Welding health hazards

admin

How bad are the fumes that a welder breathes in on a regular basis. i know some are really bad like galvanized iron and what not, but someone told me that many welders end up getting cancer or stuff like that because of the fumes.is this true? does it apply to all types of welding?mattM Fed
Reply:Metal Fume Fever.Lou Gehring's Disease.Build up of particles in the lungs.Build up of chemicals in the feet.All true.  It's part of the job and the risks we take when we put on the helmet.  Best you can do is to mask up with appropriate filters, keep your head out of the plume of smoke, work in a well ventilated area (or outside whenever possible) and in severe cases, use supplied air breathing apparatus similiar to the Adflo system for the 3M Hornell Speedglas series of helmets.If you work with lots of Aluminum, a quick remedy to offset the fumes is to drink milk.Next time you are grinding, take a good look at the floor.  Now.... guess how much of that dust and debris is in your lungs.Take the time to protect yourself... it will be much less time than you will spend trying to heal - if you are that lucky.Just my $.02Later,Jason
Reply:In all reality..Welding / Cutting / Fabrication on any level is a health hazard..Tools Can and will bite you at any given moment..Burns suck..You will get them all the time..Any average drill press will wrap you around what you are doing in no time..This that and the other thing will all come into play...You have to think how to avoid these things...Before you even start..Look around.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Build up of chemicals in the feet? How's that happen....
Reply:Welders over time develop a buildup of heavy metals from all the fumes, vapours, and particles that we encounter.  By nature, these substances are absorbed through the lungs and skin into the bloodstream and tend to congregate in the feet.Automotive Mechanics,  Autobody Mechanics & Painters (to name a few) over time develop a build-up of chemicals on top of the brain much the same way because of the type of chemicals they encounter. ie:  Varsol, BrakeClean, Paint Thinners, Reducers etc etcI know several tradesmen from each that have encountered this problem.  One in particular, that owned a body shop, that had to sell everything, and is now highly trained in holistic medicine trying to help others suffering the same as he did.My dad has driven truck for over 40 yrs, but all it took was a couple of years helping out in the shop (when he wasn't driving) washing parts in Varsol, using Air Painters etc (without masks) and he started to have a chemical buildup on the top of his brain that was causing incredible headaches.Once dad protected himself properly, and basically removed himself from the situation, the chemicals broke down over time, and disappeared.  So did the headaches and his health problems.I'm no doctor, I just know what I know from experiencing it first hand.Later,Jason
Reply:I found a remedy for built up toxins in the feet.  Foot Detox Patches. you can pick em up on ebay for cheap and they work well. i use them frequently. The easyist thing to do is to keep your skin coverd from all light from the arc and fumes and particles  that float and can land on your skin and wear a respirator so you do not breath in it in either. even a dust mask would be better than  not  being protected.Nothing Ever Got Done By Quitting, Never Give Up.
Reply:An easy way to tell how nasty all that stuff you are breathing when welding is blow your nose at the end of the day and look at that black junk you get. That is what is finding it's way into your lungs.