A Study on Bronchitis Associated with Welding at a Manufacture Factory

Lim, Hyun Sul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The adverse health effects of welding come from chemical, physical, and radiation hazards. An outbreak of bronchitis was reported among welders at a manufacture factory in Pohang at Sep 1996. The object of this study is to assess the cause of the bronchitis in the welders.
METHODS
Authors conducted a questionnaire survey for 12 welders in the factory and a family physician examined their health status. Authors also collected their routine health examination reports and air concentrations of their work environment at that time.
RESULTS
The incidence rate of the bronchitis among welders was 91.7%(11 cases among 12 welders). The symptoms were developed at Feb 1996, 3 months after welding against steelplates. They were aggravated during worktime and relieved at weekend. The symptoms were cough(100.0% ), sputum(90.9% ), sore throat(72.7% ), and general fatigue(72.7% ). No abnormal findings were observed in the physical examinations and the radiologic findings. Though air concentrations of welding fume in the confined space(geometric mean = 14.68mg/m3) were over the permissible exposure limit(5mg/m3), those in open space(geometric mean=3.66mg/m3) were below. The air concentrations of metal components(Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Ni) in the fume were within each of the permissible exposure limit.
CONCLUSIONS
Authors thought that the outbreak of bronchitis was brought about by CO2 arc welding against paint-free steelplates. Further studies on the factors contributing to the bronchitis will be needed.