Personal exposure and biomarkers among production welders and non-welders

Intro. A welding fume welding-related exposure assessment using various assessment methods was conducted to more thoroughly evaluate the impact of welding fume exposure.;Objectives. The objective of this study was to conduct personal exposure and biomonitoring on a group of production welders and non-welders in a large manufacturing facility. Personal exposures and biomarkers were compared between welders and non-welders.;Methods. Thirty-eight workers comprised of sixteen welders and 22 non-welders were sampled on a Monday. Welding fume metals along with passive NO2 and O3 samples were collected in the breathing zone of welders and non-welders. Personal metal fume samples were analyzed for a spectrum of metals using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Samples of blood, urine, exhaled air, and exhaled breath condensate were also collected before and after the work shift. These samples were used to investigate biomarkers of exposure and effect. Spirometry was also done before and after the work shift.;Results. Exposure concentrations of metal fumes, expressed as geometric means (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD). Concentrations were 474 (3.5) mug/m3 for welders and 60 (2.8) mug/m 3 for non-welders, and exposure concentrations of metal fumes were significantly higher in welders than in non-welders (p = 0.001). Welders were exposed to greater concentrations of NO2 (37ppb for welders, 23 ppb for non-welders) and O3 (7.3ppb for welders, 3.2 ppb for non-welders) than non-welders but the differences were not significant.;Conclusions. Exposure concentrations of metal fume differed significantly between welders and non-welders while concentrations of NO 2 and O3 did not. Non-welders experienced exposures to metals similar to those doing semi-automated stainless steel GTAW despite a curtain wall barrier separating welding and non-welding work areas. Metals biomarkers in blood and urine were not specifically associated with welders as a group and welders exposed to welding fume metals at the highest levels did not show elevated metals in blood or urine. Exposures did not appear to induce elevated levels of biomarkers of effect in the blood of welders compared to non-welders. Welders showed decreases in pulmonary function that may be an indicator of the onset of small airway disease.