Heavy metals found in the breathing zone, toenails and lung function of welders working in an air-conditioned welding workplace

Abstract

Welding operations are rarely conducted in an air-conditioned room. However, a company would set its welding operations in an air-conditioned room to maintain the humidity level needed to reduce hydrogen cracks in the specimen being welded. This study intended to assess the exposure to metal elements in the welders' breathing zone and toenail samples. Heavy metal concentration was analysed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The lung function test was also conducted and analysed using statistical approaches. Chromium and manganese concentrations in the breathing zone exceeded the permissible exposure limit stipulated by Malaysian regulations. A similar trend was obtained in the concentration of heavy metals in the breathing zone air sampling and in the welders' toenails. Although there was no statistically significant decrease in the lung function of welders, it is suggested that exposure control through engineering and administrative approaches should be considered for workplace safety and health improvement.

Manganese exposure and working memory-related brain activity in smallholder farmworkers in Costa Rica: Results from a pilot study

“…However, direct comparison of Mn exposure levels is not possible given that the studies of welders measured Mn in blood and we measured Mn in hair and toenails. Notably, hair and toenail Mn concentrations in our study were lower than those reported in previous occupational and environmental studies (Table S9) (Grashow et al, 2014;Hariri et al, 2018;Hassani et al, 2016;Mora et al, 2014;Ohgami et al, 2018;Reiss et al, 2016;Rodrigues et al, 2015;Rolle-McFarland et al, 2018;Ward et al, 2017), though it is unclear if these differences are real or due to variations in the cleaning procedures used to prepare the biological samples for analysis.…”

WITHDRAWN: Application of multiple occupational health risk assessment models for metal fumes in welding process

“…Welding is one of the basic processes in many industries in which metals or thermoplastic materials are joined together using heat, pressure or both (Hariri et al 2018). Estimates shows, in 2011, approximately 316000 welders had been busy working in united states; They mainly worked in soldering, welding, brazing, and cutting process (Barkhordari et al 2014).…”

“…During the welding process, hazardous chemical compounds are released in the forms of gas, fume, and vapor (Hariri et al 2018). Generated welding fumes have a complex composition (Persoons et al 2014).…”

Nutraceuticals: A New Challenge against Cadmium-Induced Testicular Injury

“…Once in the body, THM affect different physiological processes, even at very low concentrations [ 6 ], as they are used as a substitute of essential elements: Pb can take the place of calcium and Cd the place of Zn [ 7 ]. As a result, they can cause numerous diseases, such as kidney toxicity [ 8 ], impaired lung function [ 9 ], neurotoxic effects [ 10 , 11 ], hormonal imbalance [ 12 ], abnormal spermatogenesis and infertility [ 13 ], and even cancer [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Furthermore, THM can cross the placenta and interfere with fetal developmental processes [ 17 ].…”