Jafari Ahmad J, Assari Mohammad J
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Arch Environ Health. 2004 Mar;59(3):116-20. doi: 10.3200/AEOH.59.3.116-120.
The authors studied respiratory symptoms and lung function among welders at welding workshops, and among nonwelders, in Hamadan, Iran. They used a questionnaire to record demographic data, smoking habits, and respiratory symptoms. The authors measured pulmonary functions with subjects standing upright. They collected metal fume samples from the respiratory zone of workers and analyzed the samples by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The concentrations of iron and manganese were higher than threshold limit values. The prevalence of asthma and clinical symptoms was higher in welders than nonwelders. Also, bronchitis was more common among welders (17.45%) than among nonwelders (2.56%). The average respiratory function values of welders were lower than those of nonwelders, with a significant difference between the means (p < 0.001 for all terms). The results of this study also strongly suggest a synergistic relationship between the effects of smoking and welding exposure.
作者对伊朗哈马丹焊接车间的焊工以及非焊工的呼吸道症状和肺功能进行了研究。他们使用问卷记录人口统计学数据、吸烟习惯和呼吸道症状。作者让受试者直立测量肺功能。他们从工人的呼吸区域采集金属烟雾样本，并通过原子吸收光谱法对样本进行分析。铁和锰的浓度高于阈限值。焊工中哮喘和临床症状的患病率高于非焊工。此外，焊工中支气管炎（17.45%）比非焊工（2.56%）更常见。焊工的平均呼吸功能值低于非焊工，均值之间存在显著差异（所有指标p<0.001）。本研究结果还强烈表明吸烟和焊接暴露的影响之间存在协同关系。
