ROLAND S. MATEVOSYAN, MD, PhD (1934-1983)

Dissertation

Basic problems of the occupational health in copper-metallurgy workers of the south.

Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow (1973)

SUMMARY

Non-ferrous metallurgy is the sphere of the most extensive waste output for product

unit. Its basic problems, the production ecology and the occupational health, are related to

the necessity of the production of various effluents, namely gaseous (including aerosols),

solid, and liquid wastes. The phase composition of non-ferrous copper metallurgy dust is

described as chalcosite Cu2S, covellite CuS, cuprite Cu2O, tenorite CuO, and net copper.

The fine dust fractions are enriched by lead, zinc and arsenic oxides. Groundmass of

copper, is recovered out of sulfide concentrate and semi-products. The process of the

conversion of disperse sulfide concentrates and semi-products (matte, nis matte) of

metallurgical works is accompanied by atmospheric emission of sulfurous anhydride (SA).

Through a prospective cohort of experimental rodents exposed to SA, and clinical

study in metallurgy workers, my father (Roland S. Matevosyan) revealed and described the

stages of pulmonary chronic diseases, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pre-

cancer caused by the SA. Grouped pathological analyses of the rodent lung tissue cuts

stratified for the six-month exposure to the smoke only, smoke and pollution, and finally to

smoke, pollution and steam of the SA, described the stages of disease from the presence of

pollutant nuggets and coniophages in peribronchial lympho-follicles; round-cell

infiltration and hyperplasia of the bronchial sub-mucous layer, thickening of the alveolar

walls by the growth of histiocytes, hyperplasia of the peribronchial lympho-follicles; to

catarrhal bronchitis, growth of argirophylic, procollagen fibers in peribronchial tissues,

emphysema, and generalized emphysema. The later development of hyperplasia was

described. Findings were correlated with clinical manifestations and x-ray results in

workers. A detailed process-flowsheet of the electrochemical production (aqueous

granulation of sulfide-metal melt; sulfur extraction out of sulfur-containing sludge and its

separation into independent product; solution treatment) was recommended together with

the protocol of the occupational culture for the lung disease prevention.