Bonde J P, Vittinghus E
Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark.
Hum Exp Toxicol. 1996 Jan;15(1):1-4. doi: 10.1177/096032719601500101.
Joining of metals by welding confer an exposure of dust particulates containing several toxic substances. Chromium, nickel and manganese is absorbed in the lungs and may adversely affect the renal function. We compared biological markers of glomerular filtration (Kampmann clearance) and tubular function (post-shift urine spot sample concentration of respectively albumin, immunoglobulin G, transferrin, orosomucoid and beta 2-microglobulin) among 102 ever-welders and 33 never-welders (mostly electricians). The welders were subdivided into groups of stainless steel welders (n = 35), mild steel welders (n = 46) and ex-welders (n = 21). Each group was separately referenced with never-welders. The Kampmann clearance was within normal limits in all workers and not related to welding exposure. However, the urinary concentration of the majority of proteins was 1.5 to 3.0 times higher in both stainless steel and mild steel welders. The number of welding years taken as a measure of cumulative welding exposure was not related to levels of proteins in urine when adjusting for the effect of age. In addition, no alteration of urinary proteins was found among the ex-welders apart from slightly elevated albumin. This indicates that the apparent effect of welding on renal tubular function may at least partially be reversible. In conclusion, this study is in support of the hypothesis that metal welding may adversely affect renal tubular function, but it is questionable whether welding exposure has bearings as to occurrence of clinical significant kidney disease.
通过焊接连接金属会产生含有多种有毒物质的粉尘颗粒暴露。铬、镍和锰会被肺部吸收，并可能对肾功能产生不利影响。我们比较了102名曾经从事焊接工作的工人和33名从未从事焊接工作的工人（大多是电工）的肾小球滤过生物标志物（坎普曼清除率）和肾小管功能标志物（轮班后尿点样中白蛋白、免疫球蛋白G、转铁蛋白、类粘蛋白和β2-微球蛋白的浓度）。将焊接工人细分为不锈钢焊接工组（n = 35）、低碳钢焊接工组（n = 46）和曾经从事焊接工作的工人组（n = 21）。每个组分别与从未从事焊接工作的工人进行对照。所有工人的坎普曼清除率均在正常范围内，且与焊接暴露无关。然而，不锈钢和低碳钢焊接工的大多数蛋白质尿浓度都高出1.5至3.0倍。在调整年龄影响后，以焊接年限作为累积焊接暴露量的指标与尿中蛋白质水平无关。此外，除了白蛋白略有升高外，在曾经从事焊接工作的工人中未发现尿蛋白有变化。这表明焊接对肾小管功能的明显影响可能至少部分是可逆的。总之，本研究支持金属焊接可能对肾小管功能产生不利影响的假设，但焊接暴露是否与临床显著肾病的发生有关仍值得怀疑。
