An occupational exposure limit for welding fumes is urgently needed

Sjögren, Bengt; Albin, María; Broberg, Karin; Gustavsson, Per; Tinnerberg, Håkan; Johanson, Gunnar

doi:10.5271/sjweh.4002

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Welding fumes have recently been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the IARC ( 27 ) and is also associated with cardiovascular as well as respiratory disease. Most countries are lacking a specific exposure limit value for welding fumes, which is urgently needed ( 28 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time trends in occupational exposure to chemicals in Sweden: proportion exposed, distribution across demographic and labor market strata, and exposure levels

Gustavsson¹,

Wiebert²,

Tinnerberg³

et al. 2022

Scand J Work Environ Health

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Objective This study investigated time trends in occupational exposure to various chemicals in Sweden and the distribution across demographic and labor market sectors. Methods Exposure to six chemicals was investigated from 1980 to 2013 by application of a job exposure matrix to national population registers. Respirable crystalline silica (RCS), diesel engine exhaust, welding fumes, wood dust, chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, and lead were selected to represent different groups of chemicals. Trends in exposure prevalence were investigated by linear regression and compared to the occupationally active population. Confidence intervals for the rate of change over time were obtained by bootstrapping. Results The proportion of workers born outside the Nordic countries increased over time in those exposed to RCS, diesel exhaust and wood dust. There was a shift of exposed jobs to small companies (<50 employees), especially for RCS, welding fumes, wood dust, and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents. For RCS and welding fumes, there was a marked drop in exposure levels from 1980 to 1990 but small changes thereafter. Exposure to lead diminished, both in terms of prevalence and intensity. Conclusions Over time, several exposures tended to shift to small companies, the construction sector, and migrant workers, all factors being indicative of less well-controlled working conditions. Occupational exposure to chlorinated organic solvents and lead diminished, while exposure levels to RCS and welding fumes have changed little since 1990. In view of the serious and well-established negative health effects, increased efforts to reduce exposure to RCS and welding fumes are needed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Time trends in occupational exposure to chemicals in Sweden: proportion exposed, distribution across demographic and labor market strata, and exposure levels

Gustavsson¹,

Wiebert²,

Tinnerberg³

et al. 2022

Scand J Work Environ Health

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“…This may include a program of vaccination designed to prevent and combat the prevalence of the respiratory disorders caused by the inhalation of WFs (26). It has been expressed an urgent need of imposing an exposure limit for those working in the welding field, most recent of it being stated in 2022 (27).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Welding Fumes Versus Respiratory System – An Up-to-Date Overview of Welding Lung Diseases

Petrovici,

Ion,

Vasile

et al. 2023

ARS Medica Tomitana

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Welding processes generate significant occupational contaminants, including particulate matter, metal fumes, and gas by-products. Exposure to these fumes can lead to various health issues in welders. This article emphasizes the need for preventive measures to improve the health of welders and reduce the risks associated with welding.The study explores the impact of welding fumes on the respiratory system and occupational lung disease. It identifies the inhalation of welding fumes as a significant risk factor for lung disease, and the need for clear limitations on welding fume exposure. The research also highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms underlying lung conditions caused by welding fumes. The study concludes by including 30 citations from several databases (Google Scholar, ResearchGate, MDPI and AcademiaEdu) to raise awareness and establish a scientific link between welding fumes and oral health and teeth structure. The inhalation of welding fumes can significantly impact the respiratory system, causing concerns about safety measures and guidelines for welding environments. Exposure to harmful substances like welding fumes can also affect the oral cavity, a part of both digestive and respiratory system, and therefore, the impact on teeth hard structures claims further scientific investigations.

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“…Welding is a widely used industrial process in which high temperatures join metals, producing potentially hazardous metal fumes [1]. Approximately 11 million people worldwide work as welders, and 110 million are exposed to welding fumes [2]. The composition of welding fumes, classified as group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, varies depending on the type of welding performed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of occupational exposure on the hematologic parameters among welders

Medeni,

Çetintepe,

Aygür

et al. 2024

Acta Medica

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Introduction: The effect of prolonged exposure to welding fumes on blood levels remains an unresolved question. In our study, we aimed to determine the effects of metal fume exposure on various blood parameters in welders. Materials and Methods: The study was cross-sectional. It included all male welding workers admitted to a health institution, a reference hospital for occupational diseases, for 2021. It was conducted with 254 individuals. The variables examined included age, duration of employment, smoking habit, body mass index, hemoglobin levels, erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet counts, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, free prostate-specific antigen, creatinine and manganese levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates. Results: In our study, 40.6% of the welders were between 21-30 years old. 65.7% of the participants have been welding for more than five years. According to body-mass index values, 44.1% of the participants were pre-obese, and 16.9% were obese. 63.8% of the participants were smokers. In 35.8% of participants, hyperglycemia was present, and polycythemia was present in 27.2%. When blood parameters were analyzed, fasting blood glucose, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and sedimentation rate were lower in those who worked less than five years than those who worked five years or more. The difference was statistically significant. In blood test results, leukocyte, glucose, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and sedimentation rate values in welders were correlated with total working time. Conclusion: Welders in our study had a high prevalence of smoking, overweight, and obesity. Working time is correlated with liver enzyme levels and fasting blood glucose values. For healthier workers, employers should fulfill their responsibilities for occupational health and safety.

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An occupational exposure limit for welding fumes is urgently needed

Cited by 12 publications

References 14 publications

Time trends in occupational exposure to chemicals in Sweden: proportion exposed, distribution across demographic and labor market strata, and exposure levels

Time trends in occupational exposure to chemicals in Sweden: proportion exposed, distribution across demographic and labor market strata, and exposure levels

Welding Fumes Versus Respiratory System – An Up-to-Date Overview of Welding Lung Diseases

Effects of occupational exposure on the hematologic parameters among welders

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