Chromosome damage in lymphocytes of stainless steel welders related to past and current exposure to manual metal arc welding fumes

Abstract

Cytogenetic damage was studied in lymphocytes from 42 welders using the manual metal arc (MMA) method on stainless steel (SS). A detailed characterization of previous exposure by job interviews, and for current exposure with personal air sampling and biological monitoring of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) in blood and urine, was done for 32 of these welders. A subgroup of 20 welders was studied before and after 1–4 months of MMA/SS welding. A matched reference group I, and a larger reference group II were established for comparison. A significant increase in chromatid breaks (1.4 vs. 0.9 and 0.8 for group I and II) and for cells with aberrations (2.2 vs. 1.6 in group II) was found in the welders. An even larger difference was found when comparing non-smoking welders with their non-smoking referents. No synergistic effect between smoking and MMA/SS welding fumes was observed for any type of aberrations. Current welding fume exposure during the week before sampling was not associated with increases in any type of cytogenetic damage. The results indicated that the increase in chromatid breaks was associated with cumulated welding fume exposure for more than a year, and with not using respirators. Exposure to MMA/SS welding fumes for up to 4 months gave a slight, but significant increase in chromatid breaks when using the welders as their own referents. However, when using matched referents in the study after exposure, no difference was found between those welders and their matched referents. No differences between the groups were observed in the DNA synthesis and repair-inhibited cultures or for SCE.