title: A study of characteristics of Michigan workers with work-related asthma exposed to welding.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of subjects with work-related asthma (WRA) secondary to welding exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of statewide surveillance, WRA reports were received from health care professionals. These reports were followed up with a telephonic interview using a standardized questionnaire; lung function tests were reviewed, and final assessment regarding the diagnosis was made.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Welding exposure was the fifth leading cause of WRA (n = 142; age, 43.3 ± 11.4 years; male to female ratio, 94:48). Several workers (n = 72) were nonwelders but all worked around welding fumes. More than a third had predicted forced expiratory volume in one second less than 80% (38 of 106, 35.8%). Most had sought medical treatment (95.8%) and had emergency room visits (n = 86, 60.6%), and several had required hospitalization (n = 50, 36.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Welding exposure is a common cause of WRA. It is seen in workers from different industries engaged in diverse jobs. Spirometry changes are common. Work-related asthma is associated with high morbidity and health care costs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banga
authors.forename: Mary Jo
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Rosenman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014896:Welding