Emina Mocevic1, Pernille Kristiansen, Jens Peter Bonde. 1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, Opgang 33, 2400, Copenhagen NV, Denmark, emina.mocevic.01@regionh.dk.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), but less is known about occupational exposure to welding fumes and the risk of IHD. The objective of this paper was to review the epidemiological evidence on causal links between welding fume exposure and risk of IHD and to investigate whether the risk of IHD depends on specific welding characteristics. METHODS: A systematic search in Medline 1979-2013 and EMBASE 1974-2013 identified 18 epidemiological studies with at least one risk estimate of IHD morbidity or mortality among workers exposed to welding fumes. Following an assessment of completeness of reporting, confounding, and bias, each risk estimate was characterized as more or less reliable. Pooled risk estimates were computed across studies by random effect meta-analyses. RESULTS: The weighted relative risk (RR) for IHD following exposure to welding fumes was 1.09 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.00, 1.19]. We calculated a RR of 1.39 (95 % CI 0.96, 2.02) among studies using an internal reference group and 1.08 (95 % CI 0.99, 1.18) for studies using an external reference group. An increased risk was observed for acute myocardial infarction RR = 1.69 (95 % CI 1.18, 2.42) and other IHDs RR = 1.06 (95 % CI 0.98, 1.14). There was too limited evidence to evaluate the risk of IHD related to specific welding characteristics. CONCLUSION: Several studies indicate that welding is associated with a moderately increased risk of IHD; however, bias and confounding cannot be ruled out with reasonable confidence.
PURPOSE: Air pollution has been linked to an increased risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), but less is known about occupational exposure to welding fumes and the risk of IHD. The objective of this paper was to review the epidemiological evidence on causal links between welding fume exposure and risk of IHD and to investigate whether the risk of IHD depends on specific welding characteristics. METHODS: A systematic search in Medline 1979-2013 and EMBASE 1974-2013 identified 18 epidemiological studies with at least one risk estimate of IHD morbidity or mortality among workers exposed to welding fumes. Following an assessment of completeness of reporting, confounding, and bias, each risk estimate was characterized as more or less reliable. Pooled risk estimates were computed across studies by random effect meta-analyses. RESULTS: The weighted relative risk (RR) for IHD following exposure to welding fumes was 1.09 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.00, 1.19]. We calculated a RR of 1.39 (95 % CI 0.96, 2.02) among studies using an internal reference group and 1.08 (95 % CI 0.99, 1.18) for studies using an external reference group. An increased risk was observed for acute myocardial infarction RR = 1.69 (95 % CI 1.18, 2.42) and other IHDs RR = 1.06 (95 % CI 0.98, 1.14). There was too limited evidence to evaluate the risk of IHD related to specific welding characteristics. CONCLUSION: Several studies indicate that welding is associated with a moderately increased risk of IHD; however, bias and confounding cannot be ruled out with reasonable confidence.
Authors: L Simonato; A C Fletcher; A Andersen; K Anderson; N Becker; J Chang-Claude; G Ferro; M Gérin; C N Gray; K S Hansen Journal: Br J Ind Med Date: 1991-03
Authors: Dag G Ellingsen; Maxim Chashchin; Ingebjørg Seljeflot; Balazs Berlinger; Valery Chashchin; Leo Stockfelt; Yngvar Thomassen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2019-05-21 Impact factor: 3.015
Authors: Huiqi Li; Maria Hedmer; Monica Kåredal; Jonas Björk; Leo Stockfelt; Håkan Tinnerberg; Maria Albin; Karin Broberg Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-07-06 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Yiyi Xu; Huiqi Li; Maria Hedmer; Mohammad Bakhtiar Hossain; Håkan Tinnerberg; Karin Broberg; Maria Albin Journal: Environ Health Date: 2017-03-09 Impact factor: 5.984
Authors: Maria Grazia Riccelli; Matteo Goldoni; Diana Poli; Paola Mozzoni; Delia Cavallo; Massimo Corradi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-04-08 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Bengt Sjögren; Maria Albin; Karin Broberg; Per Gustavsson; Håkan Tinnerberg; Gunnar Johanson Journal: Scand J Work Environ Health Date: 2021-11-25 Impact factor: 5.024
Authors: Karin Grahn; Karin Broberg; Per Gustavsson; Petter Ljungman; Petra Lindfors; Mattias Sjöström; Pernilla Wiebert; Jenny Selander Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2022-07-11 Impact factor: 2.851
Authors: David Lucas; François Guerrero; Emmanuel Jouve; Sophie Hery; Pascale Capellmann; Jacques Mansourati Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-09-28
Authors: Johanna Samulin Erdem; Yke Jildouw Arnoldussen; Sepideh Tajik; Dag G Ellingsen; Shanbeh Zienolddiny Journal: Toxicol Ind Health Date: 2020-10-07 Impact factor: 2.273