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

• Main Authors: Tahir Taj (Author), Anda R Gliga (Author), Maria Hedmer (Author), Karin Wahlberg (Author), Eva Assarsson (Author), Thomas Lundh (Author), Håkan Tinnerberg (Author), Maria Albin (Author), Karin Broberg (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health (NOROSH), 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 0355-3140; 1795-990X; 10.5271/sjweh.3908
• Keywords: cvd; metal; cardiovascular; endothelial function; homocysteine; ldl; cardiovascular disease; longitudinal study; blood pressure; welding; welding fume; biomarker; particle; occupational medicine; c-reactive protein; fume; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, Vol 47, Iss 1, Pp 52-61 (2021)

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.