Cancer incidence among welders: possible effects of exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation (ELF) and to welding fumes.

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  • Author(s): Stern RM;Stern RM
  • Source:
    Environmental health perspectives [Environ Health Perspect] 1987 Dec; Vol. 76, pp. 221-9.
  • Publication Type:
    Journal Article
  • Language:
    English
  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 0330411 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0091-6765 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00916765 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Environ Health Perspect Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: Research Triangle Park, N. C. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
    • Subject Terms:
      Welding*; Electromagnetic Fields/*adverse effects ; Electromagnetic Phenomena/*adverse effects ; Neoplasms/*etiology ; Occupational Diseases/*etiology; Air Pollutants, Occupational/adverse effects ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Leukemia/epidemiology ; Leukemia/etiology ; Lung Neoplasms/epidemiology ; Lung Neoplasms/etiology ; Neoplasms/epidemiology ; Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced/epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology
    • Abstract:
      Epidemiological studies of cancer incidence among welders disclose a pooled total of 146 cases of leukemia observed versus 159.46 expected, a risk ratio of 0.92, and 40 cases of acute leukemia observed versus 43.39 expected, a risk ratio of 0.92. For respiratory tract cancer, the pooled total is 1789 cases observed versus 1290.7 expected, a risk ratio of 1.39. Most electric welders are exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation (ELF) (magnetic flux densities of up to 100,000 microT), a suspected leukemogen, and to concentrated metallic aerosols (up to 200 mg/m3), which can contain the putative respiratory tract carcinogens Cr(VI) and Ni. The two exposures are usually coincident, since welding with an electric current produces welding fumes. The observation of an excess risk for respiratory tract cancer strongly suggests significant exposure both to fumes and to ELF. The absence of increased risk for all leukemia or for acute leukemia among ELF-exposed welders does not support the hypothesis that the observed excess risk for leukemia or acute leukemia among workers in the electrical trades is due to their ELF exposure, which on the average is lower than that of welders.
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    • Accession Number:
      0 (Air Pollutants, Occupational)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 19871201 Date Completed: 19880607 Latest Revision: 20181113
    • Publication Date:
      20240829
    • Accession Number:
      PMC1474456
    • Accession Number:
      10.1289/ehp.8776221
    • Accession Number:
      3447902