Lung deposition versus inhalable sampling to estimate body burden of welding fume exposure: A pilot sampler study in stainless steel welders. (March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Newton, Ashley; Serdar, Berrin; Adams, Karin; Dickinson, L. Miriam; Koehler, Kirsten
• Is Part Of: Journal of aerosol science. Volume 153(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03
• Subjects: Sampler validation -- Welding aerosols -- Lung deposition; Aerosols -- Periodicals; Aerosols -- Periodicals; Aérosols -- Périodiques; 541.34515
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2020.105721
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8502

Abstract

Abstract: This pilot study evaluated the ability of a lung deposition sampler (LDS) to estimate body burden by comparing lung-deposited and inhalable nickel and chromium exposures to biomarkers of internal dose. A cohort of stainless steel welders (N = 18) wore side-by-side inhalable and lung deposition samplers for two Monday shifts and urine samples were collected pre- and post-shift. Samplers were analyzed for inhalable and lung-deposited nickel and chromium and urine was analyzed for the respective biomarkers of internal dose. There were statistically significant relationships between lung-deposited nickel (βNi = 0.10; 95% CI = 0.05–0.16) and chromium (βCr = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.006–0.14) and their internal dose biomarkers. No relationship was found between inhalable metals and internal dose biomarkers. In moving towards a more physiologically relevant exposure metric, the LDS can provide better estimates for the total body burden of exposure than traditional penetration-based samplers. Highlights: Validation of lung deposition sampler with polyurethane foam collection substrate. Lung deposited size fraction significantly associated with urinary metal biomarkers. Inhalable size fraction not significantly associated with urinary biomarkers.