Journal of Occupational
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Rafsanjan university Of medical sciences
Volume 6, Issue 3 (Summer 2017)
J Occup Health Epidemiol 2017, 6(3): 144-149 |
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Karimi Zeverdegani S, Mehrifar Y, Faraji M, Rismanchian M. Occupational exposure to welding gases during three welding processes and risk assessment by SQRCA method. J Occup Health Epidemiol 2017; 6 (3) :144-149
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1- Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
2- Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Student Research Committe, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3- Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , rismanchian@hlth.mui.ac.ir
2- Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Student Research Committe, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
3- Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran , rismanchian@hlth.mui.ac.ir
Article history
Received: 2017/08/21
Accepted: 2017/09/16
ePublished: 2017/11/21
Accepted: 2017/09/16
ePublished: 2017/11/21
Subject:
Occupational Health
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| Abstract (HTML) (7198 Views)
Karimi Zeverdegani S, PhD1, Mehrifar Y, MSc Student2, Faraji M, MSc Student3, Rismanchian M, PhD4*
1- Assistant Prof, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2- MSc Student, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Student Research Committe, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 3- MSc Student, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 4- Assistant Prof , Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract Received: August 2017, Accepted: September 2017
Table 1: Time-average concentrations of gases during the welding operation
Table 2: The results of risk assessment for welding gases
Full-Text: (1958 Views)
Occupational exposure to welding gases during three welding processes and risk assessment by SQRCA method
Karimi Zeverdegani S, PhD1, Mehrifar Y, MSc Student2, Faraji M, MSc Student3, Rismanchian M, PhD4*
1- Assistant Prof, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 2- MSc Student, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Student Research Committe, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 3- MSc Student, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran. 4- Assistant Prof , Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract Received: August 2017, Accepted: September 2017
| Background: Hazardous chemical agents in the welding operation are a mixture of metal fumes and toxic gases, the inhalation of which causes adverse health effects among welders. The emission of gases in the workplace is a logical cause for concern regarding the potential development of respiratory disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration values of gases discharged during arc welding and perform risk assessment through semi-quantitative chemical risk assessment (SQCRA) method. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in an Iranian steel mill on the 3 processes of plasma arc welding (PAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Direct reading instruments were used for sampling of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen monoxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3). SQCRA method was used for risk assessment of gases. Results: The concentrations of O3 (0.356 ppm), CO (41.642 ppm), NO (6.357 ppm), and NO2 (4.871 ppm) were found to exceed their threshold limit values (TLVs), while the concentrations of CO2 (3879.285 ppm) were below its TLV. The maximum exposure concentration of all gases, except CO2, was observed in SAW. SQCRA method showed that among the gases, the highest and least risk rating was related to ozone and nitrogen monoxide, respectively. The risk rating for CO2, CO, and NO2 was low, high, and very high, respectively. Conclusions: In this study, exposure values were higher than the threshold limit values-time weighted average (TLV-TWA) and the results of risk assessment showed that control engineering should be applied and the use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE) should be made mandatory for welders especially in SAW, PAW, and GTAW processes. |
Keywords: Welding, Exposure, Gases, Steel
Introduction
Welding is an important occupational activity worldwide and includes workers in many industries, especially in the manufacturing, steel, and energy industries. Welding is a common process used to join metals by heating them to welding temperature (1). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that in excess of 330000 US workers do welding as part of their jobs. About two-thirds of those workers were in manufacturing industries (2). In this sector, there are about 730000 full time welding jobs and 5.5 million welding related jobs in Europe (3). In 2008, About 2.34 million people were killed in work-related accidents, 2.02 cases of which were due to work-related diseases (4). Welding produces multiple hazards during operation, including fumes, gases, and physical agents such as extreme heat and ultraviolet radiation. A review by Antonini et al. detailed a number of occupation related adverse health effects in welders, such as lung disease and possible neurological disease (5). Chemicals have different toxicity, and risk assessment of chemicals determines the risk levels that they present to users (6).
Several studies, generally performed in large companies and focusing on atmospheric exposure of welders to particulate matter and metals, have characterized the main determinants of external exposure to be the welding process, ventilation, working in confined spaces, and the composition of consumables (7, 8). In contrast, very few risk assessment studies have been performed on gases and conditions of exposure in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are seldom available (9). Several gases including ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) are generated during arc welding operations (10). Ozone (O3) is produced in a photochemical reaction induced by ultraviolet light with atmospheric oxygen gas during the welding process. Ozone is produced within 30 seconds during welding. However, the length of time that O3 remains in the air after welding is completed (post-welding) is unknown (11). Findings have shown that O3 alters pulmonary morphology, physiology, and biochemistry, and it also is a proven cause of asthma in humans (12). O3 is a strong oxidant that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissues, and even causes DNA damage (13). Welding operations producing comparatively high concentrations of ozone (O3) can cause occlusive impairment of the welders’ bronchioles (14).
Carbon monoxide (Co) is a lethal poison and can overcome the exposed individual without warning because it is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and non-irritating. Overexposure to CO inhibits the body’s red blood cells from carrying sufficient oxygen to other body tissues, which results in asphyxiation. Symptoms of overexposure include pounding of the heart, a dull headache, flashes before the eyes, dizziness, ringing in the ears. High concentrations may become rapidly fatal without producing significant warning symptoms. The effects are also more severe in people who are working hard and in places where the temperature is high (4).
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is primarily a colorless, odorless gas. In the earth’s atmosphere, it acts as a “greenhouse gas” which plays a major role in global warming and anthropogenic climate change. Human activities are altering the carbon cycle and have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat trapping gases to the atmosphere. With a global radiative forcing of 1.74 W/m2, CO2 is the largest contributor among well-mixed long-lived greenhouse gases, accounting for more than 63% of the total (15). Exposure to high concentrations of oxidant gas, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen monoxide (NO), can induce pulmonary disorders such as acute inflammation and pulmonary edema (16, 17). Welding is an important process in the steel industries and has crucial impact on the economy of countries. Therefore, its welders are exposed to chemical agents.
In general, managing health and safety risks at workplaces involves identifying hazards, risk assessment, risk control, and reviewing control measures (18). The risk assessment process includes many phases including hazard identification, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Risk assessment is a useful tool to improve occupational health and safety policies and the decision-making process for control approaches (19). The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration values of gases discharged during different processes in arc welding and perform risk assessment through semi-quantitative chemical risk assessment (SQCRA) method for exposer to welding gases in an Iranian steel mill.
Material and Methods
This cross-sectional study was performed on the welders at a steel mill in 2017. Welders were selected through census method from welding stations (n = 21). The 3 welding stations selected were related to welding processes commonly used in the steel industry including plasma arc welding (PAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
The concentrations of ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitric oxide (NO), and nitric dioxide (NO2) were measured with direct reading instruments known as real time instruments including detector tubes (GASTEC Corporation, Japan) and piston pump (Gastec GV-100-S-TR, GASTEC Corporation, Japan). The SQCRA method, which was proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore (19), was used to determine chemical exposure risks. This method involves identifying harmful pollutants, hazard rate (HR), and exposure rate (ER), and determining the level of exposure risk. After the identification of the hazardous and common gases in the welding process, the hazard coefficients of and exposure to these gases were determined using the relevant tables and the results of measured values from the work environment were determined. From the square root of the multiplication of risk degree to exposure risk (the following formula), the numerical value of the risk was calculated.
Risk =
Finally, the exposure risk was determined by considering the five levels of negligible (N), low (L), moderate (M), high (H), and very high (VH). SPSS software (version 21, IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was considered as P < 0.05.
Results
In this study, the 3 welding processes of SAW, PAW, and GTAW were studied. Average exposure values were significantly lower than the threshold limit values-time weighted average (TLV-TWA) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for CO2 and NO. Average exposure values of gases, except CO2, were significantly higher than TWA-TLV in all welding processes (P < 0.05). Results showed that the measured values for NO2 (4.87 ± 1.07), O3 (0.36 ± 0.14), and CO (41.64 ± 6.69) were 25, 7, and 1.66 times that of TLV-TWA, respectively. The maximum exposure concentration of all gases, except CO2, was observed in SAW (Table 1).
Welding is an important occupational activity worldwide and includes workers in many industries, especially in the manufacturing, steel, and energy industries. Welding is a common process used to join metals by heating them to welding temperature (1). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that in excess of 330000 US workers do welding as part of their jobs. About two-thirds of those workers were in manufacturing industries (2). In this sector, there are about 730000 full time welding jobs and 5.5 million welding related jobs in Europe (3). In 2008, About 2.34 million people were killed in work-related accidents, 2.02 cases of which were due to work-related diseases (4). Welding produces multiple hazards during operation, including fumes, gases, and physical agents such as extreme heat and ultraviolet radiation. A review by Antonini et al. detailed a number of occupation related adverse health effects in welders, such as lung disease and possible neurological disease (5). Chemicals have different toxicity, and risk assessment of chemicals determines the risk levels that they present to users (6).
Several studies, generally performed in large companies and focusing on atmospheric exposure of welders to particulate matter and metals, have characterized the main determinants of external exposure to be the welding process, ventilation, working in confined spaces, and the composition of consumables (7, 8). In contrast, very few risk assessment studies have been performed on gases and conditions of exposure in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are seldom available (9). Several gases including ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) are generated during arc welding operations (10). Ozone (O3) is produced in a photochemical reaction induced by ultraviolet light with atmospheric oxygen gas during the welding process. Ozone is produced within 30 seconds during welding. However, the length of time that O3 remains in the air after welding is completed (post-welding) is unknown (11). Findings have shown that O3 alters pulmonary morphology, physiology, and biochemistry, and it also is a proven cause of asthma in humans (12). O3 is a strong oxidant that generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tissues, and even causes DNA damage (13). Welding operations producing comparatively high concentrations of ozone (O3) can cause occlusive impairment of the welders’ bronchioles (14).
Carbon monoxide (Co) is a lethal poison and can overcome the exposed individual without warning because it is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and non-irritating. Overexposure to CO inhibits the body’s red blood cells from carrying sufficient oxygen to other body tissues, which results in asphyxiation. Symptoms of overexposure include pounding of the heart, a dull headache, flashes before the eyes, dizziness, ringing in the ears. High concentrations may become rapidly fatal without producing significant warning symptoms. The effects are also more severe in people who are working hard and in places where the temperature is high (4).
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is primarily a colorless, odorless gas. In the earth’s atmosphere, it acts as a “greenhouse gas” which plays a major role in global warming and anthropogenic climate change. Human activities are altering the carbon cycle and have contributed substantially to climate change by adding CO2 and other heat trapping gases to the atmosphere. With a global radiative forcing of 1.74 W/m2, CO2 is the largest contributor among well-mixed long-lived greenhouse gases, accounting for more than 63% of the total (15). Exposure to high concentrations of oxidant gas, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen monoxide (NO), can induce pulmonary disorders such as acute inflammation and pulmonary edema (16, 17). Welding is an important process in the steel industries and has crucial impact on the economy of countries. Therefore, its welders are exposed to chemical agents.
In general, managing health and safety risks at workplaces involves identifying hazards, risk assessment, risk control, and reviewing control measures (18). The risk assessment process includes many phases including hazard identification, exposure assessment, and risk characterization. Risk assessment is a useful tool to improve occupational health and safety policies and the decision-making process for control approaches (19). The aim of the present study was to determine the concentration values of gases discharged during different processes in arc welding and perform risk assessment through semi-quantitative chemical risk assessment (SQCRA) method for exposer to welding gases in an Iranian steel mill.
Material and Methods
This cross-sectional study was performed on the welders at a steel mill in 2017. Welders were selected through census method from welding stations (n = 21). The 3 welding stations selected were related to welding processes commonly used in the steel industry including plasma arc welding (PAW), submerged arc welding (SAW), and gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW).
The concentrations of ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitric oxide (NO), and nitric dioxide (NO2) were measured with direct reading instruments known as real time instruments including detector tubes (GASTEC Corporation, Japan) and piston pump (Gastec GV-100-S-TR, GASTEC Corporation, Japan). The SQCRA method, which was proposed by the Occupational Safety and Health Division of the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore (19), was used to determine chemical exposure risks. This method involves identifying harmful pollutants, hazard rate (HR), and exposure rate (ER), and determining the level of exposure risk. After the identification of the hazardous and common gases in the welding process, the hazard coefficients of and exposure to these gases were determined using the relevant tables and the results of measured values from the work environment were determined. From the square root of the multiplication of risk degree to exposure risk (the following formula), the numerical value of the risk was calculated.
Risk =
Finally, the exposure risk was determined by considering the five levels of negligible (N), low (L), moderate (M), high (H), and very high (VH). SPSS software (version 21, IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for statistical analysis. The level of significance was considered as P < 0.05.
Results
In this study, the 3 welding processes of SAW, PAW, and GTAW were studied. Average exposure values were significantly lower than the threshold limit values-time weighted average (TLV-TWA) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) for CO2 and NO. Average exposure values of gases, except CO2, were significantly higher than TWA-TLV in all welding processes (P < 0.05). Results showed that the measured values for NO2 (4.87 ± 1.07), O3 (0.36 ± 0.14), and CO (41.64 ± 6.69) were 25, 7, and 1.66 times that of TLV-TWA, respectively. The maximum exposure concentration of all gases, except CO2, was observed in SAW (Table 1).
Table 1: Time-average concentrations of gases during the welding operation
| Welding process Gases |
Gas concentrations in welding processes (ppm) | |||
| GTAW | SAW | PAW | Total | |
| Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | Mean ± SD | |
| CO | 35.00 ± 9.14 | 44.00 ± 11.20 | 30.00 ± 12.80 | 41.64 ± 6.69 |
| CO2 | 4600.00 ± 1050.30 | 2456.36 ± 231.60 | 3500.00 ± 816.00 | 3879.28 ± 1245.49 |
| NO | 6.51 ± 1.70 | 10.00 ± 3.31 | 2.00 ± 0.80 | 6.36 ± 4.37 |
| NO2 | 5.00 ± 1.93 | 5.21 ± 1.50 | 3.50 ± 1.10 | 4.87 ± 1.07 |
| O3 | 0.40 ± 0.08 | 0.42 ± 0.12 | 0.16 ± 0.04 | 0.36 ± 0.14 |
GTAW: Gas tungsten arc welding; SAW: Submerged arc welding; PAW: Plasma arc welding
P < 0.05
P < 0.05
The results of SQCRA method (Table 2) showed that SAW, PAW, and GTAW had a very high (VH) rank in terms of risk of exposure to ozone and nitrogen dioxide. SAW and GTAW had a high (H) rank in terms of risk of exposure to monoxide nitrogen. Among the gases studied , maximum rank of risk related ozone (RR = 5).
Table 2: The results of risk assessment for welding gases
| Welding Processes Gases |
PAW | SAW | GTAW | |
| Co | HR | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| ER | 3 | 4 | 4 | |
| RR | 3.46 | 4 | 4 | |
| R | M | H | H | |
| CO2 | HR | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| ER | 3 | 3 | 3 | |
| RR | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | |
| R | L | L | L | |
| NO | HR | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| ER | 1 | 2 | 2 | |
| RR | 1 | 1.4 | 1.4 | |
| R | N | N | N | |
| NO2 | HR | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| ER | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| RR | 4.47 | 4.47 | 4.47 | |
| R | VH | VH | VH | |
| O3 | HR | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| ER | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| RR | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
| R | VH | VH | VH | |
GTAW: Gas tungsten arc welding; SAW: Submerged arc welding; PAW: Plasma arc welding; HR: Hazard rate; ER: Exposure rate; RR: Risk rate
N: Negligible, L: Low, M: Medium, H: High, VH: Very High
N: Negligible, L: Low, M: Medium, H: High, VH: Very High
Discussion
Welding gases can induce adverse health effects in welders. Exposure concentrations are important in the assessment of health risks due to exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. In the present study, the concentrations of gases varied in different welding processes and the lowest exposure was observed in PAW. This may be due to the possible role of welding durations, wind direction, and ambient temperature in welders’ exposure to welding gases.
In the current study, exposure to O3 was in the range of 0.16–0.41 ppm in the three of welding processes studied. This level was 3.2–8.2 times higher than the excursion limit of TLV-TWA (0.05 ppm). However, the studied welders’ exposure to welding gases in comparison with TLVs-TWA (ACGIH) was lower (19). Golbabaei et al., in 2015, demonstrated that the range of exposure to O3, NO2, CO, and CO2 was 0-0.0371, 0.01-0.58, 0.375-4.33, and 89.5-1395.44 ppm, respectively. Among the welders, the back weld group had the maximum exposure to O3, CO, and CO2, while the maximum exposure to NO2 was, respectively, seen in the filling group and back weld group (20). A recent study reported significant decreases in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume-one second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75) and increase in the mental symptom with 2.5 hours of exposure to O3 at 0.12–0.40 ppm (14). The current study showed that the average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were significantly high during all of the welding processes (Table 1). Brand et al. reported that the cellular effect parameters and macrophage concentration in induced sputum decreased with increasing NO2 concentration with 4 consecutive weeks of exposure at 0.5 ppm (21). Schoonover et al., in a study on production welders and non-welders, reported that welders were exposed to higher concentrations of NO2 and O3, but this difference was not statistically significant (22). Only the exposure concentration of CO2 was lower than TWA-TLV in all welding processes.
A systematic review of the effects of NO2, CO, and CO2 on human and animal health was conducted by James et al. (23). Karimi et al. reported level of risk derived from sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, aluminum sulphate, nickel catalyst, acetic acid used as a raw material were 2.4, 2.84, 2.3, 3.5 and 2.66,respectively. (24). The toxicity of CO has been recognized; thus, its observation and control requires careful consideration. CO2 is a hazard when present in enclosed spaces at high concentrations (25). The results of SQCRA showed that the risk of exposure to O3 and NO2 was very high in all welding processes. In the studied welding processes, the risk of exposure to NO and CO2 was negligible and low, respectively. The risk assessment results were approximately consistent with results obtained from the measurement of air samples. The results of risk assessment showed, risk managment to help identify and evaluate risks originated from chemicals usages.also risk managment to prevent, reduce, or minimize potential harm to the workplace. Therefore, it is essential that periodic monitoring of gaseous pollutants be carried out regularly in the ambient air of these welding workshops and risk assessment also be carried out regularly on the welders of these workshops to protect them from exposure to welding gases.
Conclusion
The results of the our study showed that the sampling values of air and method SQRCA were consistent. This indicates that corrective actions should be initiated on welders as soon as possible. It is necessary to apply control approaches in such welding processes. The use of respiratory protection equipment and exhaust ventilation is recommended.
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to thank Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, for supporting this research financially, and the welders who participated in this study.
Conflict of interest: None declared
References
Welding gases can induce adverse health effects in welders. Exposure concentrations are important in the assessment of health risks due to exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace. In the present study, the concentrations of gases varied in different welding processes and the lowest exposure was observed in PAW. This may be due to the possible role of welding durations, wind direction, and ambient temperature in welders’ exposure to welding gases.
In the current study, exposure to O3 was in the range of 0.16–0.41 ppm in the three of welding processes studied. This level was 3.2–8.2 times higher than the excursion limit of TLV-TWA (0.05 ppm). However, the studied welders’ exposure to welding gases in comparison with TLVs-TWA (ACGIH) was lower (19). Golbabaei et al., in 2015, demonstrated that the range of exposure to O3, NO2, CO, and CO2 was 0-0.0371, 0.01-0.58, 0.375-4.33, and 89.5-1395.44 ppm, respectively. Among the welders, the back weld group had the maximum exposure to O3, CO, and CO2, while the maximum exposure to NO2 was, respectively, seen in the filling group and back weld group (20). A recent study reported significant decreases in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume-one second (FEV1), and forced expiratory flow (FEF25-75) and increase in the mental symptom with 2.5 hours of exposure to O3 at 0.12–0.40 ppm (14). The current study showed that the average concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were significantly high during all of the welding processes (Table 1). Brand et al. reported that the cellular effect parameters and macrophage concentration in induced sputum decreased with increasing NO2 concentration with 4 consecutive weeks of exposure at 0.5 ppm (21). Schoonover et al., in a study on production welders and non-welders, reported that welders were exposed to higher concentrations of NO2 and O3, but this difference was not statistically significant (22). Only the exposure concentration of CO2 was lower than TWA-TLV in all welding processes.
A systematic review of the effects of NO2, CO, and CO2 on human and animal health was conducted by James et al. (23). Karimi et al. reported level of risk derived from sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, aluminum sulphate, nickel catalyst, acetic acid used as a raw material were 2.4, 2.84, 2.3, 3.5 and 2.66,respectively. (24). The toxicity of CO has been recognized; thus, its observation and control requires careful consideration. CO2 is a hazard when present in enclosed spaces at high concentrations (25). The results of SQCRA showed that the risk of exposure to O3 and NO2 was very high in all welding processes. In the studied welding processes, the risk of exposure to NO and CO2 was negligible and low, respectively. The risk assessment results were approximately consistent with results obtained from the measurement of air samples. The results of risk assessment showed, risk managment to help identify and evaluate risks originated from chemicals usages.also risk managment to prevent, reduce, or minimize potential harm to the workplace. Therefore, it is essential that periodic monitoring of gaseous pollutants be carried out regularly in the ambient air of these welding workshops and risk assessment also be carried out regularly on the welders of these workshops to protect them from exposure to welding gases.
Conclusion
The results of the our study showed that the sampling values of air and method SQRCA were consistent. This indicates that corrective actions should be initiated on welders as soon as possible. It is necessary to apply control approaches in such welding processes. The use of respiratory protection equipment and exhaust ventilation is recommended.
Acknowledgment
The authors wish to thank Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, for supporting this research financially, and the welders who participated in this study.
Conflict of interest: None declared
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- Schoonover T, Conroy L, Lacey S, Plavka J. Personal exposure to metal fume, NO2, and O3 among production welders and non-welders. Ind Health 2011; 49(1):63-72.
- Antonini JM, Lewis AB, Roberts JR, Whaley DA. Pulmonary effects of welding fumes: review of worker and experimental animal studies. Am J Ind Med 2003; 43(4):350-60.
- Karimi A, Jamshidi Slukloei HR, Eslamizad S. Designing SQCRA as a software to semi-quantitative chemical risk assessment in workplace. Journal of Occupational Hygiene Engineering 2014; 1(2):47-56.
- Scott JL, Kraemer DG, Keller RJ. Occupational hazards of carbon dioxide exposure. Journal of Chemical Health and Safety 2009; 16(2):18-22.
* Corresponding author: Masoud Rismanchian, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
E-mail: rismanchian@hlth.mui.ac.ir
E-mail: rismanchian@hlth.mui.ac.ir
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