title: Alterations in welding process voltage affect the generation of ultrafine particles, fume composition, and pulmonary toxicity.
abstract: The goal was to determine if increasing welding voltage changes the physico-chemical properties of the fume and influences lung responses. Rats inhaled 40 mg/m³ (3 h/day × 3 days) of stainless steel (SS) welding fume generated at a standard voltage setting of 25 V (regular SS) or at a higher voltage (high voltage SS) of 30 V. Particle morphology, size and composition were characterized. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed at different times after exposures to assess lung injury. Fumes collected from either of the welding conditions appeared as chain-like agglomerates of nanometer-sized primary particles. High voltage SS welding produced a greater number of ultrafine-sized particles. Fume generated by high voltage SS welding was higher in manganese. Pulmonary toxicity was more substantial and persisted longer after exposure to the regular SS fume. In summary, a modest raise in welding voltage affected fume size and elemental composition and altered the temporal lung toxicity profile.
authors.affiliation: Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA. jga6@cdc.gov
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Antonini
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.forename: Bean T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Jenny R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schwegler-Berry
authors.forename: Ronnee N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Frazer
authors.forename: Krishnan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sriram
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D014896:Welding / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D013193:Stainless Steel