Short-term respiratory function changes in relation to workshift welding fume exposures

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Pulmonary Medicine
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Welding involves exposure to fumes that may impact respiratory health.
• Understanding the acute effects of welding fumes on lung function is crucial for worker safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of an 8-hour work shift on lung function in shipyard welders compared to non-welder controls.
• To investigate the relationship between welding fume exposure, environmental factors, and acute changes in lung function.

Main Methods:

• Measurements of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and transfer factor for the lung (TL) were taken before and after work shifts.
• Full-shift average concentrations of welding fume constituents were monitored.
• Subjects were divided into welders and non-welder controls in a shipyard setting.

Main Results:

• Both welders and controls showed a decrease in lung function indices from morning to afternoon, with welders exhibiting a greater reduction.
• No significant association was found between acute lung function changes and daily fume constituent levels or environmental factors overall.
• Significant differences in diurnal variation of TL were observed based on ventilation conditions (P < 0.01), with maximum TL reduction in welders using no ventilation.
• Acute FEV1 reduction positively correlated with iron oxide levels (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Welding work in shipyards leads to acute, measurable declines in lung function.
• Ventilation plays a critical role in mitigating the negative impact of welding fumes on lung function, specifically TL.
• Exposure to iron oxide may contribute to acute FEV1 reduction in welders.