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Context: Respiratory exposure to welding fumes directly or indirectly, in the long run, can lead to systematic effects among welders. Aims: This study aimed to investigate respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function parameters among welders working in the automotive industry. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 2304 workers from two groups in the manufacturing and administrative staff (as exposure and control groups). Pulmonary function parameters and respiratory symptoms were collected through periodic spirometry examinations and a standard respiratory symptoms questionnaire. Exposure to welding fumes was obtained from the annual measurement data based on the NIOSH7300 method. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 and linear and multiple regression statistical tests. Results: The mean age of the subjects in the case and control groups were 37.5 and 38.5 years, respectively. All the apparent symptoms of respiratory diseases (cough, sputum) in the welder's group were more than in the control group. Also, there was a significant difference between the respiratory symptoms in the two groups (P < 0.001). The mean value of all spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25-75, PEF) in the case group (welders) was significantly lower than the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed that the variables of age and work experience effectively reduce all spirometric parameters of welders. Also, regarding the effect of metal vapors, a significant relationship has been seen between Cu in welding fume and FEF25-75 and FEV1 spirometric parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals have several adverse effects on the workers' bodies due to their accumulation in the vital organs. Besides that, the current study aimed to assess the health risk of exposure to metal fumes for furnace operators working in a foundry industry based on the three different methods. The current sectional descriptive-analytical research conducted on a foundry industry in Isfahan (Iran) in 2022. Three common methods currently available, including the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Method (SQRCA) and two methods provided based on the US-EPA provided technique, were used in this study. At first, the extent of people's exposure to metal fumes of Fe, Ni, Cr, and Mn was measured. Then, the chemical risk assessment of exposure to these metals' fumes was done using the three methods, and their results were compared. The SPSS Ver.25 has been used for data analysis and comparison in the current study. Results indicated that the furnace operator's exposure to all four metals was above the allowed limit of occupational exposure. The chemical risk assessment results also showed that in the first method (US-EPA-based), the risk of exposure for all workers was acceptable, while in the second method (SQCRA), the risk level of a majority of workers was medium, and in the third method (US-EPA-based), the risk level of a majority of workers was not acceptable. Comparing the methods showed that average risk scores in the first and second methods were significant compared to the exposure to fumes with equivalent concentration (Pvalue

Objectives Welding is a physically demanding job that entails exposure to metal fume and particles. There is little information on the effect of welding exposures on the outcome of a pregnancy conceived during a period when a woman was employed as a welder. Methods Women welders recruited to the Workers Health in Apprenticeship Trades—Metal and Electrical (WHAT-ME) study were followed-up every 6 months for up to 5 years (January 2011–August 2018), and every pregnancy recorded. At the first 6-month follow-up, a detailed questionnaire was completed for the most recent day in welding, and this information was collected again at each follow-up and also from questionnaires completed during pregnancy. The date of conception was estimated for each pregnancy and the job at that date identified. Exposures to ergonomic factors, work schedule and perceptions of noise, heat and cold were extracted for the job at conception. Exposures to metals (aluminum, chromium, manganese, and nickel) and particles in welding fume were estimated from previously validated exposure algorithms reflecting the welding process, base metal and consumables of the job at the conception date. The effects of exposures were estimated in multilevel multivariable models allowing for confounding. Results There were 242 pregnancies conceived by a welder working in her trade, 87 were before the first follow-up, 3 were after first follow-up but detailed information was not collected, 22 of those potentially included in the assessment group were in-trade but not welding leaving 122 pregnancies in 90 welders for analysis. Of these 91 resulted in a live birth and 31 in a fetal loss (27 miscarriages and 4 stillbirths). Mean birth weight for live births was 3365 g and gestation 39.4 weeks. Final models showed that risk of fetal loss increased with manipulating heavy objects [odds ratio (OR) = 5.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.04–12.92], whole-body vibration (OR = 5.86, 95% CI 1.81–18.92), a higher rating for noise exposure intensity (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.24–1.85), and decreased with use of local exhaust ventilation (OR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.03–1.18). Gestation decreased with perceived heat intensity (β = −0.15, 95% CI −0.29 to −0.02) and number of previous pregnancies (β = −0.35, 95% CI −0.65 to −0.05). Birth weight was lower in those reporting whole-body vibration (β = −596 g, 95% CI −924 to −267) and increased with the welder's body mass index (β = 36 g, 95% CI 12–61). Estimates of exposure to metals and particles were unrelated to gestation or birth weight. In a bivariate analysis, allowing for the same welder reporting >1 pregnancy, estimated airborne aluminum exposure (and to a lesser degree exposure to nickel and particles) was related to greater risk of fetal loss (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.04–2.24) but neither aluminum nor the other estimated elements of welding fume added to the final model. Conclusions In this group of women actively engaged in welding during the time surrounding conception, the outcome of pregnancy was strongly related to work exposures, particularly vibration (reported in grinding tasks), manipulation of heavy objects, and perceived intensity of noise and heat. The study was unable to show an independent effect of exposure to metal fume constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Purpose: Workers' exposure to manganese fumes emitted from the welding Process can lead to various ranges of diseases. This study aimed to investigate the concentration of manganese fume in the respiratory area of workers working at an industrial shed manufacturing factory in Amol, Iran. Methods: This descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted on the welders working at an industrial shed manufacturing factory in Amol, Iran (case group; n=35) and employees of administrative departments (control group; n=35). Inhalable Particles concentration and manganese concentration in welding fumes were measured using the NIOSH-0600 and NIOSH-7300 standard methods, respectively. Data analysis was Performed by SPSS software (version 25) using descriptive (mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistical methods (chi-square test, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and regression testing). Results: The mean exposures of welders to inhalable Particles and manganese in welding fume were 2.4±1.2 and 0.15±0.83 mg/m3, respectively. The maximum and minimum concentrations of inhalable Particles and manganese in welding fumes were 6 and 0.36 mg/m3, as well as 0.7 and 0.04 mg/m3, resPectively. There was a significant relationship between average Particle concentration and manganese concentration in welding fume among the two groups of maximum and minimum exposure limits. Moreover, a significant association was observed between the concentration of inhalable Particles and the concentration of manganese in welding fumes (P

The objectives of this study are to elucidate the early history of risk for pneumococcal pneumonia from occupational exposure to metal fumes and dusts, and to demonstrate the importance of searching older literature when performing reviews. We performed manual searching for articles in the Library of the Surgeon General's Office (the precursor to Index Medicus), in the Hathi Trust database, in PubMed, andby screening reference lists in literature appearing before the introduction of PubMed. An early body of literature, from the 1890s onward, recognized that pneumonia was linked to "Thomas slag," a steel industry byproduct containing iron, manganese, and lime. Researchers, mainly in Germany, showed that workers in metal‐dust‐exposed occupations, especially using manganese, manifested an increased incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia. An outbreak of pneumococcal pneumonia in the 1930s implicated manganese fume in its etiology. In the immediate post‐World War II period, there was a brief flurry of interest in pneumonia from exposure to potassium permanganate that was soon dismissed as a chemical pneumonitis. After a hiatus of two decades, epidemiologic investigations drew attention to the pneumonia risks of welding and related metal fume exposure, bringing renewed interest to the forgotten role of pneumococcal pneumonia as an occupational disease. Occupational or environmental inhalation of manganese, iron, or irritants may be causally related to increased pneumococcal pneumonia risk. In particular, the risk associated with manganese seems to be overlooked in recent literature. An important conclusion is the importance of obtaining additional evidence through a deeper assessment of the literature in a broad historical context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most prevalent congenital anomalies. This study aims to examine the association between maternal occupational exposures to organic and mineral dust, solvents, pesticides, and metal dust and fumes and CHD in the offspring, assessing several subgroups of CHD. METHODS: For this case–control study, we examined 1174 cases with CHD from EUROCAT Northern Netherlands and 5602 controls without congenital anomalies from the Lifelines cohort study. Information on maternal jobs held early in pregnancy was collected via self-administered questionnaires, and job titles were linked to occupational exposures using a job exposure matrix. RESULTS: An association was found between organic dust exposure and coarctation of aorta [adjusted odds ratio (OR_adj) 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–3.59] and pulmonary (valve) stenosis in combination with ventricular septal defect (OR_adj 2.68, 95% CI 1.07–6.73). Mineral dust exposure was associated with increased risk of coarctation of aorta (OR_adj 2.94, 95% CI 1.21–7.13) and pulmonary valve stenosis (OR_adj 1.99, 95% CI 1.10–3.62). Exposure to metal dust and fumes was infrequent but was associated with CHD in general (OR_adj 2.40, 95% CI 1.09–5.30). Exposure to both mineral dust and metal dust and fumes was associated with septal defects (OR_adj 3.23, 95% CI 1.14–9.11). Any maternal occupational exposure was associated with a lower risk of aortic stenosis (OR_adj 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Women should take preventive measures or avoid exposure to mineral and organic dust as well as metal dust and fumes early in pregnancy as this could possibly affect foetal heart development.

Smelters are at elevated risk of oxidative stress and DNA damage because of metal fumes exposure. This study aimed to evaluate oxidative stress (antioxidant capacity, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA)) and DNA damage in 47 smelters and to compare the results with 33 non-exposed workers. The DNA damage was significantly higher in the exposed compared to the non-exposed group (p <.001), with the largest effect size for tail intensity. There was no significant difference in the MDA and total antioxidant capacity between exposed and non-exposed participants. Exposure to metal fumes could increase the primary DNA damage and accelerate the cellular aging process in smelters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most prevalent congenital anomalies. This study aims to examine the association between maternal occupational exposures to organic and mineral dust, solvents, pesticides, and metal dust and fumes and CHD in the offspring, assessing several subgroups of CHD. Methods For this case-control study, we examined 1174 cases with CHD from EUROCAT Northern Netherlands and 5602 controls without congenital anomalies from the Lifelines cohort study. Information on maternal jobs held early in pregnancy was collected via self-administered questionnaires, and job titles were linked to occupational exposures using a job exposure matrix. Results An association was found between organic dust exposure and coarctation of aorta [adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 1.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-3.59] and pulmonary (valve) stenosis in combination with ventricular septal defect (ORadj 2.68, 95% CI 1.07-6.73). Mineral dust exposure was associated with increased risk of coarctation of aorta (ORadj 2.94, 95% CI 1.21-7.13) and pulmonary valve stenosis (ORadj 1.99, 95% CI 1.10-3.62). Exposure to metal dust and fumes was infrequent but was associated with CHD in general (ORadj 2.40, 95% CI 1.09-5.30). Exposure to both mineral dust and metal dust and fumes was associated with septal defects (ORadj 3.23, 95% CI 1.14-9.11). Any maternal occupational exposure was associated with a lower risk of aortic stenosis (ORadj 0.32, 95% CI 0.11-0.94). Conclusions Women should take preventive measures or avoid exposure to mineral and organic dust as well as metal dust and fumes early in pregnancy as this could possibly affect foetal heart development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fumes and gases releasing from welding processes may seriously affect welders’ health compared to other hazardous agents arising from welding like, noise, and ultraviolet radiation. The present study was aimed to measure the exposure levels of welders to fumes and gases at seven of arc welding processes in a melting company. This descriptive-cross sectional study was carried out on several types of arc welding including TIG, GMAW, PAW ،SAW, and MMAW in a melting industry. In order to measure the concentrations of welding fumes, NIOSH 7300 method was applied. Direct reading instruments were used for sampling of welding gases. The median concentration of all studied metals among different types of welding process were significantly different (P0.05). The average exposure levels for metals of Cu (from TIG), Fe (from PAW and MMAW processes), Mn (from GMAW, MMAW processes), and Cr (from PAW and MMAW processes) were higher than Occupational Exposure Limit-Time Weighted Average. The finding showed that the nitrogen dioxide average concentrations and ozone gases were higher than the other gases. The welder’s exposure levels to toxic metals and gases in some stations exceeded from recommended levels; so, it is necessary to apply the appropriate preventive methods like engineering control measures to effectively protect welders’ health.

The fumes and gases releasing from welding processes may seriously affect welders' health compared to other hazardous agents arising from welding like, noise, and ultraviolet radiation. The present study was aimed to measure the exposure levels of welders to fumes and gases at seven of arc welding processes in a melting company. This descriptive-cross sectional study was carried out on several types of arc welding including TIG, GMAW, PAW SAW, and MMAW in a melting industry. In order to measure the concentrations of welding fumes, NIOSH 7300 method was applied. Direct reading instruments were used for sampling of welding gases. The median concentration of all studied metals among different types of welding process were significantly different (P<0.02). The median concentration of some released gases among different types of welding process were not significantly different (P >0.05). The average exposure levels for metals of Cu (from TIG), Fe (from PAW and MMAW processes), Mn (from GMAW, MMAW processes), and Cr (from PAW and MMAW processes) were higher than Occupational Exposure Limit-Time Weighted Average. The finding showed that the nitrogen dioxide average concentrations and ozone gases were higher than the other gases. The welder's exposure levels to toxic metals and gases in some stations exceeded from recommended levels; so, it is necessary to apply the appropriate preventive methods like engineering control measures to effectively protect welders' health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals have several adverse effects on the workers' bodies due to their accumulation in the vital organs. Besides that, the current study aimed to assess the health risk of exposure to metal fumes for furnace operators working in a foundry industry based on the three different methods. The current sectional descriptive-analytical research conducted on a foundry industry in Isfahan (Iran) in 2022. Three common methods currently available, including the Semi-Quantitative Risk Assessment Method (SQRCA) and two methods provided based on the US-EPA provided technique, were used in this study. At first, the extent of people's exposure to metal fumes of Fe, Ni, Cr, and Mn was measured. Then, the chemical risk assessment of exposure to these metals' fumes was done using the three methods, and their results were compared. The SPSS Ver.25 has been used for data analysis and comparison in the current study. Results indicated that the furnace operator's exposure to all four metals was above the allowed limit of occupational exposure. The chemical risk assessment results also showed that in the first method (US-EPA-based), the risk of exposure for all workers was acceptable, while in the second method (SQCRA), the risk level of a majority of workers was medium, and in the third method (US-EPA-based), the risk level of a majority of workers was not acceptable. Comparing the methods showed that average risk scores in the first and second methods were significant compared to the exposure to fumes with equivalent concentration (P value <0.05). The average score of carcinogenicity risk in method 3 was significant compared to the concentration of chromium and nickel (P- value < 0.05), but it was not significant for iron and manganese and the non-carcinogenic risk of chromium and nickel. Chemical exposure risk level for the furnace operator was approximately moderate in all three methods. In terms of complexity and information required to implement the method, all three methods were almost the same, with the difference that the results of the first method cannot be generalized to other people who have the same job conditions because individual information such as a person's weight is used to calculate its score., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Authors.)