BIOCHEMICAL AND CELLULAR EFFECTS OF WELDING FUME PARTICLES IN THE RAT LUNG

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Abstract
Rats were examined for cellular and biochemical changes in the lung 1 week after intratracheal instillation of different doses of titanium dioxide and manual metal arc (MMA) welding fume particles collected from the welding of stainless steel, and from the welding of mild steel with basic and rutile-coated electrodes. MMA welding particles produced changes in the lung weight/body weight ratios, the levels of pulmonary surfactant and hydrolytic enzyme activities in the free cell population. Differential effects were also noted between the three welding particulates, an observation emphasized by the short-term effects produced by these compounds following injection into the peritoneal cavity. These preliminary studies suggest that MMA welding particles are cytotoxic (stainless steel>basic>rutile) and have a greater activity in this respect than titanium dioxide.