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PubMed1989

Malignant lymphomas and occupational exposures.

The effects of potential risk factors for Hodgkin's disease (HD) and for non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) were evaluated in a case-referent study encompassing 54 cases of HD, 106 cases of NHL, and 275 referents, all alive. Exposure information was obtained by questionnaires posted to the subjects. Crude rate ratios were increased for various occupational exposures including solvents, welding, wood preservatives, phenoxy acids, and fresh wood (sawmill workers, lumberjacks, paper pulp workers). After further analyses based on logistic regression occupational exposures to welding and creosote remained as significant risk factors for HD. For NHL, occupational exposures to solvents, phenoxy acids, and creosote but also work as carpenter or cabinet maker and contacts with pets (other than dogs, cats, and birds) were associated with significantly increased risks.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Longitudinal respiratory survey of shipyard workers: effects of trade and atopic status.

A respiratory sample survey of 609 shipyard workers was conducted in 1979: the men were reassessed an average of 7.2 years later. The 53 deaths between the surveys were related to age, level of lung function and smoking but not to trade as a welder or caulker/burner. Of the survivors, 488 (88%) were seen, including 425 men who had retired or been made redundant. Redundancy was related to age, smoking, and respiratory symptoms; the average reduction in duration of employment per symptom was 0.44 years. Changes in respiratory symptoms included onset of chronic bronchitis and wheeze on most days (numbers respectively 77 and 109) and increased breathlessness on exertion (n = 89); significant related factors included smoking, previous metal fume fever or pneumonia, and, for breathlessness, trade as a welder or caulker/burner. Electrocardiographic evidence for myocardial ischaemia was also associated with increased breathlessness. The annual declines in FEV1 and other spirometric indices were related to age, to being a smoker at the time of the initial survey, and to trade as a welder or caulker/burner compared with trades that did not involve welding or burning. There was significant interaction between these effects. In a subsample of 124 redundant workers there was also significant interaction between the effects of fumes and atopy (skin test positive to common antigens) or a raised serum IgE concentration. It was concluded that welding fumes interacted with smoking and an atopic constitution to cause respiratory impairment. The results related mainly to exposures in the past and were not necessarily relevant for present day conditions in the industry.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1998

Occupational exposures and squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and oesophagus: a case-control study in Sweden.

OBJECTIVES: This community based case-referent study was initiated to investigate aetiological factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the upper gastrointestinal tract. METHODS: The study was based on all Swedish men aged 40-79 living in two regions of Sweden during 1988-90. Within that base, efforts were made to identify all incident cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx and hypopharynx, larynx, and oesophagus. Referents were selected as a stratified (age, region) random sample of the base. The response was 90% among cases and 85% among referents. There were 545 cases and 641 referents in the final study group. The study subjects were interviewed about several lifestyle factors and a life history of occupations and work tasks. The exposure to 17 specific agents were coded by an occupational hygienist. The relative risk (RR) of cancer was calculated by logistic regression, standardising for age, geographical region, and alcohol and tobacco consumption. RESULTS: Exposure to asbestos was associated with an increased risk of laryngeal cancer, and a dose-response relation was present. The RR was 1.8 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.1 to 3.0) in the highest exposure group. More than eight years of exposure to welding fumes was associated with an increased risk of pharyngeal cancer (RR 2.3 (1.1 to 4.7)), and laryngeal cancer (RR 2.0 (1.0 to 3.7)). There were indications of a dose-response for duration of exposure. Associations were also found for high exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and oesophageal cancer, RR 1.9 (1.1 to 3.2). Exposure to wood dust was associated with a decreased risk of cancer at the studied sites. CONCLUSIONS: Some of the present findings confirm known or suspected associations--such as asbestos and laryngeal cancer. The study indicates that welding may cause an increased risk of pharyngeal as well as laryngeal cancer. The findings corroborate an association between exposure to PAHs and oesophageal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

[Study of the pulmonary function of arc welders. Results of a study in an industrial vehicle production plant].

Pulmonary examinations (i.e. clinical, functional and radiological) were conducted on 76 arc welders from an industrial vehicle production plant and on 74 'controls' from the same plant. Arc welders were exposed for an average of 11 years to welding gases and fumes; controls were not welders and were not exposed to any identifiable professional risk of pulmonary disease. There is no significant difference between these two groups concerning clinical, functional and radiological findings; but the prevalence of pulmonary abnormalities (whatever their type or their intensity) is high in the two groups (60%). This survey does not show any particular risk of pulmonary disease among the arc welders working in this plant. However, complementary studies in other industrial areas are required to investigate possible risks due to other arc-welding processes and other working conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Cytokines in metal fume fever.

Metal fume fever is a flulike illness caused by zinc oxide inhalation and accompanied by an impressive pulmonary cellular response. We hypothesized that the syndrome is mediated by cytokines released in the lung after exposure to zinc oxide fume. We carried out 26 experimental welding exposures in 23 volunteer subjects, performing postexposure bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 3 h (n = 6), 8 h (n = 11), or 22 h (n = 9) after exposure. We detected tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) varying in a time- and exposure-related manner. The concentration of TNF in the BAL fluid supernatant was significantly greater at 3 h than at 8 h or 22 h after exposure (p < 0.05), exhibiting a statistically significant exposure-response relationship to airborne zinc at each follow-up time period (p < 0.05). TNF concentrations were statistically correlated with those of IL-6 in BAL supernatant obtained at 22 h (r = 0.78, p = 0.01) and with concentrations of IL-8 in BAL 8 h after exposure (r = 0.85, p = 0.001). IL-6 displayed a significant exposure-response relationship to zinc (p < 0.05) at 22 h. IL-8 exhibited a significant exposure-response relationship to zinc (p < 0.05) at 8 h after exposure, a time at which IL-8 correlated with marked increases in BAL fluid polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) (r = 0.7, p = 0.01). Although we also detected interleukin-1 (IL-1) in BAL samples, this cytokine did not demonstrate a statistically significant exposure response. TNF, IL-6, and IL-8 in BAL fluid supernatant concentrations increased in a time and exposure-dependent fashion after zinc oxide welding fume exposure. The time course of increased cytokines, their correlations with one another and with PMN in the BAL fluid, and the consistency of our findings with the known kinetics and actions of these cytokines support the hypothesis that a network of cytokines is involved in the pathogenesis of metal fume fever.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Sex hormones and semen quality in welders exposed to hexavalent chromium.

Recent experimental studies in rodents document the spermatotoxic effects of water-soluble hexavalent chromium. Welders comprise, worldwide, a major occupational group with acknowledged exposure to chromium. This study examines the relationship between semen quality and chromium in the urine and blood of a population of 30 tungsten inert gas (TIG) stainless steel welders, 30 mild steel welders and 47 non-welding workers. Each subject provided two to three semen samples. The chromium concentration ranged from 0.17 to 4.74 nmol mmol1 creatinine (median 1.08) in post-shift spot urine and from 6.0 to 46.4 nmol l-1 in blood. None of several semen parameters deteriorated with increasing level of internal exposure to chromium. Low-level exposure to hexavalent chromium associated with TIG stainless steel and mild steel welding do not appear to be a major hazard for human spermatogenesis.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Respiratory symptoms in Danish welders.

In order to study the effect of welding fumes on respiratory symptoms a cross sectional study was performed in 1982 among 2,660 welders, primarily shipyard welders, compared with a control group of 881 electricians. Only workers more than 34 years of age and in work at the time of the study were selected. Information about respiratory symptoms (using standardized BMRC questions) and exposure was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Seventy-four never-smoking welders and 31 never-smoking controls were selected for detailed clinical interviews and extended lung function tests. This article presents the results of the questionnaire study. The welders showed a significantly higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis: 21% versus 9% in the control group (p less than 0.01). The difference could neither be explained by differences in age or smoking habits nor by exposure to other air polluting substances. Other symptoms from the lower and upper respiratory system were also significantly increased among the welders. A dose-response relationship was found between exposure to welding fumes and the prevalence of symptoms from both the upper and lower respiratory system.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Incidence of lung cancer among shipyard welders investigated for siderosis.

The incidence of lung cancer among 428 shipyard welders exposed for more than ten years to welding fumes was investigated. The welders were examined for siderosis by the Directorate of Labor Inspection in 1975. The present study was a follow-up based on historical information from the Norwegian registry of dust-exposed workers. Twenty-three welders with siderosis, and 156 welders working at the same shipyards as the siderosis cases were studied as sub-cohorts. There was no loss on follow-up. The observation period was 1976 through 1992. There were 32 cases of cancer from all causes vs 41.3 expected. A nonsignificant excess of lung cancer was observed; 10 cases vs 6.5 expected. The incidence of lung cancer was highest for the welders with more than 30 years since first exposure (7 cases vs 4.1 expected). The sub-cohort of welders with siderosis had no case of lung cancer vs 0.5 expected. These welders were assumed to have experienced high exposure levels for welding fumes. The morbidity of cancer from all causes was low for this small group of blue-collar workers, but the incidence of lung cancer was slightly increased. The increase was not attributable to welders with siderosis. Smoking and asbestos exposure are potential confounders.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fluoride exposure and respiratory symptoms in welders.

Welders inhale gases and respirable particles. To investigate the relationship between fluoride exposure and respiratory symptoms in welders using basic electrodes containing calcium fluoride, 63 railroad track welders were interviewed. Fluoride was measured in post-shift urine samples. Seventeen welders reported respiratory symptoms related to welding fume exposures. Respiratory symptoms were somewhat more common with increasing concentrations of fluoride in urine. The association between welding fume exposure and respiratory symptoms seems related more to fluorides than to other particles among welders using basic electrodes.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Incidence of probable occupational asthma and changes in airway calibre and responsiveness in apprentice welders.

The majority of cross-sectional studies have shown a higher prevalence of ventilatory impairment in welders while only few longitudinal studies were able to detect chronic effects on spirometry or bronchial responsiveness. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of probable occupational asthma (OA), bronchial obstruction and hyperresponsiveness among 286 students entering an apprenticeship programme in the welding profession. This epidemiological prospective cohort study consisted of a baseline assessment survey and two follow-up assessments. A respiratory symptom questionnaire was administered at each visit. Spirometry and methacholine bronchial challenge test results, conducted once prior to onset of exposure and later after an average of 15 months of apprenticeship, were available for 194 subjects. The incidence of probable OA was approximately 3% (6 of 194). The incidence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness, defined as a > or = 3.2-fold decrease in the provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in the forced expiratory volume in one second from baseline to the end of the study was 11.9%. A statistically significant difference was found between the baseline and end of study for the lung function values. In particular, the forced expiratory volume per cent predicted had significantly dropped by 8.4% on average. The significance of these early pulmonary function changes in relation to possible chronic effects of exposure to welding fumes and gases remains to be explored.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Nasal septum perforation of welders.

During the periodic physical checkups in 1997-2000, the authors have found eleven cases of nasal septum perforation among 2,869 welders in Ulsan, Korea. They have not suffered from diseases and conditions that could cause septum perforation such as tuberculosis, syphilis, and long-term use of topical corticosteroids. And also they did not have trauma history and surgical experiences on their nasal septum. To investigate the cause of septum perforation we reviewed the past history of pre-employment, the results of annual working environment survey and the material safety data sheets of welding rods and steels with which they have dealt. We also analyzed the concentration of several metals of welding fume and the concentration of blood and urinary chromium. In the result, we assumed that the nasal septum perforation of welders was due to chronic exposure to low-level hexavalent chromium.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Ten-year follow-up of blood lead levels with medical removal protection of shipyard workers.

This cases report compared the short-term changes of BLL with medical removal intervention and follow-up the long-term changes of BLL afterward. During a physical examination in October 1992, a 44-year old shipyard welder was discovered to have a blood lead level (BLL) of 54.1 microg/dl. It was recommended that the shipyard remove this worker from his workplace. In 1993 the BLLs checked for this worker were 36.7 microg/dl in March and 32.0 microg/dl in April. After six months of medical removal, he returned to initial welding work. In 2002, we collected two blood samples from this worker for analysis in May and October. The results were 30.4 microg/dl and 31.6 microg/dl, respectively. Meanwhile, two other welding workers (case 2 and case 3) with BLLs over 40 microg/dl in the survey conducted at the same shipyard in 1992. It took 4 yr to let BLLs downed to less than 40 microg/dl. However, after the blood lead concentration drops to below 40 microg/dl, 10 yr long-term observation indicates that BLLs reduction level off and do not continue to go down in these three cases.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

An electronically controlled micro-welder.

An electronically controlled micro-welding apparatus has been designed and built for the manufacture of clinical electrodes. Using the principle of electrical resistance welding, the device is simple and inexpensive to construct, using readily available components. It is easy to operate and has proved to be a quick and reliable method of producing electrodes to the exact specifications of neurosurgeons.

Electrodes↗
PubMed1994

Internal load of aluminum and the central nervous system function of aluminum welders.

OBJECTIVES: Because the brain is the recognized target organ for aluminum toxicity, internal aluminum load and central nervous system functions were investigated among aluminum welders in a shipyard. METHODS: Seventeen male welders with a mean age of 37 (range 24-48) years and a history of about four years of metal inert-gas welding on aluminum were the subjects. Aluminum in serum (S-Al) and urine (U-Al) was analyzed with graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Central nervous system functions were examined with neuropsychological tests, symptom and mood questionnaires, quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), and P300 evoked responses. RESULTS: The mean S-Al concentration was 0.21 (range 0.03-0.64) mumol.l-1 and the mean U-Al was 2.8 (range 0.9-6.1) mumol.l-1. Although the welders performed normally on the neuropsychological tests, there was a negative association between all four memory tests and U-Al and a positive association between the variability of visual reaction times and S-Al. In the QEEG, the amount of delta and theta activity in the frontal region correlated positively and the amount of alpha activity in the frontal region correlated negatively with S-Al. CONCLUSIONS: The S-Al and U-Al measurements indicated increased internal loads of aluminum in most of the welders. This finding is compatible with slowly eliminated aluminum from tissues. The neuropsychological assessment suggested disturbing effects of aluminum on short-term memory, learning, and attention. In the QEEG, a corresponding exposure-effect relationship was found for activity in the frontal region. Further studies are needed on the possibility that exposure to aluminum welding fumes causes harm to human health.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Primary liver cancer and occupational exposure.

In a dynamic population-based case-referent study on primary liver cancer and occupational exposure, the work histories of 344 cases and 861 referents, derived from the follow-up of the whole Finnish population in 1976-1978 and 1981, were analyzed by industry, occupation, and agent. After adjustment for alcohol consumption, elevated odds ratios were found for the categories other agricultural workers (mainly milkmaids), clerical workers, persons exposed to welding fumes and those exposed to other inorganic dusts (mainly silica). One possible explanation for the excess among milkmaids was exposure to dust from cattle feed contaminated with aflatoxins. The excess among clerical workers was probably due to nonoccupational factors or chance because occupational exposure was generally rare. The excesses for welding fumes and inorganic dusts, although compatible with occupational etiology, contradict the results of many previous studies carried out among workers exposed to silica dust and welders.

Agricultural Workers' Diseases↗
PubMed1997

A meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies of lung cancer in welders.

OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies was carried out on lung cancer risk among shipyard, mild steel, and stainless steel welders, and the role of asbestos exposure and smoking was considered. METHODS: The meta-analysis consisted of calculating combined relative risks (RR) and their variances through a logarithm transformation of published RR values and a weighing using the inverted variance of each RR. RESULTS: The literature provided 18 case-referent and 31 cohort studies. The combined RR values were 1.38 [observed 1028, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.29-1.48] for "all or unspecified welding categories", 1.30 (observed 305, 95% CI 1.14-1.48) for shipyard welders, and 1.35 (observed 173, 95% CI 1.15-1.58) for nonshipyard welders. Similar combined RR values (RR) were observed for mild steel welders (combined RR 1.50, observed 137, 95% CI 1.18-1.91) and stainless steel welders (combined RR 1.50 observed 114, 95% CI 1.10-2.05). No significant heterogeneity was discerned between studies of any welding or study design category. A marked healthy worker effect may also lead to an underestimation of the standardized mortality ratio for lung cancer among stainless steel welders. Furthermore, welders of any category are likely to be exposed to asbestos. Welders also seem to smoke more than the general male population, and therefore the hypothesis of tobacco overconsumption among welders could not be discarded. CONCLUSIONS: A 30-40% increase in the RR of lung cancer among welders cannot be explained by hexavalent chromium and nickel exposure among stainless steel welders. The combination of the carcinogenic effects of asbestos exposure and smoking may account for part of the lung cancer excess observed.

Asbestos↗
PubMed1988

Risk for reduced sperm quality among metal workers, with special reference to welders.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether men employed in the metal industry have sperm of poorer quality than men in other types of work. A postal questionnaire was sent to men employed in the metal industry, certain other types of nonmetal industries, and other types of employment in which the factors suspected to influence sperm quality were not present. By means of this questionnaire survey, it was hoped to define the possible influences of the work environment on sperm quality. Out of the total of 3,119 men included in the investigation, 2,517 (81%) filled out the questionnaire satisfactorily. Semen analysis was performed for all 3,119 men. There was a greater risk for poor sperm quality among welders than among men not employed in welding. The risk for poor sperm quality was increased for those welders who worked with stainless steel. Welding in general, and specifically with stainless steel, is connected with a risk of reduced sperm quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Respiratory symptoms, across-shift lung function changes and lifetime exposures of welders in New Zealand.

OBJECTIVES: The possibility was investigated that exposure to welding fumes causes an acute decrease in pulmonary function. METHODS: Changes in the pulmonary function of 62 current welders and 75 nonwelders at the same sites and the relationship with work-related symptoms were recorded. RESULTS: Work-related cough was reported by 22.6% of the current welders and 6.7% of the nonwelders [odds ratio (OR) 4.1, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.5-11.5], and the respective figures for at least 1 work-related symptom were 30.7% and 16.0% (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-5.2). The groups' preshift lung function did not differ. The mean percentage change from the base-line value of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1.0) after 15 minutes of work was -2.8% (range -29.3% to +20.9%) for the current welders and +1.0% (range -20.7% to +22.6%) for the nonwelders (P = 0.01). A multivariate analysis identified current welding as the most significant risk factor for a decrease of at least 5% in FEV1.0 after 15 minutes, the risk being greater for those with no local exhaust ventilation (OR 22.4, 95% CI 4.5-113.4) than for those with personal protection only (OR 16.0, 95% CI 2.1-122.9) and those with local exhaust ventilation (OR 2.8, 95% CI 0.2-41.2) or passive exposure only (OR 2.0, 95% CI 0.5-8.8). CONCLUSIONS: An acute decrease in FEV1.0 in relation to work is more prevalent among welders than among nonwelders, and is more common among welders without local exhaust ventilation than among those with it.

Adult↗