From the Guidelines
Welders are predisposed to several occupational diseases, including lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and neurological problems, due to their exposure to metal fumes, gases, and radiation during welding activities, as supported by the most recent study in 2023 1. The most common conditions include:
- Respiratory diseases such as metal fume fever, chronic bronchitis, pneumoconiosis, and occupational asthma
- Lung cancer, particularly from stainless steel welding which releases carcinogenic chromium and nickel compounds
- Eye conditions such as photokeratitis ("welder's flash") from ultraviolet radiation exposure
- Neurological problems that may develop from manganese exposure, potentially leading to Parkinson's-like symptoms
- Skin conditions such as contact dermatitis and burns
- Hearing loss from prolonged noise exposure
- Cardiovascular issues linked to welding fume exposure, with studies showing increased risk of heart disease, as mentioned in a study from 2012 1. Prevention requires:
- Proper ventilation
- Personal protective equipment including respirators
- Welding helmets with appropriate filters
- Regular medical monitoring to detect early signs of these conditions, as emphasized in a guideline from 2012 1. It is essential to note that the risk of occupational diseases can be reduced by following proper safety protocols and using personal protective equipment, as highlighted in a study from 2021 1. Additionally, a study from 2006 1 mentions that occupational exposures, such as welding fumes, can cause chronic bronchitis and COPD, and it is crucial to consider these risks when assessing welders' health. Overall, welders' health can be protected by acknowledging the potential risks associated with their occupation and taking proactive measures to prevent and detect occupational diseases, as supported by the evidence from various studies 1.
From the Research
Diseases Associated with Welding Occupation
Welding occupation has been linked to various diseases, including:
- Respiratory diseases such as bronchitis, airway irritation, lung function changes, and lung cancer 2, 3, 4, 5
- Obstructive and restrictive lung disease, cough, dyspnea, rhinitis, asthma, pneumonitis, pneumoconiosis, carcinoma of the lungs 3
- Eye irritation, photokeratitis, cataract, skin irritation, erythema, pterygium, non-melanocytic skin cancer, malignant melanoma 3
- Reduced sperm count, motility and infertility 3
- Trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer, with regular occupational exposure to welding fumes increasing the risk by an estimated 39% and occasional occupational exposure increasing the risk by an estimated 16% 6
Specific Health Effects
The health effects of welding fumes have been studied extensively, with findings including:
- Inflammation, lung defense suppression, oxidative stress, DNA damage, and genotoxic effects after exposure to welding fumes 2
- Increased risk of pulmonary infections, severity, duration, and frequency among welders 5
- Carcinogenicity of welding fumes, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying them as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) 4, 6
Occupational Exposure
Occupational exposure to welding fumes is a significant risk factor for various diseases, with:
- Regular occupational exposure increasing the risk of trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer (incidence) by an estimated 39% and mortality by an estimated 25% 6
- Occasional occupational exposure increasing the risk of trachea, bronchus, and lung cancer (incidence) by an estimated 16% and mortality by an estimated 31% 6