Study of work related respiratory symptoms among welding workers

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational and environmental pollutant is one of the culprits of morbidity and mortality. Welding materials or fumes of welding materials causes pathogenesis of diseases including asthma, tuberculosis, chest tightness, and other lungs diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of welding fumes on workers and its correlation with smoking and chewing habits. Methods: A total of 44 occupationally exposed worker of welding material in 10 different units were included in this study. A pre-textured questioner was used to inquire duration of work, smoking, chewing, and health related issue. Moreover, sputum samples were collected for the cytological analysis through papanicolaou staining. Results: The subjects were distributed according to health-related issue, and it was observed that back pain was in 8 subjects (18.18%), respiratory disorder including acute cough was in 4 (9.09%), asthma was noted in 5 (11.36%), vision problem in 4 (9.09%), skin rashes in 5 (11.36%), and other health problem was in 3 (6.81%). Cytological analysis was made and observed that 15 (34.09%) subjects out of 44 showed acute inflammation. In addition, diseases linked with respiratory systems such as asthma, chest tightness/acute cough, and other respiratory problem was high in the workers who have long exposure of the welding materials. Furthermore, the subjects who have a history of smoking, chewing, and long work duration showed a high prevalence of health-related complications. Conclusion: This result is indicating that exposure to welding material for long time causes an alteration in epithelial cells that permit easier attack of microbes and thereby finally causes inflammation.