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Please be aware that this old REACH registration data factsheet is no longer maintained; it remains frozen as of 19th May 2023.

The new ECHA CHEM database has been released by ECHA, and it now contains all REACH registration data. There are more details on the transition of ECHA's published data to ECHA CHEM here.

Diss Factsheets

Toxicological information

Health surveillance data

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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

Constituent 1
Chemical structure
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.