title: Influence of welding fume on systemic iron status.
abstract: Iron is the major metal found in welding fumes, and although it is an essential trace element, its overload causes toxicity due to Fenton reactions. To avoid oxidative damage, excess iron is bound to ferritin, and as a result, serum ferritin (SF) is a recognized biomarker for iron stores, with high concentrations linked to inflammation and potentially also cancer. However, little is known about iron overload in welders. Within this study, we assessed the iron status and quantitative associations between airborne iron, body iron stores, and iron homeostasis in 192 welders not wearing dust masks. Welders were equipped with personal samplers in order to determine the levels of respirable iron in the breathing zone during a working shift. SF, prohepcidin and other markers of iron status were determined in blood samples collected after shift. The impact of iron exposure and other factors on SF and prohepcidin were estimated using multiple regression models. Our results indicate that respirable iron is a significant predictor of SF and prohepcidin. Concentrations of SF varied according to the welding technique and respiratory protection used, with a median of 103 μg l(-1) in tungsten inert gas welders, 125 μg l(-1) in those wearing air-purifying respirators, and 161 μg l(-1) in other welders. Compared to welders with low iron stores (SF < 25 μg l(-1)), those with excess body iron (SF ≥ 400 μg l(-1)) worked under a higher median concentration of airborne iron (60 μg m(-3) versus 148 μg m(-3)). Even though air concentrations of respirable iron and manganese were highly correlated, and low iron stores have been reported to increase manganese uptake in the gastrointestinal tract, no correlation was seen between SF and manganese in blood. In conclusion, monitoring SF may be a reasonable method for health surveillance of welders. Respiratory protection with air-purifying respirators can decrease iron exposure and avoid chronically higher SF in welders working with high-emission technologies.
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Swaantje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casjens
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Rihs
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raulf-Heimsoth
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Welge
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lotz
authors.affiliation: 2.Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany;
authors.forename: Rainer Van
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Gelder
authors.affiliation: 2.Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse 111, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany;
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: 3.Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Transfusion and Laboratory Medicine, BG-University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stiegler
authors.affiliation: 4.Institute for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany;
authors.forename: Lewin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Eisele
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: 5.Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Applied Biosciences, Kaiserstrasse 12, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany;
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
authors.affiliation: 1.Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Buerkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany; pesch@ipa-dguv.de.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pesch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D005858:Germany; D064451:Hepcidins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D064451:Hepcidins; D008345:Manganese; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron
keywords: airborne iron; iron regulation; respirable manganese; serum ferritin; welding fumes