[Determination of fumes and their elements from flux cored arc welding].
BACKGROUND
The aim of this work was to assay the concentration levels and composition of welding fumes, released during flux cored arc welding, to assess exposure of welders.


METHODS
Concentrations and welding fume components, such as iron, manganese, chromium (including the soluble and chromium VI), nickel, copper, calcium, aluminium, barium, and fluorides (including hydrogen fluoride) were determined in the air of six industrial plants (shipyards, mechanical engineering plants and a power station) at the breathing zones of the welders who used 10 types of wires during flux cored arc welding. The following determination methods were used: gravimetry (fumes), AAS (metals), and spectrophotometry (chromium VI, fluorides--including hydrogen fluoride).


RESULTS
The results made it possible to determine the relationship between concentrations of welding fume and its elements, and to assess worker's exposure. Time weighted average concentrations of the welding fumes and its elements at the worker's breathing zone were: mg/m3: dust 0.2-24.3; Fe 0.2-6.7; Mn 0.01-1.8; Cr 0.004-0.5 (mainly Cr III); Ca 0.004-2.5; Ni < or = 0.004; Cu < 0.002-0.05; Al < 0.14-0.4; Ba < 0.14; F- 0.07-0.43.


CONCLUSIONS
The welders using some types of flux cored welding wires worked in conditions harmful to their health owing to the considerably exceeded TLV value for fume and MAC values for manganese, and occasional slightly excessive MAC values for calcium and iron.
Matczak
Wanda
W
Zakładu Zagrozeń Chemicznych, Instytutu Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera w Lodzi. wmatczak@imp.lodz.pl
Przybylska-Stanisławska
Magdalena
M
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D014896:Welding
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008670:Metals