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Human biomonitoring of aluminium after a single, controlled manual metal arc inert gas welding process of an aluminium-containing worksheet in nonwelders

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Abstract

Purpose

Several existing field studies evaluate aluminium welding works but no thoroughly controlled exposure scenario for welding fume has been described yet. This study provides information about the uptake and elimination of aluminium from welding fumes under controlled conditions.

Methods

In the Aachen Workplace Simulation Laboratory, we are able to generate welding fumes of a defined particle mass concentration. We exposed 12, until then occupationally unexposed participants with aluminium-containing welding fumes of a metal inert gas (MIG) welding process of a total dust mass concentration of 2.5 mg/m3 for 6 h. Room air filter samples were collected, and the aluminium concentration in air derived. Urine and plasma samples were collected directly before and after the 6-h lasting exposure, as well as after 1 and 7 days. Human biomonitoring methods were used to determine the aluminium content of the samples with high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results

Urinary aluminium concentrations showed significant changes after exposure compared to preexposure levels (mean t 1 (0 h) 13.5 µg/L; mean t 2 (6 h) 23.5 µg/L). Plasma results showed the same pattern but pre–post comparison did not reach significance.

Conclusions

We were able to detect a significant increase of the internal aluminium burden of a single MIG aluminium welding process in urine, while plasma failed significance. Biphasic elimination kinetic can be observed. The German BAT of 60 µg/g creatinine was not exceeded, and urinary aluminium returned nearly to baseline concentrations after 7 days.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in the Woodworking and Metalworking Industry (BGHM), Hannover, Germany. Unrestricted grant to the University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Grant Number 360582.

Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Faculty, Institute for Occupational Medicine and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

    Jens Bertram, Peter Brand, Laura Hartmann, Thomas Schettgen, Veronika Kossack & Thomas Kraus

  2. ISF – Welding and Joining Institute, Aachen University of Technology, Pontstr. 49, 52062, Aachen, Germany

    Klaus Lenz, Ellwyn Purrio & Uwe Reisgen

Authors
  1. Jens Bertram
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  2. Peter Brand
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  3. Laura Hartmann
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  4. Thomas Schettgen
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  5. Veronika Kossack
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  6. Klaus Lenz
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  7. Ellwyn Purrio
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  8. Uwe Reisgen
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  9. Thomas Kraus
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jens Bertram.

Appendix

Appendix

See Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 5
figure 5

Time course of the particle number (above) and particle mass concentration (bottom) on a day with low alloyed welding fume exposure. Dashed line represents target particle mass concentration. Line with big amplitude is actual particle mass concentration. Line with small amplitude is median particle mass concentration

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Fig. 6
figure 6

Particle number as a function of particle size of a MIG aluminium welding process

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Bertram, J., Brand, P., Hartmann, L. et al. Human biomonitoring of aluminium after a single, controlled manual metal arc inert gas welding process of an aluminium-containing worksheet in nonwelders. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 88, 913–923 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1020-7

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