Biochemical blood parameters in workers of the main professions of aluminum production

Introduction. Despite the improvement of working conditions, the installation of modern equipment, and the improvement of the ventilation system, the occupational morbidity of aluminum production workers remains high. Exposure to chemicals, the most important of which are hydrofluoride and fluoride compounds, can lead not only to the formation of occupational diseases, but also contributes to the development of general somatic pathology, which contributes mainly to the health of aluminum production workers.

The study aims to consider the biochemical blood parameters of aluminum industry workers who come into contact with fluoride and its compounds in order to search for early biomarkers of occupational and occupational-related pathology risks.

Materials and methods. The specialists have examined 52 aluminum production workers who have been in contact with fluorine and its compounds for a long time (more than 15 years) and 95 Novokuznetsk residents who have never worked in harmful working conditions (comparison group).

Results. The authors have found that workers who have been working in aluminum production for a long time without occupational and general somatic diseases have lipid metabolism disorders (increased levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), changes in protein metabolism (decreased levels of total protein and γ-globulins), increased levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase, bilirubin, C-reactive protein, hypercoagulation (increased levels of soluble fibrin-monomer complexes and a decreased prothrombin ratio), which may be due to the hepatotoxic effect of fluoride and its compounds.

Limitations. This study is limited to a sample of workers in the main aluminum production professions undergoing examination at the Research Institute of Complex Hygiene Problems and Occupational Diseases. Persons who refused to sign an informed consent were excluded from the study. The age group of workers from 38 to 57 years old, with long-term work experience under the influence of harmful industrial factors — more than 15 years, was studied. The study did not include individuals with established occupational and somatic diseases.

Conclusion. Aluminum production workers who come into contact with fluorine and its compounds for a long time develop disorders of lipid and protein metabolism, hypercoagulation, possibly related to the hepatotoxic effect of fluorine and its compounds.

Ethics. The examination of patients corresponded to the ethical standards of the Bioethical Committee of the Scientific Research Institute of Complex Problems of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases (Minutes of meeting No. 4, §2 of November 18, 2021), developed in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration of the World Medical Association (ed. 2013). All examined persons gave written informed consent to participate in the study.

Contributions:
Panev N.I. — research concept and design, data collection and processing, text writing, editing;
Krasilnikova P.L. — data collection and processing, writing text;
Filimonov S.N. — editing;
Rumple O.A. — data collection, editing;
Semenova E.A. — data collection.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 25.08.2025 / Accepted: 27.08.2025 / Published: 05.10.2025

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