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Risky Business: Welding Rod
Gases by Peter Kent
Welding is the joining of metals by applying
heat, sometimes with pressure and sometimes with
an intermediate or filler metal having a high
melting point. The intermediate or filler metal
that is used to join metals together is commonly
referred to as a welding rod. Many welders use
welding rods containing a high percentage of the
element manganese.
During the welding process, welding rods and
specifically maganese are used to stregthen
metal during the fusion process. When metals are
heated and melted together, gas is produced.
These welding gases are dangerous since welders
are exposed to manganese when they breathe the
fumes released in the air as rods are melted
during welding operations. Manganese toxicity
occurs quickly as it is absorbed into the blood
stream and body tissue.
Individuals with the highest manganese exposure
are often welders. Manganism is the condition in
which high levels of toxicity exposure from
manganese or manganese poisoning occurs.
Manganism is also known as welder's disease.
Manganism and Parkinson's disease have similar
symptoms and side effects. Because of this,
Parkinsonian syndrome is described as manganism.
Researchers found welders who had been exposed
to manganese fumes in welding rods and materials
were likely to develop side effects and symptoms
of Parkinson's 15 years earlier than an average
individual not exposed to welding rod fumes. It
has also been discovered that while welders
continue to be exposed to manganese and other
dangerous fumes, both scientists and welding rod
manufacturers have known about the risks of
welding, yet doing nothing to prevent these
disesase from developing. The manufacturers,
however, failed to adequately warn of these ill
effects, and for years have failed to instruct
employers of welders on how they can keep their
workers safe.
Health Effects of Welding Rod Fume Exposure
Manganese poisoning is one of the most
documented of all complications caused by
environmental toxins. Still, manufacturers
continue to use manganese in welding rods and
other applications, choosing to put profits
before safety. Manganism is also known as
Parkinson's Syndrome because its symptoms are
very similar to Parkinson's Disease, a
debilitating and incurable disease affecting the
central nervous system and the important
production of the neurotransmitter dopamine.
The symptoms of Parkinson's Syndrome include
tremors affecting various parts of the upper
body, reduction of facial expression, difficulty
in locomotion, difficulty swallowing, and
difficulty with speech. Usually illnesses and
conditions associated with the central nervous
system and neurological problems are the result
of welding fume exposure.
Typical symptoms include tremors or shakiness,
decreased movement or rigid muscles, loss of
balance, joint and muscle pain, slow movement,
sterility in men, short term memory problems,
slow or slurred speech, hand stiffness and pain,
and other neurological symptoms.
Learn more about welding risks and the latest
news results by visiting http://welding-rod.legalview.com/.
Use LegalView's other practice areas for
information on topics such as the Digitek
digoxin recall or the latest on the condition
caused by birth canal complications, Erb's
Palsy, which can be found at http://erbs-palsy.legalview.com/.
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