pH Increase Observed in Exhaled Breath Condensate from Welding Fume Exposure

Details

• Personal Author:
  Boyce PD ; Christiani, David C. ; Hunt J ; Kim JY ; Weissman, David N.
• Description:
  Objectives: We sought to investigate changes in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) pH in healthy workers exposed to welding fumes. Methods: Fourteen exposed participants (median age 39 years, 5 smokers) and 8 nonexposed controls (median age 44 years, 1 smoker) were monitored at an apprentice welding school. Exposure to fine particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) was assessed using cyclone samplers. EBC samples were collected at baseline and at the end of the work shift. EBC samples were deaerated using argon and pH values were measured using standard pH microelectrodes. Results: Mean +/- SEM PM2.5 levels were 1.17 +/- 0.18 mg/m3 for exposed subjects and 0.03 +/- 0.01 mg/m3 for controls. Baseline median (range) EBC pH values for the control and exposed group were similar (P = 0.86), 7.21 (4.91 to 8.26), and 7.39 (4.85 to 7.79), respectively. The exposed subjects had a small-but-marginally significant (P = 0.07) pre- to post-work shift increase in pH of 0.28, whereas the control group showed a minimal increase of only 0.03 (P = 0.56). Compared with the control group, the exposed group had a median cross-shift pH increase of 0.25 (P = 0.49). Conclusions: The aerosolized fine particulate matter contained in metal fumes may be associated with an acute increase in EBC pH values. Further study is necessary to investigate the acute rise in EBC pH after acute exposure to welding fume. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Acids Aerosols Air Pollutants, Occupational Environmental Monitoring Metals Metal Workers Occupational Health Particulate Matter Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Smokers Welding

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• Keywords:
  Acidity Aerosol-particles Airborne-particles Airway-obstruction Breathing Cyclone-air-samplers Exposure-assessment Fumes Metal-compounds Metal-fumes Metal-workers Particulate-sampling-methods Particulates Respiratory-system-disorders Smoking Welders

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• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; North Carolina ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 4 ; Virginia ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  353-356
• Volume:
  48
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20030012
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2006 Apr; 48(4):353-356
• Contact Point Address:
  Paul D. Boyce, Department of Environmental Health, Occupational Health Program, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115
• Email:
  paulboyce@post.harvard.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Argon (CAS RN 7440-37-1) ; Magnesium (CAS RN 7439-95-4) ; Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5) ; Molybdenum (CAS RN 7439-98-7) ; Potassium (CAS RN 7440-09-7) ; Silicon tetrafluoride (CAS RN 7783-61-1) ; Sodium (CAS RN 7440-23-5) ; Titanium (CAS RN 7440-32-6) ; Zinc (CAS RN 7440-66-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2006
• NORA Priority Area:
  Disease and Injury: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0d1050c26d8a089c9c602c6680947ecd7ab9c57e435e1b4281a4687d28da7a2cff4415f75675c69ced45f46bc29475be035fa7edc56eb46f73cb3a36f7de1edb
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/190873/cdc_190873_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 143.36 KB ]