Welding and lung health

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Had anybody had serious lung issues from welding?ThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:When I had been welding for only 22-years. I had a check up, Doctor said I had the respiration rate of a marathon runner. But only three of those years was welding inside a shop.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:There's plenty of proof out there that breathing much of the airborne smoke and dust associated from welding is less than good for your health. Some processes and materials are worse than others. Welding galvi is very bad, and processes with a lot of smoke like stick and FC wire aren't good either even with moderate ventilation.A good respirator is well worth the money for a lot of things with welding, including grinding and cutting materials with abrasive blades..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I worked in an oil field tank truck mfg. company and these people tried to use little fans to move the fumes from welding and cutting. I came with my own personal venting blower and duct and in a week every station had at least one. Plus my respirator. OSHA and the state health dept. would have had a heart attack if they had saw this place. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:I think keeping yourself in shape makes a big difference a well.  Just my opinion though.seabee78
Reply:Originally Posted by seabee78I think keeping yourself in shape makes a big difference a well.  Just my opinion though.seabee78
Reply:I worked in a shop for a couple of years that had two flux core welders going all day.  The shop ceiling was around forty feet but the smoke did build up eventually.  I left that job and went to the shipyard where everyone had face masks, even fitters like me.  The next time I went in to the doc he is listening to my chest and he says:  "Your lungs sound much better.  What happened?"  I told him that I had changed jobs.  I am  a non-smoker but he could tell the difference.   A personal mask does wonders.  If a doctor can tell the difference then it can't be good to breath all that dust/smoke every day.
Reply:A respirator,  correct?ThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:Originally Posted by zeus_r6Had anybody had serious lung issues from welding?
Reply:I worked at a container chassis factory for two years one time. They coated all the parts with a galvanized spray before welding. You could see all the little dust bunnies float ing around in the air. Kinda like what you see when you weld on galv steel. It sucked but what can you do? Enough people complained about it and they ended up getting some of the welders to wear a monitor for a few days but they never really told us the results. From what I've seen most welders smoke anyway.Miller trailblazer301gLincoln sa200Miller251Miller spectrum 625Victor oxy-acc2002 Chevy duramax 3500 dually 4x4
Reply:this welder never smoked a day in his life.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Chicken mCnuggets mite not effect your lungs but mixed with galvi and welding is not good for your health.
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelderthis welder never smoked a day in his life.
Reply:My Dad has been welding for 25+ years and smokes (not heavily), yet has no real lung problems. Genetics can be your best friend, or worst enemy.From what I've been told via OSHA and previous instructors, is that welders can get "dust lung", where I'm guessing stuff just builds up in your lungs and can cause a multitude of problems; provided you're not wearing PPE, and what types of metals you're using, etc.From medical side, I'd be more worried about the toxins you breathe in that that travel from your lungs, through the rest of your body (i.e., brain, CNS, etc.)*insert welding gibberish here*                    Mandy
Reply:Originally Posted by ls1taMy Dad has been welding for 25+ years and smokes (not heavily), yet has no real lung problems. Genetics can be your best friend, or worst enemy.From what I've been told via OSHA and previous instructors, is that welders can get "dust lung", where I'm guessing stuff just builds up in your lungs and can cause a multitude of problems; provided you're not wearing PPE, and what types of metals you're using, etc.From medical side, I'd be more worried about the toxins you breathe in that that travel from your lungs, through the rest of your body (i.e., brain, CNS, etc.)
Reply:Originally Posted by InsanerideWhat about Mcnuggets mixed with toxins and metals???
Reply:What about what I Mconsumed last night? lol
Reply:Originally Posted by InsanerideWhat about what I Mconsumed last night? lol
Reply:My grandfather was a welder, and a non-smoker.  He died in his early 70's from lung cancer, 6 months after they found the tumor.  Lung cancer doesn't run in the family.  If he'd lived another year, he could've been at my school graduation.  Another few years after that, and he could've been at my wedding.  You can bet I wear a respirator, and will speak up in their favor anytime I get the chance.
Reply:Oooooo, now now children. LolSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:heres what I have gotten.few people I work with/ have worked with wear respirators. few smoke.galvanized has a bad rep because it WILL make you sick. but, the body is fairly good at disposing of It and the illness is temporary. zinc/ zinc oxide poisoning. you know geek sunscreen that you put on your nose and is white, zinc oxide is what makes it white. I believe it is still a major ingredient for sunscreens today.mild steel welding used to expose the operator to manganese. though no immediate effects may be present, it is tied to a disease often called Parkinson's, though it is slightly different in that it is induced purely from manganese exposure. manganese has largely been eliminated from welding electrodes but there are small traces usually found in msds data.stainless welding has been linked to cancers from exposure to hexavalent chromium. something about the process on stainless releases it and it is absorbed by the blood in lungs to reak havoc on various systems. osha recently got more strict on exposure limits though they are quite vague and arguable based on ventilation and/or current wind patterns. stainless welding has inconclusively been linked to reproductive harm in males.as far as other particles causing problems, I don't see or hear of many. I know I have sinus issues I link to working metal, but I could easily eliminate them by properly hydrating and wearing a respirator more often.bosses stuff:trailblazer 325maxstar 200my stuff:sa 200fronius transpocket 180100 amp Lincoln w/f97 f350 DITKevin
Reply:did a couple of solid years laying down 75# of innershield a day,usually next to a couple other guys doing the same,most of those guys are dead now,one of them died waiting for a heart and lung transplant, we've all had our share of heavy metal poisoning but the contractors have a way of erasing history as well as responsibility..it's a dangerous game..insurance companies are experts at abandoning you if your sick or hurt...   my 30 years of 2 cents...
Reply:Originally Posted by docweldernever had any issues since 9/11. now every time i go to the wtc health clinic for a check-up i see someone i know dying from cancer. is that serious enough?
Reply:Someone has to do it, and since I seem to be the first to have thought of it: the single most dangerous thing you may breathe when welding is phosgene gas, created by welding over chlorinated solvent such as found in some (mostly older) brake cleaning fluid. DON'T USE CHLORINATED SOLVENTS TO CLEAN METAL TO BE WELDED!!!As you were...Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Originally Posted by joshuabardwellSomeone has to do it, and since I seem to be the first to have thought of it: the single most dangerous thing you may breathe when welding is phosgene gas, created by welding over chlorinated solvent such as found in some (mostly older) brake cleaning fluid. DON'T USE CHLORINATED SOLVENTS TO CLEAN METAL TO BE WELDED!!!As you were...Originally Posted by BurpeeGood reply.That and galvanized will put a man down quick.
Reply:I weld for hobby (well am learning), so I'm no long term practitioner, but my thought on thesubject is that welding can't be healthy in any way what so ever BUT if you take the right steps to protect yourself, it can be safe. Yes, it's easier and more comfortable to skip putting on the respirator and other protection but you need to be responsible for your own health -you'll be thankful you were/are when you are living a normal life. I wouldn't bother trying to tie smoking or other causes to welder's health issues nordo I believe that medicine knows exactly all the effects welding has on us but theprotection is there - use it.With the little experience I have, I have done some stupid things like grinding with glassesbut without full goggles and I was "playing" with a strong magnet for hours on my eyes - luckilyno long term problems. I also stick welded outside without a mask but there was no wind - againproblems with a bad taste in the mouth and throat for days. After that I got "smart" - good ventilation is a must (with all welding processes) and depending on the ventilation,a mask is also necessary - protect yourself.
Reply:Originally Posted by docweldernever had any issues since 9/11. now every time i go to the wtc health clinic for a check-up i see someone i know dying from cancer. is that serious enough?
Reply:I have known a few welders that have died from lung cancer, (one was only 44 years old).They all had 1 thing in common:  lack of PPE.But when it's 100* & you are wrapped head to toe in leather a respirator is pretty hard to use without passing out after 5 minutes...Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Originally Posted by vjekoI have done some stupid things like grinding with glassesbut without full goggles and I was "playing" with a strong magnet for hours on my eyes - luckilyno long term problems.
Reply:Lemme plug a product I use when I grind knife blades.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:How much did you pay for that?  Had to hack up my hood to make room for a standard front filter styleThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:Originally Posted by zeus_r6How much did you pay for that?  Had to hack up my hood to make room for a standard front filter style
Reply:There are hoods, similiar to sand blasting hoods, that have a device that hoods to an air supply and delivers really cooled air to the hood for summer us. Probably costs a lot but who cares. You can stay hooked up longer and that's money. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Link to the battery powered one?   It's balls hot here in the summer which makes welding almost unbearableThermalArc 181i | Lotos WS200
Reply:Good talk here.Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I imagine it's a wallet toaster but if I was back full out ? No problemBubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:Cool! Great info. Thanks.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:i remember putting just welded parts into the 1,1,1 trichloroethane tank and being enveloped in the fog it gave off. you can't get the good stuff anymore.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelderi remember putting just welded parts into the 1,1,1 trichloroethane tank and being enveloped in the fog it gave off. you can't get the good stuff anymore.
Reply:you're not kidding about the triclorithane being a great cleaner. i just posted this pic  in another thread but this shield was purchased by my employer when we were doing a large demo job with lots of lead paint. it wasn't bad but was heavy after a while carrying the rechargeable battery and belt. gotta keep yourself safe! Attached Imagesi.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:For your consideration:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/221710.php