Short-term respiratory and systemic inflammatory responses to welding exposure

Abstract

Background: Long-term welding fume exposure has been associated with asthma, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and ischemic heart disease Aim: The aim of this study was to examine short-term respiratory and inflammatory responses to welding fume exposure. Methods: Sixteen men underwent mild steel (MS) and stainless steel (SS) welding challenge tests, due to suspicion of occupational asthma (OA). Peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one minute (FEV 1 ) and exhaled nitric oxide (NO) were measured before and after the challenge test. Hemoglobin, leucocytes and their differential count, platelet count, CRP, lipids, glucose and fibrinogen were analyzed. In addition we measured interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, endothelin-1, and E-selectin in plasma samples. Results: PEF-values decreased from the mean of 566 l/min to 543 l/min after MS exposure and to 529 l/min after SS exposure. Similarly, FEV1 decreased from the mean of 3.74 l to 3.65 l after MS exposure and to 3.59 l after SS exposure. Five of the patients were diagnosed with OA, and their maximum fall in FEV 1 values was 0.70 l after SS exposure. The number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and platelets increased significantly, and the hemoglobin level and number of erythrocytes decreased significantly after both the tests. Conclusions: We found a trend with decreasing PEF and FEV1 values with MS and SS exposures suggestive of a dose response in lung parameters and short-term welding fume exposure. In addition, MS and SS welding fume resulted in a mild systemic inflammatory response.