Inflammatory responses and oxidative stress from metal fume exposure in automobile welders

OBJECTIVES: Welding operations expose to metal fume. We investigated the inflammatory responses and oxidative stress from metal fume exposure in an automobile plant. METHODS: We recruited 258 automobile workers and measured the urine zinc, copper, and nickel to determine the exposure level, and examined the white blood cells, and IL-6 as inflammatory responses to the metal fume exposure. We also examined the relationship between glutathione (GSH) and metals exposure. RESULTS: There were significant association between urine metals levels and welding hours. Zinc was significantly associated with blood white cells, interleukin-6, and GSH. Copper was significantly associated with GSH, but nickel was significantly inversely associated with GSH. CONCLUSIONS: Automobile welders appear to have significant metals exposure. White blood cells and IL-6 might be involved in inflammatory process of zinc fume exposure with zinc and copper increasing GSH, but nickel depleting it.