Assessment of the biological effects of welding fumes emitted from metal inert gas welding processes of aluminium and zinc-plated materials in humans

Systemic serum amyloid A as a biomarker for exposure to zinc and/or copper-containing metal fumes

“…Overall, these ROC results confirm, that the performances of SAA and CRP after zinc-and/or copper-containing welding fumes are comparable for most but not all individuals. Owing to the lack of a parallel ambient air control exposure (which was not conducted, as in previous studies CRP levels remained unchanged after control exposure 5,6,21 ), we could not perform an alternative ROC analysis considering the changes of SAA and CRP at 24 h (versus baseline) after welding fume exposure with the respective changes of SAA and CRP after ambient air exposure.…”

“…Both units are connected by a ventilation system, which allows regulating the fume concentration in the exposure room. 5,19 Welding was performed fully mechanized below a funnel-shaped fume hood, which was connected with the ventilation system of the exposure laboratory. Welding frequency was adjusted in order to achieve an average fume mass concentration of 2.5 mg/m 3 .…”

“…In a recent study, a distinct increase of systemic C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown after inhalation of welding fume from a metal inert gas brazing process of zinc-coated steel using a copper-containing welding wire at an average fume concentration of 2.5 mg/m 3 . 5 A further study tested the effect of elevated systemic CRP levels after exposure with three different doses of this welding fume and found increases of CRP after exposure with 2.0 and 2.5 mg/m 3 average fume concentration, but not at 1.4 mg/m 3 . Hence, it was concluded that the no-observed-effect level for systemic inflammation after such exposures was 1.4 mg/m 3 and the lowest observed effect level was 2.0 mg/m 3 .…”

“…7 Even moderate elevations of systemic CRP indicate an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. 8 As short-term inhalations of zincand/or copper-containing welding fumes have been shown to elicit significant CRP elevations, [5][6][7] the question arises whether workers exposed to these metal fumes have an increased risk to develop cardiovascular diseases, as epidemiological studies suggest. 3 In order to investigate these and further biological effects and potential health risks after short-term inhalation of zinc-and/or copper-containing welding fumes, our aim in the present study was to investigate the performance of two other systemic biomarkers, serum amyloid A (SAA) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), after exposure to the three previously described "zinc only", or "copper only", or "copper and zinc" welding scenarios.…”

“…7 The mass concentrations of the copper and zinc particles in the metal fumes equalled those used before. 5 Like CRP, SAA is a positive acute-phase reactant and a sensitive marker of an acute inflammation. Its levels increase within hours after inflammatory stimuli, in part to levels greater than those of CRP.…”