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Distribution of estimated cumulative exposure to welding fume particulates by type of steel and main welding technology among ever-welding Danish metal workers. |
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| N Welders |
Years welding, mean (STD) |
Geometric mean particulate exposure, mg/m3 |
Geometric mean (min-max), mg/m3 * years, 1950–20041 |
Geometric mean (min-max), mg/m3 * years, 1987–20041 |
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|
|
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| Mild steel |
manual metal arc (MMA) |
37 |
7.5 (6.1) |
4.1 |
31 (8–103) |
17 (7–61) |
| metal active gas (MAG) |
39 |
12.4 (9.7) |
3.2 |
40 (7–134) |
26 (9–50) |
|
| Stainless steel |
manual metal arc (MMA) |
1 |
5.0 |
3.0 |
15 (15–15) |
0 |
| tungsten inert gas (TIG) |
28 |
15.1 (10.9) |
1.4 |
22 (3–63) |
14 (3–26) |
|
| Alloyed steel |
manual metal arc (MMA) |
20 |
16 (12.4) |
6.5 |
105 (8–478) |
42 (7–166) |
| tungsten inert gas (TIG) |
13 |
11.6 (7.6) |
1,5 |
17 (2–34) |
12 (2–23) |
|
| Aluminum |
tungsten inert gas (TIG) |
7 |
4.8 (5.5) |
2.3 |
11 (3–22) |
11 (3–22) |
| All particulates |
76 |
. |
. |
88 (4–499) |
37 (3–166)2 |
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1) estimates based upon the assumption that exposures levels have not declined from 1989 onwards. 2) includes 68 men performing welding tasks during at least one appointment from 1987 through 2004. | ||||||
Christensen et al. Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology 2008 3:6 doi:10.1186/1745-6673-3-6 |
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