title: Relationship between welding fume concentration and systemic inflammation after controlled exposure of human subjects with welding fumes from metal inert gas brazing of zinc-coated materials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It has been shown that exposure of subjects to emissions from a metal inert gas (MIG) brazing process of zinc-coated material led to an increase of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in the blood. In this study, the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for such emissions was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve healthy subjects were exposed for 6 hours to different concentrations of MIG brazing fumes under controlled conditions. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was measured in the blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For welding fumes containing 1.20 and 1.50 mg m zinc, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein was increased the day after exposure. For 0.90 mg m zinc, no increase was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that the no-observed-effect level for emissions from a MIG brazing process of zinc-coated material in respect to systemic inflammation is found for welding fumes with zinc concentrations between 0.90 and 1.20 mg m.
authors: From the Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine (Drs Brand, Bauer, Gube, and Kraus) and ISF-Welding and Joining Institute (Mr Lenz and Dr Reisgen), Aachen University of Technology, Aachen, Germany; and Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Woodworking and Metalworking Industry (Dr Spiegel-Ciobanu), Hannover, Germany.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Brand
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Bauer
authors: Monika
authors: M
authors: Gube
authors: Klaus
authors: K
authors: Lenz
authors: Uwe
authors: U
authors: Reisgen
authors: Vilia Elena
authors: VE
authors: Spiegel-Ciobanu
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Kraus
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D014896:Welding / Q000379:methods; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015032:Zinc