Abstract
Occupational exposure to welding fumes causes a higher incidence of cardiovascular disease; however, the association remains unclear. To clarify the possible association, exposure assessment of metal fumes with an aerodynamic diameter of <2.5 μm (PM2.5) in welding and office areas was characterized in a shipyard in Taiwan. Cardiovascular toxicity caused by PM2.5 was determined in workers (in both the welding and office areas). Significant amounts of bimodal metal fume particles with count median diameters (CMDs) of 14.1~15.1 and 126.3~135.8 nm were produced in the shipyard. Metal fume PM2.5 resulted in decreased cell viability and increased levels of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), interleukin (IL)-6, and nitric oxide (NO) in human coronary artery epithelial cells (HCAECs). We recruited 118 welding workers and 45 office workers for a personal PM2.5 exposure assessment and determination of urinary levels of 8-OHdG, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), and various metals. We observed that a 10-μg/m3 increase in the mean PM2.5 concentration was associated with a 2.15% increase in 8-OHdG and an 8.43% increase in 8-iso-PGF2α in welding workers. Both 8-OHdG and 8-iso-PGF2α were associated with Fe and Zn in the urine. In conclusion, metal fume PM2.5 could increase the risk of cardiovascular toxicity after inhalation.
Highlights
(PM2.5) in the welding area between 08:00 and 20:00 on 12~23 August 2013
Metal fume PM2.5 was collected from a welding area and an office area in the shipyard for a toxicological evaluation of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs)
scanning mobility particle sizer with nano-DMA (SMPS) results further showed that 221,608 particles/cm[3] was measured in the range of 5~160 nm with a bimodal distribution, and PM0.1 was coagulated when emitted into the atmosphere with a count median diameter (CMD) of 14.1~15.1 nm
Summary
(PM2.5) in the welding area between 08:00 and 20:00 on 12~23 August 2013. APS, aerodynamic particle sizer spectrometer; SMPS, scanning mobility particle sizer; MOUDI, micro-orifice uniform deposit impactors. Evidence accumulating from epidemiological studies indicates an association between the inhalation of welding fumes and increased incidences of cardiovascular events such as cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and atherosclerosis[7,8]. Umukoro and colleagues observed that long-term metal particulate exposure is able to decrease cardiac accelerations and decelerations in welding workers[10]. Our previous study showed that the inhalation of occupationally relevant zinc oxide metal fume particles with an aerodynamic diameter of
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