Research Watch, Litigation Watch: Welding Fumes, December 2005

JOURNAL: The Journal of Rheumatology. 2005 Sep;32(9):1713-8.

SUMMARY: The authors of the study investigated a potential association between occupational risk factors and severity markers of systemic sclerosis defined by diffuse cutaneous extent, pulmonary involvement and immunologic profile. Occupational exposures were assessed in 105 patients with SSc from 1998 to 2002. Exposures to silica dust, welding fumes, solvents and epoxy resins were investigated. A group of 39 exposed SSc patients and a group of 66 unexposed ones were identified and compared according …