title: Lung function in Pakistani welding workers.
abstract: Our objective was to study the effects of welding fumes and their duration of exposure on lung function. This was a matched case-control cross-sectional study of spirometry in 50 nonsmoking manual metal arc welders who work without the benefit of welding fume control ventilation or respiratory protective devices. Welding workers, with exposures longer than 9 years, showed a significant reduction in spirometry (forced expiratory volume in one second [FEV1], FEV1/forced vital capacity [FVC%], and peak expiratory flow [PEF]) relative to controls. Lung function in nonsmoking welding workers is impaired and stratification of results shows a dose-effect of years of welding on lung function. This effect primarily shows an obstructive pattern of airways disease. Preventive measures in developing countries have to be adopted to avert long-term lung damage in welders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Hamdard College of Medicine & Dentistry, Hamdard University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sultan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Meo
authors.forename: M Abdul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Azeem
authors.forename: M M F
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Subhan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005540:Forced Expiratory Flow Rates; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013147:Spirometry; D013997:Time Factors; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational