Issue 1, 2011

Increased metal concentrations in exhaled breath condensate of industrial welders

Abstract

It was the aim of this study to evaluate the effect of different devices on the metal concentration in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and to prove whether working conditions in different welding companies result in diverse composition of metallic elements. The influence of two collection devices (ECoScreen, ECoScreen2) on detection of metallic elements in EBC was evaluated in 24 control subjects. Properties of ECoScreen and a frequent use can alter EBC metal content due to contamination from metallic components. ECoScreen2 turned out to be favourable for metal assessment. Concentrations of iron, nickel and chromium in EBC sampled with ECoScreen2 were compared between non-exposed controls and industrial welders. Metal concentrations in EBC were higher in 36 welders recruited from three companies. Exposure to welding fumes could be demonstrated predominantly for increased iron concentrations. Concentrations of iron and nickel differed by working conditions, but chromium could not be detected in EBC.

Graphical abstract: Increased metal concentrations in exhaled breath condensate of industrial welders

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 May 2010
Accepted
27 Oct 2010
First published
22 Nov 2010

J. Environ. Monit., 2011,13, 212-218

Increased metal concentrations in exhaled breath condensate of industrial welders

F. Hoffmeyer, T. Weiß, M. Lehnert, B. Pesch, H. Berresheim, J. Henry, M. Raulf-Heimsoth, H. C. Broding, J. Bünger, V. Harth and T. Brüning, J. Environ. Monit., 2011, 13, 212 DOI: 10.1039/C0EM00225A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Spotlight

Advertisements