Welding Fumes and SARS-CoV-2: A Dangerous Combination

OBJECTIVES: To study if the adverse effects of welding fume exposure are more pronounced in individuals previously infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, spirometry, oscillometry, multiple breath washout (MBW), and diffusing capacity were tested in 44 exposed workers and 62 unexposed individuals. A history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was present in 34% of exposed and 68% of unexposed individuals. Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Welding fume exposure was significantly associated with increased small airway resistance (R 5-20 ), assessed by oscillometry, while exposure combined with past COVID-19 was associated with increased ventilation heterogeneity in the small conducting airways, as assessed by MBW, and reduced diffusing capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Welding-fume-exposed individuals with prior COVID-19 had more pronounced small airway impairment, as assessed by MBW, than exposed workers with no COVID-19 history.