title: Acute decrease in HDL cholesterol associated with exposure to welding fumes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate acute changes in circulating lipids after exposure to relatively high levels of particulate matter through welding.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a repeated measures panel study, lipid levels before and after welding and personal exposures to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were measured in 36 male welders over 63 exposure and/or control days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a trend toward decrease in HDL (-2.3 mg/dL, P = 0.08) 18 hours after welding. This effect became significant (-2.6 mg/dL, P = 0.05) after adjustment for possible confounders. The effect was strongest (-4.3 mg/dL, P = 0.02) among welders who did not weld the day before the study. There were no significant changes in other lipids associated with welding or PM2.5 exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Welding exposure was associated with an acute decrease in circulating HDL, which may relate to the inflammatory and proatherosclerotic effects of fine particle exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. mrice2@partners.org
authors.forename: Mary Berlik
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: Jenn
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cavallari
authors.forename: Shona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christiani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000009:adverse effects; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014896:Welding; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D052638:Particulate Matter