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Manganese Toxicity: Manganism or Welding-related Parkinsons

Welding fumes are given off during the welding of iron, mild steel, or aluminum. Generally, welding fumes consist of metallic oxides generated by heating of the metal being welded, the welding rod, or the coating of welding rods (coated welding rods).

Manganese compounds have long been used in various welding combustibles and welding filler materials such as coated welding rods and welding rod fluxes. During the welding process, the combustible or filler containing manganese gives off manganese fumes as well as other toxic gases.

For many years it has been known that long-term or chronic exposure to manganese fumes or dust at high concentrations can produce an irreversible syndrome involving Parkinson-like symptoms which result from damage to the central nervous system (CNS). The neurological disorder resulting from this type of manganese toxicity is known as Manganism.

Medical doctors have recently reported that chronic and excessive exposure to welding fumes containing manganese results in the early onset of Parkinson's Disease in welders. This report is consistent with the lore, or speculation, which has circulated among welders for years that welding may lead to the development of Parkinsons.

A 2001 study by medical researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis supports the contention that there is a link between occupational exposure to the manganese fumes emitted during the use of welding rods and the early onset of Parkinson's Disease in welders. This medical study, headed by Dr. Brad Racette of Washington University, was published in the January 2001 issue of the medical journal Neurology. The article acknowledged that Manganism is classified as a Parkinson syndrome because Manganism bears a resemblance to Parkinsons. Dr. Racette asserted in the article that despite the similarities between Parkinson syndrome and Manganism, there are distinct differences between the symptoms as well as the brain pathology associated with Manganism and welding-related Parkinson's Disease.

Read more about Welding and Parkinsonism on our Welding and Parkinson's Disease Information Page.