Epidemiology has indicated a possible increase in lung cancer among stainless steel welders. Chromium (Cr) is a primary component of stainless steel welding fume. There is an initiative to develop alternative welding consumables [nickel (Ni)- and copper (Cu)-based alloys] that do not contain Cr. No study has been performed to evaluate the toxicity of fumes generated from Ni- and Cu-based consum...

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate inflammatory and respiratory responses to welding fume exposure in patients with suspected occupational asthma. METHODS Sixteen patients referred to the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health underwent mild steel (MS) and stainless steel (SS) welding challenge tests, due to suspicion of OA. Platelet count, leucocytes and their differential count,...

welders exposure to nickel and hexavalent chromium in welding fumes is associated with increase of cancer risk in welders. in this study we calculated cancer risk due to exposure to these compounds in welders.the role of exposure parameters in welders on derived incremental lifetime cancer risk were determined by stochastic modeling of cancer risk. input parameters were determined by field inve...

J. Matusiak, J. Wyciślik, Institute of Welding, Gliwice, Poland The article presents the results of research into the fume and gas emission during MIG/MAG arc weld brazing. Investigations were conducted for hot dip coated steel sheets with zinc and zinc and iron alloy coatings. Steel grades of DX 54D Z 100 MBO and DX 54D ZF 100 RBO were used during research. ARC shielding gases applied were Ar ...

Studies in the field of environmental epidemiology indicate that for the adverse effect of inhaled particles not only particle mass is crucial but also particle size is. Ultrafine particles with diameters below 100 nm are of special interest since these particles have high surface area to mass ratio and have properties which differ from those of larger particles. In this paper, particle size di...

BACKGROUND In 2011, the Department of Health in England recommended that welders should each receive a single dose of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). AIMS To assess the evidence behind the advice and its practical implications. METHODS The review was informed by a systematic search in Medline, which related pneumonia to welding and/or exposure to metal fume, and w...

Several studies suggest that welding is detrimental to the male reproductive system. Welding fume and radiant heat are of interest as possible causal factors. This study investigates semen quality and sex hormone concentrations among 17 manual metal arc alloyed steel welders with a moderate exposure to radiant heat (globe temperature ranging from 31.1 degrees to 44.8 degrees C), but without sub...

OBJECTIVES To study the airway response and its mechanism to welding fumes in six welders with respiratory symptoms. METHODS Methacholine and welding challenge tests were carried out. The concentration of welding fumes during the exposure test was measured. On two subjects who developed bronchoconstricition to welding challenge, additional tests were carried out including prick, patch, and in...

About one million workers worldwide are engaged in welding processes, where they are exposed to a complex mixture of inhalable pollutants. Adverse effects in the respiratory system can occur due to this occupational exposure. Currently, legislative limits only exist for inhalable and alveolar particles. However, epidemiologic and toxicologic studies show that especially ultrafine particles (UFP...

OBJECTIVE As the findings on changes in pulmonary function of welders have been inconsistent, this study aimed to analyze respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among welders and controls with particular emphasis on small airways dysfunction. METHODS Cross-sectional analysis, using spirometry and a standardized questionnaire, was used to evaluate 521 participants, 166 of whom (64 welders...