A retrospective epidemiological study of morbidity at a large western copper smelter.

Smelter workers were compared with employees at the mine, concentrator and refinery in an attempt to discover if the smelter environment has an effect on morbidity. The data for the study consisted of weekly indemnity insurance claim forms. It was found that the refinery, rather than the smelter, had the highest percent of employees submitting claims. Other major comparisons of morbidity among the four plants also showed the refinery to be highest, with the smelter closer to the mine and concentrator. This pattern was found to hold for respiratory disease classifications as well as overall morbidity levels.