manufacture, processing and use of stainless steel - International ...

MMA/SS) at approximately 400 mg/m 3 (30 minutes/day for up to 14 days in total)
resulted in histopathological signs of pulmonary toxicity in rats. More marked effects
appeared to be associated with MMA/SS fume. The data did not allow identification
of a NOAEL for this effect.
Human data
Investigations of repeated exposure to welding fume in humans have focussed either
on the effect on kidney function or the effect on respiratory health.
Investigations of renal function
Alsbirk et al. (1981) studied renal function in a group of ten stainless steel welders.
Details of the steel used and information on possible nickel exposure were not
presented, but serum chromium did increase during the course of the working week
indicating absorption of chromium from the welding fume. No changes in urinary
excretion of albumin or ß2-microglobulin to suggest renal damage were detected, but
a number of other, larger, studies of stainless steel welders have followed throwing
further light on this subject. Reported effects on liver function, which was also
investigated in this study, appear to be associated with alcohol consumption and are
therefore not considered relevant.
Littorin et al. (1984) investigated renal function in a group of 17 MMA/SS welders
from six different industries. Urine was collected from the welders pre- and post-shift
on a Monday; blood samples were collected post-shift. Urine and blood samples were
also collected from 17 control subjects, matched for age, sex, smoking status and
alcohol consumption. The welders had worked as welders for a median of 20 years
(range 7-41). Job title was reported and urinary chromium was measured. Median
urinary chromium concentrations were 6 µg/g creatinine (pre-shift; range 0.9 - 29)
and 11 µg/g creatinine (post-shift; range 1.5 - 71). Urinary chromium was higher in
the welders than controls, and increased across the work shift. No measurements of
urinary nickel or other estimates of exposure to nickel were made. No differences
which might suggest an effect on renal function were identified between the groups in
the concentrations of a range of urinary proteins thought to reflect both glomerular
and tubular function. No air monitoring data were presented in this study, and details
of the stainless steel base metal and electrode were absent. Nevertheless, this study
provides no evidence for an effect on kidney function among MMA/SS welders with
long-term experience of welding.
Verschoor et al. (1988) studied renal function in 29 male chrome plating workers, 21
stainless steel welders, 18 boilermakers working largely with the same materials and
in the same workshop as the welders, and a further group of 24 stainless steel welders.
A group of 71 subjects from a variety of workplaces who were not exposed to
chromium were also studied. Subjects with hypertension, known concurrent renal
disease or concurrent use of medication were excluded. Urine and blood samples
were collected at the end of the working day on the last day of the working week for
all subjects. Samples were analysed for urinary and serum chromium levels, and the
urinary concentration of a range of proteins (albumin, ß2-microglobulin, retinol
binding protein, immunoglobulin G (IgG), N-acetyl-ß-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), ß-
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