[Damages to the ears, nose and throat in copper production]

The study embraces 118 workers, engaged actively in the production of copper and sulfuric acid with length of service from 3 to 30 years and more in one of the largest enterprises for nonferrous metallurgy in this country. A detailed examination is performed on the upper respiratory ways and the ears by modern professional pathological otorhinolaryngological methods. In 101 workers (85.6%) are discovered different diseases of the upper respiratory ways and the ears. Very often the pathology is combined. Nearly half of the cases concern injury of the nose-gullet (42.4%). Olfactory disturbance is established in 61.9% of the examined. Comparatively high is the incidence of the chronic tonsillitis, (23.7%). They determine the high per cent of the temporary disability. The established during the examination diseases of the upper respiratory ways and the ears give grounds to presuppose an unfavourable effect of the factors of the working environment and to determine the necessity of carrying out purposeful and systematic preventive undertakings.