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

• Published in: International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health 2013-04, Vol.26 (2), p.220-229
• Main Authors: Järvelä, Merja, Kauppi, Paula, Tuomi, Timo, Luukkonen, Ritva, Lindholm, Harri, Nieminen, Riina, Moilanen, Eeva, Hannu, Timo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational - toxicity; Breath Tests; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Cytokines; E-selectin; E-Selectin - blood; Endothelin-1 - blood; Environmental Health; Exhaled Nitric Oxide (NO); Fibrinogen - metabolism; Forced Expiratory Volume; Gases - toxicity; Heart Rate; Heart Rate Variability (HRV); Hemoglobins - metabolism; Humans; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - chemically induced; Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects; Interleukin-1β; Interleukins - blood; Leukocyte Count; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide - analysis; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Papers; Particulate Matter - toxicity; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; Platelet Count; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Welding
• ISSN: 1232-1087; 1896-494X; 1896-494X
• DOI: 10.2478/s13382-013-0097-z

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 (FEV 1 ), 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 statistically significant changes in exhaled NO, FEV 1 , 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, FEV 1 , PEF) or HRV during the working day were observed.