Respiratory symptoms and lung function change in welders: are they associated with workplace exposures?
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates whether work-related respiratory symptoms and acute falls in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), previously observed in current welders, are related to measured workplace exposures to total fume and metals.


METHODS
At four work sites in New Zealand, changes in pulmonary function (and reported respiratory symptoms) were recorded in 49 welding workers (and 26 non-welders) exposed to welding fume. We also determined the personal breathing zone levels of total fume and various metals.


RESULTS
Work-related respiratory symptoms were reported by 26.5% of welders and 11.5% of non-welders. These symptoms were related significantly to their personal breathing zone nickel exposure--with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval [CI] of the high exposure group (compared to a low exposure group of 7.0 [1.3-36.6]). There were non-significant associations with total fume exposure (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 0.6-12.2), and exposure index of greater than 10 years (OR=2.8, 95% CI 0.5-15.0). A fall in FEV1 of at least 5% after 15 minutes of work was significantly associated with aluminium exposure (OR=5.8, 95% CI 1.7-20.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Nickel exposure from metal inert gas (MIG) and tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding is associated with work-related respiratory symptoms and aluminium exposure from welding is associated with a fall in FEV1 of at least 5 % after 15 minutes of work.
Fishwick
David
D
Sheffield Occupational and Environmental Lung Injury Centre, Respiratory Function Unit, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom. david.fishwick@hsl.gov.uk
Bradshaw
Lisa
L
Slater
Tania
T
Curran
Andrew
A
Pearce
Neil
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects*; D005740:Gases / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009532:Nickel / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014414:Tungsten; D014896:Welding
D005740:Gases; D009532:Nickel; D000535:Aluminum; D014414:Tungsten