified. There is no need to determine Sb and MgO in further studies. Lead should be determined at all workstations, other agents can be determined at workstations with concentrations exceeding the determinability of relevant methods.