Assessment of the working-environment harmful factors and health risk of workers in a nitrogen fertilizer plant.

The authors examined the influence of harmful factors of the working environment such as: microclimate, dust, noise, vibrations, and chemical noxes such as: ammonia, nitric oxides, hydrogen fluoride and gaseous fluorides, on the health status of workers involved in the production of fertilizers and ammonia in a nitrogen fertilizer plant. Various biochemical examinations of 158 workers were carried out. The morbidity rate for 1993-1995 was also studied. The biochemical monitoring indicated a statistically significant dependence of the abnormalities of the biochemical parameters on the professional exposure. The metabolic disturbances were proved by serum creatinine and urea elevations and rising urinary ammonia concentrations, by disturbances of the liver function consisting in an enhanced transaminase activity, and by disorders of the mineral metabolism presented with an increased urinary phosphorus excretion at a low serum phosphorus level as well as with increased serum and urinary fluorine concentrations. The temporarily registered morbidity rate showed a tendency towards an increase in diseases of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular system.