[Epidemiological investigation of welder's pneumoconiosis in two container manufacturing industries in Guangdong province].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the incidence of welder's pneumoconiosis in container manufacturing industries in Guangdong province and present some preventive and curative strategy.


METHODS
Occupational epidemiology study methods were used to study the incidence of welder's pneumoconiosis in two container manufacturing enterprises (enterprise A and enterprise B).


RESULTS
Before 2004, the rate of up-to-standard of weld fume concentration in the workplaces was relatively low (< or = 40%), and the maximum value of time weighted average (TWA) was 26.7 mg/m(3). After 2004, with the system of dust control, the rate of up-to-standard was 85% in the enterprise A. Of the 813 weld workers examined, 19 were diagnosed as welder's pneumoconiosis (stage I was 15, while I (+) was 4 ) and the incidence was 2.34% (19/813). The age of electric welders suffering from welder's pneumoconiosis and the duration of dust exposure were (33.45 + 4.64) and (8.04 + 1.97) years respectively. Chest radiographic examination showed mainly small round opacities "p". The value of MVV, FEF25%, FEF50% and FEF75% in lung function tests were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The main features of welder's pneumoconiosis in container manufacturing industries are the short duration of dust exposure, and small round opacities "p" in the chest radiographs. Therefore, it should be the key point of the prevention and treatment of occupational diseases in this industry to control the harmful weld fume.
Qiu
Chuang-yi
CY
Guangdong Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Guangzhou 510300, China.
Zhang
Dong-hui
DH
Chen
Jian-xiong
JX
Li
Huan-ying
HY
Li
Wen-yong
WY
Li
Wei-jun
WJ
Zhang
Ying
Y
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011009:Pneumoconiosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014896:Welding
D004391:Dust