Abstract
PurposeAir monitoring has been the accepted exposure assessment of toxic metals from, e.g., welding, but a method characterizing the actual dose delivered to the lungs would be preferable. Sampling of particles in exhaled breath can be used for the biomonitoring of both endogenous biomarkers and markers of exposure. We have explored a new method for the sampling of metals in exhaled breath from the small airways in a study on welders.MethodsOur method for particle sampling, Particles in Exhaled Air (PExA®), is based on particle counting and inertial impaction. We applied it on 19 stainless steel welders before and after a workday. In parallel, air monitoring of chromium, manganese and nickel was performed as well as blood sampling after work.ResultsDespite substantial exposure to welding fumes, we were unable to show any significant change in the metal content of exhaled particles after, compared with before, exposure. However, the significance might be obscured by a substantial analytical background noise, due to metal background in the sampling media and possible contamination during sampling, as an increase in the median metal contents were indicated.ConclusionsIf efforts to reduce background and contamination are successful, the PExA® method could be an important tool in the investigations of metals in exhaled breath, as the method collects particles from the small airways in contrast to other methods. In this paper, we discuss the discrepancy between our findings and results from studies, using the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) methodology.
Highlights
Worldwide, it is estimated that 11 million workers have the job title of welder, and around 110 million more have job tasks with potential welding-related exposure (Antonini 2003)
We observed no significant increase in metal content in PEx over the working shift — despite the fact that air measurement as well as blood sampling, showed that the workers had substantial metal exposure
Determination of particles in exhaled breath is a potential matrix for the assessment of exposure to metals toxic to the lung, but several issues must be solved before it can be used for dose–response assessments or as a standard exposure indicator
Summary
It is estimated that 11 million workers have the job title of welder, and around 110 million more have job tasks with potential welding-related exposure (Antonini 2003). Welders are exposed to toxic gases and aerosols, which can cause bronchiolitis, bronchitis, airway irritation, The characteristics of welding fumes are complex and depend on several factors such as base materials and surface coating, the welding process, the filler material, fluxes, shield gas composition, spray type and voltage/current applied (see (Antonini 2003) for a review). The metals from the base material and filler evaporate because of the high temperature and condense to particles. Splatter particles are ejected during the welding process (Zimmer and Biswas 2001). The chemical characteristics of welding particles regarding composition, oxidation states of the metals and solubility are complex (Zimmer et al 2002; Taube 2013; Berlinger et al 2011, 2019)
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