Inflammatory response to acute exposure to welding fumes during the working day

• Main Authors: Merja Järvelä, Paula Kauppi, Timo Tuomi, Ritva Luukkonen, Harri Lindholm, Riina Nieminen, Eeva Moilanen, Timo Hannu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine 2013-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Subjects: Cytokines; E-selectin; Exhaled Nitric Oxide (NO); heart rate variability (HRV); interleukin-1β; welding
• Online Access: http://ijomeh.eu/Inflammatory-response-to-acute-exposure-to-welding-fumes-during-the-working-day,2199,0,2.html

Objectives: To investigate cardiorespiratory and inflammatory responses in male workers following exposure to welding fumes and airborne particles in actual workplace conditions. Materials and Methods: We measured blood leukocytes and their differential counts, platelet count, hemoglobin, sensitive C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, E-selectin, IL-(interleukin)1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and endothelin-1 in blood samples of twenty workers before and after their working day. We also studied peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and exhaled nitric oxide (NO). We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) by obtaining 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms. Results: The total blood leukocytes and neutrophils increased after the work shift, whereas IL-1β and E-selectin decreased significantly. There were no tatistically significant changes in exhaled NO, FEV1, PEF or HRV. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to welding fumes and particles caused a slight, acute inflammatory effect estimated based on the increased values of leukocytes and neutrophils in blood and a decrease in the interleukin 1β and E-selectin values, but no changes in the pulmonary function (exhaled NO, FEV1, PEF) or HRV during the working day were observed.