Abstract—Welding process has potential physical and
chemical health hazards. Welding fumes, toxic gases and metal
particles are the chemical hazard that leads to long-term and
chronic lung function effects. This study investigates the effects
of duration of exposure and smoking status on pulmonary
function status among welders of two automotive assembly
plants in Malaysia (Plant 1 and Plant 2). This study assesses 61
male welders by pulmonary function test (PFT) using
spirometer. These welders worked with spot, metal inert gas
(MIG) and robotic welding without the benefit of fume control
ventilation or respiratory protective devices. Welding workers
in both plants showed significant reduction in lung function
parameters relative to controls. The results of the study also
showed that in Plant 1, smoking status influence significantly on
pulmonary function status. However, in Plant 2, duration of
work and smoking status both influence significantly on welders
pulmonary function status. This study provides information to
welders on chemical hazard effects among Malaysia’s
automotive industries.
Index Terms—Pulmonary function test, spirometry, welding
process.
The author are with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit
Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia (e-mail: azian@uthm.edu.my,
nuurazreenpaiman@yahoo.com, mutalib@uthm.edu.my,
mdzainal@uthm.edu.my).
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Cite:Azian Hariri, N. Azreen Paiman, A. M. Leman, and M. Z. M. Yusof, "Pulmonary Function Status among Welders in Malaysian’s Automotive Industries," Journal of Clean Energy Technologies vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 108-111, 2014.