Inflammatory response to acute exposure to welding fumes during the working day

• Authors: Merja Järvelä , Paula Kauppi , Timo Tuomi , Ritva Luukkonen , Harri Lindholm , Riina Nieminen , Eeva Moilanen , Timo Hannu

Abstracts

EN

Objectives: To investigate cardiorespiratory and inflammatory responses in male workers following exposure to welding fumes and airborne particles in actual workplace conditions. Materials and Methods: We measured blood leukocytes and their differential counts, platelet count, hemoglobin, sensitive C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, E-selectin, IL-(interleukin)1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and endothelin-1 in blood samples of twenty workers before and after their working day. We also studied peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), and exhaled nitric oxide (NO). We assessed heart rate variability (HRV) by obtaining 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms. Results: The total blood leukocytes and neutrophils increased after the work shift, whereas IL-1β and E-selectin decreased significantly. There were no tatistically significant changes in exhaled NO, FEV₁, PEF or HRV. Conclusion: Occupational exposure to welding fumes and particles caused a slight, acute inflammatory effect estimated based on the increased values of leukocytes and neutrophils in blood and a decrease in the interleukin 1β and E-selectin values, but no changes in the pulmonary function (exhaled NO, FEV₁, PEF) or HRV during the working day were observed.

Keywords

EN

cytokines; E-selectin; Exhaled Nitric Oxide (NO); heart rate variability (HRV); interleukin-1β; welding

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2013
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 220-229

Dates

published

2013

Contributors

author

Merja Järvelä

• Aerosols, Dusts and Metals, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

author

Paula Kauppi

• Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
• Skin and Allergy Hospital, Helsinki, Finland

author

Timo Tuomi

• Aerosols, Dusts and Metals, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

author

Ritva Luukkonen

• Statistical Services, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

author

Harri Lindholm

• Physical Work Capacity, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

author

Riina Nieminen

• The Immunopharmacology Research Group, Medical School, University of Tampere and Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

author

Eeva Moilanen

• The Immunopharmacology Research Group, Medical School, University of Tampere and Research Unit, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland

author

Timo Hannu

• Occupational Medicine, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
• The Hjelt Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s13382-013-0097-z

Biblioteka Nauki

2179774