[Characteristics of combined effect of thermal and welding aerosol exposure]

While studying a concurrent exposure to thermal loads and welding aerosols (WA) it has been ascertained that in inhalational exposure of the body to WA under conditions of simultaneous exposure of animals to a high temperature of the air environment the total pathogenic effect tends to be higher and higher. It is suggested that in a concomitant exposure to the above factors WA might lower bodily resistance to the thermal load. The above factors produce summation type harmful effects which have clearly a dose-dependent character. Studies on the occupational environment of workers engaged in welding involving heating suggested to us that it is those WA containing harmful substances of I and II hazard class that is the leading adverse factor of the working environment, and also thermal loads as high as 8000-9000 wt/m2. A concurrent exposure to the above factors lays a stress on the thermoregulatory function of the organism, and is resultant in the development of autoimmune processes and in premature aging of workers.