Assessment of Occupational Risk of Carcinogenic and Non-Carcinogenic Exposure to Chromium in Welders Working at a Welding Workshop in Tehran

The use of welding has been on the rise in recent years, and it is used in small and large workshops for repairing different parts. According to studies conducted, ۱۳ hazardous substances are produced, including chromium that we have considered in this study. Chromium (VI) is a poisonous metal that can be found in a wide range of industrial environments. The permissible exposure limit (TWA) for chromium (VI) is determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The compounds derived from chromium are one of the most important sources of risk to human health. The hexavalent chromium compounds are more toxic than other chromium compounds. Our objective of this study is to investigate and assess the risk of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic exposure to chromium for welders who are exposed to this substance. In this study, which was carried out at a welding workshop in Tehran, the concentration of hexavalent chromium is determined based on the NIOSH method ۷۳۰۳. For measuring chromium (VI) in the work environment, employers usually use atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). This method is sensitive and accurate, and it can be used to measure chromium (VI) existing in air, water, and biological samples. In this study, environmental and occupational carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks were assessed by using the Risk Assessment Information System (RAIS), which has been under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy since ۱۹۹۶. The risk assessment method which is used in this study is based on the guidelines recommended by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It also includes calculating the daily chronic intake (CDI) by considering the average concentration of the substance obtained from three measurement methods. The reference concentration (RfC) and the slope factor (CSF) were used to evaluate non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, respectively. The results showed that the risk of non-carcinogenic exposure to chromium is higher than the permissible limit and the risk of non-carcinogenic exposure to chromium is in the non-permissible range (HQ > ۱).

Keywords:

Occupational exposure , chromium , carcinogenic risk assessment , non-carcinogenic risk assessment , welding workshop , welding substances