Respiratory symptoms, across-shift lung function changes and lifetime exposures of welders in New Zealand

Pulmonary function abnormalities and airway irritation symptoms of metal fumes exposure on automobile spot welders

“…Air contaminants such as: metals (iron oxide: benign pneumoconiosis; manganese: neurotoxicity, pneumonia; cadmium oxide: acute lung injury, proteinuria, anemia; zinc oxide: metal fume fever; chromium: septum perforation, skin ulcer, dermatitis, lung cancer, allergy; nickel: dermatitis, lung cancer, allergy; fluoride: skin, respiratory irritation); and gases (ozone: respiratory irritation, asthma; nitrogen oxide: acute lung injury; carbon monoxide: systemic poisoning) are of concern. Pulmonary symptoms (cough, phlegm, wheezing, chest tightness), restrictive and obstructive pulmonary function defects have been demonstrated in welders [Rastogi et al, 1991;Donoghue et al, 1994;Beckett et al, 1996;Fishwick et al, 1997;Sobaszek et al, 2000].…”

Respiratory Health Effects Related to Occupational Spray Painting and Welding

“…[11][12][13][14]16,19,23,24 For example, a British study showed that shipyard welders and burners had a relative risk for chronic bronchitis of 2.8 (after adjustment for age and smoking), compared with shipyard controls. In the same study, cigarette smoking produced a relative risk of 3.2 (after adjusting for age and trade).…”

“…13,14,16 -21 Most have examined only actively welding workers, who may represent a "survivor" population. With these limitations, some studies have found no differences between groups, 14 whereas others have found only differences between welding and nonwelding workers attributable to cigarette smoking 16,18 or only relatively mild effects on lung function. [17][18][19][20][21] Several additional studies have documented acute changes in lung function across a work shift related to welding exposures, 12,15,22 with a greater effect from welding stainless steel than from mild steel.…”

“…Some studies have noted an increased prevalence of cough and phlegm among welders compared with workplace, nonwelding control subjects, after adjusting for smoking. [12][13][14][15][16] Most respiratory surveys of welders that measured lung function have been cross-sectional. 13,14,16 -21 Most have examined only actively welding workers, who may represent a "survivor" population.…”

An Investigation of Respiratory Symptoms and Spirometry Parameters of Welders in a Steel Industry

“…Cross-sectional studies have mentioned combined effects of welding fumes on lung function of welders (14). Fishwick et al reported an acute decrease in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) relative to work experience, which was more prevalent among welders in comparison to non-welders (15). Results of a study by Chinn et al showed an immutable effect for welding on FEV 1 and forced vital capacity (FVC) in a seven-year follow up study of welders, caulker and burners.…”