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Levels and predictors of airborne and internal exposure to manganese and iron among welders

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 22, pages 291–298 (2012)Cite this article

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Abstract

We investigated airborne and internal exposure to manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) among welders. Personal sampling of welding fumes was carried out in 241 welders during a shift. Metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Mn in blood (MnB) was analyzed by graphite furnace atom absorption spectrometry. Determinants of exposure levels were estimated with multiple regression models. Respirable Mn was measured with a median of 62 (inter-quartile range (IQR) 8.4–320) μg/m3 and correlated with Fe (r=0.92, 95% CI 0.90–0.94). Inhalable Mn was measured with similar concentrations (IQR 10–340 μg/m3). About 70% of the variance of Mn and Fe could be explained, mainly by the welding process. Ventilation decreased exposure to Fe and Mn significantly. Median concentrations of MnB and serum ferritin (SF) were 10.30 μg/l (IQR 8.33–13.15 μg/l) and 131 μg/l (IQR 76–240 μg/l), respectively. Few welders were presented with low iron stores, and MnB and SF were not correlated (r=0.07, 95% CI −0.05 to 0.20). Regression models revealed a significant association of the parent metal with MnB and SF, but a low fraction of variance was explained by exposure-related factors. Mn is mainly respirable in welding fumes. Airborne Mn and Fe influenced MnB and SF, respectively, in welders. This indicates an effect on the biological regulation of both metals. Mn and Fe were strongly correlated, whereas MnB and SF were not, likely due to higher iron stores among welders.

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Acknowledgements

The WELDOX study was financially supported by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV). We thank the technicians of DGUV, who measured the welding fume, all staff working for the DGUV measurement system, and all welders and companies having participated. We gratefully acknowledge the field team from the Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of DGUV (IPA), especially Sandra Schoeneweis, Hans Berresheim, and Hannelore Ramcke-Kruell. We thank Christoph van Thriel from the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund (Germany) for his helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Epidemiology, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz, Bochum, Germany

    Beate Pesch, Benjamin Kendzia, Martin Lehnert, Anne Lotz & Evelyn Heinze

  2. Department of Human Biomonitoring, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz, Bochum, Germany

    Tobias Weiss

  3. Center of Medicine, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz, Bochum, Germany

    Jana Henry

  4. Center of Toxicology, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz, Bochum, Germany

    Heiko Udo Käfferlein

  5. Division 1, Unit 1.3, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Rainer Van Gelder

  6. Division 3, Unit 3.1, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Markus Berges

  7. Division 2, Unit 2.1, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Jens-Uwe Hahn

  8. Division 2, Unit 2.3, Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurance (IFA), Alte Heerstrasse, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Markus Mattenklott

  9. BG Holz und Metall, Seligmannallee, Hannover, Germany

    Ewald Punkenburg

  10. Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute of Applied Biosciences, Kaiserstrasse, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Andrea Hartwig

  11. Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz, Bochum, Germany

    Thomas Brüning

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  1. Beate Pesch
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The Weldox Group

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Correspondence to Beate Pesch.

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Pesch, B., Weiss, T., Kendzia, B. et al. Levels and predictors of airborne and internal exposure to manganese and iron among welders. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 22, 291–298 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2012.9

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