Blood and urine samples were taken from 447 welders exposed to manganese containing welding fumes and 127 office workers not exposed to welding fumes as a control. The air samples were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Varian 30A, Australia), and blood and urine samples were analyzed by flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer(Z-8100, Hibachi, Japan). Data were evaluated in accordance with type of industry, smoking habits, and work duration. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The limit of detection(LOD) levels of manganese in blood and urine were 0.11 microgram/100ml of and 0.14 microgram/l, respectively. Our results of manganese concentration were shown within +/-2 standard deviation which was the upper and lower warning limit (UWL or LWL) on quality control chart. 2. The airborne concentrations of manganese in welding workplaces were 0.067 mg/m3 showing differences by type of industry ; 0.017 mg/m3 in automobile assembly and manufacturing industries, 0.084 mg/m3 in steel heavy industries and 0.180 mg/m3 in shipyards. 3. The blood manganese concentrations showed differences by type of industry showing the highest values of 1.70 microgram/100m1 in shipyards, 1.24 microgram/100m1 in automobile assembly and manufacturing industries and 1.11 microgram/100ml in steel heavy industries. Urinary manganese concentration corrected by urinary creatinine concentrations was 0.34 microgram/g creatinine in automobile assembly and manufacturing industries, 0.43 microgram/g creatinine in steel heavy industries and 0.48 microgram/g creatinine in shipyards. There were no difference urinary manganese concentrations by type of industry. 4. The overall blood manganese concentration was 1.26 microgram/100ml, and urinary manganese concentration was 0.35 microgram/g creatinine in welders. In contrast to these values, blood and urinary manganese concentrations were lower in control group showing 0.73 microgram/100m1, and 0.28 microgram/g creatinine, respectively. 5. Smoking habits did not seem to affect on blood and urinary manganese concentrations both in welders and office workers. 6. Blood manganese concentrations were significantly higher in welder who had worked longer than 10 years than in welder who had worked less than 10 years. 7. The blood manganese concentrations were significantly correlated to airborne manganese concentrations(r=0.318, n=64), work duration(r=0.425, n=538), and cumulative exposure indices(CEI) (r=0.354, n=64).
Absorption ; Automobiles ; Creatinine ; Manganese* ; Metallurgy ; Quality Control ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel ; Welding*

The objective of this study was to describe the occupational accidents and distribution of accidents in different groups. This is a cross sectional study in which the interview with structured questionnaire was used to collect information on occupational accidents and distribution of accidents among 2525 workers in different groups. Our results indicated that the occupational accident prevalence was 4% in 10 year period among workers of heavy, light and chemical industries. The occupational accident rate was highest in the heavy and chemical industry and the workers who worked longer in the industry have lower occupational accident prevalence.
Accidents, Occupational ; Metallurgy ; Chemical Industry

Typical solid wastes contain many metal resources, which are worthy of recycling. The bioleaching of typical solid waste is affected by multiple factors. Green and efficient recovery of metals based on the characterization of leaching microorganisms and the elucidation of leaching mechanisms may contribute to the implementation of China's "dual carbon" strategic goals. This paper reviews various types of microorganisms used for leaching metals from typical solid wastes, analyzes the action mechanism of metallurgical microorganisms, and prospects the application of metallurgical microorganisms to facilitate the application of metallurgical microorganisms in typical solid wastes.
Solid Waste ; Metals ; Metallurgy ; Carbon

Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; etiology ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Exposure

Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic ; Humans ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Diseases

Objective: To analyzes the various occupational health investment and occupational health output of a steel enterprise, and propose a reasonable occupational health investment plan for this enterprise. Methods: In march 2016, various occupational health input and output data of various branches of an iron and steel company in 2015 were collected, and the efficiency of occupational health inputs and outputs of each branch was evaluated using data envelopment analysis (DEA) , and the branches with non-optimal efficiency were adjusted to propose a reasonable occupational health investment plan. Results: Among the branch plants investigated by this steel company, the occupational health input-output efficiency values of ironmaking north plant, power plant, hot rolling plant and stainless steel plant were 1, while the occupational health input-output efficiency of gas making plant, cold rolling plant, metallurgical furnace charge plant, coking plant, ironmaking south plant and long product plant were not the best, and the cold rolling plant has the lowest efficiency value of 0.759. For the cold rolling plant, only the parameters of acid rolling plant satisfy α=1 and s(-)=0, s(+)=0, while the remaining four workshops do not meet. After adjusting the inputs of each part according to the parameters, the occupational health output of the remaining four workshops can reach 1.7044, 2.0238, 1.3152 and 1.2136 times of the current workshop, respectively. Adjustment plans for other branch factories with unreasonable investment structures are also presented in the corresponding tables. Conclusion: The occupational health investment structure of the ironmaking south plant and other branches in this steel enterprise is unreasonable, and the adjustment using data envelopment analysis can maximize the benefits of its occupational health output.
Financial Management ; Iron ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Health ; Steel

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Dust ; Humans ; Iron ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Exposure ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnostic imaging ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Radiography ; Risk Factors ; Steel ; Welding

OBJECTIVETo analyze systematically the characteristics of occupational hazards in the foundry, and provide precise data for epidemiology studies and control of occupational hazards in the foundry.

METHODSData of airborne dust, chemical occupational hazards and physical occupational agents in environment in the foundry from 1978 to 2008 were dynamically collected. Mean concentration and intensity (geometric mean) of occupational hazards were calculated by job in different years.

RESULTSMain occupational hazards in the foundry were silica, metal fume, noise and heat stress. Silica existed in all of main jobs. The mean concentration of silica before 1986 was an extremely high level of 8.6 mg/m(3), and then remarkably dropped after 1986, with the level of 2.4 mg/m(3) from 1986 to 1989, 2.7 mg/m(3) from 1990 to 2002 and 2.7 mg/m(3) from 2003 to 2008. The trend of silica concentrations by job was consistent with that in general. Silica concentrations among jobs were significantly different, with highest level in melting (4.4 mg/m(3)), followed by cast shakeout and finishing (3.4 mg/m(3)), pouring (3.4 mg/m(3)), sand preparation (2.4 mg/m(3)), moulding (2.1 mg/m(3)) and core-making (1.7 mg/m(3)). Concentration of respirable dust in pouring was highest (2.76 mg/m(3)), followed by cast shakeout and finishing (1.14 mg/m(3)). Mean concentration of asbestos dust in melting was a relative high level of 2.0 mg/m(3). In core-making and sand preparation, there existed emission production of adhesive, with mean concentrations as followed, ammonia (5.84 mg/m(3)), formaldehyde (0.60 mg/m(3)), phenol (1.73 mg/m(3)) and phenol formaldehyde resin (1.3 mg/m(3)) also existed. Benzene and its homologues existed in cast shakeout and finishing, and the level of benzene, toluene, xylene was 0.2 mg/m(3), 0.1 mg/m(3) and 1.3 mg/m(3), respectively. In pouring and melting, there existed chemical occupational hazards, including benzo(a) pyrene, metal fume (lead, cadmium, manganese, nickel, chromium) and gas(hydrogen sulfide, phosphine, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide). Mean concentration of benzo(a) pyrene was a low level of 1.80 x 10(-4) microg/m(3). Physical occupational agents in the foundry were noise, heat stress and vibration. Intensity of heat stress was high in melting, pouring and cast shakeout and finishing, with the level of 30 degrees C, 29 degrees C and 26 degrees C, respectively. Noise was high in cast shakeout and finishing and core-making, with the level of 93.1 dB(A) and 89.5 dB(A), respectively. Vibration existed in core-making and cast shakeout and finishing. Compulsory postures included long standing, seating and bowing.

CONCLUSIONOccupational hazards in environment of the foundry are diversified and their concentrations exceed permissible exposure limits stipulated by the national occupational hygienic standards. High-concentrations of dust, metal fume, low-concentrations of variety of chemicals, high-intensity of noise and vibration, heat stress, and harmful compulsory posture, and so on all co-exist in the foundry. Control and protective measures should be strengthened.

Dust ; analysis ; Hazardous Substances ; analysis ; Metallurgy ; Occupational Exposure

Singapore, an island republic of over 5 million inhabitants, has 3.1 million workers. Most are employed in the service, finance and tourist/transport industry. Significant numbers work in manufacturing, construction and heavy industry. Following a series of construction and shipyard accidents with multiple deaths in 2004, the government announced its intention to reduce workplace fatalities from 4.9 to 2.5 per 100,000 by 2015. There was strong political will to achieve this target. The strategic approaches were to build workplace safety and health (WSH) capabilities; implement legislative changes with enforcement; promote benefits of WSH and recognize best practices, and enhance partnership with stakeholders. The anticipated outcomes were to reduce workplace fatality and injury rates; have WSH as an integral part of business; and establish a progressive and pervasive WSH culture. With these measures, the workplace fatality rate declined from 4.9/100,000 in 2004, to 2.2/100,000 in 2010. However, other confounding factors could also account for this decline, and have to be considered. The next target, announced by Singapore's Prime Minister in 2008, is to further reduce the workplace fatality rate to 1.8/100,000 by 2018, and to have "one of the best workplace safety records in the world".
Accident Prevention ; Intention ; Metallurgy ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Singapore

OBJECTIVETo describe the incidence, development and death of pneumoconiosis reported in Hebei from 2001 to 2012 and investigate the epidemiological trends and characteristics of pneumoconiosis to provide basic data for formulating the guidelines and policies for control of pneumoconiosis.

METHODSThe Hebei database of new cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were subjected to systematic arrangement. Clean data and descriptive analysis using SPSS 17.0. The statistical indices included number of new and death pneumoconiosis cases in each year.

RESULTSFrom 2001 to 2012 a total of 4558 new cases of pneumoconiosis were reported. The situation was same to coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis. (2) The pneumoconiosis cases were distributed mainly in the city of Tang Shan, Cheng De, Zhang Jia Kou and Han Dan (88.24%). (3) Most cases were centerred in coal industry, metallurgical industry, nonferrous metals industry, architectural material industry and light industry. (4) The mean age of onset in new cases was shorted each year for silicosis, coal-workers' pneumoconiosis, potter pneumoconiosis and electric welder pneumoconiosis, especially for 2010 to 2012 (9 years). (5) The work types of these cases mainly included drilling (26.72%), mining as the main work (6.67%), hybrid coal mine work (6.95%), molding worker (5.24%) and berterring worker (4.82%). (6) The new cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were diagnosissed I (3415, 74.92%), II (782, 17.16%), III (361, 7.92%). (7) The death cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were 1182, most of them were distributed mainly in the city of Tang Shan, Cheng De, Zhang Jia Kou and Han Dan (88.24%).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of pneumoconiosis is still high: the new cases of pneumoconiosis is still rising. The mean age of onset in new cases was shorted each year. The new cases of pneumoconiosis reposed from 2001 to 2012 were diagnosed II was above 25%. The prevention and control of pneumoconiosis should be enhanced in key industries and for people engaging in key regions, industries, types of work according to the epidemiological characteristics of pneumoconiosis. Most cases were centerred in coal-workers' pneumoconiosis and silicosis.

Anthracosis ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Coal Industry ; Humans ; Incidence ; Metallurgy ; Mining ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology ; Silicosis ; epidemiology