Respiratory hazards of metal smelting

Purpose of review:
The metal smelting industry is an important industry in the majority of countries in the world and employs
millions of workers. In most of the production types, a variety of pollutants are emitted into the workplace
atmosphere. Some of these pollutants have sensitizing properties, whereas other act as irritants in the
respiratory tract. This review will explore the recent studies (2010–2012) which address the impact of
exposure to pollutants in the smelting industry on nonmalignant respiratory disorders.
Recent findings:
The association between different respiratory symptoms as well as pulmonary function and the level of
exposure to different agents has been investigated. Likewise, the effect of primary prevention (exposure
reduction) and secondary prevention (relocation) has been studied. Finally, the association between the
incidence of community-acquired pneumonia and exposure to pollutants encountered at work in the
smelting industry and the results from mortality studies are reported.
Summary:
It appears that exposure to emissions of pollutants in the smelting industry is associated with respiratory
symptoms, including asthma, lung function decline and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depending
on the type of production. Moreover, it is possible that these exposures may enhance the risk of infectious
pneumonia.