Welding Fumes Exposure Decreases Forced Vital Capacity But Not Height Among Welders

Background: Welding fumes caused the decreasing of forced vital capacity (FVC). The study aimed to identify several factors related to FVC.Methods: The subject of this cross-sectional study consisted of welders in an automobile manufacture outskirt of Jakarta in 2012. We used purposive sampling selection. The assessments of FVC were using spirometri. Exposure fumes value of the workplace based on the assessements of the factory. Demographic and employment data was selected from interview.Results: A number 124 out of 150 welders which aged between 19-55 years who\u27s had 1-16 years worked. Exposure fumes value was 15 mg/m3 in the factory. The welding fume exposure decreased FVC [regressioncoeffi cient (r) = -0.004; 95% confi dence interval (CI) = -0.01;-0.00]. On the other site, those who had more taller height had higher FVC (r = 0.035; 95% CI = 0.02;0.05).Conclusions: Welding fumes exposure was decreasing the FVC, but those who had more taller height had higher FVC among welders. (Health Science Indones 2012;1:41-4