Prolonged exposure to welding fume may cause lung damage and various types of cancer, including lung, larynx and urinary tract. . Health effects from certain fumes may include metal fume fever, stomach ulcers, kidney damage and nervous system damage.

Welding fumes contain a variety of metals, including aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, lead and manganese. Argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen fluoride gases often are produced during welding. Welding fumes can cause serious health problems for workers if inhaled, according to OSHA.

What are the symptoms of heavy metal poisoning?

• diarrhea.
• nausea.
• abdominal pain.
• vomiting.
• shortness of breath.
• tingling in your hands and feet.
• chills.
• weakness.

Some signs and symptoms of metal poisoning may include: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (the hallmark symptoms with most cases of acute metal ingestion) Dehydration. Heart abnormalities such as cardiomyopathy or abnormal heart beat (dysrhythmia)

Fumes produced by basic welding of iron or steel can often be blocked by wearing a simple N95 mask such as the 3M 8212 N95 Welding Particulate Respirator or as a step up, an N99 mask such as the Moldex Premium Disposable Welding Respirator. Both of these have exhalation valves to keep the mask cool.

Pneumosiderosis, or more commonly referred to as Welder’s lung, is an occupational lung disease that occurs after chronic inhalation of iron dust particles, especially in welders.

Symptoms usually develop over a three to six week time period. Lead overexposure may cause children to be less playful, clumsier, irritable, and sluggish (lethargic).

Chelation is a very effective way to treat heavy-metal poisoning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved prescription chelation therapy for the treatment of lead poisoning. Injected EDTA binds with the harmful metal and both are then eliminated from the body through the kidneys.

Moderate signs of poisoning in humans include the following:

• Blurred vision.
• Confusion and disorientation.
• Difficulty in breathing.
• Drooling.
• Excessive tearing.
• Fever.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Loss of muscle control and muscle twitching.

All absorbed lead is ultimately excreted in the bile or urine. Soft-tissue turnover of lead occurs within approximately 120 days.

Male welders have been reported to have reduced reproductive function in terms of poor sperm quality, decreased fecundity, changed levels of reproductive hormones, and increased risk for spontaneous abortion in their partners compared to unexposed individuals in some studies [8,9,10,11,12].

In addition to fume fever, exposure to welding fume may damage the small airways, causing interstitial pneumonia (Abraham 1983).

Numerous studies indicate that welders may be at increased risk of neurological and neurobehavioral health effects when exposed to metals such as lead, iron and manganese. Carbon monoxide, heat and stress can also contribute to neurological impairments in welders.

It has been estimated that 30 to 40 percent of all welders have experienced metal fume fever at some time (Abraham 1983, in Environmental and Occupational Medicine, W.N. Rom, ed., p. 146).

OSHA concludes that a PEL for welding fumes is needed to protect workers involved in the welding of aluminum, iron, or mild steel from the significant risk of metal fume fever and respiratory irritation associated with the generation of welding fumes.