Assessment of the effect of welding fumes on welders' cognitive failure and health-related quality of life.
BACKGROUND
This study examined whether cognitive symptoms and health-related quality of life can be affected by welding fume exposure.


METHODS
Participants consisted of welders (n = 40) and welder assistants (n = 25) from welding units as the exposed group, and office workers (n = 44) as the non-exposed group. All participants were studied using ambient air monitoring and two types of questionnaires: the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) and the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).


RESULTS
Welders and welder assistants were exposed to higher concentrations of all airborne metals than office employees, except for aluminum and chromium (p < 0.05). Mean (95% confidence interval) CFQ score was higher in welders (26.42 (12.74)) compared with welder assistants (22.68 (14.37)) and the non-exposed group (21.38 (8.75)), although these differences were not statistically significant. Mean total score of the SF-36 significantly differed among the three groups (p < 0.05) and welders had the lowest score (M (SD) = 54.84 (17.88)). The relationships between total CFQ score and the measured concentration of nickel at peak work rate was significant for welders.


CONCLUSIONS
Cognitive symptoms and health-related quality of life were not related to the measures of welding fume exposure and further research should be performed to find other influencing factors.
a Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
Abdolrasoul
A
Rahmani
a Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
Farideh
F
Golbabaei
a Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
Somayeh Farhang
SF
Dehghan
a Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
Adel
A
Mazlomi
a Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Iran.
Arash
A
Akbarzadeh
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D011788:Quality of Life; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014896:Welding
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008670:Metals
ambient air assessment; cognitive failures; health-related quality of life; welding fume