How concerned should I be about the long-term risk of illness caused by welding fumes?
It is best to treat all welding smoke and fume as potentially harmful and utilize the best possible techniques and equipment to reduce exposure. Because of the melting of base and filler metal, the fumes from welding contain solid particles that can cause temporary dizziness, eye irritation, nausea, and fever. Fumes can be more serious with the welding of alloy metals such as stainless steel, manganese, and zinc, and exposure to these fumes should be kept to a minimum. Many of the gases used in welding such as argon, helium, and carbon dioxide are nontoxic; however, their release during welding displaces oxygen. This displacement, especially in confined and poorly ventilated areas, can cause dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. The long-term risk of health conditions because of welding has to be taken seriously. Any injurious conditions encountered will be the result of a lifetime of exposure to smoke and fumes without adequate air filtration or ventilation. Therefore, a welder must
