Mansouri N, Atbi F, Moharamnezhad N, Rahbaran D A, Alahiari M
Dept. of Environment Engineering, Graduate School of Environment & Energy, Science & Research Campus, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
J Res Health Sci. 2008 Dec 28;8(2):1-8.
Welding is one of the most exercised industrial processes which welders are exposed to chemical and physical Hazardous agents. This study was conducted to evaluate occupational and environmental exposures to aerosols generated by welding processes in a factory.
A total of 28 samples of aerosols were collected at 4 different locations including indoor, outdoor, source of welding and the stacks using a high volume pump with a volumetric flow rate of 112 lit/min calibrated with a dry gas meter. The samples were collected on round 110 mm fiber glass filters, measured gravimetrically, extracted using nitric acid and analyzed with atomic absorption spectroscopy method for heavy metals including Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr3+, Cr+6, Co, and Zn.
Gravimetric measuring has shown the mean values of indoor air: 1.33 mg/m3, breathing zone of the welders using coated electrodes and CO2: 7.25 mg/m3 and 6.45 mg/m3 respectively and in ventilation exhausts: 95.07 mg/m3. The mean values of Fe, Mn, and Ni were 0.8, 0.041, and 0.00 mg/m3 in indoor air, 2.7, 0.18, and 0.15 mg/m3 in breathing zone of welders used coated electrodes, and 1.75, 0.08, and 0.22 mg/m3 in breathing zone of welders used CO2 welding respectively. The concentrations of Cr3+, Cr+6, Co, and Zn were too low to be detected.
The welders were exposed to high concentration of metallic fumes, which raise the risk of pulmonary dysfunction and other health disorders. Using suitable respiratory masks and Appling the effective local ventilation system may improve the working condition.
焊接是焊工接触化学和物理有害因素的最常见工业过程之一。本研究旨在评估一家工厂焊接过程产生的气溶胶的职业和环境暴露情况。
使用大容量泵，以112升/分钟的体积流量，通过干式气体流量计校准，在包括室内、室外、焊接源和烟囱在内的4个不同位置共采集28份气溶胶样本。样本采集在110毫米圆形玻璃纤维滤纸上，采用重量法测量，用硝酸萃取，并采用原子吸收光谱法分析包括铁、锰、镍、三价铬、六价铬、钴和锌在内的重金属。
重量法测量显示室内空气平均值为1.33毫克/立方米，使用药皮焊条和二氧化碳气体保护焊的焊工呼吸区平均值分别为7.25毫克/立方米和6.45毫克/立方米，通风排气口平均值为95.07毫克/立方米。室内空气中铁、锰和镍的平均值分别为0.8、0.041和0.00毫克/立方米，使用药皮焊条的焊工呼吸区分别为2.7、0.18和0.15毫克/立方米，使用二氧化碳气体保护焊的焊工呼吸区分别为1.75、0.08和0.22毫克/立方米。三价铬、六价铬、钴和锌的浓度过低无法检测。
焊工暴露于高浓度金属烟雾中，这增加了肺功能障碍和其他健康问题的风险。使用合适的呼吸面罩和应用有效的局部通风系统可能会改善工作条件。
