title: Inflammatory response to acute exposure to welding fumes during the working day.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate cardiorespiratory and inflammatory responses in male workers following exposure to welding fumes and airborne particles in actual workplace conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured blood leukocytes and their differential counts, platelet count, hemoglobin, sensitive C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, E-selectin, IL-(interleukin)1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and endothelin-1 in blood samples of twenty workers before and after their working day. We also studied peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and exhaled nitric oxide (NO). We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) by obtaining 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total blood leukocytes and neutrophils increased after the work shift, whereas IL-1β and E-selectin decreased significantly. There were no statistically significant changes in exhaled NO, FEV1, PEF or HRV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occupational exposure to welding fumes and particles caused a slight, acute inflammatory effect estimated based on the increased values of leukocytes and neutrophils in blood and a decrease in the interleukin 1β and E-selectin values, but no changes in the pulmonary function (exhaled NO, FEV1, PEF) or HRV during the working day were observed.
authors.affiliation: Aerosols, Dusts and Metals, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Järvelä
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kauppi
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuomi
authors.forename: Ritva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luukkonen
authors.forename: Harri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nieminen
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moilanen
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hannu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D001944:Breath Tests; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005740:Gases / Q000633:toxicity*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010976:Platelet Count; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D019040:E-Selectin; D019332:Endothelin-1; D005740:Gases; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007378:Interleukins; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002097:C-Reactive Protein