OCCUPATIONAL ASTHMA CAUSED BY ALUMINUM WELDING

Work-related asthma has been documented in workers employed in the pri mary aluminium industry and in the production of aluminium salts. The role of aluminium in the development of occupational asthma has, howev er, never been convincingly substantiated. We investigated a subject w ho experienced asthmatic reactions related to manual metal are welding on aluminium. Challenge exposure to aluminium welding with flux-coate d electrodes, as well as with electrodes without Bur, elicited marked asthmatic reactions. Manual metal are welding on mild steel did not ca use significant bronchial response. The results of inhalation challeng es combined with exposure assessments provided evidence that aluminium can cause asthmatic reactions in the absence of fluorides. Awareness of this possibility may be relevant to the investigation of asthma in corkers exposed to aluminium.