Risk Management Panel Meeting March 12-14, 2019 Charleston, SC Approved for Distribution A
IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC RISKS TO HUMANS WELDING, MOLYBDENUM TRIOXIDE, AND INDIUM TIN OXIDE Daniel O. Chute, CIH, CSP BSI EHS Services And Solutions East Inc. Reston, Virginia daniel.chute@bsigroup.com 703-689-9482
AIHA states in the September 2018 issue of The Synergist that “welding fumes cause lung cancer”..
The Synergist based it’s conclusions on a 2018 Monograph produced by IARC. IARC – International Agency Research on Cancer –a specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization. In March 2017, seventeen scientists from ten countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France to evaluate the carcinogenicity of welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide. IARC review of literatures linked welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide to certain cancers.
IARC Monograph process starts with a working group 17 scientists from 10 countries International Experts Selection of agents for review: Agents are selected for review on the basis of two main criteria: There is evidence of human exposure and There is some evidence or suspicion of carcinogenicity.
Population-based cohort studies on cancer and welding or exposure to welding fumes Location Cohort study reviewed Exposure category Cancer type Enrolment Follow-up period Zutphen, Netherlands 1977-1978 1986 1977-1985 1986-1993 Welding fumes/soldering fumes Lung Prostrate UK 1946-1990 1946-1978 Welder Europe 1992 2000 Welder, in welding shop USA USA – OH USA – Tenn. 1952-1992 1970 1943 1952-1996 1987 1974 Shipyard, welding fume 1097 deaths from lung cancer 231 deaths from lung cancer Lung, Brain, Leukemia Canada 1991 2011 Shipbuilding/repair Occasional welder Lung; kidney, urinary bladder; eye melanoma, mesothelioma Page 113 – 145
IARC Findings & Exposure limit values Agents Organ site/type of cancer Source Welding Fumes Lung; Kidney; Urinary bladder; Prostate; Mesothelioma Welding – Arc, gas UV radiation Ocular melanoma Arc from welding guns Molybdenum trioxide No data available for human but causes lung tumor in experimental animal animals Country Welding fumes limit value (8-TWA) Generally 5 mg/m3 China 4mg/m3 Netherlands 1mg/m3 USA, UK, Germany Use limits for specific metals in welding fumes or respirable dust Page 64
Exposure limit values - USA Country Specific metals in welding fumes/respirable dust USA Iron Chromium Copper Nickel Manganese Aluminum Titanium Molybdenum Zinc Beryllium Welding Fumes Page 50; 272
Questions for US Shipyard Welding How does work described in IARC report compare to current welding process in US shipyard welding? What potential cancer risks have been identified in the IARC report? What welding work is most likely to create welding fume exposures at or above levels of concern? What air monitoring and testing methods are recommended for further evaluation? What existing training, process control and protective measures are shown to be effective for elimination or reduction of these potential hazards?