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A prospective study of decline in lung function in relation to welding emissions
Sigve W Christensen1, Jens Peter Bonde, Oyvind Omland
1Department of Occupational Medicine, Arhus Hospital, Arhus University Hospital, Arhus, Denmark. jpbon@as.aaa.dk.
Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology (London, England)
|February 28, 2008
Summary
Long-term exposure to welding fumes may accelerate lung function decline, particularly in smokers. However, the study found no statistically significant link between cumulative exposure and lung function loss within welders.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Previous studies suggest reduced lung function in welders, but lacked robust exposure assessment and design for causal inference.
- This study addresses the need to investigate the impact of long-term welding fume exposure on age-related lung function decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if chronic exposure to welding fume particulates accelerates the natural decline in lung function over time.
- To analyze the relationship between cumulative welding fume exposure and lung function changes in steel welders.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal study measuring lung function via spirometry in 1987 and 2004.
- Included 68 steel welders and 32 non-welding controls.
- Analyzed the decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) in relation to cumulative fume particulate exposure.
Main Results:
- Smokers experienced a greater average decline in FEV1 (150 ml) compared to non-welders, while the difference was minimal in non-smokers.
- The observed differences did not reach statistical significance.
- No significant relationship was found between cumulative welding particulate exposure and lung function decline within the welder group.
Conclusions:
- Long-term exposure to welding emissions might accelerate age-related lung function decline, especially in smokers.
- At exposure levels of 1.5-6.5 mg/m3, the excess annual loss of FEV1 is estimated to be under 25 ml for smokers and under 10 ml for non-smokers.
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