[Incidence of pneumoconiosis in welders in semiautomatic systems in the light of environmental studies].

Several years' measurements of the concentration of dusts and welding fumes, in one of metallurgic plants revealed the mean dust concentration of 3.6 mg/m2 at automatic welding workplace. At semiautomatic welding in CO2 screening the expected concentrations was 10 mg/m3, single measurements concentrations ranging from 0.6 mg/m3 to 140 mg/m3. A similar mean value was obtained from 6 Provincial Sanitary--Epidemiologic Stations. Analysis of data collected at 9 Provincial Sanitary--Epidemiologic Stations indicated that pneumoconiosis prevalence among welders operating semiautomatic equipment in CO2 screening was not higher than the prevalence among welders using screened electrodes. For dusts and welding fumes, the maximum allowable concentration value has been recommended.