Iron ores, agglomerates

Health surveillance data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

health surveillance data

Type of information:

other: Human health surveillance

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Study period:

March 1970 - October 1973

Reliability:

4 (not assignable)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Occupational screening.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Radiological abnormalities in electric-arc welders

Author:

Attfield MD, Ross DS

Year:

1978

Bibliographic source:

Br J Ind Med 35(2): 117-122

Materials and methods

Study type:

medical screening

Remarks:

Chest X-rays

Endpoint addressed:

repeated dose toxicity: inhalation

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline available

GLP compliance:

not specified

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Iron

EC Number:

231-096-4

EC Name:

Iron

Cas Number:

7439-89-6

Molecular formula:

Fe

IUPAC Name:

iron(2+)

Details on test material:

- Name of test material (as cited in study report): Iron dust

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

Six hundred and sixty-one currently employed electric arc welders and twelve retired electric arc welders at a United Kingdom company had chest X-rays taken between 1970 and 1973. Study team doctors examined the X-rays for radiological abnormalities. The X-ray scores were analyzed, giving percentages of workers with small rounded opacities of score 0/1 or greater.

Results and discussion

Results:

There was no evidence of large opacities in any of the X-rays. About 8% (7.9%) of the welders had x-rays of grade 0/1 or higher, showing evidence of small, rounded opacities. However, more than 50% had only an ILO score of 0/1. Abnormalities other than large or small opacities were recorded, and the most common of those was tuberculosis. The prevalence of small opacities increased as the length of employment as a welder increased. There were no signs of abnormalities until fifteen years of exposure had passed, after which the prevalence of opacities continues to increase.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

Long-term (>15 years) exposure to iron and other dusts shows an increased risk of small opacities in chest X-rays.

Executive summary:

A group of 661 electric arc welders in the United Kingdom had chest x-rays between 1970 and 1973. These x-rays were scored by three doctors for signs of abnormalities. Only 8% of the X-rays scored showed abnormalities of 0/1 or greater (more than 50% of these only 0/1). The risk of abnormality increased with increasing length of employment. There were few signs of severe abnormalities in these workers.