Comparison of Welding Fumes Exposure during Standing and Sitting Welder’s Position
Experimental study was conducted to assess personal welding fumes exposure toward welders during an aluminum metal inert gas (MIG) process. The welding process was carried out by a welding machine attached to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) workbench. A dummy welder was used to replicate welder during welding works and was attached with sampling pumps and filter cassettes for welding fumes sampling. Direct reading instruments to measure air velocity, humidity, temperature and particulate matter with diameter size 10µm or less (PM10) were located behind the dummy welder and parallel to the neck collar level to make sure the measured welding fumes exposure were not being influenced by other factors. Welding fumes exposure during standing and sitting position with and without the usage of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) was investigated. Welding fume samples were then digested and analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) according to ASTM D7439-08 method. The results of the study showed the welding fume exposure during sitting was lower compared to standing position. LEV helped reduce aluminum and lead exposure to acceptable levels during standing position. However during sitting position reduction of exposure was smaller. It can be concluded that welder position and the correct positioning of LEV should be implemented for effective exposure reduction.
[1] H.S. Ashby, "Welding fumes in the workplace: Preventing potential
health problems through proactive controls," Professional Safety, pp. 55-
60, 2002.
[2] S.R. Fiore, "Reducing exposure to hexavalent chromium in welding
fumes," Welding Journal, pp. 38-43, 2006.
[3] E. Ravert ,"Controlling chromium fumes," Welding Journal, 2006.
[4] C. Isaxon, J. Pagels, A. Gudmundsson, C. Asbach, A.C. John, T.A.J.
Kuhlbusch, J.E. Karlsson, R. Kammer, H. Tinnerberg, J. Nielsen and M.
Bohgard, "Characteristics of welding fume aerosol investigated in three
Swedish workshops," Journal of Physics: Conference Series 151, 2009.
[5] Malaysia Factories and Machinery Act (Act 139), Kuala Lumpur : MDC
Publisher Sdn. Bhd., 2010.
[6] Malaysia Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act 514), Kuala Lumpur:
MDC Publisher Sdn. Bhd., 2010.
[7] J. Blunt and N.C. Balchin, Health and Safety in Welding and Allied
Processes, Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing Limited, 2000.
[8] P.J. Hewitt, "Strategies for risk assesment and control in welding:
challenges for developing countries, "Ann. Occup.Hyg., vol. 45 pp. 295-
298, 2001.
[9] J.M. Antonini, A.A. Afshari, S. Stone, B. Chen, D. Schwegler-Berry,
W.G. Fletcher, W.T. Goldsmith, K.H. Vandestouwe, W. McKinney, V.
Castranova and D.G. Frazer, " Design, construction, and characterization
of a novel robotic welding fume generator and inhalation exposure
system for laboratory animals," Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Hygiene,vol. 3, pp.194-203, 2006.
[10] N.T. Jenkins and T.W. Eager, "Chemical analysis of welding fume
particles," Welding Journal, pp. 87-93, June 2005.
[11] B. Moroni and C. Viti, "Grain size, chemistry, and structure of fine and
ultrafine particles in stainless steel welding fumes," Journal of Aerosol
Science, vol. 40, pp. 938-949, 2009.
[12] G.R. Liden and J. Surakka, " A headset-mounted mini sampler for
measuring exposure to welding aerosol in the breathing zone," Annals of
Occupational Hygiene, vol. 53, pp.99-116, 2009.
[13] J. Ojima, " Laboratory evaluation of carbon monoxide exposure in
carbon dioxide arc welding," J. Occup Health, vol. 51, pp. 377-379,
2009.
[14] F.W. Boelter, C.E. Simmons, L. Berman and P. Scheff , "Two-zone
model application to breathing zone and area welding fume concentration data," Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Hygiene, vol. 6, pp. 298 - 306, 2009.
[15] E. Kiesswetter, M. Schäper, M. Buchta, K. Schaller, B. Rossbach, H.
Scherhag, W. Zschiesche and S. Letzel, " Longitudinal study on
potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: I. Assessment of exposure
and neurobehavioural performance of Al welders in the train and truck
construction industry over 4 years," International Archives of
Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 81 (pp. 41-67, 2007.
[16] E. Kiesswetter, M. Schäper, M. Buchta, K. Schaller, B. Rossbach, T.
Kraus and S. Letzel, " Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects
of aluminium: II. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioral
performance of Al welders in the automobile industry over 4 years, "
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol.
82, pp. 1191-1210, 2009.
[17] S. Liu and S.K. Hammond, "Mapping particulate matter at the body
weld department in an automobile assembly plant," Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, vol. 7, pp. 593 - 604, 2010.
[18] Z. Loukzadeh, S.A. Sharifian, O. Aminian and A. Shojaoddiny-
Ardekani, "Pulmonary effects of spot welding in automobile assembly,"
Occupational Medicine, vol. 59, pp. 267-269, 2009.
[19] J.C.J. Luo, K.H. Hsu and W.S. Shen, " Pulmonary function
abnormalities and airway irritation symptoms of metal fumes exposure
on automobile spot welders," American Journal of Industrial Medicine,
vol. 49, pp. 407-416, 2006.
[20] J.-C.J. Luo, K.-H. Hsu and W.-S. Shen, " Inflammatory responses and
oxidative stress from metal fume exposure in automobile welders,"
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 51, pp. 95-
103, 2009.
[21] N. Mansouri, F. Atbi, N. Moharamnezhad, D.A. Rahbaran and M.
Alahiari, "Gravimetric and analytical evaluation of welding fume in an
automobile part manufacturing factory," J.Res. Health Sci., vol. 8, pp. 1-
8, 2008.
[22] D.H. Brouwer, J.H.J. Gijsbers and M.W.M. Lurvink, "Personal exposure
to ultrafine particles in the workplace: Exploring sampling techniques
and strategies, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 48, pp. 439-453,
2004.
[23] D.E. Evans, W.A. Heitbrink, T.J. Slavin and T.M. Peters ,"Ultrafine and
respirable particles in an automotive grey iron foundry," Annals of
Occupational Hygiene, vol. 52, pp. 9-21, 2008.
[24] P.-J. Tsai and J.H. Vincent, " A study of workers exposures to the
inhalable and total aerososl fractions in the primary nickel production
industry using mannequins to simulate personal sampling," Ann.
Occup.Hyg., vol. 45, pp. 385-394, 2001.
[25] A. Hariri, A.M. Leman and M.Z.M. Yusof, "Application of Malaysian
anthropometric data in dummy welder design," in Proc. International
Conference on Design and Concurrent Engineering, Melaka, Malaysia,
2012, pp. 20-24.
[26] NIOSH U.S.A, NIOSH Analytical Method 7300: Elements by ICP, 2003.
[27] ASTM , Determination of Elements in Airborne Particulate Matter by
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, 2008.
[28] British Standard, BS-ISO 30011:2010 Workplace Air-Determination of
Metals and Metalloids in Airborne Particulate Matter by Inductively
Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, 2010.
[1] H.S. Ashby, "Welding fumes in the workplace: Preventing potential
health problems through proactive controls," Professional Safety, pp. 55-
60, 2002.
[2] S.R. Fiore, "Reducing exposure to hexavalent chromium in welding
fumes," Welding Journal, pp. 38-43, 2006.
[3] E. Ravert ,"Controlling chromium fumes," Welding Journal, 2006.
[4] C. Isaxon, J. Pagels, A. Gudmundsson, C. Asbach, A.C. John, T.A.J.
Kuhlbusch, J.E. Karlsson, R. Kammer, H. Tinnerberg, J. Nielsen and M.
Bohgard, "Characteristics of welding fume aerosol investigated in three
Swedish workshops," Journal of Physics: Conference Series 151, 2009.
[5] Malaysia Factories and Machinery Act (Act 139), Kuala Lumpur : MDC
Publisher Sdn. Bhd., 2010.
[6] Malaysia Occupational Safety and Health Act (Act 514), Kuala Lumpur:
MDC Publisher Sdn. Bhd., 2010.
[7] J. Blunt and N.C. Balchin, Health and Safety in Welding and Allied
Processes, Cambridge: Woodhead Publishing Limited, 2000.
[8] P.J. Hewitt, "Strategies for risk assesment and control in welding:
challenges for developing countries, "Ann. Occup.Hyg., vol. 45 pp. 295-
298, 2001.
[9] J.M. Antonini, A.A. Afshari, S. Stone, B. Chen, D. Schwegler-Berry,
W.G. Fletcher, W.T. Goldsmith, K.H. Vandestouwe, W. McKinney, V.
Castranova and D.G. Frazer, " Design, construction, and characterization
of a novel robotic welding fume generator and inhalation exposure
system for laboratory animals," Journal of Occupational and
Environmental Hygiene,vol. 3, pp.194-203, 2006.
[10] N.T. Jenkins and T.W. Eager, "Chemical analysis of welding fume
particles," Welding Journal, pp. 87-93, June 2005.
[11] B. Moroni and C. Viti, "Grain size, chemistry, and structure of fine and
ultrafine particles in stainless steel welding fumes," Journal of Aerosol
Science, vol. 40, pp. 938-949, 2009.
[12] G.R. Liden and J. Surakka, " A headset-mounted mini sampler for
measuring exposure to welding aerosol in the breathing zone," Annals of
Occupational Hygiene, vol. 53, pp.99-116, 2009.
[13] J. Ojima, " Laboratory evaluation of carbon monoxide exposure in
carbon dioxide arc welding," J. Occup Health, vol. 51, pp. 377-379,
2009.
[14] F.W. Boelter, C.E. Simmons, L. Berman and P. Scheff , "Two-zone
model application to breathing zone and area welding fume concentration data," Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Hygiene, vol. 6, pp. 298 - 306, 2009.
[15] E. Kiesswetter, M. Schäper, M. Buchta, K. Schaller, B. Rossbach, H.
Scherhag, W. Zschiesche and S. Letzel, " Longitudinal study on
potential neurotoxic effects of aluminium: I. Assessment of exposure
and neurobehavioural performance of Al welders in the train and truck
construction industry over 4 years," International Archives of
Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 81 (pp. 41-67, 2007.
[16] E. Kiesswetter, M. Schäper, M. Buchta, K. Schaller, B. Rossbach, T.
Kraus and S. Letzel, " Longitudinal study on potential neurotoxic effects
of aluminium: II. Assessment of exposure and neurobehavioral
performance of Al welders in the automobile industry over 4 years, "
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol.
82, pp. 1191-1210, 2009.
[17] S. Liu and S.K. Hammond, "Mapping particulate matter at the body
weld department in an automobile assembly plant," Journal of
Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, vol. 7, pp. 593 - 604, 2010.
[18] Z. Loukzadeh, S.A. Sharifian, O. Aminian and A. Shojaoddiny-
Ardekani, "Pulmonary effects of spot welding in automobile assembly,"
Occupational Medicine, vol. 59, pp. 267-269, 2009.
[19] J.C.J. Luo, K.H. Hsu and W.S. Shen, " Pulmonary function
abnormalities and airway irritation symptoms of metal fumes exposure
on automobile spot welders," American Journal of Industrial Medicine,
vol. 49, pp. 407-416, 2006.
[20] J.-C.J. Luo, K.-H. Hsu and W.-S. Shen, " Inflammatory responses and
oxidative stress from metal fume exposure in automobile welders,"
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, vol. 51, pp. 95-
103, 2009.
[21] N. Mansouri, F. Atbi, N. Moharamnezhad, D.A. Rahbaran and M.
Alahiari, "Gravimetric and analytical evaluation of welding fume in an
automobile part manufacturing factory," J.Res. Health Sci., vol. 8, pp. 1-
8, 2008.
[22] D.H. Brouwer, J.H.J. Gijsbers and M.W.M. Lurvink, "Personal exposure
to ultrafine particles in the workplace: Exploring sampling techniques
and strategies, Annals of Occupational Hygiene, vol. 48, pp. 439-453,
2004.
[23] D.E. Evans, W.A. Heitbrink, T.J. Slavin and T.M. Peters ,"Ultrafine and
respirable particles in an automotive grey iron foundry," Annals of
Occupational Hygiene, vol. 52, pp. 9-21, 2008.
[24] P.-J. Tsai and J.H. Vincent, " A study of workers exposures to the
inhalable and total aerososl fractions in the primary nickel production
industry using mannequins to simulate personal sampling," Ann.
Occup.Hyg., vol. 45, pp. 385-394, 2001.
[25] A. Hariri, A.M. Leman and M.Z.M. Yusof, "Application of Malaysian
anthropometric data in dummy welder design," in Proc. International
Conference on Design and Concurrent Engineering, Melaka, Malaysia,
2012, pp. 20-24.
[26] NIOSH U.S.A, NIOSH Analytical Method 7300: Elements by ICP, 2003.
[27] ASTM , Determination of Elements in Airborne Particulate Matter by
Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry, 2008.
[28] British Standard, BS-ISO 30011:2010 Workplace Air-Determination of
Metals and Metalloids in Airborne Particulate Matter by Inductively
Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, 2010.
@article{"International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Sciences:65356", author = "Azian Hariri and M. Z. M Yusof and A. M. Leman", title = "Comparison of Welding Fumes Exposure during Standing and Sitting Welder’s Position ", abstract = "Experimental study was conducted to assess personal welding fumes exposure toward welders during an aluminum metal inert gas (MIG) process. The welding process was carried out by a welding machine attached to a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) workbench. A dummy welder was used to replicate welder during welding works and was attached with sampling pumps and filter cassettes for welding fumes sampling. Direct reading instruments to measure air velocity, humidity, temperature and particulate matter with diameter size 10µm or less (PM10) were located behind the dummy welder and parallel to the neck collar level to make sure the measured welding fumes exposure were not being influenced by other factors. Welding fumes exposure during standing and sitting position with and without the usage of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) was investigated. Welding fume samples were then digested and analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) according to ASTM D7439-08 method. The results of the study showed the welding fume exposure during sitting was lower compared to standing position. LEV helped reduce aluminum and lead exposure to acceptable levels during standing position. However during sitting position reduction of exposure was smaller. It can be concluded that welder position and the correct positioning of LEV should be implemented for effective exposure reduction.
", keywords = "ICP-MS, MIG process, personal sampling, welding fumes exposure. ", volume = "7", number = "10", pages = "1972-4", }
