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more_legal_areas welding-rodWelding rod lawsuits have been filed in response to the health effects suffered because of emissions of fumes during the welding process. The majority of welding rod lawsuits has cited the presence of manganese in the fumes, leading to serious health effects of the brain and central nervous system. Due to the toxicity of manganese, exposure to manganese dusts, fumes and compounds are not to exceed the ceiling value of 5 mg/m^3 for even a short period of time.
Studies performed on manganese and its association to Manganism and Parkinson''s disease has been confirmed in several recent studies. For years, the link between manganese exposure and Parkinson''s disease has been disputed, though the documentation of high risk occupations, such as with welding rod processes has continued to produce symptoms of Parkinson''s disease and other central nervous system diseases. Workers in high risk occupations have questioned the absence of real conclusive studies determining if there is a real risk especially since welding rod lawsuits have been predicted to be the next big mass torts litigation.
According to internal documents, the welding industry was aware of health risks associated with the manganese exposure for decades. The failure to take adequate measures to ensure the safety of workers in the welding rod industry has been the main allegation for the welding rod lawsuits that have resulted over the years.
Since a potentially high number of welders have been exposed to various levels of manganese at the workplace, some predict welding rod lawsuits will become the next major mass torts litigation, compared to the asbestos litigation that has cost billions of dollars.
The casual connection between welding fumes and neurological injuries has been recognized for years, and documented in various medical publications. Unlike other neurotoxic disorders, manganese exposure has a slow effect on the body, so welders that were working with occupational exposure years ago may just now be noticing symptoms and becoming diagnosed properly. Welding rod lawsuits have been difficult to pursue in the past because of the similarity between the occupational illnesses to diseases that occur in non-occupational settings.
Doctors diagnosing instances of Parkinson''s disease are often untrained to realize if the disease onset could have been affected by occupational hazards. Though there has been controversy surrounding whether or not manganese exposure at chronic levels is linked to Parkinson''s disease, scientists have reported welders have an average onset of Parkinson''s disease 15 years before the rest of the general population. Even though manganese levels are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration because of its'' high level of toxicity, safety violations including dangerous exposure to welding rod fumes continue to be reported.
The National Safety Council has said inhalation or ingestion of manganese dust or fumes can cause a wide range of symptoms in addition to Parkinson''s Disease, including insomnia, mental confusion, metal fume fever weakness, paralysis, dry throat, cough, tight chest, flu-like fever, low-back pain and vomiting. Researchers continue to suspect minerals like manganese are somehow connected to the development of Parkinson''s disease.