1、AUS EUH-8 91 Y 07842b5 O50 Effects of Weldin lealth American Welding Society AWS EWH-8 94 W 07842b5 0506451 227 W Keywords -Welding, health, cancer, disease, exposure, fumes, gases, literature review, noise, radiation, toxicology Effects of Welding on Health VI11 Research performed by Southwest Rese
2、arch Institute, San Antonio, Texas, under contract with the American Welding Society and supported by industry contributions. This is an updated (January 1988-December 1989) literature survey and evaluation of the data recorded since the publication of the first report (1979). This series of reports
3、 is intended to aid in the understanding of the health effects of welding. Performed by: John L. On, Ph.D., D.A.B.T. July 1993 Abstract This literature review, with 193 citations, was prepared under contract to the American Welding Society for its Safety and Health Committee. The review deals with s
4、tudies of the fumes, gases, radiation, and noise generated during various arc welding processes. Section 1 summarizes recent studies of occupational exposure to fume, while Section 2 contains information related to the human health effects of exposure to electromagnetic radiation. Section 3 discusse
5、s studies of the effects of welding emissions from production coatings, and Section 4 describes hygiene and work practices. The remaining sections are devoted to reports on health studies on affected organ systems. Prepared for Safety and Health Committee American Welding Society 550 N.W. LeJeune Ro
6、ad Miami, Florida 33126 AWS EWH-8 94 8 0784265 0506452 163 International Standard Book Number: O-87171-437-X American Welding Society, 550 N.W. LeJeune Road, Miami, FL 33126 O 1994 by American Welding Society. Ail rights reserved Printed in the United States of America This report is published as se
7、rvice and convenience to the welding industry and is the product of an independent contractor (Southwest Research Institute) which is solely responsible for its contents. The materials in this report have not been independently reviewed or verified and are offered only as information. AWS assumes no
8、 responsibility for any claims that may arise from the use of this information. Users should make independent investigations to determine the applicability of this information for their purposes. - AWS EWH-8 94 = 0784265 O506453 OTT Personnel K, A. Lyttle, Chairman M. T. Neu, MD, 2nd Vice Chairman M
9、. E. Kennebeck, Jr., Secretary J. T. Ashe W. J. Astleford* K. L. Brown W. Cheney* J. K. Davis* O. J. Fisher* J. E. Glander* S. S. Glickstein* L. D. Harris* J. F. Hinrichs W. S. Howes R. H. Keith* T. J. Loomis* A. F. Maru E. Mastromatteo* D. E. Powers* R. J. Simonton* D. H. Sliney* G. R. Spies* W. O.
10、 Thompson* R. J. Tucker* R. M. Tuggle* M. J. Vasquez* D. R. Wilson* Praxair, Incorporated-Linde Division Caterpillar, Incorporated American Welding Society Snyder General Corporation Southwest Research Institute The Lincoln Electric Company United Air Specialists Gentex Optics Corporation Consultant
11、 Welding Consultant Westinghouse Electric Corporation Davlynne, Incorporated A. O. Smith Corporate Technology National Electrical Manufacturers Association Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Coming Incorporated A. F. Manz Associates Consultant PTR-Precision Technologies, Incorporated Consultant U.S.
12、 Army Environmental Hygiene Consultant U.S. EPA Glendale Protective Tech U.S. Department of Energy Shell Oil Company Wilson Industries Incorporated *Advisor . 111 AWS EWH- 94 W 0784265 0506454 T36 W Foreword (This Foreword is not a part of Efects of WeZding un Health W, but is included for informati
13、onal purposes only.) This literature review was prepared for the Safety and Health Committee of the American Welding Society to provide an assessment of current information concerning the effects of welding on health, as well as to aid in the formulation and design of research projects in this area,
14、 as part of an on going program sponsored by the Committee. Previous work consists of the reports Effects of Welding on Health I through VI1 each covering approximately 18 months to two years. Conclusions based on this review and recommendations for further research are presented in the introductory
15、 portions of the report. Referenced materials are available from: Institute of Scientific Information, Inc. 3501 Market St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel. (800) 336-4474, Ext. 1591 Comparative Listing - Welding Processes Explanatory Note: Terms used in the technical literature sometimes do not correspo
16、nd to those recommended by Accordingly, the following list may aid the reader in identifying the process in use. AWS in its publication ANSUAWS 3.0, Standard Welding Terms andDefinitions. EWH - VIII Preferred AWS Term Gas or Flame Cutting Gas Welding MAG MIG, GMA MMA, SMA TIG Wire (OC) Oxygen Cuttin
17、g or (OFC) Oxyfuel Gas Cutting Oxyfuel Gas Welding or (OAW) Oxyacetylene Welding - (with specified shielding gas) Shielded Metal Arc Welding Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Electrode (OW (GMAW) (SMAW) TAW) (GMAW) Gas Metal Arc Welding V Acknowledgments Funds for this project were provided by the American W
18、elding Society. The American Welding Society gratefully acknowledges the financial support oi ,e program by industry contributions. Supporting Organizations Air Products and Chemicals, Incorporated Airco Welding Products Ailis-Chalmers Alloy Rods Division, The Chemetron Corporation AWS Detroit Secti
19、on AWS New Orleans Section Arcos Corporation The Binkiey Company Caterpillar Tractor Company Chicago Bridge and Iron Company Grove Manufacturing Company, Division of Kidde, Incorporated General Electric Company The Heil Company Hobart Brothers Company INCO Alloys International Lincoln Electric Compa
20、ny Miller Electric Manufacturing Company National-Standard Company A.O. Smith Corporation Teledyne-McKay, Incorporated Trinity Industries, Incorporated Truck Trailer Manufacturers Association Walker Stainless Equipment Company Weld Tooling Corporation Many other organizations have also made contribu
21、tions to support the ongoing program from May 1979 to the present. vi AWS EWH-8 94 07842b5 050b457 745 m Table of Contents Page No . . Personnel 111 Foreword . iv Comparative Listing - Welding Processes . v Acknowledgments . vi Introduction 1 Executive Summary . 3 Technical Summary . 5 Conclusions .
22、 9 1 . 2 . 3 . Fumes 11 1.1 Effects of Electrode Composition . 11 1.2 Lead . 12 1.3 Aluminum 12 1.4 Aerosol Analysis . 13 1.5 Ozone and Nitrogen Oxides 14 1.6 Carbon Monoxide . 14 Electromagnetic Radiation 14 2.1 Light . 14 2.2 Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Energy (ELF) . 16 2.3 Radio Freq
23、uency Electromagnetic Energy 17 2.4 Ionizing Radiation 17 Production Coatings 18 3.1 Organics Released by Heating 18 3.2 Inorganics Released During Welding or Cutting . 18 4 . Hygiene and Work Practices . 19 4.1 Robots 19 4.2 AccidentsPersonnel Safety . 19 4.3 Regulations. Guidelines. and Standards
24、21 5 . Respiratory Tract 23 5.1 Alveolar Macrophages 25 5.2 Anti-oxidant Systems 25 5.3 Estimation of Retained Particles in Lungs . 26 5.4 Pulmonary Function and Bronchitis 27 6 . Cancer 29 6.1 Epidemiologic Studies 29 6.2 Metal Carcinogens 33 7 . Metal Fume Fever . 34 8 . Effects on the Ear and Hea
25、ring 34 vii AUS EWH-8 94 = 0784265 0506458 681 = Page No . 9 . Effects on the Eye and Vision . 36 10 . Effects on the Nervous System 37 11 . Effects on the Musculoskeletal System 38 12 . Effects on the Reproductive System 38 12.1 Male 38 13 . Clastagenesis . 39 14 . Effects on the Urogenital Tract .
26、 39 15 . Effects on the Immune System . 40 16 . Biological Monitoring 40 16.1 Aluminum . 40 16.2 Chromium . 40 16.3 Nickel 41 16.4 Lead 41 17 . In Vitro Studies . 41 17.2 Hyperbaric Pressure . 43 17.1 Mammalian Cell Studies 41 References 44 . VI11 AUS EWH-8 94 m 0784265 0506459 518 m List of Tables
27、Table Page No . 1 . Carbon Monoxide Exposure Levels by Work Location and Time of Day and Smoking Status 14 2 . Blood Carboxyhemoglobin Levels by Location of Work. Time of Day. and Smoking Status 16 3 . Operator Exposure to Magnetic Field (Rms Values at the Frequency of the Strongest Field) 17 4 . Or
28、ganic Chemicals Released from Oxyfuel Cutting of Painted Structural Steel 18 5 . Number of Fatalities Related to Welding and Cutting by Year of Occurrence 20 6 . Welding General Industry Type of Accident by Incident Type . 21 7 . Welding General Industry Employee Activity by Incident Type . 22 9 . W
29、elding Construction Type of Accident by Incident Type . 24 10 - Welding Construction Employee Activity by Incident Type . 24 12 - Welding Maritime Employee Activity by Incident Type . 26 8 . Welding General Industry Work Location by Incident Type . 23 11 - Welding Maritime Type of Accident by Incide
30、nt Type 25 13 - Exposure Category and Sex of Workers 33 14 - Eye Complaints as a Function of Goggles Use 36 15 - Odds Ratios for “Poor Sperm Quality” . 38 List of Figures 1 . Electric and Magnetic Exposure from Transmission Lines . 15 2 . Permissible Exposure Duration and Arc Parameters . 35 3 . Per
31、missible CO, and MIG Durations 35 4 . Permissible TIG Duration . 36 5 . Air and Blood Lead Levels Across Time 42 ix - AWS EWH-8 94 m 0784265 0506460 23T Introduction The health of workers in the welding environment is a major concem of the American Welding Society. To stay abreast of this subject, t
32、he health literature is periodically reviewed and published in the report Effects of Welding on Health. Seven volumes have been published to date; the first covered data published before 1978, while the latter six covered time periods between 1978 and December 1987, The current report includes infor
33、mation published between January 1988 and December 1989. It should be read in conjunction with the previous volumes for a comprehensive treatment of the literature on the Effects of Welding on Health. Included in this volume are studies of the characteristics of welding emissions that may have an im
34、pact on control technologies necessary to protect the welder (Section 1). In keeping with previous volumes, the health studies are organized according to the affected organ system. The effects of electromagnetic radiation, covered in Section 2, are not yet completely understood and more research is
35、needed. The respiratory tract, the primary route of exposure to welding emissions, is also a major target organ of many components of these emissions as noted in Section 5. Acute effects (e.g., metal fume fever in Section 7), as well as potential chronic respiratory effects (e.g., cancer in Section
36、6) of welding emissions are of concern. However, the risk of cancer from these exposures has not been clearly established, and more research in the form of epidemiologic studies, investigations with laboratory animals, and in vitro genotoxicity studies will help to resolve this question. 1 AWS EWH-
37、94 = 07842b5 050b4b1 176 Executive Summary Welding and related technologies require active risk management to mitigate the well known, and not so well known, effects of exposure to chemical and physical agents, This survey of the literature related to the effects of welding and health covers the cal
38、endar years 1988 and 1989. Several of the epidemiologic studies identified a syn- ergistic interaction between cigarette smoking in popula- tions exposed to welding fumes and lung cancer. Workplace smoking policies may eventually become an especially important part of occupational hygiene pro- grams
39、 in industries using welding. Electric and magnetic fields are identified as a new physical agent exposure which may eventually need to be controlled. It is entirely possible that regulation relat- ing to electric and magnetic field exposures may arise from concerns of residential exposure and event
40、ually impact the welding industry. Ironically, a technology which may reduce human exposure to welding emissions, the use of robots, may increase the possibility of other threats to health and welfare such as crushing injuries. Tenuous connections with parental occupations in groups of activities wh
41、ich include welding or soldering have been identified in studies of childhood cancer. This general area of research may well have more specific investigations of welding in the future, because of the potential for exposure to metals. Regulatory changes occurred world-wide in 1988-89. The general ton
42、e of the regulations is toward reduction of exposure to hazardous materials to the minimum attainable levels. Effective management of risk will re- quire implementation of management systems to facili- tate and monitor worker compliance. Advances in biological monitoring, especially for metals, and
43、systems for the physical analysis of welding emissions make it reasonable to predict that, within the next few years, it will be possible to monitor exposure and assess the effectiveness of engineering controls. 3 AWS EWH-8 94 07842b5 050b4b2 002 M Technical Summary The Exposure Fumes Fumes from wel
44、ding processes are usually complex mixtures, the composition of which is usually different from the composition of the electrode or consumables. Fume components are generated by volatilization, reac- tion, or oxidation of the materials involved in the process including the consumables, the base meta
45、l and its coat- ings and other materials present in the atmosphere at the welding site (Ref. 166). The potential hazards associated with exposure to the components of welding fumes are recognized, and work practices for the minimization of exposure are included in materials on welding safety (Ref. 1
46、65) and a consen- sus standard on welding and cutting safety, ANSVASC 249.1-88 (Ref. 1). Ventilation equipment for welding fume control is also the subject of a consensus standard, One approach to reducing the potential health hazards from welding fumes is modification of the consumables. A carcinog
47、en, hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), is normally present in fumes when welding stainless steel, but a low- fume electrode described by Griffiths and Stevenson (Ref. 58) is reported to give an almost 10-fold reduction in Cr(V1) concentration in the fume. Fume composition is a function of many factors whi
48、ch interact in a complex manner. For example, a sample of hardfacing and surfacing wires had nearly a 5-fold dif- ference in fume particulates, but the testing was per- formed at only one load point per wire (Ref. 64) which gives an incomplete picture. Despite the information available on safety and
49、 venti- lation and the research on processes and supplies, actual workplace fume concentrations may exceed acceptable levels (Ref. 45). ANSVAWS F3.1-89. Gases The gases which may be generated during welding processes include ozone, carbon dioxide, fluorides, car- bon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen (Ref. 165). One approach to the reduction of ozone and nitrogen dioxide emissions from GTAW may be to add a low concentra- tion of nitric oxide to the shielding gas (Ref. 10). Carbon monoxide concentrations measured with per- sonal samplers and the difference in carboxyhem
