title: Exposure to inhalable, respirable, and ultrafine particles in welding fume.
abstract: This investigation aims to explore determinants of exposure to particle size-specific welding fume. Area sampling of ultrafine particles (UFP) was performed at 33 worksites in parallel with the collection of respirable particles. Personal sampling of respirable and inhalable particles was carried out in the breathing zone of 241 welders. Median mass concentrations were 2.48 mg m(-3) for inhalable and 1.29 mg m(-3) for respirable particles when excluding 26 users of powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs). Mass concentrations were highest when flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) with gas was applied (median of inhalable particles: 11.6 mg m(-3)). Measurements of particles were frequently below the limit of detection (LOD), especially inside PAPRs or during tungsten inert gas welding (TIG). However, TIG generated a high number of small particles, including UFP. We imputed measurements <LOD from the regression equation with manganese to estimate determinants of the exposure to welding fume. Concentrations were mainly predicted by the welding process and were significantly higher when local exhaust ventilation (LEV) was inefficient or when welding was performed in confined spaces. Substitution of high-emission techniques like FCAW, efficient LEV, and using PAPRs where applicable can reduce exposure to welding fume. However, harmonizing the different exposure metrics for UFP (as particle counts) and for the respirable or inhalable fraction of the welding fume (expressed as their mass) remains challenging.
authors.affiliation: Center of Epidemiology, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pelzer
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kendzia
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gawrych
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Heinze
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Gelder
authors.forename: Ewald
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Punkenburg
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mattenklott
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Möhlmann
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berges
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005374:Filtration; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008345:Manganese / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D014691:Ventilation / Q000592:standards; D014896:Welding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D008345:Manganese