Welding Fumes.

Welding Fumes. By Manoj Kumar( HSE Professional). ( hseguru@yahoo.in / alstom.manojkumar@gmail.com / +91-8252771261). AniruddhacharyaJi Maharaj. Web: www.aniruddhacharya.com • aniruddhacharyatiwari27@gmail.com, email@aniruddhacharya.com • +91 6399991599 I met Shri Abhisekh Singh( HSE Professional) and Shri Dhiraj Das( HSE Professional) in one of the Ship Dismanling Yard project at Alang( Gujarat). Ship Dismantling is a very tough job. Following activities are carried out in Ship Dismantling Project: 1. Gas Cutting and Welding 2. Lifting by Crane……etc. Welding fumes may pose risks for lung cancer and nervous system damage. This is because such fumes may contain nickel, chromium, and manganese. Nickel and hexavalent chromium are classified as potential occupational carcinogens, while studies have associated chronic exposure to manganese with a risk for a Parkinson's-like disease. But according to NIOSH, data is lacking for (1) determining whether welders are exposed to those or other fume components at levels that could trigger such effects and (2) understanding how exposures at given levels may lead to serious, long-term effects. NIOSH suggested two complementary types of research to fill those gaps,: • A continuation of epidemiological studies to provide a better understanding of the role that welding fumes may play in immunosuppression, lung cancer development, neurotoxicity, skin damage, reproductive disorders, and other effects that some studies have associated with the components of welding fumes. • Toxicology studies using state-of-the-art techniques to examine key biochemical reactions to welding fumes, at the molecular level, in laboratory experiments. With such data, scientists will have better insight into the ways in which subtle genetic and cellular changes might lead to tumor formation, nerve damage, or other adverse changes in tissues and organs. The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) offers a welding hazards fact sheetthat lists health and safety issues associated with welding, brazing, soldering, and metal cutting. According to the fact sheet, welding smokeis a mixture of very fine particles (fumes) and gases. Many of the substances in welding smoke, such as chromium, nickel, arsenic, asbestos, manganese, silica, beryllium, cadmium, nitrogen oxides, phosgene, acrolein, fluorine compounds, carbon monoxide, cobalt, copper, lead, ozone, selenium, and zinc, can be extremely toxic.