According to researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, professional welders who work in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation are at risk for losing at least part of one of their senses.

Question: Can you guess which sense is affected?

Answer: The sense of smell.

Researchers tested 43 professional welders who worked in confined spaces on the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Bridge, asking them to identify 40 “scratch and sniff” odors. They found that the welders scored an average of seven points lower than a control group of people who were not exposed to welding fumes.

Thirty-eight of the welders performed more poorly than the control group. Three of the workers had a total loss of sense of smell. Percentages of welders with mild, moderate and severe losses of sense of smell were 30.2 percent, 18.6 percent and 16.3 percent respectively.

Senior study author Dr. Richard Doty says this is the first study to clearly demonstrate that welders who work in confined spaces without adequate respiratory protection are at risk for damaging their sense of smell.

“Although underappreciated, loss of smell function significantly alters quality of life,” says Doty. “This important sense not only determines the flavors of foods and beverages, but serves as an early warning system for the detection of fire, dangerous fumes, leaking gas, spoiled foods and polluted environments.”

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