Inhalation of Iron-Abundant Gas Metal Arc Welding-Mild Steel Fume Promotes Lung Tumors in Mice

Details

• Personal Author:
  Andrews, Ronnee N. ; Antonini JM ; Battelli LA ; Cumpston JB ; Cumpston JL ; Dodd T ; Donlin M ; Erdely A ; Falcone LM ; Kashon ML ; Kodali V ; Leonard HD ; McKinney W ; Salmen R ; Stone S ; Zeidler-Erdely PC
• Description:
  Welding fumes were reclassified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2017. Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is a process widely used in industry. Fume generated from GMAW-mild steel (MS) is abundant in iron with some manganese, while GMAW-stainless steel (SS) fume also contains significant amounts of chromium and nickel, known carcinogenic metals. It has been shown that exposure to GMAW-SS fume in A/J mice promotes lung tumors. The objective was to determine if GMAW-MS fume, which lacks known carcinogenic metals, also promotes lung tumors in mice. Male A/J mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of corn oil or the initiator 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA; 10 microg/g) and, one week later, were exposed by whole-body inhalation to GMAW-MS aerosols for 4 hours/day x 4 days/week x 8 weeks at a mean concentration of 34.5 mg/m3. Lung nodules were enumerated by gross examination at 30 weeks postinitiation. GMAW-MS fume significantly increased lung tumor multiplicity in mice initiated with MCA (21.86 +/- 1.50) compared to MCA/air-exposed mice (8.34 +/- 0.59). Histopathological analysis confirmed these findings and also revealed an absence of inflammation. Bronchoalveolar lavage analysis also indicated a lack of lung inflammation and toxicity after short-term inhalation exposure to GMAW-MS fume. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that inhalation of GMAW-MS fume promotes lung tumors in vivo and aligns with epidemiologic evidence that shows MS welders, despite less exposure to carcinogenic metals, are at an increased risk for lung cancer. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Air Pollutants, Occupational Animals Carcinogens Chromium Environmental Exposure Ferrous Compounds Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Manganese Metals Neoplasms Nickel Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Welding

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• Keywords:
  A/J Mice Arc Welders Arc Welding Author Keywords: Mild Steel Chromium Metal Elements Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Fumes Gas Welders Histopathology Inhalation In Vivo Study Iron Iron Compounds Laboratory Animals Laboratory Testing Lung Cancer Lung Cells Manganese Compounds And Fume Nickel Metal Stainless Steel Transition Metals Tumor Promotion Tumors Welders Welding Fumes

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• ISSN:
  0300-483X
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 5 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division ; DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  24-32
• Volume:
  409
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052358
• Citation:
  Toxicology 2018 Nov; 409:24-32
• Contact Point Address:
  P.C. Zeidler-Erdely, National Institutes for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Effects Laboratory Division, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505, United States
• Email:
  paz9@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chromium (CAS RN 7440-47-3) ; Iron (CAS RN 7439-89-6) ; Manganese (CAS RN 7439-96-5) ; Nickel (CAS RN 7440-02-0) ; Stainless Steel (CAS RN 12597-68-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Toxicology
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:577a0f9a859e4626f27ad164b63f5a747a1d02d02831bf007946363617f30bd3becb72081aebb791d93da2de09d3b997c618e2f10731be7eb8720ae23cab05c2
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/211899/cdc_211899_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.74 MB ]