Abstract
For the years 1987-1990 160 individual samples
of manual metal arc stainless steel (MMA/SS)
welding fumes from the breathing zone of
welders in four industrial plants were collected.
Concentrations of soluble and insoluble
chromium (Cr) III and Cr VI compounds as
well as of some other welding fume elements
(Fe, Mn, Ni, F) were determined. Concentration
of welding fumes in the breathing zone
ranged from 0'2 to 23-4 mglm3. Total Cr
amounted to 0-005-0-991 mglm3 (including
0 005-0-842 mg/m3 Cr VI). Total Cr content of
fumes varied from 0-1 to 7-4%. The distribution
of particular Cr compounds was: 52-6%
soluble Cr (including 50 7% Cr VI), 65-5% total
Cr VI, and 11-4% insoluble Cr VI. The results
obtained indicate that MMA/SS welding is a
process that could be highly hazardous to
human health. Evaluation of occupational
exposure has shown that MMA/SS welders
may exceed the admissible concentrations of
soluble and insoluble Cr VI forms as well as of
Mn and Ni. In the plants investigated the sum
of the ratios of concentrations of particular
welding fumes in the breathing zone ofwelders
exceeded corresponding maximum allowable
concentration values by 24 times (including 17
times for total Cr VI). Due to the variety and
changeability of particular parameters occurring
in the working environment, the composition
of MMA/SS welding fumes (in the
welder's breathing zone) is so variable that it is
not possible to assess the exposure by means of