Journal of Health and Safety at Work

Introduction: The present study was carried out to compare contrast sensitivity among three groups of professional welders including (1) those who use gas metal Arc welding (GMAW) (2) those who use shield metal Arc welding (SMAW) and the group that uses resistance welding.
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Material and Method: In this research, all the welders who use GMAW, SMAW and resistance welding working in an industry who were all male, performed contrast sensitivity test, using Freiburg. The contrast sensitivity test was done at three spatial frequency of 1cpd, 5cpd and 15 cpd under a constant condition. The three selected groups were similar regarding age and work experience. The result of the three groups at each spatial frequency were recorded and compared with other groups.
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Results: ANOVA test showed that decrease contrast sensitivity in spatial frequency of GMAW group at the spatial frequency 15cpd, significantly decrease comparing to SMAW group (p=0.028) and resistance welding group (p=0.041). The mean (SD) of contrast sensitivity at frequency of 1cpd, 5cpd and 15cpd was respectively 140.69±51.8, 172.7±43.75 and 39.8±25.92 for the GMAW group and 157.8±42.2, 183.21±32.01 and 60.57±54.30 for the SMAW group and 149.10±50.68, 180.60±35.42 and 57.38±39.22 for resistance welding.
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Conclusion: Although all welders use goggle or other personal protective equipment, loss of contrast sensitivity of GMAW workers can be attributed to the cumulative effects of the radiation.

Introduction: Nowadays, exposure to extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field has been interested in many studies due to possible effects on human physical-mental health. Therefore, this study aimed to assess arc welders’ exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic field and to determine its relationship with the secretion of paratormone (PTH) hormone and mood states.

Material and Method: The present study has been conducted among 35 healthy production workers (as exposed group) and 35 healthy administrative personnel (as unexposed group). After checking the work activities of participants according to the guide recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), ELF magnetic fields were measured using an ELF measurement device in the regions including trunk, head, and neck. The plasma levels of PTH hormone of both groups were evaluated by the Electrochemiluminescence method. Stress-Arousal Checklist (SACL) was used to assess the mode states of subjects in both groups. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16.

Result: There was a significant difference between the exposed and unexposed groups with respect to the exposure level to ELF magnetic fields (P-value<0.0001). Mean PTH hormone level in exposed group (34.54 pg/ml) was lower than unexposed ones (37 pg/ml), however these mean values weren’t significantly different (P-value=0.67). Score of “stress” subscale related to the “pleasure” and score of “arousal” subscale  related to the “activities and alertness” in the unexposed group were significantly higher than those in exposed group (p<0.0001). Regarding the relationship between exposure level to ELF electromagnetic field and scores of  stress, arousal, and PTH hormone level in the two groups, it should be stated that only a significant and positive association was found between the average exposure to ELF magnetic fields and PTH levels in the exposed group (P-value<0.009, r=0.44).

Conclusion: The results of this study showed that continuous welding can be considered as an exposure source to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. More accurate and comprehensive laboratory and field studies are needed to prove the hypothesis of the potential impact of extremely low frequency magnetic fields on people’s psychological states and mood through changes of parathyroid hormone level.

Introduction: Nowadays, Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) is the most widely used arc welding. During the welding operation, typically, various harmful agents such as fumes, gases, heat, sound and ultraviolet radiation are produced of which fume is the most important component from the viewpoint of occupational health. The present study aims to compare the number and the mass concentration emitted in SMAW to determine the most appropriate index of exposure to fumes in the welding processes.

Material and Method: In this study, the portable laser aerosol spectrometer and dust monitor of GRIMM, model 1.106, was used to measure the number and mass concentration of fumes emitted from SMAW on 304 stainless steel with a thickness of 0.4 mm. Air sampling was performed at a distance of 41 cm representing the welder’s breathing zone. The measurements of number concentration (NC) and mass concentration (MC) were taken under the condition of 25 volt voltage and direct current of the electrode polarity.

Result: The total NC and MC of welding fumes in welder’s breathing zone was 1140451 particles per liter and 1631.11 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. The highest number concentration was found to correspond to the particles with 0.35 to 0.5 micrometer-sized distribution (NC1; 938976 particles per liter) and the lowest was related to the particles with 5 to 6.5 micrometer-sized distribution (NC7; 288 particles per liter) and the particles larger than 6.5 micrometer (NC8; 463 particles per liter). Moreover, the highest mass concentration was related to the particles with 0.35 to 0.5 micrometer-sized distribution (MC1; 450 micrograms per cubic meter) and the particles larger than 6.5 micrometer (MC8; 355 micrograms per cubic meter).

Conclusion: The findings indicated that there is no agreement between number and mass concentration as two particles assessment index, and as the particles’ size become smaller, the mismatch of them is becoming more apparent. Since the smaller particles penetrate into the lower respiratory tract and have higher potential for adverse health effects, it is necessary to measure and assess particles in various size distributions and especially the smaller fraction of particles. Therefore, it is thought that considering the mass concentration alone and not paying attention to number concentration in the assessment of exposure to particles in the industrial workplaces and specifically in welding stations will not be reflected valid assessment of adverse health effects of welding fumes as a systemic poison on body organs.