Cui Wei, Ma Zizhen, Chen Yuanzheng, Li Shuya, Wu Di, Chen Xiu, Shao Yuankai, Liu Yuzhe, Li Qing, Chen Jianmin
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266520, China.
Environ Health (Wash). 2024 Mar 19;2(6):381-389. doi: 10.1021/envhealth.4c00021. eCollection 2024 Jun 21.
Magnetic particulate matter (PM) has raised increasing concern due to its abundant presence in ambient air and negative health impact. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive understanding of their emission sources and toxicities. We here report the observation of high magnetic property and toxicity of PM generated during typical welding and cutting processes. Magnetite, formed during high-temperature operation with less oxygen pressure, was revealed to be the major magnetic contributor. The averaged saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility values of fine PM (PM) from welding processes are 1.4-4.2 times greater than those of PM emitted from other unintended emission sources, including iron and steel plants and brake wear, while they are 2.0-5.7 times greater for the cutting processes. Furthermore, PM from welding and cutting processes are nearly 3.5-4.5 times more neurovirulent and 2.1-7.0 times more likely to induce oxidative stress than those from other magnetic sources in the nerve cells lines. Moreover, all of these magnetic PM exhibit greater negative health effects than typical atmospheric PM collected in Shanghai urban regions. These new findings suggest that appropriate occupational protection measures should be implemented for the welding and cutting process to reduce adverse health impacts.
磁性颗粒物（PM）因其在环境空气中的大量存在及其对健康的负面影响而日益受到关注。然而，目前对其排放源和毒性仍缺乏全面的了解。我们在此报告了对典型焊接和切割过程中产生的PM的高磁性和毒性的观察结果。研究发现，在氧气压力较低的高温操作过程中形成的磁铁矿是主要的磁性成分。焊接过程中产生的细颗粒物（PM）的平均饱和磁化强度和磁化率值比其他非故意排放源（包括钢铁厂和刹车磨损）排放的PM高1.4至4.2倍，而切割过程中产生的PM则高2.0至5.7倍。此外，与神经细胞系中其他磁性来源的PM相比，焊接和切割过程产生的PM的神经毒性几乎高3.5至4.5倍，诱导氧化应激的可能性高2.1至7.0倍。此外，所有这些磁性PM对健康的负面影响都比在上海市区收集的典型大气PM更大。这些新发现表明，应对焊接和切割过程采取适当的职业保护措施，以减少对健康的不利影响。
