Abstract
The objectives of this study were to examine the lung injury and inflammation caused by manual metal arc stainless steel (MMA-SS) welding fume inhalation and to evaluate the recovery process. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to MMA-SS welding fumes for 2 h per day in a whole-body exposure chamber, with a total suspended particulate (TSP) concentration of 51.4 ± 2.8 mg/m3 (low dose) or 84.6 ± 2.9 mg/m3 (high dose) for 30 days. The animals were sacrificed after 30 days of exposure as well as after a 30-day recovery period. To assess the inflammatory or injury responses, cellular and biochemical parameters as well as cytokines were assayed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). MMA-SS welding fume exposure led to a significant elevation in the number of alveolar macrophages (AM) and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN). Additionary, the values of β-nacetyl glucosaminidase (β-NAG) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the BALF were increased in the exposed group when compared to controls. After 30 days of recovery from exposure, a significant reduction in inflammatory parameters of BALF was observed between the exposed and recovered groups. Slight, but significant elevations were noted in the number of AM and PMN in the recovered groups, and AM that had been ingested fume particles still remain in the lungs. In conclusion, these results indicated that welding fumes induced inflammatory responses and cytotoxicity in the lungs of exposed rats. Fume particles were not fully cleared from lungs even after a 30-day recovery period.
Highlights
More than 5 million workers worldwide, employed as full-time welders, are exposed to welding aerosols repeatedly on a daily basis (Antonini et a/., 2007)
To evaluate the pulmonary responses caused by the welding fume inhalation and the recovery process, a variety of cellular and biochemical parameters, such as albumin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), P-NAG, TNF-a and IL-1 P, were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and histopathological examinations were performed
The rats were allowed to recover for 30 days to assess the lung repair process
Summary
More than 5 million workers worldwide, employed as full-time welders, are exposed to welding aerosols repeatedly on a daily basis (Antonini et a/., 2007). Delicate fibrosis was observed following welding fume exposure at high concentrations from 15 days. To evaluate the pulmonary responses caused by the welding fume inhalation and the recovery process, a variety of cellular and biochemical parameters, such as albumin, LDH, P-NAG, TNF-a and IL-1 P, were measured in BALF and histopathological examinations were performed.
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