Pulmonary Toxicity and Lung Tumorigenic Potential of Surrogate Metal Oxides in Gas Metal Arc Welding-Stainless Steel Fume: Iron as a Primary Mediator Versus Chromium and Nickel

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• Personal Author:
  Antonini JM ; Battelli L ; Bowers L ; Erdely A ; Falcone LM ; Kashon ML ; Keane M ; Kodali V ; Salmen R ; Stefaniak, Aleksandr B. ; Zeidler-Erdely PC
• Description:
  In 2017, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified welding fumes as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1). Both mild steel (MS) welding, where fumes lack carcinogenic chromium and nickel, and stainless steel (SS) increase lung cancer risk in welders; therefore, further research to better understand the toxicity of the individual metals is needed. The objectives were to (1) compare the pulmonary toxicity of chromium (as Cr(III) oxide [Cr2O3] and Cr (VI) calcium chromate [CaCrO4]), nickel [II] oxide (NiO), iron [III] oxide (Fe2O3), and gas metal arc welding-SS (GMAW-SS) fume; and (2) determine if these metal oxides can promote lung tumors. Lung tumor susceptible A/J mice (male, 4-5 weeks old) were exposed by oropharyngeal aspiration to vehicle, GMAW-SS fume (1.7 mg), or a low or high dose of surrogate metal oxides based on the respective weight percent of each metal in the fume: Cr2O3 + CaCrO4 (366 + 5 µg and 731 + 11 µg), NiO (141 and 281 µg), or Fe2O3 (1 and 2 mg). Bronchoalveolar lavage, histopathology, and lung/liver qPCR were done at 1, 7, 28, and 84 days post-aspiration. In a two-stage lung carcinogenesis model, mice were initiated with 3-methylcholanthrene (10 µg/g; intraperitoneal; 1x) or corn oil then exposed to metal oxides or vehicle (1 x/week for 5 weeks) by oropharyngeal aspiration. Lung tumors were counted at 30 weeks post-initiation. Results indicate the inflammatory potential of the metal oxides was Fe2O3 > Cr2O3 + CaCrO4 > NiO. Overall, the pneumotoxic effects were negligible for NiO, acute but not persistent for Cr2O3 + CaCrO4, and persistent for the Fe2O3 exposures. Fe2O3, but not Cr2O3 + CaCrO4 or NiO significantly promoted lung tumors. These results provide experimental evidence that Fe2O3 is an important mediator of welding fume toxicity and support epidemiological findings and the IARC classification. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Blood Carcinogens Chromates Chromium Cytotoxins Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Immune System Laboratories Lung Lung Diseases Macrophages Metals Neoplasms Nickel Occupational Health Respiratory System Respiratory Tract Diseases Safety Toxicology Welding

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• Keywords:
  Alveolar Cells Arc Welders Arc Welding Calcium Compounds Chromium(III) Compounds Chromium Compounds Chromium Metal Chronic Inflammation Cytokines Cytotoxicity Exposure Assessment Exposure Levels Fumes Gas Welders Immune Reaction Immune System Inhalation Iron Oxides Laboratory Animals Laboratory Testing Lung Cancer Lung Cells Lung Disorders Metal Compounds Metal Fumes Metal Oxides Metal Workers Neutrophils Nickel Oxide Oxides Phagocytes Phagocytic Activity Pulmonary System Disorders Respiratory System Disorders Stainless Steel Toxic Effects Toxic Fumes Welding Fumes

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• ISSN:
  1932-6203
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  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:
  13
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20054179
• Citation:
  PLoS One 2018 Dec; 13(12):e0209413
• Contact Point Address:
  Patti C. Zeidler-Erdely, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
• Email:
  paz9@cdc.gov
• CAS Registry Number:
  Cr3+ (CAS RN 16065-83-1) ; Calcium chromate (CAS RN 13765-19-0) ; Chromia (CAS RN 1308-38-9) ; Chromium (CAS RN 7440-47-3) ; Chromium(6+) (CAS RN 18540-29-9) ; Iron oxide (Fe2O3) (CAS RN 1309-37-1) ; Nickel (CAS RN 7440-02-0) ; Nickel monoxide (CAS RN 1313-99-1) ; Stainless Steel (CAS RN 12597-68-1)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  PLoS One
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:41d2fa5eade58da6d369bc961f378cf26e8f211628b01870397771c5132f7865d61da9e05c67437249e4e14cec76942fe7d7344aa55e9736fd4e9a370186da83
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216794/cdc_216794_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.04 MB ]