This article is a review of the human pulmonary disorders which may result from exposure to inhaled metals. Since carbon and silicon are not metals, this review does not cover coal workers' pneumoconiosis, silicosis, asbestos-related diseases, or pneumoconioses caused by other silicates. The type of lung disease caused by metal compounds depends on the nature of the offending agent, its physico...

The aim of the present study was to describe the cases of occupational asthma (OA) due to stainless steel welding fumes diagnosed at the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health during the period 1994-2003. OA was diagnosed according to patient history, lung function examinations and welding challenge tests with measurements of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)) and peak expira...

Welding fumes are classified as Group 2B 'possibly carcinogenic' and this prompts to the implementation of local exhaust ventilation (LEV). The fume extraction torch with LEV integrated into the tool is the most attractive solution but its capture efficiency is often disappointing in practice. This study assesses the main parameters affecting fume capture efficiency namely the extraction flow r...

Overlay welding of nickel alloys for corrosive and sour service is commercially accomplished with most welding processes ranging from shielded metal arc (stick) to laser. The valve industry has generally standardized on hot wire gas tungsten arc (GTA-HW), pulsed gas metal arc (GMA-P) and submerged arc (SAW) welding. This document will focus on these three but a little history will help explain ...

The welding is the major working process in fitness equipment manufacturing industry, and International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified welding fumes as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). The present study aimed to evaluate associations between the occupational exposure of metals and oxidative damage and telomere length shortening in workers involved in the manufacture of ...

BACKGROUND Occupational exposure is estimated to contribute 15% to the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Welding fumes are suspected to accelerate the decline of lung function and development of COPD. AIMS To examine the relationship between welding fume exposure and COPD in Korean shipyard welders. METHODS The study involved a group of male welders working at two ship...