Working conditions and occupational pathology in the Arctic zone of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) in 2007-2019

Background. Human labor activity in the Arctic takes place under conditions of the combined effect of harmful production and climatic factors, which significantly increases the risk of occupational pathology. The aim of the study was to investigate the working conditions and occupational pathology of persons working in the Arctic zone of the Sakha Republic (AZRS). Materials and methods. We studied data of the socio-hygienic monitoring “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the Russian Arctic. Results. It was found that in 2007-2019 in the AZRS, for the first time 27 occupational diseases were diagnosed mainly among workers engaged in the extraction of tin ore. No cases of diseases were detected in persons engaged in traditional economic activities. Most often, the development of occupational pathology was caused by fibrogenic aerosols (n = 12), and respiratory diseases predominated in its structure (n = 14). The annual prevalence of occupational pathology in AZRS ranged from 0 to 26.7 cases / 10,000 employees, and the risk of developing an occupational disease in 2007-2010 was higher than in 2016-2019: RR = 4.90; CI 1.44-16.62; p = 0.005. The reason for this was the absence of large industrial enterprises in the region and the cessation of tin ore mining. Conclusion. In AZRS, there is a low level of occupational morbidity, which had a pronounced downward trend in 2007-2019. It is necessary to increase the level of occupational pathological assistance to the AZRS population engaged in reindeer husbandry and other types of traditional economic activities.