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The article presents a study on the work related diseases in metallurgical workers. It reports that the main diseases in the people working in metallurgical industries include respiratory diseases like lung cancer and pneumoconiosis, other cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It also investigates the hazards present in the environment of the workplace including the specific metal species, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and persistent organic pollutants (POP).

Increased cobalt levels have been associated with neurological diseases (hand tremor, incoordination, cognitive decline, depression, vertigo, hearing loss and visual changes) in addition to "classic" and known cardiac diseases (arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies) and allergic or endocrine symptoms. Cobalt neurotoxicity is reported in isolated cases: old occupational or iatrogenic exposures and more recent releases of metallic ions by prosthesis. The studies of these cases have revealed a typical symptomatology of cobalt probably due to its ability to induce oxidative stress and mitochondrial alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]