IIW History 1990-2015

confirmed the previous findings of C-VIII that there was an inherent excess risk of cancer in welders, although the evidence of links to the fume or its constituents was not strong, and that the work environment was likely to increase that risk. As before, exposure to asbestos from sources other than welding and tobacco were causative effects that also contributed significantly to that risk. There were still a number of unknowns and a need to undertake further research into likely causes, particularly the health effects of ultrafine particles. This research received greater impetus with the holding of an International Seminar on the Exposure to

Vilia Elena Spiegel-Ciobanu

Ultrafine Particles in Welding Fume in Hannover, Germany in February 2009. One researcher who was prominent in the organisation of the seminar, which was held in conjunction with a C-VIII Intermediate Meeting, was Spiegel-Ciobanu, a national delegate to C-VIII for many years, who was instrumental in preparing a best practice document on the exposure of welders to nitrous oxides that could cause serious eye and nose irritation as well as respiratory tract infections. The work of Spiegel-Ciobanu and the Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limit Values (SCOEL), under the auspices of the European Commission, was of primary interest to the welding community and researchers, as were the recommendations to limit or eliminate exposure to nitrogen oxide in fumes and to substantially decrease exposure limits for welders in workplaces. 46 This topic resulted in considerable debate and discussion by C-VIII on international trends in the reduction of exposure limits in welding fume and the significant number of constituents in this fume. This was particularly true since 2001 when The Netherlands mounted a concerted campaign against a proposed increase in exposure limits. From this point on, under the guidance of Dr David Jordan (UK), the importance of emissions and the identification of hazardous substances in the fume remained a constant focus of the activities of C-VIII. 47 This was especially true for oxy-acetylene and plasma processes, all of which were elements of the best practice statement prepared by Spiegel-Ciobanu for eventual publication by IIW and the Fume Data Sheets that were issued by IIW for consideration and advice to the welding community. From an operational point of view C-VIII was to take an increasing interest in the education and training of personnel in health, safety and the environment and formed a joint working group with Commission XIV Education and Training (C-XIV) to progress this further. The IIW IAB had provided further oxygen for this initiative since it had been

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