Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health (Jan 2021)

Effect of welding fumes on the cardiovascular system: a six-year longitudinal study

  • Tahir Taj,
  • Anda R Gliga,
  • Maria Hedmer,
  • Karin Wahlberg,
  • Eva Assarsson,
  • Thomas Lundh,
  • Håkan Tinnerberg,
  • Maria Albin,
  • Karin Broberg

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3908
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 47, no. 1
pp. 52 – 61

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes is associated with adverse effects on the cardiovascular system. METHODS: To test this, we performed a longitudinal analysis of 78 mild steel welders and 96 controls; these subjects were examined twice, six years apart (ie, timepoints 1 and 2). All subjects (male and non-smoking at recruitment) completed questionnaires describing their health, work history, and lifestyle. We measured their blood pressure, endothelial function (by EndoPAT), and risk markers for cardiovascular disease [low-density lioprotein (LDL), homocysteine, C-reactive protein]. Exposure to welding fumes was assessed from the responses to questionnaires and measurements of respirable dust in their breathing zones adjusted for use of respiratory protection equipment. Linear mixed-effect regression models were used for the longitudinal analysis. RESULTS: Median respirable dust concentrations, adjusted for respirable protection, of the welders were 0.7 (5–95 percentile range 0.2–4.2) and 0.5 (0.1–1.9) mg/m^3 at timepoints 1 and 2, respectively. Over the six-year period, welders showed a statistically significant increase in systolic [5.11 mm Hg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92–8.31] and diastolic (3.12 mm Hg, 95% CI 0.74–5.5) blood pressure compared with controls (multi-variable adjusted mixed effect models). Diastolic blood pressure increased non-significantly by 0.22 mm Hg (95% CI -0.02–0.45) with every additional year of welding work. No consistent significant associations were found between exposure and endothelial function, LDL, homocysteine, or C-reactive protein. CONCLUSION: Exposure to welding fumes at low-to-moderate levels is associated with increased blood pressure, suggesting that reducing the occupational exposure limit (2.5 mg/m^3 for inorganic respirable dust in Sweden) is needed to protect cardiovascular health of workers.

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