Dust is in the air. Part II: Effects of occupational exposure to welding fumes on lung function in a 9-year study.

PURPOSE

Adverse health effects of work-related contact with respirable hazardous substances are of great public interest. Because related prospective and long-term follow-up studies are rare, the extent of acute and chronic pulmonary health risks of occupational exposure to welding fumes is discussed controversially in the scientific literature. The objective of the present longitudinal study during a 9-year period was to investigate the annual changes of lung function in welders.

METHODS

Anthropometric measures and smoking behaviour, and spirometric tests (FVC, FEV1, and MEF50) obtained during routine occupational health checkups of female and male workers (n = 1,982) in Austria during the years 2002-2010 were analyzed.

RESULTS

The study participants displayed average lung function values lower than the age- and sex-specific norm. Decrease in respiratory capacity was dependent on smoking habits and duration of occupational exposure. Specifically for welders (n = 1,326), decrease of pulmonary function was significantly associated with heavy smoking (FVC -70.7 ml, p = 0.07; FEV1 -167.4 ml, p < 0.001; MEF50 -356.2 ml/s, p < 0.001), but not with moderate smoking habits, and also with duration of occupational exposure to welding fumes per year (FVC -0.89 ml, p = 0.36; FEV1 -2.91 ml, p < 0.001; MEF50 -4.7 ml/s, p = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Individual smoking habits as well as duration of occupational exposure to welding fumes showed a negative impact on lung function parameters. To reduce the risk of work-associated respiratory morbidity, smoking cessation is highly recommended to personnel engaged in welding fumes- and dust-exposed occupations.