Open AccessCancer risk assessment for occupational exposure to chromium and nickel in welding fumes from pipeline construction, pressure container manufacturing, and shipyard building in Taiwan
Author(s) -
Yang ShowYi,
Lin JiaMing,
Lin WanYu,
Chang ChingWen
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of occupational health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 59
ISSN - 1348-9585
DOI - 10.1539/joh.2018-0075-fs
Subject(s) - welding , metallurgy , chromium , shielded metal arc welding , materials science , gas tungsten arc welding , hexavalent chromium , nickel , filler metal , environmental science , arc welding , waste management , engineering
Objective We assessed the cancer risks resulting from the exposure to chromium, hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)), oxidic nickel (Ni), and soluble Ni in welding fumes during pipeline and shipyard construction and pressure container manufacturing in Taiwan. We also determined the roles of welding performance and demographic characteristics during the exposure to Cr and Ni. Methods Personal air samples were collected for the analysis of Cr and Ni, and the concentrations of Cr (VI), oxidic Ni, and soluble Ni were quantified. We assessed cancer slope factors for Cr, Cr (VI), oxidic Ni, and soluble Ni, and we used the Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk model proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to calculate excess risk. Results The risks of exposure to Cr and Cr (VI) in welding fumes exceeded the acceptable level of occupational exposure (10‐ 3 ). We ranked the excess cancer risk in three industries in decreasing order as follows: pipeline construction, shipyard construction, and pressure container manufacturing. The most sensitive parameters for the risk assessment were Cr and Ni concentrations. Statistically significant determinants of Cr (VI), oxidic Ni, and soluble Ni concentrations were the following : stainless steel as the base metal and the filler metals of shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Conclusion The study revealed that welders belong to a high cancer‐risk group. Furthermore, we demonstrated the roles of filler metals and stainless steel in exposure to Cr and Ni.