Welders in this study were selected from a vehicle manufacturer; control subjects were from a nearby food factory. Airborne manganese levels in the breathing zones of welders and controls were 1.45 +/- SD1.08 mg/m and 0.11 +/- 0.07 microg/m, respectively. Serum levels of manganese and iron in welders were 4.3-fold and 1.9-fold, respectively, higher than those of controls. Blood lead concentrati...

BACKGROUND Occupational exposure to welding fumes is a serious occupational health problem all over the world. Welders are exposed to many occupational hazards; these hazards might cause some occupational diseases. The aim of the study was to assess the health related quality of life (HRQL) of electric welders in Shanghai China and explore influencing factors to HRQL of welders. METHODS 301 m...

Several cases of parkinsonism were found in a ferromanganese smelter after the ventilation system had broken down and had not been repaired for eight months in 1985. To determine the aetiology and prevalence of parkinsonism, 132 workers were submitted to thorough medical examination and estimated air concentrations of carbon monoxide and manganese at different worksites. Only six of eight worke...

A new method for detecting DNA-protein cross-links involving selective precipitation of DNA containing cross-linked proteins by K(+)-sodium dodecyl sulfate was utilized in the peripheral WBC of 21 male metal arc welders and in 26 male controls of similar age and racial characteristics who were not exposed to welding fumes. DNA was quantitated by Hoechst fluorescence. Although the concentration ...

Excessive manganese exposure may induce a neurological syndrome called manganism, which is similar to Parkinson's disease (PD). However, close observation of patients with manganism reveals a clinical disease entity different from PD, not only in the clinical manifestations, but also in therapeutic responses, in neuroimaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomograp...

A multi-center case-referent study was conducted on the relation between paternal occupational exposure and spina bifida in offspring. Cases were born between 1980 and 1992 in The Netherlands. Referents were recruited from hospitals and from the general population. Postal questionnaires were used to gather information on occupation and potential confounders. Through job-specific telephone inter...

The majority of cross-sectional studies have shown a higher prevalence of ventilatory impairment in welders while only few longitudinal studies were able to detect chronic effects on spirometry or bronchial responsiveness. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of probable occupational asthma (OA), bronchial obstruction and hyperresponsiveness among 286 students entering an apprent...

The purpose of the study was to investigate the performance of displacement ventilation in a large factory hall where large components of stainless steel for paper, pulp and chemical industries were manufactured. The performance of displacement ventilation was evaluated in terms of concentration distributions of welding fumes and grinding particles, flow field of the supply air and temperature ...