Abstract
Based on several studies, the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limit Values (SCOEL) under the EU Commission recommended a significant reduction in the Occupational Exposure Levels for Nitrogen Oxides. In the document all the relevant aspects are considered, such as the process for the generation of the Nitrogen Oxides during welding and cutting, the corresponding health hazards and occupational diseases. The results of the applicable studies are reported and, based on that, some conclusive remarks are drawn. A specific section is also devoted to applicable protective measures for welding and cutting in the workshop and on-site.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Recommendation from Scientific Expert Group on Occupational Exposure Limits for Nitrogen Dioxide, 1994.
Bylin G., Linvall T., Rehn T., Sundin B.: Effects of short term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide concentrations on human bronchial reactivity and lung function, European Respiratory Journal, 1993, vol. 1, pp. 606–612.
Frampton M.W., Smeglin A.M., Roberts Jr. N.J., Finkelstein J.N., Morrow P.E., Utell M.J.: Nitrogen dioxide exposure in vivo and human alveolar macrophage inactivation of influenza virus in vitro, Environmental Research, 1989, vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 179–192.
Sagai M, Ichinose T., Kubota K.: Studies on the biochemical effects of nitrogen dioxide, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 1984, vol. 73, pp. 444–456.
Recommendation from Scientific Expert Group on Occupational Exposure Limits for Nitrogen Monoxide, 2003.
Högman M., Frostell C.G., Hedenstrom H., Hedenstierna G.: Inhalation of nitric oxide modulates adult human bronchial tone, The American review of respiratory disease, 1993, vol. 148, pp. 1471–8.
Frostell C.G., Blomquist H., Hedenstierna G., Lundberg J., Zapol W.M.: Inhaled nitric oxide selectively reverses human hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction without causing systemic vasodilation, Anaesthesiology, 1993, vol. 78, pp. 427–435.
Mercer R.R., Costa D.L., Crapo J.D.: Effects of prolonged exposure to low doses of nitric oxide or nitrogen dioxide on the alveolar septa of the adult rat lung, Laboratory Investigation, 1995, vol. 73f, pp. 20–28.
Azoulay E., Soler P., Blayo M.C., Basset F.: Nitric oxide effects on lung structure and blood oxygene affinity in rats, Bulletin Européen de Physiopathologie Respiratoire, 1977, vol. 13, pp. 629–644.
Commission Directive 2006/15/EC of February 7, 2006.
Hansen E.B., Thernøe J.: Oxides of nitrogen in welding, cutting and oxy-acetylene heating processes, A review of emission rates, exposure levels and control measures.
Expert Committee “Metal and Surface Treatment” of the HVBG: Indicative occupational exposure limit value; discussion for NO and NO2, 2006.
Spiegel V.E.: Nitrous gases in welding and allied processes, BGI 743, edition 2004.
Hyde D., Orthoefer J., Dungworth D., Tyler W., Carter R., Lum H.: Morphometric and morphologic evaluation of pulmonary lesions in Beagle dogs chronically exposed to high ambient levels of air pollutants, Laboratory Investigation, 1978, vol. 38, pp. 455–469.
Oda H., Nogami H., Kusomoto S., Nakajima T., Kurata A.: Lifetime exposure to 2.4 ppm nitric oxide in mice, Environment Research, 1980, vol. 22, pp. 254–263.
Lotz G., Plitzko S., Gierke E., Backé E.-M., Kersten N., Schneider W.D., Tittelbach U., Thürmer H.: Längsschnittstudie über Dosis-Wirkungsbeziehungen bei Belastungen durch Salzstaub, Dieselmotoremissionen und Stickoxide in 2 Kalibergwerken, (Longitudinal study on dose-effect relations for exposure to salt dust, diesel motor emissions and nitrogen oxides in 2 potash mines), BAuA Tagungsbericht Tb 143, 2005 (in German).
Zhuang J.C., Wright T.L., Derojas-Walker T., Tannebaum S.R., Wogan G.N.: Nitric oxide-induced mutations in the HPRT gene of human lypmphoblastoid TK6 cells and in Salmonella typhimurium, Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 2000, vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 39–47.
Nguyen T., Brunson D., Crespi C.L., Penman B.W., Wishnok J.S., Tannebaum S.R.: DNA damage and mutation in human cells exposed to nitric oxide, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 1992, vol. 89, no. 7, pp. 3030–3034.
Chaney S., Blomquist W., DeWitt P., Muller K.: Biochemical changes in humans upon exposure to nitrogen dioxide while at rest, Archives of Environment Health, 1981, vol. 36, pp. 53–58.
Bauer M.A., Utell M.J., Morrow P.E., Speers D.M., Gibb F.R.: Inhalation of 0.30 ppm nitrogen dioxides potentiates exercise-induced bronchospasm in asthamatics, American Review of Respiratory Diseases, 1986, vol. 134, no. 6, pp. 1203–1208.
Koenig J.Q., Covert D.S., Smith M.S., van Belle G., Pierson W.E.: The pulmonary effects of ozone and nitrogen dioxide alone and combined in healthy and asthmatic adolescent subjects, Toxicology and Industrial Health, 1988, vol. 4, pp. 521–532.
Rasmussen T.R., Kjaergaard S.K., Pedersen O.F.: Effects among asthmatic and healthy subjects of short term exposure to nitrogen dioxide in concentrations comparable to indoor peak concentrations, Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, Toronto (abstract), 1990.
Avol E.L., Linn W.S., Peng R.C., Valencia G., Little D., Hackney J.D.: Laboratory study of asthmatic volunteers exposed to nitrogen dioxide and to ambient air pollution. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 1988, vol. 49, pp. 143–149.
Roger L.J., Horstman D.H., McDonnell W., Kehrl H., Ives P.J., Seal E., Chapman R., Massaro E.: Pulmonary function, airway responsiveness and respiratory symptoms in asthmatics following exercise in NO2, Toxicology and Industrial Health, 1990, vol. 6, pp. 155–171.
Kubota, K., Murakami, M., Takenaka, S., Kawai, K., Kyono, H.: Effects of long term nitrogen dioxide exposure on rat lung: morphological observations, Environmental Health Perspectives, 1987, vol. 73, pp. 157–169.
Henschler D., Ross W.: Zur Frage einer cancerogenen Wirkung inhalierter Stickstoffoxyde (Raising the question of a carcinogenic effect of inhaled nitrogen oxides), Naunyn-Schmiedebergs Archiv für experimentelle Pathologie und Pharmakologie, 1966, vol. 253, pp. 495–507.(in German).
Adkins B. Jr., Van Stee E.W., Simmons J.E., Eustis S.L.: Oncogenic response of strain A/J mice to inhaled chemicals, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 1986, vol. 17.
Biggart N., Rinehart R.R.: Comparison between aqueous-phase and gas-phase exposure protocols for determining the mutagenic potential of nitrogen dioxide and the gas fraction of welding fumes, Mutation Research, 1987, vol. 188, no. 3, pp. 175–184.
Görsdorf S., Appel K.E., Engeholm C., Obe G.: Nitrogen dioxide induces DNA single-strand breaks in cultured Chinese hamster cells, Carcinogenesis, 1990, vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 37–41.
Tsuda H., Kushi A., Yoshida D., Goto F.: Chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges induced by gaseous nitrogen dioxide in cultured Chinese hamster cells, Mutation Research, 1981, vol. 89, no. 4, pp. 303–309.
Gooch P.C., Luippold H.E., Creasia D.A., Brewen H.G.: Observations on mouse chromosomes following nitrogen dioxide inhalation, Mutation Research, 1977, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 117–120.
Isomura K, Chikajira M., Teranishi K., Hamada K.: Induction of mutations and chromosome aberrations in lung cells following in vivo exposure of rats to nitrogen oxides, Mutation Research, 1984, vol. 136, no. 2, pp. 119–25.
Kuraitis K.V., Richters A.: Spleen cellularity shifts from the inhalation of 0.25–0.35 ppm nitrogen dioxide, Journal of Environmental Pathology, Toxicology and Oncology, 1989, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1–11.
Rubinstein I., Reiss T.F., Bigby B.G., Stites D.P., Boushey H.A.: Effect of repeated exposure to 0.6 ppm nitrogen dioxide on lymphocyte phenotypes in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of healthy subjects, Clinical Research, 1990, vol. 38, 139A (abstract).
Press H., Steigleder B.: Stickoxidbildung bei Autogenverfahren — Massnahmen zur Vermeidung von Gesundheitsschäden, (Formation of nitrogen oxides in autogenous processes — Measures for the prevention of health damages), DVS-Berichte 1978 (in German).
Press H.: Entstehung luftverunreinigender Stoffe beim Arbeiten mit Brenngasen und Sauerstoff (Formation of air pollutants during activities with oxy-fuel gases and oxygen), Schweißen und Schneiden, 1982, H2, pp. 68–72 (in German).
Press H., Florian W.: Formation of toxic substances in gas shielded arc welding, IIW doc. VIII-879–80, 1980.
Press, H.: Stickoxidbildung bei Autogenverfahren in der Schweißtechnik und Ermittlung der erforderlichen Absaugleistung zum Vermeiden von Gesundheitsschäden (Formation of nitrogen oxides in autogenous processes in welding and allied processes and identification of the extraction capacity necessary for the prevention of health damages), BAM Berichte 1 und 2, 1978 (in German).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Spiegel-Ciobanu, V.E. Exposure to Nitrogen Oxides (NO/NO2) in Welding. Weld World 53, 12–19 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03266723
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03266723