title: Assessment of the Biological Effects of Welding Fumes Emitted From Metal Active Gas and Manual Metal Arc Welding in Humans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Emissions from a particular welding process, metal inert gas brazing of zinc-coated steel, induce an increase in C-reactive protein. In this study, it was investigated whether inflammatory effects could also be observed for other welding procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve male subjects were separately exposed to (1) manual metal arc welding fumes, (2) filtered air, and (3) metal active gas welding fumes for 6 hours. Inflammatory markers were measured in serum before, and directly, 1 and 7 days after exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although C-reactive protein concentrations remained unchanged, neutrophil concentrations increased directly after exposure to manual metal arc welding fumes, and endothelin-1 concentrations increased directly and 24 hours after exposure. After exposure to metal active gas and filtered air, endothelin-1 concentrations decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increase in the concentrations of neutrophils and endothelin-1 may characterize a subclinical inflammatory reaction, whereas the decrease of endothelin-1 may indicate stress reduction.
authors.affiliation: From the Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine (Ms Dewald, Dr Gube, Dr Baumann, Dr Bertram, Ms Kossack, Prof Dr Kraus, and Dr Brand); ISF-Welding and Joining Institute (Mr Lenz and Prof Dr Resigen), RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dewald
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gube
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertram
authors.forename: Veronika
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kossack
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reisgen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013232:Steel / Q000009:adverse effects; D014896:Welding; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D019332:Endothelin-1; D008670:Metals; D013232:Steel; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015032:Zinc