Welding fumes are a common occupational exposure. Exposure to a metal fume can cause adverse health effects. While different metal fumes have different adverse health effects, some have similar adverse health effects. This paper’s principal focus is to summarize the primary health effects of the following metal fumes: antimony, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron oxide, magnesium oxide, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc oxide. In particular, the acute and chronic health effects of these metal fumes will be summarized. Besides, this paper will discuss the analytical methods that can be used to evaluate occupational health hazards. Using the sample data provided of a welding operation at a manufacturing facility, metal fumes that produce similar occupational health effects will be identified. Equation 1910.1000(d)(2)(i) will then be used to calculate the equivalent exposure of these metal fumes. The result obtained will then be compared to OSHA PEL or an ACGIH TLV.
|
Metal Fume |
Acute Health Effects |
Chronic Health Effects |
|
Antimony |
If inhaled, antimony can cause coughing. If it comes into contact with the eye, antimony can cause redness of the eye and pain. If ingested, antimony can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Acute: One of the acute health effects of antimony is that it may cause mechanical irritation. |
Antimony is carcinogenic. Thus, it can cause cancer. Prolonged exposure to antimony fumes can cause dermatitis. Antimony may also have adverse health effects on the lungs, resulting in pneumonoconiosis. |
|
Beryllium |
If inhaled, beryllium can cause cough, shortness of breath, and sore throat.’ It can cause redness of the skin. Acute: The aerosol of this metal fume can irritate the respiratory tract. Beryllium fumes can also cause pneumonitis. |
Beryllium is carcinogenic. So, it can cause cancer. Repeated or prolonged exposure to Beryllium dust particles may affect the lungs. This may, in turn, cause chronic beryllium disease, which is characterized by cough, weight loss, and weakness. |
|
Cadmium |
If inhaled, cadmium can cause cough and sore throat. Cadmium can cause redness and pain in the eye. It can also cause abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and headache if ingested. Acute: it can irritate the respiratory tract, cause lung edema, and metal fume fever. |
Cadmium is carcinogenic. So, it can cause cancer. Repeated or prolonged exposure to cadmium fumes may affect the lungs. Cadmium may also affect kidneys, impairing kidneys. |
|
Chromium |
Chromium can cause coughing if inhaled. If the fumes come into contact with the eyes, it can cause redness and pain. Acute: Chromium may cause mechanical irritation to the eye and the respiratory tract. |
Chromium (chromium VI) is carcinogenic and can cause lung cancer. However, chromium III is not carcinogenic. |
|
Copper |
Copper fumes can cause cough, headache, shortness of breath, sore throat, and metal fever if inhaled. If it comes into contact with the skin, it can cause redness of the skin. If ingested, it can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea. Acute: copper fumes may cause mechanical irritation. |
Copper is not carcinogenic. Exposure to copper fumes can cause skin sensitization (Li et al., 2004). |
|
Iron Oxide |
Iron oxide can cause coughing if its fumes are inhaled. It can cause redness of the eyes if the fumes come into contact with the eyes. Acute: Iron oxide may cause mechanical irritation. |
Iron oxide is carcinogenic. It can cause skin cancer if the fumes come into contact with the skin. It can also affect the lungs if the dust particles are inhaled, resulting in siderosis (Li et al., 2004). |
|
Magnesium Oxide |
This metal fume can cause cough and metal fever if inhaled. It can also cause pain and redness of the eye. If ingested, magnesium oxide can cause diarrhea. |
Magnesium oxide is not a human carcinogen. |
|
Molybdenum |
If inhaled, molybdenum can cause coughing. It can also cause redness of the eyes. Acute: Molybdenum may cause mechanical irritation. |
The chronic health effects of this metal fume has not been investigated adequately. |
|
Nickel |
If inhaled, nickel fumes can cause chronic bronchitis. It can also cause acute respiratory distress and pulmonary fibrosis. |
Nickel is carcinogenic. It can cause lung and nasal cancer. |
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The analytical method that I would use to evaluate occupational health hazards is the NIOSH Method 7300. This method entails using cellular membranes, such as ester and polyvinyl chloride, to screen metal fumes in the occupational environment. Thus, NIOSH Method 7300 can be used to evaluate the metal fumes listed in the table above. According to Table 1, the following metal fumes have similar health effects: antimony, copper, iron oxide, molybdenum, and nickel fumes. All these metal fumes irritate the eye, nose, and throat. Besides, they all cause mechanical and lung irritation. Similarly, beryllium and cadmium have similar health effects. They both can damage the lungs and other respiratory organs. Based on the sample data provided, cadmium is the only metal fume whose results were well above the permissible OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV limits. Given that cadmium is carcinogenic, action ought to be taken to reduce the results below the permissible limits allowed by OSHA PEL or recommended by ACGIH TLV. The results of the other metal fumes were well below the permissible OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV limits.
References
Li, G. J., Zhang, L. L., Lu, L., Wu, P., & Zheng, W. (2004). Occupational exposure to welding fume among welders: alterations of manganese, iron, zinc, copper, and lead in body fluids and the oxidative stress status. Journal of occupational and environmental medicine/American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , 46 (3), 241.
