Deviations in Thyroid and its Regulatory Hormone Profile in Workers Exposed to Welding Fumes

This study evaluates health risks manifested by the exposure of welding fumes to the labourers working in welding environments. Welding fumes, are the complexes of fluorides, silicates and metal oxides, cause burns, eye damage, hormonal imbalance, organ damage and cataracts. In order to check the changes caused by fumes on thyroid gland, a study was planned to evaluate the variations in thyroid regulatory hormone levels in workers occupationally exposed to welding fumes. For this purpose, blood sampling of the welders (n=24) having exposure to welding fumes was done from different sites in city Lahore, whereas, blood samples of healthy controls (n=24) were collected from University of the Punjab, Lahore. Thyroid (T3 and T4) and its regulatory hormone (TSH) assessment was executed by ELISA. Independent student “t” test at confidence interval of 95% and P < 0.05 was applied. A non-significant decrease of both hormones i.e. T3 and T4 was found in the subjects under study as compared to controls. Levels of TSH in blood serum of workers showed a non-significant increase than healthy controls. Elevated TSH and reduced T3 and T4, although, statistically non-significant, predict chances of hypothyroidism due to chronic exposure to welding fumes. Welders are, therefore, recommended to adopt prophylactic measures and safer techniques in order to avoid direct hazardous exposure to welding fumes.