Acute Respiratory Effects of Exposure to Stainless Steel and Mild Steel Welding Fumes

Abstract

Over the past few years, many studies, including one on our previous work, have examined the chronic effects of fumes from stainless steel (SS) welding on the health of welders. These chronic effects have been related to concentrations of chromium and nickel in SS welding fumes. The present study examined the acute respiratory effects of welding fumes in the workplace by measuring the across-shift changes in a population of 144 SS and mild steel (MS) welders and 223 controls. Manual Metal Arc, Metal Inert Gas, and Tungsten Inert Gas welding processes were studied. Pulmonary function tests were performed at the start (ante, or A) and at the end (post, or P) of the work shift. The study of sensitization to harmful respiratory effects of welding was based on the study of the (P-A)/A ratio (%) of the spirometric variations during the shift. The means of these ratios in the control subjects were used to account for the circadian effect. In SS welders we observed a significant decrease in forced vital capacity (FVC) during the shift. Significant across-shift decrements in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and FVC were related to the SS welding exposure compared with MS welding. Moreover, the across-shift decreases in FEV1, FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were significantly related to the Manual Metal Arc welding process, compared with Metal Inert Gas techniques (respectively, PEF = -2.7% of baseline values [SD, 11.9] vs 2.0% of baseline values [SD, 7.7] P = 0.04; FVC = -1.5% of baseline values [SD, 4.8] vs 0.2% of baseline values [SD, 4.5] P = 0.05). We also demonstrated the influence of duration of SS welding exposure on the course of lung function during the work shift. After 20 years of SS welding activity, SS welders had more significant across-shift decreases than MS welders with a similar MS exposure duration (respectively, FEV1 = -2.7% of baseline values [SD, 5.9] vs 0.7% of baseline values [SD, 4.2] P = 0.008; PEF = -3.8% of baseline values [SD, 9.6] vs 2.3% of baseline values [SD, 6.5] P = 0.04). We concluded that welding-related lung function responses are seen in SS compared with MS welders and in those with a longer lifetime welding history.

Occupational asthma due to manual metal-arc welding of special stainless steels

“…According to the measurements obtained during simulated challenge tests, welding fumes of mild steel principally produced iron and manganese, whereas stainless steel produced a lesser amount of these, but a higher amount of chromium (table 1). These results are well in line with previous literature [11]. The composition of Duplex fumes was similar to that of stainless steel, but the former had somewhat higher proportions of chromium in the inhalable dust and also traces of molybdenum.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA 2006-0156-3031, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, York, Pennsylvania.

“…In a recent study, this effect was related more to welding on stainless steel as compared to mild steel, and to manual metal arc welding as compared to MIG welding. 5 Some studies have suggested that welding-related exposures may cause asthma. 6,7 Most studies are limited by a lack of information on the types, durations, and intensities of workers' exposures.…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA #2006-0059-3009, DaimlerChrysler Jefferson North Assembly Plant, Detroit, Michigan.

“…JNAP employees posted notices at several locations in the plant to let co-workers know that a team from NIOSH would visit the plant from February [8][9][10]2006 and that physicians on the team would be available to meet with them privately at the UAW Local 7 Union Hall located across the street from the plant. In addition to these face-to-face interviews, we also obtained information from employees who contacted us via telephone.…”

“…In a recent study, this effect was related more to welding on stainless steel as compared to mild steel, and to manual metal arc welding as compared to MIG welding. 8 Some studies have suggested that welding-related exposures may cause asthma. 9,10 Most studies are limited by a lack of information on the types, durations, and intensities of workers' exposures.…”