Welding fumes are a common occupational exposure. Several different welding fumes can cause similar adverse health effects. Personal sampling of a welding operation at a manufacturing facility produced the following 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) results for individual metal fumes.
| Metal Fume | Result | OSHA PEL | ACGIH TLV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antimony | 0.05 mg/m³ | 0.5 mg/m³ | 0.5 mg/m³ |
| Beryllium | 0.00001 mg/m³ | 0.002 mg/m³ | 0.00005 mg/m³ (I) |
| Cadmium | 0.025 mg/m³ | 0.1 mg/m³ | 0.01 mg/m³ |
| Chromium | 0.02 mg/m³ | 1 mg/m³ | 0.5 mg/m³ |
| Copper | 0.03 mg/m³ | 0.1 mg/m³ | 0.2 mg/m³ |
| Iron Oxide | 0.5 mg/m³ | 10 mg/m³ | 5 mg/m³ (R) |
| Magnesium Oxide | 0.02 mg/m³ | 15 mg/m³ | 10 mg/m³ |
| Molybdenum | 0.003 mg/m³ | 15 mg/m³ | 10 mg/m³ (I) |
| Nickel | 0.25 mg/m³ | 1 mg/m³ | 1.5 mg/m³ (I) |
| Zinc Oxide | 0.3 mg/m³ | 5 mg/m³ | 2 mg/m³ (R) |
(R) Respirable fraction (I) Inhalable fraction
Briefly summarize the primary health effects associated with overexposure to each type of metal fume, including both acute and chronic health effects. Explain what analytical methods you would use for evaluating health hazards in the workplace.
Identify the types of metal fumes that would produce similar health effects on an exposed worker. Assume that each listed metal can cause respiratory irritation. Use the equation in 1910.1000(d)(2)(i) to calculate the equivalent exposure (in relation to OSHA PELS) for the metal fumes with similar health effects based on the “Result” column in the table above. Discuss whether you believe any of the individual metal fume exposures or the combined exposure exceeds an OSHA PEL or an ACGIH TLV.
Your homework assignment should be a minimum of two pages in length.
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Introduction:
Welding is a common activity carried out in many industries including manufacturing, construction, and shipbuilding. Welding fumes are a common occupational exposure and can have adverse health effects on workers. This homework assignment aims to provide an understanding of the health effects associated with different types of metal fumes and the analytical methods for evaluating health hazards in the workplace.
1. Briefly summarize the primary health effects associated with overexposure to each type of metal fume, including both acute and chronic health effects. Explain what analytical methods you would use for evaluating health hazards in the workplace.
– Antimony: Acute exposure can cause respiratory irritation, chest pain, and pneumoconiosis. Chronic exposure can lead to lung cancer, cardiovascular effects, and skin irritation. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include gravimetric analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy.
– Beryllium: Acute exposure can cause shortness of breath, fever, and pneumonia. Chronic exposure can result in lung cancer, chronic beryllium disease, and skin irritation. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-MS) and chromatography.
– Cadmium: Acute exposure can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Chronic exposure can lead to kidney damage, lung cancer, and osteoporosis. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-MS).
– Chromium: Acute exposure can cause throat irritation, coughing, and wheezing. Chronic exposure can lead to lung cancer, nasal cancer, and liver and kidney damage. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include atomic absorption spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy.
– Copper: Acute exposure can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and nosebleeds. Chronic exposure can result in liver and kidney damage. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy.
– Iron Oxide: Acute exposure can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Chronic exposure can lead to lung cancer, throat irritation, and skin discoloration. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include gravimetric analysis and iron oxide determination.
– Magnesium Oxide: Acute exposure can cause eye irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Chronic exposure can result in lung damage and skin irritation. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include X-ray diffraction and spectroscopy.
– Molybdenum: Acute exposure can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and wheezing. Chronic exposure can lead to liver and kidney damage and reproductive problems. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include atomic absorption spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP-MS).
– Nickel: Acute exposure can cause respiratory irritation, coughing, and headaches. Chronic exposure can result in lung and nasal cancer, liver and kidney damage, and neurological effects. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include atomic absorption spectroscopy and neutron activation analysis.
– Zinc Oxide: Acute exposure can cause coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Chronic exposure can lead to lung damage and skin irritation. Analytical methods that can be used to evaluate health hazards include X-ray diffraction and atomic absorption spectroscopy.
2. Identify the types of metal fumes that would produce similar health effects on an exposed worker. Assume that each listed metal can cause respiratory irritation. Use the equation in 1910.1000(d)(2)(i) to calculate the equivalent exposure (in relation to OSHA PELS) for the metal fumes with similar health effects based on the “Result” column in the table above. Discuss whether you believe any of the individual metal fume exposures or the combined exposure exceeds an OSHA PEL or an ACGIH TLV.
Copper, iron oxide, and zinc oxide can produce similar health effects on an exposed worker. To calculate the equivalent exposure (in relation to OSHA PELS), we use the equation: (PEL value)/(Result value) = (equivalent exposure limit).
The equivalent exposure limits are as follows:
– Copper: 3.3 mg/m³
– Iron Oxide: 20 mg/m³
– Zinc Oxide: 16.7 mg/m³
The OSHA PELs and ACGIH TLVs for these metals are:
– Copper (PEL: 1 mg/m³, TLV: 0.2 mg/m³)
– Iron Oxide (PEL: 10 mg/m³, TLV: 5 mg/m³)
– Zinc Oxide (PEL: 5 mg/m³, TLV: 2 mg/m³)
Based on the calculated equivalent exposure limits, it appears that the individual metal fume exposures do not exceed the OSHA PELs or ACGIH TLVs. However, the combined exposure to these three metal fumes may require further evaluation.
Conclusion:
Welding fumes are a common occupational exposure that can have adverse health effects on workers. Health effects associated with different types of metal fumes vary from acute respiratory irritation to chronic lung cancer and kidney damage. Analytical methods such as atomic absorption spectroscopy and X-ray spectroscopy can be used to evaluate health hazards in the workplace. It is important to ensure that individual metal fume exposures and combined exposure do not exceed OSHA PELs or ACGIH TLVs.
