Aspects of Pulmonary Mechanics in Arc Welders' Siderosis

Abstract

Sixteen working welders with more than seven years' exposure and a chest radiograph suggestive of siderosis and I3 healthy unexposed men were studied. Each subject had a comprehensive medical and work history, physical examination, standard chest film, and pulmonary function investigation (lung volumes, ventilatory capacities, pulmonary compliance in static and dynamic conditions, specific compliance, and elastic work of breathing).Seven of the welders had some exertional dyspnoea and three complained of cough. Although spirographic values were generally within the normal range, the arc welders had a statistically significant reduction in static and functional compliance. Seven had a functional compliance under the lower limit of the control group. Differences in elastic work of breathing and specific compliance were not significant.The possible causes of pulmonary function impairment in welders are discussed.Since I936, when Doig and McLaughlin reported their first cases, several studies have been devoted to the clinical, epidemiological, roentgenological, and functional aspects of welders' siderosis.Most authors are agreed in considering this condition as harmless, with no impairment of the general health or respiratory function (Collen, I947; Doig and Duguid, ig5i; Doig and Challen, I964; Enzer and Sander, I938; Sander, I944). However, some recent papers have questioned this view (Charr, I955, I956; Friede and Rachow, I96I; Kierst, Uselis, Graczyk, and Krynicki, I964; Sevcik, Chalupa, Klhufkova, and Hrazdira, I960).The purpose of the present work is to examine some aspects of pulmonary ventilation in welders at work and to assess the possible impairment of pulmonary elasticity. Material and MethodsFifty-two subjects were picked at random from the 70 welders of a metallurgical plant. Sixteen were then selected as having over seven years' exposure as arc welders and chest radiographs suggestive of siderosis. The International Labour Office (1959) criteria for evaluation of chest films were used. All subjects had a complete medical and work history, clinical examination, and standard chest postero-anterior film. Individuals with chronic cardiopulmonary disease or acute respiratory illness during the last six months period were excluded.These i6 welders were compared with a control group of 13 normal individuals with no dust exposure. The ages and heights of subjects are presented in Table I. No significant differences in height, age, or smoking habits were found between the groups. The average duration of exposure was I7-I years (range 7 to 30 years).Lung function tests comprised determinations of lung volumes, forced expiratory volumes, helium-mixing time, and pulmonary mechanics. All determinations were carried out on fasting subjects in a sitting position.

Section of Environmental Sciences: INDUSTRIAL PULMONARY DISEASE: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS*

“…18 The study indicated that sustained exposure to iron oxide, which in the present instance averages 18.7 years, did not produce in the welders clinical and physiological findings that were significantly different from those of the control group. There was a moderate prevalence of positive radiological findings characterized by reticulonodular shadowing in the overall group of welders, with a greater percentage of these findings in those exposed over 20 years…”

“…Histological findings in a deceased 61-year-old asbestos insulator exposed to asbestos dust for18 years. (A) Interstitial fibrosis with dust particles absorbed into the macrophages.…”

Look closer to welders’ lung

“…In formation of the welders' lungs, the content of the source of smoke, the working environment (closed area, ventilation status, other exposures in the workplace), personal factors (use of protective materials, smoking) play important role (7,8). In this study the most of the welders were working in shipyard, so they were also exposed to processes such as paint, asbestos and scraper.…”

“…Welders' lung is a result of mixed inhalant exposures that effect airways and parenchyma together. Long-term exposure may result welders' lung (benign pneumoconiosis/siderosis) (7)(8)(9). Siderozis has widespread bilateral poorly defined centrilobular nodules and branched small linear opacities but not fibrosis.…”

Chronic exposure to iron oxide, chromium oxide, and nickel oxide fumes of metal dressers in a steelworks

“…The condition became known as welders' siderosis and for many years most published reports suggested that the condition was harmless, with no impairment of general health or respiratory function. Stanescu et al (1967) summarized these reports but listed some more recent papers which had questioned this view and described their own study. Comparing welders who had chest radiographs suggestive of siderosis with healthy unexposed men, they found that although spirographic values were generally within normal range, the arc welders had a statistically significant reduction in static and functional compliance.…”