Dose-Effect Relationships Between Manganese Exposure and Neurological, Neuropsychological and Pulmonary Function in Confined Space Bridge Welders

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bouchard M ; Bowler RM ; Bowler RP ; Diamond E ; Doty RL ; Drezgic M ; Gwiazda R ; Koller W ; Mergler D ; Nakagawa S ; Park R ; Roels HA ; Smith, Denise L.
• Description:
  Background: Although adverse neuropsychological and neurological health effects are well known among workers with high manganese (Mn) exposures in mining, ore-processing and ferroalloy production, the risks among welders with lower exposures are less well understood. Methods: Confined space welding in construction of a new span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge without adequate protection was studied using a multidisciplinary method to identify the dose-effect relationship between adverse health effects and Mn in air or whole blood. Bridge welders (n = 43) with little or no personal protection equipment and exposed to a welding fume containing Mn, were administered neurological, neuropsychological, neurophysiological and pulmonary tests. Outcome variables were analysed in relation to whole blood Mn (MnB) and a Cumulative Exposure Index (CEI) based on Mn-air, duration and type of welding. Welders performed a mean of 16.5 months of welding on the bridge, were on average 43.8 years of age and had on average 12.6 years of education. Results: The mean time weighted average of Mn-air ranged from 0.11-0.46 mg/m(3) (55% >0.20 mg/m(3)). MnB >10 microg/l was found in 43% of the workers, but the concentrations of Mn in urine, lead in blood and copper and iron in plasma were normal. Forced expiratory volume at 1s: forced vital capacity ratios (FEV(1)/FVC) were found to be abnormal in 33.3% of the welders after about 1.5 years of welding at the bridge. Mean scores of bradykinesia and Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale exceeded 4 and 6, respectively. Computer assisted tremor analysis system hand tremor and body sway tests, and University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test showed impairment in 38.5/61.5, 51.4 and 88% of the welders, respectively. Significant inverse dose-effect relationships with CEI and/or MnB were found for IQ (p
• Subjects:
  Confined Spaces Demography Epidemiology Lung Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Respiratory System Safety Welding
• Keywords:
  Confined-spaces Demographic-characteristics Humans Neurological-reactions Neurophysiological-effects Psychological-effects Psychological-responses Pulmonary-function Statistical-analysis Welders Welding-industry

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• ISSN:
  1351-0711
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Colorado ; North Carolina ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; OSHA Region 5 ; OSHA Region 8 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  EID - Education and Information Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  167-177
• Volume:
  64
• Issue:
  3
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20033383
• Citation:
  Occup Environ Med 2007 Mar; 64(3):167-177
• Contact Point Address:
  Dr R M Bowler, San Francisco State University, 8371 Kent Drive, El Cerrito, CA 94530, USA
• Email:
  rbowl@sfsu.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2007
• NORA Priority Area:
  All Sectors
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:2ca0e405124405fb854851eff2f941db9e3de342b1af32c9f022dd5a6c1625acafabbaa00eadc6211d37871db3ab213b7632b595d1cd3849831034e4729c1d1e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/188988/cdc_188988_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 427.60 KB ]