Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Chair in Toxicological Risk Assessment and Management, and Public Health Research Center (CReSP), University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Building, U436, P.O. Box 6128, Main Station, Montreal, Quebec, H3C 3J7, Canada.
Chemical and Biological Hazards Prevention, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, 505 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montréal, Québec, H3A 3C2, Canada.
Environ Res. 2023 Dec 15;239(Pt 2):117361. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117361. Epub 2023 Oct 14.
Welding fumes are associated with various diseases. Increased air levels of metals were reported during welding. However, few multielement biomonitoring studies were conducted to assess the actual dose of metal components absorbed in apprentice welders in a learning environment. This research aimed to establish the nature and level of exposure to welding fumes and their metallic components in apprentice welders performing 'Shielded Metal Arc Welding' (SMAW), based on multi-element and multi-matrix analyses. A total of 86 apprentice welders were recruited in three different schools in Montreal, Québec, Canada. Twenty-one elements were measured in urine, hair, fingernail, and toenail samples collected at the beginning of the program and at the end of SMAW practical training. Concentrations of welding fumes and 12 metals were also determined in personal respirable air samples collected over a typical workday in a subgroup of 19 apprentices. Levels of manganese (Mn), iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) in urine and Mn in hair were higher in samples taken at the end of the SMAW module compared to the beginning of training, while there was no significant difference for the other elements or for nail concentrations. Geometric mean concentrations [5th-95th percentiles] reached 0.31 [0.032-2.84], 9.4 [3.1-51] and 0.87 [0.35-3.1] μg/g creat. in post-shift urine, respectively, for Mn, Fe and Ni, and 0.37 [0.46-6.4] μg Mn/g hair at the end of SWAW. Median concentrations [5th-95th percentiles] were 29 [4.6-1200], 120 [27-3100] and 0.31 [<LOQ-0.92] μg/m for Mn, Fe and Ni, respectively. The work showed that even short-term welding fume exposure in controlled environments, as observed in apprentice welders after SMAW process, increases internal exposure to metals. It also confirmed the interest of measurements in multiple matrices to assess internal metal exposure. The follow-up of apprentices during standard curriculum will allow to assess more long-term internal exposure due to other welding processes.
焊接烟尘与多种疾病有关。据报道，在焊接过程中，空气中的金属含量会增加。然而，很少有进行多元素生物监测的研究来评估学徒焊工在学习环境中实际吸收的金属成分的剂量。本研究旨在通过多元素和多基质分析，确定进行“ Shielded Metal Arc Welding （SMAW）”的学徒焊工接触焊接烟尘及其金属成分的性质和水平。在加拿大魁北克省蒙特利尔的三所不同的学校共招募了 86 名学徒焊工。在培训开始时和 SMAW 实际培训结束时，采集尿液、头发、指甲和脚趾甲样本，测量 21 种元素。在 19 名学徒中，还采集了个人可呼吸空气样本，以确定焊接烟尘浓度和 12 种金属浓度，这些样本是在典型工作日采集的。与培训开始时相比，在 SMAW 模块结束时采集的尿液中锰（Mn）、铁（Fe）和镍（Ni）以及头发中的 Mn 浓度更高，而其他元素或指甲浓度则没有显著差异。接触后尿液中 Mn、Fe 和 Ni 的几何均数浓度（第 5 百分位数-第 95 百分位数）分别为 0.31[0.032-2.84]、9.4[3.1-51]和 0.87[0.35-3.1]μg/g 肌酐，SWAW 结束时头发中 Mn 的浓度中位数（第 5 百分位数-第 95 百分位数）为 0.37[0.46-6.4]μg Mn/g。Mn、Fe 和 Ni 的中位数浓度（第 5 百分位数-第 95 百分位数）分别为 29[4.6-1200]、120[27-3100]和 0.31[未检出-0.92]μg/m。研究表明，即使在学徒焊工进行 SMAW 工艺后在受控环境中观察到的短期焊接烟尘暴露，也会增加金属的内部暴露。它还证实了在多个基质中测量以评估内部金属暴露的重要性。在标准课程期间对学徒进行跟踪将能够评估由于其他焊接过程而导致的更长期的内部暴露。
