Study of Alabama Welders Shows Higher Parkinson's Disease Rates

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. Researchers found that among the welders studied, symptoms of Parkinsonism, such as tremor, muscle rigidity, and slowed movement, were 7 to 10 times higher than the norm for the general population.

An earlier study found that male welders suffered Parkinson's symptoms at an atypically early age, at around age 46, as opposed to age 63 for non-welders.

Dr. Bruce Racette, a researcher at the Washington University School of Medicine, says "This study is the largest to date, implicating welding as a risk factor for Parkinsonism."

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition marked by symptoms such as tremors, muscle rigidity, slowed movement, and problems with balance and coordination. The welding process creates fumes containing manganese, and according to Dr. Racette and colleagues, exposure to manganese "cannot be excluded" as the cause of patient symptoms in the study. Dr. Racette noted that manganese is best recognized as the toxin most likely to be killing brain cells in welders, though there are many other potential toxins in welding fumes.

More about welding diseases on our Welding and Parkinson's Disease Information Page