Lung Functions of Welders in Three Automotive Related Industries in Malaysia Azian Hariri, M. Z. M Yusof, and Nuur Azreen Paiman Industrial Environment Research Group (IERG), Centre of Industrial and Energy Studies (CEIES), Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. Email: {azian, mdzainal}@uthm.edu.my, nuurazreen paiman@yahoo.com A. M. Leman Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, 86400 Parit Raja, Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia. Email: mutalib@uthm.edu.my 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 I. INTRODUCTION Hundreds of millions of people throughout the world are working under circumstances that foster ill health or unsafe. It is estimated that yearly over two million people worldwide die of occupational injuries and work-related diseases. In fact more people die from diseases caused by work than are killed in industrial accidents [1]. Malaysia is a developing nation and the manufacturing sector is the major contributor to the Malaysian economy with the number of 1,693,154 person engaged in manufacturing sector in 2009 [2]. One of the main processes in manufacturing sector is welding. According to AWS and EWI (2000) [3], welding will continue to be the preferred method of joining for world class product until 2020. Welding is a common industrial process in manufacturing sector that has both acute and long term Manuscript received November 23, 2013; revised May 5, 2014. chronic hazards mainly from the inhalable welding fumes. Welding exposure differs from variation of industrial setting, types of ventilation, type of welding processes and materials used [4]. In Malaysia, Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994, Use and Standards of Exposure of Chemical Hazardous to Health regulation (USECHH), chemical classified hazardous to health with its permissible emission limits (PEL) were listed and need to be comply by the employer [5]. Recently, literatures has emerged and offers contradictory findings about proves of significant health risk despite the measurement of airborne welding exposure was still under the permissible guidelines range [6]-[8]. II. RELATED RESEARCHES Previous studies had been conducted in evaluating the effect of chemical exposure to the lung function of welders. Studies have shown reduction of lung function value in welders’ population compared to control group [9]-[11]. Welders were commonly associated for restrictive disorder due to welding exposure [12]-[14]. On the other hand, tobacco smoking was commonly associated with obstructive disorder [15], [16]. In addition, research on tobacco smoking welders suggest synergistic relation between the effects of smoking and welding causing lung disease and increased respiratory symptom [17]-[19]. In Malaysia, only limited study had been done on this matter. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the welding fumes concentration and lung function status of investigated welders by taking into consideration the welder’s duration of smoking, duration of exposure and welding job process. It is expected that a better understanding of welding exposure in Malaysia automotive industry will be obtained in order to promote the protection through legislation, health communications strategies or behavioral intervention where such data are needed. 15 Journal of Industrial and Intelligent Information Vol. 3, No. 1, March 2015 2015 Engineering and Technology Publishing doi: 10.12720/jiii.3.1.15-19 ; revised