PULMONARY-FUNCTION AND SYMPTOMS OF WELDERS

Objectives: As the findings on changes in pulmonary function of welder s have been inconsistent, this study aimed to analyze respiratory symp toms and pulmonary function among welders and controls with particular emphasis on small airways dysfunction. Methods: Cross-sectional analy sis, using spirometry and a standardized questionnaire, was used to ev aluate 521 participants, 166 of whom (64 welders and 102 controls) wer e evaluated for pulmonary symptoms, occupational inhalative exposures, leisure time activities, and anamnestic data. Results: The welders re ported more pulmonary symptoms than the controls. They exhibited a dec reased mean expiratory flow (MEF) at 25% and 50% of vital capacity (ME F25, MEF50) while the other parameters tested (forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in Is) were unchanged compared with the contr ols. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that smoking explained the observed variance; only in MEF25 the duration of welding exposure had a significant influence on this parameter. Conclusions: The signif icantly reduced flow values among the welders compared with the contro ls indicates the presence of small airways disease. Differences in smo king habits accounted for more than double the differences in MEF25 th an did chronic welding fume exposure, confirming the role of the forme r as the main risk factor leading to the decline in lung function. Lon gitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of chro nic welding fume exposure, in particular with a view to identifying es pecially susceptible workers.