Welding, longitudinal lung function decline and chronic respiratory symptoms: a systematic review of cohort studies

Szram, Joanna; Schofield, Susan; Cosgrove, Martin; Cullinan, Paul

doi:10.1183/09031936.00206011

Cited by 57 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Our findings were supported by several studies (2,3,18). Our results revealed that respiratory symptoms amongst the welders' group were much more than in the non-welders group and phlegm, wheezing and cough symptoms were more common symptoms (5,6,23). In other studies by El-Zein et al, dry cough, shortness of breath, metallic taste and wheezing were common complaints among welders during the first days of the working week (3).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…to non-welders' group (6 to 11 mL). Similar findings were reported by many studies, which reviewed these factors with several types of study designs such as longitudinal, casecontrol and cross sectional design (6,7,18). Also some studies reported contrary results (16,21).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

“…Work-related respiratory diseases have been well documented for welders in many studies (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Air pollutants released from welding activities are capable of initiating several acute and chronic respiratory effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

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

Rangkooy

Dehaghi

Ghavamabadi

et al. 2016

Jundishapur J Health Sci

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Background: Fumes released form welding activities are capable of initiating several acute and chronic respiratory effects. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate respiratory symptoms and spirometry parameters in welders of a steel industry. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a steel industry and involved 60 welders and 40 non-welders. A questionnaire was used to record participants' details, and to determine pulmonary function values the spirometric test was used. Pearson correlation, paired and independent t test as statistic tests were used for data analysis. Results:Comparison between pulmonary function values (PFV) showed a significant relationship between forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and 25% -75% forced expiratory flow (FEF25 -75%) of the two groups. These values in the welder group had a significant reduction and declines were from 6 to 11 mL. Age and work experience showed a significant correlation with PFV in the two groups. Conclusions: All workers that participated in this study were relatively young and considering them being young and not having long history of work experience, our results revealed that welders had less respiratory capacity and this was related to increasing work experience and age, but inconsistent with smoking habits of the two groups.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

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

Rangkooy

Dehaghi

Ghavamabadi

et al. 2016

Jundishapur J Health Sci

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“…Subjects exposed to metals in our study described themselves as working in metal or steel industries such as motor vehicle mechanics and fitters, sheet metal workers, welders and flame cutters and agriculture or industrial machinery mechanics. A recent meta-analysis which included longitudinal studies of welders also found an association between exposure to welding fumes and lung function decline 37. This raises the possibilities that the observed association with ever exposure to metal could be related to exposures in the specific industries such as smelting furnace fumes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational exposure to solvents and lung function decline: A population based study

Alif

Dharmage

Benke

et al. 2019

Thorax

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RationaleWhile cross-sectional studies have shown associations between certain occupational exposures and lower levels of lung function, there was little evidence from population-based studies with repeated lung function measurements.ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate the associations between occupational exposures and longitudinal lung function decline in the population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study.MethodsLung function decline between ages 45 years and 50 years was assessed using data from 767 participants. Using lifetime work history calendars completed at age 45 years, exposures were assigned according to the ALOHA plus Job Exposure Matrix. Occupational exposures were defined as ever exposed and cumulative exposure -unit- years. We investigated effect modification by sex, smoking and asthma status.ResultsCompared with those without exposure, ever exposures to aromatic solvents and metals were associated with a greater decline in FEV1 (aromatic solvents 15.5 mL/year (95% CI −24.8 to 6.3); metals 11.3 mL/year (95% CI −21.9 to – 0.7)) and FVC (aromatic solvents 14.1 mL/year 95% CI −28.8 to – 0.7; metals 17.5 mL/year (95% CI –34.3 to – 0.8)). Cumulative exposure (unit years) to aromatic solvents was also associated with greater decline in FEV1 and FVC. Women had lower cumulative exposure years to aromatic solvents than men (mean (SD) 9.6 (15.5) vs 16.6 (14.6)), but greater lung function decline than men. We also found association between ever exposures to gases/fumes or mineral dust and greater decline in lung function.ConclusionsExposures to aromatic solvents and metals were associated with greater lung function decline. The effect of aromatic solvents was strongest in women. Preventive strategies should be implemented to reduce these exposures in the workplace.

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“…12 A study from India reported higher respiratory impairment in smoking welders than non-smoking welders, indicating the synergistic effect of smoking along with inhaled gases on the lung function among welders. 13,14 Welders also are at risk for developing skin conditions, such as hyper pigmentation with an increased frequency as observed among the welders in a study at rural Delhi, India. 15 Welding-related trauma includes acute eye injuries, especially those caused by foreign bodies in the form of minute metal chips, brief loss of vision, welding arc or flash burns, and trauma to the hands.…”

Section: 11mentioning

confidence: 98%

Occupational safety measures and morbidity among welders in Vellore, Southern India

Alexander

Sindhu

Zechariah

et al. 2016

International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health

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Background: Welders in the unorganized occupational sector in the economically developing world are exposed to respiratory, skin, eye, ear, and neurological problems exacerbated by non-usage of personal protective equipment (PPE). Objective: To study the frequency of health problems and the usage of PPE among welders in unorganized welding units in Vellore, India. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 150 welders to determine the frequency of skin, ear, eye, and respiratory morbidity and the usage of PPE. A group of 150 non-welders were chosen for comparison. Results: Significant differences in the frequency of skin burns, redness, hyper pigmentation, itching, eye injuries, and sensorineural deafness were observed among the welders and non-welders (P < 0.001). Hypertension was noted in 12.6% of the welders as compared to 0.7% among the non-welders. None of the welders used appropriate PPE. For welders, low educational attainment was associated with an increased risk of eye injury (P < 0.05, OR = 0.29). There was also a significant difference between sensorineural deafness and a welder having less than 10 years of welding work experience (P < 0.001, OR = 18.18) which could probably be accounted for by the healthy worker effect. Conclusion: Welders in this sample experienced a significant skin, eye, and ear morbidity accentuated by the non-usage of PPE. All worked without formal training and were unaware of the safe working guidelines that exist, but are not implemented for the welders in India.

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Welding, longitudinal lung function decline and chronic respiratory symptoms: a systematic review of cohort studies

Cited by 57 publications

References 32 publications

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

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

Occupational exposure to solvents and lung function decline: A population based study

Occupational safety measures and morbidity among welders in Vellore, Southern India

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