[A case of interstitial pneumonitis caused by inhalation of cadmium fumes].

A 48-year-old man who had been a welder for 25 years was admitted to our hospital on February 18, 1990 for investigation of a diffuse bilateral lung shadow that had a ground-glass appearance. On the day of admission, he had been welding copper water supply pipe and used silver brazing with an oxyacetylene torch. After almost 7 hours of work, he had a chill, high fever, and dyspnea. Blood gas analysis revealed severe hypoxemia (PaO2 34.5 Torr, PaCO2 29.4 Torr). The level of copper in serum was slightly higher than normal (174 micrograms/dl). A transbronchial lung biopsy specimen showed lymphocyte infiltration and fibrous changes of the alveolar walls, which seemed to be granulomatous pneumonitis. Steroid therapy was effective against the symptoms, and the radiographic findings also improved. We think this is a rare case of interstitial pneumonitis caused by inhalation of cadmium fumes contained in silver brazing.