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Occupational Exposure to Metal Fumes Among Iranian Welders: Systematic Review and Simulation-Based Health Risk Assessment

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Abstract

There have been numerous reports of welder’s worker exposure to metal fumes. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic (neurological, dermal, and etc.) effects are the adverse outcomes of exposure to welding fumes. In this review study, data were collected from previous studies conducted in Iran from 1900 to 2020. The risk of carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity due to exposure to welding metal fumes was assessed using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) method based on the Monte Carlo simulation (MCS). Results showed mean of metal fume concentration in gas welding was in the range of 1.8248 to 1060.6 (µg/m3) and in arc welding was 54.935 to 4882.72 (µg/m3). The mean concentration of fumes in gas welding is below the recommended American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) standard exposure limit except for manganese, and in the arc welding, all metal fume concentrations are below the standard exposure limit except for manganese and aluminum. The results showed that the risk of carcinogenicity due to exposure to nickel, manganese in both gas and arc welding, and cadmium in gas welding was higher than standard level (hazard quotient (HQ) more than 1). Cancer risk due to exposure to nickel in both gas and arc welding was probable (1 × 10−6 < cancer risk (CR) < 1 × 10−4). Health risk assessment showed that welders are exposed to health risks. Preventive measures should be applied in welding workplaces to reduce the concentrations of metal fumes.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to express our special appreciation for people who helped in collecting data in this study. Their willingness to give their time so kindly is very much appreciated.

Funding

This study was financially supported by the National Institute for Medical Research Development (NIMAD) (number: 989904).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Zahra Soltanpour, Yahya Rasoulzadeh & Yousef Mohammadian

  2. Road Traffic Injury Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran

    Yahya Rasoulzadeh

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  1. Zahra Soltanpour
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  2. Yahya Rasoulzadeh
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  3. Yousef Mohammadian
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Correspondence to Yousef Mohammadian.

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This study was approved by the Iran National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research (IR.NIMAD.REC.1399.124).

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Soltanpour, Z., Rasoulzadeh, Y. & Mohammadian, Y. Occupational Exposure to Metal Fumes Among Iranian Welders: Systematic Review and Simulation-Based Health Risk Assessment. Biol Trace Elem Res 201, 1090–1100 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-022-03246-y

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