How is Parkinson's Disease or Parkinsonism related to welding?

Long term and heavy exposure to welding fumes can result in the early development of Parkinson's Disease (also known as Parkinson's Syndrome, PD, or Parkinsons). Occupational exposure to manganese fumes emitted when filler materials are burned during welding has been related to the development of early Parkinson's Disease in some welders. Parkinsons Disease is caused by the progressive destruction of nerve cells that control muscle movement.

Welding Fume Trial: Jurors Award $20.5 Million in December 2007 Welding Case

After more than eight days of deliberations, jurors in the Welding Fume Products Liability Litigation MDL trial have awarded a total of $20.5 million to the plaintiffs in Tamraz, et al. v. Lincoln Electric, et al., in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Settlement of First Welding Disease Lawsuit Scheduled for a Federal Court Trial

In early September 2005 a Mississippi shipyard worker who claimed his neurological problems were caused by inhaling fumes from welding rods concluded his lawsuit by settling with the final two welding company defendants in his case. The worker’s lawsuit against those two welding manufacturers was scheduled to go to trial the following week.

Federal Court Welding Fumes Products Liability Litigation: MDL 1535

4,500 Welding Lawsuits in MDL, and Another 5,000 Welding Lawsuits in State Courts: The welding disease case that settled in September 2005 for more than $1 million was the first scheduled for trial among the 4,500 welding lawsuits that were consolidated in U.S. District Court in Cleveland. Moreover, plaintiffs’ lawyers estimate that there are an additional 5,000 welding lawsuits pending in various state courts around the nation.

How Welding Rod Fumes Cause Medical Problems and Neurological Disorders

The welding process involves the use of welding rods, which are melted to create a bond between the two pieces of metal being joined by the welder. The fumes released from the welding rod during this melting process include relatively high levels of manganese.

Welders at Risk for Parkinson's

A study published in the January 2005 edition of Neurology set out to estimate the prevalence of parkinsonism in welders in Alabama and to compare this prevalence with that in a general population sample.

Welding and Parkinsonism

Parkinsonism due to manganism in a welder: case study and stages of manganese neurotoxicity.

Welding and Parkinson's Disease

How welding-related Parkinsonism, welding rod disease, welding fumes sickness and manganism can result from long term and heavy exposure to welding fumes.

Types of Welding Likely to have Used Manganese Rods

Welding methods and welding processes involving the use of welding combustibles and welding filler materials containing manganese.

Types of Workers Exposed to Manganese Fumes

People who have ever held any of the occupations listed are likely to have had significant occupational exposure to manganese fumes if they worked near to welding activity and pipefitting work.

Welding Fumes and Manganese Exposure

Manganese Toxicity: Manganism or Welding-Related Parkinsons. Manganese toxicity known as Manganism is a neurological disorder resulting from long-term or chronic exposure to manganese fumes or dust at high concentrations. The damage to the central nervous system is irreversible.

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