Suit Claims Welding Fumes Caused Tremors

Ernesto G. Solis, left, leaves the U.S. Federal Courthouse, Wednesday, June 7, 2006, in Cleveland with an unidentified woman. Solis, who filed a lawsuit four years ago, contends that from 1973 to 2001 he was exposed to toxic welding fumes while doing maintenance work at a naval air station in Corpus Christi, Texas. At issue is whether welding fumes can lead to manganese poisoning and possibly Parkinson's disease. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak) (Tony Dejak - AP)

In the scientific journal Neurology a year ago, Dr. Joseph Jankovic, director of the Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic at Baylor University's College of Medicine, questioned whether reliable or convincing evidence exists that welding is a risk factor for Parkinson's disease.

Jeff Weber, associate executive director of the Miami-based American Welding Society, said a study the group paid for two years ago did not draw a conclusive link to welding and Parkinson's disease. "My general impression is there is no great fear among most welders," Weber said.

Labels on packages of welding rods _ the long, thin sticks that become the substance of a weld _ warn that fumes may be hazardous but do not draw any link to Parkinson's. At factories, construction projects and repair shops, some welders use fans to blow away fumes. Others wear breathing devices.

Antonini said all welders would not have the same exposure risk. Some use higher concentrations of manganese than others, depending on the hardness needed in a weld. Some welders work in more confined spaces than others.

Richard Myers started welding when he was 15 and said he feels fine at age 59. He has made his 32-year-old son a partner in his small Cleveland-area business.

"I've worked in shops. I've done a lot of maintenance welding, all kind of different jobs," he said. "I do it on average eight to 10 hours a week. I always try to have a fan in the work area to blow fumes away."

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On the Net:

American Welding Society: http://www.aws.org

Parkinson's Disease Foundation: http://www.pdf.org

Welding rod litigation:

http://www.welding-rod-litigation.com

http://www.weldinginfonetwork.com/about/index.html