Author/Authors :
BARKHORDARI, Abolfazl Dept. of Occupational Health - Faculty of Health - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , ZARE SAKHVIDI, Mohammad Javad Dept. of Occupational Health - Faculty of Health - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , ZARE SAKHVIDI, Fariba Dept. of Occupational Health - Faculty of Health - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , HALVANI, Gholamhossein Dept. of Occupational Health - Faculty of Health - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , FIROOZICHAHAK, Ali Dept. of Occupational Health - Faculty of Health - Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran , SHIRALI, GholamAbbas Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering - School of Public Health - Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences
Abstract :
Background: Welders exposure to nickel and hexavalent chromium in welding fumes is associated with increase of cancer risk in welders. In this study we calculated cancer risk due to exposure to these compounds in welders.
Methods: The role of exposure parameters in welders on derived incremental lifetime cancer risk were determined by stochastic modeling of cancer risk. Input parameters were determined by field investigation in Iranian welders in 2013 and literature review.
Results: The 90% upper band cancer risk due to hexavalent chromium and nickel exposure was in the range of 6.03E-03 to 2.12E-02 and 7.18E-03 to 2.61E-02 respectively. Scenario analysis showed that asthmatic and project welders are significantly at higher cancer risk in comparison with other welders (P<0.05). Shift duration was responsi-ble for 37% and 33% of variances for hexavalent chromium and nickel respectively.
Conclusions: Welders are at high and unacceptable risk of cancer. Control measures according to scenario analysis findings are advisable.
Keywords :
Inhalation exposure , Cancer risk assessment , Welding fume , Stochastic modeling
