A study of atherothrombotic biomarkers in welders.

Introduction: Studies have shown that welders have increased cardiovascular mortality. This may be due to airborne particulate matter (PM) exposure. Elevated levels of PM in polluted urban air have been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity.

Neurobehavioral performance of patients diagnosed with manganism and idiopathic Parkinson disease.

Purpose: There is a lack of knowledge about neurobehavioral performance among patients with manganism and how their performance differs from that of idiopathic Parkinson disease patients (PD). This study was initiated with the aim to describe and compare neurobehavioral performance among patients diagnosed with manganism, PD and a group of referents.

Materials And Methods: Neurobehavioral performance was assessed in 34 patients diagnosed with manganism, 13 with PD, and 43 healthy workers (turners/fitters) who served as the reference group.

On the bio-accessibility of 14 elements in welding fumes.

The bio-accessibility of 14 elements in welding fume particulate matter was investigated in 325 personal air samples collected during welding in two shipyards and one factory producing heavy machinery. The apparent solubility in a synthetic lung lining fluid (Hatch's solution) was used as proxy for the bio-accessibility. The Hatch solubility of the different elements was highly variable with a median < 1% for Al, Fe, Pb, Ti, between 4 and 6% for Co, Cr, Ni, V, W, between 13 and 27% for Cd, Cu, Mn, Zn, and 41% for Mo.

Biological monitoring of welders' exposure to chromium, molybdenum, tungsten and vanadium.

Background: Welders are exposed to a number of metallic elements during work. Bioaccessability, that is important for element uptake, has been little studied. This study addresses bioaccessability and uptake of chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), tungsten (W) and vanadium (V) among welders.

A follow-up study of neurobehavioral functions in welders exposed to manganese.

Welders may be exposed to high amounts of manganese (Mn). In this study 63 welders and 65 referents were followed up with neurobehavioral tests approximately 6 years after the initial examination at baseline. The welders were exposed to the geometric mean (GM) Mn concentration of 116μg/m(3) at baseline and 148μg/m(3) at follow-up.

Biomarkers of iron status and trace elements in welders.

Iron status was studied in 137 welders exposed to a geometric mean (GM) air concentration of 214 μg/m(3) (range 1-3230) of manganese (Mn), in 137 referents and in 34 former welders. The GM concentrations of S-ferritin were 119 (3-1498), 112 (9-1277) and 98 (12-989) μg/L (p=0.24) in the three groups, respectively.

The interaction between manganese exposure and alcohol on neurobehavioral outcomes in welders.

Neurobehavioral functions were studied in 137 welders exposed to the geometric mean (GM) air concentration of 214 μg/m(3) (range 1-3230) of manganese (Mn) based on the individual mean from two days of air sampling. Only 22 μg/m(3) (GM) was soluble in the artificial lung fluid Hatch solution. The welders were compared to 137 referents (turner/fitters) recruited from the same plants.

The bioavailability of manganese in welders in relation to its solubility in welding fumes.

Blood and urine samples for determination of manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) concentrations were collected in a cross-sectional study of 137 currently exposed welders, 137 referents and 34 former welders. Aerosol samples for measurements of personal air exposure to Mn and Fe were also collected. The aerosol samples were assessed for their solubility using a simulated lung lining fluid (Hatch solution).

A neurobehavioral study of current and former welders exposed to manganese.

Neurobehavioral functions were studied in 96 welders currently exposed to the geometric mean (GM) concentration of 121 microg/m(3) (range 7-2322) manganese (Mn) in welding fume (air-Mn) based on the individual mean from two successive days of sampling. They were compared to 96 age-matched referents. The arithmetic mean (AM) concentration of Mn in whole blood (B-Mn) was 8.

Air exposure assessment and biological monitoring of manganese and other major welding fume components in welders.

In a cross-sectional study, 96 welders were compared with 96 control subjects. Also 27 former welders, all diagnosed as having manganism, were examined. Exposure to welding fumes was determined in the 96 welders, while the concentration of elements in whole blood and urine was determined in all subjects.