Effects of Welding Fume Exposure on Human Placental Cells

As more women join the skilled-trade workforce, the effects of workplace exposures on pregnancy need to be explored. This study aimed to identify the effects of mild-steel (MS) and stainless-steel (SS) welding fume exposures on first-trimester placental trophoblast cells, using the HTR-8/SVneo cell line. MS is primarily composed of Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn), while SS also contains chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni). We found that all three welding fumes had significant effects on cellular viability, and also caused increases in free radical production, while negatively affecting their invasive capabilities. MS was the only sample to cause an increase in production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. Our results show that welding fume exposure is in fact cytotoxic to trophoblasts, and understanding how these occupational exposures could impact maternal and fetal health is necessary. Identifying how the varying combinations of heavy metals and other materials present in MS and SS welding fumes, along