What is Manganism? Welders Disease?Written by Michael Monheit, Esquire, Monheit Law, PC
Manganism (AKA welder’s-disease) is another name for a collection of symptoms that result from excessive manganese exposure. Manganism has also been called "Parkinson's syndrome" because its symptoms closely resemble those of Parkinson's disease, a devastating and fatal neurological illness. Manganism is also called welder's-disease because of high incidence in welders and those exposed to fumes from welding rods. Incredibly, health effects of welding and associated manganese exposure have been known for more than 150 years. In 1837, scientists described manganism as a syndrome similar to Parkinson's disease. These first cases of manganism, welder's-disease, appeared in Scottish workers exposed to high levels of dust while grinding "black oxide of manganese" in a chemical plant. Since then, manganism, welder's-disease, has been described in several groups of highly exposed miners and other workers. (Iregren, 1999) In 1993, National Institute of Health (NIH) issued a report about manganism, welder's-disease, manganese poisoning. According to NIH, "Occupational exposure to manganese for periods from 6 months to 2 years can result in manganism, a disease of central nervous system characterized by psychogenic and neurological disorders with symptoms resembling Parkinson's disease." The NIH report also noted that prolonged manganese exposure had been connected to reduced white blood cell counts, sexual dysfunction and impotence. To understand welder’s-disease (also known as manganism), it helps to understand manganese toxicity. Manganese is one of most commonly used metals in manufacturing. Although used in several industrial applications, manganese does not occur naturally, but is actually a component of more than 100 minerals, including sulfides, oxides, carbonates, silicates, phosphates and borates. In small amounts, manganese is a necessary element for maintaining good health, including proper development of growing children. In excessive amounts, however, manganese becomes toxic. Women who are pregnant, or who think they might be pregnant, should avoid manganese exposure at work place (Gerber, et al 2002). In human body, manganese is concentrated mainly in liver, skeleton, pancreas and brain. Small amounts of manganese are beneficial for human health, and have been shown to have potentially beneficial effects for patients with epilepsy. Manganese has also shown promise in alleviating menstrual symptoms and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, too much manganese exposure is harmful. Exposure in levels experienced by welders and nearby workers is unhealthy and dangerous.
| | Frequently Asked Questions about welding rod injuries from Manganese exposureWritten by Michael Monheit, Esquire, Monheit Law, PC
What is Manganism? Manganism is a central nervous system disease caused by manganese exposure, a toxic element commonly found in welding rod fumes. Symptoms of manganism resemble those of Parkinson's disease, including slurred speech, trembling hands and an unsteady gait. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Can welding rods cause someone to have manganism? Manganism is caused by long-term exposure to high levels of manganese toxicity, typically as a result of inhaling fumes or dust that contain material. Frequently, people who work with welding rods, or near people working with welding rods, inhale fumes that contain poisonous manganese materials. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What is connection between welding rods and manganism? Welding rods contain a high concentration of manganese toxicity. When heated, manganese in welding rod releases toxic fumes that are inhaled by welder and others who might be nearby. Welders show a higher-than-normal average of manganese exposure and, consequently, manganese poisoning. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I'm not a welder. Am I at risk for manganese poisoning? Although investigation surrounding manganism has focused on welding rods, there are several other sources of manganese toxicities in environment. On-the-job manganese exposure occurs mainly in mining, alloy production, processing, ferro-manganese operations, and work with agrochemicals. People living near construction sites, or other locations where welding rods are being used, may also be at risk.
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