title: Respiratory effects from work-related exposure to welding fumes in Hamadan, Iran.
abstract: The authors studied respiratory symptoms and lung function among welders at welding workshops, and among nonwelders, in Hamadan, Iran. They used a questionnaire to record demographic data, smoking habits, and respiratory symptoms. The authors measured pulmonary functions with subjects standing upright. They collected metal fume samples from the respiratory zone of workers and analyzed the samples by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of iron and manganese were higher than threshold limit values. The prevalence of asthma and clinical symptoms was higher in welders than nonwelders. Also, bronchitis was more common among welders (17.45%) than among nonwelders (2.56%). The average respiratory function values of welders were lower than those of nonwelders, with a significant difference between the means (p < 0.001 for all terms). The results of this study also strongly suggest a synergistic relationship between the effects of smoking and welding exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. ahmad_jonidi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmad J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.forename: Mohammad J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Assari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D003371:Cough / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020711:Threshold Limit Values; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron