According to European study, welding special stainless steel can cause occupational asthma
According to Medical News Today, It is a well-known fact that occupational asthma can be induced by welding fumes of common stainless steel. In recent years, the use of special stainless steels with a high chromium content has increased; however, occupational asthma has not been previously linked to this.
In the present case report, Timo Hannu (Department of Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland) and his colleagues describe, for the first time, two patients who developed asthmatic reactions when they were exposed to welding fumes from special stainless steel.
The authors' findings emphasise that there are differences between different stainless steel subclasses in asthma inducibility.
The results are important in view of the widespread use of special stainless steels. The authors conclude that welding of such special stainless steels should be included as one of the aetiological factors for occupational asthma.
The European Respiratory Journal is the peer-reviewed scientific publication of the European Respiratory Society (more than 7,000 specialists in lung diseases and respiratory medicine in Europe, the United States and Australia).
Its abstract (you have to pay to get the full article) is here.
his study presents two cases of OA caused by manual metal-arc welding on SSS. In both cases, the diagnosis of OA was based on respiratory symptoms, occupational exposure and positive findings in the specific challenge tests.
In the first case, a 46-yr-old welder had experienced severe dyspnoea while welding SSS (SMO steel), but not in other situations. Challenge tests with both mild steel and stainless steel using a common electrode were negative. Welding SSS with a special electrode caused a delayed 37% drop in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). In the second case, a 34-yr-old male had started to experience dyspnoea during the past few years, while welding especially SSS (Duplex steel). The workplace peak expiratory flow monitoring was suggestive of OA. Challenge tests with both mild steel and stainless steel using a common electrode did not cause bronchial obstruction. Welding SSS with a special electrode caused a delayed 31% drop in FEV1.
In conclusion, exposure to manual metal-arc welding fumes of special stainless steel should be considered as a new cause of occupational asthma.
In the present case report, Timo Hannu (Department of Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland) and his colleagues describe, for the first time, two patients who developed asthmatic reactions when they were exposed to welding fumes from special stainless steel.
The authors' findings emphasise that there are differences between different stainless steel subclasses in asthma inducibility.
The results are important in view of the widespread use of special stainless steels. The authors conclude that welding of such special stainless steels should be included as one of the aetiological factors for occupational asthma.
The European Respiratory Journal is the peer-reviewed scientific publication of the European Respiratory Society (more than 7,000 specialists in lung diseases and respiratory medicine in Europe, the United States and Australia).
Its abstract (you have to pay to get the full article) is here.
his study presents two cases of OA caused by manual metal-arc welding on SSS. In both cases, the diagnosis of OA was based on respiratory symptoms, occupational exposure and positive findings in the specific challenge tests.
In the first case, a 46-yr-old welder had experienced severe dyspnoea while welding SSS (SMO steel), but not in other situations. Challenge tests with both mild steel and stainless steel using a common electrode were negative. Welding SSS with a special electrode caused a delayed 37% drop in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). In the second case, a 34-yr-old male had started to experience dyspnoea during the past few years, while welding especially SSS (Duplex steel). The workplace peak expiratory flow monitoring was suggestive of OA. Challenge tests with both mild steel and stainless steel using a common electrode did not cause bronchial obstruction. Welding SSS with a special electrode caused a delayed 31% drop in FEV1.
In conclusion, exposure to manual metal-arc welding fumes of special stainless steel should be considered as a new cause of occupational asthma.
posted by Scott at 6:20 PM
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