Toxicogenomic Approach to Risk Assessment of Welding Fumes

Abstract

The welding fume exposure of welders mainly occurs though the inhalation of a mixture of metals, chemicals, and dust in the workplace. Several studies have already attempted to identify the pathophysiological process of welding-fume-exposure-induced lung diseases, as well as manganism. Moreover, microarray technology offers the ability to investigate the entire genome after exposure to welding fumes, and permits characterization of the biological effects due to welding fume exposure. This review summarizes the published literature on the genetic and transcriptional profiles resulting from the exposure of cells or organisms to welding fumes as complex environmental mixtures in the workplace. Researchers are also actively studying how toxicogenomics can be effectively used for risk assessment of welding fumes, as discussed throughout this review. Jour n a l o f C linical T o x ic o log y