A comprehensive health profile and exposure-risk analysis in an iron ore mining workforce

Iron ore mining produces hazardous particulate matter, yet a holistic profile of its health impacts across different exposure levels is unavailable. This study aimed to provide an integrated health assessment of miners by evaluating a wide spectrum of clinical outcomes and linking them to job-specific dust exposure to identify high-risk groups.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,193 employees of an Iranian iron ore mine. Participants underwent demographic and occupational interviews, systematic physical examinations, and clinical tests. Workers were stratified into high, moderate-, and low-exposure groups based on job role for comparative analysis. To compare the demographic variables among the exposure groups, ANOVA and chi-square tests were performed. To identify the factors associated with occupational exposure levels, univariate and multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were employed.

The workforce was relatively young (mean age: 34.9 ± 7.6 years) with a low prevalence of major chronic diseases. However, a significant burden of occupational ailments was observed, including hearing (23.8%) and vision (17.8%) problems, and dermatological conditions (31.3%). Most hematological and metabolic markers did not differ significantly across exposure groups; however, platelet count, LDL cholesterol, and blood pressure were significantly lower in the high-exposure group.

The health impacts of mining in this young workforce are currently characterized by localized sensory and dermatological issues rather than systemic metabolic effects. Targeted interventions addressing role-specific hazards, health literacy, and the educational determinants of risk allocation are urgently needed to mitigate long-term health consequences.