Preliminary Study to Investigate the Distribution and Effects of Certain Metals After Inhalation of Welding Fumes in Mice

The most important welding processes used are the Gas Metal Arc (GMA) welding, the Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding, and the Manual Metal Arc (MMA) welding processes. The goal of our investigation was to monitor the distribution of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the lung, spleen, liver, and kidney of mice after inhalation exposure of different welding methods using different steel base materials. The treatment groups were the following: MMA-mild steel, MMA-molybdenum-manganese (MoMn) alloy, TIG-mild steel, and TIG-stainless steel. The samples were taken 24- and 96 hours after the treatments.Most importantly, it was found that the Mn concentration in the lung’ samples of the MMA-mild steel and the MMA-MoMn groups was increased extremely at both sampling times and in the spleen’ samples also. In the TIG groups, the rise of the Mn concentration was only considerable in the lungs and spleens at 24h, and emerged concentration was found in the liver in 96h samples. Histopathology demonstrated emerged siderin content in the spleens of the treated animals and in siderin filled macrophages in the lungs mostly in all treated groups. Traces of high-level glycogen retention was found in the MMA groups at both sampling times. Similar glycogen retention in TIG-Ms and TIG stainless group’s liver samples and emerged number of vacuoles, especially in the hepatocytes of the TIG-stainless steel 96h group were also found.The mentioned results raise the consequence that there is a considerable difference in the kinetics of the Mn distribution between the MMA- and the TIG-fume treated groups. Hence, the result suggests that manganese has a particle-size dependent toxico-kinetics property. The anomaly of the glycogen metabolism indicates the systemic effect of the welding fumes. Also, the numerous vacuoles mentioned above show a possible liver-specific adverse effect of some components of the TIG-stainless steel welding fumes.

Associations between welding fume exposure and blood hemostatic parameters among workers exposed to welding fumes in confined space in Chonburi, Thailand

Background Occupational welding fumes contain varieties of toxic metal particles and may affect cardiovascular system like the Particulate Matters (PM). Few studies have focused on the effects of toxic metals on the hemodynamic balance; however, the reporting results were not consistent. This study aimed to investigate the association between toxic metals exposure (Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn) and Lead (Pb)) and blood hemostatic parameters status after a 3-week exposure cessation among workers exposed to welding fumes. Methodology Structured interviews and biological samplings were conducted for 86 male workers without a history of Anemia and Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and working in a confined space to construct crude oil tanks. Metal levels of Cr, Mn and Pb in urine were measured during the working days using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS) method. The concentrations of hemostatic proteins in blood (White blood cell counts (WBC), Lymphocytes, Monocyte, Eosinophil, Neutrophil, Hematocrit (Hct) were assessed after a 3 weeks exposure cessation. Workers were divided into groups based on occupation type (welder group and non-welder group), and based on metal levels (high and low exposure groups) for comparison. Linear regression models were used to explore the association between metal exposure and multiple blood hemostatic parameters adjusted for age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and smoking status. Results Urine Mn and Cr level of the welder group was significantly higher than the non-welder group (Mn: 0.96 VS 0.22 ug/g creatinine, p < 0.001; Cr: 0.63 VS 0.22 ug/g creatinine, p < 0.01). The mean value of Hct in the welder group was 44.58 ± 2.84 vol%, significantly higher than the non-welder group (43.07 ± 3.31 vol%, p = 0.026). The median value of WBC in the high Mn-exposed group (6.93 ± 1.59 X 106 Cell/ml) was significantly lower than the low Mn-exposed group (7.90 ± 2.13 X 106 Cell/ml, p = 0.018). The linear regression analyses showed that there was a significantly negative association between log transformed WBC value and the Mn exposure groups (high and low) after adjusting for age, BMI, and smoking status (β = - 0.049, p = 0.045), but no significant result was found between WBC and occupation types (welder and non-welder) (p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis also showed positive association between Hct and occupational types (welder and non-welders) (β = 0.014, p = 0.055). The other hemostatic parameters were not different from controls when divided by occupation type or metal level groups. Conclusions Our results showed that welders were exposed to about 3 to 4 times higher Mn and Cr concentrations than non-welders. Moreover, one third of the non-welders were exposed to high-exposure groups of Mn and Cr metals. Regression models revealed a significant association of the WBC counts with the Mn exposure group. Therefore, we infer that Mn exposure may play a significant role on the blood hemostatic parameters of workers in the confined space. Hazard identification for non-welders should also be conducted in the confined space.

Measurement of welding fume production in welding with high-alloy electrodes

Due to their good structural properties, stainless Cr-Ni steels have a very wide application in various branches of technology. During the welding of stainless Cr-Ni steels with high-alloy coated electrodes, welding fumes of complex chemical composition are generated, which is very harmful for welders and the environment. For the purposes of this experiment, two variants of one rutile Cr-Ni commercial electrode, designated E 23 12 2 LR 12, were designed and fabricated. Higher production of welding fume particles also means greater danger to humans and the environment. In order to show the influence of the base material on the production of welding fume particles, an experiment for measuring the production of welding fume particles was performed in which two different steels were used as the base material, general structural steel S235JRG2 and stainless steel X6CrNiTi18.10.

OCCUPATIONAL CANCER BURDEN: THE CONTRIBUTION OF EXPOSURE TO PROCESS-GENERATED SUBSTANCES AT THE WORKPLACE

Occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica, diesel engine exhaust emissions and welding fumes are widespread risk factors for lung cancer, and account for approximately half of the occupational lung cancer burden. If employers succeed in controlling workplace exposures to these process-generated substances, the fraction of lung cancers attributable to occupational exposures could be reduced dramatically.

Occupational Health Risks from Combined Exposure to Welding Fumes and Cold Environment for Welders

Introduction: Intensification of economic activities in the northern regions of Russia requires a better understanding of the combined health effect of cold environment and occupational risk factors. Objective: To assess the risk of developing health disorders in gas and electric welders exposed to low and normal workplace temperatures. Materials and methods: We conducted a comparative analysis of working conditions and health status of welders at two enterprises. The main cohort included 310 workers exposed to welding fumes and cold microclimate in an underground mine. The control cohort included 282 employees of a railcar manufacturing facility performing their functional duties in workshops with acceptable microclimate parameters. Results: According to the results of periodic medical examinations, 499 chronic diseases were diagnosed in welders of the main cohort against 230 among the controls. Compared to the reference cohort, underground welders were at higher risk of developing diseases of the digestive system (RR = 2.63; CI: 1.47–4.70; p = 0.0006), genitourinary (RR = 6.55; CI: 1.51–28.4; p = 0.004), musculoskeletal (RR = 1.50; CI: 1.14–1.97; p = 0.003), and nervous systems (RR = 5.29; CI 1.19–23.4; p = 0.014), skin (RR = 3.85; CI: 1.61–9.18; p = 0.001), respiratory organs (RR = 3.23; CI: 1.84–5.69; p < 0.001), as well as infectious and parasitic diseases (RR = 8.61; CI: 2.03–36.5; p = 0.0004). Thus, the number of healthy workers was smaller while the number of workers suffering from two or more chronic diseases was bigger in this cohort (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The welders working in cold environment were significantly less healthy than those working in normal workplace temperatures. The results necessitate the development of additional measures of disease prevention for this category of employees.

To Assess the Physical Morbidity Profile among the Welders

Introduction: The welding profession poses many health hazards that the welders are exposed to everyday during working time. This leads to a large number of health consequences and diseases. Worldwide 10 million employees are exposed to iron fumes. Most are exposed by inhaling welding fumes that have iron as their main component. Exposure to iron fumes in steel mills and iron/steel foundries is also significant. Background: For welders it is most important to take safety measures during working time. Welders are exposed to various types of hazardous substances that can affect their health. Worldwide welder’s morbidity is in a large number of welders affected. We conducted a study to find the physical morbidity pattern of welders in the Wardha region. Objective- To assess the physical morbidity profile among the welders, and associate the physical morbidity profile with selected demographical variables in Wardha, India. Methods: A purposive sample was conducted among 100 welders to identify the physical morbidity among welders. Welding workshop in separated space outside and inside the city of Wardha.one way ANOVA and t-test used to estimate the degree of association between the physical morbidity profile and the selected demographic variables. Results: All welders were having some type of physical morbidity. The most frequent issues with the welding workers are injury to the eyes and skin. Age of welding worker, educational qualification, experience of welding work, hours worked per day are in association with the physical morbidity among welders. Conclusion: In this study, the physical morbidity pattern of welders is identified. 87% welders were identified with mild physical morbidity and 13% of welders with moderate physical morbidity. Need some training program for welders to do right and safety welding and certificated course for welders.

Genotoxicity and inflammatory potential of stainless steel welding fume particles: an in vitro study on standard vs Cr(VI)-reduced flux-cored wires and the role of released metals

Welders are daily exposed to various levels of welding fumes containing several metals. This exposure can lead to an increased risk for different health effects which serves as a driving force to develop new methods that generate less toxic fumes. The aim of this study was to explore the role of released metals for welding particle-induced toxicity and to test the hypothesis that a reduction of Cr(VI) in welding fumes results in less toxicity by comparing the welding fume particles of optimized Cr(VI)-reduced flux-cored wires (FCWs) to standard FCWs. The welding particles were thoroughly characterized, and toxicity (cell viability, DNA damage and inflammation) was assessed following exposure to welding particles as well as their released metal fraction using cultured human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC-3kt, 5–100 µg/mL) and human monocyte-derived macrophages (THP-1, 10–50 µg/mL). The results showed that all Cr was released as Cr(VI) for welding particles generated using standard FCWs whereas only minor levels (< 3% of total Cr) were released from the newly developed FCWs. Furthermore, the new FCWs were considerably less cytotoxic and did not cause any DNA damage in the doses tested. For the standard FCWs, the Cr(VI) released in cell media seemed to explain a large part of the cytotoxicity and DNA damage. In contrast, all particles caused rather similar inflammatory effects suggesting different underlying mechanisms. Taken together, this study suggests a potential benefit of substituting standard FCWs with Cr(VI)-reduced wires to achieve less toxic welding fumes and thus reduced risks for welders.