• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.31 no.3 s.62
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• pp.414-423
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• 1998

Metal fume fever has been known as an occupational disease is induced by intense inhalation of fresh metal fume with a particle size smaller than $0.5{\mu}m\;to\;1{\mu}m$. The fumes originate from heating metals beyond their boiling point, as happens, for example, in welding operations. Oxidation usually accompanies this process. In most cases, this syndrome is due to exposure to zinc oxide fumes; however, other metals like copper, magnesium, cadmium, manganese, and antimony are also reported to produce such reactions. Authors report a case of metal fume fever suspected to be associated with copper fume inhalation. The patient was a 42-year-old male and was a smoker. He conducted inert gas tungsten arc welding on copper-coated materials without safety precautions such as a protective mask and adequate ventilation. Immediately after work, he felt metallic taste in his mouth. A few hours after welding, he developed headache, chilling sensation, and chest discomfort. He also complained of myalgia, arthralgia, feverish sensation, thirst, and general weakness. Symptoms worsened after repeated copper welding on the next day and subsided gradually following two weeks. Laboratory examination showed a transient increase of neutrophil count, eosinophilia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and positive C-reactive proteinemia. Blood and urine copper level was also increased compared to his wife. Before this episode, he experienced above complaints several times after welding with copper materials but welding of other metals did not produce any symptoms. It was suggested that copper fume would have induced metal fume fever in this case. Further investigations are needed to clarify their pathogenic mechanisms.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2004

Respiratory effects in full time welders include bronchitis, airway irritation, lung function changes, and lung fibrosis. Welder's pneumoconiosis has been generally determined to be benign and not associated with respiratory symptoms based on the absence of pulmonary function abnormalities in welders with marked radiographic abnormalities. Accordingly, to investigate pulmonary function changes during 60 days induced by welding-fume exposure, male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to manual metal arc-stainless steel (MMA-SS) welding fumes with concentrations of 64.8$\pm$0.9 mg/$m^3$ (low dose) and 107.8 $\pm$ 2.6 mg/$m^3$ (high dose) total suspended particulates for 2 hr/day, 5 days/week in an inhalation chamber for 60 days. Pulmonary function was measured every week with whole body plethysmograph compensated (WBP Comp, SFT38116, Buxco Electronics, Sharon, CT). The rats exposed to the high dose of welding fumes exhibited statistically significant (p<0.05~0.01) body weight decrease as compared to the control whereas cell number increase of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) (total cell, macrophage, polymorphonuclear cell and lymphocyte) during the 60 days exposure period. And only tidal volume was significantly decreased in dosedependantly during 60 days of MMA-SS welding fume exposure. This pulmonary function change with inflammatory cell recruitment confirms the lung injury caused by the MMA-SS welding fume exposure.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.113-131
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• 1997

This study was performed to evaluate the exposure levels of worker exposed to welding fume and metals in confined spaces of a shipyard. The airborne concentration of welding fumes and metal elements in confined spaces were compared with those in open working areas. Results of the study were as follows. 1. The geometric mean of welding fume concentration in a confined space was $16.6mg/m^3$, which contained $3.9mg/m^3$ Fe, $1.2mg/m^3$ Mg, $0.8mg/m^3$ Zn, $0.008mg/m^3$ Cu, $0.008mg/m^3$ Pb, $0.005mg/m^3$ Ni, $0.003mg/m^3$ Cr, $0.003mg/m^3$ Cd. The geometric mean of welding fume concentration in open working areas was $5.2mg/m^3$, which contained $1.1mg/m^3$ Fe, $0.3mg/m^3$ Mg, $0.3mg/m^3$ Zn, $0.004mg/m^3$ Cu, $0.008mg/m^3$ Pb, $0.005mg/m^3$ Ni, $0.003mg/m^3$ Cr, $0.0003mg/m^3$ Cd. The geometric mean of welding fume concentration in confined spaces was 3,2 times higher than that in open working areas. The geometric mean concentrations of such metals as Fe, Mg, Zn, or Cu within fume in confined spaces were 2-4 times higher than those in open working areas, while little difference made such metals as Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd. 2. In 32 samples out of a total of 39 samples (82.1%) collected in confined spaces, the concentrations of welding fume exceeded TLV. while so did 19 samples out of 33 samples (57.6%) in open working areas. As for the concentrations of metals in welding flume from confined spaces, Fe exceeded TLV in 14 out of a total of 38 samples (36.8%), Mn exceeded TLV in 23 out of a total of 38 samples (60.5%). As for the concentration of metals in welding fume from open working areas, Fe exceeded TLV in 3 out of a total of 34 samples (8.8%), Mn exceeded TLV in 6 out of a total of 34 samples (17.6%). Considering additive effect among metals, in 31 out of a total of 39 samples (79.5%) collected in confined spaces, the concentrations of welding fume exceeded TLV, while so did 14 out of 38 samples (55.6%) in open working areas. 3. In respect of base metal and welding type the concentration of total welding fume by $CO_2$ gas W./mild steel was the highest, followed by semiauto MMA/mild steel, then followed by TIG or $CO_2$ gas W./stainless steel. ; as for concentration of metal within fume, a decreasing order was Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb in $CO_2$ gas W./mild steel and semiauto MMA/mild steel, but Fe, Mn, Cr, and Ni in TIG or $CO_2$ gas W./stainless steel. 4. In case of welding base metal covered by paint, contents of Zn within red paint chip and within gray paint chip were 14.0% and 0.08% respectively, which showed a little difference, while the airborne concentrations of Zn within fume during welding base metal covered red paint and gray paint were $1.351mg/m^3$ and $1.018mg/m^3$ respectively, which showed little difference. As for Pb, contents of red paint chip and gray paint chip were 0.14% and 0.08% respectively, and the airborne concentrations within fume during welding base metal covered red paint and gray paint were $0.009mg/m^3$ and $0.007mg/m^3$ respectively, both of which showed little difference.

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.292-294
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• 2000

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 1996.05a
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• pp.108-111
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• 1996

• Proceedings of the KWS Conference
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• 1999.05a
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• pp.180-182
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• 1999

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.172-183
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• 1995

The airborne concentrations of the welding fumes produced during $CO_2$ arcwelding process at shipbuilding, shiprepairing, container manufacturing and car accessary manufacturing industry were investigated. The effects how much reduced the welding fume were checked when the portable fan was used. The results were as follows; 1.The geometric mean of welding fume concentration in shipbuilding factory was $10.05mg/m^3$. This exposure concentration was higher than other 3 manufacturing industries at 95% confidence level. 2. The sampling filters for welding fume could be digested with acid within 1 hour by microwave oven. The recoveries for investigated metal elements were all over 95%. 3. The optimal wavelength could be selected for the simultaneous analysis of 8 metal elements by ICP(Inductively Coupled Plasma). 4. Noxious gases($O_1,NO_2$) produced during $CO_1$ gas arc welding process were detected that the concentration of ozone($O_1$) was less than 0.01 ppm and that of nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$) was 0.01-0.03 ppm. 5. The geometric mean of welding fume particle diameter was $1.26{\mu}m$ and geometric standard deviation was 1.51 for the counts when particle an analyzer(ELZONE) had been used. 6. When the portable fan had been used,the reduced percent of total welding fume for workers was about 47.8% when portable fan was applied to blow and 71.7% when to exhaust.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.384-389
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• 2023

Background: Exposure to welding fume is associated with adverse effects on worker health. The use of various control measures can reduce levels of exposure and the resulting health effects. However, little is known about the factors that may influence workers' use of control measures in the workplace and their perceived intervention needs. This study aimed to investigate workers' and other stakeholders' views on ways to improve the use of welding fume control measures in Australian workplaces. Methods: We conducted a series of online focus group discussions and individual interviews with participants who have some occupational involvement in welding, whether as workers, employers or industry representatives, union representatives, or regulators. A semi-structured question guide was used, and all discussions and interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Results: Five focus group discussions and five individual interviews were conducted with a total of 21 participants. Three major themes emerged. The first addressed the current awareness of welding fume harms and concern about exposure; the second focussed on the current use of control measures, and barriers and facilitators to their use; and the last centred around intervention needs and the contents of a potential effective intervention. Conclusion: Improving the use of control measures to prevent exposure to welding fume requires knowledge around the barriers and facilitators of control, use, and the intervention needs of stakeholders. This study has provided such knowledge, which will facilitate the design and implementation of an intervention to reduce welding fume exposure and ultimately protect the health of workers.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2001

This study was performed to evaluate a local exhaust ventilation system capability and welding fume concentration in welding laboratory at 5 technical high schools. Results of the study are as follows; 1. The personal exposure of welding fume in welding laboratory was measured. The geometric mean of 73 personal samples was $6.27mg/m^3$($3.85{\sim}9.88mg/m^3$), and 68.5% of these exceeded TLV of the Korea Ministry of Labor. 2. The geometric mean of welding fume at outside of booth was $2.27mg/m^3$($1.57{\sim}2.58mg/m^3$). All of measured concentrations were lower than TLV of the Korea Ministry of Labor. 3. Local exhaust ventilation system in welding laboratory could not remove hazardous substance effectively because of inappropriate canopy hood and absurd design. 4. The possibility of exposure risk was estimated to be high because of working point under breathing zone, misplacement of working table and insufficient supply of respiratory protector. 5. The mean values of capture velocity and transportation velocity of local exhaust ventilation system in welding laboratory were 0.38m/sec, 4.27m/sec respectively. These values were satisfied the guideline of the Korea Ministry of Labor. 6. The efficiency of performance of local ventilation system was anticipated to be decreased because of accumulated dust and alien substance on fan and duct.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2008

This study is about an influence of harmful factors of welding fumes such as Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn to workers who inhales them in welding sites. The influence can be measured with the density of heavy metals in blood after welding. The main factors of the measurement are TWA, a density of welding fume, and a level of heavy metals. The results indicate that there is a positive effect of moving fans as a way of improving the condition in welding workplaces. While welding was done, TWA exceeded the level of Fe 40% and Zn 10% and the level of heavy metals in blood was below the standard for the workers who were under the experiment. Also when the wind was applied on the front side by a fan, the welding fume significantly reduced. It can be concluded that wearing protection gears with safety devices is one of important factors.