Occupational and environmental risks in and around a smelter in northern Sweden

Abstract

Frequencies of spontaneous abortion were studied in populations located at different distances from the Rönnskår smelter in northern Sweden. The smelter emits a number of potentially genotoxic substances like lead, arsenic and sulphur dioxide to the environment. In the population located close to the smelter a significant increase of the abortion frequency was found, compared to more distantly located populations.