Respiratory symptoms and impairment in shipyard welders and caulker/burners.

Cotes, J. E.; Feinmann, E. L.; Male, V. J.; Rennie, F. S.; Wickham, C

doi:10.1136/oem.46.5.292

Cited by 37 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in welders as compared with non-welder controls is reported in many studies that investigated adverse respiratory effects in welding [18,19,24]. Significantly higher prevalence of cough and sputum production, were reported by Sobaszek et al [25] in a study that evaluated long-term respiratory effects of SS welding, which is similar to our findings.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

Respiratory Symptoms, Immunological Changes, Ventilatory Capacity, and Bronchial Responsiveness in Welders

Stoleski¹,

Karadžinska-Bislimovska²,

Mijakoski³

2012

Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences

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Objective: To evaluate the effect of workplace exposure and its duration on respiratory symptoms, atopic status, ventilatory capacity, and bronchial responsiveness in welders. Material and Methods:We performed a cross-sectional study including 39 males working as stainless steel welders and an equal number of male office workers matched by age, duration of employment and smoking status. Respiratory symptoms and detailed smoking history were recorded by questionnaire. Evaluation of examined subjects included skin prick tests to common inhalant allergens, spirometry, and histamine challenge. Results:We found non-significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the last 12 months in welders with significant difference for cough (P = 0.043) and phlegm (P = 0.009). Prevalence of sensitization to common inhalant allergens was similar in both welders and controls. Mean values of spirometric parameters was lower in welders with significant difference for MEF 50 (P = 0.008) and MEF 75 (P = 0.000). Prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) was higher in welders with significant difference for borderline BHR (P = 0.038). Adverse respiratory effects were more expressed in welders with duration of workplace exposure more than 12 years compared to those exposed less than 12 years. Conclusion:Our data suggest that workplace exposure in welders may lead to respiratory impairment which is close related to its duration.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 82%

Respiratory Symptoms, Immunological Changes, Ventilatory Capacity, and Bronchial Responsiveness in Welders

Stoleski¹,

Karadžinska-Bislimovska²,

Mijakoski³

2012

Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences

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“…Adjusted for age, BMI and smoking status in the logistic regression analysis, working in the welding process showed a significant risk for bronchitis. Cotes et al 18) studied 607 shipyard welders and similarly exposed caulker burners. Subjects over 50 yr of age had a 40% prevalence of chronic bronchitis with a relative risk ratio of 2.8 when adjusted for age and smoking status.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oxidant‐Antioxidant Status and Pulmonary Function in Welding Workers

Fidan¹,

Ünlü²,

Köken³

et al. 2005

Journal of Occupational Health

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Oxidant-Antioxidant Status and Pulmonary Function in Welding Workers: Fatma FIDAN, et al. Department of Pulmonary Diseases, Turkey-Welding is a process during which fumes, gases, electromagnetic radiation and noise are emitted as by-products. Metal oxide particles are particularly hazardous components of welding fumes. Welding has been found to be associated with respiratory symptoms and our objective in the present study was to study the effects of welding on pulmonary function and serum oxidant-antioxidant status. Fifty-one welding workers and 31 control subjects were recruited. Face to face interviews were conducted using the respiratory illness questionnaire adapted from the American Thoracic S o c i e t y w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f d e m o g r a p h i c characteristics, work history and working conditions. Additionally physical examinations and spirometric measurements were performed at workplaces. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls, protein sulfhydryls (SH) and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were measured to evaluate oxidant-antioxidant status in 34 welding workers and in 20 control subjects. No statistically significant differences were observed in age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), smoking status and annual working durations between welding workers and controls. Coughing, sputing and wheezing were significantly higher in welding workers (p<0.05). When adjusted for age, BMI and smoking status in logistic regression, welding work showed a significant risk for chronic bronchitis (OR: 4.78, 95%CI: 1.30-17.54). Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 )/forced vital capacity (FVC) and four parameters of forced expiratory flow (FEF: FEF 25 , FEF 50 , FEF 75 , FEF 25-75 ) levels measured in the welding workers were significantly lower than those in the control group (p<0.05). Serum TBARS and protein carbonyl levels were higher in welding workers than those in controls (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). On the other hand, total protein SH groups and GSH levels were significantly lower in welders than those in controls (p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively). Pulmonary function tests and oxidant-antioxidant status were found to be negatively affected in welding workers chronically exposed to welding fumes and gases. Preventive measures should be taken to improve the health status of these workers. (J Occup Health 2005; 47: 286-292)

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“…Studies of chronic airflow obstruction in groups exposed to mixtures of dust, fumes and gases have often found a significant excess of chronic airflow limitation in these workers (65)(66)(67)(68)(69)(70), although there are exceptions (66) ( Table 3). Such exposures are found in mineral processing (steelmaking, foundries, smelters) and in a wide variety of other industries ranging from rubber manufacturing to firefighting.…”

Section: Mixed Dust Fumes and Gas Exposurementioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational Exposures and Chronic Airflow Limitation

Dimich‐Ward¹,

Kennedy²,

Chan‐Yeung³

1996

Canadian Respiratory Journal

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S tudies have shown that the diseases of dusty occupations, in particular the pneumoconioses, are on the decline in developed countries. In contrast, mortality rates due to the chronic nonmalignant lung diseases including those characterized by airflow obstruction are increasing (1) and these diseases are responsible for high rates of morbidity and extended periods of disablement. It is now generally accepted that occupational exposure to organic dusts such as grain and cotton The recent literature was reviewed to evaluate whether chronic airflow limitation is associated with occupational exposures to dusts. Only those studies that controlled for the effects of smoking were included. There is compelling evidence that exposure to inorganic dusts, such as from coal and hardrock mining or asbestos, are associated with the development of chronic airflow limitation, independently of pneumoconiosis. Nonsmoking gold miners are particularly at high risk of airflow obstruction and emphysema. Findings from studies of organic dusts, such as exposures to wood, cotton, grain or other agricultural dusts, or to mixed dust exposures, were less consistent but tended to show positive dose-response associations. In the majority of studies, no statistical interaction was shown between dust exposures and smoking; however, the effects of the dust exposures were often more pronounced. An occupational history should be considered, in addition to a smoking history, as an integral part of an investigation of chronic airflow limitation in a patient. Key Words: Chronic airflow limitation, FEV 1 , Occupational exposures, SmokingLes expositions professionnelles et l'obstruction respiratoire chronique RÉSUMÉ : On a passé en revue les études récentes pour éval-uer si l'obstruction respiratoire chronique a un rapport avec les expositions professionnelles aux poussières. Seules les études avec groupe témoin pour les effets du tabagisme ont été retenues. On peut conclure que les expositions aux poussières inorganiques comme celles provenant du charbon et des roches ou de l'amiante est associée à l'obstruction respiratoire chronique, indépendamment d'une pneumoconiose. Les nonfumeurs qui travaillent dans les mines d'or sont particulière-ment exposés au développement d'une obstruction respiratoire et d'un emphysème. Les résultats des études sur les poussières organiques, telles que les expositions aux poussières de bois, de coton, de grain ou d'autres poussières agricoles, ou les expositions à plusieurs types de poussières étaient moins constants mais tendaient à démontrer une association dose-réponse positive. Dans la plupart des études, aucun lien statistique n'a été démontré entre les expositions aux poussières et le tabagisme; toutefois, les effets des expositions aux poussières étaient souvent plus prononcés. Par conséquent, les antécédents professionnels tout comme les antécédents de consommation de tabac devraient faire partie intégrante de l'anamnèse chez un patient présentant une obstruction respiratoire chronique.

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Respiratory symptoms and impairment in shipyard welders and caulker/burners.

Cited by 37 publications

References 21 publications

Respiratory Symptoms, Immunological Changes, Ventilatory Capacity, and Bronchial Responsiveness in Welders

Respiratory Symptoms, Immunological Changes, Ventilatory Capacity, and Bronchial Responsiveness in Welders

Oxidant‐Antioxidant Status and Pulmonary Function in Welding Workers

Occupational Exposures and Chronic Airflow Limitation

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