Development and Use of a Welding Process Exposure Matrix in a Historical Prospective Study of Lung Cancer Risk in European Welders

Abstract

A welding process exposure matrix has been developed relating 13 welding process-welded metal combinations to average exposure levels for total welding fumes, total chromium, chromium (VI) and nickel. Quantitative estimates were derived from consultation of literature sources and of some company data. This matrix was applied to the welding histories of 11,092 welders in the framework of an IARC multicentre study. When detailed welding history was not available at the individual level the average company welding practice profile was applied. No dose-response relationship emerged for lung cancer risk with cumulative dose of the carcinogens chromium (VI) and nickel for stainless steel welders. Dilution of the dose-response relationship could result from between-plant and within-plant variability, and exposure in jobs not accounted for in the study, but not from the partial use of company versus individual data. It is also possible that there is no increased risk related to chromium and nickel exposure in this group of workers. Matrix exposure estimates would need to be validated and the matrix possibly refined by comparison with a variety of comprehensive welding exposure data sets.

Update of a meta-analysis on lung cancer and welding

“…The cohort was followed for mortality and cancer incidence. An ad hoc job-exposure matrix was developed to assess exposure to chromium (metal, trivalent, hexavalent) and nickel (90). This study failed to detect any dose-response relationship between lung cancer occurrence and cumulative exposure to hexavalent chromium or nickel (31).…”

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

“…With regard to dose-response relationship, the most relevant data were provided by the European study, which used a specific job-exposure matrix to provide standardized mortality ratios by cumulative exposure to total fumes, hexavalent chromium, and nickel exposure among stainless steel welders (55,66). No dose-response relationship was observed for lung cancer risk with these estimates for various welding fume components, even in the category of predominantly stainless steel welders.…”

“…Although some degree of misclassification might have been introduced when the job-exposure matrix was developed, this lack of dose-response relationship with hexavalent chromium exposure is of interest because the statistical power to detect such an association was high (66).…”

Assessment of respiratory carcinogenicity associated with exposure to metallic nickel: A review

“…In the largest study of welders conducted to date, 11,092 workers from 135 companies located in nine European countries were observed for excess risks of lung cancer (Gerin et al, 1993;Simonato et al, 1991). Lung cancer was shown to be statistically elevated in the overall cohort, which included workers welding stainless steel and mild steel, as well as shipyard welders (Table 6).…”