Copper is one of the few metals that have a very important place in the development of humanity from the past to the present. It is widely used today for reasons such as being easily machined, having high thermal and electrical conductivity values, and being able to easily form alloy with other metals. Increasing technological needs increase the need of humanity for copper. Thousands of workers work in copper mines to meet this requirement. As it is well known, mining is one of the most dangerous professions nowadays. Every year thousands of worker lose their lives, injured or suffer from diseases caused by professional reasons.
Heavy metals are taken into the body through contact with the mouth, respiratory and skin touch, and can not be disposed of without special health support. Heavy metals that are not excreted, accumulate in the body and when they exceed a certain limit, they cause serious health problems on metabolism. These health problems can cause even death. The presence of heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium and lead in the body at low rates cause toxic effects. When heavy metals such as copper, iron, zinc, nickel reach certain rates, they start to have toxic effects.
Copper, which is one of the heavy metals that affects human metabolism, accumulates in the liver, kidney, brain and cornea. The presence of copper in the human body is known to cause kidney and liver diseases, Wilson's disease, pathological changes in tissues, depression and neurological health problems.
In this study, blood analysis of workers working in a copper mine for the past 10 years has been investigated and the change of copper amount in their blood has been analyzed. Health survey results of all workers working underground in the mine were taken into consideration in the evaluations. More than 4000 blood samples were transferred to the computer and used in calculations. The amount of copper found in underground workers blood was analyzed by the distribution of the workers ' working period, age, working places and section.
Anahtar Kelimeler: Copper, Occupational Health and Safety, Heavy Metal, Copper Mining
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