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. 2023 Jan;65(1):e12393.
doi: 10.1002/1348-9585.12393.

Associations between welding fume exposure and neurological function in Japanese male welders and non-welders

Mayumi Tsuji  1 , Chihaya Koriyama  2 , Yasuhiro Ishihara  3 , Toyohi Isse  4 , Tsunetoshi Ishizuka  5 , Wataru Hasegawa  5 , Motohide Goto  5 , Rie Tanaka  1 , Noriaki Kakiuchi  6 , Hajime Hori  7 , Kazuhiro Yatera  8 , Naoki Kunugita  9 , Megumi Yamamoto  10 , Toshihide Sakuragi  1 , Yoshiko Yasumura  1 , Maori Kono  11 , Mami Kuwamura  1 , Kyoko Kitagawa  1 , Susumu Ueno  5
Affiliations

Associations between welding fume exposure and neurological function in Japanese male welders and non-welders

Mayumi Tsuji et al. J Occup Health. 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Objectives: There are some studies reporting the association between (manganese [Mn]) exposure to welding fume and neurological dysfunction. This study examined the relationship between Mn exposure and neurological behavior in Japanese male welders and non-welders using biological samples, which to date has not been assessed in Japan.

Methods: A total of 94 male welders and 95 male non-welders who worked in the same factories were recruited. The blood and urine samples were obtained from all the participants to measure Mn exposure levels. Neurological function tests were also conducted with all participants. The sampling of the breathing air zone using a personal sampler was measured for welders only.

Results: The odds ratios (ORs) for the Working Memory Index (WMI) scores were significantly higher among all participants in the low blood Mn concentration group than those in the high blood Mn concentration group (OR, 2.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24, 6.19; P = .013). The association of WMI scores and blood Mn levels in welders had the highest OR (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.04, 13.38; P = .043). Although not statistically significant, a mild relationship between WMI scores and blood Mn levels was observed in non-welders (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 0.63, 6.94; P = .227).

Conclusions: The results revealed a significant positive relationship between blood Mn and neurological dysfunction in welders. Furthermore, non-welders at the same factories may be secondarily exposed to welding fumes. Further research is needed to clarify this possibility.

Keywords: Working Memory Index; manganese; neurological function; welder.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Distribution for individual sampler results of welders by blood manganese (Mn) concentration sub‐groups (tertiles). Values are Median (mg/m3) (25th and 75th percentiles). *P values were obtained using an analysis of covariance adjusted for age, body mass index, smoking habits, drinking habits, factory, and welding exposure‐years. T, tertile; TWA, time‐weighted average.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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