Aerosol characterization and pulmonary responses after short-term inhalation of fumes generated during resistance spot welding of galvanized steel

Details

• Personal Author:
  Afshari A ; Antonini JM ; Burns D ; Chen BT ; Jackson M ; LeBouf, Ryan F. ; McKinney W ; Meighan T ; Schwegler-Berry D ; Zeidler-Erdely PC
• Description:
  Resistance spot welding is a common process to join metals in the automotive industry. Adhesives are often used as sealers to seams of metals that are joined. Anti-spatter compounds sometimes are sprayed onto metals to be welded to improve weldability. Spot welding produces complex aerosols composed of metal and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause lung disease in workers. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed by inhalation to 25 mg/m3 of aerosol for 4 h/d x 8 d during spot welding of galvanized zinc-coated steel in the presence or absence of an adhesive or anti-spatter spray. Controls were exposed to filtered air. Particle size distribution and chemical composition of the generated aerosol were determined. At 1 and 7 d after exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess lung toxicity. The generated particles mostly were in the submicron size range with a significant number of ultrafine particles formed. The primary metals present in the fumes were iron (72.5 %) and zinc (26.3 %). The addition of the anti-spatter spray and adhesive did affect particle size distribution when spot welding galvanized steel, whereas they had no effect on metal composition. Multiple VOCs (e.g., methyl methacrylate, acetaldehyde, ethanol, acetone, benzene, xylene) were identified when spot welding using either the adhesive or the anti-spatter spray that were not present when welding alone. Markers of lung injury (BAL lactate dehydrogenase) and inflammation (total BAL cells and neutrophils) were significantly elevated compared to controls 1 d after exposure to the spot welding fumes. The elevated pulmonary response was transient as lung toxicity mostly returned to control values by 7 d. The VOCs or the concentrations that were generated during the animal exposures had no measurable effect on the pulmonary responses. Inhalation of galvanized spot welding fumes caused acute lung toxicity most likely due to the presence of zinc. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Acetone Adhesives Aerosols Air Pollutants, Occupational Benzene Body Fluids Chemistry Diagnosis Environmental Exposure Ferrous Compounds Hazardous Substances Immune System Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Metals Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Toxicology Volatile Organic Compounds Welding Xylenes

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• Keywords:
  Acetaldehyde Body Fluids Chemical Composition Coatings Diagnostic Techniques Enzymatic Effects Ethanol Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Fumes Immune Reaction Inhalation Iron Laboratory Animals Laboratory Testing Lung Disorders Metal Compounds Metal Fumes Methyl Methacrylate Neutrophils Particle Size Analysis Pulmonary System Disorders Respiratory System Disorders Sealants Short Term Exposure Toxic Effects Toxic Fumes Ultrafine Particles VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds Volatiles Welding Fumes Xylene Zinc

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Maryland ; OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; RHD - Respiratory Health Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  156
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20049462
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2017 Mar; 156(1):328
• CAS Registry Number:
  2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, methyl ester (CAS RN 80-62-6) ; Acetaldehyde (CAS RN 75-07-0) ; Acetone (CAS RN 67-64-1) ; Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2) ; Ethanol (CAS RN 64-17-5) ; Iron (CAS RN 7439-89-6) ; Xylene (CAS RN 1330-20-7) ; Zinc (CAS RN 7440-66-6)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2017
• NORA Priority Area:
  Construction ; Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 56th Annual Meeting and ToxExpo, March 12-16, 2017, Baltimore, Maryland
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d3c65362461fe657632d4976a0e7c053a66f1213aa66aa60906ddfabc304b3b75329b46241ad366041b861de53c514fd71fce51f3694429a61d65d32129e0ac5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/203906/cdc_203906_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 943.46 KB ]