Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Department of Medicine, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Ann Work Expo Health. 2021 Aug 5;65(7):775-788. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxab016.
Welding fumes vary in composition depending on the materials and processes used, and while health outcomes in full-time welders have been widely studied, limited research on apprentices exists. Besides, few data are available for metals such as vanadium and antimony. This study aimed to look at individual metals present in welding fumes in the learning environment of apprentice welders. Forty-three welders and 41 controls were chosen from trade programmes at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Ambient and personal air samples were collected at days 0, 1, 7, and 50 of their training and analysed for mass and metal concentrations using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Results showed increases in particle and metal concentrations as apprentices progressed throughout their education and that concentrations at day 50 were similar to levels found in the literature for professional welders. Variable concentrations indicate that some individuals may not properly use the local exhaust ventilation system. Other possible explanation for variations are the position of the sampler on the shoulder, the time spent welding and in each welding position, and the skills of the welders. Strong relationships were observed between particle and metal concentrations, suggesting that these relationships could be used to estimate metal exposure in welders from particle exposure. Welding processes were the most important determinant of exposure in apprentice welders, with Metal Core Arc Welding producing the largest particle concentrations followed by oxyacetylene cutting, and Gas Metal Arc Welding. Health risk assessment showed that welder apprentices are at risk for overexposure to manganese, which suggests that professional welders should be monitored for manganese as they are exposed more than apprentices. Training in proper positioning of local exhaust ventilation system and proper use of respirators are recommended in training facilities.
焊接烟尘的成分因所使用的材料和工艺而异，虽然全职焊工的健康结果已经得到广泛研究，但对学徒的研究有限。此外，关于钒和锑等金属的数据也很少。本研究旨在观察学习环境中 apprentice welders 焊接烟尘中存在的个别金属。从北阿尔伯塔理工学院的贸易项目中选择了 43 名焊工和 41 名对照者。在培训的第 0、1、7 和 50 天收集环境和个人空气样本，并使用电感耦合等离子体质谱法分析质量和金属浓度。结果表明，随着学徒在培训过程中的进展，颗粒和金属浓度增加，并且第 50 天的浓度与专业焊工文献中发现的水平相似。浓度的变化表明，有些人可能没有正确使用局部排气通风系统。浓度变化的其他可能解释是采样器在肩部的位置、每个焊接位置的焊接时间和焊工的技能。观察到颗粒和金属浓度之间存在很强的关系，这表明这些关系可用于根据颗粒暴露估计焊工的金属暴露。焊接过程是学徒焊工暴露的最重要决定因素，金属芯电弧焊产生的颗粒浓度最大，其次是氧乙炔切割和气体金属电弧焊。健康风险评估表明，焊工学徒有过度暴露于锰的风险，这表明应该对专业焊工进行监测，因为他们比学徒更容易暴露于锰。建议在培训设施中进行正确定位局部排气通风系统和正确使用呼吸器的培训。
