Biological effects of emissions from resistance spot welding of zinc-coated material after controlled exposure of healthy human subjects.
OBJECTIVE
Do emissions from a resistance spot welding process of zinc-coated materials induce systemic inflammation in healthy subjects after exposure for 6 hours?


METHODS
Twelve healthy male subjects were exposed once for 6 hours either to filtered ambient air or to welding fume from resistance spot welding of zinc-coated material (mass concentration approximately 100 μg m). Biological effects were measured before, after, and 24 hours after exposure.


RESULTS
At the concentrations used in this study, however, the suspected properties of ultrafine particles did not lead to systemic inflammation as reflected by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or other endpoint parameters under consideration.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrafine particles from a resistance spot welding process of zinc-covered materials with a number concentration of about 10 cm and a mass concentration of about 100 μg m did not induce systemic inflammation.
From the Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine (Drs Gube and Brand and Mr Lenz) and ISF-Welding and Joining Institute (Mr Lenz and Dr Reisgen), RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
Monika
M
Gube
Thomas
T
Kraus
Klaus
K
Lenz
Uwe
U
Reisgen
Peter
P
Brand
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010316:Particle Size; D014896:Welding; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015032:Zinc