الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Welding is considered the most hazardous occupation and is increasing dramatically in both developed and developing countries.
There is a multiplicity of factors that can endanger the health of a welder, such as heat, burns, radiation, noise, fumes, gases, electrocution, and awkward postures.
The welding process produces a mixture of particulate and non-particulate chemical hazards. Most of the fume created from the welding process has particles less than 1µm in aerodynamic diameter, that are of respirable size, which has the ability to penetrate lungs and be deposited in terminal bronchioles and alveoli.
Results of previous researches on effects of welding emissions on respiratory health were equivocal. Thus, this study was conducted to detect the frequency of respiratory symptoms and respiratory diseases among welders. In addition, we intended to investigate the changes in lung function and radiological abnormalities among workers exposed to welding fumes.
A cross sectional comparative design was adopted for this study. Inference population (n=235) included all welders at the Shuaiba Industrial Area, who fulfilled study inclusion criteria. The comparison population included 155 workers, not exposed to welding fumes or other respiratory hazards. They were selected from the workers attending the Shuaiba Industrial Medical Centre during the fieldwork period of the study.
Tools for data collection included:
f) A self-structured occupational history interviewing questionnaire
g) British Medical Research Council ”BMRC” questionnaire
h) Forced expiratory spirometry
i) Standard postero-anterior chest x-ray imaging and (HRCT) scanning.
Results of the current study showed the following:
All subjects participating in this study were males and most of the welders and unexposed workers were Indians. Welders in this study were significantly younger, shorter, and less obese than unexposed workers. Mean smoking index was significantly higher among unexposed workers compared with welders. Thus, multifactorial statistical methods were used to control for the confounding effects of age, height, weight, and smoking habit.
Frequency of sick leaves were significantly higher among welders (35.74%) compared with unexposed workers (14.19%). Sick leaves were mainly due to respiratory diseases, followed by musculoskeletal disorders, and injuries.