Research

A prospective study of decline in lung function in relation to welding emissions

Sigve W Christensen¹ , Jens Peter Bonde² and Øyvind Omland^1,3

¹  Department of Occupational Medicine, Aalborg Hospital, Århus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

²  Department of Occupational Medicine, Århus Hospital, Århus University Hospital, Århus, Denmark

³  Institute of Public Health, Dept. of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Århus, Århus, Denmark

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2008, 3:6doi:10.1186/1745-6673-3-6

Published:	26 February 2008

Abstract

Background

Numerous cross-sectional studies have reported reduced lung function among welders but limitations of exposure assessment and design preclude causal inference. The aim of this study was to investigate if long-term exposure to welding fume particulates accelerates the age-related decline in lung function.

Methods

Lung function was measured by spirometry in 1987 and 2004 among 68 steel welders and 32 non-welding production workers. The decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV₁) was analysed in relation to cumulated exposure to fume particulates among welders during the follow-up period.

Results

Among smokers the decline in FEV₁ through follow-up period was in average 150 ml larger among welders than non-welders while the difference was negligible among non-smokers. The results did not reach statistical significance and within welders the decline in lung function was not related to the cumulated welding particulate exposure during follow-up period

Conclusion

Long-term exposure to welding emissions may accelerate the age-related decline of lung function but at exposure levels in the range of 1.5 to 6.5 mg/m³ the average annual excess loss of FEV₁ is unlikely to exceed 25 ml in smokers and 10 ml in non-smokers.