Short-term exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes: Effects on pulmonary function in humans |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Poursina Hakim Digestive Diseases Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran;2. Immunology Department, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran;3. University of Debrecen, Medical School Hungary, Egyetem tér 1, Debrecen;4. Medical Toxicology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;5. Targeted Drug Delivery Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;6. Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi 110062, India;7. Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai 602105, India;8. University Institute of Pharma Sciences, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India;9. Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;10. Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;11. School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia;12. Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran;1. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NanFang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;2. The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China;3. Assisted Reproductive Technology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong;1. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, 43201 Reus, Spain;2. Center of Environmental, Food and Toxicological Technology - TecnATox, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Spain;3. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, IISPV, 43204 Reus, Spain;4. Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Unitat de Recerca Biomèdica, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, IISPV, 43201 Reus, Spain;1. Institute of Nutritional Science, University of Potsdam, Arthur-Scheunert-Allee 114-116, Nuthetal 14558, Germany;2. Department of Molecular Nutritional Physiology, Institute of Nutritional Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 24, Jena 07743, Germany;3. TraceAge, DFG Research Unit on Interactions of Essential Trace Elements in Healthy and Diseased Elderly (FOR 2558), Potsdam, Jena, Berlin, Germany;4. German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Max-Dohrn-Strasse 8-10, Berlin 10589, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes typically induce a systemic inflammation indicated by increase in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, also known as welding fume fever. It typically includes symptoms like fever, myalgia or headaches, but only a quarter of patients experience respiratory symptoms, e.g. coughing. This retrospective analysis of data of three studies with either control (filtered air) or zinc- and copper-containing welding fume exposure aims to identify and characterize the effect of the welding fumes on lung function. Spirometry and body plethysmography data of male healthy volunteers were analyzed and comparisons between different timepoints after a 6 h exposure were conducted. For controls no significant changes in spirometry were observed between baseline and 6 h, 24 h and 1 week after exposure. For volunteers exposed to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes no significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and minimal reductions in vital capacity (VC) (52 ml, 0.9%) were detected after 6 h. After 24 h significant reductions in FEV1 (147 ml, 3.2%) and VC (162 ml, 2.9%) could be observed. 1 week after exposure FEV1 was still significantly reduced (102 ml, 2.1%) and airway resistance were increased while no differences in VC were detected. The reduction of FEV1% after 24 week significantly correlated with increases in CRP levels. In conclusion, a single exposure to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes leads not only to a systemic inflammation but could also induce slight sustained airway constrictions after 24 h and 1 week. The observed slight airway constriction is not caused by immediate effects but possibly inflammatory processes. Although welding fume fever does not necessarily present respiratory symptoms, welders exposed to zinc- and copper-containing welding fumes should be monitored for respiratory symptoms and obstructive ventilation pattern. |
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| Keywords: | Welding fumes Zinc Copper Spirometry Pulmonary function test |
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