Abstract
Industrial workers frequently have exposure to multiple hazards. Depending on the specific activity the intensity, duration and type of exposure may differ during the entire professional life, even in the same working place. These workers are at risk of developing several work-related disorders or even multiple occupational diseases. This study presents a case of a welder who performed heavy work (lifting and handling masselottes and metal casts) and was exposed to gases, fumes and vapors. He was diagnosed 8 years before with occupational lumbar discopathy and occupational pulmonary fibrosis (welders’ lung) based on symptoms and X-ray examination. He continued to work in the same workplace. At the current admission the respiratory symptoms (dyspnea on low exertion, wheezing, cough with seromucous sputum) were more severe and a large opacity of 5.3/4.3 cm slightly heterogeneous structure, with spiculated, iodophilic contour in lateral area of the subpleural segment of the upper right pulmonary lobe was found on the CT scan. This opacity was interpreted as probable lung cancer and the patient was sent for surgery.
The case illustrates the multiple health consequences of the working activities and the necessity to evaluate in a proper manner all possible hazards present in a certain working place.