US EPA

1576520 

Technical Report 

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON HEALTH HAZARDS AND BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF WELDING FUMES AND GASES, COPENHAGEN, 18-21 FEBRUARY 1985: SUMMARY REPORT 

Stern, RM; Berlin, A; Fletcher, A; Hemminki, K; Jarvisalo, J; Peto, J 

1986 

Yes 

International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
ISSN: 0340-0131
EISSN: 1432-1246 

ETICBACK/39673 

237 

3 

237-246 

eng 

The International Conference on Health Hazards and Biological Effects of Welding Fumes and Gases, held at Copenhagen, Denmark, February 18 to 21, 1985, was described. Eighteen papers provided reviews of the major topics, and 28 oral contributions and 45 poster presentations supplemented the scientific aspects of the conference. Topic areas considered included discussion of the nature and quantity of welding fumes and gases produced by welding techniques currently in use, measuring exposure to welding fumes and evaluating their effects in experimental animals and cell cultures, epidemiological evaluation of welders' health, and methods for minimizing the respiratory health effects faced by welders. Conclusions reached by the conference are: both acute and chronic respiratory effects occur among welders; in-vitro studies indicate that most welding fumes are cytotoxic and those from stainless steel welding are genotoxic as well; and there is considerable evidence of a moderate increase in lung cancer risk among welders. Biological monitoring of chromium, nickel, aluminum, fluorine, and manganese using urine or blood specimens can provide additional information about the exposures of these metals to individual welders. Special consideration should also be given to non respiratory health and safety problems encountered in welding operations.