Abstract—Lung functions of 30 welders in Plant 1, 53 welders in Plant 2 and 44 welders in Plant 3 of automotive industries in Selangor and Pahang, Malaysia were investigated. Lung functions of 52 non-welders subjects working in the similar industries were also investigated. Lung function test by using handheld spirometer were conducted for welders and non-welders. Metal fumes samples collected from the breathing zone of the welders were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). None of the metal elements concentration was exceeding the permissible exposure limit (PEL) for all plants. In addition, statistical analysis showed significant mean difference of lung functions between welders and non-welders. Welders in Plant 2 suffered the most on decreased values of lung functions. The results of this study strongly suggest proves of significant respiratory health risk despite the measurement of the welding fumes exposure was still within the Malaysian allowable guidelines range.

Index Terms—lung function effects, Malaysia, welders, welding fumes

Cite: Azian Hariri, M. Z. M Yusof, Nuur Azreen Paiman, and A. M. Leman, "Lung Functions of Welders in Three Automotive Related Industries in Malaysia," Journal of Industrial and Intelligent Information, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 15-19, March 2015. doi: 10.12720/jiii.3.1.15-19