Immunotoxicology of arc welding fume: Worker and experimental animal studies

Health risk assessment and oxidative stress in workers exposed to welding fumes

“…Available studies revealed disturbances in respiratory, renal, nervous and reproductive systems (Antonini et al, 2003;Josephs et al, 2005), irritation of eyes and skin, metal fume fever (Zeidler-Erdely et al 2012;Keegan et al, 2008) and DNA damage (Giera et al, 2012). Malondialdehyde (MDA) is A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 4 commonly considered as a reliable marker of oxidative stress.…”

Design and Characterization of an Inhalation System of Iron and Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles for Rodent Exposure

“…Based on the number concentration of NP generated (10 7 p/cm 3 ) and the respective density of Mn and Fe (7.3 g/cm 3 and 7.86 g/cm 3 ), the calculated mass concentration of each generated aerosol was 306 mg/m 3 and 330 mg/m 3 for Mn and Fe NP, respectively. Welders' personal exposures to manganese has been measured at concentrations up to 4.93 mg/m 3 and up to 16.29 mg/m 3 for iron (Korczynski 2000;Flynn and Susi 2009), with total welding particulate levels up to 30 mg/m 3 (Susi et al 2000;Meeker et al 2007;Zeidler-Erdely et al 2012). Given that NP can represent up to 80% in number and 16% in mass of the total particles emitted during welding (Stephenson et al 2003;Dasch and D'Arcy 2008), the aerosol generated in our study is therefore representative of welder's occupational environment.…”

Are welders more at risk of respiratory infections? Findings from a cross-sectional survey and analysis of medical records in shipyard workers: the WELSHIP project

“…Free iron serves as a nutrient for microorganisms,12 13 can facilitate penetration of a pathogen deeper into the lung than it could normally achieve (‘carrier’ effect) and activate a pneumococcal iron-dependent transcriptional regulator which promotes the expression of genes required for bacterial survival and virulence in the host 14. In addition, iron can modify cytokine signalling and the activation of recruited inflammatory cells15 16 and promote apoptosis via iron-catalysed oxidative stress (via generation of reactive hydroxyl radicals), impairing the activation of neutrophils and normal immune responses such as the migration of macrophages in the airways 17 18. Iron can also induce oxidative-mediated epithelial damage, or activate alveolar macrophages to establish a systemic eosinophilia and basophilia through cytokine signalling 19.…”